Chapter 14: Holding On

"Major, how the hell did you get down here? I thought you were piloting a jumper." John asked, shouting over the noise.

"Uh, we're from a different reality sir." Lorne answered as he reloaded his gun

"Different reality?" Came a familiar voice.

" Carson?" Laura asked looking to her left- shocked to see Carson standing there, a gun in hand and alive and well.

"Laura?" Carson asked, he himself looking shocked to see Laura alive and well too.

After more shooting, John turned to look at Lorne. "Major, I take it that your Atlantis is still safe?" Lorne nodded and John smiled. "Good. Carson, take the ZPM and go with them."

"What?" Carson asked, not believing what he was hearing.

"You heard me! Atlantis is about to fall. Take the ZPM and go." John ordered. "I know that they aren't our people, but at least you'd be on a Atlantis that has survived- now go!"

To make sure that his orders were carried out John sprinted out of the lab and shut the door behind him- locking it as well.

"What's going on?" Lorne asked looking towards the closed door.

"The Asurans are attacking." Carson answered simply, dropping his gun on the ground. "Not good I know- but there's no way that we're going to make it out there... can I come with you Major?"

"Uh, I don't see why not." Lorne stated. "Our Carson died a couple months ago." He paused as the door began to buckle. "But I'll explain later..."

He turned the dial and in a flash of white light- disappeared.

oOo

"Sir, are we ever going to find them?" Laura asked as they arrived in yet another reality.

"I hope so Cadman. I hope so." Lorne agreed with a sigh.

"Cadman? Major Lorne?" Rodney asked his head peaking out from behind a control panel. "Is that you? Are you my Major Lorne?"

"I don't know- what was the last thing that you did."

"I activated this stupid thing and Ronan and Sheppard ended up here with me." Rodney answered motioning to the quantum gate.

"And Colonel Sheppard is a Colonel?" Lorne asked, watching as Rodney nodded. "And Atlantis is-?"

"On New 'Lantia of course...!"

"So far we're two for two." Lorne stated with a smile.

"What, don't you think that I'm your Rodney?" Rodney asked irritably, his hands on his hips. "Well, here's something that only I would know. A couple of months ago a jerk named 'Rod' came through to our reality and-"

"And this is our Rodney." Lorne answered with a smile. "We found you guys."

"Oh thank god." Rodney muttered in relief. "How did you find us?"

"This." Lorne answered simply pointing to the bracelet. "We can go home with this."

"See!" Rodney exclaimed turning to the silent Zelenka. "That's missing in this reality. No wonder I couldn't get this device to work. Now, let me just radio Elizabeth to get John and Ronan out of that damn infirmary and-"

Suddenly there was a groan of pain that stopped Rodney mid-sentence. "What was that?"

Carson stumbled forward and fell to the ground- his face looking to be in two directions at once. "Ugh- what is this?"

"Long story McKay." Lorne answered simply and quickly as he moved to help Carson to his feet. "Get our people down here."

"Rodney to Elizabeth..."

oOo

"I understand Rodney thank you." Elizabeth stated, answering the voice in her earpiece before turning to John who was now awake. "Your people found you."

He looked up in surprise and Elizabeth merely nodded. "You can go home now."

"Can you see Ronan and I to the lab?" John asked weakly.

"Of course."

oOo

"Dr. Weir!" Zelenka radioed his voice full of excitement. "Zelenka to Dr. Weir! Major Lorne and his team has found them!"

"Really?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes widening in surprise. Kate had left her hours ago and she had started to fall asleep.

"Yes," Zelenka stated excitedly. "And not only have they brought a ZPM what someone else as well..."

oOo

"Well it's been very enlightening." Rodney answered as he turned to walk through the quantum gate which allowed him to see his reality beyond it's shimmering surface.

"It has." Elizabeth agreed with a smile, watching as Ronan walked through to the other side. "Goodbye Rodney, don't get into too much trouble."

"I'll try not too."

oOo

" Carson!" Elizabeth exclaimed in shock as she was wheeled into the lab by Dr. Keller.

"Lass!" Carson exclaimed in shock as well. "You're alright- sorta..."

"You're alive..." Elizabeth whispered with a smile. "...I can't believe it."

"It's a long story lass..." Carson stated with his normal heart-warming smile and Elizabeth could only look to Major Lorne with thankful eyes.

"Good job Major."

"It was nothing ma'am."

And with that- Major Lorne, Rodney, Ronan, Lt. Cadman, Carson, Zelenka and the other two marines left the lab. Elizabeth wheeled herself over to the quantum mirror and saw her John talking to a spitting image of herself. She could see how close they were standing together and a pang of jealousy ran through her.

'Can you be jealous of yourself?' She thought wonderingly as she looked at the two of them.

"Guess this is goodbye then..." Elizabeth whispered quietly, watching her wheelchair bound self in the other reality.

"I guess it is." John answered simply as another wave of pain crashed through him. "I uh- just wanted to thank you Elizabeth- for helping us."

"It was nothing..." Elizabeth stated with a smile. "...you've given me hope. Knowing that he's still alive and out there somewhere- if it hadn't been for you I would have never known that my beloved John is alive."

"Yes well- you're welcome." John whispered awkwardly.

Elizabeth glanced into his reality and saw a look on her counterpart's face and smiled. "Your people are waiting..." She gazed back up at John. "...Take care of them. And take care of her- your Elizabeth. She cares for you more than you know."

When John simply stared down at the Elizabeth before him in shock, she continued. "I know because she is me; we may be realities away but she's still me. And she looks at you the same way that I look at my own beloved John."

John was too stunned for words and Elizabeth had to smile. "Go,"

With a nod, John turned to face the gate- glancing over his shoulder only once to say; "Thank you."

And then he was gone and Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you-" She whispered to the empty room. "And goodbye, my beloved..."

A/N- Hello beloved readers. I've started school so this will be regulated to weekly monday updates. Thank you to Anuna and Ginger and Lemons for reviewing the last chapter- and hey, I'll do anything for a review. I hope that all my beloved readers will review this story cause I'm getting a boatload of hits...so PLEASE take the time to read and review this chapter. I would really apreciate it. You'll get another update soon if we get past 55 reviews...