The Strange Encounters of Rodney McKay
by Soledad
Author's Note:
Because you have to be a friend to endure all that Carson had to endure from Rodney…
Spoilers: Rising 1, Hide and Seek.
Chapter 06 – Carson
The friendship of Carson Beckett was quite the surprise for Rodney McKay.
When he got reassigned from Area 51 to the base on Antarctica, the most he had expected was to continue the good working relationship with Zerinka… Zalinka… well, whatever the little Czech was called. He still couldn't remember the name. A good thing that the man had offered him first-name-basis as soon as he'd got the security clearance and arrived on Antarctica. At least Radek was a name he could keep in his mind.
As expected, Radek turned out an excellent co-worker again, who went along fabulously with Grodin, Kavanagh, Simpson and all the others. That made him invaluable for Rodney, for so he could concentrate on the more important project of the base. Like the chair that operated the most powerful weapon ever seen on Earth. Or anywhere else in the galaxy where one could get via the Stargate system.
That was when Carson Beckett arrived and revealed his fantastic discovery: a rare gene that enabled certain people to make previously inactive pieces of Ancient technology work.
As much as he always declared that he didn't care, Rodney was extremely jealous of the good doctor, who happened to have the gene, while he, who'd need it badly to work with Ancient technology, did not. And what was even worse, the good doctor was extremely hesitant to use the wonder gene. In fact, he seemed to be deadly afraid of Ancient technology as a whole.
Unlike that annoying flyboy, Major Sheppard. There were times when Rodney almost wished Carson hadn't been able to stop the Ancient drone and shot the cocky pilot off the sky. Almost, but not quite. Firstly, because they did need the man, no matter how annoying he was, and secondly, because Carson wouldn't be able to live with the guilt.
It seemed strange to him that he would care for Carson's feelings – he usually didn't care what people felt as long as they did what they were expected to do. But he had to admit that the doctor had grown on him during their time on Antarctica. Why else would he bother to drag Carson to whatever piece of Ancient machinery he wanted to initialize? He could have called for half a dozen other people who had the gene, too, and handled it a lot easier and more willingly than Carson did. So, why did he always choose Carson?
As usual, it was Zalin… Zerin… it was Radek who delivered the solution unknowingly. The little Czech had the enigmatic ability to cut to the core of every problem, scientific or otherwise, while focussing on something entirely different.
"So, where is grumbling Dr. Bear today?" he asked one day, struggling with a particularly stubborn piece of Ancient equipment. "Hiding in his cave from scary technology?"
That harmless joke brought the answer Rodney had been looking for all the time. More than an answer, really – a revelation. Radek's careless remark made him understand why he sought out Carson's (rather reluctant) assistance whenever he ran into a problem.
The big, soft-speaking Scotsman reminded him of an oversized teddy bear. And while he wasn't the type to wallow in childhood memories – his childhood had been something he preferred to forget as completely as possible – there was one thing he associated with the memory of that particular toy: safety.
Not because of the similarities in appearance alone. Carson Beckett only panicked when facing things that were way outside of his field. As a doctor, he was competent, talented and focused. In his own element, he could do practically anything – even giving some people artificial ATA gene. As a doctor, he would do anything to help his patients, regardless of personal costs.
And that was what made Rodney feel safe in his company.
That was why he volunteered for the experimental gene therapy, against all possible concerns. Well, of course, the chance to work with Ancient technology first-hand had played a major role in his decision, too. But had any other doctor offered him the therapy, he'd have most likely refused to play the guinea pig.
The bottom line was, he trusted Carson. He might call him a witch doctor, might call his field voodoo science, but he never doubted that in the end, whatever Carson tried, would work. Which was strange, as trust didn't come easily to him, and he barely knew the man. But the trust was there, definitely, and so was the surreal sense of safety.
Strangely enough, the trust between them seemed mutual. As much as Carson whined about not wanting to play with Ancient toys that tended to blow up unexpectedly, he let himself dragged away from his own research by Rodney every time. Well, by Radek, too, but that was practically the same. As often as he grumbled about Rodney's ridiculous hypochondria, he never sent him to one of his nurses for treatment, not even if Rodney came to the infirmary with an injury of the magnitude of a paper cut.
As unlikely as it seemed to Rodney, he had to admit that Carson actually cared. He wasn't sure if that caring had a personal note or was just genuine concern for someone whose well-being was crucial for their survival, but it was a nice feeling nevertheless.
It was similar to the companionship with Radek, and yet different. Radek trusted him in scientific things because he knew that Rodney was a genius. Which didn't keep him from double-checking Rodney's work, just in case, but still. Carson, on the other hand, had no idea what they were working on in the labs. But he trusted Rodney because – well, there was no particular reason. He simply trusted Rodney to do the right thing.
Rodney hoped feverishly that he'd never disappoint the good doctor. Losing the trust of people he worked with would have been bad enough. But losing the trust of a friend… he wasn't sure he'd be able to live with that.
TBC