Disclaimers: don't own… only wish I did

AN: Thanks for the reviews! I was so happy that I finished the chapter early. I hope it's to everyone's likings and that it's up to par with the last one. And a little side note, since I don't know the actually age of McKay I decided to use the birth date of the actor who plays him. (David Hewlett's b-day is April 18, 1968) Also, I'm not very good at writing a Scottish accent. So please forgive me, I'm trying. p

Enjoy (hopefully) and Review!

John Sheppard carried the pint-sized Rodney McKay to the infirmary with Dr. Beckett tailing behind them. It had taken close to ten minutes for Rodney to calm down and allow Sheppard to take him to be checked out by the doctor. The whole way there Rodney watched Carson wearily over John's shoulder. Almost as though, he expected the doctor to do something bizarre. Inside the infirmary, Elizabeth waited with Teyla. They both had been informed of what had happened and their concern showed.

"Okay, lad," Beckett exclaimed as Sheppard place Rodney on a bed. "I'm Dr. Beckett. We're just going have a quick look to make sure you're alright. Then we can figure out this whole mess." Rodney didn't answer; he just nodded slightly trying to make himself as small as possible. He didn't like how everyone was staring at him. They seemed worried about him, but he had never seen any of them before in his life. Carson could see the through the brave face the boy was putting on and tried to alleviate some of his fears by asking him some questions. "Alright, what's the last thing you remember?

When Rodney didn't answer, Sheppard, who had taken a seat next to the bed, answered for him. "He remembers being home, with his sister and his dad. After that, he was in the science labs." Giving Carson a look, he added "I can give you the details later."

"Sounds fine. Now, how old are you?"

"Nine." Carson nodded and continued the exam; checking his temperature, and asking little things. According to the boy the date was October 18, 1977. Rodney could see the surprise and concern on the faces of the two women standing in the back. "It's not nice to stare," Rodney stated coldly as he glared at the women, "especially when I don't know who you are." The last part was quieter as he retreated back into his shell.

"Sorry, Rodney, we didn't mean to be rude. I'm Dr. Elizabeth Weir and this is Teyla Emmagan." Elizabeth stepped closer and offered her hand to the boy. Rodney just looked away.

"Didn't your mother teach you manners?" Carson had made the statement in jest. But the reaction he got was the last thing he expected.

"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY MOM," Rodney screamed. He pushed away from the doctor and tried to get off the bed only to be stopped by John. Something seemed to have snapped inside the boy as John held him in place. "Who are you people and where's Jeanie? What is this place?" And although, McKay's shouting started to grow louder, his breathing was slowly getting more ragged and panicked. "What happened to the cuts on my hand? Tell me what the hell is going on here?" His rant was cut short as he started to grasp for air.

"He's having a panic attack, John hand me that air mask." Sheppard did as he was told and let the doctor do his work. "Alright laddie, I need you to relax okay. Take big slow breathes ok. That's my boy, nice and slow. Easy." The doctor put a hand onto Rodney's trying to comfort him; however, the gesture just made the boy more uncomfortable. His breathing was becoming more erratic as he pushed away from doctor.

"John, I'm gonna need your help." Sheppard stared at the doctor, dumbfounded. "Listen, my presence doesn't seem to be helping Rodney. Just talk to him, he seems to trust you." Looking down at the huddled form gasping for air, Sheppard moved onto the bed with Rodney.

"Hey kiddo," Rodney looked up, but his eyes didn't reach the colonel's face. Sheppard lifted the boy's face with his hand so that he focused only on him. He spoke slowly. "It's okay; we're not going to hurt, Rodney. We're only here to help. Relax, there you go, big breathes." Once the boy's breathing relaxed to a more normal pace, John turned to Dr. Weir. "I think we should just tell him everything, and then figure out what's what."

"That sounds like a good idea." Weir responded. She took a step closer and smiled gently at her now pint-sized friend. "I know this is going to sound crazy and very unbelievable but I need you to keep an open mind, okay?" Elizabeth started to tell the little Rodney everything she knew about the big Rodney. That he was actually a brilliant astrophysicist, and the lead scientist of something called the Atlantis Expedition. And that there had been an accident earlier, causing him to be turned back into a child. However to everybody's dismay, the new information seemed to cause Rodney more grief.

It was a good five minutes after Elizabeth finish explaining the situation that Rodney decided to respond. "Oh God, this can't be happening. I'm hallucinating or something, aren't I? Dad hit me so hard I have brain damage." Everyone except John was taken back by the boy's last comment.

"Listen to me Rodney, this is real." John reached out to him, only to have his smacked away

"NO! This is just a sick joke at my mind is playing on me. I'm going to wake up back home and I'll go back to taking care of my sister and putting up with dad. I'm smart enough to know that all this is just a stupid hallucination. This'll just be another experience I can add on to the long list of how my life sucks." The ranting definitely belonged to Rodney McKay, but the attitude was all wrong.

"Rodney, this isn't a dream." But no matter what they said to him, Rodney refused to believe it. After a point, he stopped responding to them, calling them figments of his overactive imagination. It was at this time, that Dr. Beckett cleared the infirmary stating that the wee boy obliviously needed rest and that hopefully things would be better in the morning. And as if on cue, little Rodney was curled in a ball, asleep.

Teyla and Elizabeth left the room reluctantly while John followed the Doctor into his office. "Well, considering that the cats out of the bag, did you know that McKay's father was an abusive bastard?"

"I guess it's safe to assume that was why he was crying about in the hall earlier." John nodded. Carson plopped into his chair, with a sigh he reached for a one of the files on his desk and opened it. "I've had my suspicions about Rodney's past but as you already know, he never liked to talk about it. This is Rodney's original file, from before he came to Atlantis." Carson tossed the file across the desk, so that Sheppard could see it.

"Isn't this against the whole doctor-patient confidentiality?"

"Aye, it would be if there was anything in it. The only things in it are a family history, a list of allergies and medical conditions, and a couple of injuries that he obtained in college. Everything else McKay had sealed. You can only imagine his reaction when I asked about it." At the last comment, both men allowed themselves a small smile. They were both familiar with how Rodney reacted to situations that he found to be private.

Looking over the file briefly, mostly at the family history, Sheppard's eye froze over a date. It only took a moment to for him to figure out the ages in his head. "Shit"

"What is it, Colonel?"

"What day did mini-Rodney say it was?" He had to be sure before he said anything, but when the doctor told him, his heart sank. "I think I know why our little Rodney reacted the way he did when you made that comment about his mother." Passing the file, he pointed to a date. "According to the Rodney in there, his mother died two week ago."

"Oh Heavens, this day just gets worse and worse."

--TBC--