Hope you guys like! Read and review!


Rodney rolled over as his cd player stopped. Rooting around in his cds, he picked out another Canadian mix and popped it into his stereo. As the Ryan Malcolm song "Something More" began to play, his mind drifted back to his 19th birthday and the single event that had truly marked him for life...


Rodney McKay was excited. He would be getting his Bachelor's Degree today, a full 2 years ahead of schedule and his father was coming to see it. He hadn't spoken to his mother in a long time, but had sent her an invitation to his graduation to be polite and do the right thing. His father had always told him he could do this and now his dreams were finally going to be becoming a reality.

Adjusting his cap on top of his head, he straightened proudly and admired his reflection in the mirror in front of him. It was almost time.

Striding out to the front lawn where the ceremony was going to be held, Rodney made sure the notes from his speech in the pocket of his khakis. He was the valedictorian and hoped that what he said would go over well with the crowd.

Looking out at the sea of people, he squinted and tried to see if he could find his father, but with little luck. Shrugging, Rodney took his seat and decided to look for his father afterwards.

Once the diplomas had been handed out, Rodney jumped off the stage, scanning the people for his father. He was so intent on his mission, he didn't hear the president of the university calling his name. Finally, it registered.

Turning, he asked in surprise, "Yes Mr. Miller?"

The older man had a grave expression. "Rodney, there's no easy way to say this..."

Concerned, Rodney took his cap off his head and was playing with it nervously. "Sir, what's going on?" he asked, panicked.

"Rodney...your father was in an accident. They took him to the hospital, but it was too late...they identified him by his driver's liscense and the paramedics at the scene noticed the graduation invitation on the floor of the passenger side of his car so they contacted me here."

Stunned, the boy just stood there.

"Rodney..." Mr. Miller began, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder.

Twisting away, Rodney took off across the lawn as tears began stinging his eyes, his cap falling to the ground like a crumpled path of snow on the gleaming grass.


"I miss you Dad..." Rodney whispered to the empty space of his room.

Reaching into the bottom drawer of the small bedside table he'd brought from Earth with him, he pulled out an old photo album and flipped through it. There were various pictures of his fatheralond and some ofhim with his father. Smiling slightly,he stopped at his favorite one. He had been16 and celebrating his birthday at his father's new home. His cat Albert was sitting on top of his Dad's head and his father looked less than thrilled about this.

Closing the photo album, he laid it next to him. At least he had good memories of his father. That was more than he could say about his other parent and he was grateful for his father.

Standing up and turning off the music, Rodney pulled a coat out of his closet and went outside on the balcony again.