Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Part 17/24

-Chapter 17-

The Fight

-Atlantis – Past -

"Shield's down!"

The message crackled through the headsets of Atlantis's defenders. F-302s rose from the outlying piers, joining the Jumpers issuing from their bay.

"We got incoming!"

Less than two minutes after the shield protecting Atlantis failed, fire blossomed patchily high up in the sky as the Jumpers and F-302s engaged the enemy. Although the oncoming swarm was greatly reduced, a frightening number still got past the aerial defense.

The rail guns began chattering. Their withering barrage shredded the airspace around Atlantis, as well as many of the Darts trying to penetrate it. Flaming wreckage pelted down on the city or crashed into the sea. Still, a significant number made it through. Harsh white beams swept across any available open space, depositing drone warriors who immediately went on the attack. Darts whined and screamed among the shining towers, firing on the defenders.

All the approaches to the control tower were covered by teams of Marines and SFs. The main entrance corridor to the Gateroom was most heavily defended, not only by Marines, but by Colonel Sheppard, the two Dexes and Teyla as well. No one doubted the Wraith's ultimate objective: Atlantis's Stargate – and Earth.

The grim reports began to come across the comm to those manning the final perimeter, the one that could in no way be allowed to collapse: a defensive position overwhelmed here, defenders forced into strategic retreat there. Hands flexed in their grips on weapons as the sounds of battle crept nearer and nearer.

Dex eased over to Ronon and spoke so only he could hear. "So, what now?" He slid a covert glance to where Sheppard and Teyla stood in front of the Gateroom's gracefully ornamental doors.

"Don't know; it's all different from here." He met Dex's eyes briefly. "We've already managed to change history, though. We're a long way from where--" He broke off, knowing he didn't have to finish the sentence. His jaw set. "She'll live through this. I swear she will."

Even as Dex nodded acknowledgement, the first band of retreating Marines and SFs backed into the corridor, and the battle was upon them.

Ronon bared his teeth, leveled his blaster, and began methodically exterminating Wraith drones. So much was on the line here; there was no way he was going to let the Wraith win! A detached part of his mind noticed other, equally precise blaster shots punctuating the raking fire of P90s and other, heavier Earth weaponry. Satisfaction surged through him, fiercely and irrationally, and totally adrenaline-fueled.

Teyla was suddenly there beside him. "We must hold here!" She gritted her teeth and sprayed P-90 fire into a fresh wave of drones charging towards them. "In your battle--"

"Like I just told him, it wasn't like this then." He concentrated momentarily on picking off a drone that was leaping over its fallen fellows. On the lefthand side of the corridor and a little behind their position, Dex was covering Sheppard as the latter quickly reloaded his weapon. But still, their efforts didn't seem to be enough. The Wraith were still coming, a seemingly endless wave of them threatening to inundate the Atlantians in a tide of slaughter so they could take Atlantis as theirs.

A Marine in the foremost line of defenders – Ronon recognized Lieutenant Avery – took a direct blast to his chest, his body sprawling backwards. In the gap left by his fall, he saw the Wraith who had killed him, weapon raised and talon poised to fire again. Even over all the noise, he seemed to hear the creature's hissing, saw the drone aim for a new target.

Teyla.

An inarticulate roar burst from deep within him. He reached out his left hand, grabbing her by the collar of her tac vest. Twisting his upper body, he used his momentum to fling her towards his other self, even as he fired his blaster at the drone.

Pain exploded into his side under his ribs, pain like nothing he'd ever experienced even in his years as a Runner. His knees buckled; the impact from his body hitting the floor sent fresh waves of searing agony through him. He curled into a ball against the intensity of a hurt that threatened to blot out the world, his arms clenched against the terrible wound. He fought to breathe, and each labored breath was a guttural groan.

"Ronon!" Teyla's voice penetrated the fiery haze wrapping his mind and sucking his consciousness towards the darkness at its heart. "Ronon, please—"

He became aware of arms around his shoulders, lifting him, cradling him. Somehow, he found strength enough to force his eyes open a slit. Teyla's face drifted into focus, began to fade again. He saw her head turn to one side, lips moving. Dimly, he realized Sheppard and Dex were bending over him as well.

"Teyla." He could only manage the thinnest thread of a whisper; but it was enough. Her beautiful, much loved face turned back to him. He willed the hand on his uninjured side to lift so he could grip her arm with his hand. "'S okay. I don't. . .really. . .belong. . . here. . ."

Tears streaked down her cheeks, and the hurt of seeing her weep for him was worse than all his physical agony. He tried to look up at Dex; tried with all the fierceness of will that had carried him so far and sustained him so long to say, "Love her; cherish her—"

It was too much.

He let go of trying to focus through the gathering dark.

He let go of the pain.

He let go of life.

To Be Continued. . .