Emma – Thanks for the review, the Replicator attack is coming up. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Sparklyshimmer2010 – I'mglad you liked that line in the last chapter and Elizabeth may be getting allies but her troubles are just beginning. Good plan for wiping out the Wraith and the Ori lol. Hope you enjoy his chapter and thanks for the review.

Fyd818 – The balcony will always be John's and Lizzie's no matter who is running at Atlantis. I hated tptb's decision to break Laura and Carson up too but that's what fan fiction is for. I'm glad you liked the last scene between Ronon and Halling and Ronon's line just seemed to fit, a little dig at the human race lol. Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Stargatesomeone – Thanks for the review, I'm glad you liked the trailer and that the fic did not disappoint. Hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Steph7085 – I don't like the thought of Liz all alone either curses self Glad you liked that Carson and Laura are back together and thanks for the review.

- - -

Chapter 4

It had been five weeks since her expedition team had left Atlantis and besides the occasion ally she had found among the city's current occupants she was no more at home than she had been a month ago. Sitting in the briefing room with Helia and a small number of her people for yet another round of talking in circles, she wondered if maybe this was a lost cause. She wasn't one to give up though and too much was riding on her ability to come to some kind of arrangement with the Ancients.

"Again, that's not what we're asking," Elizabeth tried to stress; this conversation was definitely going in circles. "We understand that you've been out of the loop for the past ten thousand years and that you need time to reacquaint yourself with the galaxy. We know that that must be you're first priority but an Alliance between our peoples can benefit both sides tremendously. We have much to offer you and we are more than willing to give it for the chance to learn from you."

"We do not yet have the time to teach you." Helia stated.

"But in time you will and until you're ready we can help you, as I've said before we know more about this galaxy right now than you do. We've built up alliances with many of the civilisation's here, the Athosians being a perfect example. We know how to deal with most of the peoples of the Pegasus galaxy like the Genii. We want to help you but you have to be willing to let us," Elizabeth continued feeling yet another one of her headaches coming on.

Their talks were interrupted when one of the Ancients, she'd never learn all their names, walked into the room and requested that Helia follow her to the control room. Helia quickly called a temporary halt to their talks, far too eagerly in Elizabeth's opinion and left the room. Elizabeth followed her out and to the control room where the young Ancient who had called for her pointed to the large screen. Elizabeth had analysed the contents of that screen enough times over the last three years to know what she was seeing.

"Replicators," she said quietly and Helia glanced at her only for a moment before looking back to the screen.

"Looks like they'll be here in less than two days," Helia said calmly and there wasn't even a trace of worry in her voice. The Ancient woman turned to look at her and Elizabeth's concern must have been somewhat evident because she took it upon herself to allay her fears.

"Do not be concerned Dr Weir," Helia instructed her "They are heading to Atlantis expecting to find you and your expedition; they do not know that we are once again in control of the city."

Elizabeth failed to see why that should stop her from worrying, it didn't change the fact that they were on their way. "Why should that make me worry less?"

"They have a law written into their base code that prevents them from harming their creators," Helia informed her and Elizabeth gave a slow nod of understanding as she looked back at the dot on the screen moving closer to Atlantis. Her hand unconsciously went to her neck and she could almost feel Niam's hands strangling her again, could almost hear the sounds of the 'hospital' they'd put her in.

That was not a place she intended to revisit and she walked out of the control, she would inform earth of this latest development during their scheduled check in later.

- - -

Three years of fighting the Wraith, the replicators and the Genii and this was what it had all led up to. Standing on a planet in his own galaxy watching as one of his men inspected some curious looking fauna and wishing he could just gate home already.

"How's it going there Bambus?" he called to the young officer who looked up at him, probably wondering how to respond to the question. He most likely thought his C.O would be less than interested in learning about whatever fauna he was looking at, he'd be right too.

"Fine, sir," Bambus responded.

He watched his officer move around the plant and shake slightly as the ground beneath him did the same. It happened almost in slow motion, he could see it happening but there was absolutely nothing he could do about it from his current position. Bambus fell; it must have been about twenty feet, not a particularly bad fall but it probably hurt nonetheless.

Wallace ran over to where the young man was now lying in a babbling brook looking slightly dazed but otherwise fine. He tried to help him up but in a move that would have made Rodney jealous, Wallace lost his footing and fell over too. John resisted the urge to roll his eyes, they were his men after all but the situation just seemed ridiculous. He walked over to the two fallen men, the final member of his team right behind him.

He moved to help Wallace but it seemed the man had broken his ankle and was now going to have to hobble his way back to the gate. Bambus was already back on his feet when John helped Wallace up and then looked at his team. "I think it's time we head back to the gate."

Getting no protest or disagreement from his team John helped Wallace limp his way to the gate while the other two followed a few steps behind. He'd make some sarcastic remark or joke but the situation was just too pathetic to warrant one. Instead he kept his mouth shut until they were back at the gate.

"Bambus dial the gate," he ordered and watched as his officer did as he was told. He looked sufficiently embarrassed and ashamed of himself so John figured no comments were necessary. The wormhole engaged and John walked through the event horizon carrying Wallace's weight in one arm. As they emerged on the other side Wallace gave a choked grunt of pain as he stood on his ankle and once again John had to stop himself rolling his eyes. "Get your damn weight of your foot and you'll be fine."

"Tell me you didn't engage the Ori, Colonel," Landry said as he approached the bottom of the ramp and John handed Bambus off to the waiting medical staff.

"We didn't engage the Ori... Sir," he replied "Bambus here was inspecting some curious fauna when he discovered that the ground underneath him wasn't stable, he fell twenty feet into a babbling brook. Wallace there was trying to help him get back up when he lost his footing and broke his ankle."

"I see," Landry said clearly trying not to be amused.

"Never thought I'd miss Rodney McKay being a member of my team," John stated.

"Well chemistry doesn't happen overnight," Landry told him encouragingly.

Or in this case, ever, John thought but he kept it to himself.

"We'll debrief as soon as Wallace is out of the infirmary," Landry informed him.

"Yes sir," John replied and winced inwardly at how unenthusiastic he sounded about the idea. Nobody liked debriefings but he sounded like he'd rather be shot than attend. The alarm and Walter's voice alerted them to an off world activation.

"I'll see you then Colonel," Landry stated and John got the distinct impression he was being ushered out of the room and he had no desire to protest so he simply left with nothing more than a curious glance over his shoulder.

- - -

"General Landry," Elizabeth greeted as the screen finally flickered to an image of the SGC's current commanding officer.

"Dr Weir," Landry returned with a small smile "How go the talks?"

"Slowly but we're starting to get somewhere," she replied, it wasn't a complete lie, they were going slowly and they would get somewhere... eventually. "The real news is that the Replicators are heading back to Atlantis to make another run at the city."

"Really?" Landry questioned.

"The Ancients don't seem to be too concerned, apparently they have a law written into their base code that makes it impossible for them to harm their creators," she informed him.

"And they're expecting to find our people," Landry concluded for her and Elizabeth nodded her head slightly.

"According to Helia they're going to run into some kind of surprise, they're not elaborating much on that," she told him and watched as he nodded his head. "So you can pass it on to Colonel Sheppard and Dr McKay that if they hadn't rescued the Ancients are returned Atlantis to them we..."

"Might have lost the city anyway," Landry finished for her.

"Yeah," Elizabeth replied, she doubted it would be of much comfort to them but it might help a little. "I should get back to the talks, Weir out," she finished when she got no protest. Landry's face disappeared from the screen and the wormhole shut down leaving her once again alone with the Ancients.

Once this little crisis was over, strange that the Asurans heading to Atlantis was considered a small crisis, she should probably visit Teyla and Ronon on Athos. They were the only familiar faces she had left here in the Pegasus galaxy and she shouldn't have waited this long to go and check up on them. It would be nice to get away from the Ancients for a little while and see how the Athosians were doing in their new settlement.

For now though, she had replicators to worry about and talks with the Ancients, she wasn't sure which was worse.

- - -

Rodney could hear the feint thuds over the phone line and knew John was playing darts in his office. He had to envy the man slightly; he still got to go off world while Rodney was stuck here. "I hate it here," was the vocalised version of his thoughts.

"How's that possible?" John questioned incredulously.

"It's true," Rodney complained and it really was.

"They gave you everything you wanted, you're own lab..." John began.

"Yeah, it's too big," Rodney interrupted looking around the giant chamber he was currently standing in. How they expected him to get anything done when the things he needed were at opposite ends of this giant dome was beyond him.

"Handpicked assistants," John was continuing.

"Yeah, sycophants, every one of them," he complained, he was determined to hate absolutely everything about this place, even the things he knew he should like. It wasn't Atlantis, it would never measure up.

"Even your own choice of projects," John was still listing.

"Well that's not true," he replied solemnly.

"Well, other than going back to Atlantis," John finished for him and Rodney sighed, he really did hate it here and he knew he was going to have to admit the truth; it wasn't just Atlantis he missed.

"You know the truth is I..." he trailed off; he wasn't actually going to say it was he?

"What?" John prompted and Rodney knew that John knew what he was about to say and hated him all the more for making him say it.

"Yeah I don't, I don't wanna use the term lonely but er...there are certain people who... I miss," he admitted reluctantly.

"Me?" John questioned and Rodney drew the line, there was no way he was admitting that he missed Sheppard.

"You? You I'm talking to on the phone right now and having dinner with tomorrow so not so much but... other people, people that I might never see again... like Elizabeth," Rodney rambled off and decided it was a good evasive answer, not only did he not have to admit missing Sheppard but he'd moved the subject onto one he knew would stop his friend asking more questions, cruel? Yes, but if it worked.

"I know what you mean," John told him clearly ending the subject.

"Hey, at least you still get to go off world with a team of your own," Rodney switched subjects once again, feeling slightly bad.

"Oh yeah, the best and brightest," John replied sarcastically "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Yeah I wouldn't miss it... hey you know I," Rodney began but the line went dead and Rodney flipped his phone shut after a moment "Yeah." Perhaps bringing Elizabeth up as a way of changing topic hadn't been the best idea.

He turned to look at the ridiculously large lab behind him and sighed, he really hated it here.

TBC