John stared at the lake as the sound of crying children wafted from the cave entrance.
The doctor stepped out of the room and whispered something to the nurse beside him. The nurse nodded in reply, glanced at John and David, and walked back to her desk at the end of the hall.
John's eyes narrowed as he watched the doctor approach his father.
"I'm sorry, Mister Sheppard," the doctor said.
"No," his father whispered. "There must be something else you can do."
The doctor shook his head. "The damage was too severe. She doesn't have very long. If you wish to say goodbye …" The doctor motioned toward the closed door.
John felt a gaping hole in the pit of his stomach. The doctor was wrong, he mentally screamed. His mother couldn't be dying. Mothers weren't supposed to die.
He felt David squeeze his hand, looked down, and saw the fear and confusion in his eight-year-old brother's eyes.
"Dad?" John said.
"Stay with your brother," his father ordered.
"But -"
"Stay here!"
The nurse looked up from her desk. "Doctor?"
The doctor motioned her to stay where she was and turned to his father. "If you're ready?"
Patrick Sheppard wiped his cheeks, cleared his throat, and nodded.
John pulled David back a step as his father passed him. He was surprised when his father patted his shoulder before he stepped into the room and let the door close behind him.
He and David had been in the room when his mother had died. The wail of the heart monitor, signalling she was gone, had haunted his nightmares for months after the funeral.
He'd been able to say goodbye, John thought, glancing at the cave. Those kids never had the same chance.
"Sir?" Lorne said, pointing to his watch.
"Yeah, I know. Give them a few more minutes."
Lorne nodded. "Yes, sir."
John heard the anger in Lorne's tone and turned away from the lake. "Something on your mind, Major?"
Lorne pressed his lips into a thin line. "These were good people."
"So you've said," John replied.
"We need to figure out who or what did this, sir."
"I know Tybis was a friend," John said. "But we're stretched thin right now with the survey of that Asurian tower. Let's get the kids settled, get our people back from 631, and get McKay back on his feet. Then we can worry about what happened here."
Lorne clenched his jaw.
You'd be just as angry if this was Haven or Aegina, John reminded himself.
John waited until the crying from the cave died down, glanced at the sun, then his watch, and turned to Lorne. "We'll figure it out," he promised. "Something tells me whatever did this isn't going to stop with one village. But right now, our priority is to get these kids back to the 'gate before it gets dark."
Lorne blew out a breath and nodded. "Yes, sir."
John waited for Lorne to fall in behind him, then led the way back to the cave. He pushed the bushes aside and ducked as he entered the inner cavern. Hayden, Desi, Raba, and Lytha each sat with four or five of the children. The older children stared at the teenagers with dazed expressions even as they tried to comfort the younger ones. Leo stood against the cave wall with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Ronon and Teyla.
"I don't want to go," one of the little girls said. She wore a simple dress, her dark hair held back from her face in a tangled braid. John thought she couldn't be more than five or six years old.
"I know you don't, Kenna, but it's not safe here anymore, " Desi replied with a gentle smile. "Teyla," Desi pointed to Teyla standing beside Ronon, "Teyla is going to take all of us to stay with her people."
Kenna stared at Teyla, then shook her head. "No." The little girl pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "I want to stay here. There won't be any honey flowers or cloudberries there." She sniffled and added, "There won't be anyone to tell me stories."
John was about to step in when Desi looked at Teyla with a pleading expression.
Teyla knelt next to Desi and clasped Kenna's hand. "There are honey flowers near our village, and my people tell many stories." She ducked her head to catch Kenna's eye. "And we are always interested in learning new tales. Perhaps you could tell my people some of your stories."
Kenna raised her head as Teyla spoke. "You like stories too?"
"Very much," Teyla replied. "Would you like to come with us and share your stories?"
Kenna gave her a watery smile and nodded.
John cleared his throat, and Teyla glanced at him. "Colonel," she greeted and stood.
"Teyla," John replied. He nodded to Hayden and jerked his chin toward the entrance.
Hayden gave the boy sitting next to him a one-armed hug and stood. "Colonel Sheppard?"
"If you want to collect anything in the village, we need to get moving. It will take several hours to walk back to the 'gate, and I'm pretty sure you don't want these kids to spend the night in the forest."
Hayden grimaced. "No," he said to John, then turned back to the other teenagers. "Desi, Leo, pack up the rest of the food." He pointed to several bundles stacked along the cavern's back wall. "Raba, Lytha, get the kids ready to leave."
"What about the Codex?" Raba asked as she helped the children to their feet. "We can't leave without it."
"We won't," Hayden said, glancing at John. "We'll stop in the village long enough to find the Codex and search for anything else that survived the attack."
Raba nodded and stood. "All right, everyone," she said with false cheer. "It's time to go."
"What about the monsters?" Kenna asked, taking Desi's hand. "Won't they get us like … like …" She sniffled as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Evan and his friends are here now," Desi said, nodding to Lorne.
Lorne crouched and smiled at Kenna. "Hey." He brushed some of the girl's hair out of her eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. We won't let anything happen to you."
Kenna let go of Desi's hand and wrapped her arms around Lorne's neck. "Promise?" she whispered loudly in his ear.
Lorne picked up the girl and glanced at John. "I promise."
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
John kept one eye on the surrounding trees and the other on the straggle of children in front of him as they hiked back to the devastated village. What sort of weapon would leave long gouges in stone walls without scorch marks? he wondered. And Lorne is right. This is … He grimaced and shook his head. This was a quiet little village. They were farmers. There was nothing of value here. Why attack them at all?
John stopped as a new thought struck him. Lorne had been visiting for months. He and Tybis were friends. He knew these people. Was that it? Were they targeted because of us?
With the Wraith, the Genii, and now the Asurians, they didn't need any more enemies.
"Problem?" Ronon rumbled.
John shook his head. "Just trying to figure out why someone would do this."
"Might not be a reason," Ronon offered.
John shook his head, then slowed to allow the children to get a little ahead of them. "Why kill the adults and leave the kids?"
Ronon glanced at the children. "They were hiding."
John grimaced. "You and I both know that cave wasn't that well hidden. Whatever attacked these people could have found it if they wanted to. No, something else is going on here."
"Like what?" Ronan asked.
"Don't know yet." John felt a shiver up his spine. "Teyla said those indentations look similar to the pattern left by insects on plants."
Not more bugs, he grumbled to himself. Anything but that.
Ronon raised a questioning eyebrow, but John shook his head.
"We could stay," Ronon suggested. "Take another look around."
John shook his head. "I've already had this discussion with Lorne. We need to get these kids somewhere safe and help Rodney. Then we can look into what happened here."
"If you say so." Ronon shrugged, and they hurried to catch up with Teyla, Lorne, and the children.
It was late afternoon when Lorne and Hayden led the group into what remained of the village. Three Marines stood in the center of the village near the fountain with their weapons aimed at them. Lorne raised a hand in greeting, and the Marines lowered their guns.
Now what? John wondered when he saw the Marine's stoic expressions.
"Teyla, stay here with the kids," John ordered.
Teyla glanced at the waiting Marines and nodded. "Hayden, perhaps we should wait here."
Hayden glanced from the Teyla to the Marines and frowned. "But -"
"We need to make sure the area is safe," John said.
Come on, kid, work with me here, he silently added. I need to find out what the bad news is. Preferably without young ears around to hear it.
Hayden stared at the Marines and nodded. "Desi, we'll keep everyone here until Evan says it's okay."
John waited until the children sat on the ground near the edge of the village, then followed Lorne over to the three Marines.
"Colonel Sheppard," Sergeant Valdés greeted with a nod. "Major."
"Javie," Lorne replied. "Status?"
"The village and the surrounding area are secure, sir," Valdés replied with a wary glance at the woods.
"What's wrong?" Lorne asked.
"Not so much something wrong, sir," Valdés said, "McNair found -"
Several of the younger children started crying, interrupting Valdés' report.
Maybe bringing all of them back here wasn't such a good idea, John thought. He turned, intending to suggest Teyla take the younger children back to the 'gate, when Desi spoke.
"Everyone, gather round." She motioned the children to form a circle around her. Once all of the children joined the group, Desi smiled. "We're going to play a game," she said. "We're going to form teams, and everyone is going to look for a treasure to take with them before we go to the portal."
A few older children looked around at the burnt and destroyed buildings with skeptical expressions.
"Not sure what there is to find," Wes muttered, and a couple of the others nodded.
Desi glared at him, and Wes shrugged.
"Evan and his friends will help." Desi glanced at John and Lorne, and John nodded. "All right, everyone, pick your teams, and we'll start our game."
"Major," John murmured as the children broke into smaller groups.
"Yes, sir," Lorne replied. "McNair, you and Resnik go with the kids. Make sure any buildings they want to enter are safe, and help them with anything they want to bring back to Atlantis."
"Yes, sir," Sergeant McNair replied and waved to Resnik.
"We will also assist the children," Teyla said, nodding to Ronon.
"Thanks," John replied, and glanced at his watch. "We'll give them an hour. Then we need to head back to the 'gate."
Teyla nodded and walked over to one of the groups of children.
"Hold on," John said when Valdés started to follow the rest of his team. "You started to say something about finding something else during your sweep?"
"Umm, yes, sir," Valdés replied. "McNair found some strange tracks."
"I take it these weren't animal tracks?" John asked.
Valdés shook his head. "Whatever made them was bipedal."
"Other survivors?" Lorne asked, and John heard the hope in his tone.
"No, sir." Valdés glanced at his feet. "We accounted for everyone in the, umm, in the pit." He looked at John and added, "These tracks weren't from any of the villagers. Other than some footprints leading to and away from the village," Valdés pointed toward the distant cave, "there wasn't any evidence that anyone had been near the area since the attack."
"All right. Show me these tracks," John said.
"Yes, sir." Valdés glanced around the village, then pointed in the same direction as the stargate. "This way."
John and Lorne followed as Valdés led the way across the village.
"Sheppard?" Ronon called as they walked past one of the few houses still standing on the outskirts of the village.
John heard voices inside the house and the sound of someone closing a drawer or cabinet.
"Valdés found some tracks he can't identify. Might be from whatever attacked the village," John replied. "Maybe you'll recognise them."
Ronon nodded and fell into step with John.
"Colonel? Ronon?" Teyla called as she exited the house with a rucksack in her hand.
John glanced at the two boys with Teyla. "We're going to follow up on a lead," he said with a pointed glance at the kids.
He was relieved when Teyla took the hint and nodded. "I will let Hayden and the others know where you have gone."
"We shouldn't be long," John replied and hurried to catch up with Valdés.
Valdés led them through the trees away from the village.
"The tracks are just on the other side of that boulder," Valdés said a few minutes later and pointed at a large granite rock standing in the middle of a clearing.
They passed the stone, then stopped under an oak-looking tree.
Valdés pointed at the ground. "Here, sir."
John knelt and stared at the tracks. One set of prints was clearly made by someone wearing the same flat shoes as Hayden and the children. The other was a series of ovoid-shaped prints. The indentation was larger than his hand.
"That could be a tread mark," John said, pointing to the faint hexagonal pattern in the dirt.
Ronon knelt beside John and examined the print. "Not boots." He pointed to two small indentations at the head of the print. "Those are claw marks."
"I find it hard to believe an animal attacked those people," John said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "It was too precise. Too calculated."
Ronon shrugged and stood. "That's not a human foot." He took a few steps and knelt again. "Sheppard," he called.
"What did you find?"
Ronon pointed to two parallel lines in the dirt where the human footprints stopped. "Drag marks."
John stood and peered through the trees. "It looks like they head toward the 'gate."
Valdés ducked his head.
"Something you want to add, Sergeant?" John asked.
Valdés blew out a breath. "Not exactly on the way back to the 'gate, sir." He hesitated, then added, "That's the same direction as the, umm, pit. Sir."
Lorne pressed his lips into a thin line and glanced at Ronon. "You're saying this … creature or whatever it is hunted down anyone who escaped the attack on the village?"
"Probably," Ronon replied and stood.
Lorne stared at Ronon, then turned and stared at the trees.
"Come on," John said. "We need to head back to the village and get those kids back to the 'gate. It's going to be dark in a few hours." He glanced at the trail of ovoid prints and drag marks leading into the trees, then turned and led the way back to the village.
Over the next hour, John and the others helped the groups of children salvage what they could from the remaining buildings. The younger children rescued cherished toys, while the older ones packed more practical items such as books, tools, and clothes.
Raba and Lytha met each group near the damaged fountain and stored the various items in assorted packs and bags.
"I believe we have salvaged what we can, Colonel," Teyla said as she led the last group of children across the square to the fountain. She scanned the group of children and added, "I believe everyone is here. If you are ready as well, we can return to the stargate.
"Not everyone is here," Lorne said. He turned in a slow circle and added, "I don't see Hayden."
John double-checked the group near the fountain. He saw Raba, Desi, Lytha, and Leo shouldering the packs and trying to keep the children calm, but Hayden wasn't with them.
"Anyone see where Hayden went?" John asked the teenagers.
Desi shifted the pack on her back and pointed to a building on the other side of the square. "He went to retrieve the Codex."
"I should have known," Lorne said, turning to one of the more damaged buildings lining the square. "I'll go get him."
"You're sure that's where he is?" John asked. He gave the stone building a wary glance. One wall and part of the roof had collapsed, and he wasn't sure the rest of the building was in much better shape.
"That's the meeting hall I told you about," Lorne said. "If he went to get the Codex, he'll be there."
"Kid's got a death wish," John grumbled to himself.
"Sir?" Lorne asked.
John waved off the question. "Teyla, Ronon, stay with the kids," John ordered. "Get them ready to leave. We'll," he pointed to himself and then Lorne, "go get Hayden."
"Yes, Colonel," Teyla replied as Lorne jogged across the square.
"Hayden!" Lorne called as he entered the building.
John turned to follow Lorne but stopped when Ronon fell into step beside him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Might need help," Ronon said, nodding toward the damaged building.
John glanced at the gaggle of excited children and hid a smile. "Is that the only reason?"
Ronon scowled in reply, which made John grin.
"All right, come on," John said to Dex. "We'll be right back," he added to Teyla.
Teyla nodded and turned to the children waiting near the fountain.
John skirted around a pile of rubble near the building's entrance and stopped short once he was inside what remained of the meeting hall.
Late afternoon sunlight poured into the space where the roof had collapsed. Carved wooden pillars attached to wooden buttresses held up what remained of the right half of the ceiling. The left side of the room was nothing more than a rubble pile where the outer wall and roof had fallen into the room, along with a large bell. The remains of several wooden pillars littered the floor between the door and the far end of the room.
Which is what caused the roof to collapse, John thought as he stepped over one of the pillars and scanned the rest of the room.
Hayden stood on the other side of the room, wrestling with another pillar blocking a tall, ornately carved wooden cabinet.
"Hayden!" Lorne called again as he crossed the room.
Hayden glanced at Lorne, then went back to pushing against the pillar. "I can't get the cabinet open," he grunted as he shoved against the middle of the wooden column. "I won't leave without the Codex. It's all that's left of …" He ducked his head, and John heard him sniff.
"Charin, Iranda, Telus. They are our elders. The keepers of our past. It will not be long before they are all gone and so much of our knowledge gone with them."
Teyla's words rose in his memory as John watched Hayden struggle with the pillar. It's their history, John reminded himself. He crossed the room and studied the pillar wedged against the cabinet.
Lorne set his P-90 on one of the few intact benches and joined Hayden. "All right, let us help," he said, bracing his shoulder against the pillar.
"Major, wait," John said, stopping on the other side of the column.
Lorne looked up in surprise. "Colonel?"
"That's not going to work," John replied as angles and equations ran through his head.
He set his P-90 next to Lorne's and pointed to Ronon. "Stand there," he directed, pointing to the end of the pillar near the benches. "Lorne, you and Hayden stand next to Ronon."
"Sir?" Lorne asked. He tugged Hayden with him and placed the teenager between himself and Dex.
"The pillar is wedged against the back wall," John explained. He stood next to Ronon and braced his shoulder against the end of the pillar. "The only way we'll move it is if we all push from this end. The other end will act as a pivot point. If we all push together, we should be able to move the column far enough to open the door."
Lorne glanced at the end of the pillar jammed into the corner of the wall, then at John. "Good plan, sir."
John waited until Hayden bent between Lorne and Ronon, then said, "All right, on three. One. Two. Three!"
John pushed against the pillar and heard Ronon grunting next to him. He was ready to give up and try a different position when he felt the pillar move. "That's it," he ground out. "Again. "One. Two. Three!"
John strained against the pillar, but it refused to move.
"Stop," John said and stood straight.
Lorne stood, rubbing his shoulder, and Hayden took several deep breaths.
"Ready?" John waited until the others took their positions, then called the count.
After their third attempt, John felt the pillar start to move. "One more should do it," he encouraged. "One, Two. Three!"
The pillar shifted a couple of feet, and Hayden squeezed past Lorne and opened the cabinet door. He pulled out a large, hard-bound book with two metal buckles holding it closed. He handed the thick book to Lorne, reached back into the cabinet, and pulled out a second book.
"Thank you," Hayden said, clasping the second book to his chest. "With these, even if we are on another planet, my people won't forget where we came from."
John heard the note of pride when Hayden said 'my people' and smiled. "Anything else?"
Hayden shook his head. "My father …" He paused and swallowed. "My father let Evan take the other relics back to your city. Some of the council members didn't like it, but now …" He looked around at what remained of the meeting hall. "I guess it was a good thing he did. You've kept them safe?"
Lorne flinched and glanced at John with a raised eyebrow.
"What?" Hayden asked Lorne. "You promised my father you would take care of them. He trusted you. Those relics are important!"
"Hayden," Lorne started to say, but stopped when John held up his hand.
"Major, it's all right," John said to Lorne, then turned to Hayden. "Everything is safe," John assured him. "Nothing has been damaged."
Hayden scowled at him, and John wasn't sure if the boy believed him.
The cube was safe, John thought with a wry twist of his lips. And the sooner I find a way to get it away from McKay, the sooner you can have it back.
A chunk of stone tumbled from what remained of the wall on the other side of the room. John looked up and frowned. "Right now, we need to get out of here before more of this building collapses."
"This is what I wanted." Hayden hefted the book in his arms and pointed to the one Lorne held. "We can go now."
"Ronon," John said and gestured toward the door.
Ronon led the way out of the building and over to Teyla and the children waiting near the fountain.
"Hayden?" Desi said. "Did you find them?"
Hayden nodded and held up his book. He jerked his head toward Lorne. "We got them."
Desi smiled and held up two pieces of thick purple cloth and a rucksack. Hayden wrapped the books in the fabric, packed both books inside the rucksack, and shouldered the straps. "We're ready to leave now, Colonel Sheppard."
John glanced at the setting sun and nodded. "Major. I've got our six."
"Yes, sir," Lorne replied. "Valdés take point." He gave Valdés a pointed look and added, "And, Sergeant," he added, and waited for Valdés to glance at him. "Take the shortcut."
Valdés nodded and led the way out of the village in a direction, John noted, that would take the group away from the pit with the bodies.
By the time they reached the 'gate, it was dark. The infants and several of the younger children were asleep in the arms of the teenagers or Lorne's men.
"Major," John said, motioning to the DHD.
Lorne nodded and handed off the child he carried to Ronon.
Ronon took the child in an awkward hold, and Lorne walked over to the DHD.
Once the wormhole formed, John tapped his earpiece. "Sheppard to base."
"Base here," Chuck replied.
"We're ready to come home, Sergeant," John said, "but I need to talk to Elizabeth first."
"Stand by, Colonel."
There was a short pause, and then John heard Elizabeth over the radio. "This is Weir. Colonel Sheppard? Is everything all right?"
John glanced at the children watching him. "Not exactly," he replied, taking a few steps away from the waiting huddle of children.
"The villagers couldn't tell you anything about the cube?" Weir asked.
John pursed his lips. "We never got the chance to ask," he replied.
"Colonel?"
"The village was attacked a few days ago," John said in a low voice. "Whatever it was, it killed almost everyone. We found about thirty kids hiding nearby."
"And you want to bring them back here? I don't think -" Elizabeth started to say, but John spoke over her.
"They're just kids, Elizabeth. There aren't any villages nearby where we can take them. Teyla is willing to talk to the Athosians about taking them in."
There was a long pause over the radio, and then John heard Elizabeth sigh. "All right, Colonel. You are cleared to return—with your refugees."
"Copy that. Sheppard out." John tapped his earpiece and turned to Lorne and Hayden. "Ready?" he asked Hayden.
Hayden glanced at Desi and Leo, took a deep breath, and nodded.
"Major," John said, gesturing toward the 'gate.
"Yes, sir," Lorne replied.
He stepped toward the 'gate with Hayden beside him. The remaining children, the rest of Lorne's team, and Teyla followed.
John watched the kids disappear into the event horizon and felt a weight lift. Whatever else happened, they had saved thirty kids, he thought. Not a bad day's work.
He nodded to Ronon and stepped toward the waiting wormhole but stopped short when he heard a soft chittering noise in the trees behind him. He froze and turned with his P-90 raised.
"Sheppard?" Ronon asked, unholstering the particle weapon.
John jerked his chin toward the trees. "I thought I heard something."
Ronon aimed the particle weapon in the same direction. "What?"
John shook his head. "Hard to describe. But something might be out there."
The low rustling noise came again, this time from the trees to his left.
John spun and pointed the rifle in the same direction. "You heard that, right?"
Ronon nodded and stepped toward the trees.
After several seconds, John didn't hear the noise again and lowered the rifle. "Maybe it was just an animal."
Ronon raised an eyebrow but slowly lowered the particle weapon. "Sounded big."
John grimaced. He peered at the trees and, for a split second, thought he saw a large dark shape shift against the deeper gloom.
"Sheppard? Something?" Ronon asked.
John shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe." He stared at the trees for a few more seconds, then turned toward the active 'gate. "Let's go. Elizabeth is going to have questions, and I want to check on Rodney."
John stepped through the portal, shielding his eyes from the late afternoon sunlight pouring through the gateroom windows.
"Is everything all right?" Teyla whispered as the children behind her stared around the room. "I thought you and Ronon were right behind me. What happened?"
"We thought there was someone," John glanced at Hayden and lowered his voice, "or something hiding the trees near the 'gate."
Teyla's eyes opened wide. "One of those creatures?"
John shook his head. "Never got a really good look at it."
Teyla narrowed her eyes. "But you believe it might have been what attacked the village."
John shrugged. "Maybe."
"Colonel Sheppard," Weir greeted as she descended the stairs from the control room.
"Doctor Weir," John replied, motioning to Lorne and Hayden standing nearby. "This is Hayden. He's the head of the village on Verda."
Weir gave John a startled glance as the boy stepped forward.
"Hayden, Tybis' son," Hayden said to Weir.
Elizabeth clasped her hands together in front of her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hayden. My name is Elizabeth. I am sorry to hear about what happened to your village. We will try to help in any way we can."
Hayden gazed from the stained-glass window behind the now silent 'gate to the stairs leading up to the control room. "We have heard stories about the Ancestor's city. I never thought I would have the chance to see it. It is beautiful."
Elizabeth smiled and turned to Lorne. "Major, I've alerted the infirmary to expect you. Once everyone is medically cleared, please assign Hayden and his people temporary quarters."
"Yes, ma'am," Lorne replied.
"What is this?" Hayden asked.
"It's a medical checkup," Lorne replied. "After everything you guys have been through, we want to make sure everyone is all right."
Hayden glanced around the gateroom and nodded. "Desi, Raba, help me with the little ones." Hayden picked up Kenna, sitting on one of the steps, half-asleep.
Desi and Raba gathered the rest of the children together and followed Lorne and Hayden out of the gateroom.
"I will speak to Chuck about placing a call to the mainland," Teyla offered.
"Colonel, we need to talk," Weir said as Teyla climbed the stairs to the control room.
John grimaced. "Yeah, I thought you'd say that." He turned toward the exit and called, "Ronon, wait."
Ronon froze, then turned with a neutral expression.
"Go with Lorne and the kids. Tell Beckett I'll be down to check on McKay after we're," he pointed to himself and then Elizabeth, "done here."
"On it," Ronon replied.
"Then find something to eat and get some sleep," John added.
Ronon nodded and left the gateroom.
"Colonel," Elizabeth said, gesturing to the stairs. "After you."
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
Ronon stopped in the armoury long enough to secure the particle weapon, then turned toward the nearest transporter. He debated stopping in the mess hall before returning to the infirmary but changed his mind. Won't take that long to pass along a message, he decided.
A few minutes later, he entered the infirmary and saw children sitting or lying on various beds while Beckett's people checked them over. To his eye, everything seemed under control. A few of the children spoke to the nurses or each other, but most of them huddled on the beds, silently watching the people around them.
Better than crying, he thought as he watched one of the nurses cajole a child into opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue.
He never had younger siblings and had never been comfortable around children. Melena had often teased him about it, telling him he would be a father someday and would have to get used to them.
Ronon felt a stab in his gut and clenched his fists.
There would be no children now, he thought. The Wraith had taken that future from him.
He saw Desi watching him and forced down the spurt of anger. The past is the past, he reminded himself. Nothing will change what happened.
He ignored the girl's puzzled expression and surveyed the room, looking for Beckett. Pass along Sheppard's message and go, he told himself.
As he scanned the infirmary, he noticed Doctor Cortes speaking to Hayden on the far side of the room. Sharon stood beside another child's bed, smiling at the little boy. The other doctors and nurses scattered around the room were less familiar. He didn't see Beckett anywhere and frowned.
He should be here, Ronon thought even as his gaze fell on the curtained-off corner of the room. He saw a shadow against the fabric and hissed in a breath. Something had happened while they were gone, he realised.
He debated whether he should cross the room and find out what was happening or simply leave and let Beckett tell Sheppard the bad news. He took a step toward the infirmary exit, then blew out a breath and turned around.
"Will probably regret this," he muttered under his breath as he crossed the room. He stepped into the curtained-off corner and stopped short when he found Beckett standing next to McKay's bed, staring at the monitors with a pensive crease across his forehead.
"Doc?" Ronon asked.
Beckett turned, and Ronon saw the flash of worry in Beckett's eyes before he managed to school his expression. "Ronon," he greeted. "I didn't realise you were there."
Ronon stopped on the other side of the bed and glanced at McKay. To his eye, nothing had changed since the previous night. McKay was still unconscious with the softly glowing cube clutched in his hand.
"What's wrong?" Ronon asked.
Beckett pressed his lips into a thin line and pointed at the second monitor. Instead of the rapid cycle of jagged peaks and valleys that had been there before, the line on the monitor was almost flat, with only an occasional shallow blip.
"Rodney's brain wave pattern has changed," Beckett replied.
"He's waking up?"
"No, I don't think so," Beckett replied sadly. "I double-checked the data from last night. Rodney is back to the near-coma state he was in when he first arrived last night."
"How long has he been like this?"
Beckett glanced at his watch. "Nearly twenty minutes." He looked up and added, "Where is Colonel Sheppard? I thought he would be down here as soon as you all returned."
"He's with Weir."
"Discussing what to do with all of our new arrivals, no doubt." Beckett stepped away from the bed. "I'll have him paged -" he started to say but stopped when the line on the monitor jumped.
The line jumped again, and the pattern shifted from the low, slow curve back to the jagged peaks and valleys.
"Now what?" Ronon asked.
Beckett studied the readout and shook his head. "His brain function has returned to the same active state it was in before," he replied. "I can't explain it."
"I'll get Sheppard," Ronon said, turning away from the bed.
"Don't bother," Beckett said, glancing at the privacy curtain. "I need to give Elizabeth a preliminary report on our young guests. I'll tell both of them what's happened." He glanced at the other monitor and nodded. "Rodney is still stable. Stay with him," Beckett added and pushed aside the curtain. "If anything else changes, let Serefina or Sharon know."
Ronon nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Sharon, love, do you have those preliminary results ready for me?" Beckett asked as the curtain fell back into place.
"Almost," Sharon replied.
Ronon ignored the rest of their conversation and sat in the chair next to the bed. Did Beckett expect him to do something? he wondered. And if so, what?
Ronon grimaced and shifted on the uncomfortable chair.
"Is that story about coma patients hearing things around them true?"
Can't hurt to try, he thought, glancing at McKay.
"You better wake up soon, McKay," Ronon growled. "Beckett and Sheppard are getting worried."
He glanced at the monitor, didn't see any changes to the jagged brain wave pattern, and shrugged.
So much for that idea, he grumbled to himself and sat back in the chair.
He was dozing sometime later when the smell of food wafting from the other side of the curtain woke him. Ronon sat up, scrubbed a hand over his face, and glanced at the jagged peaks and valleys on the brain monitor.
No worse, then, he thought and stood. He pushed aside the curtain and saw one of the med techs handing out trays from the mess hall to the children scattered on various beds. The children appeared more relaxed than earlier. Several were smiling and making faces at their neighbors as they ate.
He didn't see Beckett and let the curtain fall back into place.
Ronon glanced at McKay, then started pacing the narrow area between the curtain and the chair.
What would Sheppard do now? he wondered. With the village destroyed and most of the people dead, there was no one left to tell them about the cube.
Ronon glanced at the curtain, then reached for the cube and gave it a gentle tug.
There was no change to the brain wave pattern, but McKay refused to let go of the cube.
Ronon pulled a little harder with the same result. Was McKay not letting go, or was the cube refusing to release its victim? he wondered.
Ronon gave up trying to take the cube and went back to pacing.
He was near the foot of McKay's bed when he heard the soft clicking of beads and saw the curtain move. A moment later, Desi appeared holding a tray.
"I brought you something to eat," she said, holding out the tray.
Ronon hesitated, then took the tray. "Thanks."
Ronon was unsure how to fill the awkward silence. "Kids are all okay?" he asked.
Desi nodded. "A little dehydrated, but considering what they have been through, they are well." She glanced at the bed and added, "He is a friend?"
"Something like that," Ronon replied and turned, intending to set the tray on McKay's bedside table.
"I hope he recovers - Oh."
Ronon turned at the gasp of surprise and saw Desi staring at McKay with a shocked expression.
"He is a Loremaster," she whispered. Desi took a hurried step backwards and bowed her head.
Ronon dropped the tray on the table with a clatter and grabbed Desi's arm before she could retreat further. "What?"
Desi gave Ronon a startled look and pointed at McKay. "He controls the lore cube. He is a Loremaster." She pulled against Ronon's grip and added, "You're hurting my arm."
Ronon let go, and before he could stop her, Desi turned and pushed through the curtain. "Hayden! Come quickly!"
"Don't!" Ronon exclaimed, following her through the curtain, but it was too late.
"Desi?" Hayden asked. He gave Ronon a suspicious once-over and then focused on Desi. "What's the matter?"
"The lore cube." Desi pointed at the curtain. "One of their people has activated it."
Hayden paled and pushed open the curtain.
"How?" he whispered as he stared at McKay.
"Ronon?" Sharon asked as she crossed the room. "Is everything all right?"
"No," Ronon told her as Hayden and Desi disappeared behind the curtain. "Get Sheppard and Beckett back here. Now."
Sharon nodded and tapped her earpiece. "Peterson to Doctor Beckett. We have an emergency in the infirmary."
Ronon pushed through the curtain and found the two teenagers staring wide-eyed at McKay.
"What do we do?" Desi whispered.
Hayden shook his head.
"You know what this is?" Ronon demanded, pointing at the cube.
"It is the lore cube. One of our more important relics," Hayden replied.
"What's it doing to him?"
Hayden looked up at Ronon with a confused expression. "I don't -
"Sharon? What's the emergency?" Beckett asked.
Ronon glanced at the curtain. Finally, he thought.
"It's Doctor McKay," Sharon replied even as the curtain was pushed aside, and Sheppard stopped beside the bed. Sheppard glanced at McKay, checked the monitors, and turned to Ronon.
"Ronon?" he said, glancing from Ronon to Hayden and Desi. "What's going on? Beckett said Rodney was in trouble."
Ronon jerked his chin at Desi and Hayden. "They know about the cube."
Beckett joined them, and Ronon thought their little corner was getting crowded.
"What is it doing to him?" Sheppard demanded.
Hayden shook his head. "Nothing!" he exclaimed. "It's-it's the lore cube. It can't hurt someone."
"Does he look all right to you?" Sheppard countered.
Hayden shook his head and backed away from Sheppard.
"Colonel, if I might," Beckett said. Sheppard jerked his head in a stiff nod, and Beckett turned to Hayden. "All right, lad," he said with a kind smile. "What can you tell me about this lore cube?"
Hayden glanced at Sheppard and blew out a breath. "As I was saying, it's one of our most cherished relics. It was a gift to my people from the Ancestors."
Beckett nodded. "And what does it do?"
"The Loremasters were storytellers. They used the cube to entertain and teach our people important lessons."
"Who is your Loremaster now?" Sheppard asked. "Maybe they can help."
Hayden stared at the cube and shook his head. "There isn't one. We haven't had a Loremaster since Desi's grandfather was culled."
"Your grandfather could control the cube?" Beckett asked.
Desi clasped her hands in front of her and nodded.
"So this," Sheppard pointed to Rodney, "this is normal?"
Desi frowned and shook her head. "I do not believe so. Grandfather would sit in his chair and say a prayer to the Ancestors. The cube would glow like it is now, but Grandfather was never asleep. The cube would show him something, and he would tell us what he saw."
Sheppard scrubbed a hand over his chin and grasped the bed railing in a white-knuckle grip. "Great," he muttered. "So much for that idea."
Beckett ignored the muttering and focused on Hayden. "How does one become a Loremaster?"
"At the change of the season, we have a matua ceremony for those of age to join the village as adults," Hayden said.
"This is the ceremony Lorne saw?" Sheppard asked.
Hayden nodded. "Those taking part in the ceremony each hold the cube and say the prayer to the Ancestors. If the cube accepts them, they become the new Loremaster. Becoming a Loremaster is one of our highest honors." He glanced at McKay. "I didn't know anyone who wasn't part of the village could be Loremaster."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Beckett said with a kind smile. "Something tells me it's an honor Rodney will decline."
Hayden shook his head. "He controls the cube."
"Not very well," Sheppard countered.
"Colonel," Beckett admonished, turning to Desi. "How long was your grandfather under the influence of the cube when he used it?"
"Sometimes, it was short, only a few minutes. Other times, it would be longer."
"Hours?" Sheppard asked.
Desi shook her head. "No, no. Never that long."
Sheppard glanced at Beckett with a raised eyebrow, but Beckett shook his head.
"Desi, Hayden, thank you for telling us about the cube," Beckett said. "I think it best that we leave Rodney be for now."
Hayden stared at McKay a moment longer, then followed Desi through the curtain.
"Carson?" Sheppard said.
"I don't know," Beckett replied. "From what Desi said, he shouldn't still be affected by whatever the cube is doing."
Sheppard pushed off the bed railing and crossed his arms over his chest. "You know what I think?"
"He can't pull himself out of it," Ronon replied.
"Exactly," Sheppard said and turned to Beckett. "You said he hit his head and had a concussion."
Beckett grimaced. "Yes. But I don't know how this," he waved his hand at the glowing cube, "works to say if that would affect how it interacts with a user."
"The pattern changed," Ronon said.
"What? What pattern?" Sheppard asked.
Ronon pointed at the screen with the jagged peaks and valleys. "The line was nearly flat. Then, a few minutes later, it went back to that."
Sheppard stared at the screen and then Beckett. "Does that mean he's in some sort of loop? That the cube will keep resetting over and over again, trapping him like this forever?"
"Let's not be jumping to conclusions and worst-case scenarios," Beckett replied. "The Ancient devices we've encountered in the past were never meant to harm or permanently incapacitate someone."
"Are you sure about that?" Sheppard pointed out. "What about those nanite things that killed some of McKay's people a couple of years ago?"
"The Arcturus gun," Ronon added.
"Then there was that trap McKay tripped that nearly suffocated him," Sheppard added.
Beckett held up his hands. "All right, you've made your point." He glanced at McKay. "I still think this is some sort of benign device that, either because of the concussion or because Rodney wasn't prepared when the device activated, is not behaving as it should."
Sheppard grimaced. "So we're back to square one?"
"I'm afraid so," Beckett replied.
"Great," Sheppard grumbled. "So all we did was waste more time."
"I wouldn't say that. We know more about the cube now than we did last night."
"We're no closer to getting him to wake up," Sheppard countered. "And we were on that planet for almost a day."
Beckett frowned. "Need I remind you, Colonel, that you saved thirty children from what would have likely been a slow death due to starvation. That was not a waste of time."
Sheppard dropped his arms, sat in the chair beside the bed, glanced at McKay, and muttered, "Yeah, maybe."
"John," Beckett said.
"What?" Sheppard retorted. "You heard Desi. No one was meant to be under this long."
Carson rested a hand on John's shoulder. "You've been awake for almost two days, and I'm willing to bet you haven't eaten much of anything since last night."
John shrugged and refused to meet Carson's eye.
"That's what I thought. The best thing you can do for Rodney right now is to find a hot meal and get some sleep."
"We don't have time -"
Carson held up a hand, and Sheppard stopped speaking.
"Rodney is stable. As far as I can tell, the cube isn't hurting him. At least, not yet. You, however, need food and sleep, or the only thing you will be doing is occupying the bed next to him." Beckett softened his tone and continued, "I know you're worried. I know you think you need to do something to help him. But the best thing you can do for him right now is take care of yourself."
Sheppard ducked his head. "Maybe you're right."
"Of course I'm right," Beckett replied. "Go. Both of you. I don't want to see either of you or Teyla back here until tomorrow morning. Doctor's orders."
