Facing the Operative Word by AndromedaMarine

The Operative Word

John's condition steadily got better. After six days in a coma (four and a half after the directive had activated) Beckett announced he was ready to take John out of it. The day after the directive deactivated the transporter crystals mysteriously appeared in Rodney's lab, much to Radek's surprise, and neither ever figured out it was John's "evil twin" who had returned or even taken them. It was just Elizabeth and Beckett in John's room. The color had returned to the colonel's face and the wounds were all healing nicely.

"Are you ready, lass?"

Elizabeth nodded and began to chew on a nail. "Yes."

Carson injected something into John's IV and the colonel's eyes started to flutter. The Scot retreated to a corner, letting Elizabeth be the one John saw when he woke. "Lizbeth..." he mumbled thickly, morphine getting in the way. Elizabeth grasped his hand and lifted his forearm so it was supported by the woman. "Lizbeth, is that you?"

"Yeah, John, it's me." Tears started to fall down the leader's face.

"What happened?" John asked with some difficulty. He tightened his grip in the hand Elizabeth was holding.

Elizabeth glanced at Carson, who nodded. "You were in a coma for a week. If not for Carson you would have died. A Wraith fed on you, John. We're all lucky you're alive. I love you."

John opened his eyes. "How can I be the one you love?"

Elizabeth smiled. "I love you because you are the world. You are gentle and compassionate and caring. You are the one I love because you are John Sheppard."

John was silent for a while. "Didn't you say that before? Oh, well. I love you too."

Carson walked up behind Elizabeth. "He will live."

--

Ten days after John woke he was discharged from the infirmary, but true to his word, Carson refused to clear him for any duty. The good Scot had insisted on and demanded that John be in a wheelchair for another five days. This order was met with a long list of words Carson didn't feel were appropriate after he'd saved the colonel's life. Nonetheless, John complied and Elizabeth wheeled him to their quarters. They were met with smiles from Radek, Evan, Teyla, Ronon, and Rodney.

Elizabeth helped John out of the wheelchair and onto the sofa. "John, we need to talk."

The man looked sharply up at Elizabeth. "What about? I'm alive, aren't I?"

"True, you're not dead. Yet. And that's the word we need to talk about. Every time you go through the gate there's a very good possibility that you won't come back the same way. We've done this dance, John, and it's more than just a side-effect of our jobs. It's part of our lives. I need assurance every time that you'll come back alive."

"Rodney might've already told you this, but we're as careful as we possibly can be whenever we go through. We're never careless. But there's always the times that we can't help but fight. That's what happened on the last mission."

"I'll still be worried."

John was silent. He was contemplating a question he'd wanted to ask her for a few months. "I...I want to be with you. I mean, for forever. If this'll help with the worry you're attached to, then... I suppose what I'm trying to ask is if you'll marry me."

"What?" Elizabeth breathed, wondering if she heard correctly.

"Marry me? I'd have a ring if we were on earth, but we're not..."

Elizabeth smiled and kissed him. "Yes."

Although they'd battled through John's worst predicament, the operative word still existed – but neither would ever have to face it.