AN: People have requested this for a long time, and the truth is at first I didn't really want to write that, because, well, it's a oneshot. But then I read the story again and realized that for my own peace of mind, I needed to do this. In the past few months I've been trying desperately to continue it, but all I came up with wasn't even worth the paper it was written on. But... I think I finally found something good.

Important to mention: I am COMPLETELY ignoring everything Joseph Mallozzi posted in his blog about the movie, because it kinda sucks. So I'm going to be establishing my own ending.

All rights for Stargate Atlantis are MGM's. I own nothing.


Prologue:

"Sheppard!"

John rolled his eyes as he kept on walking, ignoring the heavily-breathing scientist trying to catch up with him. He could already guess what it was about – an ancient device of some sort or an experiment the Canadian astrophysicist wanted to conduct. He continued on his daily round across Atlantis, making sure everything was going on as it was supposed to.

"John!"

"Go talk to Woolsey!" He replied, not even turning towards Rodney. He sounded closer now, something the experienced Colonel did not like. Usually when Rodney managed to catch up with him, he ended up listening to unending scientific lectures for the rest of the day. The only bright side about it was when Zelenka and Rodney kept on arguing, which was always a fun thing for him to watch.

"I need you!"

"No, you don't." He smiled at Teyla as he passed by the gym. The Athosian woman returned him a smile.

To his surprise, he heard Rodney stopped by the gym. He talked to Teyla for a short moment before calling towards John, "Sheppard! Get back here!"

"I told you, McKay-"

"John." It was Teyla's voice. Surprised, he stopped and turned around to look at them. He was even more surprised to find out Rodney was wearing his off-world uniform, geared up and ready to go through the Stargate to another planet. Glancing at the schedule in his hands, he noticed there wasn't any mission scheduled for anyone on his team. That, in itself, was enough to make him worried.

"What's going on?" He walked towards them, stopping right in front of them.

"We found another village." Rodney's voice was now quiet and serious. John's eyes lit up with hope, even though he tried to hide it. "You told us to tell you about every village we'd find, so-"

"Did you get Woolsey's approval?"

Rodney nodded briefly. "As soon as you're ready."

John exchanged a quick look with Teyla before turning back towards Rodney. "I'll be at the gate room in ten minutes."

As he walked towards the locker rooms, he found himself turning lighter and more hopeful again. Ever since they returned to Pegasus eleven months earlier, John has resumed his search after the long lost leader of Atlantis. In these months they visited dozens of new planets – every planet that seemed to him like a reasonable place for the Ancients to leave her on was immediately added to his team's schedule. Even though they had visited more planets during that year than John visited during the three years prior to that, John was still hopeful whenever they found a new planet.

Because every time they found a new planet, he had a chance of finding Elizabeth again.