Coming Home
Spoilers: Not intentionally, but references to both seasons may slip in on occasion.
Rating: T for some mild language and potentially disturbing images in some chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or any of the characters associated with it, unless you count Jesi.
Chapter Sixteen
McKay drifted. The last two days had passed in a blur of shifting images. He had a vague recollection of waking in the infirmary, confused and in pain. Beckett had been there, Sheppard too, soothing him into sleep. He thought Teyla had stopped by a few times, once humming a little song while she stroked his hair. His next fuzzy memory (more likely a dream) was of Ronon sitting with him in the quiet night hours, recounting stories of McKay's bravery during the recent Wraith battle. The Satedan had promised they'd spend a few lazy days on a planet inhabited by beautiful blonde women as soon as McKay felt better. Yup, probably a dream, that one. He woke several times to the vision of Jesi sitting beside him, reading or dozing, but always wearing a gentle smile when he called her name. And Sheppard... the man was a lighthouse guiding him through the mist of pain, flashing a warning and preventing him from crashing into the shoreline of insanity.
A light squeaking pulled him from his musings. He lie there, eyes closed, trying to place the sound.
"Psst, McKay."
He groaned and rolled away from the voice.
"Go 'way, I'm sleeping." His rough voice sounded odd to his own ears. Beckett assured him it would heal in time. At least the pain wasn't so bad now.
"McKay! If you want us to spring ya', get your lazy ass out of that bed. You gotta hurry. Carson won't be gone long."
"Us?" McKay opened his eyes and reversed his earlier roll, catching Sheppard's smirk. His eyes went wide, and his jaw dropped. Sheppard stood there gripping a wheelchair, with Ronon, Teyla and Jesi lined up behind him.
"Hurry up, little man." Ronon shot him a snarling grin and patted the seat.
McKay pushed up and nearly tipped out of bed, but Sheppard was quick and caught him in time.
"Easy, Rodney, you don't want to end this little field trip before it starts."
"Are you nuts? Beckett will kill..."
"Hey, it's your choice, but you should know there might be a laptop in it for you."
"Oh, that's so not fair," muttered McKay as he pushed away from the bed. "Beckett may have released you, but I've been on lockdown."
Teyla smiled and grasped his other arm, helping Sheppard ease him into the wheelchair.
"Where are we going?" McKay asked as Jesi slid his feet into a pair of slippers and Sheppard draped a blanket around him.
"Oh, out for a little stroll." Sheppard patted McKay's shoulders and turned the wheelchair away from the bed, then set the brake.
Jesi leaned down. "Close your eyes."
"What? Why? I don't--"
"Do you trust me, Rodney?" She asked.
He stared at her, unsure how to answer. He didn't trust many people. Now that he thought about it, the few people he did trust stood in this room, sans Elizabeth, and if he was honest with himself, Carson and Radek.
"Yes."
Her lips quirked and her eyes sparkled. "Good. Close your eyes."
And he did.
She wrapped a cool cloth over his eyes and tied it behind his head. Day turned to night.
"I knew I'd find a woman willing to have a little fun with blindfolds!"
A hand cuffed the back of his head, but without much oomph. "Do I have to keep reminding you that she's my sister?"
"Ow! Injured man here," he said, but he grinned when laughter filled the room.
"C'mon McKay, time's a wastin'." Sheppard released the brakes and shoved the chair forward.
McKay grabbed the handles with white knuckles and moaned as the darkness whirled and dipped.
The chair came to an abrupt halt, and two steadying hands landed on his shoulders.
"You okay?" The warm vibration of Sheppard's voice slid past his right ear. "We can escape another day. Just say the word."
"No! I mean... I got a little dizzy for a second, but... I'm good."
"Uh huh, you didn't read the script. That's my line." Sheppard nudged the chair into motion, a bit more slowly this time. "Better?"
"Yeah, thanks. Where'd you say we were going?"
"We didn't, little man, but you'll like it." Ronon's big paw ruffled his hair and Teyla laughed.
The door whooshed open as they passed into the hallway and turned to the right. A scuffling sound off to his left made him twist in the chair.
"Dr. Simpson is to distract Dr. Beckett. Coast is clear, Colonel. Have safe trip."
"Thanks Radek. We owe you one," Sheppard said as they rolled past the Czech.
Two transporters and four hallways later, McKay felt the shift in temperature. Warmth washed over him, easing the tension of the last week. He breathed in deeply; the salty air stirred his heartbeat. He was outside. In the sunlight. With his friends. His mouth turned up on one side, and he let the blanket slip from his grasp.
Sheppard slowed to a stop, parked the chair, and with one tug, unfastened the blindfold.
McKay blinked rapidly at the sudden blinding daylight. Once he could see, he gasped and shot his gaze to Sheppard.
"What is that?"
"What's it look like, McKay?"
"It looks like the pier." McKay glanced at the people standing before him wearing silly grins.
"Ah, but it's more than just the pier. It's a picnic on the pier." Sheppard motioned and the group parted.
McKay stared at the blue and green striped blanket spread on the ground. His favorite foods packed the center, the Athosian equivalent of chicken, a salad made with local greens from the mainland, a chocolate cake and... was that a bag of Dorito's? Someone had gone all out. That looked like a bottle of Zelenka's finest resting in a bucket of ice. He grinned.
"Is that blue jello?"
Teyla stepped forward and took his hand, tugging gently.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, yes, of course I can walk. Why would you think I can't walk?" McKay stood and promptly slid to the hot pier, landing with a yelp. "Okay, maybe not so great with the walking..." He struggled to rise.
Sheppard and Teyla took him by the arms and helped him up. Sheppard drew McKay's right arm over his shoulder and looped his free arm around the scientist's waist.
"C'mon, buddy, nice and slow... that's it."
The pair staggered to the blanket, the group trailing along behind. Sheppard settled McKay on a corner and flopped down beside him. Jesi, Teyla and Ronon sat in a semi-circle facing the pair.
"It won't be long before Beckett discovers you're missing, so you'd better eat." Sheppard grabbed a plate. "What do you want?" He indicated the array of food spread around the blanket.
"Everything." He watched as Sheppard loaded food onto the plate. Once everyone had food and something to drink, Sheppard tapped his fork against his glass.
"Ahem, if I could have your attention please..."
All eyes focused on the suddenly serious colonel.
"Ah, I'd like to say, for the record, that I'm glad you're okay, Rodney. Watching that Wraith try to kill you... well, let's just say, it's a sight I never want to see again!" Sheppard shook his head, trying to clear the memory from his mind. "So, here's to Rodney, Wraith-fighter extraordinaire!" Sheppard raised his glass.
Jesi followed suit. "Here, here."
Teyla and Ronon joined their glasses with the others and responded in unison.
"Here, here."
A smile touched Sheppard's lips. "Rodney, where's your glass?"
McKay was speechless. He looked from face to face and absorbed the honest emotion reflected in each pair of eyes. He swallowed the lump blocking his voice then cleared his throat, cringing at the scratch of pain the action caused. He raised his hand, his flute joining the others, filling in the gap and forming a complete circle. His face broke into a grin at the light tinkle of delicate glass.
"I'm afraid the 'Rumors of my demise are greatly exaggerated'... as are the rumors of my great fighting ability. I don't remember a great deal about the battle, but I do know I couldn't possibly have contributed much to the effort."
"Oh, but you're wrong," Jesi said. "I'm drinking to your health as well as your bravery." She tapped her glass against the rest and tossed back the liquid in one quick gulp.
"As am I." Teyla emptied her glass.
"Face it, little man, you were brave." Ronon grinned and drained his drink.
"Yup, you showed no fear and you never gave up." Sheppard swallowed the amber liquid then eyed McKay's full glass. "Drink up."
McKay's eyes dropped, and he studied the bubbling liquid.
"No."
"What? Why not? You deserve it, McKay. Go ahead."
"It's not about that. Etiquette dictates I not drink when I'm the subject of the toast. So, refill your goblets, my friends. Hurry up, I sense Beckett is near." When they'd replenished their drink, he raised his glass again, the others quickly joining him. McKay's eyes connected with each one of his teammates before he began to speak.
"I've never had friends. Acquaintances and enemies, yes, but real friends... never -- until now. Each of you has shared a little of what happened, and I've pieced it together pretty well. So, here's to my friends without whom I wouldn't be here to bend Beckett's rules." McKay raised the glass to his lips and took a big gulp. He sputtered and sprayed liquid over Sheppard's chest.
"McKay! What the Hell..." Sheppard grabbed a napkin and dabbed at the damp splatters soaking into his shirt.
The other faces broke into grins and laughter as they watched.
McKay held the glass up to his nose and inhaled. "This isn't Radek's stash!"
"You're on medication! We may be brave, McKay, but we're not stupid. If Carson even thought we'd given you alcohol..." The colonel shuddered as he put down the soggy napkin and picked up his plate. "We'd better eat."
The group ate quickly, licking messy fingers and laughing as they recounted funny stories from their many missions. When they finished, Sheppard leaned back and patted his flat stomach.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm stuffed."
Ronon let loose a belch that echoed off the nearby walls. The thing took on a life of its own. "Sorry, the food was good."
The friends dissolved into laughter until Sheppard's radio squawked. He reached up and tapped it.
"Sheppard..."
"Colonel, its Carson. Have you seen Rodney? He's no longer in my infirmary, and I suspect you might've had a wee bit of something to do with the whole thing."
"Who, me? Doc, I'm offended you would even think that." Sheppard's face was pure innocence. "Have you searched around?"
"Aye, at first I thought he'd gone to his lab to sneak in some work, but I've checked and he's not there. Any ideas as to where else we should look?"
"We?" Sheppard gulped. This couldn't be good. "We who?"
"Dr. Weir and I, Colonel. Who else would be looking for a wandering Canadian scientist? I repeat, have you seen him?"
"No, doc, I haven't." Sheppard gave McKay a thumbs-up sign and confident nod. "Sorry."
"Ah, you daft buggers! I can see ya from Rodney's bloody lab window! Quite a nice view, actually.
As Sheppard listened, his face drifted from easy amusement to red-faced chagrin.
"We're busted, then?"
"Aye, Colonel, that you are. Get my patient back to his infirmary bed quickly, and I'll resist the urge to readmit you for another week of 'treatment'."
"We're already halfway there; Sheppard out." Sheppard cut the radio connection and turned to the group. "Okay people, you heard the good doctor, let's get McKay back to prison before the warden sends out his minions."
"Carson, I'm sure Rodney's fine." Weir placed a hand on Beckett's arm, trying to draw him away from the window.
"Ach, I know he is. I can see him from here. It's good to see him relax and enjoy himself. He's been so quiet since the Wraith attack."
Beckett pulled the field glasses away from his eyes and handed them to Weir. She raised them to her own eyes and made a quick adjustment. A slow grin spread across her lips.
"Well, it looks like Sheppard and Jesi are returning the patient as ordered, and the others are stuck with clean-up duty." She set the binoculars on the windowsill and met Beckett's eyes. "Still, it was nice of you to let them finish their picnic."
"Well I'm not totally heartless, ya know!" Beckett smiled and spun on his heal, then headed out of the lab.
Weir followed with a quick wave to a very guilty looking Dr. Zelenka. "Good job, Radek."
Sheppard jogged a little faster and tried not to accidentally dump McKay out of the wheelchair as they flew around sharp corners and down long hallways.
"But what about my laptop? If we go back, Carson won't let me have it." McKay's fingers gripped the chair arms, and he hooked his feet under the footrests in an effort to brace himself. Riding in a speeding wheelchair driven by Sheppard was akin to flying with the pilot in a jumper running from a Wraith dart.
"I'll worry about that after I get you back. I'll take care of Carson... somehow."
"He seems like a reasonable man," Jesi said as she jogged beside McKay's chair.
McKay threw back his head and snickered. "Carson – reasonable, that's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one."
Sheppard slowed and guided the chair through the infirmary doorway. He scanned the room for signs of a medical ambush.
"Good, no Beckett. Let's tuck you in." He wheeled the chair to the edge of McKay's assigned bed and helped the physicist into it.
Jesi wheeled the empty chair to its rightful spot, then wandered across the open space slowly. She took a moment to study Rodney. His color looked better, even though they'd only been outside for thirty minutes or so. His eyes glittered with fiery energy as he argued with John about needing his laptop. Her face softened when John held up his hands, then crossed to an empty food cart and rolled it closer to the bed. He bent down, lifted the white cloth covering the tray, and revealed the corner of a laptop.
McKay pounced. He lifted the cover and powered up the computer, his hands shaking with repressed need.
"Ohhh baby, come to papa." McKay rubbed his hands over the keys and up the sides of the monitor. "Did you miss me?"
Sheppard dragged two chairs closer to the bed and ushered Jesi into one before he dropped into the other.
"Don't let Carson hear you. He might decide to keep you a little longer." Sheppard rubbed at the stubble shading his chin. "So, McKay, can you adjust the settings on the dimension jumpers, or is that beyond your capabilities?"
McKay glanced up. "Adjust the settings? Yes, yes, I can adjust some of them. Why?" He listened intently as Sheppard filled him in on the Wraith's ability to disrupt the users' mental connection with the device. With a few taps of his keys, McKay pulled up the schematics and isolated a grid.
"Ah, yes, I see the problem. If I adjust the calculations and randomize the pattern, I should be able to keep ahead of their psychic abilities. We'll have to experiment, of course, but..."
"So... that's a yes?"
"Yes, Colonel, that's a yes." McKay returned to his frenetic typing and muttered under his breath.
"Your amazing, McKay," Sheppard stated, his eyes catching Jesi's as he shot her a wink. "You can reprogram Ancient technology, but you can't figure out who used my password to send a message to the SGC."
McKay's head shot up, and his eyes darkened as he scowled at Sheppard.
"I told you the person knew more about computers than I do, and that's saying a lot. Besides..."
"Relax Rodney, I'm over it." Sheppard captured Jesi's hand. "If Jesi hadn't been here, you'd be dead."
"Well, not exactly. If I hadn't been here, maybe Rodney wouldn't have been on that planet in the first place." Jesi pursed her lips and gripped Sheppard's hand a little tighter.
"Or maybe my team would have responded to their distress call, but without the device. We'd all be dead. We could debate the potential outcomes ad infinum, but it wouldn't make me feel any differently about you being here." He studied her face then glanced at McKay. "It sounds trite, but I've decided some things really might happen for a reason."
"Fate." McKay felt the heat flood his face, but held Sheppard's gaze. "It's not always about the science. If you ever tell anyone I said that, I'll --"
"Rodney, back from your little excursion, I see." Beckett strolled up to the group. "You look a bit flushed." The doctor rested his hand against McKay's forehead and pinned Sheppard with an irritated glare. "Where'd you find the laptop?"
Sheppard grabbed the computer, snapped it closed, and tucked it under his arm. "Ah, I had a problem and needed Rodney's expertise."
"Expertise my arse, you've been breaking my rules all day, Colonel." When he saw Sheppard start to rise, he held out a staying hand. "No lad, no need to rush off, I have a few follow-up tests for you."
Sheppard groaned and sank back down. He shut down the computer while Beckett gave McKay a quick check-up.
"Well, Rodney, you seem fine, but you look a might tired. I suggest you get some rest, for yourself and for your voice." Beckett turned to McKay's guests. "You can visit for ten more minutes, but then you have to leave." With one last level look at the three friends, Beckett turned and disappeared into his office.
"So long Dr. McParty-pooper. I was just beginning to think life might be fun again." McKay slid down in the bed with a sigh and studied the ceiling. "He's right, though; I am tired. It's the good tired, the tired you get from spending time with close friends. Thanks, and thank the others for me, too."
Sheppard let his head drop back against the chair and yawned. "We didn't do it for you. We just like besting Carson."
Jesi clapped a hand over her mouth, hiding a grin.
McKay snorted as his eyes found Sheppard. "Say what you want, but I know the truth." He saw Sheppard yawn again. He tried to fight it, but lost the battle; his mouth opened in a matching yawn, and his eyes drooped. "You guys should go get some rest."
Jesi leaned forward and took his hand. "We'll sit with you until you fall asleep." She watched McKay's face relax as his eyes drifted shut.
"Shouldn't take long..." McKay murmured as he adjusted his body to a more comfortable angle. "Today was... nice."
Dreams beckoned, and he wandered down the dirt trail in search of them. The wildflowers growing along side the path oozed a heady scent -- a mix of sunlight, soil, and new life -- that sent him flying, free from fear, free from ugly Wraith, free from inner demons. With arms raised, he let go and fell backwards into the sea of flora.
Jesi knew the exact moment Rodney passed over into dreams. She let go of his hand and stood, then adjusted the blankets around his shoulders. She leaned down and pressed a whisper kiss to his slightly crooked lips.
"I'm sorry I got you into this mess. I'll make it up to you, I promise." She rested her cheek against his face for a moment before she turned around.
Her face softened as she studied her brother. He was asleep in the chair, head cocked to one side and resting on his palm. He looked vulnerable, unguarded. One wrong move and his house of carefully balanced cards would come crashing down. She'd just have to keep an eye on him and make sure no one slipped a card from his deck.
"Just leave him be, lass," Beckett whispered. "The man can sleep anywhere, but he doesn't often sleep well. I'll wake him in a little while. You should get some rest while you can."
"Yeah, unlike my brother, I need a soft mattress and a comfortable pillow to get any rest. I'll see you tomorrow." Jesi ruffled Sheppard's hair lightly on her way past.
Beckett followed her to the door and waved good night before he retired to his office. Weir stood on the other side of the observation window watching McKay and Sheppard sleep.
"Now there's a sight. Do you think they know we were in on their little escape plan today?"
"Nay, not a chance." Beckett grinned. "And we won't be telling them now, will we."
"No, not a chance." Weir echoed with a small smirk. "Won't John hurt his neck sleeping like that?"
"Probably, but it'll give me an excuse to run those tests I threatened him with earlier. Go to bed. It's been a long day, and I've an inkling tomorrow will be worse. Rodney's had a taste of the damn laptop, and I know he'll want it back."
Weir grinned as she looped her arm through Beckett's and drew him to the door. "I'll go to my quarters if you promise to go to yours. You need rest, too, Doctor."
"Aye that I do." Beckett shut off the office lights on his way out the door. "Tomorrow's going to be a McKay day."
Jesi tiptoed into the semi-dark infirmary. She paused long enough to grab two pillows and a few blankets, before crossing the room. She nudged Sheppard. When he cracked an eye and grunted once, she handed him a pillow and pointed to the vacant bed next to McKay.
"There's room at the inn for a weary shepherd."
"Beckett's gone?" Sheppard stood and twisted his head from side to side, trying to work out the kinks in his neck.
"Yup, just we chickens left in the coop." Jesi crawled into McKay's bed and spread the blanket over herself.
"What are you doing? There's another empty bed right there. Hell, you can have this one." Sheppard pointed at the bed she'd offered him.
"Relax, I'm just returning the favor."
She eased her arm under McKay's neck and tipped his head onto her shoulder. He turned sideways and slipped his arms around her, drawing her closer.
"Mmmm... flowers," McKay's murmured words flowed into her like heat on a bright summer's day, thawing the last vestige of ice hiding in the cracks and crevices of her heart.
Sheppard hung his head. "The man doesn't have a subtle bone in his body. When he wakes up, I'm going to show him how to play 'hard to get' the manly way." He plumped his pillow and tossed it onto the bed, then joined it there. He pulled the blankets around his shoulders and thought the lights into sleep mode. "If his hands start roaming, you wake me up, understand?"
"It's not his hands you should be worried about, John-John."
"Jesilyn Sheppard Gibbs!"
Epilogue:
Atlantis dimmed the lights over her three favorite charges. Her future now secure, the old city could finally rest comfortably. Her message to General Landry had been the right move, she thought. In the quiet of the night, she accessed McKay's profile and sent a secret command. In a scientific laboratory on a planet in a distant galaxy, a light began to flash on a small globe. After a few moments, the globe opened, revealing the gate address to Atlantis. It was time to lead a few more of her children on the path to finding their way home.
A/N: I've finally gotten to the end of this monster. This is a long chapter. I could have broken it into two, but decided not to. Forgive me? I fought with this story. I wrestled it to the ground where it promptly kicked my behind all over my computer monitor! Hugs!