Lemons – Ronon can be very intimidating but I think Jack, Sam and John are persuasive enough by themselves lol. I'm glad you think I handled Taros' death well, I was kinda nervous about that scene cos everyone seemed to like him. The story won't encompass those six weeks, something else happens but the next chapter is actually the last. Thanks for the review!

Sparkly – I knew everyone was gonna be upset with me for killing Taros lol, is your sister even speaking to me lol? I don't really like Mathews either but I guess that's the way I wrote him, next chapter is the last one, kinda sad really. I hope you enjoy this one and thanks for the review.

Anonymous – Sorry but you didn't leave a name on the review lol. Everyone seemed to like Taros and I knew people were gonna be upset but angst makes good story telling. Thanks for the review.

Atlantis Ori Sheppard – Thanks for the review, Elizabeth gets to stay in the city for now and I feel bad for killing Taros but angst makes good story telling. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Bite Beccy – I'm glad Malar made you laugh, it was about time the man did something nice lol. Next chapter is the last one; I hope you enjoy this one and thanks for the review.

Kuroima – I'm sorry I made you cry... a little anyway lol. The next chapter will be the last one, it's kinda sad to see the story end, thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 24

Teyla ducked to avoid the bantos rod that was making its way toward her head, she quickly stood up straight again, taking a step back to put a safe amount of distance between her and Ronon. They circled each other for what felt like forever, both of them watching the other intently. She swung for him, stepping forward and connecting the stick in her hand with Ronon's chest. He let out a small grunt of pain and stepped back from her. She swung for him again, aiming for his hand and knocking his only weapon out of it.

Before he had time to recover from that blow she kicked the back of his knees and he dropped to the ground where she placed one of her own bantos rods around his neck and he brought his hands up in surrender.

She released him, stepping back and moving her neck in a circle, the bullet wound in her neck had almost healed now but it still felt it necessary to become very painful every now and again, just to remind her it was still there. She hadn't sparred much in the last few weeks, the bullet wound preventing her from being able to fight Ronon at all and to her annoyance it was really showing too. She might have won that fight but her technique was sloppy, her movements were slower and her balance was off slightly.

"You were going easy on me," Teyla stated breathlessly.

"It's the first time we've sparred since you were shot three weeks ago," he reminded her "I didn't want to hurt you."

Though she knew she should be slightly mad at him she couldn't find it in herself, he was probably right anyway. Had he not gone easy on her she would have lost that fight very quickly. "I've missed sparring with you."

"Yeah, I had to stick to kicking Sheppard's ass," Ronon replied and Teyla laughed softly.

"Elizabeth said he had more bruises than usual," Teyla informed him.

"She'd know," Ronon commented and Teyla laughed again, she was fairly sure the two leaders had no idea that both she and Ronon new about their relationship, for obvious reasons they were keeping it quiet for now and despite John having confronted Ronon and Teyla with the knowledge of their relationship, they both felt that the two of them would be more comfortable if they thought his team hadn't noticed.

Elizabeth seemed to be much happier; the last three weeks had been calm and easy for everyone on Atlantis, except maybe for Malar who was still fuming about being in a city full of humans. Other than the annoying Ancient constantly skulking around the city muttering to himself, life had been... pleasant recently. It was only another three weeks until Mathews returned to decide Elizabeth's fate once and for all, the thought made her nervous but there was really nothing she could do so she kept it at the back of her mind.

Teyla moved over to where her gym bag was, pulling out the bottle of water and taking a long drink before she put it back. She reached a hand up to her neck, running her hand over the slowly fading bullet wound there. "Neck hurting?" Ronon questioned, walking up behind her and putting an arm around her waist.

Teyla nodded "A little."

Ronon ran the fingers of his free hand over the still angry red mark, he leant down and kissed it "Come on, we'll get your pain killers."

"And how about the nightmares?" Kate questioned and Elizabeth shifted on the couch to get more comfortable, she'd gone through a dozen of these sessions since she got back to Atlantis just over three weeks ago. They weren't as bad as she'd been expecting them to be, Kate had been extremely pleasant to talk to, there'd been no judging expression on her face and if she was honest with herself, talking about everything – even the things she didn't want to talk about – had helped a lot.

"Gone more or less, I still have the occasional bad dream but I'm sleeping fine mostly," Elizabeth told her and Kate nodded, making a note on the small note pad in her lap.

"How are you coping with the work you're being given?" she asked.

"Fine, it's good to feel useful again and do tasks that are little more familiar, fishing and hunting were never really my thing," Elizabeth replied humorously, she considered it a big step that she could make jokes about her time with the Krayle, a few weeks ago it had been nothing but bad memories she wanted to forget.

"I don't think I'd enjoy them much either, I hear Carson's a fishing fan though," Kate stated thoughtfully.

"Elizabeth smiled "Maybe we should compare notes."

"Maybe," Kate replied "Are you nervous about Dr Mathews coming back in three weeks?"

"A little, I think I'm doing a lot better now than when he was here before. Taros had just died and I felt like my life had become one big rollercoaster but I'm feeling a lot more like my old self again now so I should be able to handle him," Elizabeth told her and Kate smiled and nodded.

"I suppose in your line of work you've dealt with people like him a million times before," Kate said as she made more notes.

"I think there are probably people like him in most lines of work," Elizabeth stated. "Every time the subject is brought up Jack makes a point of informing people how much he doesn't like Mathews."

"How are you getting along everyone?"

"Great," Elizabeth replied "I think everyone was glad to see me back in Atlantis."

"We most definitely were," Kate told her with a smile "So all in all you're feeling much more settled."

"Yes, definitely, there are a few not so good days but other than that," Elizabeth said honestly, she knew that if Kate suspected she wasn't being truthful – and the woman had caught her out several times in their earlier sessions – she would push a little harder and probably think Elizabeth was going backward in her recovery instead of forward. She'd found it best just to be honest with the woman from the beginning and save them both some time.

"That's good, I have to say Elizabeth, I'm very pleased with the progress you're making, you seem to be doing much better," Kate stated, closing the note book and putting it on the desk behind her. "I think we can cut our sessions back, forget the appointment on Friday and I'll see you next week instead."

Elizabeth tried not to react to the news that she would be seeing less of her psychologist. She liked Kate but she'd much rather see her outside of this office. She thanked her and stood, leaving the room.

Jack liked Atlantis, he like the family atmosphere which was slowly rebuilding itself now that Elizabeth was back in the city. He walked into the cafeteria where he saw Major Lorne eating; he joined the young officer, deciding it would be best to wait for the cafeteria queue to decrease before he joined it.

"Major, mind if I take a seat?" he questioned and Lorne gestured to the chair opposite him, his mouth too full of food to speak. "Anything good on the menu?"

"McKay will be pleased to know they're serving lemon chicken today," Lorne joked "There's cake up there too."

"Cake you say," Jack replied, a hint of awe in his voice, he really did like cake.

"Chocolate too sir," Lorne told him and Jack was fairly sure his eyes lit up, that really long queue had better not eat it all.

Jack was about to respond when shouting caught his attention, Lorne sighed recognising the voice and both men looked over to the cafeteria queue where Malar was shouting angrily at the cafeteria staff.

"You call this food, I have been waiting in line for almost fifteen minutes for this!" he yelled and Jack's idea of the Ancients as calm people was shattered in an instant. Both Lorne and Jack stood up, walking over to the queue and the irate Ancient.

"Problem Malar?" Lorne questioned and Malar turned around to see the two men.

"Yes there's a problem, this food is unacceptable, I can't be expected to eat this," Malar exclaimed.

"We could always send you back to the planet you were living on before," Jack stated. "I hear you liked it there."

"Those people were even more primitive than you," Malar told them.

"Well that's your choice Malar, so why don't you stop complaining about the food and get yourself some cake," Jack suggested and Malar glared furiously at him.

"My opinions will not be dismissed so easily, especially not by a human," Malar began to protest but another voice cut him off.

"People are trying to eat here Malar, so why don't you sit down and shut up or leave," Ronon told the Ancient as he moved to stand between Lorne and Jack, his intimidating presence and straight to the point statement seemed to silence Malar. The man glared at them all for a moment before walking out of the cafeteria with his head held high.

"That man's gonna drive us all crazy," Lorne stated once the Ancient had left and everyone had gone back to their meals.

"I think I'll talk to Elizabeth, maybe she can talk some sense into him... or at least get him to shut up," Jack said as he joined the back of the queue having spotted the dwindling amount of cake left.

John stared at the report in front of him, he knew it should be on Sam's desk by now but he couldn't bring himself to actually finish it. He was slowly making his way through it one sentence at a time, hopefully he'd have it finished before Sam got on his case about it, the mission had been four days ago now.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, looking at the walls of his office and deciding he still didn't like it in here. He'd been forced to use this room though until they got Elizabeth's office back which would hopefully be a few weeks away. He wasn't going to lie to himself, he was nervous about the IOA's visit in three weeks. Elizabeth had made excellent progress, she was much more like her old self again now but if the IOA were looking for an excuse to replace they'd find one no matter how well Elizabeth was doing.

There was a knock at the door and the very subject of his thoughts walked in. "Hey," he greeted as Elizabeth stepped into his office closing the door behind her.

"Hey," she replied with a smile.

"How'd it go with Kate?" he asked and she shrugged.

"Same as always, she cut down our sessions though, said I'm doing very well," she told him and he smiled.

"Well that's good," he said, wondering why she didn't sound as happy about it as she should.

"I don't know if it'll be enough for the IOA though," she told him and John's unvoiced question was answered, it should have been obvious really since he had just been thinking the same thing.

"Nervous?" he questioned.

"A little," she admitted.

"It'll be fine, whatever happens we'll figure it out," he reassured and she nodded her head, the worried look still not gone from her face as she changed the subject.

"I would have come to see you sooner but Rodney tried to blow us all up again," she stated and John narrowed his eyes at her but let the matter go, he knew it would come up again sooner or later.

"Is he still trying to activate that device Lorne's team found last week?" John questioned and when Elizabeth nodded her head John sighed, standing up and making his way around his desk to where she stood. "You think the man would have learned, that thing electrocuted him last time he tried to switch it on."

"I think he just wants to know what it is," Elizabeth told him. "Though the massive energy build up will probably kill us all first."

"You know McKay, anything for science," John stated and Elizabeth laughed softly as John moved his hands to her waist pulling her closer to him.

"Carter has forbidden him from even touching the device now and she had me come along for support," Elizabeth informed him.

"Yeah well, you're the only person that McKay really listens to... willingly, the rest of us threaten him into compliance," John joked and Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. She went quiet then, staring thoughtfully at his chest and John could actually see the worry returning to her face.

"Stop worrying," he told her making her look up at him "You'll give yourself wrinkles."

"Well in that case," Elizabeth said and John kissed her softly just as there was a knock on the door. He kissed her again, releasing her and taking a step back to lean against his desk whilst Elizabeth stayed where she was.

"Come in," he called and the door opened revealing Jack O'Neill.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt I was just looking for Elizabeth, figured she'd be here," Jack stated knowingly and John chose to remain silent.

"Well you found me," Elizabeth replied expectantly.

"Do you think you could talk to Malar, he's causing trouble all over the city? I just came from what promised to a very enjoyable dinner with cake and he almost ruined it for me," Jack asked her.

"What makes you think I can talk to him, he doesn't like me anymore than the rest of you," she stated and Jack shrugged.

"He knows you better and you've always been good at talking to people, you're a diplomat, you can negotiate for his silence," Jack suggested with a smile and Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"I'll talk to him."

Out of boredom Laura had wondered to the infirmary where she found Carson with a patient. She waited by the door, leaning against the wall and watching as the young woman described her symptoms to the doctor.

"It sounds like you have a wee bit of a stomach bug, it should be gone in a day or two," Carson told her, walking over to a cabinet and pulling out a small medicine bottle. "Take two of these before you go to sleep tonight and two more in the morning, if you don't feel better in a few days come back here."

The woman took the bottle gratefully and hopped down from the bed she'd been sitting on to leave. Carson finally saw Laura standing by the door and smiled. "Hello love," he greeted and Laura returned his smile taking several steps toward him.

"Hey yourself," she replied.

"I take it you're bored," he stated and Laura looked offended.

"I do not have to be bored to come and see you," she told him and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry love but I'm a wee bit busy at the moment, I have a lot of paper work to do and a patient coming in a few minutes to get his stitches removed," Carson informed her apologetically and Laura walked passed him to sit on one of the beds. "What are ye doing?"

"I'm sick, I need a doctor," she said and Carson smiled and shook his head as he walked toward her.

"Really," he questioned and she nodded her head. Carson rolled his eyes but decided to play along. "And what seems to be the problem?"

"Well, you see I've been getting these really hot flashes and I need a certain doctor to help me..." Laura began but Carson cut her off.

"Laura," he said loudly, sharply making sure she didn't finish whatever it was she had been planning to say.

"What?" she questioned as though she had no clue why she was being scolded and then started laughing. "You're so easily embarrassed sometimes."

"I have work to do," he told her, stepping forward to kiss her quickly before offering her his hand to help her jump down from the bed. "Meet me in the cafeteria in the hour?" he questioned and she nodded her head with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Then maybe we can go to my quarters and discuss my problem further," she stated laughing.

"Laura Cadman," Carson scolded.

"Okay fine, your quarters then," she pretended to correct herself.

"Go, now, before I rethink my relationship with ye," Carson ordered and she pouted for a moment.

"I don't think so, you love me too much," she replied and Carson smiled, kissing her again before she wondered out of the room to find someone else to annoy, where was Evan?

Elizabeth tried not to roll her eyes as Malar took his time answering the door, when he finally did the Ancient stared at her expectantly and slightly surprised. "Can I come in?" she questioned when it became apparent that manners would not be involved in this conversation, at least not from him. He stepped back, albeit reluctantly and Elizabeth took the invitation and walked into his room. It was as sparse as when he had been given it, Taros, she remembered had his filled his room with candles and few of his belongings that had survived the replicator siege in the short amount of time he'd been here.

I hear you've been causing some trouble," Elizabeth stated, deciding to get straight to the point, she doubted small talk would help or be welcomed here.

"If you're referring to the minor disagreement I had with your cafeteria staff..." Malar began but Elizabeth cut him off there.

"From what I've heard that was not a minor disagreement Malar," she told him "And that's only part of what I'm talking about. You've been going around the city making everyone's life hell, including your own, for over three weeks now."

"Truthfully Dr Weir I do not believe that you and your people have earned the right to control this city, to call it home," Malar stated. "You are a primitive race, childish in every respect as is the rest of humanity. This city belongs to the Ancients, not you."

"What is it about humanity that you dislike so much?" Elizabeth asked "We have made great progress over the years, some more than others but we've all done it without your help and under the threat of one alien culture or another. Humanity has not only survived but thrived, making our own progress, slowly but still making it. What is it that you have to look down on?"

Malar didn't reply, he just stared at her so Elizabeth continued.

"The Ancients are no more or less than we are, you've made mistakes, some of them are still causing havoc and destruction throughout the galaxy. Do you want to know the biggest difference between Ancients and humans? ... We don't walk away from our mistakes, wash our hands of them and let everyone else pay the price. We do whatever we can to fix them, to put them right and then we learn from them," she told him and Malar continued to stand there silently though he looked more like a dear caught in headlights not knowing how to respond.

"We're all you have Malar, us, so I suggest you stop hating us and get used to it, that or you can leave," she finished and walked out of the room without waiting for a response from Malar, she just hoped she'd gotten through to him.

Major Ander's team left the briefing room, their debrief had been short and their mission routine, Anders was still new to Atlantis but he seemed to fitting in well, his team respected him and so far he hadn't gotten himself in trouble off world, it was just a matter of time though. Sam gathered up the few files she'd had with her when she'd arrived for the briefing and was about to head up to her office when Jack popped his head through the door.

"Hey," he greeted stepping fully into the room when he realised she wasn't busy. "Interesting debriefing?" he questioned.

"Not really, routine mission," she replied and Jack frowned.

"How boring for them," he stated and Sam smiled, they'd always hated routine missions on SG1, though when it all kicked off and they were fighting for their lives they were usually wishing for routine.

"Major Anders is still settling in, routine is probably a good thing," she replied with a shrug.

"I thought you should know," Jack began after a moment's silence. "I'll be leaving at the end of the week."

Disappointment ran through Sam like a wave, she'd gotten used to having Jack here over the last few weeks. It was nice having him around especially when, despite having been here for over five months, everything around her felt so unfamiliar. She nodded her head slowly when she realised she hadn't responded and Jack took it upon himself to fill the silence.

"I've been here longer than I probably should have, I was told to go back a week ago and there's really nothing to justify me staying here anymore," Jack explained and Sam nodded her head again, wondering where her ability to speak had just disappeared to.

She cleared her throat and willed her voice to return to her. "Well, hopefully I'll be following you in a few weeks," she stated, glad that words had actually come out.

"That really what you want?" Jack questioned and Sam looked at him confused. "Atlantis is a great command; most people would kill to have it."

"It's not my command though, it Dr Weir's besides, everything I care about is on earth," she replied, sharing a look with Jack that she had probably shared with him far too many times since she'd met him. It was really no wonder that they were such a favourite in the rumour mills back on earth, they'd even spread to Atlantis though John and Elizabeth were definitely the favoured topic here.

"I'll let you get back to work, see you later," Jack said and left the room; Sam sighed and finished gathering her files to leave.

Jack stood in the gate room, the shimmering blue of the stargate standing behind him as it waited to carry him home. Several people had gathered to see him off and he had to admit, though his home was on earth, he was gonna miss this place. "Major Lorne, Dr Beckett, Lieutenant Cadman," he acknowledged the three people standing to the back of the group.

"Teyla, as always it's been a pleasure," he told the young Athosian.

"It has," Teyla replied with a smile and a bow of her head and Jack looked to the much taller figure standing beside her.

"Ronon, I still love your gun," he stated and watched as the Satedan smirked. "McKay, try not to blow up the city."

"I don't..." Rodney began to protest but an elbow in the arm from Ronon quickly shut him up.

Jack then looked at John, stood beside Elizabeth, the young lieutenant Colonel stood up straight saluting him and Jack returned the gesture before shaking his hand. "Look after her Sheppard or you'll have me to answer to," he told him and John smiled almost imperceptibly.

"I will," he replied and Jack nodded and moved onto the next person. To the surprise of all present, Elizabeth stepped forward, her arms going around his shoulders and Jack was even more surprised when he returned the gesture without awkwardness.

"Take care and be yourself, everything will be fine," he told her and she nodded her head.

"I know," she stated and right then Jack knew that she really would be fine now. He turned to the final person he had to say goodbye to and though he knew he'd probably be seeing her again before long he found himself not wanting to leave. He'd already decided that if Mathews or whoever the IOA sent through tried to take Elizabeth from the city he'd be coming back through the gate to fight her corner. So no matter what decision the IOA made, he'd be seeing Sam in a few weeks.

Sam stood there looking unsure of herself which was something he wasn't used to seeing in his former team mate. He once again surprised himself when he stepped forward and hugged her, albeit 

with a little hesitation. She hugged him back but the exchange only lasted a second, they both moved apart, professional distance back in place quickly.

"I'll see you in a few weeks," he told her and she smiled and nodded.

"Hope so," she replied and he took one last look at everyone in the room before he turned around and walked through the gate.

Elizabeth couldn't quite believe what she was hearing, the Asurans were building a massive fleet of ships capable of reaching earth and earth was about to launch a pre-emptive first strike. The plan sounded good, use a new weapons platform to deliver several nuclear warheads and destroy the shipyards all at once. She had serious misgivings about it though; they could very well be starting a war with a super powerful enemy which in truth, they probably couldn't beat in an all out war.

Earth's new ship, the Apollo would be carrying out the mission, the commander; Colonel Ellis seemed to think it was going to work. She got the distinct impression he didn't like her though, especially when she voiced her misgivings and he very quickly dismissed them.

"Dr Weir is correct," Sam stated and Elizabeth was slightly surprised to hear the military woman agree with her. "There's a lot at risk here, we can't really afford a war with the Asurans."

John however had already shown his interest in the plan; he seemed to be in full support of the idea. "This could seriously cripple them and if we don't attack now and those ships reach earth there'll be nothing we can do, earth will be defenceless."

The rest of the discussion was short, even Rodney and Radek had their reservations about the plan but apparently orders were orders and the plan would be going ahead in twelve hours. Everyone was dismissed and Elizabeth followed John out of the room, he'd be going along for the mission as well. He'd fly a cloaked Jumper through the area to determine if the nukes had done their job.

"You really think this is a good idea?" she asked him, despite herself she was slightly annoyed that her opinion had been so easily disregarded. She knew she shouldn't be, she wasn't in command of the city, she had no say in the decisions being made but still, she was annoyed.

"You really don't?" he questioned back, not answering her and she stared at him for a moment.

"I really don't," she told him before walking away. This wasn't a good idea, she could feel it, this was going to end badly.

TBC