Chapter 5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first day in the infirmary wasn't so bad. He had a few visitors: Radek, Elizabeth, and his team. Mostly he drifted in and out of sleep, though. Getting stabbed was exhausting.
The second day, he wasn't as tied and boredom began to set it. Radek came by again and relieved his boredom for a few moments. They even managed to work out a few equations with old fashion pen and paper before Rodney felt tried again. When he woke, Sheppard was sitting next to him again with a plate of food and a wry grin.
Now, Rodney was so far beyond bored that it was painful. After three days in the infirmary, he was ready for his own bed, real food – well, as real as it can get on Atlantis – and his laptop. He really missed his laptop and Carson still wouldn't budge of his "no laptop" policy, which Rodney thought was really moronic. It's not like his equipment could interfere with the Ancient technology anyway. And he doubted it could interfere with the stuff Carson brought from Earth, either.
So with no work and no real visitors to speak of, he was bored out of his skull. And his constant companion, a small seven-year old girl, was not helping. Not only was she not relieving his boredom, her constant chattering was grating on his nervous.
"Uncle Radek let me play with some fun stuff in the labs yesterday," Chi chattered as she sat on the edge of his bed, Nen tucked next to her. "And he says I can call him Uncle Radek, although John – he says I don't have to call him Colonel like everyone else, isn't that neat? – he says that I can't call him uncle because he's not my real uncle. But Uncle Radek's not my real uncle either, and he let's me call him uncle. And we had lots of fun today, but he said I can't touch anything unless he was there or you were there. And John's letting me stay in his quarters, but I like your quarters better. Can I stay with you when you get better because Nen likes your quarters better, too? And Uncle Radek taught me what prime numbers are. He helped me with them, so I know a bunch now. Like 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17," her face screwed up in concentration as she continued to recite her prime numbers. It was at that moment that Sheppard entered the infirmary.
"Take her," Rodney begged. He watched as Sheppard's eyes lit up and his mouth turned up and his smile spread across his entire face.
"43, um…53-" Chi continued. Although Rodney was secretly delighted that Chi was learning her prime numbers, he was ready for someone to take her off his hands.
"Hey Kiddo. Are you bothering Rodney again?" Sheppard asked. Chi stopped talking and turned to face the colonel, a very serious look on her face.
"I was telling Rodney my prime numbers, but I can't remember all of them."
"Is that so?" Sheppard chuckled as he walked forward. "Well, I think I know a few tricks that might help."
"You know about prime numbers?" Chi asked with such skepticism that Rodney could only snort with amusement. Of course, he was still sore from being stabbed and the chuckle brought a fresh round of pain.
"Yes, Chi," Sheppard retorted. Although he said Chi's name, Sheppard was staring straight at Rodney as he answered the girl's question. "I know a few things about prime numbers."
"Really? Will you teach me?" Chi asked, awe creeping in where skepticism used to be. She turned to Rodney, her stupid little stuffed animal hanging from her hands, and smiled brightly at him.
"Can I Rodney?" she asked him ever before Sheppard answered. Her face showed such eagerness and excitement that Rodney found himself nodding before he realized it. He caught Sheppard staring at him with that little half smile gracing his lips, and Rodney stopped nodding.
"I don't care where you go. Just go," he spat out. Chi just giggled and smiled brightly and climbed over Rodney to kiss him on the cheek. Rodney barely had time to be angry over the show of affection before Chi was off the bed. She bounded to Sheppard and took his hand, tugging him out the door.
"Come on. You promised to show me the tricks. Come on John. Rodney said I could go. Come on," she whined as she pulled on John's hand. John looked at Rodney for a little longer with that same half smile before he turned, scoped Chi up, and settled her on his shoulders. As they walked out, Chi giggling and Sheppard laughing, Rodney felt a little tug at his heart. He groaned.
Rodney McKay was falling helplessly and hopelessly in love.
