Lines: Parting Chapter 1 One More, a stargate: atlantis fanfic

Title: Lines: Parting – Chapter 1: One More…

Author: Marianne H. Stillie

Categories: AU Alternative Scenes and an Episode Tag for The Return Parts 1 & 2; Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Rating: T

Pairing: Ronon & Elizabeth

Series: The Lines Series – Story #12

Season: Season 3

Sequel To: Lines: Reconciling, Blending, Hoping, Grieving, Merging

Summary: How do you say goodbye?

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places for Stargate Atlantis are the property of MGM Worldwide Television Distribution, Sony Pictures Television and Acme Shark Cooper/Wright Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment, not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks are intended. Previously unrecognized characters, places and this story are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Archive: Please do not archive anywhere without the author's permission.

Author's Note: I rarely write chaptered stories and, when I do, I prefer to complete the story before I post any of it. But Coldqueen needs some Ronon/Elizabeth TLC right now so here's the first chapter of this new Lines story. She's also a terrible nag!

Lines: Parting

Chapter 1: One More…

Damn the Ancestors! Forty-eight hours wasn't enough! As if they hadn't suffered already from the Wraith and the Asurans, now he and Elizabeth were being forced apart by a fresh betrayal from the very same Ancients who had abandoned the humans of this galaxy ten thousand years ago. His mate's people and his own were their children, but it didn't matter to them. Only their superiority and arrogance mattered now that they had their city back!

As Ronon held Elizabeth closely against him watching the sunset from their western tower, he went over his carefully composed speech. They'd been on the mainland this morning, saying good-byes and collecting personal items from their house. He knew he should have taken the time then to explain to her why he couldn't go back to Earth with her, but the words were so hard and he just wasn't ready.

The fresh rage for the Ancients had quickly joined his unstinting hatred of the Wraith and the Asurans. It was being fueled by that preternatural itch he always had when something wasn't right. It had taken hold of him from his first sight of Commander Helia in the gate room. As the bad news had grown with each hour yesterday, his inner dread became stronger than at any time in his past. He knew she had to leave, but not for the superficial reasons of diplomacy and honor. She would be in danger in Pegasus, more than at any time in the past two and a half years. He couldn't lie to her directly but he had to keep the truth to himself about his growing apprehension for the future of Atlantis.

He nuzzled his face hungrily into her hair, breathing in the familiar flower scent that she used. Almost as if she knew what was coming, she tightened her hold around his hands that were locked snugly beneath her breasts. It gave him the last bit of courage he needed to speak. "Elizabeth, I can't go back to Earth with you."

A self-conscious laugh escaped through her words, "The SGC is pretty used to all kinds of aliens by now. You'd fit right in."

In a harsh breath he explained, "I can't run from our enemies. I have scores to settle for both of us." He felt a tremor of fear pass through her body.

The tremor came out in her voice as she said, "You'd better not get yourself killed doing all that revenge business. I do plan to come back someday."

"You know how dangerous I can be. I outwitted the Wraith for seven years." Even as he embraced the bravado, he felt those old familiar barriers rear up, threatening to make him shut down and go numb inside. The brutal seething from his triple hatreds would need a tremendous outlet once he lost his ties to this grounding-place. He would have to forget everything good and loving and trusting he'd learned since coming to Atlantis and finding Elizabeth. He remembered, too well, that emotions were far too dangerous to survival in the world he'd be going into again.

Elizabeth turned around in his arms and kissed him tenderly. She let the kiss linger until her lips reluctantly pulled away. "I still have a lot to do tomorrow, getting all those people and their belongings ready to go. I could really use some of that special Dex TLC to help me sleep."

The defensive wall that had started to make him turn inward disappeared, and he let all the love he shared with her surround him again. A smile came out to reassure her as he said, "It would be my pleasure, Dr. Weir."

XoX

She'd held him possessively after they made love that night, willing his anger to stay at bay for the time they still had together. Her responsibilities as expedition leader filled the day hours but she wasn't so exhausted that she couldn't take pleasure in another night of lovemaking in their bed. Their last hours had to be singular, and she resolved to make them memorable. She had seen in his eyes how hard it was for him, acting as if tomorrow would be just an ordinary day.

They slept very little during their last night. From the moment the sun had risen out of the Lantean ocean this morning, their mutual pain permeated their insatiable need for memories: one more kiss, one more touch, one more release of passion, one more look, one more word, one more keepsake to last an unknown time.

After the sunrise, they took a long, leisurely shower that gave them more of everything they craved. Her hands, through a thick towel, slowly dried his back as he trimmed his beard in front of the bathroom mirror. She let the towel fall to the floor so that her hands were free to caress his warm skin above the towel wrapped around his waist. She couldn't resist the teasing finger that slipped inside the edge of the damp cloth and made its way delicately from one hip to the other. She looked up when she heard his soft laughter.

"I wish I could oblige you, Elizabeth, but even I'm not that good."

She joined him in the laughter, forcing any words of separation and the unknown future away for a little longer. In the bedroom, she laid out her clothes on one side of the bed while he threw his casually on the other side. They savored each other from opposite sides of the bed as one piece of clothing after another covered a naked patch of skin.

While Ronon methodically placed his knives, he watched Elizabeth brush her hair. The need to touch him made her pick up his wristbands from the dresser. He held out his arms for her. Slowly, she put on one band at a time, fastening one buckle at a time. When she was done, his arms were still open, wanting, waiting for her. She leaned into him and he pulled her into his body tightly, their breathing a peaceful, soothing sound of more loving moments. Finally breaking apart, they gathered the last of their things into backpacks.

Roughly, she cleared her throat, "Where will you go?"

"With the Athosians for now."

"Then?"

"Probably the Genii," he said calmly and waited for her reaction.

"Good choice."

They stood at the doors, neither wanting to break the spell of their ordinary day.

"Your people have a custom. When a man and woman marry, they exchange rings as a symbol of the unbroken love between them." Ronon opened his right hand, showing her two of his dreadlock rings resting in his palm.

Her hand shaking, Elizabeth took the larger ring and slipped it onto the third finger of his left hand. "I will always love you, Ronon Dex. Somehow, someday I will come back to you."

Ronon took her left hand and slid the smaller ring onto her finger. "I'll always love you, Elizabeth Weir, and I'll be waiting for you."

They clutched their last moment of the ordinary in each other's arms then both reached out and touched the light bar that would open the doors to the outside world.