"McKay?"
The light from the wormhole reflected on Rodney's still face.
John AND Carson? This can't be happening...they better not be dead...I'll kill them if they're dead...wait…I... I can't kill them if….
"McKay!"
Rodney jerked forward as Ronon elbowed him.
"Are you coming or not?" the warrior growled.
Returning to himself, Rodney glanced around watching as the search teams were gathering their gear; Lorne and his team had just disappeared through the wormhole and Teyla was standing nearby watching him and waiting.
"We're going to find them." Rodney murmured heaving his gear higher on his back, a look of sad determination on his face.
When he noticed Teyla and Ronon staring strangely at him, he frowned standing more erect.
"What?! I thought we were going?"
'That's the plan." said Ronon, smacking him on the shoulder and moving forward.
Teyla nodded and followed Ronon through the wormhole; and Rodney taking a deep breath, glanced over his shoulder up at the gate room where Woolsey stood watching and then he too stepped through the Gate.
"It's been two days and he is still unwell!" shouted Lucius.
Sarek the Healer cowered in a corner of the room. He was a young squirrel of a man with a mop of brown hair and watery blue eyes; he had received the title Healer after the death of his father Zale, who had been a mediocre healer at best but was well known throughout the village, when Lucius had come to the planet years before.
"Sovereign, please… I amtrying but he's not responding to my medicine."
"Then try something else." sneered Lucius.
"I've tried everything, I…"
"Don't make me sorry that I allowed you to follow in your father's footsteps!" the tall man hissed.
The healer's eyes widened at Lucius' glare; he knew that look.
Nostalgia, more than experience had gained him a place in the Daravilus household and the young healer could not allow that sentiment to falter; his mother and younger siblings relied on him for their survival.
Sarek grabbed the bag resting by his feet.
"This was found with the man brought in with your son, it looks to be some sort of medicine; let me test them and I will find a way to help him."
Lucius' eyes narrowed and he motioned for the bag; Sarek hesitantly stepped forward and rested it on the table in front of him then backed away forcing a smile.
"You have spoken about your sons before, Sovereign. I thank the Ancestors that one of them has been returned to you."
Lucius looked up from the contents of the bag, the dark flash of his eyes settling on the healer.
"Would you like to thank them in person?"
Sarek froze, "No... Sovereign. I...I would not."
Lucius huffed then turned back to the table glancing at the bag with the foreign bottles inside; ignoring Sarek who stood trembling nearby.
"Bring this medicine man. I will talk with him."
Woolsey sat in his chair, head back eyes closed rubbing his temples, he had just heard back from Dr. Keller. They had been checking the DNA of the bodies from the planet that were too badly burnt for a positive i.d. and thankfully John and Carson were not among them.
So now it was a waiting game. If they weren't on the planet, where were they?
Six teams had begun searching the planets the Ulatai DHD dialed out that day, but he knew the search could take a long time.
He hoped wherever John and Carson were that they could hold on, they wouldn't be left behind…not if he could help it.
"Why won't ya tell me where…"
The guard grabbed Carson roughly by the arm and pushed him into the room. Hopping forward trying to stay off his hurt leg, Carson grabbed onto the table in front of him to steady himself.
"A healer and a cripple!" boomed a voice from a corner of the room.
He looked up to find a man built like a lumberjack holding a silver goblet and smiling at him.
Breathing heavily, the doctor stared at the large man, then at the goblet then back at the man again.
"You are thirsty, I gather? Well we must put a stop to that right away!"
Lucius walked over to a side table and poured water from a pitcher into a small cup and handed it to Carson, who ignoring his predicament for a moment grabbed the cup and drank greedily; the water, an ambrosia after going so long without. When he finished he licked his lips and looked longingly at the pitcher.
"More?" smiled Lucius. "Not yet…sit."
"Where am I?" asked Carson.
"Maybe you didn't hear me the first time. I said…sit."
Carson blinked sensing the violence in the man in front of him, then grabbed onto a nearby chair and eased himself into it.
"What's your name?" asked the man, his eyes never leaving Carson's.
"I…" the man's laser stare was unnerving. "C-Carson Beckett."
Lucius nodded, then reached over and pulled the medical bag from a nearby shelf and slowly dropped it on the table between them.
"These are medicines, I presume?"
Carson's eyes lit up and he grabbed at the bag, going through its contents; some of them were smashed, but some looked fine.
"Yes! Where did ya find it?"
"It was with you when you were found; I assume you are indeed a healer then?"
"Wha..? Yes…yes I am."
"And where do you hail from, healer? I know of the Ulatai people, you don't seem like one of them…the way you speak…"
Carson hesitated.
"You don't want to lie to me." stated Lucius sensing Carson's reluctance.
The doctor paused a moment longer.
"Atlantis" he sighed.
"Atlantis?" smiled Lucius, eyebrows raised. "The great city of the Ancestors? I highly doubt that. I found you in the tattered clothing you're wearing covered in mud in a farming village; you are no Ancestor."
Carson winced at the throbbing in his leg glancing down at what was left of his uniform. It was barely recognizable even to himself; no Atlantis insignia remained. He pressed his fingers against his temples for a moment trying to dull the pressure of the pounding his head was taking; the side of his hair was matted down with crusted blood.
"I'm tellin' ya the truth. Did…did ya find someone else with me? Dressed like me?" he asked softly, his eyes unconsciously flicking to the water pitcher and back to Lucius.
"What? Half naked and muddy?" chuckled Lucius.
Carson squinted, lowering his hands, confused.
"No…no. The man...he's taller than me, slimmer …"
Lucius was intrigued. "And how do you know this man?"
"He's ma friend."
"And this friend of yours...also from Atlantis I presume?"
Carson swallowed, trying to quell the nausea he was feeling and slowly nodded. "Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard." he whispered.
Lucius' eyes flashed as he burst into condescending laughter.
"Is that what he told you? You must not believe everything you hear, healer!"
Carson frowned, glancing around the room; noticing the eclectic array of books, curios, statues and fabric from what looked like many different cultures.
Where was he?
"I jus' wanna make sure he's okay." he pleaded.
Lucius motioned toward the bag and nodded.
"You'll need to treat him as he has yet to return to himself; but healer, if he leaves this world to be with the real Ancestors, I promise you …you will join him soon after."
-tbc-