Family Meeting take 2

[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney leaned against the living room wall nearest the front door, arms crossed and looking decidedly Not Happy. When everyone--even the cats, to his private amusement--had settled, he studied them intently; meeting each spouse in the eye before moving on

Comments

[dr_c_beckett]

Carson wasn't sure what to say. He'd had his suspicions about the acting thing, but he knew what Rodney was really getting after. Can he do this? Feck, man, just say it.

"I find it very difficult to be aroused by, er... strong-willed women. I appreciate their strength and all, but it... doesn't do anything for me sexually."

[lt_col_sheppard]

"here it is" he thinks....what Atlantis had been talking about..apparently what the kitten curled at Rodney's feet had sensed. John watches as Radek's fingers caress Rae's, then moves his eyes to Carson's lonely, fidgeting hands. There are only a few feet between he and Carson, but it seems like miles, especially with Carson's eyes downcast, dark lashes making mournful crescents against his cheeks. John's hand slips beneath Carson's and slides across it, palm to palm, until his husband's fingers open to his.

"sokay" he murmurs, barely a breath, his legs curled beneath him as he now reclines at Carson's knee.

[engineer_radek]

Radek frowns as the implications of Carson's confession become clear. He quickly cuts himself off before the brewing emotional storm can overwhelm him. He finds himself quite suddenly with a lap full of fur and looks down to find Dora had hopped up and was demanding a petting. He obliged.

[dr_macgregor]

Rae had gotten quite good at keeping her face calm, no matter what she felt. Now if only she could get her feelings under control... Ah, but that was part of the problem, wasn't? She was too pushy and controlling for Carson. Fuck, why hadn't he said this before? So she was right... He only loved her when she was submissive, and now that she wouldn't do that with him... A swift, sharp pain lanced through her heart before she could clamp down on it totally. Well, just like she thought earlier. At least friends was better than nothing. She just wouldn't... touch him like that again.

[engineer_radek]

Even closing himself off couldn't stop him from feeling the Rae's pain. He reflexively grabs his chest and gasps softly. He would have bent over, too, but Dora in his lap stops him.

Radek wants to lash out at the source of Rae's pain, but know it's Carson stops him. Barely. Instead, he curls around Dora and pets her. Surprisingly, she lets him. Even purrs a little. Andy goes over to Rae's lap and purrs.

[dr_macgregor]

Rae leans into Radek worriedly. See, this is why she needed better control. She forces herself to calm and squeezes his hand. //I'm sorry, love...// She whispers...

[lt_col_sheppard]

This is hurting them all far too much--maybe it's a bad idea--or maybe they just need time to process it. Rae's eyes vie with Carson's for "most sadness held in two orbs ever"..and Radek looks positively sick from what must be a serious overload of upsetting emotion. He can't do anything about that...all he can do is hold tightly to Carson's clammy hand and join them in the soul-baring

[engineer_radek]

Radek tries to block it all out, if only for Rae's sake. Soon he's calm-faced again and sitting straight, though he keeps petting Dora for fear of losing a few fingers should he stop.

He smiles serenely at Rae. //Is nothing, my heart. Worry not.// Then he turns to John and nods. [You did the right thing. I'm not sure I would have even left him alive, were he in my command.]

[lt_col_sheppard]

[there were times, after] John whispers, settling himself between Carson's spread knees, their hands still linked [when I wished I had just finished it--I'm not sure that's a good thing, how easily I could have killed him.]

Something dark flits across the bluegrey of Radek's eyes, and John settles back, waiting for the last of them to speak-for the pain Radek will reveal to them.

[engineer_radek]

Radek nodded slightly. [I understand, my love. Only too well...]

[dr_rodneymckay]

Rodney watched it fall apart in front of him. Even he could feel the pain in the room, but this was good. Even he knew you must hurt before you heal. Like he'd told Carson: he'd started out taking medical classes in university. He'd only stopped because he seemed to have every known illness in the books--even ones that he knew to be extinct except in the most remort third world countries.

He hated doing this to everyone, but it had to be done. He should have told something more serious, like how his first time was video taped then shown as Saturday night entertainment to the entire hockey team. Or how his second boyfriend--third, if you count Jeremy as his first, which he doesn't--took great delight in fucking him with whatever vaguely phallic item was on hand. Candles, broomsticks, even a bottle of beer, once.

But no, he had to share something innocent like his acting career. Rodney hopes on of them asks him something painful, just so he can share their pain.