Almost done...Just the epilogue to go after this, that will be up later this week or next week at the latest. I hope this chapter answers any questions you may have and as always, thank you for reading and reviewing!

Elizabeth adjusted the shoulder strap of her dress and took another sip of wine, leaning back in her chair. So far, the reception had gone smoothly and even though a few pairs of eyebrows had risen when she and John had arrived downstairs together, holding hands, no one had asked her about it yet. Teyla and Carson had both given her a big smile, not seeming at all surprised and Elizabeth wondered how long they had known there was something going on between her and John. Possibly longer than she had known about it herself.

She watched John who was in a deep conversation with Ronon and some other men Elizabeth couldn't remember the name of. He looked breathtaking in a formal suit and she was surprised at how well Ronon actually fit his – until tonight she really wouldn't have believed it. She had to admit he cleaned up very nicely and was sure the same thought had crossed Teyla's mind as well: she had caught the younger woman staring at Ronon a couple of times already and was fighting the urge to push both of them into an empty room together and lock the door. She didn't really want to interfere but it really looked like nothing would ever happen without it.

John turned his head to look into her direction and she smiled, raising her glass slightly in greeting. He returned the smile, nodding his head slightly, eyes drifting across her tanned skin and the spaghetti straps of her long flowing red dress before returning to the conversation. She hadn't been completely sure if her dress was suitable for the evening but judging by the number of compliments she had received thus far, she had nothing to worry about.

Rodney appeared seemingly out of nowhere, flopping into a chair next to her. "Having fun, Doctor Weir?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Good evening to you too, Doctor McKay. And please, it's Elizabeth."

The scientist took a sip of his drink. "I personally have to say this is not my kind of an event at all. I suppose as a diplomat, you are more used to it."

She nodded. "I am, but at some point it does get boring. Especially as the same people tend to show up each time. From that point of view this evening is refreshing."

Rodney tapped his fingers against the glass impatiently. "Well, it is the same people here as well but only once or twice a year. Once you go a few times, you'll know everybody and from then onwards, it's pure torture."

Elizabeth laughed. "Thank you for the warning, Doctor."

"I assume you are staying here now that you and John are…an item?"

Her eyebrows rose at his choice of word. "Item?"

Rodney waved his hand. "You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do, I just haven't heard that expression since high school."

The scientist made a face. "Can we not talk about that?"

She bit her lip to stop laughing. "Of course. And yes, I'm staying."

Rodney fell silent for a moment, watching John, still deep in his conversation across the room and Elizabeth eyed him carefully: John had told her that despite all the arguments, he and Rodney had become close friends and some part of her craved the scientist's acceptance of her and John's relationship.

"Ever since you came here, he's been happier than I've ever seen him", Rodney said, studying his now empty glass. "I was here when he met Kimberly, I was here when he married her and I was here when she did what she did. He was badly hurt by that."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know. But I would never do anything like that."

Rodney looked at her. "I hope you won't because that would destroy him. He loves you, Elizabeth."

She swallowed, eyes widening. "What?"

He chuckled. "I take it he hasn't told you."

"No. I…"

"He wouldn't have asked you to stay otherwise. I know him well enough, Elizabeth, but if you don't share the feeling, please don't play with him. He is a good friend and I don't want to see him go through the same ordeal twice."

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out; Rodney's little speech had stunned her enough.

"Rodney, I'm surprised to see you here." John walked to them, sitting down next to Elizabeth, picking up her hand and giving it a light squeeze. She closed her fingers around his, still silent, processing Rodney's revelation.

Rodney rolled his eyes. "Well, I would rather be working but I thought I should show my face."

"And I'm glad you did. We would have missed you otherwise."

"Of course. Even though it looks like even Ronon is having a better time than I am."

"Oh, quit whining, McKay."

"I am not whining!"

Elizabeth listened to the good-natured banter of the two men quietly, slowly slipping her drink and focusing on John's hand in hers, brushing her thumb over his. He replied by squeezing her hand again and leaning closer.

"You okay?"

She nodded, finally meeting his eyes. "Yeah."

He frowned. "Sure?"

"Of course. Just getting a bit hungry."

He smiled. "Well, the dinner will be served soon."

"I for one can't wait for that", Rodney pointed out from next to her. "No matter how boring these things are, Elizabeth, you can always count on the food to blow you away. Lorraine and her little helpers really work their magic."

She grinned. "They always do."

It turned out Rodney had been right: the dinner was more than amazing and Elizabeth ate more than she had in quite a while. Patting her stomach, she finished her coffee and declined Lorraine's offer for a second helping of chocolate cake. Close to the dining table, the band was preparing to start playing and she watched as some people took to the temporary dance floor that had been formed in the middle of the large room.

"Could I have this dance, Miss Weir?" John appeared next to her, smiling and holding out his hand. She took it and dragged herself to her feet with some effort.

"John, I ate too much, I can't move."

He grinned. "In that case, exercise will help. Come on."

She groaned but followed him to the edge of the dance floor, sighing contently as he pulled her close, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Are you having a good time?" John brushed her cheek softly, looking slightly worried. "You looked like something was bothering you before dinner."

"I'm fine, John." She smiled, leaning in to kiss him briefly. "Nothing to worry about."

He sighed. "What did Rodney say to you?"

She looked away briefly. "Nothing. He just wanted to make sure I wouldn't hurt you like Kimberly did. He's a good friend, John."

"I know." He smiled. "Though he can annoy the hell out of me sometimes."

"I'm sure he would say the same thing about you."

He feigned a hurt look. "Really?"

"Yes, John."

"Well, I suppose he has a point there." He pulled her closer, pressing a kiss on her temple and she shivered.

"Have I told you how incredible you look tonight?"

She pretended to think hard. "Not in a couple of hours."

He grinned. "Well, in that case, I'll tell you again. You look amazing."

"Thank you." She pressed her face into his neck and closed her eyes as they softly swayed with the slow music. "So do you."

The evening was drawing to a close and Elizabeth yawned, absently playing with her bracelet. Some couples were still dancing but most people were standing in small groups, chatting and sipping their drinks. She couldn't see John and assumed he was somewhere talking with the guests, either in the hall or outside in the back garden.

"Elizabeth?" Lorraine stopped next to her, holding a tray full of champagne glasses. "I found this from the mantelpiece, I assume it's for you? I don't think we have any other Elizabeth here tonight."

Elizabeth frowned and took the envelope Lorraine was handing her, noticing it had her first name written on it.

"Thank you." She opened the envelope and looked at the note inside.

Elizabeth,

Meet me at the stables.

J

She smiled. "Yeah, it's for me. Thank you."

Lorraine nodded. "No problem. Have a good evening."

Elizabeth walked outside, heading towards the stables and passing Ronon and Teyla who were sitting outside, both silent and looking everywhere but at each other.

"Elizabeth." Teyla smiled at her slightly. "Where are you going?"

"John told me to meet him at the stables. Is everything all right?"

"Yes, fine." Ronon replied and Teyla rolled her eyes.

"Teyla?"

The woman in question glared at Ronon and said nothing.

"What?"

"You really think everything is fine?"

He shrugged. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Teyla huffed and for a moment Elizabeth was sure she was about to slap Ronon but then the younger woman surprised the hell out of her and surely out of Ronon by grabbing his face and slamming her lips onto his.

Elizabeth's eyes widened but somehow Ronon didn't seem too shocked, pushing his hands into Teyla's light brown hair and kissing her back, long and passionately. He pulled back first, glancing at Elizabeth who had taken a few steps back towards the stables, curious at how the situation would play out but also wanting to give the two some privacy.

"Everything is fine, Elizabeth." Ronon grinned at her, then looked back at Teyla. "What the hell took you so long?"

Teyla opened her mouth, no doubt ready to argue but Ronon was faster, kissing her again and she gave in, shifting her body closer and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Elizabeth grinned, feeling ridiculously pleased she had been right about the two of them after all and quietly walked away, slipping into the main stable building where lights were on. The horses looked up at her, obviously surprised at the late night visitor.

"John? You'll never believe what I just saw."

There was no reply and she frowned. "John? Are you here?"

"I'm afraid John isn't here right now."

The words made her spin around and a feeling of dread came over her as she stared at the woman in front of her, aiming a gun right at her head.

"Karen."

"Hello, Elizabeth. So nice to see you again." Karen closed the double doors and locked them.

She swallowed. "You're alive."

"Yes, obviously. You, on the other hand, won't be for long unless you do exactly what I say."

Elizabeth took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "What do you want?"

"Turn off the lights." Karen nodded at the direction of the back wall and Elizabeth took a few careful steps back. "Nice and easy. And don't even think about trying anything."

She reached the wall and lifted a shaking hand, flipping the switch, leaving on only the soft night light, still enabling her to see clearly but now there wouldn't be any reason for anyone to come and see why the lights were on this close to midnight.

"Now, come here."

She obeyed, flinching as Karen grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around and slamming her against the door of one of the stalls. The black horse inside lifted its head and she recognized it as Jazz. Karen swiftly tied her hands behind her back.

"What will you gain by killing me, Karen?"

The other woman snorted. "I told you, do exactly like I say and we won't even have to think about that. And don't try to talk yourself out of this, I know your diplomatic tricks. They won't save you this time."

"Doesn't hurt to try." She groaned at the feeling of the rope cutting into the skin of her wrists.

Jazz had started to move restlessly in the stall, kicking the walls and she wondered if the horse sensed what was going on. Elizabeth was pretty sure Karen was planning to take her away from the farm and she knew she had to try and delay that for as long as possible.

"Why did you do it?"

"What did I just say, Elizabeth? Don't try to talk yourself out of this."

"I heard you, but I think I deserve an explanation. I want to know how you managed to convince my boyfriend to kill me, my best friend and everyone else in the company."

"Your boyfriend?" Karen scoffed. "If I had known what kind of a useless loser he was, I'd never have included him in the plan."

"What?"

The other woman sighed. "Sadly, I had to get rid of him. I really didn't think he'd change his mind like that, after all, he was quite ready to go along with things at first. I guess he did love you on some level."

Elizabeth gritted her teeth. "Who killed Maria? And the others?"

"I did. Your boyfriend had nothing to do with that."

Somewhere deep inside, she felt relieved that Simon hadn't been directly responsible for something so horrible, even though he had known about the plan beforehand. She tried very hard to control the rage that was threatening to surface, knowing that if she lost it now, she'd never have any change of walking out of this situation alive.

"Why?"

Karen shrugged. "They were the only ones who saw me and could identify me. I only joined the company right before you left Alice Springs, remember?"

"Right." It was all starting to make sense now, though there was still something that she needed an answer for.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

"Isn't that kind of obvious? You were the reason for this whole plot."

"What are you talking about?"

Karen rolled her eyes. "Do I have to spell it out for you? You work for the UN, Elizabeth, you're a diplomat known worldwide. You're friends with the President of the United States. Kidnapping you would have, and still will, pay handsomely. Too bad John Sheppard got to you before me, otherwise I'd be a rich woman by now."

"All this was for money? You killed all those innocent people for money?"

"Money rules the world, dear Lizzie. I'm sure you have come across that in your line of work."

"Don't you dare call me that", Elizabeth spit out, her face full of hatred. "You disgust me."

Karen smiled, menacingly. "Maybe you should have asked your boyfriend about his financial difficulties. I did not plan this alone."

"What financial difficulties?"

Behind her, Jazz kicked the wall with all his might, letting out a loud neigh and Elizabeth jumped, glancing at the horse over her shoulder.

"Seems like he is worried about you. Kind of sweet."

"What financial difficulties?" She repeated, determined to find out the truth.

"His private practice was as good as gone", Karen replied. "He was deep in debt and his girlfriend was pulling in a five-figure salary each month. No wonder he got a bit frustrated."

"No, I don't believe you. He would have told me if he was in trouble."

Her words were not very convincing and she suddenly realized Karen had a point. Simon had seemed more and more distant from her in the last months before the holiday, which had been one of the reasons she had booked it in the first place.

"It's just starting to dawn on you, isn't it? I guess it shouldn't surprise me, you obviously weren't a very loyal girlfriend. I mean he's only been dead a few weeks and you're already getting it on with another man."

Jazz neighed again, loudly and Karen gritted her teeth. "Make that horse shut up. NOW."

Elizabeth took a deep, shuddering breath and turned to Jazz, lifting a shaking hand to his neck and rubbing soothingly, even though she knew her efforts were probably fruitless: it was likely John was the only person capable of calming this horse down. Jazz seemed to believe her for a few seconds before twisting away from her and doubling his efforts at kicking, his restlessness starting to affect the other horses as well.

"Okay, time to get out of here, Elizabeth." Karen grabbed her tied wrists and she could feel the gun pressed against her back, forcing her to move towards the back door. "Move."

She obeyed grudgingly, dragging her feet, doing everything in her power to stall for as long as possible. And it paid off.

The double doors behind them burst open and both women swung around, Karen grabbing Elizabeth securely around the neck and aiming the gun right at her head. She could see fear flashing in John's eyes for the briefest of moments before it was replaced with a steely determination, both him and Ronon pointing guns at Karen.

"Let her go." John's voice was low, dangerous.

Karen laughed. "I don't think so. You already screwed up my plan once, Sheppard, it's not going to happen again. You'd better let us get out of here or I will kill your girlfriend."

Elizabeth shivered, feeling the gun on her bare skin. "If you kill me, you won't get what you want."

"Oh shut up, Elizabeth, do you think I'm really that stupid? You think I don't have a plan B? There are a lot of people in this world who would pay good money to see you dead. Maybe you didn't know that, but the truth is, whether you live or die I will get what I want."

"Not if you don't get out of here alive." Ronon sounded as dangerous as John had earlier and Elizabeth calmed down slightly: these men would not allow Karen to take her anywhere.

"If I don't, neither will she. I have a fast finger on this trigger, I would not put it to test if I were you."

John focused his eyes on Elizabeth's and she stared back, seeing all his emotions behind the coldness, seeing everything Rodney had talked about earlier. Seeing the love, love for her. And underneath it all, a question, asking for her permission to do what he was going to do.

She nodded her head the smallest movement possible and John fired his gun.

The bullet hit Karen's shoulder and in her momentary pain and disorientation, Elizabeth used her chance and pulled herself free, ducking down on the floor just as both John and Ronon pulled the trigger again. Karen fell on the floor, dropping the gun from her hand and Elizabeth kicked it as far as she could, its clattering on the floor the last sound she registered before John's strong arms were around her and she was being pulled against his body, the rope untied from her wrists.

He held her shaking form tightly, rubbing her back as she started crying. "It's all right. It's over now."

Teyla rushed to them, kneeling next to Ronon who was checking Karen's pulse. "Are you all right, Elizabeth?"

She nodded, clinging into John even tighter. "How did you…?"

"We saw John outside and he didn't know anything about meeting you here. And then Lorraine showed us the note and we heard the horses", Teyla explained, understanding what she was asking.

"She's alive", Ronon said. "What do you want to do with her?"

"Make sure she doesn't go anywhere", John said, still holding Elizabeth tightly. "And call the police."

Ronon nodded, proceeding with the first task while Teyla left to make the phone call. John pulled Elizabeth gently to her feet.

"Did she hurt you?"

She shook her head, wiping tears from her face. "No, I'm okay." She smiled though the tears. "I think Jazz saved my life. And you, once again."

John glanced at the large black horse, now calm except for the occasional swish of tail. "And you can thank both of us later. Right now, I just want to take you to the house and keep you there."

"Sounds like a good idea." Elizabeth leaned against his shoulder heavily, suddenly feeling terribly tired. The stable doors closed behind them and she breathed a sigh of relief. This ordeal was finally well and truly over.

A/N: I really wasn't thinking about The Eye when I wrote this chapter, just noticed afterwards that it was a very similar situation - funnily enough that made its way into the story.