Has Been's and Could Have Been's
McRaider
Summary: Henry and Nathan remember while captured by SARAH, about an old friend and what it was like when things were easier.
Author's Note: Stemmed from several ideas actually, it's a short piece. And it's a Atlantis/Eureka crossover. It's also a bit AU, because I essentially say that Nathan, Henry and Rodney (Stargate Atlantis) have always lived in Eureka, when we actually learn in this episode that Nathan brought Henry here. But that's creative writing for me. Enjoy! Kind of implied McKay/Stark (so that would technically make this my frist slash, but it doesn't have to be)
"I'm getting really tired of the remarks Henry," grumbled Nathan as he leaned against on of the glass doors.
"Guess you won't have to put up with them much longer," Henry returned sadly.
"No, no I won't, cause you're bailing out on me," Just like everyone else had. Nathan could remember a time when it had been just him, Henry and one other scientist, dominating Global Dynamics, at the time he'd just been a kid. Then the other had bailed on him. Rodney, a simple man in his eyes, a good man as far as Nathan was concerned. Others thought him harsh, but here in Eureka everyone knew how good a man Rodney was.
"Of all my students," Henry began, "You were the one who could have done anything—"
Nathan sighed, he knew where Henry really stood, what Henry really felt, "Maybe I should have just left," he mumbled.
"You two boys were so bright, you could have done anything. Rodney's living his dream Nathan! You're fighting it! Everything you two ever fought against, argued about and battled every day, are the very thing you're suddenly defending!"
"Rodney's not here! I'm here Henry and I'm only trying to help you—"
"Help me! There was no student I was prouder of, not student I cared for as much as I cared for you two! I spent thirty years raising you two! I watched you grow up! And here you are wasting it all! Doesn't it dive you crazy?"
"Of course it does! I want more than anything to be out there with Rodney!? Do you think I wanted to win the Nobel Prize while he fights against things no one will even ever understand! I wanted nothing more than to be out there with him! But I got the chance of a life time and I took it! He left me!"
"He didn't leave you! You traded him in for Allison! Did it ever dawn on you that maybe he didn't just see you as a best friend! He cared about you Nathan and you shoved him aside for a chance to be with Allison."
"I never meant to hurt him," Nathan's tone softened, he knew what he'd done, how he'd hurt him. And there wasn't a day that didn't go by now he didn't regret what he'd done by pushing away the only person who'd really cared about him.
"But you did; now he's living his life."
"That's where you're going isn't it? You found out they have openings in Atlantis?"
Henry sighed, "Rodney doesn't know yet, but at least there I can really make a difference."
"What about me?" It was a selfish question, he knew it, but he had to know."
"You're a man now; you can handle yourself just fine Nathan. You haven't needed me for a long time."
"I've always needed you Henry, from the moment I watched—" he stopped, "You've been like a father to me."
"No I've been a needle in your side for years now. Well I'm out of your hair now. Good luck Nathan, you'll do just fine all on your own."
Nathan felt his heart and stomach sink, he'd three people who'd cared about him more than anything away. Forcing himself into the lonely hermit position he would now find himself in. He moved away from Henry, trying to ignore the pain he felt in his heart, when he spotted Allison and Jack clutching each other, "Crap."
The End-