A/N: Hey, I got into the Missing In Action C2 – thanks nebbyJen! Because of that, repeat after me...'This chapter is strictly gen', 'This chapter is strictly gen'. Good, well done. Many thanks for all the lovely reviews!
Part Four: After All
She stood at his shoulder, watching him fiddle aimlessly with a wire.
"Is the cloak working, Rodney?"
"Yes. But I just shut it down. We don't need it now." His voice was gruff and monotone.
"Right. Good. Why don't you take some time out now the danger has passed?"
He turned and looked round at her. His face was full of fear, pain and anxiety. His mouth was open, he seemed unable to process the words.
She tried again, splitting it down into nice, easy to follow commands. "Go and see Dr Zelenka. Then get some sleep."
He closed his eyes for a moment. Then they flickered open, looking into each of her eyes in turn as he tried to focus. "What if he'd killed him?" he whispered.
"Just stop right there, Rodney!" She actually felt angry with him. He was always a pessimist, but it was grating now. "Lieutenant Ford is under the influence of the wraith enzyme, he's not himself anymore. But he did not hurt anyone seriously, thankfully, and he could have. He didn't actually shoot Beckett. We have to hope he can control himself until we can find him."
"He almost shot Beckett?" This was news to McKay, but Elizabeth realised too late.
"Ah. Yes. He told me there was gunfire when Ford took the enzyme. Look Rodney, please, I need you to want to find Ford as much as John does. Don't condemn him yet."
Rodney dropped his head in his hands and she thought he was trembling a little. "I don't think I could cope if he'd killed either of them."
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know. But he didn't. So why don't you get some rest, and then we can make a plan to get Ford back." She was suddenly overwhelmed with her own feeling of pessimism. "If we ever can…"
Now it was Rodney's turn to admonish. He looked up with glazed eyes. "That kid can take care of himself, Elizabeth. Enzyme or no enzyme. You'll see. I do want to find him, actually. Punk kid needs us, right?"
She sighed with relief. "That's better, Rodney. I know it's difficult, but Radek and Carson will feel the same way, I know it."
He nodded, his face now just tired. "Yeah, I know…" He stood up, waving her away. He gestured one hand towards himself, fingers twitching, "I just don't…do…caring."
She gave him a smile, and laid a hand gently and briefly on his arm. "You're doing fine, Rodney."
A/N: Last bit up soon.