"Give me a full blood count! I need a CT, MRI, and X-ray," called Carson as he ran beside the gurney.

"He's crashing!" called another doctor.

"Damn it Rodney!" yelled Carson as he jumped on top of his friend, beginning chest compressions swiftly.

"Still nothing," they busted through the doors of the infirmary nearly knocking people out of their way.

Elizabeth, Caldwell, Sheppard, Teyla and Ronan were hot on their trail as their friend was hauled off. John looked positively white as he watched Carson continue to try and resuscitate his little brother.

"Roddy!" called a beautiful voice, two big ocean blue eyes looked up and smiled at the beautiful red haired woman. "There's my little man," Gina McKay swung the four year old boy up into her strong arms and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Mama!" he cheered as he sat against her hip.

"What have you been doing?" she asked as she looked around the room, unfortunately for Rodney, he was a curious little boy and tended to get into things he shouldn't. Gina sighed, their toaster lay all over the floor in pieces. It was beyond her how such a small child could be so smart and yet so obstinate when it came to listening to his daddy.

"Fix toaster!" he said smiling.

"Roddy, we've discussed this, remember. Daddy doesn't like you fixing thing that aren't broken," scolded Gina as she shook her head. She would have to do some major arguing to get her little boy out of this one.

"Mama mad?" Rodney's lower lip began to tremble.

"Rodney…it's not me you should worry about," Gina whispered as she carried her way ward child down the stairs. Rodney was her son, and she loved him, even though Ronald blamed everything on the little boy, he was still their child.

She knew there was nothing she could do this time, Rodney had brought this upon himself, he wasn't supposed to do this sort of stuff, but he did it anyway. Rodney would get the spanking he deserved.

Screams echoed through the house that night as Ronnie McKay smacked the youngest McKay around, "quit crying you little bastard!" screamed Ronnie.

These words didn't help the small child as he curled himself further into a corner and sobbed as his father finally turned away and left the boy alone. Gina McKay knew better than to intervene, she had no desire to meet the harsh end of her husband's hand.

Rodney looked over at his mother through his swollen and red eyes, "momma!" he sobbed for her as he reached out.

"No Rodney," she whispered, "not this time."

He continued to cry, and cry until his voice became horse and tired, he remained in his little corner the rest of the night until his sister Jeannie came and pulled him out of the corner. "Rodney, stop," Jeannie said shaking him until the tears finally stopped. "Stop making daddy so mad," she whispered harshly.

But he was a child, he couldn't understand, he couldn't understand why his parents just left things around to be played with then hit him when he played with them like any child.

The small boy sat in his room the rest of the night, crying out of pity for himself. Wishing that he had someone who really loved him; his big blue eyes opened on the sky and he placed his hand against the window, "gawd…hewp me," whimpered the child in a weak voice.

He had heard his mama pray to someone named gawd…perhaps this person would save him as well if he prayed like she did….

"We've done all we can," Carson explained as he looked at John and Elizabeth.

"And?" John questioned.

"He's in a coma…the rest is up to him now, he's got severe brain hemorrhaging, until the swelling comes down…he won't be waking up. We've got him heavily sedated in hopes that the swelling can be reduced."

"What are his chances?" Elizabeth inquired as she looked down at the still form.

"If it were any other person…I'd put my bets against them…maybe give them twenty-four hours before the rest of the body begins to shut down…but knowing Rodney; we'll just have to wait and see."

"Thank you Carson," Elizabeth said squeezing her friend's hand.

"Can we sit with him?" John asked softly as he looked at his brother.

"Of course…"

Rodney and Jeannie sat in the kitchen looking at their mother and father. Gina McKay looked distraught and Ronald just looked angry, "guys…I have cancer," whispered their mother.

"Are you going to die?" whimpered Gina.

"Well…the doctors are going to do all they can honey," Gina said gently smiling softly at her sixteen year old daughter.

Seven year old Rodney McKay sat in his chair with a confused look on his face, he had heard of cancer…read it in a book somewhere, but why did his daddy look so mad, and why had mommy been crying.

"We could have some ice cream mommy! Ice cream always makes you feel better when you're sick!" the seven year old cried suddenly smiling.

"You're such a jerk!" yelled Jeannie as she ran from the room crying.

"Rodney…" Gina began.

"Don't try and explain it to the sorry little whelp. If he ain't smart enough to get it by himself then he don't deserve to know," growled Ronnie McKay.

Rodney's blue eyes grew cold as he looked over at his father, "I'm not a whelp! And I'm not wittle!" cried Rodney.

"Don't back talk me child!" yelled Ronnie as be back handed his youngest child in anger.

Rodney's head flew to the left as tears began to form in his eyes, he turned back and looked at his father in heated anger. He was about to bite out another retort when his mother stepped in.

"Rodney go to your room sweetheart," she said gently.

"What did I do?" he cried.

"Ask it again stupid little bastard!" dared his father.

With another vicious glare that only earned him a strong spank to his bottom Rodney ran as fast as he could up the steep stairs to his room. His sister's bedroom was closed. Reaching out he lightly knocked on the door.

"What the hell do you want?" she griped at him as she swung the door open. She hated having him for a brother he was so damn young, so stupid. Why couldn't her parents stop at one.

"What's wrong wif momma?"

"She's gonna die you dumbass!" bit Jeannie as she slammed the door in his face.

Rodney remained rooted in his spot, confusion and fear written all over his now beat red face. He wouldn't cry, his father had taught him many things, and one of them had been big boys don't cry.

"Momma's gonna die?" he whispered to himself in fear and sadness. His momma, his link to the real world.

"John, are you okay?" Elizabeth asked suddenly sitting down beside her second in command.

John smiled crookedly from where he sat beside his brother and best fried. Holding the younger man's hand, "I was eleven when he was dropped off on our doorstep…he was this scrawny nine year old kid, I mean I was lanky…already fairly tall, but Rodney was short and skinny…I mean deprived skinny…but he was so damn smart. By the first or second night he was questioning our mom's motives on taking him in…Our mom didn't even have motives, she never thought like that…"

"She sounds like a wonderful woman…"

"She was amazing…I guess I was lucky, I spent eleven years with just her as my mother…ubt at the same time I left when I was eighteen and Rodney had her for a good few more years during college."

"I think she did a fine job of raising two amazing men."

"She was the most amazing patient person…always spending time with me or Rodney, trying to teach us stuff."

"He's going to be fine John…Rodney's tough," Elizabeth said smiling as she grasped his other hand.

His mother was dead…she was gone forever, never another loving touch, another protective touch…

"Look Roddy, I'm sorry," whispered Jeannie as she looked into those big blue eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" whimpered Rodney as he sat on the edge of her bed.

"Rodney, I don't have a choice, look at me," she gently grabbed his chin and swiveled it to look around at her. "I promise you I will come back for you someday okay…when I can afford to come get you I will."

"Daddy doesn't like me," whispered the eight year old boy.

"Daddy isn't going to like me much longer either…Roddy, listen to me, no matter how much we've been through and how much you may hate me at times…I'm your sister, and if you ever need me I'm here to help." She gently ran a hand through the back of his silky hair.

"Daddy isn't going to be happy," whimpered Rodney.

Jeannie sighed, lifting the eight year old from under the arms she pulled him close. He leaned against his head against her shoulder. She bit her lip to keep from crying as she gently rubbed his back in slow soft circles.

"Take care of yourself, and stay out of his way. Don't give him any reason to hurt you or get angry with your Rodney…"

"You love me?" Rodney questioned against her shoulder, his words mumbled by her shoulder.

"Yes Rodney, I love you so much, I always have. Take care okay," she placed him back down on the bed and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Goodbye Rodney." Standing up she grabbed her bag and turned, leaving her little brother behind in the bedroom.

That night Jeannie walked out, never leaving a note for her father, never telling anyone where she was going. Rodney knew as he watched her climb in her boyfriend's car that he would never see her again.

"Dad!" called Rodney, he'd been kept at school late for detention…his dad would be so pissed when he found out that Rodney had been back talking to the teachers again.

"Dad?" Rodney called, the house was silent, this wasn't unusual for their house, on good days Ronnie McKay was out working. On bad days he was drinking and screaming at his young son.

"Dad?" yelled one more time as he headed upstairs to the bedrooms and bathrooms.

The three bedrooms were empty, Rodney made his way through the master bedroom. And there is where Rodney found his answer. Sprawled out on the floor was his father, his lips a blue tinge, his eyes open and wide with pain. His chest frozen in death; Rodney's eyes grew wide in fear. The rational side of Rodney McKay instantly kicked in, for there was no other functioning side. He calmly moved over to the telephone and picked it up.

"My name is Rodney Michael McKay…I came home from school and found my father on the bathroom floor…no this isn't some prank phone call, my dad isn't breathing…"

He hung up the phone as calmly as he picked it up, however as he looked back into the bathroom he lost all sense of calm that was in him. His stomach burned with fear and sadness, his eyes beginning to water at the sight of his dead father on the bathroom floor. He suddenly ran as fast as his little legs could carrying him. He stopped at the porch, feeling he was far enough away and collapsed on the front porch where he began to sob.

Four days had passed, four days since Rodney had fallen from the ledge, four days since he had hit his head and been knocked into a coma. It had been four days of sitting by his brother's side. Occasionally Ronan and Teyla had come in to sit with him. Elizabeth had sat with him many times, keeping them company, just talking.

Everything seemed to run on automatic for the Atlantis crew, even Lorne was quieter than usual. John couldn't quite figure out what it was about this man that caused everyone to hate him one minute, and rely on him the next minute.

"Listen Rod, I know we've had our problems recently and all, but…ahhh, jeeze you gotta wake up…I keep thinkin' about all the crap we've been through, this was a stupid accident. You're not supposed to die like that Rod…not like this…you're not even the one whose supposed to die first. I'm her hero here, I should be the one to go first." John murmured.

He'd always thought he would be the first to go, from the moment he fell off the roof all those years ago. John sighed and reached out and gently brushed the hair away from his brother's forehead. "Stupid little punk, just gotta be first to do everything don't you. Come on Rod, wake up."

Rodney stood up on the roof, looking down all around him in fear, he was terrified. His dad had always told him not to be afraid of heights, but that wasn't doing anything for him right now.

He jumped and whirled around when a hand touched his shoulder. He heard and saw his brother cry out in fear. He watched in horror as his brother flailed his arms backwards trying to catch his balance as he suddenly fell backwards.

"JOHN!" cried Rodney as he reached out to grab the front of his brother's shirt.

"Shit!" yelled John as he fell off the edge of the roof. He landed on the ground with a sickening thud.

"JOHN!" Rodney screamed as he scrambled down the ladder to the ground by the side of his brother.

John's tear filled hazel eyes looked over at him in confusion. "are you all right?"

"I…ah…ow," whimpered John.

"MOM!" cried Rodney as he ran back into the house, "mom!"

It was chaos for the next twenty minutes while they waited for the ambulance to come. John broke his leg from the fall. "I am so sorry," Rodney repeated for the umpteenth time since they had gotten into the car.

"Rodney shut up! I'm fine, it's just a broken leg," John hissed growling at him.

"I'm sorry! I really am…" the thirteen year old groveled.

"Rodney, drop it…" John winced at his choice of words, "I'm fine, it was a clean break, it's not like you meant to throw me off the roof. No harm no foul, we'll survive."

"John I…"

"Rodney, drop it okay," John said one final time. He knew his parents were smiling. They weren't any more angry at Rodney than he was, because it was indeed an accident.

"Okay," mumbled Rodney.

Grinning John reached out and pulled his younger adopted brother close, hugging him as tightly as he could, "I love ya geek," John said grinning.

"Love you too jock."

It was a relationship that normally never would have been, two friends who normally would never get together, but these two had. They were the best of friends. Lauren smiled as she looked back at the two of them, knowing they were meant to be brothers. No matter how long the road, they would always be the best of friends.

Rodney smiled softly as he slowly pushed the door open to the small room. Two sullen blue eyes looked up at him, "there's my little boy," she said weakly from the bed.

"Hey mom," Rodney said as he gently sank to the bed at her side. He gently gripped her frail hand in his and smiled.

"The doctors say I'm dying," she whispered softly.

"Yeah...I don't know if this is much…but thank you mom, for taking me in and caring for me."

"Oh my little Rodney…it is you who saved us child…you were such a wonderful little boy, so full of love and passion. I'm so very proud of you," she sad gently.

"I…I got accepted into the NASA program mom…I'm going into outer space," he said smiling.

"I heard…your father told me, make sure you take a look for me," she said gently as she weakly cupped his chin.

"I will mom, I promise," he bent down gently, pressing a kiss to her forehead; like she had done so many times before.

"You're going to be a hero one day my child, a hero among men, someone others will look to for help."

"I promise I will make you proud."

"You already have son, you've made both your mom's proud of you, for having done a wonderful job and overcoming everything. You survived and now look at the man you've become."

He sat in a small office off the side of the lab, he wasn't paying attention, far to focused on the information in front of him to hear the 'click' of high heels against the vinyl flooring.

"Doctor Rodney McKay?" the voice asked.

Elizabeth stood in front of Rodney, waiting for him to say something, or at least raise his head to look at her. She took the moment to asses the man she was about to ask for help. He was a little overweight, probably from sitting behind the desk all the time, he was probably about 5'9 or a little taller, he had brown hair and she had yet to see his eyes.

"Doctor Rodney McKay?" She needn't ask but repeated again, he didn't even look at her, his face still on the paper on the desk before him.

"He's busy, leave a message and perhaps he'll pretend to give a damn later," he replied sarcastically.

She could see he was just as arrogant as Samantha had suggested.

"My name is Doctor Elizabeth Weir…"

"You're thirty-four you have a bachelors in science, a master's degree in physics, chemistry. You also have a PhD in Political Science and public Service. You're single, seeing someone currently however, and you were placed in charge of the Ancient Outpost, you were in charge of the Stargate Program temporarily before Colonel Jack became Brigadier General O'Neill…yes Doctor, I know all about you, now what do you want?" She felt her anger rising to the surface, taking a deep breath she looked at him.

"You are currently, aside from Lieutenant Colonel Carter the only other person who is well educated in the Stargate Program." He looked up at her and smirked.

"Her theories are all wrong," he stated matter-of-factly with arrogance lacing his voice.

"Nonetheless Doctor, I am in need of your…expertise. Now this isn't going to be a simple miss…"

"Look doctor save your explanations of possible death and destruction, I've heard them all and none sound as appealing as the one for."

"You would be the head of the..." once again he interrupted her.

"I would be answer to you," he looked up at her and paused, smiling, "fine you have me." She was stunned, surprised to say the least.

"Um…"

"Under one condition, I have complete access to all ancient technology," he stated.

"You are…"

"Arrogant…selfish…rude? Yes well I'm also a genius, and the only one that knows what you need."

"Fine, we meet in…"

"Antarctica in four days, no worries Doc, I'll be there with bells on, you just make sure you are," with that he looked back down at the papers, "I'm sorry doctor Weir was it? I have a lot to get done in a week. Did you need anything else?" She just stared at him, her face turning red in anger and frustration. With that she turned around and walked out.

"Rodney…"

"Rodney…" the voice broke through the haze of memories. The azure blue eyes slowly fluttered open.

"Welcome back to the land of living," John spoke from Rodney's right.

Moving his tired eyes he looked over to see Elizabeth and Carson at his other side, "'m alive," he mumbled.

"Yes Rodney, alive and you're going to be just fine," Carson said smiling.

"Good," he replied as he slowly allowed his eyes to slide closed again.

"Rest Rodney, we'll talk later," John said grinning at Carson.