The Question

Chapter 2: Carson's Answer and Atlantis' Reaction

(Previously on "The Question": Rodney McKay popped the question to Dr. Carson Beckett. And now: Part 2) Disclaimer: I own nothing! (Except the idea)

Special Thanks to Brianna. for your review!

Beckett couldn't believe his ears, he'd been hoping for this for months now. "Rodney, did ye just ask me to marry ye?" McKay let out a frustrated sigh, "No, I just asked you to make me a sandwich using a gold ring! What do you think?" McKay quickly regretted being so harsh "Carson, I didn't mean it." Beckett looked at him, and for a moment McKay thought he might have seen the slightest hint of fear in those beautiful eyes. "Carson? What are you afraid of?" "I want to marry ye Rodney," hearing Beckett say that made McKay's heart soar. "But, that would mean having to tell everyone else, are ye sure ye want to? Even though most of us are scientists here, there are quite a few military people as well, and they don't take well to homosexuality." "Are you honestly afraid that someone's going to beat us up because we're gay Carson?" "I don't know, maybe. Maybe the first people we tell should be Dr. Weir and the Major" "Carson, are you actually agreeing to-?" "Yes Rodney, I will marry ye." Before McKay could say anything more, Beckett was already kissing him passionately and longingly.

The next morning Beckett and McKay walked down the halls of Atlantis towards Dr. Elizabeth Weir's office. Beckett's left hand was closed tight in his pocket; he loved feeling that smooth gold ring and thinking of the man who gave it to him and who now walked next to him. As they approached Dr. Weir's office, McKay stopped and put his hands on Beckett's shoulders. "Are you sure you want to do this Carson?" "What choice do we have? Besides, I'm more worried about the Major, being a military man, I'm not sure how he'll react." McKay sighed; Beckett did have a valid point. "Alright, here goes." And with that McKay proceeded to knock on Dr. Weir's door.

Dr. Weir was slightly startled by the knock on her door, she quickly ran through her schedule in her mind and couldn't remember anyone wanting to see her. Another knock drew out of her momentary daze. "Yes, come in." "Elizabeth, hi do you have a moment? Dr. Beckett and I would like a word." "Sure Rodney, come on in. Now what is it you wanted to say?" Weir was about to stand up to greet her colleagues, but was stopped by McKay. "Trust me Elizabeth, you may want to stay seated for what we have to say." "Don't you dare tell me you're dying, honestly Rodney you can be quite the hypochondriac." "I've tried to tell him that, but he won't listen." Beckett added teasingly. McKay shot him the usual "I'm annoyed with you" stare, but it quickly disappeared simply because of how cute Beckett looked at him.

"So, what can I do for you, gentlemen?" Weir asked as she sat back down in her desk chair. Beckett and McKay shot each other a side-glance, and looked back at Weir. "Elizabeth, Carson and I have been, what I mean is we'd like to – Oh God, Elizabeth we're gay!" "Way to put it delicately love" Beckett said under his breath. "Ignoring you Carson, and moving on. Elizabeth, would you do the honor of officiating our wedding? We know that back on earth, New Years Eve is a few days away, and we were hoping that's when we'd be married." "Have you told Major Sheppard?" "Not yet, he's our next stop." Beckett said. "Well, I believe congratulations are in order." Beckett exhaled a sigh of relief, while McKay still couldn't believe it. "You mean you're okay with this? Marrying two men?" "Take it easy Rodney, most if not all the people on this expedition are open minded and I can't see any of them having a problem." Beckett smiled ever so slightly and McKay was still shocked. "If I might ask, who's the one who proposed?" Beckett blushed and said "Rodney did." Beckett drew his hand out of his pocket and revealed the smooth gold ring that McKay had so lovingly slid onto his finger the previous night. "It's beautiful Carson, but Rodney, where did you get it?" "Funny thing Elizabeth, I inherited it. My sister got our parent's wedding rings as well as our grandmothers' rings. I got our grandfathers'." Weir smiled understandingly "Well, it seems I have a wedding to help with." "So, you'll do it?" Beckett beamed. "Yes Carson, it'd be my pleasure. And you two might want to go and pay John a visit, and don't worry he should be pretty understanding." "Thank you Elizabeth, we'll be in touch. Let's get this over with Carson." Before Beckett could object, McKay had grabbed him by the hand and was leading him out the door. "Thanks again Dr. Weir." He managed to get out before being dragged out into the hall. When the door closed and Weir was left to her thoughts, she couldn't help but smile. Everyone in Atlantis knew Beckett and McKay were out of the closet. "Oh, Zelenka's going to have a field day." She thought.

"Rodney! Did ye really have to drag me out of Dr. Weir's office?" "I just want to get this over with." McKay growled back. The found Major Sheppard in the Jumper Bay with Radek Zelenka and Tela. "Oh, good" McKay started "we can kill three birds with one stone. Hey! Major, Zelenka, Tela! Carson and I are getting married! Got a problem with it? Too bad!" And with that he stormed out of the bay, somehow managing to leave poor Beckett behind. Tela was the only one who wasn't utterly speechless. "Dr. Beckett, what is going on?" Beckett sighed, but before he could speak Major Sheppard butted in. "You know Tela, on Earth, some people are attracted to members of the same sex. The same is true of McKay and Beckett." Beckett looked shocked. "But how did ye know?" "Beckett, everyone in the city knows." Hearing that made Beckett blush up to his ears, he quickly brushed it off and thought it best to go find McKay. "Thanks for understanding Major." Beckett turned on his heels and quickly left the bay. "John, I don't understand why Dr. Beckett was blushing." "Because Tela, he was embarrassed." "But why? He shouldn't be embarrassed because he loves another man." At this point a broad smiling Zelenka decided to speak. "On Earth, it's called homosexuality, and it's considered to be a sort of taboo." Poor Tela still looked confused "Taboo?" Sheppard tried to help out and explain, after about fifteen minutes of he and Zelenka doing their best, Tela finally understood. "Well, I am happy for them." Zelenka was still smiling when Sheppard quietly asked "I wonder how McKay's going to react when Beckett tells him that everyone knows?" Zelenka chuckled and added "The entire city will hear him."

"Rodney! Slow down love!" Beckett was still running after his fiancé when McKay stopped short just ahead of him. "Why should I stop Carson? Huh, why? So you can tell me that Major Sheppard laughed at us, or better yet, he'll be sending his military buddies to come beat us up?" "Rodney! Just shut up for five seconds and listen to me for a change! Zelenka, the Major and Tela are all very happy for us, and even better, we don't have to hide our relationship any longer." "What? Why?" "Because love, everyone in the city figured it out, and they're okay with it. Even the military." The look on McKay's face was that of shock and relief, he took Beckett in his arms and kissed him passionately. After he broke away he whispered into Beckett's ear "I love you." Beckett responded by holding McKay tightly against him and whispering back "I love you too."

R&R please and thank you! Chapter three coming soon! Can anyone guess what'll happen?