"Secrets and Challenges"

Ch. 3

(Medical Lab)

Teyla lay on the infirmary bed, in isolation. She was sweating rather profusely, shivering uncontrollably, and breathing heavy.

"What have we got?" Weir asked, stepping in.

"If there's a cure to be found, we haven't found it yet," Grayson answered.

"All we've been able to discover, from the new data, is that the organism that's causing the infection feeds off of dead tissue, such as the brain," Beckett explained.

"Keep working on it," she said.

"We're starting to loose Teyla," Stacey said, tiredly.

She put her face in her hands and sighed deeply.

"Soon she'll be in a coma like the others," Beckett put in, taking a glance at Teyla. "That's when the organism will reach the brain,"

At that moment, Major Sheppard walked in holding two cups of coffee.

"I come bearing gifts," he said in a would-be cheerful voice.

He passed a cup to Carson. John then gave the other to Stacey. She looked up and took it. She sipped it thankfully.

Maybe I should tell them, Stacey thought. How else will Elizabeth ever trust me if I keep secrets from her?

"I have an idea," She said.

Stacey suddenly putting her cup down on the counter in front of her. She got up abruptly and went over to Teyla.

"Do you mind telling us what your brilliant idea is?" Beckett said walking over to her, while the others followed.

"There is a reason why I chose the medical field as my profession," Stacey said.

That hadn't seemed to answer anything. It just brought on more puzzled looks. Stacey put one hand on Teyla's forehead and the other on her chest. Dr. Grayson closed her eyes and concentrated hard.

She could feel the heat of the fever leave from Teyla's body and enter into Stacey's. Second by second Teyla's condition began to improve and Stacey began to look pale. Stacey let go of Teyla and almost fell to the floor. John caught her before she hit the ground. He carried Stacey to a bed next to them.

"Teyla, how are you feeling?" Weir asked.

"I am better," Teyla said slowly, sitting up. "What has happened?"

"It seems Dr. Grayson just healed you," Beckett said.

"How?" Teyla asked, looking over to Stacey.

There was a loud groan coming from Stacey's direction. She got up slowly and went over to the others weakly.

"I've had the ability since I was a kid. I'm not sure how. It just appeared out of now here," she told them.

Carson took a small sample of Teyla and Stacey's blood to examine.

"This will take time to analyze," Beckett said.

"In the mean time, Stacey, why don't you, the Major and I go for a little walk?" Weir said.

(Ext. Atlantis)

Stacey gave a small nod. Boy, am I going to get it, she thought. The three walked until they found the nearest balcony. Stacey leaned against the railing, her back to the sun. Weir and Sheppard folded their arms, looking at her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Weir asked, sternly.

"I wanted to wait until my other ability was fully under control," Stacey told her.

"Your other power?" Weir asked, directly to Stacey.

"Yeah," Stacey said slowly. "But, I wasn't born with that one. I was experimented on and the other ability was a side effect. My human DNA was combined with Feline DNA. I was the only one who survived the experiment."

"What is your other ability?" she asked.

"Because of the experiment I have superhuman strength, speed, and awareness," she said. "I've been having trouble controlling it lately. I become a monster," she added shakily at the very thought.

"Did you know anything about these powers, Major?" Weir asked John.

"I didn't know about the healing one," he answered, keeping his arms folded and looking over to his wife.

"Is there anything else?" Weir asked, in a more kinder voice.

Stacey and John shook their heads. At that moment Beckett came running out.

"Dr. Weir, Dr. Weir!"

"What is it?" she said.

He took a couple of seconds to catch his breath.

"There's incredible news about Dr. Grayson," he told her.

"What might that be?" John asked.

"She's an Ancient!"

To be continued . . .