Carson doesn't particularly like the conference room.

It is where the senior staff met once a week to let each other know that their particular divisions were doing their parts in keeping Atlantis and her people afloat. It represented long-winded speeches, difficult decisions, arguing and bad news.

"Adams and Bishop are fine. They both have shiners that I'm sure they'll make up some grand tale about. I've recommended they be placed back on full duty once the swelling goes down and they've already been released from the Infirmary,"

When he found the two unconscious Marines outside of room he'd thought the worst.

"Ronon, however, suffered cervical acceleration-deceleration and a linear fracture to his skull," he pauses at the blank looks and tries again, "he has whip-lash. There also severe bruising to his throat. I imagine that he won't be a happy camper when he wakes."

"But he'll be alright?" Sheppard asks. With all that's been happening, he hasn't checked up on his teammate as much as he usual would.

"He'll recover," there is a noticeable break in tension in the room that Carson hasn't previously observed.

Now that Elizabeth knows that her people are okay, she can focus on their more recent problem. She leans her elbows on the table and rests her chin on her interlaced fingers.

"What have you learnt about our guest?"

Carson isn't really sure how the others will take his findings. He doesn't really believe it himself. Not only was it highly unlikely, he didn't set the equipment to do such an in depth analyst. Of course, this was Atlantis and the ole' gal had a mind of her own.

"The lad is healing well, very well, actually. If my observations are right, Connor is healing at approximately three times that of the average human of Earth," Carson stated with amazement leaking into his voice.

"It's been two days since he was shot," McKay flinches and Carson makes a note to speak to him later. "And I've already taken out the sutures. I'm keeping him under for now but I'll have to wake him soon. I'm already using three times the sedation dose as I would on Ronon and the boy is fighting it."

Dr. Weir frowns. "Other than the obvious, were there any other abnormalities that you noticed?"

"Aye, his bone density heavier that normal but there is nothing that I found that would logical explain what he is capable of. If I understood Colonel Sheppard's report correctly, Connor is as fast and as strong as a Wraith," Sheppard nods his agreement.

"As far as I can see his blood work came back exactly as I would expect from a perfectly healthy human from Earth. There are no additions to his DNA and there is no presence of the ATA gene," Carson explains.

"I scanned for technology," Rodney volunteers, "and there was nothing. Whatever it is that he's using, our computers aren't picking it up."

"My people have never encountered a race capable of his abilities," Teyla says. "I believe that if we can negotiate with his people, we will gain a crucial ally against the Wraith.

"I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say," Carson interrupts, "humans from different planets all have the same basic blueprints. When I dig deeper, I can tell you the difference between humans from Pegasus and those from the Milky Way."

"When I said his results came back like those from a human of Earth I was been literal. Most countries require babies to receive vaccines for say mumps and chicken pox. I wouldn't find those in Teyla's or Ronon's blood work."

"But you found it in his? That's not possible," Elizabeth says with a frown, "and even if he was, no one on Earth is capable of his abilities. How would he have gotten to Pegasus in the first place?"

"I ran the results four times. I don't know how but he is from Earth. I suggest sending a sample of his blood back to the SGA. Perhaps they can find a match and find out how someone could get to Pegasus without using the Stargate or one of our ships."

"Or who would have sent them," Lorne adds, "we've seen abductions before with Loki. If he is from Earth, someone could have taken him and experimented."

"Maybe," McKay says as though it pained him to agree with the Major, "but why Earth and why bring him here?"

"You have permission to send the sample, Doctor, but my main concern isn't where he came from but how much of a danger he is to Atlantis," Doctor Weir questions. It's the chief reason she hadn't been too keen on letting them bring him here.

"He's already injured two of our own."

"That true, ma'am," Lorne agrees with a pleasant look on his face. Elizabeth resists the urge to roll her eyes, knowing that he was about to dismiss her concerns.

"However, he'd just woken up after a traumatic experience, in a strange place with armed guards. Given what I've seen him do, he showed impressive restraint. He also went quietly with the Colonel."

"That doesn't mean that next time he'll…." Sheppard blanks out Rodney's commentary and focuses on what Beckett had just told them. He hadn't connected the dots until now because it was impossible. When they'd met Connor on the planet it had cross his mind that he looked eerily like the photo his brother had sent him a year ago but he'd dismissed the thought.

It had popped in his head again when the kid had told them his name but once again the idea was so ludicrous he'd wanted to slap himself for even considering it.

Now though…

"Run his DNA against mine," Sheppard interrupts Lorne as he smiles at Rodney in a way that Sheppard knows that whatever the Major had been about to say would've sent the scientist into a tizzy.

Everyone turns to stare at him like he's lost his mind. And maybe he has but he can't quite get rid of the voice that's telling him that the answer is right in front of him.

The clinking of Eve's heels echoes through the chamber with every step she takes. As one of Wolfram & Harts' children she was given several privileges, one of which is immortality.

It makes the thought of punishment that much more daunting.

She sits in the only chair in the room and faces her parents. The Wolf, the Ram and the Hart currently resemble the likeness of their names.

She straightens and awaits her punishment.

"So many of our warriors are dead and yet the abomination still lives."

Eve hides a cringe and silently curses Angel's kid. Angel had managed to break the Partners hold on that dimension and the Partners had decided to cut their losses and start over again.

Things were fine until Connor freaking Angel decided to wage his one-man war. Yet instead of failing spectacularly, Connor triumphed. He traveled from dimension to dimension destroying the Partner's follower's faith in them and effectively pissing them off.

Being selected to kill Connor was the Partner's way of giving Eve the chance to redeem herself. Unfortunately for her, every warrior sent had been killed. Not that it was really her fault since the Partners were the ones providing the warriors.

Eve holds her peace. The Partners will not appreciate making excuse. She cannot afford to look weak.

"You have one last chance, child. One chance. We have made you mortal once before for your failure with Angelus, but we were merciful and restored you to your rightful place as one of our children. If the abomination is not destroyed, we shall show you that there are things worse than mortality."

Unable to hide the pain, she doubles over in the chair and falls to the ground. The Partners do not talk in the traditional since. Their words and intents are literally scorched unto your soul and it hurt like a bitch.

Usually the words were a balm to her soul. Of course, Eve doesn't typically disappoint them for two years straight.

"Take this one with you," the malice behind the words is apparent but thankfully no longer aimed at her. She opens her eyes squints through the blinding white of the room and finds a figure dressed in black and unmasked, kneeling next to her.

Eve closes her eyes. Of course it would be this one.

When They no longer speak and the pain is no longer crippling, she stands and walks out of the room with her head held high. Naturally, the moment she walks through the door Marcus Hamilton is there, smirking at her.

She glares back. Marcus was created as a solider and is more qualified for the assignment and he isn't afraid to let her know that at every encounter.

But that doesn't mean she's going to give him the satisfaction of letting him know it.

Beside Marcus let himself get killed by a vampire, he is as much an embarrassment as she is.

She turns back to the warrior following her, "Find him and bring me his head," derisive blue eyes that seem to take up most of the sclera stares her down for several seconds before the figure nods and turns on her heels.

Eve tries valiantly to ignore the feeling of dread that fills her. She doesn't trust that one.

"Bring me his head," Marcus mocks, "you left out the part about the silver platter."

She takes a deep breath and lets it out with a hiss. Siblings are the worst.


AN:I am in no way a doctor so take my medical reasonings with a grain of salt...

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