John's team was in the infirmary watching Jennifer pour over Lorne's medical reports. They were all standing around his bed eyeing the Major with pity and a sense of trepidation.

"I'm not dying guys, you can relax." Lorne snarked, pain still evident in his movements.

"I'm not, right?"

He glanced up at Jennifer who gave him a small smile, resting the forms down.

"I'll need to run a few more tests, but no you're not dying." she smiled, "However, you have been through an ordeal that…"

"I feel fine." he sighed.

Jennifer held his wrist to check his pulse and frowned when Lorne flinched, pulling his arm away.

"Major?" concern flashed in her eyes.

He looked confused. "Sorry, I don't know why I did that."

Rodney frowned, "Beckett and Sheppard don't like to be touched either."

"Are you saying I'm going to end up like them?" The worry was evident in Lorne's voice.

"No, no; I don't believe so." replied Jennifer. "You were attacked for several seconds, they most likely for a much longer period of time."

"Major, do you remember anything about the attack?" Teyla asked.

Lorne paused for a moment, brows furrowed. "I…I was in the six position keeping an eye out, when…" he grimaced, "It felt like a truck hit me, then…nothing really."

"It attacked quickly," nodded Teyla. "By the time we ran back, it was fully on top of you…you were screaming."

"Who wouldn't be screaming?" Rodney chimed in. "If that had happened to me, I'd still be screaming." he shuddered.

"Rodney!" chided Jennifer, nodding towards Lorne.

"What?" he looked at Jennifer then down at Lorne who was beginning to look queasy. "Oh, right… never mind."

Ronon grunted and grasped Rodney's shoulder pulling back from the head of the bed and taking his place.

"What else did it do to him?" Ronon asked.

"Well, besides the head wound when he fell, there's heavy bruising on his chest; and these…they're already starting to heal but some small round puncture wounds were found on either side of his body and head; most likely from the legs of the…"

She was pointing out the wounds then stopped, noticing Lorne had paled dramatically.

"Major?" Teyla leaned towards Lorne who had started to tremble slightly, his eyes unfocused.

"I-I remember something...a rush…l-like I was in a-a riptide..." he started to breathe faster.

"I couldn't see…c-couldn't breathe! I-I felt l-like I was being torn apart!"

His breath was hitching now. "There…there was a sound…I d-don't know…but…but it…"

"Okay, it's okay." Jennifer tried to stop him, worried about the Major's sudden down grade.

"No…NO! It was loud…so loud! And I couldn't…I-I couldn't..!"

Lorne started to hyperventilate, his body shaking; hands clenching and unclenching, his eyes wide.

"Major!" shouted Jennifer. "Calm down! It's okay, you're safe! Slow your breathing for me…Major Lorne!"

She reached out and touched his arm hoping to ground him when Lorne, suddenly lunged at her.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" he screamed.

Jennifer jumped back as Ronon grabbed the now struggling Lorne and threw him back down on the bed; holding him there as a flustered Jennifer quickly prepared a sedative.

"Can't breathe….can't breathe!" Lorne shouted.

Ronon held onto him until Jennifer injected the sedative, then he quickly let go and backed away from the bed.

Seconds later, Lorne was out; everyone breathing a nervous sigh of relief.

"What the hell was that?" Rodney asked Jennifer, "I thought you said he was okay!"

"Rodney…" started Teyla.

"No, no! She said he was okay. That…was not okay!"

"Rodney!" Jennifer took a deep breath to calm herself as she checked Lorne's pupils and pulse, then turned to the frazzled scientist.

"Major Lorne is okay, but he's been through something traumatic. He's going to need some time."

Rodney made to say something else, but stopped at the expression on everyone's face.

"Sure, fine…but that definitely wasn't okay." he muttered.

"Is he awake?"

John sighed and opened his eyes, gritting his teeth at the sight of the people in the room. He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath, when he re-opened them they hadn't moved but were now staring at him inquisitively.

He stared back, the strain of uncertainty frustrating him. If these people were delusions, then his mind had broken after the healer had betrayed him and he in turn had betrayed his own father. Maybe he was still in the clearing babbling to no one, his mind gone. Or, maybe this was real and the healer's people had decided to take him and hold him for ransom...to a father who had left him behind with no love, no worth and no pride.

No ransom would ever be paid.

He thought of everything his father had worked for now all gone, and a feeling of regret washed over him; he should have killed Arex. Maybe he still could, if he could find a way out of this place and figure out where the traitor went.

Then he'd hunt down the betrayer…he'd make his father proud of him. He'd…

"Colonel?"

John flinched, his eyes flicking to the end of the bed where a man stood, balding, with an authority to his stance. He was standing next to the woman doctor who was eyeing him nervously.

John's eyes narrowed at the new face.

Woolsey nodded to Teyla and Ronon who were sitting close by, Rodney had chosen to check in on Carson. Woolsey had hoped the Colonel would be back to his senses by now, but the man before him lay dripping with suspicion and anger.

"I'm going to cut to the chase, Colonel. My name is Richard Woolsey, I am the Commander here on Atlantis….and yes you truly are here…none of this is a delusion."

John scoffed, "Delusion…abduction…" he muttered under his breath.

Woolsey frowned, pausing for a moment before continuing.

"You were abducted a few months ago, but by a man named Lucius Daravilus, we found you and have brought you here, brought you home."

"Home?" chuckled John, incredulously.

"Yes, home. I…I need to ask you about Doctor Beckett." Woolsey glanced at Ronon and Teyla who were eyeing him warily.

"We hoped you would have mentioned him first, but you haven't and we're not sure why; whether it's that you don't remember him…or for other reasons."

"Woolsey." Ronon growled softly, a warning in the air.

The older man's eyes flicked to the Satedan then back to John.

"Well?" Woolsey asked, his stoic façade slowly fading under John's laser stare.

"Arex is here?" John asked, his voice was low…dark.

Woolsey recalled Odalia telling them that was name given to Carson by Lucius.

"Yes he is, but he hasn't spoken since we brought you both home and we'd like to know why. We need to know what happened to you; why….why you had his blood all over you."

A slow smirk crept across John's face.

"I'm surprised the traitor refuses to speak, now that he's home among his own." he muttered.

"Traitor?" asked Teyla moving to the side of the bed. "What did he do, John?"

"Why don't you ask him? Oh wait…" John smiled, his eyes slowly turning flat. "He betrayed me and my father."

"That man was not your father, Colonel." sighed Woolsey, remembering what Odalia had told them.

"And why would I believe you?" asked John dryly.

"Would you believe me?" came a warbled voice from the doorway to the room.

John's eyes widened as the old woman stood in the doorway, then slowly walked towards the bed, the door sliding shut behind her.

"Odalia?" John whispered, confusion and astonishment splashing across his face.

Odalia smiled at Woolsey as she stopped at the head of the bed, then turned her gaze to John and softly placed her hand on his restrained arm.

John stared at her, his eyes warily flicking to the others in the room, then back.

"How are you here? I looked for you! Why are…"

"I'm came to see you, Nah…John…John Sheppard. This…" she circled one finger in the air. "This is all very real. These people are your friends and only want what's best for you because they care about you."

John's eyes bored into hers, the confusion she saw there made her frown, a sigh on her lips.

He pulled his arm away from her touch. "I couldn't find you…you just left." he muttered.

"My boy, Lucius didn't give me much of a choice. He forced me to leave so he could have you all to himself; to mold you to his own liking. He changed you….made you forget yourself…your friends."

"Friends?" snarled John. "My father…"

"No." said Odalia; her voice quiet but stern cutting off John's rant.

"You are not Lucius' son. I should know, I was there when both his sons were born. You knew who you were before…you told me, you begged me to help get you and the healer back here to Atlantis…your home."

John pulled against the restraints, his eyes flicking to the others in the room then back to Odalia.

"Why are lying?" he hissed.

"Lying?" replied Odalia sadly. "Now why would I lie?"

As John continued to glare at her, she sighed then turned to Woolsey who earlier had allowed her to see Lucius' pet that they had brought back to Atlantis. She had cried out in horror then sadness at seeing it; imagining all those who had been hurt by the monstrous thing.

"He may need to see it for himself, to see what Lucius did to him." she stated.

Woolsey started to open his mouth, then shut it and nodded.

"Sir, I don't recommend it, he shouldn't …" started Jennifer but Woolsey's hand on her shoulder and slight shake of his head cut off her argument.

"We'll set it up." his smile was tight as John's angry stare turned on him.

-tbc-