Rodney McKay was pissed, but not just pissed, ready to spit bullets or nails or ready to spit "something" pissed. He was furious, he knew John could be arrogant, and even stupid, but he was bringing an alien they knew nothing about back to Atlantis with him. And now he seemed to be playing Captain Kirk with the woman. Rodney didn't care what Elizabeth said, or how little she thought of him at the moment. He knew he was right, and that there had to be something about this woman, something she wasn't saying. Even Carson seemed to think she was up to something. After what seemed like a long and aggrivating search, he spotted John coming out from the balcony. Rodney quickly stepped out from his hiding place and stood in front of him, he had no idea what to suddenly say to this man, or how to approach him. "Major," it was a clipped sound.
"Rodney. What are you doing up so late?" John was trying to sound innocent, but Rodney knew there was more to it than that.
"I was just, um, I couldn't sleep, so I was going back up to the Control Room to do a little research. What about you?"
"Oh, no thanks," John replied, getting a annoyed and confused look from his brother.
"No, I mean what were you doing up so late?"
"I'm always up late, Rodney."
"Word of caution? The whole Captain Kirk routine is problematic to say the least, let alone morally dubious," Rodney warned.
"What routine?" John asked innocently.
"The romancing of the alien priestess? It's very 1967 of you. Actually, I'm surprised ... "
"If and when anything I do becomes your business ... " Sheppard interrupted but was in turn interrupted by his brother.
"It becomes my business, Major, when an alien woman who is clearly not who she claims to be has the ranking military officer wrapped around her little finger!" he barked.
"Don't go there, McKay," it was a warning and Rodney knew it. And twenty years ago he might have taken it, or at least been afraid. But this time he wasn't backing down, even if it meant getting a good hit in the jaw from John for it.
"I'm sorry - I know I'm not normally Mr Sensitive, but you gotta believe me when I say there is something about her. I know it's intangible but I can feel it," he tried to reason, but he could see John becoming angrier.
"I said don't go there!" hissed John taking a step closer, causing Rodney to back right into a wall.
"It's just a matter of time before I prove it, Major," they both turned when they heard the door opening across the hall, there stood the problem. "I'm just recommending that in the meantime you keep your …" he stopped when he saw Chaya turn and walk out of the room, looking furious.
"Look, I'm not asking your opinion McKay, in fact, frankly I don't want it. Just because you suck with women doesn't mean we both need to be alone. Maybe for once you're wrong about something, and when I find out you are, I'm going to bury your nose in it for as long as I can. Get off my damn back," John shoved past McKay, leaving him there stunned. Rodney watched his brother walk away and sighed, amazing how a single woman could get between two best friends and brothers. He tried to continue to be angry, and a part of him still was, but more of him was hurting now, not phyiscal, but mentally. His brother had turned on him, in a matter of hours; becuase he thought one single woman was worth so damn much to everyone.
"Did you sleep last night?" Weir asked early the next morning.
Rodney quickly shot her a death look and made her way over to a nearby laptop. "No. This is the data from the biometric sensors. I can't tell you exactly what all these signatures mean but look at this. These are ours and this, this is hers. There's a distinct difference." Rodney explained as he pointed to the various lines and images.
"She was born on another planet in another galaxy."
"They're different from Teyla's too."
"That doesn't mean ..." Elizabeth began.
"Elizabeth, she's not what she seems to be," Rodney was getting frustrated, he was suddenly starting to feel like the only reason anyone listened to him was because John was his brother. Yet she had picked Rodney before even knowing about John.
"I sense nothing but a very honest and spiritual person," Elizabeth explained easily as she continued to walk, not wanting to make contact with a set of distrusting, and broken blue eyes. She didn't want him to see her doubt either, to realize that she didn't trust him right now to keep his nose, and his mind out of this and let John be.
"Alright, there may be a way to find out. You're opening negotiations with her this morning, right?" he paused as Elizabeth nodded, "Okay, well let me sit in. I'll pretend to be taking notes on the laptop when really I'll be scanning her for anomalies: radiation, EM scans, energy signatures. That way, if I am crazy, you and I are the only ones who need to know. What's the harm?" Rodney asked.
"Alright, but be discreet."
Rodney sat oppsite of Elizabeth at the briefing table, he had never expected to hear her blame him, even accuse him of what he had been doing. He was so surprised by what she had said and the daggers being sent at him by his brother that he stuttered for a moment.
"Have your scans found anything yet, Doctor McKay?" Chaya inquired.
"Um ... uh ... actually, no," he whispered in defeat as he closed his laptop.
"What the hell is this?" John growled glaring at his brother, as though he was ready to pounce.
"I'm sorry, Major. There was cause for legitimate concern as to ..." Elizabeth began.
"... whether I was or not who I claimed to be," Chaya finished.
"I'm sorry, Chaya. I honestly felt it would do no harm," whispered Elizabeth gently. She eyed Rodney, and felt bad for a moment, now everyone but Teyla seemed to be shooting glares at him.
"Stop apologizing, Elizabeth. How did she know?" Rodney pointed
"McKay!" growled John as he stood up to stare at his brother.
It was startling as Elizabeth watched the two brothers stand head to head, she suddenly had the feel this must have been how Mrs. Sheppard had felt raising these two boys. It was obvious that when they argued…they really argued.
"She's an Ancient, Major!" Rodney finally spat.
"She's what!" John said confused.
"I'm right, aren't I? The perfect health, the energy weapon, the fact that she has the gene. It's the only logical explanation," Rodney reasoned.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sheppard growled, trying to keep from rounding and grabbing the man to strangle him.
"I just don't understand the act. I mean, you must know we'd give just about anything to talk to you, to learn from you. I mean, what is it? What, are you checking us out?" Rodney questioned his concern having gone from John's death stare to Chaya's.
"I see that in my desire to come to Atlantis, I have revealed too much of myself." She whispered.
"He's right?" Elizabeth said in surprise.
"I'm right!" Rodney spoke.
Rodney watched his brother leave with her…and he looked down at the ground, he felt defeat, and anger running through his veins. He turned from Teyla and Elizabeth, feeling their heated glares on him and headed back to his lab. Where he could hide in peace and perhaps quiet…at least until his brother came looking to beat the crap out of him. The morning wore into afternoon and soon into night. Rodney was fairly sure John had returned at some point, but he chose to keep himself scarce so not to rile anyone. At least that had been the plan. However, the night was wearing down, and Rodney realized breakfast, lunch, and dinner had all passed him by. He couldn't remember when he had last eaten anything. He stood form his desk, preparing to make his way to his nearby cabinet for food when he suddenly became dizzy. He felt his empty stomach beckon him. He cursed himself for standing up so quickly, and grabbed the edge of the table. Why hadn't he noticed it earlier, he was cold, he could feel his hands shaking. His heart felt like it was pounding in his chest.
He reached out and struck the nearby intercom, "Beckett!" he cried.
"Rodney?" Came the sleepy voice on the other end of the radio.
"Help," was the last thing he could manage before Rodney dropped to the floor and into blackness.
Carson Beckett cursed when he heard his intercom beep incessantly at his side. He awoke when he heard Rodney's weak voice at the other end of the intercom. "Rodney?" Carson asked confused. He heard the weak help then the familiar thud of a body collapsing to a hard tile floor, "bloody hell!" he muttered. Reaching out he hit his intercom, "Rodney?" he called again, hoping against hope that Rodney had just fallen and would be back up. When he got no response he hopped out of bed, pulled on a pair of jeans and ran off in a hurry to find his favorite way ward scientist. Cursing the damn bastard all the way down to the labs. He pressed his hand against the panel of the door, it flew open and there lay Rodney McKay in a heap, his face pale and drawn.
"Oh Rodney," Carson murmured as he knelt down to his friend. He was relieved to found a pulse, albeit a fast paced one. It didn't take much to figure out that Rodney had collapsed from low blood sugar.
"DeSantos," he called clicking his radio he had brought with him.
"Yes Dr. Beckett?" the nurse called in response.
"I need a litter in Dr. McKay's main lab," he pulled out his supplies, pleased to see he had packed his latest medical kit with an IV laced with sugar. In one quick and…somewhat painless try Carson had the needle inserted into the vein.
"Come on Rodney," he whispered gently slapping the man's cheeks.
"Ca…carson?" Rodney asked looking around, "what…what happened?"
"Ya collapsed lad, and from the read out, I'd lay from low blood sugar son, you've got to stop this."
"I feel horrible," he murmured.
"Aye, I'm sure you have a doozy of a headache, sorry lad, you're going to be my resident for the next twelve to twenty-four hours."
"Ah hell," muttered Rodney as he looked around in exhaustion.
"My sentiments exactly," Carson said gently.
Nancy DeSantos and Dr. Nykl arrived ten minutes later, carrying the litter. They gently transported Rodney from the floor to the litter. Carson tucked a blanket around his shoulders and handed the man a fruit bar, "that best be gone when we get to the infirmary lad."
"Carson…" whispered Rodney.
"I know you don't feel good Rodney, but you know better than to not eat. Sorry," Carson helped carry Rodney to the infirmary, he touched his radio again, "Dr. Weir."
"I'm here Carson," Elizabeth spoke quickly in return, she was obviously wide awake, no doubt in her office trying to finish some paperwork.
"I'm taking Rodney to the infirmary, he will remain there for the next twelve to twenty-four hours. He is not to be interrupted, and you ought ta get yourself some sleep lass."
"Thank you Carson…what's wrong with Rodney?" she questioned.
"Low blood sugar, I would just feel better if I could get him to eat three meals instead of three steady pots of coffee," Carson stated.
"Did you want me to wake Sheppard?"
"Ay…"
"No Carson," mumbled the half asleep Rodney.
"Rodney doesn't, sorry lass, I have to respect those wishes."
"Very well, but I'm not responsible for what happens if he finds out from someone else."
"I know lass, but it's Rodney's request."
They deposited Rodney onto one of the beds. Carson watched carefully as he downed a semi decent meal, "breakfast tomorrow, I will be waking you up. Rodney, this must stop."
"I couldn't sleep…sometimes I just forget to eat."
"Rodney, ya've been a bloody hypoglycemic for nearly twenty years, you don't just forget with stuff like this. Not when you're messin' with your life."
"Carson…why am I here?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why am I here? No one trusts me, why did I come?"
"Because Elizabeth asked you, and you're the foremost knowledgeable scientist on the Stargate. People do trust you Rodney…"
"No, they don't, I sound so weak and pathetic, I just collapsed in my lab because I can't even take care of myself. My own brother chose a woman over me, and Weir chose to see the better side of her before listening to me. Where is that supposed to leave me?"
"Rodney, you're on this mission because Weir knew you would do your best for this job."
"Funny, no one else believed that, and I'm starting to wonder if maybe Dr. Weir is starting to second guess that decision."
"Are you?" Carson asked gently.
"Am I what?" Rodney asked.
"Second guessing that same decision?"
"I don't know."
"We're all scared Rodney…"
"I'm not scared…I…I'm alone."
"You're not alone Rodney, I promise you that, I'm here."
"I feel alone."
"Aye, I know…I do too, but you're not. Neither ofusare."
"I'm tired," Rodney said drawing into himself.
Carson sighed and nodded, seeing it as a sign, "Aye, get some sleep Rodney," Carson drew the blanket up further around his shoulders and watched as the man closed his eyes.
He knew Rodney felt more alone than he had in a long time, and silently he cursed John for bringing his brother down so harshly. Sighing he shook his head and headed off into his office, prepared for another night of sleeping on the couch he had set up.
"Carson!" called John early the next morning. Carson jolted from his fitful sleep prepared to whack Major Sheppard across the head if he had awoken the sleeping scientist.
"Shh, I have patients ya know!" hissed Carson as he came out of his office.
"Where's Rodney?"
"Why, decide you suddenly wanted to pay him attention and listen to him?" Carson bit, he hadn't meant for it to come out so accusingly, or harsh, but he was just as angry at John, as John was at Rodney.
"Excuse me?" John asked confused.
"Second bed, but don't you dare go in there accusing him John Sheppard," Carson warned.
"Why is he here?"
"He passed out from hypoglycemia. He was so worried about his brother that he forgot to eat…again."
"Dumbass," mumbled John as he swept over to his brother's bed.
Rodney was sleeping fairly soundly for the first time in weeks, John looked at him for a moment, "Rod, wake up," John called.
"No," mumbled Rodney.
"Rodney, wake up," John said shaking his legs.
"Leave me alone," Rodney growled drawing his legs up.
"Rod, I'm sorry…"
"Yeah, well I don't care," replied Rodney.
"Yes you do you big knuckle head, Rodney. Chaya was a good person, and she was an ancient."
"And I care because."
"Rodney, what's your problem?" John asked.
Rodney finally sat up, perhaps a bit to quickly, because he instantly saw stars, however he ripped away from the steadying arm, "my problem Major is that everyone seems to trust you before me, and I was here first! You were some stupid add on! And yet everyone seems to turn to you first, the only thing I'm good for is saving the city and running myself and Carson ragged. I really do know what I'm talking about once in awhile!" growled Rodney.
"Rodn…"
"No, the head of this team believed you before she even considered believing me. I have a problem with that major. Because less than two weeks ago she was complaining about how you were insubordinate!"
"Rodney…listen to me."
"No, don't you get it, you're all I ever had, you Carson, Grodin, Zelenka, and Elizabeth. People seem to think I'm crazy until you tell them otherwise."
"John," came Carson's voice.
"Rodney, I really am sorry…."
"Well I don't care," stated Rodney.
"Come on lad, come back later today," Carson suggested as he gently closed the curtain around Rodney's bed.
"I…"
"Look John, it's true what he says a lot of people really do think he's just a big bag of wind, but for someone reason seeing him around you, changes them to believe maybe he's worth something. That's not fair to him, not to any of us, because the last thing we need is a very annoyed, very cranky, and very unsure of himself doctor. No matter how much he seems to be arrogant, he has just as many doubts about himself. He shouldn't always have to be the strong one, or the smart one, sometimes he just wants to be Rodney McKay, the brother and the friend."
"Will you tell him I'm sorry?"
"Aye, but I don't think he'll listen to me. I knew him for eleven months before ever meeting you lad, and it took a long time to break those walls down. It took a long time for all of us to really get past the Rodney McKay he wanted us to see."
"I never meant to hurt him."
"Aye, no one ever means to hurt anyone do they now."
"He's my brother Carson…"
"I know, but yesterday you made him feel like just another annoying scientist. An' that isn't fair Major."
"Yeah…listen take care of him, I'll talk to him when he gets out."
"It's my job to care for my patients, it's my friendship with Rodney that makes me care for him."