Rodney knew there were times when being a genius was more trouble than it was worth. Times like when his father looked at him like he had ten heads after he'd said something that a six year old had no business knowing; times when bullies of less than average intelligence who resented his brilliance mercilessly pushed him around until a teacher would finally show up and end it; times when college girls looked at him only as a way to help their grades and not as a true friend or something more; and, of course, times like the one in which he found himself today, times when he was the only one who could fix something that would save their asses from being filled with lead or whatever the beasts shooting at them used for bullets.
He reflexively ducked and covered his head with his hands as a bullet ricocheted off the DHD he was desperately trying to repair. He was half tempted to turn around and tell whoever the hell was shooting at them to be careful, but the thought fled his mind rather quickly as another ricochet had him ducking again.
Instead of wasting his fury at those currently making his job and therefore his life difficult, he turned his scorn upon those he had to trust, and to tell the truth he really did trust them, to watch his back.
"Will you please," he yelled with sarcastic emphasis on the normally magic word, "keep them from shooting at me while I try to fix the one thing we need working to get us the hell out of here!" He replaced the crystal he had removed and took out another one. "If one of those bullets gets in here I'll never be able to fix it and we'll be screwed!"
A burst of fire from a P-90 erupted from his immediate right and he jumped and nearly dropped the crystal he'd been inspecting. He looked up to find Sheppard kneeling next to him. The Colonel fired off another burst as he turned his attention back to the DHD.
"How much longer, Rodney?" asked Sheppard as his eyes intently swept the tree line.
"It depends on a bunch of things that you wouldn't understand and I don't have time to explain about," Rodney replied harshly. He ducked as yet another bullet ricocheted off the DHD then thrust his hands back into the crystalline guts of the DHD. "It wouldn't take long at all if those guys would go and get a hobby or something."
Sheppard gave Rodney what he figured was supposed to come off as a roguish grin and fired at two brave (or was it stupid?) souls who were trying to rush them from the right. "Come on, Rodney…you know you love it."
"Yes, I love missing breakfast because you wanted to leave so early, and wasting my time on primitive planets and getting my ass shot at all the time. Give me a…" He stopped as power began coursing through the crystals. He quickly withdrew his hands and quickly stood up. "That's it!"
"Dial it!" ordered Sheppard as he jumped between their attackers and Rodney and fired into the trees just above their heads.
The gate exploded to life and Rodney punched in his code on the GDO resting on his wrist. "We're good to go!"
He bolted towards the silver event horizon and stopped just as it came within his reach. He turned and raised his 9mm and pointed it over the heads of their pursuers and squeezed the trigger four times, covering Teyla as she made her way up the three stairs to the gate. She stopped as well and mimicked Rodney's actions with her P-90, firing short burst after short burst at the natives. A moment later Ronon and Sheppard were before them and the Colonel ordered them through the gate
Rodney rushed into the event horizon and nearly fell to his knees in exhaustion and relief a few moments later when he arrived in the cool gate room of Atlantis.
Somehow he managed to keep upright and simply stopped in the middle of the gate room, sighing deeply as he leaned his head up towards the ceiling and tried to stretch some of the pain out of his back.
His head snapped back to its usual position as he felt a small but firm hand on his right shoulder.
"Are you injured, Rodney?" asked Teyla, concern evident in her voice as well as eyes.
He mumbled a response and his head turned towards her voice. When she raised a questioning eyebrow at him he repeated, "I'm so tired. I want to go home, crawl into bed and not even think about getting up for three days" He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm getting too old for this sh…"
"Daddy!"
Both Rodney and Teyla turned toward the source of call. Teylanna was running towards them as fast as she could, a wide grin on her lips framed by gold locks that swayed to and fro as she ran.
When she reached Rodney she latched onto his legs, the impact causing him to waver slightly, and cuddled into him. "I'm so glad you're back," her muffled voice said. She looked up at him and added, "Can we finish my project now?"
Rodney looked down into the bright blue eyes of his eight year old daughter, eyes full of hope and affection, and then felt a twinge in his back that had become his constant companion over the last couple of years and said the only thing he could. "Of course we can." He smiled as she released him and clapped her hands together excitedly. "You go on and get ready and I'll be there as soon as I get changed."
The little girl nodded and turned to leave, but stopped in mid-turn and stepped over to hug Teyla. "Welcome back, Aunt Teyla," she said as she hugged the Athosian.
Teyla smiled as she returned the hug and said, "Thank you, Tey…it is good to be home."
Teylanna leaned back and said, "I have to go," before turning around and rushing towards the exit.
When she passed though the door Rodney sighed.
"Are you okay, Rodney?" Teyla asked.
Rodney turned and gave his teammate and friend a resolute nod, and when he spoke his voice was crisp and full of energy. "Never better."
