Author: atlantis child

Title: The Heirs to Atlantis

Chapter Title: Chapter 3 "We Agree to Disagree"

Summary: Major Sheppard and Doctor Weir are quite confused at new arrivals that appear on Atlantis. They know too much for strangers.

Genres: Alternate Universe, Angst, Drama, Future Fic

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

Major John Sheppard sat outside the medical bay after being told quite bluntly to get out by Carson. Apparently they were in the way. But dammit, he was worried about Elizabeth. He had been staring at the door ever since he had been ordered out with Zaira. It still bothered him that she knew things… How could she possibly know so much about Atlantis? Know about the Wraith?

Zaira just studied the man. She was sure if he was angry or not…he sorta seemed that way. But why would he be? Everything was going to be okay, Elizabeth was in the scary place, but the scary place was going to make her better…

"How do you know about Atlantis?" John asked not moving his gaze. He needed to know. What if this small child was somehow involved with everything that had started. It had started after they found her. Maybe there was a connection and he just wasn't seeing it yet.

"It's my home," she told him frowning. "Everyone knows about their home. Atlantis is mine."

He didn't like that answer. "No, Atlantis isn't your home… You'd have to be an Atlantean or something…"

Zaira just stared at him with her bright green eyes.

Her eyes were like piercing, he felt like she could see into his soul or something. He could feel them on him and turned to her. "You're not, are you?"

"We all are… Aren't we?" her voice was soft and calm, her eyes still bright as she talked to him.

"That's weird for a little girl to say…" he commented aloud staring at her.

"Is it?"

John nodded, "You sure you don't know anything about what's going on? Is there someone else here in the city?"

"I dunno… How would I know?" Zaira asked looking curiously at him.

"I think you know," he pressed.

The girl tilted her head looking at him, "But I don't."

"Are the Wraith here?" he asked even though he knew if they were Teyla would have probably tried to find someone and report it by now.

"The Wraith can't come to Atlantis when it's under water," she told him.

"I'm pretty sure they could."

Zaira moved so she had her feet underneath her so she could look at Sheppard without straining her neck. "How do you know?"

"Because I do."

"I think you're lying."

"You do, do you?"

Zaira nodded quickly, "Just because I'm a kid doesn't mean I'm stupid."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Sheppard was about to go on and yell at her about being a brat and avoiding questions and saying that he knew that she knew about what was going on when she spoke first.

"The doctor's coming," Zaira told him getting up and heading for the door right as Carson walked out. She wrapped her arms around his leg hugging it tightly.

"Hi there, Lass. Don't be scared…Elizabeth is gonna be just fine. Don't fret," Carson said smiling down at the girl.

"He's mean," she whispered looking over at Sheppard.

"Is he now?" Carson asked looking from the girl to the major only to receive a nod from the girl.

John just got up ignoring them both and pushed past Carson entering the medical bay to find Elizabeth whether he liked it or not. He was sick of Zaira and her kiddy mind games; he just wanted to see that Elizabeth was okay.

Carson sighed and took Zaira's hand leading her into the medical bay, but keeping back. Sheppard was obviously not happy, and the Scottish doctor was smart enough to steer clear of the American.

Finding her rather quickly, John pulled a stool over and sat down at her bedside. She was still unconscious it seemed, but Carson had obviously repaired whatever Elizabeth had cut open. "Hey Elizabeth," he whispered gently picking up her hand and holding it between his. "We're underwater again, can you believe it?"

Picking Zaira up, Carson picked her up and set her on the edge of one of the beds. He tapped her nose, "I know something special about you," he told her with a bright smile. "You have the ancient gene. Did you know that?"

Zaira nodded, "Atlantis is my home."

"Do you know that Major Sheppard and I also have the gene? That makes the three of us special in a way…"

"I don't think he'll like me more if he knows…" Zaira said frowning. "He thinks it's my fault Atlantis is broken…"

Carson frowned, "It's not broken, Lass. And the major is just worried about Elizabeth. See, now that he's seen her he's fine. Rodney will have the city back online soon."

"He still doesn't like me anymore," she whispered dropping her head and just staring at the floor.

It was dark. Or at least it seemed dark. Elizabeth felt weak. She slowly attempted to open her eyelids. Slowly, but surely she managed. She saw John sitting there and could feel her hand in his. Squeezing his hand a bit, she smiled when she saw him open his eyes and a confused look settle on his face until he looked down at her. "Hey…" she managed to get out, her voice weak.

"Hey," he responded a smile spreading across his face, "Feel better?"

"I'm tired and have a massive headache, but other than that…"

"Well you hit your head pretty hard," he told her. "Atlantis is at the bottom of the ocean again."

"I know…I heard you," Elizabeth told him a small smile forming. "Thank you for staying with me…"

John smiled at her and rubbed her hand between his. "I haven't checked on the scientists, but I'm sure they're still working on it. Rodney'd probably just tell me to shut up and get out of his way anyways…"

"Where's Zaira? Don't tell me you left her in a room by herself," Elizabeth said getting a bit worried.

He sighed, "No. She's asleep over on the other side of the room. Carson's been keeping an eye on her." He stopped for a minute before continuing on, "I think Zaira knows what's going on here…"

"John, she's like six," Elizabeth said very disbelieving.

Carson walked over interrupting. "Good to see you awake." He looked from Elizabeth to John and then back to Elizabeth. "Did the major inform you that he's scared the little girl?"

"John—"

"Hey! It's not my fault that she knows so much. Someone has to ask the questions. She knows about Atlantis and the Wraith," John went on, "She said that we'd be safe underwater from the Wraith when the city sunk."

"She has the gene," Carson informed them. "Perhaps that is why she knows so much."

"But having the gene doesn't give her that information," Elizabeth argued. She didn't want to think of the little girl as an enemy. How could she be? She was far too small and innocent.

Carson sighed, "No, it doesn't. But she also hasn't opened up to anyone it seems. And you may have very well blown that, major." He shook his head before leaving. He'd check on Elizabeth later.

John grumbled before looking back at Elizabeth, "I swear I was just asking questions."

"But she's a child, John. You can't just question her like you would anyone else," Elizabeth argued.

"I was being good about it!" he defended. "She was arguing right back at me!"

Elizabeth sighed, "We have to find out who is doing this and how and stop them. We need control of Atlantis back."

"Agreed."

"I don't think it's her, John. I don't think she knows anything. I think she would have said more if she did."

"And that's where we disagree…"

Elizabeth sighed. This was not going to be easy, especially if Carson kept her.