A/N: Hello all! I realise I've been remiss in my promise for a Christmas sequel to this story, I'm afraid time got away from me. I'm getting there now, but dont want to post it until its finished in case I post it quicker than I can write...
Anyhow, I was feeling guilty, and noticed quite a few people had this fic on alert, so figured I'd give you the opening of 'Reprogrammed'. Again, sorry! Hope this (very) short part gets you interested again!
It was only in the infirmary, the day after they had returned, that Elizabeth began to notice the changes.
It was in the way Rodney sat casually on one of the beds, showing no outward concern, when he should have been talking a mile a minute as he panicked about possible brain damage.
It was there in how John let a hint of his anxiety slip into his expression, and how he sat on the edge of the bed, body tense and nervous.
It was then that she wondered how on earth she'd missed it when they'd returned the day before.
Elizabeth took a steady step into the infirmary which was completely at odds with how she felt. "So what did you find?" she asked Beckett as she walked over to them, file folder in hand. He hesitated, glancing at Sheppard and then McKay. Beckett had obviously noticed the difference too.
"Nothing," he answered.
"Nothing?" Rodney asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nothing at all," Beckett replied, letting his frustration creep into his tone.
"How can you not have found anything?" Sheppard asked in disbelief. "He rearranged our brains!" he exclaimed.
"John," Elizabeth said placatingly, disquieted by the fact she was having to use that tone with him.
"Sorry," he muttered. "It's just…it feels…"
"Wrong," Rodney finished for him. "Definitely wrong." Sheppard nodded in agreement.
"Well I'm sorry, but I can't find anything physically wrong with you," Beckett said apologetically.
"That isn't good enough," John said lowly.
"We've solved the nature versus nurture argument at least," Rodney shrugged. "If that's any consolation."
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked as Sheppard glared at him.
"Well it would seem personality has no root in biology if ours have been changed and there's no biological difference," he explained.
"That's fantastic Rodney, that'll help me sleep at night," Sheppard muttered.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what else I can do for you," Beckett said remorsefully.
"Don't worry Carson, you've done all you can," Rodney said to Beckett, with a reassuring pat to his shoulder. "Does this mean we're free to go?"
"I don't see why not," Beckett said with a sigh. "But I want you back every six hours," he added.
"O-kay then," he said with a smile. "I'll be in the labs if anyone needs me," he said before hopping off the bed and walking out of the infirmary. Sheppard watched him go with a frown.
"What?" Elizabeth asked.
"Nothing," Sheppard replied dismissively. "See you in six hours Carson," he said before leaving.
"What do we do now?" Elizabeth asked once he was out of earshot.
"I've no idea," Beckett answered.