A/N: Hurray! Here's the next chapter. There will probably only be one or two more at the most. Enjoy! Thanks for the reviews!

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"Look, all I'm saying is that we're not going to get in there using these," John held up his tool with contempt, "And I'm not leaving her in there!"

Rodney was pacing anxiously, "No one's saying you have to Colonel, but if we use C-4, there's a very good chance that you'll never find Elizabeth's…body."

John winced at McKay's word choice, but gathered himself and prepared to launch a rebuttal, "Look McKay…it's our only shot."

"What is?" The inquiry came from Ronon, who along with Teyla had just entered the clearing.

"Oh good, maybe you two can talk some sense into him," Rodney pointed an accusatory finger at John.

"What is it you wish to do?" Teyla directed her question at John.

He sighed, "We've been trying to get…Elizabeth out of the ruin so I…we, can take her home. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to make much progress using the tools Lorne's team brought, so I was thinking…"

"He was thinking of using C4 to blast his way in!" McKay exclaimed in horror, his eyes wide.

Teyla looked from the astrophysicist to Colonel Sheppard in surprise, "Is there not a risk that the ruin would collapse?"

McKay nodded so vehemently that John was surprised his head didn't roll off, "And since Elizabeth's…no longer with us, there's no way knowing where she is or of contacting her to tell her to move away from the section we're blasting. It's entirely possible that she would be buried."

"But you don't know for sure?" Ronon narrowed his eyes at the scientist.

Rodney rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Look, I'm telling you it would be a huge risk!"

"But it's one we have to take!" John reiterated fiercely. He turned to Lorne, "Major, get that C4 set up in a five foot line next to that writing, two sticks on each side of the device, understood?"

Lorne's reply was brisk, "Yes sir."

Teyla shot John a sharp look, "Colonel? Could I speak with you in private?"

John glanced at her, a question in his eyes. When she simply met his stare, he nodded, instructed Ronon to help Lorne's team, and McKay to stay out of the way before following her outside of the clearing.

"What is it Teyla?" His voice was gruff

She got right to the point, "I just want to make sure you understand what you are doing, that this is not something you will regret later."

He ran a hand through his perpetually tousled hair and laughed bitterly, "You know what I regret? I regret forcing her come to the mainland with us, I regret allowing her to help us figure out the writing on the ruins, I regret not being able to protect her, and I regret never telling her…" His voice trailed off.

Teyla's eyes softened in sympathy "Colonel Sheppard…" But whatever she had to say was interrupted by a commotion coming from the clearing.

John heard Lorne and McKay shouting and shot Teyla a startled glance. The Athosian met his eyes and then they both broke into a run. They burst onto the scene filled with trepidation, but didn't see any immediate danger. John was about to ask Lorne what the problem was when he saw her.

Her clothes were torn and dirty, her face streaked with dust. She looked battered and bruised and favored one leg heavily. In short, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "Elizabeth!" His face lit up and his mouth curved into a face-splitting smile. He couldn't believe it, she was alive!

Relief and elation washed over him like a flood and before John could check himself he had run over and swept her up into a crushing hug, letting her go only when she let out a little gasp of pain. "I'm so sorry, I was just…Are you hurt?"

She winced a little but smiled brightly up at him none the less, her eyes liquid green pools of emotion. He could drown in those eyes, he realized idly. "Just a little the worse for wear," She coughed and then grimaced. "It's mostly bruises."

John frowned. "Sit down; let me take a look at you."

Everyone else chose that moment to descend upon Atlantis' leader however, so he didn't get the chance. Major Lorne was actually grinning, Ronon and Teyla kept shooting each other pleased smiles, and Rodney…well Rodney was bombarding Elizabeth with questions about what she had seen, how she had gotten out, etc. He looked relieved and happy though, so John wasn't too annoyed with the scientist's incessant inquiries.

John stood back and let the rest of the team fawn over Elizabeth for a while longer until he noticed her start to lose her composure. Once her excitement at being free had worn off he could see her exhaustion setting in. Her body visibly sagged.

John walked into the little gathering waving his arms. "All right everyone, give Dr. Weir some space."

Everyone dispersed except for Lorne, who only backed up a few feet. John appreciated the fact that the man's protective streak was a mile wide when it came to Elizabeth, but right now the major's obvious fondness for the expedition leader was grating on his nerves a little. Elizabeth, looking immensely relieved, sort of collapsed down onto the rock nearest her, somehow looking graceful as she did so. "Whoa, whoa, easy" John was at her side in an instant, concerned by her sudden fall.

"I…I'm okay John, just a little tired."

Taking in her haggard appearance John thought, More than a little. She smiled at him then, and weak though it was it still managed to make him forego conscious thought for a brief moment. "John?" Elizabeth was looking at him quizzically.

Realizing he had probably been staring, he coughed, "Uh….maybe I should take a look at that leg."

Elizabeth nodded, "I think I twisted my ankle a little."

She didn't even flinch as he gently tugged her boot off, but John did when he saw her ankle. Everything with her is "a little." Talk about downplaying. Her ankle was swollen and discolored. John didn't know how she had been able to use it as much as she had. Of course, Elizabeth was stronger than anyone he knew, himself included, so he wasn't too surprised.

Lorne sucked in a breath when he saw the condition of her ankle. Elizabeth turned to look at him. "That bad huh?"

"I'm sure it'll be okay ma'am." He put on what was probably meant to be a reassuring face and inched a little bit closer.

John shot him a look and the Major instantly backed up again. "I think it's broken," he told her, easing her ankle back down; "We need to get you back to Beckett."

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head with a slight smile, "He's going to kill me isn't he?"

John grinned, "Probably just fuss over you like a mother hen and say, 'I knew it was a bad idea!'"

Elizabeth instantly sobered. "That's probably what you're thinking isn't it?"

John shook his head, "Nah, I've never been one for 'I told you sos. '" He met her gaze with a serious look of his own. "I'm just sorry I wasn't there for you."

They just sat there like that for a moment, eyes fixed on each other, before she broke the silence, "You were."

"Sir?" Lorne had moved up behind him without him even noticing. "Should I go prep the Jumper?"

John nodded, "Tell everyone to get packed up and move out."

Lorne replied with an affirmation, then set off to get everyone ready to go. Elizabeth tried to get up but she sagged back down again just as quickly. "I just need a minute." She said when she saw John's look of concern.

He shook his head, "I wasn't going to let you walk anyway, not on your own."

Elizabeth looked like she was about to protest, but then obviously thought better of it. She sighed, "All right. I could probably use some help." She looked pained by what she most likely viewed as an admission of weakness.

"All right, just give me a minute to go check on everything, and then I'll be back."

She nodded, "Okay."

John had to work a little to get everything situated. Ronon and Teyla volunteered to walk and after John directed a pointed look at him, Rodney grudgingly agreed to as well. "Someone must go who has the ability to pilot the Jumper," Teyla had added in an attempt to mollify the astrophysicist.

Faced with the knowledge that he was important and needed, McKay had caved.

When John finally made it back to Elizabeth, he found her dozing. He gently shook her and her eyes shot open.

"John?" She mumbled.

"Yeah, it's me," he put an arm under hers and supported her as she tried to stand.

The trek back to the jumper wasn't easy for Elizabeth, John noticed; she leaned heavily on him the entire way and stumbled quite a bit. When they stopped for a quick break she would have fallen over had he not caught her at the last minute.

"Elizabeth?" He tilted her head so she was looking at him and what he saw there concerned him. When her eyes met his they were slightly unfocused, almost like she was gazing into another dimension.

"Elizabeth I need you to focus on me okay? You need to stay awake."

She was starting to nod when her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed against him.

John bit back a curse, "Elizabeth? Come on 'Lizabeth, wake up for me."

When he got no response, John slung one of her arms over his shoulder and gently gathered her in his arms. He made it the last twenty or so yards to the jumper in record time.

"Sir?" Lorne glanced back from the pilot's seat when John entered through the back hatch.

"Let's go; fire her up Major!" John tried to keep the panic out of his voice but judging from the looks the rest of the team gave him, he must not have entirely succeeded.

He scanned the seats for somewhere to place Elizabeth, but all but one had been taken.

"I'll stand sir," Lieutenant Blakeman volunteered.

John shook his head, "It's all right Lieutenant."

He positioned himself in the last seat, pointedly ignored the knowing looks that Blakeman and Sergeant Terrell were shooting each other. John felt Elizabeth's head shift against his shoulder and sighed in relief. Her eyes were still closed but that small movement slightly eased his fears.

John held Elizabeth as tightly as he dared, the knowledge that she was there with him, safe and alive, barely setting in. He reveled in her warmth, the feel of her soft hair under his chin, and the tickling sensation of her soft breaths against his collar. He had come so close to losing her, and the terror and hopelessness he'd felt had been unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. It was something he never wanted to experience again.

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