The trip to another galaxy packed much more of a punch than your regular trip through the Gate. They were expelled on the other side, the trip leaving them shaken.

On the bottom of the ramp, a group a people was waiting for them. John recognized General O'Neill, but the others were unfamiliar.

"General O'Neill." John attempted a salute, but got his arm only half way off the mattress. "Greetings from Atlantis."

Seconds later, John was surrounded by medical personnel shouting med-speak over his body. Someone felt for his pulse and he was being wheeled down the ramp. John twisted his head, looking for his team back in front of the Gate. He needed to make sure that they were safe.

oOo

John was utterly exhausted. All he wanted to do was see his team and sleep. So far, his return to Earth had been a bust.

Dr. Goodheart and her minions had rushed him from the Gateroom to the infirmary, ignoring everything he said. When one of the nurses had started to cut away his clothes, John had been close to screaming with frustration, but when he had realised that he had no way of undressing himself.

Dr. Goodheart was thorough. She seemed to have hooked him up to every thing she had in her whole arsenal. At least a heart monitor and another gadget that could account for all the leads on his temples.

When they had finally been done with him, he'd been transferred to a curtained off bed somewhere in a ward with several beds. John hadn't seen any of his team since he'd been taken from the Gate room and he couldn't see anything except the monitors and the white curtains behind them. Even if there were no prospects for him in the Pegasus Galaxy, right now John wanted nothing more than to be back on Atlantis.

"Major." The general's voice penetrated his thoughts. O'Neill stood at his bedside. "Welcome to Earth." O'Neill sat down on a chair John hadn't noticed before.

"Thank you, Sir. What about the rest of my team?" John asked.

"Lieutenant Ford and Dr. McKay are in the hands with Dr. Goodheart and her team. I believe that you met her." Jack said.

"I believe I did, Sir." John tried to smile.

"Dr. Zelenka and Teyla Emmagon have been given guest quarters here on the base. I have to say that Miss Emmagon seem to be one of the more unusual Alien women I have met. Of course, I can't speak to the Pegasus Galaxy." Jack said lightly.

"Teyla is one of the finest fighters I have met in either galaxy." John replied.

When Jack shot him a curious look, he added. "She is never been alone since the mission. She's been with one of us all the time."

"I'm not going to say that it's going to be all right, because it won't be and I doubt you'd believe me anyways." Jack said and leaned back on his chair.

"But John, life is going on. You probably noticed that already." Jack quipped.

"I can't say that I have, Sir." John whispered. He knew what Jack was trying to say. He didn't have any more answers than Elizabeth.

"There is a piece of technology in the basement of Area 51. We recovered it years ago. It's a Goa'uld healing device." Jack said.

"I know. It was McKay's idea." John said in confusion. "Aren't the Goa'uld the bad guys?"

"Yes, but they have developed the technology to heal." Jack explained.

"So, what else is there?" John asked, figuring there O'Neill was holding something back.

"The healing device doesn't cure everything. It has limits. There is also only one person on this base who can operate the healing device." Jack said.

"I don't understand." John was trying to keep up, but it was starting to blur.

"Don't worry, Major. We'll talk in the morning."

oOo

Teyla was sitting on the large bed, knees drawn up, arms wrapped around them. She had tried to meditate, but she couldn't focus. Her mind was restless and she could sense that there was something different here. The moment she had stepped through the Gate, the sensation had taken hold of her. It felt similar to the presence of the Wraith, but not quite. She had never felt this in her life.

Earth was one of the more confusing planets she had been to so far. The lack of her sign only added to it. They had stepped through the Gate and suddenly, had been surrounded by numerous people. From their questions, Teyla had been able to tell that they had been doctors. She had been taken to a medical facility and a woman had asked her a series of questions and had taken a blood sample. Teyla had asked to see her team, but the request had been ignored. From the infirmary, a man had led her to this room.

Teyla was afraid. She trusted Dr. Weir. She had promised that her people would take care of her and she had believed her. She wanted to know where her team had been taken and that they were all right. This place frightened her. She thought back of her father. You must face your fears. She had been frightened of the animals as he young girl but her father had forced her to accompany him on the hunt. On the night before, he had told her that fear was a valuable guide but that she had to defeat it survive.

Teyla lay down and slipped under the covers. She would need her strength for the day ahead.

oOo

John woke up to a pleasant surprise. Most of the monitoring leads were gone. He was still stuck with the IV, but he was grateful for small favours. The reality of being back on Earth was just staring to sink in. Back home. Real food again. He wondered whether they had bacon and eggs. He had missed that. He was still thinking about food when the curtain was pulled back by a blonde nurse that seemed familiar from the previous day.

"Good morning, Major Sheppard! How are you doing today?" She sounded awfully cheerful.

"I'm doing all right." John replied.

"The general wants to talk to you later. Breakfast will be along shortly." The nurse announced and reached for his wrist. After she had checked his pulse and blood pressure, she hurried off.

John looked around. The SGC infirmary was larger than the one on Atlantis. He could see a few more occupied beds at the far end, but he couldn't see who it was. It was frustrating. On Atlantis, he'd been in charged and had been treated as such, here, he was just another soldier.

Breakfast was indeed scrambled eggs and bacon. By the time the blonde nurse got around to him, the eggs were almost cold, but it was still the best thing John had eaten in months. Having to bed fed by nurse Blondie was embarrassing and slow, but at least none of his team was watching. John just hoped that device that Jack had mentioned was going to pan out, he wasn't sure he was ever going to get used to needing help with virtually everything.

Jack arrived soon after breakfast. He pulled up a chair next to John's bed.

"Major, how are you holding up?"

"Just fine." John lied.

"Colonel Carter is due to return at 1000 today. I have gone ahead and requested to device to be shipped from Area 51." Jack said and John couldn't read him. He had no idea why the general was going doing this. There were always injured soldiers at the SGC who didn't benefit from this technology. Why them?

"Thank you, Sir." Then something occurred to John. „Will the device be able to help Dr. Zelenka?"

Jack shook his head. "Dr. Goodheart doesn't believe so. But I have contacted someone who might."

John wondered who this might be, but Jack had already left.

oOo

The team from Atlantis was huddled around John Sheppard's bed. Few words were spoken; they took comfort in the presence of each other. John had explained the situation briefly, they knew what to expect. Radek had tried to hide his disappointment, but it still showed on his face. He had come to Earth, knowing that there was probably nothing that could be done for him, but now that an alien technology had given him new hope, if only for a moment, it hurt even more. He missed Atlantis. Right now, his friends were there, leaving him with a bit of Atlantis, but eventually they'd be gone. He'd tuned out the others, staring into space.

The doctor who had examined him the previous day and a blonde woman were coming towards.

"We're set up and ready." The blonde woman said.

"I'll be monitoring you during the process." Dr. Goodheart explained. "We haven't gathered that much precedent with the healing device yet, so I'd rather make sure that you are all right."

"Miss Emmagon. I'd like you to go first please. It takes concentration and energy to use the device. Your injury is severe, so I'd like to be rested." The blonde woman said.

Dr. Goodheart took Teyla by the upper arm and guided her to an exam bed.

"Please sit on the bed." Dr. Goodheart said.

"Miss Emmagon, I'm Samantha Carter." Another voice at the side of her said. "I will be using the healing device on. It's going to feel warm and you might feel tired while the device works."

"Is the healing gift common among your people?" Teyla asked. She realized that there was a lot that she didn't' know about her friends' people.

There was a pause. "No, we don't have this gift. I can use this device because of...an accident."

"All right. Now lie down." Dr. Goodheart instructed.

Teyla lowered herself and tried to relax.

"Ready?" Samantha asked.

At first nothing happened. Then a flood of warmth washed over her. Like a warm bath, it ensconced her. She started to drift and was surprised when the warmth suddenly shut off and a voice said.

"It's over." It was Samantha.

"I have dimmed the lights." This was Dr. Goodheart. "Try opening your eyes."

Teyla opened her eyes. A cascade of colours and lights assaulted her. She slapped her hand over her eyes.

"Take these." An object was put into a hand. It was pair of sunglasses. "Your eyes might be light sensitive for a few hours."

oOo

Seeing Teyla with the 'Top Gun' sunglasses had had John hard pressed not to laugh. Aiden had been next. When the young man had returned in a wheelchair, John had already feared that the healing device had not worked, but the huge grin on Ford's face told him differently. It turned out that Dr. Goodheart didn't want to take any chances before she'd had a chance to examine the Lieutenant. Dr. Goodheart made Carson seem reckless.

Rodney was next. He was apprehensive when Dr. Goodheart came to pick him up. Sam had already seen him, but still he wasn't eager to face her, looking to what he did right now. His face did look better than it had three days ago, but it still wasn't a pretty sight. Adding his bad track record with the SHC, it was not the encounter with Sam that he had envisioned.

"McKay. I never thought I'd say this, but it's good to see you back on Earth again." Sam said and blessed him with a smile.

"Likewise, it's good to see you again. And to be back on Earth again, of course." Rodney rambled.

"Sit down on the bed." Dr. Goodheart ordered. "Lie down and try to relax."

Rodney obliged. Dr. Goodheart checked his pulse and blood pressure.

"I heard you got into the field. I didn't think you had it in you." Sam commented.

"Well, you underestimated me." Rodney grinned.

"Your blood pressure is on the high side." Dr. Goodheart frowned.

"Let's get started." Rodney said impatiently. He felt uncomfortable lying flat on his back with two women looking down on him.

"If you are ready?" Sam smiled and held the device above him. She closed her eyes and focused on the part of herself that knew how to access the technology.

Rodney felt his face heat up, is if the sun was shining on him. At the same time a feeling of calm started to settle over him. His body became heavy. He must have drifted off, because when he opened his eyes, Sam was gone and Dr. Goodheart was standing near his bed, talking to one of her nurses.

He raised a hand to feel his face. Under his fingers, he felt smooth skin. There was still a bandage over his left eye, but the dull pain was gone. He quickly peeled at the tape over holding the gauge covering his eye. The adhesive pulled at his eyebrow. Covering his right eye, he saw with his left eye. The image was clear. Rodney sighed with relief.

He sat up and looked around. He could see Sam healing John with Dr. Goodheart standing by a few meters away. Rodney slid off the bed and went over to watch. Sam had her eyes closed, face taught with tension. She looked almost like she was in some sort of trance. A beam of golden light fell from the healing device onto Sheppard's chest. Rodney was fascinated. He had never seen the healing device in action. All too soon, the beam faded and Sam opened her eyes and lowered the device. Her movements were slow and she looked fatigued.

Rodney watched John anxiously. waiting for the man to open his eyes. It seemed to take forever, but eventually John blinked and his eyes slid open.

"John, can you move?" Rodney asked full of hope.

John raised his arm tentatively, first one, then the other. He made to sit up, but Dr. Goodheart pushed him back down.

"Not just yet, Major Sheppard. Not until we run further tests." Dr. Goodheart admonished.

John sighed. Sam chuckled.

oOo

"I don't believe I have seen this kind of food before." Teyla commented at the sight of ice cream. "Why would you eat something frozen?"

"Just try it! We couldn't bring this to Atlantis because it would have melted, but now that we are here, you have to try it." John encouraged.

They had finally been released from the infirmary after a battery of tests, Aiden and John were allowed on their feet again, and Rodney and Teyla were restored to full vision. After being free from Dr. Goodheart's clutches they'd headed for the cafeteria. The three men were eager for familiar foods and Teyla tagged along.

They were in a mood to celebrate. Atlantis was temporarily forgotten, as they had fried chicken and ice cream for dessert.

Teyla was eyeing the Earth dish with apprehension. She knew ice and snow from visits to alien worlds. There were no harsh winters on Athos. She took a spoon full of this ice cream and tasted it. It was colder than she had thought, but it melted rapidly in her mouth.

"So, what do you think?" Aiden asked.

"It is unusual." Teyla commented. "Is there much snow on Earth?"

"There is enough. Not right now, but in winter, it snows." John explained. "We can take you to see it, if you want."

"I don't like the snow. I have seen it on a few worlds." Teyla shook her head. "Will you be returning to your families now?"

Everyone had been avoiding the topic so far. They'd go apart. John would be assigned to a remote outpost, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Aiden would continue his promising career at the SGC, Rodney would do research at Area 51, Radek would retire from the Stargate program and Teyla would remain with the SGC. All that would remain of Atlantis would be the memories.

"There is probably going to be a debriefing tomorrow." John said, not answering her question.

"I'm going to visit my grand-parents." Aiden said. "I grew up with them and they are my only family."

"Well, I'll go see if my neighbour hasn't killed my cat yet." Rodney joked. "Not much else to do."

"What about you, Major Sheppard and Dr. Zelenka?" Teyla asked when the two men didn't reply.

John didn't look up. "I might be going down to California. Doing some surfing. We never got to surf on the Mainland."

Teyla knew better than to ask about his family, she had learned that on Earth, things were complicated. The bond between parent and child was special. You were fortunate to have parents. Many of her people were orphaned as children. Teyla had no memory of her mother; she had been culled before she had been one year old. She had grown up with Halling. They had virtually been siblings. Their fathers had been friends and Halling's parents had died in the same killing that had killed her mother. She regretted having spent so little time with him over the last months.

"Your ice cream is all molten. You are supposed to eat it while it is still frozen." Aiden pointed out, pulling Teyla back into reality.

"Yes, I have been preoccupied. We have left so much behind. It is difficult to grasp." Teyla said hesitantly.

"I think we all have a lot to think about." Radek agreed.

"To Atlantis." John raised his glass and made a toast.

"To Atlantis." The others intoned.

END

A/N: Not really a happy ending, but there was never going to be one. I owe thanks to TJ and Shelly, who both helped out with parts and Em for the support.