Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even the dust bunnies.

AN: I wondered: Coming home from the hive ship massacre ("Destroyer") with the team, what happens when Faith gates back with them to Atlantis...?




Its happening again.


She steps through that gate, this new doorway, into the city and very nearly goes to her knees.


This place has a soul. It rushes in upon her, fills her up, turns her out, cracks open her skull and stitches it back together with golden thread. It breathes and sings and wishes her welcome, welcome, welcome… Echoing right down to her last particle, touching places in her mind, coursing through her blood, bone and the very flesh of her being. Girl, woman, Slayer and human, warrior and wanderer.


She reaches out and grips John’s arm, willing her legs to keep her upright.


“Faith?”


“Gimme a minute,” she breathes, eyes forced closed in rapture and near bewilderment. When she opens them again they feel hot and multi-coloured, blazing with the greeting of the city.


She watches as Dr. Weir approaches them, smiling, genuinely glad to see them. “You must be Faith, welcome to Atlantis.”


Faith grins. “Boy, what a welcome…”