As John stepped further into the small room he cast a critical eye over his elusive quarry. Rolling his eyes at the snuffling snores Sheppard waved his hand over the sensor closing the door behind him. It had taken him the better part of an hour to track McKay down in one of the seldom used auxiliary labs close to the east pier. His irritation increasing as he searched fruitlessly until he stumbled across the scientist almost by accident. The frustration caused by suspicions of Rodney deliberately avoiding him, drained slowly away as Sheppard drew closer to the sleeping man.

McKay was hunched forward, face down on the lab table snoring gently, his long blunt fingers curled loosely around an empty mug. His lap top was pushed hap-hazardly to the side, its screen strobing green as rapid streams of numbers flashed across it. John pushed it safely back from the edge of the table and slid in behind the oblivious scientist.

Not wishing to listen to the unending complaints Rodney was sure to make if he were left sleeping in the lab, John reached out to shake him awake. His hands were a hairbreadth from McKay s shoulders when the softly snuffling man shifted position slightly. His head turned, allowing his cheek to rest fully on the table. The movement caused the neckline of Rodney s shirt to gape slightly and John's attention was snagged by a bluish purple smudge peeking shyly above the collar. Sheppard s breath stuttered to a stop as he came to the realization that the mark was in fact a hickey.

An oddly uncomfortable mix of emotions slithered through John settling heavily in his chest. The surroundings of the lab seemed to fade away. John's focus narrowed to a pinpoint as he fixated on the mark. Almost unconsciously Sheppard s fingers traced lightly over the edge of the bruise and something hot flared to life in the pit of his stomach.

"Mine," a voice whispered in the back of Sheppard's head raising gooseflesh and a flash of possessive need. An image of McKay dressed in shadows, panting and wanton flowed across his mind's eye leaving behind a twist of desire and the need for more contact. John's fingers pressed harder against the skin, McKay's pulse throbbed at his touch. Rodney moaned softly and pushed back against John's finger tips, his skin soft and warm.

John slid his hands down to rest on McKay's shoulders massaging gently as he leaned forward, nuzzling the tender spot below Rodney's earlobe. His tongue swiped over the ridge of bruised flesh. The scent and taste filling his senses warming him in places he hadn't realized were cold. His breath ghosted hotly over the mark and a deep groan of McKay's name rippled out of his throat. In an instant McKay was awake and skittering away. Rodney fell from his stool with a jarring thud and shattered the sensual haze Sheppard had been simmering in. Reality seemed to tip and then right itself. John s actions of a few seconds ago took on a dreamlike quality and rapidly dissipated into the background.

John shook his head in an attempt to clear it and looked down at Rodney. The scientist stared back at him, his eyes wide and faintly startled, then his features settled into a familiar grumpy expression.

"Jesus, Rodney you OK?" John leaned forward to help him to his feet.

Ignoring Sheppard's out stretched hand McKay struggled stiffly to his feet, his mouth slanted in a disgruntled line. "I would be if someone wasn't always sneaking up behind me. What are you doing here Colonel, besides trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Well you forgot your snack when you left the mess hall this morning so I thought I would bring it to you." John turned away and raised a hand to rub the back of his neck, shoulders in a tense line. The sense that he had forgotten something important was tugging at his mind, unsettling him.

McKay glanced down at his wristwatch, and eyed Sheppard skeptically. He huffed in exasperation as he limped closer to the table. "That was over an hour ago."

Strangely enough Rodney's irritation seemed to relax Sheppard. He slouched slightly and leaned against the lab table. With a grin he pulled a dented chocolate pudding cup from his pocket and set it down beside his hip. "O.K. Tell you what McKay, I will trade you this pudding cup for a little information."

The wheedling tone of Sheppard's voice made Rodney glance up sharply from his tired contemplation of the pudding cup. John was once again struck by just how exhausted the man looked and decided not to push for information. There would be plenty of time to question Rodney about what happened the night before, after McKay got some rest. Ignoring the scientist s flustered mutterings and protests Sheppard shut the laptop with a snap and tucked it under his arm. With his free hand he picked up the pudding cup and tossed it underhanded to Rodney, shaking his head when McKay fumbled and dropped it.

"Come on Rodney, you're done for the day. And don't tell me you can't sleep because you were doing a great imitation of it a few minutes ago" Sheppard moved closer to him, prepared to physically drag the reluctant man from the lab if necessary.

McKay swayed slightly as he stood abruptly from picking up the fallen snack. John reached out grabbing his elbow to help steady him, glancing at him in concern when he felt McKay stiffen at his touch. "When did you eat last?"

"Earlier. I do know how to look after myself Colonel." The answer may have been vague but the glare McKay directed at him was anything but.

"Yeah and you are doing such an excellent job of it." Sheppard tightened his grip and started to steer Rodney towards the door. "Come on we'll get you an MRE and then get you into bed."

McKay made a slight choking noise and his face flushed red. John smirked at him amused by the obvious show of anger and stubbornness. "Give it up Rodney, you're tripping over your own feet and you re about ready to drop."

"What's it to you Colonel?" The tone was snippy and slurred.

"Look at it this way, what good would I be as head of the military if I let my head geek collapse and possibly hurt that giant brain on the hard floor?"

Rodney's shoulders slumped in resignation. He looked at Sheppard, his eyes heavy lidded and sleepy. "O.K. you win"

John smiled warmly at the scientist, patting his shoulder fondly before ushering him from the small room. "That's the spirit buddy."

As they stepped into the transporter, John realized that the headache he had woke with that morning had finally disappeared. With a smile he tapped the location for the residential quarters on the map and brushed his shoulder against McKay s as the door slid shut. The day was starting to look up.