Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis or its characters…

Author's note: I believe I owe apologies on several counts. 1. I'm sorry that it took me so long to get this posted. Has it really been a month since the last chapter? 2. I was reading back through the fic, and I realized that I made mistakes in some of the details-mainly anachronisms-such as Elizabeth worrying about them sending her back to earth. I started this fic when I had only seen about half of the first season, and now I'm through the first few episodes of the second. I guess I just space out when I write and forget to keep it in a certain time period. (If you find some, let me know and maybe I'll get around to fixing them) 3. And finally, apologies are owed because I do not believe that I am capable of writing Rodney very well, but can I really do any of the characters justice anyway? So now that I have begged for forgiveness and given you reasons to despise me...please read on and enjoy…

In the middle of a field full of bright green grass, John spotted the scientist, hunched over some strange device. There was some sort of generic gathering of huts in the distance; it could have been Joe Pegasus Galaxy's village. He took a deep breath and attempted to prepare himself mentally for the encounter with the stubborn scientist, for John had discovered on previous occasions that McKay was McKay no matter if he was in a dream state or not.

"Hey McKay," he greeted the scientist when he was just a few feet from him. The other man grunted in response but did not look up from the device.

"Oh god. What a geek. He even dreams about working on alien technology," Sheppard muttered under his breath, knowing what the effect not being able to hear what was said would have on Rodney.

"What was that?" McKay asked, turning his scrutinizing attention upon John. He gave him a look of fed-up annoyance, something John remembered well.

"I asked you whether this is the device from MXG-241," John said, trying to coax the scientist's dream in the direction he wanted.

"No, it isn't," McKay snapped back. "Obviously, this is totally different from…

He trailed off for a moment, and John could've sworn that reality was attempting to assert itself into Rodney's subconscious. It was as close as John had ever seen the man to realizing that it was a dream, but it didn't last. Instead, McKay simply returned his attention to the device.

"Are you sure it isn't the device from MXG-241?" John tried again.

"Yes!" Rodney barked, this time without looking up from the object that retained his full attention.

"Look a little closer, Rodney," John suggested. He wasn't ready to give up yet. "I think you'll find that it is the device from MXG-241."

This time the scientist stood up to face his harasser, throwing the implement he was using to meddle with the device to the ground. John had definitely pissed him off. It remained to be seen if it would have the result he desired.

"Sheppard, you can be severely dense sometimes!" Rodney shouted, his hands beginning to flail about wildly. "Even a wild chimp, not even a trained one, could recognize that this" he gestured to the strangely glowing shiny device standing next to him "is an entirely different piece of technology than the device from MXG-241! We're not even on the same planet!"

"What exactly is the difference between the two devices?" John asked.

"Difference? There are any number of differences," McKay shouted, annoyance more than apparent in the look upon his face. "For starters, the entire basis of the-

"Wait, stop!" John interrupted him. Anger began to redden the other man's face. But John knew that McKay did his best thinking when he was worked up, and he needed his friend to do some real contemplative exercising. "Skip all the techno-babble. Just tell me what they do."

"Fine," Rodney huffed. "Well, this device is obviously some sort of energy-matter…trans…

"You have no idea, do you?" John asked, almost laughing but for the need to keep McKay thinking. It really reminded him of old times.

"Uh-no, not really," he conceded, looking back at the strange contraption. John gave him a critical look on the edge of rolling his eyes, which challenged Rodney to demonstrate his unwavering brilliance. "But the device from MXG-241, now that, that I know what it does."

"And what is that?" John asked, satisfied that he was finally getting somewhere with the infuriating scientist.

"It, well, it…" again Rodney trailed off as reality attempted to wrestle its way into his dreaming mind. He gave John a critical, disturbed look. "It killed you. But that can't be right because I'm looking at your stupid face right now."

"No, that's about right," John said. "You think I'm dead, but I'm not really. Well, you think I'm alive now but in real life you think I'm dead but I'm not."

"What the hell are you talking about, Sheppard?"

"And oh yeah, this is just a dream…" John added. "…Except the part about me actually not being dead. That's true."

"Right. Very funny. It looks like Rodney needs some quiet quality time with that alien device, so let's go mess with his head and see how confused we can make him and distract him from his work. Haha. Everybody's laughing, major."

John sighed, and there it was, like the dozens of other times he had tried to convince McKay of the truth in his dreams. The man was just too arrogant and obstinate to listen and truly consider what was being said, not to mention unimaginative. This dream world he conjured was more monotonous and stereotypical than real life could ever be.

"Why don't you go back to the village, Kirk," Rodney continued snidely. "I'm sure there are some attractive women there you can try and woo."

"I don't think that'll be necessary," John said, spotting several figures approaching from the distant village. He could tell their gender by the snug clothes they wore and the way it hugged their curves as they moved. As they got ever closer, John's eyes widened. They were knockouts.

"I was wrong about you McKay," John told his dreaming friend, as the women stopped to greet them. "You do have an interesting imagination."

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Maybe John should have tried harder to pry the information he needed out of Rodney, but the normally pragmatic scientist had conjured up a pretty good dream. And he was currently quite content to enjoy the imaginings of his unswayable friend.

"Mmm…thanks," John mumbled as a beautiful brunette popped another grape in his mouth. She, her three friends, Rodney and he were resting comfortably upon a blanket spread out on the grass, enjoying a sumptuous picnic. And although he knew it was just a dream, John couldn't help being swept up in its charms.

Having been stuffed full at the hands of the gorgeous village girls, John had laid back, just closing his eyes, ready for a nice respite when a startled shout from Rodney roused his senses and started his heart beating more rapidly.

"What is it?" he asked sitting up, simultaneously obviating the question by identifying the figures fast approaching on the horizon.

"Wraith!" Rodney shouted again, fear blatantly spread across his face. John cursed the man; he was just beginning to feel relaxed, enjoying the pseudoreality created by the scientist's mind.

John Sheppard jumped to his feet, ready to fend the monsters off, and then hesitated momentarily. He didn't really have to do battle with the apparitions. It was only a dream. And it wasn't even his dream for that matter. Plus, Rodney hadn't provided him with any sort of weapon. But John wasn't one to abandon a friend in need, even if it was all a dream.

So instead, he prepared himself to receive the onslaught from the murderous enemy. There had to be at least five. It would be difficult. He'd probably die. How ironic was that? Dying in a dream of a man who already thinks you're dead…

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"Elizabeth," John gently whispered into the sleeping woman's ear. When she failed to even stir, he knew he had to let her be. She deserved the rest. He considered entering her dreams, but she had explicitly told him not to, and besides, she definitely deserved the reprieve from his plaguing presence.

He sat down in a chair in her room, having nothing better to do but wait for her to wake. The attempt to extort information out of Rodney's dreams had been an almost complete failure. But the man had hesitated for a second; he was on the edge of realization. How could John push him over? Maybe he'd try again the next night. On the other hand, how many times before had he been deluded into thinking he was about to break through to his friend, only to fail miserably?

Sighing heavily, John regretted the fact that he never felt tired in this state. It was almost as torturous as never feeling hungry. It was unnatural and disturbing. And it made him feel even more depressed than not being able to interact with people.

Elizabeth's face looked serene as she slept, almost angelic. She was pretty. Studying Elizabeth's features gave John something to occupy the time, so he continued to watch her as she slept. After he had scrutinized her sleeping form for awhile, becoming entranced by her delicate pursed lips, her bare shoulder, and the curves of her body under the blankets, he finally realized that it was an incredibly rude and inappropriate endeavor.

John rose to his feet. He had to get out of there. It just wasn't good for them, spending so much time together. He had already begun to get on her nerves. And now it was messing with his head, too. He couldn't afford to think things like the notions that had begun to creep into his mind. Getting everything back to normal, to the way it had been, that was what was important…

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A/N: One more apology: Sorry for reverting back to Elizabeth and John whatnot…I just can't resist, not even for a chapter. Scold me if you must! I deserve it…

Up next…John has an idea about how to convince the others that Elizabeth is telling the truth. But will they buy it? How much longer will Elizabeth be able to keep it together?