Laura raced ahead of John, oblivious to his shouted warning. She had no idea what Carson had to tell them but reckoned the sooner she found out, the sooner she could deal with it.

She skidded round the corner into the infirmary. Carson was stood by a bed, with Rodney in it, and they both looked over at her. The blueness of Rodney's eyes was obvious even across the room.

The relief Laura felt at this restoration nearly floored her. She caught the doorframe as her knees buckled. Her own eyes blurred.

"Oh my God," John's voice said. Laura felt a hand settle on her back. "Go to him," the colonel murmured softly to her. She nodded dumbly and pushed off the doorframe. Her hands shook as she walked across to where Rodney was grinning impudently at her. There was no sign of the scarring or the sunburn.

Laura shook her head in amazement and looked at Carson. "How?"

"Oh just a wee gene manipulation courtesy of a blood sample and the wonders of Ancient technology," Carson said.

"It was my idea," Rodney informed her smugly.

"Aye, you say that now," Carson said irritably. "If it had ne worked, it'd be a different story."

Laura chuckled. John had come over and he placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder.

"Nice one Carson," he said, then slapped Rodney on the back. "Congrats buddy."

"Ow," Rodney whined. "Mind the vertebra."

John rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna go share the good news with Elizabeth. Catch you later, guys." He sauntered out.

Laura turned back to Rodney, still wondering at the incredible change. She gave him a misty smile and reached out to touch his face tenderly.

Carson coughed. "Think I'm… needed elsewhere." He beat a hasty retreat, leaving them alone.

Rodney swung his legs off the bed and stood up. He cast a furtive glance in the direction Carson had gone and then hooked a hand around Laura's waist, pulling her to him. He grinned down at her and then trailed the fingers of his other hand through her hair.

"You're beautiful," he informed her. "I am so glad we figured something out because I'd hate to have never been able to see you again."

Laura swallowed against the threat of tears. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest.

"Hey, hey, no crying!" he exclaimed. "This is a good thing!"

"I know," she said, laughing and crying all at once. She rubbed her eyes. "Sorry, it's just…. Oh Rodney, I was so scared."

The grin faded and he cupped her face. "Shush," he soothed. "It's okay. Everything's okay. I'm sorry. I really put you through hell, didn't I?"

Laura shook her head. "That doesn't matter. I'm just glad you're alright."

"I'm fine," he assured her. He slid the hand to the back of her neck and claimed her mouth. Laura lent into him and he held her tighter. Blood thundered in her ears as the kiss became passionate.

Rodney pulled back. "K," he breathed heavily. "That's enough of that right now."

"Ohhh," Laura whined. "Why?"

"Because I doubt Carson would appreciate me doing what I have in mind in the middle of his infirmary," he told her, giving her a dark, glittering look that made her shiver.

She looked round. "Well he's not here. Let's play hooky and take this somewhere a little more private."

"Laura…"

"Or don't you want me?" She pouted at him.

Rodney looked pained. "That's not fair and you know it. And quit that." He pushed her bottom lip with his thumb. "Elizabeth's probably going to want to see me."

Laura shook her head with a chuckle. "She'll want no such thing – Sheppard went to see her and he… well he kinda knows we hooked up."

"Oh really?"

"Uh huh. So if he's told her the kind of thing I reckon he's told her… well no one's going to be looking for us for a while."

Rodney smiled slowly. "Well isn't that interesting?" He drawled the word, mimicking her pronunciation perfectly.

"Very, very interesting," she retorted, worming closer again. "So…?"

"Somewhere more private here we come."

They opted for Rodney's quarters. Well Rodney decided he wanted to go to his quarters because that where his laptop was and he wanted to "check a couple of things". Laura was happy to go wherever, though less than impressed by his plans. Still, she knew she had a whole range of distractions at her disposal if Rodney got distracted.

She sat on his bed and kicked off her trainers as he powered up the laptop and accessed the program they'd been running down on the planet. She watched him for a while, taking pleasure in the simple fact he could read the data by himself.

However, this didn't last long and she grew bored. Diversionary tactics were called for. She stripped off her t-shirt, bra and socks and padded bare foot across the carpet to where Rodney sat. She lent against him, pressing her naked breasts on his neck. He froze.

"Put it down and come to bed," she murmured into his ear and then nibbled at the lobe. She felt a shudder run through him.

"Okay," he said. He shut the laptop and placed it on the table, moving away from her as he did so. He then turned round and stared at her. "Um. Wow."

Laura giggled. "Thanks." She stood straight and flicked her hair back. "There's more to see though." She offered him a smug little grin and shimmied out of her trousers to stand in front of him completely naked.

Rodney swallowed hard, raking her body with his eyes. A distinctly hungry expression came onto his face. "You're incredible," he told her reverently. "And so hot. Come here."

"Oh no," she replied, backing away. "You come here, Rodney."

His expression darkened. "Okay," he said and stood abruptly. He pulled off his own t-shirt in one smooth move and then launched across the room. Laura backed up further, but was hampered by the bed. The back of her knees buckled as they hit the mattress, at which point Rodney reached her.

They tumbled onto the bed, a tangle of arms and legs, Laura giggling helplessly. He ran a hand up from hip to breast and she closed her eyes with a sigh.

"Hmm," she moaned and raked her nails down his back. She slipped her fingers under the band of his trousers. "You're wearing too much Rodney."

"That I can correct."

"Yeah? Well do so, and be quick about it."

Rodney gave a dirty chuckle and shucked off the bed. Laura shifted up to lie on it properly, rolling onto her side to watch him strip. He caught her ogling him and looked faintly embarrassed.

"What?"

"Just enjoying the view," she told him smugly.

He looked her up and down. "Likewise," he remarked, causing her to blush.

"Get your ass over here, McKay," Laura retorted.

Rodney smirked and went over. She wrapped her arms round his neck as he clambered on top of her, closing her eyes and he kissed her hard on the mouth.

"Why has this taken us so long?" he wondered.

"Absolutely no idea," she answered, sliding her hands down his back to grasp his buttocks. "But it's all the more reason for you to get on with it."

He chuckled and repositioned himself. He paused then, looking at her questioningly. Laura rolled her eyes and wrapped her les around his, pulling him towards her. He chuckled again and shifted, sliding into her slowly.

Laura closed her eyes with a soft groan. He rested on top of her, breathing hard and trembling slightly. She hugged him tightly, knowing he was feeling overwhelmed.

"Laura," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"I know," she soothed. "I know."

"Do you?" he said. "Do you have any idea of how I feel about you?"

"Why don't you tell me? Or better yet, why don't you show me?"

Rodney lent up on his elbows and looked down at her. She smiled warmly, and then rocked her hips suggestively. He gave a soft laugh and stroked out and back into her. Laura gave a hum of appreciation.

"Like that?" he enquired.

"Just like that."

"'K."

He continued, stroking her at a slow, gentle pace that heated every cell in her body. Laura had expected sex with Rodney McKay to be hard and fast but it seemed he could calm his usual frenetic energy when he wanted. She just wasn't sure she wanted him to right now; the slowness was teasing and frustrating her.

"Faster," she moaned, clutching desperately at his buttocks.

"Not yet," he murmured back. "I'm enjoying myself."

"You're winding me up," Laura retorted.

"I know – that's why I'm enjoying it."

"Bastard."

Rodney pulled out and teased her entrance. "You wanna take that back?"

Laura groaned. "Stop it. Yes, I do. Just… Rodney, please."

"Please what?"

"I want you. I want it harder. I want you to make me come."

Rodney's eyes darkened. "Be careful what you wish for, Laura," he said and thrust in hard, making her gasp at the sudden intrusion. She arched, tilting her hips and grinding herself against him. He groaned in response and all control vanished.

Laura had a fleeting thought that this was far more like what she expected, but then the sheer pleasure blotted any other sane idea from her brain. She moaned at each thrust, scrabbling at him; needing more, needing him in a way she couldn't fathom never mind put into words.

Bizarrely she found herself recalling everything: from the first moment they'd met in the Gateroom and something had sparked between them; through the two days she'd occupied his head, privy to his inner self; the handful of chance meetings that had inevitably left her feeling displaced; the threat of the Trust and the vicious argument they'd had afterwards; right up to the mission to the planet and the awful recollection of him blind and burnt.

A familiar tension wound round Laura's gut and she knew she was close to climax. She arched again, seeking that release.

"Rodney," she gasped as it washed over her. She felt him tense and then shudder as he responded in kind. He half collapsed on top of her, breathing hard. For the longest time she lay beneath him, one hand trailing up and down his spine as she revelled in the aftermath and the rightness of what they'd just done.

"I love you," he murmured then.

Laura found herself grinning ridiculously at that. "Yeah, I know," she said smugly.

Rodney propped himself up on one elbow. "And?" he demanded.

"And what?" she replied innocently.

"You know what?" he said grumpily. Then he looked slightly panicked. "Or don't you?"

Laura chuckled. "Relax, Rodney. I've not just used you for sex. Even if it was damn good sex. I love you too."

He grinned and then sighed. "You're crazy."

"Yes, I know."

"Hey!" He looked affronted.

"Well you said it," she said and then pulled him back to her before he could go off in a mood. "I'm not crazy for loving you. Or if I am, then I don't care. Nothing that feels as right as this does can be wrong, Rodney."

He turned back to her, wonder on his face. "It does, doesn't it?"

Laura nodded.

"Wow," he said. "Okay, that's just a little bit scary."

She nodded again. "I was thinking before, about everything, every time we… you know, we should have seen this coming right from the start?"

"Yes. I think I did, but I was dating Katie and you… you were this pain-in-the-ass marine that rubbed me up the wrong way."

"I got under your skin."

"Don't remind me."

Laura chuckled. "I didn't mean that, but there was that as well."

"We've come a long way," he remarked, stroking her hair back from her face. "You know, as stupid as I was I'm really, really glad about what I did. I… I would have… That is to say that even if I hadn't come up with a fix, being blind wouldn't be a loss compared to what I gained."

"Rodney," she sighed, her eyes filling up.

"I mean that," he said seriously. "This… this is everything I dreamed for and never thought I'd have. I know what I am, Laura. I know how petty and arrogant I am. I'm mean and small-minded and half the time I'm amazed that anyone puts up with me. So I really don't understand how anyone could love me."

"Because you are more than all that. Even at your worst, you only ever have others in mind. That's why Duronda happened and forgive me for bringing up, but it's apt. It wasn't just pride and arrogance that you were determined to make that weapon work, it was the need to make Collins' death mean something, and have Atlantis protected into the bargain."

Rodney looked uncertain. "I suppose," he shrugged.

"And while we're bringing up stuff you'd rather forget, when I got stuck in your head you were determined to save me, despite everything I'd done, because you do care. People matter to you even if you pretend otherwise. Don't deny it."

"I'm not. Atlantis is important to me. This is the first place I've ever felt like a part of. I feel like I'm contributing and not just because I'm a genius because it's not always about that."

"No, it's not. You're a good man, Rodney McKay. And I love you."

He smiled and snuggled against her. "I know."

Elizabeth was reading Laura's preliminary report on the events on the planet when John sauntered into her office. The overly pleased look on his face alerted her and she closed the file and looked at him curiously.

"Carson and Rodney came up with a plan," he reported.

She felt a surge of hope. "Oh?"

"Yeah, seems like they found a use for that equipment we hadn't labelled yet. Seems like it can manipulate DNA."

"Please tell me this means what I think it does."

John grinned at her. "Yeah. Rodney's back to his all-seeing, all-condescending self."

"Oh thank God," Elizabeth breathed in utter relief. "I am so glad. I hadn't got the faintest idea what we were going to do otherwise. I was reading Lieutenant Cadman's report and… But it doesn't matter. Thank God."

"Thank Ancient machinery and the combined brains of Carson and Rodney," John said.

Elizabeth gave a soft laugh and stood up. "I should go and see him."

"No," he said. "You really shouldn't."

"Oh."

"Well it turns out he and Laura found more than just a new power source down there. By my reckoning, they should be well into investigating that now."

Elizabeth stared at him. "Rodney and Laura?" she managed finally.

"Uh huh."

"Really?"

"You could go and check if you wanted. They were last seen going into Rodney's quarters and she was more or less draped all over him. Given her determination in a particular direction, I can pretty well imagine what they're doing right now."

Elizabeth blushed; so could she. "Okay, well maybe I won't."

"Wise decision. Tell you what, I'm free and I'm hungry. You wanna join me for some lunch?"

"Yes, sure. Why not?"

"Yeah. And you can pay me that five dollars you owe me - I told you they'd get together."