When John saw movement in the corridor ahead, he tugged on Carson's arm to stop him before lifting his hand to Ronon to indicate that he should stop as well. All three of them stared ahead as Fred stepped out in front of them, her eyes focused on him.
"Get back," he told Carson, who nodded and moved back to stand next to Ronon. He watched as Fred walked toward him, his eyes locked with hers. His connection to his wife - his Fred - was a bit weaker than it normally was, but he could still feel her there, even as this Fred pressed her palm to his cheek. He swallowed the laugh that wanted to escape when she talked about why he was there. When she pressed against him, however, he raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "Oh, you have no idea what she gives me. But you are why I'm here."
Reaching back, he felt Ronon slip his gun into his hand, and with no hesitation, he lifted it up and stunned Fred. As she slumped in his arms, Ronon jumped forward to help him, taking the gun back so John could adjust her in his arms and pick her up.
"Come on, let's get back to the lab," he said.
Hurrying through the corridors back to the lab, John reached up and touched his headset to open the frequency they had set for the mission. "Sam, we're on our way," he told her. When they arrived, she opened the door for them, and John took Fred over to the table where they had set the machine, laying her down.
"Let's do this," he said to Rodney, who nodded and started the process.