Day Eight Hundred Seventy-Six

John's hands are trembling as he touches the radio control. "This is Colonel John Sheppard, I read you five by five. Good to hear your voice sir."

"Same here; we'd given the Daedalus up for lost, Colonel. What's the situation on the ground?"

"Inhabitants here are mostly harmless, and we've been living in one of their towns since we abandoned the Daedalus. It's a really long story, sir."

"I understand. I have a landing party ready to beam down to your coordinates."

Suddenly there's a storm of voices on the radio; someone at headquarters is babbling away and calling for rescue right now, and Hobeck checks in to report that they're returning to N'vellesem ASAP. "Clear the channel, clear the channel! Hobeck, stop in at Ayse and get Dr. McKay on your way in."

"Yes sir, will do. Hobeck out."

"Sorry, I guess you can tell they're pretty excited to hear from you, Colonel Davidson."

"Not a problem, Sheppard. They're on their way."

John powers down the jumper as the Odyssey team appears in a beam of light right in front of him. "God, is that...?" He runs out to meet them, shouting, "Colonel Carter!"

Every P-90 is instantly trained on him, and John stops and raises his hands. Carter gapes at him for a second, "Holy Hannah, John Sheppard?"

He hadn't considered how he might look. The knee length jacket of tooled haltar leather, his hair long enough to tie back, and he's so darkly tanned on his hands, that his face must be, too. He doesn't actually know; he hasn't looked in a mirror since the Incident in Ayse, so long ago. "That's me. Lieutenant Colonel John Allan Sheppard. I'm just going to pull out my tags, so don't do anything hasty."

Carter's already broken the formation, and is heading towards him. "Lower your weapons. God, Sheppard, I can't believe it."

He takes her hand, and she pulls him into a swift hug. "I'm kind of having a hard time believing it myself."

"Where is everyone? How are they?"

"Well, mostly they're all in town, and they're probably about to riot. Come on, before they burn the place down."

John leads them through the heavy gates, past the fountain, and into the main plaza. The sleek black uniforms of Carter's team are conspicuous, and heads pop out of doors and windows. The children playing in the plaza scamper around them, shouting questions and following them to the Quarter.

John tries to talk in between answering the shouted questions as they walk up the main thoroughfare, until the crowd rushing out of the Quarter swamps them in a flurry of yells and handshakes; and is dour Petrov actually dancing?

The crowd parts as Elizabeth walks through them, tears running down her face. "Colonel Carter, my God, Sam Carter." She latches onto Carter and hugs her tightly, sniffling on her shoulder; Sam smiles as she pats Elizabeth on the back.

Finally Elizabeth releases her and wipes her hands across her face. One of the SFs hands her a pristine, unopened packet of Kleenex, which causes Elizabeth to cry even more.

John lets Elizabeth lead the procession away from him towards the Quarter; he feels swamped by the overwhelming buzz of joy and relief.

Rodney will be landing soon, anyway, and so John goes back to the fountain to wait for him. Anbur meets him halfway. "I heard there are new nusquam?"

"Yes. I don't know how they found us, but they are here."

Anbur looks away from John. "Ah, and here is Dr. McKay."

Rodney's in full Abnep regalia, looking not at all dignified as he rushes ahead of Shaaziya, who's trying to keep pace with Rania toddling beside her. Hobeck is respectfully at her side. "Sheppard, Hobeck said the Odyssey's in orbit?"

John acknowledges Hobeck with a nod, and has a ready smile for Shaaziya and Rania. "Yep, and your old pal Sam Carter's here."

"Samantha Carter? What is she doing here?"

"I don't know yet. We hadn't got that far when we were mobbed at the Quarter."

"Well, what are we waiting for?"

"I was waiting for you, McKay. Anbur, would you like to join us?"

"I should like that very much." Anbur fall in beside Rodney as he hurries along.

"I wonder how they found us. This is absolutely incredible, I can't believe it!"

John lets Rodney talk to thin air as he stoops to pick up Rania. "Hello, sweetheart." He blows a little raspberry on her neck and she giggles loudly.

"Papa very excited."

"Yes he is, zahra'an. Rodney's going to meet an old friend that he hasn't seen in a very long time." John shares a troubled look with Shaaziya, who doesn't seem excited in the least.

Every single person in the Quarter is swarming around the Headquarters. John's hyper aware of the people around him, and they are nearly at a flash point of excitement. He lets Rodney break through the crowd as he pushes Shaaziya slightly ahead of him. Anbur puts an arm around her so that she's protected as they push through to the door.

There's some muttering, and more than one ugly comment as they pass by, but Evan's on the stair, yelling at the mob, "Move back, let them through!" John grabs Evan and pulls him inside.

The hallway is slightly better, Carter's SFs are keeping the gawkers back, and they get into the office without incident.

Carter stands up as they troop in, shutting out the noise with the closing of the door. "McKay!"

John surveys the room as Rodney picks up their conversation as if it hadn't been years since they'd spoken. Caldwell is next to Elizabeth, still pale and sweaty, but smiling happily. John thinks he should smile more; it's a warm, friendly look that suits him well.

John's attention returns to Rodney just as he's making the introductions. "So, Sam, I'd like you to meet my wife, Shaaziya lal Q'yn, and my daughter, Rania McKay lal Q'yn. Shaaz, this is Colonel Doctor Samantha Carter."

John grins at Carter's disbelieving look, and waves Rania's hand for her, she's nearly burrowing into his coat in a sudden bout of shyness. Carter offers her hand to Shaaziya, and says fervently, "You have no idea how pleased I am to meet you."

Shaaziya looks somber as she takes Carter's hand, "It is my pleasure, Colonel Carter."

Rodney's staring at Carter with an idiotic grin on his face, so John takes over the introductions. "Colonel, this is Patern Anbur lal Kamil'an, Master Idon of the Peragroilla, and the Council of Patern."

Anbur clasps Sam's hand in his. "Welcome to N'vellesem, Colonel Carter."

"Thank you, it's my pleasure to be here. Please have a seat." She glances over at Weir and Caldwell as she takes her chair.

Evan motions Anbur to sit, and retrieves a chair for Shaaziya before taking his position at John's side. He tweaks Rania's nose, and she hides her face again.

"I think we're all curious to know how you found us." Elizabeth asks the burning question that they've all been waiting patiently to ask: 'why didn't you find us sooner?'

John watches Carter as she talks; she's noticing the division between the two groups in the room. "First, Atlantis is fine. We’ve had regular reports from them and they’re doing okay. We were able to resume sending ships to Pegasus six months ago." Carter looks at Elizabeth and then John. "The IOA installed Shen Xiaoyi as the civilian director, and Colonel Alfred Reynolds as the chief military officer. To be honest, when the Daedalus disappeared, the SGC was embroiled in a war with the Ori, a faction of Ascended Ancients who draw their power from their worshippers, and there were no resources to spare for a search." Carter looks confused when every head in the room swivels to look at John, and he instantly goes tense and wary.

He shakes his head slightly. "Go on," and she continues.

"We were able to successfully neutralize the threat to the Milky Way, and I was appointed to head the science department on Atlantis. For the last six months Apollo and Odyssey would drop out of hyperspace and check the planets along their course. We did find your message buoy, but it pointed to a different heading, so we've been searching the wrong part of the Pegasus."

Elizabeth gives Carter a wan smile. "Better late than never."

"And I am so, so sorry it took us this long. One of the first joint projects between Atlantis and the SGC is to create a gate bridge, gather gates from uninhabited planets, and place them in the interplanetary void between the two galaxies, making it possible to gate in either direction without a ZPM. The Odyssey was on course to survey a nearby solar system when we picked up your scanners."

"That's brilliant, Carter!"

"Thanks, McKay, I could use your help."

"Of course you could."

Carter glares at McKay, but lets the old argument drop. "We know that you were fighting a Wraith virus, but what happened?"

Colonel Caldwell answers the question. "The virus was designed as an AI, to take over our nav and comm systems, and Dr. McKay convinced me to drop out of hyperspace. We were unsuccessful in purging it completely; it had escaped into the memory of an F-302 that was able to shut down nav and engine controls. We were unable to destroy the 302, had sustained some damage and we'd planned to land to affect some repairs. The virus managed to shut down the engines on approach."

"The buoy must have auto-dropped when the Daedalus came out of hyperspace."

"And we didn't have enough control to drop another."

Carter nods. "Any losses?"

"Twenty-two at that time. A few more since, and a few near misses." Caldwell's eyes don't even flicker toward John.

John deftly redirects the conversation. "What about the Wraith?"

"They're still out there, but generally embroiled in a civil war. Teyla and Zelenka managed to keep Atlantis a secret by being extremely cautious. They did a great job for Atlantis."

John breathes a little easier; the civil war explains why the Wraith aren't attacking Dominat more often. "Hermiod is gone, died an anam ago from radiation poisoning and a respiratory infection. That's why there's no one aboard the Daedalus, there was an epidemic and was it quarantined. We lost a few more from that."

Sam shakes her head. "All the Asgard are gone—their cloning process was failing, and they destroyed their planet to keep their knowledge from falling into the hands of the Priors."

Rodney admits, "Hermiod's bequest to me was the key to the Asgard data on the Daedalus, it's just that it's quarantined, and I thought I had years to deal with it."

"Thor was in the process of doing the same, but he beamed away before we could finish." Carter and McKay share a look that's both sad and excited.

"We can figure out a way to protect you from the SARS, Rodney." John's hoping that McKay will understand without going into details right here and now.

"I had thought of that, but we got so involved with the construction, and the Avaxqaral, I put it off."

Carter looks around the table for an explanation. "Avaxqaral?"

"There's an Ancient database here, in almost perfect condition, and Anbur has graciously permitted us to study it." Elizabeth smiles at Anbur, and he gives her a small bow with his head.

Caldwell's obvious tired of playing catch up, and doesn't want to discuss Elizabeth's arrangement. "We can all submit after-action reports to fill in the details, but I think the real question is, when can we leave?"

"I'll have to clear it with Colonel Davidson, since you've had an epidemic. He'll want the Med division to run some tests, but I would say as soon as you're ready."

John clears his throat. "I have another question, Colonel. Is it possible that one of those gates can be put here on Dominat?"

"I don't believe that's a problem, Colonel. We don't have any Pegasus gates on board, but I can earmark the first one for placement here."

"Then I'm staying until the gate's in place."

The reaction to John's firm statement is mixed. Anbur's incredibly pleased, Shaaziya is hopeful, Carter is confused, and Elizabeth and Caldwell look chagrined that John's putting himself forth as a hostage for a gate.

Rodney surprises everyone by announcing, "I'll stay, too. There's a major project that requires my expertise, the 'gate will need a shield, and my wife and I have some pretty major decisions to discuss." There's no way that Carter and the Odyssey will fly away and leave McKay behind.

"I understand. I'll contact the Odyssey, and we'll beam up anyone that wants to leave at Davidson's command."

Elizabeth stands up and says in a bright, excited voice, "I had better go inform the rest of the Quarter and advise them arrangements are being made."

"I'll be back soon; I just need to report in." Carter taps her radio headset. "Odyssey, this is Carter. I'm ready to beam up."

~*~

Even though his subcutaneous transmitter's been gone a long time, John doesn't trust that Davidson won't order him picked up against his will, or by accident, so John heads off to Makhuqat to give them the news and to make arrangements to have them transported back to the Quarter if there's anything they need to wrap up there; otherwise he'll make sure that the Odyssey knows where to pick them up.

The excitement there is muted. The marines are thrilled that contact’s been made, but the locals are not so thrilled to know that all the nusquam are leaving, with the building still incomplete. John reassures them that at least, he and Dr. McKay are staying, until the House of Makhuqat is rebuilt.

He returns to N'vellesem with a handful of folks that need to clear up a few things and lodges at the Ludahsediat. Any one that wants to say goodbye to him will know where to find him.

 

Day Eight Hundred Seventy-Eight

Evan shows up a couple of days later. "Most of the Quarter is beaming up tomorrow, but a lot of us are staying. I'm sure that they could finish the temple on their own, but we promised to rebuild it, and we'll stay until it's done."

"Thank you, that's more than I expected." John's incredibly proud of his people, and grateful. They've been loyal to him, and could've chosen to walk away tomorrow, but instead they’re staying until the bitter end. "And there's Sabat."

"Yeah, we talked it over, and I don't think we were quite as enamored with each other as we thought. It's been great, but not great enough to tear her away, or for me to stay."

"I guess that's good, that you figured that out now, not later. "

"Yeah. What about you?"

"I owe it to Atlantis to go back and try."

Evan nods wisely at what John's not saying; they're not even breathing the possibility. "I wanted to see if we could talk you into hauling rock. We're going to put the construction into overdrive after the Odyssey leaves."

"Sure, just let me see if there's anything McKay needs, and I'll be out there tomorrow."

"Great, the help will be appreciated. See you tomorrow."

John's not very surprised by the fact that the only other person to seek him out is Elizabeth.

She gets right to the point as she steps into the Avaxqaral. "The events of the last few years have been extraordinary, and reports on the things which happened here are going to be flying thick and fast once we get back to Atlantis. I can't suppress any pertinent information, and I won't lie if asked directly."

"Okay, I can accept that."

"I think, and Steven agrees, that it would be in your best interest to make sure that you are as forthcoming as possible. It will look much worse for you if it appears that you're trying to hide something. It might even be too late, I don't know."

"Things have been crazy around the Quarter, I'm sure that no one's given me a second thought now that they're getting out of here."

"True, but once on Atlantis, tongues are going to wag, and there may be an investigation. Staying behind won't look good, John."

"I think that's a given, but I need to stay. There's the construction, and I need to give them some time to let go." John thinks, and I need the time to let go, too.

"I hope to see you on Atlantis, but we don't have any way of knowing. Thank you, and good luck, John. "

"You too, Elizabeth."

She gives him a sad smile as she turns and leaves. In the years of their acquaintance, they'd spent more time as combatants than as friends, and it was difficult to remember that bond. It was hard to think back to that brief year on Atlantis, at all.

Carter appears later in the day. "Elizabeth said you wanted to see me?"

"Not in so many words, actually, but now that you're here, I guess we do need to talk." John judges the heat and the time of day, and factors in whether or not Carter would appreciate a walk in the desert. He decides not. "Come on, I want to show you around a little, we can do that and talk at the same time. This might take a while."

Carter advises the Odyssey that she's going to be out of pocket, and John takes her on a slow cross-country trip to Gadon, landing beside the river above the falls. "Let's walk, it's really nice here in the evening." He leads her towards the stony path alongside the river before he begins. "I have a story to tell you, and you might not like it. I'll try and answer all of your questions, but even I don’t know everything. No one does.

"It starts when I was murdered in Ayse, some months after we'd crashed."

Carter's shocked expression is priceless, but she doesn't interrupt John.

"There were plenty of witnesses that will testify that I was truly dead, I literally died in McKay's lap. But there are no witnesses to what happened afterwards. I woke up few days later, alone in the room where they had put my body to wait for the burning, just like new."

"And you don't have any memory of the time in between, but you did have your full memory on returning?"

"That's true."

"I don't want to seem callous, but something like this has happened before."

"I know, Dr. Jackson. So, a little history lesson."

John's never been one to say two words where one would suffice, but he figures in this case, that it's better to offer an explanation instead of a defense. He tells her the whole story, starting with how Dominat was originally settled, all the way up to and including the circumstances around his departure from the Quarter and the intervening year.

Night's long since fallen, and they're sitting on a ledge hanging over the waterfall. The aurora is at its most scintillating brilliance this far north, and the sky is alive with vast sheets of light and color, that shift through every part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Pegasus is a wash of faint light in the sky, and below them, Gadon is alight with lamps twinkling the distance as John concludes his report. "So, my job in the last year, I guess, has been rebuilding the House of Makhuqat, healing people and visiting places around the planet."

"I had wondered about the tension, between you, Dr. Weir and Colonel Caldwell. Tell me, what do you see yourself doing a year from now?"

"I'm still John Sheppard, pilot and Air Force officer. I was given a job to do here, and I've done it to the best of my ability. I'm capable of returning to Atlantis and doing whatever job I'm given there, also to the best of my ability."

"The SGC is still pretty spooked over the Ori; that you display some traits in common with them is going to be difficult to whitewash."

"That's one of my concerns, that when this gets all over Atlantis I'll be automatically pegged as one of them—I'm not. No Ancient or Ori has ever contacted me; I've never followed any dogma laid out for me by some higher power. I've never believed that I was the Chosen One, but I had to respect the responsibility of the power invested in the position, because they thought I was. That's the reason I left the Quarter; I couldn't allow Elizabeth to use me as a weapon against Dominat; it was clear to me that we had differing agendas, and she saw me as her tool of choice."

"Are there any other manifestations of this power?"

"I can see, smell and hear better than I used to. I have a faster metabolism, but that's the norm here."

"I can relate to some parts of your story. After I was host to Jolinar, there were some who that thought I was a threat to national security. Mostly a tool of a politician, but still, the distinction was more than implicit."

"There's a certain sector that has a lot of hard feelings towards me—another reason I had to leave—because they thought that I had betrayed them. Maybe I did in a way, but there's no way to go back and change what happened."

"I'm under the impression that most are planning to return to Earth."

"Politically speaking, that's probably even worse; they'll have the ear of whoever is in charge, and I can't offer any defense if I'm not there, but I don’t want to go back to Earth." John honestly hopes that a way could be found to successfully return to Atlantis; he was satisfied with his life here, but the city on the sea is still his first, best home. Earth was not an option under any circumstances.

"If you can provide me with a written statement, before the Odyssey departs, I promise that I'll do my best to make sure it gets seen by the right people, before they have a chance to debrief anyone else."

"Thank you, Colonel. That's really all I can ask."

 

Day Eight Hundred Seventy-Nine

In the pale purple light of dawn, John's waiting with his completed report near the designated beam out point, watching as everyone who's going begins to drift around Main Street in loose, anxious clumps. Most are going empty handed.

Carson and Paige come out of Headquarters carrying several bags each. Carson spots John and waves him over. "I heard you're staying until the gate is in."

"Yep, I've got a few things to take care of. What'cha got in the bags?"

"We’ve been studying the local flora, and we think that some of them have inherent medicinal properties, but we haven't had the tools to do more than theorize and observe."

Paige adds, "We're hoping to cadge some lab space and a botanist in Atlantis to study them; it's too bad we didn't have a botanist on hand."

"That would've been useful." John's sorry that events played out the way they did, for if the Odyssey hadn't arrived, he would've hooked them up with Quds in Jasrah or Zarin in Gadon. The two 'scientists', or as close as they come on Dominat, would have loved to have someone to lecture at; they'd tried to give John more than a few lessons in agriculture.

Teams of Odyssey crew members arrive to facilitate the transfer to the ship. "Well, I think that's our bus." Carson sets his bags down and gives John a rough hug. "I'll see you in Atlantis, I hope?"

"Of course. Take care, and I'll be there as soon as I can."

Paige puts her hand out, and John gives her a brief embrace. "If I haven't said it before, thank you."

"You're welcome, John." They pick up their bags and join the lines that are being organized.

John's starting to think that he's missed his window of opportunity, when Carter finally appears in a flash of transporter light. He saunters over, trying to not look worried. "Good morning."

"Sorry." Just as she says that, Rodney beams down from the Odyssey, juggling a laptop and spare batteries. "He wanted to get a head start on the gate bridge calculations, and we got caught up in the details for the gate shield."

Rodney sees them after he's got the equipment corralled. "Sheppard!"

"McKay. How's it going?"

"Great, actually. I was right. After studying the shield generator aboard the Odyssey, I'm sure we can put the Daedalus' to use, but I've got some more work to do, fill in the details and build a power interface for a naquadah generator."

"McKay also narrowed down the list to a few likely sites to harvest gates from, so we're confidant it'll only be matter of weeks, not months, before we come back with a gate."

"Back in the thick of it again, huh, McKay?" Out of all of the shipwrecked, John had felt the worst for Rodney in the beginning; he knew what he was missing out on, understood the dire threats they'd faced, and the joy of discovery on Atlantis. Now, the sad dichotomy is that he and Rodney have the most to lose by being rescued.

"It's like waking up out of a coma. They've made some important improvements to the B303's, and I've got some catching up to do."

"Naturally." John hopes that he gets the opportunity to be there and witness McKay's rebirth as the keystone to the potential explosion of knowledge that's coming from the things they'd learned here.

"Well, I need to go. Things to do, and Shaaziya's waiting."

"Later, McKay. Just let me know when you want to go to the Daedalus."

"Sure. Well, Carter, if I don't see you before," Rodney twirls his finger in the air, "then good luck, eh?"

Carter gives McKay a squeeze around the shoulder. "You too. We'll be back."

Rodney trundles off towards his old house on Main, skirting the lines and waving at people, and stopping here and there to chat and say goodbye, for now.

John turns back to Carter and hands her the data pad. "Everything I told you is in there, along with some other stuff I'd skipped over. The details of Swenson's intended course are there, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep a look out for him, just in case."

"Of course, I'll do what I can, John."

"I know, Sam, and thanks again."

 

Day Eight Hundred Eighty-One - Eight Hundred Ninety-Five

John spends the days at the quarry hauling stones in the 'jumper, returning in the evenings to N'vellesem to give Rodney a check up. He's putting off saying goodbye to anyone on Dominat, though his impending departure is already causing some distress through out N'vellesem and Ayse. John won't be able to delay the task of saying good-bye for much longer.

John delivers the stones and masons to build the platform where the new gate will stand. By necessity the Stargate will sit in the courtyard of the Ludahsediat. They've explained the gate system to Shaaziya and the others, but it's a completely foreign concept; the usual reaction is, "It is the Will of the Quaralyn", as if it's some magic that he's created.

The idea of trying to raise a gene-enabled child on Atlantis is Rodney's nightmare, but neither does he want to permanently separate their family. He's absolutely confidant that he's indispensable enough that any argument about bringing his family to Atlantis will be null and void. If it isn't, he will make it so.

Shaaziya's spending much of her time in Ayse, with Zuhair. She's torn between Rodney's utter devotion and her wildly varying experiences with the Expedition; she's terrified by the thought of being so far away from home, but she'd rather go with Rodney than be left behind.

 

Day Eight Hundred Ninety-Nine

The Odyssey arrives before the Daedalus' shield generator is in place, and Rodney still has to modify the interface he's designed for the Avaxqaral, not to mention getting the temple ready to hook up Makhuqat.

Carter takes a quick inventory of what they'll need and gathers a team of volunteers to stay and get the gate system in working order, and Rodney oversees both projects. Colonel Davidson agrees to return if they're not in Atlantis in three weeks.

John's in that place between two worlds again. He stays in N'vellesem near the Odyssey crew, immersing himself the familiar Earth culture and the hope and dreams of the future, but he's also mourning his impending departure. He genuinely likes the people of Dominat, treasures his nearly symbiotic relationship with them as a whole and their complete acceptance of him as a person, beyond his iconic status.

 

Day Nine Hundred Twelve

Rodney finally announces that they're ready to test. The gate sits atop the glittering white stone dais; a long, slightly raised plaza lies on top of the courtyard delineating the dangerous splash zone.

Every one gathers for the trial. Curious town folk lurk about the courtyard. Temple construction is halted so the pilots and builders can come and watch. Anbur and the Idon let classes out for the day, and the students are taking advantage of the holiday, chattering and roughhousing among the crowd. The Council of Patern are present, even ancient Fatih, to bear witness to the dawn of a new era for their people and planet.

John stands with Shaaziya, Rania firmly in his arms, the Patern arrayed to either side of him as Rodney slowly dials the gate address for Atlantis. It’s done slowly, not because he doesn't remember it, but because he realizes this is a truly momentous occasion.

They watch the chevrons light and spin around the gate, almost invisible in the dazzling sunlight. There's a moment of drawn breath as the event horizon swirls out of the gate, and as it lazily settles into the shimmering event horizon, the crowd erupts into bedlam. The remnants of the expedition and the Odyssey's crew whistles and cheers, while others shout and yell in surprise.

Rodney keys the radio. "Atlantis, this is Dr. Rodney McKay."

"Atlantis reads you loud and clear, Dr. McKay. Congratulations."

"Thank you, though I never had any doubt. I'm going to send through our test subject."

"Proceed with the test, we've lowered our shield."

A tiny, unhappy looking meslat is dragged up the platform, and unceremoniously shoved through the gate. Almost instantly the radio chirps, "What the hell is that?"

"Common livestock. More importantly is it okay?"

"If by okay you mean shitting in fear all over the gate room, then yeah—it's okay."

Rodney and John grin at each other and laugh, wet mesla shit is nasty.

Carter pulls out her data pad. "Atlantis, I'm sending the gate address. Dial us back in ten. Okay, McKay, let's get ready."

Rodney goes to oversee Sabat in the control room, a former classroom above the Avaxqaral, and in sight of the gate. The wormhole forms again, and when he reports that the shield should be active there's no discernable effect until there's a pulse of light and the puddle shivers slightly. Carter informs Atlantis, "Our shield is holding."

"Great, lower it, and we'll send you back your livestock. Director Shen is pretty anxious to get it out of here."

"Roger. McKay, did you copy that?"

"Shield's down."

"Copy, it's on its way."

The meslat stumbles onto the platform, making that odd squeaky bleat and glaring balefully at the crowd, which laughs as it leaps off the platform and runs away, students chasing after it. Carter advises, "Atlantis, this concludes the test. We'll return shortly."

"We'll see you then."

Rodney returns out of breath and dials Atlantis again.

Carter sends through her IDC and then hands the device to Rodney and steps through the gate, followed by the Odyssey crew.

The crowd dissipates a little, and Anbur, whose usually genial mien is serious, turns to John. "And so, we are coming to end, now."

"Not for a while. We have some time."

"But not as much as before, hmm?"

 

Day Nine Hundred Thirteen - Nine Hundred Thirty-Nine

John carefully divides his time between Makhuqat and taking his leave of Dominat: The dry dusty plains of Tobat, the jade green dampness of Jasrah and Gadon, the tiny jewel of Zadiyeh, perched atop Wilan's Peak, and the tiny mountain towns stretching along the route of the viat, like pearls on a string.

Odyssey swings by on her way out of the galaxy to check on them, and John reports that they're not quite there yet, that it will be some time, before they're ready to leave. It takes another month, even working almost around the clock; the House of Makhuqat looks like the monkey house, with people swarming over it, working feverishly to finish it.

The farewells get progressively more tearful, until John's down to the handful of people that will be the most painful to leave.

The last stone of Makhuqat's Temple is put into place with a flourish, and with much ceremony and many blessings, John and Evan retrieve the ship and park him inside, safe from the depredations of weather and ready to defend the planet. Rodney spends a few days getting the correct connections made and testing the trickle down charger before deeming it in working order.

It takes a couple of trips to return the Marine platoon to N'vellesem to prepare for leaving Dominat; they're hanging around the Quarter just waiting until John is ready.

Neela avows that he will return, that Dominat is in his blood, and John reassures her that he intends to visit whenever possible. She looks askance at that as he kisses the palms of her hands one last time. She lays her hand on his head, stroking his hair. "It is fate that brought you to us; may fate be as kind to us again."

Laith mourns that he's now too spoiled by John's friendship to return to his old friends in Tobat. John gives him the remote to the makhuqat'an; there are many places without a healer, and Laith will need to take his place.

When he can no longer delay, John dresses in his old expedition uniform, and runs a hand over his newly shorn hair. All of it feels alien and strange; the pants feel constricting, and his head feels naked.

Rodney and Shaaziya are waiting for him outside the house in the Quarter, the Marines and pilots that stayed are arrayed behind them. John leans to take one of the McKays’ trunks, but Frostman gets there first.

They walk slowly through the town, taking the familiar route towards the Ludahsediat, passing the fountain before arriving at the school.

Anbur is waiting at the Stargate in front of the plaza. The courtyard is packed, and people are hanging out of the windows that overlook the Stargate, watching as the Quaralyn goes to the stars again.

Anbur's had many roles in John's life in the more than three anam they've had together; partly father to a man that desperately needed guidance, partly mentor and teacher in the strange life he'd been dropped into, partly goad and manipulator when Anbur had an agenda to execute, but throughout, there's been a true affection and understanding between them, even as they exchanged roles as weapon and wielder.

Anbur's smiling, but John sees more than a trace of sadness in the lined face and the startling grey eyes that have always seen more than John knew was there. "It has been very exciting since you fell from the sky, yes?"

John laughs, a strangled, wet sound. "I guess you could put it that way." Anbur squeezes John's shoulder, and holds him tight.

"I will miss you, John Sheppard. Now go, before you make an old man cry."

He's at a loss to explain to Anbur the complexity of his emotions; John's not always good with words, usually allowing his actions to stand on their own. And there's rarely been a need for words between them; Anbur had an uncanny knack of understanding the answer, before John even knew what the question was.

John kneels before Anbur, folding himself close to the ground, his hands covering his eyes as his forehead touches the dusty stones. He stays there a moment, knowing that every eye is upon him, watching him as he abases himself before his friend and father.

Anbur's eyes are suspiciously damp when John stands up. Rodney dials the gate, and sends the IDC and waits. They are all waiting for John to lead them through, and when John turns his back and walks through the gate, the people in the courtyard kneel as one.

 

Further Disclaimers: SG1 characters belong to Double Secret Productions, Gekko Film Corp. and Kawoosh! Productions.

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