restlessAuthor: camshaft22
Rating: PG
Pairing(s) (if any): John/Cam
Warnings: N/A
Prompt: 211. John/Cam. Finding each other when the battle is over.
Summary (optional): I'd walk across the universe for you.
John Sheppard woke up alone, forcing himself to sit up as he looked around, seeing scorched earth surrounding him. He frowned deeply, wondering what the hell. He remembered a battle?
Caldwell beamed him to this location, and then he fought the Rogue Asgard's pegasus human troops. Or Vikings. He thought they were Vikings. But the Swedes had objected to that term. Maybe they were Valkyries? John wasn't sure. But they had fought and then nothing. Where was everyone else? John went pale, considering the Special Forces team that he had accompanied, feeling a hit to his gut as he realized they were dead. He squeezed his eyes together and pushed himself up, wondering where his clothing was.
Shit.
He needed pants.
***
Cam stopped, sliding down a wall as he rested, having already walked for the last 6 hours. The Rogue Asgard had attacked the Earth with troops from Pegasus, seemingly determined to wipe them all out. He had been on the Phoenix when they first appeared, only to lose his ship and watch the loss of the Hammond. Sam was ok; they had survived again to fight another day. At least he could say that they had crippled the Asgard and forced them on a battlefield they didn’t know.
Unfortunately, they could still cause a lot of damage.
He looked out across the horizon, seeing the skeletal remains of what used to be a major city. It just didn’t seem right. All those people dead and for nothing but revenge for being slighted. Cam felt a sick anger settle in his gut, glad that he had been able to strike back at their ships. But it was kind of a waste, considering all the people who had no idea why they had to die. He pushed himself up again, knowing that he had to get to John. He was out there, lost and alone. Cam wouldn't leave him behind. Not now, not ever.
***
John hoped Cam had survived. Part of him wondered if somehow they'd know if the other was dead. It was kinda sappy, but it just seemed like he would know. Somehow.
He just had to get to Kansas. To Momma. Once he got there, Cam would be there and they could figure out what the hell else they should do. John started walking. He always did want to walk across America.
Now he had his chance.
***
Cam started the car he'd found and managed to repair. It had been a few weeks since he started walking, still no contact on his radio and he was determined to get home. To get to Momma, Dad, his brother and John. To his whole family. They'd be there. They'd be waiting for him. They had agreed. They would all meet there. He would see John again. Cam grinned as it started and he put it in gear, driving on the cracked road.
***
Being able to drive the last leg of the trip had been a Godsend, despite the hazards of the ruined interstate system and detours he had to make. He made the turn near the sign that read Auburn and breathed a sigh of relief to see road and buildings and not a crater where his hometown had been.
He saw a silhouette at the side of the road ahead, drawing closer; he smiled as he realized it was a man walking.
As he drew even closer, the hard knot of pain that had been his constant companion since this started let loose and evaporated.
Cam stopped the car as John turned to him and smiled softly. John raised his hand and waved. Cam hurried to his side, taking John in his arms, barely feeling the tears that rolled down his cheeks as they held each other, both finally home.
FIN