He coughed.

It was choked and halting, but he coughed and that was enough for her. Breathing deeply, she forced herself away from him, pushing back the lightheaded feeling that lingered after her lips left his. Turning him on his side, she made sure he had a pulse and he was breathing before looking up to see Ronon standing over the very dead Wraith Queen.

"That was not very smart," he said dryly.

"I had to," she managed to get out. He nodded and pulled John to his feet. He was unconscious but alive, Ronon half-carried, half dragged John out of the throne room and towards the gate with Elizabeth following and Teyla covering the rear. It was a strange sight but the Wraith were sufficiently confused by the death of their Queen and made no move to attack.

"Ronon!" Rodney's hysterical voice came through the communicator, "Elizabeth's gone."

"She's with us," Ronon rumbled back, "I thought she had the best chance of finding Colonel Sheppard."

"This was your idea?" Rodney all but screamed, "why is Dawson half-dead!"

"Had to make sure she could fight, give him my sincerest apologies," he replied. Elizabeth shot him a look of deep thanks which he returned with a smile, leaving Teyla wondering why she wished a Wraith would attack. The Gate came into view and Ronon stopped.

"Here," he said slinging John between the two women, "go through, I have to finish this."

"What?" Teyla demanded, "what could you possibly have to finish?"

"Setting this," Ronon said holding up the bomb. Teyla slid John's arm off her shoulders and Elizabeth adjusted her stance accordingly. She walked up to Ronon, her eyes shining with determination.

"Get through the Gate," she said.

"No," he replied flatly.

"Ronon please. The bomb can destroy it from here—" she trailed off, "and send a large amount of debris through the Stargate," she swore under her breath, "so go set it, we'll wait here."

"No," he said, "you'll go through the Gate."

"Do not order me around," Teyla hissed, trying to stir some anger up instead of the growing dread. Ronon looked down at her, his eyes softening slightly. Not for the first time, Teyla wondered what life had been like for him before becoming a military man. Had he been more trusting, did he have a family? Did Sateda have something like John's ball games? She'd catch him at times with a far off look in his eyes, lost in some memory and wished she could figure out what it was. Dimly she realized Ronon was talking to her.

"And shut the Gate down."

"Ronon," Elizabeth said sharply, "there has to be another way."

"No," he said flatly, "go through the Gate and set I'll set the bomb. Shut it down so no debris get through."

"So you can sacrifice yourself?" Elizabeth demanded, "no. Three men have already lost their lives on this mission, I won't make it four."

"What do you suggest?" he asked.

"Set the bomb and run like hell," she said, "I'm not closing that Gate until you're through it. I'll evacuate the Gate room, but I won't shut it down."

He nodded his consent.

"Good luck," Elizabeth said and stepped through the Gate with John, leaving Teyla and Ronon alone. To her shock, the warrior bent down and picked her up, walking over to the Gate and depositing her right in front of it.

"You're not coming with me," He said flatly. Teyla opened and closed her mouth, trying to figure out exactly how to tell him she was coming with him whether he liked it or not. He solved the problem by grabbing her shoulders and pressing his lips to hers. Teyla gasped at the contact before sinking into it, her breath escaping her lips. Before she knew what was happening she was falling through the Gate and landing on the cold floor of the Gate room.

"We're evacuating the room, come on!" someone grabbed her arm and she backhanded them furiously, heading towards the Gate, ready to kill him for kissing her, then throwing her through the Gate.

"Let me through," she said, her voice deadly. The Marine wavered but stood his ground, "Let me through," she repeated, "I'm going to kill him myself! Move!"

"Teyla!" Elizabeth was beside her instantly, grabbing her with force that surprised the warrior, "Teyla come on, we have to get out of here, he wouldn't want you to die like this," she said, pulling her away from the Gate. Teyla gasped and they all froze as white light blinded them before blackness took over.