Chapter 8

It was after breakfast that McKay first began to stir. That in itself surprised Beckett, for he thought for certain that the smell of his early morning coffee would have tempted the scientist from sleep. Such was not the case, though, and after the major had left to take care of whatever it was that he did during the day, the physician found himself quietly puttering around his office while keeping a close eye on Rodney.

Cautiously drawing a vial of blood, he set it aside while performing a few more non-invasive tests. As long as the man wasn't moving, Carson figured why not. It must have been the blood pressure cuff that finally irked Rodney's subconscious into waking. When the sleepy Canadian's hand reached out to scratch at the binding material, the Scot peeled it off quickly and tucked it in one of the oversized pockets of his lab coat.

"You planning on getting up anytime soon?" he asked, when sleep filled eyes came to rest on him, blinking heavily to clear the morning fuzziness.

"What time's it?"

"Half past ten. How do you feel, lad?"

Rodney became instantly awake, "Oh, why didn't you wake me?" He went to hop off the bed, getting caught in the blankets before Carson stopped him with a hand on the arm. "I've got a staff meeting," he began to say before noticing the cotton ball and Band-Aid taped to the crook of his arm. Shooting the physician and accusing glare, he reached down and peeled it off, before balling it up and tossing it at Beckett. "Just couldn't resist, could you? Stab a man while he's down."

The Scot gave a nonchalant smile and shrugged. "I didn't have anyone else here to torment and you were just lying there."

"I have to go."

"No, you don't. You need to eat something nutritious before I let you go off and terrorize the rest of the science community."

"I have work to do, Doctor."

"Actually, I spoke with Dr. Zelenka earlier and he cleared your schedule."

"He can't do that! It's my lab, I'm in charge,"' Rodney huffed, this time making it to the floor, his bare feet coming in contact with the cool surface. Glancing about for his socks, he spotted a pile of clothing at his bedside before realizing he was wearing scrubs. "When…? How..?" he blustered, pushing his way past Beckett and grabbing his uniform.

Carson merely stood back and watched, a mischievous smile playing across his face. It was good to see some of bristle reappear in his friend.

Dressed, McKay glanced about looking for his shoes. "Where are they?" he snapped at the Scot.

"Ask nicely and maybe I'll tell you."

Taking a menacing step forward, he glowered at the Scot, "I don't have time for this. Where are my shoes?"

Arms folded and not budging, Carson didn't flinch. "Eat your breakfast and I'll give them back."

Absolute exasperation flooded the scientist's face and then he froze, his eyes coming to peer directly at Beckett. "You drugged me, didn't you?"

"Oh, for the love of Pete, Rodney, you were dead on your feet. I didn't need to do anything because you'd already done it to yourself." He steered the scientist towards his office. "Not eating, not sleeping, and disappearing for days..."

"I get the picture. Feel free to stop anytime now," McKay grunted, then hesitated briefly when the smell of fresh coffee assaulted his senses. The low growl of his stomach protested painfully, making him aware that it had been awhile since he really eaten anything of substance and kept it down. "Fine, where's breakfast so I can go?"

Beckett gestured to the empty seat across from his desk. Once Rodney sat, he reached into a refrigerated cabinet and removed a tray from the mess hall, placing it in front of his friend. "I'll give you back your shoes and share my pot of coffee, after you finish everything on the tray."

Hungry and wanting to leave, McKay picked up a bagel covered in jam and took a healthy bite.

SG: A

"Next on our tour is the science labs," Lt. Ford announced from the open doorway, holding his arm out and ushering the visiting dignitaries into McKay's lab. "Please be very careful and do not touch anything while you are here." The young officer walked around the main station, stopping behind Zelenka and McKay who were clearly ignoring the entourage by continuing to work over an odd shaped piece of equipment.

When neither man looked up, Ford grinned, taking it as a personal challenge to see which scientist he could get a response out of first. Dropping a hand down onto the stiff Canadian's shoulder, he continued his speech. "Dr. McKay is the chief of the science department. Because of his continued studies and efforts, he has effectively maintained the day to day operations of Atlantis. I realize that he appears very involved in his current project, but I know for a fact that he would be honored to answer any of your questions." If at all possible, the muscles under his hand tightened even further.

Ford's other hand dropped to the Czech's shoulder, giving it a friendly pat. "And this is Dr. Zelenka. He's Dr. McKay's right hand man. When McKay gets stuck or accidentally sets the lab on fire, it's Dr. Z to the rescue. Sort of like Robin to Batman or Tonto to the Lone Ranger."

Radek's hand froze in mid air as he was handing Rodney a power scanner, and if it wasn't for the minute tremor that only those closest to him could see, no one would have known that the lieutenant succeeded in his plan. Leaning over between their two shoulders, his grin grew larger as he whispered conspiratorially, "The major owes me a weekend pass to the main land. Thanks, Dr. Z."

The two scientists slowly shifted their gaze to one another and nodded. Without any spoken word, McKay lifted a small item off the table and casually reached over, pretending to hand it to Zelenka, before poking it into the back of Ford's hand. With a slight yelp, the formerly grinning young man suddenly found himself with an entirely numb right arm.

"Doc?" he choked out, shaking the useless appendage with his left hand

"Sorry, Ford, you were in my way. Don't worry; it'll come back in a minute or two."

Radek took the instrument from Rodney, turning it over in his hand, admiring the Ancient technology. Casually pushing his glasses on top of his head, he shrugged, "I forgot to reset power level after last test. Oops. Guess I must turn in sidekick cape."

Before Rodney had the chance for a decent comeback, the ambassador stepped up to their table and scowled at the two seated scientists. "Doctors, is it customary to humiliate officers in front of guests in your culture?"

McKay momentarily forgot how to breathe before his natural survival instincts kicked in. Rising slowly from his stool he stood eye level with Lokii, "I never show disrespect to anyone but imbeciles and idiots. If, in your ignorance of our culture, you mistook a harmless moment of friendship to be that of humiliation, then you need to familiarize yourself more thoroughly with our customs."

The ambassador glared at Rodney so hard that the veins in his neck became visible. "Perhaps, it is you, Doctor McKay, who needs to be educated on customs of respecting those who hold a higher social status than that of yourself. That a scientist can be bought, but a ruler is forged by the people."

"I don't know in what Cracker Jack box you discovered that little tidbit of insanity, Ambassador, but it you think…" the remainder of McKay's retort froze on his tongue at the sight of Sheppard coming to stand at his side.

"McKay," the major drawled, deliberately ignoring Lokii, "Dr. Weir wanted to know if you were available. She has the leader of MR7-987 on standby to talk to you. It seems they're having gate trouble and need your expertise."

Completely forgetting the individual who only moments before he had considered taking a Wraith stunner to, McKay sighed and nodded. "Come on Radek; let's go see what King Friday has done to Neighborhood of Make Believe this time." Picking up his laptop, he walked out the door without looking back.

"I do not care for that man," Lokii spoke coldly, as soon as the scientists had left the room.

"Well then, it's a good thing you don't live here, isn't it, Sir? Because that man has more brains in his little finger than the majority of people on Atlantis, and he's pulled our ass out of the fire more times than I can remember. I can't imagine anyone more qualified to represent us, than McKay." With that, Sheppard made his way to the door and waited for the Ambassador and his party to follow.

Ford was last out of the room before coming to stand at the major's side, "I don't have good feeling about this, sir."

"Yeah, me neither. Keep an eye on the ambassador for me, lieutenant, and let me know if he slips up."

"Yes, sir."

He watched his second make his way back to rejoin the group, noticing the young man rubbing his right arm and then shake his fingers. "Ford?"

With a quick look back over his shoulder, the young officer waited. "Sir?"

"Which one of them got you?"

"Sir?" he repeated, although he clearly knew what Sheppard was waiting for.

The major merely raised a brow, "McKay or Zelenka?"

"Dr. Z started to cave first, but then Dr. McKay distracted me and…" he shook his arm again.

"Can't say I didn't warn you," Sheppard smirked.

"Yes, sir." Spying the group at the end of the hallway waiting impatiently for him, he rolled his eyes at his CO before jogging down to meet them.

With the group finally out of sight, Sheppard turned back and gave the lab one last glance, then closed the door. He needed to find a certain pair of the scientists.

TBC