Destiny Knocking: The Raising Part 2
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Home for Rodney was from Scarborough, a small town just outside Toronto in Canada one of the 7 larger kingdoms of earth. It was a semi advanced technology wise they had a working power grid and running water none of which relied on magic to run. The best thing about the town however was its closeness to Toronto and the University.
Toronto University had the only School of Science and Technology in all of Canada. Which Rodney thought was frankly ridiculous. 300 different magic schools but only 1 technology and science school.
The world was a scary place.
The problem was for the most part magic was just easier. Communication, transportation, cleaning even cooking could be done by magic. Everyday idiots could use magic for the most part. Rodney who had no interest in magic and was proud to say did not have a magical bone ion his entire body. People tended to forget about technology and development when a simple spell could do it all.
Rodney had never been one to rest on something that he didn’t understand how it worked. And even the most powerful Witches, Warlocks, Wizards, Shamen, Druids, Wiccans and the like couldn’t tell you how the magic worked they all had their own stories and theories but the truth was no one knew how magic worked, just that it did.
“It just does,” was not in something Rodney McKay was willing to accept. So he’d turned to science with its logical explanations and uncharted territories that most of the people of earth had long given up on and left behind. Rodney loved numbers and the closest he ever came to magic was astronomy. But he didn’t care about the pull of Mars and it’s affect on his love life. He cared about the stars and moons, plants, asteroids, far off galaxies. Places he himself would probably never get to see but he dreamed of every night since he was small.
Someday man would look back on all the discoveries he was making and hail him as the Genius he was. Of course that was assuming he’d be able to continue his work from now on. Life as he knew it was changing.
He packed another book sighing. No one had a put a limit of any kind on what he could pack but he doubted he’d be allowed to bring it all.
He looked at the row of degrees on his wall. All he had ever wanted was to be a scientist. To make the world realize that Magic was not the end all be all of life. Humans could create things outside of magic as well, great things.
Now however the chances of that were slim to none. No one knew what the Dragons and their human counterparts did in the mountain. Most entered never to be seen again by anyone outside of the mountain. Every once in awhile there would be a Dragon spotting somewhere but it usually amounted to nothing.
Until today Rodney himself had not really cared what they did, but now that he found himself walking in blind into a situation he knew nothing about he wished he’d paid more attention to the rumors.
Rodney took the degrees of the wall carefully packing them unwilling to abandon his plans just yet. Besides he’d worked hard for that last 12 years to earn them.
“AS USUAL YOU TAKE HIS SIDE!” Rodney wince hearing his mother shriek particularly loudly. She wasn’t taking the Chosen thing particularly well. She’d even gone as far as to forbid him from going but Rodney was 25 and legally an adult and there was nothing she could do to stop him.
“YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS!” He heard his father shout, of course he was on Rodney’s side because his mother disagreed and because for once his son was doing something non-embarrassing.
‘I really don’t like your parents,’ John muttered sullenly.
Rodney jumped surprised, “They’re not that bad…” He replied defensively and a little embarrassed. In truth they were awful and lived to make each other and everyone around them miserable. The only good thing they had ever done for him was have Jeannie.
‘You don’t honestly think that. They’re awful.’
“No one asked you for your opinion, so kindly keep it to yourself.” Rodney ground out shoving some clothes violently into the bag. Oddly hurt by the Dragons opinion of his family even if it was true.
Rodney jumped and nearly fell over when he felt a large something nudges him from behind. He turned around surprised to find that John had somehow silently squeezed his head and long neck through the bedroom window without knocking anything over.
“Don’t do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
‘I’m sorry.’ John said contritely.
“Well you should be! I have a very brilliant mind and I plan on doing a lot with it and dying so young would be a true tragedy,” Rodney haughtily.
‘Not for scaring you… for the other thing.’
“What other thing?” Rodney snapped irritated. “Can you get your gigantic head out of my room before you break something?”
John let out an annoyed huff, ‘For what I said about your parents. They’re your family I shouldn’t have said anything about them, I’m sure this is just hard for them and they’re not at they’re best.” He said coolly.
Rodney shrugged, “I need to pack. I’ll be out in a few minutes. The town is having some gigantic feast thing that we have to attend.”
‘OK… Are you mad?’ John asked.
“No-Yes-Maybe a little… I just… Do we have to talk about this now?” He whined .
“Not if you don’t want to.’
“I don’t.”
‘I’ll be out here if you need me.’ John said pulling his long neck and head out of the window.
“I think I can handle packing on my own but thanks.” Rodney said sarcastically, “But you’ll be the first one I call if I decide to set the place on fire!”
Rodney finished packing in short order looking around his most bare room it amazed him how much bigger it looked without books stacked everywhere.
He looked down at the boxes and really didn't feel like walking back and forth through his parent's battle zone to bring them out. He looked out the widow john had stuck his head through and decided it wasn't a far drop to the ground and began dropping them out one by one.
'What are you doing?'
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting my boxes out of my room." Rodney dropped another box out the window and saw John's head peeking around the corner.
'Why?'
"Maybe because I'd like to take my belongings with me when we leave" Rodney grunted as he lifted a particularly heavy box.
'Someone will come get your belongings and load them up for you.'
"You couldn't have told me this before I nearly broke my back getting them out?" Rodney groaned and tossed the last few bags full of his clothes out the window.
'You didn't ask.'
"Well next time share that sort of information with me. I'll be out in a few minutes... Have you seen my sister?"
'She's out here with me.'
"Oh... Alright... I'll see you in a few minutes."
'Rodney...'
'I'll be out in a few minutes.' Rodney repeated forcefully in his head.
'Fine,' John replied sounding a little sullen.
Rodney looked around his room checking his closets and drawers and at the last moment under his bed. He spotted a dark lump and pulled it out smiling at the dust covered teddy bear. "Long time no see." He shook the bear shaking all the dust free.
He stroked a hand down the bear’s soft dark fur and smiled softly lost in the memory. He looked around and quickly shoved the bear in his bag with his most delicate equipment. He hoisted the bag onto his shoulder and walked out of his child hood room and into the living room where his parents were still screaming.
He ducked as a vase came flying and exploded against the wall inches from his head, "Shit!" He hit the floor.
"You!" His mom shouted pointing her finger. "If you walk out that door you aren't ever allowed back!"
"It's not like I'd be allowed to come back mom, or that I have a choice,” He said a little bitter.
"He has to go. It's his duty and for once in his life he’s actually doing something right!" His dad shouted at his mother ignoring Rodney completely.
Rodney rolled his eyes and stood back up, "Gee thanks..." He muttered. He stood there for a moment watching his parents arguing back and forth until he couldn’t stand it for a moment longer. "So I'm going..." He said awkwardly. His parents stopped fighting starring at him in confusion as if they didn’t know why he was telling them. "I won't be back... Ever..." They both continued to stare. Rodney sighed, "I'll miss you too..." He adjusted the bag and walked out the front door shutting it behind him. He stood there a moment before his parents began fighting again and took a small amount of comfort in the fact that things at home would remain the same even without him there.
He walked out and found Jeannie sitting on the ground leaning against John's side her eyes red rimmed. John's head was resting in her lap.
"What?" He snapped when they both turned to look at him at the same moment. A tight knot of jealousy forming in his stomach that his sister and John seemed to be getting along better then he was with either of them at the moment.
Jeannie stood up and headed over to him, "All packed?"
"Yeah and all my stuff is in the side yard."
Jeannie nodded, "Let's get to the celebration then."
Rodney shrugged, "I want to make sure my things are taken care of first."
'I'll let Sean know you're all packed and he'll come gather it all.' John said.
"Fine." Rodney said going and setting his bag down with the other boxes and bags. "Let's go."
Jeannie hesitantly reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. Rodney patted her back awkwardly waiting for her to let him go. “Uhhhh Jeannie…” he said after a minute had passed.
“Yeah… Give me a second,” Jeannie said her voice sounding rough.
“Alright,” Rodney said he could feel something warm and wet dripping onto his neck and he fought the instinct to wipe it away.
Jeannie pulled away and wiped her hand across her eyes. “Ok. I’m done no more crying or hugging.”
“Alright, that’s a uhh good plan. Ready to go eat?”
John nudged his shoulder, ‘I’m coming right?’
“Of course.” Rodney scowled at him. “The party’s for you and what’s her faces new match.”
“Laura and…” Jeannie trailed off trying to remember the other Dragon’s name. It had slipped passed her in the shock of finding out her brother was matched with the last black Dragon.
“John?” Rodney turned to the Dragon, “Do you know the other Dragon’s name.”
‘Aiden.’
“Aiden?” Rodney said a tad amused.
John grunted in reply. “Laura and Aiden. I guess I should try and remember their names since I have a feeling we’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
‘Maybe,’ John said shortly.
Rodney sighed, ‘are you mad at me now?’
‘No.’
“Fine. Whatever,” Rodney spat out. He turned and marched off in the direction of Main Street. Jeannie looked back and forth between John and Rodney confused before turning and running after Rodney.
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John watched the McKay siblings walking down the road Jeannie bumping shoulders with her brother. He gave an internal smile his chosen was something, without a doubt life was not going to be boring. He was fiery, smart and incredibly stubborn. John had a feeling he was going to be giving in a lot when it came to his Chosen.
He sighed of course that would depend on Rodney ever giving him a real chance. He hadn’t thought it would be this hard but Rodney was prickly and closed off and had no desire to be with John. Rodney felt like he had no choice, that he had no other option than to be with John, he didn’t even seem to feel the bone deep connection that thrummed through John’s whole body. It hurt not feeling Rodney responding, to be pulling away and putting space between them. He had always thought that it would be easy when he found his chosen that they would click. Instead everything had gone to hell.
He’d lost his chosen once before. To have been given a second chance with him was a miracle he’d never expected. It was also sacrifice that weighed heavy on him as he had no doubt it weighed on all the other Dragons. He wanted things to be perfect, he wanted to be worthy of the sacrifice.
He wanted Rodney to want this just as much as he did, to trust him and stop looking at this like the end of his life. Though it probably did seem to be to him. He wanted Rodney to give him a chance because he wanted to not because he had to.
‘If anyone can win him over I can, it’s just going to take time and effort.’ He nodded to himself knowing that once they got to the safety of the mountain and he was able to show him his human side that things would get easier.
At least he hoped it would, though he doubted things with Rodney would ever be easy. He just needed to stay strong and not let Rodney get to him, as much.
Jeannie and Rodney moved out of his visual range and John couldn’t stand not having Rodney in sight. He leaned back and then launched himself into the air following after them both.
He quickly caught up with them landing with a thud behind them Rodney turned to look at him John nudged him gently, ‘leaving me behind?’
“Figured you’d catch up.” Rodney shrugged nonchalantly but there was something in his eyes that spoke to John. A small apology, a plea not to let him be chased off.
John rubbed his forehead against Rodney’s shoulder, ‘You aren’t getting away from me that easily.’
“I wasn’t trying to get away,” Rodney said frowning.
‘Just letting you know that I don’t give up easily.’
Rodney smiled slightly and looked at his sister, ‘I’m not an easy person to get along with,’ He thought trying to keep it between the two of them. At least so I’ve been told, and I’m not exactly making this easy and I’d like to say I’ll do better but I’ll probably keep being a jerk. It’s not you though; well it may be you a little and the fact I’m leaving my entire life behind and I uh lack social skills and tact and the ability tolerate people less intelligent then myself.’
‘You’re not so bad. At least you’re not boring or stupid.’ John nudged his shoulder affectionately feeling better than he had since they’d arrived in town.
Jeannie was looking back and forth between the two curiously.
“Just wait until I get started with differential equations and all sorts of math that is way above your head, you’ll change your mind about the boring part.” Rodney shared a private smile with John.
‘I like numbers.’
“Really…” Rodney said dryly.
‘Yup.’
Rodney tilted his head staring at John then shrugged and started walking again. He stopped when John didn’t follow immediately, “Well are you coming? With a big nose like that I bet you can point out all the foods that have citrus in them to me.” Then he started walking again.
John starred at Rodney in a bit of shock unsure if he’d just been insulted or he should be excited Rodney wanted him around.
“From Rodney that’s practically a compliment,” Jeannie said patting John’s side and starting to walking after Rodney.
John tilted his head thinking then gave up and followed after them. Rodney was never going to be boring.
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“I have never been so full in my entire life,” Rodney said leaning against John’s side.
‘I didn’t know a human being could eat the much and not explode,’ John said sounding as tired as Rodney felt.
“It was all my favorite foods!” He defended.
“And drinks and desserts,” Jeannie murmured half asleep her head resting on Rodney’s shoulder.
“It wasn’t like the two of you starved tonight.”
‘That was my first meal in a long time, I had an excuse,’John sounded smug.
“I ate half as much as you did,” Jeannie yawned and pinched him in the side.
“Ouch,” Rodney said pouting, “I’d push you off my shoulder but I’m too tired to move.”
‘You two bicker a lot,’ John said stretching slightly careful not to dislodge the two McKay’s
“Its how are parents taught us to communicate?”
“Rodney?” A soft lilting voice called his name and Rodney spotted a woman standing back on the road well away from them.”
“That’s me,” He waved her closer, “John won’t hurt you, he’s to full to move.”
The woman moved closer, “I don’t know if you remember me….”
“Mrs. Beckett, You’re Carson’s mother.” Rodney remembered her well he’d spent enough time at the Beckett house in High school.
‘Who’s Carson?’
‘A boy I grew up with he was matched 9 or 10 years ago,’ Rodney replied dismissively not wanting to talk about it.
“Aye, I was wondering if you could do me a wee favor.” Mrs. Beckett murmured looking tense.
Rodney had nodded cautiously, it had been year since he’d spent any time with the Beckett’s the loss of Carson had changed the whole family and Rodney had been to hurt by the loss of his best friend to really stay in touch.
She held out a box, “Take this to Carson, its letters and pictures from all of us… A few trinkets from his nephews. Tell him we still miss him every day and I set a place at the table for him every night.” She smiled. “We’re moving, it’s too hard living here and knowing I’ll never see or hear from my son again… I just wanted to make sure… Make sure he knew we didn’t forget about him before we moved.”
Rodney swallowed thickly, “Sure… I’ll get it to him”
“Thank you,” She smiled happily looking as if a weight had been lifted of her shoulder. “Take care of yourself Rodney,” She’d murmured before turning and heading back down the lane.
He looked at the large box in his lap, “Can you imagine mom making a car package,” he laughed a little bitterly. “It would be a pack of noodles and an IOU.”
“I won’t forget you Rodney,” Jeannie whispered quietly as usual getting right to the heart of what was bothering him.
“I won’t forget you either,” Rodney whispered back.
“I plan on seeing you again. Somehow, I will so don’t worry.”
Rodney snorted, “If anyone can find a way to break 5000 years of tradition it’s you Jeannie.” They all relaxed into a comfortable silence once again.
“Promise me you’ll be happy, whatever you end up doing, you’ll be happy,” Rodney said suddenly realizing they had so little time left together and so many things were unsaid between them.
“I promise,” Jeannie sat up. “I’m going to go… I don’t want to do the big good bye because I intend on seeing you again so this is just a later.”
“You’re not going home are you?” Rodney asked frowning.
“I’m going to go stay with Lily and her family,” Jeannie said standing up, “What are best friend for if not a shoulder to cry on.”
Rodney stood up slowly, “Nothing to cry about, we’ll be seeing each other again.”
Jeannie threw her arms around him, “I love you, you big social inept jerk.”
“I’m really feeling the love,” Rodney murmured and wrapped his arms around her. “I uh you know, love you to.”
Jeannie let go and gave him a watery smile she moved toward john scratching under the Dragon’s chin, “Bye John, take care of him for me.” They locked eyes again and Jeannie visibly seemed to brighten she smiled mysteriously.
“Later Rodney,” she smiled and waved.
“Later Jeannie,” Rodney waved back.
With one final scratch of John’s chin she turned and left walking off into the darkness.
Rodney sat down suddenly he was feeling strangely bereft. John curled around him seeming to offer silent support.
Rodney leaned into him closing his eyes wearily.
‘You should get some sleep.’
‘I don’t want to move.’ Rodney replied to drained to actually speak.
‘Sean mentioned there is some sort of Dragon house?’
‘Yeah in the town center they set up a place for us to stay.’
‘The town center is about a block away.’John said and nudged Rodney
‘That’s a block to far,’ Rodney sighed and refused to get up curling more into John’s side.
John sighed, ‘If you climb on my back I’ll carry you.’
Rodney hummed but didn’t move.
‘Rodney I’m tired,’ John whined, ‘And I don’t want to sleep outside.’
‘Fine.’ Rodney stood back up and looked at John. “Where do I?’He gestured to Johns back unsure how to climb on.
‘Behind my wings.’John said stretching out said appendages.
Rodney nodded and climbed on clumsily nearly sliding of once and kicking John in the wings a couple times but eventually making it slumping tiredly as if that had drained the last of the energy from him.
John stood up slowly and made his way back to the town center and into the building Sean had pointed him toward earlier. A bed for Rodney and a pallet of soft hay for him. ‘Rodney bed.’
Rodney seemed to slide off of his back onto the bed in one move falling almost instantly asleep. John watched his human for a moment amused before laying down and falling asleep himself.
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“Did you hear!”
Carson jerked up from the paper he was reading nearly falling out of his chair, “Lord woman!” He said glaring at Katie. “Ye near gave me a heart attack. Hear what?”
“I’m sorry, I just thought you might want to hear about to people from your home town being matched.” Katie said primly and arched a brow.
Carson’s eyes widened in surprise, “Really, how did you hear about that before me?”
“My plants told me,” She said smiling.
“Of course…” Carson murmured he suspected that she was half dryad, her ability to communicate with plants went beyond a simple mages ability. He’d been trying to get her to give him a DNA sample but she’d refused so far.
“All of your brothes are to old to be chosen right?” She asked a small frown on her pretty face.
“Aye, I’m the youngest. My parents left Scotland when I was school aged and the restrictions on number of children a family could send to school began there.”
“It could still be someone you know,” she said. Katie had been matched 2 years ago and still lived in the hope that someone in her family would be matched as well. Most of the young ones did but Carson had known that wasn’t going to happen for him.
“It could indeed, did your plants happen to give you any names lass?”
“No, but they did tell me that one of the Dragons was the last black Egg,” She said excitedly bouncing on her toes.
“Really now?” Carson leaned back in his chair, “Interesting… I might have to go track Jack down, no doubt someone will have told him names.” He stood up slowly, “Thanks for coming to tell me Katie.” He paused smiling when he heard the sound of the gate whooshing to life and his Dragon suddenly seemed closer. “Seems someone got a hold of the gate team and brought them home early for this.”
Katie nodded, “I heard some of the guards saying that Peter called them back, word spreading through the mountain quickly about the black Dragon and Jack received a message from the Guardian of the cave not long ago.”
Carson snorted, “Gossip has a way of spread hear like no other place on earth.”
Katie blushed lightly, “Contact from outside the mountain is so rare lately, it’s exciting.”
“That it is, I’m going to go to the gate room make sure everything is alright.”
“Maybe stand outside Jacks office until he’s had a chance to read the letter then start nagging him?” Katie teased.
“I don’t nag,” Carson said a twinkle in his eye. “I just threaten to give Daniel some new book I’ve found on some ancient something or other. He caves almost instantly.”
Katie laughed, “Alright, I’ll let you get to it then.” She turned and walked out of his lab waving.
Carson marked the page in his book and headed straight down to Jacks office, ‘Mission go well?’ He asked doing a quick check in with his Dragon.
“Got cut short,’ Ronon grunted sounding a tad annoyed.
“Aye, I heard.’
‘You on your way to Jack’s office?’
‘Yes, unless ye need something?’
‘No I’ll meet you at home, hope it’s someone you know.’
‘Most of the people I knew in town that would be of age to be matched were children when I was matched.’
‘Still be a touch of home.’
‘That it would,’ Carson gave a slightly wistful sigh. ‘I’ll talk to you later luv.’
‘Bring food when you’re done.’
Carson chuckled, ‘Of course.’
He reached Jacks office and knocked lightly. “It’s open!” A voice called from within. He opened the door and stepped in
“I figured it would be you.” Jack grinned from his desk chair he was leaned back legs propped up on the desk.
“So how has your day been? Learn anything new?”
Carson tilted his head, “You really want to play this game with me Jack?”
“What game?” Jack said all innocence.
“Fine,” Carson said sitting down. “My day was good. I discovered a scroll that may have been smuggled out of Atlantis before it was sunk, of course it’s in a dialect of ancient I don’t recognize, I was thinking I might have Daniel check it out for me.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed, “Oh, that reminds me I wanted to talk to Ronon about running a boot camp for some of the new soldiers we’re bringing in from off world get them up to speed.”
Carson raised an eye brow, so that’s how he wanted to play it, “In that case you won’t mind me going off world for a bit, I was thinking I could go to the site where the scroll was originally found.” Carson restrained himself from smirking he knew Daniel would of course want to come if he went to the site leaving Jack between a rock and a Hard place. Either he let Daniel go and was without his partner for however long they were gone. Or he didn’t let Daniel go and had to deal with an angry Daniel for at least a month. Carson smiled innocently, “I’m sure Doctor Biro wouldn’t mind taking over as CMO for a bit since Janet’s off world as well.”
Jack’s eyes widened slightly he and Doctor Biro got along horribly, Carson had never gotten the full story but they’d been feuding for at least as long as they both been in the mountain.
“So I got this message from Sean The guardian of the hatching grounds near Scarborough” Jack said changing the subject.
“Oh?” Carson said pretending to be surprised, “What does he have to say?”
“Two Dragons were matched today,” Jack said letting his legs drop to the floor and sitting up straight in his chair. “One of them is a black Dragon,” Jack gave him a bright smile.
“Oh?” Carson said feigning a bit of disinterest. “What about the other Dragon.”
“He’s a runner according to Sean, very eager.”
“And their Matches?” Carson leaned forward in the chair a bit.
“Aiden, the runner was matched with a young lady named Laura Cadman,” Jack replied.
“Cadman…” Carson murmured thinking, the name sounded familiar. “I think I went to school with a Cadman a few grades below me.” He leaned back looking up at the ceiling as he thought, “Maybe a sibling?”
Jack shrugged, “She’s about a decade younger then you so probably didn’t know her.”
“The other one?”
“Rodney McKay. Paired with John apparently much against his will.”
“Rodney…” Carson’s eyes widened slightly his heart fluttering in his chest. “Rodney was matched with a black Dragon?”
“You know him? He’s 6 years younger than you.” Jack said.
Carson sighed, “Aye I know Rodney, he and I went to school together he started Highschool when he was 11 and graduated the same year I did. I took him under my wing you could say.”
“So he’s smart then?” Jack said quirking his eye brow.
“Yes and intensely devoted to science.” Carson sighed. “He was very antimagic when I knew him and no doubt that hasn’t changed about him.”
“Is he going to be a problem? We could really use John but his relationship with his chosen comes first.”
Carson frowned, “He didn’t take my getting chosen well. He was angry and hurt and told me if he’d been chosen he wouldn’t go he didn’t know why I had to.”
“Great…” Jack sighed. “Just what we need a bitter-antimagic-smart ass with a dragon shaped chip on his shoulder.”
“He’s also determined and a hard worker and a thirst for knowledge like I’ve never seen,” Carson defended. “He’s a genius Jack, literally, no doubt there are a variety of things he could do here that would be a great help.”
“So you took him under your wing?”Jack questioned
Carson grinned, “I’m a fellow scientist though part of my work is ‘VooDoo’ Carson put up air quotes. I didn’t let the other kids pick on him. He was a tiny little thing and never knew when to shut his mouth. It got him in trouble a time or two.”
“And you were his protector?” Jack snorted.
“I had 5 older brothers, a couple high school bullies were nothing. My mum took a likeing to him as well, he practically was a little brother as much time as he spent at my house,” Carson smiled softly. “He’s a good lad that much about him can’t have changed.”
Jack tilted his head, “I’ll take your word on that.”
“They get here tomorrow?”
“Yep, want to be part of the welcome wagon? I get the feeling seeing a familiar face will go a long way with McKay.”
“Aye, that would be good. I’m going to go check in with Ronon, I didn’t see him when he got back.” Carson stood up, “I trust he won’t be getting sent off on a training run anytime soon?”
“I think I’ve reconsidered that,” Jack said dryly.
“Great, I think I’ll wait a bit on that scroll see if I find anything else first.”
Jack hurumphed, “Tell the man mountain he owes me a sparring session tomorrow.”
“I’ll pass that along,” Carson nodded goodbye and headed towards his quarters.
Rodney McKay was headed to Cheyenne Mountain, he had a feeling things were about to get very interesting.
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Part 3
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Home for Rodney was from Scarborough, a small town just outside Toronto in Canada one of the 7 larger kingdoms of earth. It was a semi advanced technology wise they had a working power grid and running water none of which relied on magic to run. The best thing about the town however was its closeness to Toronto and the University.
Toronto University had the only School of Science and Technology in all of Canada. Which Rodney thought was frankly ridiculous. 300 different magic schools but only 1 technology and science school.
The world was a scary place.
The problem was for the most part magic was just easier. Communication, transportation, cleaning even cooking could be done by magic. Everyday idiots could use magic for the most part. Rodney who had no interest in magic and was proud to say did not have a magical bone ion his entire body. People tended to forget about technology and development when a simple spell could do it all.
Rodney had never been one to rest on something that he didn’t understand how it worked. And even the most powerful Witches, Warlocks, Wizards, Shamen, Druids, Wiccans and the like couldn’t tell you how the magic worked they all had their own stories and theories but the truth was no one knew how magic worked, just that it did.
“It just does,” was not in something Rodney McKay was willing to accept. So he’d turned to science with its logical explanations and uncharted territories that most of the people of earth had long given up on and left behind. Rodney loved numbers and the closest he ever came to magic was astronomy. But he didn’t care about the pull of Mars and it’s affect on his love life. He cared about the stars and moons, plants, asteroids, far off galaxies. Places he himself would probably never get to see but he dreamed of every night since he was small.
Someday man would look back on all the discoveries he was making and hail him as the Genius he was. Of course that was assuming he’d be able to continue his work from now on. Life as he knew it was changing.
He packed another book sighing. No one had a put a limit of any kind on what he could pack but he doubted he’d be allowed to bring it all.
He looked at the row of degrees on his wall. All he had ever wanted was to be a scientist. To make the world realize that Magic was not the end all be all of life. Humans could create things outside of magic as well, great things.
Now however the chances of that were slim to none. No one knew what the Dragons and their human counterparts did in the mountain. Most entered never to be seen again by anyone outside of the mountain. Every once in awhile there would be a Dragon spotting somewhere but it usually amounted to nothing.
Until today Rodney himself had not really cared what they did, but now that he found himself walking in blind into a situation he knew nothing about he wished he’d paid more attention to the rumors.
Rodney took the degrees of the wall carefully packing them unwilling to abandon his plans just yet. Besides he’d worked hard for that last 12 years to earn them.
“AS USUAL YOU TAKE HIS SIDE!” Rodney wince hearing his mother shriek particularly loudly. She wasn’t taking the Chosen thing particularly well. She’d even gone as far as to forbid him from going but Rodney was 25 and legally an adult and there was nothing she could do to stop him.
“YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS!” He heard his father shout, of course he was on Rodney’s side because his mother disagreed and because for once his son was doing something non-embarrassing.
‘I really don’t like your parents,’ John muttered sullenly.
Rodney jumped surprised, “They’re not that bad…” He replied defensively and a little embarrassed. In truth they were awful and lived to make each other and everyone around them miserable. The only good thing they had ever done for him was have Jeannie.
‘You don’t honestly think that. They’re awful.’
“No one asked you for your opinion, so kindly keep it to yourself.” Rodney ground out shoving some clothes violently into the bag. Oddly hurt by the Dragons opinion of his family even if it was true.
Rodney jumped and nearly fell over when he felt a large something nudges him from behind. He turned around surprised to find that John had somehow silently squeezed his head and long neck through the bedroom window without knocking anything over.
“Don’t do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
‘I’m sorry.’ John said contritely.
“Well you should be! I have a very brilliant mind and I plan on doing a lot with it and dying so young would be a true tragedy,” Rodney haughtily.
‘Not for scaring you… for the other thing.’
“What other thing?” Rodney snapped irritated. “Can you get your gigantic head out of my room before you break something?”
John let out an annoyed huff, ‘For what I said about your parents. They’re your family I shouldn’t have said anything about them, I’m sure this is just hard for them and they’re not at they’re best.” He said coolly.
Rodney shrugged, “I need to pack. I’ll be out in a few minutes. The town is having some gigantic feast thing that we have to attend.”
‘OK… Are you mad?’ John asked.
“No-Yes-Maybe a little… I just… Do we have to talk about this now?” He whined .
“Not if you don’t want to.’
“I don’t.”
‘I’ll be out here if you need me.’ John said pulling his long neck and head out of the window.
“I think I can handle packing on my own but thanks.” Rodney said sarcastically, “But you’ll be the first one I call if I decide to set the place on fire!”
Rodney finished packing in short order looking around his most bare room it amazed him how much bigger it looked without books stacked everywhere.
He looked down at the boxes and really didn't feel like walking back and forth through his parent's battle zone to bring them out. He looked out the widow john had stuck his head through and decided it wasn't a far drop to the ground and began dropping them out one by one.
'What are you doing?'
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting my boxes out of my room." Rodney dropped another box out the window and saw John's head peeking around the corner.
'Why?'
"Maybe because I'd like to take my belongings with me when we leave" Rodney grunted as he lifted a particularly heavy box.
'Someone will come get your belongings and load them up for you.'
"You couldn't have told me this before I nearly broke my back getting them out?" Rodney groaned and tossed the last few bags full of his clothes out the window.
'You didn't ask.'
"Well next time share that sort of information with me. I'll be out in a few minutes... Have you seen my sister?"
'She's out here with me.'
"Oh... Alright... I'll see you in a few minutes."
'Rodney...'
'I'll be out in a few minutes.' Rodney repeated forcefully in his head.
'Fine,' John replied sounding a little sullen.
Rodney looked around his room checking his closets and drawers and at the last moment under his bed. He spotted a dark lump and pulled it out smiling at the dust covered teddy bear. "Long time no see." He shook the bear shaking all the dust free.
He stroked a hand down the bear’s soft dark fur and smiled softly lost in the memory. He looked around and quickly shoved the bear in his bag with his most delicate equipment. He hoisted the bag onto his shoulder and walked out of his child hood room and into the living room where his parents were still screaming.
He ducked as a vase came flying and exploded against the wall inches from his head, "Shit!" He hit the floor.
"You!" His mom shouted pointing her finger. "If you walk out that door you aren't ever allowed back!"
"It's not like I'd be allowed to come back mom, or that I have a choice,” He said a little bitter.
"He has to go. It's his duty and for once in his life he’s actually doing something right!" His dad shouted at his mother ignoring Rodney completely.
Rodney rolled his eyes and stood back up, "Gee thanks..." He muttered. He stood there for a moment watching his parents arguing back and forth until he couldn’t stand it for a moment longer. "So I'm going..." He said awkwardly. His parents stopped fighting starring at him in confusion as if they didn’t know why he was telling them. "I won't be back... Ever..." They both continued to stare. Rodney sighed, "I'll miss you too..." He adjusted the bag and walked out the front door shutting it behind him. He stood there a moment before his parents began fighting again and took a small amount of comfort in the fact that things at home would remain the same even without him there.
He walked out and found Jeannie sitting on the ground leaning against John's side her eyes red rimmed. John's head was resting in her lap.
"What?" He snapped when they both turned to look at him at the same moment. A tight knot of jealousy forming in his stomach that his sister and John seemed to be getting along better then he was with either of them at the moment.
Jeannie stood up and headed over to him, "All packed?"
"Yeah and all my stuff is in the side yard."
Jeannie nodded, "Let's get to the celebration then."
Rodney shrugged, "I want to make sure my things are taken care of first."
'I'll let Sean know you're all packed and he'll come gather it all.' John said.
"Fine." Rodney said going and setting his bag down with the other boxes and bags. "Let's go."
Jeannie hesitantly reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. Rodney patted her back awkwardly waiting for her to let him go. “Uhhhh Jeannie…” he said after a minute had passed.
“Yeah… Give me a second,” Jeannie said her voice sounding rough.
“Alright,” Rodney said he could feel something warm and wet dripping onto his neck and he fought the instinct to wipe it away.
Jeannie pulled away and wiped her hand across her eyes. “Ok. I’m done no more crying or hugging.”
“Alright, that’s a uhh good plan. Ready to go eat?”
John nudged his shoulder, ‘I’m coming right?’
“Of course.” Rodney scowled at him. “The party’s for you and what’s her faces new match.”
“Laura and…” Jeannie trailed off trying to remember the other Dragon’s name. It had slipped passed her in the shock of finding out her brother was matched with the last black Dragon.
“John?” Rodney turned to the Dragon, “Do you know the other Dragon’s name.”
‘Aiden.’
“Aiden?” Rodney said a tad amused.
John grunted in reply. “Laura and Aiden. I guess I should try and remember their names since I have a feeling we’ll be spending a lot of time together.”
‘Maybe,’ John said shortly.
Rodney sighed, ‘are you mad at me now?’
‘No.’
“Fine. Whatever,” Rodney spat out. He turned and marched off in the direction of Main Street. Jeannie looked back and forth between John and Rodney confused before turning and running after Rodney.
******************************************************************************
John watched the McKay siblings walking down the road Jeannie bumping shoulders with her brother. He gave an internal smile his chosen was something, without a doubt life was not going to be boring. He was fiery, smart and incredibly stubborn. John had a feeling he was going to be giving in a lot when it came to his Chosen.
He sighed of course that would depend on Rodney ever giving him a real chance. He hadn’t thought it would be this hard but Rodney was prickly and closed off and had no desire to be with John. Rodney felt like he had no choice, that he had no other option than to be with John, he didn’t even seem to feel the bone deep connection that thrummed through John’s whole body. It hurt not feeling Rodney responding, to be pulling away and putting space between them. He had always thought that it would be easy when he found his chosen that they would click. Instead everything had gone to hell.
He’d lost his chosen once before. To have been given a second chance with him was a miracle he’d never expected. It was also sacrifice that weighed heavy on him as he had no doubt it weighed on all the other Dragons. He wanted things to be perfect, he wanted to be worthy of the sacrifice.
He wanted Rodney to want this just as much as he did, to trust him and stop looking at this like the end of his life. Though it probably did seem to be to him. He wanted Rodney to give him a chance because he wanted to not because he had to.
‘If anyone can win him over I can, it’s just going to take time and effort.’ He nodded to himself knowing that once they got to the safety of the mountain and he was able to show him his human side that things would get easier.
At least he hoped it would, though he doubted things with Rodney would ever be easy. He just needed to stay strong and not let Rodney get to him, as much.
Jeannie and Rodney moved out of his visual range and John couldn’t stand not having Rodney in sight. He leaned back and then launched himself into the air following after them both.
He quickly caught up with them landing with a thud behind them Rodney turned to look at him John nudged him gently, ‘leaving me behind?’
“Figured you’d catch up.” Rodney shrugged nonchalantly but there was something in his eyes that spoke to John. A small apology, a plea not to let him be chased off.
John rubbed his forehead against Rodney’s shoulder, ‘You aren’t getting away from me that easily.’
“I wasn’t trying to get away,” Rodney said frowning.
‘Just letting you know that I don’t give up easily.’
Rodney smiled slightly and looked at his sister, ‘I’m not an easy person to get along with,’ He thought trying to keep it between the two of them. At least so I’ve been told, and I’m not exactly making this easy and I’d like to say I’ll do better but I’ll probably keep being a jerk. It’s not you though; well it may be you a little and the fact I’m leaving my entire life behind and I uh lack social skills and tact and the ability tolerate people less intelligent then myself.’
‘You’re not so bad. At least you’re not boring or stupid.’ John nudged his shoulder affectionately feeling better than he had since they’d arrived in town.
Jeannie was looking back and forth between the two curiously.
“Just wait until I get started with differential equations and all sorts of math that is way above your head, you’ll change your mind about the boring part.” Rodney shared a private smile with John.
‘I like numbers.’
“Really…” Rodney said dryly.
‘Yup.’
Rodney tilted his head staring at John then shrugged and started walking again. He stopped when John didn’t follow immediately, “Well are you coming? With a big nose like that I bet you can point out all the foods that have citrus in them to me.” Then he started walking again.
John starred at Rodney in a bit of shock unsure if he’d just been insulted or he should be excited Rodney wanted him around.
“From Rodney that’s practically a compliment,” Jeannie said patting John’s side and starting to walking after Rodney.
John tilted his head thinking then gave up and followed after them. Rodney was never going to be boring.
************************************************************************
“I have never been so full in my entire life,” Rodney said leaning against John’s side.
‘I didn’t know a human being could eat the much and not explode,’ John said sounding as tired as Rodney felt.
“It was all my favorite foods!” He defended.
“And drinks and desserts,” Jeannie murmured half asleep her head resting on Rodney’s shoulder.
“It wasn’t like the two of you starved tonight.”
‘That was my first meal in a long time, I had an excuse,’John sounded smug.
“I ate half as much as you did,” Jeannie yawned and pinched him in the side.
“Ouch,” Rodney said pouting, “I’d push you off my shoulder but I’m too tired to move.”
‘You two bicker a lot,’ John said stretching slightly careful not to dislodge the two McKay’s
“Its how are parents taught us to communicate?”
“Rodney?” A soft lilting voice called his name and Rodney spotted a woman standing back on the road well away from them.”
“That’s me,” He waved her closer, “John won’t hurt you, he’s to full to move.”
The woman moved closer, “I don’t know if you remember me….”
“Mrs. Beckett, You’re Carson’s mother.” Rodney remembered her well he’d spent enough time at the Beckett house in High school.
‘Who’s Carson?’
‘A boy I grew up with he was matched 9 or 10 years ago,’ Rodney replied dismissively not wanting to talk about it.
“Aye, I was wondering if you could do me a wee favor.” Mrs. Beckett murmured looking tense.
Rodney had nodded cautiously, it had been year since he’d spent any time with the Beckett’s the loss of Carson had changed the whole family and Rodney had been to hurt by the loss of his best friend to really stay in touch.
She held out a box, “Take this to Carson, its letters and pictures from all of us… A few trinkets from his nephews. Tell him we still miss him every day and I set a place at the table for him every night.” She smiled. “We’re moving, it’s too hard living here and knowing I’ll never see or hear from my son again… I just wanted to make sure… Make sure he knew we didn’t forget about him before we moved.”
Rodney swallowed thickly, “Sure… I’ll get it to him”
“Thank you,” She smiled happily looking as if a weight had been lifted of her shoulder. “Take care of yourself Rodney,” She’d murmured before turning and heading back down the lane.
He looked at the large box in his lap, “Can you imagine mom making a car package,” he laughed a little bitterly. “It would be a pack of noodles and an IOU.”
“I won’t forget you Rodney,” Jeannie whispered quietly as usual getting right to the heart of what was bothering him.
“I won’t forget you either,” Rodney whispered back.
“I plan on seeing you again. Somehow, I will so don’t worry.”
Rodney snorted, “If anyone can find a way to break 5000 years of tradition it’s you Jeannie.” They all relaxed into a comfortable silence once again.
“Promise me you’ll be happy, whatever you end up doing, you’ll be happy,” Rodney said suddenly realizing they had so little time left together and so many things were unsaid between them.
“I promise,” Jeannie sat up. “I’m going to go… I don’t want to do the big good bye because I intend on seeing you again so this is just a later.”
“You’re not going home are you?” Rodney asked frowning.
“I’m going to go stay with Lily and her family,” Jeannie said standing up, “What are best friend for if not a shoulder to cry on.”
Rodney stood up slowly, “Nothing to cry about, we’ll be seeing each other again.”
Jeannie threw her arms around him, “I love you, you big social inept jerk.”
“I’m really feeling the love,” Rodney murmured and wrapped his arms around her. “I uh you know, love you to.”
Jeannie let go and gave him a watery smile she moved toward john scratching under the Dragon’s chin, “Bye John, take care of him for me.” They locked eyes again and Jeannie visibly seemed to brighten she smiled mysteriously.
“Later Rodney,” she smiled and waved.
“Later Jeannie,” Rodney waved back.
With one final scratch of John’s chin she turned and left walking off into the darkness.
Rodney sat down suddenly he was feeling strangely bereft. John curled around him seeming to offer silent support.
Rodney leaned into him closing his eyes wearily.
‘You should get some sleep.’
‘I don’t want to move.’ Rodney replied to drained to actually speak.
‘Sean mentioned there is some sort of Dragon house?’
‘Yeah in the town center they set up a place for us to stay.’
‘The town center is about a block away.’John said and nudged Rodney
‘That’s a block to far,’ Rodney sighed and refused to get up curling more into John’s side.
John sighed, ‘If you climb on my back I’ll carry you.’
Rodney hummed but didn’t move.
‘Rodney I’m tired,’ John whined, ‘And I don’t want to sleep outside.’
‘Fine.’ Rodney stood back up and looked at John. “Where do I?’He gestured to Johns back unsure how to climb on.
‘Behind my wings.’John said stretching out said appendages.
Rodney nodded and climbed on clumsily nearly sliding of once and kicking John in the wings a couple times but eventually making it slumping tiredly as if that had drained the last of the energy from him.
John stood up slowly and made his way back to the town center and into the building Sean had pointed him toward earlier. A bed for Rodney and a pallet of soft hay for him. ‘Rodney bed.’
Rodney seemed to slide off of his back onto the bed in one move falling almost instantly asleep. John watched his human for a moment amused before laying down and falling asleep himself.
******************************************************************************
“Did you hear!”
Carson jerked up from the paper he was reading nearly falling out of his chair, “Lord woman!” He said glaring at Katie. “Ye near gave me a heart attack. Hear what?”
“I’m sorry, I just thought you might want to hear about to people from your home town being matched.” Katie said primly and arched a brow.
Carson’s eyes widened in surprise, “Really, how did you hear about that before me?”
“My plants told me,” She said smiling.
“Of course…” Carson murmured he suspected that she was half dryad, her ability to communicate with plants went beyond a simple mages ability. He’d been trying to get her to give him a DNA sample but she’d refused so far.
“All of your brothes are to old to be chosen right?” She asked a small frown on her pretty face.
“Aye, I’m the youngest. My parents left Scotland when I was school aged and the restrictions on number of children a family could send to school began there.”
“It could still be someone you know,” she said. Katie had been matched 2 years ago and still lived in the hope that someone in her family would be matched as well. Most of the young ones did but Carson had known that wasn’t going to happen for him.
“It could indeed, did your plants happen to give you any names lass?”
“No, but they did tell me that one of the Dragons was the last black Egg,” She said excitedly bouncing on her toes.
“Really now?” Carson leaned back in his chair, “Interesting… I might have to go track Jack down, no doubt someone will have told him names.” He stood up slowly, “Thanks for coming to tell me Katie.” He paused smiling when he heard the sound of the gate whooshing to life and his Dragon suddenly seemed closer. “Seems someone got a hold of the gate team and brought them home early for this.”
Katie nodded, “I heard some of the guards saying that Peter called them back, word spreading through the mountain quickly about the black Dragon and Jack received a message from the Guardian of the cave not long ago.”
Carson snorted, “Gossip has a way of spread hear like no other place on earth.”
Katie blushed lightly, “Contact from outside the mountain is so rare lately, it’s exciting.”
“That it is, I’m going to go to the gate room make sure everything is alright.”
“Maybe stand outside Jacks office until he’s had a chance to read the letter then start nagging him?” Katie teased.
“I don’t nag,” Carson said a twinkle in his eye. “I just threaten to give Daniel some new book I’ve found on some ancient something or other. He caves almost instantly.”
Katie laughed, “Alright, I’ll let you get to it then.” She turned and walked out of his lab waving.
Carson marked the page in his book and headed straight down to Jacks office, ‘Mission go well?’ He asked doing a quick check in with his Dragon.
“Got cut short,’ Ronon grunted sounding a tad annoyed.
“Aye, I heard.’
‘You on your way to Jack’s office?’
‘Yes, unless ye need something?’
‘No I’ll meet you at home, hope it’s someone you know.’
‘Most of the people I knew in town that would be of age to be matched were children when I was matched.’
‘Still be a touch of home.’
‘That it would,’ Carson gave a slightly wistful sigh. ‘I’ll talk to you later luv.’
‘Bring food when you’re done.’
Carson chuckled, ‘Of course.’
He reached Jacks office and knocked lightly. “It’s open!” A voice called from within. He opened the door and stepped in
“I figured it would be you.” Jack grinned from his desk chair he was leaned back legs propped up on the desk.
“So how has your day been? Learn anything new?”
Carson tilted his head, “You really want to play this game with me Jack?”
“What game?” Jack said all innocence.
“Fine,” Carson said sitting down. “My day was good. I discovered a scroll that may have been smuggled out of Atlantis before it was sunk, of course it’s in a dialect of ancient I don’t recognize, I was thinking I might have Daniel check it out for me.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed, “Oh, that reminds me I wanted to talk to Ronon about running a boot camp for some of the new soldiers we’re bringing in from off world get them up to speed.”
Carson raised an eye brow, so that’s how he wanted to play it, “In that case you won’t mind me going off world for a bit, I was thinking I could go to the site where the scroll was originally found.” Carson restrained himself from smirking he knew Daniel would of course want to come if he went to the site leaving Jack between a rock and a Hard place. Either he let Daniel go and was without his partner for however long they were gone. Or he didn’t let Daniel go and had to deal with an angry Daniel for at least a month. Carson smiled innocently, “I’m sure Doctor Biro wouldn’t mind taking over as CMO for a bit since Janet’s off world as well.”
Jack’s eyes widened slightly he and Doctor Biro got along horribly, Carson had never gotten the full story but they’d been feuding for at least as long as they both been in the mountain.
“So I got this message from Sean The guardian of the hatching grounds near Scarborough” Jack said changing the subject.
“Oh?” Carson said pretending to be surprised, “What does he have to say?”
“Two Dragons were matched today,” Jack said letting his legs drop to the floor and sitting up straight in his chair. “One of them is a black Dragon,” Jack gave him a bright smile.
“Oh?” Carson said feigning a bit of disinterest. “What about the other Dragon.”
“He’s a runner according to Sean, very eager.”
“And their Matches?” Carson leaned forward in the chair a bit.
“Aiden, the runner was matched with a young lady named Laura Cadman,” Jack replied.
“Cadman…” Carson murmured thinking, the name sounded familiar. “I think I went to school with a Cadman a few grades below me.” He leaned back looking up at the ceiling as he thought, “Maybe a sibling?”
Jack shrugged, “She’s about a decade younger then you so probably didn’t know her.”
“The other one?”
“Rodney McKay. Paired with John apparently much against his will.”
“Rodney…” Carson’s eyes widened slightly his heart fluttering in his chest. “Rodney was matched with a black Dragon?”
“You know him? He’s 6 years younger than you.” Jack said.
Carson sighed, “Aye I know Rodney, he and I went to school together he started Highschool when he was 11 and graduated the same year I did. I took him under my wing you could say.”
“So he’s smart then?” Jack said quirking his eye brow.
“Yes and intensely devoted to science.” Carson sighed. “He was very antimagic when I knew him and no doubt that hasn’t changed about him.”
“Is he going to be a problem? We could really use John but his relationship with his chosen comes first.”
Carson frowned, “He didn’t take my getting chosen well. He was angry and hurt and told me if he’d been chosen he wouldn’t go he didn’t know why I had to.”
“Great…” Jack sighed. “Just what we need a bitter-antimagic-smart ass with a dragon shaped chip on his shoulder.”
“He’s also determined and a hard worker and a thirst for knowledge like I’ve never seen,” Carson defended. “He’s a genius Jack, literally, no doubt there are a variety of things he could do here that would be a great help.”
“So you took him under your wing?”Jack questioned
Carson grinned, “I’m a fellow scientist though part of my work is ‘VooDoo’ Carson put up air quotes. I didn’t let the other kids pick on him. He was a tiny little thing and never knew when to shut his mouth. It got him in trouble a time or two.”
“And you were his protector?” Jack snorted.
“I had 5 older brothers, a couple high school bullies were nothing. My mum took a likeing to him as well, he practically was a little brother as much time as he spent at my house,” Carson smiled softly. “He’s a good lad that much about him can’t have changed.”
Jack tilted his head, “I’ll take your word on that.”
“They get here tomorrow?”
“Yep, want to be part of the welcome wagon? I get the feeling seeing a familiar face will go a long way with McKay.”
“Aye, that would be good. I’m going to go check in with Ronon, I didn’t see him when he got back.” Carson stood up, “I trust he won’t be getting sent off on a training run anytime soon?”
“I think I’ve reconsidered that,” Jack said dryly.
“Great, I think I’ll wait a bit on that scroll see if I find anything else first.”
Jack hurumphed, “Tell the man mountain he owes me a sparring session tomorrow.”
“I’ll pass that along,” Carson nodded goodbye and headed towards his quarters.
Rodney McKay was headed to Cheyenne Mountain, he had a feeling things were about to get very interesting.
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Part 3
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