When I read the end of the last chapter I realised I was setting you up for an anti-climax. I've mulled over the ending for ages and I'm getting annoyed with this story now coz I've got another one brewing! So this will not please everyone coz you all want different things so here goes…

csiAngel: You're so nice all the time! Thank you! Hope you like this chapter.

Ashkash: I've finally finished! Thanks for the suggestions and the reviews.

Worth It

10. Endings and Beginnings

As soon as the doors to the briefing room closed Caldwell's head shot round and he gasped when he saw Elizabeth. He quickly stood up and faced her.

"Elizabeth."

Instead of answering Elizabeth let the disappointment and disgust on her face do all the talking. Seeing her expression Ryan's shocked face dissolved into a stony one and sat back down. Elizabeth folded her arms and just watched him. After what seemed like forever Ryan spoke, his voice quiet.

"I don't what happened."

His statement surprised Elizabeth, as she hadn't thought getting a confession would have been that easy. Hearing the despair in his voice Elizabeth sighed and sat opposite him.

"Why?" she asked softly but her face show coldness. "You could have killed him Ryan." He looked away clearly ashamed and Elizabeth clasped her hands. "Didn't you think we'd find out?"

Staring at the table he answered, "I snapped. His file was sitting there and I…just snapped." He also clasped his hands and began examining them. "What have Blake and Sanders told you?"

Elizabeth frowned at his question. "Does it matter? You just admitted to me what you did."

Ryan looked at her with pleading eyes. "Whatever they said ignore them. It was only me, I'm the one who beat Sheppard."

Elizabeth realised that both must have helped in someway and Caldwell was covering for them. His act of selflessness surprised her and she nodded although she knew they were not out of trouble yet. Again Ryan studied his hands and his lack of eye contact was beginning to annoy her.

"Ryan, please look at me!" she demanded. When he did Elizabeth saw the pain in his eyes. "I didn't need to see you but I though you'd might appreciate it. After all I am the one who caused everything!"

It was now his turn to look astonished. "What?"

"I shouldn't have said the things I did. I was just…angry and hurt-"

"You had every right to be." Ryan jumped in. Both stared at each other with wide eyes not believing what the other said. "Elizabeth you were right to call me a coward. Why else do you think I went off on one?"

They sat in silence processing each other's apologies until Ryan spoke first again. "There's something else I need to tell you, before Sheppard does. During…the incident, I made some, um, threats."

Cocking her head to the side she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What kind of threats?"

Just then the doors swung open and Bates along with Ford rushed into the room. "Dr Weir is everything okay?" Ford asked while Bates aimed his P90 at Caldwell.

"Yes Ford, everything is fine. What's going on?" Elizabeth questioned puzzled.

"Ma'am Colonel Caldwell apparently threatened to hurt you during his attack on Colonel Sheppard!" Bates explained still focussing on the man in question. "He told Dr Beckett after he woke up."

"What?" Elizabeth whispered and turned to face Ryan who pursed his lips. His remorse was clearly etched on his face but Elizabeth had had enough.

"I'm sorry Liz." He said his voice becoming desperate when she stood up. "I didn't mean it I was just angry. I said it to scare Sheppard that was all!"

"According to Colonel Sheppard he was, uh, going to, uh, force himself on you." Ford stuttered trying to emphasise the danger they thought she was in.

Elizabeth glared at Ryan with a hurt expression and then began to walk away.

"No! I would never hurt you-"

"Then why say it? How could even suggest it Ryan?" she asked spinning round to face him.

He shook his head unable to say anything and Elizabeth stood up straight. "I hope you enjoy your trip back to Earth. I'm sure Stargate Command will deal with you appropriately."

Ryan watched her retreating form feeling the last bit of his world crumble. He had lost everything, the woman he loved, his career, now he was going to be shunted back to Earth for court-marshal. If only I had said yes that day he thought and lowered his head when Elizabeth was no longer in sight.


ONE WEEK LATER

"You know I could get used to this." John murmured as Elizabeth held out a plate with a turkey sandwich on it.

Rolling her eyes as he snatched it and took a big mouthful she then placed the plate back on the desk and sat at the edge of his bed. "Well, don't. Carson says you can actually leave your quarters tomorrow and after that you'll have to get your own!"

"Awww!" came the muffled reply and Elizabeth raised her eyebrows when the last of the sandwich disappeared. "Hungry?"

John nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. "Starving!" Elizabeth chuckled.

"So, how are you feeling today?"

"Bit better. Not so sore but I began to get this really annoying pain in my ass yesterday."

Elizabeth raised one eyebrow. "Huh?" When John pointed to the familiar small Ancient device sitting on his bedside she recalled it was the one Rodney had been prattling on about in the infirmary. "Ah! Well, at least Carson's getting a rest from Rodney."

"Lucky him!" John muttered and scowled at Elizabeth when she laughed. "Well, if you're not going to be nursing me anymore, can I at least hope I'll be seeing more of you in here?"

Elizabeth saw the mischievous glint in his eyes and slid over so she was beside him. "Well, I don't know about that." She said in a seductive voice then placed a hand over his. Staring intently into his eyes she then said, "It all depends on whether you'll be honest with me from now on."

He made a mock pensive face and after a series of "Hmmm" 's Elizabeth slapped his arm and he grinned. "Deal!"

"Then you will be seeing more of me." And with that John captured Elizabeth's lips with a soft kiss. When they broke apart Elizabeth could see the longing in his eyes and shivered when he ran his hand along her thigh to her waist. When he leaned in for another kiss this one was more fiery and passionate and both became lost in the moment. Finally Elizabeth pulled back with a smirk. "But you won't be seeing that much so soon."

That was like a cold bucket of water over the head for John and he sighed in frustration. "Damn these cracked ribs!" He cried and moaned when Elizabeth moved off the bed. "Do you have to go?"

She knew why he was so against her leaving but it was something Elizabeth had to do. "I have to John. I know everything he did was wrong but I can't just watch him leave without saying goodbye."

"You have nothing to feel guilty about Elizabeth. Caldwell will get what he deserves." John muttered and Elizabeth put on her jacket.

Leaning towards him she gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll only be 15 minutes." As she gazed at him his eyebrows shot up.

"Then I'm coming too." And with that he swung his legs out of bed and began putting on his boots while grunting at the pain in his chest.

"John that's not a good idea." Elizabeth warned but when he stared at her she saw the determination in his face and realised she had been the same not so long ago. Sighing she said, "Okay."


When they reached the brig Sheppard was glad to see Ford and Stackhouse guarding the entrance. "Sir!" they both snapped and saluted and John nodded to each in return.

"We've come to say…goodbye to the prisoner." He said and Ford noticed how he emphasised the word 'goodbye' realising it must have been Dr Weir's idea.

"Yes sir." He replied and opened the brig door.

Walking in Sheppard and Weir saw Caldwell lying on the bench and Sheppard knew he must have damn uncomfortable during this past week. It had been requested by Stargate Command that Caldwell remain here until this day as many events were taking place at the base. They were bogged down with treaties, homeless aliens and a plant that was growing out of control. John remembered being worried when Sergeant Harriman mentioned the word 'again' after the plant explanation. So Atlantis had been keeping two prisoners recently. Caldwell being one and Blake being the other. He was in the next cell in the other brig and John was still angry that Sanders had gotten away with just being a witness to his attack.

He heard Elizabeth clear her throat. "Ryan?"

Caldwell sat up and looked shocked to see them. After his threat had been revealed during their last meeting the disgraced marine had not expected to ever see Elizabeth again.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" he asked and stole a glimpse at Sheppard who shot a hostile glare back at him.

"I just wanted to say goodbye." Elizabeth told him. Ryan's mouth opened slightly and then seemed to be waiting for more but she said nothing else.

"Oh… goodbye Liz. I hope things go well for you." He said sadly and took a deep breath as she walked away. Before John left Ryan called him back.

"Sheppard!"

Slowly turning to face him Sheppard raised his eyebrows expectantly. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry for everything."

John tried to hide his amazement by biting his lip and glaring at him. "Sorry?" His voice was dripping in sarcasm and Ryan nodded. John sighed and was about to walk away when he saw Elizabeth looking back at them. Staring at her for a minute John realised he could further distance himself from the marine by accepting the apology. Returning his attention back to Caldwell he shrugged. "Okay."

The two men stared at each other for a minute and Sheppard sensed Caldwell wanted to say something else. He glanced at his watch to hint his restlessness and Ryan coughed.

"Also, take care of Elizabeth for me."

John couldn't ignore the sincerity his voice and knew if he were in his position, again, he'd ask the same thing. Hell he'd being doing so since they'd first arrived in Pegasus.

"I will."

A quick moment of understanding passed between the two men and finally John left the brig. Once outside Elizabeth gave him a small smile then turned to Ford.

"Prep the prisoners for their trip back to Earth. Have them in the gateroom in 15 minutes."

Both marines nodded in understanding and the two leaders made their way to the control room. When they arrived John glanced around at the technicians and equipment. Since Caldwell had been relieved of his command the SGC stated they would like Sheppard to assume command once again of the military issues and Weir the general running of Atlantis. John allowed a large smile to envelope his face and Elizabeth gave him a puzzled look.

"What?"

"Nothing, just, feels like things are back to normal." When she realised his meaning she too grinned and reached out to squeeze his hand.

"Ma'am, Caldwell and Blake are ready to leave and Stargate Command are awaiting their arrival."

"Dial the gate." Weir ordered as she and John went onto the balcony to watch.

After the chevrons lit up around the ring the huge puddle emerged and Ford walked Caldwell and Blake to the event horizon. Before both stepped through Caldwell looked up at the couple standing on the balcony. Glancing at Elizabeth and then at John, the pilot realised the purpose of the action. He nodded to reaffirm his promise of looking after Elizabeth and breathed a sigh of relief when they disappeared into the pool.

Once the gate shut down both lingered staring at the gate. Finally Elizabeth looked at John. "You should go back to bed. Carson will have a fit if he finds out you were here."

Sheppard grimaced and pointed past her shoulder. Elizabeth followed his finger and saw Rodney at a control console. "Somehow I think he'll find out!"

The scientist looked up as if sensing they were talking about him and smirked at them. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" John was surprised he wasn't calling Carson right there and then.

"I was just going" John assured him matching the smirk and them looked back at Elizabeth. "Will I see you tonight?" When she raised an eyebrow he held up his hands. "Just for some company. Besides, we can make up for lost time when I'm better!"

His heart leapt when she smiled and her eyes twinkled. It was then that John knew he would keep his promise to Caldwell, no matter what. The woman before him was definitely worth it.

THE END

A/N: I'll have another story up soon. I really appreciate all the reviews and thanks for sticking with me!