"Sit."

"I'm fine."

"Sit!"

"Rodney! I'm not a dog!"

"No, you're just... you're..." He threw his hands up in exasperation before turning back to his computer and trying to ignore his partner.

For his part, John smirked at Rodney's actions, knowing it was out of concern more than anything though the scientist would never admit it. He continued to smile as he limped his way from the doorframe to the work bench. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to determine how we can add speed to the jumpers," he answered grudgingly. And if he happened to refuse to look up from the computer screen, it was only because he was concentrating – absolutely nothing to do with how annoyed he was at the moment.

Several moments passed in silence, only the tap of the keys before John finally drawled, "Rodney," and sighed. "I won't apologize. This is my job."

"To take stupidity to a new level by pretending to be one of your brainless marines?"

"To protect this mission! Including throwing you out of the way of fucking grenades if I have to."

Rodney's eyes had snapped to John when he'd tossed out his acerbic comment, rolling them at the response and very nearly slamming the lid of his computer closed. "Bullshit! We haven't had contact with the SGC in years. For all we know, the program's been shut down and they just abandoned us!"

"So what? I should ignore my orders? You want me to send out the science staff where ever without a military team to protect them?" He challenged, knowing it was a ridiculous idea nor would Rodney agree with it. There was no way anyone in the city would want to go to an unvisited world without people to guard them; Rodney was arguing out of fear, John was sure, after the failed mission two days ago.

"No! But you don't have to die for us either! Mandatory training at the SGC – we all know how to handle a gun."

"Oh, right. Because waving a gun around had worked so well in the past getting natives to let us go." One eyebrow rose, conveying the message that John was decidedly amused at that thought despite the anger simmering on the surface. "Look, stop with the obfuscation."

The insult was out of his mouth before he knew it. "I'm surprised you know what that word means." He immediately went on to avoid giving John a chance to speak, "I want you to stop with the martyrdom you've been insisting on since we got here."

John was glad he spoke McKay in that instant because Rodney may have hidden it in words but what he was trying to say was something closer to I care about you and I'd like you to stay alive. "I can try. I can promise you that."

Rodney only waved a hand at him and popped open the laptop lid. His denial meant John had been heard, though he wouldn't acknowledge it and Sheppard reached across the table to wrap his hands in the fabric of Rodney's mission jacket. With a firm yank, he kissed the other, gently, almost chastely before pulling back and saying, "Stop being a fucktard."

"From obfuscation to fucktard. Did those voodoo practitioners look at your head or just declare you fine despite being blown up by a flaming grenade? Or did you charm yourself out of the infirmary?"

The tirade was headed toward full-steam and John released Rodney's jacket in favor of standing there with a grin, amused at his scientist.