CHAPTER 46

Before Chaya could say a word, Sheppard grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the infirmary with a shocked Teyla following behind them.

"Fix him!" he barked pointing at a prone and pale Carson Beckett.

"I thought you were going to let me explain."

"I had to get you to let your gaurd down somehow to get you here. Now fix him!"

"I can't," Chaya replied shooting him a sympathetic look.

"Like hell you can't!"

"John!" Teyla snapped resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I am just as concerned for Carson's wellfare as you are. However, perhaps, it is wise to allow her to explain herself."

"Explain?! What is there to explain Teyla?! She popped a blood vessel in Carson's brain. Intentionally. Nothing she can say will change that fact. What she needs to do now is fix him and leave us the hell alone."

"As I said before John I cannot fix him. The Others will not allow me to interefere with this any longer."

"Oh, and The Others just let you pop a blood vessel in his brain? That doesn't count as interfering with lower beings?"

"Not if they are the ones who ordered me to do it."

The expression on both John and Teyla's face went from shocker to anger and finally to disbelief.

"Surely you cannot be saying that The Others wanted you to harm Carson?"

"That is exactly what I am saying, Teyla."

Sheppard stood in silence. Trying to quell the gambit of an emotional volcano that was threatening to erupt from within him. Luckily, he didn't need to speak, Teyla, sensing his inner turmoil, did the speaking for both of them.

"Why would The Others want to harm him?"

"What was done to Carson was a necessity. It was the only way we could --"

"I could give a rats ass about your reasons!" Sheppard seethed. "You nearly killed him! And there is no guarentee that he still won't die! He's a member of my team . . . my friend! You, on the other hand, mean nothing to me. From what I have learned from my time on Atlantis is that you can't trust an Ancient as far as they can throw you. Now whatever the hell you are all up to, just stop it. Stop it. We aren't chess pieces for you to move around anyway you see fit. We are living beings with the ability and the right to live our own lives."

"What we are doing is for the best -- "

"You have no right to decide what is and isn't for the best. You aren't gods, even though you may think you are. I may not be an Ancient, but I am also not a peon for you to step on either. Now, The Others be damned. You will fix him and you will get the hell out of my face. Or so help me, if you don't and he dies, when The Ori come, I will help them lead the charge to wipe you all from existence."

"You don't mean that."

"Like hell I do."

John's tone left Chaya with the greatest offense. Walking over to Carson, she placed a hand on his forehead. A second later, she looked to John with a grave expression.

"He will not die."

"What did you do?"

"I fixed him."

"So he's going to be okay?"

"I didn't heal him completely, Teyla. Just made sure he wouldn't die and that he would not suffer any debilitating effects from his injuries. He has a long recovery ahead of him."

"Thank you, Chaya."

"You're welcome Teyla."

"I thought The Others wouldn't let you?"

"Maybe they were moved by your words, John. Or maybe they are saving my punishment for when I am not enamored by an audience."

"Oh, how noble of them. Go. Now."

"Sarcasm aside, I will go and don't expect my help again. But know this: You must be careful."

"And why is that?"

"A Shadow looms. Born of great evil, she brings with her no good will. She speaks in truths but they are thinly veiled with maliciousness the full extent even she is unaware of. Make no mistake of trusting her, for it will be easy to do so. A master of manipulation who believes in the lies she propagates. She is in transition. Single steps bringing her closer and closer to her ultimate goal."

"Which would be what, exactly."

"Ascension. She is nearly there. She needs only the information that Carson uncovered to complete the process."

"And that is why you attacked Carson"

"I didn't want to. I came here only to see what he knew and when I realized he had uncovered the last remaining piece Shadow would need, I had no choice but to act. That is why I attacked him. We were trying to prevent her from discovering it by any means possible. And that is why you must destroy any remaining proof that could likely fall into her hands."

"And I'm just supposed to trust you've admitted to doing?"

"Think what you will of me John, but please heed my warnings. If not for your own sake, then for everyone you care about. If she is succesful in her Ascension then you will be unleashing a great evil unto the universe. Her destiny is to lead astray all those who hear her words. None moreso than yourself, Carson and Radek."

"Why?"

Chaya smiled, "Because the three of you will find the Sangreal. Just like Galahad, Percival and Bors did before you."

Teyla noticed a change in John's demeanor. A kind of recognition, followed by stiffness he retained only when he was about to engage in battle. He often called it his game face.

"John, what is it?" she asked concerned.

Ignoring Teyla, John stepped closer to Chaya, his brow furrowed, his resolve steeled.

"This Shadow, who is she?"

"Your very own Morgan La Fey." she chimed eyeing John and then Carson menacingly before vanishing in a bright flash.