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: 8 "The Resuce"

Author's Notes: none.

The water flooded cell had become silent since they had felt the ship's hull groan and add the two additional feet of water. It was dark; the lighting that was still active made the ripples of the invading water dance across the ceiling. Everyone knew what everyone else was thinking. No one was coming to save them. They were all going to die and there was no hope of any kind of survival. They were at the bottom of the ocean; even if they weren't trapped there was no way they could make it to the surface alive.

The ship let out a horrendous groan making Rodney think the end was coming. He held Elizabeth tightly, keeping her head above water, just as a wave of water crashed into the cell causing almost all of the occupants to let out screams. "No one came up with a genius plan to escape yet, have they?" Rodney called out panicked. But when people stared back at him, he just got more worked up. "Me saving the day in these kinds of situations only works when Sheppard's here," Rodney informed them. "I-I suppose everyone should like to make amends for sins and all that now…"

"Sheppard!" one of the female scientists called out.

Rodney rolled his eyes in response, his voice echoing how stupid he thought the person was, "Yelling 'Sheppard' isn't going to trick me," he informed them. "My brain's not going to kick into 'great genius escape plans' mode."

"Why not!"

Blinking, Rodney suddenly wondered if he had lost it. He knew John Sheppard's voice when he heard it. "Good, maybe I'm already dead," he mumbled as he rubbed his face, forgetting that he was helping hold Elizabeth up. But when everyone shouted at him, he immediately grabbed her and hoisted her back up.

Sheppard and his team now included four additional military personnel and two scientists which they had found in a previous cell. "Okay, everyone to the back of the cell!" he yelled. "We're going to try and blow the door." Of course, that was if the water didn't interfere. Giving the group the chance to move back, John surveyed the group. Most looked tired, worn, and pale if not blue. And then he saw Elizabeth. She was alive, she had to be… Otherwise why would they be going to so much trouble of keeping her head above water?

John and his team moved back away from the door and watched it blow from a safe distance before he ordered people to help those inside the cell. He moved to the opening and looked toward Rodney. "How's she doing?" he asked worry filling his voice.

"Not good," Rodney informed him and looked at Elizabeth's limp body as Ivan took her and carefully passed her through to the Marines waiting on the other side. "She hasn't been conscious for a while…"

Moving over to the Marines, John took her from them and tried his best to carry her, so she wouldn't be dragged, and yet keep her head above the water also. They needed to find where the jumper was…hopefully it was in their section… John wasn't sure though if they could handle the jumper punching in and letting more water in, let alone the fact that that would also flood the jumper. "The next section isn't very flooded," John said aloud. "Let's try and even things out," he suggested. Treading water was far preferred over practically having to swim. He watched as the Marines got the new additions to their group to move in the direction to the next section. He watched as a small smirk formed on his lips as the Marines grouped the scientists together. He followed them wanting to be able to go slowly with Elizabeth.

Most of what had to be done luckily could be done without him; John found out, as he watched the Marines and scientists work on a blocked access to the other section. He leaned against a wall so that when the water started to break through into the next section that he and Elizabeth wouldn't be dragged under. The water level started to sink as more debris was moved. He forced himself to brace for it, and heard the Marines passing along the same sentiment to the scientists just in case they weren't aware of what happened when you changed the pressure between rooms.

The quick rush of water past them leveling out to about waist mid thigh level and the slight yell from scientists gave John the sign that it was a good time to move into the next section. "Okay, let's wall it up," he said and motioned for Rodney to come to him before he passed off Elizabeth not waning to hear Rodney go on about how they aren't about brute force like the military members. Helping the Marines move the large pieces of debris back in place, John nodded at their work once the water had stopped flowing into the section they were now in. "Let's just hope the jumper's around here…or coming to this section," John said aloud before walking over and taking Elizabeth from Rodney. He picked her up, cradling her gently in his arms. This was much easier to deal with; water was easier to walk in when he wasn't worrying about Elizabeth's head going under water.

The jumper had been waiting for them, and had even taken on a bit of water, not too much, just enough to make the floors a bit slippery. Zelenka had started to go off in Czech afraid that it would damage the jumper's circuitry, but Carson had tried to assure him that if they hadn't been electrocuted yet, then it was unlikely that the small pool of water would harm them.

"We can't be waiting here for too long. They might not know we're here," Carson explained.

"They might not even be here," Zelenka added.

"MOVE!"

Carson's ears perked at the sound of Sheppard's voice. "I think they're here." When a wave of scientists followed by Marines and then Sheppard carrying a very blue looking Weir approached, Carson tried to get everyone into the jumper before moving forward to check on Weir. "She doesn't look good at all," he commented feeling for a pulse and almost surprised by the pulse that he felt. It wasn't as weak or non-existent as he had thought it would be. "Let's get her in," he said motioning for Sheppard to move inside as well.

John carefully laid Elizabeth on the floor of the jumper and sat on his knees on one side of her watching as Carson began to pull blankets out and medical supplies he had brought along. "She's going to be alright, right Carson?" he asked desperate for some kind of hope.

"I don't know yet," Carson told him as he examined her quickly.

"She has to be okay," Rodney chimed in as he and the other scientists sat closely together trying to gain some warmth even though they were all chilled from the cold water. "She's held on for this long… I-I told her Sheppard would save us…"

John looked from Rodney and then back down at Elizabeth's still, frozen looking, cold form. "Elizabeth, can you hear me?" he asked loudly wanting to let her know he was there. Maybe it would make some kind of difference? Maybe she would keep holding on until they could get her back to Atlantis and the whole medical team and all its equipment and tools could be at Carson's disposal.

"Her core temperature is very low," Carson reported. "I dun'no think she'll make it…"

"It won't take us that long for us to get her back to Atlantis," Sheppard argued. "As soon as we get to the surface, the Daedalus can lock onto her and beam her into Atlantis or onboard the Daedalus in their infirmary. She'll make it."

Carson's forehead wrinkled and his face grim, "It's not a matter of saving her life once we get there. It's a matter of holding her on for that long. I doubt Elizabeth has much longer. It's doubtful she'd recover from this even with immediate treatment, she was just down here too long," Carson tried to explain as gently as possible.

"There has to be SOMETHING you can do for her!" John argued.

Rodney got up from his seat and walked over to them, "None of us were affected like Elizabeth was! There has to be SOMETHING you can do for her! You've GOT to!"

Carson sighed and tried to wrap Elizabeth tightly in the blankets. "The rest of ya all kept moving and stayed awake, and no doubtingly had to put up with you, Rodney… No wonder no one else could sleep…Elizabeth's probably learned to tune it out."

"HEY!"

"I need some room!" Carson yelled looking between John and Rodney. "Now both of ya, at least a meter and a half away!" he ordered needing room to think and to go through his medical kit. There was only so much he had room to pack in the bag, and suddenly he was thinking of things that he needed that he didn't have with him. He tossed a bag of saline to John, "Get this warm," he ordered. "I dun'no care if you put it under your shirt or what, but I need it warm… Maybe we can get her warmed up before her temperature drops any lower…"

John nodded quickly before doing just what Carson said. He dropped his wet vest and jacket and held it close to his chest, trying to make it warm by moving his arms up and down over it. He'd do anything to save Elizabeth…or even just to give her a chance to hang on just a bit longer. She deserved it, and he wasn't going to let her down.

TBC…