"I shot him… in the leg." – Sheppard
"So… it's a shield."
Sheppard stares at the metal and stone McKay clutches like it's the key to survival of the human race.
It looks like nothing – just some intricate metal work that makes a piece of rock into a pretty trinket that can be taken home from the fairgrounds.
Before that fateful day flying General O'Neil to the research base in Antarctica, that was all he would have taken it as.
Now that he has this gene that turns things on in this new city (on a new planet in a virtually unexplored galaxy) and makes them usable and… well… stuff, everything is different.
A spade isn't a spade until it's proven it's a spade these days.
"A personal shield, yes," McKay goes on, still holding the thing as if his life depends on it. "And I think the user needs the ATA gene to activate it."
Should have known, Sheppard thinks, wanting to shake his head.
Of course he's in high demand to test out this crap – he's shown the greatest ability out of everyone in the gene pool to use Ancient tech.
Should have known. "And you want to test it out."
"Yes," McKay answers enthusiastically, and Sheppard imagines that if his hand weren't so tightly wrapped around the stupid thing, there would be two thumbs pointed straight up towards the sky with a shady smile that would make sane people run for the hills.
He's too enthusiastic, but Sheppard bites back the urge to point it out.
As unenthusiastic as Sheppard is about constantly being pulled to the side to be a guinea pig, he does have to admit (to himself) that it would be kind of cool to try this little guy out.
Not to mention that a shield would be more than a little bit useful against the Wraith.
Might be why they made it in the first place.
"On me."
McKay's face scrunches up like a pit bull for half a second in confusion before he lets out a small laugh, and shakes his head. "No, on me."
The words stop Sheppard as he's about to hold his hand out for the device.
He has to let silence take over for a second while he gathers his thoughts, mostly because it doesn't make any sense. What the hell is going on?
"Wh- whoa, wait a second. You don't have the gene."
A grin splits McKay's face nearly in half. "Actually, I do. Beckett just gave me the gene therapy this morning."
Right…
The thought of someone else being in high demand for their ability to make use of things around here is incredibly appealing, but Sheppard's not so sure McKay's the right guy to have it.
He might be a scientist, but he's also a whiner, complainer, severe hypochondriac and general pain in the ass.
Those can't be good qualities for someone who carries the gene.
"How do you know it worked?"
That's the best Sheppard can come up with in the way of objections without sounding like a complete ass himself.
It's also nowhere near enough, because the grin doesn't disappear. "If it activates, then we know they both work and you'll help me test the limits."
The shield and the therapy – Sheppard's following. "And if it doesn't activate?"
"Then Beckett's therapy didn't work, and you can put on the shield." The pained expression that makes the grin falter for a second isn't lost on Sheppard as McKay speaks. "Deal?"
Sheppard nods, trying to keep his own sudden excitement under wraps. "Deal."
Damn it if the device doesn't light up like a lightning bug -
Like something you'd see in a sci-fi novel. Or on tv.
Except now that excuse doesn't fly because they're living in what feels like a low budget sci-fi movie.
At least, that's how Sheppard feels right now as he loads up his P-14, and checks to make sure everything is in order.
No telling how much trouble he could get into if this doesn't work out and McKay ends up in the infirmary.
Elizabeth is definitely not going to love that…
"You're sure that's the gun you want to go with?" McKay asks, right foot impatiently tapping the ground like he wants to get this over with.
Or he's hearing an exceptionally good beat to a song.
Hell, maybe it's both.
"Bullet's a bullet," Sheppard replies, shoves the clip in, and raises an eyebrow when his gaze meets McKay's again. "Are you sure you want me to shoot at you?"
"Of course I'm sure." Not even a moment of hesitation on McKay's part. "Do you really think I would have asked you if I didn't?"
Good point, but that isn't all there is to the matter, and Sheppard knows it.
"I think I'm the only one you knew for sure wouldn't try to shoot you in a spot where it would kill you if the shield failed."
To his credit, McKay doesn't deny it. "That, too. Now, Major, you know to shoot at a non-"
"-Vital spot so if the shield fails, you won't be too badly hurt," Sheppard cuts him off and finishes for him. "Yes, I do. This isn't my first rodeo."
"Are you saying that you've done this kind of thing before? Because if so, then maybe this wasn't…"
"It'll be fine. I'll shoot you in the leg. Away from any major arteries. It'll hurt like a bitch, but you'll be back on your foot in no time."
"Back on…"
"Focus, McKay. Testing the shield. Are you ready?"
"It'll hurt like a…" Now McKay sounds a little bit panicked. Damn, if that was all it took, then maybe Sheppard should have said something before he let McKay tap the device against his chest.
"It'll be fine." Sheppard waves his pistol in a general direction away from the shelves. "And I know the perfect spot to do it."
The perfect spot is on a balcony outside the main tower, where people can see if they're looking, but most people aren't looking.
And the shielding the Ancients used should be sound-proof enough that shots fired won't immediately bring people running.
Sheppard has McKay stand up against the wall – at McKay's insistence.
"When the bullet ricochets, you'll have more space to move to avoid it," he says as Sheppard starts stepping backwards.
"And you'll have something to fall against if the shield doesn't work," Sheppard points out as he comes to a stop. "Ready?"
McKay nods, so Sheppard draws his gun and fires.
Once, twice, three times in quick succession.
Then he finds he has to throw himself out of the way as the bullets come flying back in his direction.
McKay is smirking as Sheppard pushes himself up to his feet again after flattening himself on the deck.
"Not disappointed, are you, Major?"
That the shots didn't do a damn thing? Yes.
That the shield actually works? Hell, no.
"What other testing did you have in mind, McKay?"
