Twenty one

John has just stepped through the grate when the doorbell rang. Hermione stood with Teyla and Ronon ready to do battle; she would have ignored the knock, except no one was supposed to know they were here- even the muggle postman couldn't find them. She looked furtively around the room unsure of what to do; answer the door or follow Harry to Godric's hollow? This time someone banged and kicked on the door, and she determined to answer. "I'd better get that, no one ever comes here."

He husband looked worried; he wanted to help Harry, but was unwilling to leave his wife to answer the door to potential enemies. Voldemort had already attacked once today, who was to say he wouldn't again? Harry's team were eyeing each other, Ron admired and longed for the closeness they had. The easy with which they acted toward each other- words were not needed, they were worried about their 'John', his Harry, and a mutiny was clearly brewing within them.

Hermione open the door with care, poking her wand outside and called "hello?"

Harry stood there, looking worse for wear. There was blood matted into his hair, drying down the side of his handsome face. Mud and dirt clung to his clothes with even more blood splattered over his top. In short, he looked like shite. His eyes were wide, with a desperate, wild look, mixed in with the obvious pain, he was trying unsuccessfully to conceal.

"Oh my God, Harry!" She swung the door open wide, grabbed Harry's arm forcefully and yanked him into the building. Unbalanced by her 'care', John stumbled on tired legs and fell into Hermione, and they both cascaded into the hallway with a clash of bodies sprawled about the old tiled floor.

Voices were calling him, swirling around his head. He blanked out for a few moments, content in the knowledge that he'd heard all their voices. Filled with shock, worry and love for him but most importantly, they were there. All of them- alive. If his heart could burst though his chest with glee, it surely would have done so.

There were arms grabbing him, lifting him off the floor. He whimpered and moaned in agony, as his battered body was moved. He needed to explain, the words were chocked up in his throat, and he rasped "Voldemort's… gone."

He heard gasps of disbelief around him, he reached out and somehow found Molly's arm. She bent down to listen to him, as his friends lowered him onto the soft sofa, in the kitchen. "I kept my promise." He whispered through harsh breaths. She looked ready to cry, as Carson started to fuss. John lost his battle with sleep, a few moments later.

He woke to someone humming softly near his ear. Wiping the sleep from his eye, he turned and bathed in the image before him. Teyla was there, reading a book, by his bedside. He stared around the room, unwilling to disturb her. He knew exactly where he was- he knew the sights and smell better than anywhere on earth, or not on earth as the case my be. Atlantis. He could feel his city humming and cooing in his hear. A wave of peace swept across him. He'd made it back home. He shifted slightly in the bed and winced when his ribs protested the move. Teyla quickly called for Dr Beckett and proceeded to help him into a sitting position. "Thanks Teyla."

Carson came rushing into John's room with Rodney and Ron in tow. Sheppard did a double take when he saw his old friend- clearly there were question that needed answering. "Hey buddy, you're awake!"

Astute, very astute.

"So it seems. What's going on? How did we all get back here?" John asked, hoping Rodney would provide the answers- which he did.

"Oh, well you fainted…" John cleared his throat at the use of the 'forbidden' word.

"Right, passed out. Anyway, that happened so Hermione, Ginny and Ron here, decided to use a portkey to get us all home to Atlantis because you needed medical attention and Carson didn't trust the wizard Dr." he finished succinctly.

"Nutshell eah?" John caught Ron's eye and they both suppressed a smirk at McKay's response.

"Pretty much, yes… you know… in a nutshell." He looked furtively between the two old school friends, causing them both to abandon the pretence and laugh out loud.