As soon as Elizabeth charged out of the room, Coalition soldiers charged into it. John saw Jackson follow Elizabeth and, cursing both of them for their emotional involvement with this entire situation, faced the influx of people. He waited to see whether these soldiers were friendly or not. When no one spoke, John broke the silence. "Hey. We're just. . .uh. . .looking for someone."

He was rewarded with a bullet that flew over his shoulder and embedded itself in the stone wall behind him. Diving for cover, he heard the whine of Ronon's blaster and the report of McKay's P90. Carson cursed again as he ducked the bullets, crawling toward the corridor where Elizabeth had disappeared. If the explosion he'd heard behind him was any indication, Elizabeth and Jackson would need the doc's services before any of them would. That is, unless one of them got shot. In which case, John would be very upset.

For several long moments, John, McKay, and Ronon exchanged potshots with the Coalition soldiers. It was obvious these soldiers hadn't been informed of Diem's fugitive status by the way they fought to contain the three men. Keying his radio, John spoke quietly, "Teldy!"

"All quiet, Sir," came the reply.

"Good! Get yourself to our position! We're being overrun!" He ducked another hail of bullets and listened as Ronon's blaster dropped an enemy soldier. Poking his head out of his hiding place, he fired a volley into the nearest grouping of soldiers that came into the room. They fell, partially because of Sheppard's gunfire and partially because one of them tripped.

The fight was short and swift, thanks to Teldy's timely arrival. The smoke cleared just as a horrified scream came from somewhere behind him.

John jumped to his feet and ran toward the sound. Gunfire sounded ahead of him, as did another of those explosions. More gunfire, and everything fell silent. Then, Elizabeth hollered.

"Carson!" The terror and anguish in that shout pushed Sheppard to run faster. He rounded the corner in time to see Carson dropping to his knees next to Jackson's prone body. The smell of burnt flesh permeated the room, and Elizabeth's pale face spoke volumes.

Carson did a quick vitals check. "He's alive, love," he said quietly to Elizabeth, his voice drawing her gaze. "I promise ye he's alive. An', based on his heartbeat, he'll live for a good long time ta come."

"Carson. . . ." Elizabeth choked up, unable to finish what she'd started to say.

The Scot stopped long enough to meet her eyes. "Aye, I know."

The group silently watched Carson work over the unconscious body of Dr. Daniel Jackson while Ronon moved to the body of Diem. The Satedan kicked the blaster away from Diem's hand and then kicked Diem for good measure. The former Replicator's fixed stare told a story of its own.

Voices behind Sheppard pulled his attention away from the medical crisis in front of him. He whirled, every nerve waiting for a fight, as Kelore led a contingent of soldiers through the door. The Coalition man spoke firmly. "Spread out and secure the facility. Medic!"

Another man rushed to Jackson's side, and Carson accepted the help without a word. Elizabeth was pushed aside, however, and John reached for her hand when she looked ready to fall apart. She kept her eyes on Jackson's face, tears streaming. John wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Let 'em work, Elizabeth. They'll save him, but you've got to let 'em work."

"I can't. . . ." She drew in a deep breath, her words close to outright sobbing. "I just can't lose him! Not like this!"

"You won't." John's voice never wavered, and he kept his grip on Elizabeth's shoulders firm.

Kelore moved to his side. "Colonel Sheppard."

John glared. "Kelore."

"Your Mr. Woolsey warned me not to get in your way." Kelore glanced toward where a group of men carried Diem's draped body out of the room. "He wasn't wrong."

Another of Kelore's men brought a stretcher to Carson's side, and the Scot gave swift instructions for Jackson's transfer onto it. Jackson's TAC vest and weapons had been tossed to the side, but he was still alive. John suspected it had a lot to do with the woman tucked under his arm. He briefly considered how he'd react if Teyla was on that stretcher and knew that Elizabeth had to be holding herself together with frayed threads.

As soon as Kelore's men had Jackson firmly on the stretcher, Carson stripped off his gloves and headed toward Elizabeth. "I won't lie, 'Lizabeth. He's severely injured. But with proper treatment, he'll be back up an' explorin' th' ruins on New Abydos in a month or so. An' I daresay it's because o' ye, love."

Elizabeth nodded and, when Carson offered, took the doctor's hand to follow Jackson back to the gate.

John waited until they were out of the room before turning to Kelore. "We found this place."

Kelore nodded. "And we helped you take it."

John narrowed his eyes. "Look, I don't want to get into a pissing contest over these caves, but. . . ."

"Asteroid," Kelore interrupted. He motioned to the ceiling around him. "The Ancestors built this outpost into an asteroid."

John's eyebrows rose in surprise. That was cool! But he refused to get distracted. "As I was saying. . . ."

Kelore sighed heavily. "The Coalition is no friend of Atlantis, but we're not out for you, right now. There's too much damage that's been done. See to your wounded, Sheppard. You're safe from us."

John quirked a grin at him. "That's good to know."

Kelore met his eyes. "Leave your secondary team here with Dr. McKay. Ronon, too, if you feel it necessary. I promise they'll be safe, and they can negotiate for which portion of this technology goes to Atlantis and which portion goes to the Coalition. Right now, most of it would sit dormant until the Coalition was able to use it, so Atlantis has the advantage here."

John frowned at the man. "Less than a week ago, you wanted to kill me and Teyla. Now, you're giving us technology?"

Kelore offered a sad smile. "Because of Ramius—Diem—the Coalition has been thrown into utter chaos. Our leadership cannot be trusted by the planets, and we are on the verge of collapse. While Shiana and I have no love for you or your people, it is in our best interest to be seen as 'friends' of Atlantis until we rebuild."

"And when that happens?"

"What is it that you Lanteans say?" Kelore met John's eyes. "All bets are off."

John stared at Kelore, seeing the utter disregard for Atlantis there. Someone had given Kelore an order, and, as a good soldier, he was following that order. He didn't want to imagine who had found the Coalition man and put the fear of Atlantis into him. He suspected Radim, but that was merely a gut instinct. Nodding, he motioned McKay, Ronon, and Teldy to his side and explained the deal. The three went with Kelore as they started exploring the asteroid and dividing up the spoils.

oOo

Jackson was whisked into surgery as soon as he arrived back on Atlantis, leaving John to fill in the blanks for Woolsey. Elizabeth was understandably distraught, and Jennifer had opted to assist Carson with putting the archaeologist back together. John gave Woolsey a quick report, promised to write everything out later, and made a beeline to Teyla's quarters. Seeing Elizabeth's reaction to Jackson's injury brought home just how fragile life was on Atlantis. He didn't want to waste another minute on denial or what regulations did or did not say. Teyla had officially opted out of his team, so nothing held him back.

She didn't answer the door at her quarters, and, when John used his override to enter, he found the place quiet. Touching his radio, he opened a channel. "Sheppard to Teyla."

Teyla's voice, happy in tone, came just a second later. "John!"

"Hey, I'm home. Where are you?"

"The small balcony near the mess hall."

John grinned. He knew just the one. "I'm on my way."

Stopping at the armory on his way past, John ditched all but his weapons save for his knife and the nine-millimeter he wore on a daily basis. Rushing through the halls of Atlantis, he found the door to the balcony and glimpsed Torren's silhouette through the stained glass. Pausing for just a moment, he wondered how to explain his enthusiastic greeting then decided the truth would be the best. Walking through the door, he found Teyla staring over the city with her back to him. Gathering her in his arms, he leaned his cheek on her head and sighed.

Teyla turned in his arms, draping hers around his neck. "Welcome home."

"Thanks." John bent to kiss her, and they kept things proper in spite of the long-restrained passion that flowed between them. A moment later, John was grateful he'd kept things low-key when a small hand patted his leg. He looked down and, after sharing a grin with Teyla, bent to pick up Torren. "Hey, Buddy!"

Teyla smiled when Torren giggled and cuddled into John's side. John draped an arm around her shoulders and, with Torren perched on his other hip, stared down at the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. "I was going to save this question for a much later date. But how do you feel about being a family? A real family?"

Teyla's head popped up from his shoulder, and she stared into his eyes with a serious expression on her face. "John. . . ."

When Torren wiggled, John set the boy down to go back to his toys. Facing Teyla again, John took her hands. "I'm serious, Teyla. I'm not talking about a family where I just move in with you, but I mean a real, honest-to-goodness family where you take my name and I adopt Torren as my own. One that will be together always."

Tears suddenly came to Teyla's eyes, and she smiled. "I would like that, John."

"Good." He leaned in and kissed her again, never forgetting that he had a young audience. The weight of responsibility settled over his shoulders but felt wonderful this time. He had a family. A son. A woman who would soon be his wife. He could barely wait to make it all legal and binding.

Teyla pulled back from his kiss, her eyes sparkling. "John, there is one thing I would like." When he nodded, she lowered her eyes to their hands. "I have seen the ring that Carson bought for Alison, and she explained the tradition to me. It is similar to an Athosian tradition, and I would like. . . ."

John's grin nearly stretched off his face. He nudged Teyla's chin up. "As soon as I can arrange for a trip to Earth, I'll buy you one." A second later, he laughed when Teyla launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his shoulder. He felt her tears soak through his shirt and thought he might understand her emotions. She had lost the man she thought she loved when Kanaan married another woman. But, somehow, John had found his place at her side. And he thought he would love every day that came their way.

oOo

Teyla tried to stop the tears that flowed but could not stem the tide. John had asked her to be joined with him, to share his life as his wife. But he had not said what she wanted to hear. She doubted she could adequately explain what those three words meant to her, and she pulled away to stare into his face. "I am sorry, John. I should be happy."

"Hey." He took her face in his hands. "You've had an eventful few months, too."

Teyla nodded. When she returned to Pegasus, she assumed that her relationship with Kanaan would be renewed, and that she had her life planned for the coming years. Finding that Kanaan had married in her absence had only brought home what she already knew: that she had never truly loved him. Now, she stood in John's arms, a man she had loved for years, and she was unable to find the happiness her heart craved. Deciding to take a risk, she met John's eyes. "I love you, John Sheppard."

Instead of pulling away like he tended to do when discussing emotions, John stared directly into her eyes. "I love you, too."

Now, Teyla smiled, happiness bubbling over. John's words were true, the directness of his gaze revealing the depths of emotion he kept hidden beneath the surface. As Torren babbled happily behind her, Teyla thought over the past weeks. Because of John, her heart had healed. And she willingly gave it to him now. Her life had never looked so bright.

oOo

Two months later. . . .

Elizabeth sighed in frustration and threw her pencil across the chamber. She had been back on New Abydos for two days, working to bring some order to the translation efforts in the ruins. However, one enterprising young man from Behar's village had dropped the rubbings, jumbling them so that they made absolutely no sense. Elizabeth had been working all day to put them in order. In the two months since the showdown with Diem, so many rubbings had been taken that putting them in order had turned into a mammoth chore in and of itself.

Burying her face in her hands, Elizabeth bit back the curse that wanted to escape and forced herself not to cry. The last two months had been stressful, and she was grateful they'd ended. Daniel's injury from the confrontation with Diem had required a lot of patience on both of their parts, and Elizabeth had refused to snap when he snapped. Instead, she saved her ire for the IOA, which insisted that she return to Earth to fully debrief on her time with the Replicators. They asked question after question, many of them just reworded in an attempt to snare her in her answers. But she came through triumphantly, passed her psychological evaluation, and was officially assigned to Atlantis as the head of their Linguistics department. Now, she and Daniel stood on equal footing professionally, and it felt great.

While she'd been on Earth, Daniel had also been on Earth. He had traveled back with her to convalesce at the SGC. Colonel Cameron Mitchell came by often, as did Teal'c, Vala, Colonel Carter, and General O'Neill. All of them reacted differently to Elizabeth's presence at Daniel's side, but Daniel refused to let her withdraw around them. As soon as they saw the relationship and love between them, the legendary members of SG-1 rallied around their wounded comrade and helped him in his recovery.

Warm hands slipped onto Elizabeth's shoulders and pulled her from her thoughts. Now that she had her own office, Daniel often slipped inside and dragged her away from her work in this manner. She loved it and now leaned into his hands as he gently massaged her tense shoulders. "Come for a walk," he said softly.

Elizabeth smiled and looked up at him. He wore a set of robes made for him by Behar, and his hair stood on end from running his hands through it. It looked damp, leading her to believe he'd already cleaned up after a day of exploring the other ruins they'd found in the immediate area.

Standing, she moved to retrieve the pencil she'd tossed a few moments before. "A walk sounds wonderful."

Daniel grinned and laced their fingers together, the display of affection a common sight around Atlantis these days. John and Teyla planned their wedding, Carson and Alison had finally announced a date for theirs, and Daniel and Elizabeth were the topic of just as many rumors and betting pools. Some rumors had them already married after their two months on Earth, and Elizabeth refused to shoot them down. After all, she did genuinely want to marry Daniel, but she also wanted to wait for him to be ready to take that step again.

The sun had begun to set, lighting the desert with an orange glow that permeated everything. The archaeological camp had grown from tents to prefab buildings and generators as the work stretched on. They'd made discoveries, but Elizabeth had not yet found the answers to the questions that brought her here in the first place. Daniel led her to the top of a dune, and they set out on a path they followed almost every evening.

He glanced at her. "I hear McKay's in a tizzy over the recent concession by the Coalition."

Elizabeth snickered. "If I were in his and Zelenka's shoes, I would be, too." She shook her head. Kelore and his people had discovered three Ancient warships sitting in that asteroid, and they'd finally seen the light that those ships belonged in Atlantis's capable hands. Of course, a plot to take over one of them and destroy the Coalition had helped convince Kelore, but McKay didn't care. He had three sparkling Ancient ships orbiting Atlantis that were just waiting for new crews to arrive from Earth. Generals O'Neill and Landry were scrambling for personnel and would send them on the Daedalus and the Lionel Pendergast, Mitchell's ship, just as quickly as possible.

For a long time, Daniel and Elizabeth walked in silence. She felt the tension in him and glanced over to see him frowning at the ground. Daniel was a man who refused to be pushed, however, and she waited patiently. He would tell her what bothered him in his time.

Finally, he stopped walking and faced her. A wry grin crossed his face. "I didn't get the chance to do this with Sha're, so it's all kind of new to me."

Elizabeth blinked. "Daniel?"

He reached into his pocket and produced a ring. The band of the ring was set with diamond chips, but the center stone was a square-cut diamond that glittered in the fading sunlight. It looked old, and Elizabeth stared as Daniel began to speak. "I found this in an antique jewelry store on Earth. It's what I imagined when I thought about what kind of ring I'd buy for you." He met her eyes. "Elizabeth, I love you more than you could know. You're the most amazing woman I know, and I would be honored if you'd consent to be my wife."

For just a moment, only the sound of the desert breeze passed between them. He had proposed to her on a planet that reminded him of his first wife, a woman he had loved so fiercely it became an SGC legend. The depth of his love for her came home in that moment, and she nodded. Closing her hand around the ring so he wouldn't drop it in the sand, she met his eyes. "I'd be honored to be your wife, Daniel." As a relieved grin spread across his face, she leaned in to kiss him. "I love you," she whispered just before their lips touched.

Later, the ring in its rightful place on her left hand and Daniel's arm around her shoulder, Elizabeth walked back into camp with a smile on her lips. She had thought that finding the Soura, that elusive alien race, would answer her questions about life and her purpose. She'd been wrong. Finding Daniel, loving him, and sharing her life with him was enough for her. She had chosen this life, and she would make the very best of it.

~The End~

oOo

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon equates life to a "silver cord" that can be broken. In another place in Ecclesiastes, he writes, "For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth." (Eccl. 3:1, NET) This was the theme I set out to write into "The Silver Cord," and I hope the catch phrase came shining through. What will you do with your life? It is an important question, and one that every single person must consider.

When I began to write "The Silver Cord," it was just another story. I had no idea that it would lead me to the decision that I now make. This decision comes from months of prayer and the recent three-week hiatus I took because of real life. So, it is with great sadness and a genuine appreciation for all of my readers that I announce that "The Silver Cord" is my final regularly posted story.

Before any of you panic, allow me to explain. I fully intend to finish the Trial by Fire series. However, I have come to a point in my life when I must choose what I will do with my life. I have been given an amazing opportunity to write and enter at least one entry, if not more of them, into a contest sponsored by a publisher with whom I've dreamed of being published for twenty years. Furthermore, there are stories that are very important for me to write right now, and I need to focus my life on these stories and those around me. I will always appreciate all of you for reading, and I will still publish here. I am currently writing a collaboration with theicemenace, who beta'd this story, and will likely continue to do so under the penname CodeNameFlashlight. However, my focus on fanfiction has come to an end.

As Ecclesiastes says, there is an appointed time for everything. Writing fanfiction for all of you has taught me so much about the art of the written word, pushed me to go beyond my personal limits, and helped me see that some stories need to be told no matter how tough or controversial they are. And I will always appreciate all of that knowledge. You've forced me to consider all the angles of a story, from start to finish. You've taught me to plan, to have an idea of the ending in mind before I even start, to be ready to switch direction mid-stream and go with another plot line I had discarded at an earlier date or never considered in the first place, and to persevere as I write. You've given me an opportunity to tell stories that I would not have written otherwise. And you've taught me what it means to have wonderful people on the other side of the computer screen. Know that I will miss writing for you, but that I will be staying in touch through the occasional story here and there.

God bless each and every one of you. Thank you for your devoted readership and for your reviews. I cannot say enough about writing for you, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future!

~ladygris~