Word Count:
5,833
Rating:
PG13.
Category:
AU. Angst. Humour.
Story Status:
Complete.
Summary: Rodney's
in Antarctica and is meddling with his cousin's life - much to the
annoyance of said cousin!
Beta:
Thank you to Jayne Perry for the beta-reading.
An Annoying Cousin
By Leesa Perrie
When Rodney McKay was asked to go to the Ancient outpost in Antarctica,
he didn’t hesitate. Sure, it would be cold, but
he’d
done cold before, and this, this was something big, and he wanted to be
a part of it. And if it just so happened that his cousin had
been
sent to McMurdo, in disgrace, then that was just an added
bonus.
They were rarely in the same country these days and this offered him a
chance to see him from time to time, as well as a chance to get his
cousin’s side of the story, because he knew John Sheppard was
not
a man who disobeyed orders on a whim. No, there had to have
been
some reason, and a damn a good one, for him to do that.
And if his ‘little cousin’ as Sheppard insisted on
calling
him could, perhaps, just maybe, find a way to make him a part of the
Stargate Programme, then so be it. Call it nepotism, of
sorts, or
call it knowing the right people, but he was damned if John was going
to be pushed to one side and ignored; made into a glorified taxi driver
on the southern most continent for the rest of his career.
There
was no way that was going to happen.
Not if he had anything to do with it.
----------------
Unfortunately, he was rushed through the base at McMurdo and out to the
Ancient outpost before he had time to find his cousin, or to even let
him know he was there. Still, he managed to get a message
through
later, but because it had to go through official channels, he had kept
it simple. Just a ‘hi, John, I’m at the
scientific
research base in Antarctica, maybe I’ll get a chance to catch
up
with you next time at McMurdo.’ John had replied to
say he
would be happy to see him when he was able to arrange it.
And that had pretty much been it for the first few weeks. The
work at the outpost kept him too busy to think about much else, and
when Jackson found the location of Atlantis, the work just
intensified. Now they had to learn as much as they could
before
relocating to Cheyenne Mountain in a month’s time and then
heading to another galaxy, on a potentially one way trip, in the near
future.
When Beckett, the man who he had shared a cell with a year ago and who
seemed determined to befriend him against all odds, had discovered the
ATA gene and a way to test for it, the testing had highlighted just how
few people already signed onto the expedition had the gene.
So
McKay suggested testing the people at McMurdo, as they were near by and
already part of the military, and therefore good candidates for joining
the expedition.
He had wanted to go to McMurdo for the testing, so that he could talk
to John, but had been unable to find a good reason for him to do
so. He was getting frustrated as he knew time was running out
and
he had yet to find a way to help John’s career problems.
If he could find a way to get John into the Stargate Programme, it
would surely help him. And maybe he wouldn’t have
to leave
behind his only relative and friend on Earth when he left for
Atlantis. He decided, reluctantly, to approach Elizabeth and
ask
if she could, as a personal favour, find a way to bring Major Sheppard
into the know. He at the very least wanted John to know where
he
was going and why, even if he didn’t come with him.
Of course, the chances that anyone on McMurdo base, let alone John,
would have the gene were slim, so he was surprised, not to mention
intensely jealous, to discover that not only had his flyboy cousin got
the gene, but that it was the strongest they had come across so far,
other than General O’Neill’s. Which was
just so, so
not fair.
O’Neill and Elizabeth had given John clearance to come to the
outpost, and had also given him a lesson in ‘Stargate
101’
and all things alien. They had even managed to convince him
to
come to the outpost to help with testing the technology and he was due
to arrive tomorrow, but they had failed to convince Sheppard to join
the expedition.
Rodney knew it was his turn to step in and convince his
cousin.
He knew no one had realised the family connection as yet, though
presumably that would be picked up at some point; it wasn’t
like
it was a big secret or anything.
He headed for Elizabeth’s office at a brisk pace, already
plotting out in his mind what he would say to John.
----------------
“Elizabeth,” Rodney found her in the room she was
using as
her office. “Have you had any success convincing
Major
Sheppard to join the expedition?”
“No. It looks like we’ll have to get by
without his gene.”
“Well, it might help if I talk to him.
He’s coming over tomorrow, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is, but I don’t want you trying to
browbeat anyone into this…”
“I won’t.” He paused at her sceptical
look.
“Really, I won’t. No browbeating,
scout’s
honour. Not that I was ever a scout,
but…” he
sighed. “Look, you probably don’t know this yet,
but John
is my cousin…”
“Major Sheppard is your cousin?”
Rodney smiled wryly, secretly amused at the incredulous look on
Elizabeth’s face.
“Yes, my cousin. We’re actually quite
close.
I’m sure once I point out to him the importance of this
expedition, not to mention the fact that I will be going,
he’ll
change his mind. Well, maybe. He can be a stubborn
pain in
the…neck.”
“Not like anyone else in the family, I’m
sure…” Elizabeth gently teased.
“Will the fact
you’re part of the expedition convince him?
You’re
sure it won’t make him even less likely to come?”
“Oh, please, Elizabeth, I know they are lots of people
who’ll no doubt be jumping for joy when they hear
I’m
heading to another galaxy, but John won’t be one of
them.
In fact, I was trying to work out how to get him involved in all of
this anyway. The gene’s just made it easier for
me.”
“I see. You’re not about to change your
mind about
this expedition, if it means leaving your cousin behind?”
“No, no, I’m committed to this now.”
Rodney looked
surprised by her suggestion. “But I’d
rather not
leave him behind. Look, I know he has a black mark on his
record,
but he’s a decent guy. I’m sure that he
had a good
reason to disobey orders. It’s not something he
would do
lightly. I know he’d be a good person to have
around,
especially if we find trouble. Which, let’s face
it, is
always a possibility. Not to mention that his gene would come
in
handy, as well.”
“A gene that you don’t have.”
“Yes, thank you for reminding me of that, again,”
Rodney
said snippily. “Typical. He must have got it from
his
father’s side, along with his love of flying. Life
is so
unfair and does not take into account genius.”
Elizabeth smiled at the familiar whine.
“Alright, I’ll make sure you get a chance to spend
some
time with your cousin. I hope you can convince him to join
us,
but no browbeating.”
“Trust me, Elizabeth, John is the last person I’d
be able
to browbeat into doing something he doesn’t want to
do.
He’s immune to me.”
“Definitely sounds like a person I want around
then.” She grinned.
There was a knock at the door and one of the scientists poked her head
round nervously.
“Oh, Dr McKay, there is a problem that needs your
attention. Dr Kavanagh…”
“Agh, that man…alright, I’m
coming,” he
muttered, turning back to Elizabeth briefly as he exited her office.
“Please tell me he isn’t
coming…”
“I’m sorry, but he is one of the best in his
field...”
“Agh!” he said again and stormed off.
“And I need someone to keep you on your toes,”
Elizabeth said to herself with a small smile.
----------------
General O’Neill escorted a rather bemused looking Major
Sheppard through the outpost.
“I’m sure the eggheads here will be grateful for
any help
you can give them with this techno mumbo-jumbo,”
O’Neill
said, waving vaguely around at the busy scientists.
“Just so long as they don’t expect me to go off to
another galaxy, sir.”
O’Neill ignored his comment.
“Dr Weir wants you to meet up with the boss egghead as soon
as
you arrive,” Jack said, guiding Sheppard towards a back lab
that
also doubled as McKay’s office. “Though
why she would
do that when she’s trying to convince you to join the
expedition,
I have no idea.”
“Something wrong with the head geek, sir?”
“Just a total lack of interpersonal skills.”
They entered the back lab and John wasn’t all surprised to
find his cousin there, busily tapping away on a laptop.
“McKay,” O’Neill called, and when that
elicited no
response from the engrossed scientist, he said a little more loudly,
“Dr McKay.”
“Hmm, busy,” Rodney muttered, not taking his eyes
off the
laptop screen to see who had interrupted him. John smirked,
and
wandered casually over.
“Hey, Rodders, I think the General wants to say hi.”
Rodney stopped and turned to look at Sheppard, before glancing at
O’Neill.
“Well, if it isn’t Johnny-boy,” Rodney
replied
snidely, clearly annoyed with the ‘Rodders’ from
John.
“So, you two know each other?” O’Neill
asked.
“Yes, sir. Rodney’s my cousin,”
Sheppard drawled.
“Oh. You have my sympathy,” Jack
deadpanned back at him.
“Oh, har-de-har,” McKay snapped. “Very
funny, General.”
“So, you’re the boss egghead and head
geek?” John said.
Rodney narrowed his eyes at the General, and then turned his annoyed
look on Sheppard.
“Chief of Science,” he corrected.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” Jack said.
“Though
I’m tempted to stay and watch the show, it certainly looks
like
it could be entertaining. Tag Team Geek
Teasing…”
“Oh please. Just go bother someone else,
General.
I’m sure Elizabeth has some things she’d like to
discuss
with you.”
“Be nice, McKay, or I’ll have Sam send Felgar down
here to
join you. Hmm, now that’s an idea, maybe we could
ship him
off to Atlantis too…”
“No way,” McKay said with a shudder, “And
Sam
wouldn’t be that mean to me.” He paused for a
moment before
sighing, “Then again, I wouldn’t put it past
her.”
“I’ll see you later, Major.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jack left the lab, smiling. He had a feeling that Major John
Sheppard was about to change his mind about joining the expedition.
“So,” John started, “Head of the
geeks?”
“Yes,” Rodney sighed, rolling his eyes.
“Head of the
geeks, as you put it. And the person to put your ATA gene to
the
best use.”
“You don’t have the gene?”
“No, and just how unfair is that? Chief Scientist,
and I
can’t use most of this technology, and yet you, the flyboy,
gets
the gene! So not fair!”
“You’re jealous.” John smiled.
“Green doesn’t suit you, Rodney.”
“So? Let me have my moment of jealous
complaining…”
“Okay, moment over,” John said with a grin.
“Fine. We’ll start with the Control
Chair.” Rodney got up.
“Just a thought,” John said, looking serious.
“If
you’re the Chief Scientist, does that mean you’re
going…”
“To another galaxy? Yes, it does.”
“Crap, McKay, what the hell are you thinking?” John
said angrily.
“That the technology will be bigger and better than anything
this
outpost has to offer. That I’ll get to make
scientific
breakthroughs I could only dream of on Earth. That
I’ll be
a part of something big, and hopefully something that could save Earth
from all those aliens out there that want to destroy or conquer
it.”
“It’s dangerous,” John said flatly.
“Too damn
dangerous, and…damn it, Rodney, you could die out
there!
Not to mention this could be a one way trip! You
can’t be
serious!”
“Oh, I’m serious,” Rodney said quietly.
“Deadly
serious. You think I don’t know it could be
dangerous? Or that I might never be able to return to
Earth? I’m painfully aware of that! But
Earth
isn’t exactly the safest place in the universe.
I’ve
lost count of the times we’ve been on the verge of
destruction or
invasion. This expedition is important.
We’re talking
about an Ancient city! Not just some scattered bits of
technology, or a small outpost, but an entire city! They
could
even be Ancients there, and maybe they could help us. Either
way,
we have to go. I
have to go. They need me, and I’m not going to let
my fears
or insecurities stop me,” Rodney paused for a brief
moment.
“Look, I’ll admit, I’m scared shitless at
times when
I think about what I’m about to do, but I have to do
this.
It’s important…and I’m needed.
And it’s
a long time since I’ve been needed.”
“I don’t want you to go,” John said.
“You’re the only family I have left now.”
“I know.” Rodney calmed down. “I
know. You
think I want to leave you behind, not knowing if I’ll ever be
able to see you again? Believe me, that would be the suckiest
thing of all.” He huffed out a laugh.
“I’ve been
trying to find a way to get you clearance, so that I could at least
tell you the truth about what I was doing, where I was going.
Damn gene sorted that out for me, which is something, I
suppose.
But the truth is, I want you to come with us. Join the
expedition.”
“I’m not sure if I’m ready to do
that. And with my record…”
“You should see General O’Neill’s
record!
He’s been known to usurp authority, admittedly usually to
save
Earth, but also to save someone left behind. I’ve
read the
reports…”
“You have?” John looked surprised.
“Yes, hacked into the relevant computer system. You
went
back to rescue some people, because you don’t believe in
leaving
people behind. Something O’Neill believes
in.
Something that saved me from…well, I’ll tell you
about
that some other time. Anyway, this is a chance for a new
start.” McKay shrugged and looked away. “Of course,
if
you’re too afraid…”
“Hey!”
“Tell me that isn’t it, John. Because I
know you; you
do what needs to be done, and fear be damned.
You’re one of
the bravest people I know, and I know quite a few of them
now.
Tell me you’re not afraid to go through the stargate, and
I’ll believe you.”
“Damn it…yes, of course, I’m
afraid. Only an
idiot wouldn’t be. But that’s not the
reason I
don’t want to go.”
“I really didn’t think it was. So what is
the reason?”
“I don’t want the responsibility. Sure, I
won’t
be the guy in charge, but I’ll still be responsible for a lot
of
people, most of whom will be civilians at that. I’m
not
ready for that, I don’t want it. Here, I have few
responsibilities.”
“Yes, here you’re a glorified taxi driver and
little else. Such a waste.”
“Rodney…”
“No, don’t ‘Rodney’
me. You’re
capable of so much more. And you know what the thing I hate
most
in this life is, well, other than incompetence and stupidity?
It’s someone wasting their talents. I never figured
you’d be one to do that.”
“You have no idea…”
“Of what it’s like to lose people under my
command?
No, I don’t. I can imagine it sucks, big
time. But
how many people have you saved? And how many more might you
save,
if you don’t give up. And that’s what you
have done,
John. You’ve given up.”
“Damn it…”
“You wouldn’t let me give up,” Rodney
said
quietly. “When you first met me, you found a way to
reach
through my fears, my loneliness, my despair. You pulled me
through it. Sure, your parents helped too, but it was you who
first reached me. You wouldn’t give up on me and
wouldn’t let me give up on people, on life, and I’m
not
about to let you give up on yourself. Even if you
don’t
come on this expedition, you’re not staying here.”
“That McKay determination has set in, hasn’t
it?” John said ruefully.
“It has,” McKay confirmed with a grin.
“Alright, I’ll…think about it.
No promises, though.”
“That’s all I ask right now.”
“Yeah, right now. Later,
though…”
“Oh, well, later…”
They grinned at each other, the tension easing.
“Now, let me show you the Control Chair. We have a
lot of work to do…”
----------------
Two days had passed with Sheppard activating the Ancient
technology. The other scientists had noticed the banter
between
them, amazed that someone could get away with teasing and arguing with
McKay, but had soon found out that they were cousins.
It was now just after lunch, and Elizabeth, Carson and Rodney were in
the mess hall finishing their meal when John stomped into the room,
slapping a piece of paper down on the table in front of
McKay.
Rodney merely glanced calmly at it and then looked into the face of his
irritated cousin.
“You…you have got to be the most annoying,
irritating and
downright manipulative person I have ever had the misfortune to
meet,” John shouted.
“Major Sheppard…” Elizabeth started, but
Rodney
shook his head at her, with a small grin. The Major ignored
her
anyway, focusing his attention solely on his cousin.
“I told you I was happy here and you go and pull a stunt like
this!” John pointed to the papers on the table.
“Like what?” Rodney asked, with a failed innocent
look.
“You know damn well what! I’m being sent
to Colorado Springs, to join the SGC!”
“Oh, that,”
Rodney said, as if just realising what John was going on about.
“Yes, McKay, that.
And don’t try to tell me you had nothing to do with
this. You’ve always been a lousy liar.”
Rodney just shrugged his shoulders and took another bite of his dessert.
“Damn it, you’re…argh!” John
turned away, and
started pacing. “What the hell are you doing,
messing with
my life?”
“Like I told you, Major,
you’re wasting your talents here, and I do so hate
that.”
“Damn you, Rodney.” Sheppard pushed his hand though
his
hair, still pacing. “That still doesn’t give you
the right
to manipulate my life. What did I do to deserve as
frustrating a cousin as you?”
“So,” McKay said quietly. “Are you coming
on the expedition or going to the SGC?”
Sheppard turned to look at him, with narrowed eyes.
“Oh no you don’t…You’re not
manipulating me
into anything.” He turned to leave the mess hall.
“I’ll just have to explain things to the
General.”
“Good luck,” Rodney called after him.
“But I think the General’s on my side in this, for
once.”
John made an obscene gesture and stomped back out.
“Rodney,” Elizabeth said, tilting her head
slightly.
“I thought you’d agreed not to browbeat him into
this?”
“I’m not doing any browbeating,” he
defended himself,
before giving a sly grin. “Just giving him a few more options
than staying here.” He looked at her less than pleased
expression
and sighed. “Look, he’s given up on himself and
that’s the one thing I never thought he’d
do. He
never gave up on me, never let me
give up on me, and there’s no way I’m letting him
give up
on himself now. I’m just repaying the favour,
that’s
all. He’ll thank me one day.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she
said with an exasperated sigh.
“I do. Besides, he’ll get his own back at
some point.”
“And that doesn’t worry you?” Carson
asked.
“It’s just the way we are. He pushes me,
I push
him. Could make life interesting for you, Elizabeth, but I
think
you’re up to handling it,” McKay said.
“We’ll
try not to give you any grey hairs.”
“Thank you. I think.”
“If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do, and a
cousin to calm down…”
McKay left the mess hall.
“You sure you still want both of them?” Carson
asked.
“Somehow, I think it’s even more important to
persuade the
Major to join us. I could use all the help I can get with
McKay.”
“Och, he’s not so bad, and you know it.”
“And just how long have you been trying to befriend
him?” she asked pointedly.
“About a year now, much to his annoyance.” He
grinned. “Good job I have a thick hide.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t given
up.”
“Aye, but I saw something in him when we were
prisoners.
He’s a good man, underneath the ego. The sort of
person
that would make a good friend if you can get past his
barriers.
And I’ve always relished a challenge.”
“Like going to another galaxy?”
“Ach, I must be mad, lass.”
They shared a smile.
----------------
Rodney was waiting for his cousin after he had finished talking to
O’Neill. Judging from the scowl on John’s
face, the
General wasn’t taking no for an answer and the Major would be
shipping out to the SGC soon. The glare he threw
Rodney’s
way when he spotted him didn’t phase him at all.
He’d
been on the receiving end of worst glares than that from his cousin in
the past.
“Hey…”
“I’m not talking to you,” John growled,
turning to walk away.
“You just did,” Rodney pointed out with a smirk,
hoping to
break through his cousin’s anger. John merely
turned to
glare at him, before continuing to walk away from him. Great,
John was really
pissed at him.
“I’m sorry,” he started, following after
his
cousin. John gave him a look that clearly showed he
didn’t
believe him. “Okay, I’m not
sorry. I
just…” He threw his hands up in frustration.
“Will
you just stand still for a minute and listen to me!”
But John just ignored him and carried on walking away.
“Fine! Be like that. Go and sulk, lick
your wounds
and curse me, if it’ll make you feel better. But
just do me
one thing, please.” McKay moved in front of John,
blocking
his path and thrusting out the laptop he was holding.
“Read
the reports I’ve left up on the laptop for you.”
John just looked at the laptop, not moving to take it. He
narrowed his eyes at Rodney, shook his head and moved to one side,
ready to carry on walking. McKay moved to the same side and
stopped him again.
“Please,” he said quietly. “Please,
John.”
Maybe it was the fact he was pleading or the look of desperation he
guessed was on his face, he didn’t know, but John took the
laptop. Rodney stepped out of his way.
“Thank you,” he said as John walked off, clearly
still not talking to him.
----------------
Rodney was busy typing away on another laptop in his office when John
walked in just over an hour later. McKay looked up,
uncertainty
in his eyes when he saw who had just entered.
John slapped the laptop Rodney had given him earlier down on
McKay’s desk and slumped into a chair with a heavy sigh.
“You never told me.” It was part
accusation.
“I couldn’t, it was classified,” Rodney
said, glad that his cousin was talking to him again.
“You should have said something, Rodney. Even if
you
couldn’t tell me all the details, I should have
known. Damn
it, you were tortured!”
Rodney winced at the words. John suddenly stood back up and
reached over to grab Rodney’s left arm. McKay
pulled back
at first, but then relented and allowed John to pull his sleeve up and
look at the scars left by the bracelet device Newman had used on him,
all those years ago.
“Oh crap,” John whispered, as there was no doubt to
the
truth of the reports left. Rodney pulled his arm away,
pushing
the sleeve back down.
“Yeah,” he muttered. “That about sums it
up.”
“And the other kidnapping, the alternate universe people,
that was all true as well, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. At least I didn’t get hurt that
time.”
“Why now? Why did you want me to know
now? If you
think I’m going to let you off interfering in my
life…”
“No, no, it wasn’t that, as such. More
like an explanation.”
“What?”
Rodney sighed, looking at his hands.
“I’m alone, John, and that makes me
vulnerable. I
thought that pushing people away would keep me safe. No one
could
betray me or hurt me if I didn’t let them close.
But I left
myself open to other attacks, and I know that. If something
happened to me, other than you, no one would really care too
much. Well, maybe Carter and Jackson would feel some remorse,
Elizabeth and Carson as well maybe, but no one would really mourn me,
except you. My intellect would be missed, not much
else. And I can’t seem to
change.” He huffed a
short laugh. “Beckett, for some reason, seems determined to
befriend me. I think Elizabeth would like to be a friend as
well,
but I don’t know how to…how to let them
in.
I’m not sure I want to.”
“You’re afraid,” John stated calmly.
“Yes, I’m afraid. And with good
reason.
I’ve been burned too many times in the past. People
who
approached as friends and then either discarded me or betrayed
me. You, and your parents, were the only people who never
turned
on me or turned me away. And now…I don’t
know how to
change, and I’m afraid to.”
He stood, pacing now, arms gesturing as he tried to explain.
“But I want what Sam has, what SG-1 have, what other SG teams
have. I want to know that someone would be looking for me if
I
got into trouble. That someone would come after me.
The SGC
doesn’t believe in leaving people behind, like you
don’t. You’ll fit in there just fine,
once you get
over your annoyance with me. Of course, you know I want you
to
come on the expedition. I want you to come to
Atlantis.
It’s selfish, I’ll admit it, but I want someone who
I know
would never leave me behind, and also, I don’t want to leave
the
only person I trust and truly…like…
behind.”
“Rodney,” John stood, placing his hands on his
cousin’s shoulders to stop his pacing, and looking him in the
eyes. “You…” he sighed.
“You’re a mess,
you know that, don’t you?”
Rodney laughed, a short, broken laugh.
“You shouldn’t be going to Atlantis,”
John said.
“But they need me. And, right now, I need to be
needed. It would be nice to be wanted as well, but
I’ll
take being needed.”
There was a desperation in Rodney’s eyes that truly worried
John.
“I…want you to stay on Earth.
You’re wanted here, by me.”
“I wish it was enough.” Rodney closed his eyes for
a moment, then pulled away from John and sat back down.
“But it isn’t, is it?”
“No,” he said, putting his head in his hands.
“I’m glad, that you want me here, you have no idea
what
that means to me, but…they do need me. Earth needs
me to
go with this expedition, to find a way for us to return to Earth with
new technology, that will hopefully help us win the war against our
enemies, out there.” He waved a hand upwards distractedly.
“I have to do this. I need to do this. I
just wish I
didn’t need to be alone out there.”
“You won’t be alone.”
“Yes, yes, I will. Because I can’t let
people close,
can’t let them in. Because I may be needed, but
I’m
not sure I’m wanted. Because if something was to
happen to
me, if I needed someone to rescue me, I’m not sure anyone
would
come. Because I don’t have anyone I can trust,
truly trust,
except myself. And that makes me alone.”
“Damn it, this…I can’t be what you want,
Rodney. I don’t need the responsibility, I
don’t want
it, not anymore. And you’ll be fine, I’m
sure of
it. I think you’re underestimating yourself and the
people
around you. You’ll do fine without me, probably be
better
off without me.”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m being
unfair,
selfish. I’m sorry.” Rodney let out a
heavy breath,
and then smiled. “And you’re right.
I’ll be
fine.” But he looked far from convinced.
“But
I’m not sorry for getting you transferred to the
SGC.”
“Rodney,” John said in warning.
“Well, I’m not. I just hope you can
forgive me, some day.”
John rolled his eyes, and then sighed.
“Forgiven you already, you stubborn pain in
the…but that
doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, or that
I’m not
going to make you pay.”
Rodney looked at the wicked grin on John’s face and knew his
cousin was plotting something, and probably something embarrassing at
that, but he wasn’t going to worry about it…too
much.
----------------
The next day Sheppard knocked on Elizabeth’s office door, and
entered.
“How can I help you, Major?”
“Well, you could hogtie McKay until he agrees to leave me
alone,” he muttered.
Elizabeth tried hard to stifle a grin, but failed when the Major
grinned too.
“Of course, that would only make him even more
determined,”
he said with a sigh, shaking his head. “He’s one of
the
most stubborn people I’ve ever met. He also happens
to be
right.”
“Right about what?” Elizabeth asked.
“About me wasting my talents,” he said with a
grimace.
“And I’ve made a decision. I’ll
join the
expedition to Atlantis, but on one condition; that you don’t
tell
McKay. I want that particular pleasure for myself.”
Elizabeth saw an evil glint to his eyes and almost felt sorry for
Rodney for a moment. Almost. But her resident
genius had
brought whatever the Major was planning down on himself, so she
wasn’t going to waste her sympathy on him.
“That’s fine,” she said. “I
don’t know
what you’re planning, but I need my Chief of Science in one
piece.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll still be in one
piece.”
“Good. I’m glad that you’ve
decided to join
us. What made you change your mind, if you don’t
mind me
asking?”
“Rodney let me see the reports; about how he ended up working
at Area 51 and how he first met Dr Beckett.”
“I see.”
“Well, I’ve been thinking, why should he have all
the fun
living on another planet?” John said lightly, before adding,
“But seriously, he needs someone out there to watch his back,
someone he can trust.”
“And that someone would be you?” Elizabeth asked,
already knowing the answer.
“Yeah. He has trust issues, I’m sure
you’re
aware of that by now, but he trusts me. And right now, I
think he
needs me around again. In fact, I’m probably doing
you a
favour by coming, actually. I’m one person that
Rodney will
listen to, and believe me there aren’t many of those in this
world,” he paused, before amending, “Huh, universe,
in
fact.”
“I’m well aware that Rodney has problems dealing
with people.”
“Poor people skills,” John agreed. “But
believe me,
it’s a wonder he interacts with the world at all, considering
his
childhood. Things could easily have gotten worse if my
parents
hadn’t have stepped in and adopted him as a
teenager.”
“There is no information on his childhood in any of the
reports I
have on him,” Elizabeth said with a frown. “But
then, that
isn’t all that unusual.”
“No. Look, I’m not about to go into
details.
Just believe me when I say he had a tough time of things and leave it
at that.”
“Alright. It will be good to have someone along who
understands him as much as you obviously do. Though I have a
feeling the two of you are going to make my job more…
interesting,” she said wryly.
“And I have a feeling you’ll be able to handle us
just
fine. Look, it’s clear Rodney already respects you,
which
is quite a big thing to have achieved in the short time
you’ve
known him. So if he respects you, then you’re
deserving of
my respect as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to find
my
cousin,” John said with a grin. “You might want to
watch
the entertainment.”
Elizabeth felt a smile cross her face.
“Well, how could I resist an offer like that?”
----------------
McKay was busy berating one of his minions for an error in her
calculations when Elizabeth and John entered the main work
area.
There were about ten scientists in the area, including Grodin and
Zelenka. She also noticed Carson entering the area just
after them.
“Hey, Rodney,” John said, sauntering up to his
cousin.
“Oh, now that you’re here, I have something I want
you to turn on…”
“That can wait a moment. I have an announcement to
make,” John smiled.
“What?” Rodney looked confused, the other
scientists, sensing something interesting going on, listened in.
“You’ve won. I’m coming to
Atlantis with you, Dr Meredith
Rodney McKay.”
Rodney looked mortified, even more so when there were a few suppressed
titters from the onlookers.
“Oh, very good,” he said sarcastically, recovering
his
composure quickly. “Is that it? Your revenge is
telling
people my first name? I expected better from you than
that.
Really, I’m disappointed.”
“Oh, I haven’t finished yet.” John
smirked, turning
his attention to the onlookers. “Hey, you want to
hear
about how The Great McKay was foiled by a lowly household appliance,
the toaster from hell?”
“No, no, no, shut up!” Rodney looked around
quickly.
“Don’t listen to him, he’s obviously
deranged.”
“Or how about that time…” John trailed
off as McKay slapped a hand over his mouth.
“What will it take to shut you up?” he asked,
removing his
hand at John’s glare, to which John grinned wickedly.
“How about an apology for being such a pain in the neck to
your wonderful cousin?”
“Okay, okay, I apologise.”
“Sorry, folks, guess that story will have to wait for another
day…” John smiled as everyone returned to their
work. “So, what is it you want me to
<i>turn
on</i>. And you do know how suggestive that
sounds,
don’t you?”
“Only to someone with a dirty mind like you.”
“Uh, oh, I feel a story coming on again…”
“Oh, great. Just what was I thinking, trying to get
you to
join the expedition? Like I need this
hassle…” He
pushed a small object into John’s hands.
“See if you
can make this work.”
“Okay dokey.”
Elizabeth smiled as she left them to it. She had a feeling
things
weren’t going to be boring with those two along.
Which
suited her just fine.
The End
