Transposed Part 7

Atlantis Teyla's Quarters:

They knew. It was like an itch, plaguing them in the night. Not one of the three could sleep. Not a wink.

Lying on her back, eyes boring into the ceiling, Larrin contemplated her predicament. How much longer would this go on? Why did this have to happen to her? She was completely content running her ship; actually very busy running HER ship. This little wrinkle in her plans was not something she planned on.

Sighing, Larrin fumed as she examined her memories from the last few days. Mostly, she remembered little, which could be attributed to the fact that her consciousness apparently shifted from her adult memories—her current state—to the memories she harbored in a five year old state. The whole thing was just bizarre to her, and she desperately wished for it to end.

"Larrin, are you awake?" A whispered voice broke Larrin's thoughts, and she propped herself up on one elbow to look at her companions. Samantha Carter stared back at her expectantly.

"What do you want?" Larrin asked defensively, tired though she was, she still put up her customary guard.

"Do you remember?" The tiny form of the Lantean leader asked her in all seriousness.

"Of course I remember!" Larrin replied dismissively, lying back down in a moody huff.

Sam, however, sat up, responded in another whisper, "But do you remember everything? All of your adult memories?"

Larrin growled her answer, "Yes."

Obviously satisfied with the reply as a window to continue, Sam continued, "Good. I thought as much, by both your tone and curt answers. You seem to be a great deal more tolerant as a child."

"Cute," Larrin countered sarcastically, tired of the conversation, "And your obviously keen intellect as an adult is spot on again."

Another voice cut in to interrupt the argument, "Oh both of you cut it out. Bickering and being short-tempered with each other will solve nothing."

"Oh forgive me Doctor if I am fed up with my situation. Let me know how you feel after spending more time in this state, since it's only been a little while for you," Larrin expressed bitterly, wishing the other two would just leave her to sulk in peace; Quiet peace.

Not giving up Jenifer locked eyes with Larrin and replied, "Look, I get you are fed up, but being cranky about it and sulking is bad for you. At least share a bit, it's not like we don't understand what you're going though."

Inwardly rolling her eyes in frustration, Larrin decided it really would not hurt, since they after all, had an inkling as to what she was dealing with, stated more civilly, "I hate these gaps in memory. I hate being in this body. But most of all, I want my ship and people back."

"It is unpleasant," a new voice joined them, "To be away from one's people. I completely understand how cut off you must feel."

"Evening Teyla," Sam greeted, "I hope we did not wake you."

The Athosian shook her head and sat down to form a circle with the trio, "I know how alone you felt, because I felt that way for some time after I left me people to come to Atlantis."

"You left your people? Why come here?" Larrin questioned in all honesty. The first time she met the Athosian she recognized that she was not the same as the rest of the Lanteans. Pegasus natives stuck out distinctly, no matter what they called their homeworld, when compared to the new inhabitants of Atlantis.

"I left my people because I believe I can achieve more for them here on Atlantis, than if I stayed with them. Since I arrived I have made many friends, but the beginning was difficult, so I understand how you feel," concluded Teyla serenely.

Oddly comforted, Larrin reluctantly apologized, "Sorry for lashing out. I am just so frustrated by this!"

Smiling in reply, Teyla proposed secretively, "I have an idea to help relieve some frustration, but we need to go somewhere else."

"A Field trip?" Sam asked playfully as she stood up.

Frowning slightly at the Earth term, "Yes, I believe that is what you call it."

Atlantis Nighttime:

Sam broke the quiet of the night first by asking, "What are we going exactly Teyla?"

"We, my dear friends," Teyla stated pleasantly as she led the trio down a deserted corridor, "Are going to make some comfort food and talk."

Larrin raised her eyebrows skeptically, "Talk? About what? About how we are trapped in these little bodies? About how much this situation is Not pleasant?"

"Oh stop complaining," Jenifer chided as they followed the much taller Athosian; being in such a small body provided a slight disadvantage.

Teyla led them to the deserted kitchen and Mess area. This time of night, the place was deserted. It was late enough that dinner had long been cleaned up, but still too early for the morning shift to start preparing the next day's breakfast.

Winding their way around the orderly kitchen, Teyla ushered them to a secluded work station, complete with oven, refrigerator, supply cabinet, and sink. Placing a rectangular card on the counter, the trio scrambled up onto the bar stools conveniently placed nearby.

"Chocolate chip cookies?" Sam questioned with a wry grin.

Jenifer, however, moaned pleasantly, "Oh, that sounds wonderful. I haven't made any in ages."

"Um hello," Larrin's annoyed tones broke their pleasant reminiscing,"Somebody want to explain what we're doing here?"

"It's a delicious dessert that many people make back home," Sam clarified patiently, "Actually many people bake to relieve stress."

"So, that's why we're here," Jenifer complimented before asking, "But I didn't know you baked Teyla?"

"Well, Elizabeth brought me down here one stressful evening after I decided to stay permanently and introduced me to the wonders of chocolate chip cookie dough," Teyla explained solemnly, "It turned into a tradition of ours, and the cooks keep everything well stocked. Even now."

"Even now? What? Who's Elizabeth?" Larrin questioned after seeing the long faces of her companions.

Sam cleared her throat and explained kindly, "Dr. Elizabeth Weir was the original expedition leader, but sacrificed herself to save the city on an off-world mission with Colonel Sheppard's team."

"She was a dear friend, indeed," Teyla added, "She helped settle the expedition in the early stages when they first settled in the city."

"Oh." Larrin replied solemnly, wondering though, what happened exactly, but respecting the revered silence her companions displayed during the explanation.

"Anyway," Teyla began more cheerfully, "I thought we could make some cookie dough and just talk if you need to."

So they talked, about everything other than the fateful device. The funny thing about making cookie dough when one is stressed is the fact that usually, most of the dough is eaten before making its way into the oven. This idea certainly applied to these circumstances, because the group of woman proceeded to make their way through a rather large bowl of cookie dough while they wallowed in their predicament.

The timely interruption of Teyla's comm. unit broke the spell cast by the chocolate chip cookie dough.

"Teyla, this is Rodney."

"Yes Rodney, I'm here," replied the Athosian coolly, reigning in her extra enthusiasm to answer his call.

"It's ready."

Looking at the three heads, which immediately transfixed their attention on Teyla, she intoned cautiously, "Are you certain? Should I bring the girls now?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'm sure they don't want to spend any more time than necessary as children." McKay replied dramatically, emphasizing a point expressed earlier during the evening.

Children, speaking of them, Teyla focused again on the trio where Larrin suddenly clutched her head in pain, "Rodney, we will be there very soon. I think their transition between mental states is happening too frequently."

As she finished speaking Sam also clutched her head, a telltale sign of the mental state alteration.

"Guys, are you okay?" Jenifer asked, putting her hand on Sam's back in concern.

But karma seemed to declare it time for all of them to revert back to their mini mentalities. Teyla noted how each one, now seemed to look around them in confusion.

Sam was the first to ask in wonderment, "What happened? How did we get here?"

Sighing, Teyla explained, "You reverted to your adult memories, but now switched back."

"This is so weird!" Jenifer exclaimed in frustration, smashing a cookie to bits.

"I have good news though," replied Teyla soothingly, "Uncle Rodney believes he fixed the device that did this to you. Would you like to be big again?"

Hopping off her stool in excitement, Larrin drawled, "Would we ever? Let's go."

Atlantis McKay's Lab:

"This should do it," proclaimed McKay dramatically, as he looked up from his data pad at the small group gathered in his lab. In addition to Radek and McKay, John, Ronon, and Lorne had arrived expectantly. Still, the fact that it was the middle of the night dampened their patience to some degree.

Still doubting the nature of the device slightly, John asked, "Are you sure you've re-set the thing correctly? Positive? Don't be messing with my hopes here."

"What, are you sick of children Sheppard?" Rodney jibbed smugly, "Or do you just want Sam back so she can take over "leading" again?"

Narrowing his eyes, but not taking the bait, John replied, "No more sick of them than you, but them I can change, you not so much."

"Oh, well yeah fine, it's ready," dismissed Rodney, ignoring the insult.

Moments later, Teyla entered with the three girls in tow. Sam, Larrin, and Jenifer looked excitedly at the device, anxious to see if it would work.

"Are we going be big again?" asked Sam curiously looking at the device.

"Yes," replied Rodney as he waved towards the device with the free hand that was not clutching his data pad, "All you have to do it touch it."

The three girls looked at each other, walked up to Rodney, and threw their arms around him. Surprised at the hug McKay patted their heads, each in turn, a little uncertainly, and coughed before stating awkwardly, "Okay, okay your welcome. Go touch it already, you all would never hug me normally!"

Still, the three held back for just a moment and wore looks that expressed a good deal of gratitude towards their temporary guardians. It was Sam, though, who put it into actual words as she thanked them all, "Thanks for looking after us!"

Sam looked at Larrin, and Larrin turned to Jen who proclaimed excitedly reaching her hand out over the device, "On the count of three….."

"One…" Sam continued the pattern, allowing her hand to hover right next to Jenifer's.

"Two…." Larrin said confidently as she thrust her hand out as well.

"THREE!" They cried together and dropped their hands to touch the device.

Immediately a bright while light enveloped the trio, everyone else in the room averted their eyes because of its intensity. The seconds ticked by at an agonizingly slow pace, but finally the light dissipated. Left in its wake, they saw the petite, albeit normal forms of the three women, lying on the floor of the lab.

Each looked exactly as they remembered, due to McKay's breakthrough in his understanding of the device. He finally was able to manipulate the settings to return each person exactly as they had been before activating the device.

Sam, with her hair pulled back in a messy bun was wearing the same expedition jacket she had one when she touched the device the first time. Larrin's long wavy brown hair cascaded around her, and she looked exactly as they remembered her, from the leather shirt to tall boots. Jenifer was also dressed in her expedition uniform and her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail.

All seemed back to normal, unconscious, but normal nonetheless!

Atlantis Balcony:

After regaining consciousness and getting checked out in the infirmary—which took most of the day—Larrin first demanded the particulars of what transpired. They willingly filled her in, because she was the most out of the loop, and she was released under the supervision of an escort. However, knowing better, she accepted it for what it was; a guard assigned for the remainder of her stay in the city.

Needing to gather her thoughts, and deal with the flickering memories of the last few days, Larrin's subconscious led her to a little used balcony. Her guard respectfully gave her the space she needed, waiting at the door inside.

Atlantis:

After finally leaving the infirmary, Sam retreated to the comforting solitude of her quarters. A nice, long and hot shower helped to calm her nerves and release some of the built up tension from the last few days.

Finding herself turning into a little kid, living in that body, and finally being restored was trying. Not that it was her worst experience ever, but it was still not something that happened every day.

Hearing her door chime, Sam reluctantly got up from her bed to answer it. Waving her hand over the console, she was only half surprised to see her second-in-command standing just outside. "John, what can I do for you?"

"Well, I just wanted to make sure you were adjusting all right and all," He replied somewhat offhandedly, before continuing on a different subject, "We also received a subspace transmission not too long ago from Larrin's ship. Apparently, all went well and they are headed back to pick up their captain."

Nodding thoughtfully, Sam commented, "That's good. I'm sure she wants things to get back to normal as much as I do."

Taking in her companion's appearance, Sam noticed that John looked more tired than usual. Chalking it up to the crazy last couple of days, what with dealing with the city and the ancient device's victims, she said thoughtfully, "Thanks for taking care of everything while I was, indisposed."

Obviously taken aback slightly, he countered, "Oh, well your welcome."

"No, really," Sam emphasized, "You did a good job the last few days, both you and Rodney managed to solve things and keep from blowing up the city. Anyway, I appreciate your checking up on me."

"Right," John replied as he started to turn away, "Well, 'night,"

"Night," Sam replied as she walked back into her room. Throwing herself on the bed she only wondered what kind of paperwork would greet her the next time she visiting her office.

Atlantis Infirmary:

"You know, hitting things can help to calm you down."

A voice called out into Jenifer's private corner of the infirmary. She specifically chose here to spend some quality time with her research, a futile attempt to keep her mind off of recent events. The whole, "Ah-I've-Been-Turned-Into-A-Kid" creeped her out a bit, and she replied noncommittally, "I'm sure that may work well for you, but I prefer to bury myself in my work."

Ronon stood impassively in front of her work station, knowing that she needed to do something to get her mind off of the last couple of days. "I'm not sure if that's healthy doc."

"Yes, and this is coming from Mr. Emotional," Jenifer replied sarcastically, bending back down to peer into her microscope.

Not allowing her to shut him out, Ronon said honestly, "I just think keeping all of that inside is bad for you."

Jenifer spun around in her chair to face him, looking him in the eye she queried playfully, the first time she actually sounded like herself, "Really? And what do you propose I do about it?"

"Well," Ronon began as he scratched his head thoughtfully, "You missed your weekly sparring lesson."

Frowning, Jenifer considered his offer for a moment. Deciding that it would not hurt to try, well the actual sparring always left her with some new bruise, but it would at least help her relieve some stress, so she said with a small smile, "I guess we had better make up that lesson shouldn't we?"

In the past, she always wondered why people sparred late at night, because she had treated a fair number of accidental injuries. But right now, she could care less, because she needed to wrap her mind around a new challenge.

Atlantis:

Sometime later, after stopping in to make sure Rodney left his lab, John felt it was time to check up on their not-so-little house guest. After talking to Sam, he was reassured that she would be alright after this little ordeal, and he knew Ronon had gone to visit Dr. Keller. Still, he doubted anyone really cared to check on Larrin, so he made up his mind on one more stop before calling it a night.

Pulling out a LSD, Sheppard noted one life sign out on "his" balcony, and another just inside. Figuring his odds were pretty good that the dots were Larrin and her guard, John headed to the secluded location of the city wondering just how much she remembered.

Atlantis Balcony:

Larrin peered out at the city, amazed the remarkable size and profound beauty surrounding her. She could hardly imagine living in such a place: such power, such potential, such safety. However, the sound of the door 'whooshing open' abruptly distracted her thoughts. Angry at whoever presumed they might interrupt her solitude, she turned to see not her guard, but Sheppard instead. Trust that man to have perfected the art of being a constant pain.

She cast a penetrating glare in his direction, but he did not yield and instead, sauntered over to the rail next to her. "Evening," he greeted oozing sweetness, albeit with a slight undercurrent of sarcasm; it was just his nature.

She sighed heavily and replied icily, "Is there something you wanted?"

"Actually, would you believe I genuinely cared about how you are doing?" he asked cocking his head to one side.

Larrin could not help releasing a little anger at the attractive way his hair stuck up in every possible direction. Trying to stay upset she replied bitingly, "Why would you do that?"

She heard him chuckle next to her, "Well, for starters I shared kid watching duty for the last couple days. I guess it's a bad habit I have yet to break. You realize you were a lot more trusting as a kid?"

"Most children are, I however am not naïve nor oblivious to the evils of this galaxy," replied Larrin eyes narrowing.

"No, you are a very strong and independent woman who is extremely driven towards her goals," stated John as he continued to gaze out at the reflection of the sky on the sea, "But you don't always have to be so difficult about it."

She smirked at him, "I do what I must to achieve my needs."

Larrin paused for a moment; as if to question a memory, "You said something like that before…" then it dawned on her, "Now I remember this place. You brought us here."

"Yes," he replied before falling silent.

Larrin stood quietly, a silent battle of emotions wrestling within her, her mind in turmoil. As much as detested his ability to get under her skin, she recognized his efforts in watching over her, and even saving her life in the past. "Sheppard," she began, but hesitated looking for the best way to say what she felt, "John…."

He turned to look her squarely in the eye, noting the use of his first name, and she in turn closed the gap between them kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"Thanks," she finished simply, restoring their personal space, and looking anywhere but at him.

He shot her a sideways glance, noticing how she was still a little upset, but less angry and more resigned. Taking it as his cue to leave, he said cheerily, "G'night."

Larrin turned slowly to watch him leave; still puzzled by most of his annoying actions, but at least now she felt that they could be called the actions of a friend and she need not worry about his motives.

--tiny TBC--Only an Epilogue to Go………