Title: Denied Goodbye

Note: This chapter was formally published as part of 'Musical Moments', which was a fic made up of separate little stories for each chapter, each in response to Gater 101's Music Challenge. Which involved playing a randomly generated piece of music from your player and writing whatever story comes to mind, but only for as long as the track lasts. It was challenging, but fun and resulted in seven different chapters. As I am thinking of taking some of those little stories further, I need to separate the chapters out. So, sorry for republishing (though it gives me a chance to edit out mistakes!) and sorry for those who were kind enough to leave reviews to 'Musical Moments' as I have now deleted it! I appreciated the reviews and am sorry to remove them. I highly recommend listening to the piece of music listed as you read the fic! Enjoy.

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Song: Run – by Snow Patrol

The water was so very cold, so chilling that even without the oxygen depletion he looked so pale he might already be dead as they pulled him from the water.

Running down the bank she rushed down towards him, reaching past the rescuers to touch him, to know for sure that he still lived.

His body was cold, but there was life in his skin as she touched his cheek with her fingertips and his eyes opened to look up at her.

He looked in pain, his breathing laboured as the medics wrapped blankets around him, hurrying to move him away from the bank, but he protested. He gripped one medic's hand to stop her from moving him as he struggled for his breaths.

Teyla caught his face in her hands, forcing his attention fully onto her. She would not let him die, would not let him leave her as the others had done. So much had been lost, so many dear friends. Not John.

She shouted this to him, demanded he hear her and remain with her, that he wouldn't follow the others to where she couldn't follow. Please stay with me. Stay with me. She sobbed to him as his eyes glazed. She shook him, leant in and pressed her forehead to his, felt the cold dampness of his body. She told him then, confessed her truth to him; that she loved him and if he would stay here they could make up for the lost time, for the words unspoken, the actions undone.

Tears ran from her eyes the dampness warm over her skin, but not as warm as his hand that touched against her cheek.

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END