Fic: Sure, Why Not? (McKay/Sheppard, PG)
Title: Sure, Why Not?
Author: sundaydriver
Recipient: hyperfocused
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: This takes place post-series and John and Rodney are already in a relationship. I don't really mention Jennifer, but just assume that she and Rodney had an amicable break-up, before Rodney and John got together. It's basically a fluff piece, but I don't think it's OOC. Enjoy!
Summary: Rodney asks the right question, just in the worst possible way.
-o-
John looked at Rodney as if he had just announced that 6-foot tall rabbits, which only spoke in code, ran the universe. That is to say that John didn't look too amenable to Rodney's reasonable, (very reasonable), request.
"No," John said.
Rodney spluttered in indignation.
"You can't just say 'no' unequivocally like that. You haven't heard my argument as to the benefits yet or my reasons behind my extremely rational inquiry."
John turned away from Rodney and started to walk down the hallway toward the conference room. Rodney had been waiting for John outside his room earlier, hoping to corner him before they had to go and speak to Woolsey about last minute details for Atlantis' departure. It had taken him until just now to ask John the question he had been too nervous to ask for the past couple of days. Though Rodney would deny it, (and maybe that had been part of the problem in the first place), he had been itching to go back to the Pegasus Galaxy for awhile now and was glad to be leaving in approximately a week. Six months ago he would've told anyone that asked that he was happy to be on Earth, for a variety of reasons. But a lot had changed since then and John was being particularly stubborn now that Rodney had stumbled upon a solution to their problem.
They both reached the conference room at the same time with Rodney positioning himself between John and the open doorway. John rolled his eyes at Rodney's actions and attempted to move past Rodney into the room. They struggled with each other, pushing and shoving like schoolboys; neither one willing to give in.
"This is really mature, Rodney," John said, while shoving his arm underneath Rodney's, in an attempt to break free from his grasp.
"If you would just listen to what I have to say, instead of acting like a child!" Rodney yelled. In his haste to try and block John with his foot, he missed the approach of Woolsey and accidentally kicked him instead. With a yelp, Woolsey grabbed at his shin in pain. He stumbled over to a chair at the main table in the room and, once he sat down, turned a rather impressive glare upon both John and Rodney.
"Gentlemen, if you could both be so kind as to attempt to act like adults for the next hour, I would really appreciate it. As would my leg."
Rodney mumbled a short apology, while John quickly moved to the other side of the table.
"It won't happen again, Sir. Rodney and I had a slight disagreement earlier, but I promise we can focus on the discussion at hand."
Rodney rolled his eyes at John's attempt to suck up to Woolsey and wondered why John was so eager to follow the rules all of a sudden. But before he could open his mouth to ask John what the hell was going on, Woolsey shot him a stern look and Rodney decided it would be more prudent to bide his time.
He was determined to get a 'yes' from John before the end of the day.
**
Obtaining that 'yes' from John proved to be harder than Rodney expected. As soon as the meeting was over, John bolted from the room while Woolsey detained Rodney with questions regarding the new science personnel. By the time he was able to extricate himself from the conversation, John had been long gone. His attempts to find John throughout the day proved fruitless as well. He wasn't at any of his usual haunts and the city refused to help him track John down. Rodney knew he could probably hack into the system and find John through his own means, but for some reason, Rodney felt as if that would be cheating. He didn't know why exactly, but Rodney knew that the only way he wanted a 'yes' from John had to involve honesty, no tricks.
That's when the crazy idea popped into his head.
**
After a tenth draft of the letter, Rodney is this close to pulling out his hair, (which he can't afford to do), and give up on the whole scheme. This had not been one of his better ideas and the fact that he was forced to do something so saccharine irritated him to no end. Rodney didn't understand why John was being so damn stubborn about this plan. It made perfect sense. They lived dangerous lives, with the prospect of death around the corner at any moment, and if they went ahead with Rodney's suggestion, they would both be protected in a multitude of ways. It was a practical solution and Rodney couldn't figure out how to get John to agree with him.
Rodney got up from his desk, stretching his arms above his head to work out the kinks in his back. He had been working on the letter for an hour now and had not got past the first paragraph. Rodney had been prepared to give John a litany of reasons earlier as to why they should do this, but when it came down to putting those same reasons to paper, he couldn't get the words to come.
He recalled his conversation with John that morning, how nervous he had felt, how he couldn't help but be distracted at how sexy John looked, even that early in the day. He remembered how he had started to babble his explanation of the plan, how he had started to point out the benefits of it after the initial question and was shocked at John having said "no". And then he started to remember how John had looked upon the start of the conversation, right before he asked the main question.
"Oh, God, I'm an idiot," Rodney said. In the haste of rushing to convince John after the fact, he had forgotten the look of hope that had been in John's eyes when he first started talking to him. And how that look had been extinguished when Rodney had made his very practical and rational request.
"He can't possibly think...", Rodney started to ask, before answering his own question, "Of course, he did. John is fantastic at being a martyr and believing in the worst-case scenario for himself."
Rodney rushed back to his desk and scrambled for a fresh piece of paper. He wrote down three lines, folded the paper, and then hurried out of his quarters.
**
He ended up knocking on John's door, even though Rodney knew he could override the sensor and open it himself. He was anxious for John to read his letter and didn't want to wait another minute. John appeared after the tenth knock, wearing sweatpants and a faded Air Force t-shirt. He looked like he had been sleeping and his hair was sticking up in even stranger angles than usual.
The look of resignation on John's face didn't bode well for Rodney's chances, but he was determined to see this through and wouldn't accept anything less than a positive outcome. Before John could say anything, Rodney barreled into the room. John closed the door behind him and turned to face Rodney, arms crossed and with that weary look in his eyes. Rodney never wanted to see that look again in his lifetime, if he could help it.
"I...", Rodney started to speak, but nerves got the better of him. Frustrated with himself, he thrust the letter at John.
"Please, John, just read this. It's what I should've said this morning."
John looked confused for a second, before reaching for the letter. He carefully opened it and read the few lines inside. Rodney had experienced some extraordinary things, but those few seconds while John read his words felt as if they were the most important seconds of his life. John had to say 'yes', he just had to. Rodney didn't even want to contemplate what his life would be like if John said 'no' again.
John finished reading the letter and carefully folded it again. He looked up at Rodney, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Sure, why not?"
Rodney's reply to John's answer was rather indignant.
"Did you seriously just say, 'Sure, why not?' Were those words that actually came out of your mouth? I can not believe you just answered one of the most important questions you'll ever be asked with..."
The urgent press of John's lips against his mouth cut off Rodney's rant and, after the initial shock was over, Rodney was quite happy to shut up.
John walked the two of them toward his bed, working to remove Rodney's shirt along the way. Rodney happily complied, helping John to remove his own shirt. They made it to the bed and fell upon it, elbows hitting against each other and the breath being knocked out of them. John started to laugh and Rodney couldn't think of a better sound in the universe at that moment than the sound of John being happy. His laughter eventually faded away and they lay there together on the bed, John on top, looking at Rodney as if he held the answers to all the questions of the universe.
"I know that sentiment is not really what we're good at, Rodney, but when you asked me to marry you earlier today, as if we were discussing a business proposition, I just couldn't go through with it. My first marriage ended up like that and I couldn't bear the idea of us turning into strangers, especially after everything we've been through. I wanted more and I'm glad you realized that you did too."
Rodney started smiling and couldn't stop. John was right. After everything they had been through, after everything they had come to mean to each other, they needed to marry each other for the right reasons, not just the practical ones.
"But you will let me explain eventually all the perks we'll get from being married to each other, right? Because there's a really great insurance package I'm sure you'll appreciate and..."
John stopped Rodney's babbling the best way he knew how, smiling into the kiss, and murmuring, "You say the sexiest things sometimes, Dr. McKay."
**
Rodney's Letter:
John,
I'm an idiot.
But I'm your idiot. And I love you.
Please marry me.
Rodney
Author: sundaydriver
Recipient: hyperfocused
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: This takes place post-series and John and Rodney are already in a relationship. I don't really mention Jennifer, but just assume that she and Rodney had an amicable break-up, before Rodney and John got together. It's basically a fluff piece, but I don't think it's OOC. Enjoy!
Summary: Rodney asks the right question, just in the worst possible way.
-o-
John looked at Rodney as if he had just announced that 6-foot tall rabbits, which only spoke in code, ran the universe. That is to say that John didn't look too amenable to Rodney's reasonable, (very reasonable), request.
"No," John said.
Rodney spluttered in indignation.
"You can't just say 'no' unequivocally like that. You haven't heard my argument as to the benefits yet or my reasons behind my extremely rational inquiry."
John turned away from Rodney and started to walk down the hallway toward the conference room. Rodney had been waiting for John outside his room earlier, hoping to corner him before they had to go and speak to Woolsey about last minute details for Atlantis' departure. It had taken him until just now to ask John the question he had been too nervous to ask for the past couple of days. Though Rodney would deny it, (and maybe that had been part of the problem in the first place), he had been itching to go back to the Pegasus Galaxy for awhile now and was glad to be leaving in approximately a week. Six months ago he would've told anyone that asked that he was happy to be on Earth, for a variety of reasons. But a lot had changed since then and John was being particularly stubborn now that Rodney had stumbled upon a solution to their problem.
They both reached the conference room at the same time with Rodney positioning himself between John and the open doorway. John rolled his eyes at Rodney's actions and attempted to move past Rodney into the room. They struggled with each other, pushing and shoving like schoolboys; neither one willing to give in.
"This is really mature, Rodney," John said, while shoving his arm underneath Rodney's, in an attempt to break free from his grasp.
"If you would just listen to what I have to say, instead of acting like a child!" Rodney yelled. In his haste to try and block John with his foot, he missed the approach of Woolsey and accidentally kicked him instead. With a yelp, Woolsey grabbed at his shin in pain. He stumbled over to a chair at the main table in the room and, once he sat down, turned a rather impressive glare upon both John and Rodney.
"Gentlemen, if you could both be so kind as to attempt to act like adults for the next hour, I would really appreciate it. As would my leg."
Rodney mumbled a short apology, while John quickly moved to the other side of the table.
"It won't happen again, Sir. Rodney and I had a slight disagreement earlier, but I promise we can focus on the discussion at hand."
Rodney rolled his eyes at John's attempt to suck up to Woolsey and wondered why John was so eager to follow the rules all of a sudden. But before he could open his mouth to ask John what the hell was going on, Woolsey shot him a stern look and Rodney decided it would be more prudent to bide his time.
He was determined to get a 'yes' from John before the end of the day.
**
Obtaining that 'yes' from John proved to be harder than Rodney expected. As soon as the meeting was over, John bolted from the room while Woolsey detained Rodney with questions regarding the new science personnel. By the time he was able to extricate himself from the conversation, John had been long gone. His attempts to find John throughout the day proved fruitless as well. He wasn't at any of his usual haunts and the city refused to help him track John down. Rodney knew he could probably hack into the system and find John through his own means, but for some reason, Rodney felt as if that would be cheating. He didn't know why exactly, but Rodney knew that the only way he wanted a 'yes' from John had to involve honesty, no tricks.
That's when the crazy idea popped into his head.
**
After a tenth draft of the letter, Rodney is this close to pulling out his hair, (which he can't afford to do), and give up on the whole scheme. This had not been one of his better ideas and the fact that he was forced to do something so saccharine irritated him to no end. Rodney didn't understand why John was being so damn stubborn about this plan. It made perfect sense. They lived dangerous lives, with the prospect of death around the corner at any moment, and if they went ahead with Rodney's suggestion, they would both be protected in a multitude of ways. It was a practical solution and Rodney couldn't figure out how to get John to agree with him.
Rodney got up from his desk, stretching his arms above his head to work out the kinks in his back. He had been working on the letter for an hour now and had not got past the first paragraph. Rodney had been prepared to give John a litany of reasons earlier as to why they should do this, but when it came down to putting those same reasons to paper, he couldn't get the words to come.
He recalled his conversation with John that morning, how nervous he had felt, how he couldn't help but be distracted at how sexy John looked, even that early in the day. He remembered how he had started to babble his explanation of the plan, how he had started to point out the benefits of it after the initial question and was shocked at John having said "no". And then he started to remember how John had looked upon the start of the conversation, right before he asked the main question.
"Oh, God, I'm an idiot," Rodney said. In the haste of rushing to convince John after the fact, he had forgotten the look of hope that had been in John's eyes when he first started talking to him. And how that look had been extinguished when Rodney had made his very practical and rational request.
"He can't possibly think...", Rodney started to ask, before answering his own question, "Of course, he did. John is fantastic at being a martyr and believing in the worst-case scenario for himself."
Rodney rushed back to his desk and scrambled for a fresh piece of paper. He wrote down three lines, folded the paper, and then hurried out of his quarters.
**
He ended up knocking on John's door, even though Rodney knew he could override the sensor and open it himself. He was anxious for John to read his letter and didn't want to wait another minute. John appeared after the tenth knock, wearing sweatpants and a faded Air Force t-shirt. He looked like he had been sleeping and his hair was sticking up in even stranger angles than usual.
The look of resignation on John's face didn't bode well for Rodney's chances, but he was determined to see this through and wouldn't accept anything less than a positive outcome. Before John could say anything, Rodney barreled into the room. John closed the door behind him and turned to face Rodney, arms crossed and with that weary look in his eyes. Rodney never wanted to see that look again in his lifetime, if he could help it.
"I...", Rodney started to speak, but nerves got the better of him. Frustrated with himself, he thrust the letter at John.
"Please, John, just read this. It's what I should've said this morning."
John looked confused for a second, before reaching for the letter. He carefully opened it and read the few lines inside. Rodney had experienced some extraordinary things, but those few seconds while John read his words felt as if they were the most important seconds of his life. John had to say 'yes', he just had to. Rodney didn't even want to contemplate what his life would be like if John said 'no' again.
John finished reading the letter and carefully folded it again. He looked up at Rodney, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Sure, why not?"
Rodney's reply to John's answer was rather indignant.
"Did you seriously just say, 'Sure, why not?' Were those words that actually came out of your mouth? I can not believe you just answered one of the most important questions you'll ever be asked with..."
The urgent press of John's lips against his mouth cut off Rodney's rant and, after the initial shock was over, Rodney was quite happy to shut up.
John walked the two of them toward his bed, working to remove Rodney's shirt along the way. Rodney happily complied, helping John to remove his own shirt. They made it to the bed and fell upon it, elbows hitting against each other and the breath being knocked out of them. John started to laugh and Rodney couldn't think of a better sound in the universe at that moment than the sound of John being happy. His laughter eventually faded away and they lay there together on the bed, John on top, looking at Rodney as if he held the answers to all the questions of the universe.
"I know that sentiment is not really what we're good at, Rodney, but when you asked me to marry you earlier today, as if we were discussing a business proposition, I just couldn't go through with it. My first marriage ended up like that and I couldn't bear the idea of us turning into strangers, especially after everything we've been through. I wanted more and I'm glad you realized that you did too."
Rodney started smiling and couldn't stop. John was right. After everything they had been through, after everything they had come to mean to each other, they needed to marry each other for the right reasons, not just the practical ones.
"But you will let me explain eventually all the perks we'll get from being married to each other, right? Because there's a really great insurance package I'm sure you'll appreciate and..."
John stopped Rodney's babbling the best way he knew how, smiling into the kiss, and murmuring, "You say the sexiest things sometimes, Dr. McKay."
**
Rodney's Letter:
John,
I'm an idiot.
But I'm your idiot. And I love you.
Please marry me.
Rodney