Chapter 16

I am walking around the corridors of Atlantis. It's dark. The air is chill and the comfortable smell of salt is missing.

Suddenly I'm standing in front of a locked door. I know the corridors like my own body and know there shouldn't be a door.

I wave my hand over the controls and the door hisses open slowly. A reddish light comes from the room. I hesitantly take a few steps into the room. What I see lets me scream.

My throat starts hurting but I can't stop. Neither can I tear my eyes away from the sight in front of me. The air filters of the room are filled with blood and human organs.

The room itself is full of blood. The floor, the walls and even the ceiling. Some blood drips from the ceiling on my forehead.

-----------------------------------------

From the noice woken up I quickly dress myself and head for the room of my new neighbour. Out of fear something had happened to her I open it up.

She's sitting upright in bed, skin covered with sweat and the eyes, wide open in fear, staring nowhere.

Her scream hurts in my ears, but the fear for her makes me death for the sound. I run to her and shake her shoulders in try to make her look at me, but she only starts shaking.

"Elizabeth!"

I turn her to me to look into her eyes. What I see in them is frightening. Her green eyes are full of fear.

She'd stopped screaming, but she's still shaking and when I continue looking into her eyes I see thats she's not back yet. I have the feel she's dreaming.

"Elizabeth, please wake up! All is fine you are in your quarters on Atlantis. You are save!",  I assure her.

And as if she'd heard my words she blinks and shakes her head. When she realises that everything is fine she throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly.

"What happened", I ask quietly, fearing I'd ask something wrong.

Elizabeth shakes her head slowly and buries it in my shoulder.

"It's ok...", I say and stroke her back slowly, "You dont have to tell me..."

I feel her tears soaking my shirt.

The moment she turnes away from me to hide her tears someone knocks at the door.

"Come in", I say out of habit.

The door opens and Harry peaks in.

"I...", he stutters, "I heard someone screaming and just wanted to...I was worried...Did something...? I mean...Is everyone ok or..."

"No one is hurt", I say not only to calm him, but also to calm the woman who'd layed in my arms just a few seconds ago.

Harry nods and walks backwards with a last glance to Elizabeth, who is trying to dash away the last tears.

After the door closed there are a ew moments of silence.

"J...just a nightmare", she says, but it doesn't convince me.

"No nightmare gives someone a panic attack!", I say. Maybe a bit too harsh, but that is because I'm still worried.

She sighs and turns her head away.

"Thats not true", she said to my surprise,"My mother once had an asthma attack when she had a nightm-"

"Hey! What's that going to be?", I ask knowing she wants to distract me from the fact she's had a panic attack, "Science class?"

"Ok fine...maybe it was more then a nightmare...", Elizabeth sighs," Let's call it a...memory?"

Now I'm really worried. What memory could possibly give you a panic attack?

"What happened?", I ask.

"Well...", she says, vusibly thingking if she should tell me,"To be honest, I did have nightmares since I joined the Atlantis expedition, but they were never as bad as this. Maybe because I took pills that knocked me out."

She laughes a bit.

"But when the replicators caught me there were no pills. And they didn't treat me well by themselves. Torture. Mentally and physically. They made me see my feiends die. Or made me feel like home just so I have to realise that nothing like this ever happened."

She sighs again.

"To be honest... The thought that this could be yet another hallucination did cross my mind more then once."

"Could this be because yesterday you did talk to the head doctor? He didn't tell me what you talked to him about, but you seemed a bit... you know..."

"What do you mean?"

"I did hear once that you try to get rid of situations that stress or confuse you when you are dreaming."

She lays her head to one side.

"Probably..."

"Anyways...I think you should get some sleep. I'll be next room if there's anything you need."

Elizabeth nods.

"And I'll be here too", Atlantis says all of a sudden,"If something is up Ill call him over!"

Now she has to laugh.

"It's ok. I'll get some sleep."

-----------------------------------------

I've had many nightmares over the night, but I didn't have any other panic attacks.

I want to hold that promise I gave to Atlantis so I'm on my way to Ella' s office. Atlantis followes, oblivious to everyone who's not supposed to see him.

"Hello", I say and look into my old office.

"Oh! It's you!", Ella said and smiles at me,"Come in."

Atlantis takes a seat on the couch and I pull myself a chair to the table.

"What's the matter?", she asks smiling.

"Well...Atlantis and I try finding out what happened to a few of my friends. It's a long story actually. They disappeared on a mission and Atlantis said they were searching his brother Troja."

"That sounds a bit confusing."

"A negotiator that is not good with words", Atlantis laughs,"That is new!"

I glare at him and he stops laughing and looks away ashamed.

"So what do you plan to do?", Ella asks and I have the feeling she truly wants to know that.

"Well...How about we build a team that explores?"

Atlantis chuckles.

"How about we breathe?"

"How about I shut down your energy?!", I say angry.

Now Ella laughes.

"We go to the place they picked up Troja's signal."

"But you said they disappeared. Don't you think it would be a great risk?"

"It may be, but we'll be careful", I say,"I know the person who lead the team and I also know what risks he always took."

"Maybe they got attacked or Troja didn't have much energy left when they came?"

"Or both", I say.

"Hm...Do we only have the address or also the coordinates?"

"We don't have the coordinates, but I can find them out with the gate address. I just need a minute."

"I'll think about it and talk to the council. We could send a ship with a few jumpers to look for Troja."

"Sounds great."

"But remember I said we could. I have no idea if the council will be willing to take the risk of losing men if not a whole ship", Ella warned.

"Sure!"

Atlantis and I nod.

"Good. Then go. Grab some food. And go see the doc. He has some pills for you", she says winking.

I sigh.

"Ok..."

"Thank you", Atlantis said to Ella, in hope I wouldn't hear it.

"Goodbye", I say and walk off to get some food.