Stargate: Atlantis
Rating: PG
Pairing: John/Elizabeth
Word Count: 519
Spoilers: None
Summary: Sometimes she just needed to cry.
Disclaimer: Just borrowing the characters for a little while..

The sheet from her bed, and her pillows lay strewn across the floor. Curled up on her bed, her legs tucked up to her chest, her arms trying to pull them ever closer. Tears stained her cheeks, her breathing ragged, sobs escaped from her mouth every few seconds. She never heard her door open, or the soft footsteps as he approached her bed, pulling off his jacket and kicking off his boots.

Her eyes flickered open, and seconds later she felt the bed dip beside her. Before she has time to turn, his strong arms were enveloping her, drawing her to him.

"It's okay, Elizabeth," he soothed, as he moved back on the bed, his arms still around her shaking body bringing her with him, to rest his body against the headboard. She tangled her legs around his and her arms wrapped around her shoulders. He tucked her head under his chin and held her close, feeling her body shake with each breath, her wet tears soaking through his shirt. She needed to cry.

"It's okay, I'm here," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. She lifted her head up to look at him, her eyes full of tears.

"What have I done?" She cried, her tears falling freely. "All those people, John," she sobbed, her hand clenching his shirt, balling it up in her hand.

"It wasn't your fault, Liz." He answered, rubbing her back tenderly; kissing her forehead.

"I should have," she began, drawing in air sharply before continuing, "I should have realised".

"You couldn't have known what they were going to do, Elizabeth." He brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and she leaned into his touch.

"I can't help but feel that this... this is my fault, the lives of your men..." Elizabeth started.

"No! It was their fault those men are dead, not yours." He looked into her eyes, "it wasn't your fault, Elizabeth."

"I just," she said quietly after a few moments, "what if I had sent you?"

"Don't think like that. I am not going anywhere. I promise you." He murmured in her ear.

"I shouldn't be feeling like this," she withdrew her arms and legs, bringing her knees once again up and wrapping her arms around them. "I'm afraid of sending you, sending your team out. I'm afraid that one day you aren't going to come home."

"Oh, Elizabeth," John turned on his side to face her, reaching out to rest his hand on her leg, his fingers tracing patterns on her skin.

"I'm scared, John." She whimpered, turning to face him, tears coating her eyes, "I'm scared that one day I'm gonna lose you."

"I am not going anywhere." John repeated, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around her, she untucked her legs and wrapped them around him.

"I'm sorry, John." She whispered, clinging to him.

"Don't be. I'll get them Liz." John closed his eyes tightly. "Every last one of them."

"I believe you, John." Elizabeth replied, tilting her head up and brushing her lips over his, her eyes blurry from her tears. "I believe you."