Disclaimer: Yada Yada, you know it.
A/N: Thank you for your reviews and encouragements, they are awesome!!! And to set things right: This chapter is not short, because I post it today, but it is posted today because it is short, ok? I was forced to end it at a certain point, that's all. I hate rash posted chapters like everyone else does so please don't worry about that^^. That's why the next one will take some days, because it will be a difficult one to write and I want to do it right!^^
Oh and much thanks to Wapeci for the cool name for the flowers! *hugs* It sounds really exotic, I like it!^^ There wasn't any opportunity to contrive it in this chapter, but it will come!^^
Anyway, much fun with this little filler, I know I had fun writing it! :)
5. Of Cyranos And Disappearing Clothes
"No! Never! Just NO!"
Rodney faced his team in his quarters, hands on his hips and feet spread. Althogether his posture screamed defiance in every line.
Sheppard hadn't really expected something else but was nonetheless at the end of his patience. He knew that the plan wasn't ideal, far from it, but it was the only one they had so far.
Sheppard had found out that Major Higgins was since yesterday in the infirmary, nursing a badly sprained ankle. The rest of his team had continued their trips to the mainland, no one really there would wait a threat for them they couldn't handle without their leader. So for the last few day only the three remaining team members had received the purple flowers: the female scientist Dr. Atlas, the likewise female Lt. Corrin and their male colleague Lt. Connolly.
He also had found out that the three of them came back roughly one hour before the incident in Rodneys lab and were now having a late lunch in the mess hall, relaxing from a day of hard work.
Sheppard had jogged to Teylas quarters to fetch her, afraid they would miss them if he didn't hurry. He had forgotten about her appointment with Dr. Heightmeyer and just remembered when he came to a half in front of them, standing in front of Teylas door talking.
Teyla had eyed him with poorly hidden exasperation, scolding him just with a look for his interruption, while Kate had that curious glitter in her eyes when she saw him panting from the sprint. Sheppard had immediately felt the urge to lie down on a couch and spill his guts and was slightly disgusted with himself for that.
"What is it Colonel Sheppard?" Teyla had asked, trying to sound evenly.
Sheppard had eyed Kate warily before answering: "It's about the thing we discussed earlier." He'd just hoped she would get it.
But what was he so worried about. This was Teyla after all.
"I understand." With a fluid motion she had turned to Kate "I apologize, but I am afraid this cannot wait." And with that she had followed Sheppard down the hall, immediately noticing the urgency in his voice for what it was, leaving behind a pondering psychologist.
During their quest for Ronon, Sheppard had filled her in on the recent events and she had agreed that it was "quite disconcerting".
When they found Ronon he had been on his way to the mess hall and Sheppard had groaned inwardly, trying to figure out how to persuade the big Satedan to miss lunch for the investigation of some love letters.
But before he could say something, Teyla took matters into her own hands.
"Rodney got flowers today again and we wish to find out who is sending them."
Something akin to excitement had flashed in the warriors eyes and Sheppard remembered that it had been Ronon who had told them about the flowers in the first place.
"Could be interesting." was his only reply before he'd followed them with an amused smile on his face.
'He probably considers this as some kind of hunting experience' Sheppard thought amused, trying to figure out, when Ronon had become a bit of a tattletale.
They had met with Rodney in his own quarters to be undisturbed for their unofficial briefing. First Rodney had been outraged with John for telling the others about the second note, and worse, for showing them, something Sheppard had done on the way, feeling they needed to see it themselves, to understand why this wasn't something they should leave alone.
He had insulted Sheppard and the others, telling them all that the notes were admittedly rather unpleasant and annoying, but nothing to get so worked up about and that he didn't understand why it was necessary to involve the whole team, when it probably would stop on its own when he continued to ignore it.
"I don't think so," Sheppard had snapped back "that someone who manipulates the video footage to conceal her identity will just stop, just because you ignore it."
At that Rodney had snapped his mouth shut and turned a rather unhealthy shade of green, knowing exactly that this wasn't normal for a normal admirer. More for a stalker.
Still he had been stubborn, saying that he would just ignore it and wait, even when Sheppard had told him about his theory about Team Higgins and that it would be rather easy to find the culprit now if they would just investigate a little.
It had taken much of Sheppard's exasperated persuasions, Teyla's soothing words and Ronon's menacing growls before Rodney had conceded with an annoyed "Fine, if that's what it's going to take to get you off my back" to accept their help.
But how should they proceed now?
They couldn't just go to Dr. Atlas and Lt. Corrin and ask them, if one of them had a "Disturbing Love Letters For Dummies" guide in their possession. No, that would be bad form, Sheppard decided.
Surprisingly it had been Ronon who had spoken up after a few seconds of tense silence. "Why don't you just seduce them, and see who bites."
Rodney had gaped at him at a loss for words, while Teyla and John had seriously considered the idea and decided that it was woth a try.
After regaining his bearings, Rodney hat outright refused, and that's where they were now.
"Come on, Rodney." Sheppard drawled "You just have to flirt with them a little bit." He ignored the funny feeling in his gut at the prospect of seeing Rodney flirt with women.
Rodney just stared at him with loathing and, John could be mistaken, but wasn't there also a little bit of sadness in his eyes?
"Are you really that stupid?" he screamed "Please tell me Colonel, how is it a good idea to flirt with a possibly deranged woman who sends you creepy cards that border on porn?" He was pacing now "I don't believe you are actually considering the idea of that big oaf" with that he pointed accusingly at Ronon, before turning back to John "I won't 'seduce' my possible stalker, Colonel! Never. Gonna. Happen!"
John understood Rodneys anxiety, and he would have dropped this topic if there wouldn't have been this bad feeling, brooding inside of him like a volcano.
"Don't worry Rodney. We will stick around and watch."
Rodney just gave him his "And how is this supposed to make me feel better" stare but nonetheless seemed to be pleased with the prospect of his friends beeing nearby.
Sheppard almost saw Rodneys defenses crumble under their encouraging looks before he finally turned bright red and shuffled from foot to foot.
Sheppard smiled at the sight, as did Teyla and Ronon.
'Gotcha!'
"It won't work anyway" McKay huffed "I don't really know...well you know, I don't...I'm not..." he trailed off, obviously not knowing how to tell his team, that he didn't have much experience with these things.
While Teyla and Ronon smiled openly at that, Sheppard tried to surpress the affectionate chuckle that threatened to escape him. He found Rodney, flushed and uncomfortuable, rather endearing.
He took advantage of Rodneys momentary defenselessness and took the scientict by the arm to lead him to his wardrobe. "Don't worry about that. I'll tell you what to say though the radio." He grinned "I'll be your Cyrano."
He could have sworn he heard Rodney mutter something like 'you have the nose' but let it go and instead rummaged through the scientist, surprisingly tidy, wardrobe.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rodney asked with badly concealed annoyance.
Teyla and Ronon came nearer and wondered what their leader was searching for.
Sheppard meanwhile grew more and more impatient, not finding what he was looking for. "Where is that jacket of yours, you know, the black one with the red padding?"
When only silence greeted him he looked over his shoulder and found Teyla and Ronon watching him with open surprise, not much different than the way Rodney stared at him, except for the blush that once again touched his cheeks.
Sheppard contemplated that it might seemed weird for him to know his colleagues clothes but didn't thought too much about it.
"What?" he asked "You look good in it."
Rodney got a dazed look in his eyes and John was afraid that the mass of blood that was rushing to his head, would knock him out, before Rodney shoved him out of the way and searched for the jacket on his own now.
Sheppard felt oddly pleased that he had elicited such a response out of Rodney with his little (but nonetheless true) remark.
After a few minutes Rodney finished his search with empty hands, looking confused.
"I don't understand" he muttered while letting his gaze roam through the room. "I'm sure I have seen it just a few days ago in my wardrobe."
"Maybe you left it in your lab." Ronon said, already bored of this "or lost it."
Rodney looked like he wanted to protest rather loudly but in the end just shrugged it off "I don't loose things. I'm sure it will show up again. The customary uniform will have to do the trick."
Without waiting for an answer he made his way to the door, just to turn back to Sheppard and the others with an irritated glare. "Let's go then. I want this thing to get over with. There are projects I need to attend to that aren't completely stupid." Teyla smiled at that and followed him, as did Ronon. Sheppard stood there a while longer, running his hands over his face, wondering why he felt so disappointed that they hadn't found that jacket. He really liked it. Rodney looked beautiful when he wore it.
Oh my god, did he just thought that Rodney looked beautiful?
'You're loosing it, John.' Since he saw that damned lines he felt and thought things that scared him a bit, although they didn't feel exactly wrong.
"Colonel? Are you coming?" Rodney shouted from the hallway.
'Yeah, time to stop this and get back to normal again.' John jogged to catch up with the others, not daring to wonder if it would really be so easy to close Pandora's box again and mentally preparing himself to help Rodney pick up some chicks.
'The day gets better and better.' he thought sourly.
A/N
I think you understand now why the next chapter's gonna be a difficult one...so much to consider *sigh*Please continue to review, they make my day!^^