'Dru'- there is a reason for paper...a trail, (waggling eyebrows up and down)
Seven.
Night fell across Atlantis. Rodney waited until after the bustle of the shift change to make his way back to the medical bay. Carson was no where to be seen, the night nurse was sitting at the corner desk writing something. She looked up at him, smiled and went back to her work.
Rodney walked over to the bedside. The major looked better, a bit of color to his face, still propped by the pillows though. One of the iv bags and the oxygen mask were gone. That was a good sign. He looked around for a chair. Found one across the room and drug it to the major's bedside.
Upon finally sitting, he looked up meeting John's open eyes. He stared down at his entwined hands. Even if he could talk, he didn't know what to say.
John heard rustling beside his bed but figured it was a nurse or Carson so he ignored it. However, the god-awful screech of something dragging across the floor compelled him to open his eyes...to see Rodney pulling up a chair. When Rodney finally settled, he met his eyes but quickly averted to staring at his hands.
John cleared his throat causing Rodney to look up, "What's up, Rodney?"
Rodney shrugged, shaking his head, a fake half-smile on his lips.
"Sucks, hunh?"
A little truer smile, nodding.
"We'll figure it out. You just hang in there." John knew they would figure it out, they had to. McKay was an annoying, pompous ass but he missed the scientist's interpretations, the over-active bouncing, the excitement, even the over-inflated ego talk.
Rodney crossed his arms in a sort of self-hug, mouth set in a hard line, eyebrows drawn in a frown, gazing at the floor.
John fumbled with the double blankets, muttering, "Beckett must've thought I was gonna freeze." He missed the sheepish look that crossed Rodney's face. Finally untangling his right arm, he thrust it out at Rodney. "Be the first to sign my cast?"
Rodney sat up straight, pointing to himself, eyebrows raised in mock surprise. 'Me?' A genuine smile lit his face as he pulled out the fat black marker.
Dr Weir's voice came over the comms, paging Carson and Rodney to the conference room. John and Rodney watched Carson stride out. Rodney looked back at John, standing, hooking a thumb toward the door.
John nodded, waving him off. "Have fun."
Rodney gave a half-wave as he chased after Carson.
John glanced at the barely legible script on his cast. 'Next time I won't be so easy on you. -McKay' He hollered after Rodney, "In your dreams, McKay!" Shaking his head, he lay back on the pillow, a smile on his lips.
Rodney caught up with Carson in the corridor, both men walking to the conference room in silence. They were met with Dr Weir, Lt Ford, Teyla, and Sgt Bates already seated around the table.
"Gentlemen," Dr Weir greeted, motioning them to sit. She interlaced her fingers on the table, addressing Rodney first, "I understand you want to go back to the planet."
Rodney's eyes widened, excited at the prospect of ending the forced silence. He nodded enthusiastically. He looked around for his tablet. His lips formed an obvious curse when he realized he had left it...somewhere. Looking around, he found that no one else had paper either. He held up one finger, then raced from the room.
Dr Weir turned to Dr Beckett. "And how is Major Sheppard, doctor?"
"The effects of the concussion are diminishing, lungs are clearing. He still doesn't remember what happened over there. I'm releasin him tomorra but he'll be out of commission for a while."
Elizabeth nodded, lips pursed. "What d..."
She was interrupted by Rodney striding breathlessly back into the room carrying a laptop. Dr Kavanagh was close behind with a truly offended look on his face. Rodney, jaw set, eyes on fire, held up a hand in his face to silence any whining before it even started. Kavanagh looked to Elizabeth who shook her head for him to drop it. He all but stomped his foot lik a petulant child as he headed back the way he came, shaking his head in disgust.
The group around the table couldn't help but giggle at the silent movie playing out before them, even Bates cracked a smile.
Rodney, too excited to sit, open the computer and started to type. Once finished he flipped it around for all to see. 'Am missing one full section of instructions on device. Might be instructions to undo this.
"Did you encounter any indigenous inhabitants on this world? Any kind of threat that would jeopardize a second trip?"
Rodney shook his head half way through her questions and didn't stop until she finished speaking.
Lt Ford felt the need to throw in, "No, ma'am. We found no sign of people. Teyla says the night life isn't safe though, so we need to make this a quick trip."
She nodded, "Alright, you have a go. But don't touch anything until you know exactly what it does. Understood?"
Rodney rolled his eyes feeling like he was six years old about to go into the candy store. He impatiently nodded his agreement.
"Be safe."
I realize while writing each chapter that this would be so much easier if I was directing it rather than writing it...sighing dreamily...maybe someday.
