Ronon muttered softly in his sleep on the too small cot in the back room the tavern owner had generously offered him, after seeing the look in his eyes. He'd tell the local patrons later that it was the look of a man angry enough to punch through mountains, and that he had no choice but to give him a place to rest for the evening.

He was looking for his lost friends…from Atlantis.

Yes, the ancient city.

I don't know, maybe he was lying…but I wasn't about to call him on it. You didn't see how big he was…or how drunk.

Another fruitless search, another hundred heads all shaking no to Sheppard and Beckett's whereabouts; but someone had to know. The weeks had turned into months, anger and frustration clashing in Ronon. He had promised himself he would not return without his friends…and he would keep that promise, but it was starting to take its toll…

"Dr. McKay?"

Woolsey entered the lab looking around for Rodney. Zelenka, working at a nearby computer pointed to a pair of legs sticking out from under a table in the corner of the room.

"He's been under there "fixing" that instrument for most of the day, now." he whispered to Woolsey. Woolsey nodded moving forward, stopping when the Czech scientist touched his arm.

"He's not okay." said Radek, and Woolsey heard the concern in his voice.

"I know." he replied.

The Atlantis leader made his way over to the table and cleared his throat.

"Dr. McKay?" He heard muttering coming from under the table and the clinking of metal against metal.

"Rodney, a moment?"

With an exasperated sigh, Rodney appeared from under the table giving Woolsey an annoyed side glance, then sat down at a nearby computer and started typing.

"I thought I would come by to check on you, to see how you were doing."

The typing continued.

"So…?" urged Woolsey.

Rodney stopped typing and turned to him, his voice cold. "Don't you think I would have come to you if I had found them?"

Woolsey frowned. "I…no, that's not why I'm here."

Rodney turned back to his computer.

The older man sighed, Zelenka was right.

"I'll leave you to work then, I'm going to see how Teyla's doing; I'm concerned about you both."

Rodney snorted softly, but as Woolsey turned to go he murmured, "She's not in her quarters, check the infirmary."

"How long has she been here?"

"Most of the day." sighed Jennifer to Woolsey, as they both watched Teyla who was sound asleep in a chair next to the bed where an unconscious lieutenant lay.

"She caused it?" he asked, pointing to the lieutenant.

Jennifer shrugged. "I heard he made the mistake of voicing his opinion about the Colonel and Dr. Beckett. An opinion only he seemed to share mind you, in front of some others but in earshot of Teyla.

Woolsey looked curiously at Jennifer.

"That after this long, they were probably dead."

He hissed, shaking his head.

"The others he spoke to didn't agree of course, and one of them told the lieutenant here to keep his mouth shut. As they moved off they saw Teyla lingering nearby, then later he was found at the bottom of a stairwell, unconscious. I…I don't know if she hurt him, but he'll be fine."

Woolsey nodded than walked over to the sleeping Athosian.

"Teyla?"

Teyla opened her eyes right away, and Woolsey saw a weariness in them that broke his heart. She stared at him, then glanced over at the man on the bed.

"I did not hurt him, I found him like this and called for help."

"Okay, I believe you." said Woolsey.

Teyla's eyes flicked back to his. "After all the other men I have put here, I would think you would not."

Woolsey came to a decision at that moment. This was not the Teyla he knew… and Dr. McKay…they both were suffering and there was only one thing he could think of that would help.

"Teyla, do you know where Ronon is?"

"It's late...what are you doing up?"

Carson looked up to find John in the doorway to the kitchen.

The quiet man quickly hid the apple he was about to eat behind his back, and lowered his eyes.

John sighed, "You can speak to me, Arex; you know I won't judge you."

"M-M'lord, I..."

"It's okay, you can eat the fruit."

John shuffled over to the table and sat down heavily, tiredly rubbing his face with his hand.

"Why are you up, Arex?"

Carson slowly put the apple on the table and hesitantly sat next to John.

"Bad dream…" he whispered.

John looked at him. "Tell me."

Carson's eyes flicked around the room, then back to John.

"I think…I dreamt of …A-Atlantis..."

John face darkened. "Stop."

"But I…y-you were there and…"

John slammed his fist on the table.

"We knew each other from before...but come on, Atlantis? You had a nightmare, that's all, the delusions from our injuries coming back to mess with you!"

"No…" Carson's eyes were wide, "I...I remember a name…T-Teyla!"

John flinched...an image of a woman flashing through his mind.

"A-and...there were shining towers, m'lord..." rushed Carson, finding his voice and wanting to get it all out.

"A man with ...I canna remember his..."

John stood up quickly, knocking his chair over.

"Stop it!" he hissed. "You don't want me to get better! I'm home…my father has accepted me back! I can't mess up again with that crap…so, cut it out!"

Carson lowered his eyes to the ground, frightened by John's outburst.

"I-I'm sorry…y-you're right...th-they were just dreams…"

John glared at him for a moment, then exhaled heavily and nodded, his anger slowly waning. He stepped forward and forced a smile, resting his hand on Carson's shoulder.

"I just want what's right for both of us, Arex. I hope you want the same."

Carson quickly nodded. "I-I do m'lord….I'm sorry…G-goodnight."

"Night."

John turned and watched as Carson limped from the room; he sighed grabbing the apple Carson left on the table and took a bite, moments later throwing the apple aside it leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

The shining towers…

He had had those dreams too…

John leaned against the table placing his face in his hands; an uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty slipping over him.

Teyla and Rodney sat across from Woolsey in his office quietly staring at him. Uncomfortable, Woolsey adjusted his glasses; a quiet Teyla he almost understood, but a silent McKay was just…off.

"With our enemies quiet, I should have allowed this sooner, but with no leads and the trail gone cold…" he squirmed under Rodney's icy stare. "Which…was no one's fault in the least..." He looked over at Teyla who stared back at him flatly.

"I know Ronon wanted to be on his own to find Sheppard and Beckett, but it's been months with no word from him…and both of you don't seem to be fairing…"

"Will you let us go and search for Ronon?" asked Teyla a spark lighting her eyes.

Woolsey sighed and nodded. "You're a team and you need each other."

"Oh that just dawned on you, now?" Rodney asked snidely as he stood and stomped from the room.

Teyla and Woolsey watched him go then she stood turning to the older man.

"When can we leave?"

"As soon as Major Lorne and his…"

"Mr. Woolsey." Teyla's voice was smooth, low.

"Let Rodney and I go on our own…for now. I can find Ronon, but if he is close to an answer and armed men show up with us…"

"They can protect you."

Teyla smiled. "Please. Give us this chance, if there are any problems we will contact Atlantis right away."

He considered her request then nodded and Teyla turned to leave.

"Teyla...Dr. McKay, he isn't much for nature…or people." Woolsey stated.

Teyla nodded. "I agree, but Col Sheppard and Dr. Beckett are his…Rodney needs them, he cannot stay behind again. We both cannot…let us go. I will watch after him."

Woolsey understood. "Go, but check in every 12 hours. Find Ronon, then find Sheppard and Beckett."

-tbc-