A/N: I do not own SGA and all mistakes are mine. Enjoy, and please review.
Paring: Slight McKay/Cadman
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Rodney fell to his knees, not believing what he was seeing or hearing. He'd always known that he'd have to face some weird situations in the Pegasus Galaxy, years working with the SGC had taught him that, but never had he imagined himself in the situation he was in now.
A simple mission to a planet they had visited a dozen times had turned bad and the team was separated. Three of them, including him, had been captured. He hoped the other had gotten away.
"Chose!" the man said again.
He swallowed down the bile that was creeping up in his throat and desperately racked his brain for anything that might be able to help them, anything at all. He always thought well under pressure, but he could see no way out of this one.
The psycho that had captured them was now holding knifes to both Carson Beckett's and Laura Cadman's throats. They were both tied up and gagged, unable to move or speak. Carson's icy blue eyes were full of fear, Laura's full of hatred. Both were breathing heavily, having been beaten up by the guards.
How was he supposed to choose between his best friend and the woman he loved?
Everyone has to make choices, but usually it's between chocolate or vanilla ice cream or apple or blueberry pie. Not between the lives of two people close to him.
Laura still annoyed and freaked the hell out of him, but he'd grown to love her. He denied it, but deep down he knew it was true. He admired her determination and she always had a positive look on life. She was the kind of person who enjoyed every minute of life and was always smiling or cracking jokes.
But could he really choose her over Carson? The Scottish doctor was the first person he met in Antarctica and although they teased each other mercifully, they cared about each other. He was like the brother Rodney never had. He was always there to complain to whenever the idiot scientists did something stupid and was always there when he woke up in the infirmary after a mission had gone badly.
He also had to think about the city. Who would be missed the most? Who did they need the most? The chief medical officer, or a marine? Even if the marine was someone he loved. What if he never got to tell her?
"Thirty seconds, and then they both die."
"Wait," said Rodney. "Take me, kill me instead."
The man looked angry. "Was that one of the options?" he demanded. "You have ten seconds."
Rodney's heart was pounding in his chest. He felt like someone had punched him in the gut; he could barely breath. He may be a coward, but if he could sacrifice himself for his friends, he would.
He looked at his the two of them. He could practically hear what they were both thinking.
Rodney, it's OK, chose Laura. I won't mind. I couldn't live with myself if anything happen to her that I could have prevented. She's so young; she doesn't deserve to die.
And you do?! Thought Rodney. He was angry, with himself, with the psycho that was about to kill them, with the whole fucking messed up galaxy.
McKay, if you don't chose Carson, I'll kill you myself, and then you can join him!
He looked up and saw that the man was just about to slash their throats when he whispered a name. He squeezed his eyes shut as the room was filled with a piercing scream. He knew he'd never forget it. And he knew his decision would haunt him for the rest of his life.
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I couldn't decide who to kill, so I'll leave that to you to interpret.