SGA Fic: Contractual, tag to 5x16 'Brainstorm'
I wrote a short tag to 'Brainstorm' because there were so many things that needed to be fixed about the episode, but this one thing just completely ate at me until I did something about it, so this is my way of dealing. My other thoughts on the episode are here.
contractual
John and Rodney, Gen, Team!love, 1600 words
Tag to 5x16 'Brainstorm', because some things need to be fixed
Two days after Rodney comes back on the Daedalus John Sheppard stops speaking to him, completely cold and out of the blue. Despite being generally oblivious to these kinds of social things, Rodney catches on pretty quickly because John stops replying to his emails, even the team-ones, and he stops showing to team meals and doesn’t drop in on the labs and fails in every way to show up for their East Pier remote-controlled car race that they’ve had planned for months, which tips Rodney from baffled to annoyed--shuffling their schedules is always near to impossible, as military and science heads, it’s generally a question of one of them getting the time and then cajoling, bribing and/or blackmailing either Radek or Lorne into covering for the other for a couple hours and this had cost him all the jellybabies left over from his visit to Earth.
“Okay, so seriously, what?” Rodney hisses, stalking into the armoury where Sheppard is cleaning his gun. Which may not be the best time to yell at someone, but these days 9-mils evoke a feeling of comfort and safety rather than Danger! Danger! Will Robinson! so Rodney shakes the momentary doubt off.
Sheppard doesn’t even look up.
“Are you pissed off that I cancelled on team movie night? It’s just-- I have to spend more time with Jennifer now, she mentioned-- she wants me to be there for her, and ensuring we share non-professional activities on a more regular basis is one of the ways in which we’re supposed to, ah, differentiate our roles as colleagues and-- and-- partners but yes, well,” Rodney licks his lips. “I know, I know that movie night is important for team bonding and I was looking forward to watching Iron Man with the aliens but I’m a very busy man, we’re both busy men, I mean, not that Jennifer is a-- yes, you get the idea, and really, I should get points for buying the DVD. It’s Blu-Ray, and I bought the player as well and I’m sorry.”
“I’m not pissed that you cancelled on team movie night, Rodney,” Sheppard says sweetly, cleaning the barrel with what can only be described as-- weirdly enough-- excruciating politeness.
“Then what is it?” Rodney gives in to the urge that’s been eating at him for the last ten minutes and starts tapping his foot. “Sheppard, just spit it out, okay? You avoiding me and not talking to me thing is just-- just-- juvenile. And we’re going offworld tomorrow, so really you just have to actually communicate at this juncture before I end up falling down a ravine because you were too busy giving me the silent treatment.”
Which doesn’t even make a lot of sense but it’s what makes Sheppard heave an enormous, put-upon sigh, set down his weapon and say, “You-- Keller told me that you were thinking about leaving the SGC for the private sector, back on Earth.” He pushes up to his feet. “Planning on telling me anytime soon? I‘m still your goddamn team leader, McKay.”
“Oh that, well. Yes, of course, I considered it. My contract with the SGC is up at the end of the year, and you know, the prospect of not running for my life every other week and making more than a pittance, maybe even picking up some of my old research, getting back on the publishing track. It has a certain appeal, of course.”
“Of course,” John agrees, still perfectly calm. “That’s just great, Rodney. I’m pleased that you feel like you can come to me with this stuff.”
“Oh come on, John. Are you-- you can’t imagine staying here forever, can you?” He stops at that and John’s eyes just glitter before he looks away and Rodney takes a step close and says, in a much lower tone. “Oh my god, you do, don’t you?”
“The Wraith don’t exactly have a yearly contract, far as I can tell, McKay, and I don’t either. And Teyla and Ronon are pretty attached to this Galaxy.”
“That’s-- I mean-- yes, leaving you all behind would be--,”
“Fuck you, McKay. We don’t leave people behind. Except, apparently, yeah we do. So just--,” Sheppard makes a noise in his throat like he’s swallowing down a whole bunch of words, which is really strange cause Sheppard doesn’t usually have a whole hell of a lot to say and usually he’s gives up words like there’s a finite stock: grudgingly. “It’s fine, Rodney. Silent treatment over. Team dynamics saved. Cue applause.” He makes a gesture that’s clear in its meaning: done talking, leave now.
Rodney steps closer and lifts an arm as a prelude to making some sort of counter-argument, but Sheppard just raises his hand tiredly.
“It’s not that I -- it just caught me off guard. Of course you and Keller aren’t exactly going to get married and have your 2.5 kids in the Pegasus Galaxy and I shoulda known--,”
His mouth has fallen open by this point, but he manages to gather himself up off the floor in time to interject, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Married? Who said anything about married.”
“You said you loved her.”
“Yes, but do you have any idea how many times I’ve said that and had it--,” and Rodney’s brain catches up with him as John’s eyes go big, click click click and he remembers some beer-fuelled evening where John is actually really relaxed and offers up a little piece of information from his history, such a rare and sweet occurrence that Rodney and Ronon and Teyla all hold their breath a little just so as not to spook him, and John says, I’ve only ever told one person that I loved them, and I married her.
Rodney kind of gets all of it, all at once and he crosses his arms and closes his eyes a little because admitting what he’s about to admit is really kind of painful and humiliating but the way Sheppard’s gone all distance and angles and personal space in a way that he hasn’t done since-- since forever, since Doranda, since the beginning of the program in Antarctica-- it’s just unbearable. “Look they-- the only reason I thought about it was-- I’m not always the easiest man to work with, and scientists can complain and I maybe possibly sent an ill-considered email to the Joint Chiefs so they might not exactly jump at the opportunity to re-hire me. And so-- so-- I thought it might be better to be prepared, and, ah, not give them the chance.”
“You thought that they might kick you out?”
“Take the option not to offer me an extension on my contract, but yes, yes, possibly. I mean, why would I-- have you seen this place-- and you’re my friends and-- but Zelenka’s more--,” he makes a complex gesture with the fingers of his right hand. “Personable. And people are morons and care about those kinds of things over and above competence and scientific merit and so really once Radek replaces me it’ll serve them right when the city sinks directly to the bottom of the ocean, I mean, a tragedy in that you’ll all be in the flaming remains as they sink but--,”
John’s suddenly up at his elbow and holds him on the wrist. “Hey, buddy, that’s not gonna happen.”
“No, no, of course not. Radek is marginally competent, he’d probably buy you enough time to evacuate.”
“No. That’s not what I’m saying, Rodney,” John chides, in what Rodney privately calls his ‘mom voice’. “Them not hiring you back. Not gonna happen. You shouldn’t worry about it.”
“How can you possibly--…” Rodney trails off because Sheppard tightens his grip and actually makes eye contact.
John just waves one arm in a quick and sharp and decisive gesture and says, voice measured and perfectly sure. “You shouldn’t worry about it. You’re not replaceable.” He blinks quickly, as if he’s just heard what he’s said, and follows it quickly with: “Zelenka’s just not enough of an asshole to keep the science department in line.”
And Rodney clicks his mouth shut and despite every logical operation in his brain screaming does not compute he actually believes him a little.
“Though. You should worry about Teyla kicking your ass.”
“Teyla knows?” John nods. “Ronon too?”
John grimaces. “They were both there when Keller brought it up. Teyla’s been ‘meditating’ weirdly hard this week, and possibly even knitting you something to save you from the ‘harsh Canadian winters’ that you keep talking about-- knitting, McKay. And Ronon looked like he was gonna cry, I swear to God, and then he basically bolted out the room. And then,” he adds darkly. “They volunteered me to talk to you about it. I mean, we thought you’d told-- Jennifer and not us, okay?”
“And so the last three days has been you trying to talk to me?”
John shrugs with one shoulder. “I’m just saying, Teyla is so gonna kick your ass. And I‘m not gonna stop her cause that was an asshole thing to say.” He smiles, slow, and Rodney finds himself not caring about mounting an impassioned defence. “You hungry? I hear it’s not-steak night.”
“Oh, good, yes, I could eat,” Rodney bumps into John’s shoulder ever so slightly as they head towards the cafeteria. “I’d have told you first, by the way. Not that I-- not that I’ll be wanting to leave anytime soon. By choice, I mean. But-- I’d have told you guys first,” he stops for a breath. “I mean, you’re stuck with me, just accept it.”
John looks at him out of the corner of his eye and laughs. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Yeah, okay.”
*
Thoughts.
contractual
John and Rodney, Gen, Team!love, 1600 words
Tag to 5x16 'Brainstorm', because some things need to be fixed
Two days after Rodney comes back on the Daedalus John Sheppard stops speaking to him, completely cold and out of the blue. Despite being generally oblivious to these kinds of social things, Rodney catches on pretty quickly because John stops replying to his emails, even the team-ones, and he stops showing to team meals and doesn’t drop in on the labs and fails in every way to show up for their East Pier remote-controlled car race that they’ve had planned for months, which tips Rodney from baffled to annoyed--shuffling their schedules is always near to impossible, as military and science heads, it’s generally a question of one of them getting the time and then cajoling, bribing and/or blackmailing either Radek or Lorne into covering for the other for a couple hours and this had cost him all the jellybabies left over from his visit to Earth.
“Okay, so seriously, what?” Rodney hisses, stalking into the armoury where Sheppard is cleaning his gun. Which may not be the best time to yell at someone, but these days 9-mils evoke a feeling of comfort and safety rather than Danger! Danger! Will Robinson! so Rodney shakes the momentary doubt off.
Sheppard doesn’t even look up.
“Are you pissed off that I cancelled on team movie night? It’s just-- I have to spend more time with Jennifer now, she mentioned-- she wants me to be there for her, and ensuring we share non-professional activities on a more regular basis is one of the ways in which we’re supposed to, ah, differentiate our roles as colleagues and-- and-- partners but yes, well,” Rodney licks his lips. “I know, I know that movie night is important for team bonding and I was looking forward to watching Iron Man with the aliens but I’m a very busy man, we’re both busy men, I mean, not that Jennifer is a-- yes, you get the idea, and really, I should get points for buying the DVD. It’s Blu-Ray, and I bought the player as well and I’m sorry.”
“I’m not pissed that you cancelled on team movie night, Rodney,” Sheppard says sweetly, cleaning the barrel with what can only be described as-- weirdly enough-- excruciating politeness.
“Then what is it?” Rodney gives in to the urge that’s been eating at him for the last ten minutes and starts tapping his foot. “Sheppard, just spit it out, okay? You avoiding me and not talking to me thing is just-- just-- juvenile. And we’re going offworld tomorrow, so really you just have to actually communicate at this juncture before I end up falling down a ravine because you were too busy giving me the silent treatment.”
Which doesn’t even make a lot of sense but it’s what makes Sheppard heave an enormous, put-upon sigh, set down his weapon and say, “You-- Keller told me that you were thinking about leaving the SGC for the private sector, back on Earth.” He pushes up to his feet. “Planning on telling me anytime soon? I‘m still your goddamn team leader, McKay.”
“Oh that, well. Yes, of course, I considered it. My contract with the SGC is up at the end of the year, and you know, the prospect of not running for my life every other week and making more than a pittance, maybe even picking up some of my old research, getting back on the publishing track. It has a certain appeal, of course.”
“Of course,” John agrees, still perfectly calm. “That’s just great, Rodney. I’m pleased that you feel like you can come to me with this stuff.”
“Oh come on, John. Are you-- you can’t imagine staying here forever, can you?” He stops at that and John’s eyes just glitter before he looks away and Rodney takes a step close and says, in a much lower tone. “Oh my god, you do, don’t you?”
“The Wraith don’t exactly have a yearly contract, far as I can tell, McKay, and I don’t either. And Teyla and Ronon are pretty attached to this Galaxy.”
“That’s-- I mean-- yes, leaving you all behind would be--,”
“Fuck you, McKay. We don’t leave people behind. Except, apparently, yeah we do. So just--,” Sheppard makes a noise in his throat like he’s swallowing down a whole bunch of words, which is really strange cause Sheppard doesn’t usually have a whole hell of a lot to say and usually he’s gives up words like there’s a finite stock: grudgingly. “It’s fine, Rodney. Silent treatment over. Team dynamics saved. Cue applause.” He makes a gesture that’s clear in its meaning: done talking, leave now.
Rodney steps closer and lifts an arm as a prelude to making some sort of counter-argument, but Sheppard just raises his hand tiredly.
“It’s not that I -- it just caught me off guard. Of course you and Keller aren’t exactly going to get married and have your 2.5 kids in the Pegasus Galaxy and I shoulda known--,”
His mouth has fallen open by this point, but he manages to gather himself up off the floor in time to interject, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Married? Who said anything about married.”
“You said you loved her.”
“Yes, but do you have any idea how many times I’ve said that and had it--,” and Rodney’s brain catches up with him as John’s eyes go big, click click click and he remembers some beer-fuelled evening where John is actually really relaxed and offers up a little piece of information from his history, such a rare and sweet occurrence that Rodney and Ronon and Teyla all hold their breath a little just so as not to spook him, and John says, I’ve only ever told one person that I loved them, and I married her.
Rodney kind of gets all of it, all at once and he crosses his arms and closes his eyes a little because admitting what he’s about to admit is really kind of painful and humiliating but the way Sheppard’s gone all distance and angles and personal space in a way that he hasn’t done since-- since forever, since Doranda, since the beginning of the program in Antarctica-- it’s just unbearable. “Look they-- the only reason I thought about it was-- I’m not always the easiest man to work with, and scientists can complain and I maybe possibly sent an ill-considered email to the Joint Chiefs so they might not exactly jump at the opportunity to re-hire me. And so-- so-- I thought it might be better to be prepared, and, ah, not give them the chance.”
“You thought that they might kick you out?”
“Take the option not to offer me an extension on my contract, but yes, yes, possibly. I mean, why would I-- have you seen this place-- and you’re my friends and-- but Zelenka’s more--,” he makes a complex gesture with the fingers of his right hand. “Personable. And people are morons and care about those kinds of things over and above competence and scientific merit and so really once Radek replaces me it’ll serve them right when the city sinks directly to the bottom of the ocean, I mean, a tragedy in that you’ll all be in the flaming remains as they sink but--,”
John’s suddenly up at his elbow and holds him on the wrist. “Hey, buddy, that’s not gonna happen.”
“No, no, of course not. Radek is marginally competent, he’d probably buy you enough time to evacuate.”
“No. That’s not what I’m saying, Rodney,” John chides, in what Rodney privately calls his ‘mom voice’. “Them not hiring you back. Not gonna happen. You shouldn’t worry about it.”
“How can you possibly--…” Rodney trails off because Sheppard tightens his grip and actually makes eye contact.
John just waves one arm in a quick and sharp and decisive gesture and says, voice measured and perfectly sure. “You shouldn’t worry about it. You’re not replaceable.” He blinks quickly, as if he’s just heard what he’s said, and follows it quickly with: “Zelenka’s just not enough of an asshole to keep the science department in line.”
And Rodney clicks his mouth shut and despite every logical operation in his brain screaming does not compute he actually believes him a little.
“Though. You should worry about Teyla kicking your ass.”
“Teyla knows?” John nods. “Ronon too?”
John grimaces. “They were both there when Keller brought it up. Teyla’s been ‘meditating’ weirdly hard this week, and possibly even knitting you something to save you from the ‘harsh Canadian winters’ that you keep talking about-- knitting, McKay. And Ronon looked like he was gonna cry, I swear to God, and then he basically bolted out the room. And then,” he adds darkly. “They volunteered me to talk to you about it. I mean, we thought you’d told-- Jennifer and not us, okay?”
“And so the last three days has been you trying to talk to me?”
John shrugs with one shoulder. “I’m just saying, Teyla is so gonna kick your ass. And I‘m not gonna stop her cause that was an asshole thing to say.” He smiles, slow, and Rodney finds himself not caring about mounting an impassioned defence. “You hungry? I hear it’s not-steak night.”
“Oh, good, yes, I could eat,” Rodney bumps into John’s shoulder ever so slightly as they head towards the cafeteria. “I’d have told you first, by the way. Not that I-- not that I’ll be wanting to leave anytime soon. By choice, I mean. But-- I’d have told you guys first,” he stops for a breath. “I mean, you’re stuck with me, just accept it.”
John looks at him out of the corner of his eye and laughs. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Yeah, okay.”
*
Thoughts.