A WEEK LATER

Elizabeth sat in her office, facing Brianna and Lilah. Lilah had been detailed to make sure Brianna didn't do anything too stupid by Carson, who had let them out of the infirmary this morning, Brianna's wrist in a cast from an accident Elizabeth didn't want to know the details about.

"So tell me the truth Brianna, is Colonel Sheppard ever likely to wake up again?" She was not looking forward to the answer, but once again the girls surprised her and gave her hope.

"Well to tell the truth Doctor Weir, there's nothing physically wrong with him anymore. He's perfectly fine, when you ignore the fact that he's still asleep." Brianna glanced sideways at her bodyguard before continuing.

"Doctor Beckett and I discovered that the toxin Colonel Sheppard's team came into contact with neutralizes everything we have been using as pain medication. What that means is that Sheppard could feel everything that happened during his surgery, and he could still feel pain when he was recovering. We believe that he…retreated, in his mind, like placing himself in a deep state of meditation, but he doesn't know that it's okay to come out now."

"So how do we get him out?" Elizabeth interjected.

"Once I may have been able to talk him out of it, but not now." Brianna sighed regretfully. "The only person who can talk him out of this is someone he trusts completely, and someone who loves him more than life itself."

"So we're screwed then." Elizabeth's hope was nearly gone, but was reborn again when Lilah and Brianna exchanged a long look.

"Maybe not," Lilah said.

"We might have another solution." Brianna looked back at Elizabeth.

"I thought you said you couldn't get him out of it?" Elizabeth was still confused.

"I can't," Brianna seemed surprised that Elizabeth still thought she was the answer. "I don't love him enough." She added.

"What?" Elizabeth was surprised. "But you're his sister, if you don't love enough than who can?"

"I can't love him enough for this because I found someone else." Brianna looked at the floor, not making eye contact with either of the two women in the room.

"Really?" Elizabeth wasn't really surprised for some reason.

"Yeah, just out of curiosity, how strictly do you guys follow 'DADT'?" Brianna seemed slightly uneasy. "I ask because we might need you to look the other way when we try to get John out of this."

"Well considering that we only see representatives from Earth every four months or so and we're in the process of severing all our political ties to Earth, we're pretty lax." Elizabeth glanced away from Bri, and saw that Lilah was gazing at her clasped hands resting on the desk.

Brianna looked over at Lilah and rested a hand on top of Lilah's clasped hands. Lilah twisted one of her hands over to grasp Brianna's hand tightly. She turned her head to look at the redhead sitting next to her and smiled.

"It'll work Bri, trust me on this, I know what I saw, and with guidance, he'll get John back to us." The two girls remained motionless for almost a full minute. Elizabeth was floored by the depth of love and devotion shining from every fiber of their being. She had never expected that those two would be devoted to each other, but this was obviously not a new development. The level of trust that these two placed in each other could not be built in the few weeks they'd been here. This was the result of years of partnership.

The love faded from their eyes, not disappearing, but being reined in, hidden away for the sake of Elizabeth and everyone in the city.

"If you'll excuse me I need to go track down a few people for this to work." Brianna rose and with a slight touch on Lilah's shoulder headed out of the office and into the city.

Lilah watched her go, then she turned to Doctor Weir, "I trust that this isn't going to be a problem?" She asked.

"Ah, no, it won't be. I'll authorize you to take whatever personnel and supplies you need to make this happen." Elizabeth was still a little shaken by the revelation.

"Including a 'jumper?" Lilah asked.

"Will you have someone who can fly it?" Elizabeth asked, slightly surprised.

"Yes."

"In that case go ahead. Bring John back safe, and hopefully well."

"We will." Lilah turned and walked out of the office. Elizabeth locked the door after her, needing a minute to collect herself.