Chapter Ten:


Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy

Elizabeth watched the Stargate slowly activate. She knew who it was. She could feel it. It was John and the others, returning. Whether with good news or bad, it was impossible to tell.

As the event horizon splashed out, and the shield flickered and died, she took the steps three at a time as she watched the people walk through, each with a tight, sad expression on their face. Elizabeth felt her heart tighten to breaking point until she saw a slightly bloody, but mostly worn John Sheppard walk through the gate. She threw herself toward him, feeling his arms come around her, until she noticed his body was shaking with sobs.

Pulling back, she looked at his red eyes with question. Answering her silent question, he looked at Jack, who was standing alone in the corner of the gate room, pummeling the walls with his fists. He slid to the ground as everything fell into painful clarity.

"Is she-?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes spilling over with tears. John shook his head.

"Taken." He whispered, "In a dart. Right in front of Jack."

Elizabeth looked around at the people surrounding her. The nurses were attending Bates, his team, and an unconscious Ford, Rodney was crying onto Kate's shoulder, her own eyes filled with tears. Teyla was silently watching the proceedings, her face unreadable. Elizabeth fell back into John's arms, crying silently as John hugged her.

"We have to rescue her." Said a cold voice from near them. Elizabeth straightened, wiping the tears from her eyes, as she looked into the hard face of O'Neill. She rested her hand against his arm.

"We will," She whispered, "We will."

With a swift nod, he turned and briskly walked out of the room. Elizabeth gave a worried glance at John.

He nodded.

"I'll go." He whispered, kissing her cheek before running from the room, dumping his vest and gun by the door.


John found Jack sitting alone, on the balcony John knew so well. It was raining; waves were slamming into the walls of Atlantis as the rain soaked John's clothes. Jack was already soaked to the skin, but he either didn't notice or care, staring into nothingness.

John sat beside him, wrapping his arms around his knees.

"We can save her you know." John whispered. Jack just stared, his eyes, a scary thing to see. It was as if they were soulless.

John reached out and tapped Jack's arm. Jack turned his head to look at John. Only then did John realize the rain on his face was actually tears.

"I can't leave her there…" Jack whispered, his voice croaky. "I watched her father die in her arms, and I promised myself I would never let anything happen to her."

John nodded.

"It's not your fault, you know. And we will save her."

Jack looked at him for a long while, his eyes growing redder and redder as tears poured out.

"We're in love." He whispered. "I've loved her for years. She loves me too. I was thinking of retiring…so...so we could be together."

John nodded. Jack might not have noticed, but John could sense Elizabeth standing behind them, watching them through the open door. He glanced back and nodded slightly, as Elizabeth, returned the nod, walking out onto the balcony and turning to Jack.

"I've authorized a rescue mission." She said steadily, although John could hear her voice wavering. "You and Major Sheppard will return and retrieve the Colonel. But the same rules apply as the last mission –if you have to, you know what you have to do." Jack looked up at her and nodded.

"Thank-you." He said throatily. He climbed to his feet and held out his arm for John. "I'll make sure you get him back in one piece." He added, looking between them. He nodded and walked back inside.

Elizabeth leaned into John's embrace, kissing him softly.

"I just got you back, and now I'm losing you again." She whispered. John shook his head.

"Your not losing me," He placed his mouth near her ear, "I'll always come back to you."

She nodded.

"You better." She sniffled and John wiped away her tears with his thumb. Kissing her on the cheek, he turned and followed in the direction Jack had gone.

Elizabeth took one last long look at the sea, before following.

Ttfn!