Sorry it's been so long...and sadly these are not the most exciting chapters. But things will pick up again!
Disclaimer: Don't own SGA or the characters, etc.
John comes by her apartment to see her. There is something that he wishes to say, she can tell, but he does not and she does not press it. Instead she asks about surfing, a safe topic, and his eyes light up.
She is not, however, above asking Rodney.
"Rodney," she looks at him across the table and he mumbles a "what?" around a mouthful of orange chicken. "Has something happened with John?"
McKay swallows and immediately reaches for his drink. "What? No."
She lowers her tone, "Rodney."
He clears his throat. "Well, I guess you'll find out sooner or later. Sooner, since tomorrow is your first day back." Rodney notices her pointed look and he shrugs. "Sheppard decided to resign from law enforcement."
It was not what she was expecting to hear. "Sheppard resigned, or he was let go?"
"Resigned. Weir was going to put him on administrative leave until they could figure out what to do with him, and he decided to save them the trouble." Rodney sees that she is about to say something and keeps going. "Sheppard was on thin ice to begin with, don't blame yourself."
She does not. She knows of Sheppard's past…difficulties...but it she does not feel any better about it.
"I assume that he has found new employment?"
"Yes, he has."
Rodney seems evasive and so she presses. "Doing what?"
"He uh, he's working for his dad's company. His brother's running it now and Sheppard decided that maybe he would…you know…family business…that kind of thing." He changes the subject, "You're sure you're ready to go back?"
She allows the change of topic. "Yes, I have grown tired of being without work."
"Uh huh, so uh, you're uh, you're not…you know…cravings, things like that?"
He looks uncomfortable. "Rodney," she says, "It was not my choice. And it was not a pleasant experience, if anything it has reinforced how terrible the Wraith drug is."
"Good," he says, "good."