See part one for the disclaimer and other important information.

Radek irrupts in Czech with a large crash as his cot collapses underneath him.

Rodney comes flying upright in bed, "What's going on?" he tries to shout through a yawn.

All he hears is a slew of Czech that sounds very similar to what he heard today—yesterday—Rodney can't decide—directed at the malfunctioning Ancient console. He climbs through the mass of covers to the end of the bed where Radek's cot used to be, "Where'd you go?"

More grumbling in Czech comes from the floor.

Rodney leans over the edge of the bed to investigate. "Aw—aw that hurts," he exclaims after he falls head first off of the bed—the grumbling in Czech gets louder.

"Would you mind speaking English?"

"I think I have the right to swear in whatever language I want especially when it is you who has fallen on me."

"Right, right," his mind already moving on, "We should probably check on Anezka."

"You go ahead—I'm making sure body still in one piece."

He returns a moment later to find Radek picking through the bits of his cot.

"She's sleeping," he pause with a smile, "like a baby."

"Cute," he shakes his head in defeat, "It is not salvage."

"Are you sure?" Rodney takes a look at the pile of pieces.

"Yes, Rodney, I'm sure," he starts to sound frustrated again.

"You could go back to your quarters for the rest of the night."

"My quarters were given to group of Aztean refuges yesterday."

"Where's all your stuff?"

Radek points to a box by the door.

"Oh—well in that case…"

The both look at the bed, but Rodney shrugs and pulls his blankets to one side, "I'm not sharing covers."

Radek wakes to the buzzing of Rodney's alarm. Rodney snuggles closer to him, which Radek chooses not to think about for the moment. He listens for Anezka, but for once his daughter has decided to sleep past the two hour mark, "Rodney, time to get up."

"Go away"

"I want to know how you got up on own."

"I want to now how you think bugging people at unearthly hours of the morning is acceptable behavior.'

"The sooner you get out of bed—the sooner you get to coffee pot."

"You're on my side of the bed."

"I know—and my arm is also thrown over your waist."

"Isn't that a little weird?"

"Yes, very—How about we not think about that right now."

"Yes—yes—good idea," Rodney pulls the covers back up over his head.

"Rodney, up" Radek insists very loudly this time.

"Okay—okay—I'll…' he points to the bathroom, "while you…" he points toward the crib.

"Yes—just like the past two mornings."

Radek picks Anezka out of her crib, changes her, and then prepares a bottle.

"Your turn," Rodney announces as he exits the bathroom hair still dripping wet.

"Is daddy's little girl still hungry?" Rodney smiles at the baby as she continues to suck on her bottle while he holds her.

He hears the shower start and sighs in relief for a few minutes to his own thoughts, "Daddy's confused—normally I wouldn't admit that—but unconditional love right—you can forgive me for not having all the answers—maybe not in thirteen years—I'll work on it—I don't know what to do with your other daddy—I…I can't talk to you about this—you're my daughter and a baby—well—you can't understand me—I'll just stop talking now."

He gently eases the bottle from her mouth before she begins sucking in only air and then he burps her.

"Radek hurry up!"

"If you would get up on time."

"Perhaps you should learn to shower quicker."

"Why aren't you ready?"

"You have take Anezka. I'm going off world remember."

"That's today?"

"Yes—I'm going to be late for the pre-mission briefing."

Radek quickly gathers Anezka and her little bag of stuff, "We are ready."

They walk to the junction in the hall together and then they realize that the lab and the briefing room are in two different directions. Rodney reaches for his daughter's hand and let's her grasps it. He whispers to her about being a good little girl and how he'll miss her.

"Rodney, you're so cute."

"Like you wouldn't do the same."

Their eyes meet—the gaze adding to the tangibility of whatever is changing between them. The mutual insults that had become their form of communication are now a shield to hide behind. The emotions forming around this new life form are beyond that of colleagues, but neither of them knows what to do with the idea.

TBC

Thank you to all my loyal readers!