John Sheppard strolled through the corridors of Atlantis, mulling over his conversation with Elizabeth Weir concerning his team. He was still having problems with the fact that he was in another galaxy but now he was the superior military officer, he was in charge.
He didn’t want to be the one making the decisions, John never had but here he was. He wanted Teyla for the team, that was an obvious choice since she knew the place and had contacts they could use. Next he was musing over having Ford on the team; even if he was one of the youngest marines, he’d already shown himself to be smart and John liked the kid. Finally was Weir’s suggestion of Rodney McKay, which John was balking at quite a bit. Not only because he was arrogant and annoying but there was also the teenage girl he’d brought along with him. John didn’t want to be responsible for making the kid an orphan…assuming the mother was dead but John didn’t have a clue about that. Nobody knew anything about Alisa’s mother, in fact though rumours were already flying thick and fast over her parentage.
“Lieutenant,” he greeted Ford as he appeared from round the corner before smiling at the teenager who followed, “Alisa.”
“Hi, Major,” Alisa greeted him looking tired but she managed a grin.
“I need to talk to Ford for two seconds,” John told her.
“No problem,” she shrugged.
“I’ll catch up,” Ford told her before turning to his CO, “Something wrong, sir?”
“What you doing?” John asked curiously.
Ford grinned, “I was running and Alisa was hanging around looking bored, so I asked her to join me.”
“Okay,” John replied with a shrug, “Well, I’ll see you at the briefing tomorrow.”
“Briefing tomorrow?” Ford asked confused.
“You’re on my team,” John told him, “Get going; I like my team members to be fit.”
John continued along the corridors, frowning as he heard someone laughing gleefully. Moving closer, he was surprised to find Rodney standing grinning.
“What?” John demanded, sure that he was the butt of some joke.
“It works,” the grinning scientist announced, “The gene therapy works.”
John stared in amusement at the other man who was still congratulating himself.
“What is that?” John asked as he noticed a strange jewelled device on Rodney’s chest.
He laughed again, “It’s a personal shield. Hit me.”
“Don’t tempt me,” John replied.
“Seriously,” Rodney told him, “I won’t feel it,” he somehow produced an iron bar, “Use this.”
John was sure his eyes were the size of saucers but he took the bar, sure that he could do this without actually hurting the guy. He swung it, gently hitting the scientist on his arm; a sudden green glow covered the Canadian.
“Cool,” John grinned before he decided to try again.
“I told you,” Rodney bounced, barely flinching as John slammed the bar against his stomach.
“Ow,” John winced as pain shot through his arm, “Damn that hurt me.”
“But I didn’t feel it.”
John dropped the bar and pressed his lips together in thought, his hand straying to the gun before letting it go.
“Try it,” Rodney told him with a grin.
“Are you serious?”
The scientists nodded, “I’m protected. Just shoot me.”
John sighed and pulled out his gun before aiming it at Rodney’s leg, “Ready.”
“Go for it.”
John fired then flinched as the bullet ricocheted off the green glow and into the wall.
Rodney’s grin grew even wider.
*********************************************
John looked out across the black expanse that was filling the Gateroom. It wasn't taking the bait and as soon as it finished feeding on the generator, it was going to finish up with them.
Movement caught his eye and he turned in time to see Rodney start down the stairs and into the cloud a faint green glow covering him.
“McKay!!!” he yelled, stopping at the edge of the cloud as Weir yelled for the scientist.
The next few moments were achingly long as they waited, finally the black disappeared leaving Rodney unconscious on the floor. As he ran down with the others, John knew he’d made his decision; he’d be happy to have Rodney on the team…possibly.
All he had to do was make sure the scientist wanted to be on it.
“What?” Rodney demanded as his daughter gave him a worried look while he sat in the infirmary as Carson poked him with needles.
“I’m wondering if insanity skips a generation,” she replied dryly.
He rolled his eyes at her, “Aren’t you meant to be doing something?”
“I am,” Alisa told him sweetly, “I’m guarding you for Carson so you don’t disappear.”
“Brat,” Rodney muttered affectionately, frowning as John wandered in, “What is this? Show and Tell.”
“Alisa,” John turned to the girl, “Could you give me a minute to talk to your father.”
She shrugged, “Just make sure he doesn’t leave until Carson says so.”
“Out,” Rodney told her, smiling to himself as she disappeared before he turned to John, “What do you want?”
John folded his arms, “Just thought I wanted to see how you were doing after your…little adventure.”
“I’m fine,” Rodney replied suspiciously, “Is that all?”
An amused smirk covered John’s face, “Elizabeth suggested you for my team. I wasn't precisely sure about it though.”
“Why?” Rodney snapped annoyed.
John shrugged, “Are you in or not?”
Rodney stared at him, for the first time since John had met him he didn’t have anything to say, finally he nodded.
“Sure.”
John nodded, “See you tomorrow for the briefing.”
“Rodney, is there a reason you wanted to see us?” Carson asked as he and Elizabeth stood in his lab later that day, “Or did you just want some protection from the sunlight?”
“I need to ask you both something,” Rodney turned to them, “And it’s extremely important.”
Intrigued, Elizabeth took a seat as Carson grabbed the one beside her.
“I walked into the cloud today,” Rodney said softly, “When I saw Alisa arrive in the infirmary, I realised that I have nothing in place in case something happens to me.”
“Rodney…” Elizabeth started.
“Let me finish,” he cut her off, “Alisa is the most important person in my life, she’s all I have and I don’t know what I’d do without her but life here is dangerous,” he took a deep breath, “If anything happens to me, I want you two to be her legal guardians.”
“Us?” Carson asked, a little surprised.
“Alisa will be sixteen in a few months so she won’t need a guardian but who knows what will happen before that,” Rodney explained, “I trust you both and Alisa knows you. If you don’t want…”
“Rodney,” Elizabeth cut him off, “I think I speak for us both when I say we’re honoured you asked us.”
“Aye,” Carson smiled, “And we’re more than happy to do it.”
Rodney gave a half-smile, “Thank you. Now go away I have work to do.”
“You’re going on missions?” Alisa demanded in astonishment as they sat eating dinner that night in the mess.
Rodney nodded, “Elizabeth suggested it.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?” worry creased the teenager’s forehead.
Rodney licked his lips, “It can be but there’s more chance that there’ll be a ZPM on a planet somewhere and I’m the best person there is, in case we need to work around any Ancient technology.”
Alisa shrugged, “It’s not like I’m not used to you being away working.”
“Lissa,” Rodney frowned.
The girl dropped her eyes; focussing on her dinner, ignoring her father’s attempts to catch her eye.
“Lissa,” he caught her hand, “You know I never wanted that.”
She nodded slightly, still not looking up.
“Lissa.”
“I know, Dad,” she sighed, “But…I guess I thought since we were here, I might actually see you more than once a month.”
“It won’t be the same as it was I promise,” Rodney told her.
Alisa gave a small smile, “Okay.”
“Good,” Rodney smiled at her, “Finish your dinner.”
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