A/N: Sorry if anyone was getting a bit frustrated. Let's stir things up a bit, shall we? Hang on to your seats folks, hehe.

Chapter Seven - PYROCLASTIC

John looked up and saw the astrophysicist hauling on his flak jacket as he approached. "Get a move on, McKay." He had never seen the Canadian so late for a mission, and rarely had he looked so flustered.

The scowl Rodney gave was thunderous. "I'm coming already. Give me a break, Colonel."

John's tone softened. "Sure. We're all ready, I'll get it dialled." He nodded to the Chief Technician in the Control Room, and then glanced back at Rodney, who was fiddling with his webbing. The Chief Scientist had been distracted for days.

0o0o0

Ronon and Teyla strode ahead, occasionally hacking a stray vine from their path through the jungle-like landscape. Rodney had let a fair bit of distance open up between them, and he and John trailed behind. John saw it was a lack of focus, the usual determination missing. Lethargy of the mind. It was very painful to watch.

"McKay?"

"Hmm?"

"Can we pick up the pace?"

"Huh?"

"Um… Rodney, do you wanna talk about it?"

Rodney halted, his reverie splintered. His head snapped around to face John; his blue eyes steely dark. "I told you to drop it. You've made it worse!"

John had expected a 'Talk about what?' but not this.

"Worse? How? Elizabeth isn't fighting with you any more. OK, I'm sorry, I did talk to her. She seems fine with you now. Looks like she's sorted some things out in her head, right?"

Ronon and Teyla had halted twenty yards further ahead, and were watching the two men begin a heated discussion.

"It doesn't make any sense, Sheppard! One minute she acts like she hates my guts, the next minute she says she's sorry, and she's all smiley again? What is that, huh? Last year I enjoyed being here, with all of you, even with all the Wraith and everything. But I always suspected it was too good to be true. Peter's dead, and Elizabeth went wacko on me. I should've kept myself to myself after all. It might not be so… difficult."

"McKay. I know it's difficult, but believe me…" John stopped in shock. "Wait! You've talked to her?"

Rodney seemed spent, after his tirade. "Not really. She sent me a memo, apologising for the way she's been acting. Said she's felt under pressure… I just don't get it. It never made her mad at you. She's been…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know…" John waved dismissively as he cut Rodney off. "Look, she's been confused, OK? I was gonna say, believe me, she's just been confused."

Rodney was the one confused. "What the hell are you talking about Colonel? If you know something, tell me, because I don't think I can take much more."

John sighed. "It's real complicated, McKay. Trust me, she cares about you, she was just real angry with you. But it's not your fault. You've done nothing. She just… got confused." He looked at the ground, and clutched his weapon tightly.

Rodney was now pacing anxiously in circles, his hands making little shaky movements. His face was contorting and twitching as he put all the pieces together in his mind. Then, with one swift movement, he lurched at John and threw him back against a tree. One strong arm pinned the Colonel's neck to the tree trunk, and the other pressed down on the weapon, stopping John moving his arms. John's eyes popped open in shock.

"What are you doing, Rodney? Get the hell off me!" John's voice was half-strangled as he struggled a little against Rodney's forearm.

Rodney hissed, "What. Did. She. Get. Confused. About."

John managed to swallow. "Let me go and I'll tell you. I promise."

Ronon had hurried in, and was about to pull Rodney off, but the Satedan stepped back when Rodney let go. Teyla put her hand on Ronon's arm, just to calm the situation.

John rubbed at his neck, leaning forward. "I'm OK," he said, holding up his other arm placatingly towards Ronon. "I'm OK, it's fine."

Rodney had taken a few steps back along the path, his hands on his hips, his head tipped back.

"Rodney?" John took a few steps towards Rodney, and Teyla shook her head at Ronon.

Rodney slipped down onto his knees, and let his head bow forward. John crouched down beside him.

Rodney was beyond caring whether Ronon and Teyla were listening. His voice seemed strangled, too. "Damn it, Sheppard. I was… She was… I thought she liked me. I worshipped her. Then she pulled it out from under me. I can't do it any more. What did I do?"

TBC

A/N: All hugs for Rodney gratefully received.