Set after series finale.
Disclaimer: I don't own SGA or the characters, etc.
She's standing at the edge of the pier and knows that she will not be alone for long. Sure enough, as the sun begins its descent, there's Colonel Sheppard striding towards her. His dark hair is windblown and he looks like he could use a clean shave and he's got a look on his face. A look that says so many things at once.
He does not offer her a greeting. Instead he just stands next to her, bracing his hands against the rough wood, his eyes focused out across the gently rolling waves. "It doesn't have to be this way." He says at last. "You have a choice. Both of you."
"He does not wish to come."
John is silent for a moment. "And you?"
"My life is in Pegasus." She replies.
He backs off. She knows that his true question is what do you want. But he will not ask it. And so she will not give her answer.
"You're going back."
"I have made my decision."
He looks disappointed. Her stomach twists.
She gathers her few belongings from her apartment and then she is ready to be on her way. The base is buzzing with anticipation; people are loading up the new ship that will take them back to Pegasus. Back to her home. Back to her life.
Colonel Sheppard and Rodney are looking at it with mixed feelings, both have been reassigned. Ronon is nowhere to be seen. He has decided to stay on earth.
John approaches her first, offers her his hand. She takes it. Shakes. But it feels false. "Good luck," he says.
Rodney is next. His sentences run together but she manages to discern a goodbye and she finally smiles and lays a hand on his shoulder. "I will miss your company, Rodney."
Eventually Ronon approaches. He looks guilty. She knows that he feels that at some level he is betraying her, betraying his people, betraying their galaxy. But she does not blame him, because Ronon has claimed his happiness and he will not let it go. Nor would she ask him to. "Take care," he grunts.
xxx
She thinks back to the day at the pier.
"What do you want?" he would ask her.
"You," she would reply. A sweet kiss instead of a handshake. It feels right.