Cameron Mitchell walked into the conference room and tossed the lemon to Sheppard. "Worked like a charm."

"Told you." Sheppard grinned. "So McKay pulled off a miracle for you?"

Mitchell sat down. "I wouldn't go that far. He helped, but I would rather have Sam. She's just as smart and a lot nicer to have around." He shook his head. "I don't know how you stand that guy. He's arrogant, he's annoying, he's loud…"

The smile faded from Sheppard's face. "Let's take a walk."

Mitchell looked surprised but got up and followed Sheppard out to the control room. Sheppard stopped at the panel overlooking the stargate. "This is where McKay died." Mitchell frowned, puzzled, and Sheppard continued. "The first time."

"Oh, right. I read some of the mission reports on the way here. The whole expedition was killed, except for Dr Weir. She went back in time and set up a failsafe with one of the Ancients to save the city the second time around."

"That's right." Sheppard touched the panel. "The first time, McKay stayed here in the control room while it flooded, working till the last second to open the puddle jumper bay doors." His eyes met Mitchell's. "I was in a jumper, trying to get away. McKay drowned trying to save my life." Mitchell shifted uncomfortably and Sheppard started down the stairs, gesturing at the stargate. "He almost died here from an entity the Ancients captured and left in a box when they abandoned the city. You can imagine how angry and hungry it was when it escaped. It ate power. It would have killed us all, but McKay lured it through the stargate by throwing a naquadah generator into the wormhole."

"I read about that too," said Mitchell. "He had a personal defence shield."

"Yes, he did, but he didn't know if that shield would protect him. It almost didn't. The entity completely drained it and for a minute, it looked like we had lost him. He was shot here too, through the gate. A Wraith stunner, full in the face." Sheppard smiled and the smile didn't reach his eyes. "You might say a stunner, even in the face, isn't so bad. Maybe you'd be right, but it's not an experience I would wish on anybody. That happened because our position had been betrayed to the Wraith. The number one suspect was the Athosians and some people thought it was Teyla. McKay...as soon as he was back on his feet, he devoted himself to finding the truth. He was the one who cleared Teyla and found the Wraith transmitter she was wearing. She just thought it was a necklace, and I was the one who activated it. Good thing McKay figured it out."

"Look, Colonel…"

Sheppard was staring at the gate. "We got caught in it once. The puddle jumper's engine pods didn't retract and it got stuck in the gate. Thirty eight minutes until it shut down. I was pretty out of it. An Iratus bug got me and I was down with the damn thing sucking the life out of me. Even if I'd been unwounded, I wouldn't have been able to help. It was a technical issue, beyond my expertise. Beyond McKay's, too, but he managed to get the pods retracted in time for the jumper to go through and save the lives of everyone on board."

He turned and started up the stairs again and Mitchell followed him. Sheppard walked out on a balcony. "The Genii invaded the city once."

"I read about that too. McKay gave up information under torture."

Sheppard's eyes glittered. "Can you say for sure you wouldn't have done the same? I can't. I don't think anybody can. He was hurt and scared and he still threw himself in front of Elizabeth when the leader of the Genii force was about to shoot her. He had a moment of weakness, but he's not a coward. It takes a brave man to be that scared and get the job done, and he saved the city that day. Again." Sheppard leaned on the balcony railing. "You came on the Odyssey but you know about the Daedalus."

Mitchell tried again. "Colonel, if I was out of line…"

Sheppard ignored him. "McKay saved the Daedalus too. A Wraith virus invaded the computer and sent us straight for a sun." He shook his head. "I had to pull off some fancy flying on that trip, but it was McKay who got rid of the virus and saved all our lives."

"You know, I get it," said Mitchell impatiently. "He's your scientist and he figures out the tough stuff and he saves your butt when the chips are down. I've been there. Sam and Daniel, they start with the geek speak and before I know it, a situation that looked hopeless is back to neat. You know what? They're good for more than talking a mile a minute. I know they have my back in a fight."

"McKay's had my back in a fight," said Sheppard quietly. "I was trapped in a virtual reality world on an Ancient ship, with the Wraith closing in and Caldwell ready to pull the plug. That might have killed me, and anyone who went in after me, but McKay didn't let that stop him. He came in to get me and bring me back."

Mitchell said grudgingly, "Okay, I have to admit that's impressive. Still, virtual reality…"

"He's been there for me in the real world too." Sheppard stared at the water. "I was attacked by a Wraith and just as it was about to finish me off, McKay got there and started shooting. He ran out of bullets, but he stood his ground." Sheppard turned to Mitchell. "I probably shouldn't have given you the lemon. I know McKay doesn't make a good first impression…" He shrugged. "Or a good hundredth impression with some people. I thought if you felt like you could tease him, you might like him a little better. Guess I was wrong."

"Colonel Sheppard, I want you to know that whatever I think of your friend, I wasn't hard on him," said Mitchell stiffly.

Sheppard looked surprised. "I didn't think you were. And Rodney McKay is not my friend." He paused for a long moment, his eyes boring into Mitchell's. "He's my family."