cedar_grove | Drabble Meme Response

A succession of strong and frightening images passed across the screen Sheppard's closed eyes created: his fingers poised on the trigger of the nuke – ultimate suicide mission there, John his mind the running commentary – entirely unwelcome; the dizzying height outside of the control tower, and his friend – she could have been more, flyboy – tense backed, her head bowed, staring down at the hanging figure; Keller walking out of the OR with that , 'I'm-so-sorry,' doctor look on her face to deliver the news about Elizabeth – you shoulda said something to her Johnny-boy – It should have been him that took the fall for the city... his city.

As if that wasn't enough, there were other, painful memories to steal his breath, cause him to falter, and almost lift his hand sensors at the apex of the Chair's arm rests: a genii prison cell, the bite against his chest of the Wraith's feeding hand – life flashed before you then, didn't it, partner? Further back the city connected, Sumner, Antarctica, Afghanistan...

His hand twitched against the arm rest once more, but he took a breath, and breathed out along slow denial.

"Green across the board, Sheppard," McKay's voice from his earpiece, but he shut it out. He didn't need McKay's inane confirmation; he had her touch within the depth of his cells – his city – Atlantis.

"Copy that," he said absently, and brought to mind a swirling spiral of stars that did not belong to the Milky Way Galaxy.

Pegasus... we're going home.