AN: Okay, this was a very, very rough chapter to write because I wanted to keep people In Character, but also take into consideration the fact that A. five years have passed since Atlantis returned to Earth. B. "Ghost in the Machine" kind of put Elizabeth and John slightly OOC. Also, if you all remember the episode "Remnants" John tortures himself. So I hope that this is acceptable.


Proof Positive

Jack felt the urge to stick his fingers in his ears and start humming, but he ignored it. Instead he focused his attention on Sheppard and put on his best 'I'm the man,' voice. "Colonel, somehow I seem to remember giving you some very good advice about not pissing Sha're off! Did I imagine that?"

John bit the inside of his lip to stop himself from mouthing off. "No, sir. However, in my defense I didn't mean to upset anyone. As you yourself said, the question needed to be asked."

Daniel shook his head. "I think it was Ronon admitting he had his weapon pointed at Elizabeth that's set the volcano off. He inadvertently challenged the family's honor. Maybe it might be a good idea if nobody points a weapon at anyone right now."

Ronon glared at Daniel. 'Why are guys like him considered so smart on earth?' he wondered. "I point my weapon at anyone who's a threat, Doctor Jackson. I don't care who it offends."

Daniel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He would have if Jack, Cam, John, or even Teal'c had given him that answer, but he sensed that underneath the pragmatic warrior shell, the younger man hated doing this to Elizabeth. "I can understand that," he answered. "What I'm confused about is why use a weapon you know would have little to no effect on a Replicator. My wife is correct about that, and Elizabeth is also correct that we packed an ARG just in case. So, keeping your weapon on her makes no sense to me from a tactical standpoint."

'Okay, Jackson might be smarter than most other scientists and 'Doctors' of earth,' Ronon grudgingly admitted to himself. "I know I can't hurt her with this," he said raising his gun for all to see. "But, if she attacks at least I can distract her long enough for someone to get a clean shot with the ARG."

A loud crash and a stream of vicious Abydonian came from the cooking area causing everyone to jump. Daniel flinched, Teal'c raised a single brow, and a wide grin formed on Vala's lush pink lips. "Okay, that sounds bad! It's bad, right, Daniel?" Jack groaned.

"Well, it's not as bad as it could be," Daniel muttered. "She didn't say anything profane, yet."

Vala burst out laughing. "Maybe not, but she did call Caveman a dried-up Eunuch, with a shriveled manhood."

"Indeed," Teal'c affirmed.

"Easy, Chewie!" John soothed, slapping his teammate on the shoulder.

"Like I said, it's not that bad yet," Daniel insisted. "The last time she got really mad in front of me she threatened to castrate Skaara with a rusty pick left over from the mining equipment."

"DANIEL!" Jack yelped. "Why in the world would she do that?"

"Because Skaara got Hatep's daughter drunk on his moonshine and they came out of the stables covered in hey! Thank God, they'd only been kissing, but you know Skaara. They don't do shotgun weddings on Abydos, Jack! They stone people for pre-marital sex."

"That's a little harsh," Cam gulped.

"Family honor and finite resources make for strict social mores," Daniel shrugged. "Anyway, we've gotten too far off the subject. IF my wife and son were lying and IF Elizabeth was a Replicator I think we'd all be dead or at least having our brains turned into grey soup. Since neither of those things has happened I think we can safely discard the weapons until tomorrow, but it's not up to me. So, I'll leave the soldiers to debate it and go help clean up. Hopefully, my wife won't want to stab me with a carving knife."

"I told you not to piss her off, Sheppard! I should have fired you for real when you stormed Atlantis after I ordered you not to!" Jack growled.

"She's just a little overprotective of me, General. I'll explain that this is how things work on earth, and she'll calm down," Elizabeth sighed. "Her temper might burn hot, but she doesn't hold grudges. Except, when it comes to the Goa'uld," she added, rubbing her temples. "We just have to figure out a way to get you some empirical proof that I'm nanite free, and then this whole business of whether I'm a threat or not can end. I'd prefer we do it before it's time to sleep."

"Carter, McKay, any ideas?" Jack sighed, running his hand over his face. 'What a lovely family reunion this is, NOT!' his inner Bart Simpson chanted.

"Sir, I've taken apart my scanners three times since we beamed down trying to get a reading that makes sense. Nothing I've tried works," Sam sighed, blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes.

Without thinking Jack reached over to brush the wayward strand behind her ear. "What about you, McKay?" he asked, letting his arm fall over her shoulders.

A self-satisfied smirk curled on the eager scientist's lips. "As you know I use Lantean scanners that are far superior then anything cobbled together from Goa'uld or Asgard technology—"

"Rodney!" John barked. "This is the time for monosyllabic answers."

"I just wanted to clarify that my equipment isn't at fault for the fact I can't get a reading!" Rodney snapped. "I've used every configuration possible and all I get is static."

Jack grinned. "McKay, if you're so smart how come you don't know what monosyllabic means?"

Sam covertly elbowed Jack lightly in the ribs before her colleague and former subordinate could process the insult. "He doesn't mean it, McKay."

A deep, sharp, throbbing pain slithered up Elizabeth's temples, settling behind her right eye. The reunion with her loved ones hadn't gone the way her friend had hoped in any way. She felt a stab of guilt in her stomach for not warning Sha're that she wouldn't be welcomed back with same open arms and kisses, but Sha're's entire perspective of the Tau'ri came from her love for Daniel and her admiration for Jack. She just couldn't bring herself to tell the woman who returned her humanity that they were the exception to the humans of earth, not the rule. She wanted Sha're to keep one of the few ideals that the Goa'uld, and the Ancients hadn't managed to destroy for her.

'Unfortunately, it was a wasted effort, Elizabeth,' her conscience groaned. 'Just like trying to guide the heretic Replicators to ascension,' it added just to rub salt in the wound. 'I have to give them proof before this gets any worse,' she decided. Deciding to give herself a moment of self-honesty, she admitted that her greatest worry hinged on Ronon pointing his gun at Sha're rather than her. Despite her deep respect, gratitude, and affection for the fearsome Satedian warrior due to his loyalty and fervor for defending Atlantis and his team, the only people she could be certain he'd never shoot were John and Teyla. Sha're's bitter verbal assault on his manhood could conceivably mortally offend him; especially since there were less than one thousand surviving Satedians in the Pegasus galaxy. 'Stop thinking and give them proof!'


Rodney and Colonel Carter were still discussing the possible ways their equipment could be altered to get accurate scans. As usual, Rodney punctured his passionate arguments with his wild gesticulations, and then she knew what to do.

"McKay, please, all I'm saying is that the readings I'm getting with your modifications are showing that the shield generators are operating at half the power levels needed to provide us protection from the storm. It's just not possible! How does my saying that call into question your ability? I don't hold you responsible for the interference screwing with our readings," Sam exclaimed at the very end of her patience.

"You're saying the scanner is wrong, which most certainly does call my ability into question," Rodney shrieked.

Both John and Jack started pulling their respective geeks into separate corners when Elizabeth made her move. Knowing that Rodney always kept a Swiss Army knife in his pocket, she reached in and grabbed it as John hauled him back. "Rodney, I think I can prove I'm human!" she raised her voice above his loud protests.

A hush came over the group for a moment then Rodney in his usual bluntness blurted out. "How?"

"Like this," she whispered, brandishing the small, sharp blade, and cutting a deep slash across her arm. An involuntary cry of pain escaped her throat. "Try scanning for them now!" she groaned.

"OH, MY GOD WHAT DID YOU DO!" Rodney bellowed, his face going chalk-white at the sight of the thick red blood dripping down her arm mixing with the sand below their feet.

"Teyla!" John growled. "Get the first aid kit NOW!"

"NO!" Elizabeth screamed at the top of her voice. "If it doesn't start healing in a few minutes you can be sure I'm human again! Even if you don't believe I'm the Elizabeth you knew, it proves to you and Ronon that I can't threaten Atlantis or earth. Let me bleed, John!"

Shifu ran into the room his eyes wide with shock. He reached out to heal Elizabeth when he felt his mother gently pull him back. "It's important not to interfere right now, my Sunbeam," she gently whispered. "I know we get into trouble with the others for changing things, but sometimes we must let things happen as they will."

"Enough of this!" Jack snapped. "Carter, how long would it take the bugs to fix a cut like that?"

"Just two more minutes! Please, General," Elizabeth begged. "You know that once we get to earth the IOA and any organization connected with the SGC will tear me apart. I'll be stuck in a dark room a very long time, but if I can prove to you that I'm human again, I just might be able to escape being kept as a lab rat the rest of my life."

'That's the Elizabeth Weir I know,' Jack thought as an icy chill of electricity raced down his spine. As much as he wanted to deny her prediction for her future he couldn't; despite his respect and the friendship that they'd developed during her tenure as leader of Atlantis, the fact remained that the welfare of earth had to come first. He dreaded the debriefing both the brave and shattered women in front of him faced, but he couldn't protect them from it. "How long, Carter?" he muttered.

Sam swallowed a hard, bitter lump in her throat. "Two minutes should do it, sir."

Daniel sighed, knowing that objecting wouldn't change things, but he felt he had to try. "Jack!" he pleaded.

"I know, Daniel!" he snapped. "As soon as time's up Sha're can do her thing and then it's done." He then turned his full attention to Elizabeth. He folded his arms across his chest and took a deep breath to compose himself. "Why is it the smartest people I know can do such stupid things? I don't suppose it occurred to you that when this damn storm passes Carter and McKay could have scanned you and found out what we needed to know!"

"Why wait, General?" Elizabeth retorted, her voice taught with pain. "This is nothing, and we all want to try and sleep tonight."

"Oh, for cryin' out loud!" Jack grumbled. "What happened to the other Replicators?" he asked.

"Mother and I made them flesh and blood bodies using the original technology that they wanted to build in Atlantis," Shifu answered, still staring at the blood pool gathering in the sand. "We stored their consciousnesses in a different data storage device from the one we used for Elizabeth. After they were integrated with their new bodies, my grandmother and Skaara brought them to the cloister where Colonel Sheppard stayed with those who walked the path some years ago. They're there even now continuing on their journey towards enlightenment."

"What if they can't ascend? We were able to reverse the time dilation field to get in and out again," McKay asked, avoiding looking anywhere near Elizabeth.

"What difference does it make if they're flesh and blood now?" Daniel retorted. "I've read every single mission report that has ever come from Atlantis including the reports of Elizabeth's last arrival. If Richard Woolsey was willing to give her and her companions the time to create flesh and blood bodies for themselves after she stopped Koracen from attacking, then I'm willing to believe that they're harmless. The man's utterly paranoid."

"My mother fixed the 'damage' you did to the seal off the cloister permanently. The others have only one wish, to be left in peace," Sha're insisted, her hands settled firmly on her hips and chin tilted up in defiance. "Are you satisfied, O'Neill?"

Jack nodded. "For now, yes."

"Are you satisfied, Colonel Sheppard?" she asked in a gentler tone.

"Yeah," he sighed.

"Ronon?" she asked, smirking at the look of shock that flashed in his eyes.

"The machines would've healed her by now," he shrugged.


'Finally, they see some reason!' Sha're thought. As quickly as the poisonous scorpions of Abydos stung their docile victims, her hand struck out to grab Elizabeth's arm. The bright burst of healing energy filled the tent as she took every ounce of Elizabeth's pain both physical and emotional into her body and soul. Her lips parted, and she let out the agonizing scream the other woman valiantly held back.

"Mother!" Shifu cried out, reaching for her.

Daniel trapped the boy in his arms. "She wouldn't want you to stop her, and if you want to stop me you'll have to ascend. You can't do that without letting your mother say goodbye."

"She promised," Shifu whispered. "She promised that she'd only take the pain of the children she healed."

The healing took less than a minute, but to everyone present each moment felt like an eternity. Elizabeth wrenched her arm out of Sha're's grasp. "You broke your promise to me!" she snapped.

"DO… NOT… SPEAK!" Sha're shouted. "You promised me that you would never harm yourself to prove you are human and that this is reality!"

Tears filled Elizabeth's eyes. "I did it to prove it to my people!"

"Do not lie to me or to yourself by trying to convince anyone that was your only reason," she growled. "Go to the well and wash yourself. We'll need extra water tonight so bring in what we will need for all of us. I'll arrange places for everyone to sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"Sha're…" Elizabeth pleaded, only to back away. "Alright," she conceded with a whisper. "Teyla will you help me? The shield extends a hundred yards in all directions, we're perfectly safe from the storm."

"The storm will end within the hour," Sha're dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I'll see to the mess in here!"

"Of course, I will help you, Elizabeth," Teyla answered in her gentle way.

As the two women exited the tent Cam leaped up from where he sat. "I think with your permission, General, I'll lend a hand to the ladies."

"Way to go, my boy, show 'em chivalry ain't dead yet!" Jack agreed, with a wink.

A hot blush stained the younger man's cheeks causing him to look away in embarrassment. "Yes, sir!" he muttered, turning on his heel to follow the women.

"You shouldn't torment him like that," Sam chided rolling her eyes.

"Aw, he makes it too easy," Jack smirked. "He's the perfect Boy Scout, it's kind of adorable."

"Jack, enough!" Daniel moaned. "Give the guy a break, you know that he's too scared to tell you to shut up!"

"I don't understand why," Vala interjected with a pout. "Daniel can tell you to shut up, Teal'c can well… Teal'c manages to get his point across without using words most of the time, Sam can tell you to shut up, why can't Cameron?"

"Because, I'm a General, and he's a Colonel!" Jack chuckled. "You can't tell 'the man' to shut up."

"Sam's a Colonel too!" Vala retorted, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Carter uses words I can't understand so she can't get in trouble," Jack replied smoothly, ignoring the snorts of suppressed laughter from Daniel and Rodney.

"Hey, I'm not a Colonel, I'm not anything!" Vala chirped, smiling brightly. "I can tell you to shut up for Cam!" she squealed, clapping her hands gleefully. "General, please shut up!"


"Sha're seems to be a powerful woman," Teyla remarked as she pulled a full bucket of water from the well.

"She is," Elizabeth sighed, pouring the water into a large clay jug. "It has nothing to do with her healing powers, or her ability to question Ronan's manhood without so much as a blink. She learned to read and write when her people's so-called 'God' outlawed both. She convinced her brother to lead a group of teenage boys to back-up General O'Neill when Ra attacked and gave her life to a man from another world because she saw goodness in his eyes. All of that is nothing compared to what she fought as a host to Amaunet. Believe me, aside from you, John, Rodney, and Ronon, there's nobody else I'd have asked for to bring me back."

"At least we're still your first choice," Teyla grinned. "Although I must admit, I found it very difficult to restrain my laughter when Sha're challenged Ronon's virility. Every woman in Atlantis dreams about having him in their bed."

"Really? He knocked John off the top of the list?" Elizabeth giggled.

A wicked grin curled on the younger woman's lips. "They're tied, and they hate it."

"Of course, they do," Elizabeth whispered.

Teyla turned, taking Elizabeth by the shoulders. "Elizabeth, John has changed drastically since you last saw him. He hates being a part of the general gossip of Atlantis. Before he used to laugh about it because we were in the Pegasus galaxy, and now we are on earth. The gossip gets out, and it becomes hateful. Since he was promoted to Full Colonel he's become even more guarded in his heart. I think our team and his brother are the only people that he even sees when he's off duty now."

An involuntary smile lit up her face reaching her eyes. "He's reconciled with his family?"

"His father died some time ago. Ronon accompanied him to earth for the rituals," Teyla answered. "I believe that's when John and Dave put aside their differences. Dave received clearance to be informed about The Stargate Program, and Atlantis shortly after we returned to earth. He is a good man, who has invited us to his homes many times."

"I'm so glad," Elizabeth choked out.

"Ladies I've come to help," Cam called out with a jaunty salute.

Teyla smiled brightly at the warm male. "Unnecessary, but appreciated, Colonel Mitchell, as always. I will bring this jug in, while you help Elizabeth draw more water."

Elizabeth held back a chuckle at Cam's enthusiasm for gentlemanly service. "Perhaps you can help catch me up on what I've missed in the universe, Colonel."

Cam smiled. "I can try, Doctor, but I'm not sure what you're most interested in."

"Perhaps you can tell me about the state of the SGC and Home World Security first. After that, I'll let you know," she replied.

"The General can do that better that then I can ma'am," Cam stuttered, blushing.

"Perhaps, but I'm still in shock to see everyone. You might think I'm crazy, but since you're one of the few people in that tent that I'm not overwhelmed by right now," Elizabeth confessed embarrassed by her breathlessness.

The jovial casualness of Cam's demeanor evaporated. "I do understand. While I'd never compare experiences that people go through in this life, I do know that after trauma, seeing the people closest to you can be the hardest."

"I am not nearly as competent as Doctor Jackson is with languages, 'thank you,' isn't enough. It's just— for so long I've struggled to believe that I am truly human again," she took a deep breath and stretched out her hand to him. "Seeing SG-1 here has helped in more ways I can understand."

Cam took her hand in his and gripped it gently. "My team is always happy to help any time, Doctor Weir, but remember your team your family, is here for you. You need them, and they need you," he sighed. "Remember, they've been in terrible pain with your loss. I'm sure that your team is used to dying, coming back, dying and coming back, it's part of the deal out here, but we're still human and it never stops the grief."

"You think I don't care this is as hard for them as it is for me?" Elizabeth accused.

Cam's eyes hardened just a little, allowing her to see him as the battle-tested warrior he was. "I think you cut yourself make them feel your pain." When she jerked back he softened and reached out for her hand again to comfort her. "Your reaction is perfectly normal, Doctor Weir, there's nobody in that tent that hasn't experienced what you're going through. But you have to remember that hurting yourself will only cause them more pain."

"I shouldn't be angry," Elizabeth whispered. "I'm alive, and I'm completely human, I gained a sister, I can go home. I shouldn't be angry, but I am furious beyond my own comprehension. I didn't know it was possible to feel such overwhelming rage."

Cam kept his voice soft and reassuring. "I know that it makes no sense but believe me you are sane."

Elizabeth sighed a cold sweat chilling her skin. "I'm not convinced yet."

John stared out at the well his burning hazel-green eyes locked on a woman he both longed to embrace in joy and push away in grief. He gritted his teeth at seeing one of his oldest and dearest friends holding her hand. 'She's pissed at you, Johnny Boy.' His conscience whispered. 'Yeah, she's in the first stages of recovery and that anger would be there regardless, but when she said, 'let me bleed' that was purely directed at you.'

John shook his head to dislodge the unpleasant voice. He nearly jumped out of his BDU's feeling Teyla's hand on his shoulder. "I do not understand why you do not go to her!" Teyla murmured under her breath, holding his eyes in a steely glare.

"I have my reasons," he replied, in his best 'Colonel' tone.

"You cannot possibly believe Elizabeth is any Replicator threat!" Teyla snapped.

"I already said she wasn't," John retorted with a glare.

"Then what could possibly be the reason—" she trailed off… "You don't believe she is truly Elizabeth," she hissed in pure disgust.

"She led them to Atlantis and lied about it, she put us all at risk. Elizabeth would have never, ever done such a thing!" John growled.

Teyla's eyes burned with righteous anger, a hot flush spreading over her skin. "Do you think humanity is only in the flesh? Would you in your anger and grief deny her the right of frailty, and feeling? Yes, she made a mistake by lying, but she was betrayed! Only Koracen was a threat and she killed him! After that, she willingly led those other innocent beings to their deaths as well as her own. Does that not pay for any transgression?"

"Teyla," John snapped.

"No! According to your logic, I should hold you responsible for every death in this galaxy from the Wraith for the last ten years. Your actions awakened them early, you unleashed this chain of events," she huffed. "If you honestly believe that, then right now in this moment, I am ashamed of you!" She turned on her heal and returned to the well.

"She's right and you're lying to yourself, Sheppard," Ronon murmured.

"Gee, you say the nicest things, Sweetie," John sighed. "You were the one pointing the gun."

Ronon rolled his eyes and glared at the other man. "When she walked through that gate, I didn't just believe she was Doctor Weir I knew it as much as I know how to shoot. Now, she's human there's no threat, and it's time to rejoice."

"Hey, John, are you okay?" Sam interrupted.

John glanced at her then returned his gaze to the well. "I'm just fine, Sam. How are you?"

"I'm hoping that the levels of tension around here go down. This is hard on all of us, but if Elizabeth and Sha're have any hope of readjusting to we consider normal life they need all of us," Sam sighed. "The IOA will want them both locked away to do God-only-knows-what. At the very least, they'll face intense interrogation and tests," she lowered her voice, and whispered directly into his ear. "And if you, truly don't believe she is Elizabeth, then you might sign her into forced confinement for the rest of her life."