Still trying to find my way here at Not sure this stuff came through with first chapter so sending it this time just to be sure

RATING: PG-13 for Language
SEASON: First season right after The Eye
MAJOR CHARACTERS: McKay and Sheppard with appearances by Weir and Beckett
DISCLAIMERS: The characters, Atlantis, etc, all belong to MGM, Gecko, Showtime, the Sci-Fi Channel.
NOTE: This is my first venture here… I don't know much about SG stuff... have patience!
SUMMARY: Tag, follow-up to The Eye. Rodney is dealing…not so well.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Tipper is to blame and then Tip and NT ganged up and dragged me here screaming. Thanks to both for beta-ing and reading through this!
FEEDBACK: Yes , reviews are appreciated!
SPOILERS: for The Storm and The Eye, I don't think there are any others.

What Kind of Man?
By sablecain

Part Two:

Rodney stared at the barrel of Kolya's gun, his panic rising as he watched the commander decide whether or not to spare Elizabeth's life. He knew he was dreaming, even as his fear and emotions collided in a rush of frantic words. He could remember that it was all over, but the panic continued, his heart beating faster. It was pounding now, louder. Louder. Louder.

McKay sat up, startled and gasping. Pain ripped through his lower back and his arm throbbed, reminding him once more that the nightmare had definitely been real. Surprised, he realized the pounding continued. It took a moment for him to recognize the noise for what it was, someone was banging on the door.

"What?" he croaked, groggily. It'd taken forever to get to sleep and even then, his rest had been fitful. Now it felt like his head was trapped in a vise, and he winced when the banging began again. Pushing back his covers, he slowly crawled out of the warm bed. "I'm coming."

He staggered a step, dizziness making the room tilt around him as he punched the panel and the door swept open revealing Sheppard with his hand raised to knock again.

"What do you want?" Rodney demanded swaying slightly.

John dropped his hand back to his side, surprise flashing across his face. It was quickly replaced with anger. "What happened to you?"

Rodney stiffened defensively, his chin lifting in defiance. Sheppard watched in amazement as the dull, glassy eyes sparked to life. "Well gee, I don't know. I believe I spent the last day and half trying to help save this city from a monster hurricane. Not to mention being dragged around in said storm by a deranged Genii commander intent on killing me at his first opportunity. You know, that or turning me into a slave for his people… I was tired. I went to bed."

John frowned. "That's not what I meant. What happened to your face?"

"My face?"

"Yeah, your face." Sheppard let himself into the room, gently pushing Rodney out of the way so the door could close behind him.

McKay's hands were flitting around his face, searching for the problem. He winced slightly as his fingers grazed his cheekbone.

"Nothing. Nothing." He blushed, remembering.

John turned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Nothing?" The bruise darkly stretched from McKay's cheek to his eye.

"I don't know. I just told you my day was a little frantic. You expect me to remember everything?" McKay looked around. "Did I say you could come in?"

The Major smiled mischievously. "Didn't say I couldn't."

"Hmm." Rodney's frown deepened. "What do you want?" he demanded again, suddenly self-conscious about standing half dressed in front of Sheppard. He crossed his arms, mirroring Sheppard's stance, but hissed sharply as the cuts on his arm flared. He dropped his hands to his sides quickly.

"Just thought I'd check to see how you're doing. It was a long day, after all." He frowned, watching McKay jitter around, noting the red stained bandage.

"How's the arm?"

Rodney huffed and moved toward his desk. A sweatshirt was draped over the chair. "It's fine."

"Have you…" John caught sight of the wide purple bruise stretching across Rodney's back. His anger deepened. "Been able to see Carson yet?" he managed to finish his question.

"How's Beckett doing?" Rodney avoided answering. Awkwardly he slipped into his sweatshirt, biting his lip to hold in another hiss.

"Bit of a headache, but he's blustering around the Med Lab already, cursing about missing supplies and such. He gets harder to understand the more worked up he gets."

"I've noticed that."

A tense silence settled between them, as Sheppard continued to watch McKay and McKay tried to avoid eye contact.

What was John really here for? When was he going to start in about the importance of keeping one's mouth shut even under duress? McKay couldn't look at the Major. Unlike the other military on Atlantis, John was different. He was a leader. A leader who'd picked Rodney for his team and he was almost what Rodney considered a friend. To see his disappointment… He could already sense Sheppard's anger and right now he didn't feel up to defending himself. He knew he'd screwed up. Wasn't it enough knowing that and knowing everyone else on base knew it, too? He didn't need to discuss it.

"Look…"

"Rodney…"

Both started and stopped. McKay absently rubbed his aching head and Sheppard quickly noted the Doctor was trembling, and very pale.

"When's the last time you ate?" John asked looking around for any sign that McKay had eaten in his quarters.

Rodney frowned. "I don't know…dinner I think."

Sheppard spotted McKay's pack. "Sit down." He motioned to the chair and grabbed the bag, rummaging quickly through it until he found an energy bar.

"Huh?" McKay seemed confused as John ripped open the snack and shoved it into his hands.

"Eat," Sheppard ordered.

"Fine. Fine. You don't need to be so pushy about it." Rodney took a bite and chewed slowly. "I'm not hungry."

John sat on the edge of the bed and shook his head. "You're always hungry."

"I'm hyperglycemic," McKay reminded defensively.

"Exactly."

Rodney's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh. Listen, McKay. I need to talk to you." John leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, but sat back up when Rodney tossed his energy bar onto the desk and stood quickly beginning to pace.

"I know. I know. I should have been able to keep my mouth shut with Kolya. I should have been able to apply some sort of mind over matter type theory. Or or recite the periodic table of elements or anything really. I should have done anything but tell him the plan to save Atlantis and instead that's exactly what I did."

John's eyes widened as he listened to Rodney's frantic rant.

"Rodney." He tried to get the physicists attention.

"I tried not to tell."

"McKay."

"I should have been able to just shut up."

"Rodney."

"But I can never keep my big mouth closed. Why can't I learn to at least..."

"Shut up!" John shouted and Rodney froze, his mouth opening and closing like he still wanted to speak. "Thank you. Now, sit."

McKay blinked.

"Sit." John growled.

"I"

"Ah ah." Sheppard put up his hand cutting Rodney off. "Just sit and listen."

Rodney started back to his chair and stopped, waves of dizziness suddenly sweeping over him. "Uh, John?"

"What?" Sheppard closed his eyes exasperated. Could the man never do what he was told? He opened his eyes in time to see Rodney's knees buckle. "Oh crap."