Thanks for the anger Angela :)
Notes: Someone on SGAHC deserves the credit for Sgt. Chuck the Canuck's name, though I can't remember who. If it's you, well thanks and here's the credit for that stroke of genius.
Storming
"Pain and no drugs make Rodney an unhappy man. Insane too, as I'm talking to myself."
No one could say Carson Beckett wasn't a good doctor; not even Rodney. He'd taken care of that gunshot wound like the pro he was; stopping the bleeding, dressing it beautifully and, this being the most important step, had given them drugs, good, nice, friendly drugs.
Regrettably, Rodney's system had processed those drugs and he found himself sitting on the padded area of his favourite room hurting like there was no tomorrow. He was attempting to decide whether pain was enough of an incentive to willingly go back to the populated area of the city as he looked through the immense windows at the sun rising over the ocean. It was quite beautiful, but as glum as he was feeling, he had difficulty appreciating it.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on the opinion one might have on the matter, he was found a short time later thus negating the need for decisiveness on his part. Soldiers came into the corridor guided by Zelenka's soft, musically accented voice.
"Life sign is in the third room to your left. Be careful, awaken a bear and you will not live to tell the tale."
"What?"
A voice, differently accented but no less pleasant, reached the soldiers' ears. "Rodney is likely to…bite your heads off. Be gentle, I'd like you all in one piece."
Swallowing nervously, the two grown men who, supposedly, had no fear edged closer to the door, careful to take quiet steps. Newly debarked from the Daedalus, they had been sent in the name of training, exploration and…
"At least we're not wearing red shirts."
"Man! What's that about! You turning into a geek now that you hang with scientists?"
Zelenka's voice drifted to them through the radio, slightly harder. "I resent that. Without scientists, you would not be here. By you, I mean entire human race."
"Sorry Dr. Zelenka, I didn't mean you." The soldier spoke earnestly though he smiled cheekily at his comrade. People were so easily wound up around these parts!
"Oh…of course not."
They were at the door now. Taking a deep breath, they opened it and stepped in. Whoever had decided that looks couldn't kill obviously hadn't had the chance to cower under Doctor Rodney McKay's glare. A new Ice Age was surely upon them if his tone was any indication.
"What are you doing here?" As cold as the deepest of oceans, the description fit the irate scientist perfectly.
Watching as the two grown, weapon-carrying men shrank back from a simple question only served to anger Rodney further. He rose with difficulty but did not let his gaze falter once. He took slow steps which brought him a foot from the soldiers. Lifting his left hand and pointing his index finger in their juvenile faces, he screamed for lengthy minutes. Nothing was left un-insulted; not their intelligence, career choice, lineage, mother and even hypothetical dislikes of MREs.
Then, it was over. Rodney walked out of the room and headed back to the city. The soldiers followed from a distance, as the Doctor was muttering under his breath and they had no wish to relive the traumatic experience to which he had just subjected them. They did, however, radio back to Doctors Zelenka and Beckett, informing them of this new development.
"Where is he headed?"
"Not sure. We'll advise once we know more."
Advise they did, for all the good it did the lovely Doctors. Beckett was wearing his knuckles raw attempting to convince Rodney to open the door. He could be heard moving around inside but stayed stubbornly silent. When doing the right thing showed no result, they resolved to take drastic measures.
"This is ridiculous! Why are we standing here like bloody Hoover salesmen! Can't you do something?"
Radek Zelenka was not Rodney's second for his charm and pleasant nature; he went to work on the door's control crystals and they broke in.
Rodney was sitting at his desk, fingers flying over his laptop's keyboard, a look of intense concentration mingling with barely restrained fury on his pale, sickly face.
"Rodney." Carson drew on his extensive experience with the man. He gentled his voice and moved slowly, as not to spook the beast. "You'll have to come back to the infirmary."
The typing continued smoothly, without faltering.
"It's for your own good. You need to be monitored for at least a day more. We don't know what the force field did to you…"
Click-click-clickety-click was the only answer Carson received. He tried a slightly forceful approach. Keeping his voice low and soothing, he spoke with more authority. "Now, Rodney, don't be difficult. You need to be in the infirmary."
Click-click-clickety-click.
Radek watched the two men involved in a battle of will and was unsure of who was the most stubborn. Sure, Rodney was openly obstinate, but when it came to his profession and the health of his patients, Carson could be utterly immovable.
"Listen to me. I don't want to see you hurt. You're not a child, don't do this. I won't mollycoddle you!"
Click-click-clickety-click made it all the way under the calm and collected skin of one increasingly impatient Scottish doctor. "Rodney! Do I have to contact Elizabeth?"
Click-CLICK-clickety-CLICK. Progress; typing with a tinge of ferocity indicating the subject hears and is indeed cognisant. Carson perked up slightly; he'd get through soon enough. "I will do it. I have no qualms about involving her. You need to be in the infirmary."
CLICK-CLICK-CLICKETY-CLICK.
As if a direct result of Rodney's angered typing, the klaxons sounded through Atlantis and Carson heard the familiar phrase in his head. Sgt. Chuck the Canuck, of the fierce patriotism, would be watching Elizabeth as she strolled out of her office and would speak the words, "It's so and so's IDC."
Carson forgot Rodney for the moment, bracing himself for what habitually followed. Not this time. The call for a medical team in the gateroom did not come and he breathed a bit easier. Back to the problem at hand.
"I don't have all day to suffer through one of your moods. You will come to the infirmary right this instant!" Tough-love; that's what the man needed and Doctor Beckett was more than happy to serve it up.
That triggered a reaction; a very loud, gesticulating, insulting, red in the face, spitting reaction. "Oh really? I have some news for you Carson Beckett! I WILL NOT be going to the infirmary or ANYWHERE with EITHER of you and if YOU don't leave MY QUARTERS right this INSTANT, I'll make you sorry YOU WERE EVER BORN! I KNOW things that could easily KILL YOU faster than you can BLINK! LEAVE, both of you, PITIFUL EXCUSES FOR SCIENTISTS! Or in your case Doctor Voodoo, PITIFUL EXCUSE FOR A MAN! Just looking at you is LOWERING MY IQ AND MY WILL TO LIVE!"
"There's no need for threats or insults, Rodney! I'm trying to do my job! You've had a hard time and I…we worry!"
Carson and Zelenka nodded in tandem, looking for all the world like two blue eyed, lab-coated bobble heads. Rodney's rant was rudely interrupted by Elizabeth Weir's urgent communication.
"Medical team to the gateroom! Medical team to the gateroom!"
"On my way." Carson was already at the door, he turned and gave Rodney they evil eye. "Radek will accompany you to the infirmary. I expect to see you there on my return or I will send Major Lorne after you!"
"YOU DO THAT!" Rodney paid no attention to Radek and went back to his work.
"Rodney, you should listen to Doctor Beckett. He is only trying to help."
"Radek. Shut up."
"Really, it would be best if you simply…"
"RADEK! HOW STUPID ARE YOU THAT YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND TWO SIMPLE WORDS! I SAID SHUT UP!"
Zelenka raised his hands in capitulation. "Fine! I will not stand here all day and argue with you. Expect Major Lorne!" He left in a huff of annoyance. Why was it that Rodney was so difficult to deal with? How could he not see they were only trying to help? Always angry, screaming at them to leave him alone! Didn't he see they couldn't, they wouldn't…not for long in any case.
As he walked down the corridor, away from the chamber of Hell, as Rodney's quarters were known, Radek felt the treacherous hand of guilt hit him viciously in the stomach. He should attempt to bring Rodney to the infirmary; the man shouldn't be left alone.
The sounds of heavy combat boots hitting the floor at a rapid pace stopped Radek and demanded he turn around to appraise the situation. Four soldiers, led by Major Lorne, were descending on the chamber of Hell. It took but a moment and Rodney was brought out kicking and screaming, as red-faced as ever.
Radek followed worriedly all the way to the infirmary where he witnessed something he never thought possible. Doctor Rodney McKay, of the numerous PhDs and foul disposition, became filled with more rage than his body could endure. He shook, his face went from fire engine red to ambulance white and the sheer volume of words that attempted to exit from his mouth resulted in a garbled choke
Through it all, though numerous eyes were locked on the temperamental physicist, his blue only met hazel. The relieved, amused, then concerned gaze of Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard held him until his body gave up the fight against overwhelming fury. Perhaps incredible joy managed to take place in the fray of emotions but it went unnoticed, vastly outnumbered. As his legs gave up, forcing him to rely on Major Lorne's exemplary gravitational control, Rodney's mind settled on a final thought, followed by a string of expletive.
"Oh HELL NO! I don't believe this. You fucking moronic, self-sacrificing, heartless BASTARD. You died again, then, oh surprise, you're ALIVE! Sorry, Colonel, been there, done that, was SHOT IN THE LEG! What are you anyway, a damn Replicator! You can't COME BACK FROM THE DEAD every other day, without a scratch on your incredibly INFURIATING, idiotically grinning face as if nothing happened. NO! What you can do is GO TO FUCKING HELL!"
He stormed out of the infirmary, choosing to ignore the angered voices that shouted his name.