Warning: AU, currently pre-slah.

Disclaimer: I do not own SGA.

Neighbor From Hell

Part 1

-x-

John threw an irritated glance at the wall which separated his and his neighbor's apartments. Ever since the new tenant had taken up residence next door John had had to deal with a lot of rustle and bustle noises, not to mention the mumbling and gleeful cheers at all hours of the day. It wasn't the noise that bothered him, per se, but the blatant disregard of respect that his new neighbor had. The first time John had seen him, it was when he was barking at the movers to "be careful with that box! The value of the items it contains is much higher than what your life is worth!" John had walked over to the man and introduced himself.

"That's nice," the man snapped at him, "but some of us are busy trying not to waste my precious time!"

John had reeled back a little, but shrugged and lazed back over to his own apartment, looking over his shoulder at the obviously cocky man while closing his door. He hadn't really thought much of the man since that incident, but sometimes he did, and then he wondered just what it was that the man did for a living. He'd leave at odd and random hours, and sometimes didn't return for more than 17 hours. When John would see him walking down the hall, the man would look like as though he hadn't slept in days or taken care of his hygiene. It was a little bit strange to see the man stumbling down a barely lit hall with ruffled hair, wrinkled clothes, and an unshaved beard.

John had once or twice mentioned his 'Neighbor from Hell' to a fellow barrista that he worked with at Starbucks. She suggested bringing him some coffee and getting to know him. After all, how bad could he really be? He was obviously very devoted to his work, "And that," she explained, "is not a bad thing at all. 'Work hard, play harder,' right?" She'd then winked at him.

"Woah, now. I'm not interested in him that way. I don't even know what side of the fence he grazes on."

She gave him a look, shoved two cups of coffee in his hands, and told him he had the rest of the day off, and that is how John Sheppard found himself holding two cups of coffee outside his new neighbor's apartment door while he waited for the man to answer the doorbell. When the door finally opened a haggard-looking man stood in the doorway blinking owlishly at him.

"Uh, hi. I'm your neighbor in Room 403. I'm John-"

"Sheppard, yes, I remember you. What do you want?" The man interrupted him.

"I brought coffee," John said by way of explanation.

"Oh. I see. Well, come in then," he replied, closing the door behind John. "I'm Rodney McKay. Doctor," he carefully emphasized the word doctor, "Rodney McKay."

"Okay. Welcome then, Dr. Rodney McKay, to the homey abode of our many residents." John said, reaching out with a cup of coffee toward the man.

"Mm, yes, charmed, I'm sure," Rodney answered after snagging the offered cup and gulping down several mouthfuls.

"So.." John said lazily, wanting Rodney to choose something to talk about.

"So, now that I'm have my coffee, get out. I have work to do."

"Hey, that's not how it works!" John protested. "You have to have idle chit-chat with me first. I brought you coffee," he pouted.

Rodney glanced at him, annoyed. "Fine. The weather is sunny. Out."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" John ignored Rodney and settled into a plush, black couch. "It's normally nice this time of year, but not quite this nice. It'd be a great day to be in the air," he said wistfully.

"You're a pilot?" McKay asked, slightly interested, but still annoyed.

"I was."

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

Rodney sighed exasperatedly. "What happened that you said 'I was' instead of 'I am'?"

"Oh, just some incident. It was all a misunderstanding. No big deal."

"Well, it had to have been for them to kick you out of whatever program you were in," Rodney snapped at him.

John frowned at him. "You know what? I think I left my oven on in my apartment. I'll see you later."

John pushed himself off of the couch and made his way to the door. "It was nice talking to you, McKay," he said blandly, shutting the door behind himself.

Rodney frowned. He had a feeling he'd actually upset the other man, and for some reason, that sort of bothered him.