Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis does not belong to me. The characters do not belong to me. The original storyline (before I twisted it to suit my needs) doesn't even belong to me.
AN: I got the idea for this story while watching the final scene of Titanic. Anyone who's seen the movie will know what I'm talking about. I swear, every movie I see gives me an idea for a story! The last time, it was The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. Don't ask. Seriously. Apparently, even Disney movies aren't safe from the clutches of my evil mind. Also, every frickin' song I hear sounds like a GREAT idea for a new music video. Only, I seem to be having problems with finishing the ones I've already started, so making new ones ain't such a great idea. Soooo… anyway, this story is a tag to the episode "Before I Sleep." Enjoy. (And review. Please.)
HOME
John, Rodney and the other Elizabeth's voices faded into silence as she began to slip away. The excruciating pain she'd been hiding so well lifted from her aged body. Her sight gone, and her ears useless, the last sensation to flow along her nervous system was a soft, cool breeze that brushed her cheek.
The next moments of dark quiet seemed to stretch on for such an eternity that she thought she was back in stasis, and she nearly panicked.
And then, a soft glow lit the room around her, and Elizabeth found herself back in Atlantis' 'Gate room. She experienced a brief instant of confusion, followed by a surge of joy so intense that it almost knocked her off her feet. All around her – overflowing the elegant staircase, crowding the Gatrium floor, and lining the railings on the second level – were her people. Her entire expedition, all looking very much alive. It was then that she caught sight of them – John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Radek Zelenka, Carson Beckett, and Colonel Sumner – standing together within the giant ring of the Stargate.
As she moved forward to greet them, she was startled to realize that she was young again, and wearing her red and gray expedition jacket and matching pants. Putting her astonishment aside, she rushed forward to throw her arms around Radek. He'd been her friend for a number of years before this expedition had been formed. Carson Beckett was also a good friend – had been for almost as long as the Czech scientist – and was the next to receive a warm embrace. Their deaths had been the hardest to deal with.
When she finally released the Scot, he smiled gently, and said in his warm, familiar brogue, "Welcome home, Lass."
And as she took Sheppard's and Sumner's hands in turn, and doled out another hug to a startled Rodney, she knew those words to be true.
She was finally home.