Stars

Stars above his head. On one of them, Kolya. Six feet under or somewhere above, Sheppard didn't know. The shot had been careful, clean, but not true. He could be alive. Fingers curled into his palm, nails digging into skin. He chose not to object to Elizabeth's assumption. Let her carry on believing. Futile, since she knew of her own self-denial, as clear as the ghosts in her eyes. They were in good company. Haunting Atlantis, haunting his own thoughts as they escaped into the sky above him. Those who falter and those who fall… Next time he wouldn't miss.

End