A/N: Here's an update.
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They had the wedding in the Gate Room because there was not enough room for all the people who wanted to attend the impromptu nuptials in any other place on the base.
The wedding party consisted of Rodney and Jennifer, Carson who was giving Jennifer away, John as the best man, Ronon, Zelenka, and Woolsey as groom's men, Teyla as Maid of Honor and Jeannie as Matron of honor Sam as brides maid with Maddie as flower girl and Torren as ring bearer.
Rodney and Jennifer had a brief argument over who's side Teyla would stand on, but Jennifer won.
Daniel would be officiating.
Behind the wedding party sitting in metal folding chairs was a crowd consisting of one Asgard who was standing, the two generals, Caleb, T'ealc, Lorne (who arrived to be briefed and brought Torren with him), and Dr. Morgan, and finally Walter Harriman.
The gallery above the Gate Room was full of curious onlookers and personnel that knew Rodney from working with him at the SGC and some who had worked on Atlantis as well.
Rodney wanted to stand for his wedding vows but when merely sitting up was a feat; he had to forego the standing.
John had somehow managed to get tuxedos for Rodney, Daniel, Zelenka, Ronon, and Woolsey, elegant navy blue dresses for the bridesmaids and a gorgeous Vera Wang bridal gown for Jennifer. Being wealthy had its privileges and David had been a huge help arranging everything. John was in his dress blues as were all the other military besides Sam.
The music began and Maddie came down the aisle looking adorable as she threw with great enthusiasm the rose petals in her basket. She was followed by Torren carrying the pillow with the wedding rings upon it grinning and looking around at all the people making his walk a much slower one than Maddie's. The pair brought giggles to the waiting crowd.
Rodney reached over to John and pulled him down so he could hear him.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
"For what?"
"For this, for being my friend, for everything…Just thank you."
John reached out and took Rodney's hand in his and looked him square in the eyes and said, "Rodney it's me who needs to thank you. Thank you for saving my life… Hell, all of our lives too many times to count, thank you for keeping me grounded and sane, thank you for being my best friend."
Rodney just nodded and shook John's hand there was nothing left to say. Just then the music started.
"Here comes your bride Rodney." John said with anticipation.
Everyone stood up as the bridal march started and Jennifer came in arm in arm with Carson.
"She looks like an angel…" Rodney whispered.
"Yeah, she does." John agreed.
The music stopped as Jennifer and Carson reached the foot of the Stargate's ramp and stood next to John and Rodney.
Daniel began, "Thank you all for being here today to witness Rodney and Jennifer's wedding. I know it means a lot to them to have you here. It is fitting that we are here before the Stargate it is the reason we are here and it is what has brought us all together, including Jennifer and Rodney. Being involved with the mysteries of the universe and her peoples has afforded us a unique perspective on the nature of life and existence, as well as what it means to be human, and to be a family.
I never had a family until I came to the SGC and I see many faces here that understand and have felt the same way, including Rodney and Jennifer.
We who travel through the Gate are a unique group; we sacrifice our lives, our well being, and opportunities for Earthly recognition for the thrill of exploration, and the duty of protecting peoples and worlds that no one here on this planet will ever know about.
These challenges make it all the more miraculous to find the kind of love that binds two souls to one another, and this ceremony is in recognition of this miracle. We must celebrate miracles when we come across them because as we all know, the next moment may hold terror or tragedy."
The room grew slightly restless at his words. Daniel continued.
"Who gives this woman away?"
Carson cleared his throat and said, "I and all of Atlantis do." Carson lifted Jennifer's veil, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and sat down in the nearby row of chairs.
"Rodney and Jennifer have decided to say their own vows so I give you the floor, Rodney."
Walter nodded to the booth and the sound system clicked on, he had considerately placed a mic on Rodney so he wouldn't have to strain himself speaking.
Rodney looked around the room and cleared his throat.
"I just want to start by saying thank you to all of you. You'll never know how much you have meant to me." Rodney's voice was thick with emotion. He turned his head to face Jennifer.
God she's so beautiful…
"Jennifer, you are so beautiful, so amazing, I can't believe you love me. You are the gift that made all the terrible things in my life worthwhile. Just by existing, you make me believe in the miraculous. I don't know why you love me but I am so thankful you do. Thank you so much for becoming my wife… I love you."
"Jennifer." Daniel said and all eyes shifted to the bride whose face like many in the room was covered by silent tears.
"Rodney, from the moment I saw you something within me recognized you, wanted you. It wasn't just your amazing blue eyes, your incredible mind, your bravery, or even your great ass that made me fall for you."
Everyone laughed and she continued.
"It was your heart, your sense of wonder, the intense way you love and how loyal you are. You are an incredible human being and I love you from the depths of my soul. Just knowing you has been the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced, and now we are becoming husband and wife… I can honestly say my life has turned out to be a fairytale... I love you."
Lorne pushed Torren to the bedside with the pillow holding the rings.
Rodney smiled at him. "Hey buddy, thanks for doing this."
Torren beamed a smile at him and said, "Here Unca Rodney," and handed the pillow to Rodney.
"Thanks but I think you should hand it to John." Rodney pointed to John.
" 'Kay." The little boy turned to John looked up at him with a grin and handed him the rings. "Here Unca John."
"Thank you Torren." John ruffled the boy's hair and untied the rings from the pillow as Torren went back to sit with Lorne.
"May I have the rings?" Daniel asked.
John handed them to him.
Daniel held up the rings, "These rings are not only shaped into circles to represent the unbroken bond of love, but they are made of the same alloys as Atlantis and the Gate and represent the indomitable spirit of humanity and the people of this expedition."
Daniel came down the ramp and handed Rodney and Jennifer's rings to them.
Rodney took Jennifer's hand and said, "With this ring I pledge to you my eternal love, know that nothing in this universe or any other, will ever change that. Not even death." He slid the ring on her finger.
Now it was Jennifer's turn, she took Rodney's fragile trembling hand and said to him, "With this ring I make you mine forever, it will show the world that you own my heart and that no force of this universe or any other, will separate you from me." She bent down and kissed him as she slid the now too big ring on his finger. The two were in a world all their own and didn't hear the cheers erupting all around them as they kissed.
"By the powers bestowed upon me by the state of Colorado and three or four other cultures, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Rodney McKay … Or should I say the Doctors McKay!" The music started again and everyone began filing out to let Rodney's hospital bed through.
Maddie started tossing her left over rose petals behind the hospital bed and Jennifer as they walked out of the Gate room and toward the Conference room, where some intrepid SGC members had thrown together a little reception. Jennifer was holding Rodney's hand in hers as Ronon, John and Carson pulled the bed along. She felt Rodney's hand go slack and looked down at him; he was so pale it frightened her.
"Rodney?"
Rodney sighed. "I'm all right… I'm just tired… don't worry." Each word was an effort and Rodney was gasping.
"Carson? Get that mask back on him and check his vitals." Carson reached down for the oxygen put it on Rodney and placed a pulse oximeter onto his finger, turned on the heart monitor and slid a blood pressure cuff on Rodney's arm and took his vitals. Not liking what he saw he said to John and Jennifer, "We have to get him to the infirmary."
John grabbed Carson's arm. "Wait." John ran off to talk with the generals and Rodney's doctors. Carson saw their heads nodding and John was back in few seconds.
"What was that all about?" Jennifer asked.
"I want to take him home, home to Atlantis. Don't you Jennifer?"
"Yes, John I do."
"Let me get him stabilized here and then we'll take him home John, I swear." Carson looked at John and Jennifer pleadingly.
"Fine, we get him stabilized and then we go home." Jennifer proclaimed and they changed course for the infirmary. In the few minutes it took to get there, Rodney became unresponsive.
