A/N: This is a birthday gift for my friend, Shadows-of-Realm. Thanks for your Beta assistance, brainstorming sessions and most of all your friendship.

Timeframe is before Submersion.

Sandy

Spark-a-rific

Blackmail

Rodney and John were in the armory preparing for the mission to a submerged power plant. Rodney had purposely taken his time gearing up so he could talk to his friend alone. "John, can we talk?"

John zipped his TAC vest glancing at him with a puzzled frown. "What about?"

"Something I read…"

The Colonel huffed. "You read all the time. Why…"

"…when I was a super-evolved human." Rodney saw that he had John's full attention now, his eyes dancing with humor. "I know."

John didn't know why, but the tone of those two words unnerved him. "What do you know?"

A slight smirk crossed Rodney's face as he shoved extra ammo into his vest pockets and closed the Velcro flaps. "About you and Elizabeth. Now I can choose to keep the information to myself…"

"Or…?"

"Or I can make use of what I learned while tiptoeing through your thoughts, dreams, hopes…and desires. As they relate to Elizabeth, of course."

Crossing his arms, John gave Rodney a mild form of his death glare, keeping some in reserve in case he needed it later. "And what makes you think I would give in to your demands?"

Rodney turned away from his friend, shrugged into his backpack and picked up his tablet. "Because I read her mind, too." He didn't have to be able to read minds or see John's face to know he was upset. He could feel it.

"How could you invade her privacy like that, McKay?" He wasn't just angry. He was furious.

"I didn't do it on purpose. It was just there. Most of my mind was focused on repairing the power grid, but your thoughts about each other were so strong, I couldn't block them."

Rodney's confession that he hadn't done it intentionally somewhat appeased John. "So, what was she thinking?"

They left the armory and headed for the Jumper Bay. Rodney shook his finger at John. "That would be way too easy. However, I will give you one piece of advice. Actually, let's call it an arrangement between two people in which one person agrees not to divulge certain information in exchange for…"

"That's blackmail."

Rodney grinned at him. "Yes. Yes, it is." He felt and heard John surrendering. It was in the long draw out sigh that ended on a groan.

"Okay. What do you want? And don't get too crazy with it or you'll spend the rest of your neurotic and paranoid life watching your back."

Just as they reached the Jumper Bay, Rodney leaned close and said, "Take her on a date."

Taken aback by his friend's words, John could only stare at him in bafflement. That's it? Nooo problem. "Done."

"Not a meal shared in the Mess Hall. A real date. Something romantic, just the two of you, alone, away from Atlantis."

"But…" John wanted to give his friend a resounding yes! however, his main concern was the friendship he and Elizabeth shared. "What if it turns out bad? Neither one of us has a great track record when it comes to relationships."

"Schrodinger's cat." At John's blank look, he explained. "You'll never know how it will turn out if you don't try."

"You're right." The Colonel tugged at his ear. "Um, just so I'm completely clear…"

"Yeah?"

"Exactly how far does this…do we have to…" John paused, not wanting to be crass, insensitive, vulgar, "…you know, um…to fulfill this agreement?"

Rodney snorted at his friend's discomfort. "I'll leave that detail to you. And I do not want to know." John still had a dazed look on his face. "You have one week. And remember this. That wasn't all I read while I was in there."

TBC