See first chapter for all warnings, disclaimers, etc.

A/N: There's one more chapter, then a sequel in the works, titled "Into the Woods". This WILL be a slash story - sorry, PurpleYin - so if you don't like that, don't read the sequel. The end of this story is safe for anyone who doesn't like slash. Thanks for the info on Dr. Heightmeyer, Laurac. And thanks to everyone for the lovely feedback. My muse says yummy, feed me more.

PS: Chapter six is half written. It might be a day or two before I post it since I just came down with the flu.

Chapter Five: Back to Work

Sheppard plonked himself down on a chair in Rodney's lab and tossed him a protein bar.

"Beckett says if you forget to eat you'll faint again," he announced, blithely tore open his own protein bar, and proceeded to chow down on it enthusiastically.

Rodney actually managed to catch the bar and was so pleased not to have fumbled it that he ignored Sheppard's provocative use of the word 'faint'.

"Thank you," he replied instead, with no trace of snarkiness, and was rewarded by a startled glance from Sheppard.

"Um…how's your neck?" Rodney asked hesitantly. He carefully avoided looking at the still colorful bruises Sheppard sported.

"Fine. A little sore to touch, that's all. You should hear what's coming out of the rumor mill, though."

McKay flushed. "I've heard. Believe me, I've heard."

"So," John swallowed his mouthful before continuing, "tell me about Doctor Perry. No, wait, not Doctor Perry. Is she a doctor?"

"I know she has one doctorate, although she qualifies for several. She says people like Kavanaugh give higher education a bad name."

"People like Kavanaugh give PEOPLE a bad name."

Rodney chuckled. "That's good. I'll have to remember that."

"So, Serena?" John steered him back to the subject.

"She's a physicist and a machinist. Where do you think I get the parts for my brilliant devices? What I don't already have or can salvage from something else, Serena makes. Who do you think fixes the equipment we brought from Earth when it breaks down?"

Sheppard perked up. "She's the one Ford calls 'Miss Fix-It'?"

"Yes, and you'd better tell him to stop. She won't like it."

"So how do you think she'd do going on missions with us?"

"Is that the point of all these questions? I thought you wanted to ask her on a date." Rodney only had to ponder for a moment. "Good. She'd be very good. She's smart and she's calm under pressure. And she'll always tell you exactly what she thinks. No BS."

"What's the worst thing you could say about her?" John was leaning forward now.

Rodney laughed. "She'll always tell you exactly what she's thinking."

Sheppard smiled. "There are worse things. What's the deal with the humming?"

The Canadian lifted an eyebrow. "I thought you hadn't met her?"

"We met, I just didn't really get a chance to talk to her. Zelenka said she was driving him nuts the other day. At least, I think that's what he said. But Ford told me she hums and sings all the time."

"She's an opera buff." Rodney grinned. "We commandeered the satellite TV on the Antarctica base to watch opening night at the Met on public television."

"You like opera?"

Rodney frowned, and John could swear he felt the temperature in the room dip. "Actually, I prefer instrumental classical music and some early jazz and swing." At Sheppard's blank expression, he sighed. "Never mind."

"Hey, Ford likes R&B. I don't get that either. To each his own." Sheppard paused, then said, oddly hesitant, "You and Serena …. you're, um, close?"

The scientist seemed mildly startled by the question, but answered, "Yeah. I guess you could say that. We're good friends. "

Rodney puttered with the objects on his workbench for a minute, then looked slyly over at Sheppard. "You said you met Serena. Did she offer to shake hands?"

John grimaced and rubbed his right hand at the memory. "Yeah, I swear my fingers were numb for ten minutes. And my hand ached for hours. There's something very wrong about a girl having hands that strong."

Rodney had just popped the last bite of his protein bar into his mouth and had to struggle not to choke on it when he laughed involuntarily. He managed to swallow it, but started coughing.

Sheppard jumped up and pounded on his back, but Rodney managed to gasp, "It's okay! I'm okay!" He took a few sips of water from the mug he kept on the corner of his workbench and concentrated on breathing deeply. The sensation was so familiar that it took him a moment to realize that Sheppard was still standing behind him with his hand on Rodney's back.

"I'm – " he had to stop and clear his throat. "I'm okay, Major. Really."

Sheppard still didn't remove his hand, just transferred it to Rodney's shoulder. "No, you're not. Your muscles are all knotted up. You're way too tense, Rodney. Learn to relax."

Now both his hands were on Rodney's shoulders, massaging deep into the muscles. It was painful but so relaxing, and Rodney could feel tension draining away under the strong fingers. His eyes closed and his head drooped. "You're gonna put me to sleep," he protested weakly, and heard Sheppard quietly reply, "Good. You don't get enough sleep."

He wondered vaguely how Sheppard knew that he was often in his lab late into the night. By the time John stopped massaging his shoulders, Rodney's brain had shut down almost completely and he was barely aware of being gently coaxed to his feet and led to his quarters. He never even opened his eyes as he was encouraged to lie down on his bed. He was sound asleep the moment his head touched the pillow, and never felt it when Sheppard tugged off his shoes, pulled the blanket up over him, and turned off the light on his way out the door.

TBC

A/N: One more chapter…then the sequel. And wouldn't you like to know just how close Rodney and Serena REALLY are?