"Your girlfriend is expanding," McCoy echoes from behind the other man, arms crossed as he gives him a dubious look. "I'm guessing she's either contracted some kind of virus that's doing a number on her or I ought to give you some congratulations." He arches his brow. "That is, if you're happy about it."
"Hell, if they're going to expect me to keep it together out in the pitch black vacuum of death, I'm going to crack a joke or two," McCoy announces with a tight smile, arching his brow. "So it is the latter? How pregnant is she?"
McCoy can't help his amusement because he really does remember that nauseous panic and he still remembers when it had all faded away. "Go on," he prods. "You can say it. Before she gives birth." He eases close enough to lean his hip against the bookcase. "It won't be the end of the world. It'll change the whole universe, but it won't end. I promise."
"How do I know?" McCoy echoes with slight derision and wonders what kind of advice McKay's looking for if he's just going to balk at everything. "Well, I know because I am a father, myself. And yeah, beforehand I thought that my world was going to get irrevocably wrecked, but let me tell you, it was for the better."
"Terrifying," he says bluntly, because hell, it was. "Suddenly life's not just about your work and your new wife, but suddenly you've got the prospect of a tiny little human being who's going to wail more than you like and could fall prey to a hundred diseases that target infants. They cry, whine, and they're needy. And it's going to be all yours. You have to protect that kid from the world. Like I said. Terrifying."
Rodney frowned. "That actually sounds like most of the adult human beings I've had to deal with over the years," he said. "And they kept getting into impossible life-threatening situations I had to get them out of."
Yes, Sheppard and the rest of them had been like children sometimes, with Rodney the beleaguered parent picking up after their mess.
"Yeah, well, I'm not saying adults are any different because trust me, after treating some of the cases I have, I'm starting to think they're all infants," he muttered. "But at least with kids, they're not supposed to know better. They're...innocent, still. And trust me, you'll do anything to protect that."
"Yeah, but it's different when you're the Dad," he says, or at least he thinks. He's not exactly sure how other people feel about this, but other people don't just have their lives taken away from them. "Anyway, I haven't seen my kid in years. I might not be the best advocate on this front."
"Saving the galaxy is a little distracting from being a parent," said McKay. "I don't think I ever would have...It wasn't intentional anyway, but I doubt the possibility would have even come up if I hadn't ended up here." He frowned. "I don't know whether to be pissed or glad about that." Right now, it was mostly the former.
"Well, you've got time. Seven months?" he echoes, trying to remember what he'd said. "Or was it five? Either way, up until that point, you've got all the time to kick and fuss and whine, but the minute the baby's born, you better shape up. Or your life'll just move on without you."
"Thank you for that infinitely helpful piece of advice, Mr. Dad of the Year," Rodney said sarcastically, but it was more out of habit. He knew what McCoy said was true. He wasn't yet resigned to his fate, but he was getting there.
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"And I didn't say I wasn't happy about it," he added after a moment, and this time he did turn to give the other man a dirty look.
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He looked queasy at the thought of it.
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It felt weird even saying it.
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"What was it like?" he asked, after a beat. "Having a kid, I mean."
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Yes, Sheppard and the rest of them had been like children sometimes, with Rodney the beleaguered parent picking up after their mess.
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"I don't know, I mean, my illusions were shattered pretty early and I turned out okay." Despite the evidence to the contrary.
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