A/N: Does anyone know if 'Gate room is one or two words? And thanks for the reviews :D

STATUS: TBC

RATING: T (maybe K+)

SUMMARY: After the devastating effects of Sunday, Rodney and his team are left to pick themselves up and get things back to normal. But for some, it may be harder then others...

SPOILERS: Major spoilers for Sunday. Anything before that is fair game as well.

WARNINGS: Swearing and mild violence. McShep could be seen through squinted eyes, but it's mostly just friendship.

DISCLAIMER: Everything Stargate Atlantis related is property of MGM. I own nothing.

xxx

"Dial the gate!"

The 'Gate room of the SGC came to life as the first chevron locked into place, a small and silent sigh of relief washing through the members of SGA-1.

"Ready to get back home, McKay?"

Rodney turned at the sound of the Colonel's voice, a scathing look on his face. "Of course I'm ready to go home. I wouldn't be here otherwise."

John was tempted to reply that yes indeed he would still be here because it was his job, but wisely decided that some battles were won by keeping one's mouth shut. "Alright, McKay. Don't have a hernia," he said complacently.

Apparently deciding not to grace that with a reply, the astrophysicist just 'harmph'ed and crossed his arms.

"So, did you enjoy your sister's?"

"Someone's chatty today."

"And apparently someone woke up on the wrong side of his niece's bed."

Rodney opened his mouth to retort before he snapped it shut, eyebrows drawn together. "How did you know—you've been spying on me!"

Somewhere off to his right, Ronon let out a snort. John grinned.

"Thinks highly of himself, doesn't he?"

Catching Rodney's glare of offence, the Colonel raised his hands and graced him with a lazy smile. "Relax, Rodney. We're just teasing. No need to take it personally."

The stargate whooshed to life, sending a chill running down Rodney's back as he snapped out, "The teasing I'm not taking personally. But the stalking? Yeah, definitely personally!"

"The shield has been lowered, Colonel. You're free to pass through."

John cast a look up to the control centre to nod his thanks to General Landry before turning back to his team mates.

"C'mon, I hear the Daedalus brought in a new shipment of Salisbury steak for dinner. "

An eager look crossed the Runner's face before he disappeared through the event horizon, ripples spreading.

"Don't think I'll forget about this, Colonel."

John sighed at the sound of Rodney's grating voice.

Of course he wouldn't. Rodney McKay never forgot anything.

"—wait, did you say Salisbury steak?"

Well, at least not permanently.

xxx

After the informal meeting with Elizabeth and stopping at his quarters to change, Rodney headed down to the mess, intent on getting his fair share of the new shipment of steak. The hall was just as crowded as he knew it would be—who doesn't like fresh steak?—but he didn't mind. He wouldn't be staying.

Grabbing a tray, he fell into line and peered over the shoulder of the scientist in front of him.

"Oh come on," he muttered, fingers gripping the plastic tray. "How long does it take to slap a piece of meat down?"

"Feelin' impatient today, doc?"

Rodney spared a glance over his shoulder as he practically hopped back and forth on his feet. "What? Oh, Major. I'm not impatient. I'm—" Realizing that he was fidgeting, he stopped his movements and finished distractedly, "—hungry?"

Major Lorne rolled his eyes with a wry smile.

"Nothing new there."

"Oh, very droll, Major. Very droll."

Fact of the matter was that Rodney was feeling impatient. But it wasn't for the food.

"Salad on the side, doc?"

Rodney glanced at the Corporal who was holding his plate with a questioning stare, a pair of tongs in hand. "Yes, yes. Just hurry it up," he snapped, thrusting out his tray.

The poor Corporal hastily dropped the plate of steak and salad on the irritated Canadian's tray before turning to a very amused Major Lorne.

Without wasting a second, Rodney left the line and bee-lined it for the door.

"Hey, McKay!"

'Busted, as Ronon would say.'

The scientist let out a sigh before reluctantly turning to face his team mates plus Radek who were sitting at their usual table.

"What can I do for you, Colonel?"

John raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you come 'n sit with us, lad? Feels like we've nae seen each other in ages..."

Rodney's mouth dropped open for a second before he spluttered out, "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said, come sit with us, McKay. You've been running off to your lab to eat alone for ages." A lazy grin passed over the Colonel's lips. "Team bonding and all that, remember?"

By the time Rodney pulled himself together, John was already on a roll, apparently determined to get the astrophysicist to sit with them.

"Besides, what happened to the 'no food in the lab' rule?"

Rodney rolled his eyes.

"The one who made the rules can also break them."

"That means I can eat in lab then too, yes?"

"No."

Radek huffed and rolled his eyes before stabbing his fork into a piece of steak, muttering under his breath in Czech.

"Now if you don't mind, I have work to do. Maybe you've heard of the concept?" A smirk tugged at Rodney's lips. "Then again, knowing the amount of paperwork you have to finish, Colonel..."

John smiled right back.

"See? Even the great ones take breaks. Sit down Rodney."

"I thought we went over this. I'm busy."

An uneasy look passed over the Colonel's face before he let out a sigh and slouched back in his chair. "Look, McKay. I really didn't want to have to do this..."

Rodney blinked, starting to feel rather anxious.

"What? Do what?"

A look was shared between the group, Teyla's head just barely moving in a nod.

By now, John was looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"You know, the whole 'sharing and caring' thing..."

That really threw Rodney off. He blinked again, more confused then anxious.

"The whole—what the hell are you talking about? And make it fast. My arms feel like they're going to fall off soon..." He shifted the tray around in his hands, feet shuffling against the floor.

After another moment of uncomfortable silence, Teyla decided to break the ice.

"Doctor McKay..." she started calmly, her serene voice not doing much to ease Rodney's tension. "We are aware that you have been under much stress lately. We simply feel as though you need some time to relax, to talk with friends."

There was a pause before she continued. "With the death of—"

"Don't even say it." Rodney's shoulders tensed, eyes narrowing. 'So that's what this is about...'

"Rodney, she only meant—"

"Colonel, I assure you. I'm perfectly fine."

A collective wince passed around the table at the sound of the Canadian's cool voice.

"So, if you'll excuse me..."

Before they had a chance to protest, Rodney was off stomping out of the mess hall, leaving a path of disgruntled and wide-eyed personnel in his wake.

The table was silent, forks held loose before John shifted in his seat.

"...that went well."

xxx

Muttering under his breath, a very aggravated Rodney McKay dropped his tray of dinner onto his desk, the sudden noise startling several scientists out of their work.

"Err, Doctor McKay? Are you alright?"

Rodney glared over at the rather brave engineer.

One of the new guys from the Daedalus. That explained it.

"For the third time today, I'm perfectly fine. Now get back to work, Pastel!"

"Actually, it's Patel," stuttered the engineer, obviously starting to regret speaking up in the first place.

The others gave him a sympathetic look.

"Whatever, I was close. Now get back to work! Unless you have nothing to work on, in which case..."

Rodney smiled smugly. The threat of extra work always got them running.

xxx

"Eugh..."

He had no idea how many hours had past, but he assumed it was well past midnight.

'Well, nothing new there.'

Rubbing his blurry eyes, Rodney leaned back in his chair and muffled a yawn.

The lab had long since emptied, save for the Canadian astrophysicist. Even Radek had gone to bed.

Clutching his mug of lukewarm coffee between slightly shaking fingers, Rodney let out a breath and leaned his head back.

He wanted to go to sleep, really he did. But lately it just wasn't happening.

And it didn't take a genius to figure out why.

"Oh, this is ridiculous..." he spluttered before pushing his chair away from the desk. "I'm going to sleep, and that's that!"

As if daring someone to stop him, not that there was anyone around to do it, he hauled himself up and slammed his mug down on the desk.

Only it didn't hit the smooth surface.

It was like when you stub a toe. You hit the offending object and have about a split second to think 'oh damn, that'll hurt...' before the pain sets in and you're left hopping around like an idiot.

The only difference being that Rodney didn't stub a toe.

As he slammed his mug down, he realized half a second later that the bottom had caught the edge of the laptop, sending the liquid sloshing out over the lip and down onto a small Ancient device sitting a few inches away.

He had just enough time to think, 'oh, shit,' before a few sparks popped and darkness took over.

xxx

A/N: Ha, I actually got a second chapter out. And now the Rodney whump begins :D

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