Disclaimer: None mine

A/N: Okay, this chapter is like... the cousin that you don't like but have to invite to your birthday party because otherwise the family wouldn't be complete, you understand?! -.-"

But for a chapter that I really disliked writing I think it came out quite nicely...hey it could be worse...much worse!

Part of the problem was that I was mentally already with the next few chapters (the final chapters to be exact) while I wrote this one. Although it is really short, it took me almost more time to write than some of the longer ones because I was always like 'Oh, that's a good scene for the last chapter, I need to write that down, before I forget it!'.... well I'm glad that this is over and done with! Now there will be the "fun" chapters to write! muahahahaha

14. How Rodney McKay and John Sheppard faced a predator

Atlantis wasn't so much a city as it was a large town. Everyone knew everyone and like in every large town where everyone knew everyone, rumors spreaded fast. Sickenly fast.

It hadn't taken more than one day before everyone knew about the incident with the burning jacket and the contents of the attached message. And sometimes it was a curse that half of the staff consisted of rather smart scientists because they had combined the facts astonishing fast.

Rodney's needless presence at the scene, the message and the fact that it had been Sheppards jacket that had been used for a surrogate campfire. And of course the 'almost' forgotten flowers which Rodney had found just a few days ago in the lab. In font of witnesses.

Later on John would, albeit grudgingly, admit that it didn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots.

As a result, whispers filled Atlantis' hallways until John or Rodney would come around. Then it would be eerily silent.

And the fact that Rodney evaded John and wouldn't even sit with him in the mess hall didn't help things at all. Everyone was used to their bickering over lunch or John's constant presence in the labs until Rodney cracked and either, kicked him out or misused him as his personal assistent. This silence and tension between the two friends fueled the speculations even more. Some of them were quite approximate to the truth, but some were just outright ridiculous.

For example, the story that Rodney had some kind of liaison with Dr. Weir and that she didn't like John's and Rodney's closeness. And because she couldn't just fire John without alarming the SGC, she planned to bully him until he would leave Atlantis voluntarily.

When Elizabeth had heard this particular rumor she hadn't known if she should be angry or amused.

Rodney however, acted like he didn't even notice the looks and whispers. But those who really knew him, noticed that he was more grumpy and more unrelenting than usually.

Rodney also acted like he didn't notice the shadow, namely Sheppard, that seemed to follow him everywhere he went. Oh, John didn't hang out in the labs to peek over Rodney's shoulder anymore and they didn't meet for lunch anymore, but the Colonel was always nearby.

Sometimes Rodney would swear that he saw a mop of black, unruly hair out of the corner of his eye but when he turned to take a closer look, it was already gone. It drove him crazy but he was also oddly relieved when he knew that Sheppard was close.

But it wasn't always John who would watch over Rodney. Sometimes Ronon or Teyla would take his place. But unlike Sheppard, they didn't try to conceil their presence. Especially Ronon would just take a seat in a corner of the lab and stay there until his relief arrived.

Rodney tried his best to ignore his 'babysitters' and the knot in his stomache that only seemed to disappear when he sensed that Sheppard'd returned to watch over him.

Sheppard meanwhile was deliberately staying away from Rodney and stayed in the shadows while he watched the scientist work or eat. He knew that Rodney wouldn't send him away but that he wouldn't act like he usually did around him either and John didn't know if he could bring himself to face that just yet.

He felt like the process that they had made in the last few days hadn't happened at all. Worse even, he felt like their 'relationship' had taken a step back instead. It was frustrating to say the least.

John Sheppard didn't consider himself to be a weak man but he felt drained and defeated. He had known that it would be hard to regain Rodney's trust but he hadn't expected this complete lack of communication. It had been two days since the rather ugly scene in his quarters and Rodney was still not acting any different around John.

Although John was mostly patient, there had been one weak moment where he had felt incredible anger and the urge to strangle Rodney. How could one man be so damn stubborn? Why couldn't that obnoxious, arrogant, petty and egoistic bastard just forgive him?

One evening he had lost control in front of Teyla and ranted about the unforgiving scientist for more than half an hour. It hadn't been the first time though.

John only went to Heightmeyer when he had to and he never told her anything of importance. When he really wanted to blow off some steam he went usually to Teyla, although only when the situation was really dire and an extra training session hadn't fixed things.

Although Dr. Heightmeyer was obligated to the doctor-patient confidentiality he trusted Teyla much more to keep his secrets...well, secret. She saw more than she let on and she had always a good advice on her lips. Teyla was his friend and therapist and they both knew it although none of them ever said it.

She had listened to Sheppards moaning and groaning about a certain scientist until he had been as red as a beet and mighty embarrassed. Teyla was the only one who would ever see an outburst like this. He would make sure of that.

Telya meanwhile had listened and marvelled how Sheppard could be so observing but at the same time so clueless.

She could understand Rodney's reaction perfectly well. John wasn't the only one who came to her for advice, although this other person had needed much more time to even remotely open up to her.

And that was the point.

"Rodney doesn't trust easily."

She hadn't said more, because she hadn't needed to. The look on John's face had told her that he'd understood, so she'd left him alone with his thoughts.

And John really did know that Teyla was right. Hell, she always was.

To gain Rodney's trust in the first place had been a pain in the butt, but to regain it would be like trying to coax him into the lion's den. Nearly impossible.

Sheppard had groaned miserably at the picture but his anger had disappeared and in its wake there had been only pure determination.

John Sheppard didn't consider himself a weak man and he wouldn't start now.

It was time to face the predator.

Rodney was alone in his lab, hunched over his laptop and typing furiously in righteous anger. It was already late and the room was only lit by the light of the monitor. The report he was writing had been originally Radeks task but the Czech had catched some kind of intergalactic bug and was resting in the infirmary right now. Lazy bugger. Rodney would never stop working just because of a running nose. Oh he would act like he was dying and annoy the crap out of Carson... but he would never stop working.

Rodney sighed heavily and rubbed his tired eyes. He was so exhausted. He just wanted to finish this and go to bed.

Rodney was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the person that was watching him from the doorway. Rodney also didn't notice how the person came closer until it stood right behind him.

In fact, he didn't notice the person until it spoke right next to his ear.

"What are you doing, Rodney?"

Rodney jumped, turned around and placed a hand over his racing heart.

"What are you trying to do here? Give me an heart attack?"

John Sheppard met his glare with a cheeky grin. "Nah, just testing your reflexes. Which are still too slow, by the way."

"They are just fine! Not everyone can be a model G. I. Joe."

"G. I. Joe?" Sheppard asked. "You compare me to G. I. Joe?" Before Rodney could answer, Sheppard broke into another blending smile. "Well, thank you Rodney. I actually really liked Joe."

Rodney just glared at him some more before he returned to his work. "Who was talking about you? You're no Joe. You're... I don't know... 'Ken'!"

"Ken?" Sheppard spluttered in mock outrage. "I don't know if I should be more shocked by the fact that you know who 'Ken' is, or that you're comparing me to him."

Rodney had a smug smile on his face, although John couldn't see it. "First of all, Jeannie played with them and secondly... well you know, if the shoe fits..."

"Oh yeah? And you are what? My Barbie?"

And that was when it hit Rodney.

Well, first he thought something like 'I wish.' (which he would deny until his death bed and beyond, because... seriously, Barbie?) before everything finally sunk in.

They were actually bickering. Like they always did. So naturally that he didn't even remember that he was technically still not speaking with Sheppard... aside from the fact that he did.

Rodney immediately tensed up and clenched his teeth, but not because he regretted this little slip but because...Christ, he had missed this!

He had missed these mindless conversations that could start with an innocent 'What are you doing?' and end just minutes later with 'And you are what? My Barbie?'. He'd missed their friendly and childish insults. This odd peacefulness he could experience with no one else.

And if he was honest with himself, he wasn't that angry anymore. At least not with John.

Rodney was angry with himself because his false expectations had gotten in the way of their friendship. And because he couldn't overcome his damn pride and just forgive Sheppard for what he'd done. He was mad at himself for each time that he had contemplated speaking with Sheppard and then decided against it because he hadn't wanted to be the one to make the first step. And now that Sheppard had taken that first step he didn't really know what to do next. Just act like nothing happened? Rub Sheppard's nose in 'it' until he got tired of it? Just keep on ignoring him?

No, he could do nothing of that because, no matter how much he tried to deny it, something had changed, something that you couldn't rub in. And he definitely couldn't ignore Sheppard anymore. He had tried that and now that the spell was broken he knew that he wouldn't be able to do that again.

And hadn't they already cleared things with their little talk? Weren't they okay again, or was Rodney supposed to say something cheesy like 'I'll forgive you.'?

'God,' Rodney thought, 'when have things become so complicated between us?'

The silence became uncomfortable and Rodney was more than relieved when Sheppard finally broke it.

"Sooo... got any nice flowers recently?"

Or maybe not.

But Rodney had to give it to Sheppard. He sounded almost like he didn't care about the answer. Almost.

"No, but you already know that, don't you?" He didn't add 'Because you and the others were watching me 24/7.' but his dark scrowl spoke more than thousand words. Maybe he wasn't mad at Sheppard anymore, but they really had to sort out that trust issue that seemed to be a constant sore subject between the two of them.

But after the incident on the east pier there had been no more flowers or little messages anymore. But that didn't mean that Sheppard and the others had scared this lunatic away with their constant hovering. At least Rodney didn't think so.

"I guess he finally realized that I'm not worth the trouble."

Rodney winched at his own words. Oh man, since when did he sound so damn pathetic?

'Since you realized that you would never get the one you truly want.' a familiar voice echoed in his head.

Before he could wallow in self-pity, he was grabbed by the arms and spun around, only to face a really pissed of Sheppard.

"W-What?" Rodney stuttered in surprise, "What did I do now?"

The hands on his arms tightened and the Colonel pulled him even closer, until their noses almost touched.

"Don't you ever say that again!"

Rodney could tell that Sheppard had to restrain himself from yelling. "Wha-"?

"Don't you ever," Sheppard cut him off with a little shake. "Don't you ever say again that you are not worth it! You are worth all the trouble in this whole goddamn galaxy!"

Maybe he'd had false expectations, but Sheppard really wasn't going easy on him, was he? What's with the touching and telling Rodney all those nice and encouraging things, while he was still holding him really close?

'Even a straight guy would get ideas by now!' Rodney thought and didn't notice how he had relaxed into Sheppards grip and how John's face had softened into a sad and hestitant expression.

"Rodney listen, I..."

All of a sudden he jumped and pulled away and just like that the spell was broken.

He tapped his radio with a rueful and maybe even annoyed expression on his face. "Sheppard here."

Rodney found that he looked like a man that got interrupted while doing something really important and he wondered what John had wanted to tell him.

Not that Rodney thought that he could handle any more confusing behaviour from the Colonel. His heart was still racing and he tried to surpress the happy flutter in his stomache. He wouldn't go there. Not again! He had learned from his mistakes...

"Okay I'll be there." Sheppard said and Rodney realized that he had missed the whole exchange.

"Something wrong?" he asked and Sheppard just shrugged.

"Seemed like they need me in the mess hall. Some kind of quarrel between two soldiers."

"Hmmm." Rodney didn't really understand why Sheppard needed to be there but he didn't question the procedure of those goons. But then he saw how Sheppard seemed to hestitate and he felt the familiar surge of annoyance.

"Oh for the love of-! Go already! I promise that I won't go with strangers, even if they tell me that they have a cute puppy in their quarters."

Sheppard looked like he was surprised for a moment but nodded nonetheless. Rodney knew exactly what had gone through his head. Teyla was visiting the mainland for the night and Ronon had accompanied her. That meant that Rodney would be without a watchdog while Sheppard was gone and although there had been no gifts recently, the Colonel still seemed uncomfortable with an unwatched Rodney. Which was ridiculous really! Rodney was a grown man after all.

"And you won't go with them for coffee either, will you Rodney?" Sheppard asked in mock seriousness.

"You know I can't promise that Colonel." Rodney replied, but the smile on his lips and the almost unnoticable nod of his head belied his words.

Sheppard smiled back (oh he had missed that smile too) and left.

While Rodney turned his back to the door and resumed his typing his thoughts were still on that smile. It had been easy and unforced... and just reassuring.

Yeah, maybe he could do this after all. Surpress his feelings and just be Johns best friend. Those smiles, his real smiles, would be enough for Rodney. If that was all that he could hope for, they would be enough...had to be enough.

A shuffle from behind him jerked the Canadian out of his thoughts and he huffed in exasperation.

"Did you forget something or do you think that I cannot withstand the temptation of coffee after all?"

When he got no answer he began to turn around. "I asked you something Colo-"

He trailed off, partly because he couldn't seem to remember how to breath anymore and partly because it wasn't Sheppard who was standing in the doorway. Oh no, the guy with the bunch of flowers in the one hand and a knife in the other was definitely not Sheppard...

"Connolly?"

A/N Wohooo! Yeah I consider an evil cliffhanger a surprise (points to previous chapter's A/N)! XD Well Rodney is in deep shit now...or is he? Hmmmm... Don't worry, the next one won't be the last chapter...far from it! *evil laughter*

Review, cause reviews make me update faster! XD