Stargate Atlantis: Even in the Distance
by Reyclou

Chapter Twelve: Through the Branches

"One in twenty?" Rodney spat in disgust. "That's the best you can do?"

The blue eyes of Atlantis darkened in thought. She seemed neither happy nor eager to report her evaluation, but gave it none the less. "His systems, as well as my own, have been critically damaged, Dr. McKay. As it stands right now, a full recovery is quite unlikely, if not impossible." Atlantis looked to the Ancient pod. "Repairs to his heart alone will tax my processes to their limits." She had that calm, cool voice that doctors developed when they dealt with trauma patients. Atlantis sounded reassuring, though her news could have torn their world asunder. "I can promise you no more than one in twenty, but we must do it soon."

"Thank you, Anne," Elizabeth nodded, then corrected herself. "Atlantis," Somehow it seemed strange to call this being Atlantis, yet to call her Anne seemed just as odd. Deciding that had to be the least of her worries, Elizabeth brushed away her thoughts, turning to the scientist at her side. "Rodney, we have to do this now," She instructed, no more eager than Atlantis to roll the dice with John's life.

Rodney shook his head. "No. No. Absolutely not," He stated firmly.

Shocked, Elizabeth had to pause a moment to ensure McKay had really said what she'd thought she heard. He can't be serious, can he?

"Rodney," Elizabeth insisted calmly, though anger ripped at her heart. "We don't have a choice. We do this now or John dies. I don't think I need to explain which option I favor."

Again, Rodney shook his head—more fervently this time. "No, not with those chances," He sputtered, glaring at the dark haired woman. "Maybe you're willing to take that kind of a risk with the colonel's life, but frankly, I think we owe him better than one in twenty!" Rodney clutched his tablet tight, as if to protect it from both the doctor and the city's holographic avatar. Atlantis looked on with a soft concern, if not stoic indifference, but Elizabeth's breaths grew quick with frustration.

Elizabeth raised a sharp brow. "Are you saying you have a better idea?"

"No… Not exactly," the scientist relented, his eyes falling at his own admission. He stared at the pale face within the stasis pod, searching for some last shred of hope.

"Then we have to try this, Rodney," Elizabeth pressed, tightening the grip on her sorrow and remorse. She put a reassuring hand on Rodney's shoulder. "I don't like it, but it's our only option."

"We go through with this and it's no better than killing him," Rodney insisted, pulling away from her touch. "I won't take that chance with Sheppard's life—I have enough on my conscience already! You want to kill him, go right ahead, but I am not helping!"

Elizabeth stamped her foot in frustration. "Rodney!"

The calming voice of Atlantis washed over Elizabeth's cry. "Dr. McKay, there is no other way. Without extensive repair to the damaged portions of this sector, there is simply no way this city can exact the repairs needed to revive the colonel."

The flickers of anger in McKay's eyes gave way to the solemn gaze of despair. For a moment the room fell faint as McKay took in the city's words. Then the glint in his eye changed. "Wait a minute," he whispered, eyes brightening as he whispered her words to himself. "Extensive repair…?"

"Rodney?" Elizabeth questioned as the scientist again fell silent.

The man looked up to meet her concern with a look of wordless surprise. He spoke quickly, with a slight tint of awe, as if a sudden realization had only just now dawned on him. The light returned to his eyes, flickering with understanding. "Atlantis said she can't heal him because the city itself is far too damaged, right?"

"Yes, Rodney." Elizabeth's voice grew almost patronizing. "And the city can't be fixed without the Daedalus, which—even if we could notify them—is still over a week away. We've been over this before."

"Right…" the scientist's voice faded as he lost himself in thought. "My god," he whispered. "How could I have been so stupid? Why didn't I see this before?"

Elizabeth took a step toward the scientist, her voice growing forceful. He was on to something. "Rodney, can you or can you not fix the city?"

"It's not a question of if I can or cannot, it's a question of time—time that I don't have right now. But that's not my point," he replied, turning an intent gaze on the white figure of Atlantis. He seemed to all but ignore the other woman. "Anne… Atlantis… whatever… You said you can heal him?"

The woman nodded slowly, almost unsurely. She had, after all, just explained their situation. "The chances of a full recovery are quite slim, doctor…"

"You said full recovery," McKay interrupted, lifting a finger. "What about a partial recovery?"

The A.I. looked at him in confusion. "I do not understand."

"What if you just, I don't know, patched him up? We don't need him dancing in the streets, just enough to keep him stable for a few more hours."

"He is still very, very weak," The woman shook her head slowly. "A partial recovery, while assured success, could only sustain him for so long. Even with your medical technologies, he would still die."

Rodney brushed her words away with the wave of her hand, his gaze still fixed on her bright form. "But you can do it? I only need a half hour, maybe an hour of viability without the pod," his pleading rang with a genuine air of concern and desperation.

"It is possible…" She conceded. "He could breathe again, but he would experience great pain. I could extend his life another hour, perhaps even another day if he continues stasis, though he would remain comatose either way."

Again, McKay brushed off her words, pulling the tablet from the crook of his arm. "Yeah yeah, no problem. Less chance he'll have to talk me out of it," he quipped, "Either way, we're doing this." Rodney busied himself tapping away at the computer screen, commanding a half a dozen programs to his will before a wide-eyed Elizabeth nearly grabbed the scientist by the neck.

"Rodney, exactly what are we doing?"

"Trying to keep the Colonel alive," he snarled. "What does it look like?"

Elizabeth breathed slowly, trying to calm herself. "I know this is going to sound harsh, but what good is buying another hour if it will only cause him more pain? What can we honestly do in an hour that will change anything? I don't want to let him go any more than you do, but maybe we should start thinking about what's best in the long run… What's merciful."

Annoyed, McKay barely lifted his eyes from the tablet as he explained himself to Weir. "This entire time we've been working on the assumption that we have to bring the technology to the colonel—but what if we brought the colonel to the technology?"

For a moment of sheer surprise, Elizabeth had nothing to say. Regaining control of her voice, she whispered, "You mean the sister city we found on…"

"Exactly," McKay nodded, again tapping away at the smooth screen. "I've spent more than enough time looking over the layout. I can't say their medical sector is in better repair than ours, but give me Zelenka, and army of our best scientists and the pod and I promise you we will give him better than one in twenty."

"What about respecting his last wishes?" Elizabeth asked, more with subtle sarcasm than true dissent.

"Oh please," the Canadian rolled his eyes. "Do you really think I'm gonna let him waste away just because he wants to play Mr. Martyr? Who does he think he is? Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

Elizabeth almost laughed at the sudden shift from calm resignation to spirited retaliation the scientist showed. Rodney could have done nothing against John's wishes while the colonel remained in command of the city, but the colonel could no longer control the city while he lay in a coma—much lest severed from his neural link. If he lives through this, he'll be pissed as hell. She winked, "Let's just make sure he's around to exact his revenge, shall we?"

"I'm on it," Rodney rushed, turning again to the A.I. avatar. "Atlantis, can you write an executable program to command the alternate city's…"

Atlantis smiled. "It is already done."

"…Oh." McKay stared blankly for a second, the wind blown from his sails. His tablet chirped cheerily, announcing the program's arrival. "…Thanks." He added after a moment, then turned back to Dr. Weir, listing his other necessary supplies as he worked the computer. "I'll need Zelenka and his team in the Gate Room ready to go. I'll need Carson standing by just in case, and we need someone on the radio to warn the natives we're coming-"

"And you'll need us," rumbled a deep, masculine voice. Both the scientist and the city leader whirled to find the Runner and their Athosian companion standing at the door. Ronon blocked the doorway with his giant form, his arms crossed in stoic sentry. Beside him, Teyla looked almost fragile, though the machine gun strapped to her sturdy frame proved her no less dangerous. They each looked undeniably displeased.

"Teyla, Ronon!" Elizabeth fumbled for words. "How did you…?"

"Dr. Kavanaugh told us what happened in the morgue," the other woman explained. "How he stumbled upon Dr. McKay tampering with the pods."

Ronon shifted his arms. "When we noticed the morgue was missing a pod, we knew something was up."

"When the shudders started, Dr. Zelenka's team identified this sector as the source of the disturbances. We have tried to access this area for a while, but only just now made it through the bulkheads. From there we were guided by your voices," Teyla stepped forward into the chamber, her eyes fixed on the pod. She had a far-off look in her eye and her voice turned wistfully soft. "Is that really… him?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I'm sorry we kept this from you, Teyla. Believe me, it wasn't our choice."

Teyla nodded in a way that said she accepted the apology for now, though she not yet understand or comprehend the scene before her. "We suspected Dr. McKay had found something, but without the body, we dared not hope…"

"What do you mean without the body?" McKay asked, confusion in his tone. "You guys had a funeral service and didn't notice the body was missing?"

Teyla tilted her head, as if correcting the scientist. "Dr. Beckett alone tended the body. He claims he clearly remembers not only performing and autopsy on the body, but placing the colonel in his coffin long before the ceremony."

"What?" McKay's face contorted as he tried to sort out some sort of conflict in his head. "He was still in the stasis pod when I found him…" he trailed off, eyes widening. "…Unless Carson's been in on it the whole time!"

The white clad woman shook her head, frowning at Rodney's assertion. "I assure you, Dr. McKay, Carson Beckett has no knowledge of Colonel Sheppard's existence."

"Who is that?" Ronon asked, motioning to Atlantis. Teyla, too, gazed at her in curiosity. Neither had ever seen such a woman.

"Really smart computer program," Rodney replied without a thought. The city's response confused the scientist. He just could not understand how both stories could be true.

At that moment, something caught Elizabeth's memory, something Atlantis had said just after they had met. She had said she could sense another. That had to be it. Elizabeth brightened, "But he does have the Gene," she added.

Confused, Teyla looked between the scientist and the older woman. "What difference does that make?"

Catching on, Rodney snapped his fingers. "It means the city could connect with his mind the same way it can connect with Sheppard. Carson only thinks he remembers—he probably dreamed the whole thing!"

Atlantis agreed with a knowing smile. "In that, you are correct, Dr. McKay."

"I still do not understand," Teyla stated, looking for an explanation. Ronon, too, seemed dumbfounded by the conversation.

"I'd love to fill you in," Rodney hastily continued, suddenly remembering the urgency of their situation. "But we really don't have the time to explain it all, right now. We need to get him out of here, and fast!" Rodney pointed to the colonel. "Right after we disengage the ZedPM," Rodney tacked on, almost as an afterthought.

"The ZPM?" Elizabeth blurted, wheeling around on the scientist. "That'll leave the city open to attack!"

"It's either the ZedPM or Colonel Sheppard, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth considered for but a moment, and then sighed deeply. "Alright, Rodney. You can have it, just get to work!" Elizabeth wondered how she was going to explain all this to her team, much less her superiors. Sheppard can come back from the dead if we just loan McKay the ZPM for a while. Yeah. That'll fly. "I'll see about coordinating this whole crazy plan."

"Right, right. But first we have to buy him the time we need," McKay tapped a final few commands into his tablet. He looked up hesitantly, eyes trained on the stasis pod. "Here goes."

The white clad woman nodded determinedly before she winked into nothingness. Elizabeth, Rodney, Teyla and Ronon looked on as lights within the stasis pod danced across the colonel's features—brightening, flickering, fading, then brightening again. His eyes flitted, jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared with a sudden sharp intake of air. John's back arched against the bed, teeth gritting as he let out a great, gut-wrenching cry the likes of which Elizabeth had not heard since their first encounter with the Iratus bug. Elizabeth flinched. It hurt no less to hear the second time around.

Hold on, John! She urged. Just a little longer and we'll get you out of this. Just hold on!

The terrible cry faded into silence as mercy took the colonel. Again he fell into the pale stillness of slumber, but no white clad figure appeared to tell them all was right with the airman.

"What was that…?" Teyla whispered, awestruck at having seen a dead man suddenly scream from his grave.

"The stasis just kicked in," Rodney informed, glancing at his tablet. "He's good to go," he said as he moved to the front of the pod. Rodney motioned to the others to help with the other side. "Help me get this thing out to the transport. We can make the calls on the way," For the first time, Weir realized the pod utilized anti-gravity technology. Rodney merely pressed a few buttons on the side panel and the pod eased itself into the air. That at least explained how he could have carted the man down all the way from the morgue—a chore even with the instant transporters.

Elizabeth looked away from the sleeping man long enough to catch McKay's eye. "I sure hope you know what you're doing."

"So do I," he replied.

-O-

All motion within the Gaterium came to a halt as the two senior officers and two faithful warriors escorted a hovering stasis pod out of a transport and into the light of the active Stargate, Elizabeth shooting orders over her personal radio. Among the personnel assembled in the Gaterium stood a unit of Marines, headed by Major Lorne, who all stared with rapt attention. Zelenka's team filed in behind, straining to see what all the fuss was about. Carson's team, a medical unit already dressed and packed for a mission off world, nearly dropped their collective belongings at the sight.

Colonel Sheppard lay before them, as if asleep, attended by the last four people in the world anyone thought would keep his life a guarded secret.

Carson, above all, turned several shades of pale before he finally regained the will to speak. "Good Lord, Elizabeth. Is that really…?"

"Yes." Rodney interrupted ending questioning with one word. "We'll explain on the way, but right this," he pointed to the pod. "Needs to go through that," he pointed to the gate. "Sooner rather than later. We don't know how much time we have." More than a few befuddled looks passed between the assembled personnel. Despite the sheer oddity of their jobs, none had quite seen a man come back from the dead just yet, but it did not take the large team long to fall into step behind the obstinate scientist. "Now! Thank you!" McKay snarled at he pulled the pod toward the gate. Lorne's team hiked up toward the standing puddle, leading the way for the medical team and their precious pod. Elizabeth kept pace right up to the Stargate.

Rodney glanced at her over the pod, nodding as if to send her on her way. "It's okay, Elizabeth. We can take it from here."

"They're going to be just as confused as our people," Elizabeth defended. "Besides that, they'll want to negotiate terms. I'm going."

"We'll be leaving a void in Atlantis command-"

"I'm going, Rodney. End of story." She snapped, and then followed the pod through the glittering warble.