Hello, Stargate Lovers!

Oh, oh... this one is long and good. I hope!

Especially after the last two chapters.

Been working on this one for a while now and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 37: Original Episode 0.10

"Oh, wow… This looked better than what I read in the Ancient database."

John looked back, to where Alexandra was with her eyes glued on the clear, blue and sun high in the sky, clear path ahead, the sound of a river flowing slowly down the hill and a forest coming about two miles ahead.

Thinking back on their breakfast together, he had to admit that nothing much had changed since she had stopped avoiding him and their friends. The banter, even if a lot less - she was careful like that, he had to admit - was still there, the easy conversation came like usual - even if she was careful once again - just like exchanging notes and whatnot. Unless you count the times she had declined dinner or lunch together, because of work, he thought they were making a pretty good job on moving forward from that kiss.

"If this planet has a beach with killer waves I am sold." He said, hearing her snort as she passed by him. "Okay, teams! McKay you go with Lorne, Teyla with Ronon, Alex with me. The rest set the perimeter." He knew it was stretch accompany her alone, but John was a little selfish and missed those moments. Once more, she was careful enough not to be completely alone with him for the past weeks. And if she thought he hadn't noticed, she was wrong.

As everyone got their orders, John saw her follow some kind of path towards the forest and he just went with it. He might be the leader, but somehow, when she was around, he was the one to follow.

"You know, someday you'll have to take me to the beach to see you surf." Alexandra said at some point, her eyes glue on the ancient device they were using to study the area.

"You would like that?" John stared at her, not believing her words. It was the first time she was letting her guard down in two weeks. After all, that would mean she was willing to spend some time with him. Alone.

"Sure. I've heard you brag about it for the past year. I have to see it for myself." She glanced up at him with a quick smile.

"Maybe next time we go back to Earth, we can…"

"This is it!" Alexandra interrupted him when the ancient device started beeping.

"You sure?" John looked around as she stopped. "Let me see that." He took the device to confirm their intel.

"I do have a stronger gene than you, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah..." The pilot rolled his eyes upon seeing her take some vegetation off the ruins they were there to find. "McKay, meet us on the west side of your position." He said to the radio.

[Got it!]

John watched Alexandra place her hand on the board control next to the door they uncovered. It lit up. She pressed a few buttons after reading what appeared on the screen and the whole building seemed to tremble.

"Wow!"

"Got that right, Colonel." She smiled. "I do have to say that I didn't know that was going to work."

The SGA-1 leader snorted.

"I'll go in first." For a moment, he saw her frown, but ended up nodding as she raised her P'90 and followed him inside.

Lights started to blink awake around them, lighting up the corridors that ended into a main control room.

"Atlantis did the same when we first arrived." John mentioned, his eyes going over every corner and crevice.

"It must be recognizing human form. Or our gene. Look at this. It looks like Atlantis control panels." She approached the area. "It looks like some kind of lab, actually."

John walked around the room, careful to anything she both saw or touched.

"Alex?"

"Mm?" The scientist looked up from the screen she had been reading.

"You should see this."

Frowning, Alexandra stepped closer to John.

A cryopod.

With a body inside.

"How long do you think he's been in there?" John asked, not taking his eyes from the uncouscious being.

"At least 10000 years." She looked around for information and, as her hand came in contact with the control panel, the pod came to life and unfroze.

"What the…?" John caught the cold body in time.

"Careful…" With nowhere to put him, they layed the body on the floor and Alexandra took her uniform jacket, placing it under the head. "Teyla, call Atlantis. We need a medical team." The scientist continued.

[Someone's hurt?] Teyla asked through the coms.

"No. We found someone." John answered, watching Alexandra taking care of the body. There was a fascination to her eyes. And his internal alarms didn't like it one bit.

[Got it.] Ronon's voice was heard.

Suddenly, the uncouscious man opened his eyes slowly, taking a deep breath. His hand grabbed Alexandra's. And when his eyes opened fully, they looked onto hers. For a moment, there was silence as John held his P'90. He waited, watching the exchange.

"You look so much like her." The man said, his tone rough from the unuse. "Who are you?"

"I'm Alexandra O'Neill. A human explorer from Atlantis. From Earth."

"Earth? Atlantis? There are humans back on the city?" The words came out slowly, in a mix of confusion and surprise.

"Yes." She was fascinated. "Who are you?" And felt something pulling her towards him.

"My name is Haig. I am a scientist."

"Lantean scientist?" John finally spoke, getting the man's attention. "An Ancient?"

The man looked at John as if noticing him for the first time.

"Ancient?" Haig frowned, not understanding the term.

"The race that built Atlantis and the Portals of the Stars." Alexandra explained.

"That's what your race call us?" Haig's green eyes went back to hers.

"Yes. I do have to ask, how long have you been in there?" She pointed towards the cryopod.

"I'll have to check." Slowly, the Ancient sat up and tried to stand but his legs gave out and Alexandra had to help him lean against a wall.

"Sheppard! There you are. This place…" Rodney and Lorne appeared from outside. "Who's that?"

"Haig. Rodney, a word." John said quickly. "Lorne, keep an eye on them. Don't let him near her more than what it is necessary."

"Yes, sir." Lorne agreed, standing close, also observing the exchange between human and Ancient.

Pilot and scientist left the room, while John explained what happened.

"You think he's here to hurt her? That's absurd!"

"Well, he's an Ancient. And as far as I know, she doesn't like Ancients. However, she's fascinanted by him right now."

"So? You acted the same when you met Chaya."

"Rodney." John gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't like the way he's looking at her. It's like... he wants to eat her alive."

Narrowing his eyes, the scientist looked closer at his friend.

"Don't be jealous, John. Just because she's the only woman that hasn't fallen into your spell…"

"I'm not jealous, Rodney. I just have a weird feeling."

"A weird feeling about who?"

"Ah! Doc, come in. Rodney, try to get as much information as you can from the database." As he said this, John pulled Jennifer Keller into the facility and made her follow him to the room where Alexandra and Haig were. "Here's the patient that made us call on you."

Jennifer Keller smiled and leaned down next to Alexandra to check on Haig, that looked weirdly towards the doctor.

"Anything, Major?" While watching them, John stepped closer to Lorne.

"No, sir. They are just talking. But it feels strange. There's something odd about him, sir."

The two officers watched the pair while Keller examined the newly unfrozen man.

"He asked me if he could visit Atlantis." Alexandra approached them after a minute.

Hazel eyes turned towards hers, as if trying to see something. Not sure of what, though.

"I don't know, Alex. He seems…"

"What?" She was confused at his hesitation.

"Okay, don't be mad, but he seems strange. Don't you feel it?"

"No." Alexandra looked back at Haig that was watching her from his place. "He's been in that pod for 5000 years. He says I remind him of someone he met back when the Ancients were still in Atlantis. Which may be true, considering the Ancient gene is passed by. And, besides, Atlantis is his home."

"I get that, Alex. I really do. But do you remember when you told me Ancients were sneaky little bastards?"

"Yeah. And?"

"Don't you think it's odd finding him in there? Or do you think it's right trusting him this fast? You just met the guy." He could actually see the moment she became upset as her lips became a thin line.

"He's a banished Ancient, John. With no powers. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do." He frowned. Then pointed towards the unknown man. "I just don't trust him."

Alexandra sighed, her brown eyes soft.

"I promise I'll be careful. But can you talk to Woolsey, please?"

He was silent for a moment, watching Keller as she talked with Haig. He seemed friendly. But if he wasn't, better have him close and deal with it, then having Alexandra stay at the planet to study him and the ancient ruins. With that development, Woolsey could assign another mission to his team and he likely would lose control over the situation, which could lead to lose her in the process.

"Fine." John sighed, giving in. "But you'll be the one responsible if anything happens."

"Yes, sir." She gave him a salute and went back to Haig.

Having watched the exchange, Lorne smiled at his C.O. who just rolled his eyes at his Major and left the facility to catch a breath of fresh air.

A couple of hours later and with the information, from what Haig said to be a lab, downloaded, the SGA-1 team arrived on Atlantis. Woolsey was waiting for them by the gate.

"On behalf of the Atlantis expedition, welcome back, Haig."

"Thank you." Haig smiled. "Mr. Woolsey, is it?"

"It is." The Atlantis leader smiled.

"Alexandra was kind enough to explain a little bit of how things work here. Dr. Keller said I should be... checked out more thouroughly?" Haig smiled towards the scientist and then to the doctor.

"Yes, it's true. Shall we?" Jennifer pointed at the corridor. "You'll have my full report in a hour, Mr. Woolsey."

"Very well, Dr. Keller." Woolsey nodded and watched them go. Then, he was followed by his main team into his office.

As they got to the infirmary, the medical doctor examined Haig under various Atlantis machines, as well as Human ones brought from Earth.

"How is he, Jennifer?" Alexandra walked in after stripping down her gear and giving a quick debrief to Woolsey.

"In perfect health as far as I can see. Are you sure this is a good idea, Alex? Him walking around Atlantis?" Jennifer was concerned.

"He's an Ancient. And someone that actually worked in Atlantis. How cool is that?"

"Very cool. I just want to make sure you're right about him." The doctor looked between her friend and the Ancient currently sitting on one of the beds.

"I know. John said the same. I'll be fine." Alexandra assured her friend, leaving her side to meet Haig.

Two days had gone by. Two days he hadn't seen her and he was becoming anxious.

John had heard about Alexandra and Haig working together but seeing them that close, by one of the computers she had in her office, it made him feel things he wasn't sure he should feel.

"Hey…" He knocked on the door making them jump apart.

"John! Come in." Alexandra was happy to see him as she waved him over inside. "Haig is helping me translate some documents from the database."

"I see. Very exciting." The pilot nodded in his usual way. "Woolsey is looking for you." John's eyes made a quick check to her ear. "Where's your earpiece and radio?"

Alexandra's hand went to her ear. Then she looked around.

"I guess I left it in my quarters. I'll go talk to Woolsey. I'll be right back, Haig."

"Of course, Alexandra." The Ancient waved in her direction.

"Keep him company, John. Please?" The scientist smiled when John gave her a brief nod, his hands going inside his pockets as he turned to the other man.

"She doesn't let you call her Alex?" The pilot asked after she disappeared from around the corner.

"She does, Colonel. But her name means so much that it's an error to call her anything else." Haig saw him frown, confused. "You don't know the meaning of her name?" He raised his brow, clicking his tongue. "Protector of Humanity... Her mother must have been inspired upon choosing the name. Or maybe it was meant to be. She is rather special, isn't she, Col. Sheppard?" Haig's eyes watched the other man closely.

"She is." John saw the Ancient smirk and he didn't like it one bit. He took a step towards him. "Listen, pal. You may be an Ancient but if you mess with her, you're messing with all of Atlantis."

"John!" Alexandra sounded angry as she entered her office, looking between the two, confused.

"I…" John looked at her. "Alex, I…"

"No. You have no right in speaking with Haig like that. He's a guest. An Ancient. What is the matter with you?"

"Hear me out." John tried to make himself heard.

"No. Please, leave."

John could see he wouldn't be able to reason with her. So, with one last look in Haig's direction, he left.

After three days cooped up in Atlantis, reading and translating, getting to know someone long lost, brown eyes landed on the hidden facility back on the planet she had found him in.

A lab meant to not be found.

And she had found it.

A dream.

She remembered a dream.

A dangerous dream.

Her brown eyes now looked at her hand.

Open and close.

Open and close.

It was like she had been floating around for the past three days and, as she closed her eyes, she grounded herself the moment she felt his presence behind her.

She had hurt him back in Atlantis.

And she would have to hurt him again, now that she knew the truth.

Heavy steps came out the Stargate's blue pool.

"What were you thinking?!" Angry, John yelled at Alexandra.

That was a first, many of the presents in the control room thought.

"I found that lab. It was my decision to make, not yours, Sheppard!" Alexandra yelled back.

Now that was a spectacle.

"It's under Atlantis command." He grabbed her arm, not understanding her attitude. She was a completely different person since Haig had arrived.

"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." The scientist pulled her arm from him.

"Don't you see what he's doing to you?! He's messing with your head, Alex! Sneaky little…"

"I am an Ancient, Colonel. You don't command me. Neither does Woolsey. The lab was to be destroyed. So I did what needed to be done."

What John saw in her eyes scared him. The raw power he hadn't seen yet, just simmering under her skin.

"Alex…"

"You're just jealous that I have this connection with Haig."

"If you don't stop now, I'll be forced to take action." John stood tall, his stance every bit the commanding officer he was.

"And that would be what? Lock me up, Colonel?" Alexandra challenged him as she took one step closer to him. For a moment, his hazel eyes pulled her to him.

"If I have to." His tone came out soft as his eyes locked onto hers and there was something there, something that pulled him to her.

"What is going on?" Woolsey came down the stairs upon seeing two of the people he trusted the most arguing in the middle of the gate room, with everyone watching.

"I have to report an incident, Mr. Woolsey." John continued, not taking his eyes from hers.

"So rule abiding now, Sheppard." She sneered, doing the same as she narrowed her eyes.

"Dr. O'Neill is not in her best capabilities."

"Oh, but she is."

Everyone looked towards the Ancient standing still at the entrance of a hallway.

Immediately, John held up his P'90, followed by the military, Rodney, Ronon and Teyla, that had stayed quiet the entire time.

Then, silence fell over the room and no one could move. Their bodies were like statues.

Haig took a step closer towards the small group of friends.

"She is accepting her powers. Who she is. Perhaps who she is meant to be." The man walked towards Alexandra, his green eyes not leaving John. "I remember her ancestor. We were friends, close ones. Melya was my betrothed. I don't know what happened to her. I guess the group upstairs must have taken my memories after we got separated."

"You've been messing with her head to make her be another woman? That's low, pal." John groaned as he tried to move with no effect.

"She looks so much like her. It's stunning, really." The Ancient moved his hand and everyone started to suffocate.

"Haig, you said you wouldn't hurt them."

"I'm not, my dear. But the Colonel tends to do things that might end up hurting him. Or you."

John followed Haig's movement as he placed his hand on Alexandra's cheek. He gritted his teeth.

For a silent moment the two Ancients stared at each other.

"Too bad my shield isn't seen by anyone, right?" Narrowing her eyes, Alexandra's fist connected with Haig's nose. "That's for messing with my mind."

The Ancient fell heavily to the floor, completely surprised by the turn of events.

"How did you…?"

"If there is one thing I hate is my mind being played by Ancients. And trust me, I got plenty of experience in the matter."

"Impossible! I made sure you couldn't see through my manipulation."

"Maybe you're out of practice... Kal. Yes, I know who you are." Brown eyes flashed, angry, seeing him stand. "It took me a moment once I first saw you. But I recognized you from the files in the Atlantis database." Her hands closed into fists. She was ready to explode if need be to protect her friends. "Now, let them go!"

Haig, now discovered as Kal, narrowed his eyes. All of a sudden, his body turned into light and blinded all in the room.

A pained scream was heard.

And once the light disappeared, John's eyes found Alexandra's body laying on the ground.

"He basically sucked out her energy." Jennifer explained, looking at the screen by Alexandra's bed. "She might wake up in the next 24 hours or two weeks. I cannot be sure at the moment."

Woolsey nodded and turned to his military commander.

"I've read about Kal in your report. How did she recognized him, Colonel?"

"Once we got to the lab. She told me it felt like a fog had been lifted. She had this theory that the distance from him had cleared her mind. And she told us everything he had said since arriving here." John's eyes hadn't left her figure since the light disappeared. "We came up with that plan to catch him. He was trying to turn her against us. Destroy the lab, with us inside. Take Atlantis. Make her ascend."

"In her right mind, she wouldn't do so, if I know her well." Woolsey commented, concerned "So, the lab was not destroyed?"

"No."

The civillian commander nodded and looked towards the infirmary bed that made everyone apprehensive at the moment.

"Alright. Let's leave Dr. Keller tend to Dr. O'Neill." However, as he left, he saw the Colonel sit on a chair next to Alexandra's bed.

"Dr. McKay, do we know where this Kal person might have gone?" Woolsey looked up from his tablet to the quiet team in his office.

"No. I've matched his energy readings to everyone here, as well as Ancients that we've met since we came to Atlantis. As far as I know, he left the city. He's probably in his own plain of existence." Rodney explained. "And, as far as I gathered from what she had researched from Kal when we first met him, there was a description of him in one of the files, that's probably how she recognized him."

"What about his powers?" Teyla asked, her arms crossed.

"Well, he never descended, so to speak." The scientist continued. "His file said he was found making experiments on primitive humans on this galaxy and the Ancients punished him by dividing his mind from his body. The mind, they placed it on that machine that attacked Sheppard, while his body was frozen. My research says that the lab was supposed to never been found. There was a security level similar to the one back on MS-415, when she first used her powers. Remember?" Teyla and Ronon nodded. "However, the satellite had a malfunction a decade ago. And it never worked since."

"Why didn't he take her yesterday?" Ronon looked at his team partner.

"He was weak. Perhaps, needed to refill his energy levels first." Rodney shrugged, not having the right answer.

"Well, let's hope he'll forget about her now that he took her energy." Woolsey said, with no hope.

"I wouldn't be so sure, Mr. Woolsey." McKay commented with a sigh.

John opened his eyes.

It had been three days with no changes.

And he had spent most of that time by her bed.

However, in that moment, when he looked up, the bed was now empty.

"Dr. Keller?" He said to his coms.

[Yes, Colonel?] Jennifer immediately answered.

"Have you taken Alex for some exam?"

[No. She's still in the same place I left her thirty minutes ago.]

"She's not in her bed, doc." Frustrated, John walked out of the infirmary.

"What do you… Oh, god!" Keller appeared from her office.

"Security teams on alert. Dr. O'Neill is missing. I repeat, Dr. O'Neill is missing." John called through his radio.

Five minutes it was what it took for the city to become awake by the news and the search John had dispatched.

Where could she be? Had Kal taken her? The gate didn't open and there had been no energy surges in the past thirty minutes according to Zelenka.

As he entered one of the transporters to meet with Woolsey in his office, John went to touch the screen map when a light appeared on another area of Atlantis. It was just a bleep. And when he was about to touch the area he wanted, the bleep appeared again on the same spot as before.

"Sheppard?" Ronon, that had met him in the infirmary, didn't understand his hesitation.

"I have an idea." John pressed the bleeping area.

So, the transporter took them to one of the piers.

"What is that?" As the doors opened, Ronon pointed towards a light at the end.

As soon as he said it, John ran as fast as he could in her direction.

It looked like she was walking a straight line towards the edge.

"Alex!" At his call it seemed she had stopped. However, the light got brighter. "Son of a…"

The moment her foot stepped out, with only the dark sea below, John grabbed her, holding her tight as they fell backwards.

"I got you." He grunted in pain, his hands feeling her skin cold. "I'm here." He didn't know if he was reassuring her or himself.

The light turned into the form of a man, his feet not touching the pier.

John's eyes watched Kal from the ground.

"You may have won this round, Col. Sheppard, but…"

Even the waves silenced as Alexandra stood, a dim light coming out of her body as she stepped out of John's arms.

"You'll be quiet." There was command to her voice and an ethereal tone that made it strange. "You don't get to use me. You don't get to hurt my friends. Or Atlantis. You set foot in here again and you won't leave this place alive, Kal."

"Melya…"

A burst of light came out of her body and expanded into their surroundings making the Ancient disappear.

And when she was about to fall, John caught her once again.

"John..." Her voice trembled, dazed as if coming out of a dream. "What happened?"

"I don't know. But we'll figure it out." He promised her as he felt her relax against his body, her head tucked under his chin, his arms surrounding her completely.

After a quick debrief with Woolsey and making sure Atlantis was safe, John went back to the infirmary. He nodded towards Major Lorne and Lt. Hicks that were placed by the entrance as a security measure.

"I gave her a mild sedative." Jennifer approached John by the entrance. "She will sleep through the night." Then, the doctor turned to him, worried. "Your officers are more than enough, Colonel. You need to rest after everything that happened."

John entered fully into the space, walking towards the bed, seeing Alexandra lay on her side in one of the beds, looking relaxed.

"Thank you, doc. I rather stay."

With a sigh, Jennifer nodded and left.

And so he watched over Alexandra through the night.

Ps: Thoughts?