Reunion Missing Scene
Title: Memento
Category: Gen
Spoilers/Warnings: through Reunion
Word Count: 718
“Ronon has decided to leave Atlantis.”
McKay’s fingers stilled over the keyboard as the words sunk in. Unwilling to risk a look at Sheppard, Rodney made a show of peering at his monitor. “Are you sure?”
“It’s pretty hard to misinterpret something like that, McKay.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
The scientist’s head snapped up. “What?”
And for a split second John’s impassive expression flickered before the mask slammed back into place. “What could I say? I can’t force him to stay.” He met the scientist’s gaze. “We always knew this day might come.”
Rodney had known; he had just refused to think about it. “So that’s it? You’re just going to let him leave?”
“You want me to throw him in a holding cell?” Sheppard moved away, randomly picking up devices. “I think that’s what Carter is planning. She said she wanted to talk to him.”
“Oh, I’m sure that will help. You should have heard their last conversation.” He crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at the pilot’s back. “You can’t let this happen.”
John turned around, and McKay flinched at the sorrow and loss in his friend’s eyes. “The funny thing is I actually understand. If I were in his position and found the three of you alive after nine years, I’d leave too.” Embarrassment colored Sheppard’s face as if he suddenly realized he had spoken aloud. “Um, anyway, be geared up and in the jumper bay by 0800 tomorrow,” he threw over his shoulder on his way out.
As the door’s slid shut, Rodney massaged his temples in an attempt to ward off the building headache. The wound from losing Carson had just begun to heal when they had lost Weir. Now this. Pushing away from the lab table, McKay tugged his uniform jacket into place and stalked out. He was going to give that overgrown Neanderthal a piece of his mind.
Expedition members scrambled out of his way as he marched down the corridor and into the transporter. Exiting, he rounded the corner and stomped to Ronon’s quarters, activating the chime. When no response came he tried again. Still receiving no answer, he hammered a fist against the door.
“Open up! I want to talk to you.”
At the silence, he overrode the lock and entered, stopping short at the lack of possessions. He had seen Dex’s quarters once before when the man had returned from Sateda dragging a sack of junk in McKay’s opinion; the room had been filled with books and art from dozens of cultures. Rodney walked in and turned around, his gaze taking in a single bag left in the floor and a hideous painting leaning against the wall. He was too late.
His breath caught as reality hit him and ripped the jagged wound open again. Ronon was really going to leave. Rodney sat down heavily on the bed as he tried to wrap his mind around the thought. While he had not had a close friendship with the Satedan like Sheppard, he and Dex had developed their own unique relationship, trading fighting techniques for scientific knowledge. More than that, they had saved each other’s lives on countless occasions. To think that a man like Ronon and a man like him could become friends was odd to say the least, but they had. McKay had so few friends, real friends, and he was losing them one by one.
His eyes tracked back to the painting: a barren landscape filled with ruins and set against a bloody sky while three soldiers hefted swords in victory. Dark and violent, the piece was not something Rodney would ever consider owning, but it was definitely reminiscent of Ronon. Making a quick decision, McKay picked it up and, confirming the coast was clear, darted down the corridor.
Hurrying to his room, he rushed inside and locked the door before heading to the alcove in the back. Tucked far enough away that no one could see the contents, he kept what he valued most here: the photo of him and Carson, Ford’s ball cap, the patch from Grodin’s jacket, Elizabeth’s necklace. He carefully leaned the painting against the table and stepped back. One more memento.
Sighing, he walked away. At least he would get the chance to say goodbye this time.