The Open Door
A/N: Hey, I got a few requests to a happy ending of 'The Empty Room' so this is pretty much it. It can be read as a stand-alone or as a sequel to my other story, so do with it what you will. This isn't going to be a one-shot like the other but a full length story instead sooo... read on. =)
Disclaimer: I do not own the stargate franchaise, or MGM or John Sheppard.
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The seventh chevron locked into place and a sparkling burst of energy emerged from the Lantian gate. There was no IDC, not at first but then a familiar bleeping emitted from the controls. The gate technician swerved in front of the laptop and hesitated as he scanned the contents. 'What is it?' asked Colonel Carter and the gate technician shook his head in dis-belief.
'It's an old code,' he said. 'It's Dr Weir.'
Everyone in the control room seemed to hesitate at the sound of those words but it only took Samantha Carter a moment to mutter the obvious. 'We can't let her through.' She said. The technician sighed knowing very well that her code may have easily been compromised. 'We can't risk letting the Asurans gain control of Atlantis.' She nodded to the technician, 'Shut it down.'
His hand lingered over the shut down command, but he hesitated slightly, wondering if she could have really escaped. His hesitation lasted seconds, but just long enough to hear a slight crackle and a clear voice sound across the control room.
'Atlantis? This is Weir.' Sam looked at the technician and he mouthed back she must have a radio; it sounds like her and shrugged. 'Have you received my identification code?' Weirs voice sounded again.
Sam sighed lightly and stared into the rippling event horizon. 'Open a channel Lieutenant.' He did so and she leant forward.
'Weir, this is Samantha Carter.'
'Carter? What are you doing in Atlantis? Did you receive my code?'
'I'm the... the new commander of Atlantis. And yes we did, but we can't let you through. Your codes could have been compromised.'
There was a short silence on the other end before she replied. 'Oh... I see.'
'You have to understand; last we heard you were a prisoner of the Asurans. They have to ability to extract information from you. We have no way of knowing if you are who you say you are.'
There was a short harsh laugh and when Elizabeth responded her tone was a little more than urgent. 'Isn't my voice proof, enough'
'I'm sorry, but it's not.' Sam snapped. She turned to the young Lieutenant, 'Get Colonel Sheppard's team down here.'
She replied again, a little rushed and panicked. 'Look I don't have much time, they know I've escaped already, it won't be long. I'll submit to any search you want, just please let me through.'
Samantha leant back against the control console and bit her lip, considering her options. Open the gate and expose the base to an unbeatable threat, or keep the shield up and lose potentially one of the most valuable members of the original expedition... again.
As she was running the possible scenarios through her head the sound of Sheppard entering the control room reached her ears.
'What's up?' asked John as he glanced at the shielded gate in confusion. 'What's going on here?'
Sam was just about to reply when a certain voice cut her off. 'I told you I don't much time; I can't let them capture me again. I'd rather walk into the shield, knowing my fate...'
'Elizabeth...' he breathed and whirled around to face the technician. 'Let her through.'
'NO.' Cried Sam before the technician could even move. John whirled around and she could see the desperate expression on his face long before she uttered the words to cause it. 'I'm not going to risk a potentially hazardous situation for one unlikely outcome Sheppard.'
There was a helpless silence before a loud blast crackled through the radio and a sudden dull thud hit the shield.
'You need to let me through NOW! They've found me.' There was more silence from the commander as she tried in vain to determine which decision would cause the least damage.
'Look, keep her in a holding cell. Just until you've determined she's harmless. You can't just condemn her like that! You need to take a chance and trust her.' And he hesitated a moment before he spoke the next few words. 'Elizabeth would.'
Sam sighed and winced as another blast echoed and thumped against the shield. 'Deactivate the shield Lieutenant.'
John caught her gaze. 'Thank-you.' And then turned his gaze towards the open gate.
'Elizabeth you're good, you can come through now.'
The shield disengaged and Sam nodded down to the marine unit in the gate room, who all cocked their guns. And then everyone waited in anticipation for their former leader to return.
Silence.
There was a crackle and the radio went dead.
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A/N: Ohh it's a cliffy. So yeah not happy right now, but obviously the happiness comes at the end of the story. Hope you enjoy! :) R&R!
