A/N: First I wanted to thank everyone that's taken the time to read all the SGA stuff I've posted. And a very special thank you to the reviewers. I appreciate any feedback anyone has to offer. The overwhelming positive has given me a ton of inspiration to keep going.

Sorry for being so quiet, lately. But a lot of the stuff I've posted, I already had written over the last couple of months. Twice in the past in other fandoms I've made the mistake of posting before something was finished, causing it to die out prematurely; and I won't make that mistake a third time. Also, there's been a bit of a crunch on time as work stuff gets rolling again. Unfortunately I'm no longer a peon and don't have as much time on my hands as I once did.

I'm working on a multi-chap that started with a dozen or so chapters. And now looks like it might rival Factus Humana before it's done. Unfortunately Lorne and I have been arguing over this one for months. I don't like it at all, but he loves the idea and keeps putting in more stuff. In other words, it's consuming most of my time and is nowhere near ready. In the meantime, I'm still working on snippets and tidbits like this one.

Enjoy!

Final Flight

Heaving a sigh, Brigadier General John Sheppard stepped out of the shower just barely suppressing a groan. He knew this was likely to be the last truly hot shower he would ever have; and his battered, scarred body thanked him. In his twenty plus years in Atlantis he'd seen just about everything. And his body was a roadmap of scars to prove it. For all their advancements in technology, nothing could heal the past.

Toweling off, he glanced around his near-empty quarters. It had been a long, and satisfying career. He was proud of what he'd accomplished in his life, and felt no qualms about leaving it all behind in the hands of younger, more energetic people. The city was a thriving hub of activity, now. Some days the traffic alone made it feel like the center of the Pegasus Galaxy. He'd never been one to give in to nostalgia, though, and didn't intend to do so now.

Forcing his aching knees to bend, Sheppard managed to sit down on his bed without falling; though the movement did elicit an audible groan this time. His body seemed to be protesting every action he'd ever taken. Today was probably the worst day of aches he'd felt in a while. It was almost as if his body was ensuring he wasn't going to second-guess his decision to retire.

But, it was a done deal. There was no going back, now. He'd signed the papers and sent them off to Earth a while ago. Today the torch had been passed to a proud and eager Colonel Lorne. The quiet goodbye were spoken in the confines of Sheppard's former office over a shot of bourbon. He'd already boxed up his few possessions and sent them to back to Earth with a letter to his brother. Most of the rest of the city knew, too; but had said their own farewells in quiet smiles and handshakes. He could not even verbally express how glad he was that his passing into retirement was being met with little fanfare. He hated people making a scene or a fuss.

As he relaxed back onto his bed for a moment, Sheppard closed his eyes to say one last goodbye to his home, Atlantis. He could sense the city around him. It was almost alive to him. She'd been good to him, and he'd protected her fiercely in return. But it was time to let go. Reaching out, he let his mind wander the corridors, peruse the endless lines of code, and just take in the general sense of wellness the city possessed at being so heavily populated and trafficked. The city was happy and safe, and that was enough for him.

With a longer, more drawn-out groan, Sheppard forced himself upright. It was time to go.

~o~o~o~

With a smirk Colonel Lorne turned around in the pilot's seat of the Jumper.

"I thought we already said goodbye," Sheppard grunted as he closed the rear hatch of the Jumper.

"We did, but someone's gotta bring back the Jumper. Might as well be me."

"Fine. But this is my last flight, so I'm going semi-traditional."

"So I heard," Lorne replied with a genuine smile, his blue eyes bright.

As Lorne moved to the back of the Jumper, out of sight of the viewscreen, his smile stayed in place. He was genuinely happy to see his long-time friend and commanding officer retiring. He'd known the General had been struggling for some time, even with all the medical technology. His body had decided it was done a while ago, but he'd been too stubborn to admit it. He just hoped half of what he'd heard about his friend's plans was true, so Sheppard could rest easy.

Sheppard managed to bite his lip enough not to groan audibly as he forced his badly swollen knees and hips to bend enough to get into the pilot's seat. As was tradition in the Air Force, he was going to have his final flight. Only, no one was going to see him; which wasn't so traditional, but it was how Sheppard wanted it. Opening the doors from the Jumper Bay to the beautiful, clear blue sky Sheppard nearly sighed with relief. It was almost over, now.

A moment later his lips thinned and he turned what had once been considered a lethal glare on his now former second in command sitting quietly in the back of the Jumper.

Lorne chuckled, explaining, "They all wanted to say goodbye, sir. Besides, it's traditional to have your family watch your final flight. So make it good, John."

Every balcony, every window, every pier was crammed with people. It seemed the entire city and then some had come to watch Sheppard's last flight. Though he'd never admit it, he was touched. Instead, he gave a pleased grunt and a wicked grin as he turned back toward the controls.

Thanks to the wonders of inertial dampeners, Sheppard made the Jumper dance. He could easily envision the screams and cheers of all the people who watched him glide around the city gracefully weaving around the buildings close enough to see their faces. It was a sign of trust that the Colonel sat in the back silently as he watched the nearly suicidal maneuvers. Lorne watched with amusement in the back as Sheppard finished, knowing what was coming next.

As Sheppard re-entered the Jumper Bay and then opened the lower doors to the Gate Room, Lorne moved up to the co-pilot's chair. They sat in silence as he dialed the gate and they slid through with hardly a whisper from the few people watching.

A few seconds later the two took in the view of Proculus when they exited the space gate above the planet. Even after all these years, Sheppard was still in awe of the raw beauty of seeing a planet from above. The greens and blues below shimmered like a gem to him. Knowing this was going to be the last time he ever saw a planet from this angle through a viewscreen, he savored it. Beside him, Lorne said nothing. This was Sheppard's journey. As far as he was concerned, they had all the time in the universe. Instead, he reflected on the first time he'd seen Earth from this angle. Aside from the different shapes of the continents, Proculus seemed very much the same.

Finally Sheppard gave a contented sigh and turned the Jumper nose down toward the planet. "I'm going to miss this, Evan."

"I know," he replied in his quiet voice that said so much more between friends.

The comfortable silence was maintained as Sheppard brought the Jumper down to land gently beside the village. Lorne, only in slightly better shape than his former CO stood first to offer a hand to Sheppard. For once, Sheppard accepted. Once on their feet, they headed toward the back of the Jumper. There, Sheppard opened the rear hatch and took a deep breath of the fresh air. He brought no bag, no supplies, and nothing of his old life. The moment he stepped out of the Jumper, he was no longer General John Sheppard. He would just be John Sheppard, for the first time in almost fifty years. With a smile, he turned to his friend to offer one last handshake. Instead, Lorne stepped back and snapped off a salute. With a warm smile, Sheppard returned the salute.

"Enjoy your retirement, John."

"Take care of my city, Evan."

"Yes, sir," Lorne popped off, one last time, amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

As soon as Sheppard cleared the ramp, Lorne fired up the Jumper and was gone. The former General watched for a moment, but was glad to note no sense of envy or loss. He'd chosen his path. He wasn't sure when he'd chosen, but a part of him felt like he'd always known where it would end once he'd realized he wasn't going to die gloriously in some battle against the Wraith. With a mental snicker at that image of his younger self, he turned his mind back toward his future.

He wasn't even startled when Chaya appeared out of thin air beside him as he walked toward the village. Without a word, she took him by the hand. Suddenly all the aches and pains and protests from his body faded away. He could feel renewed vigor and youth returning to him. Squeezing her hand gently, he gave her a smile.

"Didn't like the older version of me?" he teased, as they stopped to sit on a warm patch of grass beside the river.

"I did, but the pain it causes is you is clear."

"Fair enough. Besides, no one who knows will ever see me again, anyway."

"Yes," she replied, curling up against him as he put an arm around her.

"I've thought it over. I want to ascend," he finally announced.

"No you don't," she replied with a smile, snuggled against his chest. "But I appreciate the offer."

"I've waited decades for this," Sheppard stated, nuzzling her hair, taking in the scent of her. "What makes you think I'm not serious?"

"I can see your memories. You tried, once. Maybe someday, John. For now, let's just be."

"Be what?" he teased, earning a soft chuckle from her.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Sheppard let his past fade away. He was satisfied with what he'd accomplished in his life, but now he had a new life. And thanks to Chaya's surprise gift of renewed youth, they had all the time in the universe to just be. Maybe one day he would ascend to join her on that level of existence. But, for now, this moment could go on forever, along with so many more perfect moments.