Long time no write. Over limit. No beta. Sorry. lol

"What did you do now, McKay?" growled Ronon as he was unceremoniously shoved towards Rodney and John by three burly men.

Rodney rolled his eyes and returned with equal intensity, "Nothing, thank you very much." He jerked his left thumb towards Sheppard and said, "Captain Kirk decided it was a good idea to hit on a cute little brunette with," he lifted his hands to the top of his chest and then made the universal sign for a healthy breast size, "and the," this time he made the male accepted motion for an hourglass figure.

Ronon's eyes blazed as he turned towards Sheppard and took a threatening step towards his team leader and friend.

"Whoa there, Chewie," drawled Sheppard as he held up his hands in surrender, "it wasn't like that at all."

"It was exactly like that," interrupted Rodney sharply. "And, of course she just happened to be the daughter of the local sheriff."

"Sheriff?" asked Teyla as she was pushed towards the group.

"Law enforcement," supplied Sheppard. "And she came on to me, Rodney."

Rodney scoffed and rolled his eyes again. "Of course she did, because no young, beautiful woman can resist your natural charm."

"Exactly," said a beaming Sheppard.

"That was sarcasm," growled Rodney.

"Not very good sarcasm, Rodney." John shook his head sadly and said, "Your sarcasm hasn't exactly been its usual biting self lately."

Rodney sputtered for a few seconds before finally deciding on an appropriate response. "Bite me."

Sheppard smirked as he turned away, but when his eyes fell upon a clunky looking thing in the corner of the local watering hole his eyes lit up. Remembering what Teyla had told them in the pre-mission briefing about how important music was to these people, he turned back to Rodney and nodded towards what looked a lot like a piano.

Rodney followed Sheppard's gaze and his shoulders slumped when he realized what he was looking at. "Do I look like a minstrel gypsy or something?" He looked to Sheppard, back to the pseudo-piano and then back to Sheppard. "Not a chance."

Sheppard gave Rodney a slow, predatory smile that Rodney had seen on more than a few occasions, and just like those previous smiles had this one signaled his doom.

Rodney had been poking at the keys of the piano for nearly twenty minutes, and more than once during those twenty minutes the members of his team cringed, huffed, sighed and winced at the music, generous term that it was, that Rodney had been producing.

It had been so bad the sheriff and his minions were laughing their asses off.

"What is our plan B?" whispered Teyla as she stood next to John.

Sheppard shook his head and replied softly, "Give him a chance. He's just learning the keys. There was no chance it would be rigged the same as an Earth piano." John turned towards the Athosian and lifted his right eyebrow as he said, "You're usually the one with faith around here."

Teyla smiled and was about to respond when Rodney cleared his throat and announced, "I'm ready."

The sheriff nodded and Rodney began. The song started out softly, and as his fingers tickled the wooden keys, ("Really!" Rodney had groused. "Wooden keys? If I get a splinter…"), looks of anxiousness quickly turned to appreciation and admiration. When he finished he looked up at the silent audience and tried to figure out the quickest escape route when the sheriff's daughter wiped a tear from her eye, smiled and said loudly enough for all to hear, "That was beautiful."

There were nods of agreement from everyone, even an overly exaggerated one from Ronon, and soon the sheriff and all of people bowed respectfully to Rodney.

Rodney stood up from the bench and returned the gesture with a slight nod of his own. When the sheriff looked at him he said, "Can we go home now?"

The sheriff nodded and before any more misunderstandings could get in the way of their return to Atlantis, the team was out the door.

They were pretty much to the gate when Teyla said, "It was a very beautiful melody, Rodney."

"Thanks," mumbled Rodney as he headed to the DHD.

"It really was, McKay," said Sheppard sincerely. "One of the best pieces I've heard. Bach?" When Rodney shook his head he said, "Chopin?" Again Rodney shook head. "Liszt?"

Rodney punched the last symbol on the DHD and as the gate sprung to life he turned and gave Sheppard a surprised look. "I'm surprised you know who he is."

"So it was Liszt," said Sheppard as he started walking towards the shimmering event horizon. Teyla and Ronon were already by the gate waiting for him and Rodney.

"No," said Rodney and Sheppard stopped just as he was about to walk into the gate. Rodney stopped too but he looked straight ahead as he said, "It was something I wrote for Jennifer."

Rodney didn't wait for comments and walked through the gate, leaving his team mates behind.

John sighed and Teyla looked at him inquisitively. "What's the matter, Colonel?"

John looked to Ronon and then to Teyla. "I just don't know if the Pegasus galaxy is ready for a romantic McKay."

A/N: "Minstrel Gypsy" was released on The Stampeders' 1973 album Rubes, Dudes & Rowdies.