Phew! Here it is, the finale. Well for now. Writing Shawn and John (and Gus!) together is too much fun. So I might just keep at it, but with one-shots. So stay tuned. Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed. I appreciate you all!

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

Chapter Sixteen: The End. For Now.

Shawn sat down on his freshly made bed, wrinkling the military-grade sheets. He watched Gus pack up everything that was considered theirs. Shawn spotted a couple of random wooden items being stuffed into a gray duffel bag.

"Where did you get that crap?"

"It's not crap, Shawn, they're gifts from Teyla."

"Does one of them include her phone number?"

Gus narrowed his eyes at him. "As if I'd tell you."

Shawn rubbed the shoulder that shared his injured arm, "Dude, she lives in another galaxy. Long distance relationships suck."

Gus huffed and grumbled something about 'packing Shawn's things up' but said nothing more.

Shawn meanwhile walked around the room, and looked out the port hole that displayed the ginormous ocean surrounding the city. "I think I'm going to miss this place." He placed his good hand on the cold metal wall. "It's like my second home." He closed his eyes as if he was having a 'moment' with the Atlantean structure.

"A second home? Shawn, we've been here less than a week. If that."

"Really? It feels like... years."

"All I know is, I have several days of DVR to catch up on."

Shawn turned to look at him. "Downton Abbey?"

"You know it." Gus grinned. "I have a good feeling about the Christmas episode, Matthew and Mary are going to end up together this time."

A soft knock interrupted them.

Shawn looked over at the door. "Um, enter?"

Elizabeth Weir did just so. "Are you two ready?"

Gus stood up, two gray duffle bags at his sides. "More than you know."

Shawn looked up around the sharply angled room, and then back at the port hole facing the alien ocean. "I suppose..."

Weir, Teyla and Ronon escorted both of them to the gate room. More than half of Atlantis's population was standing there, waiting for them. Including Major Lorne who was looking almost forlorn.

"Hey, go to In n Out burger for me, will ya? And Dairy Queen." The major said, approaching Gus and Shawn. "I miss Oreo Blizzards."

Shawn nodded. "Will do. Though I prefer Heath over Oreo. I hope that works."

After several goodbyes were made, including Ronan who made it look like he wasn't going to miss them at all, though it was obvious he was going to cry into his pillow later, Teyla was the last to bid her adieu.

Gus held onto her hug the longest, even after she tried to pull away. "Anytime you want to come to Earth, anytime at all... I'll hook you up."

Teyla walked away, looking slightly weirded out.

Shawn was too busy noticing John wasn't present.

Weir looked up into the overhang of the gate room and nodded to Chuck, who started the dial-up sequence.

By now, Gus was well-aware of Sheppard's absence. "Where's John?"

As if emerging from their thoughts, a flip-flop clad Sheppard strolled into the gate room. He, too, was accompanied by a couple duffel bags.

"Mind if I join you boys?"

Shawn looked like a rabid squirrel. "You're coming with us? Duuuude! This means we can take you to the Catalina Island kite festival."

John pulled the aviator sunglasses from his face. "Are you serious?"

Gus chimed in. "It's a kite enthusiast's dream."

Weir laughed. Loud. "Well, I'm certainly glad these next few days will be... exciting."

"Oh maan," Shawn and Gus shared a look of what could only be described as glee. "It's going to be the best week ever."

Sheppard nodded to Ronan, Teyla and Weir.

"Six days have been cleared, Colonel. Major Lorne is in charge until you return." Weir added, easing Sheppard's mind.

The Colonel turned to Lorne. "I owe you one."

Lorne nodded. "Oreo Blizzard."

After all pleasantries were exchanged and all goodbyes given, the three travelers stepped into the gate.

Shawn and Gus were certainly surprised when they reached the other side. "Colorado!"

One great thing about being in a secret division of the government, certain perks were awarded.

That included private flights to any airport in California.

After the surprisingly smooth charter plane landed at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, John knew it was time.

Time to see Henry Spencer. And to hash it all out. All the missed holidays, birthdays and random calls.

It was time to make things right.

John and Gus grabbed their bags and followed 'squeezing every ounce out of his injury' Shawn off the small plane.

It was as if the planets had all aligned and the universe had a preconceived idea of the events of John's life, because low and behold, Henry Spencer was parked directly next to the runway. His pickup in plain sight.

The driver's side door open, and Henry emerged.

"Well, well, well." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I had a feeling you were behind this." He eyed his son. "Let me guess, you followed your brother into trouble?"

Shawn gave John a pained look. Gus was oblivious to the entire exchange, he was trying not to kiss the ground he stood on.

"Henry."

"John."

"I can explain," Shawn piped up.

"As you always can," Henry said, his eyes narrowing.

John made the first move by walking forward and placing his hand on Henry's shoulder. "It's been awhile, old man." His sincerity and honesty cracked Henry's veneer.

"It's good to see you, kid."

John smirked. "It's good to see you too."

This made Henry crack a smile. He looked between his three 'sons'. "Salmon burgers sound good for dinner? We have a lot to catch up on."

"Nothing sounds better."

Shawn nodded. "I'm suddenly craving Dairy Queen."

Six months and one more Atlantis reprieve later-

Madeline Spencer, John and Shawn's mother, was busy in Henry's kitchen, frosting cooled brownies.

"So, sweetheart," Madeline placed brownie in front of John. Gus looked miffed that he wasn't the first to receive one. "How is that girl you've been telling me about?"

Gus looked over at John. "It's not Teyla is it?"

Shawn, looking up from his phone, mid-text to his girlfriend (Juliet, of course), interjected. "It's Weir, right?" He then looked over at Gus. "Or maybe it's both. Maybe John's a polygamist now."

Before John could answer his mother, the phone in his front pocket buzzed. Mid-bite of fresh brownie, John looked at his caller id. He groaned. "It's Colonel Caldwell." Though with a mouth full of brownie, it sounded like he said 'Colonel Chedder'.

"Wraith again?" Gus asked, wide-eyed.

John flashed a very stern 'seriously, you just said 'Wraith' in front of my own mother' look to Gus and answered his phone

After a few brief moments, all John said was:"Yes, sir, I understand." And then he ended the call.

Madeline eyed John. "Everything ok? I still can't believe you're a Lieutenant Colonel!" She then knitted her brows. "Actually what I can't believe is that I am actually old enough to have a son who's a Colonel."

Gus displayed an open palm. "And I am still in dire need of a brownie."

John stared at his phone and then glanced between Shawn and Gus.

Before anything else could be said, Shawn chimed up. "Can we come? I need a Ronan-fix."