"Secrets and Challenges"

Ch. 15

(Gate Room)

After the MALP went through, discovered that the Stargate on P2Z-732 was secure, Stacey was authorized to go. She was dressed in the Atlantis, black, BDU's with a P-90 slung around her neck.

"Good luck, Stacey," Weir said through the mic.

Stacey gave a slight nod, put her P-90 safely in her hands, and stepped through the Stargate.

(P2Z-732)

Surprisingly, there was no one around the Stargate. There was a trail that led away from the Gate, surrounded by trees. The trail looked as though it was a lot and recently. She didn't like the fact that there was no one around.

Not dropping her P-90, her green eyes turned to her amber, cat-like ones. She couldn't see any body through the trees. Her eyes switched to normal again.

She then looked up at the tree next to her and sighed deeply. Stacey let go of her P-90 for the first time since she arrived on the planet. She rubbed her hands together and started swinging them at her side. Stacey then jumped up and landed on a tree branch.

Stacey sighed with relief. It's been a while since she did that. She looked ahead again. This time she saw about 2 dozen campfires. It didn't look like a village. It looked like an army more like anything.

"Crap," Stacey whispered.

She then noticed a warrior walk toward the tree line and in the direction of a flowing river close by. Stacey gave a small evil smile. It's about time things started to go my way, she thought.

Stacey jumped from tree to tree, closely following the soldier. She needed to get him in a secluded area. Her plan was to sneak up on him, knock him out, take the antidote, and leave through the Stargate undetected.

Only half of the plan worked. When Stacey got the antidote she began to run back to the Gate. A few other soldiers caught site of her and began shooting at her. She clenched the bottle of liquid in one hand and her P-90 in the other. Stacey ran until she saw sight of the DHD.

An arrow hit her arm and another hit her leg. She collapsed to the ground, in the process, smashing the bottle into pieces. Stacey quickly got up and finally reached the DHD. She quickly dialed Atlantis and hid behind the DHD.

Stacey yanked out the two arrows and the wounds quickly healed. She then typed in her IDC and turned to her radio.

"Atlantis Base, this is Stacey. Do not open the Shield until I say," she said.

"Stacey, this is Elizabeth, what's going on?" Weir asked through the radio.

"The mission has been aborted. I failed to get the antidote. I'm being over run by our friendly Roman People," she said. Stacey pointed her weapon at the soldiers coming and whispered to herself, "Okay, you can do this. Just remember what General O'Neill taught you and you'll survive. I hope."

She pulled the trigger and began her attack. All she needed was to take down a few so that she could get through the Stargate safely. But, they kept coming. She didn't have much choice.

"It's now or never," Stacey said. "Atlantis Base, open the shield now, I'm coming through!"

Stacey got up, and in doing so got hit with two arrows in the shoulder and staggered through the Stargate.

(Atlantis, Gate Room)

When she arrived on the other side of the Gate, McKay, Ford, Weir and a medical team were waiting for her. Stacey fell hard on the ground. She swiftly pulled out the two arrows and healed herself. Ford and McKay helped her up and brushed the medical team away.

"I suggest we take off P2Z-732 of our dialing computer," Stacey turned to Weir and asked weakly, "How's John?" as they walked quickly to the Infirmary.

"He's getting worse," MacKay answered before Weir could.

"I mean: what are his medical symptoms like? How extensive has the poison traveled in his system?" Stacey asked irritably.

"He's lost all his color in his face. Major Sheppard is ghost white. With big dark circles around his eyes," Weir informed her solemnly.

"He's coughing up blood too," Ford said.

(Infirmary)

The group reached the Infirmary and went over to Major Sheppard. Teyla and Carson were there too.

"The poison must have spread throughout his entire body then. To his lungs at least," Stacey said.

Teyla and Carson moved out of her way. Stacey sat down where Teyla had just been sitting. She began to stroke Major Sheppard's hair. The others backed away, giving her room. John opened his eyes slowly.

"John," Stacey said, tears beginning to develop. "I think we may have lost the baby. So, I'm sure you'll understand that I had no choice."

She got up from her seat and placed her hand on his forehead and the other on his chest. Slowly John's face began to turn to a normal color, the dark circles vanished and the wound was completely healed. John and Stacey were gasping for breathe. Ford and Teyla caught Stacey before she hit the ground and helped her to sit down, while Carson was helping John up.

"Easy, Major," Carson said.

"I'm alright, I'm alright," John said.

He went over to Stacey and held her in a tight hug.

"Hang on!" McKay suddenly said. "Sorry to interrupt. But, I have a theory. Actually, it's more of a question really."

"What is it?" Weir asked.

Stacey and John turned their heads in McKay's direction, but still embraced in their hug.

"Well, wouldn't it be possible if the baby has the Ancient Healing Ability like you and Allison?" McKay asked.

"Yeah," Stacey said slowly. "But, we wouldn't know for sure."

"No necessarily true," Beckett said. "You would have had a miscarriage by now."

"Not really. I have had a few where it took a few days, even weeks, for me to have a miscarriage," Stacey said.

"Well, I'd like to run some tests and find out the answer," Beckett said.

"I'd like that," Stacey said.

"After some rest, of course," Carson said. "And maybe a light meal, if you can stomach it."

"Yeah, and a shower wouldn't hurt either," John said teasingly.

Stacey broke away from John's embrace and slugged him hard.

"I do not smell, Johnathan Eugene Sheppard!"

"Eugene? That's your middle name?" Weir asked, smiling.

Ford, McKay Beckett snickered,

"Oh, this is too good! I gotta tell Zelanka!" McKay grinning broadly, ran out of the Infirmary.

"McKay, you do and I will kill you!" John yelled at him, getting up and running after the scientist.

To be continued . . .

(A/N: I am so sorry this chapter took so long! I feel so bad for making you guys wait. But, given the recent tragedies in my family these past three weeks, I haven't been inspired to write anything. Until this weekend. I'm writing up a storm now. Go figure! )