Title: Growing Pains
Author's Note: This is a response to a post in a challenge thread to write a story in which John and Rodney are somehow changed into children. The narrative switches from one point of view to another in each chapter and at some point the story is told from the point of view of all of the main characters.
Featured Characters: John Sheppard & Rodney McKay
Other Characters Include: Carson Beckett, Elizabeth Weir, Teyla Emmagen, & Ronon Dex.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Stargate Franchise. I have no rights whatsoever and am just writing this for the fun of it. This is for grins and giggles not for gold. So, please don't smack me with the backhand of the US Civil court system.
"What the hell is going on?" John Sheppard sounded exasperated and who could blame him.
It was strange, though, to hear this slightly squeaky version of the normally raspy and masculine voice.
"Really, Colonel, I would think it was painfully obvious."
Weir noted, with a quickly smothered smile, that the younger version of McKay's voice didn't really sound that much different.
"Oh, really, McKay? Well, not to me. So, would you mind sharing with the rest of the class?"
"Ah, a school reference. How appropriate." McKay said with a snarky sting in his voice.
"McKay!" Sheppard tried, but his normally threatening tone was completely undermined by the higher pitch of his voice.
Rodney McKay rolled his eyes.
"We're clones." He said in his simple and direct way. "Under-developed ones at that."
At this point a softly accented adult voice broke in on the squabble.
"Actually, Rodney, I've found no medical evidence to support that theory." Dr. Carson Beckett said over his shoulder.
"Well, it's the only reasonable explanation, isn't it?" Rodney shot back.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I'm frankly tired of running into my double." Sheppard said somewhat gratingly.
"Well, technically we're the doubles. So, you've never actually run into much of anyone have you? You just think you have because we've obviously been engineered to have all of our original's memories."
"Rodney" and now Carson turned away from whatever it was he had been examining to focus on the physicist, "I've told you repeatedly. There is absolutely no medical evidence of duplication. Nothing to suggest that you and Colonel Sheppard are clones."
"I'm sorry. Did you just use the words medical and evidence congruently?" McKay said in feigned shock, "We're obviously vastly superior clones compared to those you've previously encountered, that's all."
"I don't want to be a clone, McKay!" Sheppard practically yelled and his voice broke comically on the last syllable. "Superior or otherwise."
"Yes, well, that doesn't really change anything does it?" McKay wasped back.
Dr. Elizabeth Weir was visiting Lt. Colonel John Sheppard and Dr. Rodney McKay in the Atlantis infirmary; which, honestly, wasn't that unusual an occurrence. The fact that they were under guard and both appeared to have regressed in age to preteens, however, was extremely unusual, even by Atlantis standards.
Dr. Weir looked on as the two men continued to spat about their circumstance; faintly relieved that, despite how they looked, they appeared to remain in mind and spirit the two men with whom she had faced adversity. The sound of her own name brought into the conversation pulled her out of her reverie.
Mini-McKay said, "Well, Elizabeth obviously, and I might add wisely, agrees with me. Otherwise we wouldn't be under guard, would we?"
Suddenly all three men, er, boys, well one man and two boys...oh good grief. All three of them were staring with a disconcerting intensity directly at her. In fact, even the guards were looking at her now.
"Well, that's not necessarily true, Rodney."
John crowed a triumphant, "Ha!"
"It is plainly obvious something has occurred here that we don't understand. I don't know if you are copies or clones. I will leave that up to Carson to determine."
While Carson had the good grace to not crow his victory, he did turn to McKay's ever souring face and nod triumphantly.
"However, I think it best that for the time being you both remain in the infirmary and, yes, unfortunately under guard. If you are copies, then there is a security risk involved and you could face a medical crisis related to that condition. "
McKay gave Sheppard a smug look and crowed his own, "Ha!" as Sheppard glowered sulkily; an expression which was amusing in a grown man but downright comical in an eleven year old.
"If you are not copies, which is still a very real possibility, then you have obviously undergone a very radical physiological change. Naturally, there is some very valid concern that your condition might have side effects, both physical and mental. So, it really doesn't matter if you've shrunk overnight or if you're clones, you need to stay here in the infirmary under Carson's expert care and under guard. Do I make myself clear?" Dr. Weir fought back an almost irrepressible desire to add, "Young men" to the end of the question.
The two boy-men in the infirmary beds before her didn't look happy about the situation but they nodded their acquiescence.
"Good. Carson, I'd like you to continue your tests and let me know the minute you find anything that might explain...this." She gestured at the two pre-teens.
"Aye, Elizabeth. You'll be the first to know." Carson answered.
"Excuse me?" McKay sputtered, affronted. "And where exactly on the phone tree do we fall? Right after the maintenance man?"
"Rodney." Dr. Weir's voice was hard and though Rodney heaved an exasperated sigh, he leaned back on the infirmary bed pillows and was silent.
Dr. Weir thanked Carson and walked out of the infirmary thinking that it was almost appropriate Rodney and John had regressed physically to being children considering how often they regressed to that state mentally.
Eight hours later a weary Scottish doctor shuffled dejectedly into Dr. Weir's office.
"I don't understand it, Elizabeth." He said in an exhausted sigh. "I've run every test that has ever been used to identify a clone and can find absolutely no evidence to point to Col. Sheppard and Dr. McKay being underdeveloped copies. I've no idea how it might have happened but, in my mind there is no doubt that the two young lads in my infirmary are the same Col. Sheppard and Dr. McKay we brought with us from Earth."
"How is that possible?" Dr. Weir was directing the question as much to herself as to Carson and so was a bit taken aback when he responded irritably, "Didn't I just bloody say, I've no idea how it happened?"
For a moment both Dr. Weir and Carson seem to be shocked silent by the doctor's unusual outburst.
"Elizabeth, I apologize." Carson flushed and almost stammered his apology.
"There's no need, Carson." Dr. Weir cut him off. "You've been working for almost thirty-six hours straight."
"Aye, there is that. But frankly being in the constant company of Rodney hasn't exactly been a good influence." Carson grinned sheepishly.
Dr. Weir sighed, her mind back to the problem. "If they had just come from an off world mission it might make more sense but they hadn't left Atlantis for over a week. Then suddenly, poof! They're little miniature versions of themselves?"
"I agree it is incredibly strange but we do have to keep in mind that the situation in itself is, frankly impossible. Unbelievable, really." Weir heard a great deal of frustration and fatigue in the doctor's voice.
She made a decision. "Well, we won't solve the problem by exhausting ourselves, Carson. Are either Rodney or John displaying any adverse effects?"
Carson grinned, "Other than being pint sized?" He shook his head. "No, as near as I can tell, they're as healthy as horses. I mean, Rodney still suffers from hypoglycemia and various allergies but other than that." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Hmm, well, at least they're not in any immediate danger. I suggest we both get a good night's sleep and address the problem with fresh eyes." Weir could see a certain amount of reluctance in the doctor's bearing but his head dropped of its own accord and he nodded agreement.
"Good night, Carson. Let's plan to meet with" and she allowed herself a small chuckle "the boys at 0900 tomorrow morning, my office."
"Right you are, Elizabeth. Sweet dreams."
"You, too."