A/N- A coda to Lifeline (well my version of it) how things would have played out had Elizabeth been there. As before, some lines belong to TPTB other belong to me.
What Would Elizabeth Do?
New World
They made it back to Atlantis and plugged the ZPM in. The shield was back at full strength and imminent death had been postponed once again. The last order of business for the Atlantean crew was to pick a new planet. In the control room John, Rodney, Samantha and Bill were all looking at a wallscreen that projected a list of possible planets.
Rodney pointed to the screen. "Here's a good one. M35-117."
"Does Dr. Weir know about it?" Sam asked turning to the scientist. "In case the Replicators got anything from her?"
"Well," Rodney began mulling his answer over. "It's not on our primary, or our back-up lists. I purposely searched for planets we'd never considered before. If the Replicators got anything out of her, they uh- won't be able to find us because we've never considered this planet before."
"That's good for us." John stated with a grimace, his mind far from the discussion at hand and several levels down where Elizabeth was being examined by Dr. Keller.
"Yeah," Rodney agreed with a half-hearted smile. He along with everyone else knew how close they had come to losing their leader and what made matters worse, she was still half-replicator and would have to deal with that for the rest of her life. "Look-" Rodney began again pushing all distractions from his mind. "It has a stable atmosphere a uh- big ocean and besides the large particularly venomous snake-like creatures that inhabit the mainland, it looks to be a rather welcoming environment." Rodney looked to John for approval. "Do we have a go?"
John didn't say anything, he merely nodded anxious to get down to the infirmary.
"Alright," Rodney said as he activated his headset. "Radek, how're we doing?"
----sparky----
They were still in hyperspace when John went to visit Elizabeth. She was no longer in isolation and was now in the main area of the infirmary. She sat up with her laptop in her hands looking through something and John just had to sigh with relief. Barely back, and barely healed and she was already going back to work. To get her attention he cleared his throat which caused her to look up.
"John," She stated with some surprise. "what are you doing here?"
"Seeing you."
Elizabeth gave him a small smile. "I know that, but I thought that you and Rodney were looking for a new home."
"Well we are," John confirmed, glad to be slipping back into their usual banter. "in fact we found the most perfect planet with large oceans, nice views..."
"Sounds almost perfect." Elizabeth stated with a wry look on her face. "What's the catch?"
John shrugged as he sat on the edge of her bed. "Some snake like creatures on the mainland, you know the usual welcoming committee for the Pegasus galaxy."
That elicited a laugh from Elizabeth. "Of course..."
An uneasy silence descended upon them and it was John who first broke the silence. "Listen we uh, should probably talk about what you did back there."
"It was no different than what you have done." Elizabeth stated simply thinking back to when the city had been under siege. He had been willing to give up his life for her and Atlantis, and she was willing to do the same for him and their people. "Don't you dare pretend that it was any different."
"It is different." John insisted. "You're not military."
"Oh, so are you saying that because I'm only a civilian I can't take care of my people?"
John shook his head. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Elizabeth asked coldly.
"I meant that because you're our leader, you're not expendable."
That shocked Elizabeth. "Are you saying that our military personal are expendable? Are you saying that you are?"
"What I'm saying," John corrected, "Is that we can easily get more military personal. I don't like that reality, but it's true..." He paused and glanced down at the infirmary sheet. "...we can't get another Elizabeth."
"You can get another diplomat though." She retorted.
John looked up with open eyes. "Not like you."
She was stunned and glanced down at her laptop to compose herself before speaking. "You know John," Elizabeth began slowly. "I'm still half-replicator."
"I know."
"I'm still a threat."
"I know that too." John confirmed. "Although Rodney says that the little buggers are perfectly harmless now."
"Still," Elizabeth stated. "I'm still a security risk..."
"Elizabeth-"
She cut him off. "John, I am." Elizabeth shook her head and looked away. "It would almost be better if you killed me now."
"No way!" John exclaimed in horror. "We are not doing that."
"It's not your call." Elizabeth snapped.
"The hell it isn't." John retorted angrily, getting a sense of déjà vu. "Elizabeth-"
"John," Elizabeth interrupted softly. "I'm half-replicator."
"But you're still half-human." John pointed out desperately reaching out to take her hand which was clenched in the sheets. "And even if you were ALL replicator, I still wouldn't kill you."
"Even if I was a threat to the city?"
"Especially if you were a threat to the city Elizabeth," John promised, his eyes softening. "The worse threat would be losing you and your leadership so don't even consider asking me to-"
"Okay." Elizabeth interrupted a new found determination in her eyes. "Okay, I'll get through this."
"We." John correct with a smile. "We'll get through this. We're a team, remember?"
Elizabeth smiled. "The dynamic duo."
John laughed and was about to respond when he felt the city fall out of hyperspace. And the next thing he knew was Rodney's tinny voice in his hear telling him to get to the chair room to ease the city down.
"I'll be back." He promised, giving her hand a squeeze before he left.
----sparky----
It was night; they had touched down safely on 'New Lantia' and had contacted the SGC. Samantha and Bill were taking their time saying goodbye in preparations to go back and debrief General Landry and John found himself on the balcony over looking the new sea with two moons.
"There you are." Elizabeth stated with a smile as she came out onto the balcony after being released from the infirmary.
John nodded and gestured to the view. "Two moons."
"Actually," Elizabeth corrected. "Rodney tells me there are five and that it's just these are the only to visible to the naked eye."
"Really?" John asked arching an eyebrow. "He didn't tell me that."
"Guess he likes me better."
"Yeah." John agreed with a smile.
"I hear that Colonel Carter and Rodney got us re-connected to the Intergalactic Bridge."
John smiled. "Yeah, from what I heard they were all very relieved to hear from us..." He turned to look at Elizabeth who was leaning against the railing herself. "...though they are sending someone out here to determine if you're still fit to run this place."
Elizabeth nodded sadly. "I figured that was coming."
"We'll get through this Elizabeth." John promised with a determined look on his face. "No matter what they say, I won't let you go without a fight."
"Thank you," Elizabeth stated overlooking John's 'I' instead of the 'we' that she expected. "But believe me; I have no intention of leaving."
"Well that's a relief." John murmured. "Cause Teyla said that after this crisis you were thinking about stepping down."
"That was then." Elizabeth explained with a shrug of her shoulders. "This is now." She laughed and turned so her back was leaning against the railing. "Everything's going to change now," Elizabeth asked turning to look at John. "Isn't it?"
John nodded. "But when are things NOT changing in the Pegasus Galaxy?"
Elizabeth didn't answer him, she didn't have too. Her smile was enough. She turned to lean her elbows back on the railing and together they stood there in silence over looking the new ocean of their new home. Both of them wondering what tomorrow would bring.
But whatever was on the horizon, at least they were facing it together...
A/N- Thank you to AtlantisGate, jasminesmommy, sparklyshimmer2010, janib, stargatesomeone, Anne, Traci, Keegan Paige, courtneymundie7, sb4ever and Jenni. Please take the time to review this little drabble as well...