Fic: Connections (NC-17)
Title: Connections
Author: SGAtlantisLight
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Zelenka, Kavanagh, Kusanagi, Beckett, Emmagan, Dex
Relationships: McKay/Sheppard, Kusanagi/Zelenka, hints of Beckett/Emmagan, references to past Grodin/Kavanagh
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Smut
Spoilers: None
Summary: Part 20 of the Unified Theory series-- an AU where Everett was never drained by the Wraith and kept his position as military commander of Atlantis.
Disclaimer: The characters, the setting, etc. are NOT mine, even if I wish they were.
"I'm not happy with the output scans from Jumper 4. There's a five percent variance in..." Rodney's voice died. He blinked and looked away from his husband. "Where was I? Ah, yes, five percent variance in energy... uh..." He stared for a moment at his laptop, then looked back up and was immediately distracted. "Would you stop that?"
John gave Rodney an innocent look. "Stop what?" he asked, even while his long fingers trailed down his throat, across the dark bruise over his pulse point.
Radek gave the two of them an amused headshake. "Rodney, I will look into problems with Jumper 4 and leave you two to... talk."
***
They were barely in the door to their apartment before John was pushing Rodney against a wall, taking his mouth in a needy, but strangely tender, kiss. John's body trembled against Rodney's. His fingers slid into Rodney's hair and he leaned against his husband, forehead to forehead. "God! I thought you were dead," he whispered, then pressed his lips to Rodney's again.
Rodney slipped his arms around John and pulled him close. "I'm here. I'm here." He pressed closer and then turned them both, pushing John back and then trailed kisses down John's jaw to his throat. John tilted his head back, exposing the long line of his throat to Rodney's lips and teeth. Rodney reached down and began undoing John's fly.
John tried to push Rodney's hands away. "'M too close. Need you first."
"Shhhh. Just let me take the edge off. It's been six months for you, but it's only been a few hours for me."
"Okay."
Rodney pushed John's trousers and boxers down to pool around his ankles and took him in hand, returning to mark his throat. John moaned and surrendered as Rodney quickly and confidently jerked him off.
"You know that hickey's too high to hide," John whispered.
Rodney licked John's pulse point where it was already colouring. "I know." He picked up the pace of his strokes. "That's the idea."
"Oh, shit!" John gasped, shuddered and came, Rodney holding him fast-- warm and solid and alive.
***
"What's this?" John asked, picking up the leather-bound notebook. "William Patrick Kavanagh, the third?" he asked, flipping it open.
"That's mine!" Kavanagh yelped, grabbing it. "Unhand my property, Doctor Sheppard."
John's eyes were glued to the page, however. "Wow. That's really good, Kavanagh."
"Thank you. Now let go."
"Got anyone else in here?"
"That's none of your business. Let go." Kavanagh was avoiding pulling, afraid the pages would tear.
John grinned and flipped to the beginning. "Oh, wow. You got his eyelashes and everything."
"Sheppard, please."
"What are you so worried about? These are great." John flipped a couple pages and gasped at the sketch of a naked Peter Grodin, stretched out on a couch, a mischievous smile playing at his lips, something intimate about the whole arrangement.
Kavanagh reached out and physically released John's grasp on the sketchbook, then clutched the book protectively against his chest. "I'd thank you to keep your hands off my property from now on."
"You and Grodin?" John asked.
"I realise it's difficult to wrap your little mind around, since everyone loved him and despised me, but, yes, we were together. I'll thank you not to sully my memories by joking about it."
John watched dumbfounded as Kavanagh stalked off, his sketchbook held close, and wondered how many of their people were silently grieving lovers lost in the siege.
***
"God, I've missed this," John moaned as Rodney's fingers moved inside him, stroking him back to hardness.
"You didn't have it for very long before you got stranded," Rodney teased.
"Long enough," John gasped, hips bucking up to meet Rodney's strokes. "Unhhh... Need you... Need you in me."
"Okay." Rodney shuddered, pulling his fingers free and slicking himself. "Turn over. I want to take you deep."
John's breath stuttered at the thought and then he quickly rolled over, lowering his head and raising his ass in the air. "Fuck, yes!"
Rodney positioned himself and pushed in slowly.
John whimpered.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... Just been a while."
"I'll try to take it slow." Rodney withdrew and then pushed back in, going a little deeper. "God, you're tight!"
"Ah. S-sorry." John shuddered as Rodney pushed deeper into him, feeling like he was being split open.
"Ngg... No, don't be sorry... Feels... so good..." Rodney said, sliding fully into John's heat. "Still okay?"
"Yeah... Just... hold on a minute..."
"'Kay." Rodney let his hands roam over John's back and ass before leaning over and slipping an arm around John's waist to fondle him.
John had gone half-soft, but groaned in pleasure as Rodney played with him, teasing his cock and tracing his balls. He bucked forward, thrusting into Rodney's hand, and then back to take Rodney deeper.
"Oh, yeah," Rodney moaned, thrusting in counterpoint to John's motion.
John gasped as Rodney's cock head slid against his prostate.
They fell silent, save for wordless sounds of pleasure as their bodies moved against each other. Rodney thrust harder and faster, his hand stroking John's cock with each withdrawal.
"Come again for me," Rodney moaned.
John let out an animal moan. "Fill me first."
"Yeah... Fuck, yeah..."
Rodney's hand spasmed and John felt heat spilling into him, throbbing deep. "Rodneeeeyy..." he moaned, his cock pulsing, spilling over Rodney's hand.
They hung in frozen tableau for a moment, letting their breath return to normal, then Rodney leaned down and kissed the back of John's neck. "I'm glad you waited for me."
"Yeah," John murmured. "Yeah. I'm glad, too."
***
Radek sat down at the table across from the dejected figure. Silently, he slid his chocolate pudding cup across to her. "Don't take it personally. It has been difficult couple of days for him."
Miko nodded. "I know."
"Are you coming tonight?"
"What?" she asked, distracted.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I have the rec room reserved for tonight. Remember?"
"Oh!" she looked at him and smiled. "I almost forgot. Yes. I would like that."
He nodded and grinned. "Is Doctor Simpson coming?"
"I'll make sure she comes. She needs it."
"Yes, she does. I invited McKay. You don't mind?"
She shook her head. "I will be over it by then. I should be used to his yelling by now."
"You could always do what I do-- swear at him in foreign language."
She laughed. "But then Doctor Kavanagh has blackmail material on me, if I do it in Japanese."
Radek raised his eyebrows. "Kavanagh?"
Miko nodded. "He worked two years at Hokkaido University in Sapporo."
"Really? He never fails to surprise me."
She glanced up where Kavanagh was walking in with Simpson by his side. "He surprises lot of people, given the chance."
***
Rodney started awake as John whimpered, shifting restlessly in bed. Rodney reached out and pulled his husband into the circle of his arms. John pressed against him, still asleep, tucking his face into Rodney's neck. Rodney kissed the top of John's head as his husband's breathing slowed and deepened, then wrinkled his nose as John's spiky hair tickled his nose. Rodney shifted enough to keep John's hair out of his nose and mouth and drifted back to sleep, still amazed to find his arms full of this warm and sexy man.
***
"Come on, Carson. You need to take a break," Rodney said, dragging his friend out of the infirmary.
"Really, Rodney, I'm on the verge of a breakthrough-- I can feel it," Carson objected.
"It'll still be there tomorrow morning, after some time off and a good night's sleep."
"Ye wouldn't be sayin' that if it was your research," Carson muttered, but allowed himself to be led to the rec room where Radek was re-arranging furniture while Kavanagh sat watching and occasionally offering suggestions.
"Hey, could I have a chair to prop my leg on?" Kavanagh asked. "It's been hurting like a bitch today."
"It's the rain," Radek said, shifting a chair and placing Kavanagh's casted leg on it. "Good?"
"Yes. Thanks."
"You know, I think your language has gotten worse since Colonel Everett has gotten here," Radek said, filling the place from which he'd taken the chair.
"What do you mean?"
"The... vulgar words. You seem more inclined to use them."
Kavanagh chuckled. "Are you telling me Dillon's a bad influence on me?"
Radek shrugged. "Merely making observation." He glanced up and smiled at Rodney and Carson. "Doctor Beckett! I didn't expect you tonight."
"That's not a problem, is it?" Carson asked.
"Of course it's not a problem," Rodney said, pushing Carson into the room and then grabbing a seat on a couch nearest the end table. "John's bringing Teyla, by the way. We heard Simpson had invited Sergeant Cole, so we figured it wasn't strictly science division, and Teyla likes the exposure to Earth culture."
Radek gave him a smile that was half annoyance and half amusement, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is prime example of Earth marriage."
"It's probably closer than the only live example we have here," Kavanagh quipped.
"Are you insinuating gay marriage is somehow inferior to straight marriage?" Rodney asked.
"God, I hope not," Kavanagh said. "Oh, Radek, I, uh, kind of invited Ronon. I don't know if he's coming, though."
Radek sighed and started rearranging chairs.
"Can I help?" Carson asked.
"Just leave that," Rodney said. "Everyone'll rearrange them anyway. And half the people will sit on the floor."
"I already told him that," Kavanagh said. "Hey, Beckett, can you grab me a can out of the cooler over there?"
"Of course," Carson said, opening up the cooler full of ice and pulling out a familiar red can.
"Oh, is that real, honest to God Coke?" Rodney asked, eyes lighting up.
"I got six cases on the last Daedalus run," Kavanagh explained. "I was feeling generous tonight."
"Six? How do you rate six?" Rodney asked, snapping his fingers at Carson and holding out a hand.
"Traded Martinez for a couple bottles of hooch I've needed to get out of my quarters," Kavanagh answered.
Carson handed Rodney and Kavanagh each cans and then pulled out two more, handing Radek one.
"Hey, is that real Coke?" John asked, walking into the room with Teyla.
"Aye, it is," Carson answered, handing John a can. "Did ye want one, love?" he asked Teyla.
"No, thank you, Doctor. I do not care for the taste."
John tossed a bag of Doritos on a table.
"Oh, give!" Rodney said, making grabby hands.
John held up a second bag. "One to share, one to keep for you to pig out on."
"Are you insinuating I eat too much."
John flopped down on the couch next to his husband and leaned over to give him a quick kiss, poking the hint of belly above Rodney's waistline. "If the shoe fits..."
"That is a fascinating expression," Teyla said, settling on another couch. "I was just discussing it the other day with Major Lorne and Lieutenant..." Her voice faded.
The smile slid from Carson's face and he looked away from them, his eyes blinking. There was an uncomfortable silence, then Carson said. "I... uh... forgot I had some biscuits I've been saving for the next social. I'll be back." He headed quickly toward the door, head down.
"Carson..." Rodney said.
"I just need a minute," Carson said, not turning around. "I'll just be a few."
"Damn!" Rodney swore.
"I am sorry," Teyla said. "I momentarily forgot."
"It's okay," John said. "Weird things can set you off in times of grief. I still can't eat snicker doodle cookies without thinking of my dad."
"Prince of Wales tea," Kavanagh said, a sad smile on his lips.
John nodded. He had a vague recollection that it was Peter Grodin's favourite.
"Real, homemade tapioca pudding," Rodney said, pulling John closer to him.
"Are we listing off things we miss from home?" Doctor Bryce asked as she walked in with a mousy man in ill-fitting jeans and sweatshirt.
"Eldon!" Rodney exclaimed. "Decide to come get a little Earth culture?"
The man smiled shyly. "Yes. Doctor Parrish mentioned it to me when he dropped by the chemistry lab. It's... It's okay, right?"
"It is fine," Radek assured him. "Come in. Have you met Rodney's husband, Doctor Sheppard?"
***
Rodney disentangled himself and slipped quietly into the bathroom, leaving John asleep. John was waiting outside the bathroom when Rodney left.
"Need two bathrooms," he muttered sleepily as he passed Rodney.
Rodney grunted his agreement, then went and collapsed back into the bed and slipped back into sleep, barely stirring when John climbed in behind him.
He swam back to consciousness to the sensation of John tracing the jagged edges of the scar on his back. He shivered at the light touch.
"Sorry," John whispered, laying his hand flat and sweeping down the broad planes of Rodney's back.
Rodney hummed appreciatively. "Feels good."
John's hand skimmed down to where Rodney's back curved out. "I like your ass."
"Mm. Wouldn't know it when we have sex."
"Hey, I never said I liked it better than your cock."
Rodney moaned as John teased his asscheeks. "You're turning me on."
"Yeah?" John kissed the back of Rodney's neck. "You like having your ass rubbed?"
"Yes."
"How about fucked?"
"God, yes!"
"Good," John breathed, one finger sliding into the crease between Rodney's cheeks. "Hand me the lube."
***
By the time Carson returned with his contribution to the snacks, the room was full of scientists from every discipline as well as all three non-Terrans living in the city. Seeing him, Ronon stood waving him to his seat, and then went and plopped down in front of Kavanagh's seat like an overgrown dog. Carson murmured a quick thanks and settled down next to Teyla.
Radek confirmed that everyone they were expecting was there and started the movie.
An hour into the movie, Teyla slumped into Carson.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
"I am just very tired."
Carson nodded. "I know what ye mean."
They settled comfortably against each other.
"Here I thought they'd end like Butch and Sundance," John said as the lights came up.
"Shhh!" Miko said and pointed.
Teyla was curled on the couch, her head in Carson's lap. Carson's arm curled protectively around her waist, his head tipped back. They were both sound asleep.
"Aw! Don't they look sweet?" Katie Brown said.
"They look exhausted," Rodney answered.
"Do we wake them up?" Parrish asked.
"Nah," John said. "Leave 'em alone."
Everyone quickly and quietly cleaned up, whispering and grinning like schoolgirls with a secret. As they left the room, Rodney set the lock.
***
"Thanks," Simpson said to Radek and Miko as they stopped in front of her apartment.
"It was a good night," Radek said.
"Yes," Miko agreed.
Unexpectedly, Simpson threw her arms around Radek's neck, hugging him quickly, and then did the same with Miko. "Invite him in," she whispered to Miko. "You don't know the time." And then she pulled back, smiled at the two, and went into her room.
Radek raised his eyebrows at Miko. She shrugged. They turned and walked to Miko's apartment a few doors down from Simpson's.
"Thank you for planning this," Miko said. "It was needed."
Radek smiled. "Thank you for coming."
She hesitated a moment, then smiled shyly. "Would you... Would you like to come in?"
Their eyes met. Radek nodded. "Yes. I'd like that."
Next part
Author: SGAtlantisLight
Characters: McKay, Sheppard, Zelenka, Kavanagh, Kusanagi, Beckett, Emmagan, Dex
Relationships: McKay/Sheppard, Kusanagi/Zelenka, hints of Beckett/Emmagan, references to past Grodin/Kavanagh
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Smut
Spoilers: None
Summary: Part 20 of the Unified Theory series-- an AU where Everett was never drained by the Wraith and kept his position as military commander of Atlantis.
Disclaimer: The characters, the setting, etc. are NOT mine, even if I wish they were.
"I'm not happy with the output scans from Jumper 4. There's a five percent variance in..." Rodney's voice died. He blinked and looked away from his husband. "Where was I? Ah, yes, five percent variance in energy... uh..." He stared for a moment at his laptop, then looked back up and was immediately distracted. "Would you stop that?"
John gave Rodney an innocent look. "Stop what?" he asked, even while his long fingers trailed down his throat, across the dark bruise over his pulse point.
Radek gave the two of them an amused headshake. "Rodney, I will look into problems with Jumper 4 and leave you two to... talk."
***
They were barely in the door to their apartment before John was pushing Rodney against a wall, taking his mouth in a needy, but strangely tender, kiss. John's body trembled against Rodney's. His fingers slid into Rodney's hair and he leaned against his husband, forehead to forehead. "God! I thought you were dead," he whispered, then pressed his lips to Rodney's again.
Rodney slipped his arms around John and pulled him close. "I'm here. I'm here." He pressed closer and then turned them both, pushing John back and then trailed kisses down John's jaw to his throat. John tilted his head back, exposing the long line of his throat to Rodney's lips and teeth. Rodney reached down and began undoing John's fly.
John tried to push Rodney's hands away. "'M too close. Need you first."
"Shhhh. Just let me take the edge off. It's been six months for you, but it's only been a few hours for me."
"Okay."
Rodney pushed John's trousers and boxers down to pool around his ankles and took him in hand, returning to mark his throat. John moaned and surrendered as Rodney quickly and confidently jerked him off.
"You know that hickey's too high to hide," John whispered.
Rodney licked John's pulse point where it was already colouring. "I know." He picked up the pace of his strokes. "That's the idea."
"Oh, shit!" John gasped, shuddered and came, Rodney holding him fast-- warm and solid and alive.
***
"What's this?" John asked, picking up the leather-bound notebook. "William Patrick Kavanagh, the third?" he asked, flipping it open.
"That's mine!" Kavanagh yelped, grabbing it. "Unhand my property, Doctor Sheppard."
John's eyes were glued to the page, however. "Wow. That's really good, Kavanagh."
"Thank you. Now let go."
"Got anyone else in here?"
"That's none of your business. Let go." Kavanagh was avoiding pulling, afraid the pages would tear.
John grinned and flipped to the beginning. "Oh, wow. You got his eyelashes and everything."
"Sheppard, please."
"What are you so worried about? These are great." John flipped a couple pages and gasped at the sketch of a naked Peter Grodin, stretched out on a couch, a mischievous smile playing at his lips, something intimate about the whole arrangement.
Kavanagh reached out and physically released John's grasp on the sketchbook, then clutched the book protectively against his chest. "I'd thank you to keep your hands off my property from now on."
"You and Grodin?" John asked.
"I realise it's difficult to wrap your little mind around, since everyone loved him and despised me, but, yes, we were together. I'll thank you not to sully my memories by joking about it."
John watched dumbfounded as Kavanagh stalked off, his sketchbook held close, and wondered how many of their people were silently grieving lovers lost in the siege.
***
"God, I've missed this," John moaned as Rodney's fingers moved inside him, stroking him back to hardness.
"You didn't have it for very long before you got stranded," Rodney teased.
"Long enough," John gasped, hips bucking up to meet Rodney's strokes. "Unhhh... Need you... Need you in me."
"Okay." Rodney shuddered, pulling his fingers free and slicking himself. "Turn over. I want to take you deep."
John's breath stuttered at the thought and then he quickly rolled over, lowering his head and raising his ass in the air. "Fuck, yes!"
Rodney positioned himself and pushed in slowly.
John whimpered.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... Just been a while."
"I'll try to take it slow." Rodney withdrew and then pushed back in, going a little deeper. "God, you're tight!"
"Ah. S-sorry." John shuddered as Rodney pushed deeper into him, feeling like he was being split open.
"Ngg... No, don't be sorry... Feels... so good..." Rodney said, sliding fully into John's heat. "Still okay?"
"Yeah... Just... hold on a minute..."
"'Kay." Rodney let his hands roam over John's back and ass before leaning over and slipping an arm around John's waist to fondle him.
John had gone half-soft, but groaned in pleasure as Rodney played with him, teasing his cock and tracing his balls. He bucked forward, thrusting into Rodney's hand, and then back to take Rodney deeper.
"Oh, yeah," Rodney moaned, thrusting in counterpoint to John's motion.
John gasped as Rodney's cock head slid against his prostate.
They fell silent, save for wordless sounds of pleasure as their bodies moved against each other. Rodney thrust harder and faster, his hand stroking John's cock with each withdrawal.
"Come again for me," Rodney moaned.
John let out an animal moan. "Fill me first."
"Yeah... Fuck, yeah..."
Rodney's hand spasmed and John felt heat spilling into him, throbbing deep. "Rodneeeeyy..." he moaned, his cock pulsing, spilling over Rodney's hand.
They hung in frozen tableau for a moment, letting their breath return to normal, then Rodney leaned down and kissed the back of John's neck. "I'm glad you waited for me."
"Yeah," John murmured. "Yeah. I'm glad, too."
***
Radek sat down at the table across from the dejected figure. Silently, he slid his chocolate pudding cup across to her. "Don't take it personally. It has been difficult couple of days for him."
Miko nodded. "I know."
"Are you coming tonight?"
"What?" she asked, distracted.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I have the rec room reserved for tonight. Remember?"
"Oh!" she looked at him and smiled. "I almost forgot. Yes. I would like that."
He nodded and grinned. "Is Doctor Simpson coming?"
"I'll make sure she comes. She needs it."
"Yes, she does. I invited McKay. You don't mind?"
She shook her head. "I will be over it by then. I should be used to his yelling by now."
"You could always do what I do-- swear at him in foreign language."
She laughed. "But then Doctor Kavanagh has blackmail material on me, if I do it in Japanese."
Radek raised his eyebrows. "Kavanagh?"
Miko nodded. "He worked two years at Hokkaido University in Sapporo."
"Really? He never fails to surprise me."
She glanced up where Kavanagh was walking in with Simpson by his side. "He surprises lot of people, given the chance."
***
Rodney started awake as John whimpered, shifting restlessly in bed. Rodney reached out and pulled his husband into the circle of his arms. John pressed against him, still asleep, tucking his face into Rodney's neck. Rodney kissed the top of John's head as his husband's breathing slowed and deepened, then wrinkled his nose as John's spiky hair tickled his nose. Rodney shifted enough to keep John's hair out of his nose and mouth and drifted back to sleep, still amazed to find his arms full of this warm and sexy man.
***
"Come on, Carson. You need to take a break," Rodney said, dragging his friend out of the infirmary.
"Really, Rodney, I'm on the verge of a breakthrough-- I can feel it," Carson objected.
"It'll still be there tomorrow morning, after some time off and a good night's sleep."
"Ye wouldn't be sayin' that if it was your research," Carson muttered, but allowed himself to be led to the rec room where Radek was re-arranging furniture while Kavanagh sat watching and occasionally offering suggestions.
"Hey, could I have a chair to prop my leg on?" Kavanagh asked. "It's been hurting like a bitch today."
"It's the rain," Radek said, shifting a chair and placing Kavanagh's casted leg on it. "Good?"
"Yes. Thanks."
"You know, I think your language has gotten worse since Colonel Everett has gotten here," Radek said, filling the place from which he'd taken the chair.
"What do you mean?"
"The... vulgar words. You seem more inclined to use them."
Kavanagh chuckled. "Are you telling me Dillon's a bad influence on me?"
Radek shrugged. "Merely making observation." He glanced up and smiled at Rodney and Carson. "Doctor Beckett! I didn't expect you tonight."
"That's not a problem, is it?" Carson asked.
"Of course it's not a problem," Rodney said, pushing Carson into the room and then grabbing a seat on a couch nearest the end table. "John's bringing Teyla, by the way. We heard Simpson had invited Sergeant Cole, so we figured it wasn't strictly science division, and Teyla likes the exposure to Earth culture."
Radek gave him a smile that was half annoyance and half amusement, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is prime example of Earth marriage."
"It's probably closer than the only live example we have here," Kavanagh quipped.
"Are you insinuating gay marriage is somehow inferior to straight marriage?" Rodney asked.
"God, I hope not," Kavanagh said. "Oh, Radek, I, uh, kind of invited Ronon. I don't know if he's coming, though."
Radek sighed and started rearranging chairs.
"Can I help?" Carson asked.
"Just leave that," Rodney said. "Everyone'll rearrange them anyway. And half the people will sit on the floor."
"I already told him that," Kavanagh said. "Hey, Beckett, can you grab me a can out of the cooler over there?"
"Of course," Carson said, opening up the cooler full of ice and pulling out a familiar red can.
"Oh, is that real, honest to God Coke?" Rodney asked, eyes lighting up.
"I got six cases on the last Daedalus run," Kavanagh explained. "I was feeling generous tonight."
"Six? How do you rate six?" Rodney asked, snapping his fingers at Carson and holding out a hand.
"Traded Martinez for a couple bottles of hooch I've needed to get out of my quarters," Kavanagh answered.
Carson handed Rodney and Kavanagh each cans and then pulled out two more, handing Radek one.
"Hey, is that real Coke?" John asked, walking into the room with Teyla.
"Aye, it is," Carson answered, handing John a can. "Did ye want one, love?" he asked Teyla.
"No, thank you, Doctor. I do not care for the taste."
John tossed a bag of Doritos on a table.
"Oh, give!" Rodney said, making grabby hands.
John held up a second bag. "One to share, one to keep for you to pig out on."
"Are you insinuating I eat too much."
John flopped down on the couch next to his husband and leaned over to give him a quick kiss, poking the hint of belly above Rodney's waistline. "If the shoe fits..."
"That is a fascinating expression," Teyla said, settling on another couch. "I was just discussing it the other day with Major Lorne and Lieutenant..." Her voice faded.
The smile slid from Carson's face and he looked away from them, his eyes blinking. There was an uncomfortable silence, then Carson said. "I... uh... forgot I had some biscuits I've been saving for the next social. I'll be back." He headed quickly toward the door, head down.
"Carson..." Rodney said.
"I just need a minute," Carson said, not turning around. "I'll just be a few."
"Damn!" Rodney swore.
"I am sorry," Teyla said. "I momentarily forgot."
"It's okay," John said. "Weird things can set you off in times of grief. I still can't eat snicker doodle cookies without thinking of my dad."
"Prince of Wales tea," Kavanagh said, a sad smile on his lips.
John nodded. He had a vague recollection that it was Peter Grodin's favourite.
"Real, homemade tapioca pudding," Rodney said, pulling John closer to him.
"Are we listing off things we miss from home?" Doctor Bryce asked as she walked in with a mousy man in ill-fitting jeans and sweatshirt.
"Eldon!" Rodney exclaimed. "Decide to come get a little Earth culture?"
The man smiled shyly. "Yes. Doctor Parrish mentioned it to me when he dropped by the chemistry lab. It's... It's okay, right?"
"It is fine," Radek assured him. "Come in. Have you met Rodney's husband, Doctor Sheppard?"
***
Rodney disentangled himself and slipped quietly into the bathroom, leaving John asleep. John was waiting outside the bathroom when Rodney left.
"Need two bathrooms," he muttered sleepily as he passed Rodney.
Rodney grunted his agreement, then went and collapsed back into the bed and slipped back into sleep, barely stirring when John climbed in behind him.
He swam back to consciousness to the sensation of John tracing the jagged edges of the scar on his back. He shivered at the light touch.
"Sorry," John whispered, laying his hand flat and sweeping down the broad planes of Rodney's back.
Rodney hummed appreciatively. "Feels good."
John's hand skimmed down to where Rodney's back curved out. "I like your ass."
"Mm. Wouldn't know it when we have sex."
"Hey, I never said I liked it better than your cock."
Rodney moaned as John teased his asscheeks. "You're turning me on."
"Yeah?" John kissed the back of Rodney's neck. "You like having your ass rubbed?"
"Yes."
"How about fucked?"
"God, yes!"
"Good," John breathed, one finger sliding into the crease between Rodney's cheeks. "Hand me the lube."
***
By the time Carson returned with his contribution to the snacks, the room was full of scientists from every discipline as well as all three non-Terrans living in the city. Seeing him, Ronon stood waving him to his seat, and then went and plopped down in front of Kavanagh's seat like an overgrown dog. Carson murmured a quick thanks and settled down next to Teyla.
Radek confirmed that everyone they were expecting was there and started the movie.
An hour into the movie, Teyla slumped into Carson.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
"I am just very tired."
Carson nodded. "I know what ye mean."
They settled comfortably against each other.
"Here I thought they'd end like Butch and Sundance," John said as the lights came up.
"Shhh!" Miko said and pointed.
Teyla was curled on the couch, her head in Carson's lap. Carson's arm curled protectively around her waist, his head tipped back. They were both sound asleep.
"Aw! Don't they look sweet?" Katie Brown said.
"They look exhausted," Rodney answered.
"Do we wake them up?" Parrish asked.
"Nah," John said. "Leave 'em alone."
Everyone quickly and quietly cleaned up, whispering and grinning like schoolgirls with a secret. As they left the room, Rodney set the lock.
***
"Thanks," Simpson said to Radek and Miko as they stopped in front of her apartment.
"It was a good night," Radek said.
"Yes," Miko agreed.
Unexpectedly, Simpson threw her arms around Radek's neck, hugging him quickly, and then did the same with Miko. "Invite him in," she whispered to Miko. "You don't know the time." And then she pulled back, smiled at the two, and went into her room.
Radek raised his eyebrows at Miko. She shrugged. They turned and walked to Miko's apartment a few doors down from Simpson's.
"Thank you for planning this," Miko said. "It was needed."
Radek smiled. "Thank you for coming."
She hesitated a moment, then smiled shyly. "Would you... Would you like to come in?"
Their eyes met. Radek nodded. "Yes. I'd like that."
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