I got stuck writing this because I wasn't sure how I wanted it to work out. McKay gets her, Shep gets her, or McKay leaves it to her to pick. So I decided the good old fashion way, I flipped a coin. So you'll just have to read to see what happens.
Enjoy.
Workday Wonders: Chapter Eight
When they dialed the 'Gate and sent their IDC, they'd requested a medical team, even though Markham was in no immediate danger, Beckett had been there waiting. Markham would eventually wake, and despite the pins and needles he'd be feeling, he'd know the feeling of relief that came with waking up on the infirmary beds, surrounded by friends.
Meanwhile, Sheppard's team sat around the briefing room table, waiting for Dr. Weir to enter and call the meeting to a start. John and Teyla sat on one side Ford and Rodney on the other; it was the first time in just over a day that John and Rodney had been able to walk away from each other. More than a few people lost money in the pool about who'd go crazy first. Both men were unharmed, and they weren't at each others throats, and were now apart no worse for wear than before.
Come to think of it, Sheppard and McKay hadn't been seen at each other's throats at all, at least no more than usual, but there was an underlying tension even now that they were apart. Not like they missed the person that had been their other half for a day, but a tension that you might find between the new husband and the ex-husband. It was unsettling.
Sheppard rubbed his wrist, his eyes glancing around the room, touching on everything except McKay, and McKay didn't seem to be able to look at anything but Sheppard.
Never in his life had he known someone who would give up something they cared about, to give their chance to someone else. He wasn't sure if he would have done the same thing. He was in the exact same position as Sheppard, he could let him go for it, but it was something he wanted, and he was inclined to be selfish about getting it. Had John not told him to go for it, the competition would have remained the same. He wouldn't have backed down until Elizabeth had made it clear he was unwanted.
Or vice versa, though it was more likely to be the former rather than the latter in his mind.
Elizabeth walked into the room; she practically glided to her seat at the head of the table. McKay's eyes left John and mimicked her movements. Did he have the courage to make a move, to take the opportunity presented by the Major? Or would he let himself and the Major down? John was giving up something big for Rodney, he felt obligated to him to ask her, and obligated to himself to be a good friend, and not waste time like he had been.
He looked down at the device that sat on the table in front of him, he was it rolling beneath his hand, across the table, the metal on metal clinked with the movement. What if she said no? It was the same thought that kept him from ever asking someone out. At least asking them out and getting yes as an answer. His nerves were always his undoing, if he managed to get the words out they didn't sound right, and usually all he got for his efforts was a glare and good view of someone's back as they walked away.
He could feel his heart climb up his throat with each beat. He hadn't even said two words to her yet, and look at him; he was choking on his thoughts.
Ford and Teyla did most of the talking, about the food, the young men, the run back to the ship, and when Markham woke he'd say all the same things. Then she turned her attention to John, berating him for leaving the ship, knowing he had to take Rodney with him, and that he had promised not to.
She looked hurt. You could see it in her eyes, she trusted John with her life, and it was a trust well founded, he'd saved her a few times, but he hadn't listened to her. This time she'd trusted him to keep a promise that would not only keep himself safe, but Rodney as well, and he'd broken it.
It took Rodney a moment to realize that she was looking and talking to him, "Yeah…what?" he said, putting his hands on his lap, letting the device roll to a stop on it's own.
"What do you think made the device release the two of you?"
"Oh, uh…well, I didn't think about it until after it came off but, uh, Ford practically told how to get it off yesterday."
"I did?"
"Yes. That story about your grandfather and your cousin, there was some, uh, unfinished business between us, all we had to do was…iron out the wrinkles and uh, we were free." He added a quick smile to his explanation; it made him look more anxious than anything else.
He hated being under the magnifying glass. They'd want to know what it was that had held them together in the first place; it wasn't something he was inclined to share.
'We got stuck together because I thought he'd make a move on Elizabeth before I did.' Maybe that's what he'd say…if he wanted to look like a fool.
"Unfinished business?" she asked. He'd known she would, it could have been important…but it was just embarrassing. Why did he think his feelings for her were embarrassing? He changed his mind, if anything kept him from getting her, it wouldn't be his words, it would be his less then sunny disposition and self resentment and self doubt. Sheppard sure as hell didn't think falling for her was embarrassing.
"Um, unfinished…about, uh, about…Chaya. It was Chaya, we just needed to get that out of our systems." He said, blinking a few to many times.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm beat. McKay snores and I can sleep by myself tonight, so that's where I'm going." John said standing up, he glanced at Elizabeth, smiling, "That is if it's ok with you."
"Major, if I didn't know better, I'd say you didn't appreciate my company." McKay said.
"Well, you know what they say all good things…absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Ford let out a laugh, causing Teyla to look at him. He'd explain it to her later.
"It's ok Major, you can go. Dismissed." She said, taking a stand her self. John walked quickly to where McKay was still sitting. As Ford and Teyla left the room, he explained to her why he'd laughed, and John bent over Rodney and whispered into his ear.
"Make me proud."
McKay watched him leave the room, and jog to catch up to the young Lieutenant and Athosian friend. There was something truly…indefinable about him. He had to be hurting inside, good deed or not, it had to suck. Sometimes being a good friend hurt, and sometimes being a best friend killed. But he was a good one, the best, and McKay wouldn't have anyone else be given the title of his best friend, John should be proud.
McKay turned to Elizabeth; she was talking again, asking if he was ok, or if he just missed the Major's companionship. 'Funny.' He thought. He stood, picked up the device and looked Elizabeth in the eye.
"What were you two really fighting over?"
"What?"
"You're a bad liar remember, eye twitches, stuttering." She raised her eyebrow at him.
"You listen to everything I say?"
"You are one of the most brilliant people here." She smiled at him, and he looked away. He felt like a child with a school yard crush, any moment he'd push her down and run away.
"You must have misspoken; I am the most brilliant person here."
"Of course." She started to walk past him, and an image of Sheppard flashed through Rodney's mind. He'd be so disappointed, not to mention probably pissed as hell if he didn't say something to her about how he felt.
"Wait, Elizabeth…I…" his voice faded to a mumble, "Come on McKay…come on…"
"Rodney?"
He needed to make a new list of things to change, on top pf the new list would be Elizabeth, objective: make his girlfriend. He took a deep breath and continued. "Would you like to go out to dinner sometime?" he rushed it, he knew. He talked fast, wanting the moment to be over soon, he thought he already knew the answer.
"I…I would like that."
'It can't be like that…see I knew Shep—what?' He looked at her, ready to jump up and down, someone said yes to him!
"Seriously?"
"Yes." She smiled.
"I—this is…tomorrow?" it took every ounce of self control he had not to grin like a moron. He didn't want to look the same way he had when they'd made the connection to Atlantis from Earth though…and luckily he wasn't capable of containing all his joy, and a smile, a small one, but a smile none the less broke out over his features.
"Okay."
"Okay, well, then…I, we should, uh, I'll…see you then…"
"Okay, it's a date then." She said with a smile and a laugh as she turned and left the room.
McKay stood there, the smile still on his face, but internally he smacked himself. One shining moment of bravery, then he falters and falls flat on his face. The stuttering when nervous would have to change too, new list item number two, but she did say yes.
McKay's body shook in a sort of happy dance, something he'd done many a time over a scientific breakthrough, once over being kissed by Samantha Carter, and now over getting a date with a beautiful, smart woman who liked him, faults included. It was a great ending to not so perfect day.
Sheppard bounced back into the room, and went to McKay.
"So?"
"So?"
Sheppard glared at him, "So." He demanded.
"She…said yes."
"No way!" McKay looked at him, almost hurt. Maybe he was wrong, maybe the only reason the Major let him ask her first was because he thought she would turn him down and he'd be free to go after her. "That came out wrong, I don't mean it in a bad way, I just…put my foot in my mouth."
"Yeah well. Thanks for your vote of confidence." He started walking around him.
"No, I have confidence, I do." John jumped back in front of McKay; he held his hands out, trying to stop him. "Look," he lowered his hands, "I didn't mean to offend you, you have to know that. It's just...hard."
"It means a lot to me."
"She's a great woman."
"No, not Elizabeth…well yeah she means a lot to me, but the fact that you would give up trying to win her over, to give me a shot. I don't know anyone else that would have done that for me. You're a true friend John."
He smiled, "Yeah…" he put his arm over McKay's shoulder and the two walked from the room, "but I never said I'd stop trying."
"What?" Sheppard just smiled at him. Third on his new list, learn to not be fooled so easily by the Major. He knew the man wouldn't try to hamper a budding relationship between McKay and Elizabeth, but he also knew it would be hard for him. Even if he said he was okay with everything, on some level he had to be a little jealous…he knew he would be if the shoe were on the other foot. "You're a funny, funny man."
And it only took forever. Please R and R.
