A/N: Apologies for the delay, had to make sure the story made sense. Chapter 2 should be up soon.
Thanks for reading.
Chapter One:
Atlantis had arrived safely upon the world of Chione, which was to be its new home within the Pegasus Galaxy. A rather dismal world almost exclusively covered in ice, Atlantis had managed to find a small temperate zone around the equator to set down and establish itself. Work was due to begin to restore Atlantis to full working order but before that could happen, there was a rather sombre duty everyone was to perform; attendance at a memorial service for both Kanaan and Lieutenant Jenkins.
Sheppard had attended more of these services that he would have liked and this one would be as tough as any that had gone before it. Not only had these losses impacted greatly upon him but they had done so even more upon his friends. Ronon had become close friends with Jenkins ever since he had joined the team back on Earth and the big Satedan had been consumed by anger since they discovered his body. And Teyla had lost the father of her child, cutting a forlorn figure as she wandered aimlessly around the city, clutching tightly to Torren wherever she went.
The caskets had been laid out side by side in the gate room, symbolic of the relationship that had developed between the people of Earth and the Pegasus Galaxy. Before the service had even begun, some people had been overcome the raw emotions of the moment. Sheppard was for once glad that he didn't do the emotional stuff well, it gifted him the ability to retain his composure when inside he was filled with anger and grief in equal measure. With the sounding of a single bugle, the entire room was brought to silence and Woolsey stood up to address the gathered personnel.
"We are gathered here today to remember those brave souls who gave their lives in service to this mission and to us all" he began, his taciturn appearance conflicted by the emotion in his voice.
"Both Lieutenant Jenkins and Kanaan displayed the best traits of humanity; selflessness, honesty, compassion and empathy. And though they may have been born galaxies apart, both were sons of Atlantis and will live forever as heroes in this galaxy and our own. Let us celebrate who they were and not dwell upon the fact they were taken long before they were due."
A murmur of approval spread throughout the assorted personnel, a universal agreement to remember them as they were, not how they died. Sheppard looked around the sea of faces, proud of the collective empathy for their fallen comrades. He had enjoyed many memorable moments upon Atlantis and this ranked amongst both the very best and very worst of them.
He glanced at Ronon to see the big Satedan retaining his composure but gripping tightly to the hand of Amelia for support. Rodney stood alongside Doctors Beckett and Keller, both of whom seemed to be fighting to keep their emotions in check, such was the depth of sorrow everyone was feeling. And then there was Teyla, who stood alongside Sheppard, her eyes transfixed upon the coffin that held her partner. Sheppard had tried to be there for her but she preferred solitude and he respected her wishes to be alone in her mourning.
"Colonel Sheppard will now say a few words" said Woolsey, dragging Sheppard out of his own mind and back to the present.
Sheppard stepped forward, offering a faint smile to his friends and team-mates before turning to address the mourners.
"Lieutenant Jenkins was one of the finest men I have had the privilege to serve with, however briefly. He was a promising officer with a bright future ahead of him. But more than this, he was my friend. And he was taken from this world by the cruel machinations of someone he thought he could trust. And the pain of his loss will never leave me. "said Sheppard as he paused to regain control of his emotions.
"But I will not remember him for that. I will remember him as a man who stood up for his friends; whether it was against an alien with a laser or a biker with a pool cue. I will remember him as a man of honour and integrity, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country, his world and his people. And he was not alone in such heroism. Kanaan was not from our world and yet his actions would be rightly honoured on Earth as they should be here. Without his selfless actions, I would not be here to deliver this address, I would not be here to commemorate a true hero of humanity. He was a man who every one of us would gladly call friend."
Sheppard stepped back into line amongst his friends as the casket of Lieutenant Jenkins was taken through the Stargate and back home to Earth for burial, each and everyone person present offering a final salute to a fallen hero. As the dulcet tones of "Amazing Grace" filled the air, the mourners began to slow file out of the gate room and back to the task of restoring Atlantis to full functionality. Sheppard watched as Teyla slipped away to speak with Woolsey, who guided her into his office; obviously to keep their conversation private.
- - SGA - -
Teyla had chosen this time to avoid adding any further burden to her friends, knowing this was already a difficult period for all of them. Atlantis was quiet at this time of night with most of the crew asleep or on duty, leaving the corridors practically empty. She walked softly as not to wake Torren, who was fast asleep in her arms, but swiftly to ensure she did not keep anyone waiting. She entered the gate room, hoping to find Major Lorne ready to go. She did not even want to trouble him but she needed someone to pilot the jumper through the gate. But it was not Major Lorne who waited for her there.
"John!" she exclaimed.
"Hey there. Ready to go?" he asked nonplussed.
"What are you doing here?" she replied.
"You didn't think we'd let you do this alone did you?" came another voice from behind her.
It was Ronon, carrying various bags and loading them onto the jumper. Teyla was speechless, how could they have possibly known? She had sworn Woolsey to secrecy and had no reason to doubt he was a man of his word. And she had certainly given them no signals of her intentions.
"We're coming too!" cried another two voices in unison as McKay and Beckett stepped into the gate room, suited and booted.
Teyla could not express what this had meant to her. That her friends were ready and waiting to help her complete this emotional and sombre task was something she should have expected but was still surprised to witness. She could not begin to thank them enough and could only offer as genuine a smile as possible to each of them. The reciprocated gestures told her that her smiles were enough.
With all the necessary gear and supplies for an away mission stored upon the jumper, now came the task of carrying Kanaan's casket onto the vessel. His death in the service of Atlantis deserved more ceremony but Teyla's insistence that the true ceremony lay ahead of them alleviated some of the concerns about the lack of proper observance. With as much respect as they could muster, the four men lifted the coffin onto the ship as Teyla watched on, occasionally looking down to check on her sleeping son.
As the rest of the team settled in on board, Sheppard stepped out to find Teyla standing there, unwilling or unable to climb onto the jumper. Sheppard understood. Stepping onto the jumper would make Kanaan's death that much more real to Teyla, adding a degree of finality that must be difficult to take. He offered his hand to her, a gesture of support he knew she needed. Whilst holding Torren tightly to her chest with one arm, she took Sheppard's hand with the other, intertwining her fingers in his.
"I am ready now John" she said as they took the tentative steps up the ramp and into the ship.
Now aboard, she loosened her grip on Sheppard's hand and took her seat next to Kanaan's casket. She peered gratefully into the cockpit at her friends, still contemplating how much their companionship meant to her in these trying times. She then turned back to the casket and closed her eyes, finally able to attain a degree of relaxation after days of restlessness.
Sheppard slipped into the pilot's seat, the various displays lighting up at his merest touch. With a final all clear from Ops and the delicate manipulation of the ship's controls, the jumper cloaked and then disappeared into the watery event horizon of the Stargate, destined for the familiar surroundings of New Athos.