The next day, Carson removed the breathing tube and McKay could talk with his finger pressed to the hole in his throat. Carson discovered that he was endearingly cranky and very quick witted. Although Rodney was quick with a barb, Carson could tell that the man didn't mean half of them. His brain to mouth filter was just broken, and Carson could give as good as he got.

Colonel Sumner had started an investigation into the lemoned food, but so far there wasn't much to go on. Everyone was denying any knowledge. He'd also assigned Rodney a guard in case of any further assassination attempts.

Most of the scientists were already cleared. They'd all seemed honestly shocked and offended that someone would attack Dr McKay.

"We might not all like the man, but we do respect him. And we need him." Was how Dr Zelenka put it.

The only one who hadn't seemed appalled was a Dr Kavanagh. Sumner would be keeping an eye on him.

The chefs were also pretty much excluded from the investigation. When Sumner had informed them of what had happened, they all went pale and swallowed convulsively. Then they had immediately began gathering as many of Rodney's favourites as they could plate up in self defence.

Carson laughed again when the tray arrived in the infirmary, along with a sincere, if terrified note of apology.


Drs Zelenka and Kusanagi came by to visit and seemed happy McKay was on the mend, even though he couldn't remember either of their names.

"You aren't very good at reading people, are you, Lad?" Carson asked after they'd left.

"I guess not." Rodney shrugged. "Computers are easier and not as boring. Why?"

"You honestly don't know, do you? Why do you think the chefs sent you a tray of goodies?"

"Because they fear my awesome powers? They're terrified of me."

"Well, aye, there is that." Carson smiled. "But what about Miko, and Dr Zelenka? Do you think someone forced them to come?"

"I'm their boss." He shrugged again. "They have to be nice to me."


"Dr Kavanagh. You've made your feelings about Dr McKay very clear." Sumner stated.

"I just say what everybody is thinking."Kavanagh crossed his arms and tossed his ponytail.

"You know of Dr McKay's citrus allergy?"

"Everyone knows about that. He tells us about it often enough." Sumner raised an eyebrow at Kavanagh's scornful tone. "Oh. You aren't seriously trying to pin this on me? Because I didn't do it. McKay is a dick, sure, but he's not worth some elaborate murder plot. Besides, if I'd tried to kill McKay, he'd be dead."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. It is. If I were you I'd ask Weir's pet monkey; Grodin. He hates McKay almost as much as I do, and if he didn't try and kill McKay himself, he'll know who did. All the gossip on the base goes through him first."


The next morning, Kavanagh showed up in the infirmary to hassle McKay. He demanded being placed in charge of the Science Department while McKay was incapacitated and he had a list of complaints.

"... And stay out!" Carson shouted after him, slamming the door. "That man is the most vile person I have ever had the displeasure to meet! He acted like you were dying and he wanted your stereo and then he implied that it was your own fault you were in here!"

"He's always like that." Rodney waved off Carson's anger. "And judging by the papers he's written, he's brilliant. So, he lacks tact. And common sense. And basic human emotion." Rodney shrugged.

"I don't know how you put up with him, I really don't." Carson shook his head, helplessly.


"Mr Grodin-"

"Ah, Dr Grodin if you please."

"Of course, my apologies." Sumner's smile was a little forced. "You've heard of Dr McKay's accident?"

"OF course, who hasn't? But it wasn't an accident, was it?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Please. It's simple deductive reasoning. The man is ridiculously paranoid about what he puts in his mouth. And there's no way the chefs would slip up and give him citrus. They're terrified of him! And they'd never hear the end of it. Besides, why else would you be here asking me questions about him?"

"Right." Sumner said dryly, looking irritated (although whether with himself or Grodin was unclear). "What do you think of Dr McKay?"

"The man's a genius, as he's often told us." Grodin smiled. "I think he honestly tries his hardest, and is nearly as intelligent as he claims. He's also a bloody irritating prick, but his brain might save us all one day."

"Do you know of anyone who bears a grudge against him?"

"Well, there's Kavanagh of course, but I assume you've already spoken to him, since you're talking to me. Anyway, he's spineless. He'd never actually try and hurt him, he's too much of a coward."

"Thank you for your time." Sumner said, getting ready to leave. He was frustrated. The investigation was going nowhere.

"Wait."

"What?"

"I seem to recall that Dr McKay was having trouble with a few of your soldiers. Harmless pranks mostly, but a couple of times they actually got quite vicious."

"Why didn't I know this?" Sumner's voice was darkly aggressive.

"Well, you're quite terrifying, you know." Grodin said, cheerily. "Zelenka should know more. He's really surprisingly protective of McKay, even if McKay doesn't know who he is."


"Do predele!" Radek stormed out of the infirmary shouting in his native Czech.

"Did you have to be so hard on him, Rodney?" McKay wanted out of the infirmary. He was bored and taking it out on anyone who stayed around long enough. Carson was particularly sorry for his military guard. "And don't think I'm fooled by your pretending to forget his name. You are a genius, after all."

"It keeps him on his toes."Rodney smirked. "It's good for him. Besides, he's only worked for me for a couple of months, I'll bother remembering his name after a year or so. I'm still training him."

"I thought he headed his own department."

"He does, but engineering? Please. It's barely a real department. He still answers to me."

Rodney's voice was on odd mix of sadness and pride. Carson frowned at the tone. It was almost... wistful.


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