"General Landry sends his condolences, he was deeply saddened to hear about Dr. Weir. We all were", Sam said softly, recognizing the sadness on the face of the man beside her. The casual humour, the easy salute he had given her on congratulations, only belied the grim look in his eyes that she had seen before .
On another man.
One she loved.
The one whose picture now adorned her office here in Atlantis.
"We haven't given up hope. If there's a chance she's still alive, I'll find her", John said tightly, the square set of his jaw and darkness of his eyes reflecting the pain in his soul.
"I know."
Sam nodded, thinking of those same words from another Colonel, in another fight with replicators, that wouldn't give up on her being found.
The same love that he had for her, John now had for Elizabeth.
The same love that had kept Jack in a tight knot of denial, searching when all hope had been lost.
She nodded her head and smiled at John, and he looked at her with sudden understanding, and gave a crooked slight smile.
And balled his hands deeper into his pockets as they stared out at the night sky and ocean.