Fic: Don't I know you from somewhere? SGA, pre-John/Rodney, rated G
Title: Don't I know you from somewhere?
Character/Pairing: future!Rodney, John, pre-slash John/Rodney
Word count/Rating: 2150 words, Rated G
Summary: (coda to The Last Man) After he programs Atlantis, Rodney retires in 2008.
A/N: For ohliberty at the sgoc who enjoys McShep and stories where there is time travel. I hope you like it! I'm using if the cliche_bingo : time travel. Many thanks to jaydblu for looking the fic over for me ♥
After a dozen simulations, all giving satisfactory results, Rodney takes a deep breath and has to face the hard facts: it's done. He has gambled and there is absolutely nothing left to do. Either this will save John in over 48 000 years from now - and allow him to go back to Atlantis when they need him the most - or it won't.
And he'll never know.
He's suddenly utterly exhausted, as if all of those years with the numbers and 'what if' rolling in his head 24/7 just came to an abrupt halt and left him drained. Rodney's never felt so old. What is left, now? He's lived for this for so long that he's not sure he can go on without it. The city hums, as if she recognizes him after all those years and wants Rodney to stay but it's not his home anymore; he doesn't feel like going back to Earth either. It's not like someone will miss him.
A crazy idea forms and Rodney turns back towards the computer, giving instructions before he can stop himself. He determines that there's a possibility in the next hour, which seems enough like Faith that he has to do it. After a quick message to General Lorne and Jeannie, Rodney dials the gate at precisely the right second and steps through the puddle.
*
"Mister Emmett!" Yulie enters his workshop at a run and it wakes Rodney from his post-lunch nap.
"Mister Emmett, the Atlanteans are here! They came back!"
It's unexpected and hits like a blow, raising his heartbeat until it seizes and for a moment Rodney thinks he's having a heart attack, before he identifies the feeling as deep longing. Voice rough, he shoos his overly enthusiastic assistant out.
"And why would I care? Go away!" he says.
"But Mister Emmett!" Yulie says, eyes round. "Don't you want to meet them? It's Colonel Sheppard's team!"
The way she says it, with what looks like hero worship and hearts in her eyes is probably what finally brings it home: it worked. His lifetime quest was not pointless, after all. Rodney's been on the planet where Atlantis' sister city is buried for months now, after he took a solar flare to 2008 that brought him only months after John disappeared. Since, he's heard rumors about the Atlantean's fight against Michael and the Wraith, how this or that iconic figure had died or on the contrary had killed a thousand Wraiths. There's no reliable information network in Pegasus, or at least none that he's privy to, so Rodney hadn't been sure he had fixed things. None the less, Rodney has made a life for himself here, and thinks of it as the perfect retirement where he fixes stuff to pay his rent and food and no one bothers him most days.
"Go see them, if they're so fantastic," Rodney says and Yulie runs out immediately.
Rodney's just stalling, only waiting before he goes out himself because he needs to prepare first. He cannot risk influencing things too much by interacting with his old team, or worse with himself. Rodney dresses with a robe with a hood and stops at the mirror to check his reflection. He nods at the man in the mirror: no way they'll recognize him with a beard if he doesn't go close.
But it's easier said than done, since Sheppard always had his own gravitation field and it's working full power even now. He's perfect as always, gorgeous in his black uniform and smiling at a besotted Yulie who apparently found the guts to go speak to him. Seeing himself young is a shock, too, and Rodney smiles as he remembers how it was to be not even forty and feel like the universe owes you because you are just that good. Ronon is as impressive as ever but looks so impossibly young. He's just a kid, Rodney realizes. A huge Great Dane of a kid with knives and a cool looking gun, but so young. They've got a Marine with them, one Rodney forgot the name of, if he ever knew it at all. Teyla is nowhere in sight and it worries Rodney. Maybe they didn't get to her in time and he suddenly needs to know.
For the moment, Rodney doesn't dare to go too close, so he observes from the back of the room. What he sees makes him grin: how they easily interact with each other, the banter and the teasing that goes back and forth. The four years in Atlantis were the best of his life, hands down, Rodney realizes. His younger self - he'll think of him as McKay - looks well, smiling and cocky and Rodney wonders how it's going with Jennifer. That's another question he'd ask if he could, because she died way too young in his alliteration of this reality. As always, though, and especially now that he won't get caught, it's Sheppard that Rodney observes, trying to get his fill. The posture as he sprawls in his chair, almost revoking his right as a vertebrate, the smiles and the charm, it's all there and Rodney's not the only one in the room to stare, far from it.
The most surprising discovery Rodney makes, though, is that John is doing some staring of his own. He's definitely keeping tabs on McKay, and what Rodney had thought was just being extra vigilant at first doesn't hold after a while. John's not that subtle, and his face is surprisingly unguarded, though he's fast to grow a blank or friendly mask when McKay turns to him.
Rodney won't lie, when Yulie had approached him to become his assistant for the repair shop, the fact she looked so much like a young Samantha Carter had been a nice argument in her favor. So he was nostalgic, sue him. And Yulie had proven to be smart, too, though far from Carter - she had been one in a billion, so it wouldn't have been fair to compare. Yulie is young and curious, and when she starts asking questions to the young McKay, Rodney's suspicions about John harboring feelings for him are confirmed by the jealous scowl he aims at Yulie. Rodney shakes his head, wondering if it's new and he's annoyed at himself that he never realized this vital information. He's always known that he was oblivious to those things, but that takes the cake. Having John Sheppard interested in you and never knowing about it is a tragic waste.
After maybe an hour of watching, Rodney realizes he's not doing himself any good. He cannot go back in this life - he's already living it through McKay - and he doesn't have the constitution to be of any help for the Atlanteans. They seem to be doing well and that's all he can ask for. He exits the ballroom and goes to the balcony to clear his head; in a minute he'll go back to his house and try to sleep.
"Thank you, Yulie. I'm fine, you can go back in."
It's John and Rodney curses under his breath: he should have left a while ago. He knows exactly what happened and that John asked where he could get some fresh air, annoyed at the constant invasion of his personal space. He tolerates his team members and close friends, but they've all learned early that John cannot sustain big crowds for too long at a time. Poor love-struck Yulie doesn't understand that John really needs to recharge his batteries with a bit of alone time, and that asking for air wasn't his way to make a pass at her.
"Are you sure?" she asks, disappointed.
"Yeah, thanks. I just need a minute," John says.
"But..."
Not wanting the girl to humiliate herself more, Rodney stands up from his seat in the dark corner of the balcony, which surprises both John and Yulie. Rodney looks down, hiding his face the best he can.
"I was just leaving," he says, pitching his voice low, and grabs Yulie's elbow. "Come with me, girl, let's leave our guest in peace," he tells her.
"But Mister Emmett..." she protests and Rodney just wishes that she'd do as she's asked, for once in her life.
"Mister Emmett?" John says as he walks sideways, blocking Rodney's retreat. "I don't think we've met, I'm Colonel John Sheppard."
He's offering his hand and there's nothing Rodney can do to avoid it. Rodney lets Yulie go to return the handshake and glances rapidly up at John's face with a smile. He's got the beard, he'll be okay.
"I am honored," he says. "Now if you'll excuse me..."
But John's eyes widen and his grip gets tight before he suddenly lets go. Shit. Rodney coughs and hurries for the stairs while a dejected Yulie goes back in the ballroom.
"Have a nice stay, Colonel," Rodney says.
Maybe he's going to be able to escape and John will pass this on the alcohol. But that’s obviously too much to ask.
"McKay?" John says and it's automatic, Rodney glances over his shoulder. Not a minute later he's being pushed against the wall, John pinning him in place.
"What is this?" he asks, shaken. "How is this possible? There are two of you? Are you a clone?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rodney tries as a last resort but John shakes his head.
"Don't bullshit me," he says. "I'd know you anywhere, Rodney."
With a big sigh Rodney sags against the wall.
"Okay, sorry. Long story short: in 2034, after I programmed my hologram into Atlantis, I decided to retire in Pegasus."
John raises one eyebrow.
"But to retire in 2008," John says.
Rodney rolls his eyes.
"Yes, in 2008. The music in the 30’s is terrible and I missed the Wraith and excitement. I'm glad to see you made it, by the way. It would have sucked for me to work my whole life on that program then nothing," Rodney says.
"Wow," John says, finally stepping back and Rodney misses the contact instantly. "I can't believe it. Yes, it worked. I don't know if I thanked you enough for that."
"You're welcome," Rodney says. "Did you find Teyla?"
That John smiles is an instant relief.
"Yeah, eventually. She's on Atlantis with her son," he says. "In fact, she's due back on the team in a couple of weeks."
"Oh thank god!" Rodney exclaims. Thanks heavens, they succeeded. He still remembers the shock of finding her dead. "Jennifer?"
A complex series of emotions pass on John's face, quickly hidden by a bland smile.
"She's doing fine. I think Rodney should find the nerve to ask her out soon," John says.
He's trying so hard to look objective, but Rodney knows what he's hiding now.
"You should find the nerve to ask him out first," Rodney says and John steps back, as if slapped. He's not smiling anymore.
"What?"
"I might be old, but I'm not blind yet, John," Rodney says. "I've seen how you look at him. Believe me, he feels the same."
"No he doesn’t," John blurts. "He's... you're straight!"
It's Rodney's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Do you seriously want to argue about this with me? He's me, Sheppard. Me twenty five years ago. I know how I felt about you then, how I've felt about you since Antarctica."
John is shocked speechless, eyes round. Rodney pats his arm.
"It's going to be fine, I assure you. I can't believe I never realized that you were doing googly eyes at me," he teases.
It works and John snorts.
"You are kind of oblivious," he says. "Are you sure? What about Jennifer?"
"Totally sure, and the poor girl doesn't stand a chance if you're in the race. Does that stroke your ego enough?" Rodney asks and John grins, happy.
"Can't say it's bad news," he says, throwing a hopeful look towards the room where McKay is, maybe planning his next move. But his attention comes back to Rodney soon enough and he grins some more. "Emmett? You took Emmett Brown as an alias?"
This is so embarrassing.
"Shut up. It was fitting," he grumbles and John laughs and laughs, which in turn makes Rodney snigger.
"Hey! Does that mean..." he finally says and Rodney halts his question with a raised hand.
"If you're about to ask for sports result, help me god..."
"Come on! Can't blame a guy for trying as I did with your hologram," John says, eyes dancing with laughter. He then grabs Rodney's robe and tugs. "Come on, come sit with us. Rodney's gonna flip."
"I shouldn't..." Rodney says, though he's tempted. "I could alter the future."
"I think it's a little late to worry about that, Doc," John says already walking towards the door, confident Rodney's going to be right behind. "Just for tonight, it'll be fun."
And because Rodney's never been able to resist John Sheppard, he follows him in.
The End
Character/Pairing: future!Rodney, John, pre-slash John/Rodney
Word count/Rating: 2150 words, Rated G
Summary: (coda to The Last Man) After he programs Atlantis, Rodney retires in 2008.
A/N: For ohliberty at the sgoc who enjoys McShep and stories where there is time travel. I hope you like it! I'm using if the cliche_bingo : time travel. Many thanks to jaydblu for looking the fic over for me ♥
After a dozen simulations, all giving satisfactory results, Rodney takes a deep breath and has to face the hard facts: it's done. He has gambled and there is absolutely nothing left to do. Either this will save John in over 48 000 years from now - and allow him to go back to Atlantis when they need him the most - or it won't.
And he'll never know.
He's suddenly utterly exhausted, as if all of those years with the numbers and 'what if' rolling in his head 24/7 just came to an abrupt halt and left him drained. Rodney's never felt so old. What is left, now? He's lived for this for so long that he's not sure he can go on without it. The city hums, as if she recognizes him after all those years and wants Rodney to stay but it's not his home anymore; he doesn't feel like going back to Earth either. It's not like someone will miss him.
A crazy idea forms and Rodney turns back towards the computer, giving instructions before he can stop himself. He determines that there's a possibility in the next hour, which seems enough like Faith that he has to do it. After a quick message to General Lorne and Jeannie, Rodney dials the gate at precisely the right second and steps through the puddle.
*
"Mister Emmett!" Yulie enters his workshop at a run and it wakes Rodney from his post-lunch nap.
"Mister Emmett, the Atlanteans are here! They came back!"
It's unexpected and hits like a blow, raising his heartbeat until it seizes and for a moment Rodney thinks he's having a heart attack, before he identifies the feeling as deep longing. Voice rough, he shoos his overly enthusiastic assistant out.
"And why would I care? Go away!" he says.
"But Mister Emmett!" Yulie says, eyes round. "Don't you want to meet them? It's Colonel Sheppard's team!"
The way she says it, with what looks like hero worship and hearts in her eyes is probably what finally brings it home: it worked. His lifetime quest was not pointless, after all. Rodney's been on the planet where Atlantis' sister city is buried for months now, after he took a solar flare to 2008 that brought him only months after John disappeared. Since, he's heard rumors about the Atlantean's fight against Michael and the Wraith, how this or that iconic figure had died or on the contrary had killed a thousand Wraiths. There's no reliable information network in Pegasus, or at least none that he's privy to, so Rodney hadn't been sure he had fixed things. None the less, Rodney has made a life for himself here, and thinks of it as the perfect retirement where he fixes stuff to pay his rent and food and no one bothers him most days.
"Go see them, if they're so fantastic," Rodney says and Yulie runs out immediately.
Rodney's just stalling, only waiting before he goes out himself because he needs to prepare first. He cannot risk influencing things too much by interacting with his old team, or worse with himself. Rodney dresses with a robe with a hood and stops at the mirror to check his reflection. He nods at the man in the mirror: no way they'll recognize him with a beard if he doesn't go close.
But it's easier said than done, since Sheppard always had his own gravitation field and it's working full power even now. He's perfect as always, gorgeous in his black uniform and smiling at a besotted Yulie who apparently found the guts to go speak to him. Seeing himself young is a shock, too, and Rodney smiles as he remembers how it was to be not even forty and feel like the universe owes you because you are just that good. Ronon is as impressive as ever but looks so impossibly young. He's just a kid, Rodney realizes. A huge Great Dane of a kid with knives and a cool looking gun, but so young. They've got a Marine with them, one Rodney forgot the name of, if he ever knew it at all. Teyla is nowhere in sight and it worries Rodney. Maybe they didn't get to her in time and he suddenly needs to know.
For the moment, Rodney doesn't dare to go too close, so he observes from the back of the room. What he sees makes him grin: how they easily interact with each other, the banter and the teasing that goes back and forth. The four years in Atlantis were the best of his life, hands down, Rodney realizes. His younger self - he'll think of him as McKay - looks well, smiling and cocky and Rodney wonders how it's going with Jennifer. That's another question he'd ask if he could, because she died way too young in his alliteration of this reality. As always, though, and especially now that he won't get caught, it's Sheppard that Rodney observes, trying to get his fill. The posture as he sprawls in his chair, almost revoking his right as a vertebrate, the smiles and the charm, it's all there and Rodney's not the only one in the room to stare, far from it.
The most surprising discovery Rodney makes, though, is that John is doing some staring of his own. He's definitely keeping tabs on McKay, and what Rodney had thought was just being extra vigilant at first doesn't hold after a while. John's not that subtle, and his face is surprisingly unguarded, though he's fast to grow a blank or friendly mask when McKay turns to him.
Rodney won't lie, when Yulie had approached him to become his assistant for the repair shop, the fact she looked so much like a young Samantha Carter had been a nice argument in her favor. So he was nostalgic, sue him. And Yulie had proven to be smart, too, though far from Carter - she had been one in a billion, so it wouldn't have been fair to compare. Yulie is young and curious, and when she starts asking questions to the young McKay, Rodney's suspicions about John harboring feelings for him are confirmed by the jealous scowl he aims at Yulie. Rodney shakes his head, wondering if it's new and he's annoyed at himself that he never realized this vital information. He's always known that he was oblivious to those things, but that takes the cake. Having John Sheppard interested in you and never knowing about it is a tragic waste.
After maybe an hour of watching, Rodney realizes he's not doing himself any good. He cannot go back in this life - he's already living it through McKay - and he doesn't have the constitution to be of any help for the Atlanteans. They seem to be doing well and that's all he can ask for. He exits the ballroom and goes to the balcony to clear his head; in a minute he'll go back to his house and try to sleep.
"Thank you, Yulie. I'm fine, you can go back in."
It's John and Rodney curses under his breath: he should have left a while ago. He knows exactly what happened and that John asked where he could get some fresh air, annoyed at the constant invasion of his personal space. He tolerates his team members and close friends, but they've all learned early that John cannot sustain big crowds for too long at a time. Poor love-struck Yulie doesn't understand that John really needs to recharge his batteries with a bit of alone time, and that asking for air wasn't his way to make a pass at her.
"Are you sure?" she asks, disappointed.
"Yeah, thanks. I just need a minute," John says.
"But..."
Not wanting the girl to humiliate herself more, Rodney stands up from his seat in the dark corner of the balcony, which surprises both John and Yulie. Rodney looks down, hiding his face the best he can.
"I was just leaving," he says, pitching his voice low, and grabs Yulie's elbow. "Come with me, girl, let's leave our guest in peace," he tells her.
"But Mister Emmett..." she protests and Rodney just wishes that she'd do as she's asked, for once in her life.
"Mister Emmett?" John says as he walks sideways, blocking Rodney's retreat. "I don't think we've met, I'm Colonel John Sheppard."
He's offering his hand and there's nothing Rodney can do to avoid it. Rodney lets Yulie go to return the handshake and glances rapidly up at John's face with a smile. He's got the beard, he'll be okay.
"I am honored," he says. "Now if you'll excuse me..."
But John's eyes widen and his grip gets tight before he suddenly lets go. Shit. Rodney coughs and hurries for the stairs while a dejected Yulie goes back in the ballroom.
"Have a nice stay, Colonel," Rodney says.
Maybe he's going to be able to escape and John will pass this on the alcohol. But that’s obviously too much to ask.
"McKay?" John says and it's automatic, Rodney glances over his shoulder. Not a minute later he's being pushed against the wall, John pinning him in place.
"What is this?" he asks, shaken. "How is this possible? There are two of you? Are you a clone?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rodney tries as a last resort but John shakes his head.
"Don't bullshit me," he says. "I'd know you anywhere, Rodney."
With a big sigh Rodney sags against the wall.
"Okay, sorry. Long story short: in 2034, after I programmed my hologram into Atlantis, I decided to retire in Pegasus."
John raises one eyebrow.
"But to retire in 2008," John says.
Rodney rolls his eyes.
"Yes, in 2008. The music in the 30’s is terrible and I missed the Wraith and excitement. I'm glad to see you made it, by the way. It would have sucked for me to work my whole life on that program then nothing," Rodney says.
"Wow," John says, finally stepping back and Rodney misses the contact instantly. "I can't believe it. Yes, it worked. I don't know if I thanked you enough for that."
"You're welcome," Rodney says. "Did you find Teyla?"
That John smiles is an instant relief.
"Yeah, eventually. She's on Atlantis with her son," he says. "In fact, she's due back on the team in a couple of weeks."
"Oh thank god!" Rodney exclaims. Thanks heavens, they succeeded. He still remembers the shock of finding her dead. "Jennifer?"
A complex series of emotions pass on John's face, quickly hidden by a bland smile.
"She's doing fine. I think Rodney should find the nerve to ask her out soon," John says.
He's trying so hard to look objective, but Rodney knows what he's hiding now.
"You should find the nerve to ask him out first," Rodney says and John steps back, as if slapped. He's not smiling anymore.
"What?"
"I might be old, but I'm not blind yet, John," Rodney says. "I've seen how you look at him. Believe me, he feels the same."
"No he doesn’t," John blurts. "He's... you're straight!"
It's Rodney's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Do you seriously want to argue about this with me? He's me, Sheppard. Me twenty five years ago. I know how I felt about you then, how I've felt about you since Antarctica."
John is shocked speechless, eyes round. Rodney pats his arm.
"It's going to be fine, I assure you. I can't believe I never realized that you were doing googly eyes at me," he teases.
It works and John snorts.
"You are kind of oblivious," he says. "Are you sure? What about Jennifer?"
"Totally sure, and the poor girl doesn't stand a chance if you're in the race. Does that stroke your ego enough?" Rodney asks and John grins, happy.
"Can't say it's bad news," he says, throwing a hopeful look towards the room where McKay is, maybe planning his next move. But his attention comes back to Rodney soon enough and he grins some more. "Emmett? You took Emmett Brown as an alias?"
This is so embarrassing.
"Shut up. It was fitting," he grumbles and John laughs and laughs, which in turn makes Rodney snigger.
"Hey! Does that mean..." he finally says and Rodney halts his question with a raised hand.
"If you're about to ask for sports result, help me god..."
"Come on! Can't blame a guy for trying as I did with your hologram," John says, eyes dancing with laughter. He then grabs Rodney's robe and tugs. "Come on, come sit with us. Rodney's gonna flip."
"I shouldn't..." Rodney says, though he's tempted. "I could alter the future."
"I think it's a little late to worry about that, Doc," John says already walking towards the door, confident Rodney's going to be right behind. "Just for tonight, it'll be fun."
And because Rodney's never been able to resist John Sheppard, he follows him in.
The End