Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

thanks to dahan for beta-ing

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He knew he shouldn't be here.

There was nothing that could be done, nothing that could change the situation. But darn it, every time he was on Earth, Rodney McKay found himself standing in the pet store, staring at the cats.

Beautiful creatures.

The first time he'd come back he had paid his old cat a visit. That self righteous looked at him with big eyes as it to say sorry buddy, but you left me; and then he purred, purred, on his new owners lap.

They had been together for over five years, three international moves, and he up and leaves for the first woman he meets. She's not even blonde. She has brown hair. And Organic Milk.

Damn that cat.

They didn t allow pets on Atlantis.

With good reason, of course. The emotional attachment one forms to a pet can cloud judgement, not to mention allergies.

Carson is allergic to cats.

Plus, they figure that the pets would run around the labs and cause chaos. Kittens, maybe. Cats, no.

And Rodney didn't want a kitten.

Though the smile on his lips as he watched two of the kittens playfully fight over a rubber ball made him wonder if that statement was entirely true.

He sighed.

No cats, no kittens. No animals. Just Rodney.

The clerk slowly approached, obviously a little wary of a man who d spent the last half hour staring at cats.

"Can I help you?"

"No." Rodney said, a little startled at the longing in his voice. Just looking.

The clerk smiled, and moved a little closer. "Beautiful, aren t they?"

Rodney nodded.

"The male", the clerk continued, "has been sold already, but the female is still looking for an owner. Her name is Elizabeth."

Rodneys eyes widened, and his smile grew.

"It's not like they could do anything once the cat was on Atlantis, right?"

"How much did you say she was?"