Disclaimer: Don't own anything, just playing with them.
And the rating is obviously for the language and violence (later on) and malexmale thingys!^^
A/N: Wow I didn't think that I would get so many reviews and story alerts for a chapter even I personally didn't like that much. Thank you very much for your encouragement and I hope you'll like this chapter too. Some team interaction in this one, hope I got it right.^^
2. Do. Not. Piss Off. Your Mascot. (AKA: Stupid)
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Rodney McKay paced in his office, arms tightly crossed over his broad chest with a sour look on his face, reflecting on what just happened.
Well, it was a rather simple question to answer for the annoyed man; he had almost confessed his foolish crush on a certain Airforce Colonel to a co-worker!
And wouldn't that truly have been one stupid move?
Rodney finally stopped his motions, only to hug himself more tightly with a feeling of dread and exhaustion. The reason why his little secret had almost slipped was way more complicated and for Rodney also a little bit frightening.
In fact, the Czech had surprised Rodney with the sudden questioning of his love life and he found himself confused by his own actions.
Rodney didn't know why he wasn't at least taking the letter a little bit more seriously or why he wasn't at least feeling a little bit flattered by its contents.
He just knew instantly that his secret crush ('Oh Rodney, stop calling it that; only little girls have crushes') didn't write it because he would have recognized his writing everywhere.
When this realization had hit home, he'd immediately lost all interest in this person.
If there was even one to begin with.
This dismissal had happened so quick and naturally that he had been slightly shocked by his own behaviour and had begun to wonder if you could still call it a "crush" when you are not even willing to consider other possibilities than to be with the cocky, good looking guy who happens to be on your team.
Didn't that mean that there was more to his feelings?
That question had rung through his mind, while he had been in the lab, staring into nothing. He had once more realized that his mouth worked too fast for his own good when he'd blurted out the only answer his confused brain could come up with.
Maybe there really is.
And that was such an insufficient answer for a genius like himself that he really wished he had more hair so that he could tussel it in frustration now.
And he really hoped that he had been able to distract Zelenka with his usual barking enough to avoid further questioning in the future.
He really didn't need that now.
Midway through a deep weary sigh his radio chirped and the voice of the person troubling his thoughts floated trough his ear.
"Sheppard to McKay."
At the distress in Sheppards voice McKay cringed inwardly, wondering if the Colonel had sensed his oncoming surge of panic through all of Atlantis, even though his right mind told him that the very idea was ridiculous.
"What is it Colonel?" Rodney snapped back, proud of himself for sounding like his usual busy self.
There was something akin to amusement when the Colonel answered.
"Rodney you didn't forget that we all had a date for lunch in the mess hall, exactly five minutes ago didn't you?"
Rodney felt himself getting annoyed when he realized that Sheppard probably allready knew that he indeed had forgotten his appointment with Ronon, Teyla and John over his work and that the Colonel was just making fun of him. Again.
"Well, when they would send me decent scientists instead of these untrained morons, maybe I wouldn't have to do all the work by myself to ensure that it's done right. So I'm afraid that I can't..."
His rant was cut short by Sheppard, who sounded much too pleased with himself.
"There is chocolate cake for dessert. Or make that, there was 'cause it's already out-of-stock now and I don't know how much longer I can prevent Ronon from grabbing the one I saved for you..."
Rodney could almost hear the smirk on Sheppards lips as his voice trailed of.
"You know colonel, some would consider luring a man with chocolate cake as pure evil" he replied on his way towards the mess hall. "Oh and inform Ronon that if he wants to enjoy a hot bath the next two weeks the cake better has to be still there when I arrive. McKay out."
When Rodney reached the mess hall it was just in time to see how Ronon's hands crept toward a piece of chocolate cake sitting in front of the empty seat they'd saved for him.
"Stop right there Chewbacca!" Rodney barked while he let himself fall down in front of the Satedan.
He played briefly with the idea to give the big hands a playful slap but self-preservation took over in the end, especially when said Satedan pulled back with a dark scowl.
Only months ago this look would have scared Rodney shitless. But not anymore.
Well, at least not much.
Rodney found it rather nice how their daily lunch had become a pleasant habit, with a constant routine; while Ronon was hunched over his meal , Sheppard stretched lazily in his chair, the perfect image of the nonchalant leader. Teyla meanwhile continued to drink her tea, occasionally throwing a dissaproving glance at her bickering teammates.
Rodney felt himself calm down and the ominous lettler disappeared into a far corner of his mind.
"Oh please, you will never get rid of your crumpy image when you keep acting like that, Conan." he drawled through a smirk, self-preservation momentarily forgotten.
"I think it suits him." Sheppard tossed in and quickly hid a smile when Ronon shot daggers his way.
"Nyu zink?" Rodney shot back through a mouth full of cake.
"Sure, I mean he's like our little pissed off mascot."
The scientist swallowed loudly and made a grimace. "You're not serious right? I mean, he totally lacks the spirit." His hand didn't abandon the fork while he gestured wildly, causing Teyla to duck away from him. Oblivious to this he continued "Just because he is big and has funny hair, as you do by the way, he doesn't fit the description."
"Well he keeps you walking with his cheering." Sheppard drawled with an emphasis on 'you', deliberately ignoring the hair comment.
A disbeliefing snort escaped Rodney.
"I wouldn't call 'Move your ass McKay' cheering."
"But you move it."
"Well, let me tell you Colonel that I..." before he could continue a hand on his arm stopped him cold and he redirected his attention to Teyla.
Oddly enough she was frowning and didn't look his way when she asked "Please tell me, Rodney. What is this 'mascot' you are talking about. I am unfamiliar with the term."
Puzzled by her tight voice, Rodney followed he gaze and felt his heart sink like a stone.
Ronon had silently listened to their conversation but his gaze and posture showed that he was anything but calm.
'Oh my' Rodney thought, 'he looks pissed. Well, more than usual.'
Sheppard sensed the danger at the same time and scooted some inches away, as if afraid that Ronon's fierce glare could burn him.
"W- Well a mascot... you know.. it's.." Rodney stammered throwing his teamleader a look that was accusing and pleading at the same time.
"A warrior" Sheppard almost shouted. "A mascot is a warrior, who keeps his people fighting in difficult times during battle."
Teylas eyebrows rose unbelievingly and Rodney threw his friend one of his famous 'Are you really that stupid?' looks, but Ronon's eyes just furrowed slightly before the impassive look returned.
"That's nice."
Sheppard nodded enthusiastically, obviously relieved. "It sure is, big guy."
Sometimes Rodney wondered how John had managed to lead them through all these dangerous missions alive when he didn't even sensed the menacing undertone in the voice of one of his own team members.
A glance at Teyla and her amused yet clearly worried expression told him that he didn't imagined the calm dread that emanated from the warrior.
This was far from over.
Suddelnly he felt the urge for some coffee so he left the table (and an angry Wraith killer) and walked to the counter, taking more time than he actually needed.
When he returned he felt relief wash over him. In the meantime the topic of the conversation had changed once more and Ronon actually looked amused.
"....surprisingly not that bad." Rodney heard Sheppard say when he rejoined them. "They are a little bit wet behind the ears but nothing some sparring with Ronon won't change."
His smile was surprisingly evil. Almost as evil as Ronon's.
"I take it you are talking about the new personnel that came with the Daedalus?" Rodney asked with a frown on his face.
"Don't tell me you already tortured your new scientists? At least we wait until tomorrow."
Teylas brows drew together at the word 'torture', clearly not liking the sound of it.
'Probably because she is in for tomorrows session too.' Rodney though wryly. 'But just because you are beaten with sticks by a beautiful woman doesn't make the experience less painful.'
"Well" he said aloud "at least they know from the start that I want them to be more than trained monkeys."
In fact his little "opening speech" had scared the newbies so bad, that they hadn't touched much of anything the rest of the day and not one had had the courage to go near him without shifting nervously from foot to foot.
A smug smile played on his lips. Let's see how Sheppard or Ronon would manage to make their Marines cringe in fear just using their voices.
"You should not scare them too much, Rodney."
Ah Teyla, always the nice one. Although nobody missed the tiny smile that had touched her lips.
"The longer they are cautious, the longer it will take them to make their first attempt to blow up the whole city."
"Won't make friends with that McKay." Ronon grumbled without taking his eyes off his full plate.
Rodney gaped at the Satedan like he had just confessed to be in fact a really bulky woman.
"Friends?" he squawked "It's not my job to be their friend or to hold their hands when they activate a device which turnes them in the monkeys they are. My job is to prevent them from causing a catasthrope. I don't need to be liked to do that."
The predatory smile that crossed Ronons otherwise impassive face caused Rodney to shift uncomfortably on his seat. He couldn't get rid of the feeling that he had just tapped in a trap.
He raised the mug to his face to cover his discomfort when Ronon just shrugged.
"Someone seems to like you though."
Rodney swallowed some more caffein, trying to ignore the knot forming in his stomach.
"And what does that mean?" asked Sheppard with a suspicious look on his face.
"McKay got flowers today." Ronon replied, as casual as one would talk about the weather.
Rodneys reaction was a little bit more drastic. He choked on his coffee and fought desperately to regain some composure while he coughed harshly.
So he missed the rapid blinking and rather shocked eyes of one Colonel and the little sound of pleasant surprise of one Athosian.
One look through watering eyes at devilish amused ones across the table told Rodney all he needed to know.
Despite his predicament he managed to roll his eyes. 'Oh very mature, Conan.'
Teyla beamed at the revelation.
"Flowers? I am very pleased to hear that Rodney."
Sheppard instead focused his attention on Ronon, looking clearly puzzled.
"How'd you know?"
"It's the number one gossip in the labs. Every scientist wonders who would do something like that."
Rodney was momentarily flabbergasted and not just because Ronon just used the word 'gossip' in a sentence.
"Hey, I'm a good looking and damn smart man. They should wonder why I didn't get some earlier." he huffed, chin defiantly stuck out.
Teyla just smiled more, looking disturbingly young. "You are right, Rodney."
Rodney nodded at her with an approving smile but wondered secretly if she was serious and not just mocking him.
"So", she continued "who is it from?"
"Well..."
"Oh I bet it's from a poor Marine who wants some hot water again after he'd made you mad." Sheppard interupted, looking much too certain and even Teyla looked thoughtful for a moment as if considering the possibility.
Ronon just smirked his evil smirk without looking up. "Probably."
Rodney found himself growing more and more agitated. So apparently the Colonel thought he only got a gift when people wanted something from him.
The thought troubled him.
Without even realizing what he did he turned to Teyla (after a short glance at Sheppard) and said in a voice, loud enough to be heard at the nearby tables "I got them from a secret admirer."
Now it was Sheppards turn to choke on his coffe and even though Rodney couldn't see his face the sound brought him back to earth.
The knowledge of what he'd just did hit him full force and before anyone could see his red face and before a very eager Teyla could shower him with questions, he rose from his seat.
"Anyway, I have much work to do, err, you know, scare some minions, save the city and hey, while I'm on it, the galaxy." and before he even finished he was on his way leaving behind some very confused team members.
God, why had he said that? Even he himself believed that the flowers were just a bad joke so what had gotten into him?
There had been no reason to reveal the secret admirer thing. He could have let them know that it was probably just a joke. They thought so anyway, except for Teyla maybe.
He even could have gone with Sheppard's story.
And that's when it hit him and he stopped in his tracks, a look of horror on his face.
Just before Sheppard had made that comment he had planned just that: saying that it was just a joke, nothing serious, and to let life go on.
But then Sheppard had joked about it and Rodney hadn't liked the way he had dismissed it so lightly and he'd just wanted Sheppard to take it seriously and...
"Oh my god." he breathed and wished he could just disappear into the floor right now, embarrassed by his own antics.
He had wanted Sheppard to get jealous.
He had acted like one of those dumb lovesick women he resented so much.
And wasn't that just exceedingly stupid?
A/N: I get a kick out of the idea that Ronon is a bit of a 'tattletale'! =)
Hope you liked it even though I just know that there were grammatical errors of doom everywhere! R&R please
(Next chapter(s) this weekend)