This is the first thing I've written in a long time. I may be a little rusty, so be kind.
Rodney allowed himself a self-satisfied smirk when the shield generator hummed to life, its display panels brightening with luminescent numbers, letters and diagrams for the first time in nearly ten years.
He'd been hunched over the generator's control panel for nearly an hour as he wrote reams of new coding for the machine, and when he straightened up he felt three pops in his lower back that reminded him that he definitely wasn't as young as he used to be. Not that he needed his back to remind him of that appalling fact. He was reminded of it constantly and by many different ways.
He felt a small hand on his shoulder and turned to regard one of the three native scientists that had been watching him the entire time. All three were beautiful young women, and for a moment he wondered why it seemed that many of the scientists in Pegasus were pretty young women.
"Thank you so very much, Dr. McKay," the young woman- Tianelle- said. Her voice was nearly musical when she spoke, and her blue eyes seemed to glow like little puddles of water glistening in the sunlight. The effect was enhanced by her short chestnut colored hair. She reminded him of someone, not necessarily someone he knew personally, but someone he'd seen. For the life of him, he couldn't remember who.
Rodney nodded as the other two young scientists quickly moved to the display panel to absorb the information shown and commit to memory what he'd done. His focus shifted to Tianelle and he was shocked to find her still smiling at him. "Yes, well," he said as she continued to stare at him, "it was nothing really. Just some quick programming." For split second, his eyes met hers and his breathing faltered. "I can teach you some of it on our next visit if you like."
Before he knew it she stepped towards him and hugged him, her arms going around his waist and her chin, because of her height, resting on his left shoulder. He found himself wrapping his arms around her shoulders and breathing in her fragrance before he could even think about doing it.
"I would like that very much," she whispered close to his ear, sending a shiver throughout his body.
Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by a clearing of a throat, which was tantamount to shooting off a gun if the way he'd jumped back from Tianelle was any indication.
His heart raced and he could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as he looked over to find Sheppard looking at him, disappointment and disapproval easily evident on his friend's face. And even if Rodney could miss the visible signs of Sheppard's anger, there was no mistaking it from the icy tone of his voice when he said, "Time to go, McKay."
Rodney didn't even spare Tianelle a glance as he moved towards the door. When he walked over the threshold out into the yard surrounding the building he saw that Sheppard hadn't waited for him. Rodney sighed and ran to catch up to his friend, and an uneasy silence descended upon them as they walked side by side towards the Stargate.
It wasn't until almost ten minutes later that John finally broke the silence. "I don't know what's going on with you, McKay," he said, "if it's a midlife crisis or boredom or whatever, but whatever the hell it is you better get over it pretty quick." Before Rodney could say anything Sheppard continued. "You're damn lucky it was me that walked in there and saw you in the arms of Mary Poppins and not Teyla," John turned to look at him and ominously added, "or Jennifer."
Rodney couldn't look at John, nor could he say anything for perhaps the first time in his life. They both knew John was right.
The gate came into view and John reached over and grabbed Rodney's arm. They both stopped and turned towards each other. "You're my best friend, Rodney," he said in a very rare moment of seriousness. "If there's anything I can do, just ask." John moved his hand up onto Rodney's shoulder. "Take some time off and spend it with the woman you love. Reconnect. Bond. Remember that she's the best thing that ever happened to you in your life."
John patted Rodney's shoulder before moving off towards the gate, and as Rodney followed two thoughts occurred to him: Tianelle did look a lot like a young Julie Andrews, and John Sheppard was absolutely right.
A/N: "Arms of Mary" was written by Iain Sutherland and released by the group the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver in 1976. The version I have on my playlist is done by Chilliwack who covered the song on their 1978 album Lights from the Valley.