When John and Teyla arrived at the Infirmary, they found a small group already there. Elizabeth stood at one side of the room, talking to Radek. She had the calm air of a diplomat, but her wringing hands betrayed her anxiety. The scientist didn't try to mask his tension. He was wiping the lenses of his glasses so vigorously; John felt he would soon wear a hole in them. Ronon stood in one corner, leaning casually against the wall. However, the strain showed around his eyes. Jeff Stanton sat across from where Elizabeth and Radek were standing. He was studying his feet with great concentration.
When Dr Biro entered the room, all eyes swung round to study her face, trying to read any signs that might indicate what she had discovered. She was studying the papers she held in her hands, and when she looked up and saw how many people there were in the small room, she looked surprised.
"I was only expecting Dr Weir and Major Sheppard," she said. John didn't have the heart to remind her of his promotion, and he didn't want to delay, any further, what she might have to say about her examinations.
"There were a number of people who wanted to know the results of your examinations," Elizabeth said, with an apologetic shrug.
As if reminded of the reason for the meeting, Dr Biro's eyes flew back to the papers she had been carrying.
"Oh, yes," she said, slightly distracted. "Yes, I need to tell you, don't I?"
John and Elizabeth exchanged a look of exasperation, tempered by anticipation.
"Well," the doctor continued. "I can tell you, quite categorically, that the bodies are not those of Dr McKay and Dr Beckett."
She didn't get much further as the room exploded in a sea of emotion. Relief was at the forefront.
"Thank God," Elizabeth said, collapsing back onto the seat behind her. Teyla and Ronon exchanged a relieved grin, and Radek just stood there, a big smile on his face.
"But where are they?" John asked, his brain getting passed the fact his weren't dead, as far as he knew. "If that isn't them, then where are they?"
"If you'd let me finish," Dr Biro said, rather sharply, "then I might be able to help there."
Yet again, she was the focus of all the attention.
"The bodies you recovered weren't Drs McKay and Beckett, but their DNA was on our database."
"Who were they, then?" Elizabeth asked. "There's no-one else missing from the city."
"We have other DNA on our records," Dr Biro said. "More specifically, Carson kept a record of the DNA of each of the Wraith who was involved in the experiment with Michael. It was two of them you brought back."
"We brought back Wraith?" Ronon growled.
"Yes," Dr Biro confirmed. "Although their DNA has mutated since it was last tested. There is more human content than there was."
"How did two Wraith get into one of our Jumpers?" Elizabeth asked. "Did they try to steal it?"
"I don't think so," John replied, thoughtfully. "The villagers confirmed that McKay and Beckett flew it away."
"So did the Wraith bring them down and then steal the Jumper?" Radek asked.
"The villager who saw the crash did not indicate that the Jumper had landed and then taken off again," Teyla pointed out.
"Michael," John said, suddenly. "He must be behind this. But why have they done to Carson and Rodney, and why go to all this trouble?"
"They want Carson to stop their genetic mutation," Jeff Stanton joined the discussion. "Dr Biro said their DNA was more human than before. Maybe Carson's experiments started some kind of chain reaction. Like your encounter with the retro-virus, Colonel Sheppard."
"Thanks for reminding me," John said laconically.
"If they are mutating in some way," Jeff continued, throwing a grin in John's direction. "Then they will want to stop it as quickly as possible. And they know they best person to do that is Carson."
"Why did they want Rodney as well?" Elizabeth asked. "They could've taken Carson when he was on his own."
"Leverage," Ronon said succinctly. "They'll use McKay to make Beckett do what they want."
"I think Ronon is correct," Teyla said with a sigh. "That would be consistent with their practices in other worlds."
"We've got to find them, and quickly," Elizabeth said.
"But where do we start?" Radek asked, polishing his glasses again.
"On that damned planet," John said, a note of steely determination in his voice. "I think those villagers have some explaining to do."
"Do you think they were in on it?" Elizabeth asked.
"You can't have a group of Wraith living on your planet and not notice," John said. "The dead, dried out bodies are a give away every time."
"Then I think it is time that we get some answers from them," Elizabeth said, her voice equally as determined as John's.
oOoOoOo
"Carson!" Rodney groaned as the Scot's cry echoed through his aching head. But as the doctor moved, Rodney saw the cause of the other man's distress. Hanging limply in the arms of the Wraith was the little girl who had given Carson a present before they had left in the Jumper.
Carson sprang towards the Wraith, and virtually dragged the child out of his arms. For a moment he was surprised by his own strength, but then his concern focused on Shela.
"What have you done to her? You great eejit!" the doctor said, worrying Rodney with his lack of fear.
The doctor laid the child on the bunk, and proceeded to gently examine her. All he found was a large lump on her skull, and abrasions on her hands and feet.
"I did nothing to her," the Wraith who had brought Shela in said, almost contemptuously. "I found her like that."
"Why did you bring her here?" Michael asked, an edge of anger in his voice. "It might lead others to us."
"I though if she woke up and started to wander, then she might bring others here even more quickly," the other Wraith said, challengingly.
"How do they ever manage not to kill each other?" Rodney thought to himself. He remained sitting in the corner where he had fallen as the world still felt a little unsteady to him.
"What is wrong with her?" Michael asked Carson. The doctor gave him a surprised look before answering.
"She's got a nasty bump on her head, which is why she's unconscious. She also has cuts and scrapes on her hands and feet. Was she near a tree?" the doctor asked the Wraith who had carried her in.
"Yes," the Wraith confirmed, too surprised not to answer.
"I think she probably fell out of the tree," Carson said, smiling down at the girl fondly. "She likes to climb, this little monkey."
"Well, this little monkey still has a very bad headache," Rodney said, acerbically, bringing his friend's attention back to him.
"Sorry, Rodney," Carson said, still not leaving the child. "But you're conscious and reasonably coherent. This little one is still not awake yet."
"Reasonably coherent!" Rodney said indignantly. "I'll have you know that I make more sense when I'm incoherent than most people make when they are perfectly coherent."
"I'll take your word for it, Rodney," Carson said, not taking his attention away from the child he was examining.
"Will the child recover?" Michael asked Carson.
"I think so," Carson replied, cautiously. "Given time, I think she should regain consciousness. There's no sign of internal bleeding. But she's cold as well and possibly dehydrated."
"Bring the doctor what he needs," Michael ordered the other Wraith.
"What!" Rodney said. "Is that a Wraith with a conscience?"
"You may sneer, Dr McKay," Michael responded. "But I have no desire to see the child die."
"Aye," Carson responded, "she needs to grow older so there is more energy for you to feed on."
Michael didn't respond, but the look he shot Carson spoke volumes. Rodney recoiled from the stare, even though it wasn't directed at him. Carson, however, just met the Wraith's gaze steadily, and without flinching.
Carson's lack of fear worried Rodney. It reminded him a little too much of Ford, Ford with the enzyme dependency. Just what had Michael done to the Scot when he healed him?