The sheer amount of responses asking, pleading, or gently nudging for more left me not choice but to write this small sequel vignette to the first one. I am also currently writing a story called Victory or Death that will answer any questions this fic brought up. I hope it works for you. Thanks so much for all your support. Thanks to Sholio for the beta!

Rodney's first memory was of his mother bundling him into warm clothing, getting ready to face the numbing cold. She was a beautiful woman, much like his sister now: sweet and angelic in the eyes and the kindest person he had ever known. Well, his mother had started out that way, anyway. It wasn't until he was six that the yelling had begun. Until he was fifteen that her body was found in the forest. But he still held tight to the memory of her gentleness from so long ago. He dreamed of her comforting, beautiful smile. Of her sweet voice that would sing him to sleep.

Decades later, he was wrapped in such a dream, feeling the warmth of a heavy coat his mom had insisted he wear.

A strange beeping intruded in the scene, and though he tried to hold to her image, his mother faded away. Something was wrapped tightly around him, keeping him warm but blocking his movement. The fabric was itchy but comforting. In the background, people talked, and was that a baby's cry?

He remembered a cold cell in which he had been held prisoner. He remembered running with a baby…with Angela.

"That's it, Rodney. You can wake up now. You're safe."

Recognizing Carson's cajoling voice, Rodney blinked his eyes open, though it took a great effort to do so. Familiar faces—faces he had longed to see—came into view, each of them smiling.

"It's good to have you back," Elizabeth said. She cradled something in her arms that made a sweet giggling sound.

"Is she okay?" Everything was lost in some large blur, but he remembered the feeling of importance, the necessity of getting this baby to safety.

Teyla was the one to answer. "She will be fine. Although we are all curious how you came to have such a young child in your care."

Rodney deliberately avoided Sheppard's grin, muttering only, "Long story."

….

At first, Rodney was hesitant to hold the small thing in his arms. "It might wet itself on me. Do you realize that? And what if I break her?"

"You ran through the forest with her for a good seventeen hours. If you didn't break her then, you won't now." Carson offered the child and milk bottle, which Rodney reluctantly swept from his gasp.

"And you're having me do this, why?" Another night had passed, though Rodney still wore scrubs, his bed angled in a ninety degree bend. He felt warm and safe, and had yet to demand his release from the infirmary. He suspected that the last fact troubled Carson, but was too exhausted to care.

He rocked Angela within his arms, a smile spreading itself across his face as though it were some plague taking hold of him. Angela drank happily.

"Teyla's going to bring her to the mainland in just a bit here, I thought you might like a few more minutes with her."

"And why would you think that?" But the bitterness didn't make it to his voice.

"I wouldn't know, Rodney. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"You can't leave me with it."

"Her, Rodney, she's a her. And it'll only be a moment."

Rodney looked down helplessly at the child that he had brought to safety. He remembered the dark woods and the bitter cold that had encumbered their journey. How hungry they had been and how he couldn't feed her.

"It's good to eat, isn't it? I suppose that's one thing we have in common. And don't think that I'm ever going to do something like that again. I'm a mean man that's bad with people and I don't…"

Angela continued to suck from the bottle, apparently paying no mind to his words.

"You think I'm lying, but I'm not. I hate children. All of them. Including you. If your mother hadn't…"

Rodney shivered at the thought of Adriana. She had been a young woman, much too young to die. He wished he understood what had happened, but he didn't. Probably never would, as Elizabeth had marked the planet off limits. Six weeks of wondering whether Rodney was alive or not, or if he'd ever return, had ensured that Elizabeth wanted nothing to do with that world. But still, Rodney wondered about this woman with blood colored hair and what her story was. Why did she think Angela was so special?

"Your mother was beautiful," he told the baby. "She had red hair and green eyes. She loved you very much, so don't you ever doubt it. I know you're an orphan now, at least I don't think your dad is around and even if he is we'll never find him because…"

Blue eyes peered into his even as the child continued to eat greedily.

"Right, off topic. As I was saying, your mother had high hopes for you. Teyla's going to take you to the mainland to live with the Athosians. You'll like them. I probably won't ever see you again, but I expect you to live up to your mother's hopes. I didn't drag you through the forest with all your terrible complaining for nothing. You understand that, right?"

Angela kicked with her tiny legs.

"I have no idea if that's a yes or a no. Can you be more clear?"

Angela kicked again, her sweet features boring through his tough skin. He hated that.

He didn't hear Carson arrive until his friend spoke, "Alright, Rodney, Teyla will be here any moment."

"Oh." What was that strange sinking feeling in his stomach? Rodney hesitated in handing the child over, unable to convince his arms to do so. Angela just looked so sweet.

Carson seemed to see his reluctance, so instead held out a towel with a knowing grin. "You can burp her first if you'd like."

Rodney rolled his eyes, if only for show. "Yes, because I'd just love to burp a baby. And what are you grinning at?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I don't suppose you can hold that expression while I get a camera."

"Oh, shove off."

Rodney took the towel, draping it and Angela over his shoulder. Teyla walked in, her expression matching Carson's.

"Have I mentioned how much I hate you both?"

"Ah, you love us and you know it."

"You just keep telling yourself that."

"It is good to see you well," Teyla chimed in, reaching for the recently burped baby.

Rodney had to force himself to hand the kid over, but managed to do it in one quick movement. "Here, take her before she decides I make a good bathroom. I hate kids, you know that, right?"

"Do you not wish to send her off with a goodbye?"

"And why would I want to do that?"

"We would not think less of you."

"Aye, she's right. You know you want to."

Reluctantly, Rodney pushed away from his bed, his hand coming to the child's head. Ignoring the audience, he allowed himself to smile. Just when he thought he'd lost the ability to speak, the words pushed through. "Take care, Angela. Just remember what I told you about your mother and doing great things and…well, you're a good kid. Take care of yourself out there, okay?"

Angela kicked softly, including her arms in the movement this time. Her baby blues bore into his own and he wondered if he would miss the warmth that she had brought him.

He watched as Teyla took her away, wondering why he wanted the baby to stay.

It took a while to fall asleep that night, what with the impossible feeling of something missing, though he wasn't sure what. When at last his eyes drifted closed, he dreamed again of his mother and her caring ways. Of Angela and her smile.

Back on the Mainland, a baby dreamed of a woman with blood colored hair and emerald eyes. And of a strange man that held her, promising to keep her safe.

The End

If you are cuirous to know the details relating who kidnapped McKay and why, please read my story: Victory or Death.