Back in the Saddle

Chapter Two: Come into my web said the spider to the fly...

"Aww man, I haven't had that much fun in ages!" John said and clapped an overenthusiastic hand on Rodney's shoulder, making the latter stumble slightly down the ramp of the jumper. Rodney managed to recover, and pulled up quickly when he got a birds-eye view of some military issue boots. He looked up to see Major Lorne waiting for them wearing a huge grin.

"Colonel Sheppard, Doctor McKay," he said and nodded in greeting. "Doctor Weir sends her compliments and requests you proceed straight to her office."

"Oh boy," John whistled. "How was she when she, 'asked'?"

Lorne chuckled quietly and shook his head. He brought himself to attention before turning to leave but then glanced over his shoulder. "By the way, that was some very impressive flying sir. You put on a quite a show – lot of folks came out to the balconies to watch. Even the boffins came out of their labs."

"Great. Well at least I have an alternative career option when Elizabeth relieves me of my current one."

Rodney looked at John worried. "You think she's mad? She's gonna be mad, right? Oh no….we are so doomed," he said. "This is all your fault!"

John made air quotes with his fingers and mimicked, "Maybe we could you know - see how fast this thing can go?"

"Yes because everyone knows speed equates to doing the loop the loop and buzzing in and out of Atlantis's towers, waving at the kiddies as we fly by."

They continued to bicker as they made their way to Elizabeth's office via the longest possible route, acknowledging compliments on their little aerial show from appreciative passer-by's.

They made it to the gate room and looked over at Elizabeth's office where the door was open.

"Is it me, or is the gate room more populated than usual?" Sheppard asked as they walked.

"Ladies and gentlemen please be seated for act two of today's entertainment programme," Rodney griped. "The emasculation of two department heads."

Sheppard jabbed him in the ribs and whispered, "Remember Rodney, you've got my back."

"Yes, yes, yes," he said waving a hand in the air. "Can we just get this over with?"

"Sure. You first," John said and shoved Rodney through the open door.

Elizabeth looked up from her computer.

"So glad you could find the time to join me Rodney. Where's your partner in crime?" she asked.

"You can come in now Colonel," Rodney called out far louder than he needed to.

Sheppard winced as he saw heads spin in his direction, and he stepped into the office closing the door behind him. Those in the cheap seats could get their entertainment elsewhere he thought.

Elizabeth rose from her chair, folded her arms and fixed John with a stare that stopped whatever was about to leave his mouth.

"Colonel Sheppard, just what the hell did you think you were playing at?"

"Elizabeth," he started.

"I mean what kind of a hair brained idiot would think to put on a juvenile display like that for all to see?" Elizabeth roared at them. "And to drag along a civilian who's not long out of the infirmary."

"Wait Rodney was up for…."

"It's a good job Colonel Caldwell is between galaxies," she snapped before turning away in an attempt to reign in her anger.

Sheppard leaned to Rodney and muttered, 'Get her.'

Rodney jabbed Sheppard hard and hissed, "Shaddup."

Unfortunately for them there was nothing wrong with Elizabeth's hearing and she spun quickly on her heel causing both men to involuntarily step back.

"Do you think this is funny? The senior ranking military officer of Atlantis acting like a pubescent teenager?"

"Hey, and no, and what about him?" John stuttered pointing at Rodney. "Why aren't you yelling at him?"

"Because Rodney wasn't responsible for that little exercise in testosterone driven stupidity. You could have both been killed. Good Lord John, Rodney's only just out of the infirmary after very nearly dying and you take him for a joyride of all things!"

"Well no-one got hurt and as a matter of fact we've….."

"Only through sheer bloody luck," Elizabeth interrupted. "How could you have possibly thought taking him out in a jumper so soon was a good idea!"

"Because it was and he loved it. Tell her you loved it."

Rodney raised a hand and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Elizabeth.

"Don't," she spat.

He promptly lowered his hand and shut his mouth.

"You're grounded colonel until further notice."

"What?" John spluttered.

"And as for you Rodney?" Elizabeth said shaking her head.

"At last," John muttered his shock at being grounded all of a sudden slightly appeased.

Rodney closed his eyes and raised a hand to his bruised forehead wincing.

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked her voice suddenly filled with concern.

Rodney peered out through his fingers and tried to suppress the smile he felt. "Actually no, I don't feel too good. My head's kinda sore, what with all the excitement. Could we maybe do this later?"

She looked at him wearing a worried frown and Rodney almost felt bad, but then she nodded. "Okay. Do you want me to call Carson?"

"No, I think maybe I just need to lie down."

John stared between the two in disbelief. "What that's it? Oww, my head hurts and he's off the hook?"

"Well, make sure you do rest Rodney," she said kindly before returning her gaze to John and scowling at him. "Think you can get him to his quarters without any more adolescent stunts?" she said and went back to her desk.

As the two men hurriedly turned to leave she called out, "I'll check on you later Rodney."

Rodney smiled meekly and gave a small wave and Sheppard rolled his eyes and dragged him out of the office.

"We need to have a serious discussion on what having someone's back actually entails," John said.

Rodney held out his hands in a placating gesture. "I tried but the woman was possessed. Seriously I've never seen her that mad - she was kinda scary."

"What would you know, she did all the shouting at me."

"Hey I was there."

"Yeah for all the use that was," John grumbled. "I get grounded and you get sent to bed!" Sheppard stopped walking and Rodney turned to face him.

"What?"

"I bet your head doesn't even hurt does it?"

Rodney smirked.

"I knew it! Sneaky, sneaky, scientist."

Rodney grinned his best lopsided grin and clapped his hands together. "So - lunch then?"

TBC

Thanks to everyone who took the time to review - you made my day and inspired this chapter out of me a lot faster than planned and there's another one to come...