A/N hey guys sorry for the long wait but between dodgy internet connection, exams and an ongoing battle with my muse i havent had a lot of a chance to get any writing done. this chapter is for sheppardlover and joeyluv as they both sent me really good reviews that have given me a few ideas for the next few chapters. this ones only a short one as i still have a ton of research to do for a researchh proposal i need to submit this week; final year at uni sucks! bear with me and enjoy!

Chapter 17: Connections

General Landry looked at the computer screen on the desk in front of him; the last twelve hours had been absolutely chaotic. With the detection of a foreign space vessel that had appeared briefly in earth's atmosphere and the apparent abduction of hundreds of people the ball had fallen squarely in his court. The list of missing people on his screen was getting increasingly longer as more and more reports were coming in and now it was not just a list of US citizens but other people from around the globe. Some important people from inside the government and military including General O'Neil and his doppelganger had just disappeared instantaneously. Police reports were flooding in of people just vanishing from crowded rooms in a bright flash of light and among the new names that appeared on the list Landry was only slightly surprised to see that Sheppard, Mitchell, Ronon, and strangely Sheppard's brother, had managed to get caught up in whatever was going on.

Bringing up the police report on the group's disappearance Landry read the statement that had been provided by a slightly hysterical doctor. The man was in shock not just from the disappearance which had occurred right in front of him but also because his patient had apparently made a miraculous recovery from stage 4 terminal cancer. Furthermore, he had kept insisting that it was urgent the group be found as one of his patients visitors had appeared to be quite ill. Frowning Landry pulled up a personnel file this time; looking through Sheppard's medical history gave him cause for concern and he hurriedly picked up his phone dialling the internal number for his daughter's office.

"Caroline," he said trying not to project his worry in his voice, "did you have a chance to look over Colonel Sheppard's medical file while he was here?"

"Yes" she replied the question obvious in her voice

"If he had healed his brother what sort of affect would that have had on him?" Landry asked fairly sure he already knew the answer.

"It would have caused his body a huge amount of stress. Doctor Keller, in Atlantis, mentioned in his records that the last time he healed anyone it had set him back months in his own recovery. Why has something happened? If he's done anything like that then we really need to bring him back here for observation."

"I'm afraid we can't, colonel's Sheppard and Mitchell have joined the list of unaccounted for. The reason I asked is there is a report here from a doctor that didn't make much sense without factoring in Sheppard's new... abilities. I suppose we shouldn't really be surprised he did heal his brother I don't know what anyone was expecting really, if you could heal someone close to you wouldn't you take the opportunity?"

"Yes" Caroline replied her worry evident.

"Right well, I just wanted to clear that puzzle up. I need to go and make a long distance call. I can't imagine Colonel Carter is going to be too pleased with us, I think she thought sending Sheppard home would give him a chance to recover away from Atlantis." As he mentioned Atlantis another thought crossed his mind. Checking back though the list of missing people he saw names that he recognised. "Caroline could you do me a favour and go through the records and tell me how many people who have been confirmed to have the ancient gene have gone missing; I've just realised that all of the military personnel on this base with the gene are among the groups of missing people, I can't believe it's taken me this long to notice."

"Yes no problem I'll do that right away." she confirmed before she hung up the phone.

Sighing Landry climbed down the stairs to the main control room. "Walter, dial Atlantis, this can't wait until their next check in..."