A/N: Hey, all! Your reviews and alerts give me the warm fuzzies when I wake up in the morning to check my mail =D Cookies for all!
A/N2: Wow, maybe I should add a warning to this fic =P "May Cause Nausea". Quite a lot of you got a little queasy. Sorry, guys! I'll put a warning at the beginnings of chapters with more of that. Promise =)
A/N3: Happy Christmas/Kwanza/Solstice/Hanukah/*insert holiday of choice here*! I hope everyone got what they wanted from Santa. What was on everyone's list? Some Stargate merch I hope =P I got my disappearing Puddle Jumper mug, just like I wanted. I just about ripped it out of its bubble wrap, threw some hot water in it and squealed, 'IT'S CLOAKING!' Needless to say, I was declared a geek and everyone laughed…at me =P Share your stories!
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
"Come on now, lad. Time to awaken."
A quiet groan escaped from John as he rolled onto his side. The cold hardwood dug into his shoulder and head, rather rudely letting him know that he was still on the floor.
"She didn't mean anything by it. Well…not really."
"Rodney?" he croaked out.
"No."
There was a brief cold touch to his temple before the nausea in his stomach disappeared. Warily, he opened his eyes and rolled onto his back.
"Hello?"
In all honesty, John wasn't surprised when he didn't receive a reply.
'McKay is right. I do look for trouble,' he thought dryly. He was a cop, not a ghost hunter. Though even Rodney had to admit that what had happened was pretty cool. If that didn't prove Prudence was real, then he didn't know what did.
"So, does that mean I win? Rodney?"
Sitting up quickly, blood rushing from his head, he peered around to spot Rodney on the floor a couple feet away from him.
Beside Madison's door.
"Oh, geez…"
Once he was sure he wasn't going to keel over, John climbed to his feet and jogged over to the unconscious scientist.
"Eugh…what the—what the hell happened?" Rodney groaned out in a high pitched and offended voice, his face pressing against the wood.
Not so unconscious then.
"I think Prudence just kicked our asses," John answered as he rolled Rodney carefully onto his back. "Alright there, buddy?"
"What? No, of course I'm not alright!" he snapped while smacking away John's hands. "And Prudence did not kick our asses because she's not a ghost!"
John rolled his eyes and sat back to let Rodney struggle to sit up on his own.
"How can you say that after what happened?"
"Nothing happened. It was…my hypoglycaemia, that's all. I haven't eaten in a while. I passed out."
"Then what happened to me?" came the challenged question.
"…sympathy pain?"
"Nice try."
With an annoyed sigh, Rodney climbed to his feet and smoothed down his shirt.
"Look, Sheppard. I don't know what happened. I'm sure there's a logical—"
"I told you, it was Prudence."
"And I told you: logical. There was nothing supernatural. It was just—"
"Why can't you just admit there's a possibility?" stressed John.
"Because I'm a scientist!" Rodney practically snarled out, arms flailing. "I'm a scientist, and scientists don't believe in ghosts or voodoo or any of that crap! It's just not possible!"
"Well, Madison seems to think it is."
Rodney rolled his eyes.
"Yes, well Madison is six. She doesn't know what she's talking about."
A soft creaking sound interrupted. Both adults looked over to the door beside them, catching Madison's face in the open crack.
Rodney blinked before hastily waving his hands.
"No, Maddie. I didn't mean it like that. I just—"
Before he could continue, the door shut without a word.
The man sighed out, arms dropping to his sides as he practically wilted like an old flower.
"Great, now look what you made me do…"
Taking pity, John gave Rodney's shoulder a pat and suggested, "Come on, walk me to the door."
"Fine."
Together they walked down the hallway to stop at the top of the large staircase. Below them, the stairs stretched out into the darkness, the front door just barely visible.
They paused.
"Err…you know," started Rodney awkwardly, although he was aiming for casual. "It's pretty late. And you have to walk home…"
"Oh yeah," agreed John, catching on right away. "And it's dark. Don't want to walk into a sign post or anything…"
"No, no of course not."
Another pause.
"I have lots of space—"
"That sounds great."
After what happened, both of them knew that being alone was the last thing on their minds. And there was no way John would be leaving Rodney and Madison alone tonight.
x x x
She stared down at the rather obnoxious man as he slept. Her nose was slightly scrunched, a quiet 'tsk'ing sound escaping through gently parted lips.
She didn't know who the man was, but she knew he most definitely wasn't welcome here. His companion had to go as well, but she did hold a small soft spot for him. He did look like her Edward, after all.
With one last look at the one who had invaded her home, she turned and drifted silently through the wall and out into the hallway. She paused, listening. The other one was asleep in the next room over, though she could feel unease coming from him. The poor man was probably still rattled from earlier on.
She hadn't meant to go as far as she had, but it was no matter. The young one was fine.
The woman sighed softly as she glided into the young girl's room. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she placed a hand on the blonde one's shoulder.
"I thought I would never see you again, my darling Alice."
Her fingers gently ran through the golden strands.
"Soon we will be together again. A family."
She smiled.
"Soon."
x x x
Rodney woke up the next morning with a feeling of surprise. And no, it wasn't because he realized he had actually fallen asleep.
It was because he could smell coffee.
He cracked his eyes open and sat up, sleepily running a hand through his short hair.
'I don't have a timer on my coffee maker…' And he doubted Madison had figured out how to work it just because she wanted a good cuppa.
"Maybe the ghost of Prudence turned it on," he muttered with a chuckle before sobering. Perhaps he should he ease up on the ghost jokes.
Flinging back the heavy comforter, Rodney swung his legs off the bed and stood slowly. He cracked his back with a groan, fully intending to send Sheppard a bill for his chiropractor.
Sheppard.
Was he still here?
Still only half awake, Rodney stumbled around the large bedroom, pulling on his blue robe and stepping into his slippers. After making sure he was at least semi-presentable, he headed out into the hall, down the stairs, and into the kitchen where he stopped in his tracks.
"Wuh?" he mumbled out in confusion. Was he still dreaming?
John was standing at the stove wearing Rodney's old green apron that had a faded crest of Hyrule on it from his university days. In his right hand he held a spatula while the other shook the pan, skilfully flipping the pieces of French toast. Off to the side was a steaming bowl of scrambled eggs and the bubbling coffee maker.
Finally noticing Rodney, John glanced over his shoulder and said with a grin, "He finally awakens. I thought I would have to throw snow down your back."
Rodney blinked hazily.
"Snow?"
Without warning, John yanked back the curtains that blocked the backyard. Rodney yelped and threw his arms over his eyes, the bright white light filling the kitchen.
Resisting the urge to hiss and duck behind the counter, the scientist finally lowered his arms and sent a disgruntled look to Sheppard.
"Are you trying to blind me?!"
John grinned goofily.
"We get a lot of snow here."
"Really? I didn't notice," came the scathing reply. "Coffee."
John snickered and went back to cooking as Rodney shuffled across the floor and over to his precious coffee maker.
Once he had half a cup in him, Rodney sat down at the table and looked over at John.
"You're still here," he stated.
"Obviously. I have to go to work soon though."
"And you're cooking."
"…do you always state the obvious when you wake up?"
A few moments later, a steaming plate of French toast and eggs were sitting in front of Rodney, John on the other side of the table with his own.
Rodney stared.
John stared back.
"What?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
"You made breakfast." Rodney paused. "After my house nearly killed you."
John snorted and shook his head.
"Doesn't mean I can't hang around for a bit," he said, spearing a piece of egg. "Besides, I'm not the type to leave unannounced after spending the night." He gave his eyebrows a wiggle.
"Idiot."
Rodney didn't understand it, but he found that the next twenty minutes that passed while they ate was actually…pleasant. Oddly enough, he and John had a lot in common, including their love of Star Trek. Now there was something Rodney didn't expect of the ridiculously-haired cop.
"Alright, I gotta jet," John said with a goofy grin, knowing full-well that Rodney would get it since they had talked about his love affair with anything that flew.
As expected, Rodney rolled his eyes.
"Don't quit your day job. Not that you're ever there."
"Har, har."
Once John's dishes were in the sink, both men headed out of the kitchen, down the hall, and into the large foyer. The front door didn't seem as menacing in the day light as it had the night before.
John pulled on his dark coat and zipped it up before opening the door. Bright light poured into the front hall, a small flurry of snow flakes blowing in.
"Oh, nice. Get snow all over my carpet." Rodney muttered.
"You mean the big bath towel?"
"…I have to go shopping—you know what? Just get out now. I have work to do."
John smiled, finding Rodney's morning grumpiness just far too amusing.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm going. But if you're not busy later, swing by the diner for dinner. We'll meet up."
The scientist blinked, perking slightly.
Had John just asked him out?
"And bring Maddie. There's someone I want her to meet."
Oh.
Noticing Rodney's small hunch of the shoulders, John added teasingly, "You know, to keep her busy. So we can eat. Together."
Rodney perked back up, a smile sliding onto his face.
"That sounds good. I'll, uhh…I'll meet you there. Later. For dinner."
John chuckled and nodded, backing out onto the porch. His patrol car was a little snowed in, but he would be able to get it out no problem.
"See yeah, Rodney."
As he watched the detective leave, Rodney couldn't help but think just how ridiculous his name sounded coming from that quasi-Texan drawl of Sheppard's.
"It's not cute," he muttered, shutting the door. "It's not cute. It's not cute. It's not—oh, hey." After brushing stray snow flakes off his shirt, he turned to find Madison wandering down the stairs, her blonde hair in a ruffle. "Morning, Maddie."
The girl attempted a smile, though failed quite spectacularly; a mix of still being half-asleep and mad at her uncle.
"Morning," came her succinct reply.
There was an awkward pause before Rodney thrust a thumb over his shoulder, eyes slightly wide with anxiousness.
"Sheppard made breakfast. French toast and eggs. Hungry?"
"Can I skip the eggs?" At her uncle's nod, Madison agreed and they both headed into the kitchen.
x x x
A/N: Yes, yes I know this chapter was on the boring and short side. Trust me, I had more to write but I found that I just kept going, so I cut the chapter in half, haha. You'll thank me in time, my children. Next update will have lots of stuff happening.
You know you love me =P