General: Alright, so this will be my first SGA story that is not a tag. So, I'm a little worried but we'll see.
Updating: This is always a worry for me as I don't want to let you guys down. So, I'm a few chapters ahead and as of now, I should have plenty of time to continue. But, I won't be updating once a day, just to make sure I can stay regular (it is my plane at least.) Maybe every other day or something. Don't know yet.
Rating: K or K+ - never really good at the rating thing... basically, the only bad thing is curse words that you hear Sheppard and McKay and others say all the time. I don't like to use words you won't hear on the show. So.. no f-bomb or other nonexecptable words. You should all be fine.
I don't own any of this. Hope you all enjoy. Starts off from Rodney's point of view. - Have fun.
Four days.
Four. Freaking. Days.
Four days when it was only supposed to be a matter of hours, a day at most. It had started off as a routine trip to one of their allied planets, as was required every month or so, and it just so happened that the one time everything wanted to screw up, it had been Rodney's turn.
Of course, he wasn't dead or even hurt, just annoyed beyond all reason. Four days alone on a primitive planet was bad enough, but then you add the whole 'being trapped in a tiny hut while a storm rages outside' factor, and it just really did not add to the pleasure of the situation.
Honestly, someone should have seen the storm coming. It worked on fairly regular schedule, so someone should have been able to say, "There's going to be a huge-ass storm coming and you'll have to wait it out."
But no. How could he expect that of some of the absolute smartest scientists on Earth?
Rodney sighed. Either way, the storm was over, he had gotten very brief contact with a rescue team from Atlantis, and had been assured that they could finally come and pick him up. And there really could not have been a better time. Well, other than before it all happened.
The hut had been frightfully small and cramped with half a dozen people, two of which were young children. And to make things better, they had remained unnaturally calm during the strong winds and deafening crashes, while Rodney had decided to panic.
It was just not his strong point; staying calm under pressure. That was Sheppard's thing. Maybe even Teyla. Ronon would just want to go out and somehow fight the storm. But seeing as how he didn't have Sheppard to keep him calm, nor Teyla or even Ronon, he had freaked out a little during the first day. And had been the only one to do so.
But, the locals had been used to it, and therefore were prepared for it all. Plenty of food and water was stored in the building, as well as blankets and candles. So, at least a hypoglycemic attack had not been added to his list of ailments.
But all was well now, and he was about to go home, to Atlantis. Finally. It was odd how much he could miss that place sometimes. And maybe, just maybe, he missed some of the people as well. Maybe.
He had only been able to hold contact with Atlantis for about a minute or so, but in that time, he had been able to give his location and was told to stay put due to possible damage from the storm. He definitely would not argue with that order.
It had seemed like hours before the jumper had arrived, ready to take him back to Atlantis. But finally, he heard the sound of one overhead and took a few steps outside to see it land.
Dawn was just breaking on the planet, spreading light against the ravished land. Rodney had only ever seen damage such as this on television when hurricanes had gone through places like Florida and such. It was an odd beauty, knowing that something as uncontrollable as nature had caused it here, just like it caused similar events in a completely different solar system.
But, no sight was more beautiful than that of the puddle jumper. Pure beauty was the only word that could possibly explain it. And part of him was sure that the rear hatch would open to reveal Lt. Colonel John Sheppard grinning like a jackass in light of Rodney's recent ordeal.
But he had been wrong.
The rear hatch opened instead to reveal Major Lorne, and while Rodney was slightly surprised, it didn't phase him much as the Major was just as capable of flying the jumper through the Stargate and to Atlantis. It was actually in walking distance, well, walking distance to Sheppard and co, but with all the damage, it was best to go via jumper.
"Dr. McKay. Good to see you," Lorne greeted, his tone legit, but his face was solemn.
"Yes, yes. Let's just get out of here," Rodney retorted, not really in the mood to talk pleasantries.
Lorne nodded then began to address his team. "You two stay here, we'll send two more teams out here to help clear the ruble." The men nodded then made their way over to McKay's four-day home.
The children, as well as the three adults Rodney had been staying with were huddled just outside the door, gaping at the jumper and smiling at the departing Rodney.
"Uh, right…" Rodney tried, not knowing exactly what to say to them. "Well, thanks then."
The people smiled in a way that reminded him of Sheppard's look that said he knew what McKay meant. And that was good enough for him. He carried his pack and tac vest into the jumper and flopped down in the co-captain chair. It would only be him and Lorne on the way back, and Rodney was used to sitting next to Sheppard.
Lorne said nothing, just went in and sat down in his seat and activated the ship. His face was tense, and while McKay didn't know him too well, Lorne seemed oddly tense for any given person. And if it was how the man always was, Rodney was hard pressed to understand how he could work under Sheppard. Then again, Rodney managed to work with Sheppard.
"So," Rodney breathed, resting his head against the back of the seat. "I take it Atlantis managed to stay in tact while I was gone."
Lorne did not take his eyes from the front windshield, but answered none-the-less. "Atlantis is fine."
The Major's voice was definitely full of weariness, or something like it. Rodney suddenly felt a horrible thought wash over him.
"Everyone is fine, right?"
But before Lorne could answer, the Stargate appeared in front of them and Dr. Weir's voice interrupted Rodney's thoughts.
"Major Lorne, are you on your way back yet?"
"Yes ma'am. And I have Dr. McKay with me and he's fine. I've told my men we'd send more people to help with the clean-up, if that's ok with you ma'am?"
"Yes, that's fine, Major. Just please get Rodney here, we could really use him right now."
"Understood, ma'am. Sending my IDC now."
"Right, come on home. Weir out."
Rodney sat perplexed, wondering what the conversation meant. Obviously there was something wrong in Atlantis, but according to Lorne, it was not Atlantis itself. A hint of fear rose through him as he started to guess what all could be wrong. But before he could ask, the twinkling blue event horizon engulfed him, and the familiar feeling of 'Gate-travel filled his body.
When they entered the jumper bay, Lorne seemed to be ushering him out a little quicker than usual.
"Ok, just spill it. What's going on?"
He could see for himself that everything seemed to be fine with Atlantis and was getting sick of feeling like he was being kept out of the loop. But Lorne didn't say anything, just looked a little worried. Rodney was about to continue his badgering until he saw Weir coming down the steps in an unusual way compared to her natural grace.
"Elizabeth, what's going on?"
The look on her face told him so much. It was not anger, nor was it deep sadness, but it was more of a rushed look. Rodney frowned.
"We… we have a few problems that we haven't been able to fix, Rodney. And, while it isn't too bad right now, we just need to fix it as soon as possible."
"Elizabeth, stop sugarcoating things. You know that in order for me to do anything at all, I have to know the situation as clear as you can put it." He was now getting annoyed at everyone holding back on him. But deep down, a part of him knew who these "problems" were going to revolve around.
"Its John."
What did you guys think? Ha, guess you have no idea right now, but if you like Shep whump, I think you might like it. :)