AN: Okay, so LAST chapter! AAH! It's taken such a long time to write this, and I still feel like there's more I could write, but then it might not be very good, know what I mean? It's like how Trilogies almost ALWAYS suck worse than the first movie - 'cuz everyone ran out of "good" ideas and just went with "kinda OK" ideas.

ANYWHO...hope you enjoyed the trip to Vegas, and remember, what happens in Vegas...well, you know. LOL As always, I am indebted to the kind folks who have reviewed, and favorited, and otherwise gave me inspiration for this story. Please R&R as usual!

Chapter 14

Dean and Sheppard stood outside under another starlit sky, each holding a beer. They leaned against the Impala, again saying nothing, yet understanding the thoughts behind one another's silence. Sheppard finally looked at the empty parking spot beside Dean's car, and sighed heavily.

"If he hadn't been possessed, I might've killed him for wrecking my car."

Dean chuckled at that. "I hear ya. But at least she's not totaled."

Sheppard shrugged and scuffed the ground under his feet. "Guess you're right about that. Still…"

Dean took a swig of his beer, then said, "You know, I've got an uncle who's great with cars. Bet he could fix her for you."

"That'd be great, if we weren't leaving in an hour," Sheppard replied, again glancing up at the sky as if any moment, the Daedalus would come into view. After all the drama of the past few days, he thought he'd be more glad to be going back to Atlantis. He was glad, there was no question about that; but once more, he found himself also wishing he could stay.

Dean nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I know. But if you want, I…I mean, we could take her to him for you. Then, next time you're in the galaxy, she'd be all ready for you."

Sheppard glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "You sure about that? If it's out of your way…"

Dean grinned and waved away his concern. "Nah, it's cool. I was thinkin' about taking a trip to see him anyway. Besides, it'll give his lazy butt something to do for a while."

The colonel smiled at that, and then nodded. "All right. As long as it's no trouble."

"None at all." Dean finished the last of his beer and crushed the can. "Guess we'd better get inside and pack up, huh?"

"Yeah." Sheppard also downed the rest of his drink, and then followed Dean back into the motel. As he crossed the threshold, the colonel was acutely aware that everyone in the room wore the same gloomy expression.

They look how I feel, he thought. Pinning a grin onto his face, he asked, "What's with all the long faces?"

Teyla glanced up from her bag and gave him a small, lopsided smile, as if she were trying to laugh and not cry all at once. "I believe everyone is sad that we have to leave. This time on your world has been very…fun. For all of us."

"Yup," Ronon put in as he slung his belongings over his shoulder. "Except for the part where I was possessed. And the part where you almost died. And…"

"I get it, Buddy," Sheppard interrupted. Sam and Dean glanced at each other and grinned, sharing a single thought – they sound just like us. "Anyway, we'll be back again."

"I hope so," Shannon replied. "We girls had a great time shopping and stuff."

At that, Teyla's smile brightened. "Yes, we did. And there is so much more of your world I have not yet seen."

Before Shannon could speak, Dean cut in. "It ain't all that great." When everyone turned to stare at him, he explained, "What with all the demons and crap running around killing people. I mean, you guys got it pretty good out there."

"How's that?" Rodney asked. "We've got the Wraith to contend with, and they're not exactly easy to kill, as you well know."

"Well, okay," Dean conceded, "but still, you only have one enemy out in the Pegasus. Here, it seems like we've got a new one every day."

"For now!" Rodney shouted at him, and Shannon jumped, as she stood nearest to the scientist, and hadn't expected him to become so upset. "For now, we have only the Wraith! But there is no guarantee that tomorrow a new threat might pop up and try to exterminate us all."

Dean shrugged. He hadn't really meant to anger Rodney…well, not completely, anyway. He just found it irresistibly fun to push a person's buttons every now and then, and he knew enough about Rodney to figure that he was an easy target. However, he didn't wish for their last few minutes together to end with an argument, so he softened his tone and said, "That's the thing about life. There's never a guarantee for anything."

Though Rodney didn't reply, he could tell that his temper had been turned down a few notches, and Dean congratulated himself on his diplomacy.

"That's true," Sheppard said to Dean, though his eyes were on Teyla as he spoke. She noticed his gaze, and her head tilted only very slightly to the side. If anyone had blinked, they would've missed it.

"Colonel Sheppard, this is Daedalus. We're ready when you are to beam you up."

Sheppard tapped his earpiece and replied, "This is Sheppard. We're just about finished down here. Give us ten minutes?"

"You got it, Colonel. We'll call back in ten. Daedalus out."

When Sheppard had clicked his radio off again, Rodney asked, "Is it just me, or does Caldwell sound more...brusque…every few hours?"

Sheppard's brow furrowed. "Brusque?"

Rodney nodded. "Yeah. You know, gruff, stern…brusque."

"Why couldn't you just say gruff?"

"Why? Did you really not know what brusque meant?"

Sheppard sighed loudly. "Not really. Besides, it sounds like something my father would've said. He was always using big words that sounded way more important than they really were, when a small one would've been fine."

"Are you saying that I'm…"

Before Rodney could finish his question, Sheppard waved his hand and said, "Drop it, Rodney; we're wasting time." Then, he turned to Sam and Dean, and extended the same hand. "It was good to meet you guys. And say thanks to Castiel for me."

"Good to meet you, too," Dean said as first he, and then Sam, shook Sheppard's hand. "Come back anytime."

When Sheppard moved to Shannon, she firmly shook his hand, though tears pricked her eyes. "Goodbye, Colonel."

"Hey," he said, grinning, "when we're all together, you can call me John."

She found herself suddenly blushing, though she didn't really know why. She managed a smile. "Okay, then. Goodbye, John."

"Bye."

Teyla stepped forward and hugged Shannon next, and they exchanged promises to plan another shopping trip next time. When she moved to Sam and Dean, Teyla touched her forehead to each of them in turn.

"Thank you for all you have done," she said quietly. Sam was especially moved by her display of appreciation, and he soon found a lump forming in his throat that he had to clear in order to say goodbye to her.

"Well," Rodney said then, "it's been fun. And if any more Wraith decide to venture here, please, don't hesitate to call us."

"Thanks," Dean replied, "and let us know if you suddenly have a demon problem."

"Will do."

Last of all was Ronon. He'd been standing toward the back of the room, leaning against the wall, but when everyone had said their goodbyes, he came forward and stood silently in front of the brothers. Sam and Dean exchanged a nervous look. Then, Ronon held out his hand, and when Dean extended his, they gripped each other's forearm in a warrior's handshake.

"Take care of yourselves," he rumbled, and both brothers nodded. When he gripped Sam's arm next, he added, "And each other."

"You, too," Dean and Sam said simultaneously. Ronon nodded solemnly, and then went to join the team.

"Oh. And, Dean?"

"Yeah, Sheppard?"

"Take care of my car."

Dean grinned. "You got it."

Then, Sheppard tapped his radio. "Daedalus, this is Sheppard. We're ready."

"We read you, Colonel. Stand by."

Sheppard raised his hand to the three hunters, and then the Daedalus' beam engulfed his team, taking them up onto the ship that would soon leave Earth's orbit and head for the Pegasus galaxy.

When they had gone, Shannon turned to the brothers and said, "I'd better get back to the diner. My regulars are gonna be pissed that it's been closed so long."

"We could drive you out," Dean offered, but she shook her head.

"Thanks, but I'll be okay on my own. Besides, I have to make a few stops in between."

"Are you sure?" Sam chimed in. "It's no trouble for us."

Shannon smiled. "I'm sure. I've already got a ride. But, really, thank you. For everything."

"Well," Dean replied, looking completely disappointed, "watch your back. And call if you need anything."

"I will." She stepped closer to him and kissed him lightly on the lips. "And you do the same."

Slightly shocked by her kiss, he only nodded in return as she turned to Sam.

"No more dark warehouses," Sam warned her, and she laughed easily.

"I swear. I wanted to thank you, especially."

Sam was puzzled. "For what?"

She shot a mock-angry look at Dean, who seemed just as confused as his brother was. "For not treating me like a piece of meat." Then, she chuckled. "And for yanking that stake out of my side. That thing hurt like a bitch."

Sam chuckled in return. "Yeah, I bet. And thanks for all your help, too."

She seemed to debate something with herself for a moment, and then she stood up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. This time, though, her kiss was far more passionate than it had been with Dean, and Sam couldn't say that he didn't like it. In fact, he liked it even more when her arms wrapped around his neck, keeping him close to her, and he took the opportunity to glance down at her face. Her eyes were closed, her long, dark eyelashes resting lightly on her cheekbones, and very light freckles scattered across her nose like the stars in the sky. He suddenly found himself wishing that he could just stay right here, with her, forever.

Dean watched all this from where he stood, his arms crossed over his chest. He had to admit, he hadn't seen that one coming, but he couldn't slight his brother for it. Hell, she was better for him than Ruby had ever been, and she was gorgeous to boot. If they didn't have a job to do, he'd try to convince Sam to stay with her himself, and if he wouldn't…well, then Dean would convince her that he was worthy of her attention.

When Shannon finally pulled away from Sam, Dean winked at her. As if she only just remembered that he'd been in the room with them, she blushed furiously, and then grabbed her bags. Sam opened the door for her, his eyes still wide with surprise.

"See ya later, boys. And behave yourselves," she said, and then, without waiting for a reply, she started off down the sidewalk toward a black car that sat idling at the curb.

"Well, that was interesting," Dean quipped as he grabbed his own things and walked out the door. Sam hurried to catch up with him, and met him at the Impala's trunk.

"I had no idea…" Sam began, but Dean chuckled, and he fell silent.

"Don't gotta explain to me, Sammy. Only thing I can't figure out is how she could ever fall in love with a giraffe like you." He tossed the bags in the trunk and slammed the lid, then laughed again. "Mom and Dad shoulda named you 'Geoffrey'."

"Shut up, Dean," Sam huffed, irritated. He yanked open the passenger-side door and slid into his seat, as Dean flopped behind the wheel and started the car. "You heard what she said. At least I didn't drool all over her and constantly try to pick her up."

"Ooh, ouch. It's not my fault she's not into bad boys. Though, if she really knew about you and your little 'habit', she might not be so into you, either."

Sam's jaw clenched at that. "I told you, I stopped doing that…"

Dean pulled out onto the street, heading east. "Yeah, whatever," he muttered. "I'm just worried about you, what with Lucifer chasing you like The Hef chases Bunnies."

Though the mental picture Dean had created was fairly amusing, Sam frowned. "You don't have to be, Dean. He'll never get me."

Dean shot him a skeptical look, but let the subject drop, choosing a slightly safer one. "Any word from Bobby?"

"Yeah, actually," Sam replied, relieved at the change of topics. "He says there's been some omens in Upstate New York, of all places."

"That's a pretty long drive. Maybe we should stop somewhere for coffee before we head out," Dean suggested. "I know this cute little diner a few miles from here…"

Sam sighed and shook his head. "You're hopeless."

"Is that a 'yes', then?"

"I'm not the one driving, remember?"

Dean grinned. "You most certainly are not. Bitch."

Still shaking his head, Sam couldn't hide a smile from appearing on his own face, and he chuckled and replied, "Jerk."

THE END