Disclaimer: All characters of StarGate and StarGate Atlantis belong to their respective writers and MGM. This is a work of fan fiction. I just want to play with them for awhile.

Found

As soon as the doors opened, John took off at a dead run toward Section 24-B. Ronan, Teyla and Rodney were right behind him but he barely heard them. One of his men looked up as he approached, waving an arm he directed them toward a walkway where Lorne stood waiting.

“Down here, sir.” Lorne stepped back and motioned for them to follow him. “We saw it almost as soon as we came down the stairs.”

John felt his heart leap in his chest as he followed Lorne down the steps and into the hallway below. It was cooler down here and the smell of dirt and mold made his nose twitch and left a sour taste in his mouth. He looked up as they neared the bottom of the steps and saw two Marines standing patiently, waiting for them.

As they approached, Lorne stepped back and let Sheppard take the lead but as soon as he stepped around him, John wished he hadn't. He took another step and suddenly felt like the floor had been pulled out from under his feet. He choked, huffing out a breath like he'd just been suckered punched in the gut.

He heard movement and looked to see Teyla and Ronan standing to either side of him. Teyla reached for his arm but he stepped away from her. He started to tremble and he forced himself to be calm. He couldn't break down now. He wouldn't break down now. He'd let her down once already. He wasn't about to do it again.

Kneeling down, he took a deep breath and edged closer, lifting his flashlight so that he could examine the reddish brown smears on the floor. He couldn't be sure what they were but deep down he knew that they were blood. Susan's blood.

“They lead off that way.” Lorne lifted his gun and pointed his own flash light down the dark hallway. “Looks like she was dragged.”

“Thank you for that interesting observation, Major.” Sheppard snapped and gave him a sharp look.

Lorne swallowed, grimaced then took a deep breath. “Sorry, sir.”

“John...” Teyla laid her hand on his shoulder and he heard the gentle warning in her voice.

John didn't say anything. Slowly, he got to his feet and shaking off her hand, carefully stepped around the stain. For a minute he was silent and then he turned and looked at Lorne.

“Why don't you go and get some rest, Major. You look like you're gonna pass out.”

“I'm fine, sir.” Lorne looked at him steadily. “I'd like to stay if it's alright with you.”

“That wasn't a request, Major. That was an order.”

Without waiting for an answer, John turned and walked away. Anger seethed in him and he knew that he had to get away from the man before he did something that he wasn't going to regret. He knew that Lorne was tired and he hadn't really realized what he had said but still, it burned John just to hear it.

He waited until he heard Lorne's footsteps fade away before he turned back around. Teyla was giving him a disappointed look but he ignored her. Hoisting his gun, he pointed back down the hallway.

“Everybody keep sharp. You don't need me telling you to be careful but this guy is nuts. We don't know if she's down here or not but I don't want to take any chance that we might miss anything.” He looked at Rodney. “Anything?”

Rodney pulled the LSD from his pocket. He studied it, a frown on his face and then his expression brightened slightly. “Two people. That way.” He pointed to where the drag marks faded into the shadows.

Someone was up ahead. Susan could hear voices. She opened her mouth and started to cry out when she felt Sharon's fingers on the back of her neck.

“Open your god damn mouth and I'll fucking gut you right here.”

Before she could turn, Susan felt the edge of the blade press into her back. Sharon flicked off the flashlight and gripped the back of her jacket. She pushed her up against the wall, forcing her to be still.

“Don't move.” Keeping a grip on the jacket, Sharon peered around her. She was listening intently. When the voices came nearer, she shoved Susan down a side corridor and kept pushing her until they rounded a corner. Susan kept trying to look back and was sure that she saw a flash of light when suddenly she was shoved to her knees and Sharon clapped a hand over her mouth.

Her heart hammering hard in her chest, Susan closed her eyes. There was the sound of foot steps now The voices were getting clearer. and she thought that one of them was John's. When they came closer, she knew it.

“Looks like your white knight is coming to try and save you.” Sharon laughed harshly.

A thrill of hope surged through her. She took a deep breath. This was it. It was now or never and she'd be damned if she was going to go down without a fight. She twisted her head and when Sharon released her grip just a tiny bit, Susan bit down on the fleshy part of the woman's hand until she tasted blood in her mouth.

“Bitch!” Sharon howled and knocked the hilt of the blade against the side of her head.

Susan let go and heard a yell as she fell backwards. Everything started to go black but she took a deep breath and forced herself to hold on. She heard a shout. The voices were closer now and then she heard foot steps running in their direction.

She tried to sit up but Sharon grabbed the back of her jacket and started to haul her down the narrow hallway. Susan tried to wriggle out of her hold but a swift kick to her back jerked a scream from her throat.

“Susan!”

“John! Don't...” She groaned but managed to look up just as Sheppard rounded the corner, Ronan hot on his heels.

For a moment their gazes locked and he saw the flash of relief in her eyes. He took a running step toward her and then skidded to a stop when he saw who had a grip on her.

John felt cold. Shit! If Sharon had her...then where the hell was Jake? He chanced a glance back at the Marines that had followed them. “Find Jake...” he hissed softly. “The bastard has got to be around here somewhere.”

Without a word, the two men nodded and took off down the hall in the other direction, moving quietly.

“Stop, Sheppard!” Sharon used Susan as a shield. She dug her finger's into Susan's hair and jerked her head back. Sharon held the blade against her throat. “Do you hear me? Stop or I'll slice your whore right now.”

He heard Susan whimper with pain and John felt like the bottom was dropping out of his world. He wanted to shoot the bitch but he was afraid to. She was keeping Susan in front of her, pulling her along while she edged the both of them farther back.

“Susan?” She looked up at him and his belly clenched with fear. Her face was paper white, her eyes full of hurt and fear. Blood was smeared across her face and neck and even from where he stood, John could see the dark stain of dried blood on her jacket and pants.

“John, please...just leave.” Susan's voice was rough and raw. “Just...leave.”

“Not without you.” He kept his eyes on her face. Without turning his head, he whispered back to Rodney who was keeping back, staying behind Ronan and Teyla and out of sight around the corner. “Where's she going?”

“God! Is this some kind of freaking soap opera?” Sharon laughed and John's finger itched to pull the trigger.

Fucking bitch! He was going to make her pay for this! He forced himself to stay calm before he did something stupid. He chanced a glance back at Rodney.

“Side corridor.” Rodney whispered softly, gesturing with his hand. He pointed up. “South pier.”

John carefully took a step forward and then stopped. “Let her go, Sharon. This is between you and me. Leave her out of this.”

“Please,” Sharon practically spit at him. “This is not some old melodrama, Sheppard.” She pressed the blade harder against Susan's throat and John winced when she hissed with pain. A thin line of blood slowly began to ooze down her neck and he felt like he was going to be sick.

John glanced at Teyla. She was just a step behind him. “Radio, Carson.” He whispered. “Tell him I need him now!”

She gave a slight nod and stepped back around the corridor.

“Sharon...come on.” He took a deep breath and plowed right on ahead. “You don't have to do this.”

“Yes. I do.” Sharon stepped back and jerked Susan along with her. “Now put your gun's down or I'll swear I'll slice her open right now.”

“Don't! Please...don't hurt her again.” His mouth went dry. Susan's eyes were closed. For an earth shattering second he thought she was dead. Then to his relief, her eye lids fluttered and she opened her eyes and looked right at him. He kept his eyes on her face, trying to signal to her that he was going to get her out of this, no matter what.

He looked back at the other's behind him. “Do what she says. Put 'em down.” Carefully he unstrapped the P-90 and set it on the ground beside him. He still had his pistol strapped to his thigh but he made no move to take it off.

“I don't like this.” Ronan was shaking his head.

“Neither do I but do it, damn it.” John hissed back at him.

Reluctantly, Ronan set down the weapon and the men behind him did the same.

“Okay, they're down. Now let her go.” John spread his arms. “If you're gonna hurt somebody then take me instead.” He didn't mention that once he got close enough to her he was going to rip her fucking head off.

“Oh, isn't that sweet.” Sharon laughed and ran her hand over Susan's cheek. Her cold blue eyes met with Sheppard's. “You wuv your wittle whore.”

“Don't do this, Sharon.” He shook his head. “She's not the one you should make suffer.”

Sharon smirked. “You're right.” She cocked her head slightly. “I want you to suffer.”

She pulled the blade back and slapped Susan hard across the face. Her head snapped back and it was only Ronan's hand on his arm that stopped him from going after her. His blood boiling with anger, John's hands curled into fists.

He licked his lips and forced himself to relax his fingers. “Why are you taking revenge on her for something that I did?”

She laughed. “You never should have played me. Especially with this stupid cow.” Suddenly, she raised the knife and pointed the tip at him. “And you should thank me too.”

“For what?” He wanted to add something about her being a crazy bitch but he bit it back. He was afraid that it would push her even farther over the thin line of sanity that she'd already crossed.

“For saving your sweet little slut from Jake.” She turned the blade toward Susan again, running the flat of it over her cheek, leaving a trail of blood on her too white skin. “He was about to rape her, you know.” An evil smile touched her lips. “Before I stopped him.”

He took another careful step toward her, his eyes straying to the blade of the knife. It was covered with blood and he head the gut feeling that not all of it was Susan's.

“Where is he?”

“Oh, back there somewhere.” She waved her hand. “You'll find him sooner or later. But you'd better hope it's sooner because the smell is gonna be something awful if you don't.”

“Then tell us where he is. We can find him faster.” His belly twisted with fear. If she had killed Jake she wouldn't think twice about taking Susan away from him forever. But he'd be damned if he was going to let that happen.

“Why do you care?” Her eyes flashed angrily. “You should be happy that I took care of him for you.”

“I didn't say that I wasn't.” He took a deep breath and glanced at Susan. Her face looked even whiter and he could hear the heavy rasp of her breathing. God, baby! He thought. Please, just hold on!

Susan looked up at him and smiled slightly as if she'd heard him.

“Ungrateful bastard!” Sharon must have seen the look between them because she snorted angrily. She dug one hand into the back of Susan's jacket and started to back away, dragging Susan with her. Weak as she was, Susan tried to fight back. Enraged, Sharon raised her hand and brought the hilt of the blade down across the back of her head.

Susan saw the blow coming and twisted so that the handle only grazed across the back of her neck but it was still hard enough to knock her out. She grunted and fell forward in a lifeless heap and Sharon had to let go or fall on top of her.

Seeing the only chance that he might have, John pulled his pistol from the holster at his hip and aimed it at her but before he could fire, another shot rang out from somewhere up ahead.. There was a flash and then Sharon grabbed her right leg and fell back with a grunt of pain. Her fingers opened and she dropped the knife.

Evan Lorne stepped out from the hallway behind her and lowered his gun but John wasn't seeing him. All he could see was Susan on the ground and Sharon desperately trying to crawl over her, her fingers scrabbling loudly on the floor as she tried to reach for the blade.

Before she could get close enough, John was on her. He kicked the blade and it skittered across the floor away from her. She shrieked and tried to go after it and he twisted his hand in the back of her jacket and jerked her back.

“Come back here, bitch!”

He pulled her around and a white hot anger flowed raged through him. He saw her eyes go wide. Fury twisted his mouth into a cold nasty grimace and he slammed his fist into the woman's face, knocking her back against the wall. He wanted to kill the bitch so badly that there wasn't another thought in his mind.

Spitting and growling with rage she sprang up and struck back at him. He jerked back and her fist grazed across his cheek. Hooking her fingers into claws she aimed for his eyes. Burning pain made his eyes water when her dagger sharp nails raked across his skin. He grabbed her wrist and twisted down, throwing her off balance.

But Sharon wasn't finished with him or Susan yet. Breaking free of his grasp, she stumbled back and reached down to grab the back of Susan's jacket again. John howled with fury and tried to grab her but even shot and bleeding, she was too quick for him.

He saw her face distort into a mask of pure ugliness and his heart nearly exploded when she dug her hands under Susan's arms.

“Get your god damn hands off of her!” Shaking with anger, he lunged at her. She lost her grip and he heard the sickening thud when Susan fell back against the cold floor.

He started to go to her when he saw a dark shape dart past him. He looked down and saw it was Teyla. She had a hold of Susan's arms and was trying to drag her out of harm's way. He shot her a look of gratitude and turned his attention back to Sharon.

But Sharon was gone.

“Sheppard! That way!”

John looked up. Rodney was frantically waving at him and pointing down the corridor behind him. John turned and looked back.

“Where's Lorne?” He shouted.

“Took off after her.” Ronan grabbed his arm and turned him back around and shoved him toward the corridor.

They raced off. Over the sound of their own foot steps he could hear movement up ahead. Slowly the light began to brighten and he realized that the corridor was ending. They were headed for one of the observation points near the edge of the pier. A shot rang out and he hurried his steps only to nearly trip over Lorne. He was lying on his side, his eyes closed and his mouth twisted with pain.

Lorne opened his eyes and looked up when he heard them coming. “Sorry, sir.” He grunted. “She surprised me...took my gun.”

He skidded to a stop and started to kneel down but Ronan was right behind him. “I'll take care of him! You go!”

He looked back only long enough to see Ronan rolling the Major over on his back and the bright spot of blood on the side of the younger man's shirt.

Boot heels ringing on the floor, he took off again. He could see a dark shape ahead. Sharon whirled around and he found himself looking at a pair of enraged blue eyes. He saw her raise the gun. Fire flashed from the end of the barrel and he flung himself to the side. Sparks shot up when the bullet hit the wall next to him and he barely felt it when it grazed his shoulder.

A red haze fell over his mind and he threw himself at her, catching her around the waist and throwing her to the floor. She lost her grip on the gun and it slipped from her hand. He kicked out and it slid away from them and fell into the water with a loud splash.

Laughing crazily, she hit at him. She kicked and bit, scratching at him like some wild cat. She almost slithered out of his grasp but he slapped her hard across the face and knocked her back against the wall.

“None of this would have happened if you hadn't played me, Sheppard.” She looked up at him. She wiped her hand across her bloody mouth and sneered at him. Her blue eyes blazed with madness. “This is all your fault!” She slowly staggered to her feet. “I hope the fucking bitch dies!”

She threw herself at him and knocked him back. He fell and he twisted just enough to keep his head from banging against the narrow edge of the platform. Sharon screamed and pounced on him. She straddled his chest, wrapping her hands around his throat. His head fell back and he cried out when the salt water splashed up over the place where she'd scratched him.

His face burned with fire but it was nothing compared to the fury racing through him. He grabbed her wrists and bucked up underneath her. She fell back and he shoved her away from him as hard as he could. He staggered to his feet and moved away from the edge. She came at him again and he caught her arm. He whirled her around and shoved her against the wall.

He looked into her eyes and suddenly the world fell away from him until all he could see was what she had done to Susan. This woman, this bitch had tried to take away the one thing that was the brightest spot in his crappy life and he was determined that he was going to make her pay. He pulled back his free arm, curled his hand into a fist and punched her, smiling when he heard bone crunch under his hand.

She screamed and brought her knee up between his legs. He stepped back and her leg brushed against his. He felt her wrap her around him, her foot hooking under the back of his knee. She jerked, trying to bring him down but he pulled to the side. They went over and he lost his grip on her throat.

She tried to straddle him again, beating at his chest with her fists and then trying to claw his face again with her nails. He grunted and pushed her off of him. She fought him and he had to struggle to keep her nails from digging into his eyes.

He rolled, trying to throw her off of him but she wasn't about to let go. He saw her scramble and suddenly realized she was digging at his waist. He felt her fingers grasp at his holster and realized almost too late that she had pulled his gun free.

He grabbed at her wrists. His grip was like iron but she was strong. She pushed him back and they fell on the floor, both of them struggling for the gun. He wrenched it out of her hands and she kicked at him He raised his arm and swung around, his elbow catching her on the cheek. She let out a grunt and fell back off of him. He scrambled back and raised the gun.

Wailing like a banshee, she launched herself at him and he pulled the trigger.

Time suddenly seemed to stop. She seemed to halt in mid-air. She looked at him, her eyes going wide with shock and surprise. A red hole appeared in the middle of her forehead and then she slumped and fell across his leg's. He pushed her off him and lurched to his feet. His hands tightened around the gun and he kept it trained on her, afraid that she might come after him again. But she only twitched once and then lay still.

Blood poured from the ragged hole where the back of her head had been. It pooled under her nose and mouth and stained her blond hair a bright red. John staggered back, nearly gagging at the smell when her body died and finally let go.

Relief washed over him when his brain finally made him realize that the bitch was really and truly dead. He dropped the gun and sagged to his knees.

“Sheppard!”

He barely looked up when Ronan grabbed his arm and swung it over his shoulders. Wrapping his arm around John's waist, he half carried, half dragged him back to where Teyla and the others were waiting.

Carefully, Ronan dropped him on the floor beside Susan and stood back. John turned his head slightly and saw Lorne propped against the wall across from them. Ronan must have carried him here before he'd come back for him. Teyla was on her knees beside him, her hand pressed lightly against Lorne's chest.

“Sharon?” Teyla asked softly, turning to look up at him.

“Sheppard took care of her.” Ronan shook his head.

“Susan?” John turned away from them and put his hand on her shoulder. Gently he rolled her toward him so that he could see her and felt his blood turn to ice.

Gathering her into his arms, he held her against his chest. She was so still, so quiet. Hot tears filled his eyes and slid unheeded down his face. Oh, God, please! His mind screamed. Don't do this to me! Please, God! Not now...not when she's in my arms again.

“Son...”

He felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Carson. “No.” John shook his head and tightened his hold on her. He slid back against the wall, cradling her in his arms, holding her in the crook of his arm so that her head rested against his shoulder. “No, Carson. Don't take her...please, not yet.”

“She's hurt, son.” Carson told him softly. “You have to let me help her.”

“John,” Teyla knelt down beside him. Gently, she laid her hand on Susan's shoulder. “Please, you must listen to Carson.”

“No!” He grabbed Teyla's hand and pushed her off. He didn't want anyone to touch her. He had her now and he wasn't about to let anyone else touch her ever again. He was going to take care of her.

“John, please...” Teyla was pleading with him now.

“You're not going to take her-” He stopped and his eyes went to her face when she moved in his arms.

Susan murmured softly, her head rolled against his chest and when he allowed himself to breathe again, he could feel the slow but steady beat of her heart against his arm. He brushed his fingers over her face. Pressing his forehead against hers, he felt his heart practically leap with joy when he felt the brush of her sweet breath against his mouth.

“Son...” Carson exchanged a worried glance with Teyla. He looked at John and smiled softly. “I'm not going to hurt her. I want to help her. We have to get her back to the infirmary and to do that you have to let her go.”

“No.” John held her tighter. He looked up at Carson. “I-” Suddenly his throat felt too tight. He swallowed hard and tightened his hold on her. He didn't want to ever let her out of his arms again.

“Son...John...” Carson was trying to be as gentle as he could but he knew that time was running short. “Please, I promise you, I won't let her be hurt. But you have to let her go. Let us put her on the gurney.”

“No.” He shook his head, looked up at Carson and his eyes were full of tears. “I'll carry her.”

Three days.

For three days he'd been sitting beside her bed just watching her breathe and praying that she would open her eyes and look at him. And for three days he'd been disappointed. Carson had told him not to worry, that she was fine but it didn't help to ease the ache in his heart even a tiny bit.

He rubbed a tired hand over his face and winced a little at the pain in his cheek. The places where Sharon had scratched him were healing okay but sometimes he forgot that they were even there. At least until he touched them and then the memory of everything that had happened flashed back into his mind.

“No.” He whispered to himself. “I won't do it.”

“I'm sorry, Colonel. Did you say something?”

John looked up to see one of the nurse's looking down at him, a sympathetic smile on her pretty face. He sighed softly. Ever since he had carried Susan into the infirmary, all of them had gone out of their way to be especially patient and nice to him. Even Carson. Frankly, he was beginning to hate it.

He didn't want their damn pity. He wanted Susan to wake up. He wanted to get her out of here and away from the tubes and monitors and smells so badly that he could almost taste it.

“No.” He shook his head and leaned his elbows on the side of the bed.

“Would you like something to eat? Maybe something to drink”

She was still smiling and for an insane moment he wanted to smack her. He started to tell her to get the hell away from him but then his stomach grumbled loudly and he bit back the retort.

“I guess that answers my question.” She laughed and the sound grated against his ears. “I'll be right back.”

Gently, she patted his shoulder and it was an effort not to jerk away from her. He watched her until she was gone then he reached out and slipped his hand over Susan's. She was so cold and he rubbed her knuckles, hoping that his touch might work some miracle. But she stayed still. He cupped her hand in his. It felt so small and thin and he couldn't resist raising it to his lips and turning it so that he could gently kiss her palm.

Tears slid down his cheeks when he felt her pulse. Her heart was beating so strong. Why wouldn't she wake up? Please, God...he prayed. That's all I want. Just let her wake up and come back to me.

“I'm sorry, Colonel.”

Startled, he looked up and saw Evan Lorne in the bed next to hers. He was laying on his side, his dark eyes watching them intently. For the same time that Susan had been here, Lorne had been pretty out of it himself. John hadn't really paid much attention to him but now he felt a little twinge of jealously. How was it fair that Lorne was awake while Susan hadn't even moved so much as a muscle?

“It's not your fault, Major.” John's mouth felt dry and he licked his chapped lips. He bit back his ire and it tasted sour in his mouth. He didn't really want to talk to Lorne right now. But to escape the man's dark stare he'd have to leave and he wasn't about to do that.

“Then why do I feel like it is?” Lorne grimaced slightly. “You were right, Colonel. If I had kept a better watch on Jake...”

“It still would have happened.” John told him. He rubbed his hand over Susan's arm. “They wanted her. They took her. And with your help...we got her back.”

“But still-” Lorne sighed and John could hear the pain in his voice.

“That's enough, Major.” John's voice was rough. He sighed and shook his head. “Look, Lorne. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

“You've got every right-”

“No. I don't. Lorne-” He bit his lip and then raised his eyes and looked at the man. “Both of us made mistakes. Things we did...things we said...things we...things we regret.” He paused for a second. He really didn't want to hold on to this anger that was eating him up. He wanted to push it out of his mind and not ever think about it again. He tilted his head slightly and gave Lorne a steady look. “Do you understand me, Major?”

John wasn't good with apologies but he knew that he had to make this one, even if he had to do it in his own back handed way. Even after the way he had treated him, Lorne had come back to help them. He'd even taken a bullet to the side for his effort. John owed him for that. Owed him for those few precious seconds that weakened Sharon and gave him the ability to wipe her out of their lives once and for all.

Lorne was silent for a minute and then he smiled slightly. “Understood, Colonel.”

Thankfully, the painful silence that crept up between them was broken when the nurse with the smiley face came back carrying a tray. She stepped around him and set it down on the table beside him. John tried his best to ignore her and he sighed with relief when she finally moved away.

His stomach rumbled at the smell of the food and his nose itched at the rich smell of the coffee in the cup next to him. At first he started to leave it on the tray but his belly rumbled again.

“It won't do you any good if you just leave it sitting there.”

He felt a touch on his shoulder and looked up to see Teyla standing beside him. He allowed himself a slight smile as he reached for the cup.

She grinned when he pressed it to his lips and took a small sip. It was hot and tasted like heaven. He'd hadn't realized that he was so hungry until the warmth hit his belly. He started to take a bigger drink but she reached out a hand to touch his arm.

“Go slowly.” She cautioned him. “You have not eaten in days.”

He nodded, realizing that she was right. It wasn't going to do him any good to guzzle it down and then get sick because of it. He nodded slightly and took another sip. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, feeling the warmth spread through him. He was so tired.

“You have not slept in days as well, John. Eat then go back to your quarters and rest. I will watch her.”

“Thanks, but no.” John set the cup on the table and leaned toward the bed again.

She laid her hand on his shoulder. “I know that you want to be here in case she should wake up, but will it do any good for her if you make yourself ill as well?”

John knew she was right. He was so tired that he could hardly hold his head up but he couldn't go back to their quarters. He couldn't sleep in their bed knowing that she wasn't there. He couldn't lay his head on the pillow and smell her scent when he knew that he couldn't feel her warmth there next to him.

“Teyla, I can't-”

“Then lay here then. You will still be close to her.” She indicated the empty bed behind him. “I'm sure that Carson will not mind.”

He thought about it for a minute and then tiredly shook his head. “You promise?”

“I promise.” She smiled and pulled the tray toward him. “But first you must eat something.”

He started to protest but she put up a hand to stop him. “Do you think you are going to be any good to her if you do not keep your strength up?”

He allowed himself a small smile. “Okay, Mom.”

She uncovered the tray for him and watched him as he ate what he could, then she slid it back and helped him to stand. She watched him as he lifted himself up on the bed, covering him with a blanket when he curled up on his side like a child. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow and snoring lightly before she could tuck the blanket around him.

Teyla smiled, gently patted his shoulder and then turned to the figure in the bed beside her. Gently, she laid her hand on Susan's arm and studied the sleeping woman's face.

“Do you think she'll ever wake up?”

She looked up to see Lorne watching her intently. “She will.”

“I hope so.” Lorne tiredly rubbed a hand across his face. He nodded toward the bed where Sheppard slept. “I'm glad you finally talked him into getting some sleep.”

“Me...too.”

Teyla jumped at the sound of the raspy sounding voice. She looked down to see Susan looking up at her, a tired smile on her face. She turned toward Sheppard and started to wake him but stopped when she felt cold fingers wrap around her wrist.

“Don't...” Susan shook her head slightly. “Let him sleep.”

“But I promised him I-”

“I know.” Susan shook her head again.

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