Stargate: Atlantis. Siblings.

CHAPTER 2

I sat alone in the cafeteria as I ate my turkey sandwich; I wanted pasta. Not long after I had sat down I was joined by John and his little troop.

"Guys, this is the baby of the team, Claire." John sat down across from me before continuing his half-assed introduction, "Claire," he motioned around him, "the guys. Well, the guys minus Ronon; he's off punching things or whatever it is he does in his spare time." He waved off the topic and looked at his food excitedly.

I choked on my sandwich as I spoke, "hey."

"Claire don't talk with your mouth full." He leaned towards Teyla and spoke quietly, "she's always done that. No matter how many times mom's told her, she always-"

"John!" I choked back as I swallowed my mouthful of turkey, tomato and bread and kicked his shins under the table. "You ass," I turned to Teyla, "I have not always done that. He caught me off guard, that's all."

"I am sure that is all," Teyla looked confused between John and I as she got comfortable in her chair. "I am Teyla, it is nice to meet you Claire."

"Hi Teyla," I stuck out my hand to shake hers but it got smacked away instead. "OWE! What the hell dude?!"

"Your hands are sticky." John didn't even look up as he spoke.

"I hate you." I glared.

"I know." He smiled.

I sighed frustrated before I gave up and mumbled out, "Nice to meet you Teyla." Then turned my head to the right slightly, "hey Rodney," he lifted an arm lazily in acknowledgment before I went back to my sandwich.

Rodney and I had worked together on several occasions back on Earth; we're a pretty friendly team in public but in the lab we pretty much want to kill each other. Our final results are always beauty solutions but the time spent getting there is torture. I've probably wanted to rip his head off approximately 458,976 times in total now.

"So I'm takin' ya out today," John spoke casually as my head snapped up, "what?! Like through the Stargate?!" My eyes went wide as I shuddered at the thought.

"No, loser. I'm takin' ya out in the Puddle Jumper, teach ya how to fly the thing."

"Oh," only then did I realize I'd been holding my breath. "Wait, fly?"

"Ya. Spaceships fly. Surprise!" John waved his hands in the air mocking me.

I glared. "I can't believe I'm related to you."

"I know, I definitely got the looks and the brains."

"BRAINS!? HAH!" I tossed my head back pretending to laugh. "Pretty sure I got the brains there pretty boy."

"So you admit I got the looks!"

"I admit you got the cocky personality and that you're clearly cross-eyed so badly that when you look in the mirror every morning you think you're seeing some-" Dr. Weir was walking towards the table on her way through the cafeteria and I immediately switched tones from annoying little sister to loving family member, "-some dashing young soldier with the maturity and respect of a-" aaaaaand she's gone, "-of a warthog." I stopped, "also your hair looks stupid."

John sat still staring at me, thinking about how to respond.

"Most of that made absolutely no sense but I will commend you on that nice cover; however I will defend my hair, it looks awesome, thank you."

"You're such a loser."

Teyla looked back and forth between us incredibly confused by the sudden switch of behaviour between us. Rodney's used to it.

"Anyways," John straightened up in his seat, "I'm taking you out later. Meet me in an hour in the Jumper Bay."

"Fine." I paused. "Where is the Jumper Bay?"

John stared at me and sighed, "Never mind, just meet me here, retard."

I glared as I stood up, "fine." I picked up my tray to leave, "Nice to meet you Teyla; Rodney, good to see ya," I looked at my scruffy brother and drawled out my goodbye, "John…. Always a pleasure."

XXXXX

I, like my dear brother, possess the gene. Which was another selling point for my being chosen to join the expedition; personally, I could do without it. Too much responsibility.

XXXXX

John shifted awkwardly in his seat, "so, you think you got the nerves to fly this thing? Or are ya gunna keep sittin' there for another 5 minutes staring at the controls."

I continued to look down at the controls and contemplated the question and the challenge ahead, "I guess we're about to find out right?"

John frowned in partial fear for his life, "If you kill me, I swear I will come back from my grave and attack you."

"No promises," my hands were shaking as I looked at my brother for some moral support.

"Well, let's get this goin'." He ushered me on with a wave of his hands before he noticed the sincerity in my hunt for support. He let out a light sigh and smacked his hands down onto his knees and with a bright smile he gave me a rare shred of sibling-hope, "don't worry, easy peasy!"

One Hour Later

"So…" I shrunk into the seat feeling ashamed, nervous and very awkward, "how'd I do?"

John sat perfectly still, contemplating the nicest way to respond, "Well, you crashed the Jumper... Into an Athosian settlement... So I'd have to give you an F so far."

I huffed as I once again threw my head back in frustration.

"Maybe we'll try again tomorrow."

"No. Nuh uh, I am never ever, ever doing this again. Who knows what else I'll destroy!?"

John took a deep breath to calm himself as he attempted to keep his promise to Dr. Weir and not bicker. "How 'bout I just fly us back."

I looked through the front window at the destroyed home and the very confused, angry, Athosian's. "Deal, and maybe let's get outta here as fast as we can before I get beat up?"

"Probably a good idea." John coughed as he booted up the partially damaged Jumper.

I slumped into my seat, "ugh. I've been here ONE day and I've already destroyed someone's home AND damaged an Ancient spaceship! You sure this was a good idea bringing me here?"

"What's done is done. Rodney can fix the ship, maybe teach ya a thing or two about it, too."

I snapped up in my seat and threw an arm up to point at the demolished house, "and what about that?! John, I ruined someone's home!"

"Ya, you'll have to write up an apology card for that. Maybe a fruit basket and a bouquet of flowers to go with it."

I looked over at John incredulously, "that's it?! That's your fix?! Fruit, flowers, and a paper apology?! Duuuuuuude I murdered their HOME!"

"Just shuttup and calm down, I'll send a team over to help rebuild later."

"I'm gunna hit you if you tell me to shuttup again."

"Shuttup."

I glared at John, "Don't be a doucher."

"Shuttup."

"Really? You're gunna do this?"

"Shuttup."

"I thought I was supposed to be the immature one. I'm the kid remember?"

"Shuttup."

I launched myself at John, forgetting entirely about the fact that we're in mid-air. "I told you I'd attack you!"

John grabbed my wrists as I attempted to swat at him from the floor. "Who's the loser now, loser?! You can't even reach me!"

"I'm gunna murder you in your sleep!"

"Doubtful!" John raised a boot at me and lightly kicked me over as he grabbed onto the controls again.

I growled as I recomposed myself and sat down with my arms folded. "I want a goddam beer."

"I've got a shit-ton in my room from my last Earth-visit."

"Ya? Awesome." I grinned with happiness.

"Why are you so chipper?"

"Beer!"

"You're not gettin' any."

"What? Why?"

"You just destroyed a house."

"I said I was sorry!"

"No you didn't!"

"Well I was gunna!"

John was silent.

"You suck." I mumbled and folded my arms.