A/N: Thank you so very much to those of you who reviewed, I really appreciate it. This second chapter is also not very long, but hopefully that doesn't matter too much. So enjoy :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One and a half hours down, thirty minutes to go. Rodney had survived the briefing thus far by studying his laptop intently, and being unusually quiet for himself. He knew it was unfair to his team and to Elizabeth that they didn't get to hear the input of an intellect such as his own, but the worry that he in fact would not be able to speak kept him to as few comments as possible. He had been warding off peoples suspicions be interjecting acknowledging sounds when he thought appropriate, and so far it seemed to be working.
Rodney knew he shouldn't have been acting so pathetically school girlish, and he couldn't prevent it, because quite honestly, he didn't know the reason.
You've been working with her for nearly three years, why in hell is this happening to you His subconscious berated him. It's only Elizabeth for goodness sakes, just another day, just an average briefing. Only Elizabeth. For some reason that didn't seem to quite fit. She couldn't be described in such a way that diminished her being, and yet it was true. This was just his friend Elizabeth, so why was he was perspiring and why was his heart beating quite this quickly all of a sudden? Damn! Acknowledging the rate of his pulse had not been a good idea as it now seemed intent on beating in his ears so loud that it was blocking out what it was that was being said.
Thump thump.
Thump thump.
Thump thump.
"Shut up." Rodney barked under his breath. Then realizing that he was telling his own chest to be quiet, he looked up sheepishly. Four sets of eyes were looking back at him in concern. One green pair in particular locked directly with his from across the table.
"Oh, um, sorry." He stumbled thinking of an excuse. "My, um, laptop. Humming is a bit annoying. Headache." He gestured vaguely at his head and smiled uneasily hoping that his lie would pass.
"That's why I use these." John stated helpfully, holding up a pad and biro with a smug look on his face, then proceeded to tap the pen on the table for emphasis.
"Yes, quite.' Rodney replied
He looked back over to Elizabeth and was grateful to see that Johns little comment had ridden her of the worried look, however it was now replaced with her patented stern amusement, which he didn't really like seeing directed at himself. He looked into her warm green eyes a moment longer, making sure it couldn't be counted as gazing, and then quickly went back to his mission of trying to dissolve completely into the screen of his laptop.
As soon as the meeting was over Rodney pushed his chair away from the table said a very quick goodbye and hurried out of the room with his head down. What he failed to notice was Dr Weirs confused look following after him.
Elizabeth shook her head and began gathering up her papers from the desk before her.
"What do you think is troubling Dr McKay?" Teyla enquired of nobody in particular, as the rest of the team were still collecting their things at a more leisurely pace.
Doctor Weir again looked up and glanced out of the door in the direction in which Rodney had… well, it was probably best described as 'fled'.
"Rodney? He's always like that!" John interjected non-chantilly.
"You did not notice anything," she paused thinking of the correct word. "Odd, in his behavior." She finished as the appropriate adjective came to her.
"Well…he was a bit jumpy." John provided. "But that usually means he just hasn't had his sugar fix this morning." He smiled to himself.
"Maybe he had a nightmare about a flying killer lemon last night." Ronon supplied with a grin. A beat, and then the two men burst out laughing.
"Ronon." Teyla chided, giving him a look like a parent reprimanding a small child. Ronon had the good sense to stop laughing, but kept a small smirk plastered on his face as he left the room.
"Perhaps it was nothing then. Goodbye Elizabeth. John." She nodded to each of them in turn and then followed after the retreating Satedan.
John watched them go and then turned to bid farewell to Elizabeth when he saw the worried look still written over her face.
"I think I might go check on Rodney." She supplied as she caught him staring.
"Okay 'Lizabeth," John conceded, "But I can bet you all he needs is a bag of jelly beans and he'll be back to his usual pompous self." He sent her a smile and left Elizabeth alone in the room mulling over her thoughts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: So, what do you think? I know nothing much happened, but it's really still only the build up I guess. Any ideas on what should happen when Elizabeth goes to find Rodney, I'll be happy to hear them. Please Review!