A response to lg's New Year's Challenge.
Don't own SGA. MGM does.
Unbeta'ed. Happy New Year.
437 words.
"I can't believe it!" yelled Dr. Rodney McKay in a voice so loud that reverberations could be felt all way along the city's superstructure. "I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!"
In the main lab, the domain of Atlantis' preeminent super genius, scientists who could have been considered geniuses in their own right had their boss not been Rodney McKay cowered at their desks, workstations and underneath whatever cover they could find. They had all seen this horror movie before at least once- and most had seen it multiple times- and never did it end well. They knew without any doubt that a profanity laden tirade of epic proportions was forthcoming and nothing could stop it, not even a sincere and expedient apology from the unfortunate soul who had so innocently and accidentally ruined McKay's latest miracle gadget.
The only one of them that didn't seem anxious and frightened out of his or her wits was Zelenka, who stood off to the right side of the room casually leaning against the wall and watching McKay who was pacing back and forth as though each step was helping him to build up enough momentum to let loose upon them.
Suddenly McKay stopped and faced them, sending a ripple of shivers throughout the room like a tidal wave.
"I can't believe it," repeated McKay as he crossed his arms over his chest and with a pronounced and all too familiar scowl upon his face. "I have said many times to you… darlings… that you can't just do whatever the blazes you like whenever the blazes you like. I don't give a… a… hoot, I don't give a hoot whether or not you mean to do sh… that is, stuff… that ends up fu- I mean- ruining other people's work. The risk is gone if you simply ask me or Zelenka if it's okay to do what you want. Is that so daaaaaa-rn hard to comprehend?"
McKay stood there for a second longer, seemingly sweeping the entire lab with his piercing blue eyes and then suddenly turned around and stormed out of the room.
In the lab, there was complete silence.
The entire scientific staff, from those unfortunate enough to be seated up front to those happily hidden in the back, turned en masse to Zelenka and fixed him with questioning looks of one kind or another.
Zelenka pushed himself from the wall and shrugged his shoulders. "Dr. Keller forced him to make one New Year's resolution," the Czech explained with uncontained glee. "He picked trying to go the year without swearing." Radek shrugged again. "He did remarkably well, don't you think?"