Disclaimer – I do not own anything which belongs to the world of Atlantis. Those belong to much more powerful people than I. This fiction is merely for fun.
Chapter 1 – Set after Childhood's End
"Are you well Dr. McKay?" Teyla asked hesitantly as the team slowly made their way towards the Stargate, leaving the festivities fading in their wake.
"Hmm?" Dr. McKay answered distractedly, lost deep within his own thoughts. "Oh. Yes, of course. Who wouldn't be excited to leave all these perfectly annoying little ankle-biters behind and return to the comforting civilization of my clean, orderly labs and passably brewed coffee?"
Teyla's eyebrow quirked with curiosity, "I apologize Doctor. You appeared more distracted than you typically do following the conclusion of an off-world mission. I merely wished to enquire after the wellbeing of a colleague and fellow teammate. No offense was meant."
A loud guffaw emerging from behind the pair gave McKay a moment to ponder Teyla's words. Apparently John and Lt. Ford had yet to fully finish celebrating Keras' 25th birthday. A landmark event for the society seeing as Keras was the first of his people in centuries to be allowed to see the momentous event.
Deciding he was definitely annoyed, McKay exhaled in a huff. "Look, I just want to get back to my labs where I am in control, I know what's going on, and don't have to deal with backwards planets who think centuries of ritual suicide is normal and to be celebrated." McKay paled significantly. "I . . . I didn't mean that."
Teyla watched as her teammate obviously attempted to shut down his emotional distress at what had been a distressing reality. The Terran's never ceased to amaze her with their cultural differences and beliefs. "I believe, Dr. McKay, that it is perfectly natural to experience distress following an event which so strongly contradicts your personal understanding of the world. I am aware that such situations can be quite traumatic for individuals to process."
"Traumatic, yes. . . . I was always told I was a sensitive soul as a child," Rodney mused to himself quietly.
"Perhaps," Teyla continued. "It would be beneficial to speak with someone trained in guiding people through their inner journeys? On Athos, we had elders who were equipped to assist those in the village that had difficulty processing the realities of life under the threat of the Wraith. Is there not someone similar to speak with on Atlantis?"
Rodney froze as his body filled instantly with incredulous tension. "You want me to see a shrink?" Rodney ground out harshly. "Honestly, you actually expect me to go and cry out my burdens on the shoulder of that woman, Chris Tallmeyer, or whatever her name actually is?" Rodney let out a quiet, sarcastic chuckle "I can just imagine Sheppard's response to me visiting a head shrink on a regular basis. Do you realise what it's like for a scientist to get respect on these missions?"
Teyla smiled wryly at the comment, "something akin to a woman born and raised in another galaxy, I would imagine."
"Oh, well, I suppose you have faced some challenges in acclimatizing as well. However, that changes nothing. There is no way in this or any galaxy that I will willingly visit a shrink!"
"What's that about a shrink?" John asked lazily, having come up on the pair while they were talking.
"Shrinking," Rodney attempted to correct the Major with a bluff. "It just so happens that shrinking is what my good mood is quickly doing without a supplement of real food and coffee. I suggest that unless you would all enjoy seeing me spend the last portion of our mission in a bad mood or, better yet, going into shock from my sugar plummeting due to a distinct lack of food, I suggest we pick up the pace and return to Atlantis." Rodney finished with a reasonable facsimile of his usual snark.
John carefully gazed at the team members before him, knowing something was laying just below the surface but also recognizing the reluctance of either to bring it forward. Investigation and patience were two skills John did possess, contrary to popular opinion, after the mission they'd just experienced, everyone could use a shower, meal, and rest before he went poking through his team's inner conflicts.
"Well, we wouldn't want that would we?" John answered lazily, eyes still focused on Rodney even as he called over his shoulder. "Let's pick up the pace Ford. Maybe they'll even have Jello with supper tonight, if we're lucky." John finished easily, covering the uneasy feeling he had towards his team in his gut as the hustled towards the gate.
A.N. I do intend this to be a multi-chapter story. Let me know what you think and let me know if you have any suggestions for a title :D