CHAPTER 75 – THE FINAL PIECES

John saw immediately they her agitation needed attention, and fast. He didn't look at the others, simply supported her gently and led her from the room, out into the hallway. He rested his back against the wall and pulled her into his arms – tightly. And just held her. Feeling her shuddering breaths as she fought to get her emotions and her feelings under control.

"We'll work it out Gina. It's not all on you sweetheart. We'll find a solution."

She didn't answer him, but he felt her hands clutch tightly at his shirt and felt the tremors running through her body. Cause and effect thought John. It all comes down to Gina and I – it was always about us. What I changed by going back – the snowball effect – in this dimension, yes – but much more so in the other dimension. There? The ripples are staggering – for some reason stronger because they have crossed dimensions.

The timeline is different. Gina and I had Carlie six years ago in that dimension – it is only happening now. How is that significant. The date? 2006. Why then? We have been gone from the other Atlantis for two years, by Carson Two's admission. 2010. Another signifance? At the point that I went back in time – Carlie was the daughter of Gina and Terrence. Rodney did not exist in that dimension. Jack had been killed attempting to cross the time portal. What changed?

He pulled her away from him slightly.

"John – we need to go back to 1962 – you and I. Fix it."

"Fix what Gina? Just what the hell do we need to fix? I don't know anymore... I don't want to know. I just want to have a normal life... here, with you and our baby. I don't want to know about dimensions and time travel and things that can hurt you..."

Tears ran down her cheeks and she tried to pull away from him. He held on, but she found a strength that had her running down the hall and away from him. John swore and set off after her, worried she would hurt herself and by the time Jack and Sam had rushed out of the conference room, alerted to their raised voices, they were both gone and it was Jack who felt an immediate sinking in his stomach. He knew where she had gone. And he knew that John would follow her to the ends of the earth. Their earth. 1962.

He caught up with her in the control room where she had burst in on a surprised gate technician. John was right behind her and the surprised look moved to encompass him as well. The technician knew that if there had been an emergency of some sort, he would have been contacted by intercom or radio, but the sight of this slightly crazed woman rushing into the control room had him wishing that he had a weapon handy.

John attempted to regain control of the situation. "Gina.. calm down. We can't go off half cocked here. We need a plan, a way to do this. So – we go back to 1962? Just what the hell are we supposed to do there?"

The gate technician's eyes widened further as General O'Neill and Colonel Carter stepped into the room. The General had the look on his face that said ' be nice to pregnant ladies' and his hands were out slightly in a 'I'm not trying to scare you' gesture and the technician had the disturbing and somewhat inappropriate thought that he had been caught in a rerun of "Days of Our Lives."

"Gina." The General spoke now. He sensed that Sheppard had lost control of the situation, but didn't know that he would have any more success than his younger Colonel. "I know what you want to do... believe me, if I was in your shoes, that is exactly what I would do."

Gina whirled around and he stepped back at the fury and determination he saw in those brilliant blue eyes and felt more than just a moment's concern for the baby she carried.

"How can you know what I would do... Jack!" She deliberately chose not to given him his formal address and he cringed a little. He knew that with her being around military all her life, she would have used his less formal address in this situation not out of friendship, but as a blatant sign of disrespect. That meant she was good and angry. He almost turned around and walked away, intent on leaving Sheppard to deal with her, but he could see by the younger man's eyes that he was almost at the end of his ability to cope. So step in he would. At this own detriment.

"You're going to go back and help them return to their own dimension, their own timeline. You're going to let them have the life they should have had. You've fixed everything else. You came here, allowing Rodney to go there. You and Sheppard are together, the genetic mix for your child is stable and as it's meant to be. You're going to give me back my life in that dimension. Damn it Gina. You're one woman. It's not all on your head – let nature take it's course now, or even better? Let the damn ancients step in and fix up this crap. It doesn't need to be you!"

Jack saw John's shoulder's slump in resignation and saw the relieved look the younger man shot his way. Nodding once to acknowledge the look, Jack stepped up to Gina and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "You need to stay here and take care of yourself and your baby. That is your legacy for now – let the rest sort itself out."

"Can't do that Jack... I need one last shot to make it right, or I'll never be able to live with myself. Give me once last shot... please..." Her blue eyes, startling in their intensity – looked up at him and he was reminded so much of Sam that he had to close his own eyes momentarily to block out the message he saw in them. Damn it Jack. Let her go. She's a part of all of us here, in some way, shape or form. Somehow there is a tiny part of her in all of us. Let Sheppard take her, then if things go south, yeah, you'll lose your Colonel, but at least they'll be together. Somewhere. Somewhen. Let her go alone? He'll never forgive you.

Gina watched the play of emotions across the General's face and saw the moment that he made his decision and she breathed a sigh of relief. He was going to let her go. Let her finish this once and for all. She would have help. Callandra and Nate. They wouldn't leave her to flounder alone, and she would have the love of her life at her side. Protecting her, as he always did – as he always would. She placed a hand over her stomach, now gently rounded – and rubbed it gently. John was behind her in a heartbeat, his own hand resting on top of hers and he simply buried his face into her hair. He had no words.

They dressed simply, but with additional layers of warmth to combat the cold on the planet that held the ancient portal. One last time. No tactical vests, no weapons. Weapons did not make the trip through the time portal – they simply were not there when you arrived. As they waited by the stargate with the small group that would accompany them as far as the portal, Gina shivered and John – who had never been more than a hairsbreath from her side, placed his arm around her and pulled her against him.

Major Lorne was coming with them, as were Ronon and Teyla. His loyal team and he knew by their faces that they simply did not understand what Gina was hell bent on doing. Not sure that he did either, but it was do or die – and he had a life to live here when he got back, so he'd 'do' now, in order to protect that life.

It was Gina that flicked a casual wave up at the control room as the dialling process began and the General was quick to return it. He spoke over the intercom. "Godspeed you two. Try not to cause any... trouble – while you are there. If you get my drift?"

His comment got the desired reaction, a small smile from Gina and then they were gone and the gate silent and still. Jack's eyes held Sam's and he shrugged his shoulders. It was out of his hands now.

The planet was as cold as he remembered it and John had hoped fervently that he would never have to come back here. He gripped Gina's hand on the walk to the portal, wondering if it would even still be there and if it was, would it even open for him. Ronon was silent, but once in a while John caught the intense look he sent his way. No, his old friend didn't understand why he did this. Too many shades of gray for the big Satedan. Teyla accepted, as was her way – but didn't really understand either and Lorne? He had at least gotten over his crush on Gina, and seemed content to offer friendship now, and it was this friendship that had John gripping his hand tightly in a firm handshake as the portal did indeed reopen for them.

No more words, just a smile, then he took Gina's had and allowed the purple glow to suck him in, feeling just like a little boy about to get dunked by a big wave, he subconsciously held his breath...