Author's Note: This story is a bit of an AU, assuming the episode "Irresponsible" never happened (I was never happy with how the writers off'ed Kolya). I'm also referencing two characters from my story "Hope Is A Waking Dream," and placing this story in the timeline of my other slightly AU story "Unbreakable." You don't need to read either story to understand what is going on but it's a nice bonus to wrap up my Kolya storyline. And reading "Unbreakable" might explain why Kolya isn't surprised to see Sheppard whole and well after supposedly being sucked dry by a Wraith …

Sheppard took a deep breath of the crisp, fall air.

M3X-P32 was sporting peak colors. The clearing around the Stargate gave way to forest and rocky outcroppings, and the bright blue sky above them revealed — in Sheppard's opinion — the perfect fall day.

McKay sneezed.

"They probably have ragweed here," the physicist complained. "I could never go outside in the fall. Or the spring. Or the summer."

"Good thing you're from Canada, then." Sheppard wryly grinned. "Those winters are long."

"Yes, well, I'm making up for a childhood spent indoors by all this exploring with you," McKay shot back.

"Speaking of which, which way do we go, McKay?" Sheppard asked.

McKay pulled out his scanner, frowned briefly, then stabbed a finger south. "Energy readings coming from that way."

"Let's go," Sheppard ordered.

Ronon twirled his blaster and stuck it back in his belt, striding ahead. Teyla followed in his wake with Rodney at her side, muttering at the scanner, and Sheppard brought up the rear.

It was around an hour's easy trek through colorful trees and soft, golden grass. The sun was warm and pleasant with a tang of crispness to the air that Sheppard loved.

"I'm getting divergent energy readings," McKay finally said, pausing in a clearing. "But they're not far from each other."

Sheppard peered over the physicist's shoulder at the scanner. "Ok. McKay, you and Teyla head that way. Ronon and I will check out the other one there."

Sheppard and Ronon headed through the tall grass and out of the trees towards what appeared to be a tall cliff overlooking a green valley dotted with red, orange, green, and yellow-leaved trees. Hundreds of meters below them, a rushing stream flowed over rocks that had fallen from the edge of the cliff they stood on.

"Which way?" Ronon asked, looking down at the water below.

Sheppard frowned. "The scanner said due west. That would be down from here."

Ronon shook his head. "It's too steep."

Sheppard stepped back from the edge of the cliff. "Yeah, let's rendezvous with McKay and Teyla and see what they found before we try for this one."

"Hands up, gentlemen."

Sheppard froze at the familiar voice, then whirled, P90 raised. Ronon flanked him and pressed in closer to his side, blaster also raised.

At the edge of the forest stood over a dozen uniformed and armed men — Genii. At the center was a man whom Sheppard was all too familiar with.

"Kolya."

The Genii smiled, and Sheppard felt a shiver of fear remembering the last time he had seen the man. Kolya turned, motioning behind him as two struggling figures appeared: Teyla and McKay, bound and held firmly by two soldiers each.

"Let them go, Kolya," Sheppard snarled.

"I think not," Kolya answered. "You are outmanned and outgunned. Put down your weapons."

Ronon threw Sheppard a sideways glance. Sheppard didn't move until Kolya grabbed Teyla, pressing his gun to her temple.

"I said," Kolya spoke evenly, "put your weapons down. You know I have no hesitations when it comes to killing or maiming your teammates to get what I want."

Sheppard knew the Genii was not bluffing. And he knew that his team knew it as well.

Grinding his teeth, he flicked the safety on and unclipped his P90, setting it down on the ground.

"Sheppard." Ronon had not moved, but Sheppard knew the Satedan would not fire unless ordered.

"Do it, Ronon," he said softly.

Slowly, Ronon set his blaster on the ground. Without warning, Kolya slightly raised a hand and one of the Genii soldiers fired, two shots from a Wraith stunner enveloping the Satedan as he crumpled to the ground.

Sheppard was seething as he raised his hands, weaponless.

"You want to tell me what this is all about, Kolya?" he shouted.

"I want something," Kolya answered cooly. "Your team is going to help me get it." He strode forward, covering the ground between the forest and the edge of the cliff quickly. Sheppard knew there was nowhere to go. He was trapped. Kolya had orchestrated everything perfectly.

Raising his gun, Kolya pressed it against Sheppard's chest, right over his heart, his finger tightening on the trigger.

"The wonderful thing, Colonel," he said softly, "is that I don't need you to get what I want. You have been a worthy adversary. Goodbye."

Sheppard saw in the Genii's eyes exactly what he intended, and he moved on instinct, knocking the gun to the side as Kolya fired.

But he wasn't fast enough.

A bullet slammed into his shoulder, spinning him with the force and knocking him backwards. The ground dropped from under him.

He heard a muffled scream from Teyla and an agonized shout from McKay as the blue sky spun over him. There was a sharp impact as he hit something with enough force to knock the air from his lungs. He was tumbling, limbs out of control, rocks falling around him, and the beautiful blue sky spinning overhead. Then he heard a crack, his vision whited out, and he knew no more.

Kolya stepped to the edge of the cliff to see Sheppard falling, limbs loose as he bounced, slid, and hit boulders on the way down before coming to a rest, limp and motionless on a rocky ledge far below.

He watched Sheppard for a long moment. He couldn't be sure if his bullet had found the Colonel's heart as the man had moved so fast, but in seconds, blood was beginning to pool under his body and he still did not stir.

Sheppard was too far down for Kolya to send his men to confirm his death in the limited time they had. Even if he wasn't dead, Kolya was sure the man was injured badly enough he would not be able to climb back up.

Motioning to his men, he turned away from the cliff edge, stalking past McKay and Teyla and ignoring their horrified faces.

"Bring them," he ordered. "We won't be bothered by Colonel Sheppard again."