"Keep the lights on!" called Elizabeth as she and her chief of staff looked at the wormhole, she eyed Rodney and grinned. He reached out and squeezed her hand. With a deep breath they stepped through the gate. Rodney took a deep breath as he came through the other side. No one who he knew stood there, seemed familiar to him.

"Welcome home Atlantis, General Jack O'Neill will be here shortly to join us in the debrief." Spoke General Landry.

"Great," murmured Rodney from Elizabeth's side.

"You must be General Landry, nice to meet you, I'm Doctor Elizabeth Weir, this is my Chief Medical Officer Doctor Carson Beckett, my Head of the Science Department Doctor Rodney McKay, and my Military officer Major John Sheppard."

"Nice to meet you all, please feel free to use the facilities to get cleaned up, we'll be meeting in the briefing room in two hours."

Rodney sighed four hours lateras he plopped down in the chair at one of the tables in the mess hall, and placed the tray down on the table. "Tired?" a voice caused him to jump. Looking up Rodney was stunned to see Sam Carter standing there.

"Uh…yes…" he murmured.

"What's wrong McKay, forgot how to talk while you were in Atlantis," she joked as she sat down across from him.

"No…"

"Rodney!" came a voice from the doorway. Rodney turned, never happier to see Carson in his entire life.

"Colonel Carter, this is Doctor Carson Beckett, Carson this is Sam," Rodney quickly introduced.

"Nice ta meet ye lass, Rodney forget this junk, the Air Force has given us credit cards, and cars, we can go out and dine like kings," grinned Carson.

"Really?" Rodney said smiling in return.

"Aye, come on, John, Elizabeth and I heard about this great bar where they serve steak…and beer," he said grinning.

"Uh…sorry Colonel, I've gotta go," Rodney said as he followed his best friend out the door.

Sam watched as Carson clapped his friend on the shoulder and led him out of the hall. She shook her head, and dug into her food.

"So we get fourteen days of rest and relaxation?" Carson said grinning at Elizabeth's words.

"Well…more like ten, I need each one of you to help me pick new people…to replace…"

"We understand Elizabeth, and we'll be there…" John replied grinning.

"Carson…does this smell like it has lemon on it,' Rodney said looking at his meal.

"Rodney its steak…" stated John.

"And you're point is? I don't want to spend a single day of my vacation in the infirmary," glowered Rodney.

"No Rodney it doesn't smell like lemon, not that I can tell," explained Carson smiling.

"So…Rodney, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"Actually…I was going to my apartment…assuming it's still there, maybe visit my cat…try to find Jeannie…"

"Right…need a companion?" John questioned.

"Uh…sure," Rodney replied.

"What about you Carson, what are you up to?" Elizabeth said smiling softly at the Scotsmen.

"I am headed home tomorrow night, for a week in my home sweet home, perhaps visit with my sister and wee brother…"

"That's good to hear," Elizabeth replied, "John?"

"I'll be with Rodney…although I do have one stop to make…actually two…"

"Yeah, I've got a few stops to make too," Rodney spoke, "So Liz," the nick name surprised Elizabeth but she smiled softly, "what will you be up to?"

"Well, I want to visit Simon…see how he's fairing, I've got some meetings…I'd like to visit my brother while I'm here too."

"You have a brother?" Carson asked in surprise.

"Yes, he's twenty-five, and he's a great kid."

"What's his name?" John questioned.

"William," she said smiling.

"Good name," replied Rodney smiling.

"Is it weird I miss Atlantis already?" Carson questioned, surprising everyone.

"No, we all do," chuckled John grinning.

Without another word the four friends continued their dinner in peace, enjoying the small conversations, even a little banter; as the evening faded into the night.

Rodney groaned as he rolled over on his cot, groaning at the consistent pounding at the door. He mumbled something as he pulled his pillow over his head. He gasped when he suddenly felt the blanket yanked off his bare back. "What the!" he growled as he sat up to stare his older brother in the face.

"Sorry Rod, but we've got a full day ahead of us…by the way I located your sister, and if you're willing to come with me to see…an old friend, I'm willing to go with you to see her," he suggested.

"You do realize it's only seven in the morning?" Rodney groaned as he reached out and grabbed for his shirt.

"Ah ah, no little brother, we're going casual, here are some jeans and a nice shirt, get dressed, I'll be back in ten minutes, and don't bother with breakfast, we're dinning," stated his brother.

"I hate you," mumbled Rodney as he pulled his jeans over his boxers, nearly falling over as he tried to pull them up.

John closed the door to his brother's room and headed off to Elizabeth's room, not surprised when she answered the door with a tired smile on her face, "good morning John," she said smiling at him.

"Morning, Rodney and I are going to go hang out and visit some people for a few days, probably four or five tops…do you mind?"

"Not at all, take care of yourself, and that brother of yours," she said grinning.

"I don't get you," he said chuckling.

"Excuse me?" she said rising an eyebrow.

"Just tell the whiny bastard you like him," John said, he gave her a quick grin and headed off in the other direction. Leaving Elizabeth dumbfounded.

"Ready to go?" John said opening the door.

"As ready as I'm going to get…John…what if she doesn't want to see me?"

"I've been asking myself the same question for hours," whispered John.

"About who?"

"Let's head to my SUV before I explain that one."

"We got an SUV?"

"Well, it's really cool jeep," John replied.

They climbed into the green jeep and headed out on the road before Rodney rephrased his questioned, "who was she?"

"Her name is Cheryl, she's two years younger than me, and I met her during one of my trips home to the states…we spent a few nights together, one thing led to another…"

"And then she had a kid?"

"Yeah, the little girl's name is Lisa, and she's adorable, looks a little like our mom. She's about…six or seven now. Cheryl and I stayed together a year after that, but she eventually got tired of the whole military thing and left me, she took Lisa with her. Cheryl remarried and I was alone."

"I'm sorry," whispered Rodney.

"Don't be…it's not your fault, I was too stupid to realize what she really wanted…" he took a turn into a gated cemetery.

"Wow…it's been awhile since I've seen this place," chuckled Rodney softly.

"Yeah…me too."

He pulled off to the right, and parked the jeep. The two brothers walked over to a small plot of land, where two gravestones sat in the ground. They were simple messages.

Lauren Michelle Sheppard Lucas James Sheppard

1938-1993 1938-1995

Beloved Mother and Wife Beloved Father and Husband

But to the boys they meant the world that someone had thought of them. Rodney knelt down and touched his mother's grave, "you wouldn't believe some of the things we've seen mom, we've been protecting each other…"

"We miss you guys…wish we could tell you everything we've been doing, the things we've seen," John continued as he knelt down beside his brother and spoke to his parents.

"Stay safe wherever you guys are," Rodney whispered. John placed a bouquet of flowers by both tombstones and together the two brothers stood up and headed back to their car.

"Now where to?" Rodney asked as he took a seat in the car.

"Well, your sister lives in Wyoming, and Cheryl lives in Seattle, so take your pick, either way it's going to be a while until we get to both places."

"Let's go to Seattle first…I'm not ready to see Jeannie just yet."

"Oh, and I'm so ready to go see Cheryl…just what I need, to face my ex-wife."

"Did mom and dad know?"

"No…dad had ideas, but he never knew, and mom died before I even got married."

"Think you'll ever remarry?"

"Is that your screwed up way of asking if I like Teyla?"

Rodney smiled and chuckled, "yeah I guess so…do you?"

"Well of course I like her…I wouldn't have chosen her for the team…do I love her…I don't know, it's a weird thing to love a woman Rod, one minutes they love you back and the next minute their PMSing…" John said grinning, "Teyla is something else, I'll give you that…aside from that, I don't know if we could ever get together and be happy. There is so much to do…you know how I feel, look at you and Liz, would you date her, knowing that you still have to remain the same with one another in public no matter what? We've got an entire galaxy out there, and I'm not sure it would be very fair to any of us to start relationships right now." murmured John.

"Yeah…" he whispered.

"She cares very much for you Rodney," John whispered.

"You think so?"

"I've seen the way she looks at you, and lets face it Rodney, no one else in this world, aside from maybe mom, could shut you up with a look like the ones she shoots you."

"You're probably right," chuckled Rodney.

He walked up the small hill that led to his beautiful home, he had missed it deeply, everything was so green, so plush, it had to be seventy outside, and for the first time since he'd arrived on earth, he wasn't missing the lapping of the waves against Atlantis. He reached out, almost afraid the door knob would burn him, his mind wandering, where were Rodney and John now, and Elizabeth how was she fairing. With a deep breath he turned his key and opened the door.

The lights were low, though it was still quite early in the morning for Scotland, so they may all still be asleep. He closed the door, and gently placed his suitcase on the floor. He looked around, taking in all the makings of the old beautiful home. He loved this place so deeply, so completely.

"Who's there?" came a strong masculine voice from the staircase.

"Andy?" he called in return.

"Ca…" seconds later he had a strong twelve year old boy clinging to him as hard as he could, sobbing into his shoulder.

"I'm here Andy, I'm home," Carson whispered as he held the crying child.

"Carson?"

"Mum," Carson gently put his brother down and moved towards the stairs, he smiled up at the beautiful woman looking down at him, he missed her, more than anything in the world. She came down the stairs, standing on the final step, a head taller than her boy, and pulled him into a strong hug.

"My little boy," she whispered taking his face in her hands. Carson grinned and gently touched her hand resting against one of his cheeks.

"Aye, it's me…"

"How long are you here for?"

"A few days…I'm sorry, we can't stay longer than that…we have to get back to our base…"

"How many of you came home?"

"Ten or eleven of us….so many more wanted to come…we just couldn't afford….to leave or base."

"Well at least you're home for now, come, it's late and you must be tired…"

It was a beautiful house, Rodney watched as John pulled to a stop in front of the house. He paused, gazing over at his brother as well.

"Do you want me to come in?" Rodney questioned.

"I may not even be going in…" joked John.

"I'll be right here…"

"No…you have the right to meet your niece, come on buddy," John dragged him out of the car.

John paused in front of the door, a little afraid to knock on the door, afraid of what Cheryl would say to him, or what she wouldn't say. It had been a long time since he'd really seen her. They had talked off and on, Cheryl had openly told him she was never really over him, but let him go for the sake of Lisa.

"John…" Rodney nudged his best friend.

"Sorry," he reached out and quickly rapped on the door. The two waited.

"I GOT IT!" came a cry from inside.

A small boy about five or six years old stood there, and Rodney was surprised to see the boy looked just like John. Although John looked just as shocked as his brother.

"Johnny…" came the beautiful voice. "oh my…Johnny, why don't you go play in your room," the woman suggested smiling softly at the little boy.

"Kay mommy," with that the child ran off.

"I…I got the tape…I thought you had died…" she whispered looking at him.

"Cheryl…" John began.

"Please come in…Rob is at work, but he won't mind, he knows about you," she spoke softly inviting the two men in.

"Oh…uh, this is my brother, Rodney," John introduced.

"Hi, John told me all about you, please come in."

"Cheryl…I'm sorry I really didn't mean to bust in on your life…I had to see you…to see Lisa…"

"I know…so…obviously you survived, don't suppose you can tell me where you've been?"

"You know I can't…the…Johnny….is he?"

"Yes…he's fifteen months younger than Lisa…and yes they both know you're they're father. Well actually it's more like they know Rob isn't their father. I don't have many recent pictures to show them of you…"

"Why didn't you tell me Cheryl?"

"Tell you what, that I was pregnant again, John, you were in love with your career, I don't know how I even fit into the equation. By the fact that I haven't seen you in a year tells me your all that more in love with your career."

"They're my children…"

"I know, but they're mine too, and I had to do what I thought was right."

"Yeah…"

"John, please don't be angry, it's not your fault, besides now you can be happy with someone else," she whispered to him.

"I was happy Cheryl, I was happy with you and Lisa, and I would have been happy with Johnny, I would have left it all for you…"

"No you wouldn't have John, you couldn't leave the Air Force if you wanted to…"

"We should go," murmured John as he stood up, Rodney instantly followed.

"John, wait, you wanted to see them…I could tell them…"

"No…Cheryl, listen to me, I'm not coming back…not here, and not America. When I walk out that door I'm walking out permanently, forever and always. If you told them now they'd just be bitter about their father never seeing them, tell them I died, or something, but please don't tell them the truth."

"John…"

"Cheryl, I mean it, this is the end, I won't be back…Neither one of us will be…enjoy your life, give them both a hug and a kiss for me…and tell them I love them and that I thought of them every day."

"I will," she whispered.

Together John and Rodney made their way back to the jeep. John looked at Rodney and smiled sadly.

"That hurt as much as it looked like it did?" Rodney asked.

"More…but it's gotta be done, I wasn't kidding, I'm not coming back…"

"Yeah…I doubt I am either…I don't belong here anymore…" replied Rodney.

They arrived at Jeannie's house a day later, Rodney pulled the jeep into the driveway and smiled, Jeannie sat outside on the porch, watching a young girl of about twelve play ball with her father.

"I've like to do that one day," Rodney said grinning.

"Play with your daughter? Don't worry Rod, we will."

"Shall we?" Rodney said shyly.

"Lets."

Rodney stepped out of the car, Jeannie looked up and gasped, "Rodney!" she cried she hurried off the porch.

John watched as Rodney's smiled broke into a wide grin and he scooped up his older sister into his arms, hugging her tightly.

"I saw the tape…" she whimpered into his shoulder.

"Jeannie…I'm so sorry, but I'm glad you were able to get out…"

"I'm glad you found a home…is this John?"

"This is John, my…our brother," he said grinning.

John reached out and shook Jeannie's hand, he smiled as Jeannie's husband approached them, carrying the twelve year old girl, "Rodney, John, this is my husband Michael, Mike these are my brothers John and Rodney. And this little chickadee is Katie, Kate this is your Uncle Rodney and John."

"Hi!" Katie said reaching out for her Uncle. John grinned as Rodney easily took the girl into his arms and hugged her.

"Hi there."

"We've got an older daughter, Dana, she'll be visiting tonight, if you guys would like to stay for dinner."

"Oh, I think we can do that," John said grinning as he clapped his brother on the shoulder.

Rodney sat in the briefing room, staring at the loads and loads offiles in front of him, Elizabeth walked in with another cup of coffee, handing him one.

"Elizabeth…why do I need to pick people for this job?" he questioned.

"Rodney, you certainly know the answer to that," she said grinning.

He was surrounded by three other scientists, as well as Sam Carter and Daniel Jackson, "well of course I know…but there's nothing wrong with the ones I have….except Kavanagh," he pointed.

She grinned, "I knew I forgot something," she said chuckling.

"What?" Daniel asked.

"I meant to tell Teyla to bind and gag him…throw him on that planet with the dinosaurs," she said eyeing Rodney, who laugh out right.

"We'll do it as soon as we get home…" he paused, realizing what he said.

"It's okay Rodney…" Elizabeth replied.

"How about this one, Physicist, highest marks at Havard…"

"No…we've got five physicists already, we need less of them, and more Biologists, chemists, mathematicians…"

"Botanist," pointed Elizabeth.

"And one very young Archeologist," Rodney said softly.

"Did you go and see the Gauls?" Elizabeth's question wasn't an unexpected one.

"Yeah…they actually hugged me…thanked me for…" he shrugged taking another sip of coffee.

"I wish we could have given them more," whispered Elizabeth

"I don't…" whispered Rodney.

Sam eyed the scientist in annoyance, but remained silent, "wasn't much to send home…not even to Atlantis…they wouldn't have recognized him anyway," Elizabeth said agreeing.

"They asked me if he was in pain before he died…"

"What did you say?"

"I…I told them he died with honor and that even if he was in pain he didn't show it…"

"That was very nice Rodney," Elizabeth whispered smiling at him gently.

"So…John's at Aiden's?"

"Seeing his cousin, and Carson will be home tonight…" she said smiling.

"I hope Zelenka is doing okay…."

"I'm fairly sure he can handle the science team…"

"Oh so am I…I'm just not sure he can completely handle Kavanagh."

"Oooh, this Peter McDonavan sounds…qualified…" Daniel said handing the paper.

"No," Rodney said taking one look at the paper.

"Why?" Sam asked as she looked over the sheet as well.

"Second paragraph, he misspelled physics," stated Rodney.

"How do you…oh wow," Daniel said eyeing it curiously.

Elizabeth chuckled softly as she stood and sat back down in the chair, she continued to look through the papers, "hey Rod, how about this one, her name is Kate Brown, she's a Botanist, top of her class at Yale, Harvard, worked with NASA for five years on Chemistry too…has studied genetic therapy…and it sounds like she can probably handle working with you," Elizabeth said grinning.

Rodney took the file from her and nodded, "sounds good…" it was the first one he had okayed so far. Sam was getting annoyed with his constant turning everyone down. "Contact her…" he said smiling.

"Franklin Wilson sounds good too…" Daniel handed him the file and watched what Rodney said.

"Elizabeth, I think I found your next Peter Grodin," Rodney said grinning.

"Really," she moved over closer to his side and read the file along with him.

"What do you think?" she questioned.

"I think I'd like to have Zelenka's input, but I definitely think he's a taker."