Fic - SIC Transit Gloria Mundi (fanfic 100)
Title: SIC Transit Gloria Mundi
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Author: Rose Wilde-Irish
Characters: Rodney McKay (not present)/Radek Zelenka, Major Lorne
Prompt: 007 - Days
Word Count: 948
Rating: Teen
Summary: He had missed Atlantis ten minutes after departure, a bittersweet ache that surprised him with its intensity.
Author's Notes: All fanfic100 stories are interconnected. See table for previous parts. Thanks to pierson, lapislaz (particularly for the suggestion for the title, which lead to the theft from Heinlein), miera_c, mr_yoshimi, nikej and mice1900. Huge thanks to icie for the Czech.
Big damn fic table. Previous portion of this arc: 006 - Curve Ball.
"Hey, Doc," Nick Lorne greeted as he sat down across from Radek in the Daedalus's mess. "You're up late."
Radek gave him a weak smile. "It's the bed, and the rooms," he confessed. "I cannot get used to them. They seem so...alien and strange." He wondered if his sister's home would feel as strange.
Nick gave him a lopsided grin that wasn't a thing like Rodney's. "Basic taught me to sleep anywhere, any time I can," he said.
Radek looked at him pointedly. "And you are up so late because...?" he asked.
Nick sighed. "I kind of got used to keeping late hours in the lab, with you two. I can't relax. I keep expecting to hear McKay over the comm., demanding that I get my lazy ass down there."
Radek smiled wistfully. He had missed Atlantis ten minutes after departure, a bittersweet ache that surprised him with its intensity.
"You can't tell me that you miss him." Nick's voice broke his reverie, and Radek turned back to him, wondering just exactly how long he'd been lost in his thoughts.
"A little," Radek confessed, tamping down his internal conflict. "I miss the work."
"I'm sure they'd love you to lend a hand here." Nick sprawled back in his chair with a boneless ease that Radek envied.
"I am...not so sure. Scientists, at our level, we are very protective of our projects, our workspace. Have you not seen Rodney flay alive the new arrivals, until they learn their place?"
Nick grinned. "Been on the receiving end of it a few times, too," he admitted. "From McKay, and from Colonel Sheppard."
"A double dose. I do not envy you," Radek teased. They shared a grin. The silence stretched on, becoming awkward.
"So...not that I mind the company, but why are you here, Doc? I don't recall hearing that you were on the list to go back dirtside."
"My sister. Needs an operation. It is nothing serious," Radek said, in answer to Nick's look. "Or at least, not once she is healed from the operation. But she has separated from her husband, many months ago, and has no one to care for her or my nephew." He frowned, the words of her letter bringing a bitter taste to his mouth. "Her husband does not wish to be 'burdened' with the care of his son any longer than he has to."
Nick's brows drew together and his eyes were stormy. "Good thing she can count on you, then, even from a galaxy away."
"Yes. I don't know how to explain to her about the time it will take me to reach her. It should be obvious that I should have been able to reach her earlier."
Nick patted his hand. "The SGC will give you your cover story. They've been doing that for nearly a decade now."
"Yes, but even 'deep space telemetry' cannot explain a three-week transit time. It was not a very good cover story even before I knew about the gate."
Nick grinned. "True, but I'm sure they've had time to perfect a story for the Atlantis expedition."
"Is there...anyone you will have to explain to?" Radek asked.
Nick sighed, and his face lost most of its boyish charm. "Not since my parents...well. I guess the reason why I wasn't afraid to take on the interface is clearer, huh?" He grinned, but Radek could see it for the front it was.
"I'm sorry," he said, reaching out to grip Nick's hand.
Nick nodded. "Thanks...but Atlantis is home now, and the expedition is family. I've never felt such a tight bond with anyone before, other than family."
Radek chuckled. "Running for your life in another galaxy will do that for you."
"All I know is, if anyone had told me when I first met McKay that he'd be someone I felt privileged to know, I'd call 'em crazy."
Radek laughed, soft and short. "Rodney does grow on you," he admitted, ignoring a brief stab of melancholy.
"Like a fungus," Nick agreed, making Radek laugh again.
For a moment, both were silent. Nick shifted, drawing Radek's attention. "I've never seen anyone work together as well as you two do when you're in synch," Nick said, with the soft undertones of a confession. "It's spooky. You finish each other's sentences. One of you will reach out, and the other will have what's needed - tool, coffee, whatever." His eyes, meeting Radek's, were bright. "You scare everyone with that act. Maybe that's why you can't find a lab to play in."
Radek stared at him, mouth gaping. He knew he'd come a long way from the days when Rodney couldn't remember his name, but he hadn't been aware that his working relationship with Rodney had made an impact on the rest of the expedition.
A timid look flashed over Nick's face. "Aw, don't listen to me. I talk too much."
"No," Radek said, giving him a smile. "You've given me a lot to think about."
Nick yawned. "Well, I think I'll leave you to it, Doc. Ah...same time tomorrow?"
Radek grinned. "I'll be here."
"See you, then," Nick said, rising swiftly and nodding before exiting.
"Tedy. Všichni se nás bojí, že jo?" Radek stared into space for a moment before draining his cup and clearing the table. "Možná mně to samotnýho desí."
He deposited the trays and left, calculating the time until he would be in Atlantis again.
Radek wondered what he'd argue with Rodney about first. It would help to get a jump start. Perhaps Nick retained enough of the interface to help him plan his attack.
Radek's step as he exited was light. He always felt better when he had a project.
~*~
Czech: Tedy. Všichni se nás bojí, že jo - So, we scare everyone, do we?
Možná mně to samotnýho desí - Perhaps, I'm scared myself.
Next: Passing Time.
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Author: Rose Wilde-Irish
Characters: Rodney McKay (not present)/Radek Zelenka, Major Lorne
Prompt: 007 - Days
Word Count: 948
Rating: Teen
Summary: He had missed Atlantis ten minutes after departure, a bittersweet ache that surprised him with its intensity.
Author's Notes: All fanfic100 stories are interconnected. See table for previous parts. Thanks to pierson, lapislaz (particularly for the suggestion for the title, which lead to the theft from Heinlein), miera_c, mr_yoshimi, nikej and mice1900. Huge thanks to icie for the Czech.
Big damn fic table. Previous portion of this arc: 006 - Curve Ball.
"Hey, Doc," Nick Lorne greeted as he sat down across from Radek in the Daedalus's mess. "You're up late."
Radek gave him a weak smile. "It's the bed, and the rooms," he confessed. "I cannot get used to them. They seem so...alien and strange." He wondered if his sister's home would feel as strange.
Nick gave him a lopsided grin that wasn't a thing like Rodney's. "Basic taught me to sleep anywhere, any time I can," he said.
Radek looked at him pointedly. "And you are up so late because...?" he asked.
Nick sighed. "I kind of got used to keeping late hours in the lab, with you two. I can't relax. I keep expecting to hear McKay over the comm., demanding that I get my lazy ass down there."
Radek smiled wistfully. He had missed Atlantis ten minutes after departure, a bittersweet ache that surprised him with its intensity.
"You can't tell me that you miss him." Nick's voice broke his reverie, and Radek turned back to him, wondering just exactly how long he'd been lost in his thoughts.
"A little," Radek confessed, tamping down his internal conflict. "I miss the work."
"I'm sure they'd love you to lend a hand here." Nick sprawled back in his chair with a boneless ease that Radek envied.
"I am...not so sure. Scientists, at our level, we are very protective of our projects, our workspace. Have you not seen Rodney flay alive the new arrivals, until they learn their place?"
Nick grinned. "Been on the receiving end of it a few times, too," he admitted. "From McKay, and from Colonel Sheppard."
"A double dose. I do not envy you," Radek teased. They shared a grin. The silence stretched on, becoming awkward.
"So...not that I mind the company, but why are you here, Doc? I don't recall hearing that you were on the list to go back dirtside."
"My sister. Needs an operation. It is nothing serious," Radek said, in answer to Nick's look. "Or at least, not once she is healed from the operation. But she has separated from her husband, many months ago, and has no one to care for her or my nephew." He frowned, the words of her letter bringing a bitter taste to his mouth. "Her husband does not wish to be 'burdened' with the care of his son any longer than he has to."
Nick's brows drew together and his eyes were stormy. "Good thing she can count on you, then, even from a galaxy away."
"Yes. I don't know how to explain to her about the time it will take me to reach her. It should be obvious that I should have been able to reach her earlier."
Nick patted his hand. "The SGC will give you your cover story. They've been doing that for nearly a decade now."
"Yes, but even 'deep space telemetry' cannot explain a three-week transit time. It was not a very good cover story even before I knew about the gate."
Nick grinned. "True, but I'm sure they've had time to perfect a story for the Atlantis expedition."
"Is there...anyone you will have to explain to?" Radek asked.
Nick sighed, and his face lost most of its boyish charm. "Not since my parents...well. I guess the reason why I wasn't afraid to take on the interface is clearer, huh?" He grinned, but Radek could see it for the front it was.
"I'm sorry," he said, reaching out to grip Nick's hand.
Nick nodded. "Thanks...but Atlantis is home now, and the expedition is family. I've never felt such a tight bond with anyone before, other than family."
Radek chuckled. "Running for your life in another galaxy will do that for you."
"All I know is, if anyone had told me when I first met McKay that he'd be someone I felt privileged to know, I'd call 'em crazy."
Radek laughed, soft and short. "Rodney does grow on you," he admitted, ignoring a brief stab of melancholy.
"Like a fungus," Nick agreed, making Radek laugh again.
For a moment, both were silent. Nick shifted, drawing Radek's attention. "I've never seen anyone work together as well as you two do when you're in synch," Nick said, with the soft undertones of a confession. "It's spooky. You finish each other's sentences. One of you will reach out, and the other will have what's needed - tool, coffee, whatever." His eyes, meeting Radek's, were bright. "You scare everyone with that act. Maybe that's why you can't find a lab to play in."
Radek stared at him, mouth gaping. He knew he'd come a long way from the days when Rodney couldn't remember his name, but he hadn't been aware that his working relationship with Rodney had made an impact on the rest of the expedition.
A timid look flashed over Nick's face. "Aw, don't listen to me. I talk too much."
"No," Radek said, giving him a smile. "You've given me a lot to think about."
Nick yawned. "Well, I think I'll leave you to it, Doc. Ah...same time tomorrow?"
Radek grinned. "I'll be here."
"See you, then," Nick said, rising swiftly and nodding before exiting.
"Tedy. Všichni se nás bojí, že jo?" Radek stared into space for a moment before draining his cup and clearing the table. "Možná mně to samotnýho desí."
He deposited the trays and left, calculating the time until he would be in Atlantis again.
Radek wondered what he'd argue with Rodney about first. It would help to get a jump start. Perhaps Nick retained enough of the interface to help him plan his attack.
Radek's step as he exited was light. He always felt better when he had a project.
~*~
Czech: Tedy. Všichni se nás bojí, že jo - So, we scare everyone, do we?
Možná mně to samotnýho desí - Perhaps, I'm scared myself.
Next: Passing Time.