Title: Exodus
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Character/Pairing: Sheppard, Teyla – Sheppard/Teyla
Prompt: Exodus
Rating: PG-14
Notes: "Return pt 1" tag
Summary: He hates this, this mass exodus of the place they call home.
He hates this, he thinks as he watches them leave through the 'gate; this mass exodus of the place they called home. He turns away as the 'gate snaps shut and ticks the box next to group four. They'd organised their departure into half hour intervals, just to give the SGC's gate room time to clear before the next lot of people came through.
That meant he only had half an hour left. Half an hour in this city, half an hour with her.
They'd already said goodbye – last night, after the others had left – and they'd debated whether or not she would come to the gate room to see them off. She'd told him no; he'd asked for yes. In the end, they agreed that she couldn't not be there. Even if just to say goodbye to the others.
He sets the clipboard onto one of the stations in the control room and looks around; it looks so different now that Chuck isn't there with his laptop; that it's an Ancient at the helm. He looks around, sees Helia with Elizabeth and he purses his lips.
He'd tasted Teyla's disappointment last night, so tangible, so different from his own. She'd followed the teachings of these people her whole life; he couldn't imagine how the religious people of Earth would feel if their chosen God returned and tried to banish them from their home. He bites back the bitter lump in his throat and looks away from Helia but he can't rest his eyes anywhere without tasting acrid disappointment.
Half an hour is both too long and not long enough. Twenty three minutes, actually, he realises as he glances at his watch.
He eyes that bags at the bottom of the step and wonders if he's forgotten anything. There's little he brought to Atlantis, so little to forget but he knows that at least one piece is missing. He doesn't think she'll mind when she finds it.
There's nothing left to do but wait and wonder if she'll stay away like he knows she wants to. He doesn't think she will; hopes that she doesn't but he wouldn't be surprised if she did. He takes a quick look around the control room, taking in the Ancient tech one last time and nods to himself. While he may not be at peace with being pushed out of his home, he has accepted it now.
He descends the steps and takes a seat near the bottom. There's nothing left to do but wait and wonder and when a shadow falls over him, he looks up and realises now there isn't even that. She sits beside him and he can feel her thigh against his – the touch of her mouth against his ear as she gasps for breath - and he smiles. His hand reaches out and brushes an invisible speck off her thigh and she turns to him, her eyes downcast.
"Thank you," she says quietly and her eyes meet his for a moment.
He nods and looks away; he wonders if she'll think of him when she reads the words scrawled on the back of the poster he left for her. If she'll understand what they mean.
He thinks she will.
Elizabeth walks down the steps and passes them and John looks at his watch; somehow, seventeen minutes have passed and he's only got five left. He meets her eyes for a moment before she stands, brushing her palms over her thighs.
They said goodbye last night.
He realises now it wasn't enough.