Chapter One

"Well, that was a waste of time," Rodney said, sitting in the row boat, his arms folded across his chest.

He glared out at the shore a few yards up ahead. Sheppard sat across from him, rowing. He caught Sheppard rolling his eyes and his mood soured more.

"You could help me row, McKay," Sheppard said.

"It's a river," he said. "There's not that much water between the shore we just left and the one we're heading toward. You don't need my help."

"You're really pushing it," Sheppard growled. "I'm about to toss you into the water."

"Oh, I'm shaking in my shoes," Rodney retorted, rolling his eyes. He looked toward his left and spotted Teyla and Ronon rowing pass them. Ronon rowed as if the Wraith were after them.

"Will you shut up and help me row?"

Rodney cast his gaze to the cloudy sky and crawled over to sit beside Sheppard. He took one of the oars from Sheppard and started rowing.

"See? We're catching up to Ronon."

"I didn't know this was a race," Rodney said. "I suppose we're going to run across the field to the gate once we reach the shore?"

"You're really in a terrible mood."

"You think? We were told there were wonderful opportunities for more allies on this stupid planet, but when we get here, everyone's gone. All they left were their boats."

"Maybe they decided to settle somewhere else."

Rodney narrowed his eyes and glared at Sheppard from the corner of his eye. "We're going back for a jumper, aren't we?"

"Yep. I'm not walking half-way across the planet."

"You could have told me."

"And deprive you of an occasion to complain?" Sheppard asked, humor in his voice.

Rodney shook his head and sighed. He focused the rest of his energy on rowing the dinghy. If it was the last thing he did today, he was going to make Sheppard pay for this entire waste of a day.

I could be running some tests or experiments. Instead, I'm here rowing an idiotic boat.

They slid onto the shore. Rodney jumped out of the rowboat and trudged through the field of yellow flowers toward the gate. It shone like a beacon in a world of fog and he picked up his pace. He caught up with Sheppard and kept pace with him.

"Dial the gate, Ronon," Sheppard shouted when the Satedan reached the DHD. He then smiled at Rodney. "Don't get too excited. We're heading for the jumper bay once we get back."

"Thanks for the reminder. Why don't you ruin the rest of my day?"

"I'm saving that for tomorrow."

Rodney rolled his eyes, fighting back the urge to knock the man on his butt. At least it wasn't blistering hot here. A nice warm breeze caused the field of flowers to wave, sending a sweet fragrance outward. His nose tingled with the sensation for the need to sneeze. He rubbed his nose while the gate activated.

The water rushed forward then drew back inside itself, leaving a blue horizon.

"Let's go!" Sheppard said, heading toward the gate.

"And right back here again," Rodney grumbled, following the group toward the gate.

Before he was able to step inside, the gate shut down. He stared in shock at the field on the other side of the ring. He blinked and backed away.

"What the hell? Why did it do that?"

Shaking his head, he went back to the DHD and dialed the address. The gate reactivated and the water shot out again. Sighing in frustration, Rodney stomped toward the horizon.

"Let's see if it stays open."

To his relief, it held and he stepped through.

~*~

Rodney came through the gate and was immediately greeted with guns pointed at him. He stared in surprise, his hands raised in submission. The Stargate shut down behind him and he stared at the people before him. People who should know who he was.

"What is this? Is this some kind of joke? Where's Sheppard?"

"I'm right here."

Sheppard came down the steps from the control area and toward him. Relief flooded Rodney and he lowered his hands and smiled.

"Oh, thank God. You really had me going." He stepped forward, but the Marines stepped closer to him, sending his pulse racing. "What the hell is going on?"

Sheppard stopped in front of him. "Who are you?"

Rodney blinked, struck speechless. "Did I step into the Twilight Zone? I'm Dr. Rodney McKay, chief scientist of Atlantis."

Sheppard glanced up at the balcony over looking the gate room. Rodney followed the gaze and saw a figure in red leave the area. He narrowed his eyes and turned back to the Colonel.

"Ok, joke's over," he said, making a move to walk through the crowd. "If we're not going back to the planet, I have some tests and experiments to get started."

Sheppard placed a hand on his chest, stopping him from stepping any further. He glared at the man and shoved the hand away.

"You're not going anywhere," Sheppard said, eyes narrowed. "We've been tricked by the Replicators before."

His eyes widened in surprise and anger. "Replicators? I'm not a Replicator! We've taken care of them. They're gone."

"We'll see about that. Take him to the infirmary."

The guns were shoved in his face and he was pushed in the direction of the stairs leading out of the room. He tried to get a glimpse of who the person in red was, but he was propelled forward. Grumbling, he picked up his pace and headed down the stairs.

"You're making a mistake," he said, anger building. "I don't know what the hell is going on, but this isn't funny."

"This isn't a joke," Sheppard said. "We're not taking any chances."

"I just stepped through the gate," Rodney bit out. "We were getting back from a mission and the gate shut down before I could step through."

"Save it," Sheppard said, nudging him forward. "I'm not buying it."

"It's the truth," he growled. "I stepped right into an alternate reality, didn't I?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Shut up and keep moving."

Rodney glared askance at the man walking beside him. It looked like Sheppard, even sounded like him, but something was wrong. Everyone so far acted like he wasn't who he said he was. What the hell happened?

"I can take it from here," Sheppard said, bringing him out of his thoughts. He grabbed hold of Rodney's arm and led him down the hall as if he had no idea where the infirmary was.

Rodney looked up and the others separated and went in opposite directions.

"Really, you can stop with the joke," he whispered to the Colonel. "You know me, John. I'm not a Replicator."

"Only one way to find out," Sheppard said without looking at him. "We'll let Dr. Keller tell us whether you're who you say you are."

"Oh for crying out loud," Rodney growled, trying to yank his arm from Sheppard's grasp. "This is ridiculous!"

Sheppard jerked Rodney to a stop and turned him to face the Colonel. "You're coming to the infirmary and we're going to test you. Then we'll go from there. Right now, you're suspicious."

"Ask me something only you and I would know," Rodney snapped, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm not going anywhere until you do."

Sheppard opened his mouth then closed it. He pointed at Rodney, opened his mouth again, then closed it again. The man looked like a fish out of water. He smirked, but Sheppard narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not going to fall for that. Let's go."

Sheppard shoved him into motion again and Rodney stomped down the corridor. If it was the only way to convince Sheppard he was Rodney McKay, then he might as well let Jennifer test him.

Before he knew it, he strolled into the infirmary and saw Jennifer Keller tending to a patient. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She was a friendly face in the maelstrom of uncertainty.

"Jennifer," Sheppard said, pulling Rodney toward the doctor. "I brought you a patient. This one needs to be tended to ASAP."

Jennifer turned and froze at the sight of him. She looked from him to Sheppard and back again.

"He's…He's," she stuttered.

"Yeah, but we want to make sure," Sheppard said, pushing Rodney toward the nearest bed. "He might be a Replicator. We don't know."

"Right," Jennifer said, putting her stethoscope around her neck. "Lay down under the scanner and we'll get started."

Rodney looked from Jennifer to Sheppard. Jennifer didn't recognize him at all. How the hell was that possible? They were in a relationship. How could she forget that?

I really must be in an alternate reality if she doesn't even know who I am.

"On the bed," Sheppard said, pointing at the bed behind him.

Rodney rolled his eyes and hopped up on the bed. He rolled onto his back, sighing. He stared up at the ceiling, wondering why he was even putting up with this. If he was in another reality, he needed to get back and fast.

And where was this world's Rodney? It explained why everyone thought he wasn't who he said he was.

"And if it turns out I'm not a Replicator?" Rodney asked as the scan slowly moved over him.

"One thing at a time," Sheppard said, leaning against a bed to his left. "First, the tests."

Rodney closed his eyes and tried to relax. The soft hum of the machine coaxed a sigh from him, soothed him.

"I'm not picking up anything," Jennifer said after awhile, confusion in her voice. "There aren't any nanites anywhere in him. He's completely human."

"I'm not completely convinced," Sheppard said. "Do a DNA test."

"All right," she said, her voice moving across the room. "But I think you're being paranoid."

"I'm being thorough."

Rodney sat up and watched while Jennifer brought out a syringe. She stepped toward him, smiling slightly.

"This might sting a little," she said, taking his left arm and pushing up his sleeve.

He kept his eyes on her face while she pressed the needle into his arm. He winced slightly at the pain and took calming breathes.

"All done," she said and pulled the needle out. She placed a cotton ball on the wound and folded his arm over it. "I'll let you know the results."

"I can tell you right now, it'll match," Rodney said, sliding off the bed. "I'm Dr. Rodney McKay."

"Right now, we can't take your word for it," Jennifer said, heading toward a table covered with several laptop computers. "Don't worry, we'll soon know if you're telling the truth or not."

"I am telling the truth," Rodney growled, narrowing his eyes at her back. "Why can't you see that?"

"Because the Rodney McKay we know has been dead for three years."

Rodney spun around, his heart pounding in his chest. Elizabeth Weir stood before him and a world of emotions crashed through him.