A/N- I'm at 59 reviews and I figure that that's close enough, specially conisdering I've seen the leaked episodes I want to get to my version of the actual season 4 ASAP. So without further ado...

Chapter 16: Thinking Things Over

'I couldn't have killed her-' John told himself for the millionth time as another day passed only he finally received some nourishment. 'Even if I was drunk- which I wasn't……I……' John paused and laid back on his back, unable to even mentally verbalize his feelings. Over the past three years they had gotten close, very close and it seemed (at least in the past few months) that one of them was stuck in situations of doom.

'Like when Elizabeth was being attacked by those nanites,' John thought to himself as he looked up at the ceiling. 'God,' he thought with a shiver. 'That was horrible, 5 hours and I couldn't do anything to help her……or waiting for her to wake up after she had been injured when Atlantis left its original home...' John sighed and closed his eyes, but when he did he was confronted by the look on her face when he had told her about Telarians. 'She was so excited….'

John sighed and thought back to that day a week ago, when he and his team had come through the gate from M3X-K57 and told Elizabeth about the technologically advanced and friendly Telarians……

...It was just another routine mission for John and his team. They had gone through the gate to M3X-K57 which according to the database had once been an ancient out post. On the other side they had been shocked to see a thriving industrial civilization and they were even more surprised to learn that this civilization was friendly and was willing to meet with Elizabeth to discuss the terms of their treaty. So, John and his team came back to Atlantis and debriefed Elizabeth about their potential new allies.

"They sound wonderful." Elizabeth stated with a smile as she looked at John from across the briefing table. "But are they for real?"

"Well of course they're real." John insisted. "We certainly didn't make them up."

"What I think she means is that are they legitimate." Rodney pointed out sarcastically. "You know, if they really who they say they are….and I agree with her cause our tract record with allies hasn't been too great lately."

"I know that." John stated rolling his eyes. "But honestly, did you think that there was something wrong with them?"

"Well no-" Rodney admitted. "But still-"

The debate had raged on and yet against all the opposing views, Elizabeth agreed to walk through the gate to meet their new allies.

"It can't possibly hurt." She explained as the meeting was dismissed. "And besides, maybe something useful will be gained from it."

oOo

"Dr. Elizabeth Weir-" The Telarian Minister of Peace- Jal G'dan welcomed with open arms. "-it is a pleasure to welcome to Telaria."

"Thank you Minister." Elizabeth thanked, bowing as Jal had done. "I understand that we will be receiving a tour of the city?"

"By myself no less." Jal stated with a smirk which caused John to squirm. "Come-" He began holding out his arm for Elizabeth to take- which she did. "-let us begin."

oOo

"And this is our most secret lab." Jal continued as he ushered Elizabeth, Rodney, Ronan and John into a lab. Like the rest of the grand city it was built of a shining metal but it was what was on the table in the centre of the room that caught their attention.

"Rodney-" Elizabeth began, her eyes widening in shock. "-is that-?"

"Yes." Rodney confirmed, taking a step closer to the orange/yellow device. " Elizabeth yes it is."

"It's a ZPM." John pointed out, eying Jal G'dan suspiciously. "But the only people that we know of who can make ZPMs are the Ancients-"

"-and the Asurans." Elizabeth finished taking a wary step back from the Minister of Peace. Ronan and John instantly raised their guns. "You're Asurans?"

"No." Jal G'dan assured his hands up in peace. "We are not the Asurans I assure you. We just stumbled upon some of the ancestors writings and have finally been able to build upon them."

"Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked warily as Rodney looked up from the schematics.

"Yes." Rodney confirmed before Jal G'dan could. " Elizabeth their not Asurans."

"How do you know?"

"Well for one thing Sheppard the Asurans have no need for salt water." Rodney pointed out. "These versions of ZPM require salt water."

"Yes." Jal G'dan agreed. "That is what we were hoping to discuss with you."

"You want to trade for salt water?" Elizabeth asked her eyes lighting up while John and Ronan lowered their respective weapons. "In exchange for-"

"I will leave the negotiations to our Prime Minister Kellan." Jal interrupted. "But you will not be able to speak to him before The Grand Ball which is to take place tonight."

"The Grand Ball?" Elizabeth asked curiously. "What's the celebration?"

"We are celebrating the Prime Minister's thirtieth year governing our planet." Jal answered.

"He's been governing for thirty years?" John asked curiously. "How's that even possible?"

"Thirty-One years ago our planet was in decay and ruin." Jal answered as he led the Atlantean team out of the lab. "We were a fractured world made up of over two-hundred independent nations. Prime Minister Kellan saw that we were heading towards our own destruction and slowly over the period of a year he managed to bring all the nations together."

"Under his rule." Ronan finished sceptically.

"Of course under his rule." Jal confirmed. "Who else would we allow govern our people?"

"And this Kellan, has he had any opposition over the years?" Rodney asked as they continued walking along the corridors of the fine city.

"Oh much." Jal confirmed with a laugh. "We have several factions on this planet who make up the opposing parties but the people never seem to want to give them the opportunity to plunge Telar into ruin."

"That's how Kellan has been ruling for thirty years?"

"Yes." Jal stated as he turned to Elizabeth who once again was on his arm. "That is how."

oOo

While the group continued to get a tour of the facility John was trying to contain what he knew as jealously. It was directed at Jal G'dan who seemed to have Elizabeth completely in his thrall.

'I don't get it.' He muttered silently to himself as they continued walking. 'This guy seems normal enough but-'

John shook his thoughts aside as they passed through another lab. There inside he thought that he could hear the metallic click of something- but when he craned his head to see into the windows there was nothing there.

A/N- Hello beloved readers. And thank you to lakewater, HE, lemons and Suz for reviewing the last chapter. I hope that you four and the rest of my beloved readers who are reading this will take the time to review this chapter and seeing on how I've got a couple chapters in reserve there should be an update on Monday- so please review and check out my other Sparky stories in the meantime...