Title: Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Seven: A Deal is Made

Author: The Lady of Shadows

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Pairings: McShep

Rating: PG to Pg-13

Disclaimer: I own nothing! SGA and Disney's BatB belong to their respective owners!

Author's Notes: Thanks goes out to my wonderful beta, Allison.

Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Seven: A Deal is Made

"Ummm, hi," John replied and stuck out his hand. "I'm John, nice to meet you."

Rodney's blue eyes widened in surprise and he tentatively grasped John's hand and gently shook it. John looked down at their clasped hands. His hand looked positively tiny in comparison to Rodney's rather large but strangely elegant hands. John noticed that Rodney's claws had actually been filed down, so they weren't sharp. "So," drawled out John, "what will it take to get my father out of your dungeon?"

"Father?" Rodney sputtered out in surprise, looking back and forth between the two. "You two don't look anything alike! Not only that he's too young to be your father."

"He took me in when I was eight and raised me," John calmly stated.

"Oh."

"So, back to my original question, what will it take to get him out?" John asked once again.

Rodney stared at John, he had actually been coming up to release Radek but as he looked at John, he decided he wanted to get to know him better. After he had been cursed by Alina Rodney had found that for the few people to have shown up had been deeply afraid of him. John wasn't which fascinated him to no end, so he said, "You can take his place."

John and Radek gaped at Rodney in surprise, John then nodded opening his mouth to agree. Radek, though, had other ideas and yelled out to John, "No, John, don't do it. Forget about me and leave this place immediately. Don't sacrifice yourself to this Beast!"

Rodney, getting annoyed, glared at Radek, and then growled out, "Your decision?"

"I'll do it." John stated firmly.

"No, John, don't," Radek yelled out again. "You should, not sacrifice yourself to this stupid monster."

"Who are you calling stupid?" Rodney screeched, "if anyone is stupid here, it's you!" Rodney unlocked the cell door, grabbed Radek by the back of his shirt, hauling him out of the room.

"Wait!" John called out after him, "At least let us say good-bye."

Rodney, though, did not hear him and continued to haul Radek out of the castle. Now Rodney had decided to somewhat forgive Radek for destroying months of work. He even didn't mind being called a beast because after all that was now what his appearance was. But Radek had said he was stupid. He was not stupid! He was quite intelligent. He was the smartest man in the entire Kingdom of Atlantis. He was probably the smartest man in the entire continent, if not the world.

Being called stupid by some ignorant yokel, enraged him and he just wanted the yokel off his property. He arrived at the front doors which sprang open as he stormed toward them. It had started to snow heavily and his carriage was covered in snow. He glared at it and demanded as he threw Radek into the carriage, "Markhouse, get up and take him to his home."

As Markhouse left, Rodney turned and headed back to where he left John. He found John staring forlornly out the window at his departing father. Rodney cleared his throat; John whipped around and stared at Rodney. Rodney shifted in place a little then said, "Come with me."

John looked at him in surprise, "I thought. . ."

Rodney snorted, interrupting John, "Do you actually want to stay here?"

"Well no."

"Then follow me."

They traveled to their destination in silence. They arrived at a door to one of the suites, a different one then the infamous Alina had, and Rodney opened the door. "This shall be yours to do with as you see fit during your stay here." Rodney told John, "Supper will be in two hours. I'll see you then."

John nodded and watched Rodney leave. He went into his rooms and looked around, they were very nice. He sighed, this day had not turned out like he had expected.