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 some chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or any of the characters associated with it, unless you count Jesi.


Chapter Thirteen

The chaos of rocket fire and gunshots greeted Sheppard and Jesi. Lorne, along with the forty Marines he'd brought with him, were pinned against the rubble of a gutted building and had moved into a defensive circle. McKay, Teyla and Ronon stood in the center, protected by the outer contingent. Outnumbered two-to-one by the surrounding Wraith, the Atlantian soldiers fired off rounds, blanketing the air with fine dust and hazy gun smoke. The acrid smell of cordite and death stung Sheppard's nostrils.

The radio squawked. Wraith had killed two Marines, and Lorne called for a medic, but there was no time, no escape route. One angry Marine fired a rocket from his shoulder launcher, aiming at a speeding dart. His whoop of joy was lost in the resounding thunder as the dart impaled the ground not 80 yards away, kicking up debris and further degrading visibility.

The Wraith made short work of separating and engaging the outer protective ring of Marines. The men fought valiantly, their horrific sacrifice captured forever in the irises of those nearest them.

Teyla fired her P-90, reloaded and fired again until it clicked uselessly. Throwing the weapon aside, she switched to her 9-mil until it, too, was empty. Anticipating her vulnerability, one beefy Wraith dived, knocking the wind from her lungs as they hit the ground. He rose up with a triumphant shriek, ready to plunge his hand into her chest. She reared back and jammed her foot into his chin as he lunged, using his own weight and forward motion to snap his neck. The heavy body fell, partially covering and pinning her to the ground. She struggled to escape, relieved when Ronon's large hand grabbed her vest and dragged her out from under the dead Wraith.

They stood, backs touching, using the comforting connection to fuel their resolve, furiously fighting for their lives. Teyla yanked the knife from her holster and lethally slashed at any Wraith brave enough to lunge within reach. Ronon blasted those approaching from the opposite side.

"Teyla," Ronon yelled over the din. "If they get too close..."

"Yes, I understand. Do what you must, Ronon, as will I."

Lorne's lungs heaved as he fired rounds into the crowd of Wraith; the stinging heat from ejected shell casings grazed his cheek. His psyche screamed 'live' but grim reality only served as a reminder of his own vulnerability, not useful to a Marine in the heat of battle. Punching the radio, he called, "Colonel Sheppard, where are you?"

"We're here Major, in spirit rather than the flesh," Sheppard yelled. "Dr 'Z', how's it going with that research?"

Zelenka's clipped voice was muted by the booming sounds of battle. "I am sorry, Colonel. I have nothing. You really should try some of those other buttons!"

"Yeah, maybe I'll do that. Thanks Doc." Sheppard cut off the radio with an oath. "Jesi, we have to help them!"

"I... I don't think I can!" Jesi stood frozen as death captured innocent soldiers, her hot tears falling unnoticed. "They are... Hell with hair!"

McKay found himself face-to-face with the ugliest Wraith he'd ever seen. "Son of a bitch," he screamed, ramming the creature with the short barrel of his 9-Mil, pulling the trigger and injecting rounds into its stomach. "Die!"

The wounded Wraith staggered backwards, clawed hands clutching his seeping wound. His puckered skin began to knit, the wound closing as if it had never existed. With a screech of fury, the warrior advanced on McKay and latched a pale hand around the scientist's neck.

Jesi turned, horrified by the sight of an enormous Wraith lifting McKay by his neck.

"Rodney!" She watched as his face turned molten purple; his lips faded to blue-gray.

The Wraith let McKay drop before reaching down and un-strapping the unconscious man's flak vest, wrenching it from his limp body. McKay lie in a lifeless heap, scarcely breathing; the Wraith roared and made to plunge a hand into his prey.

Rage bubbled up from a yawning, secreted spring, so deeply entrenched she hadn't been aware of its existence until the scorching liquid emotion burst from within, splintering her heart.

"No!" Jesi's voice echoed through the radio link. Channeling the fury, she focused on the Wraith looming over McKay and envisioned blowing him away from the helpless scientist. She felt the gathering power inside, the growing pressure and tingling sensation as her body came to life, glowing pure, white-hot energy, and slipping into hologram mode. The Wraith turned from McKay and faced her, his startled gaze morphed into a snarl. He stepped away from McKay and stalked toward Jesi.

Time slowed as Jesi focused her anger and thought 'stop him'. An arc of electricity leapt from her outstretched hands and slammed into the advancing Wraith. Instantly he was airborne, his body blown up and away. He landed in a smoldering heap of leather--dead. He was dead. She'd killed him. With her mind!

Sheppard stood beside Jesi, astonished eyes on her face. "How'd you do that?" When she didn't respond, he reached out and rubbed a knuckle over her cheek. "Jesi? You okay?"

"Yeah… I'm just… I don't know what happened, John-John. I thought about stopping the wraith… and then I did."

Sheppard turned, searching for the rest of his team. Teyla was out of weapons and embroiled in hand-to-hand combat with a massive Wraith. Ronon was busy blasting as many Wraith as possible and kicking those that got too close. Lorne and his men were out numbered and nearly out of ammo. Several marines lie on the ground in danger of becoming Wraith food. For several more, it was too late. The sight of their shriveled, discarded husks spurred Sheppard into action.

"The artifact was designed to defeat the Wraith, Jesi. You triggered it, now let's finish this and get the Hell out of here!" Sheppard turned and focused his anger and fear. He began to glow and let the energy fly, taking out three Wraith before they realized he was there.

Jesi joined in, confronting the enemy. The Wraith caught sight of the glowing forms and tried to fight back, howling with rage when they realized they couldn't. Sheppard quickly cut down the two Wraith stalking Teyla. Jesi took out the other two behind Ronon. Wraith screams filled the air.

"Colonel!"

Sheppard turned in time to witness Lorne forced to his knees before a Wraith ready to feed. He sprang forward and slid between them.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size, buddy!" Sheppard smirked.

The Wraith snarled and leaned in close, his wrinkled nose inhaling deeply.

"We know of the weapon you exploit. You believe you have found the secret to our demise. You are mistaken! We cannot touch you physically, but we are able to control your mind."... mind... mind... The Wraith reached out and made a stabbing motion with his skeletal fingers.

Sheppard felt a sharp jab behind his eyes. Damn that hurt! He tried to fight back, but the agonizing pain severed his connection with the weapon. The energy he'd built up began to wan. His glowing visage flickered and began to fade.

Jesi watched in horror as Sheppard began to wane. Fury made her indomitable; with a roar, she fired off three quick energy bursts, connecting with and disintegrating the Wraith.

"John!" Jesi struggled to see through the Wraith dust raining down around them, but couldn't catch sight of him. When the ash cleared, Sheppard had vanished!

The squeal of low-flying darts ripped through the air as they scooped up the remaining Wraith and retreated.

"Jesi, are you okay?" Lorne reached her side and glanced around anxiously. "Where's Colonel Sheppard?"

Jesi locked eyes with Lorne. "I'm fine, Marcus, but I'm not so sure about John." Jesi turned to survey the team.

Teyla lie unconscious; a bruise beginning to darken her forehead; a shaken Ronon rested by her side, clutching his ribs. Spotting McKay's body sprawled on the rough ground, Jesi rushed to his side and knelt down. He was pale and unmoving, shallow breaths struggling to escape.

"He's not doing so well, Marcus. Where's Carson?"

"I radioed Atlantis. The medical team and reinforcements are on the way. We'll get Dr. McKay back to Atlantis, don't worry." He tried to pat her on the shoulder, but grimaced when his hand passed through her body. "Ah, sorry, I forgot…"

Jesi's lips quirked up on one side. "Don't worry about it." Exhaustion began to creep in, and she felt the weapon shutting down, the lingering power draining from her body. Her image wavered. "I think I'm running out of steam, Marcus. See you when you get home." With one last blink, Jesi disappeared.

A few moments later, reinforcements and the medical team arrived. Beckett dispatched his personnel to triage the injured soldiers and any surviving villagers before moving to McKay's side. He shook his head and tsk'd over his friend's injuries.

"Rodney, what did you do to yourself this time?" Beckett slipped an oxygen mask onto the unconscious man, easing his breathing a bit, before turning to his staff. "Let's immobilize him and get back through the gate, quickly now, lads."

As the medical team stepped in to prepare McKay for transport, Teyla began to stir, and Ronon helped her sit up. She groaned and reached for her head, but Beckett took her hand in his and lowered it away from her face.

"Uh, uh, don't touch. Let me have a look at you now, there's a good lass." He probed her head, apologizing when she flinched in pain. "I think we'll need to transport you back, my dear."

"I am fine. I can walk."

Teyla reached out, and Ronon clasped her arm with his good hand, pulling her up gently. When she swayed, he snaked an arm around her waist and nodded at Beckett.

"I have her, Doc."

Beckett coughed softly. "Yes, I see that you do. I'll just walk with you, then." Beckett led the way, Lorne on his heels, as the medical team evacuated the rest of the injured and the dead. The reinforcements stayed behind to secure the village and assist with clean up.


Sheppard felt the searing stab of pain deep in his mind. He fought to keep his connection with the weapon, but with a final shaft of pain, he was wrenched back to reality.

He gasped and jerked up in the chair. His eyes popped open, catching sight of a startled Radek Zelenka.

"Colonel... are you well?" Zelenka's concerned expression did nothing to reassure Sheppard's apprehension.

"Doc 'Z', I need to go back! Lorne's in trouble." He struggled to sit up, but Zelenka's firm hands pushed him back down.

"No, you must rest a moment. Listen to the radio; they are okay. Dr. Beckett is on the way and will bring them back."

Sheppard swayed, struggling to focus through the headache. He listened and heard Carson's voice directing his medical personnel. Rodney was injured, Teyla too. The Wraith had retreated. Wraith!

"I have to destroy the hive ships. I'm going back in, Radek."

Zelenka shouted a protest, but his frantic voice faded as Sheppard glanced down at his wristband and punched the green button. His consciousness appeared in space near the hive ships; darts buzzed about, returning from the planet, and Sheppard stared at the wristband in frustration.

"Damn it! I need Jesi."

"John, let go of your fears." Atlantis echoed in his skull. "You and Jesi needed to work together to find the weapon, but you are perfectly capable of operating it on your own."

"How? Tell me what to do," Sheppard shouted.

"Child, everything you need to know is available for the taking. Listen to your instincts. Do what needs to be done to ensure the survival of your people, both here and on Earth."

Sheppard closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. A calming breeze fluttered through his awareness, skittering along his nerves and filling him with blazing flames. His eyes snapped open, and he focused on the hive ships. A bolt of white-hot power shot from his vibrating body, engulfing the four Wraith vessels. One moment the ships were there; the next, they weren't. He blinked once to clear his vision and glanced around. Definitely gone!

"Atlantis, what just happened?" he asked.

"Don't you know? You destroyed the Wraith, child. You saved Earth; you saved me."

Sheppard's headache throbbed to an unbearable tempo, and nausea threatened to spew into the vacuum of space.

"I don't feel so hot..." He began to drift in space, his mind losing dimensional control.

"John, focus! You must return to your body. Radek is waiting for you in the lab, along with Jesi and Elizabeth," Atlantis urged.

Sheppard tried to concentrate, to think his way home, but couldn't wrap his thoughts into a cohesive action. I wonder if this is what dying feels like... a letting go, drifting away ever so gradually... so much I'd like to say before...

"Colonel Sheppard!"

"'Lizbeth," he mumbled.

"The hive ships have disappeared. You did it!"

"Yeah... did it..." Sheppard turned a lazy spin, fascinated by the sight of the planet from upside-down.

"Radek says your blood pressure is rising. Come home, John." Weir's frantic call pulled at him.

"'Lizbeth... so tired... don't think I can..."

"Yes you can, Colonel! Radek says to press the red button on the device. You can do that, can't you John?"

"Can't... too late... head hurts..." Sheppard closed his eyes, surrendering to space. "Love... you guys..." he managed, just before darkness wrapped him in her velvet cloak.


Weir watched the color leech from Sheppard's slack face.

"John?... John!" She turned shocked eyes to Zelenka. "Radek, can we get him back?"

"There is one thing we can try, yes." The little Czech stepped forward and grasped Sheppard's arm, the one wearing the wristband. He glanced up at Weir and, receiving an encouraging nod, pressed the red button.

Sheppard's body began to convulse, and his back arched violently. Zelenka held him down, crooning low words of encouragement. With a final shudder, Sheppard lie still.

Weir tapped her radio. "We have a medical emergency in Lab one! Get a med team down here, now!"


TBC