The mission had gone well, as opposed to the last mission that had almost ended in losing two of their finest. The villagers were wonderful, warming, friendly and more than willing to help out John and his team. So as soon as they mentioned ancient ruins that had been around for years, Rodney's ears perked up. "Could you show us where they are?"

"Certainly, we can take you tomorrow…we do not usually go there… some of scientists however are quite intrigued by it."

"Well then…we'll go," John said, part of him didn't want to allow it, but he couldn't say no…his brother was eager and even more he wasn't afraid to suddenly go off by himself. While John wasn't about to let the scientist wander by himself, he also wasn't going to be angry at the man for wanting to explore.

So the next morning they ate a breakfast provided by the villagers, then a few of the scientists escorted Teyla, Ronan, John and Rodney down to the ancient ruins. The man they had spoken to was correct, this place was amazing and old. Rodney instantly stepped inside, John opened his mouth to say something, but decide against it, if Rodney felt he could do this; then John would give him a little space, he would allow Rodney the chance to really explore and get a feel for being normal again.

"Just be careful," was all John said before he took a look around. Teyla stepped inside with Rodney, but allowed the man to wander a little further.

There towards the back of the ruins sat a small fountain, it was obviously old, but amazingly enough, there was still water coming from it, "this is amazing, there can't possibly be any brook or stream or pipe lines here…and yet it's flowing," whispered Rodney as he dipped his hand into the liquid. "It's still cold…"

He looked around the base of the fountain, "og llahs uoy regnuoy ot gnuoy morf worg ot hcuot rebmemer ot hcuot" his traced the outline of the inscription at the base of the small fountain. Standing up he began to look around the rest of the ruins, there was ancient written into some of the walls, others were English, and then some seemed to be a form of writing he had never seen before.

"Have you found anything?" John asked as he stepped into the ruins along side his brother.

"Nothing astounding, that little fountain is pretty damn cool, it's still cold…there are pictographs here…but they've been worn away by time…"

"Well…Ronan and I have been offered the chance to take a look at their farming, we'll be gone for an hour…maybe…be good," joked John.

His brother, however was lost on the words, getting caught up in the drawings and writings. John chuckled softly, shaking his head and moved out the cave entrance. "Watch him please," John said to Teyla.

"I will keep an eye on him, he is however, a grown man," she said smiling.

"Yeah…well he has the attention span of a four year old," mumbled John as he and Ronan followed two of the villagers.

Rodney was aware that nearly an hour had gone by, he was growing weary of trying to solve these puzzles, he was just about to give up when his brother walked inside.

"Hey big guy, any idea what's worth staying here any longer?" John joked.

"No, none at all, the only thing worth half a damn is this stupid little fountain…"

John crouched down beside his brother and began to finger the words, Rodney reached out to slap his hand away. Their hands both touched the words: suddenlythey both threw their heads back in pain as suddenly every muscle in their body felt like it was contracting, John opened his mouth to scream but nothing came…A white light suddenly surrounded them, enveloping the two men in a deep warmth unlike anything they had ever experienced.

Teyla turned just in time to see a white light filling the small cave ruins, "John…" she called over her radio. She got nothing but static and suddenly eyed Ronan.

They both rushed into the small cavern, dust was beginning to settle, although how any had ever come about in the first place…Teyla didn't know. There was no debris…nothing, just the cave…she looked down, horrified to see two bodies, smaller than those of her Colonel Sheppard and Doctor McKay.

"Why is it always us?" Teyla said in a very human manor.

Elizabeth couldn't deny that she was terribly worried when Teyla radioed back that something had happened and to have Doctor Beckett standing by. However she wasn't expecting what stepped through the gate.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" came one high pitched teenage voice.

"How is this all my fault?" Came another.

She turned her eyes towards the two children standing in front of her, they were no more than twelve, maybe thirteen. Everyone stood in a stunned silence as the two continued to argue.

"It's always your fault!" yelled the blonde haired boy on the left…wearing Rodney's clothes.

"Not everything is my fault! I wasn't the one who got us suspended! And I definitely wasn't the one who decided to build a nuke…."

"This is all…"

"Stop!" barked Ronan with the patience of Rodney McKay. The two pre-teens stopped and looked at him, the smaller of the two boys, the one wearing Rodney's clothes, looked almost frightened, while the other boy didn't seem at all effected by this weird man standing in front of him.

"Teyla…what happened this time?" was all Elizabeth could ask as she joined them down in the gate room, Carson came over, and stopped, stunned by the two lads standing in front of him.

"I do not know…really…"

"Mom is totally going to kick your ass," muttered the blonde boy.

The dark haired boy suddenly shot out and shoved the other boy in the shoulder, "watch your damn language!"

"Ouch! Don't start with me…" Rodney began as he prepared to fight his brother back.

"ENOUGH!" Teyla yelled as she suddenly stood between the two boys.

"Who are they?" Carson asked.

"They are…"

"John Sheppard at your service…" the dark haired boy said grinning. As soon as the members of Atlantis saw the cockeyed grin, they knew this boy was telling the truth.

"Then that makes you…" Elizabeth asked starting to point at the blonde haired boy.

"Rodney McKay," muttered the boy.

"Er…right," whispered Carson nodding, "lets get you to the infirmary…"

"Wait a damn minute…I'm not going anywhere! Where's Luke? Where's our mom?" Rodney yelled.

"Who's Luke?" Elizabeth asked.

"My father…" replied John.

"Okay…wait…you two are brothers…"

"Not yet we aren't!" hissed John.

"You wanna go!" yelled Rodney.

"Stop!" Teyla bit again.

"Look…boys," Elizabeth paused not quite sure what to make of them, "your mother and father…well you're temporarily in our care until your mother and father come back…now would you please go with Carson…"

"Come on lads…" Carson said as he allowed Teyla to usher them forward.

"Ronan…please take Johnny to my room, along with Lauryn…I don't think our boys will be caring for them anytime soon," she murmured.

"They don't get along very well," whispered Ronan.

"Well…I'm sure this will be interesting…when you're done come see me please," murmured Elizabeth.

"Yep," he replied as he headed off.

Carson pressed the stethoscope to Rodney's bare and bone thin chest, "that's cold!" hissed the young boy.

"Sorry Rodney…is it alright to call you that?"

"I guess," muttered the boy as he turned his head away from the doctor.

"How do you feel Rodney? Anything hurt?"

"Besides my head…no…look where's Luke and Lauren…"

"They aren't here son, I'm sorry…"

"Don't call me son!"

"All right, I'm sorry. Tell you what, I bet your hungry right?"

Blue eyes looked around for a moment then nodded slightly, "I thought so, now you lay down on this bed, and I'll bring you some dinner and maybe something for your head."

"Are we in any danger here?" Rodney questioned as he looked up at Carson.

"No Rodney, you are in no danger, I promise…however, lad, your weight is what concerns me…you're only 120 pounds…for someone your age and height that is dangerously low."

"It's nothing," whispered the boy.

"Right…well if you need someone to talk to I'm here…"

"I wish Lauren were here," mumbled the boy from where he now lay across the cot.

Carson sighed, "aye me too lad…me too." With that he moved over to John's bed, separated by a curtain he looked at the boy, John was easily two or three inches taller than Rodney, but from what he knew about the boys, John was also nearly one year older, and probably already had enough muscle to pull his own weight.

"Dr. Johnson…how's our boy?" Carson asked.

"He seems fine, a little fever, but nothing major…we ran the blood work, he is John Sheppard."

"Of course I am," scoffed John.

"Thank you Johnson…could you please go to the mess and get me two trays of food." Carson waited until the doctor left and he looked at John, "all right lad…does your head hurt?"

"Yeah…a bit."

"So does your brothers…"

"He ain't…isn't my brother…" muttered John.

"But he does live with you and your folks?"

"They wanna adopt him…but they haven't decided yet…"

"And you don't want them to?"

"Well of course I do!" John said as if it were the most obvious and dumbest question in the entire world. "He just…he drives me insane sometimes…and he's already nearly a grade ahead of me….do you have any idea what that does to my reputation?"

"John…this is less about your reputation and more about that boy in there. He needs to know someone cares."

"Where's my mom and dad?"

"I told you they've gone away for awhile."

"Then why don't I remember? Dad tells me everything…and mom tells Rodney everything?"

"Look son this is only temporary…"

"Why are you lying? What are you hiding! Where are my parents! Where's Rodney!" The pre-teen was beginning to get hysterical Carson grabbed his arms to settle him down, but was stunned by how strong the teenager was who easily broke his grip. "RODNEY!"

"What?" came Rodney's voice. The other teenager hoped out of bed and looked at John.

"We're leaving…"

"Okay," whispered Rodney.

"Freeze!" Carson bit, he didn't like getting angry and raising his voice, but these two boys obviously called for it, at least at this moment. "Fine ye want the truth, then get over here, and sit on this bed, ye'll shut your mouths for once and listen to someone else, understand?"

Instantly the two boys hurried over to the bed and sat down, "good…you're on a base called Atlantis…you aren't on earth…in all truth ye both are in your thirties, not two youngin's. Your members of a mission to find the lost city of Atlantis, well we found it, and we're in the Pegasus Galaxy. You two are on the same team…ye have been for nearly three years. Your brothers, best friends…we don't know much else you two idiots touched something…again, and somehow ye got turned into teenagers again…snappy ones I might add."

The two boys were stunned into silence, and for a second Carson regretted telling the two young men this information until they instantly started questioning everything, so many questions Carson didn't hear half of them, he sighed and shook his head, "stop…just stop."

"What will you do with us?" Rodney asked.

Carson looked at his friend and smiled sadly, "we will keep you here, try to find a way to reverse…whatever has happened to you…isn't much else we can do… Can't send you home…"

"Is Earth…still there?" John asked this time.

"Aye, it is and hopefully will be for a very long time." Carson replied.

"What about Lauren and Luke?" Rodney asked quietly.

"I'm sorry boys…your parents have been dead for nearly ten years now…"

"No…" whispered Rodney.

John looked over at him sadly and gently reached out a hand to grasp the younger boy's hand, "don't worry Rod…we'll be okay…you know what dad says…together we've got the smartest and toughest head around."

Carson had to swallow a chuckle at the truth in that statement, there was no one tougher than these two or smarter in all of Atlantis. Carson just hopped they could find a way to reverse the process…he really didn't want to go through the boy's teenage years. He was surprised by how timid Rodney seemed around people. He knew enough of Rodney's past to know that he had been abused until he was ten, when his father died. However, Carson had assumed after two years with the Sheppards' that would have at least gotten a little better.

Getting them to sleep had almost been too easy as far as Elizabeth and Carson were concerned. Rodney ate quietly, his brother by his side talking animatedly to him. Rodney didn't speak to anyone really, he would periodically glance up at Elizabeth, or Carson but then he'd look back at his food before they could speak to him. Carson helped John to his bed after supper, they tucked the two boys in, none of them missed Rodney's somewhat hesitant look as they were covered with two blankets and wished a good evening.

Carson personally retired to his office for a couple hours, and everyone else to their own quarters or office. However, Elizabeth had wandered back to the infirmary nearly four hours after they had fallen asleep. She watched them for a moment, her arms crossed over her chest, watching her two best men sleep. These, however, weren't her "men"…they were boys, a mere shadow of the men she had come to love.

Rodney was still very similar to the Rodney McKay she had come to know three and a half years ago. He was smaller, much smaller, than most children his age; he was skinny with hardly any muscle and where there was fat, she easily guessed it was baby fat. He was lying on his side, curled into a fetal position with his blankets kicked down at the end of the bed. Like her McKay he was hesitant to trust people, and yet seemed very willing to cling to his older brother when John was willing to be there.

John, on the other hand, was less like the John she knew…she could see the beginnings of the John she knew, but he was different. The twelve year old she was looking at, trusted the world, although her John did to a certain extent. He was cocky, and a little pushy, and seemed more uninterested in his little brother than her grown up John had been. He was about average height for a boy his age, but gangly, with very little fat and probably all muscles, he looked much younger than her John, and his hair was longer as well. The boy was sprawled on his stomach, head turned to one way, the blankets drawn all the way up to his ears, leaving only his nose and closed eyes to be seen.

Her attention was quickly drawn back to Rodney when she heard the boy begin to whimper and whine. She crossed the infirmary to his side, and gently reached out to smooth back his blonde hair. That was definitely one thing that had changed in his life time, he had gone from almost honey or dishwater blonde hair to dark brown.

She guessed it was a genetic trait, as a child she had had much lighter hair, that had progressively grown darker with age. She was sad to admit now it was growing lighter again and would someday be white. She smiled at the thought, as well as the fact that Rodney seemed to calm as she continued to gently run a hand through his hair until his breathing finally evened out again and he fell further into a slumber. Reaching out she pulled the blanket up around his shoulders and smiled gently at him.

Her eyes drifted to John, and she was surprised to see his hazel green eyes wide open, "hey…you okay?" she asked as she came over and sat down in front of him.

"I don't hate him…He's my best friend…" whispered John.

"We know…"

"Does he…I'm not always good to him, I rag on him all the time…but I never really tell him how thankful I am to have him in my life. You're good with kids…you got any of your own?"

"Sort of…I have a surrogate daughter who's about a year old…I take care of her off and on."

"That's cool…Our mom is a lot like you…which is probably why he reacted that way…he never did that for dad…I think he's scared of dad."

"Why?"

"His dad used to abuse him…beat him…I guess shortly after his sister left and his mother died his pop beat him close to death. Rodney was apparently in the hospital for a month before released right back into his dad's care."

"Wow…did he tell you that?"

"Yeah…it took some work to get it out of him…but he told me…He may be a complete snot sometimes…but he's a great brother…"

"I think we're all snots at times," Elizabeth smiled gently.

"Comforting…what are you going to do with us?"

"We're going to…attempt to find a way to get you back to our adult John and Rodney…"

"Rodney's really smart…you should ask him," smiled John.

"Good idea."

"Is Doc Beckett gonna let us go tomorrow."

"We'll see honey…why don't you get some more sleep," she pulled the blanket up a little and smiled at him.

"Night Liz," he mumbled as his eyes slid closed and he fell asleep again.

"Night John."

Carson allowed the two boys to be released the next morning after they both had a hardy breakfast. Elizabeth and Teyla arrived shortly after they had started eating. Elizabeth calmly filled Rodney in on everything that had happened and he watched her in confusion.

"I'm only twelve…you expect me to know the answer to this?" he said gesturing to himself and John.

"No…we are hoping you'll help us, Rodney, you're very smart, and I know the thirty year old mind is in there somewhere. We need your help if you want to get back to normal."

"I could look…"

"Rodney, no holding back buddy, you can do this…" John said confidently as he eyed his brother.

"Okay, I'll help," Rodney said nodding.

"Good, why don't you two go get washed up and comfortable, then we'll take you on a little tour, then see if we can't start finding out why this happened," Elizabeth said patting the boy's knee.

"No, no, no! You're totally wrong! These equations are all wrong…"

"No…" Radek began.

"Just shut up for a minute, trust me right here…and here," he said pointing to two different parts of the equation.

"He's just a kid…how is he gonna be smart enough to fix any problem?" Whispered one scientist who had worked on the same equation Rodney had just pointed to.

Rodney looked at her, he looked back at Radek, as if afraid Radek would agree, "Rodney…why don't you go find John…"

"You don't think I can do this!" cried Rodney suddenly.

Radek watched as the twelve year old boy flew out of the lab before Radek could disagree. He didn't see the tears starting to form in the child's eyes as he fled somewhere safer than where he would be ridiculed by people who believed he wasn't very smart, to get away from people who thought like his father had thought.

Elizabeth was walking through the halls when she saw the blur of blue running towards her, she reached out and grabbed the shoulders, "whoa, whoa, Rodney, what's wrong?" she asked he tried to fight to get away from her.

"Leave me alone!" he cried loudly.

"Rodney," she barked suddenly.

The boy stopped fighting and looked up at her, tears welling in his big blue eyes, his lower lip trembling. Elizabeth quickly did something she would never have done with her Rodney, she pulled him into a hug. Suddenly she found herself in the strong grasp of a sobbing pre-teen. She sighed, calmly rubbing his back and stroking his hair. "What happened Rod?"

"I'm just a kid…" he whimpered.

She pulled away and knelt down in front of him, "you're not a little kid to me…you're not my Rodney, but you're no small mindless child. Who said what?"

"It was nothing," he whimpered.

"No Rodney, if it upset you I have the right to know. People who upset a twelve year old boy, probably aren't helping my thirty-year old man now are they?"hishead shook in a no.

"What happened?"

"Couple of the scientists called me a little kid…they said I wasn't smart 'nough to help…that's what my dad used to say."

"Rodney, you listen to me, I've seen in action, as a child and as a man, you are the smartest man on all of Atlantis…you make mistakes, but you are very smart. You've saved my life more times than I can count, so don't listen to anyone who says you aren't good enough, okay?"

"But what if I'm not…what if I never get us back to normal."

"Then you stay like this…would that be so bad?" Weir didn't want him to lie, she didn't want him to say he wanted to be young. She didn't want him to be young, she wanted her Rodney back.

"I…I have the feeling I liked being an adult better…"

"You're right…you do, but you'll just have to find a way to fix that, won't you. Now come on, I've got more for you to look at," she said wrapping an arm around his shoulders and leading him back to his office. She didn't want to think how this little boy, who was so unsure of himself, so conscious of everything, so worried if he was doing something right became such a strong self-confident man.

Carson sighed as he walked into the mess hall, his eyes landed on a small figure, he was surrounded by pictures and paper, his legs not even touching the ground, his head pillowed by his arms as he slept soundly.

"Good grief…no wonder the man doesn't sleep normal…neither does the child," murmured Carson tiredly. He walked over to the lad and gently nudged the boy's arm.

Two blue eyes slid open, "Carson…" an almost familiarity to the voice broke through. It was as though Rodney recognized the man standing before him suddenly, "figured it out…I think," Rodney whispered.

"Rodney…"

"Touchin..the base," he mumbled then slipped back into a restful sleep.

"Let's get you up," Carson gently gathered the pictures up, then scooped the twelve year old into his arms, the boy's blonde head resting against his shoulder.

"If you weren't such a pain in the ass as an adult…you might make a cute kid," muttered Carson. He tried to ignore how light his best friend was as he carried Rodney to the infirmary and deposited him on one of the beds. He looked at his dear friend for a minute and sighed, "eh, you're a cute kid…you're still a pain in the ass as an adult…but you're a good friend."

"Carson…" came the soft whisper from the bed.

Carson turned and smiled at his best friend, "aye?"

"Am I a good man…I'm not like my real dad?"

"Rodney, no you are a wonderful man, with many friends, you've become much better…many love you, even with your faults."

"I'm arrogant aren't I?"

"Why do you say that lad?" Carson said pulling up a stool.

"Because my dad always said I was arrogant…and I assumed becoming a man wouldn't change that…especially not if I'm smart…"

"You are sure of yourself…perhaps too much sometimes…but I don't know if I'd call you arrogant lad. Now get some sleep."

"I figured it out Carson…all by myself…"

"Good job lad…" Carson whispered as he covered the boy up under his covers.

"We have to both touch the alter under the fountain…I think it's a sort of fountain of youth…" Rodney explained the next morning to Elizabeth, Ronan, John, Teyla and Carson.

"Wait…then wouldn't you have to drink from it?" Carson asked, feeling as though he were really talking to his best friend.

"Well…according to the legend yes…but the inscription says touch it and you'll become young again…I don't think it really detected me…you said that John and I have this gene…so together John and I probably activated it…my guess is if John had touched it he would be much younger, but it split the age between us, and turned us both into…pubescent whiners…"

Elizabeth chuckled softly, "then how do we change this?"

"We go back to the planet…and touch the alter again…" Rodney said, "theoretically…"

"As in you're not sure." Elizabeth questioned

"Uh…well…"

"Rodney?" John spoke.

"I can't guarantee it…but pretty sure…"

"All right…works for me," Elizabeth said nodding.

"Really?" Rodney said with excitement.

"Yep, Teyla have the team ready to go, Carson I want you with them."

"Yes ma'am," Carson said nodding.

Rodney looked thrilled that Elizabeth trusted him this much that she was willing to give them a go. Elizabeth looked over at the small boy and smiled, she could tell how excited he was about this. "It's okay Rodney…I trust you." She wasn't lying either, she trusted Rodney McKay with her life, and his life, and John's life.

"Thanks Elizabeth…" he said as he pushed himself from the table.

Elizabeth watched him go, knowing what she had just said to him made a world of difference to his frail ego. She smiled, suddenly he came running back into the room and over to her, "what's wrong?"

"I…I just…" he grabbed her around the waist and hugged her tightly, his head against her belly. She smiled softly, running her hand through his hair and smiled. Rubbing his back she couldn't wait for him to come back as a grown up.

"Good luck."

Elizabeth waited, as patiently as she could, waiting for someone to tell her they were back, that everything had gone fine. Her eyes were on the gate, as she waited patiently.

"Incoming wormhole," called Major Ellis.

"Who is it?"

"It's Colonel Sheppard's team ma'am…"

"Lower the shield…" she turned back to the gate and waited. Teyla stepped through first, followed by Carson, then Ronan, then finally an adult John, and right behind him was her Rodney. Her grown up Rodney, with a wide grin on her face she couldn't help but descend the stairs with exuberance.

He walked over to her, standing right in front of her and grinned. "Thank you," he whispered.

She threw her arms around his neck out of impulse, and felt his arms curl around her waist. He pressed her cheek to his, and sighed in contentment, she had her Rodney back, and her John. Her two best men, her two best friends. "I missed you," she whispered.

"Me too," he replied. "Me too."