Title: Lost

Author: atlantis child (Command Dynamics), innocent choir girl The Wraith return to Atlantis again. Spoilers for all seasons one and two.

Genres: Angst, Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Missing Scene

Warnings: Abuse, Character Death, Torture, Violence

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 5 "Rest Needed"

Author's Notes: Sorry it's taken so long! My brain's been on vacation…and I swear still is! So, the chapter's a bit shorter than usual.

What do you want now, Colonel?

Caldwell did not sound very happy, but Sheppard really didn't care at the moment. "We might need your help, Colonel."

Oh now you need my help… And here I was under the impression that you wanted me gone… Make up your mind, Sheppard.

"We need your help to mount a rescue mission," Sheppard explained.

That would be a waste of time. Those people are long dead.

He swore Caldwell just wanted to let them die so that he could get command of Atlantis. "We're only asking you to use your transporter to transport a jumper with a team under the water… We understand that you can't get a lock on the ships and the people inside."

Sheppard, are you asking me to assist you on a suicide mission? Because we know damn well that there could be Wraith crawling in those sunken ships…

"I'm asking for assistance. I'll die in my own way and in my own time," he said annoyed.

John sat in the medical bay waiting for Carson Beckett. Zelenka and his team were doing the last adjustments to retrofitting the puddle jumper to make sure it would be completely ready for water travel. They would be using the Daedalus' transporter to get under the water only because it would limit the trauma to the jumper and the team that would be inside. He knew diving into the water could cause quite an impact.

"Have ya been waiting long, Colonel?" Carson asked walking over to the man.

Looking up, being brought away from his thoughts, John tried to smile. It was a small smile and a fake one, but it was still there. "I was wondering if you'd come with us… It'll be a bit of a tight squeeze, but Weir and McKay are down there… One of them could be seriously injured…and you know how Rodney is if he gets even a paper cut."

"Aye…you'd need your team to tie'em up to save him to himself." Carson nodded wearily and then went to pulling out what he would need to take with him. "If we're going to be a tight squeeze with the rescue team, then wha'dya plan on doing when we get to the survivors?" he asked looking over at Sheppard. There were flaws in the man's plans, but he figured that it was just because he was so concerned about Weir.

"They'll be another shuttle…it's going to take time to make everything work…" John sighed and rubbed his face, "I just hope we have enough time…"

"Have you slept?" Carson asked.

John nodded, "I slept."

"When?"

Shrugging his shoulders, John held in a yawn. He hadn't slept much at all since he had returned to Atlantis from the jumper…the sleep he had managed was littered with nightmares and he had woken up panting and in a sweat. Images of what he may find at the bottom of Atlantica's ocean scared the hell out of him.

"John," Carson said, his voice gentle and the voice of a friend, as he set his hand on his friend's shoulder, "You won't do any of them any good unless you get some rest."

"We're leaving soon…"

"Then just a wee bit of rest."

John nodded and mumbled a promise before dragging himself up and heading for the door. He had no intention of sleeping, it was only hours away before they needed to go and try to get to Elizabeth. He wasn't going to sleep until he had Elizabeth back on Atlantis safe and sound. There was just no way he'd be able to actually sleep until that happened, and he knew when it ultimately did happen that he'd most likely sleep for three days straight.

TBC…