STATUS: TBC

RATING: K+

SUMMARY: AU and SLASH McKayxSheppard A Halloween fic! Rodney and his niece Madison buy a new (but old and frankly falling down) house in a small town (cliché enough yet?), which the locals believe to be haunted. Which it most definitely is. Inspired by Rose Red.

SPOILERS: Since it's AU, nothing.

WARNINGS: A bit of swearing. Our boys have quite the potty mouth sometimes.

DISCLAIMER: Everything Stargate Atlantis related is property of MGM. I own nothing.

x x x

"Uncle Mer?"

"Mfnn…"

"Uncle Mer, wake up. I'm hungry!"

"Mffn…coffee…"

Madison swiftly kicked at the blankets, a huffy but amused grin tugging at her lips.

"Uncle MEEERRR!"

Rodney groaned and rolled onto his stomach.

"Alright, alright! I'm up…sort of…give me a few minutes, then we can eat…"

Once the last word was out of his mouth, Rodney's head dropped back down, the blankets practically smothering his face. Practically, but not quite, unfortunately for him.

Sometime during the early hours of the morning Rodney had managed to fall into a light sleep, caught somewhere between dozing and semi-awareness. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, and was one that brought him back to his university days.

'Ah, all-nighters. Can't pull those anymore…'

He could hear Madison shuffling around the living room as he forced himself to open his eyes. With a yawn, Rodney pushed himself up onto his elbows to peer around blearily.

Now that it was morning, the house seemed much more cheerful. Well, not so much cheerful…more like 'not so damned creepy'.

Day light shone through the large bay windows in thin streaks, the dust and grim coating the glass hindering its translucency. Even in the beams of pale light, he could see tiny dust particles floating silently.

'Oh, lovely...not only do I need a heating and construction guy, but a cleaning lady as well.'

With a sigh, Rodney shoved back the blankets and stood, back cracking as his spine straightened.

"Uncle Mer? Where should I brush my teeth?"

Looking over at his niece who stood by the large windows, he answered after a moment's pause, "Well, as much as it disgusts me, I suppose we could use the kitchen sink." Right now, he didn't have enough energy to brave the upstairs yet.

Ten minutes later, they were washed and cleaned. Well, as much as one could be with one change of clothes and some rather suspicious looking water. He made a mental note to get the supply checked while hoping to God it didn't run on a well. He wouldn't have been surprised.

"What are we getting to eat?" Madison chirped as they left the manor and climbed into the familiar car.

"I don't know," Rodney mused, the engine purring to life. "I think I saw a diner on the way in, but those people practically cook their everything in a deep fryer…"

"Uncle Mer…"

"Oh, alright," he grumbled. He would never admit to anyone that he let a six year old get her way with him. Though she was a McKay…

It took them only a few minutes to navigate their way into town, but soon enough they were pulling into a small parking lot a block away from the diner.

Just like the manor, the town had completely changed with the sun. Or maybe it was just the fact that they could actually see it now. Before when they had arrived, it had been deserted and sullen looking, but now it was brightly lit with flowers and the odd fountain here and there. People walked up and down the side walk, clearly in no hurry to get to their destination, if they even had one.

It was the perfect little town.

And Rodney hated it. Madison didn't seem all that thrilled either.

"You said there would be kids here, Uncle Mer…where are they?"

Rodney sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"They're all probably at school, Maddie. It's almost noon after all."

The pair lapsed into silence as they made their way down the sidewalk, skirting a slow moving old woman. Though the 'small town' thing wasn't Rodney cup of tea—or coffee--, he had to admit that the clean and unpolluted air was a nice change. It smelled like winter; a mix of cold air and outdoor fires. It reminded him immediately of Canada.

'The nose knows.'

Tilting his head back, he cast his gaze up to the sky. 'And speaking of Canada…' It definitely looked like snow was in their forecast. Hopefully it wouldn't drop right away. He still needed to get heating worked out, not to mention double panes for the windows to keep said heat in…and then there was the reconstruction in the crumbling areas he saw outside—

"Mfn…I need coffee," Rodney muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Thankfully they got to the diner in one piece only a few minutes later.

"I sort of like that everything's in walking distance…" Madison murmured as if hating that she was admitting it.

'Maybe she'll get used to this place after all…'

That would make one of them.

Half expecting a bell to jingle as he pushed the door open, Rodney ushered Madison inside the small but warm restaurant and over to the counter. A man was sitting on a stool a couple spots away from theirs, but Rodney hardly cast him a glance.

The diner wasn't all that full; only the man and a few pairs sitting in their usual spots were there to catch the late breakfast special.

'Oh, joy. A special.'

Feeling a tug on his sleeve, Rodney looked down at Madison and asked, "Know what you want?"

She nodded and pointed to the small blackboard leaning off to the side. The menu was neatly handwritten in pink chalk.

"I want the pancakes with bacon but no eggs."

Rodney chuckled and nodded, feeling his lips beginning to twitch. At least they had the same taste in food.

"That sounds good, I'll have the same."

Once the waitress—a purple haired seventy-something old woman—took their orders—"And a cup of coffee. Actually, make that three."—Madison tugged on her Uncle's sleeve again and asked, "Can I have a few quarters, Uncle Mer?"

Catching sight of the pinball machine in the corner, Rodney nodded and fished out a good five dollars in quarters.

"Sure, Maddie. Have fun."

She gave him a faint smile before slipping off the stool and heading over to the corner.

Rodney watched her go, his expression sullen. Though they got along fine, he was having serious doubts if they would ever be close.

'It's only been a few months since Jeannie…I can't expect her to just bounce back and accept me like I'm a bag of freakin' cotton candy.'

With a shake of his head, Rodney straightened up and leaned forwards, trying to peer into the back kitchen. He couldn't see them making their food, but it definitely smelled good as much as he hated to admit it.

"I wonder if there's any citrus in their pancakes…" he wondered, not really knowing nor caring that he was speaking out loud and essentially to himself.

"They're pancakes, McKay. Why would there be citrus in them?"

Jolting slightly, Rodney scowled and looked to his right. Immediately he recognized the man, but his name escaped him.

"Oh, it's you. The square dancer."

As if knowing that Rodney couldn't remember his name, the man smirked lazily and said, "Detective John Sheppard. But I go by Mr. Square Dance too."

"I'm sure you do," McKay muttered, going back to staring at a spot on the plastic counter. 'Ugh, where's my coffee…'

"I take it you didn't have such a great night," continued Sheppard, his fingers wrapped around a nice…big…steaming…cup…of coffee.

Rodney practically had to force himself to shut his mouth and not drool at the sight.

Of the coffee.

"You could say that. The place isn't exactly the Hilton."

Sheppard smiled, humming in agreement as he took a sip of his drink.

"Still haven't looked in the backyard then?"

"What the—do you have a backyard fetish or something?" snapped Rodney. It was too early for conversation. "No, I haven't looked in the backyard yet and frankly, I don't think I want to. I haven't even been upstairs yet."

John's eyebrows rose. He set his mug down and said, "You slept in an old house you've never been in before without even checking upstairs first?"

Resisting the urge to thunk his head down onto the counter top, Rodney rubbed his forehead and glanced over at Sheppard.

"No, I didn't. The downstairs was bad enough. You think I'm checking upstairs in the middle of the night with hardly any lights? No thank you." A sudden wide-eyed look came over him. "Why? Do you think there's animals or something? Hobos? Though, I suppose they wouldn't technically be hobos if they were staying in the house. Hobos wander, right? Drifters. So I guess if there was someone in the house, they would just be—"

"Squatters," supplied Sheppard who looked completely amused with Rodney's ramblings. Did the man even take a breath?

"Yeah, right. Them." Rodney blinked. "Do you think…"

"All the time," answered Sheppard promptly. "Sometimes even every minute."

With a scowl, Rodney emphasized, "Squatters. Do you think there's any? Because I'd rather not, you know…live with them."

John chuckled and took another sip of his liquid gold.

"Honestly? I don't think so. But I can come by later and check the place out for you."

"Hmph. I don't need—"

"Here's your food, dearie."

Rodney straightened up when his plate of pancakes was placed in front of him. Grease from the bacon rolled temptingly down the strips. Even Rodney couldn't pass that up.

"And your coffee. Any sugar or cream?"

"Just black." Swivelling in his stool, Rodney waved to Madison. "Come eat, Maddie."

Looking over, the blonde girl spotted her own plate next to her Uncle's and smiled with a nod.

When Rodney turned back to the counter, he glanced over to find Sheppard's eyes leaving Madison to find his.

"She's cute," John said with a lazy smile. "You said she was your niece?"

"Yes," came the succinct reply as Rodney bit off the end of a strip of bacon.

"She your sister's or brother's?"

"Sister's. I don't have a brother." Rodney paused before correcting himself. "Well, I had a brother-in-law."

"Had?"

"…yes," answered Rodney, starting to get irritated.

"What happened to them?" John questioned as he set his mug down. "If you don't mind my asking."

"What is this? The Spanish Inquisition?" snapped Rodney, his fork and knife dropping onto his plate. "They died. As in no longer around. Gone to the astral plane. Ascended into a higher state of—"

"I get it," assured John, though not looking too happy about it. "Sorry for my nosiness. Force of habit."

Even though Rodney despised people poking their noses into his life, he couldn't yell at the man for being curious. His life's work was all about curiosity after all.

"Don't worry about it," McKay muttered with a shrug. He fell silent when Madison climbed up onto the stool beside him. She was still—well, talking about the death of her parents wasn't easy for her. Understandably so.

Taking the hint to move onto a new topic, John leaned past Rodney to give Maddie a smile.

"So how do you like Origin so far?"

Rodney blinked at the sudden mass of dark scruffy hair in front of his face, and more importantly, over his plate.

"Hey, hey! Don't lean over my food," he complained, scowling when John blatantly ignored him.

"It's alright," Madison answered with a bit of a shrug as she drenched her pancakes in a river of syrup. "I haven't seen any kids…"

John smiled, resting his chin on his palm and planting his elbow right beside Rodney's plate.

"They're all at school right now. But since you're living here now, you'll be going to the same place as them, I assume. They're a great bunch of kids. You'll like them."

"You know what I like? Hair-free food," Rodney interjected, staring pointedly at Sheppard.

John turned his head, nose inches from Rodney's. His lips curved into a lazy smile.

"My hair is firmly attached to my head, McKay. But if you insist…" He leaned back dutifully, flourishing his arms. "Better?"

"Much," came the muttered reply. Now that he had his space back, Rodney was almost missing the outdoorsy scent of the man.

But at least his food was hair free.

With a twitch of his lips, John put his chin back on his palm, though not as close to Rodney's plate this time.

"So, what's Stone Manor like?"

"Creepy," came Madison's prompt answer as she munched on her bacon. "Funny name though. Why is it called that?"

"Yes, why exactly?" Rodney added, his suspicious gaze finding Sheppard's. Now that the sun was out, his curiosity was back.

"Not scared anymore?" asked Sheppard teasingly, as if hearing Rodney's thoughts.

"Hmph. I'll have you know that I wasn't scared. Merely…"

"Scared," finished Madison with a solemn nod. "So was I, Uncle Mer. It's okay to be scared sometimes."

Both adults' gaze landed on the six year old.

Finally after a few slightly stunned moments, John smiled and said, "You're right, Madison. Everyone gets scared. Right, Rodney?"

Rodney started when he realized the last bit was directed towards him.

"What? Oh, yes. Of course. Even adults." Though he knew that Madison wasn't just referring to the house. He suspected that John got that impression as well.

'Wiser then her years, just like her mother.'

Swiftly carrying on with the original topic, Sheppard said, "And I think it would be better to show you why the place is called Stone Manor. But long story short, the couple that used to live there way back when were named Edward and Prudence Stone."

"Way back when?" echoed Rodney, eyebrows coming together. "Exactly how far back is 'way back'?"

"Pretty 'way'. Sometime during the 1900's, I'd say."

"Huh," Rodney hummed thoughtfully as he bit off a piece of his bacon.

"Do you think there's any ghosts?" asked Madison innocently.

John thumped a fist against Rodney's back when he choked in mid-bite.

"G-ghosts?" he gasped, reaching for Sheppard's coffee since he had long since finished his. "Don't be ridiculous, Maddie. There's no such thing." He gulped down the rest of the mug and took a breath. "So no. No ghosts."

Looking unconvinced, Madison looked to John.

"What do you think?"

Both pairs of McKay eyes burned into him as John debated what to say. One glance at Rodney told him to 'say no or I'll make your life hell'.

He decided to play it safe.

"Naw," he drawled, pulling his empty mug towards him. "No ghosts. I've been in there lots of times and saw nothing."

Madison still looked unconvinced as she went back to her food, missing the slight frown that flickered across the detective's face.

Rodney noticed, but didn't mention it. After all; ghosts? Please. The guy was probably just superstitious.

A sudden thought popped into his head.

"What time is it?"

Sheppard glanced down at his watch.

"Nearly noon, why?"

With a mumbled curse, Rodney dug full-force into his breakfast.

"Because the mover's—hey, wait a minute. Why aren't you at work? Busting crimes or something?" The fork paused mid-way to his mouth.

John chuckled and raised an eyebrow.

"Busting crimes? Here? This town doesn't exactly make the number one rank in the Morgan Quitno 'Worst Cities' list." He gave Rodney a lazy grin. "Besides, I'm on break."

"At noon?"

"Lunch break."

"More like brunch break. I mean, honestly. What kind of police detective goes for brun--"

"You asked what time it was?"

"Oh, right right. The moving van is supposed to be here today by twelve thirty or so." Setting down his fork, Rodney looked over at Madison to see her picking away at her half eaten breakfast. She wasn't looking too thrilled.

"I thought you were starving," Rodney commented.

Madison didn't look up, just gave him a shrug.

"Well, should we head out then? The moving van should be here soon. You want to set up your stuff, right?"

"Not really."

An uncomfortable silence fell across them. John fought the urge to edge away, feeling like an intruder in a family problem. Which, he supposed, he technically was. But Rodney looked like he was at a loss as to what to say. John nudged the man gently in the side.

"Hey, I can bring her around once she's finished eating if you want. Give her some time…"

Rodney looked from John to Madison and back.

"I don't know," he said pensively, leg jiggling against the stool. "I mean, come on. We just met you. And you probably have other things to do—"

"I want to stay," Madison interrupted as she prodded her fork against a cooling piece of pancake. "For a bit." She looked like she wanted to say more, but instead she just stared at her plate.

Rodney's slightly wide eyes landed on his niece. "Are you sure?" When he received a nod in response, he just paused and said, "Alright then…if you're sure."

As he reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet and fish out a couple bills, he couldn't help but glance continuously over at Madison. It was times like this that he honestly felt like he was at a loss.

'I need a parenting for dummies…'

And the thought that he needed a stupid book like that to look after his niece made him practically sick to his stomach.

A warm hand on his forearm yanked him out of his thoughts.

"Are you alright?" John asked quietly, as if knowing what was going through Rodney's mind.

"Yes, yes," came the irritated response as his walls automatically rose. "Of course I'm fine. Just a little…busy. Moving and all. Do you mind?" He raised an eyebrow and gestured to the hand on his arm.

Once John hastily removed it, Rodney tossed down the money and slid off the stool.

"Alright," he started reluctantly, though obviously trying to hide it. The poor man didn't have much of a poker face. "Madison has my cell number if you need anything. But take your time…and no high speed chases with her in the car," he added with narrowed eyes.

John grinned lazily.

"Won't even turn the sirens on."

"Hm." He would believe that when he saw it. Or heard it.

A hasty goodbye later and Rodney was out the door, bell jingling.

John sighed and looked over at Madison who was still prodding away at her food.

"So…" he started, racking his brain. What did six year olds like these days? "Did I mention I like Ferris Wheels?"

x x x

A/N: the creepiness will start up in the next chapter :D