Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or any of its affiliates, I am merely using the characters to have fun and be merry.
When Rodney's grandfather died, his feelings were mixed. The man was never one for overly emotional displays of affection, nor was he a humble man. He was the best at what he did - something he wanted to pass on. His son, Alexander McKay, was never going to be that great. When he looked at him, he did not see greatness, ambition, nor the longing to be something better than he was. The first child born from that man was Jeanie - he adored the child, his first grandchild, it was hard not too. Blonde hair, blue eyes, cute smile. She was beautiful. And he loved her, but it wasn't until six years later when his first grandson was born did he see something he understood.
When he first held little Rodney, he saw reflected in his eyes something that told him this child was wise beyond his years. He watched him grow, saw his intelligence develop. Whilst his father couldn't see it, Rodney knew his grandfather understood his need to be great.
At twelve years old Rodney created a nuclear bomb for his science project. Nobody understood that it wasn't a working model, that he wouldn't hurt anybody; that he just wanted to be the best at what he did. Everyone except his grandfather saw him as an odd child, someone else to ignore, to berate. So at sixteen when said grandfather died, he received a cheque. Enough to put him through college and then some. By the time he finished his double doctorate (in two and half years he was prouder than proud to say) he could tour the conferences. The universities, the professional gatherings, give speeches and receive recognition for his work. At this point the was very comfortably well off.
It was a chance meeting at one of these conventions he met a man from the US military. They offered him a job he just couldn't turn down. Within a year he learned aliens existed, he learned of the Stargate. Interdimentional wormholes, space travel, the Goa'uld, the Tok'ra, planets in corners of the galaxies that NASA couldn't even fathom. He was living his dream. On the day he was called to Cheyanne mountain, he could barely contain his excitement, he would see the Stargate up close, in reality, to reach out and touch what he had studied for so long. His ego took a blow that day - he was wrong and the beautiful Samantha Carter was right.
When he read the letter saying he was to be posted to Russia, he was dismayed. But when he when to complain to General Hammond he had the perfect get out clause to protect his pride;
Go to Russia or leave your Air Force pay cheque behind. So yes, he'd go to Russia. But it wasn't because of the money - he didn't need that. How could he just back down and leave? How could he not fight it? Its what they'd expect from him. So, to Russia he went because he was doing what he loved. Rodney knew he had to be great, but also knew that greatness came at a cost. The day in the office with General Hammond - spurred him on to greatness and that greatness wasn't his intelligence or what he would achieve, but that which he valued most. As he sat on the north west pier with Colonel Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon Dex, Rodney knew almost everything about everything - but now he had people to share it with. People he loved - and when he said he didn't care everyone knew otherwise. And he hoped his grandfather understood, that greatness wasn't everything and that he'd give away every piece of knowledge he held just to give him one more minute with his friends.