This is the final chapter, the tag to the Pegasus Project. It's been a while since I've seen this one, so if I screw something up, sorry. Also I know it is a bit of an abrupt shift from the last chapter. Sorry.


Several years later...

Carson was furious. Rodney had just got back to Atlantis after being on Prometheus with SG1, and he'd been exhausted. He had barely slept the whole time and he'd refused to eat anything but the power bars he'd carried on board with him. He'd been borderline hypoglycaemic the entire time.

It had taken some doing, but Carson had finally wheedled the story from Rodney, who was trying to act as though it was no big deal. The same way he'd acted back then. Colonel Sheppard had given Mitchell a lemon to threaten Rodney with.

He made his was to Sheppard's quarters, and found Zelenka and Lorne standing by the door.

"What are you...?" He asked.

"We were waiting for you." Lorne said simply.

"You knew?"

"About the lemon? I was coming to see Rodney when he told you. I was outside the curtains." Zelenka replied.

"And he ran into me on the way down here. I heard about it from Cadman, who's spitting nails herself. She'd be here, but she was worried if she didn't calm down first she'd kill him." Lorne smiled slightly.

"So, why are you out here instead of in there, giving him a piece of your minds?"

"We knew you wouldn't be long." Lorne said simply.

"And you deserve first shot, you are one who has to patch Rodney up."

Carson grinned and pounded on the door.


"Carson?" John said, looking surprised as the door opened. "Dr Zelenka? Lorne? What's going on?"

All three entered without asking.

"Did you give Colonel Mitchell a lemon?" Carson asked, surprising himself with his level voice.

"That's what this is about? It was just a stupid prank." John rolled his eyes and went to flop down on the bed.

"With all due respect sir, no, it's not." Lorne said.

"Have you ever seen someone in anaphylactic shock?" Carson asked. "It starts with an itch, or a tingling on the lips. Then the swelling starts. The victim might pass out, or they might be conscious as their throat swells shut and they slowly suffocate. It's a very unpleasant way to die."

"I have seen it. I have seen Rodney have it." Zelenka said, quietly.

"We all have." Lorne added.

"The result of another 'stupid prank'." It came out as a snarl. "Rodney has barely eaten, and barely slept. He's clinically exhausted and borderline hypoglycaemic. He's probably been like this the whole time on that ship! He could have made a mistake and killed them all!"

"Mitchell never would have actually used the lemon." Sheppard had paled during the description of what happened during an allergy attack, but he waved off their concerns.

"And how well exactly do you know Colonel Mitchell?" Carson asked. "Because he did use it to threaten Rodney. Who was poisoned using lemon by a group of 3 marines and 2 members of the Air Force."

"What?" John sat upright.

"It was back in Antarctica." Lorne started. "They were bored, thought it would be funny to prank the annoying scientist. But they got... hostile."

"Hostile? Rodney had three cracked ribs! And valuable equipment, damaged. Data lost. They were cruel." Zelenka exclaimed. "I break hot water and power. We thought that was end to it."

"But it wasn't. It was my first day, and he was my first patient. He was going blue by the time he got to the infirmary. We didn't find out till the trial, but one of them, Thompson, he'd nicked off with McKay's epi pen. He nearly died, John."

"I didn't know..."

"You knew McKay is allergic to lemon." Lorne stated.

"You knew that he rubs people the wrong way and that Mitchell and McKay don't get on at the best of times." Zelenka added.

"And you still gave Mitchell a means to intimidate and harass the man who is supposed to be your good friend. Whether Mitchell used the lemon or not is irrelevant. Rodney believed he might, and that was enough." Carson shook his head. "If I wasn't the one who'd have to patch you up, I think I might punch you right now, Colonel."

"Can I punch him?" Zelenka asked, half serious.

"Nah. I'd have to stop you." Lorne said, sounding really disappointed. "He is still my commanding officer."

"I'd be careful if I were you." Carson said. "If I see you in my infirmary..." He trailed off. "Come on, let's go."

The three of them left and John sat on the end of his bed, head in hands.


The End. I thought about doing an epilogue with John apologising to Rodney, or about what happened to the bad guys, but this story is about Rodney and Carson not them.
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