Fic: Connecting the Dots 15/19; AU; PG (language)
Title: Connecting the Dots: Chapter 12 - 15/19 (completed)
Chapter Pairing: Evan, Rodney, John
Chapter Rating: PG (language)
Chapter Word Count: 1521
Chapter Summary: Rodney gets things off his chest and John tells Evan how he feels
Chapter Timeline: Search and Rescue
Notes: Connecting the Dots is a look at Evan's journey throughout Stargate. Overall it's approximately 38,000 words, with chapter ratings mostly hovering between PG-13 and NC-17. I began this some time ago (>1 year) and it was initially betaed by
fififolle and
whytewytch4 who provided great feedback on plot, punctuation and a host of other issues. (Thanks!) Any remaining issues are completely attributable to me.
Afraid Rodney may bring the remaining rubble crushing down on them, Evan tries to reassure Rodney. “Look, there're no bad guys around, okay? No bad guys, just a lot of debris. So if you could please just sit tight and try not to make the ceiling collapse, that would be great.”
“Okay,” Rodney says, trying to convince himself. “No bad guys. Just…just sit tight.”
They sit in silence for a few minutes. Rodney looks around and picks through the loose debris while Evan watches him.
“Rodney?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry about you and Katie.”
“Thanks,” Rodney mumbles.
“How are you holding up?”
“Surprisingly well.” Rodney gives Evan a sideways glance. “I really liked her but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“I miss you.” Evan sees Rodney stiffen at his words. “I’m sorry. I know now’s not the time -”
“Really?” Rodney turns to face Evan, his eyes narrowed in anger. “Now’s not the time? What about telling me you want me back just before I was ready to ask Katie to marry me?”
“I know and I’m -”
“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. What you should be sorry for is treating me like you did.”
Evan gives him a confused look. “How did I treat you?”
“Like I was nothing but your therapist.”
“What?”
“You used me,” Rodney yells.
“I did not,” Evan says faintly.
“Didn’t you? Jason breaks your heart, you find out that I know about - well, you know - then we start dating and as soon as your ego has recovered you dump me to take care of yourself. And then we’re supposed to just be friends?”
“You said you wanted to still be friends,” Evan asserts.
“I did,” Rodney says nodding his head. “And I meant it. Because I thought you would quickly see the error of your ways. I could see the hurt your decision was causing you and I thought you really wanted to be with me.”
“I did. I do.” Evan’s not sure if he’s trying to convince Rodney or himself
“Really? Because in hindsight it doesn’t seem like it.” Rodney takes a breath. “I know I’m not one to preach against selfishness but did you once think about me when you were making that decision?”
“Yes. I thought -”
“About how much you may have meant to me? Apparently not.” Rodney crosses his arms and looks down his nose at Evan. “I’m not sure if you’ve ever actually met me but I’m Doctor Rodney McKay. I tend to not give two shits about most people and their feelings but I cared about you. A lot. I wanted to protect you, help you…with anything and everything. I would have done anything for you.”
Knowing everything Rodney says is true Evan is ashamed of his behavior. He asks softly, “Why didn’t you wait?”
“For how long? I know it’s hard to believe but there are things that I would rather do besides sitting around waiting for you to get your head out of your ass.”
“If you’ll have me I’d like to try again now. I think I’m ready for -”
“You think you’re ready?” Rodney looks at Evan, incredulous. “To try? And if we get together and you’re not ready? Am I supposed to go through this again?”
Unable to refute Rodney’s logic, Evan hangs his head. “You’re right. I’m -”
“Don’t,” Rodney cuts him off sharply.
The two men settle into an uncomfortable silence.
---
“Hey,” Rodney says as he approaches Evan’s bed in the infirmary. “How’s the leg?”
“It’s an incomplete fracture, not completely broken,” Evan says glumly. He studiously avoids looking up at Rodney. “It’ll still be a few weeks before I’m back out in the field, though.”
“I’m sorry.”
Evan huffs at Rodney’s words.
“Okay,” Rodney begins, “so I was a bit harsh.”
“You harsh? Never,” Evan grumbles.
“Just so you know, when you’re confined to a bed sarcasm isn’t a good look on you.”
“Thank you for informing me. I’ll be sure to ask Dr. Keller to change my meds.”
“I’m sure Jennifer will be happy to -”
“Jennifer?” Evan doesn’t miss the sudden use of the doctor’s first name.
Rodney shrugs. “We’ve been talking.”
“Have you?” Evan asks as he turns his head to Rodney and raises an eyebrow. “I thought maybe we could discuss us.”
Rodney crosses his arms. “Did you? Because I’m pretty sure we did that already.”
“When I told you to keep McKay safe,” John says as he enters the infirmary and nears the bed, “I thought it was self-explanatory that you would stay safe, too.”
“Sorry, sir,” Evan says with a forced smile. He looks Rodney in the eye. “My mistake.”
“I’m going to go check on Zelenka,” Rodney says before walking away.
“How’re you feeling?” John asks as he sits in the chair next to Evan’s bed. He slouches down in the chair and puts his feet up against the side of the bed.
“Leg hurts like a bitch,” Evan responds. He lets out a sigh. “Well, Rodney and I are officially done.”
“Yeah? Sorry to hear that.” John looks Evan over for a moment. “Need to talk?”
“No, not really. I knew we were done. I just hoped we could work it out and start over. I actually like the snarky bastard.”
John watches Evan fuss with his sheets and pillows trying to get comfortable. Knowing what it’s like being confined to the infirmary, John stands and helps Evan situate himself.
“Thanks,” Evan says after John finishes. “How do you do it?”
“I just pretend the pillows are whoever I’m mad at and punch the crap out of them,” John says as he retakes his seat.
“Okay,” Evan says with a laugh. “But I meant with Ronon.”
“Ronon?”
“Yeah. Your relationship with him. How do you make it work?”
John looks at Evan wondering if there was any sort of head injury along with the fractured leg. “Somehow I don’t think you’re talking about my friendship with him.”
“Aren’t you two…you know?”
“Ronon?” John doesn’t hide his shock. “No! The man’s straighter than a line between McKay and coffee. Where’d you get that idea?”
“Never mind.” Though Evan wants to be mad he can’t fault Ronon for trying to help. He closes his eyes and groans. “So I’m here for two days. She wants to make sure there’s no secondary infection.”
“That sucks.” John raises his voice so Doctor Keller can hear. “Carson would at least let us stay in our quarters to recover.”
“Carson’s much more trusting than I am,” Keller answers. She approaches the men. “I know you guys well enough to know that if I were to release you, you’d just spend your time running around getting into more trouble.”
John looks up at her. It’s the same look he used to give Elizabeth when trying to get her to agree to something he knew was a long shot. “If I promise to order him to remain in bed will you let him out? I know too well how much this place sucks.”
“I won’t take offense to that,” Keller says with a patient smile. “Fine. Major, you’re confined to your quarters for the next 48 hours. But I swear if I hear anything about you being out of bed…,” she trails off giving him a stern look.
“I promise you, I’ll stay in bed the entire time,” Evan says eagerly.
“And there will be surprise checkups,” she adds as she helps him into a wheelchair.
“Don’t worry, Doc,” John says as he wheels Evan toward the door. “I’ll take good care of him.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” she says as the men leave the infirmary.
---
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a little shit?” John asks as he tosses his cards onto the table.
“Yeah,” Evan says nonchalantly as he takes a turn shuffling. “You did. Yesterday when I beat your sorry ass at chess.”
John looks at him from between narrowed eyes. “I’m your commanding officer; shouldn’t you be a bit more respectful?”
“Out in the field, sure. But in my quarters, not so much.” Evan’s mouth twists up in a smirk. “Especially not when I’m topless and in my boxers.”
“You know,” John says thoughtfully as he looks over Evan. “Years ago I would have killed for this view. Now…meh.” He shrugs as he gives his assessment.
Evan raises his eyebrows, offended. “Meh?”
“Yeah. Meh.”
“Well I’m sorry I don’t live up to your standards,” Evan says in a huff. He stands and limps over to his bed and puts on the robe that is lying in a ball at the foot before returning to the table with John.
John laughs as he watches Evan cover himself. “I didn’t mean that you were Quasimodo or anything. I still think you’re a good-looking guy with an amazing body. It’s just - How can I explain it? Friendship is important to me.”
“It’s all so clear now,” Evan says drily.
“Evan.” John pauses to take a breath. “I would rather have you like this every day than in bed for one night of great sex.”
Chapter 13
Chapter Pairing: Evan, Rodney, John
Chapter Rating: PG (language)
Chapter Word Count: 1521
Chapter Summary: Rodney gets things off his chest and John tells Evan how he feels
Chapter Timeline: Search and Rescue
Notes: Connecting the Dots is a look at Evan's journey throughout Stargate. Overall it's approximately 38,000 words, with chapter ratings mostly hovering between PG-13 and NC-17. I began this some time ago (>1 year) and it was initially betaed by
fififolle and
whytewytch4 who provided great feedback on plot, punctuation and a host of other issues. (Thanks!) Any remaining issues are completely attributable to me.
Afraid Rodney may bring the remaining rubble crushing down on them, Evan tries to reassure Rodney. “Look, there're no bad guys around, okay? No bad guys, just a lot of debris. So if you could please just sit tight and try not to make the ceiling collapse, that would be great.”
“Okay,” Rodney says, trying to convince himself. “No bad guys. Just…just sit tight.”
They sit in silence for a few minutes. Rodney looks around and picks through the loose debris while Evan watches him.
“Rodney?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry about you and Katie.”
“Thanks,” Rodney mumbles.
“How are you holding up?”
“Surprisingly well.” Rodney gives Evan a sideways glance. “I really liked her but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“I miss you.” Evan sees Rodney stiffen at his words. “I’m sorry. I know now’s not the time -”
“Really?” Rodney turns to face Evan, his eyes narrowed in anger. “Now’s not the time? What about telling me you want me back just before I was ready to ask Katie to marry me?”
“I know and I’m -”
“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. What you should be sorry for is treating me like you did.”
Evan gives him a confused look. “How did I treat you?”
“Like I was nothing but your therapist.”
“What?”
“You used me,” Rodney yells.
“I did not,” Evan says faintly.
“Didn’t you? Jason breaks your heart, you find out that I know about - well, you know - then we start dating and as soon as your ego has recovered you dump me to take care of yourself. And then we’re supposed to just be friends?”
“You said you wanted to still be friends,” Evan asserts.
“I did,” Rodney says nodding his head. “And I meant it. Because I thought you would quickly see the error of your ways. I could see the hurt your decision was causing you and I thought you really wanted to be with me.”
“I did. I do.” Evan’s not sure if he’s trying to convince Rodney or himself
“Really? Because in hindsight it doesn’t seem like it.” Rodney takes a breath. “I know I’m not one to preach against selfishness but did you once think about me when you were making that decision?”
“Yes. I thought -”
“About how much you may have meant to me? Apparently not.” Rodney crosses his arms and looks down his nose at Evan. “I’m not sure if you’ve ever actually met me but I’m Doctor Rodney McKay. I tend to not give two shits about most people and their feelings but I cared about you. A lot. I wanted to protect you, help you…with anything and everything. I would have done anything for you.”
Knowing everything Rodney says is true Evan is ashamed of his behavior. He asks softly, “Why didn’t you wait?”
“For how long? I know it’s hard to believe but there are things that I would rather do besides sitting around waiting for you to get your head out of your ass.”
“If you’ll have me I’d like to try again now. I think I’m ready for -”
“You think you’re ready?” Rodney looks at Evan, incredulous. “To try? And if we get together and you’re not ready? Am I supposed to go through this again?”
Unable to refute Rodney’s logic, Evan hangs his head. “You’re right. I’m -”
“Don’t,” Rodney cuts him off sharply.
The two men settle into an uncomfortable silence.
---
“Hey,” Rodney says as he approaches Evan’s bed in the infirmary. “How’s the leg?”
“It’s an incomplete fracture, not completely broken,” Evan says glumly. He studiously avoids looking up at Rodney. “It’ll still be a few weeks before I’m back out in the field, though.”
“I’m sorry.”
Evan huffs at Rodney’s words.
“Okay,” Rodney begins, “so I was a bit harsh.”
“You harsh? Never,” Evan grumbles.
“Just so you know, when you’re confined to a bed sarcasm isn’t a good look on you.”
“Thank you for informing me. I’ll be sure to ask Dr. Keller to change my meds.”
“I’m sure Jennifer will be happy to -”
“Jennifer?” Evan doesn’t miss the sudden use of the doctor’s first name.
Rodney shrugs. “We’ve been talking.”
“Have you?” Evan asks as he turns his head to Rodney and raises an eyebrow. “I thought maybe we could discuss us.”
Rodney crosses his arms. “Did you? Because I’m pretty sure we did that already.”
“When I told you to keep McKay safe,” John says as he enters the infirmary and nears the bed, “I thought it was self-explanatory that you would stay safe, too.”
“Sorry, sir,” Evan says with a forced smile. He looks Rodney in the eye. “My mistake.”
“I’m going to go check on Zelenka,” Rodney says before walking away.
“How’re you feeling?” John asks as he sits in the chair next to Evan’s bed. He slouches down in the chair and puts his feet up against the side of the bed.
“Leg hurts like a bitch,” Evan responds. He lets out a sigh. “Well, Rodney and I are officially done.”
“Yeah? Sorry to hear that.” John looks Evan over for a moment. “Need to talk?”
“No, not really. I knew we were done. I just hoped we could work it out and start over. I actually like the snarky bastard.”
John watches Evan fuss with his sheets and pillows trying to get comfortable. Knowing what it’s like being confined to the infirmary, John stands and helps Evan situate himself.
“Thanks,” Evan says after John finishes. “How do you do it?”
“I just pretend the pillows are whoever I’m mad at and punch the crap out of them,” John says as he retakes his seat.
“Okay,” Evan says with a laugh. “But I meant with Ronon.”
“Ronon?”
“Yeah. Your relationship with him. How do you make it work?”
John looks at Evan wondering if there was any sort of head injury along with the fractured leg. “Somehow I don’t think you’re talking about my friendship with him.”
“Aren’t you two…you know?”
“Ronon?” John doesn’t hide his shock. “No! The man’s straighter than a line between McKay and coffee. Where’d you get that idea?”
“Never mind.” Though Evan wants to be mad he can’t fault Ronon for trying to help. He closes his eyes and groans. “So I’m here for two days. She wants to make sure there’s no secondary infection.”
“That sucks.” John raises his voice so Doctor Keller can hear. “Carson would at least let us stay in our quarters to recover.”
“Carson’s much more trusting than I am,” Keller answers. She approaches the men. “I know you guys well enough to know that if I were to release you, you’d just spend your time running around getting into more trouble.”
John looks up at her. It’s the same look he used to give Elizabeth when trying to get her to agree to something he knew was a long shot. “If I promise to order him to remain in bed will you let him out? I know too well how much this place sucks.”
“I won’t take offense to that,” Keller says with a patient smile. “Fine. Major, you’re confined to your quarters for the next 48 hours. But I swear if I hear anything about you being out of bed…,” she trails off giving him a stern look.
“I promise you, I’ll stay in bed the entire time,” Evan says eagerly.
“And there will be surprise checkups,” she adds as she helps him into a wheelchair.
“Don’t worry, Doc,” John says as he wheels Evan toward the door. “I’ll take good care of him.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” she says as the men leave the infirmary.
---
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a little shit?” John asks as he tosses his cards onto the table.
“Yeah,” Evan says nonchalantly as he takes a turn shuffling. “You did. Yesterday when I beat your sorry ass at chess.”
John looks at him from between narrowed eyes. “I’m your commanding officer; shouldn’t you be a bit more respectful?”
“Out in the field, sure. But in my quarters, not so much.” Evan’s mouth twists up in a smirk. “Especially not when I’m topless and in my boxers.”
“You know,” John says thoughtfully as he looks over Evan. “Years ago I would have killed for this view. Now…meh.” He shrugs as he gives his assessment.
Evan raises his eyebrows, offended. “Meh?”
“Yeah. Meh.”
“Well I’m sorry I don’t live up to your standards,” Evan says in a huff. He stands and limps over to his bed and puts on the robe that is lying in a ball at the foot before returning to the table with John.
John laughs as he watches Evan cover himself. “I didn’t mean that you were Quasimodo or anything. I still think you’re a good-looking guy with an amazing body. It’s just - How can I explain it? Friendship is important to me.”
“It’s all so clear now,” Evan says drily.
“Evan.” John pauses to take a breath. “I would rather have you like this every day than in bed for one night of great sex.”
Chapter 13