Chapter Fifteen

Beckett screamed out, "She's crashing! Everyone out of the way! NOW!"

"No, stop, let me..." an out-of-breath Radek yelled and he pushed his way to Elizabeth's side.

Looking at her with eyes that only a true lover can give someone he deeply cared about, Radek took her hand, and pressed it to his lips. He closed his eyes and he thought about how much he cared, how much he doesn't want to lose her. He thought of her touch, her gentle laugh, their conversations together late at night. No one understood him as much as she did. He would fight for her, it would help her fight. He had to, for both of their sakes.

Suddenly he felt that he was in the watchtower of his homeland's past. Looking down he saw two figures... One is Elizabeth, she is hurt. Before Radek had time to think, he reacted, lifting the rifle and firing at the figure standing over Elizabeth.

Suddenly, everything faded, and Radek and Elizabeth were alone in a dark room, yet it felt like it someone else's mind. No, it couldn't be; Lorne saved him and the others Radek refused to accept he was still trapped, this couldn't be another dream. No, he wouldn't believe it; he won't let it happen, not again. Taking an unconscious Elizabeth in his arms, Radek gently cradles her. She is real, he feels it; he knows it. This is not a dream, this is real. But he can feel someone else in his mind. He yelled out, "Who is out there?"

A voice spoke out, quietly. "I have never encountered emotions as strong as the two of you have. The others, they all have strong feelings, strong emotions and memories, but none as powerful as you two. They all care about this female, yet with you, the bond was the strongest and could not be broken."

"Who are you?" Zelenka calls out.

Frung responded, remorsefully, "It does not matter who I am, we will not meet again. I have failed with you - the experiments are over. We cannot use you as a power source for our planet. Your emotions are too hard to control, too hard to channel for our use. The Wraith, however, will provide us with what we need. Their emotions are not as powerful but we can manipulate them for our needs. You are free to go."

Before Radek could say anything more, he found himself back on Atlantis, holding a slowly waking Elizabeth. Elizabeth opened her eyes and stared into Radek's tear-filled eyes. He clutched at her and held her tight.

Elizabeth whispered to him, "I love you".

Radek holds her tighter, too emotional to say anything.

Carson, Sheppard, Teyla, Rodney, Lorne and the rest of the staff watch silently for a moment before leaving to give them some privacy.