Author: Porthos
Summary: What do you say after "Goodbye?" Episode tag for The Long Goodbye. Here there be spoilers! McWeir
Author's notes: My take on "The Long Goodbye." Rodney's reaction to the kiss just broke my heart! I think my favorite scientist finally figured out in that moment something that us McWeir shippers have known for a long time. ;) Begins right after the end of the episode.
oOo
As Caldwell left with a smirk on his face, Elizabeth sank lower into her infirmary bed, resisting the urge to just cover her head with the blanket. She couldn't remember feeling more utterly mortified in her life, and she silently willed the ground to just open up and swallow her whole.
She hazarded a glance at Colonel Sheppard, and he didn't look like he was faring much better. His face had turned positively scarlet, and he was making a face like he'd just tasted the foulest food imaginable.
Inexplicably, Elizabeth felt the corners of her mouth turn upwards. It seemed to trigger a ripple effect, and soon Elizabeth couldn't keep the laughter in, no matter how hard she tried. As she snorted into her hand, she realized just how absurd this situation was. At first John looked offended by her laughter, like she'd just said something particularly nasty about his favorite jumper. She just started laughing harder at that, not even bothering to hide her guffaws now, and soon his chuckles were joining hers. Elizabeth felt a great deal of the tension between them melt away.
They didn't say much to each other after that, other than the occasional pleasantries or idle chit chat. Elizabeth was fine with that. As far as she was concerned, they were on the same page regarding what happened, and talking about it was unnecessary. But by the second day, Elizabeth was feeling anxious again, like there was something buzzing around in the back of her mind. Something was off, she knew it, she just couldn't put her finger on it…
Surprisingly, John was the one who actually pinpointed the problem. It was nearing the end of their second day in the infirmary, and they were playing a friendly game of poker using the M&Ms Zelenka had snuck into the infirmary as chips. John was staring at his cards, and Elizabeth assumed he was quietly contemplating his next bet. When he spoke, however, she was surprised by his words. "I wonder why McKay hasn't been by to see us."
Elizabeth was taken aback. Surely, Rodney had visited them both sometime during the last two days, hadn't he? A quick mental tally of their visitors confirmed that no, Rodney had in fact never been by to see them. Elizabeth frowned, confused by Rodney's absence. "Maybe he's just busy," she defended. "Zelenka hasn't been by very often either."
Sheppard's face was unreadable. "Yeah, maybe," he conceded. "Okay, I'll see your three red and raise you five green and a blue." He tossed his handful of colorful candy onto the tray between them, poker face firmly in place.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow at the daring bet. She called his bluff, and soon she was once again engrossed in the ever growing pile of chocolate in front of her.
oOo
About a week later, Elizabeth was sitting in her office, cataloguing the latest mission report from Sheppard's team. She didn't like the vague whispers the team had been hearing on P67-F30 about the Genii building some sort of new weapon. Realizing that they still needed more intelligence, she sighed and put the report in a file labeled "Follow up."
What had really bothered her the most about the report, however, was the fact that Rodney wasn't in it. He had avoided the mission, claiming he was on the verge of some new breakthrough regarding the drones acquired from the replica Atlantis, and his expertise was much more valuable here than on a mission to a planet where the most advanced technology they possessed was a toaster. At least, that's what she had assumed he would have told her. Radek had put it a bit more delicately than that when he delivered McKay's message.
Over the last week, Elizabeth had gotten used to seeing a blue blur disappear into various doorways as she turned a corner. At first she had been willing to give him time, to let him come to her when he was ready to confront whatever it was he had been avoiding. She didn't imagine it would be easy for him to face her after she shot him and threatened to kill nearly everyone in Atlantis, even if she wasn't responsible for her own actions. As much as she wanted to be patient with Rodney, the lengths he had gone to avoid her were getting a little ridiculous, and she was becoming frustrated. He couldn't keep sending Zelenka to staff meetings in his stead. Eventually, he would have to talk to her, and to John.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. She smiled as the fuzzy haired scientist stepped into her office. "Radek, what can I do for you?"
Zelenka pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Actually, I just came by to give you the latest news on progress with the drones. McKay says he has isolated some of the subroutines regarding energy consumption and guided flight, so we are nearly ready to develop our own prototype drone."
"Thank you Radek. Let me know when Rodney is ready to begin testing his prototype." The scientist nodded his head, causing his glasses to slide down his nose again. Just as he was about to leave, Elizabeth asked, "Radek, is there some reason that Rodney can't deliver his own updates?" She didn't mean it to come out as disappointed and hurt as it sounded.
Zelenka slowly shook his head. "Not that I can say." Elizabeth lowered her head, feeling more wounded than that simple statement warranted. "But," Zelenka added tentatively, "perhaps, you could stop by the lab this afternoon, to check on the progress for yourself, yes?" With an innocent grin, he added, "Although I will be very busy, and may forget to tell McKay that you are coming."
Elizabeth felt herself smile. "You know, that actually sounds like a good idea."
oOo
Shortly after lunch, Elizabeth found herself walking down the corridor towards Rodney's lab. She felt herself growing more nervous with each step, and was so absorbed in trying to relax that she didn't hear the voices until she was just outside of his lab.
"—easy for you to say, Sheppard!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, please! Look at yourself, then look at me, and then try to tell me you still have no clue what I'm talking about!"
"Listen, I thought we covered this…I don't care about—"
"Elizabeth!" Rodney had spied her near the open door to his lab, and visibly paled at the sight of her. Elizabeth was beginning to have second thoughts at his reaction.
"Elizabeth!" John greeted cheerily, recovering from his initial confusion at Rodney's sudden change in demeanor. "Glad you stopped by. Wow, look at the time, I've got to run, a colonel's duty is never done, and all that." Turning to McKay, he said, "So, we okay?"
"What?" Rodney looked for all the world like a deer in the headlights. "Oh, yeah, sure," he answered absently.
"Cool." John clapped his hands together enthusiastically. "Well, I'm off." When he passed Elizabeth, he whispered, "Good luck," then disappeared with a wink.
And Elizabeth was left alone, staring at Rodney, and no clue what to say.
oOo
Well, let me know what you think. I know it was short, but part 2 is coming soon. Also, I don't really like the title, so let me know if you have any suggestions.