Secrets of the Mind
Part 2
Disclaimers in Part 1
Just as Rodney was about to have Chuck dial the 'Gate, the alarm for an incoming wormhole sounded. He glanced over at him patiently, hoping for Elizabeth's IDC. Chuck shook his head. "Just a transmission, Dr. McKay. They'd like to speak to Colonel Sheppard."
"I'll take it," Rodney replied. "This is Dr. Rodney McKay. Colonel Sheppard is unavailable right now. Who is this?"
"Dr. McKay, it is President Saleena. We have located the whereabouts of Dr. Weir. She has been taken by my advisor's spouse to be punished."
Chuck noticed Rodney visibly pale at that. "What the hell is she being punished for and why haven't you saved her yet?"
"Please calm down, Doctor," Saleena replied. "We have a team of soldiers heading there now, but I thought you should be informed."
Rodney took a deep breath. "I apologize, President Saleena. We'll be there shortly."
Once the wormhole shut down, everyone looked at Rodney in relief. "Chuck, get Teyla, Ronon, and Major Lorne's team up here."
Rodney was pacing back and forth in the conference room when everyone showed up. "Are we ready?" he asked as Teyla handed him a TAC vest.
"We are now."
"Carson?"
The Scotsman regarded his friend. "Colonel Sheppard is sleeping soundly and his fever has gone down. I thought you should have a medic with you and I volunteer myself."
"We should go," Ronon said.
When the team arrived on the planet, President Saleena greeted them with a bow. She presented the man next to her. "This is Raxton, he is Malott's husband. Malott is the one who captured Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Weir."
Ronon glared at the man, but Lorne held him back. "It's not his fault, big guy," he said.
Raxton stepped forward, ignoring Ronon and his death glare. "I must apologize for my wife's behavior. She is a very sensitive and jealous woman. After all these years, I thought she had grown out of it. I thought that she had learned to trust me, but I guess I have been mistaken."
"We do not blame you," Teyla said with a sad smile. "We only wish to find Dr. Weir and bring her home."
"Come!" Saleena said. "The soldiers should have returned by now. We will have one of our doctors see to her care."
Carson spoke up. "If it's all right, Love, I'm her doctor. I'll be the one to look after her."
Saleena nodded. "Very well."
Lorne noticed that Rodney was too quiet and stepped back to walk next to the astrophysicist. "You all right, Dr. McKay?" he asked.
"What? Huh? Oh yeah. Just thinking."
When it seemed that Rodney wasn't going to elaborate on his feelings, Lorne let it go. He understood when you just needed to sort things out on your own and there seemed to be a lot of sorting going on around here.
The team finally arrived to the consulate where Major Lorne had first negotiated with President Saleena and her Council. She led them inside and towards the medical wing. "Dr. Beckett, would you care to join me?"
The others were about to protest, but Saleena held up her hand. "I am sorry, but only physicians are allowed in the treating area."
"Don't worry," Carson said. "I'm sure she's all right. I won't be long and we can get back home."
Carson followed Saleena into them towards the one occupied bed in the room. A nurse was whispering quietly to the patient in the bed. Carson smiled when he saw her look up at him, but she seemed to shrink away.
Not thinking anything of it, Carson walked over and immediately took her hand. "Elizabeth, Love, are you feeling all right?"
She looked up at him in confusion. The man did not seem familiar to him at all. It was not the face of the one she longed to see. To hold. And why was he calling her Elizabeth? Was that her name?
"Who are you?" she finally asked.
"Excuse me?" Carson was shocked to say the least. That was not what he was expected to hear from her.
Elizabeth looked over at the nurse, who nodded reassuringly. "I'm sorry…"
"Carson."
"Carson. I don't remember who I am or where I come from. I take it you know me." At his nod, she continued. "Is Elizabeth my name?"
"Aye that it is."
"Where's John? They told me he was dead, is that true?"
Carson was the confused one now. How could she remember Colonel Sheppard, but nothing else? "Um, he's back home waiting for you, Elizabeth."
"So he's safe?" she inquired.
"Aye."
"I want to see him."
Carson nodded, helping her to stand as the nurse brought over a pair of shoes for her. She stopped a moment as a wave of dizziness washed over. "I'm all right," Elizabeth whispered.
"If you could wait here, I'd like to talk to you friends about your condition. I don't want them to bombard you with question upon question and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable because you don't remember them."
"I'd appreciate that."
Carson popped his back in the room a few minutes later. "We're ready to go, Love."
"Okay, I can do this!" Elizabeth said, taking a deep breath.
Rodney was pacing back and forth as Carson went back into the room to get Elizabeth. He couldn't believe what was happening. He was just happy that President Saleena gave them some of the serum the crazy man injected into her. Then at least Carson could do his voodoo magic and help her.
Elizabeth seemed weary as she joined them in the hall. No one said anything as Carson and Teyla thanked President Saleena. They promised to keep in touch regarding Elizabeth's progress, but they would have to evaluate the negotiations at a later date. The President seemed to understand this with much disappointment.
Elizabeth was highly agitated by the time they arrived in the infirmary. She insisted on seeing that John was alive and breathing before she allowed Carson to check her over.
He watched in concern as they arrived at John's side and Elizabeth took his hand. "Will he be all right?"
"Aye, Love. His arm was infected so he has a slight fever. It's not too serious. Why don't we go to the bed near the window? You have a view of the ocean and you can see Colonel Sheppard from here as well."
Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you… Carson," she said, looking at the floor. "I don't know why I remember his name and face so clearly, but I don't know who he is or who any of you are. I don't even know where I am!"
"I'm having tests run on the serum they injected you with, but if I hazard a guess, Colonel Sheppard was most likely the last person you were thinking of before the serum took effect."
"Maybe," she replied, uncertain.
