First just want to say that this is my first Stargate Atlantis story. I have only just recently started watching the show but I can say that so far I am absolutely in love with it. I'm sorry for any glaring mistakes that are in here or if any characters are a little out of character. I tried my best, that's all I can say.
This story is set in early Season 3, so Carson is in it. Well I'll just stop talking now and get on with the story. Oh and I don't own anything and I'm not making any money from this story. Enjoy.
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"What was this lab used for anyway?" Colonel John Sheppard asked, looking around at the consoles that lined two of the four walls.
"I don't know. From what we've been able to glean from the database this place was used for some sort of therapy. Psychology I think." Doctor Rodney McKay answered, not looking up from his PC tablet.
"You think?" Ronon Dex asked, from where he stood near the door.
Rodney turned around and glared at him. "If I knew for sure then I would have said so. All I know for sure is that the therapy appears to work in stages."
He walked around a raised platform that sat in the center of the room. It must have been used in the therapy they did. He stepped onto, noticing that it was made up of a series of tiles and it had a series of markings surrounded the edge.
"What'd you find McKay?" asked John.
"There's an inscription around the edge. I can't read it. The symbols have been worn down." He ran his hand over them and suddenly the computers started to power up and the power readings started going through the roof.
"John what did you touch?" Rodney asked, panic rising in his voice.
"I didn't touch anything." he shouted back.
Rodney tried stepping off the platform but was stopped by a force field. He ran his hand over it, causing a rippling rainbow effect to spread across the surface. "This can't be good." was the last thing he said before the tiled floor lit up and a blinding while light filled the column made by the force field.
The other three were forced to look away the light was so bright. Suddenly a painful scream filled the air
"Rodney." yelled John.
As quick as the screaming started it suddenly stopped and the light slowly faded away. Once the three blinked spots out of their eyes and couldn't believe what they found themselves staring at. Where an adult Rodney once stood, there was now a small child laying unconscious on the platform in ill fitting clothes.
"Did I just see what I think I just saw?" John asked, looking at the now normal platform in shock.
"Yes I believe you just did." Teyla said.
"Is that…" Ronan asked as he crouched down to get a closer look at the small child that was lying unconscious.
John and Teyla crouched down next to him. John placed his fingers on Rodney's neck to check his pulse. It seemed to be a little fast but at least he had one.
"He's breathing but his pulse seems to be a little fast." he tapped his radio. "Beckett this is Sheppard. We need a med team down here in the lab we were looking at. McKay has had an accident."
"What kind of accident?" Carson asked.
John could here him barking orders to his nurses over the radio.
"What kind of accident Sheppard?" Carson asked again, his voice demanding an answer.
"I think you better see for yourself. You wouldn't believe me if I told you." John said.
"I'll be down quickly." Carson said before he turned his radio off.
John quickly radioed Elizabeth and Zelenka and told them to come down to the lab immediately and for Zelenka to bring a team with him.
The three took the time to closely examine the smaller version of Rodney. John figured that by his size he couldn't have been any older then seven or eight. The clothes he had been wearing had luckily shrunk with him, though they looked a little baggy on his thin form. He noticed changes in Rodney's physical appearance second. His once dark brown hair was now a dirty blonde and hung into his eyes. The sound of people running alerted him that help had come.
Carson came rushing in with a nurse, a stretcher between them. They stopped when they saw the small form lying on the raised platform.
"That's not Rodney. Is it?" Carson asked, not quiet believing what he was seeing.
John nodded, "Yeah Doc, its him. He stepped onto the platform, got engulfed in a bright light and then he was lying on the ground unconscious."
They moved out of his way and he quickly knelt down next to his friend and quickly assessed his condition. Carson quickly took his temperature, pulse and blood pressure. He was just finishing up when Elizabeth, Radek and his team cam rushing into the room.
"Before you ask, yes that is McKay." John said to them before they asked. "He stepped onto the platform, was surrounded by a bright light and then he was like this."
Elizabeth stared at him, "Colonel are you telling me that McKay has been turned into a child?"
"Yeah I am."
"Carson can you confirm this?" she asked the doctor, who was still checking over his friend.
"No, I'll have to run some blood tests and I want to put him under a scanner. But as far as I can tell, he seems to really be McKay." Carson said as he finished his quick exam. He pulled a blanket off of the gurney and wrapped Rodney up in it and carefully placed him on the gurney. "Lets hurry." They walked out of the room not waiting for any other questions. John, Teyla and Ronon followed closely behind him.
Elizabeth turned to Radek, " I want your team to search the room. Try and find anything you can about what this room was used for and how to reverse it. Look in any database you can think of. Radio when you find something."
She hurried out of the room, leaving Radek to figure out what had happened to Rodney. When she entered the infirmary she saw that Rodney had apparently woken up and he was now sitting on the edge of a bed, staring at the floor. Carson stood in front of him and John, Teyla and Ronon stood at the foot of the bed. She walked up and stood next to them. She noticed that Rodney quickly shifted his gaze to her but when he saw that she was looking back he dropped his gaze to the floor.
"He just woke up before you came in." John whispered to her. "We were just getting ready to introduce ourselves."
"Rodney, I have to ask ye a few questions. Do ye know who we are or where ye are?" Carson asked, looking at the small boy closely already noting he seemed nervous and kept glancing from him to John to Ronon then to the door.
"No sir." he answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What's the last thing ye remember?"
"I was in the kitchen, trying to talk to my mom but she was to busy with Jeannie to notice. I went outside instead. I must have fallen and hit my head." he raised his head. "Where am I? Where're my mom and dad? Who are you people?" his voice was demanding and sharp and they could all see a little bit of the adult McKay shinning through.
Carson wasn't sure how to answer him but was saved from trying when John stepped up and sat down on the stool that was next to Carson. "Rodney your mom and dad had to go away for a while but they left you with us. As for where you are we can't tell you right now, just know that you are safe and while your with us nothing can hurt you."
"If my parents left me with you why don't I remember them telling me? Where did they go?" Rodney was starting to panic. " I just want to go home. I don't care if my parents like Jeannie more, they wouldn't just leave me with a bunch of strangers. I'm not stupid. I want to know what's going on." he was shaking a little and John placed a calming hand on the boy's knee.
"Rodney, buddy. You were in an accident and that's why you don't remember coming here. Your parents didn't know how to help you so they brought you to us since we do." John explained, making sure he knew that his parents would just abandon him without just cause. He didn't like that Rodney had said his parents liked Jeannie more, no child should think that.
"Who are all of you." Rodney asked again looking at them all, though his eyes seemed to linger on Ronon a bit longer then the rest.
John smiled at him, "Well I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. That's Teyla Emmagan, Specialist Ronon Dex, Doctor Elizabeth Weir and this is Doctor Carson Beckett." John pointed out each person as he said there name. Teyla, Elizabeth and Carson had all smiled at Rodney while Ronon had just gave a nod of his head. " Dr. Beckett needs to check you over to make sure your going to be all right. Can you let him do that?"
Rodney looked at Carson, who gave him a reassuring smile before nodding. John smiled at him and stood up, leaving the stool for Carson.
"Alright lad, I'm going to need to do a complete check up on ye." Carson helped Rodney down from off the bed and led him to the other side of the infirmary. He told Rodney to stand on a scale and took his weight and height. He wrote it down and led him back to the bed. He helped Rodney back up on to it and proceeded to recheck his pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
Carson picked up a glucose meter and lancing device and turned to Rodney, "Lad, I'm going to need to test your blood. I'm going to have to use a needle but it'll be a very small one."
"Will it hurt?" Rodney asked, his voice soft and timid.
"It might at first but it'll be over before ye know it." Carson picked up the lancer and placed it at the tip of Rodney's ring finger on his left hand. He pressed it to the skin gently and pushed the release button. He saw Rodney wince and bite his lower lip, which Carson knew was a sure sign Rodney was in pain. He put the lancer down on the tray and picked up the glucose meter and collected some blood onto the test strip. He waited ten seconds before a the number appeared on the screen and frowned when he saw it.
"Is something wrong Dr. Beckett?" Teyla asked, when she noticed the frown on his face.
"No. Nothing at all. Rodney I want ye to lay back and try to get some rest. I'll have a nurse bring ye something to change into." Carson said. "But before I leave, can ye tell us how old ye are?"
"I'm eight almost eight and a half." Rodney answered.
Carson patted him on the arm, "Thank you lad. Now get some rest."
He motioned for the group to follow him to his office. He passed the nurse, John thought her name was Kate, and asked her to look for the smallest set of scrubs they had and to start Rodney on a glucose drip and draw some blood.
Once everyone had entered he closed the door and motioned for everyone to find a seat. After everyone had taken a seat, John wasted no time in asking him questions.
"First things first Carson. Is he okay?" John asked.
"He's as good as he can be. The lad is running a slight fever but nothing serious. I'm worried about his blood sugar though it was almost to low for what is normal for him. I told Kate to put him on a glucose drip."
"Carson is that really our Rodney?" Elizabeth asked.
"As far as I can tell, without any proper tests, he appears to be our Rodney yes." Carson answered.
"How is it possible?" John was still having a difficult time wrapping his head around what had happened.
"I'm not the one ye should be asking John. Radek will probably have a better idea. If I had to guess though, the machine appears to have regressed him physically and mentally to how he was at eight years old." Carson answered.
"Will this cause him any harm?" Teyla asked, worry littering her voice.
"I can't say if this will or not. That's why I want to give him an MRI and CAT scan to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with him." Carson looked around the group and saw they all looked uneasy at the prospect of something being wrong with their friend. "I should tell ye that there is a chance that his body might not be able to handle the change and could start deteriorate so fast that he could die before this is reversed."
"Are you telling us he's going to die?" Elizabeth asked.
Carson shook his head, "I don't know for sure but there is a possibility. If his body is not able to handle the strain of his transformation then it is possible, probable even, that it will start to shut down and if that happens I won't be able to do anything about it except slow the deterioration down and make the process as painless as possible for him."
John stood up, "Are you telling us that we will have to stand by and watch Rodney die. We've already had to watch him almost die because of some stupid Ancient device now we'll have to do that again?"
"No John, I'm not now sit down." John did as he was told, embarrassed by his out burst. " These are completely different circumstances then those with the Ascension machine. I said if his body is unable to handle the strain not that his body is unable to handle the strain. We've never dealt with something like this before and until Radek figures out what that machine does and how it did this to Rodney I can only guess about what will happen." Carson took a deep calming breath before continuing. "With that said I am worried about him though. He's small and underweight for his age. He looks more like a six year old then an eight year old. He weighs 44 pounds and he's 48 inches tall."
"You think he's been abused?" Elizabeth asked, not quiet sure what to make of it.
"Not necessarily abused but physically neglected would probably be a better term to use. I say physically because he clearly doesn't receive much to eat. When I examined him down in the lab I could clearly see all of his ribs." Carson explained. "I didn't get a chance to ask him about them after we brought him up here and I'm not sure he would have said anything even if I had asked."
"What do you mean he was neglected?" Ronon asked, speaking for the first time since they were down in the lab.
"I mean his parents neglected to care for him in the most basic ways. In Rodney's case they have probably denied him food, and unless there's another underlying cause for his weight issues, he was neglected."
John snorted, "Carson if he really is that light then I think its clear that he was neglected."
They were interrupted when Elizabeth's radio went off.
"Dr. Weir." Zelenka's voice sounded over the small radio.
"Yes Zelenka. Have you found something out about the machine?" she asked.
"Yes I have. I think you need to come down and see for yourself."
"I will be down shortly. Weir out." she shut off her radio. "I'll go see what he has found," she stood up from her chair. "Keep me posted on Rodney's condition"
"I will Elizabeth." promised Carson.
She walked out of the office and quietly made her way out of the infirmary. It wasn't soon after that Teyla and Ronon followed her and they to asked to be kept updated on their teammates condition.
"You should go and get something to eat and get some rest too John." Carson suggested, eyeing the tired look in his friends eyes.
John shook his head. "No, I want to be here when he wakes up."
"At least go to the mess hall and get something to eat." Carson ordered.
It took another ten minutes of arguments and threats before John finally agreed to leave and come back in two hours after he had gotten some food to eat and some rest. Rodney was likely to sleep most of the afternoon if he was left undisturbed, which he wouldn't be able to do with people hanging around his bed. Carson spent the next two hours setting up the various equipment he would need for the tests he wanted to give Rodney.
John returned exactly two hours after he had gotten something to eat. Carson sighed, he knew his friend hadn't gotten any rest in the two hours he had been gone.
"If your going to be in here then your going to help me. Go wake Rodney while I finish getting the scanner ready." Carson instructed.
"Sure." he said to the doctor.
John walked over to Rodney's bed and just stood and watched him for a moment. The boy was sprawled on his stomach, head turned to one way, the blankets drawn all the way up to his ears, leaving only his nose and closed eyes to be seen. An IV ran under the blanket where it attached to one of Rodney's hands. John couldn't help but grin. It was nice to see him looking so carefree, even if it was in sleep.
He gently shook the boys shoulder, "Rodney wake up. Come on buddy, you need to get up."
It took a few moments but Rodney finally woke up. He looked at John bleary eyed and rubbed both of his eyes trying to scrub the sleep from them.
"Colonel Sheppard?" he asked, his voice heavy with sleep.
John smiled in greeting, "Hey Rodney."
Rodney nodded in greeting and absentmindedly scratched the IV port that was attached to the back of his left hand. He wondered where his parents were and when they would be back. He was used to them just leaving him home alone but this was the first time they had left him with complete strangers. Before he was able to ask John where they were the Doctor from earlier came around the divider.
Carson smiled at him. "Hello lad. You have a good rest?"
"Yeah I did." Rodney looked down at his hands. "When will my parents be back?"
Rodney didn't see the look that passed between John and Carson. They knew they couldn't tell him the truth, at least not now, Rodney still didn't fully trust them and that would just make it harder for him to believe them.
"They won't be able to come back for a few more days lad." Carson said carefully. "Until then your in our care. Let's not worry about that now. I'm going to need you to follow me because I need to do a few more tests."
Rodney pushed off the blankets and stood on shaky legs next to Carson.
"Carson I'm going to go tell Ronon and Teyla that Rodney is awake. We'll come back in a few hours."
John was about to turn around when he felt a slight tug on his jacket sleeve. He looked down and saw that Rodney had his sleeve in a tight grip.
"Can you please stay with me? I don't want to be alone. If its not to much trouble?" Rodney asked quietly.
"It's not to much trouble Rodney." John held out his hand for Rodney to take. "I'll make sure nothing hurts you."
Rodney looked at the hand with a weary look before he finally took it in a tentative grip. Carson led them back to the scanner.
** Later That Night**
The Conference room was normally empty this late at night but tonight was the exception. Elizabeth sat at the head of the horseshoe shaped table, John, Teyla and Ronon sat to her left while Carson, Radek and Kate Heightmeyer sat to her right.
She turned to Carson, "How did all the scans look?"
"They all turned up normal. There was no sign of any deterioration in his veins or his major organs." reported Carson. "As of now he appears to be a healthy eight year old boy besides his malnourishment and underdevelopment of course. His blood sugar has started to level out so I don't have to worry about that. His fever still hasn't come down but it hasn't gone up either, I've given him a wide range antibiotic, which hopefully will bring down the fever. The DNA tests came back and I can confirm that he is the real Rodney McKay and not a clone or anything else."
"What about his mental state?" she asked.
"He appears to have totally regressed to how he was when he was eight years old. He doesn't remember anything about Atlantis or any of the people here." Carson said. "He hasn't asked about his parents though not since he asked John when they would be back"
"I haven't had the chance to talk to him yet but I find it very strange that he hasn't asked about them since then. It's not conclusive but it shows that there are some underlying issues he has with them." Kate said. "If he is up to it I'll talk to him tomorrow afternoon."
"Do you think it proves he was neglected?" John asked.
"Not necessarily but after I talk to him tomorrow I'll have a better idea. From what I've heard though, yes he was probably neglected." she told them.
"Radek what have you found out about the machine that did this?" Elizabeth asked him.
"There was mention of it in the Ancient database. Rodney was correct, when he said they used it for psychology and that it worked in stages. The database didn't say what therapy they used it for. There were no files on how it worked or how to reverse it effects." Radek explained.
"So we basically have nothing to go on and no way to reverse it. We don't even know if this is reversible. Rodney could be stuck like this and have to grow up again." John ranted. "I doubt the SGC is going to let an eight year old kid live on Atlantis and let him grow up here."
"John. That's enough " Elizabeth said sharply. "I think the best thing to do now is to make sure Rodney is comfortable here with us and try to figure out more about that machine. Radek, tomorrow I want you and your team to look through any data that is in the terminals that were in the room maybe they kept the files separate from the main database. John, Teyla, Ronon, I want you to spend as much of the day with him as possible, show him around the city. You were planning on going to the mainland, maybe take him with you. I also think we need to tell him where he really is and what really happened to him."
They all nodded their agreement to her requests.
"Let's all go to bed. It's been a long day for all of us." Elizabeth suggested. Everyone stood up and headed out of the Conference room and walked towards their quarters to get some sleep.
** The Next Day**
Rodney woke up the next morning to Nurse Kate removing his IV. She smiled at him and asked a few questions on how he was feeling. After he answered she told him Dr. Beckett would be in soon to check up on him. He watched her walk to the other side of the infirmary and finally got his first look at the infirmary. The room was large and he could see a lot of beds, all were empty. He saw about six doors leading off into different rooms, Rodney figured they were for critical patients. He noticed a set of double doors on the opposite wall. He carefully slipped out of bed and softly walked over to them. As he got closer he realized there wasn't a door handle and he wondered how they were opened. He really wanted to see what was on the other side of them and wished there was a way to get them opened. Rodney made to turn around when he heard a type of scratching noise and he was pleasantly surprised to see they were now open. He smiled and walked through them and his jaw dropped at what he saw.
An ocean. That was all he could see, a huge, never ending ocean. He stepped up to the railing and looked down and immediately came to the conclusion that he was really high off the ground. Large towers rose up on other side of him and two huge platforms stretched out in two directions. He started around in amazement, trying to take everything in. He was so absorbed that he didn't notice the sound of footsteps come up behind him.
"Beautiful isn't it?" a soft voice asked from above him.
Rodney gave a startled yelp and spun around to stare at the new arrivals. He recognized them all, Teyla was apparently the one who had spoken to him and was standing right next to him. John, Carson and Ronon were standing in the doorway.
Teyla knelt down next to him and looked out at the ocean.
"Yeah it is beautiful." he finally answered her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come out here without permission. I just wanted to see what was out here."
"It is fine Rodney. We were just surprised to find you here." Teyla explained, her voice soft and soothing. "We thought you had wandered out of the infirmary. You must always remember to tell someone where you are going, there are some devices here that could potentially harm you if you accidentally touched them."
"My parents never really cared weather I told them where I was going, they don't even bother asking anymore, at least not since Jeannie was born." Rodney told them. "I won't go anywhere without telling someone though, if that makes you feel better."
John gave him a smile that appeared to be a little strained but Rodney didn't seem to notice. Carson stepped up, placed a hand on Rodney's shoulder and led him back into the infirmary and to his bed.
"Alright lad I'm going to prick your finger again then John, Teyla and Ronon are going to take ye to the Mess Hall for breakfast." Carson told him. The blood sugar test took only seconds and Carson gave him a cotton ball to press against it until it stopped bleeding. Carson looked at the reading and was pleased to see that while it was still a little low it wasn't as bad as the day before. "Just let me take your temperature and then your free to go." He used a digital thermometer and saw that the small fever he'd had the day before had gone away.
"Well your blood sugar has started to go up and your temperature is normal. Your free to go." Carson said with a smile. He turned to the three team members standing behind him.
"Bring him back after breakfast so I can recheck his glucose levels."
"Sure Carson." John answered.
Teyla set a bundle of clothes next to Rodney. "I brought you these Rodney. They were left over from when my people lived here. They might a little big for you but they will work for now. We will let you get changed."
Rodney gave her a shy smile and quietly thanked her. He picked up the clothes and Carson led him to the bathroom to change. Rodney came out a few minutes later dressed in loose fitting, slightly long black pants. A long sleeved loose black shirt, vest and boots completed the outfit. Teyla knelt down and rolled the hems of the pants and shirt sleeves.
"A little big but they will do for now." she smiled at him. "Are you hungry?"
"Yea a little bit." he answered.
John stepped forward, "Rodney before we go we need to talk to you."
Rodney looked around at all of them before slowly making his way back to his bed to sit.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked once he was sitting.
Ronon shook his head, "No you didn't do anything wrong." he said, speaking for the first time.
"Ronon's right you did nothing wrong Rodney." John said immediately. "We need to tell you something and it may not sound like it could be real but it is. I promise you it is."
John started to explain about Atlantis and how they had come to be here. He also told Rodney about how he was really an adult and about the machine that had turned him into an eight year old. He left out anything involving the Wraith or Rodney getting injured. Through the whole telling Rodney was silent. Finally John was finished and the three waited for Rodney to say something.
"Your telling me that I'm on a different planet in a whole different galaxy in a city that most people don't even think is real and if that's not enough I'm an adult." Rodney was near hysterics and close to hyperventilating.
John gripped Rodney's shoulder but the boy squirmed out from his grip and scrambled off the bed to get away from them.
"Your lying. Where's my mom and dad? Where's Jeannie? I want to go HOME." Rodney was shouting by the end and tears were falling from his eyes. He kept backing away from them until he reached the corner where he slid down until he was curled up into a tight ball.
"Just let me go home. Please." he begged, though it sounded more like whimpering.
Teyla walked over to him and knelt down next to him and gathered the sobbing boy into her arms. She worked on calming him down as John and Ronon knelt down next to them.
"Rodney, buddy. I promise you we aren't lying to you. You really are an adult and your our friend. We don't know how this happened but we're going to fix it."
Rodney raised his tear streaked face and looked John straight in the eyes. John got the impression that he was looking right through him and just held his gaze. After a few seconds Rodney seemed to find what he was looking for and nodded his head.
"I believe you." he said quietly. He wiped his face with his sleeves and stood up, seemingly embarrassed at crying in front of them.
Teyla stood up as well, "Are you hungry?" she asked him.
"Yeah. I little bit." he answered quietly.
"Then lets go get you something." she held out her hand for him to take.
He looked at it before raising his own hand and allowing her to grasp his in her own. She led him out of the infirmary and slowly walked towards the Mess Hall with John and Ronon following behind them. On the way Rodney would sometimes ask questions about things he saw and Teyla would do her best to answer and if she didn't know then John and sometimes Ronon would answer for her. By the time they reached the mess the breakfast rush was over with and only a few stragglers were left. As the group walked past they received a few looks but John was grateful that no one decided to say anything. He knew that all of Atlantis would have heard about Rodney's transformation thanks to the Atlantis rumor mill.
John was ready to pass a tray down to Rodney when he realized that he could barely see over the counter.
"Rodney why don't you go find a table for us to sit at out on the balcony and I'll get your breakfast." John suggested.
"Okay, just no citrus. I'm allergic to it." Rodney said.
John nodded and Rodney walked towards the doors leading to the balcony.
"He's quiet." Ronon said, as he loaded his tray with food.
"He's in a strange place, with people he doesn't know. He's just been told that he is really in his thirties on a strange planet in a different galaxy. I'd be pretty quiet if I were him." said John as he grabbed some fresh fruit for Rodney to go along with the pancakes already on the plate.
Ronon glared at him, "I meant he's unnaturally quiet. Even after all of that I would have expected endless questions from him about how we're going to return him to an adult. Other then the few questions he asked on the way here he's said very little."
"He's probably still processing everything. Give him a while and I'm sure we won't get him to shut up." John grinned and took his and Rodney's tray and went out to the balcony, with Teyla and Ronon following.
Rodney had chosen a table at the farthest end of the balcony and was sitting with his back facing the wall, he was staring out at the ocean and looked lost in his thoughts.
"Rodney." John called.
Rodney jumped slightly when John called his name and turned his attention back to the present.
"Are you okay Rodney?" Teyla asked him as she took her seat across from him. Ronon took the seat next to her.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
John set Rodney's tray down in front of him and sat down next him. Rodney gave a quiet. " Thank you Colonel." John smiled at him and started to eat. He realized a few minutes later that Rodney still hadn't touched his food.
"Is something wrong Rodney?" John asked.
"Is all of this for me?" Rodney asked.
John set down his fork and turned his full attention onto the boy sitting next to him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Teyla and Ronon had stopped eating to.
"Why wouldn't it be Rodney?" Teyla asked, looking at him strangely.
Rodney looked down, "I don't normally get this much to eat. My mom says I'm fat and I need to not eat as much."
John and Teyla looked shocked and even Ronon couldn't quiet believe what he'd just heard.
Teyla reached over and took Rodney's hands in her own. "Rodney you are not fat. As an adult your not fat. What your mother said is wrong and she never should have said that to you. Do you understand?"
Rodney looked up at her. He wanted to believe her so bad but his mom was always telling him he was fat and that he ate to much. He would always get half of what everyone else got even Jeannie. He hated how him mom called him fat and how his dad just told him to stop complaining.
"Rodney. Do you understand?" Teyla asked again.
"Yeah. I understand." he said quietly.
She smiled, "Good. Now eat before your breakfast gets any colder."
Rodney picked up his fork and slowly started eating. John, Teyla and Ronon watched him for a moment before going back to their own breakfast's. They finished eating and talked about visiting the mainland while they waited for Rodney to finish eating.
"What's the mainland?" Rodney asked, after he finished, even though a third of his food still remained on his plate.
"It's the continent where my people live." Teyla told him. "It has been a while since I last visited them and planed to visit them this afternoon while you are talking to Dr. Heightmeyer."
Rodney frowned not liking how that sounded. "Who's Dr. Heightmeyer?"
John saw the frown and raised an eyebrow, "She's the psychiatrist for Atlantis. She was hoping to get the chance to talk to you this afternoon. If your okay with it that is?"
"You mean I have a choice?" Rodney asked, surprised he was being given a choice.
"Of course Rodney. We will not make you talk to her if you do not wish to." Teyla said.
"It's just, I've never been given a choice before. My parents just make me go, even though I don't like going." Rodney explained.
"I'm done now." Rodney said, changing th subject. "Can we talk about something else?"
Teyla nodded, she was well aware of his change of subject. "Of course. Would you like to visit the mainland. It would give you a chance to play with children your own age."
"I don't know, would the kids like me. Everyone at school just makes fun of me and tries to beat me up. Will these kids try to do that?" Rodney looked uncomfortable at that thought.
"No they won't." Teyla told him. "They are taught to be polite to everyone. They are very nice and as long as you are nice to them there should be no problems."
Rodney smiled at her, "Okay. I guess it won't be so bad."
"I'm glad you think that." Teyla smiled at him.
"When do we leave?" asked Rodney curiously as he picked up his tray and followed the three adults into the kitchen.
"A few hours." answered John. "You need to get checked out by Carson first. Ronon is going to take you up there."
Rodney stopped in his tracks, "Why can't you or Teyla take me up there. Or I can go myself. I remember the way back I don't need anyone to come with me."
John put a hand on Rodney's shoulder, "I'm sure you don't buddy but it's easy to get lost here. I have to get the jumper ready and Teyla is getting supplies ready to take to the mainland so Ronon's the only one available to take you up to the infirmary. I know he might look intimidating but he's really a big softy. Besides he's going to bring you down to the jumper bay after your done with Carson."
Ronon scowled at John who just grinned back at him. Rodney still looked nervous but didn't say anything else. John smiled at him and ruffled his hair and Teyla squeezed his shoulder before both walked away.
"Come on McKay." Ronon ordered and started down the corridor, not looking back to see if Rodney was following or not.
Rodney had to run to catch up with the much taller man and struggled to keep up with him. Ronon realized Rodney's struggle and slowed his pace down. Rodney gave him a small smile and a quiet "Thank you."
They entered the infirmary about ten minutes later and saw that Carson was already waiting for them. He smiled when they entered and motioned to the bed he was standing next to.
"Hop up here lad. Just one little poke and you'll be good to go." Rodney walked up to him and jumped up onto the bed. Ronon made his way over and stood at the foot of the bed.
"Did he eat a full breakfast?" Carson asked Ronon as he poked Rodney's finger with the lancer.
" No. He did eat half of it though maybe a little more." Ronon answered.
Carson nodded as he read the meter and was pleased that while he hadn't eaten a full breakfast, Rodney's blood sugar had finally leveled out.
"Well your good to go Rodney." Carson smiled at him. " I'll want to see him tomorrow after dinner to make sure his sugar levels are staying where they should. Make sure he eats a full lunch and dinner and he'll be just fine."
Ronon nodded, "Okay doc. Come on kid."
Rodney got off the bed and followed the runner out of the infirmary. He wondered what the jumper bay was. What a "jumper" was. John had mentioned them twice this morning and he was curious to see what they were. He realized that they were either going to be ships of some kind or planes of some kind and judging on how advanced the city appeared to be he could only guess the "jumpers" would be advanced as well. The walk took twenty minutes and when Rodney caught sight of the jumper sitting on the floor his jaw dropped open.
John walked out the back of the jumper and laughed at the look on Rodney's face.
" You like it?" John asked, still chuckling at Rodney.
Rodney nodded and hurried over to the jumper looking at it in awe. John watched him as he walked around the outside, his hands running over the sides, as he examined the craft closely. He remembered watching an adult Rodney do the same thing when had first seen the jumpers, examining them with care.
" It fly's, doesn't it? It can't be a boat, I saw how high up we are so its impossible for it to be a boat of some kind. How do you get it out of here? I don't see a door of any kind." Rodney continued firing off questions, wanting to know everything.
" Slow down Rodney." John put a hand on Rodney's shoulder, effectively quieting him. He patiently answered all of his questions, adding as much detail as he could.
Rodney soaked up all the information John was giving him. It wasn't very often he had people willing to talk to him for long periods of time. Most of the time they had to, like his teachers or his parents. He liked how it felt.
It was another hour before the jumper was ready to go. The back was filled with food, tools and medical supplies. When Rodney had asked why they were taking all of it Teyla had explained that her people traded a portion of their crops to Atlantis in exchange for supplies from earth.
Rodney followed John into the front of the jumper. John pointed him to the co-pilots seat and told him to sit down. He examined the Control Counsel closely, taking note of the different controls and deducing what they were used for. He paid particular attention to the Dialing Device, not quiet sure what it's use was for.
He reached his hand out to touch it when John stopped him, " You best not touch that right now. Don't want to accidentally activate the gate."
" What's the gate?" he asked.
" You'll get to see it tomorrow since we won't have enough time today. Radek will explain it to you then." John said as he flew the craft up and out of the jumper bay.
Rodney looked out of the viewport and watched as they flew over the city. John had to remind himself that to Rodney he hadn't ever flown in a puddlejumper before and this was his first time in one. The more he saw Rodney react to things in the city the more he wanted the adult Rodney back.
The flight to the mainland took about 45 minutes and John was surprised that Rodney spent most of the trip sitting quietly asking only a few questions and getting up to examine the jumper.
John landed the jumper just outside of the settlement, where many of the Athosians were waiting for them. John lowered the rear hatch and he and Ronon started unloading the supplies while Teyla greeted them. Rodney did his best to stay out of the way. Once John was done unloading the jumper he led Rodney into the village, following Teyla and the rest of the Athosians. Teyla introduced Rodney to Jinto and Wex. At first Rodney seemed nervous to be around them but as more kids started to come over he slowly started to open up and play more willingly.
John, Teyla and Ronon stood talking to Halling, while at the same time watching Rodney participate in the makeshift game of soccer. They were using a real soccer ball someone from Atlantis had given to them. John watched as Rodney intercepted the ball from the opposing team and ran it down the field and kick it into the makeshift goal. All three smiled when his team members congratulated him before they continued playing.
An hour later they all took a break for a quick lunch. John made sure that Rodney ate everything and let him go back to the soccer game. Two hours later John decided that it was time for them to go back to Atlantis. He waved goodbye to the Athosians and walked beside John as they made their way to the jumper.
" You were really good out there Rodney. Where'd you learn to play like that?" John was curious to know and when Rodney returned to normal he was going to ask him why he'd hid it.
" That was my first time playing. I've seen it on T.V. before but I never actually played it. It's all just angles anyway. If you know what angle the ball will travel when you kick it then you can hit it into the goal nearly every time."
John looked at him surprised. He couldn't quiet believe that Rodney had never played before that afternoon and had actually played as good as someone who had been playing there whole life.
" That's amazing Rodney, that your able to do that and get it into the goal nearly every time. You should be proud of yourself, not many people can do that." John put a hand on the boys shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze. Rodney grinned up at him and ran ahead them.
" I haven't seen him this energetic in a long time." Teyla commented, watching as Rodney ran to the jumper. She was carrying a small bag containing a change of clothes for Rodney.
" Don't you mean ever." Ronon grumbled. " He's never like this as an adult, even if he's tinkering with some device he's found."
They reached the jumper a few minutes after Rodney. They walked up the ramp and immediately saw that the HUD was up and Rodney was sitting in the pilots chair looking at it. John wasn't sure how the HUD activated, since you needed the ATA gene and as an eight year old Rodney didn't have it.
John walked up behind him, " Rodney how did you do that?"
Rodney raised his head, " I just sat down. I wanted to know more about the planet and all of a sudden this screen came up and when ever I wanted to know something else it appeared. It's so cool."
He stood up and moved over to the copilots chair and sat down. John took his seat and they were quickly on their way back to Atlantis. He still didn't understand how the HUD had activated for Rodney when he didn't have the ATA gene, or wasn't supposed to have the gene. He'd ask Carson to test him for it once they got back to Atlantis.
Once they reached Atlantis and landed in the jumper bay John wasted no time in getting Rodney to Carson.
" Why are we going back? I feel fine." complained Rodney.
John grinned, it was nice to hear Rodney complain for once. He'd been to complacent the whole day.
" Carson is going to have to run one more test on you. I'd rather it get done today then tomorrow." John finally answered.
Rodney huffed but kept anymore complaints to himself the rest of the way to the infirmary. They entered and saw Carson working on paperwork, he looked up when they entered and looked at them questioningly.
" What are you doing here so early?" he asked, coming towards them. " Rodney's not due for another blood sugar test until tonight."
" Rodney why don't you go sit down on your bed. We'll be over in a minute." John told him. Rodney started to protest but one look from John and he went quietly.
" I'll will keep Rodney company." offered Teyla and she walked over and sat down with Rodney.
" I'll go with Teyla." Ronon said, following her.
" Why don't we go talk in my office." Carson walked off without waiting for a response, leaving John no choice but to follow. Once the door was shut Carson to turned to John. " What's going on?"
" Carson you need to run a DNA test on Rodney." said John.
Carson frowned, " Why? I already proved that, that's really Rodney McKay out there. Why would I need to do another test?"
" Because I think he has the ATA gene." John said simply.
" That's not possible. He didn't have it until he received the gene therapy. He can't have it now."
" I know Carson." exclaimed John. " But how do you explain the way the HUD in the jumper came online for him when he was the only one in it. Ronon and Teyla were there, they saw it to. That machine must have done something when it changed him."
" I'll get the sample now." Carson left his office and went straight for Rodney's bed. John followed behind him at a sedate pace.
Carson was explaining what he would be doing and Rodney was looking at him with fearful eyes. Teyla had placed a comforting arm around his shoulders and Rodney buried his face in her arm when Carson stuck him with the needle. Teyla whispered comforting words to him, as Carson took two vials of blood. A band aid and the promise that that was the last time he needed blood, John, Teyla and Ronon were leading Rodney out of the infirmary.
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The rest of the afternoon was spent keeping Rodney entertained. Which to everyone's surprise was surprisingly easy. Rodney was apparently content to just walk around the halls, taking in as much of the city as he could.
Dinner came and they reached the mess hall right before the dinner rush started. Rodney once again picked a table, this time one in the corner of the room. John set Rodney's tray down in front of him and after reassuring him that all the food was his to eat Rodney dug right in.
" Did you fun today Rodney?" John asked, about halfway through their meal.
Rodney nodded, " Yeah, it was great. Today's been the most fun I've had in a long time. Most kids don't like me, they think I'm weird."
" You're nor weird McKay. Your perfectly normal. Now and as an adult." Ronon told him, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Looking at him with surprise, Rodney nodded and went back to eating. Teyla smiled and John gave a small chuckle.
After dinner John led Rodney back to the infirmary for his blood sugar test while Ronon and Teyla headed off to go to bed. It was decided that Rodney would sleep there, until other arrangements could made. Rodney changed into the pair of scrubs he'd worn the night before and feel asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
" Before you ask John. I'm still running tests on his blood. I'll have the results by tomorrow afternoon. Are you going to show him the gate room?" Carson asked, as they once again sat in his office.
John nodded, " Yeah. I'm going to have meet Elizabeth properly. Hopefully tomorrow Radek will have something on that machine and we will be able to get Rodney back to normal."
" Aye, I miss him to John." Carson agreed to the unspoken admission. He'd know the man long enough to be able to hear what he sometimes left unsaid. " You should go to bed, it's been an interesting day."
John stood, " I'll see you tomorrow morning. Radio if anything unexpected happens."
" I will. Good night John." Carson said.
" Night Carson."