Disclaimer: I am not an astrophysicist or an expert in time-travel theories.

Chapter 22: A way home.

John had a spring in his step as he entered the infirmary, because Teyla was coming home. She had spent the last two weeks in the infirmary after coming out of stasis, where she had been for seven weeks. Teyla was, pricked by the thorn of the poisonous Jazella plant over nine months ago, and finally, she was on the way to recovery.

The day Teyla was infected, two of the marines were as well, but they slipped into comas soon after and passed away a few months ago.

Yesterday Carson cleared him for active duty, claiming John had no weakness on his right side. Although, he could have told Carson that. When John had asked Carson about his epilepsy, Carson had stated that they didn't know for sure if he was free of seizures, but if he went six months without having one, there was a good chance he was free of epilepsy.

After taking Teyla home, his first order of business was to go and harass Rodney because he should have found them a way home by now. Charin would be one in a few weeks, and he had every intention of celebrating her birthday in the Pegasus Galaxy. If they were in contact with Earth, he might even take her to visit her Uncle Dave.

Ronon and Amelia had agreed to stay in their apartment for a while longer to help look after Teyla and the kids - despite Teyla's protests. Carson had informed him yesterday that although she was doing much better, she would still need someone to look after her for a bit longer.

So after breakfast with his kids, he walked into the infirmary, excited that his wife would be home for the first time in nine months. He had wanted to run with Ronon before breakfast, but he was still sore from his final round of PT the day before.

He walked into the infirmary expecting to find Carson in his office, but for some reason, Jennifer was there.

"Where's Carson?" He asked suspiciously.

"He's taking some time off to spend with his girlfriend."

Carson had a girlfriend that was news to him. The good doctor was very good at keeping secrets from him.

He raised an eyebrow and gave her a lopsided grin, "So, is it anyone I know?"

Jennifer chuckled, "It's Dr Jasmine White."

"Finally, I told him to ask her out weeks ago."

"Well, General, he has been busy looking after you and Teyla, so he didn't have much time for a personal life until recently."

Ouch, that hurt.

He changed the subject rather than continuing that conversation, "So, can I take Teyla home?"

"Sure, go ahead. I'll be by later to check on Teyla, but if there are problems before then, get Amelia to call me."

He nodded before turning around and walking into Teyla's room.

When he arrived, he was surprised to see her sitting in a wheelchair, fully dressed, and she wasn't happy.

He rushed to her side and put his arm around her, "What's wrong, Sweetie?"

"I do not know why Jennifer insists that I use a wheelchair. I have been walking for days now."

Wow, is that what I sound like? He thought.

"I know, Sweetie, but you haven't walked very far. When we return to our apartment, perhaps we can go for a short walk."

He held his breath, hoping his suggestion had soothed her.

"I guess you are right, Honey. But when we return to our apartment, I would like to spend some time with the children. Then I would like to go to sleep."

Teyla looked a lot better than she did two weeks ago. Although she was still too thin, she had gained weight and now had some colour in her cheeks. The scars that had littered her body were beginning to fade and would disappear in a few months.

The deep wound on his left temple was a different matter. It was still red, but luckily his hair had grown back and now covered most of it. The multiple scars on his forehead had faded, and eventually, they would disappear.

Teyla was wearing one of her Athosian outfits, and although it was too big for her, she looked more beautiful than ever.

"Are you ready to go home, Sweetie?"

"Yes, John. Please take me home."

He felt moisture in his eyes as he wheeled her out of the infirmary. Although he wouldn't admit it to anyone, he was crying. If anyone mentioned it, he would tell them he had something in his eyes.

It took John ten minutes to reach their apartment, and luckily most of the corridors were empty. The last thing he needed was for people to stare at Teyla sitting in a wheelchair. It was common knowledge what had happened to Teyla, but it still didn't mean people weren't curious about her.

The minute he walked through the door, Torren came running out with Charin beside him, "Mom's home!" Torren shouted.

"Momma!" Charin exclaimed as she climbed into her mother's lap.

John grabbed Charin before she could get comfortable, "Hey, princess, let Momma get in the recliner chair before you sit on her lap?"

Charin screamed and struggled against him, "Momma!"

"Would you like me to hold her, General?" Amelia asked, entering the room.

"Thanks, Amelia," he replied and handed the screaming child off to Amelia.

While Amelia attempted to calm Charin, he helped Teyla out of the wheelchair and into the recliner.

Teyla settled into the recliner, Amelia placed Charin on her lap, and Torren settled on the couch opposite his mother.

John stood and watched, making sure that Teyla was comfortable. He was due in a meeting in fifteen minutes, but he would only go if Teyla didn't need him here.

"Are you going to be okay here, Teyla? I need to be in a meeting."

"Do not worry, John. Amelia is here, and if there are any problems, I am sure she can handle them."

Even at fifteen weeks pregnant, John was sure Amelia could take down a Wraith if the situation arose. So he knew Teyla and the kids would be fine.

"Where's Ronon this morning?" He asked casually.

"He's gone to the gym, and then he's going for a run. He will see you in your office when finished," Amelia replied.

"Please go, John?" I will see you later." Teyla said, and he could hear the determination in her voice.

He kissed Teyla's cheek, which led to Charin and Torren giggling. He smiled at his kids, thinking things were getting back to normal. All he needed now was for Mckay to find them a way home.

oOo

Ronon's feet pounded the harsh, metal walkways as he ran through the deserted areas of Atlantis. The air was crisp and cold, but he was sure it was warmer than outside. He was enjoying himself immensely. The only problem was Sheppard wasn't with him.

Sheppard returned to active duty today. Although they had been running every day this week - except for yesterday and today, Sheppard was nowhere near as fit as he was before his injury. When Ronon had mentioned this to Carson, the doctor told him it would take time. The fact that there wasn't enough staff on Atlantis and they needed Sheppard on active duty didn't help much either. John was thin and pale, and although he'd gained muscle tone and strength, the man still didn't look his best. Ronon had every intention in the coming weeks of helping Sheppard build his fitness up - that's if they didn't get home first. He was sure that when they were in contact with Earth again that John would be sent back to Earth for evaluation. But perhaps they all would be.

Ronon had no idea how long he'd been running when he came to a door leading to the outside of the city and wondered if he should go outside.

When the city was on New Lantia, he used to run on the outside walkways at least once a week, but now he found it disconcerting. All that was on the other side was the dark void of space. And for some reason, he couldn't get used to it.

He missed the weather patterns of New Sateda and Atlantis. On both worlds, it could be rainy and cold one day and hot and sunny the next. Some days it even snowed on New Sateda. It had been snowing on his first visit to New Sateda. He and Sheppard had been staying at Councillor Friall's house when there was a mudslide. The building had collapsed, and he and Sheppard were trapped beneath the rubble. Sheppard was gravely injured, and it took him months to recover.

Perhaps today, he would go outside. It would give him time to contemplate everything that had happened over the last nine months.

He took a deep breath waving his hand over the control panel before he stepped outside. The view that greeted him was the same as it always was, but today Ronon saw beauty in it.

The stars seemed a little brighter as he began his run around the outside of the city. The cold air hit his sweat-soaked skin, and he found it refreshing. After five minutes of running around the city, he stopped on a balcony. He looked into the black void and contemplated his fate.

Over the last year, a lot happened to Ronon. He had married the Love of his life and lived amongst Satedans on New Sateda. New Sateda and Atlantis had been destroyed, Atlantis had been sucked into a strange anomaly, travelled back in time and sent to another galaxy, and unfortunately, they were still there.

He had chosen to be here in some ways because he and Amelia purposely entered the anomaly to look for Atlantis, but looking back over the last nine weeks, he wouldn't have it any other way.

The worst thing to happen by far, though, was two of his best friends had almost died, one through a tragic accident and one through malicious intent.

Now, his beautiful wife was pregnant with his first child, Teyla and John were well again, and he was back on Atlantis where he belonged. The only problem was they weren't where and when they were supposed to be.

Looking at the watch, Ronon realised he had ten minutes before he was due for a meeting, so he began running around the city again. The meeting was a chance for everyone to catch up and for McKay and Zelenka to bring them up to speed on their research into the Ilarian database. Hopefully, the two scientists would have found a way home because if anyone could, McKay could.

oOo

Carson sighed as he finished the last of his paperwork. Today, he was working in his quarters because there wasn't a single patient in the infirmary, and Jennifer was there. And he was confident she could handle any situation that arose.

He had a meeting with the senior staff in ten minutes and was looking forward to it. It was almost like old times, right before this mess began.

Teyla was well on the way to recovery, which was a relief considering three weeks ago, they had no idea how to cure her. General Sheppard had brain damage three weeks ago, and now he was back on active duty. He knew that the General wouldn't pass the military requirements for fitness, but he had every intention of enlisting Ronon's help to return John to top form. He doubted John would pass the psychologist requirements either, but perhaps they would all need to see a psychologist when this was over.

He had gone from hope to despair and back again numerous times over the last nine months, and right now, he was feeling a sense of optimism and hope.

When New Lantia had blown apart nine months ago, he'd lost all hope, but now with Sheppard and Teyla well and Rodney researching the database the Ilarians had given them, there was every chance they would get home.

Carson also had a beautiful girlfriend he'd spent most of his spare time with her over the last few weeks. Two nights ago, he discussed with her that he was a clone. Jasmine smiled at him and stated that she already knew. When he'd asked her if it bothered her, she'd replied that they all came from somewhere, so it didn't matter.

Looking at his watch, he realised he only had five minutes until the meeting, so it was time for him to go.

As he was leaving his quarters, he only thought, I hope Rodney has found a way home.

oOo

Rodney had barely slept in the last three days because he was sure he was close to finding a way home. The only reason he'd had any sleep before that was Jennifer had come in and threatened to sedate him.

John had spent many hours in the lab with him, trying to help. In the end, the General had become annoying, and he'd thrown him out, telling him not to return without his permission. The only problem now was Zelenka wouldn't leave him alone. Luckily the man had gone to bed after pulling an all-nighter.

Rodney needed something to present to the senior staff in ten minutes, and he had nothing. He knew he was cutting things fine and still staring at his computer, but knew Sheppard would be on his case if he turned up with nothing.

It was good to see Sheppard in good health again, and now Teyla was getting better too. He shuddered when he thought how close they had come to losing them both. But thanks to the Ancients of Atlantis in this time, they had found a cure for them.

The only problem was that he couldn't find a way home in the database the Ancients had given him.

Rubbing his eyes, he looked at his watch and realised there were only five minutes before the meeting began. He had no idea what he'd been doing for the last five minutes, but whatever it was, it was a complete waste of time.

Perhaps, it was time to admit defeat and find some nice place in this galaxy to settle down, but what about the future of the Pegasus galaxy? Some people needed Atlantis, needed his genius.

Sighing, he went to pick up his computer, and the alarm beeped. He looked at the file displayed and was shocked by what it said. It was something he'd never imagined.

Rodney knew he would be late for the meeting but needed to read what was on the screen. Then he would have something to share with the senior staff.

oOo

John arrived in his office ten minutes before the meeting, and he was relieved that he was the first one there. Lorne turned up a couple of minutes later, and he looked terrible.

"When was the last time you got some sleep, Colonel Lorne?"

"I think I had two hours last night, but the last time I had a good eight hours was three days ago."

He was shocked, it hadn't occurred to him that his staff hadn't been looking after themselves, but it wasn't surprising considering he had enough problems. John thought he'd always tried to look after his team, but clearly, things had changed.

"Why is that, Colonel?"

"Teldy and her team have been unwell, sir, so I have been doing double shifts. Tonight Major Teldy will be taking two duty shifts, and hopefully, I can get some sleep.

"That's good to know. Make sure you do. Now that I'm back on active duty. I can take extra duty shifts."

Lorne grinned at him, "It's good to have you back, Sir."

Carson entered the office with two minutes to spare, followed by Ronon, who arrived on time. Rodney, however, was nowhere to be seen.

After staring at everyone for a few minutes, he checked his watch and realised Rodney was five minutes late, and he began to feel annoyed by it.

"Okay, since Dr McKay isn't here yet. Maybe we should start. Ronon, how's the training of the Marines going? Have you injured any of them lately?"

"They're all in excellent shape and itching to go on a mission. And no, I haven't injured any of them lately."

John sighed. The meeting seemed like it was going to be boring, "And how's the infirmary looking, Dr Beckett?"

"Since I have released Teyla and Major Teldy's team have recovered from their illness, the infirmary is empty."

He turned to Lorne and smiled, "Is there anything of interest to report?"

"No, sir."

It was a relief when Rodney came rushing into the room ten minutes late, "about time you showed up, McKay." John grumbled,

"Sorry, but I have some useful information, and I think you'd like to hear it."

"Please enlighten us, Dr McKay?" Sheppard said sarcastically.

"Well, the ship chasing us across the Pegasus galaxy actually came from this galaxy."

He tried to get his head around what McKay had said. But he needed more information, "Excuse me? And please don't repeat what you just said. I want more information?"

"From what I can ascertain, the Ilarians were also experimenting with temporal anomalies on the planet we were on two weeks ago."

He was still confused, "Okay…but what does that mean?"

"Well, the Ilarians launched a ship from this planet five thousand years ago. The ship went through an anomaly they had created, leading to the Pegasus galaxy in our time. Are you following me?"

John nodded and continued, "So, this ship was chasing us across the galaxy, looking for people with the ancient gene to power their ships? But, if they were ancients, why did they need ancient gene carriers?"

Rodney started clicking his fingers like he always did when he had an idea, "Because I suspect that the people occupying the planet at the time were not ancients."

"But the Ancients from Ilaria built the city, right?" Ronon asked with a confused look on his face.

"Yes, and I assume they had all ascended by the time this ship went through the anomaly," Rodney answered.

"Okay, while all of this is fascinating, McKay, where is the anomaly they used, and can it help us get home."

"Well, that's the thing, Sheppard, the anomaly is closed, and all we need to do is open it again."

John was sure opening the anomaly wasn't as simple as it sounded, " how do we do that, McKay?"

"We'll need to go back to the planet."

"Okay," Sheppard began, "if we go and open the anomaly, is there a way to close it from the other side?"

"Yes, I believe so," McKay replied.

"Okay, so if these people chose to take the ancient ship through the anomaly. How is it they didn't know where the one that we came through was?" Carson asked, and it was a good question.

"Umm…I don't know." Rodney replied with a look of defeat.

"Is that how the Wraith ship that shot the Ilarian's ship down came through?" Lorne asked, and again it was a good question.

"I think they came through the anomaly we came through," McKay began," but what happened to them after they shot the Ilarian ship down? I have no idea."

"Okay, so let me get this straight, the failed anomaly we came through was a failed experiment by the Ilarians?" When Rodney nodded, Ronon continued, "The ship chasing us came through the anomaly and crash-landed on Hilaring/Ilaria ten thousand years before we landed on the planet."

"Yep, what's your point, Conon?"

"I haven't finished yet, McKay!" Ronon growled.

John sighed, he had a feeling that this was going to be a long meeting, but now it was far from boring, "please continue Chewie?"

"Okay, where was I? Right, the ship chasing us came through the anomaly ten thousand years before us and crash-landed on Hillaring/Ilaria. The Ancients left Ilaria around that time, and their ship was fired upon by a wraith Ship that had come through the same anomaly as us. When the Ancients from Ilaria crashed, they built another ancient city.."

"Yes," Rodney said, nodding.

"So in the five thousand years between when the ancients ascended and we arrived, someone else discovered the planet, stole a ship, opened an anomaly, and ended up in the Peguaus galaxy in our time, and started to chase us across the galaxy. Before getting caught in the same anomaly as us and being transported back in time, twenty thousand years to crash-land on Hillaring/Ilaria."

"Yes, that's what happened, and it's called a causal loop." Rodney supplied, clapping his hands.

"That's great, but do we know who the guys were that were chasing us?" Lorne asked.

John remembered the visions Ilaria was showing him in the chamber, "One of them looked a hell of a lot like Voth."

"So this guy could have been Voth's ancestor and descendant," Rodney suggested with a shrug, "oh, we've decided to call this planet Ilaria two."

By now, John had a headache, and he was sure it had nothing to do with his previous head injury, "So, we've established a timeline of events, but can we find a way home, and if so, can we shut down the anomaly that started all of this in the first place?"

"Weren't you listening, Sheppard?"

John vaguely remembered Rodney saying something about getting home, "Of course I was McKay, but please enlighten us with your superior intellect once again."

"Okay, we need to go down to Ilaria two and open an anomaly. We then fly Atlantis through the anomaly and close it from the other side. When I work out how to open the anomaly, I will write a program to close it on the other side."

"How long's that going to take?" Carson asked, and John could tell the doctor was feeling confused.

"How long's a piece of string?" Rodney answered sarcastically.

John didn't bother to comment on Rodney's sarcastic answer. Instead, he started to issue orders, "Okay, if we need to go to Ilaria two to find answers, I suggest we meet in the jumper bay in one hour. Ronon, Rodney, Carson, you're with me. Lorne, I need you on Atlantis. Lorne, be sure to get some rest Teldy can handle things while you are sleeping. And Rodney, try to find a way to close the anomaly that started all this while you are down there as well?"

"General, why do you need me down there?" Carson asked.

"In case there are any giant bears, Doc."

"Why would there be giant bears, General?" Carson asked, and John could see the fear in his eyes.

He looked at the doctor and smiled, "There may not be, but I need a doctor on this mission, so your it."

Carson answered with one word, "Why?"

Rather than answer Carson's question, he dismissed everyone, "If there are no other questions, dismissed."

John's friends left his office, and all he could do was watch. In the next two weeks, he hoped they could find a way home. But even when they arrived in their galaxy and time, they needed to find a planet to settle on, then they needed to get the gate online and contact their allies, so in reality, it could take at least a month before they could contact the SGC.

TBC…