A/N: Thanks to voyfan7 once again for her invaluable assistance with this story.
The Friendship Files
Chapter 2
Priceless
"So?"
"So…it's not done yet."
"What is taking so long, Rodney?" Teyla was concerned and let her annoyance with her teammate show. "You only have six days."
"I know but I don't have much time to work on it. The IOA and the SGC are on my back to complete some of my research projects, there are reports and proposals to write, Woolsey is demanding that I redo all of my semi-annual performance reviews again and if I don't get at least eight hours of sleep a night…" he trailed off.
"You can't function. We know." Ronon remarked.
"Yes, but no. That's not it."
"Then what?" Lorne wanted to know.
The physicist blushed and mumbled something under his breath that no one could hear.
"Rodney?" Teyla, sitting next to him, nudged him with her elbow.
He couldn't meet any of their eyes. "Ever since I was cured of that parasite Jennifer…makes me go to bed by 2430. If I'm not in my quarters by then she comes after me." Their amusement rolled over him. "Go ahead and laugh. It's not like this is my first ride on the humiliation train.
"The worst part is she has help. If I try to work past her arbitrarily imposed curfew, she has Radek shut off power to my work area. It can't be turned back on unless I go to the main lab and when I get there, there stands Jennifer with her 'I'm in charge and you'll do what I say or suffer the consequences' look. It's easier to just…give in."
Ronon and Lorne started to laugh but Teyla shot them a sharp look, the one Sheppard called her "mom face".
"In order to finish it on time, I'm going to need some help. Someone has to distract Sheppard. He thinks I'm becoming depressed and withdrawing from social interaction. He won't leave me alone! Jennifer has tried to help but she can only do so much. He's becoming suspicious."
"We will assist you, Rodney." She looked relieved that it wasn't something more serious.
"That's great. How?"
Lorne, Ronon and Teyla exchanged enigmatic grins. "Leave that to us. Rest assured that he will not be bothering you again. At least for a while."
Rodney didn't know whether to be relieved or scared but settled for nodding his thanks. He gathered up his tablet PC, excused himself and left the three warriors to plot and plan.
*****
"Okay. We are ready to try powering up." Rodney was alone in the lab he'd co-opted for his special project and talking to himself sometimes helped sort things out in his mind when he was tired. He picked up his tablet, tapped a few keys and the device roared to life.
"Yes!"
He made a few adjustments to pitch and timbre until he was satisfied that it was perfect. His finger hovered over the save key and…all power went out. Turning his wrist he could see that the time was exactly 2430. "Oh, crap!" He tapped his headset. "Teyla, Ronon, Lorne, come in." One by one they came online. "The power to the lab has been shut down and has just cost me an entire night's work. If it happens again, it won't be completed in time. We need a way to distract Radek and Jennifer."
"I have an idea for a distraction for Jennifer, Rodney, but cannot implement it until morning." Teyla told him.
"And I can get rid of Radek for a couple of days but also not until morning. On the upside, once the two of them are out of the way, I can make up for lost time and this thing will be ready two to three days early. That way I can take it for a test run to work out any glitches or bugs in the programming before the big day."
*****
Sheppard sat up in bed. He thought he heard a sound he hadn't heard in years. He was certain it was his imagination, that is, until he heard it again.
There it was again! He got out of bed and left his quarters following the sound down the hall. Turning his head side to side, his eyes and ears alert, he tracked the sound to a three way junction down the hall from his quarters. Before he could zero in on the correct direction it cut off.
"Crap!" He turned in a circle but the sound was gone. He stood there for a while hoping it would start up again but eventually footsteps replaced the mystery noise and a few seconds later Rodney joined him.
"John," The physicist looked him up and down, "what are you doing out here in your pajamas?"
Sheppard walked around Rodney, his head cocked to one side. "I thought I heard…"
"Heard what?"
"It must have been my imagination. There's no way I could have heard what I thought I heard. I'll, uh, just go back to bed."
"O-kay." Rodney let himself into his quarters and tapped his headset. "McKay to Woolsey. We have yet another problem with Operation: Überraschung."
"What sort of problem this time?"
He exhaled loudly. "I tested the audio enhancements tonight and apparently his above average hearing picked it up. We need to get him out of the city so we can do a test run or the cat will most definitely be out of the bag."
"Leave that to me, Rodney. I'll take care of it."
"Thanks, Richard."
*****
The next morning, at Teyla's urging, Woolsey sent a medical team to the mainland to give the Athosian children wellness physicals. Rodney found her supervising the loading of portable scanning equipment into a pair of Jumpers.
"Rodney, honey, what are you doing here?"
"I was thinking I would come along. We could spend a little time together away from the city, maybe do a little hiking, you know, for exercise."
"As nice as that sounds, I'm going to be way too busy for hiking." She opened a medkit to check the contents. "Besides, you have a heavy workload. Don't want to tick off the IOA."
"Let me worry about the IOA. I don't want us to be one of those couples who put work before spending time together. Unless there's a really good reason, like attacking Wraith or a virulent disease running rampant." Her eyes were wide as she stared at him. "What?"
"Nothing." She shook her head as if to clear it. "It's time to go. Make sure you stick to the food and exercise plan and I especially want you to get plenty of rest."
"That's easy when you have a brilliant scientist like Radek as your partner in crime." He gave her a quick kiss good-bye then stepped back out of the way as she climbed into Jumper one. The hatch closed and it headed out of the Jumper bay closely followed by Jumper six.
Rodney rubbed his hands together with glee. Oh, this is working out splendidly!
*****
Radek Zelenka was not a happy man. He was being sent to a planet full of children again!
"Rodney, I do not understand why I must be the one to go to M7G-677. They should not be having problems with their EM field."
"Everything is working within normal parameters, Radek. This is just routine maintenance and the Elders have specifically requested you and your team because they like you."
"But I do not like them. You know how I feel. My sister's child…"
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We've all heard about your ill-mannered nephew. Just get going. The emitters won't maintain themselves. And make sure you take plenty of chocolate for the little ones."
Swearing out loud in Czech, Radek finished preparing his equipment for transport while the rest of his team did the same. To amuse himself, he devised many creative ways to get revenge on Rodney for his heartlessness. Rodney had always said he had a fear and dislike of children but, truth be told, he was actually very good with them. Mostly because he did not treat them like children, he didn't talk down to them. But Radek's abhorrence and loathing went bone deep. If they even try to touch my hair this time…
*****
"John! John, wait up!" Rodney ran to catch up with Sheppard. "Where're you headed?"
The Air Force Colonel scowled at the physicist. "I have to ferry Drs. Parrish and Kiang to the mainland…again. Something about plant life that grows where it shouldn't or should but doesn't. Whatever!" He threw his hands in the air.
"Why can't Lorne take them?"
"Because, Rodney, they specifically requested me and our esteemed commander was more than happy to accommodate them. And don't ask why again because I don't know."
"Okay, I won't." Rodney slapped him on the back. "Well, have a good time and stay out of trouble. Remember what happened the last time." He made a right turn and was gone.
Sheppard climbed the stairs to the Jumper bay. He was greeted by both astrobiologists already seated in the back of Jumper three with their equipment but ignored them. Power thrummed through the ship as it lifted up though the bay doors and headed for the mainland. Twenty minutes later they arrived at the designated coordinates.
He picked up his P-90 and prowled the perimeter restlessly while they set up. He watched the scientists as they had an intense whispered conversation. Kiang nodded emphatically in response to something Parrish said, he patted her on the shoulder then walked off into the forest alone.
Sheppard's previous attraction to Susan Kiang had dissipated not long into their first trip. She had bored him to tears with her talk of class G stars, photosynthesis, chlorophyll, and whatnot. Then he'd had to deal with the AI of the Sekkari which had shown itself to him in the form of his dead foe, Genii Commander Acastus Kolya. He would forevermore associate one with the other thereby creating an aversion that was almost instinctive.
"Colonel Sheppard!" He whipped around, weapon raised. It was Dr. Kiang who was more than smart enough to have known better than to sneak up on an armed soldier.
"Sorry, Doc. What, uh, can I do for you?"
She'd taken off her jacket and her hands were laced together in front of her. The light blue tank top she wore allowed the smallest bit of cleavage to peek out at the V-neck, just enough to entice. The clip holding her waist length black hair was gone and it now hung in a long dark curtain over her shoulders. "Please call me Susan. I was hoping we could…talk." She smiled, her cheeks dimpling. A very light dusting of freckles were sprinkled across her nose. To most people they would be barely noticeable but he saw them.
"What about the testing or whatever?"
She looked over her shoulder then up into his eyes. "Gerald has that well in hand."
"So, what should we talk about…Susan?"
"The coconut telegraph tells me you are a big fan of Ferris wheels. I love Ferris wheels…John. I've ridden more than a hundred different ones all over Earth."
He watched her with wide eyes. What had changed that she would now be more interested in him than studying the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life of the universe in general and New Athos in particular? It didn't matter. The attraction returned slow and easy and he found himself relaxing into the conversation. They found a boulder and sat there talking and laughing for hours.
*****
Teyla took in the bandage on Rodney's cheek and his left arm in a sling. "Did the testing not go well, Rodney?"
The physicist glared. "It went fine. I got this when Conan" he pointed at Ronon sitting across from him "stepped out in front of me. The inertial dampeners weren't online yet, I swerved to avoid him and hit a wall. Nothing's broken, thank God."
"What about the-"
"It's fine, too. Just one more test run and it will be ready." He adjusted the sling more comfortably on his shoulder. "Jennifer, Radek and John will be back by lunch time tomorrow so we'll test the inertial dampeners tonight. Major Lorne will do the honors."
Teyla smiled. "Good. Everything is ready for the event. It will be my task to get him there on time and without arousing suspicion."
"Did the other items arrive with the offload from the Daedalus?"
"Yes. The packages have been distributed and everyone has been cautioned to arrive early."
"Great! Operation: Überraschung will commence in two days at 2000 in the Rec Room."
1950 Two Days Later
Teyla tapped her headset. "Teyla to Rodney, Radek, Lorne, Carson, Ronon and Mr. Woolsey. John will not accompany me to the Rec Room."
"What? Why not?" Rodney asked. He was picturing all of his hard work and lost sleep going down the drain.
"He says he does not wish to attend the movie tonight preferring to sit alone in his room reading."
Woolsey broke in. "He'll be there. Leave it to me."
"Good. Thanks, Richard."
*****
"I thought you had to work tonight, Susan." Sheppard walked side by side with the astrobiologist. He was dressed casually in faded jeans, black t-shirt and black cross-trainers. She was wearing jeans as well, a white tank top and white cross-trainers.
"I did but decided I needed a little time off. The work will still be there in the morning."
They enjoyed an easy camaraderie on the way to the Rec Room talking about nothing in particular. When they arrived the room was in darkness and he could hear people moving around. "Looks like it's already started."
Susan activated the door sensor, entered the room and immediately stepped to the side out of the way. Sheppard jumped when the lights flicked on and he heard an earsplitting shout of "Surprise!" His hand reached for the 9mm he'd left in his quarters.
"What the-" He looked around in confusion.
There was a group of about thirty in attendance all cheering, blowing noise makers and tossing confetti in the air. On the back wall was a banner that said "Happy Birthday, John Sheppard!" Below that was a table with a large cake in the shape of a Jumper and only one candle. Off to the side was another table with brightly wrapped packages. In the shadows sat a shapeless lump covered with a sheet.
"This is all very nice but my birthday is…"
"Today?" Woolsey supplied the date.
"Oh. Yeah. Today. I've kinda lost track, what with living in another galaxy and all."
Rodney, the self-appointed spokesperson, stepped forward while Teyla passed Sheppard and Kiang each a glass of champagne. "We all know that brevity is the soul of wit so I'll make this quick." He paused when laughter, whistling and applause came from the crowd. "Yes, yes. Very amusing. Just let me say my piece so we can get to the good stuff: cake and presents. Raise your glasses, one and all to our colleague and friend, Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far." He raised his glass toward Sheppard as did the others. "Happy Birthday!"
"Wow!" The guest of honor exclaimed uncomfortably after everyone had taken a sip from whatever beverage they preferred. "This is so unexpected and so…unnecessary. I don't usually celebrate my birthday, but, well, we're here, we've got cake and presents, so let's party!"
*****
Sheppard was standing in front of the table, arms crossed, looking at his birthday gifts. Some of them made perfect sense: golf balls, golf shirts, a Tiger Woods wedge, etc. But what was he supposed to do with black leather boots, five pocket loose fit black leather jeans, a classic black leather bomber jacket, a pair of leather gloves, and a glossy black full-face modular flip-up helmet made of lightweight polycarbonate?
"Uh, Rodney…"
"Yes, yes, I know. Why would we give you," he gestured at the items puzzling his friend, "these when you don't own a motorcycle? You're probably also wondering why you haven't received a gift from me."
"Yes and no. You've never given me a birthday gift."
"Well, that changes right now." Rodney walked over the shrouded object motioning for Sheppard to follow. When he stayed rooted to the spot Ronon took him by the arm and dragged him over.
"You're scaring me, McKay."
"Sorry." Sheppard didn't move. "Don't just stand there. Open it."
He gave the physicist a look that promised pain and suffering. "Okay, let's see what this is." He grasped the sheet edge and, taking a deep breath, whipped it off. "It's…it's…a motorcycle."
"It is indeed. We call it the Pegasus Prowler." Rodney rocked back and forth, waiting to be praised. "Feel free to change it."
Sheppard walked around and around the motorcycle looking at it from all angles while the physicist describe the vehicle's attributes.
"The original 1250cc liquid-cooled V-twin revolution engine has been replaced with a brilliantly modified sublight engine that will allow it to hit the big end at 320 KPH, give or take. We kept the brushed, straight-shot exhaust just for show, there's a sport front fender, a low profile rear fender, two-piece two-up textured seats, a 240mm wide rear tire and stainless steel low-rise handlebars. It also has inertial dampeners that can be switched off at your discretion. The clothing and helmet, rather than performing necessary functions as they do on Earth, are meant to enhance the experience. Though, if you elect not to use the IDs, then I would wear the helmet. It'll make identifying the body easier." The room erupted in laughter and Jennifer slapped Rodney on his good arm.
"How, uh, how…"
"Ah, well, long story short, I had lots of help." He waved his arm to indicate the others in the room. "Each of the people in this room assisted in some way in the creation of this masterpiece of engineering." Rodney moved around the room. "There was the ordering of parts from Earth, putting those parts together, cannibalizing still more parts from that Jumper we couldn't get to fly again, software testing, hardware testing, road testing." He came to a stop in front of Richard Woolsey, Susan Kiang and Gerald Parrish. "Some of us were kind enough to help by keeping you distracted so we could take it for a test drive then, later, making sure you arrived here on time." When he got to Jennifer he touched her gently on the cheek. "And others saw to it that I had the rest I needed in order to perform the work." He turned to face Sheppard again.
Sheppard looked at is friend in astonishment. Rodney was actually sharing credit! No doubt it was Jennifer's influence. He wasn't completely certain he liked this kinder and gentler Rodney McKay but he'd give himself a chance to get used to it before passing judgment.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why go to all this trouble for a birthday gift?"
"Uh, well, it's uh, because I, uh, that is we…" Rodney stuttered and stammered waving a hand vaguely.
Teyla put a hand on his arm. "What Rodney is trying to say is we love you, John, and wanted to give you something special to show you."
Sheppard turned to Rodney. "Is that true?"
"Um, well, yes, i-i-in the way a friend feels about, you know, another friend."
"This is the most amazing gift anyone has given me in years and a simple thank you just doesn't seem adequate." Sheppard snapped his fingers. "Rodney, you can be the first in the P-Pad. Oh, and thanks for not adding a sissy bar."
"As long as I don't end up pavement surfing again."
*****
Guilt: an affective state in which one experiences conflict at having done something that one believes one should not have done or conversely, having not done something one believes one should have done.
John Sheppard was feeling…guilty. He'd promised Rodney he could ride passenger the first time he took the bike out but he couldn't help it. After the party ended he was moving it to a storage area off the Jumper bay and gave in to an impulse to take it out right then and there. He knew if he didn't he wouldn't sleep a wink so…
He banked the Jumper around to check out the area he'd chosen. It was full daylight in the city that had been abandoned a few hundred years earlier though the buildings and paved streets still endured. He landed in what had once been the town square, opened the hatch and pushed the Pegasus Prowler out onto the street. He zipped up the jacket, slipped the helmet over his head, adjusted the chinstrap then pulled on the gloves and tightened the Velcro closures.
He straddled the bike, grasped the handle bars and flicked on the engine. Oh, yeah! Rodney had really outdone himself this time. The bike had been programmed to simulate the sounds and vibrations of a conventional engine. It throbbed and pulsed under him like the vintage Harley he still had in storage back on Earth but without the toxic fumes associated with petroleum-based fuels.
He stood solidly on the ground, shifted into second gear, his thighs and knees firmly holding the bike, then pulled the front brake and clutch all the way in. Using his right thumb, he turned the throttle up to just over 7000 RPMs (again, simulated) and slowly released the clutch while keeping the front brake pulled tight. He could feel the back tire start to spin and kept a tight grip on the front brake. He kept accelerating making lots of smoke. If anyone had still lived in the city he'd have been turning quite a few heads.
He pulled the clutch back in and released the throttle, dropping it into neutral. Well, it didn't really have gears; they were simulated, too, but it felt the same. He shifted into first, released the clutch while applying gas and the Prowler eased forward. Even with the faceplate down he could feel the breeze on his face. It fueled his adrenaline and before long he was hitting the double. He popped a wheelie then let loose with a spontaneous expression of ecstasy and delight that echoed from the empty buildings startling birds and other wildlife that had moved into the city.
"WaaaaahOOOOOOOO!"
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Friends who love you: Priceless
The End