" She doesn't look so good." the voice was male, but that was all I could make out.
" Yes, well, that's because I haven't hooked her up to this, and I can't with you standing there. Thank you." a flicker of recognition at this voice, but were had I heard it?
" She's going to be all right, isn't she?" this one was female and filled with worry.
" Your guess is as good as mine."
I barely feel the prick in my wrist, not enough to bring me fully to the surface anyway. Slowly, a sort of warmth starts to permeate from the area that was pricked and it starts to move up my arm, into my shoulder and down my side. When it reaches my neck and throat I realize that I hadn't noticed it burning, why? The warmth reaches my lower legs at the same time as my head and I feel myself literally pushed up and out. My body convulses and I gasp for air as my eyes open to see the brightness around me.
" Major, Lieutenant, give me a hand holding her down!" Carson?
I see dark shapes above me before pressure on my chest and abdomen, pushing me back against a soft surface.
" What's going on, Doc?"it was the first voice that I had heard, Ford?
" How the bloody am I suppose to know son? We'll keep her hooked up for a bit longer."
" If that doesn't help?" Sheppard?
" It doesn't look promising."
Pain cuts off the rest of the conversation and I know my body is tightening beneath the weight on top of me, it almost feels like my mind is about to implode with the wave after pulsing wave of agony. Then, out of no where, it stops. Just stops. My body relaxes and I feel myself thump back to the bed that I know I'm laying on, weird how I didn't completely register that fact before.
" Carson?" Weir asks with a small note of fear.
" I don't know, she just stopped. The bag is almost empty but she's still unnervingly pale." Confusion dominated his voice.
" She's still breathing." Teyla points out this fact by placing her hand over my mouth and nose.
When she does this the scent of fresh blood fills my lungs, she must have an open or fresh cut.
Slower than usual but still faster then the human eye could see, I jerk up to a sitting position while at the same time pushing Teyla's hand away. I sense her body stiffen as she registers my movement and feel her hand pull away.
It takes my eyes five seconds to adjust to the sudden light change but the misshapen forms quickly turn into Dr. Weir, Carson Beckett, Sheppard, Ford, McKay, and Teyla. All of whom gasp and jump back at my freakish speed.
" Faith?" Weir asks tentatively.
I raise my eyes to meet her's, " Yes?"
" Are you all right?"
I grin, " For the most part. I bet that was a question you never thought you would ask me."
" I had hopes, but it seems your not as invulnerable as you let us believe." ouch.
My grin widens, " Oh, please. I've survived things that you could only imagine. How many people in this room can fly, under their own power, through space?" I raised my hand as their eyes widened, " Okay, now. How many can do that after the ship they were on exploded?" I raised my hand higher, " I'm was not exaggerating when I said I was immortal. I just still have a few human weaknesses."
" After ten thousand years?" her tone questioned my sincerity.
" Yes. I shouldn't be telling you this because it is really none of your business, but I lost consciousness because I realized that for the first time my memories were fading."
" Fading? Do your kind have trouble with stuff like after a certain amount of time?" Ford's question was innocent but I felt a low growl building in my chest at "your kind".
" I wouldn't know and neither would anyone else seeing as I'm the only ten thousand year old vampire!" I screamed the last five words and I was breathing heavily. I nearly laughed when I heard the concern in Carson's mind for my well-being.
" Carson, I'm fine. I'm always a little... touchy, when I smell fresh blood in the air." everyone's eyes flashed to the blood bag attached to my right wrist, " That isn't the blood I'm talking about." they didn't have to voice their questions, I could hear their confusion in their minds.
For a quick and easy answer I looked at Teyla and then at her hand. Carson was the first to get it, then Teyla. I look back up and meet her gaze, " It was rather stupid to put your wounded hand over my nose, especially when I wasn't entirely in control. If it weren't for the blood from the bag keeping me semi-lucid, I would have most likely drained you dried and only regretted it after I came back to myself." I watched her eyes dilate at my words, " And that wasn't a threat, it was a simple fact."
The air current going through the room must have shifted because I suddenly got a lung full of her scent and my body tightened automatically, to detour myself I covered my nose and mouth with my free hand. Carson glances from me to Teyla, " Maybe you should step outside."
An idea popped into my head, " No, wait. I would really rather fix this now then meet her another time when there is not a bag of blood connected to my arm."
" Faith, I don't think you realize just how primitive we are, we can't just heal someone." oh, Carson.
I smirk, " You can't but I can."
"NO! You are not turning her!" Elizabeth has a strong voice, can make a vampires ears ring.
" Turning? Dr. Weir, were you not there for the 'interview'? I have more then one type of venom."
Teyla must have remembered because comprehension entered her expression and she raised her hand, very trusting.
I extend my fangs and start producing the venom, when a decent amount is dripping from them I raise my hand and open my mouth. No one reacts physically but their minds start racing as do their hearts. I roll my eyes as I catch a few drops on my finger, that is all I would need for her wounded hand. Retracting my fangs, I move my venom covered fingers to her hand and gently coat the wound. When I pull away you can see the skin knitting back together as the venom soaks into her system.
" Is it suppose to do that?" leave it to Sheppard.
" Yes, that small amount of venom will now spread throughout Teyla's body and make minor repairs as it goes. After it does this, it will break down into material that her body can integrate with organs and even cells." I heard the curiosity bloom in Carson's mind and the names of the tests he would love to run on my venom, but I wasn't willing to give him a free sample.
I jump down from the single person hospital bed, " Well, if that's all, I'll be going." before anyone could object I ran from from the room, and when I mean run I mean vampire speed.
The familiar twing of my door penetrates my unconscious mind and I open my eyes. The gray ceiling of my quarters greets me. Sighing, I sit up in my bed and push the white sheets off my body before swinging my feet onto the floor. I glance out the big bay window in front of me only to see a bright sun rising over the ocean and I have to force myself to look away from the pretty scene. My door twings again and I stand, I open the door a few seconds before I actually reach the door.
Sheppard meets my eyes with an unspoken greeting, unspoken because he hasn't opened his mouth to say the "Good morning" that he's planning on, and he would have if he hadn't caught sight of what I was wearing. Honestly, I had forgotten. I remember now. I grimace as I follow his gaze to the skimpy nighty that only went to the top of my thighs. It would catch any guys attention. I look up to see Sheppard with his eyes closed while shaking his head, I nearly laugh out loud as the words Don't even go there run through his mind. While his eyes are still closed I exchange the nighty for dark blue form-fitting t-shirt, skinny jeans, and black one inch heeled boots.
I smile at the earthiness of my outfit, " Sheppard, you can look now."
His eyes pop open and a barely audio-able sigh of relief flows through his lips. He doesn't say anything though and I know it's because after see what he saw of me, regrettably, he feels uncomfortable standing in front of me. Me? Not so much. Over the centuries men had seen more flesh than he had, especially when the occasional loony decided to burn the building that I was in which in effect burned all my clothes away and left me to try and form more. Now that I think about it I had had stuff like that happen more in the last fifteen years than over the thousands of years that I had lived. Interesting.
" Don't worry, Sheppard, I'm not totally cool with it but I'm okay with what just happened." better to let him down easy.
He nods but continues to feel uneasy so I try to push him in the right direction, " Did you come here just to see me in my nighty or was there a purpose behind your visit?" I surprise myself by not bursting with laughter. What can I say? It's me. Sheppard blinks and shakes his head one last time before holding out his left hand, " Your first outing is in thirty minutes. This is a radio that will allow you to contact anyone on Atlantis, when here, and each other when we're off world. Not that what your wearing now is inappropriate for off world travel but if you could put something a little more... functional, you'll save your self a lot of interesting situations with the other military personnel.
Anyway, were going to go to a planet that is uninhabited but which we think could have some valuable resources, like food. We'll meet in the Gate room, see you there." with a nod of his head he turned away and headed down the hall. Still uneasy but slowly getting over it.
With a sigh I look down at my clothes and try to think of what exactly functional would be, but I come up with nothing. Well, he didn't like this for "off world". So? What do you wear for such an occasion? Maybe... I grin at the mental image that pops into my head, It worked for the Wraith.
I smile and change my clothes, when I look down again a black spaghetti strap and black jeans with no heel boots and a fit black leather jacket now covers my form. Hope this is functional enough for ya.
I stop before entering the Gate room, surveying all that is happening. Teyla, Ford, and Sheppard are both attaching the black guns to their vests, they only gave McKay a handgun. I glance up to see Weir watching them prepare, then I notice someone standing behind her and I flinch. Bates. Great.
Resigned to my fate I walk up to Sheppard before stopping and staring at the Gate. There used to be a point when I would have killed to go through this Gate and escape this city, but now, even with Bates, I find myself comfortable.
" Is that your version of functional?" Sheppard's voice pulls me from my thoughts.
" Actually, I couldn't decide what you meant by that so I just chose what works best for me." it had made sense to me, until now.
" This get up works for you? You look like your going to a nightclub."
My eyes narrowed, " I'll take that as a compliment. And just so you know, I'm quite comfy in this outfit. I've been wearing stuff like this forever and I've never had difficulty."
" Okay, whatever you want. I guess I don't need to give you a P-90 do I?" I rolled my eyes and looked up to see Weir and Bates, Bates of course glaring at me with completely unaware that I can see all the little plans he has to try and get rid of me. The man has issues, serious issues.
Elizabeth nods and glances over her shoulder, ignoring Bates, and says, " Dial it up." A few seconds later the Gate activates and the shiny blue puddle faces me. Sheppard and his team start in that direction so I begin to follow. First Teyla, then Ford, McKay, and finally Sheppard disappear. I pause before walking through the vertical puddle, not because I'm nervous but because of the sudden suspicion from Weir. Alerted to possible trouble I step through the shimmering surface.
Blinding sun greets my eyes as I hear the Gate shut down behind me. The others are half way across a field full of wild vegetation and surrounded by thick trees. Without much thought as to the fact that they are leaving me behind, I start after them at my own pace. The sky was cloudless, the sun was hot, and the field seemed to intensify this ten fold. Heat doesn't bother my body but even when I was human it made me snippy and as a vampire it hasn't gotten any better. If anything it's gotten worse.
I glare at the darkness under the trees on either side of me and a low growl fills the air around me. My growl deepens as Ford yells something about being slow. I glance at the sun, it has got to be summer on this planet. Forcing my feet to pick up the pace I quickly shorten the distance between myself and the others.
" How long are we going to be here?"
Sheppard turns to me and continues to walk backwards, " I don't know, after we get an idea of what is here. Why?"
My shoulders slump, " It's a little warmer than I'm use to."
Ford glanced at me, " I thought you guys were able to deal with stuff like that."
I roll my eyes, " Ya, we can, but it doesn't mean that we have to like it."
" Well, we shouldn't be here to long, we're just doing a quick look around the Gate and then were home free." Sheppard smiled encouragingly at me before turning back around, grudgingly I followed. I noticed that as I got hotter my mood did too. I was a perfect example of "short fuse". Every few feet McKay would take a picture of something or other, I started to fuzz out what we were doing to lessen my interaction with them, it wasn't their fault that we were here.
Finally, we started back to the Gate and I lead the way for a change, I nearly jumped with joy when I saw the wonderful metal object. I hurried ahead and stood in front of the dialing device suddenly aware that I don't know the address, at least I don't remember. The others were ten yards behind me, I could wait. Happy with the knowledge that I'm leaving this hot planet I turn my head toward the closest section of trees and the cool shade under them thinking this experience could have gone so much better if we had been under them rather than in the open.
My eyes widen as I see a flash of white and the slight rustling of leaves. Are there animals on this planet. I glance at Sheppard from the corner of my eye, their only a few feet from my position. Should I warn them that we may or may not being hunted? I shake my head, better to verify then make a fool out of ones self. With that I push my mind out in the direction of the shadowy underbrush. I don't sense any wild animals, nor any domestic ones, but I do become aware of three large hearts beating in the treeline and seven more hearts coming this way from different directions. An ambush? Confused I invade the mind that goes with the heart. All I am suddenly aware of is hunger, not thirst but hunger. There is only one place that I had ever felt that sort of hunger.
" Wraith!" I whirl around to face my team, I catch sight of the Gate and the pool of shimmering water-like stuff before I hear a whoosh behind me and my body tingles. I turn around to see a Mask standing holding one of the long stunners and aiming at me, as I watch a bluish white energy is shot at me and when it hits my chest I feel the tingle again. Two more Masks have appeared and are firing at my team, I hear Sheppard and Ford discharging their guns while Teyla and McKay hurry through the Gate. The other seven that I had sensed are suddenly appearing around the Gate. No time.
I know that I could take them all out, and even if I weren't here Sheppard and Ford could probably take care of them long enough to get to the Gate, but I don't like the sounds coming from the trees. There are more coming. Silently, I run to Sheppard and grab his arm while simultaneously grabbing Ford's wrist. They resist at first but when they notice I'm dragging them to the Gate they get the picture and start ahead of me. I release them and watch as they disappear, without a backward glance I follow.
The second I step through a shield appears behind me, I count three hits to it before the Gate shuts down.
Well, there is three less Masks to worry about.
" What happened?" Weir asks as she approaches Sheppard.
He shrugs, " Same as before, Wraith ambushed us at the Gate. We had a little of a head start because Faith warned us just as one of them shot her. I can't be sure but I think that there had been more on there way when Faith rushed us to the Gate."
Weir arched an eyebrow as she turned to me, " Faith?"
I sigh, " I caught a glimpse of a Mask and I alerted the others. I got hit with a stunner and pushed the Major and Ford in the direction of the Gate when I felt more in the trees."
" Masks?" Ford starred at me with a confused expression, I didn't blame him, it was the first time I had used the phrase to their knowledge.
" That's what I call the Wraith soldiers, I called them that ten thousand years ago and it just stuck." there is still so much that nobody here knows.
I saw Elizabeth nod before returning to Sheppard, " What does this make it?"
" Five out of nine." he sounded annoyed.
" That can't be a coincidence, they can't be everywhere in the Galaxy." she sounded rather annoyed as well.
I watched as Teyla headed out with McKay to get their gear off, unfortunately Bates took their place.
" One of the Athosians must be tipping them off." the arrogant bastard.
Sheppard's head snapped in his direction, " A spy? Are you crazy?"
" Sir, it makes sense."
" No, it doesn't. Teyla and her people would never supply information to the Wraith."
" Well, I'd be happy to say that Faith is the traitor but that is solely based on that she has only lived with them for the last ten thousand years."
A dangerous growl filled the room, " Are you suggesting that I'm in with the Wraith? Still? I broke away from them fifteen years ago. The only direct contact I've had with them since before you all showed up was with the ones stupid enough to try and take me back."
" You could have traded information for your freedom."
" I didn't need to." to emphasize my point I spread my fingers as my talons lengthened.
He didn't prosue the matter further, only because he was afraid that I would slice and dice him. Sheppard dismissed Bates and he and Weir went up to her office overlooking the Gate room. I stood where I was, still a little angry that I had just been accused of being a traitor. I slowly retracted my talons and walked out of the room, taking a corridor that lead to the infirmary. I wasn't injured but I was starting to get a burn in my throat, better to feed now then wait until later when who knows what could be happening.
Everyone around me in the corridors seemed to be hurrying everywhere at once, no one paid me any mind. When I enter the infirmary only a few nurses tending to three victims of some sort of work related accident are there to greet me, lack there of. Again, I'm paid no mind. So, in return, I do the same to them and walk over to the cabinet with the shelf full of blood. I select the closest bag and turn around, I see a empty chair and decide to relax while I feed.
Unfortunately, it was one of those hard plastic chairs so comfort wasn't really what I got, but I was off my feet so it counts. My fangs distend and I sink them into the plastic, a small sigh of relief escapes through my teeth as the blood immediately causes my throat to stop burning.
With the bag empty I pull it from my teeth and fling it into container labeled Bio hazard. I glance at the nurses that are finishing up the victims from earlier, kinda odd how everyone are so unaffected by my being here, at least no one is showing any.
" Faith?" I pull my gaze away from the nurses and patients to see Carson standing next to me.
" Ya?"
" Is something wrong?"
I shake my head, " No, I just came to get a drink."
He nodded, " By drink you mean you raided my blood supply."
" I only took one." I smile playfully.
" Aye, well, I thank you for that. I heard from a reliable source that you ran into some trouble off world." so subtle.
" I wouldn't call McKay 'a reliable source' seeing as he was already through." if ever you want to talk business with a vampire make sure that the vampire had recently fed, I was in a good and playful mood.
" Neither would I in most cases, but he had been talking with Teyla and Ford so he had gotten most of the story."
" I see. I'm guessing you heard that I was hit twice by stunners." his answer was a single nod.
" And I'm also guessing that you're concerned for my well being as far as health goes."
" Aye. I'm responsible for the well being of those on this expedition, even though you aren't an original member, neither was Teyla. The only problem is I don't know what is good for you and what is bad, what any warning signs are, what can and cannot bother you. Is it because of earlier that you needed to feed?" he sounded genuinely concerned.
" No, the stunners didn't bother me unless you count that strange tingly sensation that spread throughout my body every time I was hit. I just came here to feed so that I wouldn't have to do it later."
" What about my other questions?" always a doctor first.
I smile, " Blood is good, tainted blood is bad. Not only because it tastes awful but because it does more harm than good. I don't know if I have any real warning signs because my response is different with different things. I suppose that sometimes a sign is when I get either irresponsible or more violent then usual."
" I'll keep that in mind. You don't get ill, do you?" I shake my head, " Then I suppose that sedatives wouldn't work, in the situation that you become 'more violent then usual'." he was taunting me.
" No, drugs don't work. My body ignores them, the only thing my body responses to is blood. Oh, and turkey sandwiches." I don't know why I added that last part, maybe to see how Carson reacted to the news that I did eat.
" You can ingest food?" the curiosity in his voice got the attention of one of the nurses interest as she put a package of gauze into one of the cabinets.
I took a breathe and pulled my eyes away from my unexpected audience, " Yes, I can, and it taste quite good. Um, I'm sorry. I think I'll leave now, instead of holding you up. I'll see possibly the next time I come in to feed."
Jumping out of the hard plastic chair, I excuse myself as politely as I could possibly think of and made to exit the infirmary. The second I was out of sight I quickened my pace to a run and didn't falter until I was in the section that housed my quarters. I sighed as I walked through my door and was greeted by the silent darkness that I had left behind. My door closed behind me and I quickly replaced the jacket, pants, and boots for skinny shorts and bare feet. I leave the lighting just as it is and move to the side of my bed, pausing briefly to make sure that no one is going to disturb me, then I stretch my arms out and let gravity pull me onto the bed.
Even though the mattress and sheets are way to standard for my taste I still snuggle up with my extra pillow and close my eyes. Slowly, the incident with Bates sinks into the farthest abysses of my mind until it disappears completely. Finding myself relaxed now I easily slip into sleep.
A loud crash jerks me awake and I open my eyes. But somethings not right. I sit up and
look through the darkness of my surroundings. The room I'm in is way to small to be my
quarters in Atlantis. Where am I? I glance around to see concrete walls on three out of
four of the walls. The fourth is made of rustic iron prison bars. My heart skips a beat as I
realize that I'm in just that, a prison. But not in Atlantis, no, this is far to underdeveloped
to be the advanced city I had decided to call home. Unnerved, I stand up and walk to the
bars. I look right then left but I see no one to answer my questions, I'm alone down here.
I know I'm underground because the only light I see is completely artificial, and poorly so,
and there are no windows. The musky smell that comes from lack of circulation also told me
this. But why? How did I get here? Who locked me in this primitive cell? Where was everyone?
Well, where ever I am, I need to get out of here. I silently reach out with my mind to try and
get a feel for the area, searching for the way to the surface. I gasp as I discover nothing. I
can't even seem to push my mind out. How?
With a start, I notice a rustling behind me and I whirl around to face whoever, or whatever,
is in here with me. All I see is blackness. " Hello?" my voice sounds strangely hollow. No
one answers my call, but I hear something close to fabric being pushed across concrete floor.
" Hello? Is someone in here?" I didn't like the sound of my voice, hollow didn't even cover it.
I catch a glimpse of some darkness moving followed by the sound of footsteps coming closer.
I strain my eyes to see into the shadows, then with a jolt I realize that I can't. What is happening?
Slowly, a shape forms out of the shadows, a tall, slim form. I watch as I start to make out features.
The persons clothes are black, that's why I hadn't been able to see anything, it blended. I skim my
eyes up and I feel my blood run cold as I see the face starring at me. " How?" I whisper. But he
doesn't answer me, my Wraith just watches me like I'm some sort of figment of his imagination.
Maybe I am, I don't like the idea but it's the only thing that makes sense. But what does that make
Atlantis? I know that was real. And Sheppard.
I focus my gaze back on my Wraith and I see disbelief in his yellow eyes. Then a different thought
occurred to me, maybe I was here but at the same time still in bed on Atlantis. I don't know how
but over ten thousand years I've discovered that almost anything could happen.
I suddenly see the opportunity placed before me, " Where are you? What planet?" I sound ghostly
faint. My skin crawls at the thought of sounding that way to him too.
" You are not here. Go away." I am shocked to hear how tired and in pain he sounds. This isn't good.
" No, I'm not here. I'm in Atlantis, asleep. Now please, tell me where you are." desperation was
starting to creep into my voice.
" Now I know your not real, you would never go anywhere near that place."
" I would if those Lantians had long gone and were replaced by people from earth."
" If you tell the truth, then your really here. Why do you ask me where I am when you are already
here? Don't you know?"
I shake my head, " No, I don't. I told you, I'm asleep in bed."
He closed his eyes and I hated to see a grimace of pain flash across his face. From the rougher than
usual physical appearance I'd say he has been here a long time, maybe even all fifteen years, and he
has been poorly fed. So right now he is feeling the equivalent of being burned alive but never dying,
at least, not yet.
" You would tell me if you knew, but you don't. Do you?"
His eyes open, I cringe at the disspear in those eyes, " It has been many years and this is not the
first place that I have been kept. If I knew I would tell you, but all I know is that there is a portal
on this planet."
I smile at him, " Stargate."
" Stargate?"
I wink at him, " Ya, Stargate. That is apparently what the Lantians called the portal and it is what
the people from earth call it. I've taken to the name since being in the city. I wish you could see it."
" I doubt I would be welcome even if I could."
I nod my head, " Your probably right. Um, earth is to far away for the Wraith to get to them with
the present technology, so this is their first time encountering them. It was not a good first impression."
" What about you? Your there and you apparently are being treated fairly or you wouldn't be talking
about this place with such... comfort."
" Ya, well, our first meeting in Atlantis wasn't the best. I had been injured, so..."
" How did you get out of that one?" I smile faintly at that, I said the exact same thing to him so many
times.
" Sheppard talked their leader into letting me join his team. If your planet has a Stargate, I will find you.
It may take some time because finding you isn't their first priority, but I will search the planets we come
to. I promise, don't lose faith in me, or the others. If your faith starts to wane just think of me, searching
every planet in the galaxy for you. Because it will be the truth. I have a feeling that if I stay with Atlantis,
my search will be shorter than it would if I left."
A strange haze started to cover my vision, my Wraith and the cell took on a ghostly appearance, I look
down and see the same thing. Maybe it's not everything else turning ghostly, maybe it's me.
I look quickly at my Wraith, " I'll find you, my love." I could barely hear my own words in my head.
The haze grew until all I could see was darkness and I felt like I was lost, I had no form, no body.
Suddenly, in the darkness, I see a bright speck and it is growing in size. Before long the speck turns into
a blue/green marble of a planet. The marble grew until it engulfed my vision and I suddenly felt a pull.
I felt nothing as I entered the atmosphere and saw the vast ocean speeding toward me. Then I saw
something, it looked like a white/gray flower from this point of view, but as the flower grew I saw the
towers. Again, I felt nothing as Atlantis rushed up to greet me. But I didn't hit the city, instead I went
through it. I watched as I flew through the city, catching a familiar face here or there, until I suddenly
stopped in front of my quarters. I still had no form but I could move under whatever power that I had.
Knowing that my door could do nothing to stop me, I glide forward. My room is full of light and noise.
I look around to see Sheppard and Carson looking at the floor next to my bed, curious, I glide to then
and look down with them. For the first time, I feel something resembling fear as I look upon my own
body. Fear only because I look pale as death. Had I really left my body?
I turn around to see Sheppard talking to Carson about what to do next. Something told me it is very
important to get back into my body now, I look back at my body. The question now is, how?
Running on instinct, I glide down until I'm stretched over my body. Slowly I float down until I'm
surrounded by my cooling body. I would have gasped if I had control but I couldn't make a noise
as I felt myself reaching out and connecting with muscles, than bones, and finally organs.
Even knowing that I was now in my body, I still can't move, my body feels uncomfortable with the
temperature. I don't even feel my heart, even though I search.
Now what?
" Now what?" the voice, it sounded like Sheppard's, but why would he be in my quarters while I slept? He wasn't a pervert, that and if you go by age I would be the pervert, but still. Why am I so cold?
I explore my body only to learn that my heart isn't beating, odd. I focus on my heart and it flutters, then those flutters slowly turn into weak but steady heartbeats. I take a tentative breathe of air and the beats strengthen, my blood starts to pump throughout my body and with each passing moment I feel my temperature rise. Gotta love vampire blood, so long living.
" Carson, she's breathing." he didn't sound surprised, only a little confused.
" Don't look at me." Carson sounded kinda of annoyed, but why? I mean, ya, my heart stopped but... wait, why did my heart stop? I quickly skim through my memories looking for the answer, the last thing I remember is falling asleep after leaving Carson in the infirmary. Did something happen between then and now?
I feel like there is something important that I should remember, but I can't think of anything. Let's see, I fell asleep and was grateful for the abyss that was. I remember vaguely wishing that my Wraith was here with me, if only to feel not so alone, so isolated. Then... weird, that's when my memory stops. I don't even know if I dreamed. Wait, dream? There's something. I think I do remember something from a dream, maybe a... cell. With old rusty bars and my Wraith inside. My Wraith. Stargate...
My eyes fly open and I gasp as I sit up, Sheppard and Carson both take a step back but I don't notice. My mind is suddenly filled with what happened, I think I had an out-of-body-experience. Vampire style. I shake my head, my thoughts are all just one big meshed up mess, but I do remember Stargate, the planet has a Stargate. What planet?
" Faith?" Carson sounded unsure but I can't say anything to him, not yet. At my name a whole different set of memories resurfaces. Faith, I told my Wraith to have faith, that I would find him. I will find him.
I felt a warm hand on my left shoulder and I turned my head to look down at it before following the arm up to Carson concerned face.
" Faith? Are you... all right?" the concern was very apparent in his expression.
I opened my mouth to answer but my gaze slid to the side, on my chair I see a notebook. Before I can think of what I'm doing I stand and rush toward it. I grab it and open it to the third page, my picture of my Wraith fills my sight. I'll find you.
" Faith?" Sheppard had approached from behind and placed his hand on my upper arm. I turn toward him, clutching my notebook.
" Yes?" my eyes widen at the dry roughness of my voice, so not vampire like.
" Are you okay?" he pronounced each word clearly like he was taking to a small child.
I glance at the picture and nod, still a little overwhelmed by the memories flooding my brain.
" What happened? I thought you said your in perfect health?" Carson had a hint of annoyance.
I look up and meet his gaze, " I am."
" No, you most certainly are not. Your heart stopped and you weren't responding to any outside stimuli." typical Carson.
I smile warmly at him, " Carson, that would be because at that time my body was just an empty shell. I wasn't here."
" Excuse me?" Sheppard, you gotta love him. He believes the whole vampire thing but the idea of one leaving without ones body and he bulks.
" Do the words out-of-body mean anything to you?" I was still smiling but inside I was a complete mess, my only clue was a Stargate.
" But you died, people who have those kinds of experiences don't die." Carson wasn't buying it either.
I roll my eyes, " I'm not "people", I'm a vampire and I experience different things. My heart stopped because I was millions of miles away on a different planet. Oddly enough, talking to my Wraith."
" I thought you didn't know where he was?" Sheppard asked.
" I don't, I apparently searched in my unconscious mind and found him. I just... don't know where exactly. The planet has a Gate, I know that." with dismay I realize that my good mood is slipping away and so is my smile.
" You say you saw your Wraith. What about surroundings?" at least Sheppard was taking me somewhat seriously.
" Cement cell. With rusty old bars. Poor lighting, was definitely underground. I didn't see any of the captures around and strangely enough I couldn't search the area. It was like my mind was stuck with me."
" If it's underground it will be very hard to find."
" I know."
" Does this mean your going to leave us?" Carson suddenly sounded depressed.
I glance at him and shake my head, " Nope. Your stuck with me."
" Nice to know."
My eyes flash to the bay window across from me, the sun is up but something seems a little off. I look at Carson,
" This may sound really strange, but, when was the last time you saw me?"
He looked taken aback by my question, " In the infirmary, two days ago."
I lose momentary feeling in my legs but luckily there was the chair behind me, " Two days? And someone just now came to check on me?"
" Actually, I came to return the notebook. I had been giving Weir my report and she mentioned that she had found it after our first meeting. I volunteered to bring it." I look at Sheppard.
" Report? What happened?"
" Nothing much. Bates accused Teyla of being the spy and forced McKay to search her thing. Ironically enough, he did find a signal. The necklace that I found in the caves on our first encounter turned out to be some sort of broadcasting beacon that is activated when someone with the Ancient Gene touches it. I inadvertently activated it when I handed it to her. So there really was never a spy."
I see a mental picture of the necklace that I saw Teyla wearing since then, " Shit, I remember my Wraith telling me about stuff like that. It was so they could track Lantians better, when one touched the beacon it would activate and the nearest Hive would pick it up. I wasn't around when they did that, so I had not idea what they would look like. Wow, I was really useless."
" No, you just didn't know what to look for. No one will blame you, and besides, you saved our necks that first mission when you gave us an advanced warning."
" Wasn't much of an advance. But I get your point."
" Good. Now, if all is well, we have a mission planned for tomorrow. See you after lunch."
With that both the men left and I just watched them leave without saying a word, I gripped the notebook as I looked down at it's pages. I had nothing better to do, why not?
Sighing, I pick up the pen and turn the page and stare at the blank paper before setting to work.