Secrets of the Mind
Part 7
Disclaimers in Part 1
Notes: Thanks again for the wonderful reviews and to my beta, xfirefly9x!


"Hey," she said quietly, no longer trying to hide the tears. "I'll be all right. Really."

Rodney sighed. "You don't seem very convinced yourself so I don't know how you plan on convincing us, Elizabeth. What exactly happened?"

She took a deep breath and stood up. "Basically they believe our relationship would split my focus."

Ronon grunted. "That's ridiculous."

"I agree, Elizabeth," Teyla said. "Your love for John has never hindered the success of this mission and the attempt to save everyone in this city and in this galaxy."

"There's nothing more we can do," Elizabeth replied in defeat. "It's done. John has been reassigned to the SGC."

"No!" Everyone looked at Carson. "I've never known you to give up so easily, Elizabeth. You know as much as I do that Colonel Sheppard belongs here! He is an asset to Atlantis. We need him here no matter what the IOA and military have to say!"

Rodney nodded in agreement. "I'm sure there are a great number of people who would rather have him here. I'm sure if we drafted a petition they would listen to us."

"Overly optimistic, aren't we, Rodney?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.

"Somebody has to be…"

And everyone knew the reason behind that comment. John was usually the optimistic one in the bunch and right now they needed him more than ever.

Rodney entered the mess hall to see a huge group of people gathered. Not only the military, but scientists as well. He glanced over at Elizabeth. "Are you sure you want people to know about this?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, Rodney. I think they have a right to know. Besides, who's to say our little secret messenger didn't already begin gossiping?"

"True," he replied. Rodney then walked to center of the room and called for everyone's attention. "Most of you know that Colonel Sheppard's been reassigned. I don't know if the reason is known so we're going to talk a little about that and then we're going to talk about ways to get him back here."

Elizabeth took a seat next to Teyla. "Are you all right, Elizabeth?" she asked as Rodney continued to explain the situation.

"Yes, Teyla," she replied. "From what I see here, no one seems angry or upset about our relationship. They seem more eager to get John back here."

"I think Major Lorne is our top advocate on that," Ronon said with a smile.

Elizabeth smiled back. This had to work! Everyone on Atlantis was going to see to it. Just hang on a little longer, John, she thought, we'll bring you home.


John had finally been able to find a team he was comfortable with and vice versa. His team consisted of Dr. Angela Heinz, Major Henry Thyme, and Lieutenant Taylor Anderson. He still found it a little odd to visit a planet and not worry about an attack from the Wraith. As he walked around the decimated village, though, he remembered that Wraith could be killed.

The Ori on the other hand…

"Colonel Sheppard!"

"What is it, Lieutenant?" John asked.

"Tracks, Sir," Anderson replied. "Looks like some sort of animal. Big animal."

"Angela?"

The anthropologist walked over and knelt near Anderson to study the prints. "Whatever it is, Colonel, it's huge."

In response a long, malicious growl could be heard. "Okay, that's definitely not good and definitely close. Lets start back to the 'Gate," John suggested. "Major, take point. I've got our six."

"Yes, Sir!" Thyme said, P-90 at the ready.

John's eyes were trained as he followed his team, but his mind was elsewhere. His mind was in Atlantis along with his heart. It had only been three days but it felt like an eternity to him. Not only did he miss Elizabeth but all his friends and the city as well.

He was so lost in thought that he was too late to react and suddenly a creature as large as a lion pounced on him. John cried out as the creature slashed its claws through his TAC vest. It was about to take another swing when he heard a P-90 being fired.

The creature fell to the ground next to him with a thud. John just stared at in mild wonder as he attempted to catch his breath. His chest felt as if it were on fire and his breathing was getting worse.

"Colonel!" Angela exclaimed. "Major, dial Earth and send for a medical team!"

Major Thyme needed no further urging. Lieutenant Anderson kept an eye out for more of the creatures. "How the hell did we kill it?" he asked in confusion. "That thing was huge."

Angela ignored him as she gently opened John's vest. "Sorry, Colonel," she said when he groaned in pain. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the extent of the damage and was grateful when Thyme told her the cavalry was on the way.

John felt the blood seeping through his chest and onto the ground. This was definitely not a good thing. All he wanted to do was sleep, but he knew if he did that, he would never wake up again.

Elizabeth. God, he wanted her with him so badly. He didn't want to die. There was so much he wanted to do with her. So much he wanted to say to her. She had changed his life in more ways than he ever could have imagined and now it was going to end.

"Elizabeth," he gasped out as Angela pressed gauze on the wound in an attempt to stop the flow of blood.

"Colonel?" Angela felt utterly helpless. John was dying right before her eyes and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.

"Here they come!" Thyme exclaimed in relief. He couldn't believe this was happening. This was only their second mission out as a team and already he was going to lose the newest member of his team.