Radek saw her when she came through the door. She just stood there for for a few minutes and when her gaze settled on the form of Rodney McKay sitting hunched over his lap top, Radek knew that there was going to be trouble.

He turned to his assistant and touched the young man's sleeve lightly. He kept his voice low, “Go and find, Colonel Sheppard. I have a feeling this is about to turn ugly.”

The young man nodded, took one look at the woman striding purposely toward Rodney and hurried out of the lab. Radek sidled out from behind his work station and edged closer. Everyone in Atlantis knew that a quiet storm had been brewing between Rodney and Susan Walker. Bets had been placed on when the confrontation would happen but Radek had never dreamed that he would have a ring side seat. Radek couldn't help a little smile. He was glad now that he hadn't bet on Rodney.

He moved closer, trying to hear.

Susan was mad.

No, she wasn't just mad. She was completely, utterly and without a doubt pissed as hell. Forget what John had said. She wasn't about to just sit around and 'let him handle it'. She was a big girl and she didn't need John Sheppard to say what she needed to say.

She stopped in front of the table where he was working. “Doctor McKay, I think you and I need to have a little talk.”

Rodney's lips twisted into a sneer. “I'm sorry, Doctor Walker, but I'm rather busy at the moment. And since I don't know a thing about farming-”

Susan cut him off. “We can do this one of two ways, McKay. We can talk about this privately or I can make the biggest god damn scene of my life. Make your decision.”

Rodney's cheeks turned pink. Fingers poised over the keys of his computer, he looked up and gave her a scathing look. “I don't think we have anything to talk about, Doctor.”

“Oh, we've got plenty.” Susan crossed her arms over her chest.

“I think you'd better leave before I call security-”

“So call 'em.” It was an effort to control her anger but she made herself be calm. “But before they get here, I want to make one thing perfectly clear to you, Doctor Mckay. I am very tired of this attitude you have with me. I don't know what your damned problem is but I am sick of it.”

“My attitude?” Rodney's lips thinned into a hard line and he did look up at her then. “That's a really good one coming from the likes of you.”

By now everyone in the lab was watching but Susan didn't give one good damn about it. Angrily, she slammed her fist down on the table hard enough to make it shake.

“First of all, you are going to stop with this god damn 'likes of you' bullshit. Yes...you are a genius in your field. But as you like to point out, you don't know a damn thing about what I do. If you would take the time to notice anything except for what happens in McKay's World, you might realize that there are other teams here trying to keep Atlantis alive-”

“Ha!” Rodney snorted with laughter. “That's all Atlantis needs. Let's forget about all the Ancient Technology and my efforts to keep this city powered up. We'll just wait and let the farmer's take care of us.”

Susan's face went white. She took one step toward him, then another. Radek anxiously looked toward the door. Where the hell was Sheppard?

“I'm going to let that one slide, Doctor McKay. And not because you think that what you do is any more important that what I do.”

“What I do is more important than what you do.” Rodney sneered.

“Well, aren't you the shit.” Susan gave him a snide look, her eyes going to the bowl of fruit on the table next to him. “I'll make sure the cook's know that the next time they request something for you from the food stores.”

Someone snorted and Rodney's face went red.

Slowly, Susan rested her hands on the table. “But I'm not going to get into that argument with you. This 'problem' that you have with me has nothing to do with my work here in Atlantis. This is something way more personal and you know it.”

“Personal? You must really think highly of yourself, Doctor Walker-”

“For your information, I do.” She snarled and then her voice softened slightly. “And I actually used to think quite highly of you. That is, until you started this personal vendetta against me.”

Rodney scowled. “I don't have a 'personal vendetta' against you-”

“Are you sure?” Susan glared at him. “Because you certainly seem to get your jollies by snarking at me. Or are you just naturally an asshole?”

John stepped into the room just in time to hear that last remark. What the hell? When the tech had told him that Rodney needed him in the lab...he glanced at Radek but the man didn't have to tell him what was going on. He could tell from Rodney's face and the tense set of her shoulders that things had finally come to a head. Taking a deep breath, he moved up behind her and cleared his throat.

“Susan, that's enough.”

“Shut up, Sheppard.” She didn't even turn her head and look at him. “I'm not finished.”

“Yes, you are.” He gripped her elbow. “C'mon, honey. I think you got your point across.”

“Sheppard, I would appreciate it if you got your girlfriend out of here before I lose my patience-”

She jerked away from John and pointed a finger at Rodney. “You're about to lose more than that, you arrogant bastard.”

“I thought I was an asshole.” Rodney didn't even try to hide his scorn.

“You're both.” Her chin came up and her eyes flashed with fury. “If you weren't John's friend I'd smack the hell out of you right now.”

“Don't let that stop you.”

“Alright, kids!” John barked. “That's enough-”

Before he could finish the sentence, he saw her move. John saw her fingers curl and he made a grab for her but he was too late. Rodney fell back with a grunt when her fist connected squarely with his face. Blood spurted and he moaned and covered his nose with his hands.

“You broke my nose, you crazy bit-”

“Say it and I'll break more than that.” Susan stood over him, her fists were clenched and she was shaking.

John did grab her then. He looked around at the shocked faces and cursed himself for letting things get this far. He should have put a stop to it the second that Rodney had started making digs at her. Knowing that in a matter of minutes the news that his intended bride had just sucker punched Rodney McKay would be all over the city, he tried to twirl her toward the door.

He needed to get her out of there but Susan refused to budge. Jerking away from him, she knelt down beside Rodney and made sure that she had his full attention.

“I'm only going to tell you once, Rodney so if I were you I'd listen and listen well. From now on, this is over.” She made a cutting motion with her hand. “I am marrying John Sheppard and I do not give a rat's ass if you like it or not. If you make one snarky, back stabbing remark to me or do not show me the respect that I have tried to show to you, then you will find out just what kind of crazy bitch I really can be.”

Rodney just glared at her.

“Do you understand me, Doctor McKay?”

He cut his eyes at John and then looked back at her and slowly nodded. Susan stared at him for a second, then she slowly nodded back and got to her feet. Back stiff and head held high, she turned around and without even a second glance at John, left the room.

John looked down at Rodney and ruefully shook his head. “Damn it, McKay. I told you not to push her.”