Kenobi

Summary: Post-Ep for "The Storm". Alternate ending to where I'm sure the show is going. Implied Weir-Sheppard.

Spoilers: Everything up to "The Storm"

Disclaimer: Stargate: Atlantis and its characters do not belong to me.

Author's Note: I know there are going to be a ton of stories ending "The Storm" in different ways. This is my version.

"Kolya!" Sheppard screams into the radio. He's tipped his hand. His concern for the fate of Dr. Weir is too strong for Kolya to ignore.

The unmistakable sound of a gunshot ricochets in the control room and through the radio. Elizabeth's eyes widen and she's pushed back against the console behind her. She slides down to the floor as Sora runs to her side. There's a scuffle when McKay is kept from rushing forward. Kolya shoves the radio at Rodney.

"Tell him," Kolya commands. "He will believe you."

"McKay!" yells John through the radio.

"He shot her," says McKay with disgust. "The bastard shot her – in the stomach. She's still alive. Damn it! Let me go. Argh!"

A Genii soldier keeps his hold on McKay, putting unwanted pressure on the knife wound.

Elizabeth is leaning against the bottom of the console, gritting her teeth against the pain. Her pride keeps her from crying out as Sora presses her jacket against the wound. Elizabeth feels hot tears streaming down her cheeks and curses her own weakness.

"You and I both know, Major," says Kolya into the radio, "that stomach wounds are painful, but do not kill immediately. Dr. Weir's life is in your hands. Stop this game, bring us the C-4, and we will gate her off to get medical treatment."

Kolya kneels by Elizabeth and places the radio in front of her.

"Cry out," he orders. "Tell him to bring us the C-4."

Weir grits her teeth and stares at Kolya defiantly. Kolya places his hand over Sora's.

"Aaaargghh!" Elizabeth can't hold back a groan of pain.

"Elizabeth!" screams John through the radio.

"Tell him!" yells Kolya at Elizabeth.

"John," she says through a clenched jaw. "Kenobi, John. You know what to do."

Kolya pulls the radio away and Elizabeth leans her head back against the console.

"Sheppard!" yells Kolya. "Every minute you delay brings her closer to death. You cannot defeat my men and save Dr. Weir in time. Sheppard! Sheppard!"

There is no answer and Kolya spins back toward Weir.

"What does that mean? Kenobi? Tell me!"

Elizabeth looks up at Kolya with a defiant smile.

"What are you going to do? Shoot me again?" Kolya turns the gun on McKay. "Nope. That won't work either. You need him to save the city."

Kolya drops the gun and turns to his men.

"Find him," Kolya orders. "He should not be too far from the grounding station. Sora! With me."

Kolya storms off toward Weir's office and Sora, looking shaken, follows her commander. Elizabeth places her own hands over the jacket. Rodney drops down next to her. The jacket is slowly soaking through with blood and her face is twisted in pain.

"Oh God. Elizabeth," McKay says with a shaky voice.

"Rodney," Elizabeth says with a brave smile. "Rodney. I need you to live through this. You have to help them save the city."

"I don't know if I can."

"Yes, you can. You sitting here watching me die isn't going to do anyone any good." McKay's face pales and Weir smiles again. "You have the ability to learn all of Atlantis' secrets. You have to live through this. You need to survive."

"We need you too," Rodney argues.

"Not as much as you. You have to promise me that you'll cooperate with them to save the city. I have faith that John will get the city back. And I have faith that you'll save it. Do this for Atlantis, Rodney. Do this for me."

McKay squeezes his eyes shut, gathering courage. He nods, angrily brushing away tears, and stands.

"It's been a pleasure working for you, Dr. Weir," he says before walking toward her office.

Fresh tears stream down her cheeks and Elizabeth waits. She waits as she hears Rodney leave with Kolya and Sora. She waits as the minutes tick by slowly. She's too far away to hear the explosions and gunfire. She waits as the storm hits Atlantis and the city remains standing.

Her wait is only over when Major Sheppard walks into the control room soaking wet, bloodied, and bruised - but alive. John gasps when he sees Elizabeth lying in a pool of blood. He kneels beside her and she gives him a sad smile.

"The Genii?" she asks.

"All dead, but Sora," John responds. "She's helping Rodney by the last grounding station."

"Is he hurt?"

"He got zapped a little, but looks fine." John is amazed that she can think about others right now.

"Good." Elizabeth reaches up to lay a hand against his cheek affectionately. "I just wish we got a chance to..."

"Don't talk like that. Beckett will be here soon. You'll be okay."

She smiles and wipes one of his tears away with her thumb.

"You're a horrible liar, Major Sheppard. Beckett is caught on the mainland and you can't power the gate now that the storm has hit."

John covers her hand with his own and kisses her palm. He can't look at her, knowing that she's right and he can do nothing to save her.

"You remembered our conversation," Elizabeth says softly.

"Yes. Obi-Wan sacrificed himself so that Luke would survive and use the force to bring back the Jedi cause," John pauses and looks Elizabeth in the eye. "Atlantis is our cause. It's more important than any one of us."

"I never expected to have to choose so soon," she says with a sob.

"This isn't fair."

"Life is never fair, but you have to keep fighting."

"I don't know if I can do this without you."

"Yes, you can," she says fiercely. "I know you can. You're stronger than all of this."

"I love you."

Elizabeth smiles and John gives her a tender kiss.

"I know," she says with her last breath.

John feels her arm go limp and Elizabeth slides off the console onto the floor.

"No!" he screams and lays her flat on the ground.

"Don't you die on me!" he says again and again as he performs CPR. He keeps going until he's exhausted and has to admit to himself that she's gone.

There is no miraculously recovery this time. No last minute save. Ford, Beckett, and Teyla finally arrive after the storm has passed, meeting Sora and a limping McKay just outside the control room. They walk in to find Major Sheppard on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, clutching the body of a lifeless Dr. Elizabeth Weir.

The End.

I know this isn't how "The Eye" is going to end. I also know that this isn't how most of my stories end, so maybe I surprised some people.

Oh, and I blame the Star Wars reference on watching a mini-documentary on the phenomenon last night.