A/N: Wow, guys. Sorry for the late update! Between trying to rid my poor Vera of viruses (yes, I named my computer after Jayne's favourite gun, hehe!) and sheer laziness, it took a while to get started! My apologies, and thanks for all the reviews!! Also, don't forget to go find the song Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups and listen to it for this first scene! I thought it fit pretty well (plus the song is awesome =P).

STATUS: TBC

RATING: K+

SUMMARY: Nightmares have begun to plague Rodney's dreams. What happens when they start to merge with real life?

SPOILERS: Nada

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

x x x

'Five after one, probably time to turn in,' Rodney thought with a jaw-cracking yawn. Leaning back on the uncomfortable metal lab stool, he stretched his back and groaned. That'll hurt come morning.

Pushing the rectangular Ancient device he was working on to the side, he shut down his laptop and closed it with a thump. For a few minutes, Rodney just sat there enjoying the silence of the empty lab before he finally slid off the stool and yawned again. After a glance around to make sure everything was off, he headed out into the hallway and turned left. He planned on making a detour to the mess for a bite before going to his quarters for some well-deserved sleep. If he could get any at least.

Lady Luck wasn't on his side though.

As soon as he turned into the main corridor, the alarms started blaring. He jumped and slapped his earpiece.

"Chuck? What the hell's going on?"

There was no reply, not even static. Just silence.

"Colonel?" he tried, again not receiving word.

"Teyla? Ronon?" A nervous pause. "Anyone?"

Silence.

"Well," he finally muttered, letting his hands fall to his sides. "This isn't good." His immediate reaction was to panic and wait out the emergency in the safety of his lab, but instead he forced himself to think. Chewing on the nail of his right thumb, his other arm wrapped around his waist, he paced around in a tight circle, forehead creased. "Alright, McKay. Think. What would Sheppard do right now?" It didn't take a genius to figure it out. "Armoury. Someone has to be there." He snapped his fingers in excitement. "And walkie-talkies!" His excitement was short lived. It wouldn't make a difference if there was no one on the other end of the device. Unless he—"Wait, wait. Getting ahead of myself. Armoury first, plan later."

With his decision made, the scientist swung around the corner and immediately froze. He was the proverbial 'deer in the headlights' as he stood in the middle of the corridor, the gears of his mind grinding to a halt.

At the opposite end of the hall stood a Wraith, silently watching with its reptilian-like green eyes. His gaze didn't leave Rodney's wide one.

For what felt like forever, Rodney's heart pounding like a drum in his ears, they stared each other down, neither moving a muscle.

It was only when the Wraith's lips twisted into a crooked smile did Rodney realize that he should have bolted ages ago. This wasn't an animal that would eventually slink off when you stopped moving and stayed quiet. This was a sentient creature, a hunter whose source of food happened to be humans.

'I'm so screwed.'

The lights above them flickered, sending their shadows on the floor into a wild dance.

Rodney watched with terrified eyes, his gaze being drawn to the floor with almost morbid fascination. He knew it was practically suicide to take one's gaze off a Wraith when they were within striking distance.

With his eyes glued to the floor, Rodney watched as the Wraith's shadow stretched. 'He's getting taller—' A quick glance up told him that no, it wasn't the Wraith. Just his shadow. It spread along the floor like wildfire, reaching out for the scientist. It was only a couple feet away when the darkness seeped out of the floor and up into the air, its tendrils waving seductively at him.

His feet stayed rooted to the floor, body paralyzed with heart-pounding fear.

'Sheppard! ANYONE!'

Within seconds he was surrounded by blackness. He could feel his body being pulled down, cold air rushing past as if he were falling. He failed his arms with a yell, limbs outstretched as he plummeted.

He fell.

And fell.

And fell...

x x x

"—ney? Rodney? Are you...kay? Hovno! Somebody...irmary...arson...ney...elp..."

x x x

"C'mon now, lad. Open your eyes now. We know you're awake."

Rodney let out a muffled groan, his head pounding. He felt sleepy and hazy, like he was drowning in—

"Whoa there, buddy!"

Strong hands grasped Rodney's shoulder when he suddenly sat up with a yell, arms floundering in panic. Blue eyes snapped open to immediately take in his surroundings.

'The infirmary?'

John and Carson stared at the scientist in concern. The Colonel's hands never released Rodney's shoulders as the man started to calm down.

"Sheppard? But...what the hell happened? Did you kill it?"

John raised his eyebrows.

"Kill what?"

"Kill wha—kill the Wraith obviously!"

The Colonel shared a look with Beckett.

"There're no Wraith in Atlantis, Rodney...It was probably your dream. No wonder you took a tumble. Nasty bump too from what Carson's told me..."

Rodney's wide blue gaze jumped from John to Carson and back before the Colonel's words caught up with him.

"Dream? But I..."

"...fell asleep in the lab and fell off your stool," John finished, lips curving into a bit of a grin. It was on the forced side. "Scared the shit out of Zelenka and everyone else too. Apparently you screamed like a girl and sat up so quickly that you fell backwards and hit your head on the bench behind you." He slapped the scientist's shoulder firmly. "But at least you didn't faint, right?" Okay, maybe not so forced after all.

Carson 'tsk'ed and shoved the Colonel none-too-gently away from his patient as Rodney sat back and let everything process.

'It was just a dream? Well that's good...I think.'

On the one hand, no Wraith in Atlantis. On the other? He could be going a little crazy.

"Ow! Jesus, Carson. Watch it, would you?"

Well, maybe just a little more tense then normal.

x x x

In the end, Rodney had been released from Carson's clutches with a bottle of Advil and a stern talking to from the good doctor himself. It had been the same lecture as usual; get more sleep, don't stay up late in the labs, blah, blah, blah. And it was light-duty only. No offworld missions for a few days, just rest and easy lab work. Rodney had snorted at that last one, but agreed all the same. He had no complaint when it came to rest. Getting it however was a completely different story.

When he and his escort, a languid but wary Colonel, reached his quarters, Rodney turned to John and said snidely, "Well, we made it to my room without difficulties, just like I said. Your presence was unnecessary." But secretly appreciated.

John shrugged and crossed his arms as he leaned back against the wall.

"Just wanted to be sure. Wouldn't want you to end up in the infirmary for the second time. In a row," he added, just for good measure. Hazel eyes surveyed the scientist appraisingly.

With a roll of his eyes, Rodney swiped a hand over the sensor. The door whooshed open, presenting them with a view of a quasi-messy and dark room.

Rodney seemed to hesitate on the threshold before his hand moved over the sensor once again, closing the door with a quiet hiss. He turned to the questioning Colonel and said with forced briskness, "Actually, I think I'm going to hit the mess first. Missed lunch, you know."

"Oh," John hummed agreeably with a tilt of his head, eyebrows rising. "Of course."

"...are you humouring me?" Rodney demanded.

"Aw, would I do that?" John slapped a hand to his heart, a pout tugging at his quirked lips. "You wound me." When Rodney showed no sign of amusement, not even a hint of a smile, John dropped his hand and said with a sigh, "Look, McKay. You've obviously been having some issues lately. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. I just thought you could, you know, use a talk..." He trailed off, looking a bit awkward. Neither of them were particularly good in that department.

Rodney glared, ready to chew the other man out. He didn't need someone sticking their nose into his personal issues, as the Colonel so delicately put it. But on the other hand, John was willing to risk possible, if not probable embarrassment just to help Rodney. Neither man liked to talk about their feelings, but on the rare occasion that they did, it helped. More then they would admit.

Rodney's glare relaxed into a scowl before it turned into a weary frown.

"Oh. Well...thanks," he said quietly, glancing at the Colonel in silent apology. "Sorry about—" He waved a hand awkwardly. "—snapping at you. I don't know if you've noticed, but I get kind of touchy when I don't get enough sleep."

John's mouth fell open in shock.

"No way! You?"

"Yes, I—oh, very funny. You're downright hysterical."

A chuckle.

"C'mon, buddy. Let's get to the mess before all the jell-o disappears. You can tell me about your crazy and wayward adventures in McKayland."

"Wayward? Who says 'wayward' anymore?" Blue eyes narrowed. "You're not going to start singing Kansas, are you?"

The answer?

Yes. Yes he was.

x x x

AN: Okay, so hopefully this was the last semi-boring chapter! The ball (of mystery!) is rolling now, so things will start to pick up. Hopefully I haven't put anyone to sleep =P