John woke, prising his eyes open to the harsh lights of the infirmary. He didn't remember passing out, certainly couldn't account for the warm numbness that was seeping through his body but in the short term that didn't matter.
He was home, back in Atlantis... safe.
A content sigh broke his lips until the details suddenly hit him with full clarity.
Elizabeth.
His hand flew to the emergency button beside his bed, wincing as the action re-established his previous pain. It was like a thousand hot needles pricking his skin from every direction but he ignored it, driving his finger against the buzzer until Jennifer ran into the room.
"Colonel, what's wrong?" she abandoned her clipboard reaching his bedside with concern, "where does it hurt?"
"Elizabeth, is she-"
He faltered, not entirely sure how or what to ask and Jennifer relaxed slightly. Clearly he was in no more physical discomfort than was to be expected and the use of the call button had been for a completely different reason, one she was happy to relieve his anxiety over.
"No nanites, no evidence suggesting she's a clone, not even the slightest whiff of alien tampering." She'd run all the tests herself, three times to make sure, and was confident in the outcome, "medically speaking, she's our Elizabeth."
He swallowed, absorbing all the information with precise precision, "what about the amnesia?"
The doctor averted her eyes, reluctant to part with the one downside to the positive news. While physically she was humanly intact, her memory loss had persisted even after returning through the gate and she could find no reason for the cause. The only clue they'd been able to acquire had come from Colonel Carter. After a brief contact Sam had agreed to transfer over the only 'un-ascended' medical references on file and while the information seemingly mirrored Elizabeth's results, it still left far too many questions unanswered. As a doctor she still found it hard to some to terms with a, the plausibility of erasing someones memory and b, the long term effects it might have.
"At this point we're assuming it to be a side effect from un-ascending but there's no guarantee as to how much she'll remember or when-" Jennifer relayed the news gently, "we just need to be patient, give it some time."
John nodded, still feeling a hint of doubt pool in his stomach, "and you're sure about the nanites? I mean really really sure?" The words formed stiffly but he forced them out. If there was any doubt whatsoever then he needed to know.
Jennifer sensed his hesitation and offered him a genuine smile, "one hundred percent Colonel, I even had Rodney confirm the scan."
Though he was momentarily overwhelmed by the fact he instinctively resorted to sarcasm, "and that's supposed to make me feel better?"
"Hey!" McKay bristled upon hearing the comment as he entered the room, "genius remember?" He came to a stop beside Jennifer, lightly brushing against her shoulder.
The theory that Elizabeth had un-ascend was now the highest card on the table and he felt unusually lighter at the prospect. Next to finding the clone of Carson and having his best friend returned, it was the best news they'd received in months and it earned a certain amount of his usually reserved optimism, "I just spent an hour with her and trust me that is our Elizabeth in there."
"How's her recall progressing?" Keller turned, curious to see if moving freely through the city had helped to jog her memory at all.
"You know Major-" Rodney clicked his fingers emphatically, searching for the name, "Sandermat? Salderman?"
"Saurellon." John filled in, familiar with the pilot. They had bonded earlier on over the dynamics of manoeuvring puddle jumpers and after seeing his skills in action, John had formed an instant liking for the man.
"Whatever..." Rodney dismissed the fact casually, "we ran into him earlier and Elizabeth asked how his pen collection was going. His pen collection! She can't remember me being head of science and research yet she knew some arbitrary fact about a guy I didn't even know existed!"
Jennifer tilted her head slightly, considering the fact. It made sense that smaller details would be more forth coming and they still don't know what happened to her while she was with Oberoth. It was highly possible that subconsciously she didn't want to remember. "I know it's frustrating but imagine how it feels for her?" she shot Rodney a pleading look, "just try and be patient."
John regarded the pair, shifting awkwardly as he pushed aside the confining blanket, "McKay, where is she?"
Jenifer turned her attention away from Rodney, fixing the Colonel with a stern glare. "You're in no condition to be moving around yet-" she lightly guided his shoulder back down the mattress, "when you're feeling up to it we'll arrange a visit but right now you need to rest."
As soon as the words left her mouth she knew there was very little chance he was going to accept the demand and she read the same confirmation from the man standing beside her. However stubborn she thought she could act, it didn't hold a candle to the determined military leader.
"Fine." She reluctantly settled on a compromise, "Rodney and I will find her on our way to lunch, fair?"
He let out a sigh, wincing as the breath caused a crack in his chest. Whether he deemed it fair or not it seemed his body had either ideas on escaping. "Yeah, okay..." he rolled his gaze to the side, having just enough energy to squint purposefully at McKay.
Rodney understood immediately; the look meant if he didn't follow through with finding Elizabeth there'd be hell to pay. "Right," he slapped his hands together trying to avoid the awkwardness, "lunch, great I'm starved!"
Jennifer smirked slapping his stomach, "hardly."
He pouted, finding the small of her back and pushing her playfully from the room. "If you're so concerned, I can think of ways to work it off-" her soft laughter guided them into the hall where he indicated left with his thumb, "Elizabeth's temporary quarters are this way."
"Yeah..." her mouth twisted into an apologetic smile, "I kinda lied, we're not getting her."
His face fell slightly, not wanting to leave John without keeping good on his word. "You know he's just going to get up and go look for her himself?" He pointed out knowing how impatient his friend was in particular when it came to matters regarding Elizabeth.
"I'd anticipated his unwillingness to stay in the infirmary," she admitted with a hint of pride, "it's why I had the nurse up his dosage of morphine just before he came to. I'd say he's already fallen back back asleep."
"What, but you can't, I mean that's-" he stopped, unable to come up with exactly what it was. Sneaky and devious did come to mind but they seemed a little harsh for the circumstance.
Jennifer stepped forward grasping his arm gently, "look, you and I both know he needs rest and given everything that's going on-" she alluded to Elizabeth, "conventional methods were always going to fall short. The important thing is his body is recovering."
Rodney nodded in agreement completely swayed by her words, "you know I find this persuasive side of you incredibly sexy."
Her laughter once again encompassed the hall and he had no problems following her to alleviate the hunger starting to build in his stomach.
OO
OO
Elizabeth stopped sharply, letting out a sigh as Lorne failed to react and bumped into her roughly.
"Sorry Doc."
He offered an apologetic smile and she forced down the wave of annoyance, motioning towards the mess hall, "I was just going to grab some lunch. You don't have to worry, I can manage..." she watched a brief look of uncertainty flash across his features.
He'd been ordered by Woolsey to keep an eye on her, make sure she found her way around, didn't get lost, that sort of thing... but when he failed to budge even at her insistence, she got the impression he was acting as more of a security detail and the realisation left her uneasy.
It was a precaution, she understood that but without so much as a little space to breathe, she was becoming increasing agitated. "Evan-" she used his first name deliberately softening her tone, "I understand the position you're in but I just need a few moments. I promise I'm not going to go anywhere."
He nodded, reluctantly caving under her warm gaze. It hadn't taken him long to figure out Woolsey's fears were unwarranted, she wasn't a threat but he'd wanted to keep close by regardless. Without her memory she seemed so vulnerable and Sheppard would kill him if anything happened to her under his watch.
"You need anything, I wont be far away."
"Thank you-" she let out a breath, turning to enter the mess hall.
Out of all the places in the city she found this one to be the most familiar which according to McKay was strange because with her busy schedule she'd barely found time to frequent it. Still, there was no denying the comfort as she randomly gathered an assortment of food and proceeded to find a quite table at the back of the room. The chair was uncomfortable as she sat down but it stirred a feeling of ease. It felt... she shook her head unable to place it, whatever had brought her here it was just as allusive as her memories.
Slipping a plastic knife and fork from their plastic packaging she suddenly froze, staring intently at the cutlery...
'We're not leaving you behind!'
'If you don't leave now, none of us will get out so go... that's an order"
She snapped up in her chair taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes.
It was right there, so close.
'Elizabeth!'
"Go!'
A stifled gasp escaped her lips as the plastic fell from her hands.
Oberoth.
Breathing became next to impossible and she clasped the table in a wave of panic. It was all there, rushing back to her with a dizzying speed that left her nausea. Stepping through the gate to Atlantis, finding the Athosians, Simon, the wraith, her mother, Michael, everything.
"Elizabeth what happened, what's wrong?"
Lorne was by her side frowning in concern and she hitched, fighting the onslaught of memories, "I can't... oh my god-" her knuckles curled, trying to drive out the pain pounding her head. It was excruciating and she wavered as black spots danced across her vision.
"Breathe, in and out slowly-" he instructed, accutely aware of the attention she was gaining. Not wanting to cause a panic, he turned waving down the concerned looks surrounding them, "it's okay she's fine. Elizabeth-" he found her gaze again, squeezing her shoulder gently, "come on, we should get you to the infirmary."
He winced as she gripped his hand forcefully.
"I can remember-"
The throbbing pain ebbed into a wave of relief as she gained control over her laboured breaths. It was so surreal. She could remember not remembering, being clueless as to who she was, allying herself with the Genii... the thought nearly made her violently ill but she held it in, holding on to the thread of composure.
"It's okay, take it easy-" Lorne rubbed slow circles over her back, disturbed by her sudden lack of colouring. He knew from personal experienced some of the things they witnessed were a lot to take in and she had, without a doubt, some extensive horror's buried in her subconscious. "You're going to be fine, this is a good thing."
She nodded, drawing strength from his words, from him.
This whole week she'd been unable to place his presence by her side, assuming the security detail was because she was perceived as a threat. It had never entered her mind that he was there out of duty to their friendship or that he had just been concerned.
"Thank you-" she sucked in a deep breath, "I'm so sorry I couldn't, I wasn't-"
"Hey," he was quick to admonish the apology, "you have nothing to be sorry for, none of this was your fault." It was an enormous relief to witness her recognition and he squeezed her hand, smiling when she relaxed into the contact.
"Sheppard's gonna love this," he motioned towards her plate trying to lighten the mood, "you remembered him over steak and gravy."
Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat. John, Rondey, Teyla, Ronon... god, how she'd missed them all.
Lorne watched her eye's flash and felt his smile widen, "it's okay, after you get checked out we can-" as if on cue, Rodney's current grievance reached them across the mess hall and he watched Elizabeth rise up, finding the man through the small crowd and and engulfing him in a firm hug.
The scientist bristled, a little intimidated by the contact until the only possible explanation dawned on him, "Elizabeth?" a grin cracked across his face, "this is... you remember right? Not that I don't like to, I mean..."
Elizabeth breathed in the familiar ramble, squeezing him a little tighter, "Rodney, you're ruining the moment."
Relief washed over him as they pulled a part, despite feeling Jennifer tense beside him as she switched into doctor mode. "You're not feeling any strange side effects," the blonde women pressed with concern. Elizabeth's face was beyond pale and her hands were trembling slightly but then given everything, a little discolouration and nerves were probably to be expected.
"I'm okay," Elizabeth took a deep breath, trying to convince herself of the fact. She honestly didn't know what she was feeling or how to explain it but for the first time in a long while she was at ease in her surroundings and that was at least something.
Jenifer smiled in reassurance, "all the same, I'd still like to run some tests..."
McKay's eyebrows shot up in annoyance, "but what about-"
"I'll take good care of her Rodney," she glanced towards Lorne, "maybe the two of you could have lunch together instead?"
Elizabeth felt a wave of sympathy for the Major but before she could offer an alternative Jennifer had her moving towards the door.
Maybe she wasn't okay, not yet...
But she would be.
OO
OO
AN: Thanks to everyone for all the lovely reviews! :0) I wasn't really happy with this chapter but for the sake of moving on I've decided to post it anyway. Let me know what you think & if perhaps a re-write is in order?