Arcturus was when it started but how would it end.

"Dr. Rodney McKay you are here by stripped of your position as head of the science department. You will be escorted back to Earth by the Dedalus," Colonel Caldwell read from the orders.

Rodney stood up looking from Elizabeth to me. In that one-second his eyes went from bright blue to pure ice. He steeled his jaw, turned on his heel and walked out of the briefing room.

Everyone sat in shock, we had expected Rodney to scream and yell but he had just left without a word. I shivered inside knowing they were making a mistake. Elizabeth and Caldwell talked about Dr. Radek Zelenka taking over Rodney's position in the lab and Lt. Matthews would replace him on my team. I didn't join in the conversation.

I can't believe their doing this to Rodney. Atlantis need's Rodney here he's saved us more times than I can remember. I fought so hard to keep him here but I could only do enough to keep this announcement from being made in front of the entire Atlantean population.

When the meeting was dismissed I headed to Rodney's lab. It had been three hours since he had walked out of the meeting but I know he's here.

I walked in and my jaw dropped Rodney had just finished writing something. As I stood in the doorway he shut down his computer picked up the huge stack of files and walked over to Dr. Z's lab table. He dropped the stack onto his deck and Dr. Z looked up.

"Good luck Radek you'll need it," he said then walked out the door pushing past me without a word.

"Rodney wait," I yelled after him

"No Colonel I have goodbye's to make and very little time to make them," he said and started to walk again.

He walked off in the direction of the infirmary and I headed to the weapons range. I checked out a 9mm and headed over to the shooting ring. I just started shooting pretending the target was Colonel Caldwell. The man had started out here by trying to take Liz's job then he tried to take mine and now he was taking Rodney away from his home on Atlantis, his job, his friends, his team, and me.

Two Hours Later

Rodney would beam up to the Dedalus in thirty minutes and then I wouldn't see him again. I went to find Rodney, when he wasn't in the infirmary, his room, or his lab so I connected with the city. There isn't much time I have to find him before he leaves. I began searching the city room by room using my gene to make the censors more accurate.

Finally I found him on our favorite balcony. I got in the nearest transporter hitting the area closet to the balcony. I bolted out of the lift almost knocking over Lorne who was about to get into the transporter and took off down the hallway running as fast as I could. Lorne yelled something to me but I didn't stop to listen or respond to him.

I burst out onto the balcony to find Rodney leaning again the rail looking out at the city and the ocean.

"You weren't going to say goodbye," I asked softly

Rodney turned around when he recognized my voice his eyes went from ice back to blue. Within less than thirty seconds I was standing next to him at the rail.

"Don't you get it John…" he said tears starting to run down his face, "I cant say goodbye to you. I don't want to, you mean to much to me."

"God Rodney I don't want you to leave but I couldn't stop them," I said starting to cry as well.

"I know you tried, damn I don't want to leave," Rodney said," I wish I had told you sooner about the Ancients failure maybe this wouldn't have happened."

"Rodney I shouldn't have let you get away from yourself. It's more my fault then yours," I said

"Colonel Caldwell to Dr. McKay we'll be ready to bring you aboard in a few minutes," he said on Rodney's COM loud enough that I could hear him.

"Whenever is fine," Rodney said his voice deadly cold even though his eyes were filled with pain.

"Well call when we are ready," he said closing the private line

"I don't have a lot of time John their almost ready to go," Rodney said

"I wish I could come with you," I told him

"I know you do but you have to stay here to protect Atlantis. Just please don't get yourself killed," he pleaded

"I will try my best Rodney," I said trying to smile but it didn't quite make it

"Its almost time for me to go John," he said. He stepped back about two steps and in that second the sky opened and the rain that had been coming all day came pouring down on us.

"Wait," I said taking two steps closer to him. I pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. I held him tightly not wanting to let him go, "Rodney I love you, I always will, remember that."

"I love you too John and I wont forget you," he said

I pulled back from the hug placing my hands on his cheeks wiping the tears away with my thumbs. I leaned in and kissed him. A second later he responded bringing his hands up to run his fingers through my hair.

We split apart and we both smiled for a second. Both of us were crying tears running down our faces as we just stood looking at each other. Rodney and I head been drawn to each other from the very beginning. He is my best friend and more.

He smiled once more and he was gone in a flash of white light.

I went to the railing looking out to the west pier. Standing there I watched as the Dedalus engines flared to life and it lifted off the pier. Clutching the rail I watched as it rose higher into the sky taking Rodney with it. I just hope I live long enough to see him again.

Two Hours Later

I was startled out of my reverie when I heard the balcony door open. I have been starring at the sky watching the stars as they blink into sight about the city. The rain stopped an hour ago but i'm still soaking wet.

"Colonel Sheppard what are you doing out here," the intruder asked

"Nothing," I said quietly

Carson came over to the railing and stood beside me.

"We'll all miss Rodney Colonel but all your going to do is catch a cold if you stay out here," Carson said placing a hand on my arm.

"I cant do this without him Carson, I cant put my life on the line when the people that run this project are the ones that took him away from the place that has become our home," I said ruefully

"John I know Rodney is your best friend but there was nothing more you could do then you had already don't," Carson said

"Rodney is not just my best friend," I told him my eyes beginning to tear again, "he's more than that to me."

"What are you talking about Colonel," Carson asked

"I love him," I answered turning to face him before walking off the balcony headed for my room.

Change POV: Rodney McKay

I left the bridge immediately after they beamed me up heading to the quarters assigned to me. I opened the door stepping inside to find my stuff already on my bunk. I locked the door from the inside knowing that everyone would leave me alone for the two weeks it will take to get back to Earth.
I pulled out my personal laptop, booting it up. I sat sown at the desk and typed out an email to Carson asking him to look after John. When my desktop background came up I shuddered then smiled. The picture was taken by Aiden; in it John and I are at the shooting range. He's standing behind me helping me correct my aim at the target. That was the day I first realized John and I might someday be more than friends. It happened a couple days after the whole Kolya incident on Manera, he was helping me perfect my aim.

Aiden had given it to me for my last birthday because it was the first time I ever managed to hit the target. He also gave me a copy of all the pictures he took of our team.

John stood so close to me that day helping me steady my shaking hand. He never did find out that he was the reason that my hand was shaking.

Twenty Days Later

I finally got out of the mountain today. My first order of business was calling a couple of universities in Canada to try and find an open position. I was offered one at the University of Vancouver and accepted it immediately knowing it is a good school. Their term starts in two weeks so I set up transportation and started looking for an apartment in Vancouver setting up a few viewings.

The next morning I left for Vancouver landing in mid-afternoon. The food on the plane would have been good if we hadn't hit turbulence. I had decided during my two weeks on the Dedalus that I would get back to my life right away and not wait for the military to plead with me to come back to Atlantis.

The next morning I put on a pair of tan khakis and a long sleeved white shirt with a blue short-sleeved t-shirt over it. I hailed a cab and gave him the building at the school I needed to get to.

The receptionist told the headmaster I had arrived; I was shown in and took a seat in the chair he offered.

"Dr. McKay it's nice to meet you," he said shaking my hand, "it is a pleasure to have you here."

"It's good to be here Headmaster Whyatt," I told him recognizing the man from a journal a few years back.

"How would you like to teach advanced Astrophysics? It's once class every Monday and Thursday and only about thirty students," Whyatt asked

"I'd love it," I answered

"I'll ask Brigitte to show you your room and you can start setting up your curriculum," he said

"Thanks sir," I said smiling brightly

"I do have one question," he stated

"What is it," I prompted

"What happened three years ago why did you just disappear from the scientific community," he asked

"For the last three years I have been working with the US. Government on an extremely top secret project," I told him

"Sounds interesting," Whyatt said laughing

"That it was," I said morosely

"Well I'll let you get on with your day Dr. McKay," he said

"Once again thank you for everything," I said shaking his hand when he stood.

He walked out with me and asked his secretary to show me to my classroom. The room is an auditorium like setting with the desks on risers in a semi-circle around a podium and white board.

I looked around in awe noticing that the woman was studying me. The woman is tall with long black hair and bright green eyes.

"We skipped the formal introduction," I said turning to her holding out my hand "Dr. Rodney McKay, it's nice to meet you."

"Brigette DeLance," she said taking my hand, "it's nice to meet you as well."

"I hate to cut this short but I have a few apartments to go see," I told her

"Of course," she said, "see you at the start of term."

"See you then," I replied as she left the room

I looked around content for the first time since leaving Atlantis. I reached into my back pocket pulling out a small picture the only one of John I have that isn't on the computer. Looking at it for a second I sighed putting it back where it was hoping he was okay.

Two Weeks Later: First Day of Term

"All students and staff are requested to attend an assembly in the auditorium in half and hour for the introduction of new staff members." Headmaster Whyatt announced over the COM.

I looked up from my computer not expecting it but also not surprised by it. I shut down my computer then finished my cup of coffee. Looking into the mirror I straightened my clothes a little and left my classroom locking the door behind me.

I made my way slowly to the auditorium filing in with a class of undergrads. I went and took a seat in the front row.

Brigette came over and told me quickly that the headmaster would like me to have a seat on stage so everyone could see me when he introduced me. I nodded and followed her up on stage to sit beside the headmaster twenty minutes later all the students were seated and Whyatt stood walking to the podium.

He raised his hand for quiet and in a few seconds the room was silent.

"Welcome to another year everyone. I wanted to take this time to introduce the newest addition to the teaching staff Dr. Rodney McKay who will be taking over Advanced Astrophysics," he announced turning to me

Everyone clapped for a minute or so then I returned to my seat. Whyatt dismissed everyone and I headed back to my classroom waiting for my students to arrive. Soon the bell rang for class. When everyone was seated I turned on my laptop, which I had hooked up to the projector to display notes I had made on the class curriculum for this term.

"Welcome to Advanced Astrophysics my name is Dr. McKay. Everyone get ready to take some notes. We will be discussing what I plan to teach and expect from you this term," I announced

I turned to the screen seeing the background come up. I had to wait three minutes for everything to finish loading. I smiled at the picture remembering the day it was taken.

"Wow Dr. McKay who's the hotty," a girl in the front row said loudly and several girls agreed with her.

"Lt. Colonel John Sheppard USAF and he will not be a discussion topic in this class ever is that understood," I said harshly thought in my mind I agreed with her. The picture is one of my favorites. John had taken me to the mainland for a mini-vacation. In the picture John's in a wet suit that is unzipped with the top half pulled off. On his left side he is holding up a long surfboard. He had just come out of the water so he was soaking wet.

I clicked on the notes link and left them to write the rest of the period. Telling them of my rules, regulations, and expectations. When they left an hour later they seemed to look forward to being in my class.

"Uh Dr. McKay," I looked up to see the girl from earlier standing in front of my desk

"Something I can help you with Miss Brown," I asked

"I just wanted to apologize Professor for my earlier outburst," she said sheepishly

"Apology accepted just see it doesn't happen again," I told her

"Absolutely," she said smiling, "see you Thursday Dr., McKay."

"See you then," I told her as she left the room

Later that afternoon I paid the cabbie when he dropped me off at my apartment. I headed up three floors to my flat.

I spent the night on my laptop. When I checked my email my jaw dropped. I deleted the junk mail and things I didn't need first then focused on three emails that obviously came from SGC personnel. I opened the first one beginning to read it slowly.

Dear Dr. McKay,

Rodney I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry for the way everything worked out. I also wanted to tell you that Jack, Sam and I tried to stop them but the President's mind could not be changed. With Jack's permission I would like to keep you updated on the Atlantis project if that is okay with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Daniel Jackson

I opened a new message and addressed it to Daniel.

Dear Dr. Jackson,

Although I don't wish to be kept up to date on the project I would although request a notification of death's as many of the Atlantis personnel are friends. Thanks for trying to help, thank the General and Sam for me as well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rodney McKay

I opened the second one to find it full of pictures from Lt. Ford. I smiled at the different pictures. Most were of John with pictures of Teyla, Ronon, Radek, Carson and himself mixed in. looking at them up close I noticed that although John is smiling his most amazing smile the one I had fallen in love with his eyes weren't in it. I could see the pain behind his mask. I was the only one who got to see behind that mask and it hurts to see it there again. Opening a file on my computer I placed all of the pictures into the file before closing the email.

The third one I opened was from Carson.

Rodney,

Hey Rodney how are you doing? I emailed you because I am worried about Ly Colonel Sheppard. Since you left over a month ago he has been withdrawn and quiet.

He told me something about what happened between the two of you and I am afraid for him. The only person he really talks to anymore is Aiden and the rest of your team. Aiden wont tell me what about. He refuses to talk to Elizabeth no matter what. You really are needed here greatly Rodney. All of us miss you even Liz and we hope tat the government will not regret this next time we have a problem.

Sincerely,

Carson Beckett

I sat there in complete shock. I had expected John to take my departure very hard but I had never thought I t would affect his job. I opened a new window and addressed it to John.

Dear John,

How are you? I'm sorry tit took so long to email you but I wasn't sure what to say. I wanted to tell you not to worry about me. This week I started teaching Astrophysics class two days a week. The university of Vancouver is a nice place to teach and everyone has been really nice. Tell everyone hello for me. Remember John that I love you and will always, even if we're in two different galaxies. Stay safe and look after our friends.

Love always,

Rodney

I sent off the email hoping John would get it soon. I closed down my computer and headed to bed. That night I once again dreamt of John.