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[scientificsnark]

Rodney's first morning back in Atlantis hadn't been the greatest up until now. Apparently, no time at all had elapsed since he'd 'left', which meant a year and a half spent on the island for him hadn't, in fact, been a year and a half for anyone else. Except Jill

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[flyboy_shepp]

Four years had taught John the fine art of moving the hell on, but nothing had ever really added up to this. Having something so completely real as experiencing Rodney dying, then kicking his own ass, then realizing Rodney hadn't died happen only in his head definitely rated high on his Crap Meter.

He knew Sam would understand if he took a few days off to 'recuperate', which was the entire reason he'd checked in for duty today and went about his business like nothing had happened - because it literally hadn't.

Food in the mess was about as normal as it got and while he hesitated when looking around, eating with Rodney was normal, too. John pulled out a chair at the table without asking, then paused, tray still hovering over the table.

"Three trays, Rodney? Seriously?"

[scientificsnark]

"Four," Rodney replied smugly, gesturing at the empty one by his elbow. He took a big bite of a buttered roll, talking at the same time. "The brain needs a lot of nutrition to work properly, and mine doubly so, since it's so much more advanced than the average human's. I-"

He stopped, and stared up at the man standing there, mouth open. Crumbs fell out of it.

"John," he croaked, after a moment. Then he stood up and grabbed him around the shoulders. "It's you." He hugged him over the table, as tight as he could.

[flyboy_shepp]

John froze, his grip on his lunch tray tightening as a feeling of completely awkwardness and surprise settled in.

They didn't hug, and especially not in the middle of the mess where - and a quick gaze around the room confirmed it - everyone could see.

"Yeah, it's me," he said. He brought his free hand up, let it hover in indecision near Rodney's shoulder, then patted his back twice. "You, uh. You okay, Rodney? I thought Keller cleared you."

[scientificsnark]

"Not yet," Rodney muttered into John's shoulder. It took him a moment, but he managed to detach himself. He kept his hands on his arms though, as if afraid if he let go, he might disappear. "I mean, uh...she did, but she hasn't yet. As such. Today."

He stared soulfully into Sheppard's eyes and, after a moment or two, he frowned. This was the man who'd left him - and Jill, and Carson, and everyone else - alone on the island.

"You're an ass," he said, then he let him go and sat down.

[flyboy_shepp]

There was weird (which John dealt with on a regular basis), and there was weird, which John was facing right now.

"Okay," he said, accepting the accusation because he didn't know what else to do. Keeping one eye on Rodney, John sat down.

"Any particular reason I'm an ass this time?"