Epilogue.

Chapter 11 – Unrelenting Cotton.

The last thing Chase thought was that the explosion was painless and quick…

…and kind of early…

Chase opened her eyes and saw John and Rodney in front of her, both of them looking confused.

'Are we dead?' Rodney asked uncertainly.

'I don't feel overly dead.' Chase replied.

'I thought being dead would be…different.' John commented, looking up and then around.

'Let's all hope that you don't have time to find out for years to come, Colonel.'

Chase turned to see Colonel Caldwell stand from his chair. 'Welcome aboard the Daedalus.' He greeted.

Chase broke out into a wide smile and took in the surroundings of the bridge – the smiling faces, the living people…

'I love this ship.' She said loudly.

'Now that is what I call good timing.' Rodney said joyously and then looked feint, throwing the Ancient Pad in his face and looking up at them with glassy eyes. 'We had three seconds.'

'That's what I call great timing.' John nodded. 'Thank you.'

'Not a problem.' Caldwell stepped forward. 'Doctor Weir wanted us to keep a watchful eye over you; she sent us a few hours ago. She radioed a few minutes ago and apprised us of the situation and we beamed you up as soon as we jumped out of hyperspace.' He told them. 'We jumped again the moment you were aboard.' He gave Rodney a look. 'Apparently the right thing to do.'

'Oh, you have no idea, the Daedalus would have been obliterated by the overload-' He began.

'And yet here we are, alive, breathing – ' John smiled.

' - and bleeding all over my bridge.' Caldwell observed. All three of them were treading blood, their own or someone else's all over the floor. 'Why don't you head to the infirmary and get cleaned up…and changed.' He eyed Chase's outfit. 'It'll take a few hours to return to Atlantis.'

'Return to Atlantis…beautiful words.' Rodney sighed, trudging out of the bridge wearily.

John stepped forward. 'Did Lorne and his team…?'

'They all made it, Colonel.' He paused and nodded. 'It's done.'

'Amen to that.' Chase laughed tiredly, wiping the grime from her head. 'Shower.' She said desperately. 'Sounds so very good right about now.'

'It sounds…excellent.' John nodded enthusiastically with a wicked grin. Caldwell raised his eyebrows and John's smile disappeared, and was replaced by an innocent raised eyebrow. 'Because of the dirt and blood…' Caldwell narrowed his eyes and John smiled. 'Infirmary, right.'

All three of them had been taken care of in the infirmary. Their hurts seen to and their needs to wash. The rest of the trip home had been spent sleeping, dreamless and danger free aboard the Daedalus. Rodney had managed to mumble something about the excellent quality of the ship before slipping off into snoring. John grinned at Chase who smiled widely in return, both agreeing that he had a good point.

Elizabeth had been overjoyed at the news of their safe return. The rest of the team shared her relief and awaited their arrival back to Atlantis.

Elizabeth had begun the usual paperwork and difficult letters to family about the death of their loved one, made all the more difficult by the fact that Troy had been with them less than a week, and most of it had been spent on another world.

The Daedalus arrived and the three were transferred to the Infirmary to be constantly pestered by Carson who kept them in for three days to rest and recuperate from their ordeal. Their exposure to the radiation, although dangerous, had not been long enough to result in long term pain and then death, for which Rodney was glad to hear.

The days passed with mostly sleeping and eating, throwing things at McKay either when he snored loudly or just when Sheppard felt like it, and then ended in much complaining to be let free. Carson had reluctantly let them go and took his time, particularly with Chase, to tell them that he would be there if they needed anything and to return later that day for a check up, even though the day was practically over. They had returned to their quarters to wash and relax in peace.

The next day found Chase walking down the halls in her stilettos and long black trousers with a green blouse. Her long blonde hair was bouncing around her shoulders with a healthy sheen, made all the more shiny by the look of excitement in her eyes as she read the Ancient Pad she had clutched in her hand. She turned the corner into the lab and bumped into McKay.

'Oh! Rodney, I'm sorry! I didn't see you…' She smiled. He nodded, looking disappointed.

'I was just leaving.' He said, edging toward the door. 'I could hear the heels coming for miles.'

'You were leaving because I was coming?' She said firmly.

'No.' He stated.

Chase was unconvinced. 'Then I guess I would have absolutely no chance in asking if I could join you on this mission to explore the world with the holographic technology?' She asked with folded arms. Rodney frowned.

'How did you know about that? I thought only I knew-' He began, brown eyes trying to recall whether or not he had told her.

'Elizabeth filled me in, gave me the initial research you came up with.' She waved the Pad. 'I was talking with her this morning.'

Rodney folded his arms defensively. 'Oh! You had a briefing about our time on the evil planet – or the now rubble and space dust?' He paused, giving her a venomous look. 'Wonderful.' He brushed past.

'Rodney.' Chase snapped. 'What is your-'

'What did you tell her? Mh? That it was McKay that screwed up again? That it was me who got Troy killed and that you saved the day with your ridiculous heroics? Well let me tell you something-'

'No, I didn't.' She stated harshly. 'I told her the truth.'

Rodney paused.

'That you had nothing to do with Troy's death and that the explosion of the device was inevitable.' She cocked her head. 'Why did you think that I would say different?' She asked softly.

Rodney looked to the floor, avoiding her eyes. 'Uh, no reason…just, you know, a hunch, what with all the…thingies….so I need to-' He tried to dart past her again but she stuck out her hand, slamming it into the frame to bar him from the exit. 'Uh, excuse me?'

'No, not until you tell me your deal.' She stated firmly, giving him a steely eye. 'We started a conversation in the forest, and I think now is the time to finish it.'

'And that conversation would be…?' He said with a frown.

'I asked you why you were so hostile toward me.' She reminded him bluntly.

'Oh, well that…hardly relevant.' He muttered.

'It's relevant to me Rodney, especially when you make me feel so small.' She said, pinning him with her big green eyes. Rodney drooped slightly under her watchful gaze and then tensed.

'You know why.' He snapped. Chase looked blank. 'Oh please! I've known for months! Maybe the others haven't heard, but I have!' He said knowingly, his voice loud and cruel. 'I knew your name before you even came here because you were pegged as the one to replace me!'

Chase did a double take. 'Replace you?' She spluttered.

'Yeah, mh mh, like you didn't know. And I don't appreciate the act either, it's not very professional. Okay, so I screwed up once, like a year ago with one thing, and someone got hurt-' Chase was about to speak, but Rodney continued. '-okay, someone died. So the big boys upstairs thought that I was so incompetent, well if I was so incompetent then why did it take them so long to find you?' He said triumphantly. 'Not as smart as they thought, finding someone to fill my enormously intelligent shoes.' He took a massive breath and turned away, launching into it again. 'The device we discovered was too enticing not to try and make it work, and I am a scientist, making things work is what I do. And the military were all for it! A power source so vast it could defeat the Wraith – it was supposed to be worth it, right? But then it broke, and the solar system kinda got destroyed and I got all the blame!' He turned to her. 'And I should have, it was my fault, but it's not fair that the years of good deeds should be erased by that one mistake, and it is not fair that they send you without even telling the others first!'

Rodney looked livid, upset, frightened and lost – ready to explode under the pressure and the secrets he had been keeping to himself for so long. He looked to the floor, rubbing his head.

'And then I went and did exactly the same thing on a smaller scale. Power device, a failure, a dead colleague and a massive explosion.' He plopped onto a stool. 'It's a wonder I wasn't fired the moment I stepped through the Gate.' He sulked.

Chase watched him for a few seconds with eyes of pity and wonder. McKay noted her silence and raised an inviting hand. 'Go ahead, gloat, criticise. It's your right as head scientist. Although I should warn you that Zalenka can get a little mouthy, he needs a kick every so often…and, and the small Chinese woman always brings liquids near to the lab equipment, I've been trying for the past year to make her stop but she doesn't listen – oh! And in the event that the ZPM is depleted and we're forced to switch to back up generators, the console on the North Pier needs a manual input, damage in previous years – courtesy of Sheppard- means that you can't upload data direct from the control room, but I have been working on a way to rectify that problem – you can have my notes…' He turned to his desk and Chase put a hand on his arm. He looked up with a depressed expression and Chase smiled.

'Rodney, I am not here to take your job…and as far as I know, no one is coming to take your job.' She said softly, a slight smile on her face.

'Your not…and they're not?' He asked quietly. 'But I heard…people said, and your name came up, plus your credentials are pretty…and my mistakes haven't exactly been small…'

'Rodney, you've been an amazing asset to Atlantis. You've saved lives a number of times and there is no way that the so called "boys upstairs" are going to replace you when you're doing such a wonderful job.' She said reassuringly. Rodney smiled weakly. 'You didn't think that asking me would have been a good idea?' She asked, eyebrow raised. Rodney started to splutter again. 'Never mind. Where exactly did you hear that I would become your replacement?'

Rodney mumbled under his breath and folded his arms. Chase narrowed his eyes at him.

'Sorry?' She asked sternly.

Rodney huffed. 'Kavanaugh told me.' He said grumpily. 'He said that because of my blunders I was being replaced by a Doctor Christina Chase, I thought it was a joke until I read a file with your credentials-' He said defensively.

'Kavanaugh?' She said incredulously. 'You believed that little viper?' She stuck her hands on her hips and shook her head. 'I take it back calling you an amazing asset – you're an idiot.'

Rodney's hackles immediately rose. 'There you go again, calling the boss an idiot!' He yelled. 'You know, if I really am in charge, you and I have to get something clear-' He said menacingly.

'Oh please, I'll never listen to you when you are listening to little turds like Kavanaugh.' She snapped.

'I did not listen exactly because he only hinted, and I would never listen to anyone let alone Kavanaugh because I know practically everything there is to know in my line of work-' Rodney said confidently.

'What? The Science of Sarcasm and Bad Dressing?' She shot back. Rodney glared before quickly looking down at his clothes. 'Look, what it boils down to Rodney is that I am here to work.'

'For me.' He stated.

'…and that you and I have to learn to respect each other because we work together.'

'With me as your boss and you as my subordinate.' He added. Chase narrowed her eyes at him.

'The point is, if we're going to work together, we need to build trust. Everything that either one of us has ever said or done should be…erased.' She said slowly, wanting him to understand.

'Erased? Erased how?' He asked confusedly.

'By starting over.' She smiled and laid the Pad on the desk, extending her arm for him to shake. 'Doctor Christina Chase, people call me Chris. I enjoy rock climbing, cooking and I am in no way here to replace you.' She grinned. Rodney stared.

'Seriously?' He asked quietly.

'Rodney.' She snapped, the illusion broken for only a moment. He clasped her hand wearily.

'Doctor Rodney McKay, head Scientist. I enjoy computer games, beating the Wraith and …well…science.' He said lamely, and then nodded slowly through the awkwardness. 'Welcome aboard.'

Chase smiled and they released each others hands. 'Okay.'

Rodney nodded, looking slightly more positive. 'Okay.' There was a pause. 'Well, good, I'm glad that's over. I hate awkwardness and hostility, and since we're now all friendly I have no reservations in telling you that since you're not here to steal my job I can now be attracted to you.' He said with a wide grin. 'And believe me; the amount of restraint I have shown over the last couple of days is pretty remarkable.' He chuckled.

Chase stared. 'Thanks Rodney, well done.'

Rodney looked extremely cheerful and bounced on the balls of his feet. 'Ah! Elizabeth! We were just reconciling our differences and putting the past into…well, the past.' He said happily as Weir walked into the room.

Her green eyes lit up at the smiling Doctor in front of her and she seemed pleasantly surprised. 'Really? Well I hope it was painless.'

'Pain free.' Rodney smiled.

'Relatively.' Chase said through clenched teeth. Elizabeth grinned.

'How are you feeling? I know Carson said that the radiation you received wasn't life threatening but, still, I worry. Neither of you looked well when you first arrived.' She stated with folded arms.

'Well? We were exposed to massive amounts of lethal radiation as well as an army of man-eating wolves – we escaped the clutches of death with only three seconds to spare.' Rodney said incredulously.

'A whole three seconds, lucky you.' Elizabeth joked. 'Coming to my next point.' She turned to Chase. 'I think I owe you an apology.'

'For what?' Chase said uncertainly.

'Yes, for what?' Rodney echoed with a little more attitude.

'Your first week in Atlantis and you get torn to shreds, chased, almost eaten and practically blown up….' Elizabeth paused, not knowing what else to say. Chase smiled. 'Not exactly the best welcome.'

'Well, at least I can say my job is not without excitement.' Chase grinned.

'And not without escaping near death incidents everyday with ravishingly handsome scientists.' Rodney added arrogantly.

'Right, well, I'm gonna go and uh…be elsewhere.' Chase said brightly, nodding her respects and leaving the lab. Elizabeth turned to a confused Rodney and smiled.

'She's very busy.' Elizabeth explained.

'Oh.' Rodney paused and then turned back to his computer. Elizabeth waited.

'So…how are you?' She asked.

'Fine, why?' He asked suspiciously.

'No reason.' She shrugged. 'It's only that recent events may have opened up some old wounds, and you could be feeling-'

'Annoyed that you bring it up, yeah.' Rodney snapped. 'It wasn't my fault this time, I know that it is remarkably similar and that your immediate thought is that McKay screwed up again, but that just isn't the case.'

'I know.' Elizabeth nodded. Rodney faltered. 'In fact everyone on that mission made a point to tell me that it wasn't your fault.' Rodney seemed slightly surprised.

'They did?'

Elizabeth nodded. 'I only came here to make sure that you knew it too.'

Rodney avoided eye contact. 'Oh, well, I knew that, actually.' He pointed out.

Elizabeth smiled slightly and nodded. 'Okay.' She turned to the door.

'Elizabeth.'

Weir turned and saw Rodney looking marginally uncomfortable. 'Thanks.' He smiled weakly. Elizabeth nodded and continued on her way.

Chase had needed to be on her way because she had somewhere to be. Somewhere that was not going to be crawling in evil alien dogs and somewhere that wasn't going to explode on her. She was deep in thought as she walked along the corridors, the day moving on slowly.

Ronan spotted the lovely figure with her head bowed to read an Ancient Pad. She wore jeans and a strappy red top under a brown jacket with large boots and a black bag at her side. He grinned and made a path for her.

'Hey! Chris!' Major Lorne jogged down the hall to a halt in front of Christina and Ronan paused. She looked up and smiled warmly.

'Major Lorne.' She greeted.

'Listen, rumour is that you're an impressive rock climber. I think I'd like to test those wonderful skills against my own.' He smiled confidently. Chase frowned.

'You climb?' She asked, slightly impressed.

'Mh mh, I climb.' He nodded his head. 'I climb very well.'

'A challenge…interesting. And where would you suggest we go? I should think the main tower would be quite unsuitable.' She grinned.

'Doctor Weir has given me permission to head to P4X-447. There are some awesome cliffs along the beach that could challenge the empire state building. What do you think?' He asked hopefully. Chase smiled apologetically. Sheppard arrived with a frown, only just hearing the end of the proposition.

'It's a wonderful thought Lorne, but I already have plans.' She looked truly sorry for saying it and Lorne nodded, slightly disappointed. 'I'd love to take you up on it some time later.' John who had been watching from the other side shook his head with a grin and was about to step forward when Ronan appeared.

'What about sparring?' He asked with a slight grin.

Chase laughed. 'Yes, have my ass kicked by a massive Satedan all afternoon. I'm just not sure that's what Elizabeth meant by – relax.' She gave him a cheery look and began walking backwards. John, leaning against the wall, and was about to speak up when Rodney wandered into the hall with his head in some papers before looking up and spotting Chase.

'Oh, there you are, I was coming to look for you. I just got some results in from the holographic device they found on, uh, what was it, P3X – 876? I think you'll find the results quite interesting, I uh, have some coffee, back in my office if you want to…?' He grinned.

'It's her afternoon off Rodney; give the work a rest for once.' John told him. Ronan and Lorne had only just become aware of his presence as had Chase. Rodney scowled.

'And I suppose you have a better idea?' He asked sourly.

'You could have dinner with me.' John suggested brightly, watching Chase grin. 'I hear Chef's cooking some new Athosian dish – should be interesting.' He smiled lopsidedly, charm emanating from him in waves.

Chris, who was still walking back, looked at the four men and smiled. 'I'm not sure I'll be here for dinner, I'd have to ask.'

They frowned and glanced at each other.

'You ready to go?'

They watched as Carson came around the corner with a large bag and some fishing rods over his shoulder. He made for Chris with a large smile, his blue eyes twinkling with excitement. He put a hand on her arm and turned to see the four of them giving him mingled looks of surprise and loathing.

'Oh, hello.' He said brightly.

'Carson's taking me fishing.' Chris said simply, grinning at the Scot.

'Aye, looks like I finally found myself a fishing partner.' He paused. 'Shall we go?'

Chris nodded enthusiastically and offered to take the rods. Carson shook his head insisting that he could carry them. Chris looked back at the four as they walked away and waved with a large smile. Carson allowed her to go ahead slightly before turning back with a mischievous grin.

'Hard luck lads.' He called lightly, and turned to follow Chase.

They scowled at his back – hard. Rodney spluttered.

'Fishing? Fishing.' He said loudly. 'My offer was way better than that!'

'Yeah, because work is so exciting.' Lorne said sarcastically.

'To scientists it is, and she and I are scientists, something we have in common-' Rodney reminded him snootily.

'So?' Ronan said with dark eyes.

'So there is a connection, one you could not possibly understand, oh ignorant one.' Rodney watched Ronan creep toward him and stuck his chin out defiantly as he backed up.

'Oh please, she was not interested in working on her afternoon off.' John walked forward, unfolding his arms. 'At least mine had some class.' He said tentatively.

'Mine got a "later" offer.' Lorne chimed, looking rather pleased with himself.

'Uh, did ya not see you get blown off for fishing? I mean rock climbing is active and all – ' John began.

'Rock climbing?' Rodney said incredulously. 'You wanted to take her rock climbing…why?' He said, as though it had to be the stupidest thing in the world.

'Because both of us happen to do it, Mckay…you could say we have a connection. You see, rock climbing is exciting to rock climbers, and she and I are rock climbers, something we have in common…' Lorne echoed masterfully.

'Oh, yeah right!' Rodney scoffed, turning to Ronan. 'And what did you want to do with her?'

'He wanted to spar with her.' John said quietly, giving the Satedan a side glance with slight disgust.

'Better than coffee.' Ronan stated.

'Is not.' Rodney snapped.

'Better than dinner.' Lorne said confidently.

'It is not, you get to talking over dinner-' John said defensively.

'Yeah! And sparring you get to hit each other, rock climbing you get to fall to your deaths together – how romantic…' Rodney folded his arms.

The four walked toward each other, adamantly believing each of their offers were better than the other. The noise of their criticisms and complaints roared throughout the hall drawing attention from various personnel. Elizabeth and Teyla walked around the corner, looking for the source of the noise. The two frowned at each other before jogging over.

'Colonel!' Elizabeth called over the din. They did not respond to her presence. 'Colonel!' She shouted. They turned to her, Rodney the only one to finish his sentence.

'…ridiculous that you would even consider…!'

'Rodney!' Elizabeth said firmly. He turned to her with an irritated look before realising who she was and tensing.

'Elizabeth.' He stated.

'What is going on?' She asked.

The four of them mumbled something, avoiding eye contact and touching the back of their heads or playing with their hands.

'I want answers.' She said harshly. Teyla watched with a steely eye. 'Colonel?'

John groaned giving her an agitated look. Sometimes, being the superior officer sucked. 'Well, we were just talking about what we were doing with our afternoons off.' He said slowly.

'Talking?' Teyla echoed doubtfully.

'Yes.' Rodney said waspishly. 'Except all our plans got shot to hell.'

'Well what on Earth were you planning to do?' She asked with a frown.

Mutters and grumbles ensued. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Teyla looked unimpressed.

'They were all planning their afternoons around Doctor Chase, but I believe that Carson beat them to it.' She said mercilessly

'Didn't beat us to it, he got lucky.' Rodney stated. Lorne, Ronan and John shook their heads, disgusted that he had admitted it. John gave Teyla a bitter look at her blunt explanation.

'Thanks for not holding back, our egos all feel much better now.' He said sarcastically.

'You're all sulking that Carson got the girl?' Elizabeth said incredulously. Then she smiled. 'Good.'

They gaped.

'Good?' John echoed.

'What's so good about it?' Rodney said bitterly.

'It teaches you all a lesson.' She stated positively.

'What lesson would that be, ma'am?' Lorne asked, arms folded.

'To be a man and ask the woman first.' Teyla said with a knowing eye.

Rodney just stared, crestfallen. 'That's just harsh.'

'No kidding.' John stated, the same look of defeat on his face.

'Well on that low note, I think I'll go rock climbing anyway.' Lorne sighed and left the group. Ronan paused, grinning at Teyla before following Lorne.

'What is rock climbing?'

'It's pretty simple actually – you climb rocks.' The Major explained.

The group watched them go and then paused. Rodney gave in first and slumped. 'I have work.' He was about to leave when Elizabeth caught his arm.

'And Chef has an Athosian delicacy for lunch.' She steered him down the hall. Rodney seemed to brighten at the prospect of food.

John and Teyla lingered. 'Colonel? Would you like to sample my people's food?' She asked.

'Sure, why not.' He said, and fell into step beside her.

Just ahead, he heard Rodney suddenly complain loudly.

'I mean, who wants to go fishing instead of discovering the intricate formula to an unknown element which could lead to a brilliant reveal on cold fusion and change the very laws of physics. Huh? Tell me that!'

John shook his head. 'Me.' He muttered.

The group turned the corner into the lunch hall and John felt a pull on his arm. He turned to see Chris smiling up at him. He frowned.

'Why aren't you fishing?' He asked.

'Oh, I'm going, I just wanted to…' She paused, looking uncomfortable. John looked over his shoulder and saw the group suddenly turn away, talking or fiddling with something. He shook his head.

'Wanted to…?' He prodded, his eyes uncertain, but hopeful.

'Well, according to Carson, we should be back for dinner…if I could still take you up on your offer?' She asked, green eyes watching him. John grinned and then quickly hid it under a look of vague interest.

'I think I'm free.' He smiled. Chase grinned widely and walked backward.

'Great.' She said cheerfully, she turned to go.

'It's not really the shirt that makes you swoon, right?' He called.

Chase turned, thinking it over. 'It could be the manly torso or the unrelenting charm but then…I really do like cotton.' She grinned, raised her eyebrows and left John to his own massive, boyish grin. Knew it…

He turned, lost in his own thoughts and stopped. Teyla and Elizabeth both smiled at each other with knowing looks whilst Rodney had his arms folded with a bitter expression. He sighed.

'Figures it would be Colonel Hair Gel that would get the girl.' He drawled.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you thought, I'd love to hear what you think. This one was different for me because it was more character based; please let me know if it worked. Cheers!