Title: Full Moon Rising
Disclaimer: Any characters, concepts and names you recognise don't belong to me. The plot line was thought up by someone long ago, I'm sure, but for the purposes of this fic, it's mine
Rating: T
Notes/warnings: Set during the first and early second seasons of SGA. Spoilers in this chapter for season one, and 'Seige Pt III'. This story is SLASH.
John isn't exactly human, and hiding it in the Pegasus galaxy isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world.
John checked his watch for what must have been the hundredth time in the last hour alone.
"They're not here yet," he complained. "When's the Daedalus due in?"
"Two minutes sooner than when you last asked," Teyla said. Her limitless patience was coming to an end. "Approximately fifteen minutes, according to Dr Weir."
"He's not going to shut up," Rodney said through a sandwich, not looking up from his laptop. "He's been going on about this since Colonel Carter suggested it."
"Maybe we should send him to Carson for a sedative," Elizabeth suggested, leaning forwards slightly and smirking. "That would calm him down."
"Don't even think about it," John growled. He tapped his fingers on the table. "I don't need a sedative, I'm perfectly calm."
"You're acting like Zelenka after he's had two beers," Rodney said, glancing up momentarily. "You're going to scare Ronon."
"It's funny," the Satedan shrugged. "Not quite sure why they're coming though."
"Their genes are almost as strong as Sheppard's," Rodney said. "Got it now? Or do you need me to say it for a sixth time?"
"Rodney," Teyla reproved with a smile. "Colonel, the Daedalus will be here shortly. Your agitation will not bring it into orbit faster."
John resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at her. A moment later a voice came through the radio.
"Good afternoon, Atlantis," said Caldwell. "We'll be docking in just a few minutes, but there are a couple of people here who'd like to come straight down. Shall I transport them into the 'gate room?"
"Yes, thank you Colonel," Elizabeth responded. John was out of the briefing room before she'd finished speaking; as he jogged down the stairs, two figures materialised.
"Hannah! Katie!" he exclaimed. "Wow, you've grown, beansprout!" He picked her up and spun her around.
"I'm not a beansprout," Katie objected, clinging to him. "I'm seven and a third! Well, not exactly, that's what Dad says I should say. He says people don't like when I can work out math."
John grinned. "Nobody'll care here," he promised. "Pretty much everyone here likes math." He set her down – she clung to his hand – and looked at Hannah with a painfully hopeful expression. "Hannah. Good trip?"
"Incredible," Hannah said flatly. "John…I had no idea."
"Of course you didn't," Rodney interjected, strolling down the stairs. "That's what classified means. Hello, Hannah, Katie."
"Uncle Rodney!" Katie beamed, and detached herself from John. Rodney braced himself; the girl didn't jump up into his arms, but it was clearly a close thing. "I met an alien! And we flew in space! Wow, this is a cool place."
"It's very cool," Rodney agreed, managing a smile that became almost genuine when Katie let go of him. "If you…make some things glow for me, I'll show you around."
"Mom said I'm here 'cos of my brain," Katie said. "Wow, you're pretty." This last was to Teyla; the group had descended the stairs and were waiting for John to introduce them.
"Katie, manners," Hannah reproved.
"Sorry, Mom," Katie said, clearly not meaning it. "Uncle John?"
"This is Teyla," John said with a smile. "She's a very good friend of mine. And this is Ronon – I didn't know him when I visited last year, Katie, that's why I didn't tell you about him – and Dr Weir. Guys, this is my niece Katie, and my sister Hannah."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Teyla said smilingly. "John has told me much about you and your family."
"Welcome to Atlantis," Elizabeth put in. "I hope the journey wasn't too bad – I know it can get quite cramped."
"Oh, Katie kept herself amused," Hannah smiled faintly. "This whole math prodigy thing takes a bit of getting used to – especially when she managed to stump…Hermiod, was it?"
"Well, we're glad you're here, even if it is only for a short time," Elizabeth said. "I've managed to convince Rodney to wait until tomorrow before he drags you into the labs, so you can take tonight to settle in and explore a little bit."
"I'll show you around," John leaped in. "And hey, there's new supplies, so there'll be edible food to eat."
"Food is always edible," Katie informed him gravely. "Uncle John, Sam told me that 'Lantis uses batteries called zee-pee-ems."
"That's right," Rodney said before John could speak. "Zero point modules. You talked to Samantha Carter?"
"She taught me for a while," Katie nodded. "Can I see one?"
"Sure," Rodney nodded. "Come on." He reached out his hand without thinking; Katie took it. Both missed the smile that crossed John's face briefly. They left the 'gate room before anyone could stop them.
"John," Hannah started. He cut her off.
"Rodney'll take care of her," he promised. "She'll be fine."
"No – John – it's about Mom," she said. "I needed to tell you in person…"
John suddenly looked older. "When?"
"Just after we left Earth," Hannah said softly. "Connor said…he said she went in her sleep."
"John, would you and your sister like to use my office?" Elizabeth asked softly, when John said nothing.
"No," John said finally. "Teyla, do me a favour and make sure Rodney doesn't tire out Katie? I'm taking a jumper out."
"Jumper?" Hannah queried. John grinned. "Oh, wait, that's one of the ships, right?"
"Come on," he directed her. "Rodney was right – you've never seen me fly, and the puddlejumpers are amazing."
"That's a stupid name," Hannah protested. "Let me guess, you named it." They bickered all the way to the jumper bay.
An hour later, drifting in the upper atmosphere, John's eyes burned with unshed tears.
"I didn't know she was that weak," he said quietly. Hannah wiped her eyes – unlike John, she had no compunction about crying. "She seemed fine when I was on Earth last year. A bit tired, I guess, but…"
"None of us saw it," she said, reassuring him. "You know Mom – had to be in control until the end."
"Yeah." He leaned back in the pilot's chair. "Only time she wasn't was when Dad…"
Hannah was silent for a long moment. "Dad had a lot of issues," she said eventually. "It wasn't fair that he took them out on you. I'm not saying you didn't do your fair share of damage, but…"
"Yeah."
"So, how're you and Rodney?" she asked, changing the subject.
John grimaced slightly. "Alright. I think. There were some problems…" She looked enquiring. "He blew up a solar system," he explained. "He asked me to trust him, and then he made a mistake, and I had a hard time forgiving that."
"You're just as bad as Dad was, in some ways," Hannah said, rolling her eyes. "Stubborn as mules, both of you."
"Maybe," John said, and changed the subject with a practiced ease. Hannah let him. "So, you gonna have a go?"
"I don't know, you don't want me crashing your precious ship," Hannah teased, but she was already tugging him out of the pilot's chair. "This is so cool," she breathed as the HUD responded to her thoughts.
Rodney and Katie met them in the jumper bay. Katie was playing with the Ancient equivalent of a gameboy, and Rodney was bouncing with excitement.
"I knew she was good, but not this good!" he exclaimed. "She makes some of the idiots in my department look like pre-schoolers!"
"You can't keep her, Rodney," Hannah said teasingly.
"Besides," John put in. "What would I do if you had a math genius here to solve your equations and make all the gadgets light up?" He tilted his head slightly to one side, lifted one eyebrow.
Rodney rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed. "There's no one else like you."
John smiled properly, stepped forwards, and kissed Rodney. "Ditto," he murmured when he pulled back. "So. You two kids been having fun?"
"Eww," Katie said, looking up from her toy. "Gross, Uncle John! Kissing's disgusting!"
"You'll change your mind when you're older, sweetie," Hannah said with a smile. "Come on, let's find you some food, shall we?" John was about to volunteer to show them the way when she shook her head. "No, you spend some time with Rodney," she said pointedly. "Stop being a jerk."
"Jerk?" Rodney repeated once John's family had left. "She gets to call you a jerk, and I don't?" He raised his eyebrows. "That's completely unfair.
"No, you get to call me a jerk too," John said mildly. "Her I listen to." He reached a hand up to brush his fingers down Rodney's jaw. "And I was. I'm sorry. You didn't stop trusting me when you found out, I shouldn't have been such an idiot after Duranda."
"Well, everyone makes mistakes," Rodney said, aiming for light but not quite getting it. "So are we, uh…"
"Yeah," John grinned, and kissed him again just because he could.
Finis