Fic: Homecoming (SGA, Rated G)
Title: Homecoming
Author: Sandy (sp23)
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rated: G
Genre: Episode Tag, John/Rodney Pre-Slash
Characters: Rodney McKay, Sam Carter
Word Count: ~1,150
Spoilers: Enemy at the Gate
mcsheplets Challenge #36, Lost
Summary: Sam visits Rodney with news that will affect his future. Tag for Episode 5x20, Enemy at the Gate.
Rodney glanced up from the console he was working at and grinned in delight as the beam that had appeared in the gate room coalesced into Sam Carter. Sam's answering smile seemed to light up the room as she waved and headed for the stairs.
Rodney loved their new relationship. They worked well together - not that Rodney didn't still feel the need to compete with her - but the year she had been Atlantis's commander had allowed both of them to understand and appreciate each other in a way they never had before. Now Rodney considered Sam one of his best friends.
"Test run for the General Hammond?" Rodney asked when Sam made it to his side.
Sam nodded. "We're taking her out for a run to the edge of the solar system, but the IOA wanted me to check in here and see how the repairs are going."
Rodney rolled his eyes. "Not that they don't get daily reports," he said with an irritated sigh. "Well, the repairs are nearly done. It's been much easier with immediate access to Earth technology. We should be finished in less than a month."
After the fight with the Wraith super-hive and the emergency landing in San Francisco Bay, Rodney had been able to get the systems on-line long enough to move the massive flying city to a remote area near Antarctica. They were fortunate in that the ZPMs had not been drained as had been feared at first. It had simply been that the massive hits the shields had taken had overloaded the shield generators causing a massive drop in power, and Beckett had not been skilled enough to fly the city, fire the drones, and compensate for overloaded systems. Once all the repairs were completed, Atlantis would once again be space worthy.
Sam just smiled and shrugged. "Actually I kind of nudged them into wanting me to check in here personally. I need to talk to you privately for a moment, Rodney."
Rodney straightened up from where he'd gone back to working on the data that was streaming over his computer's monitor even as he talked to Sam. Frowning slightly, he said, "Is something wrong? Don't tell me the IOA has decided to keep Atlantis here. Dammit, Sam, we're needed in the Pegasus Galaxy. We're the only hope those people have against the Wraith."
"No, that's not it, Rodney. In fact, the IOA are anxious to send Atlantis on her way. They're worried about the secret getting out, and what would happen should Atlantis fall into the wrong hands."
Rodney nodded and scowled. "Good, I'm glad to hear it." He tilted his head a bit. "So if that's not the problem, what is?"
Sam glanced around at the crowded command center, placed her hand on Rodney's elbow and tugged gently. "Let's go somewhere a little more private, okay?"
Rodney allowed Sam to guide him away from the control center and into what had been her office. Woolsey, who would continue on as Atlantis's commander, was currently attending an endless round of meetings with the IOA and their various governments. Rodney couldn't help but feel sorry for the man, and was glad that, despite the stroke to his ego it would have been, he hadn't been chosen to lead the expedition.
Sam closed the door to the office giving them complete privacy. They sat in the chairs that stood in front of the desk, and Sam leaned forward, a look of compassion crossing her beautiful face. Rodney felt a chill of apprehension run down his spine.
"Rodney, I'm so sorry," Sam began.
"Oh, god," Rodney said, his fear making his voice tremble slightly. "It's Jeanie, isn't it? Did something happen to her?"
"No, Rodney, no!" Sam hastened to assure him. "Jeanie's fine. They're all fine."
Rodney sighed in relief and collapsed back into his chair. "Oh, thank god," he said.
"Rodney," Sam said, regaining his attention. "It's Jennifer."
"Jennifer? Keller? Is something wrong with her?" He felt a slight unease, but nothing like what he'd felt when he'd thought something had happened to his sister.
"Not Jennifer; her father. I'm afraid he's suffered a massive stroke."
Rodney was confused. While he was sorry for the man, he really didn't see how this concerned him or caused Sam to look at him with such sympathy. "Uh, I'm sorry to hear that," Rodney said, realizing that Sam was waiting for him so say something, and hoping he got the platitudes right. "I'll try to call her the next time the satellite is in range."
"Rodney, it's more than that," Sam said. "Jennifer has asked the IOA to release her from her contract. She's decided to stay here on Earth so that she can take care of her father herself."
Rodney stared at Sam. "She's not coming back to Pegasus?"
"No, I'm sorry, Rodney. She asked me to break the news to you. She had to return to Chippewa Falls and couldn't wait for your daily check-in."
Rodney felt stunned. So that was it. Another romance had abruptly ended. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. Sad, of course. On the one hand, he'd thought that maybe he'd finally found someone he could spend the rest of his life with, and now that dream was gone. On the other hand, he no longer had to watch every single thing he said and did like he had when he was around Jennifer, and that was kind of freeing. Plus, now he and John could get back to their regular routine of hanging out instead of finding a few stolen moments here and there. He'd really missed being around John; more than he'd ever acknowledged. It was possible, Rodney realized, that he may have just gained more than he'd lost. Suddenly, Rodney felt kind of happy.
Sam remained silent while Rodney adjusted to his new single status. He glanced at her, saw the worry on her face, and abruptly stood up.
"I need to get back to work. Thanks for letting me know about Keller, Sam." With that he left the office and returned to his work station.
Six weeks later.
Rodney stood on one of Atlantis's balcony with John, Ronon, Teyla, Carson, and Woolsey, and looked out on the beautiful ocean of Lantea. With the threat of the Replicators gone, they'd decided to return to the original planet where they'd first found their city, and Rodney was scanning the far distance looking for...
"There!" he shouted, pointing. "See that? It's Sam."
He turned and grinned at Sheppard who grinned back. "Looks like he's welcoming you home, Rodney," John said, lightly bumping their shoulders together.
Rodney's smile grew even brighter, and he moved a littler closer to John until their arms brushed.
Turning back to watch the large whale-like creature breaching in what Rodney took to be a joyous celebration of their return, Rodney echoed silently to himself, "Home."
The End
Author: Sandy (sp23)
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rated: G
Genre: Episode Tag, John/Rodney Pre-Slash
Characters: Rodney McKay, Sam Carter
Word Count: ~1,150
Spoilers: Enemy at the Gate
mcsheplets Challenge #36, Lost
Summary: Sam visits Rodney with news that will affect his future. Tag for Episode 5x20, Enemy at the Gate.
Rodney glanced up from the console he was working at and grinned in delight as the beam that had appeared in the gate room coalesced into Sam Carter. Sam's answering smile seemed to light up the room as she waved and headed for the stairs.
Rodney loved their new relationship. They worked well together - not that Rodney didn't still feel the need to compete with her - but the year she had been Atlantis's commander had allowed both of them to understand and appreciate each other in a way they never had before. Now Rodney considered Sam one of his best friends.
"Test run for the General Hammond?" Rodney asked when Sam made it to his side.
Sam nodded. "We're taking her out for a run to the edge of the solar system, but the IOA wanted me to check in here and see how the repairs are going."
Rodney rolled his eyes. "Not that they don't get daily reports," he said with an irritated sigh. "Well, the repairs are nearly done. It's been much easier with immediate access to Earth technology. We should be finished in less than a month."
After the fight with the Wraith super-hive and the emergency landing in San Francisco Bay, Rodney had been able to get the systems on-line long enough to move the massive flying city to a remote area near Antarctica. They were fortunate in that the ZPMs had not been drained as had been feared at first. It had simply been that the massive hits the shields had taken had overloaded the shield generators causing a massive drop in power, and Beckett had not been skilled enough to fly the city, fire the drones, and compensate for overloaded systems. Once all the repairs were completed, Atlantis would once again be space worthy.
Sam just smiled and shrugged. "Actually I kind of nudged them into wanting me to check in here personally. I need to talk to you privately for a moment, Rodney."
Rodney straightened up from where he'd gone back to working on the data that was streaming over his computer's monitor even as he talked to Sam. Frowning slightly, he said, "Is something wrong? Don't tell me the IOA has decided to keep Atlantis here. Dammit, Sam, we're needed in the Pegasus Galaxy. We're the only hope those people have against the Wraith."
"No, that's not it, Rodney. In fact, the IOA are anxious to send Atlantis on her way. They're worried about the secret getting out, and what would happen should Atlantis fall into the wrong hands."
Rodney nodded and scowled. "Good, I'm glad to hear it." He tilted his head a bit. "So if that's not the problem, what is?"
Sam glanced around at the crowded command center, placed her hand on Rodney's elbow and tugged gently. "Let's go somewhere a little more private, okay?"
Rodney allowed Sam to guide him away from the control center and into what had been her office. Woolsey, who would continue on as Atlantis's commander, was currently attending an endless round of meetings with the IOA and their various governments. Rodney couldn't help but feel sorry for the man, and was glad that, despite the stroke to his ego it would have been, he hadn't been chosen to lead the expedition.
Sam closed the door to the office giving them complete privacy. They sat in the chairs that stood in front of the desk, and Sam leaned forward, a look of compassion crossing her beautiful face. Rodney felt a chill of apprehension run down his spine.
"Rodney, I'm so sorry," Sam began.
"Oh, god," Rodney said, his fear making his voice tremble slightly. "It's Jeanie, isn't it? Did something happen to her?"
"No, Rodney, no!" Sam hastened to assure him. "Jeanie's fine. They're all fine."
Rodney sighed in relief and collapsed back into his chair. "Oh, thank god," he said.
"Rodney," Sam said, regaining his attention. "It's Jennifer."
"Jennifer? Keller? Is something wrong with her?" He felt a slight unease, but nothing like what he'd felt when he'd thought something had happened to his sister.
"Not Jennifer; her father. I'm afraid he's suffered a massive stroke."
Rodney was confused. While he was sorry for the man, he really didn't see how this concerned him or caused Sam to look at him with such sympathy. "Uh, I'm sorry to hear that," Rodney said, realizing that Sam was waiting for him so say something, and hoping he got the platitudes right. "I'll try to call her the next time the satellite is in range."
"Rodney, it's more than that," Sam said. "Jennifer has asked the IOA to release her from her contract. She's decided to stay here on Earth so that she can take care of her father herself."
Rodney stared at Sam. "She's not coming back to Pegasus?"
"No, I'm sorry, Rodney. She asked me to break the news to you. She had to return to Chippewa Falls and couldn't wait for your daily check-in."
Rodney felt stunned. So that was it. Another romance had abruptly ended. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. Sad, of course. On the one hand, he'd thought that maybe he'd finally found someone he could spend the rest of his life with, and now that dream was gone. On the other hand, he no longer had to watch every single thing he said and did like he had when he was around Jennifer, and that was kind of freeing. Plus, now he and John could get back to their regular routine of hanging out instead of finding a few stolen moments here and there. He'd really missed being around John; more than he'd ever acknowledged. It was possible, Rodney realized, that he may have just gained more than he'd lost. Suddenly, Rodney felt kind of happy.
Sam remained silent while Rodney adjusted to his new single status. He glanced at her, saw the worry on her face, and abruptly stood up.
"I need to get back to work. Thanks for letting me know about Keller, Sam." With that he left the office and returned to his work station.
Six weeks later.
Rodney stood on one of Atlantis's balcony with John, Ronon, Teyla, Carson, and Woolsey, and looked out on the beautiful ocean of Lantea. With the threat of the Replicators gone, they'd decided to return to the original planet where they'd first found their city, and Rodney was scanning the far distance looking for...
"There!" he shouted, pointing. "See that? It's Sam."
He turned and grinned at Sheppard who grinned back. "Looks like he's welcoming you home, Rodney," John said, lightly bumping their shoulders together.
Rodney's smile grew even brighter, and he moved a littler closer to John until their arms brushed.
Turning back to watch the large whale-like creature breaching in what Rodney took to be a joyous celebration of their return, Rodney echoed silently to himself, "Home."
The End