Beating Holidays, Part 1
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There you are, is the first thing Jeannie Miller says to him, all but dragging him into her house, maybe you can get Mer to calm down. David has no idea why she might expect such an inconceivable thing of him, but the house is warm and there's a promise of tea after a ten-hour drive.
Do you think they'll be alright, Rodney frets when David gets into the kitchen. I mean, Radek's fairly competent and Sam is there, too, but who knows what could be happening there right now without us! Nothing is happening to them, John insists, all reasonable, getting up and putting a hand on David's arm in greeting. There's a minor twitch above his left eyelid that David has re-learned means he's worried as well.
Wouldn't they call you? he asks, fairly sure that Rodney hasn't even noticed yet that he's here, trying to ignore the fact that nobody is making introductions, feeling slightly better when the little girl puts a large cup of chai in his hands.
They'd tell us, they'd call us, John affirms, firmly pressing down on Rodney's shoulders, They'd even beam us right into space. It doesn't seem to calm Rodney down any, who looks up from his seat, trembling, agitated, seeming afraid of the staring contest John is trying to engage him in. She took my cell phone, he says in a small voice, to which Jeannie says, a little helplessly, You've got your radio, Mer, but you know the rules, no cell phones in the house.
Does that include my blackberry, David startles, remembering coming back from another galaxy and finding out Mrs Donovan had tried to reach him, suddenly relating all too well to Rodney's plight. Didn't Ronon and Teyla stay behind, he says instead, and I also found your Mr Woolsey a very competent man.
Fine, Rodney mumbles, some tension running out of him at last, resentful now instead of frightened. John pats his hand, looking too relaxed not to be stung tight underneath it all himself, the unease underneath his skin almost showing. This happens every time they're here, the little girl assures David, hi, I'm Madison. David Sheppard, David says, shaking her tiny hand, and settles to watch as Jeannie's husband hands Rodney a cup full of fruit tea, not flinching at all from the abuse Rodney screams at him until John smiles.
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