"Dr Weir!" Colonel Caldwell's voice broke into the silence of Elizabeth's office. "I think we may have found the planet."

Elizabeth sat up straighter in her chair. At last, they had a breakthrough of sorts. "Have you made contact yet?" she asked.

"Not yet," Caldwell replied. "Hermiod is still checking all the data we have collected so far. Once he's finished his investigations, I will contact you again."

"I want to be there," Elizabeth said, a note of authority in her voice.

"I don't see how that's possible," Caldwell said. "It took us two days to get here, and we can't waste that sort of time when our people's lives could be in danger."

"There's a Stargate on M6T-564," Zelenka's voice interrupted. "That is close to where you are at present, Colonel Caldwell. If Dr Weir travels through the Stargate, you could pick her up there."

"I wonder why Ria didn't suggest that route," Elizabeth said, almost to herself.

"Well," Caldwell replied. "If you're planning to kidnap people, the last thing you want to do is tell anyone where you're taking them."

"Good point," Elizabeth acknowledged. "How soon can you be at M6T-564?"

"Within the hour," Caldwell replied.

"I'll see you within the hour, then. Weir out."

OoOoO

John sat on the floor; his head slumped towards his knees. Rodney was lying curled up in a corner. All his pacing around had eventually caught up with him, and he had fallen asleep about an hour before. John's ears were thankful for the respite.

Ronon and Teyla had both fallen asleep not long after Rodney, and John realised that he would not be far behind them. However, John's dozing was interrupted by the door of their prison opening. He came fully awake when he saw who was being pushed through the door. It was Carson.

John jumped to his feet, and then wished that he hadn't, as his foot, which had been curled under him, give way under his weight. He put his hand out and he steadied himself against the wall, before he turned and smiled at the doctor.

"It is good to see you again, Carson," he said, looking at the doctor who had an air of exhaustion about him.

John's words brought to the other three team members to wakefulness. Ronon and Teyla both got to their feet with the grace of natural athletes. Rodney scrambled to his feet, in alarm, bumping into the wall, before he turned round to see what was going on.

"Are you all right, Carson?" Teyla asked, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

"I've been better, love," Carson said, weariness very evident in his voice.

"They didn't turn your brain to mush, did they?" Rodney asked.

"No, Rodney," Carson replied with a gentle smile. "My brain is still in one piece, for the moment."

"So, if they didn't disintegrate your brain, does that mean you are actually helping them?" Rodney continued.

"Surely you're not going to turn them into super-humans?" Ronon asked. "We've got enough to handle with the Wraith, without you creating new enemies."

"It's a wee bit more complicated than that," Carson advised them.

"What have you found out, Carson?" John asked.

"Well, you see it's like this," Carson explained. "The people who've captured us are not the official leaders of the Kelta. Apparently the real leaders don't approve of this. Ria got involved because they threatened to kill her brother if she didn't bring us here. She's asked me to buy her some time, by playing along with them, so she can find her brother and rescue him."

"And you fell for that?" Rodney asked, incredulously. "I bet that's one of the oldest tricks in the book. Are you sure she even has a brother? Don't you see, Carson, she's trying to get you on her side again with a well worn sob story. Sometimes you're just so gullible."

"Rodney!" John said, interrupting scientist. He could see from the look on Carson's face how hurt the doctor was by Rodney's remarks. "You weren't there; Carson was. It could be true for all we know. And I for one am glad they didn't fry Carson's brain."

"You look tired, Carson," Teyla said gently.

"Aye, lass," Carson admitted. "I've been trying to work out a way of creating something that will make them think it's what they want, but won't have any lasting effect."

"Clever, Carson," Rodney said. Then, before any of the others could get a word in, Rodney started to fire questions at Carson about what he was doing. Before long John's head was spinning, trying to keep up with the conversation. He glanced over at Ronon and Teyla, and was pleased to note they both had a glazed expression on their face.

The three of them settled themselves against the wall, and made themselves comfortable. There was no point in trying to join in the conversation, even if they could get a word in edgeways. But it was also impossible to fall asleep while Rodney's voice continued its detailed monologue. Or so John thought. It was a gentle snoring sound that first caught his attention, and then he realised that Carson's eyes had fluttered shut.

He glanced at Teyla, and her smile told him she had noticed to. Ronon just shook his head.

It was a full five minutes later before Rodney noticed the lack of response from Carson. He turned to the others, the look of indignation on his face.

"That's all the thanks I get for trying to help him," he said.

"Rodney," John replied. "The poor man has been working flat out the last 36 hours. I think he just needs a rest."

"Do you think it is possible for us to contact the official leaders on this planet?" Teyla asked.

"There's not much we can do while we're stuck in here," John replied. "But hopefully Elizabeth and Caldwell will be able to find us, and they might do a bit of fancy negotiation. I just hope they're in time. I'm not sure how much longer Carson can go on fooling Patra and the others. They don't seem patient kind to me."

"D'you reckon there is any chance Ria could help us?" Ronon asked.

"Even if she offered," John replied. "I'd not trust her for a minute. Carson might be willing to forgive and forget, but I'm not that forgiving. No, if we're gonna get out of here, we have to do it ourselves. And just hope that it is in time, before Carson either wears himself out, or they decide he would be a good test patient for the 'mush-machine'."