Carson struggled painfully forward, trying to keep up with the guard who was dragging him by the arm down the corridor as Lucius followed behind them.

"Please...lemme go back…he needs ma help!" Carson called out.

They arrived at a room at the end of the corridor and the guard pushed Carson inside.

"You will stay here until you are called for." stated Lucius.

The room was dimly lit, but an improvement over the cell like room that Carson had awoken to days before. He sat on the small cot, it and a small side table the only furniture in the room.

"Our people will find us…" started Carson. "Ya can't keep us here!"

Lucius stood in the doorway watching him.

"Anybody looking for you..." he pointed at the Scot, "Will never find you; I am a very careful man, healer. So no, your people won't find you. As for Nahkhan, no one will be coming for him, because he's already home."

"Ya can't do this!"

"You're a funny one...a crippled healer with a speech impediment, from the Ancestral city at that." Lucius chuckled, then narrowed his eyes. "You will be summoned again when needed." He left, the door locking behind him.

"Speech impediment?" Carson frowned.

The sun was high over the waters of Atlantis as Woolsey made his way down the hallway to the Gate room; he passed Jennifer who was on the way to the infirmary.

"Sir, any news?"

"No…no, nothing yet."

It had been more than a week since John and Carson's disappearance.

Woolsey coughed slightly. "How are things in the infirmary?"

"Busy…we're all hoping for Carson and the Colonel's safe return."

Woolsey nodded. "The search teams are still out there, we'll get them back."

Jennifer smiled sadly. "I know...I know we will."

Woolsey nodded to her then turned heading to his office hoping an update on the search awaited him.

No.

No…

…gotta save…

…they're screaming..!

…Torias...!

Run…

…Oh no….

Run!

"NO!"

John awoke with a shout.

Ulatai, the meteors…he remembered…

His breath hitched as a wave of guilt washed over him.

I should have been faster…

I could've…

I could've…

He froze, his eyes widening…

Carson.

There was a man with him.

John shuddered, pulling himself off the bed; fatigue clung to him and he staggered a few steps falling to his knees, then slowly pulled himself up and shuffled to the doorway...it was locked.

His hand went to his ear pressing for his comm link…

It wasn't there.

John slowly looked around the room, taking in his surroundings; catching his reflection in a nearby mirror, he froze, shocked.

He looked pale and haggard, his face itched with a small beard making him wonder how long he had been out for the count.

He slowly touched his face, then looked down at himself lightly touching the bandages across his body…he grabbed at his pants.

What the hell was he wearing?

His whole body ached as he turned to scan the room. It was large, with one small window placed high close to the ceiling; too high for him to reach, too small for him to escape from; books and curios of all kinds filled the room.

But where were his clothes...his weapon?

And where the hell was he?

He banged on the door.

"Hey!" he shouted.

The door flew open suddenly causing him to jump back in surprise.

The large man stood in the doorway.

"Well, it's good to see you finally up on your feet; an extra day of rest seems to have done you wonders!"

A day? It felt like he had just seen Carson moments before…

"Where's my friend?"

Lucius smiled, "Locked far from you for now. He spouts delusions about you and he being from the Ancestral city, can you believe that?"

John's eyes narrowed.

"We are from Atlantis, so if you don't want to make enemies of us, and believe me you don't, you'll let me contact my people right now."

Lucius stepped forward and John had to force himself not to take a step back. The man was massive but John refused to show him any fear.

"You were clumsy enough to fall off the bed, you were put back on...you were cared for...fed."

He motioned to the bed. John frowned at the empty bowl by the bedside; he didn't remember eating.

"I took you back in when I should have killed you the moment I saw you."

John looked up at the imposing man; maybe a change of tactics was needed.

"Okay…can you at least tell me where I am?" he tried to keep the anger and fatigue out of his voice.

"You are finally back where you belong." The man's words were flat, but there was a spark of something in his eyes that worried John, no comeback emanating from his lips.

They stared at each other for a moment, then the man slowly turned and closed and locked the door behind him; leaving John with his mind racing on just how he and Carson were going to get out of this mess.

Lucius headed to his sitting room for a drink; the balcony doors in the room were wide open, a small breeze billowing the nearby curtains.

"Who's there?" his voice was stern, questioning.

Moments later, an old woman, small in stature with long grey hair plaited into one slipped from the balcony into the room.

"I was just admiring the view Lucius, while I waited for you."

He sighed and poured himself a drink settling down in his oversized lounge chair.

"Odalia, you shouldn't enter here without my permission."

"I'm but an old woman, what harm can my presence do?" she smiled and sat across from Lucius. "How is Nahkhan feeling? The Ancestors have been so kind returning one of your sons to you. He seems…different though."

Lucius stared at his sons' wet nurse. Odalia had been like a mother to them, their true mother dying when they were very young. He had kept her on as she was a soothing presence for him reminding him of his own mother... a cool breeze that knew how to keep his fires at bay.

"Thank you for taking care of him, he will be back to his true self soon enough." Lucius sighed. Odalia had watched over John, using a damp cloth to ease the heat emanating off of him and giving him water and soft food when she could get it passed his lips.

He glanced at the open balcony doors then back at the old woman.

"The Ancestors have blessed me, the way I found him…and especially the day I found him. It was nothing short of a miracle."

Odalia leaned back in the chair.

"Nothing short of a miracle indeed." she smiled.

-tbc-