fic: mcsheplets
Three more mcsheplets (table here), colony!verse, McKay/Sheppard.
siege [pg, the Wraith find Earth]
"They're headed for Earth," John says, nausea rising fast and hard in his throat. "Goddammit, how did they - "
"We have to warn the SGC." Zelenka doesn't take his eyes off the display, but his voice is sharp and tight. "We have to warn them now."
"Oh, yes, because they're very likely to listen to us," Rodney snaps. "We're traitors, remember?"
"I'm pretty sure if we save them we're not technically traitors, Rodney," John says, but he's not sure he believes it.
"It doesn't matter if they want to talk to us," Elizabeth says flatly. "We'll find a way to make them listen, or we'll stop the Wraith ourselves, but we won't hand them Earth."
Under the table, Rodney's hand grips frantically at John's thigh. John knows perfectly well that he's thinking of culling beams sweeping over Jeannie's house, and is freaking out accordingly.
"Lorne and I will start putting together a strategy," John says, "If McKay and Zelenka can get the prototype working in time, we should be good to go with the new weapons systems."
"It's months from completion, Colonel, as you well know," Rodney says angrily, but his hand doesn't move.
"So work faster, Rodney."
"Fine, we'll just magically conjure one, shall we?"
"Gentlemen," Elizabeth interrupts. "Rodney, you and Radek make the ZPM project your top priority; reassign whichever personnel you need. John, I want two strategy plans - one assuming we have power to spare, one assuming we don't. I'm going to attempt to contact the SGC."
On the way out the door, John rests his hand on the back of Rodney's neck. It'll be fine, he tries to project through his fingers, but there's a thick feeling in his chest that keeps him from trying to speak. He can't get the image of Madison in a Wraith cocoon out of his head, and he half-runs to the armory, where Lorne's starting inventory. They're already out of time.
conversion [pg, the ZPM is finished]
"We finished it," Rodney says. "It's working."
Elizabeth stares at him, eyes wide. It's apparent she's waiting for the other shoe to drop. "And...?"
"And nothing. It's working," Rodney repeats, flopping into the nearest chair. "Radek's hooking it up now."
"So this is good news," Elizabeth says, words slow and careful. Confused. John totally knows the feeling. Rodney should not look blank when he's announcing the completion of their ZPM.
"Yeah," Rodney agrees. "Great news."
"What's wrong?" John finally manages to get a question out, and he's a little surprised at how scared his voice sounds.
Rodney looks up at him for the first time. "Nothing. Honestly, it's working."
"Okay, so what's wrong with you?" John demands, and Elizabeth steps back once, twice, edging towards the door in case this conversation gets too personal. Times like this, John appreciates her diplomacy.
Rodney stares at him for a second or two, then twists his pad around, holding it up for John to see. "These are the equations we used for the model that worked. We didn't expect it to."
John looks at the numbers, expecting it to be gibberish, and it is. John speaks math, sure, but he's always been more conversational than fluent, and this stuff is way beyond him. "So...?"
"We didn't expect it to work, because these aren't the ZPM equations we've been working on. They're from Project Arcturus."
Elizabeth freezes midmotion, halfway to the doorway. John's throat tightens.
"The original calculations?" Elizabeth asks, finally breaking the silence that's fallen over them.
"No," Rodney says. There's something strange in the way his face is twisting - like he can't decide if he should be laughing or crying. He doesn't look at Elizabeth or John, just gently places the pad on the table and talks to it. "As I believe I told you then," and oh, his voice is cold, "The Ancients' calculations were wrong. These are the numbers I came up with when I reworked them. We used Jeannie's conduction formulas from the second set of experiments for containment, of course."
John sits down beside him, heavily. "You were right," he finally says.
"I was right. Jeannie was right. Radek was right - we were all right about the wrong things. We've had the formula all along, we've just been applying it in the wrong places. It's all just a matter of scale." Rodney's still staring at the pad as though it holds all the answers to the universe - which, actually, it kind of does.
There's another silence, broken this time by Radek on the radio. "Zelenka to McKay. We're online."
Rodney swivels in his chair, facing Elizabeth as he taps his radio. "Sheppard and I are heading to the chair room now."
Elizabeth nods slowly, and John climbs to his feet, back twinging. He's seriously getting too old for this shit. He follows Rodney out the door, and they're maybe ten feet away when Elizabeth says softly, "Rodney."
Rodney stops, turns to look at her, and it's John's turn to pretend he isn't here, give them a little privacy.
"I know I've apologized before, but - I'm sorry." There's a brief pause, during which John stares in rapt fascination at the floor, and then Elizabeth says again, "I'm sorry, Rodney."
"You apologized years ago, Elizabeth. We're fine."
John blinks. That "you" was kind of... pointed. John lifts his gaze from the floor to find Elizabeth looking at Rodney, and Rodney looking at him. Pointedly. "What?"
Rodney sighs deeply and starts walking again. John follows.
Behind them, Elizabeth calls, "Remember, Rodney, you built a ZPM."
John watches Rodney's shoulders straighten, his steps quicken, and jogs forward a few steps so they're side by side. "You did it," he offers quietly.
"Yeah," Rodney agrees, seemingly helpless to stop the smile that's spreading over his face. "Yeah, we did. Oh my god, we built a ZPM." And there's the delight and smugness John's been looking for.
The transporter door closes behind them, and John slaps the hold button. Rodney starts to object, but John leans forward and kisses him, soft and sweet and ecstatic, hoping Rodney understands. Rodney's hands come up, one twining in his hair, one grasping his hip, and John lets Rodney deepen the kiss, pull him closer.
In the back of his mind, John's thinking about what they can do with that extra ZPM, about the weapons systems they've slapped together, about how many hours until they reach Earth, but pretty soon even those concerns are forgotten as Rodney seems to pour all his energy and excitement into John's mouth, desire sparking electric between -
"Zelenka to McKay. What's taking so long? I know you are gloating, but really, Rodney, surely you can wait until after we have saved the world?"
Rodney jerks back, face flushed, hair in disarray. "This is McKay. We're on our way. Don't you have, oh, about twenty million other things you could be doing besides hassling me?" The sarcasm loses most of its effect when Rodney is audibly breathless.
Radek sounds like he's laughing when he says "Understood."
John presses his hot face against Rodney's neck for just a second, then straightens, all business - except Rodney's still got one arm around his waist. "You're forgiven, you idiot," Rodney tells him fondly, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. "You always were, really."
Rodney lets go to push the chair room on the map, and John bites his lip, wanting to say i always trusted you, that was the problem and i've never doubted you, not really. He has no idea where to begin, so he just leans against the back wall of the transporter and waits for the flash that means they've arrived.
"Hey, you know what this makes us? Saving Earth, I mean," Rodney says as the doors open.
"Uh," John says, leading the way towards the chair room. "We haven't actually saved it yet, Rodney."
"Right, but when we do, what does this make us?" Rodney twirls his hand impatiently.
"Um."
"Big damn heroes." Rodney throws him a grin that seems to set the whole hallway on fire with its brightness, and it's a terrible joke, but the fact that Rodney made it leaves John breathless with affection. "I'm pretty sure this makes us big damn heroes."
you always were, John thinks, and smiles back.
suspicion [pg, Earth's leadership isn't happy]
"Look, we just saved you people from the Wraith. Remember them?" Rodney says. John has to forcibly stop himself from reaching up and smoothing down the lines engraved onto Rodney's forehead; John may be used to casual touches, but this isn't home. None of them can afford to forget that.
"I'm not sure I like your tone, Doctor," a general John doesn't recognize snaps, and John sits up in his chair, closer to Rodney.
"And I don't like your insinuations," Elizabeth says firmly. "We came here out of loyalty and friendship, General, but we aren't beholden to Earth any longer. If you're still unwilling to treat us as equals, we're done here." She rises smoothly, and John's team are instantly on their feet. "Gentlemen, ladies."
"Wait," Carter says, blocking the door. "We all appreciate what you did for us, Dr. Weir. Rodney." Her voice softens just a little on Rodney's name, enough to make John's eyes narrow, but Rodney doesn't look away from Elizabeth. "But you can understand that we're surprised."
"No, actually, I can't," Rodney snarls, looking at Carter for the first time, and his face isn't friendly. "Given that my sister just walked in here, surely even a - a military mind - " John winces internally. " - can determine that we still have some loyalty to the people here."
"More importantly, we would have done the same - we have done the same for any world in Pegasus, General Carter. It's never been Atlantis' policy to abandon anyone to the Wraith." Elizabeth's voice is perfectly polite, completely professional, but John hears the accusation and wants to cheer.
"And we're appreciative of that fact," the President says. Jesus, John can't even remember the guy's name, much less his party affiliation. "We're all glad we didn't get eaten, I assure you."
"It would have been nice if you hadn't unilaterally decided to declassify the project," the woman sitting beside him says, and John guesses she's probably his Russian counterpart, based on the accent.
"We were kinda in a hurry, ma'am," John drawls, and beside him he feels Rodney's twitch of amusement. "What with the hive ships in the atmosphere and everything."
"I'm more interested in the giant laser gun, myself." O'Neill comes pretty close to matching John's tone, and John feels a surge of irrational affection for his slouch.
"We'll be delighted to trade you for the schematics, General," Elizabeth says, and John watches the reactions with glee.
"You won't - " the President starts, at the same time as Carter demands "What?" and O'Neill mumbles, "I knew it."
"I'm sure we can work out an arrangement that will benefit both the people of Atlantis and the people of Earth," Elizabeth continues. You'd have to know her well to see the amusement behind her Serious Diplomat Face, but John's intimately familiar with an Elizabeth on the verge of laughter.
He's thinking of rescuing her, but apparently his team has the same idea, as Teyla speaks up for the first time since the introductions ended. "As a representative of the Pegasus galaxy, and specifically as the leader of the Athosian people, I would also like to extend an offer of trade and friendship. My people would be very eager to ally with any or all of the nations of Earth."
The response - a crowd of politicians trying to balance their instinctive need to pander to potential allies with their frustrated sense of entitlement to information - is awesome. John leans back and watches, satisfied, as Teyla and Elizabeth have the entire UN for breakfast.
siege [pg, the Wraith find Earth]
"They're headed for Earth," John says, nausea rising fast and hard in his throat. "Goddammit, how did they - "
"We have to warn the SGC." Zelenka doesn't take his eyes off the display, but his voice is sharp and tight. "We have to warn them now."
"Oh, yes, because they're very likely to listen to us," Rodney snaps. "We're traitors, remember?"
"I'm pretty sure if we save them we're not technically traitors, Rodney," John says, but he's not sure he believes it.
"It doesn't matter if they want to talk to us," Elizabeth says flatly. "We'll find a way to make them listen, or we'll stop the Wraith ourselves, but we won't hand them Earth."
Under the table, Rodney's hand grips frantically at John's thigh. John knows perfectly well that he's thinking of culling beams sweeping over Jeannie's house, and is freaking out accordingly.
"Lorne and I will start putting together a strategy," John says, "If McKay and Zelenka can get the prototype working in time, we should be good to go with the new weapons systems."
"It's months from completion, Colonel, as you well know," Rodney says angrily, but his hand doesn't move.
"So work faster, Rodney."
"Fine, we'll just magically conjure one, shall we?"
"Gentlemen," Elizabeth interrupts. "Rodney, you and Radek make the ZPM project your top priority; reassign whichever personnel you need. John, I want two strategy plans - one assuming we have power to spare, one assuming we don't. I'm going to attempt to contact the SGC."
On the way out the door, John rests his hand on the back of Rodney's neck. It'll be fine, he tries to project through his fingers, but there's a thick feeling in his chest that keeps him from trying to speak. He can't get the image of Madison in a Wraith cocoon out of his head, and he half-runs to the armory, where Lorne's starting inventory. They're already out of time.
conversion [pg, the ZPM is finished]
"We finished it," Rodney says. "It's working."
Elizabeth stares at him, eyes wide. It's apparent she's waiting for the other shoe to drop. "And...?"
"And nothing. It's working," Rodney repeats, flopping into the nearest chair. "Radek's hooking it up now."
"So this is good news," Elizabeth says, words slow and careful. Confused. John totally knows the feeling. Rodney should not look blank when he's announcing the completion of their ZPM.
"Yeah," Rodney agrees. "Great news."
"What's wrong?" John finally manages to get a question out, and he's a little surprised at how scared his voice sounds.
Rodney looks up at him for the first time. "Nothing. Honestly, it's working."
"Okay, so what's wrong with you?" John demands, and Elizabeth steps back once, twice, edging towards the door in case this conversation gets too personal. Times like this, John appreciates her diplomacy.
Rodney stares at him for a second or two, then twists his pad around, holding it up for John to see. "These are the equations we used for the model that worked. We didn't expect it to."
John looks at the numbers, expecting it to be gibberish, and it is. John speaks math, sure, but he's always been more conversational than fluent, and this stuff is way beyond him. "So...?"
"We didn't expect it to work, because these aren't the ZPM equations we've been working on. They're from Project Arcturus."
Elizabeth freezes midmotion, halfway to the doorway. John's throat tightens.
"The original calculations?" Elizabeth asks, finally breaking the silence that's fallen over them.
"No," Rodney says. There's something strange in the way his face is twisting - like he can't decide if he should be laughing or crying. He doesn't look at Elizabeth or John, just gently places the pad on the table and talks to it. "As I believe I told you then," and oh, his voice is cold, "The Ancients' calculations were wrong. These are the numbers I came up with when I reworked them. We used Jeannie's conduction formulas from the second set of experiments for containment, of course."
John sits down beside him, heavily. "You were right," he finally says.
"I was right. Jeannie was right. Radek was right - we were all right about the wrong things. We've had the formula all along, we've just been applying it in the wrong places. It's all just a matter of scale." Rodney's still staring at the pad as though it holds all the answers to the universe - which, actually, it kind of does.
There's another silence, broken this time by Radek on the radio. "Zelenka to McKay. We're online."
Rodney swivels in his chair, facing Elizabeth as he taps his radio. "Sheppard and I are heading to the chair room now."
Elizabeth nods slowly, and John climbs to his feet, back twinging. He's seriously getting too old for this shit. He follows Rodney out the door, and they're maybe ten feet away when Elizabeth says softly, "Rodney."
Rodney stops, turns to look at her, and it's John's turn to pretend he isn't here, give them a little privacy.
"I know I've apologized before, but - I'm sorry." There's a brief pause, during which John stares in rapt fascination at the floor, and then Elizabeth says again, "I'm sorry, Rodney."
"You apologized years ago, Elizabeth. We're fine."
John blinks. That "you" was kind of... pointed. John lifts his gaze from the floor to find Elizabeth looking at Rodney, and Rodney looking at him. Pointedly. "What?"
Rodney sighs deeply and starts walking again. John follows.
Behind them, Elizabeth calls, "Remember, Rodney, you built a ZPM."
John watches Rodney's shoulders straighten, his steps quicken, and jogs forward a few steps so they're side by side. "You did it," he offers quietly.
"Yeah," Rodney agrees, seemingly helpless to stop the smile that's spreading over his face. "Yeah, we did. Oh my god, we built a ZPM." And there's the delight and smugness John's been looking for.
The transporter door closes behind them, and John slaps the hold button. Rodney starts to object, but John leans forward and kisses him, soft and sweet and ecstatic, hoping Rodney understands. Rodney's hands come up, one twining in his hair, one grasping his hip, and John lets Rodney deepen the kiss, pull him closer.
In the back of his mind, John's thinking about what they can do with that extra ZPM, about the weapons systems they've slapped together, about how many hours until they reach Earth, but pretty soon even those concerns are forgotten as Rodney seems to pour all his energy and excitement into John's mouth, desire sparking electric between -
"Zelenka to McKay. What's taking so long? I know you are gloating, but really, Rodney, surely you can wait until after we have saved the world?"
Rodney jerks back, face flushed, hair in disarray. "This is McKay. We're on our way. Don't you have, oh, about twenty million other things you could be doing besides hassling me?" The sarcasm loses most of its effect when Rodney is audibly breathless.
Radek sounds like he's laughing when he says "Understood."
John presses his hot face against Rodney's neck for just a second, then straightens, all business - except Rodney's still got one arm around his waist. "You're forgiven, you idiot," Rodney tells him fondly, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. "You always were, really."
Rodney lets go to push the chair room on the map, and John bites his lip, wanting to say i always trusted you, that was the problem and i've never doubted you, not really. He has no idea where to begin, so he just leans against the back wall of the transporter and waits for the flash that means they've arrived.
"Hey, you know what this makes us? Saving Earth, I mean," Rodney says as the doors open.
"Uh," John says, leading the way towards the chair room. "We haven't actually saved it yet, Rodney."
"Right, but when we do, what does this make us?" Rodney twirls his hand impatiently.
"Um."
"Big damn heroes." Rodney throws him a grin that seems to set the whole hallway on fire with its brightness, and it's a terrible joke, but the fact that Rodney made it leaves John breathless with affection. "I'm pretty sure this makes us big damn heroes."
you always were, John thinks, and smiles back.
suspicion [pg, Earth's leadership isn't happy]
"Look, we just saved you people from the Wraith. Remember them?" Rodney says. John has to forcibly stop himself from reaching up and smoothing down the lines engraved onto Rodney's forehead; John may be used to casual touches, but this isn't home. None of them can afford to forget that.
"I'm not sure I like your tone, Doctor," a general John doesn't recognize snaps, and John sits up in his chair, closer to Rodney.
"And I don't like your insinuations," Elizabeth says firmly. "We came here out of loyalty and friendship, General, but we aren't beholden to Earth any longer. If you're still unwilling to treat us as equals, we're done here." She rises smoothly, and John's team are instantly on their feet. "Gentlemen, ladies."
"Wait," Carter says, blocking the door. "We all appreciate what you did for us, Dr. Weir. Rodney." Her voice softens just a little on Rodney's name, enough to make John's eyes narrow, but Rodney doesn't look away from Elizabeth. "But you can understand that we're surprised."
"No, actually, I can't," Rodney snarls, looking at Carter for the first time, and his face isn't friendly. "Given that my sister just walked in here, surely even a - a military mind - " John winces internally. " - can determine that we still have some loyalty to the people here."
"More importantly, we would have done the same - we have done the same for any world in Pegasus, General Carter. It's never been Atlantis' policy to abandon anyone to the Wraith." Elizabeth's voice is perfectly polite, completely professional, but John hears the accusation and wants to cheer.
"And we're appreciative of that fact," the President says. Jesus, John can't even remember the guy's name, much less his party affiliation. "We're all glad we didn't get eaten, I assure you."
"It would have been nice if you hadn't unilaterally decided to declassify the project," the woman sitting beside him says, and John guesses she's probably his Russian counterpart, based on the accent.
"We were kinda in a hurry, ma'am," John drawls, and beside him he feels Rodney's twitch of amusement. "What with the hive ships in the atmosphere and everything."
"I'm more interested in the giant laser gun, myself." O'Neill comes pretty close to matching John's tone, and John feels a surge of irrational affection for his slouch.
"We'll be delighted to trade you for the schematics, General," Elizabeth says, and John watches the reactions with glee.
"You won't - " the President starts, at the same time as Carter demands "What?" and O'Neill mumbles, "I knew it."
"I'm sure we can work out an arrangement that will benefit both the people of Atlantis and the people of Earth," Elizabeth continues. You'd have to know her well to see the amusement behind her Serious Diplomat Face, but John's intimately familiar with an Elizabeth on the verge of laughter.
He's thinking of rescuing her, but apparently his team has the same idea, as Teyla speaks up for the first time since the introductions ended. "As a representative of the Pegasus galaxy, and specifically as the leader of the Athosian people, I would also like to extend an offer of trade and friendship. My people would be very eager to ally with any or all of the nations of Earth."
The response - a crowd of politicians trying to balance their instinctive need to pander to potential allies with their frustrated sense of entitlement to information - is awesome. John leans back and watches, satisfied, as Teyla and Elizabeth have the entire UN for breakfast.