SGA

Title: SGA
Author: Ky (Venom_69)
Fandom: Atlantis
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir.
Rating: Age Friendly
Summary: She is amused by his cynicism; he’s known that for years.
Words: 840
Archive: My site. Anywhere else, sure, just let me know where so I can come visit.
Disclaimer: Don’t own them, never will. Promise to put them back in the state I found them. Song’s aren’t mine either. Richard Marx & Donna Lewis - At the Beginning. Jimmy Eat World – The Middle and Linkin Park – In the End.
Author’s notes: Written for Stargate Weekly Challenges (

sg_challenges), Challenge #15 - BEGINNING AND END.
Date: 19/06/06
Copyright © to Venom, 2006

***
I’m suddenly standing, at the beginning with you
***

The thing he remembers most is her eyes as she asked him to join her.

Her deep brown pools, full of honesty and strength, were so expressive as she laid out her plan and asked him to come with them.

He said no, of course.

Stargates? Alien Worlds? Another Galaxy? A chair that does a fancy light show when he sits in it? A lost city? No hope of return?

The woman had to be on crack.

But her eyes... the way she looked at him, so serious, so stubbornly diplomatic. She was so sure that he would be a necessity to her expedition, so sure of herself and her ability to find Atlantis.

In the beginning, when they ask him what made him change his mind about coming, he lies and says that it was General O'Neill's version of a 'pep talk' and the toss of a coin.

He never mentions her eyes to anyone.

John doesn't think he'll ever forget the first few moments he spent alone with Elizabeth Weir.

He doesn't think he'll ever forget how much she changed his life.

***
Little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
***

They celebrate the 5th anniversary of being in Atlantis by getting drunk.

Horribly and indecently drunk.

Earth - and a large supply of alcohol - is just a step away these days and they take full advantage of that fact. Though the new General in charge of the SGC doesn't appreciate it and isn’t shy about telling them so.

Even retired and living in a cabin out the back of nowhere with his wife, O'Neill can still pull strings for them.

The Athosians - some of whom having been living in the city for a few years now - are amusing drunks. They celebrate 5 years of relative safety and almost 2 years of the Pegasus Galaxy being mostly rid of the Wraith with gusto.

"What do you think they'll do now?" Rodney asks, slurring a bit.

John is slurring just a little himself. "The Athosians?"

"No. The powers that be on Earth. The Wraith are virtually gone," and he makes a grand gesture with his right arm, forgetting that he holds a bottle of beer in that hand and some of it ends up in John's hair. "We've leart enough from Atlantis to keep scientists happy for decades."

Elizabeth joins the conversation, a glass of… something in her hand. She is by far the least drunk of all of them, but John wonders if she’ll join the dancing anyway. “I don’t think they’ll shut us down, if that’s what you’re asking, Rodney.”

“But what’s left to save?” Another grand gesture sees Elizabeth wiping beer from her forehead.

John shrugs. “For every bad guy you kill, another one will eventually pop up.”

“That’s a rather cynical way of looking at it, don’t you think, Colonel?” She is amused by his cynicism; he’s known that for years.

“I like to think of it a realistic.”

“Well,” She smiles. “Call it what ever you want. I just hope we’ll all be together for a while yet.”

“I hope so too.” He means it to be flippant, but no one buys it.

He feels rather sober, suddenly, as the party continues to swirl around him and he watches his friends and family enjoying the chance to relax and let their hair down. Someone shipped party poppers through the ‘Gate and the children from the mainland are laughing and giggling as they play, weaving around the wobbly legs of their parents.

Some people pass out, some decide to dance – is Teyla stripping?! - some set up a crude karaoke machine. Most concentrating on keeping their glasses filled.

John takes Elizabeth to his bed and they celebrate in private.

***
In the end, It doesn't even matter.
***

I'm going to die soon, he thinks.

Breathing is hard, now, so much harder than it used to be. He remembers a time when he didn't have to think about it, didn't have to concentrate on the action. Now he forces his body into the rhythm.

In, out, in, out, in, out...

A tube in his mouth supplies his oxygen, but it's been there for so long that he forgets about it now and focuses on breathing.

The rhythm beats through him, and he tilts his head down slightly to watch his chest expand and contract in silent fascination.

He can hear them, by his bedside.

Hannah's tears, though quiet as she tries to be, ring in his ears. John never could stand to hear his little girl cry, and his aches to comfort her now.

Carson's son checks his blood pressure and pulse every hour. Teyla's daughter says a prayer for him when they're told the end is near.

Second Generation Atlantis - SGA, he nicknamed them - come and go, saying their final goodbyes to the last member of the original team.

When his eyelids slip shut, he sees her eyes in the blackness.

Wait for me, 'Liz, he thinks, smiling softly as the effort to breathe lessens and the infirmary fades to black.

***

End.