"Lieutenant Cavanaugh! Lieutenant, where the hell are you!"

Holly could hear someone calling her name, but she had no idea where she was. Where there had once been light in the ship was darkness. Completely desolate darkness. There was a certain eerieness to it, and it had blanketed Holly and her team in a matter of nanoseconds. "Major Lorne!" she called out to the empty void. "I'm here!"

She could hear scuffling feet on the floor, and spun around toward the sound. Raising her gun at the same time, she placed her finger on the trigger. She was ready to shoot. It was then that the lights suddenly came back on and, much to the woman's relief, Major Lorne was standing in front of her, although in the same position. Had they been scared enough, they probably would have killed each other.

"Did you find them?" Holly asked almost immediately, her long blonde hair falling messily into her face. Lorne was pale, and clearly taken aback. "Major, have you found them?"

"Negative," he answered with a heavy sigh.

Holly's face went blank, and she appeared disappointed. "We'll find them, Lorne," she told him, the smile on her face obviously forced. It sounded like she was only trying to reassure herself, not him.

Lorne sighed again and nodded. He tapped the side of the communication unit connected to his ear. "SGA-2, abort the mission and head back to the jumper. We're going back to Atlantis. Lorne out." When he had finished the message, the man placed a hand on Holly's shoulder. "You're right, Lieutenant. We'll find them."

He was only trying to make her feel better. She knew that.

It only took the puddle jumper about a half hour to reach the city once more. Lorne flew it expertly down into the jumper bay, making a minor adjustment here and there when he went to land it, and once they had reached the ground and shut things down, the hatch was opened. The other half of the SGA-2 team, two men who appeared quite antisocial most of the time, were off in an instant. Holly stayed in the co-pilot's seat as Lorne stood.

"Lieutenant?"

Holly's blue eyes looked up to him. She had a defeated look on her face, which was not normal for her. The happy, bright, always-the-optimist Holly Cavanaugh was giving up. "Yes, Major?"

Lorne had never been good at the heart-to-heart things. He, like many other men in general, avoided topics that dealt with feelings. He hesitantly pat her on the shoulder. "We'll find them. It might take time, but we'll find them." He managed a small smile, but Holly merely nodded. He turned and left out the jumper hatch, leaving Holly in her misery.

She emerged moments later and headed down to the infirmary for a quick check-up. Dr. Carson Beckett and his assistant were patiently waiting her arrival. "Where are the others?" she asked when she got there.

"They left," answered Beckett's assistant, Dr. Marino. "Ten minutes ago."

"Oh," Holly replied with an uneasy smile. She hadn't realized how long she had been sitting in the puddle jumper before. Hopping up on the bed, the physical commenced, but Holly's mind clearly wasn't there. She was thinking about other things, and although Dr. Marino knew nothing, Dr. Beckett had an idea of what was going on.

When they had finished her exam, he looked at Dr. Marino. "Eva, love, could yeh make sure I put Major Lorne's files away in the proper spot?" Dr. Marino glanced at Holly, then Beckett again. He nodded, and she headed into his office. "A'right, Lieutenant. Talk t'me."

"About what?" the blonde woman asked with a blank expression.

"Dun gimme that," Beckett replied, pointing a finger accusingly at her. The Scottish doctor knew her better than she knew herself when it came to such matters. It was plain to see, at least plain to anyone with two eyes and a bit of common sense. "Ah know how yer feelin' right now. 'Bout the colonel 'n all."

Holly's face flushed and she opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out.

Beckett grinned a bit, but looked like he was sympathizing. "Holly, matters o' the heart can be dangerous, 'specially when it comes t' things like this." He paused and sighed, placing a hand on her arm. "He's yer commandin' officer," he began.

"Carson, I know," Holly snapped, rubbing her eyes. "Look, the last thing I want -- or need -- is a lecture right now. So, if you please, just clear me? Am I healthy or not?" Her eyes were weary, and she looked awfully thin. She probably hadn't eaten or slept much in days, judging by the looks of her grim appearance.

"If by 'healthy' yeh mean 'not dead or infected by some disease,' then aye. Yer healthy. But Ahm not clearing yeh fer anymore missions, Holly. Yeh need somethin' t' eat, and yeh need some sleep. Maybe in a few days Ah'll decide t' let yeh back out there again."

"No! Carson!" Holly's eyes filled with water. "You can't! Please! I can't be off the missions roster! What the hell am I going to do in the meantime, huh? Please, Carson!" she pleaded, frowning heavily when he shook his head. He appeared to feel bad about the decision, but all Holly could see was a heartless doctor trying to torment her.

Carson Beckett sighed heavily. "Ahm sorry, love, but it's for yer own good. Get some rest and eat something; yeh look dreadful." He forced a small smile, trying to cheer her up, even though he knew better. "They'll find 'im, with or without yeh. Just have a li'l bit of faith, and get back to yer old self. They'll be back soon."

Still looking thoroughly upset, Holly hopped off the bed and sighed heavily. "I know," she told him. It was true; she knew it was only a matter of time before they found Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay, but that didn't mean she wasn't worried. "It's just, you know, I miss -- them." She had hesitated momentarily, and Beckett knew what she was going to say, even if he didn't say so now.

His communication unit sprung to life and he jumped a bit, hearing a woman's voice on the other end. "Yes, Elizabeth. Ah'll be right there." He turned to look at Holly with a look of concern. "The Stargate was dialed from another world -- Dr. McKay is back on Atlantis. Ah need t' get down there."

"Wait! I'm coming!" Holly called as the doctor headed toward the door.

Carson spun around and placed a finger at her, pointing in a rather rude way. "No, Lieutenant," he told her sternly. "Ah didn't clear yeh fer duty, and Ah won't have yeh gettin' in the way. Ah said Dr. McKay was back, not the colonel. Go get some rest." Holly opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head and interrupted before she could speak. "Get some rest, Holly."

She frowned and watched the Scottish doctor leave, a look of pure disappointment on her face. She exhaled heavily and knew that she had to do as he had told her, but that didn't mean she was going to like it. "Yeah," she mumbled under her breath, running a hand through her long blonde locks. She sighed and headed out toward her room to get much needed rest.

But that didn't mean that rest would come easily.