Okay...so I hadn't planned on writing a second chapter for this story, but it jumped into my head and wouldn't go away.

Kenobi, Chapter 2

The shield in front of the Atlantis Stargate drops, allowing Major Sheppard and his team to step through. They, like all the other teams, have finally stopped glancing up at the empty balcony in front of the control room.

It's been a long, painful year since the death of Dr. Weir. By now, most everything has gone back to normal. At least as normal as things can be under the constant threat of a Wraith attack.

Nobody talks about the most obvious reminder of Dr. Weir's death – the change in Major Sheppard. He is still full of witty and often sarcastic comments, but his eyes no longer hold the excitement and flare for life they had before. There is an unending sadness in their depths that he tries to hide and everyone sees, but doesn't mention.

They were genuinely worried about John at first. Dr. Beckett was forced to sedate him when he refused to let go of Elizabeth's body. Ford and McKay stood on either side of their CO when they flew out on a jumper and committed Dr. Weir's body to the sea. It was partly a measure of support and partly for fear that John would jump in after her.

All of Atlantis had seen John and Elizabeth's mutual respect for one another, but no one had suspected the true depth of their feelings. Even Sheppard's team, his closest friends, were surprised by his reaction to her death.

For weeks after the funeral, Major Sheppard walked the halls of Atlantis like a zombie. He looked like his very soul had been ripped away. His eyes were dead and void of emotion. He showed no signs of caring about the world around him. It wasn't until the others started talking about a counter-attack against the Genii and Manarians that the mask fell.

"No," Sheppard had said in a voice that hadn't uttered a word since Dr. Weir's death. A voice that grew stronger with each word.

"If you think that attacking them is going to honor Dr. Weir, then none of you knew her at all. If they choose come back, then let's hope we can show more mercy than they showed Elizabeth. But this isn't what she died for. She gave her life for Atlantis and we're going to honor that sacrifice. No starting unnecessary wars. We focus on finding a way to protect the city, learn the secrets it holds, and hopefully defeat the Wraith. That will be her legacy."

Now, a year later, that legacy seems to finally be coming to fruition. All activity in the control and gate rooms stop as they watch the team come through the gate. McKay steps forward, holding two ZPMs tightly in his arms. Major Sheppard looks up at the control room, ignoring the stab of pain when he catches sight of the empty balcony at the edge of his vision.

"Peter," he orders. "Report."

"Four Wraith Hive Ships within range of the planet," Grodin responds.

"ETA?"

"20 minutes before they break the atmosphere. Less for the Dart Fighters. I'm guessing 15 minutes, tops, before they're on us."

The major turns to McKay.

"I don't know," he starts, clearly flustered. "I still have to make sure one or both of these are viable. And we need to make sure that the shield and weapon systems are still active after all this time. Then-"

"Rodney!" Sheppard interrupts. "Focus."

McKay swallows hard. "I need more time."

"How much more?" asks Ford.

"As much as I can get."

John looks back up at the control room, not seeing Peter, but focusing on a spot just behind him on the floor. A series of unreadable emotions pass over his face before he turns to McKay.

"You've got time. Work quickly, but don't rush and screw this up."

McKay's brows knit together, then raise when the truth behind the Major's words hits him. He opens his mouth to say something, but Sheppard's words stop him.

"I have faith in you, Rodney. You may not be Superman, but I know you can save Atlantis – again."

Rodney's head drops at hearing words that sound so achingly familiar.

"You know," he says sadly, "one of these days, I'm going to get tired of playing hero."

Sheppard smiles. "No you won't."

"I'll do my best," says McKay, looking up at John.

"I know. Now go," orders Sheppard. "And whatever you do, don't drop those things."

McKay runs out of the gate room, yelling for Zelenka. Sheppard gazes fondly at the Stargate and the room around him before walking out. Ford and Teyla, after sharing a confused look, follow the major. They break out in a run when they realize where he's headed. The two catch him just inside the jumper bay.

"This is suicide!" yells Ford.

"Maybe," says Sheppard calmly as the back door of the jumper starts to open. "But it's really the only way. You heard McKay, he needs time and I can give him that."

"Then I'm going with you," says Ford defiantly.

John places his hand on Ford's chest to keep him from walking into the jumper and smiles.

"Now that would just be stupid. You know they need you here. With Bates gone, you'll be the ranking military officer if I don't come back." They had lost Bates in a firefight with the Wraith several months back. At the time, John had wondered why he had survived, now he knew.

"You can't do this."

"But I am. And I'm doing it alone. I need you to make sure the city defenses are ready to go when McKay gives the word. "

"Yes, sir." Ford straightens, giving Sheppard a formal salute. John returns the salute and the young lieutenant leaves the jumper bay at a run.

"Help him understand," John says to Teyla, who is standing nearby with tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

"I will try," she responds before wrapping her arms around him in a hug, as humans do. She pulls back and holds John at arms length. "I know she is waiting for you in the Other Life."

"That's not why I'm doing this."

"I know," Teyla says with a small smile. "You have had many other opportunities if that was your intention."

John places his forehead against hers. "You've been a good friend, Teyla."

"And you, Major Sheppard."

Sheppard steps backward into the jumper, closing the door behind him. He settles into the pilot's seat and can almost see his imagined Elizabeth sitting next to him. It's the same Elizabeth he talks to on the balcony during days when it's hard to remember a reason to keep fighting, to keep living. In his mind, he can hear her infectious laughter.

"Just don't expect me to tell you to use the Force, John."

Thinking of Elizabeth gives him courage and the jumper rises up to meet the first wave of Wraith Dart Fighters. The ruse works. The Wraiths focus on the jumper as it destroys everything in its path. Atlantis, for now, is forgotten. But there are more Darts than one ship can handle and soon he's down to just one drone.

John sees a flicker as the Atlantis shield comes up, then fades. He fires his last drone at a Dart, but it turns at the last minute and the drone only damages it. Sheppard watches in horror as the fighter dives toward the center of Atlantis. With no drones left, he uses the only weapon he has left. The jumper speeds to intercept the Dart.

In the moment before impact, Sheppard knows that his death will be quick and painless. He has a moment to think this isn't fair when her death was lingering and filled with pain. But when the jumper collides with the fighter, all John can see is Elizabeth's welcoming smile.

Out on the balcony, Teyla watches as the jumper and Dart explode in the sky just above Atlantis. The shield finally engages and the debris that rains down bounces harmlessly against it. A second wave of Dart Fighters approach, but a flurry of drones rise out of Atlantis and cuts through them. The drones continue to rise, up toward the hive ships that have broken through the planet's atmosphere. Ford and McKay join Teyla at the railing as the sky is filled with the brilliance of a thousand explosions when the drones hit their targets.

"She is one with the sea and now he is part of the sky," Teyla says reverently. "The legacy of Atlantis belongs to them both."

"I just hope we can live up to that legacy," says Ford.

"They had faith in us," adds McKay with conviction. "It's time to have faith in ourselves."

The End.


No, seriously, this is the end. I'm not adding any more. I'll let you, the reader, decide if you want to imagine John and Elizabeth together in the "Other Life" or if they're just gone, willing martyrs to the legacy of Atlantis.

And for the record, I love both John and Elizabeth. (Anyone who has read my earlier stories knows that.) So I would never wish either character to be killed off – ever. I may just be going through a dark phase. Hope you guys liked the story anyway.