Background Noise and Cannon Fodder

Disclaimer: MGM/Sony Own Atlantis and this was done for fun.

Angst/Friendship- Rodney & John

The Watch Stander © 2006

Wow! So many people read this! Thank you so much!

Hopefully this chapter will pull the story a little more together and make almost everybody happy. This will be John's point of view.

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Chapter Two- Missing One Scientist

John's POV:

My head hurts and I feel like someone hit me with a stick. Oh, they did hit me with a stick, I forgot. The old geezer in charge was a bit senile; he must have mistaken me for the Genii, cause I seem to remember their name coming into the conversation. After that he hit me I can't remember anything.

Carson checks me over and gives me something for my headache which works great, masking the pain within a few minutes time. I have to wear a small bandage, but that's ok, just as long as I don't have to stay in here overnight. Teyla and Ronon look happy to see me sitting up and I give them my 'I'm fine smile'.

Teyla smiles at me,"It's good to hear that you will be all right, Colonel."

Ronon follows it with his usual, "Yeah, that's great!"

The only voice missing is McKay's and looking around I don't see him.

"Where's McKay?" I'm a little hurt that he isn't here as well.

Ronon shrugs and Teyla shakes her head. "I don't know. Maybe he went to the mess to get something to eat."

That makes sense, him having hypoglycemia. So I drop it, knowing that sooner or later he would show up for his after-mission checkup or Carson would have a fit.

So now I'm all gassed up and happy and wish to tell my team how much I appreciated them carrying me to safety out of the village from hell.

"Thanks ,Guys, for rescuing me from looney land," I tell them.

"You're Welcome, Colonel, but you must Thank Dr. McKay, since he was the one who dragged you to the jumper, " Teyla tells me sweetly.

I must say, I'm not really surprised by that fact. McKay is called many things, but sometimes he can be just damn heroic. It gives me the warm fuzzies knowing everyone on my team was looking out for me.

Like I said, I'm drugged and happy and it makes me goofy.

" Well, I'll find him and tell him. " I know he needs to hear it from me every once in a while and lately I haven't said much of anything to him.

He's the one that's been in a world of hurt over the past few months. Lots of bad things have happened to him. Yup, I need to cut him some slack and at least say Thanks. I'll find him and tell him just as soon as I get out of here.

"Where did you see McKay last?"

"He was still in the jumper when we left. He complained about his back, hurting. You know McKay. "Ronon tells me.

I do know McKay and his back probably is sore after dragging my sorry ass all the way to the jumper. Since his back is hurting ,he will probably go to his quarters first for his pain pills, then the mess.

I ask about my gear and P-90 and Ronon says he left them in the jumper, so I plan on retrieving them after I find McKay.

"I'll meet you guys in the mess. Think I'll check McKay's quarters first, then I'll pickup my gear. Let me know if you find him."

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I'm on my way to McKay's, hoping to find the elusive scientist. On the way I check his lab, but no one's seen him. I also call Carson and ask him to contact me if McKay shows up.

None of us on Atlantis lock our doors during the day, we have an honor system and it works. When I enter McKay's quarters there's no sign of Rodney and none of his off world gear is anywhere either, so he must have gone elsewhere.

Since I don't have the energy to traipse all over Atlantis looking for McKay, I decide to pickup my gear in the jumper and then head to the mess for some eats.

I contact Teyla and she confirms that McKay is not there. She also says that none of the serving staff have seen him either.

Another mystery, where is Rodney McKay?

The jumper bay is quiet as a tomb and I'm beginning to feel like a deflating tire. Probably need to eat and go to bed; it's been a really tough day and I'm not getting any younger. My whole body is beginning to let me know what it thinks about today's exploit of running and dodging with Rodney.

I'll talk to McKay tomorrow. Let Carson find him and give him hell for not getting his physical.

The jumper is dark, so I think about lights as I enter and on they come in the back area. My gear is all there by the bench, so I start to pick it up. Something shiny catches my eye in the front of the jumper; It's by the side of the pilot's seat where there isn't any equipment. I slowly approach it wondering what it could be.

I can't believe what I find, a watch on an arm hanging down by the pilot's seat. It's owner is slumped over the consol. When I realize who it belongs to I'm stunned; It seems I've found McKay, he looks asleep.

"McKay, What the hell are you doing? " When he doesn't answer I start to worry. I was ready to read him the riot act and now I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe his back is the problem.

"McKay, wake up!" I shake him, but there's no response what so ever. After checking his pulse which is very faint and finding his skin cold to the touch, I realize he's in shock, and so am I.

What on earth happened to him that would cause this, certainly hurting your back wouldn't do it. I wish on the lights and now get a good look at his too pale features.

Something is terribly wrong. My pulse starts pounding in my head as fear starts to take control. Checking him I find the problem, blood covers the back of the seat and his shirt, a lot of blood...

What the hell happened?

Pulling up his shirt I find a bullet hole in his back.

It only takes a minute to call Carson, then look in the jumper med kit for something to stop the bleeding. Thank God I hadn't gone to the mess first.

All I can do now is wait for help to arrive as I hold the bandage firmly against the wound ,trying to get it to stop bleeding.

Through all of this Rodney hasn't so much as stirred, just lies here against the consol looking totally helpless. He must have passed out from the pain while sitting here. Seeing him like this hurts.

No one knew, or thought to ask.

My friend, hurt and all alone, sitting here in the dark; how crappy is that?

What must he have been thinking?

"God, McKay! Why didn't you tell us?" Is all I can say feeling heartsick.

TBC