A/N: Thank You to my eleven lovely reviewers for Just a Theorem. Really my best bunch of reviews ever I think! That fic has been around as a one-shot for four months, but you guys inspired me and I seem to have come up with this continuation. This is for Admiral Lily, NenyaVilyaNenya, and Klenotka.

Chapter Two

Knocking. I could hear knocking. I was asleep, wasn't I? Suddenly, I was awake, my eyes wide with realisation. Morse code! It couldn't be…could it? I stopped my breathing for a moment to listen, head raised off the pillow just a fraction, my body frozen as I strained to hear the noise again.

Someone was knocking, or rather thumping, quietly on my front door. Just as he used to do. Just as he did whenever he was back. Just as he did when he wanted my attention. I carefully followed the rhythm.

…thump…thump…thump, thump…thump…then silence. Yes. MCKAY. His call sign. His way of telling me it wasn't an axe murderer at my door at two in the morning. I rolled over and looked at the clock. OK, it was three in the morning. But who's counting?

In a flash, I was wrapped in my robe and peeking round the door.

"Rodney?" When I saw his face I wasn't sure if I would laugh or cry.

"Hi. Ah, Rodney here. I'm back. I'm not dead. Ah, any chance of some coffee?" His crooked smile tried to light up the hallway.

Ignoring his typically bizarre way of talking, I slipped back the chain, and let him in. Even after a year, he didn't need an invitation. I quietly closed the door after him and turned around.

We stood there, looking at each other, a little awkwardly. His head bowed a little, he cleared his throat.

"Sorry, you, know, for what I said, you know, when I left…I just wanted to see Fermat…"

I leaned over and patted his arm. "Rodney, you wouldn't have stayed even if I was blonde. Anyway, Fermat really missed you, you know. He's actually sleeping. That is what all normal creatures ought to be doing at this hour. Em, do you really want coffee?"

He opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a white and brown blur streaking towards him. Fermat leapt straight up at McKay, who caught him deftly. The true owner buried his face in the soft fur.

It was clear there was some sort of moment happening there, so I left them to it, and retreated to the kitchen to put the kettle on. I busied myself with mugs and spoons, and hunted out the special chocolate stash. I still had it, just in case - had to replace it now and again, that was a tough job.

The steam was billowing towards the ceiling when Rodney appeared, stroking Fermat who was still in his arms.

"Thanks. For looking after him. It means a lot to me." He was quiet, and sincere.

I couldn't have imagined Rodney thanking me for anything. It was quite a pleasant experience, but weird. "No problem, Rodney. We knew you wouldn't be back anytime soon you know, Fermat and I. In fact, I'm not sure we ever expected to see you again. I know you said that, but, well, I didn't actually believe you when you said it. Why would I? But Fermat knew." I was rambling, and I couldn't stop. I stirred the coffee frantically.

Rodney stepped forward and rescued his mug of coffee before it was swallowed by it's own vortex.

"I know. I'm sorry." He seemed to understand. I wasn't sure I did.

"Are you back for good?"

"No. Only a few days."

I sighed. That poor cat. "Oh. OK. Rodney…I'd appreciate it if you didn't take Fermat to your apartment while you're here. It might unsettle him. Please, you're welcome to see him here…"

Rodney nodded his head slowly. I could tell his sadness was from the realisation that he wasn't going to be with Fermat long, not that I was virtually forbidding him to take Fermat away. He mumbled, "I understand. I'd appreciate spending some time with him. Sorry. I don't mean to be trouble."

I smiled. "I don't think you ever did, Rodney. You just always turn out that way naturally." He gave me that funny look again. This time, it didn't give me the chills, it was actually quite funny. Seeing my amusement, he looked hurt, his mouth turned down.

We sat at the table with our coffee and chocolate, Fermat weaving his way around our legs. It seemed so familiar, yet from a distant era. I could see Rodney glancing at me, as if to check I was real, that he was really back. He couldn't tell me where he'd been, but he had changed. I can't put my finger on it, but he reminded me of the young air force recruits I would see in the clinic. When they join up, they're all bluster and bravado, then when you see them after a couple of years, they've lost the fake edge, the bravado has turned to bravery, the bluster to true lustre. How they did it to a physicist I'm not sure, and I didn't ask.

Rodney suddenly looked really tired, and I felt like I needed to offer.

"Rodney, you can stay. I need to get a couple more hours sleep, I've got work tomorrow. You can take the couch, I'm sure Fermat would love to have you close by."

As if in affirmation, Fermat jumped into Rodney's lap. I think he sensed him straighten up a little and there was space between him and the table.

He seemed to hesitate, but I knew what he would say. What he would never have said a year ago. "Ah, thanks. Maybe I will. If you really don't mind…of course you don't, or you wouldn't have said…" He watched me nodding, and added, "OK, thanks, I will."

We busied ourselves with the logistics of the pillow and blanket, the bathroom visits, the goodnights. Then he was with Fermat on the couch, and I was curled up in my bed. Thing is, I couldn't drop off to sleep. I opened one eye, and looked at the empty basket on the floor, the absence of cat snores was almost deafening. Damn Rodney to hell. Again.

A/N: I've a terrible feeling there's a little more to come sometime.