A/N: The first thing I would like to say is thank you oh so much to my Beta' ribbon_purple, who without, this story would be a mess. Also, this story is complete, so I know all the twists and turns even if some of them are evil, so everything should wrap up nicely by the end. So every few days I'll post the next chapter. Story contains McShep (Rodney and John pairing), so if that's something you're not into then please move away from this story. Reviews are always loved and welcomed, good or bad. Besides that, enjoy.

"What do you want Radek?"

Rodney McKay didn't hold back his familiar tone of resentment towards Zelenka as he peered over his shoulder. It wasn't often that McKay managed to get some time to himself, saving the world wasn't what it used to be so when he got the chance, he didn't like being interrupted.

"Just seeing what you're doing."

Grumbling under his breath, praying that the annoying man would leave him alone to his work. McKay continued analysing the data from the simulation he'd just finished running on a piece of Ancient machinery. The device was a miniaturized version of the Asgard Time Dilation Field, but the mathematics and physics behind the device were beginning to give even McKay a headache. It was one of many he'd set in working order while being Super Rodney and now he was determined to at least figure out how to turn it on.

As usual, Zelenka refused to take the fact that Rodney was very obviously ignoring him for meaning Rodney really didn't want company and pulled up a chair to sit beside, peaking over his shoulder as McKay studied the vast complexity of the equations. "Have you tried creating a stable geomagnetic disturbance inside the device?" he asked.

Rolling his eyes, McKay spun his chair around and glared at the smaller man, "No, of course not, Radek," he answered sarcastically, "Of course I've tried that. It didn't work."

"Well then how about..."

McKay raised his index finger in the air cutting him off short. "Do you mind?!" he hissed in a harsh whisper, "I'm perfectly capable of solving this myself, thank you very much. Instead of breathing garlic down the back of neck, maybe, perhaps pick one or the other you could work on those calculations I asked you for hours ago? That is, if you don't have anything better to do then sit there disturbing my work. Or would you rather me e-mail everyone those pictures I caught of you kissing the ZPM?"

The Czech stood up quickly, his body radiating fury and stormed out of the room, muttering incoherently under his breath, although something in his mannerism gave McKay the distinct impression that he wouldn't be disturbing him anytime soon.

'Now that's that sorted out," Rodney mused with a smug grin.

Picking up the ancient device, Rodney moved across the room, opened up his laptop and connected the device to the Ancient Database.

"Let's see what you've got for me,"he spoke aloud suddenly feeling cheerful as the computer came to life and rows of ancient text appeared on the screen.

McKay immediately began searching through the database for anything that might help him complete the device. Hours later, he was still looking.

"You stupid piece of...!" he yelled, slamming his hands down on the keyboard in annoyance. A second later, the screen beeped. Rodney practically lunged for the mouse, eyes lightened up in hope as he read the screen.

McKay's fingers fumbled as he turned on his intercom. "Sam, Sheppard, I think you two need to see this."

*

"You found what?" John asked, attempting to understand what Rodney was trying to say through all the techno-babble and frantic hand gestures.

"How many times do I have to explain this to you?" Rodney asked him, clearly frustrated with John's stupidity, continuing to pace back and forth along the length of floor between his laptop and Carter. "Okay, I was searching through the Database hoping to find some information regarding the device I've been working on. And well, I clicked a few buttons and... sort of hit the keyboard."

"Yes, I think we understood that, Rodney. But what's this about a lab?" Sam asked him as she leant back on one of the desks.

"As I've been saying, Rodney continued, I came across a hidden file in Ayiana's research that mentioned a secret laboratory on M4F-788 that's aim was to prevent cellular degeneration in humans."

Carter and John gave Rodney a blank stare.

"Carson, we can save him. Well, not Carson, rather the cloned Carson." Rodney explained. Was he making any sense? God he hoped so. There wasn't anything worse than himself look like an idiot in front of Sheppard.

When it came right down to it, making sense wasn't one of his best traits when he was onto something. But when he did, somehow it manage to make sense in his own mind, but in reality it was just a bunch of techno-babble that John didn't really understand until it was dumbed down for him.

"Do you mean," Sam interrupted, "that this machine can stop cells from breaking down in the human body?"

"From what I've read in her research, then yes." But I won't know for sure until I can see the lab for myself."

"I'm sorry Rodney, but it's too dangerous. You know as well as I do that there have been sightings of Wraith Cruisers in the area, and I can't risk it right now." Sam opened her mouth as if to say more, but decided not to and closed it, instead leant back on one of the tabletops.

Rodney pushed past John, "Please, I owe this to him. I lost Carson once, and I will not lose him again. I can't bear to go through that a second time. Samantha, Please."

Sam's body continued to face the door until she briskly turned around. "Rodney, I know how much you want to save your friend, but I can't let you do this. Maybe another time, once the Wraith leave the area, maybe then I'll consider your proposal. Until then, you are to continue your normal routine."

"Please..." Rodney begged.

"I'll go," John volunteered, from where he stood behind Rodney. "We'll take a Puddle Jumper and use the invisibility cloak. If there's any sign of the Wraith I'll get him out of there right away."

For a few moments, Sam stood frozen thinking through the idea. "Permission granted," she finally agreed. "Pack your bags and be back ready in one hour and take Ronon, Teyla and Dr. Keller with you. But it there is any sign of trouble, just one hint. You get out of there straight away. Understand?"

"Word for word," John said glancing briefly at Rodney giving him an encouraging smile.

Once Sam had left, John walked up to Rodney, giving him a friendly nudge followed by a brief chuckle. "You owe me for this, you realize?"

"I don't owe you anything, John Sheppard," Rodney replied as he directed Sheppard out of the room in a heave-ho motion. "Off you go, I've got things to do."

John placed his hands on Rodney's shoulders and whispered into his ear. "Thank you John, it was so good of you to help."

As John left the room, Rodney watched him leave. "Thank you," he muttered but John was well out of hearing range by now.

Rodney placed his hand over the spot Sheppard had put his; it felt all numb and tingly right on his shoulder. It was utterly stupid and illogical to be in love with his best friend for all this time, he of all people should know that. He was a part of the Air Force which made it impossible because of the rules that prevented that sort of thing, and anyway, it's not like he'd have the slightest chance anyway. All the time they were on off world missions, he would watch girls in there hundreds swarm on John's charming smile, drooling over him like mad. And Rodney had fallen for the same trap.

After a few minutes he grabbed all the equipment he'd need for the trip.

*

"Dial the gate." Sam ordered and watched as the Puddle Jumper slowly descended from above as the Stargate exploded into life. She never expected to be given the opportunity of being in charge of the Atlantis expedition, but definitely didn't expect how difficult the job would be. But neither could she shake off the feeling that something more was going on between Sheppard and McKay. From the day she'd seen both of them in action, Sam understood why Sheppard had chosen McKay to be a part of his team; no matter how much he whined and complained, and panicked under pressure, he always found a way to pull through. But after a while, she began to notice more. No matter how badly McKay treated Sheppard, he never flinched or backed away. He seemed to get closer as if he enjoyed it. And then there was the matter of always spending time together on their hours off. So many times she had caught them racing their cars down the hallways of the city bumping each other around playfully.

A few weeks ago, they tried to evacuate an entire village after Atlantis's long range sensors had picked up two Wraith Hive ships moving towards the planet. They managed to get all the villagers out just as the Wraith Darts surged towards the planet, but Sheppard and McKay got badly wounded from one of the weapons fired upon them. Sheppard risked his life to push McKay through the Stargate just before it closed. By the time McKay reached Atlantis he was in a frenzy panic, demanded they dial to get him straight away and she allowed it. He couldn't get through the gate quick enough when the wormhole established, a few minutes later the gate fired into life once again and Rodney came running back with John unconscious over the back of his shoulders. A few Wraith stun blasts shot through the gate behind them, one hitting Radek most likely to Rodney's amusement, but at the moment he was too busy struggling to keep a hold of John.

After the wormhole collapsed Rodney insisted her to let him wait in the infirmary until he woke up.

Either both of them we're completely oblivious to how the other felt about them, and they choose not to believe it or ignore it. Whichever way, she hoped they'd do something about it soon.

'We'll contact Atlantis in an hour. Sheppard out.'

The Puddle Jumper moved forward and disappeared into the wormhole, leaving the main control room in silence.

To be continued..