The warriors way isn't always the best way

Teyla walked down the corridor making her way to the mess hall by way of Rodney's lab. She was honest enough with herself to confess that her pregnancy was starting to make her weary. She walked around parts of the city everyday in an attempt to keep toned and fit, her walk often taking her pass the labs to fetch Rodney so they could walk to lunch together.

She had always enjoyed Rodney's company, although many found him abrupt and rude, she had found his way refreshing. Rodney's words were honest. Most of the time they were ill timed, condescending and rude, but the words were how Rodney saw the situation, his words held no malice or spite. Teyla had spent a lifetime looking for the right words to say at the right time, the words to defuse a situation, to gain a profitable trade. Not a single word left her lips until its possible reaction by others was considered. She envied Rodney's freedom to speak his mind, even it if did get him and her, Ronon and Colonel Sheppard into many difficult situations.

Many had been surprised that Teyla had forged a friendship with Doctor McKay, but it was not just the wise use of words that Teyla knew. She knew the art of negotiation and the long learnt experience of seeing what was hidden, of seeing behind the friendly smiles, the charm and seeing the dark truth hidden beneath. In Rodney she had seen behind the prickly exterior and had seen the socially awkward man, who, for all his intelligence, was unable to understand friendship.

Many considered that Rodney did not lie, was incapable of the act. Teyla knew differently. Rodney could lie, just very poorly. A stranger would probably not notice, but with someone who knew him well it was obvious, the hesitation before the words left his mouth, the downward shift of his eyes, the slight blush on his cheeks. No, Rodney could not lie to those who knew him well. He could do miss-direction very well though. He could totally avoid a question, with a flurry of words, he would change the subject and by the time you managed to get a word in, you had forgotten your original intent.

She had noticed a falseness in him these past few weeks, his words were measured, thought out, polite, even charming. She had found the change alarming. Although this Rodney was nice and pleasant, she did not like it. She was accustomed to the loud, brash, arrogant man who would walk along by her side, expounding on theories that she did not understand or bemoaning the fact that he was surrounded by idiots and what latest disaster they had caused that he had narrowly diverted. She had even become accustomed to having him use her as a threat. She had overheard him many times over the years berating members of the military, threatening to send Teyla after them to "kick their ass" if they ever did again whatever it was that Rodney was berating them for. Teyla had spoken to Rodney and told him she knew what he was doing and that is was inappropriate. He had been unconcerned but had promised her that he would never sic her onto anyone he thought she could not take down. Teyla had given up.

Teyla stopped just outside Rodney's lab, watching as Doctor Zelenka argued with Rodney. Both of them standing with their backs to the door, facing a white board, Doctor Zelenka was clearly agitated, his arms waving, fingers pointing at the board. Rodney stood there calmly, a hand reaching out and clasping Doctor Zelenka's shoulder, his movements calm and assured, Teyla could hear Doctor Zelenka's words clearly, they were loud and annoyed, she could not catch Rodney's words , but his tone was pleasant. She watched as Doctor Zelenka shrugged out of Rodney's hold and stormed to the door, yelling loudly in his own language, he turned as he reached the door, his finger pointing at Rodney:

"You are killing yourself Rodney," he yelled out. "You cannot be this man you try to be." He gestured towards the board. "You make mistake. A mistake you would never have made if you were real Rodney McKay. You will kill us all." He turned and left the lab, giving Teyla a quick embarrassed look before marching off, mumbling Czech curses under his breath, or so Teyla assumed.

"Teyla, is it lunchtime already?" Rodney greeted.

"Yes, it is," Teyla confirmed, as she moved into the lab. "Doctor Zelenka seemed most upset," she queried.

"Ah, yes," Rodney said. "Unfortunately I made an error in one of the calculations for the new generator energy modifications, luckily Radek spotted it, or we would have been in trouble," Rodney explained.

And there, Teyla thought sadly, laid the proof of all her worries. Rodney had changed, and the change was not a good one, even if it seemed so on the surface. Not only had Rodney calmly accepted that he had made a mistake, but he had made one in the first place.

Teyla had seen Rodney do amazing things over the years. She had seen him write line after line of computer code, in Ancient and Wraith. She had seen him bring life to machines long dead, to work on technology he had never encountered before and to not only understand it but to use it to save their lives, all of it under pressure, with disaster and death only moments away, and he had never yet failed.

She knew that he could make mistakes, that he did make mistakes, but from the way Doctor Zelenka acted this was not one of those times. These calculations should have been easy for Rodney McKay.

When Ronon had proudly told her that McKay had mastered the sticks, his words had alarmed her. She had sadly pointed out to Ronon, that although McKay had mastered the sticks, had Ronon mastered Ancient technology. Ronon had looked at her grimly as understanding had dawned. McKay had been taught to defend himself, something he had never had to do before and he had learnt well. But McKay was the only one who understood the technology they encountered on their missions. She, Ronon and Sheppard had all pushed McKay into learning to defend himself, but they had never pushed themselves to learn about Ancient or Wraith technology. Only Rodney had mastered both.

But these past few weeks he had suddenly started to master techniques that she, Ronon and Sheppard had been trying to teach him for years. He had suddenly taken an interest in those around him, conversations no longer revolved around him. Where once it had been so simple to read McKay's mood, now he gave nothing away. His thoughts and feelings were no longer on display. It was if one Rodney McKay had simply disappeared and been replaced with a different version. But the new McKay was more warrior then scientist and that caused Teyla a great deal of worry.

Rodney walked to her side, taking her arm and threading it through his, "Shall we see what delights they have for us today?" he asked as he escorted her out of the lab.

They walked from the lab, Rodney matching Teyla's pace, as he asked her questions about Athosian culture. Teyla felt the sting of tears as she walked alongside. She did not want this, she did not want this man who took her by the arm so confidently, who chose a conversation that would interest her, who walked diligently by her side. She wanted the real Doctor Rodney McKay who would launch into unfathomably speeches, arms constantly moving, who would suddenly realize that she was no longer at his side and would trot back to her with an embarrassed blushed, before starting all over again.

She knew she was being unreasonable, but she could not stop a small surge of hated well up towards the man at her side.

This fit, trim man, confident and charming with an easy smile, was a stranger too her.