Set during the episode, probably 2 weeks after they've returned to Earth.


The Return (Pt 1)


For the tenth time in as many hours, the phone rang out and cut to a message bank that seemed to grow more tired each time it told Rodney McKay to leave a message after the beep. The other nine messages would have to suffice, because he didn't have the time or energy to think up something else to say. That decided, Rodney still frowned at his cell phone. One more time couldn't hurt – and besides, it would give him an excuse to look busy. Not that he ever needed to, especially when it was eleven at night and no one else was around.

Three rings, but it was definitely picked up this time.

"Elizabeth!" he burst out. "Thank God. Are you alright? Are you…awake?"

A pause followed this, and then she replied tiredly, "Rodney…it's midnight. What is it?"

"Oh. Well, I hadn't actually thought that part out since it took so long to get your attention. You weren't out at some – er – you weren't with anyone were you?"

"Hardly. And yourself?"

Rodney beamed vacantly across his workspace then quickly remembered himself. Adopted a scowl, he paced backwards and forwards in front of his desk, free hand tearing more holes in a new pocket. He cleared his throat. "No such luck either. Makes you wonder if Sheppard can pick up in this galaxy or not. How…how are you?"

"Pensive," Elizabeth replied shortly. "You?"

"Huh, I don't have Zelenka weighing me down anymore," Rodney informed her. "And my office makes the Daedalus look like a UAV…so I guess you could say good. Good…except for one or two people that I miss."

"Two?"

The lack of detailed answers started to bother Rodney and he momentarily pulled the cell phone away from his ear to consider this. Midnight, come on. It wasn't like it was that late or anything. Never mind that it was only eleven at Area 51. And anyway, that was just an hour's difference. The silence finally stretched a few seconds too long and Rodney corrected, "Or one…one probably. That brings me to the next point. Dinner. When should we do it?"

"I thought you were in Nevada?"

Rodney glanced over his shoulder at his desk, checked the time again and shrugged to himself. "It's not a…big setback. And you could always move here. Maybe even move in with me. Or…or maybe not."

"Rodney…" Her tone sounded suspiciously gentle. "This is not Atlantis."

"Yes, yes, I tend to notice that when I find a window in this place. If I find a window…"

He heard her sigh ghosting over the receiver. Rodney stabbed a particularly large hole in his pocket and managed to scratch his leg in the process. Wincing, he prepared himself for anything she might say.

"I'm sorry," Elizabeth said carefully. "But my place is here. Not there. And I would appreciate it if you didn't try to contact me again."

Rodney sat down abruptly on the floor. "That's it? You're going to hang up and never speak to me again? Well that's mature."

"I'm sorry, Rodney."

Blankly staring at his knees for a moment, Rodney had to blink away the darkness suddenly encroaching on his vision. A light. Who was the idiot who didn't leave a light on when they left? His eyes landed on the lamp on his desk…the very bright and painful lamp that would probably be finding a new home after this. Preferably a dump.

"But I…" Rodney stopped, drawing a ragged breath. "But I lo – "

The phone beeped once, his only warning that Elizabeth had hung up. Rodney pushed away the cell phone and just stayed there. He couldn't move. Breathing seemed the least important function in the world, though his lungs burning reminded him that this was not the case. Rodney breathed again, but it was hard.

He drew his knees under his chin and murmured, "Lizbeth…not again…"

She couldn't do this. Not now.

Breathing was an overrated experience.