Stuck on You – Chapter 2
"Stuck? What do you mean you're stuck?" Elizabeth spoke calmly, using all her willpower to fight the uneasy feeling that seemed to swell almost instantly. "I appreciate a good joke as well as anyone Rodney, and with a little better timing, this could be nice, but I need to get back to finish my paperwork, not to mention I have a briefing with AR-4 in 20 minutes. So let go."
"That's what I'm trying to do, Elizabeth. But I can't! Apparently, some of the glue got onto your neck. While holding my hand there, to help you, it set." Rodney squared his shoulders and said with a slight whine, "It's not my fault, Elizabeth. I was just helping. If you hadn't bumped into…"
"Rodney, stop. I didn't say it was your fault. I'm not blaming you." Elizabeth tried not to roll her eyes as she attempted to calm the upset scientist. "Wait a minute. You're serious, aren't you? Your hand is actually GLUED to my neck! Rodney! You said this stuff was unbreakable!" The panic was back, causing her voice to take on an edge that scared Rodney even more.
Rodney cringed, and then tried to recover his bravado, though he wasn't sure how well he pulled it off. Elizabeth didn't get scared, and if she did, she'd never shown it. She was the one that calmed him. If she was frightened, then he should be in the middle of a full blown panic attack! Rodney closed his eyes for a moment and pretended he still had his green turtle broach on. No one can hurt me with my shield. No one can hurt me with my shield. He repeated the thought like a mantra, slowing his breathing and almost returning his heart rate to normal. Just a few more minutes. I can do this. Just a few more…
"RODNEY! Are you even listening to me! Don't you dare faint while attached to me!" Elizabeth tried to quell the panic while insuring she didn't end up dragging an unconscious scientist around like an oversized necklace. "Rodney! It's okay. I'm sure Dr. Beckett can figure something out. While you may have amazing eyelashes, I prefer to stick with wearing the necklace my mother gave me." She smiled at him gently, hoping he'd calmed enough to think straight.
"Carson. Yes! If anyone can help us, Carson can! He may be able to find a…. wait a minute. You think my eyelashes are amazing? What's so amazing? They're eyelashes. They don't even do that great a job of shielding stuff from my eyes like they're supposed to." He looked at her in confusion, appearing unable to follow her train of thought.
Elizabeth laughed. He can be dense when it comes to that sort of stuff. Sheesh! She realized he was waiting for an answer and blushed slightly, trying to come up with a reply that wouldn't make it worse. "It's just….they're long and thick. And…I don't know. They just...they're the first thing I notice when I look at your face and they're...interesting." Elizabeth stopped talking, feeling her face flame as she finished the explanation.
Rodney looked thoughtful, and then permitted a small smile. "Yes, well…" He didn't seem to know what to say after that, and quickly slipped back into scientist mode, clearing his throat as he attempted to get his thoughts straight. "You know, Carson's not gonna be able to fix this. He may be a great doctor, but he's not gonna be able to break something the Ancients labeled an unbreakable bond. I'm gonna have to see what I can do with the information in the Ancient database, though I don't see how that will do any good. Even they..."
"Rodney. Stop. You're making me dizzy. Just humor me on this, please? Even if Dr. Beckett can't figure it out, let's just give him the chance, okay? You never know. He may have found something in his research that's related to the medical applications for this stuff. Just relax and we'll see what our options are." Rodney stopped short, though more from her interruption than from running out of words. He never seemed to run out of those, Elizabeth though with a small grin.
She managed to finally get the lab coat on, after realizing she'd spent all that time arguing with Rodney without a shirt on. She wasn't sure if she should be thankful or insulted that Rodney didn't even seem to notice after the first couple moments. Deciding to NOT go there with her thoughts at the moment, she pulled the coat closed and they headed out of the labs to the infirmary.
While it wasn't that long a walk, it seemed to go on forever. Rodney was walking on her left, his right hand firmly attached to the nape of her neck. The looks people gave them were interesting, to say the least. Everyone looked at them with a small, polite smile and nod as they passed, then did a quick double take when they realized something just wasn't right. Elizabeth's face flamed and she knew without even looking Rodney's was the same. She was pretty sure this little escapade was going to start some rumors they'd never get rid of. She'd never been happier to reach anywhere as she was when the infirmary doors finally shut behind them.
Elizabeth heard the good doctor's distinctive voice and followed the sound, Rodney following quietly, either his mind was working on the problem or he was still trying to hide his embarrassment. Interestingly enough, as she tensed up, she could feel his thumb, thankfully not stuck down, rubbing her neck and the base of her hairline gently, apparently subconsciously. She wondered if she should say something, but at this moment in time, it felt way too good. Dragging her thoughts back to the matter at hand, she called out to Carson.
"Dr. Beckett? Can we see you for a moment please?"
"Aye, Lass, ye can. What seems to be the problem? Ah. Didya hurt yer neck?" His trained eye seemed to catch the oddity immediately, but was at a loss as to why Rodney was holding her neck for her.
"Umm…Carson, we have a…slight problem. Can we maybe go somewhere a bit more…private to discuss it?" Rodney couldn't even fathom how he was going to explain this.
"Aye, we can. Follow me." He led them to one of the isolation rooms and shut the door behind him. "There now. What seems to be the problem? Your neck, Dr. Weir? Let me have a good look at it now." Rodney sat there, not moving. "Rodney, I can nae look at her neck if ye don't let her go."
"Well…actually Carson, that IS the problem. I can't seem to let go."
Carson looked at Rodney with a slight smile. The kind that people give when they know a joke's been told, but can't figure out the punch line and don't want to seem the idiot by asking.. "Aye, of course ye can't. And I don't blame ye a wee bit for wanting to hold on to a pretty lass. But I can nae look at her neck if ye're gonna keep yer hand glued to it. Let go."
" Oh ha ha. Very funny." Rodney was obviously not amused, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Carson, I CAN'T. That's what I've been trying to tell you if you'd pay attention and stop trying to start up a side job as a comedian."
Carson looked at Rodney for a moment, and then looked to Elizabeth in confusion. She sighed quietly and nodded in confirmation. "He's telling you the truth, Carson. He's quite...stuck."
Carson stood there, not sure if they were joking or not. He was truly hoping they were, but he had a sick feeling that his day was gonna be quite busy for a good long while.
