Chapter 58

"I can't believe we are even thinking about doing this?"

Elizabeth Weir had been experience a whirlwind of emotion since leaving Dr. Lam. Exasperated at the sudden lengths her people were willing to go left her stunned. This isn't what Atlantis is supposed to be about. We're supposed to be better than this.

"I understand your frustrations, Elizabeth," Teyla replied in a comforting tone. "But it is not like we have not done questionable things before."

"And look where its gotten us! I'm just afraid Teyla that if we go down these roads, we won't be able to come back from them."

"I agree that the idea to allow these Ori into our galaxy is beyond irresponsible, but I don't think either John or Cameron are serious about it."

"What makes you say that?"

"They are both been on edge since Carson and Daniel Jackson's injuries. They are not thinking clearly. They are thinking only with revenge."

"That's what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid they will do something stupid before they've had the chance to calm down."

"I will speak with both of them. Maybe if they get the chance to unload their burdens on someone trustworthy, they will no longer think of such things."

"Thank you. Then we have the whole matter of Kebechet to deal with. I can't even fathom that even Dr. Lam is considering killing her to save Daniel."

"Maybe it is for the best."

Weir was taken aback by the response, "You just sat there and told me that wiping out the Ancients is a bad idea but your willing to let an innocent person be harvested for her organs?"

"Elizabeth, from what Netan has told us, she is far from innocent."

"So that gives us the right to kill her?"

"You need to see things from this perspective. We cannot let her ascend. And if Dr. Jackson does not recieve a transplant, he will not survive. If everyone is right about Daniel, he may be our only hope of stopping The Ori."

"But we'll be playing god, Teyla. I'm not comfortable with that."

"As my grandfather once said, there are times when horrible actions are necessary in order to prevent an even more horrible outcome. Her death could end up saving millions of lives, Elizabeth. You have to see it from that perspective."

"But what if we're wrong about Daniel, wrong about her. Then what does that make us. We'd be killing her for nothing."

"We'd be giving her an honorable death. Elizabeth, she has been spending the last decade of her life physically and mentally suffering. She is dying already. That cannot be stopped. But why should her death be horrific and without meaning."

"I still don't know if I can do it, Teyla."

"Let me leave you with this: if it were you in this situation, what would you have us do?"

Elizabeth watched as Teyla gave her a small reassuring smile and proceeded to walk out the door. As the leader, it was her job to make the tough decisions, more so than many others in her position. So before she made any decision, she knew there was only one person with whom she would speak that would give her the advice that she needed.

ooooo

Netan watched as Kebechet slept. Dr. Lam had said they were keeping her sedated to keep her from trying to escape. Something he thought was a bright idea given her manipulative and diabolical nature. She also told him about Dr. Jackson's condition and how Aja was a perfect match. It made sense given their shared genetic history. He knew that the figure in front of him wasn't his wife and hadn't been for a long time, but he hated to admit that he was uneasy about the idea.

"You must be Netan," said a soft, yet commanding voice from behind.

Netan turned to find a tall, muscular blonde woman standing in the doorway of the infirmary.

"You must be Samantha Carter. Mitchell has told me much about you."

"Same here. I was just sitting with Daniel, figured I would come over and introduce myself."

"How is Dr. Jackson?"

Sam's expression grew grim, "Not good. Dr. Lam isn't sure how much longer he'll be able to survive without a transplant."

"So I've been told," Netan responded turning back to Kebechet.

Sam could sense his conflict. His weariness regarding this woman, who in all intents purposes, was his wife. Although her soul had left long before.

"Look, Netan, I know its not my place, but I know what you're going thru. I had to make a similar decision once. It tore me up inside. Deeply. To this day there are still scars. But I knew that what I was doing was right and that I was saving someone's life."

"In my head, I know my wife is gone, Samantha. But tell that to my heart."

Sam smiled softly as she sat next to Netan, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

"Talking about it helps. And I'm here to listen if you want."

Netan looked down at their interlocking hands, feeling genuine comfort for this first time since this situation had started.

"I think I would like that," he replied as he smiled right back at her.

oooo

They had reached the ridge by early nightfall. Vala had dismissed Terik's attempts to examin her by stating that she was going to rest, which put his mind to ease. They had taken up in what had once been a large farmhouse, on a vast acreage of private property. She was thankful she was given her own room, and practically ran the small set of steps leading upstairs and locked the doorway behind her.

Merely three feet from the door, she fell backward on the bed, her hand pressed so hard against her chest, it was turning her knuckles white. Within the last few hours of her journey, she began suffering from bouts of a rapid heartbeat. Ranging from slightly faster, to the thunderous gallops she now experience. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was flip flopping in her chest like a fish on dry land. Within a few minutes, it slowed down back to it continous, struggling beat.

She took comfort in the fact that if her heart was still suffering the way it was, then it meant that she was still connected to Daniel and that meant that although suffering, Daniel was still alive. It was the one thing that kept her going. She sat up softly, but found that her latest episode left her considerably weakened. With tremendous effort, she pulled herself up against a pillow. She looked at the table beside her, there was a wash basin, its pitcher was warm to the touch. Moving slowly, she poured some into the basin and grabbed a nearby cloth. It was a struggle, but she had managed to pull her bodice off, allowing her to place the cloth against her chest. A warm sensation came across her, bringing some relief to the ache in her body.

As she sat there, continually refreshing the cloth when it had become cold, she contimplated more thoughtfully what had happened after she had given birth. She had come to the conclusion during their trek that she couldn't have truly been dead. Otherwise she wouldn't be walking around as she was. She figured that her heart had stopped momentarily but that her heart had been beating so faintly afterwards, that she appeared dead. That somehow, The Doci had strengthened it enough for Terik's potion, which she likened much to liquid adrenaline, that got it going enough for her to regain consciousness. She was thankful that Terik's knowledge of medicince was limiting and that she was able to conceal her present condition so well.

However, if things continued to progress the way they did, she doubted it would be for much longer. She needed to get off the planet. She needed to get to Daniel. If she was this bad off, she couldn't fathom what was happening to him. She didn't want to. She had to get to him no matter what. And nothing, not a cautious Healer or a faltering heart was going to stop her.