AthosionWarrior – Thanks for the review, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Sparkly – Somebody had a little rant there lol, I'm glad you enjoyed the little bit with Laura and I was so relieved to get to the part where they found Lizzie, I'm writing too much non established Sparky at the moment, except in one of my stories. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the last chapter, thanks for the review.
Fargirl2007 – I thin I need to write some Sparky love lol, all this non established Sparky is driving me crazy. Thanks for the review; I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Saphire – Yes, Teyla and Ronon are officially together now and I'm glad you enjoyed the scene with Laura. Everyone seems to like Taros lol, he'd my favourite OC I've ever created but as for what happens to him, you'll just have to wait and find out lol. I hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks for the review.
Kuroima – I'm not telling you what I'm doing with Taros but I'm gonna guess you're happy they found Elizabeth lol. There will be a little bit of Carson and Laura coming up, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 20
A million different thoughts ran through John's head as he stepped through the stargate with Elizabeth, Taros and the rest of his team. This was where Elizabeth had been living; this was where she'd been all this time, in this quiet little village exactly the same as a thousand others he had seen throughout this galaxy. He was sure though that it hadn't always looked exactly like this, some of the buildings were partially collapsed due to what was obviously fire damage and the villagers all wore haunted expressions.
Elizabeth and Taros walked straight into the village and John followed with the others. They walked to a building in the centre where they were greeted by several people, Elizabeth stood in front of a greying woman who looked at John and his team curiously before turning to Elizabeth.
"How did it go?" she asked her.
"They're willing to trade and help with whatever you need, they're going to send a representative through the gate tomorrow," Elizabeth told the woman and John had no idea what they were talking about so he just stood there quietly.
"I cannot thank you for this enough Elizabeth," the woman told her and Elizabeth smiled and shook her head.
"No thanks are necessary, you have done a lot for us," Elizabeth stated and then glanced at John "Amelia, these are my people; they found me at the market."
"I thought all your people were killed," Amelia said thoughtfully and Elizabeth shook her head again though this time it was more out of exasperation.
"No, the Ancients were killed, I'm not an Ancient," she informed the young woman for what sounded like it might have been the millionth time.
"Do I take it you will be returning home?" Amelia questioned and Elizabeth nodded.
"Your people have been very good to us, if there's ever anything we can do to you repay you..." Elizabeth began but Amelia cut her off.
"You have already done enough, you and Taros will be missed greatly," Amelia told her and Elizabeth smiled.
"What about Malar?" she asked and the woman returned her smile with an amused one of her own.
"You are taking him with you aren't you?" she asked humorously as though she wanted to be sure.
"If he wants to come," Elizabeth laughed just as another voice interrupted the conversation and from the way everyone's faces fell, John guessed it wasn't a voice they all liked to hear. When he turned to find the source of the voice he saw a man walking towards them.
"What is going on here?" he asked.
"Malar," Taros began "These are the humans from earth, they destroyed the replicators that took over the city and are now back in control, they've come to take us home."
"You'll be returning us to our city then?" Malar questioned and out of the corner of his eye John saw Ronon elbow Rodney when the scientist looked about to say something.
"You'll be coming back with us, yes," John replied, deciding not to point out that the city was theirs now, not the Ancient's.
"Good, about time I could get off this primitive world," Malar stated as he turned and walked down the street.
"Please don't bring him back," Amelia requested of Taros and Elizabeth who both gave her apologetic smiles before taking off after Malar. John and the others followed as they were led to a house not far from the centre of the village, to the place she had been calling home.
She was still waiting to wake up; still waiting to wake up alone in the bedroom of that house realising this was all just a dream. It wasn't though, they were really here and she was really going back to Atlantis, she was really going home. The stargate stood in front of her already connected to earth, all she had do was step through it.
"Thank you again," Elizabeth said to Amelia, she and a few of the locals had come to see them off at the gate. She and Taros said her goodbyes while Malar stood there impatiently, Rodney and Teyla headed through the gate. Teyla was apparently still suffering from a bullet wound to the neck, Elizabeth had caught a glimpse of it against the woman's skin and she was surprised Carson had let her out of the infirmary never mind Atlantis.
Malar marched through the gate next and Taros did something that looked suspiciously like an eye roll before he followed with Ronon a few steps behind him. Elizabeth continued to stand there, she felt almost frozen to the spot as she stared at the gate. John moved to stand beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder in a silent gesture of support and she realised then how much she had missed his strength which he had always been prepared to lend her.
She took a deep breath and nodded her head before she stepped through the gate. She emerged into the Atlantis gate room and took a second to take in the sight she never thought she'd see again. John emerged from the gate next to her and as she looked around the room she all of the familiar faces that were waiting eagerly for her return. John's team was still stood nearby along with Carson and Laura Cadman. Taros and Malar were standing to the side, Taros looking quite happy while Malar looked completely stoic. Evan Lorne was stood with two members of his team near the door, Chuck and Radek were stood on the control room balcony looking down at her and Sam Carter was standing at the bottom of the stairs. The sound of clapping drew her attention to Lorne and within seconds the rest of the room had joined him and Elizabeth felt completely overwhelmed by it all.
Sam walked over to her and smiled "Welcome home Dr Weir," she said and Elizabeth returned her smile with a smaller one of her own.
"It's good to be back," she replied quietly and as though the woman had understood how overwhelmed she was feeling she gestured for the room to quieten and told them to get back to work, nobody moved though.
"Let's continue this in the infirmary," Sam suggested and Elizabeth followed her out of the room. John's team, Carson and the two Ancients were right behind them.
"They're not replicators," Carson stated having run all the necessary tests on Elizabeth and the two Ancients. "I'm still waiting on the results of a few tests but they all seem to be fine."
"I could have told you that," Malar stated bitterly having complained all the way through the procedures he'd been forced to endure.
"We had to be sure," Sam told the Ancient.
"I assume you will be handing control of the city over to us now," Malar said.
"No," was John's simple and blunt response and Elizabeth almost had to laugh at the look of shock and annoyance that crossed Malar's face.
"This city belongs to the Ancients, you have no right..." Malar began to protest but it seemed that no one in the room had the patience for him at that moment.
"The city did belong to the Ancients, you've lost it twice now and both times we've been the ones to take control," Sam stated. Malar looked like he was about to offer further protest but this time it was Taros that cut him off.
"The Ancients are gone Malar, we have had our day, now it is theirs," he said which seemed to stun Malar into silence. There was quiet around the room for several moments as no one seemed to know what to say next.
"We have quarters set up for the two of you," Sam told the two Ancients before turning to Elizabeth "Dr Weir, your quarters are waiting for you as well."
Elizabeth watched as Taros and Malar were escorted out of the room by the two young marines who'd been standing in the doorway since they'd arrived. She looked around the infirmary, Carson was now fussing over Teyla's neck and Ronon was standing next to them. Sam excused herself, saying something about letting earth know and Rodney soon followed behind her.
"I'll walk you to your quarters," John offered and Elizabeth nodded her head and slipped off the bed she'd been sitting on. They walked through the corridors in silence; Elizabeth tried to ignore all the looks and whispers she was getting from everyone who saw them.
"How does it feel to be back?" John asked her as they neared her quarters.
"Strange," was the only response she could come up with at that moment, it still hadn't quite hit her yet but she was sure that when it did she'd be feeling a lot more than just strange.
When the doors to her quarters opened she found things almost exactly as she had left them, her clothes were all still in the same place, the file she'd been looking through only hours before the attack was still resting on the chair in the corner of her room. The only difference was that a few of her things were missing, a picture of Sedge was gone but more importantly, the Athosian pot from John and the watch from her father.
"They're in your office," John told her having followed the direction of her gaze.
"My office?" she questioned, that office hadn't been hers for four and a half months now, not since the Ancients had kicked her people out of the city and Helia had claimed the office as her own. It hit her only then that she was back in the place that all of those people, Helia included, had been killed, this was where they had all died.
"I think a few people wanted to make sure everyone knew who the office belonged to," he told her and she felt both touched and overwhelmed by the small gesture. "I can have them brought back here if you like."
"Maybe later," she replied, the office wasn't hers anymore and her things probably shouldn't be in it. She moved to look out the window of her room at the city that she had once called home... and still did really; it was just... taking some adjusting.
"Lizabeth," John said quietly when she was quiet for too long. She'd missed that name, the version that was missing one syllable that only John ever used. "Are you okay?"
"I will be," she stated him after a moment and he seemed to understand the words for what they were, for the memory that they sprang from.
"It's good to have you back; we all... missed you," he told her awkwardly, he wasn't a man who voiced his feelings very often, especially the deeper ones which had the power to cause you pain. She smiled, it was probably the first genuine smile she'd had since she came back here.
"I've missed you too," she replied.
"I should let you get settled," he decided and after a moment where they just seem to stare at each other he turned to leave. He stopped in the doorway turning back to her "I really am glad you're back."
"Me too," she said and he left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Sam couldn't keep the grin from her face as she stood in 'Elizabeth's' office relaying the news to earth. "That's right sir, she and two other Ancients are now safely in Atlantis," she informed General Landry.
"Where were they?" the general asked after a moment of silence.
"We found Dr Weir and one of the Ancients on a market world; they were setting up a trade agreement for the people they had been living with."
"And there are no signs of any Nanites in their blood?" he questioned.
"None, sir, they all seem to be perfectly healthy though we are still waiting on some test results," she told him and there was another moment of silence before she heard the General's voice again.
"I'll inform the President and the IOA that Dr Weir has been found, my guess is they'll want to send a representative through to check everything out," he explained and though she'd known that would happen it still caused a small twinge of anger. Dr Weir had been though enough with out the IOA questioning every decision she'd made both before and after the Ancients had kicked them out of Atlantis. "I'll also let General O'Neill know, I'm sure he'll be very happy."
"Yes sir," was all Sam said she kinda wished she could be the one to tell Jack that Elizabeth was safe and sound on Atlantis; she knew he had something of a sibling relationship with the woman.
"Landry out," she heard the General say and the transmission cut off. She stared at the desk in front of her and the items in it that didn't belong to her. She hoped Earth didn't give them too much trouble, hoped they would allow Elizabeth to have her command back.
This was Elizabeth's home, not hers; she didn't feel as much like she belonged as she did back on earth. Her friends, her family, everything that was important to her was back on Earth and while Atlantis was a great command, it wasn't hers and she'd never feel like it was.
It was strange to wake up in the familiar surroundings of her room on Atlantis, she'd half expected to wake up this morning and discover yesterday had been a dream; it wouldn't be the first time. She was still here though; in the exact same place she'd fallen asleep. She dragged herself out of bed and
into her bathroom, her bathroom that she didn't have to share with anyone, didn't have to wait her turn to use.
Her shampoo was still there, the strawberry smelling stuff that she really loved, not like the stuff she'd had to use in the Krayle village. She took great pleasure in washing that smell out of her hair whilst she was showering and then put her own clothes on. She hadn't realised how much she'd missed the little things like being able to wear her own clothes, she'd been forced to leave Atlantis without any of her things and to suddenly have them all back was a lot to take in.
Dressed in clothes that felt both familiar and comfortable to her, Elizabeth stared out of the window at the city. She really was here, she really was home and her people, her team were back in the city where they belonged. She wasn't sure how long she stood there staring out at the familiar view but the sound of the door chime brought her out of her musings. When she opened the door she was surprised to see Colonel Carter standing there.
"Hi, can I come in?" she asked awkwardly and Elizabeth nodded and stepped back. "How are you settling in?"
"Oh you know, I'm settling," she replied and Sam gave her a far too knowing smile.
"Must be weird be back, finding everything exactly as you left it," she said.
"A little," she admitted and there was an awkward silence between them, neither of them seeming to know what to say. Carter had come to her though so she must have had something she wanted to say or ask. "Not to sound rude but I'm sure you didn't come here just to see how I was settling in."
Sam laughed softly and shook her head "No, I came to tell you that I informed earth that we'd found you, they're sending a representative from the IOA to... check everything out."
"So they're actually coming to find a reason why I can't stay on Atlantis," Elizabeth stated and Sam looked at the floor for a moment. "I hear you've been doing a great job with the city," she told her, there was no bitterness, it was a genuine comment.
"I don't wanna be here," Sam admitted and Elizabeth looked at her both confused and surprised. "This isn't my home, no more than that village was yours. My friends and family, everything I care about is on earth. I belong there and you belong here."
Elizabeth was surprised at the openness she was getting from the Colonel who she thinks may be more like herself. She didn't share much of herself with others, at least not easily.
"I have to go," Sam finished and headed toward the door, they opened to reveal John arriving on the other side.
"Well that was good timing," he quipped and then looked cautiously between the two women. Sam nodded to him in acknowledgement and then left leaving John to step silently into her room. "How'd you sleep?" he questioned.
"Better than I have in while," she told him though she admitted to herself that she'd also slept better in the past. There was a moment where he seemed to want to say something but apparently decided against it.
"If you're ready to faces the masses I thought I'd take you to breakfast, the others will all be there," he told her and she hesitated before agreeing. She wasn't quite sure she was ready to face the masses, she may be a diplomat who worked extremely well under pressure but if what happened in the gate room when she'd returned was any indication then she was going to be in the spot light for several days.
They walked through the familiar corridors together and she could almost pretend the last four and half months had never happened. She could almost pretend her people had never been forced from the city, that the replicator attack had never taken place, that she hadn't been living with an alien civilisation for the last three months. Of course the moment she arrived in the cafeteria that illusion – if she had ever bought into it – was shattered.
Everyone turned to look at her and she was immediately bombarded with greetings, questions and smiles. Everyone seemed so pleased to see her, so happy to have her back and all she could was smile and offer the occasional response. She could see John's team sitting at a nearby table along with Carson and Lieutenant Cadman.
John watched her closely, noticing immediately how overwhelmed she was by everyone's enthusiastic response to her. He allowed them a couple of minutes; she was their leader and a friend to most of them but soon decided it was enough. "Alright everyone, let her breathe," it came out like more of an order and it was immediately obeyed by everyone. Elizabeth sent him a grateful look as the two of them moved to sit at the table with the rest of his team.
"Rodney had a nightmare about a giant bunny," Laura stated almost as soon as they'd sat down. Teyla and Ronon both started laughing and Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as Rodney glared at the young woman with an open mouth.
"I never said it was a bunny," Rodney tried to argue.
"Long floppy ears, two big front teeth, hopping as it chased you," Laura repeated what Rodney had obviously described to them earlier. "Sounds like a bunny to me."
The group immediately fell into a debate over whether Rodney was being chased by a bunny and John silently thanked the young Lieutenant for somehow managing to cut through any tension or awkwardness that would quickly have built up at the table before it even had a chance to establish itself.
"Hello Elizabeth," Taros greeted as he allowed her into his new room on Atlantis. He seemed much more comfortable within the walls of the city than he had been in the village. He seemed to have adjusted to being back home easily, almost like flicking a switch and Elizabeth wished she was finding it so easy.
"Hey," she replied, accepting his invitation and stepping into the room. "How are you?"
"Glad to be home," he told her with a smile "As I am sure you are."
"Yeah," was all she could think to say.
"Adjusting is never easy and with all that you been through I am sure it seems like you'll never feel settled again," he stated and she looked at him curiously.
"How did you get so wise?" she questioned with her own amused smile and he shrugged.
"Old age brings wisdom, it makes up for the dodgy joints," he laughed and she couldn't help but laugh with him. "In all seriousness Elizabeth, you were never happy in that village, nor were you happy here without your people. You have both your city and your family back now and while I'm sure it will take time for you to feel settled again, you should embrace this second chance that you have been given to be happy."
"Have you seen Malar today?" she asked him, changing the subject away from her and though Taros gave her a reproachful look for the manoeuvre he let the subject go.
"Yes I have, I saw him this morning, I believe his opinion of humanity, your people in particular is lower than it was before," he told her, smiling in amusement. "He is just annoyed because he can't have control of the city, he believes this city belongs to the Ancients and only the Ancients, he will have to learn to live in your time."
"Maybe I should go and see him later," she mused.
"If you want to but do not feel obliged to, he was never exactly polite to you," Taros replied.
"Still, it couldn't hurt to show my face and see how he is doing, there's no need to give him more reasons to dislike me," she told him and he nodded his head. "I have to go and do my debriefing," she stated. "It'll probably take a while, I'll see you later."
She left his room and made her way to the briefing room. He was right, this was what she'd wanted, to be back on Atlantis with her people, so why wasn't she happy?
TBC