500 words.

"I still can't believe it!"

Rodney rolled his eyes and almost threw the very valuable and terribly fragile piece of Ancient tech he was playing with at his friend's noggin.

"You and that beautiful, younger…"

Rodney glared daggers at John, though if Sheppard saw it he did a brilliant job of ignoring it.

"…woman are…" John stopped and gave Rodney a look of sincere admiration. "Way to go, Rodney."

"Look for the last time," said Rodney as he quickly leaned back from the object he to study, "take off and leave me the hell alone!"

John's eyes widened momentarily in surprise at Rodney's outburst and then narrowed as he studied Rodney. "Are you alright, Rodney?"

"No I'm not alright!" declared Rodney so loudly that Sheppard's eyebrows made it halfway up his forehead. "I've been trying for two hours to figure out what the hell this thing is and you haven't given me enough peace and quiet to even begin to scratch the surface!"

"Rodney…"

"And for what?" demanded Rodney angrily. "All you've been doing is sit there and make fun of me by continuously point out our age difference, how different we are and how shocking it is that despite all of that we managed to get together."

"Look, Rodney…" tried Sheppard, but Rodney would have no part of it.

"No you look!" yelled Rodney which drew another surprised look from Sheppard. He stopped and took a deep breath, and when he spoke his voice was calm and quiet. "I don't need you, or anyone else for that matter, to point out just how… unbelievable it is that Jennifer would be in love with me. I don't need to be reminded how lucky I am, or how shocking it is." Rodney sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You can't say anything I haven't thought myself already." Rodney fell silent for a few moments, then without warning he cleared his throat and he was his usual snarky self when he leaned forward and started looking at the Ancient tech in front of him. "So leave me alone."

Rodney roughly removed a panel of the device and had just started to get into when he was interrupted by Sheppard calling his name. His head turned sharply towards Sheppard but he held his tongue when the Colonel held his hands up to indicate he was asking for a truce.

"Look, Rodney," Sheppard said as he lowered his hands, "I'm sorry." At Rodney's disbelieving humph John said, "Believe me, Rodney no one is happier for you two than I am. Really. I just…" John shrugged his shoulders, rather stupidly he thought after the fact, "I never had a chance to give Dave grief when he and his wife got together like brothers are supposed to…"

The vinegar that had been running in Rodney's veins evaporated and he gave Sheppard a sincere smile. "Thanks."

They looked at each other for another awkward moment and Sheppard said, "Should we hug or something?"

"Oh take off!"

A/N: "Take Off" was written by those great hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie (aka Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) for their 1981 album The Great White North. The song features Rush singer Geddy Lee doing the chorus and some speaking near the end.