Coming Home

Spoilers: Not intentionally, but references to both seasons may slip in on occasion.

Rating: T for some mild language and potentially disturbing images in later chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or any of the characters associated with it.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I have five typed pages of outline for the story I set out to write. Somewhere in Chapter Three, a simple plot device reared up and staged a coup and this story has taken over. I fought it for a while (I still have the five pages of original notes) but have recently surrendered to the bunnies.I hope the bunnies know what they're doing!


Chapter Two

Sheppard ambled along the maze of hallways with Jesi in tow. She watched him move, his familiar rolling stride melting away the awkwardness born from time and distance. He stopped beside a closed door and turned to face her.

"I still can't believe you're here." He shot her a bemused smile. "I think you'll like these quarters. Hopefully you will keep them cleaner than your old room back home!"

"Hey! Your room wasn't exactly pristine, if memory serves! Now, let me in!" Jesi punched him in the arm playfully.

"Ow! That's not nice!" Sheppard rubbed his arm, faking an injury. "Just for that, I'm not letting you in. If you want inside, you need to figure out how to open the door."

Sheppard leaned casually against the wall and watched the confusion play over Jesi's delicate features. Tony's death had imprinted small grief lines around her eyes, but she was just as beautiful at thirty-five as she'd been at five. He wished he could have been there for her during the funeral, but had been deployed himself at the time, then exiled to Antarctica.

"What am I missing? Don't I just need to waive my hand in front of the control unit?" Jesi asked with a perplexed frown.

"Ah, but anyone can do that! When you have the ATA gene, you don't need the control panel. Just ask Atlantis to open the door, but remember to say please. She's a stickler for manners." He watched her with a faint smile.

Jesi gave him an assessing look, trying to figure out if he was playing a prank. After deciding he was serious, she closed her eyes. She stood absolutely still, controlling her breathing, feeling the city as it hummed around her. She imagined the door sliding open and was surprised as a trill of energy coursed through her mind. She felt rather than heard the quiet snick. She opened her eyes and gasped at the vacant doorway awaiting her.

"Did I do that?" she asked with amazement.

Sheppard's grin spread. "Funny, I asked the same thing the first time I activated something ancient." He nudged her through the doorway. "Now, think lights!"

No sooner had he suggested it, than Jesi thought it, and the room exploded with light. She grinned at him and moved forward to the center of the space. She turned a slow circle, taking in the beautiful stained glass windows, the multi-colored sunbeams dappling the walls and ceiling. On the floor next to the narrow bed, lay a homespun rug, patterned with an intricate design resembling the spires of Atlantis floating on an ocean of blues and greens and capped with frothy sea foam. The rest of the room contained simple furnishings: a polished wooden dresser in which to place her clothing; a desk complete with lap top and printer; a plush burgundy easy chair and small side table; empty book shelves just waiting to be filled with her favorite stories; and a private bathroom decorated in sea green and midnight blue tile.

"It's perfect, John-John!" Jesi spun around and encased him in a bear hug.

Sheppard grunted and squeezed back. He kissed her lightly on top of her shining blonde hair. Breathing in deeply, he smelled the light lavender scent that epitomized Jesi. Brief flashes, childhood memories, assailed him like salty seawater washing over a gaping gash.

"Glad you like it Jesilyn. My room is right down the hall if you ever need me." Sheppard stepped back, identical sets of hazel eyes met. "Feel like moving in?"

"Oh yeah!" Jesi exclaimed with a grin. "I didn't bring much, but what I have is in my visitors' quarters."

"I'll help you get settled. Come on." He grabbed her hand and gave a tug, leading her out of the room. "Don't forget to think the door shut!"

Jesi turned and concentrated. The door snicked shut without much effort. She laughed and dragged him faster, bouncing excitedly down the hall.

"This is so cool! I'm going to love it here, John-John! I missed you so much!"

Sheppard slowed and pulled her to a stop. "I missed you, too, kiddo." He gave her a long, tight hug before pulling back and clearing his throat. "Let's round up some help and get you moved."


Atlantis beamed as she watched the two siblings hurry down the hall, deep in conversation. John was right, she did appreciate good manners, and sweet Jesi had asked so nicely for the door to open. Finally, after so many generations of loneliness, her progeny were coming home.
"Where's your sister?" McKay asked that evening as he and Sheppard finished their dinner in the cafeteria.

"She's settling in, unpacking her stuff. I introduced her to Katie Brown, and they're decorating her room." Sheppard's bland expression belied his inner mirth at the look on McKay's face. Those buttons were screaming again and he just couldn't help himself.

"You introduced her to... Why would you do that?" McKay asked crossly.

"I thought Katie could give her pointers on how to manage working with you… and any other helpful Rodney tidbits she might want to divulge. Face it, McKay, Jesi's going to need all the help she can get!" Sheppard spooned a lump of butterscotch pudding into his mouth and closed his eyes in appreciation as the sweet, buttery flavor washed over his palate. "Mmmm, I love this stuff!"

"Would you quit playing with your pudding? This is important!" McKay huffed. "You do realize Katie and I, that is, we're not an item any more, right?"

"I didn't realize the two of you had made it to 'item' status, McKay. I thought she dumped you after your little dinner fiasco." Sheppard scraped the bottom of his pudding cup, managing to gather enough to qualify as a bite, and, with a flick of his pink tongue, licked the thick dollop from his upside down spoon. "And, for the record, pudding is important!"

"You are so infantile, do you know that? Infantile!" McKay gathered his tray and empty dishes with more force than was necessary and rose to stand next to the table. "You're just jealous because Jesi likes me!"

Sheppard clenched his fist around the innocent spoon before consciously relaxing his muscles and placing the slightly bent utensil gently upon the table. He turned his frigid gaze on his friend, and McKay swallowed the gaggle of irritated words threatening to escape his wayward mouth.

"For a genius, that has to be the dumbest comment you've ever made."

"No, actually, a recent conversation with Carson comes to mind… but that was the Wraith enzyme talking..." McKay stammered, but Sheppard held up a hand, cutting off the rest of his reply.

"I don't want Jesi to like you, McKay. I don't want to give her any reason to stay. I want her to hate it, so she'll go back to Earth."

"Why?" McKay asked incredulously. "Why would you want that? You're the only person on the expedition lucky enough to have a family member with whom to share Atlantis!" McKay set down his tray, crossed his arms and frowned at the colonel.

"That's just it! With Jesi here, the stakes just shot to an all time high! Every time she goes on a mission, or if Atlantis is attacked again, I'll be distracted! If I'm not focused on the mission, I could cost you your life!" Sheppard looked down at his tightly clasped hands pressing against the table. "In case you hadn't noticed, Atlantis is not exactly a safe place to live. I love her with all my being. She's my sister and the only family I have left. I don't want her in any danger!"

Never one for deep emotion, McKay watched Sheppard fight his inner turmoil, unsure what to say. After several awkward moments, he spoke softly.

"John, this is something you need to discuss with Jesi. It's her choice whether she stays or goes, but she needs to know how you feel--to understand the impact of her being here."

"I know," Sheppard grimaced. "We've been through a lot together. The last thing I want to do is make her feel rejected!"

"Then don't,' McKay stated simply. 'Make her feel loved."

"Yeah, easy for you to say, Mr. Lovable! I think I'll let her spend some time working with you before I talk to her about this. That experience alone may have her running home without me having to say a word!"

"In your dreams, Colonel!" McKay retorted.

Sheppard pushed up from the table and faced McKay.

"Hey, take it easy on her, would ya? Don't overdo it with all the Ancient stuff you have stashed away. Remember, if she hurts, you hurt. Got it?

McKay rolled his eyes in disgust. He'd never pictured Sheppard as the bully big brother type.

"Oh, right! I always set out to injure women I find attractive! It's one of the many talents listed in my profile on the 'single brilliant scientists' dating website!"

Sheppard's face broke into a small grin before fading back to worry.

"It's been a long day and I'm tired. I think I'll table the whole 'sister moving to town' situation for today."

"Yes, yes, rest is good. Resting helps clear the mind." McKay picked up his tray and Sheppard followed suit. "Sleep on it, Sheppard. Maybe you'll feel differently tomorrow."


Okay, so it was morning and he didn't feel any differently. He'd tried sleeping on it as McKay had suggested, but he didn't think it counted if he hadn't actually slept. Sheppard tapped lightly on the cool glass wall surrounding the office of Dr. Elizabeth Weir, leader of the Atlantis expedition.

"Elizabeth, can I talk to you for a minute?"

Weir set aside the tablet PC she'd been using and gave Sheppard her full attention, dark curls framing her welcoming smile. She gave him a quick once-over, noting the tension behind his placid expression.

"Of course, John, come in. What can I do for you?"

"I'm betting you know Jesi Gibbs is my sister," Sheppard stated with a wry grin as he slipped into a chair.

"Yes, she said as much when she arrived, but she seemed to think you were expecting her." Weir had found that fact odd, as she was the one to receive any new personnel assignments.

"Isn't that the reason you arranged for her to come here?" Sheppard watched Weir's face closely.

"I didn't arrange for her to come to Atlantis. Why would you think that?" Weir asked.

"You didn't send General Landry a message suggesting he test Jesi for the ATA gene?" Sheppard's apprehension was expanding like the universe itself.

"No! John, what's going on?" Weir's sharp gaze studied the colonel's deceptively casual features. He was hiding something. She recognized the signs of his agile mind churning over a problem.

"Um, not sure. Maybe nothing, but I'll check it out and get back to you." Sheppard tried to smile reassuringly but didn't quite pull it off.

Weir noticed and pounced.

"What is it, John? You look… actually, I've never seen that look before, so I'm not sure how you look." She leaned back in her chair. "Want to talk about it?"

"Yeah, surprisingly, I think I do." Sheppard sat forward and dropped his head down, looking at the floor.

Weir let the pensive colonel stew in silence, knowing he would talk when he was ready. She wasn't disappointed.

"I want you to send Jesi back to Earth." Sheppard blurted.

His blunt statement caught her off guard; she'd not been expecting his reaction.

"Why," she asked, catching Sheppard's eye when he raised his head.

"Because someone is using her to play with me, and I don't like it. Her presence is a distraction. I risk being more worried about her safety than focusing on missions. If she's off world with us, I don't want to endanger my team!"

Sheppard's eyes engaged Weir's in a silent battle of wills.

"You won't have to worry about her because she won't be going off world. She'll be safely ensconced in Rodney's lab."

Weir sat forward, picking up a pen and twirling it in her fingers as she watched the emotions play out on Sheppard's shadowed features.

"What if the city is attacked again?" Unnatural worry lines burrowed deeply into Sheppard's brow. Visions of another 'Steve' or 'Bob' draining away Jesi's life turned the blood flowing through his heart to ice.

"I suspect you'd be too busy worrying about Atlantis as a whole to focus on the needs of one above the rest." Weir stated matter-of-factly.

"Can't you just send her back," Sheppard pleaded softly, "As a personal favor… for me?"

Weir met his eyes, his torment darkening the hazel depths. As much as she wished to give in to the pull of emotions rolling off him in waves, they both knew she wouldn't.

"Unfortunately, John, I can't do that. Her ATA gene is as strong as yours is. I can't afford to send her back any more than I could send you back. You'll just have to reconcile yourself with the fact that she's here to stay."

Weir raised a hand and cut off Sheppard's protest. "No, John, I can't, and you know it."

Sheppard rose and moved to the doorway. He turned and eyed Weir with a heated glare. After everything they'd been through, he thought she would better understand his fear. Apparently, he was wrong.

"If something happens to Jesi or to me and my team, I hope you're ready to live with your decision!"

Weir stared him down; her arched eyebrow spoke volumes. She sighed as he turned and stalked across the bridge, loping down the stairs and out of sight.


TBC