Title:  Eye Opener

Author:  Joolz

Feedback:  [email protected]

Category:  Slash, Episode Tag, Established Relationship

Pairing:  Sheppard/McKay

Rating:  PG

Season/Spoilers:  Season 2, The Long Goodbye

Notes:  Just a tag for an otherwise fairly forgettable episode.  Thanks to Lady Ra for the beta help!

Summary:  Weir makes some discoveries in the aftermath of alien possession.

Disclaimer:  Not my lovely characters, just playing with them.

Warnings:  None

 

~~**~~

 

 

Elizabeth was still tired.  She wasn’t used to running back and forth across Atlantis or fighting with marines, and her body was feeling the after-effects of what the alien had done with it.  The remembered sensation of her finger pulling the trigger that put a bullet into Ronon’s belly made her want to stay in bed, too.

 

That’s where she was; curled up on her side in the infirmary bed.  She’d slept for quite a while, but was happy to linger in a half-awake state for a little longer.  She could tell it was night by the lack of medical clatter.  

 

In the silence Elizabeth heard Sheppard’s indignant voice say quietly, “You shot me with your eyes closed.”

 

McKay’s response was flustered.  “I, yes.  Sorry about that.  It’s a reflex to shoot at aliens who are shooting at me.”

 

“It’s not the fact that you shot me that’s the problem, it’s that you did it with your eyes closed.  I fully expect you to protect yourself from dangerous aliens, even if they’re using my body at the time.  That’s a good instinct.  But tomorrow we’ll be practicing until you know the correct way to fire a gun.  I thought we’d already had that lesson.”

 

Weir thought she should let them know she was awake, but she didn’t want to get pulled into any discussions about firearm use.

 

McKay insisted, “We did, but look.  We can practice, but are you going to put a big life-sized photo of yourself up on the wall?  Because that’s the issue.  There’s no way I can look you in the face and shoot you, alien possession or not.”  The scientist’s voice became even quieter.  “God, I hate it that I hurt you.”

 

There was silence and Elizabeth parted her eyelids just enough to see the men next to her.  Rodney was sitting on the edge of the bed, bent over with his cheek pressed to John’s temple.  John’s eyes were closed and he was leaning into the touch.

 

Her mouth dropped open in surprise, but the other two didn’t notice.  Sheppard reached up, cupped his hand behind McKay’s head and led him into a kiss.  It was brief but heartfelt.

 

Sure, Elizabeth had known that McKay and Sheppard were close, but she didn’t know that they… did that.   It didn’t seem entirely likely.  Sheppard and McKay?

 

John murmured, “So you aren’t mad at me for kissing Elizabeth?”

 

She closed her eyes and concentrated on looking like she was asleep.  It was way too late to let them know otherwise.

 

Rodney chuckled.  “Are you kidding?  That was hot.  Especially since I knew it wasn’t really you doing it this time.  You’ve voluntarily had your mouth on enough women lately that this last one hardly registers.”

 

Actually, the feeling of John’s mouth on hers was another thing Elizabeth was trying not to think about.  It had seemed so right, despite the circumstances.  She guessed that she should give up any hope of a repeat performance.

 

“Rodney, I explained…”

 

“Yes, you did.  No need to go over it again.  Please.  Spare me the, ‘it all happened so fast, I got carried away’ talk.”

 

“Rodney.”

 

“I shot you.  I think that makes us even.  Although…”

 

“What?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

There was a stern silence.

 

McKay blurted, “It was what you said, what he said, whatever, about how you feel about Teyla.  Hit close to home.”

 

“He was trying to manipulate her.  He was really good at that.  Got Ronon to hand over a weapon to him.  He would say anything.”

 

“Yeah, well, there is something there.”

 

“No there isn’t.  Teyla understands how things are.”

 

“Does she?  You’re really good at giving the wrong impression.”

 

“Rodney, you know I have to.  You know we can’t let anyone find out about us.”

 

“I’m aware of that.  I’d still like you to talk to Teyla and set things straight.  I don’t want her thinking about you that way.”

 

There was another pause and Elizabeth peeked again.  Rodney’s back was unnaturally straight and he was looking toward the far corner of the infirmary.  John’s hand rested on Rodney’s thigh.

 

That hand patted to get McKay’s attention.

 

“Hey, you want to tell me what this is really about?  You aren’t usually this jealous.”

 

Rodney looked down at John again and Elizabeth could see his affronted expression.

 

“Pardon me.  I had a slightly traumatic day myself, you know.  First I shot you.  Then Elizabeth shot me.  Then Elizabeth shot an actual bullet into Ronon and he almost died.  Then Colonel ‘Yesterday I Was a Goa’uld’ was ordering me around and expecting miracles.  Then if I couldn’t break Elizabeth’s command codes in time, either half the expedition was going to die or Teyla was going to shoot you.  How many times have I had to live with the expectation that you were going to die in the next two seconds?  Hmm?  Isn’t it enough that I have to worry about losing you to bugs and atomic bombs?  I have to worry about losing you to space bimbo priestesses, fairy tale princesses or our own Amazon Warrior Queen, too?  I think under the circumstances a little bit of insecurity is understandable.”

 

Sheppard was adamant.  “Not going to happen.  You’re just going to have to trust me on that.  You’re stuck with me, McKay.”

 

Rodney didn’t look placated.  “Right, until the next time you get possessed by an alien and I have to shoot you.  So reassuring.”

 

“Look, you totally don’t have to worry about space bimbos.  As for what happened earlier, how about we go to the range tomorrow and I’ll show you exactly how to incapacitate someone without causing permanent injury?  Once you have the skill, it won’t seem so scary.  I would trust you to shoot me any day, Rodney.”

 

McKay was trying not to smile.  “Yes, well, one more bimbo and I’ll be getting some live-action target practice.  Just so you know.”

 

“Duly warned.  Come here.”

 

Rodney leaned down and the two men shared a more lingering kiss.  Elizabeth shuddered slightly.  It was just wrong.  She didn’t have a problem with two men together, just not these two men.  It wasn’t any of her business, but she’d been much happier not knowing this about them.

 

When they moved apart, Sheppard said, “Now, go to bed.”

 

“I’d rather stay here.”

 

“I appreciate that, babe, but if you don’t sleep on your orthopedic mattress you’ll be cranky tomorrow.  Since I plan to put a gun in your hand, I’d rather you be nice and docile.”

 

McKay snickered.  “Docile.  I think you have me mixed up with the glowy yoga instructor.”

 

“Not likely.  With you it just means not wreaking havoc.”

 

Rodney acquiesced, “Okay, I’ll go to bed.”  He did look exhausted.

 

Sheppard sat up and gently wrapped his arms around the other man.  McKay returned the gesture and John almost disappeared into the embrace.  They held each other for the span of several deep breaths then moved apart.

 

Rodney got reluctantly to his feet.  “See you tomorrow.”

 

“’Night.”

 

After Rodney left, John lay back down with a sigh.  Within about a minute he turned onto his side facing away from Elizabeth. 

 

As his breathing slowed into sleep, Elizabeth’s eyes were wide open, studying his back.  It was funny, you could live and almost die with a person and not know them at all.  It made her feel lonely to think about how close the other two thirds of Atlantis’ leadership were, while all she had was a half-hearted flirtation with Stephen Caldwell, a man she wouldn’t have had the slightest interest in under other circumstances.

 

But as things stood, a person had to be open to anything.  You never knew when you were going to be possessed by an alien, or eaten by one.  Maybe it was time for her to broaden her horizons.  Live a little.  Maybe find a space bimbo of her own.

 

 

 

End

 

 

 

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