Ok, here's the last chapter. I'm sorry but the optimist came out in me and the ending is a little AU.

Chapter 7

"We've go unscheduled gate activity, Dr. McKay." Peter Grodin shouted across the control room over the alarm.

"Any IDC?" McKay asked.

"No, not…wait yes!" Peter's eyes widened in surprise. "It's Major Sheppard's IDC. Should I lower the shield?"

"Well it could be a…"

"Hey Rodney?" A voice called over the radio. "It's Sheppard. Elizabeth and I are not under fire but that could change at any moment. Please lower the shield."

"Roger that Major." Rodney replied as he motioned for Peter to lower the shield. "You're a go Major."

All eyes turned to the gate as Major Sheppard and Dr. Weir walked through. Though Shepard looked mostly untouched Elizabeth looked liked she'd been through hell. The scratches on her face had intensified during her run through the forest and there were now bruises where Kolya had hit her. Her clothes were torn in multiple places and she looked overall exhausted. Rodney quickly ran down the stairs to meet them.

" Carson, this is Rodney, we need a medical team down here. Dr. Weir seems to have multiple injuries. Major Sheppard, well, he oddly looks mostly uninjured." The last sentence left Rodney's lips hesitantly, as if, in saying it, Rodney thought Sheppard would drop down dead. As Rodney got closer to the couple he realized John was trying to get Elizabeth to do something.

" Elizabeth, please give it to me." Elizabeth shook her head slowly. " Elizabeth, no one blames you for what you've done and you shouldn't dwell on it. He was going to do god knows what to you."

"Major! Elizabeth." Rodney greeted happily once he reached them.

"Not now Rodney!" John barked waving his arm at Rodney to stop. " Elizabeth it's alright, you had to."

"How could I?" Elizabeth whispered, the reality of what she'd done truly sinking in now that the adrenaline was gone. "There had to be something else I could have done. What have I turned into?"

Elizabeth dropped the gun as she put her head in her hands and shook with tears. John pulled her in a hug.

" Elizabeth, don't blame yourself. It was a survival instinct. You haven't become anything." John comforted.

"Really?" Elizabeth asked sniffling and looking into his eyes.

"Really." John stated and gazed down into her green, and now tear stained, eyes. "You are definitely still the woman I love."

To reassure her he pulled her in a kiss. A kiss that was a little bit premature in their new, and complicated, relationship but somehow it was also long over due.

Each relaxed into the kiss and would never have pulled away had it not been for a string of very loud coughs from a certain Scot.

"Uh, lassie, are ya alright?" Carson asked.

Rodney rolled his eyes and threw up his arms. "Does she look alright Carson? God, I thought you said you went to Voodoo medical school."

Carson stared coldly at Rodney before turning a warm smile on Elizabeth and John. "Ok you two, let's go. Do ya think ya can make walk? Rodney didn't convey your injuries as serious so I didn't bring gurneys."

Carson once again stared coldly at Rodney.

"Yes Carson." Elizabeth reassured him, though she didn't look as certain as she sounded. "I'm sure we'll be fiiiiiiiiiiiine!" Elizabeth squealed as John picked her up and began to follow Carson.

She would have protested but she was far too tired and at some point during their walk to the infirmary she fell asleep to the sound of John's heart beat.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Voices?

"Is she ever going to wake up?"

"My God! Do you ever shut up? She needs rest. You have no idea what she's been through!"

Huh? Are they talking about me

"Well of course not, you've failed to turn in your report thus far."

Oh. It's John.

"Now Major." Elizabeth said sleepily, as she opened her eyes to the blinding light. "You know I will have to reprimand you for turning in your report late. What is this? The third time this month?"

" Well Dr. Weir." John replied. "I thought we should discuss some of it first. Before it gets put into the books."

Elizabeth had hoped this conversation could have waited till she was back in her office where she felt more secure but she knew with Carson in charge that could be weeks. "Of course. Rodney we would both be obliged if you could leave us alone. We have to discuss the content of Major Shepard's report."

While it sounded like a request, Rodney knew better. "You know, Elizabeth, it you two want to make out in the infirmary you just had to ask me to leave." Rodney chuckled as he turned and left.

"What a pest." John said shaking his head. A long silence followed which John finally decided to break. "I'm sorry. I'm…I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"Me too, John."

"I just didn't know if I was sure how I felt and I didn't want to mislead you and heck I knew I shouldn't feel that way." John said hanging his head. Another, silence followed. "I guess I was just in denial."

Elizabeth smiled to herself. "John, believe me, I was just as timid, but remember, whether we had previously admitted our emotions or not, Kolya still would've been able to do the same."

John cringed when she said Kolya's name. The man who had ordered her death and made John feel so helpless. John looked into her eyes and didn't find the sadness or pain he'd expected her to hold.

He'd failed to save her. But they had learned how they truly felt about each other and perhaps that was where Elizabeth's calm was coming from. But Elizabeth was right. It had become painfully obvious in this mission that they were not capable of hiding their emotions, so why not stop wasting the energy. Perhaps letting them show their affection, at times, would help them conceal it at others but that was a long shot and they both knew it. More importantly they knew now that if one of them was in danger there would be no way for the other to deny their love, no matter their official relationship status.

"I love you Elizabeth. "John whispered pulling her into a passionate kiss but was surprised when she gave him a small peck on the check and then leaned back and grabbed his hand.

"I think it might be a while before we'll be ready for another kiss." Elizabeth said squeezing his hand as he leaned back into his chair. "I mean, I know we both know how we feel but I don't want our relationship built so quickly on such an uneven foundation. As funny as that may sound."

For anyone else John may have argued but he would take it slow if it meant Elizabeth would have him. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "That doesn't sound funny at all."

Thank you for reading. I had a bunch of fun writing my first fanfic(well really finishing my first fanfic). I want to thank all my fellow german exchange students who proof read as well and Sarah, Brenda, Katie, and anyone else I forced to read this story. I'm looking to do some one-shots sometime soon.