Disclaimer: Not mine just the Kesslers
Warnings for this chapter: Rodney developed a potty mouth...short: Language! And lots and lots of fluff...cheesy...corny... fluff! You have been warned.
A/N: WoW!!! So many reviews for one chapter! You guys rock! You rock hard! Thank you so much, every single one of them made my days! I wrote this chapter while I was fighting the flu, so if it's confusing at times, that's because my head was killing me!^^ I've experimented with different POV's in this chapter! The regular of course and, for example, authors POV (or omniscient POV, according to school) and OC POV.
Hope you enjoy it! (By the way, we reached midpoint. It still looks like there will be 20 chapters.)
10. The Skill To Toe-Dance
While Elizabeth returned to her office, another pair of eyes stayed glued to the event horizon while it fell apart. The man that belonged to those eyes tried his best not to show how frustrated he was. The last two days had been one huge disappointment. His beloved needed much more time to realize his feelings than the man had anticipated and he felt himself growing impatient. After all, he really loved Rodney. He was sure of it, because his heart had almost stopped when he had witnessed the explosion in the Jumper Bay. Then he had felt fury, for not being able to outstep the big Satedan. He had wanted to rip the alien and everyone who dared to get in his way apart and ravish Rodney right in front of them to show everyone, who he belonged to.
That had to be love, right?
And although the man had done his best to let Rodney know how much he loved him, his precious hadn't reacted like the man thought he would. He hadn't sat in his lab, reading his love letters over and over again and he hadn't displayed the flowers in his office or his quarters, with pride and love. No, he had thrown them away! The man was aware of that, because he had watched the video feeds to gauge his precious' reaction.
And everytime when his precious Rodney had rejected his signs of affection, Colonel Sheppard had been around and soon the man knew exactly who was at fault for Rodneys missing enthusiasm.
Sheppard was definitely a problem, but none he couldn't handle.
When they were back, that is. This time the man didn't try to hide his darkening expression. Three days without his precious scientist. He knew it would be hard, but it also gave him the time to take care of the other problem.
When he saw the next shift coming towards him, to relief him of his gate duty, he allowed himself a little smile of anticipation.
Oh yeah, he would take care of the problem and when his precious Rodney was back, things would finally get into motion.
He had waited long enough.
At the same time, thousands of light years away on planet P3X-975, Rodney McKay was shaken by a rather violent sneeze.
"Oh, I knew it." he muttered while wiping his nose with the back of his hand. He threw Sheppard a poisonous glare. "Hope you are happy Colonel. The pollen around here could kill me like this." He snapped with his fingers before a look of horror crossed his face. "Oh my god!" Rodney fingered his neck while the other hand touched his forehead. "I can feel it. It's getting harder to breath! Is there a rash on my face? Is it getting blue? Do you.."
"Relax McKay!" Sheppard interrupted him. Rodney thought that the Colonel sounded much too amused, considering that he was talking to a dying man. "Your face isn't blue and there is no rash. And I sincerely doubt that your mouth would still be running a mile a minute, if your airways weren't perfectly fine."
During Sheppards speech Rodney had calmed down a little and realized that, indeed, breathing wasn't that hard. Actually kinda easy. He took a few deep breaths of survival and ignored the smug looks of his teammates. The damn sneeze hadn't come out of nowhere, after all. He eyed their surroundings warily and noticed for the first time, that the forest they were walking through was quite bizarre.
Some of the trees seemed to be higher than a skyscraper while others just about reached his shoulders. He shivered involuntary when he imagine the roots that had to hold the giants in place. It would be just his luck to get smashed by a gigantic tree.
But although the monster-trees were quite fascinating, his eyes remained mostly on the little ones. Rodney could only guess how many millenia they would need to get as high as their big brothers. He suddenly felt very small and insignificant in comparison to them. A feeling that he wasn't unfamiliar with but that he hadn't felt in a long time. Since coming to Atlantis.
Teylas voice bought him back to the present.
"Maybe someone is thinking about you?"
Rodney didn't understand what she meant and looked at her in confusion. That's why he totally missed the dark look that crossed Sheppards face at her words.
"Huh?"
"Is it not one of your superstitions that, when you have to sneeze, someone is thinking about you?"
Rodneys face split into a grin. Teyla was a quick observer, but sometimes even she could mix things up. He was eager to correct her, always happy to tell her about earth customs she couldn't possibly know. It made the homesickness a little more bearable when you could talk about those things. "No no! When you have the hiccups someone is thinking about you. When you are sneezing someone is saying bad things about you." He trailed off and his grin turned into a frown. "Wait. Do you think someone is running me down? Back on Atlantis?" He didn't give them enough time to answer. "I'm sure it's Kavanaugh. Guy can't stand when someone is smarter than him, which would be about everyone in the city!"
"Rodney, don't worry." Sheppard soothed with a wicked grin on his face, "If that superstition would be true you would have sneezed yourself to death years ago."
"That's easy for you to say Mr. Cool-and-easy-going-leader. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd hand out cookies during your so called training sessions." Rodney snapped back, but without any heat.
Truth to be told, he was too relieved to be annoyed. The last few days had put a noticeable strain on their relation.
Part of Rodney had been pleased with the constant presence of the Colonel. Who wouldn't? But a bigger part of him hadn't understood the Colonels actions and that had irritated him. Oh, he knew the reason for the Colonels behaviour, but he didn't understand it. Okay, so he still got the flowers once a day. But nothing more! It wasn't like he had been attacked or like someone had broken into his office, or god forbid, his quarters. There had been no justification for the constant hovering.
But what had Rodney irked the most had been how somber Sheppard had been during those days. There had been absolutely no friendly banter between the two of them. Not that Rodney didn't try, but Sheppard had just followed him without taking the bait. From time to time, Rodney had even had the impression that Sheppard couldn't even meet his eye.
Sheppard had been under constant tension, always searching the hallways for something or someone. His turmoil had disturbed Rodney more than he would have liked and soon he had wished that Sheppard would just go away for a few hours, so he could compose himself again.
Although Rodney had moaned and complained about it, the mission had been a blessing. He had hoped so much that Sheppard would relax as soon as they set foot on this planet, bringing light years between them and 'Scientist's Lover'.
And although Rodney had hoped for it, he had been more than surprised by the changes he had seen. Rodney had watched in awe how the stiff shoulders had slacked and the hard eyes had softened as soon as Sheppard set foot on this planet. And when Sheppard had grinned that lazy flyboy grin at him, Rodney had almost jumped up and down in delight. He had missed that smile for the last two days. He had missed Sheppard.
And wasn't that just ironic?
"Hey, it's much harder to be loved, than to be hated."
Rodney huffed indignantly. "They don't hate me. They respect me."
"Don't you mean fear you?" Ronon rumbled from behind them where he covered their six.
"That's rich, coming from you."
Sheppard chuckled under his breath but Ronon didn't seem to notice. Teyla watched the byplay with fond exasperation. Rodney suspected that she would have liked to participate in their banter, but thought that, at least one of them, should act like an adult.
Suddenly she stopped and pointed ahead. "We are here."
They had hiked on a more or less primitive forest road that had been marked with large stones on each side. Now they could see the first signs of habitation. Rodney was amazed to realize that the village wasn't built in a clearing, but between some of the biggest trees he had seen so far. Hut and tree stood side by side and the treetops would conceil the village from above. Wraith darts would have problems to maneuver through the trees, for the same reasons why SGA-1 had decided to come by foot.
Perfect protection provided by mother nature.
'No wonder that they are so friendly with strangers. Have probably never even seen a Wraith.' Rodney mused while they resumed their way towards the village. He watched some kids play hide and seek between the trees and a bunch of women chatting happily away with each other, without even taking notice of the strangers. And was this pair near the well actually dancing?
A happy-go-lucky place. Rodney sighed. So not the place for him.
Sheppard elbowed him in the side when they saw an elderly man and his younger counterpart coming towards them. Rodney was about to say that he didn't say anything (yet), when a cheerful voice interrupted him.
"Welcome, welcome my dear friends! It is so good to see new faces again!"
The smile of the old man was blinding and full of teeth. He was a short man with a hank of snow-white hair on his head. He was obviously well fed and the cheeks aroud the knobbly nose were tinged pink with excitement. Altogether an open and friendly face.
The complete opposite of the other face that stared back at them.
Rodney assumed that the figure, standing slightly behind the old man, had to be his son. The resemblance was striking. The same knobbly nose and chocolate brown eyes and the tell-tales of white in his hair, that were as white as his fathers. But that was, were the similarities ended.
While the eyes of the father shone with excitement, his sons were slits of suspicion. And he was much taller than his father, almost as tall as Ronon.
The guy was radiating hostility. The others felt it too and eyed him carefully when Sheppard took a step forwards.
"Nice to meet you ambassador Cayan ("Oh please. Just call me Cayan.") I am Colonel John Sheppard. These are Dr. Rodney McKay, Specialist Ronon Dex and Teyla Emmagan."
Cayans smile grew even wider. He spread his arms and yelled, "Welcome to our village." To their surprise, he did a little pirouette when he said that. Cayan pointed a finger at the figure behind him, who hadn't even blinked an eye until now. "This is my son, Ceran. He is also very pleased to meet you."
Rodney was about to point out that Ceran didn't look like he did, but got sidetracked by the young pair he had seen earlier, now dancing its way right through their little gathering. Cayan didn't seem the least bit irked by the interruption, but clapped his hands in joy. The son did nothing.
Rodney gazed after the dancing and laughing couple. "Are you always dancing so much around here?" He hadn't meant to sound so disgusted but Cayan didn't seem to notice.
"Oh certainly!" Cayan chirped and displayed the oddly graceful pirouette again. "The gods danced over this world and in their wake, life blossomed. So we dance to please the gods. To dance means to be alive and to be alive is a reason to be happy. And we are even more happy today, because we are meeting with new friends, right Ceran?"
Cerans lips didn't seem to move when he said "Right."
"Oh this is a jolly day indeed!" Cayan trolled and Sheppard couldn't help but chuckle at Rodneys incredulous expression.
"Jolly indeed" he trolled along with a wicked smirk on his face.
'God,' Rodney thought while he buried his face in his hands, 'I am trapped in a Walt Disney Movie. When they start singing about the "Circle of Life", I am so out of here.'
He just listened with one ear when Cayan told them that Ceran would show them the hut, they would be living in for the next three days, and that they could start with the negotiations after dinner. When he left he did so with a bounce in his steps. The people here seemed to do everything with more movements than necessary.
Ceran, on the other hand, didn't jump happily along when he showed them their hut.
Rodney was pleasantly surprised that the hut was fairly large and that it contained four single beds, one in each corner. The prospect of sleeping in real beds, rather than in a sleeping-bag, was enough for Rodney to forget about the hygiene of these things. Who knew who had slept in them before? His trained eyes picked the bed that looked as if it was the most unused. "I call dibs." he shouted and let himself fall on the bed in the far left corner.
Rodney knew he was acting childish, but he blamed it on this place. The good vibes, the village was emanating, were getting to him after all.
Sheppard chose the bed nearest to his ('Don't think more of it than there really is!' Rodney chided his quickening heartbeat) and Ronon just rolled his eyes and tried his best to look as impassive as always, when he settled on the bed nearest the door.
Teyla looked at them with something akin to frustration, probably thinking that they were impolite to their hosts, and turned to the still waiting Ceran.
"This accommondation is really generous. Thank you very much for your hospitality."
Ceran narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists and looked like he was about to lash out. Rodney saw how Sheppard and Ronon tensed but the moment passed and Ceran seemed to make an effort to calm down.
"You're welcome." he hissed through gritted teeth and left without another word.
"O-kay" Sheppard drawled after a second, "That guy doesn't like us very much, does he?!"
"Nothing gets by you." Rodney snorted.
"I believe that he is not as agreeable with the negotiations as his father." Teyla mused. "Dr. Weir told me that the Kessler's tradition originally forbid them to trade with other worlds."
"And why did they change their minds?" Sheppard asked.
"The ambassador got a fever, which Major Lornes team was able to bring down with antibiotics while they were visiting."
"And Mr. Happy-Feet was so grateful, that he reconsidered their traditions to get more of the wonderous stuff, right?" Rodney concluded and Teyla nodded. "I believe so."
"Understandable." Sheppard yawned from where he was sprawled out on his bed.
"Whatever. That guy means trouble."
Nobody said anything after Ronon's statement. There was nothing to add.
After a few moments Teyla broke the silence. "I would like to have a look at the fields. To be prepared for the negotiations." Although it wasn't exactly a question, John drawled, "Yeah, sure." In the meantime he had closed his eyes and crossed his arms behind his head.
"I'll go with her." And although Ronon definitely didn't ask, Sheppard gave his permission nevertheless. "Do as you like, kids. But be back for dinner. And don't go with strangers."
Rodney rolled his eyes. "Spoke our great leader."
"Would you like to accompany us Rodney?"
He was flattered that Teyla had thought of him, but declined nonetheless. "I have seen enough dancing people for one day, thank you."
Teylas eyes wandered over to Sheppard for a second, before she looked back at Rodney. For some odd reason, her smile seemed softer than before. "I think I understand."
Rodneys puzzeled gaze followed her until she and Ronon were gone.
"Huh. That was odd."
He expected some kind of reaction from Sheppard. When there was none, he looked over to the man besides him, who hadn't moved an inch for the last few minutes. Rodney frowned.
"Did you fall asleep on me?"
No response. Just even breathing.
Rodney expected to feel annoyed, but was actually quite content with the way things had worked out.
He hadn't been oblivious enough to fail to notice the dark rings under Sheppards eyes. The last few days must have been more difficult for the man than Rodney had thought. Although Rodney was sure that the Colonel would kill him for letting him sleep in the middle of the day, on a mission as well, he did nothing to wake him. John needed it.
For the next 40 minutes Rodney kept himself busy with the scanner, searching for an energy reading he could investigate, but came up with nothing.
He sat there in silence, Johns even breathing working on him like one of those tapes with whale noises, that were supposed to help you relax. Rodney was actually so content with John lying besides him and the sound of his breathing, that he wished it could always be like that.
He shook his head violently.
No, he wouldn't go there. He had made his peace with the fact, that he loved a man that would never love him back. He would take Johns friendship and treasure it. That was all he could ask for. Rodneys eyes began to prickle and he rubbed them fiercely. Stupid atmospheric humidity.
There was a light knock on the door and a beaming Kessler sticked his head into the room. "The dinner is served. Your friends are already there."
Rodney nodded absentmindedly. "Okay, thanks. We'll come." The Kessler smiled brightly and closed the door.
Rodney made a face when he rose from the bed and his back cracked. He cast a look in Sheppards direction and was surprised that the light sleeper hadn't woken up from the noise.
"Come on!" he said a little bit harsher than was necessary. "We finally get something to eat."
Sheppard didn't even stirr.
"Wake up already. I am hungry and I'll make you responsible when I fall into a hypoglycemic coma just because you are too lazy to get your butt out of bed"
Sheppard didn't even twitch.
"Sheppard?"
Nothing.
Rodney went over to Sheppards side and looked down on the sleeping man in growing panic. This wasn't normal.
'Oh god', he thought, 'What if he hadn't been asleep but unconscious? Maybe the last couple of days had been too much after all? Maybe he had an heart attack? Or a brain clot! People can get those when they are under too much stress, right? Or maybe there is something in the air that is affecting him. Or..' A rustle from the bed interrupted his mental break-down. Was he waking up after all?
Rodney hestitated only a second, before he leaned down and placed a hand on the bed besides Sheppards head. "John?" he whispered and, again, hestitated a mere second before he touched Sheppards cheek.
Suddenly a hand shot out of nowhere and grabbed his collar, while another took his upper arm in a vice-like grip.
Rodney could do nothing more than utter an embarrassingly girlish screech, before he suddenly found himself laying on the bed and the man, he had believed in a coma just seconds ago, was straddling him.
Rodney felt a fleeting sense of dizziness when the abrupt movement finally caught up with his brain and he realized what had happened.
"Bastard!"
"Tsk, McKay," Sheppard smirked down on him, not looking sleepy at all. "How often do I have to tell you to keep your guard up. What if I had been the enemy?"
"I wouldn't have tried to wake an enemy, you dumbass!" Rodney spluttered and John shifted. Only then Rodney fully realized their positions. He, lying on a bed and John on top of him. Way too close to a certain part of him, that began to react to the close proximity of their bodys.
"Get off!" he said with a hint of desperation in his voice. Sheppard didn't seem to notice.
"Why Rodney, I think it's quite cozy here." When he leaned even further down, Rodney thought he was going to be the one with the brain clot. Aside from the fact that all his blood was on its way to a part of his body waay below his head.
'Think about Miss Cottner!' he chanted. 'Miss Cottner. Your english teacher with the bad teeth and the wart on her nose!'
He hadn't realized that he had screwed his eyes shut. Only when Sheppard began to move away he opened them again. Sheppard was the one standing besides the bed now and the bugger was actually laughing. "Don't worry Rodney." He winked at him. "A few hand-to-hand fights and you will be the one to lay me." He turned to leave and Rodney was too flabbergasted to do much more than watch him go, while his mouth worked around a wit reply that never came.
'What the hell was that?'
If he didn't know better, he'd say that Sheppard had flirted with him.
Just the very idea made Rodneys head spin. No that was not possible. John had shown Rodney many of his sides and emotions, maybe even more than he realised, but he had never flirted with him in any way. Had he?
No, Rodney was sure that Sheppard had just been infected with the cheerfulness of this place and had played a trick on him. He had maybe been a little bit more playful and out of character than usually, but John Sheppard had not flirted with Rodney McKay. Even if it damn straight looked and sounded like he had...
God, this place was messing with their heads.
If Sheppard kept acting like this, Rodney would go crazy before this mission was over. He really didn't need anymore deceitful hopes right now. He had plenty of them.
He left the hut and was almost run over by some dancing lunatics.
"Three days." he murmured, "Three days in Disneyhell and you'll be home."
The three days went by quicker than anyone thought possible and despite his earlier wishes, Rodney McKay was almost sad they did. And he wasn't the only one.
John Sheppard had enjoyed this mission like no other before. There had been no unpleasant surprises and no fatal misunderstandings.
Teyla had been absolutely engrossed in the negotiations and had told them over and over again what a great and wise leader Cayan was. John could believe the 'great' part, but the evening that Cayan had hopped on the table and began to dance and laugh like a maniac, he had secretly doubted the 'wise' part. Nevertheless, Teyla was always around the ambassador, even when the negotiations had been followed through. She had been amazed with the level of joy and happiness of the villagers and had hoped that she could learn their secret, so she could bring some of that light-heartedness back to her people. Teyla had followed the chubby man trough the village like a groupie (Rodneys words) and had hung on his every word.
Ronon, on the other hand, had been asked to teach some of the kids a few of his fighting moves. Everyone had been stunned that peace-loving people would want to teach their children how to fight, but Cayan had explained it.
"Fighting," he had said, "is just another form of dancing. The lessons would help them to get more control over their movements."
Ronon hadn't exactly agreed with the ambassador. But he had nonetheless agreed to show the kids some exercises so he wouldn't die of boredom. He would never admit it, but it turned out that the kids were quick learners and that the work with them was actually quite nice.
As for John and Rodney; their days had been filled with each other. Both of them had immediately realized that it would be a fairly boring mission for the two of them if they didn't find something to do, so they had teamed up and spent the three days together.
Especially Rodney had been worried that they would grate on each others nerves, the strain from the last few days still fresh in his head. But he had soon realized that, with the lurking shadow of the secret admirer gone, John was much more relaxed in his presence and easier to deal with. Rodney outright enjoyed their exploratory walks through the forest, even though he made sure that they weren't too extensive. Sometimes Rodney would just watch from the side, when John joined Ronon and the kids for a few hours and sometimes John would doze off besides him, when he was working on a new project on his laptop. But mostly they would talk and bicker about everything and anything.
Despite his attraction to the Colonel, Rodney had often secretly feared that he would tire of him, like he had done with everyone else in his life that got too close. He was incredibly relieved when he noted that that wasn't the case with Sheppard. If anything, he seized every little second he could share with John like someone dying with thirst would a glass of water.
He even endured the sparring sessions Sheppard had forced on him ("To keep us fit." John had said), although he insisted to bitch and moan about it every second of the way.
John, on the other hand, had had the same fears as Rodney, but he had risked it intentionally. Contrary to Rodneys belief, John had flirted with him that first day in the hut. Admittedly, it had started as a joke. He had been awake the second the Kessler had spoken but had deliberately not reacted when Rodney had spoken to him.
But then he had felt Rodney over him. Had felt the bed shift when Rodney had leant down. Had smelled traces of coffee in his breath and had heard the concern in Rodneys voice . But what undid him in the end had been the feathery touch on his cheek.
Before he realized his actions, Rodney had been under him, baby blues staring at him and he had felt Rodneys entire body. Every curve and every shift.
As soon as he had left the bed, John had already missed the warmth of Rodneys body. Had craved to touch him.
That had been the reason for the sparring. He couldn't care less about their state of fitness but he desired the feeling of Rodney under his hands.
John wasn't oblivious. He knew that there were some significant changes going on between the two of them. He knew that their relationship had changed during the last few days. He knew that he had changed. But although he knew all that, he hadn't had the courage to face these developements head-on.
And Rodney was too insecure to even speculate that, maybe, he wasn't just imaginating things after all.
That's why neither of them mentioned it. They just smiled and laughed and touched a little bit more than usual and savored the company of the other.
They were in fact so preoccupied with each other and their confusing feelings that they didn't notice two pairs of eyes following their every move. One with distrust and the other with fond amusement.
Cayan wasn't a stupid man.
He admitted that he tended to act like one. But how could you not when life was so wonderful? It almost forced you to act like a little kid again, to dance and to laugh.
Nonetheless, every so often he felt a pang of sadness when he watched his son. A constant reminder that the gods hadn't smiled down on everyone equally.
When Ceran had returned from his journey to another planet, the first and the last one in their history, he had been changed. He had told them about beings that stole your time. Of hatred and mistrust that had greeted him everywhere he went.
And that mistrust and hatred had turned his son into a stranger. Cayan missed the sound of his laughing son. He had decided that they would never again use the gate, or get into touch with other races.
It hadn't been worth their happiness.
A few years later, the Atlanteans had come and the Kessler's had been polite. Polite but wary. Suddenly Cayan had gotten the Moonfever and the strangers had helped. Without hestitation. Without asking for something in return.
And Cayan had hoped again.
The decision to trade with these people had been difficult, especially because Ceran had protested so fiercely. He had even suspected that the strangers had made his father ill just to heal him and gain their trust.
But Cayan had been willing to trust these people. To risk it. And he was glad he had.
Sheppard and his friends were wonderful people.
Teyla was a sweet girl, but hard negotiator. From time to time when they had discussed terms of their partnership, Cayan had wished that he could have met her when he was a few years younger.
The kids were having a great time with the Satedan and had already begged the big guy to visit them again as soon as he could.
And Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay... Cayan smirked when he watched the two men. It was the last day of their visit and they were sitting on a tree stump, watching Ronon and the children. They were actually sitting quite close and their fingers brushed slightly where they were lying on the wood.
Oh no. Cayan wasn't a stupid man and he decided that it was time to pay their new friends back for his recovered trust in mankind.
It was time to arrange a feast.
John couldn't believe what was happening.
Just a few minutes ago he had sat besides the ambassador and his friends at the table of honor and had watched the Kesslers dance some kind of waltz all around them.
He had been exited, when he had been told that it was tradition to end every important meeting with a party. The perfect end for a perfect mission. The food was delicious and the music was endurable, if not a bit raw.
Even Rodney seemed to be enjoying himself, even though he eyed the food with suspicion. Well, until John had tested it for citrus, something he did on every mission. It was like a tradition by then and the grateful smile on Rodneys face had always been worth it.
Yeah, the evening had been a full success. Until the ambassador had yelled: "It is time for the traditional dance of the visitors."
"D-dance?" Rodney had stuttered. "I can't dance!"
"It's tradition." had been the uncharacteristically brusque reply.
Teyla had taken Ronons arm and whispered something about, not wanting to 'break with their traditions'.
John had stared after them and Ronon had smirked back, leaving him only with Rodney left as his dancing partner. Rodney had gone as red as a beet and John was afraid that he hadn't looked much different. Why did things like that always happen to him?
After an encouraging nod from Cayan, they had hesitantly mingled with the crowd and had awkwardly begun to dance a slow waltz.
Rodney wouldn't look him in the eye, but focused on his feet instead. John assumed that it was only partly out of embarrassment and mainly because he had to concentrade on the rhythm.
The silence between them was killing John though.
"You tell someone about this and you are a dead man." he whispered jokingly.
"Oh, don't worry about that! It's not like I don't have to maintain a certain reputation. Dancing with the gigolo of Atlantis would so not agree with that."
"Gigolo? I am not a gigolo! And by the way, many women would jump at the chance to dance with me so I can't really believe that they wouldn't envy you right now."
"Oh I'm sure they do. And as soon as they see me they would rip me apart. No thanks!"
"Oh come on Rodney, I would protect you, you know that."
Rodney didn't comment on that, but muttered instead: "Why are you leading anyway?" He made an feeble attempt to extract himself out of his grip, but John wouldn't let him. Not when the back under his hand felt so good. After the first tense seconds he had relaxed more and more and noticed, that Rodney seemed to be the perfect dancing partner for him. He didn't need to bend down at all, like he needed with the most women he had danced with and Rodneys hand lay comfortable on his shoulder. Like it had been there his whole life. Their bodys complemented each other perfectly and John began to enjoy it more and more. He spun them around boldly, what elicited a surprised gasp from his partner.
"Because you are shorter than me, that's why Missy."
Rodney tensed a bit in his arms and John could almost smell his frown.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy from all that dancing in a ring. I told you I can't dance!"
Sheppard knew that Rodney would never ask, but he heard the question anyway. "I think you are doing a fine job here Rodney."
Finally Rodney looked up at him. "Really?"
Rather than the quirked eyebrow and suspicious stare he had expected, all Sheppard could see in Rodneys face were insecurity, hope and... John swallowed hard.
Love.
Rodney McKay looked at him with so much love and admiration in his eyes that John Sheppard didn't know how he could have missed this until now. The realitation hit him like a hammer: Rodney McKay was in love with him. Maybe for a while now and he had never noticed it.
But what freaked him out the most was, that he wasn't as freaked out about it than he probably should be. The thought, that Rodney felt more for him than mere friendship, was making him feel actually quite content... No not content. Relieved. Happy. Absolutely fucking gorgeous.
Could it be that he felt more for his friend too?
Ok, so he had spent more time with Rodney lately. And he had flirted with him on occasions. And he had touched him every time he could and he had acted different around him and...oh boy!
But he was straight wasn't he? Well, at least he had been for the last 37 years. Before he had met Rodney. Rodney. His best friend. His save haven at times after a particulary bad mission. It had been like that for the last year and suddenly everything changed within one week? Within one week he had fallen in love with his best friend?
"Everything okay?"
Rodneys question seemed to come out of nowhere and John snapped "Fine!" before he could restrain himself.
The mere second that he got a good look at Rodneys face, before he looked back down on his feet, was enough to make John feel like the scum of the earth.
He wasn't angry with Rodney. He was angry with himself, because he couldn't place the many different feelings he was brooding over. He had known what he was feeling for Rodney for a while now, but he couldn't admit it. He couldn't say it. It was just too mind-blowing.
Sometimes, even the great Colonel Sheppard was a coward.
He was so absorbed in thought, that he didn't noticed how he had pulled Rodney closer and closer during the last few minutes, until they were dancing so close, that it looked more like they were caressing each other. Didn't notice Rodney's pleased hum, when he ran soothing circles over his back.
Didn't notice how his body reacted without his consciousness. Like it always did around Rodney.
A/N:
So John, at last the penny's dropped huh? At least partially...
You have to tell me if the next two chapters should be rather short, so they will come quicker, or if you would like one really long chapter (maybe like this one) that would need at least a week. I can't decide, so I'll let decide you! *evil me*
Reply to hippygeek's (awesome name by the way) review: Thank you very much for your advice! It's my greatest fear that the sentences are so complicated that no one will actually understand what I want to say. Although I also have this problem in my mother tongue. I have a habit of writing intricate sentences. It did me good in school but I guess it isn't that advisable considering fanfics. I'll try to do better although I'm sure I don't have to tell you how hard it is to break a habit. As for the slang: LOL!!! I didn't really know that I used slang! I laughed so hard when I read it! I'm afraid I couldn't consider it in this chapter (potty mouth, that's why the warning) but I'll try the next time! Thanks again!
(But don't tell me that there is no correct comma placement whatsoever...I already know that. -.-)
R&R please.