Chapter 3

Until Elizabeth received an urgent call from the infirmary in the middle of the night everything had been normal. Carson had called to tell her that Aylanna had been screaming things in Ancient for the past hour, she was awake but nothing they had attempted could make her stop. He mentioned that she kept saying the same word over and over, "Aymenya." On hearing this had started on her way to the infirmary.

When she arrived it was obvious John had got the same call. Like her he stood there in sweats and a t-shirt half asleep. He was holding the girls hand but it didn't seem to be making much difference. As John turned to the sound of the infirmary door so did Aylanna, seeing Elizabeth instantly calmed her and she sidled to the edge of the bed. As Elizabeth reached the edge of the bed she could see the relief in every ones eyes.

"Aymenya?" she called starting to cry. In seeing this Elizabeth scooped her into a comforting embrace saying only one thing.

"Demensa."

John watched the two of them. Elizabeth had managed to calm Aylanna and they were now both asleep on the small infirmary bed clinging tightly to each other. They must have been comfortable as they slept soundly only to stir when it became cold. Elizabeth reached for the blanket only to have John cover them both then stroke a few curls out of their faces.

John stayed at their bed side all night long, determined to be the first to help if Aylanna started screaming again. Luckily, Aylanna didn't utter a peep throughout the night, and the next morning, she woke up peacefully. As soon as she was up, Carson was over poking and prodding her, and asking a few general questions about her health. Apparently she gave the right answers, because he stepped away from her with a smile.

"Alright, lass, nothing seems to be physically wrong with you, so as promised, you are free to go." Carson smiled, as Aylanna swung her feet off the side of the bed, and headed towards the door with John and Elizabeth close at her heels. "Um, Major, where do you think you're going?"

The little group of three stopped in their tracks. "To give a tour of the city, Carson."

"I don't think so, Major. You stood practically at attention by that bed all night long. You are not fit to be wandering around."

"Doc!"

Carson put up his had to stop the Major before he could get any whining in. "No, Major. I say you stay here and rest and that's final."

John crossed his arms across his chest as if he was a child who was denied a trip to a theme park.

"Don't worry, John. We'll come back." Aylanna laughed as Carson escorted John to a bed.

"You better!" John called as Elizabeth and Aylanna made their way to start their tour.

The two wandered the endless hallways of the city with Elizabeth pointing out places of significance or interest and Aylanna asking many questions about the 'city of the ancestors'. The members of the expedition were fascinated by the new arrival, especially those on the science teams. Rodney had obviously been blabbing again so, for Aylanna's best interests, Elizabeth refrained from showing her the labs. When the tour came to an end it was coming up lunch time so they ventured to the mess, grabbed a tray full of food and drink for themselves as well as John and went to join the captive in the infirmary.

By the expression on his face as they walked through the door they knew John was glad for the company. When he realised that his visitors had brought him food his eyes widened even further. Aylanna and Elizabeth pulled up two chairs beside the bed and sat down. They ate in silence but it wasn't awkward until Carson approached.

"Sorry Carson, we'll leave" Elizabeth said apologetically.

"It's alright lass" he smiled "I actually came to talk to Aylanna about last night." Aylanna's face sank and the shift in mood didn't go unnoticed by Elizabeth or John. "Is it a usual occurrence, those dreams?" Aylanna nodded then shook her head then sighed.

"It was after my mother died," she paused to take a deep breath "then they stopped. I guess getting attacked by Laintar brought back all those memories and I realised how everyone I knew felt before he….. You know…. Sucked the life out of them." Elizabeth and John both took one of her hands to comfort her automatically.

"Ah, ok then love. I'll leave you in peace now. I was going to refer you to Kate but I think you've relived those memories enough." And in saying that he returned to his desk.

Lunch was soon over and Elizabeth realised how little work she'd done in the past four days. She and Aylanna returned to her office where she offered Aylanna some of the translating she had neglected. Aylanna was content with this; at least she was being helpful and not getting them shot at by Wraith, she thought to herself. Hours passed and between them they had managed to clear the desk of files. Elizabeth led Aylanna through the doors to her favourite part of the city, the balcony that overlooked the ocean adjoining her office, and explained what was beyond the horizon.

The two were deep in conversation when Carson's voice came through on the radio.

"Doctor Weir?"

"Yes Carson."

"I'm afraid Major Shepard has escaped from the infirmary. I only turned my back for a second. I'm ever so sorry lass."

"Oh, ok, thank you for telling me Carson. I think I know where he'll be." She switched off her radio and Aylanna asked her:

"What does Doctor Beckett mean when he says John has escaped? Is the infirmary a secret prison?" There was no need for Elizabeth to answer that as she heard the doors to the balcony open and close.

"No Aylanna The infirmary is not a secret prison." John laughed behind them "I just don't like staying there much!" He walked up to join them, resting his forearms on the railing. The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon. "Besides I couldn't miss our little evening chat on the balcony, could I?" he stated as he gave Elizabeth that little lopsided grin of his.

"I'm flattered." She retorted trying to resist his smile.

"By what?" he puzzled.

"The fact you were willing to risk Carson's wrath just to have a little chat with me." Elizabeth beamed. Aylanna watched the two for a while and noted the air that came across in the silence before she yawned loudly. The past few days, she decided, had taken their toll on her.

As they reach Aylanna's quarters Elizabeth and John noticed her looking a little bewildered, scared even. Then she asked "What if the same as last night happens?" Elizabeth and John looked at each other. It was lucky that when they were picking her room they had picked the one right in between theirs.

"Well," John started "My room is three doors that way." John pointed to his right.

"And mine is three doors that way" Elizabeth said as she pointed to her left "plus there's always the radio, ok?" Aylanna sighed and swiped her hand over the controls to open the door. Before entering she turned around gave them both a hug, a kiss and wished them goodnight. The door closed behind her and with that Elizabeth and John left in their own directions.