It's almost silent in Atlantis except for the sound of footsteps and the dragging of bags towards the gate.
McKay turns around and sees Teyla standing there, arms wrapped around her child. "You could always come with us," he says.
She shakes her head. "My place is here with my people."
Indeed. McKay knows that. He gives a little wave to the little girl who grins up at him. She's special. Teyla made sure of that.
"Never," she had told them. "You're not doing that to my child."
Sheppard had tried to make her see sense. Everybody staying in Pegasus was taking the treatment. Some more voluntarily than others. Even Teyla herself acquiesced to taking it. But she refused to let Keller anywhere near her child.
It didn't matter now, McKay tells himself. One child wouldn't make the difference. If it was two, however...
He takes one last look around the Atlantis gateroom and begins to punch in the gate symbols for home.
Within a hundred years, the Wraith would be gone and then Earth could send another expedition. Hopefully the ZPM they had left would sustain the city until then. If not, McKay had rigged a self-destruct. Just in case.
The Replicators had it right the first time, McKay realised. They'd just improved on the idea. This way, sanctioned by the IOA, was just kinder.
Sheppard meets him as he walks down the stairs towards the gate. "Looking forward to going home?" he asks.
McKay shrugs.