I still don't own Stargate Atlantis or any of its characters. MGM does.

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John could hear Rodney yelling from thirty feet down the hall, though he couldn't tell what was being said, and it only got louder as he approached the scientist's domain. The Colonel shook his head as the first intelligible words reached his ears.

"…stupid is the only word I can think of, and I'm a genius so I can come up with a few, that describes what you did here this morning!"

John stopped and leaned against the doorframe, folded his arms and took in the sight before him. The only people in the lab were Rodney and a female scientist, a petite brunette that Sheppard didn't recognize, though for some reason the name Annabelle came to mind. At any rate, Rodney was standing in front of the poor woman, his neck red with anger and his hands waving wildly in all directions.

Sheppard sighed quietly at the scene. He'd hoped that Rodney had mellowed a little since the birth of Teylanna, and he had seemed to for the most part. In fact, in the month since Teylanna's birth he couldn't recall Rodney blowing up at anyone about anything.

But there was no doubt that what was happening in the lab now was nothing short of a full-out Rodney McKay special explosion of epic proportions.

"And another thing…"

"Rodney," interrupted Sheppard as he eased himself off the doorway. Rodney whirled around to face him and Sheppard nearly blanched at the look of pure anger on his face. "Sorry to interrupt," he said as he gave the object of Rodney's scorn a nod, "but you were supposed to meet me in the chair room ten minutes ago."

"Well why didn't you call me instead of traipsing all the way up here?" demanded Rodney. "And why aren't you still there? Those tests need to be done and whether you like it or not your gene is still the strongest one in the city, and if that means…"

Sheppard held up his hands and said loudly enough to cut through Rodney's rant, "Whoa there, Rodney. Ease up a little." Sheppard gave Rodney a small grin. "You should know by now that screaming and yelling at people doesn't do anyone any good."

"What do you mean, 'I should know by now'?" demanded Rodney.

Sheppard put his hands on his hips and gave Rodney a warning look. "Listen, Rodney, what I meant was…"

"Oh I see," interrupted Rodney. "You think that because I'm a father now that I would go all soft and easy on people when they screw up. Is that it?"

Sheppard's arms dropped to his sides and he had to once again remind himself that Rodney really couldn't actually read his mind. "Well, not exactly…"

Rodney took a step towards Sheppard and growled, "Well let me tell you this, Colonel, no such luck. My job is to make sure that people around here," he said with a wave around his lab, "don't do anything to get us all killed, among other things, and I will do that job as I see fit!" He pointed towards Sheppard's chest. "Got it?"

Sheppard managed to nod and Rodney added, "Now get back down to the chair room. I'm almost done here."

John sadly shook his head as he turned around and began walking towards the door. As he passed through the door he heard Rodney say to Annabelle, "Now, where were we?"

Sheppard managed to get ten feet away before he realized that Rodney had just pretty much told him off. He turned on his heel and marched back to the lab to return the favor, but when he peered around the doorframe his mouth dropped open in shock.

Rodney was talking quietly to Annabelle and gently patting her shoulder. John continued to watch until Rodney said something and shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't tell what his friend had said, but whatever it was it elicited a smile and a nod from Annabelle.

Rodney gave Annabelle another shoulder pat and then said, "Now, let's try that test again," before moving off to one of the many workstations with Annabelle in tow.

Sheppard smiled and quietly stepped away from the door, then turned around and headed to the chair room. He was halfway there when he was met by Zelenka.

"Did you find him, Colonel?" asked the Czech.

Sheppard nodded. "He was chewing out someone for something."

Zelenka muttered something in Czech and shook his head disapprovingly. "I was hoping he would calm down a little after the little one arrived," said Zelenka. "I guess it was wishful thinking."

Sheppard tapped the scientist on the shoulder as he moved past him and said, "I have no idea what you mean, Radek."

Sheppard kept walking, but he knew without looking back that Zelenka was giving him a very strange look indeed.