Author: atlantis child (Command Dynamics), innocent choir girl
Title: Lost
Chapter: 3 – "Have You Lost Your Heart?"
Summary: The Wraith return to Atlantis again. Spoilers for all seasons one and two.
Genres: Angst, Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Missing Scene
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Abuse, Character Death, Torture, Violence

Author's Note: I apologize now for any errors I may make… I tried to make sure the things I were iffy on were really gonna work with a friend, so hopefully anything I may have messed up isn't too bad! If it is, then I'll just say it's my own insanity version ;)

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"Why not extend our search? People may be alive on the Wraith ships!" Teyla argued. "Why have you given up on them?"

"We don't even know /where/ all those ships are now! They could be on the other side of the galaxy for all we know!" John argued back.

"But there are three here," she said sternly, but not as an argument this time. She hated seeing him like this. It was like he had died inside.

He sighed, "They're at the bottom of the ocean."

"Atlantis survived there for ten thousand years," she pointed out.

"When the shield was in place."

"How can you be so sure that the shields inside the Wraith ships have not kept them alive?" Teyla pressed, her voice becoming soft. "They could still be saved."

"Caldwell—"

"I don't care what he says! What does your heart say? The John Sheppard I knew wouldn't accept defeat so easily."

He ran the palm of his hand wearily across his face. She was right. But it just didn't seem possible. It had been hours…and it was now dark out…the chances in his mind were extremely low. He couldn't imagine them going to those ships and finding Elizabeth alive.

"You can't be serious," Caldwell stated, his arms crossed over in front of him.

"And yet… I am," John responded trying to remain calm. He had finally decided he should at least check the sunken sections of the Wraith ships surrounding Atlantis. After Teyla had brought it up, it had been all that he could think of. Sheppard's mind had been racing at the thought of it.

Caldwell had a disgusted look on his face, "I think you're letting your emotions interfere. You're starting to sound like a civilian."

"Do you understand exactly how many people we lost? All of them important to this expedition. They can't be replaced," Sheppard told the colonel putting great emphasis on the last part.

"Actually, they can and they /will/ be replaced," Colonel Caldwell told him. "Just like you can be replaced. No one is absolutely invaluable."

"Eli—Doctor Weir would say different," he argued getting angry.

"Doctor Weir is dead, Colonel," Caldwell told him leaning against the desk and staring into Sheppard's eyes.

John stood up, "Why don't you take the Daedalus and just leave?"

Glaring, he asked, "Is that an order?"

"Yeah, I think it is."

"No one's put you in charge," Caldwell pointed out. "I outrank you."

Tilting his head a bit John spoke up again, "I think the Wraith did when they wiped out most of our personnel. The Daedalus is /your/ responsibility. Atlantis isn't." He glared at Caldwell, "We /will/ be investigating those Wraith ships. It's a chance to possibly find and rescue some of our people."

"A chance," Colonel Caldwell repeated levelly as he straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. "There's no hope they're down there, let alone /alive/."

"There's a possibility, so there is hope."

Caldwell dropped his arms, "Is that what you're relying on now? Hope?"

"If it works," John said, "Then yes."

"So, does this mean you want me to take the Daedalus and leave?"

"If you're not gonna help, then yes."

Colonel Caldwell shook his head at Sheppard and then left.

TBC…