All I Ask Of You

All I Ask Of You

Rachel was sitting in Rodney's lab, gnashing her teeth together in annoyance. She had been on Atlantis for three weeks and so far she had managed to get Rodney back on a regular sleeping and eating schedule, which led him to more productivity in his progress to figuring out that new weapons system they found – he and Radek were actually able to figure out last week how things worked, it was not just a matter of figuring out how to get the power to the weapons to turn them on – and she had managed to gather enough evidence that John Sheppard had turned into a fucking ghost.

The man wasn't anywhere. He wasn't in his office, he wasn't in the mess, he wasn't in the gym or out running with Ronon. He wasn't anywhere. Rachel shifted, crossing her legs and crossing her arms over her chest as she kept an eye on Rodney, helping him when he needed it.

A few other scientists had been in and out of the lab, but Rodney's short temper made them scurry away as fast as they could. It seemed that the only other constant in the labs with Rachel and Rodney was Radek.

He was able to stand Rodney's yelling and managed to yell back, the two arguing over snippets of code or something. It was only when Rodney was being particularly insufferable the two of them would talk. Simple questions like how they met, when they got married and so on. It was only when John was mentioned that Rodney ever stopped working and took and interest in the conversation.

Radek wasn't entirely sure about why Rodney was with John – yes, he knew, he was intelligent after all – when Rodney was married to Rachel but simply nodded that if Rachel was going to explain it, Radek would have to help her catch John first.

It would be much simpler that way. Radek had agreed to try and help her but it was proving to be difficult. And instead of sitting on a stool and gnashing his teeth together like she was, he was angrily shifting through his work. The other scientists didn't think having Rachel around was a good influence on the used-to-be-nicer-than-Rodney Czech.

She sighed for a the millionth time. Rodney spared a moment to glare at her. He was tense and mad at Rachel. She promised nothing bad would happen between him and John and what do you know. He hadn't talked to him in the three weeks she'd been here.

“Radek, please, can we go try to find him one more time?” she pleaded. The Czech sighed, rubbing his eyes.

“Fine.” She slid from the stool following his irritated exit from the lab again as they tried to locate the suddenly invisible John Sheppard.

~

“Elizabeth, I is telling you. Either you order Colonel Sheppard to come to your office or Rodney will be more unbearable. Rachel can fix this.” Radek argued. Elizabeth sighed, massaging her temples.

“Colonel Sheppard, this is Dr. Weir.” she tapped her ear piece. Rachel's face lit up. This could finally be it! Finally! Radek smiled, too, happy that he had convinced Elizabeth to call John.

“John, I need you to come to my office. Now.” she looked over at the two in front of her; Rachel was practically bouncing with excitement, her whole body screaming 'It's about damn time!'

“I trust that whatever it is, Mrs. McKay,” Rachel held up a hand.

“Actually, Elizabeth, please, call me Rachel.” she nodded.

“All right. Rachel, I trust that whatever issue is between John and Rodney you will be able to resolve it in a timely manner?” Rachel nodded, her long, slightly curled hair bouncing in its pony tail.

“Yes, Elizabeth, I will. Promise.” Elizabeth smiled at Rachel's child-like excitement and sat back in her chair to wait for John to come, ready to order him to stay in her office until this issue was dealt with.

~

John knew he was being childish, but dammit, he couldn't help it.

He and Rodney had been in a relationship for the better part of a year and everything was completely wonderful. They spent as much time as they could together talking, holding each other or having relations of the intimate nature. Really, Rodney could show a hooker a thing or two with the way he could do that fantastic little thing with his tongue. John had absolutely no complaints at all about their relationship.

Of course, there were a few people who knew about it: Carson, for obvious reason, Ronon and Teyla – man, that mission where they found out had to have been the most embarrassing one he's ever been on – Radek knew, too, and how couldn't he? John was always down in the labs, bugging him and pestering him to go do something with him – he had to have caught on sooner or later.

John was sure that Elizabeth might have had an inkling to their relationship but thanks to the showing up of Her, John was positive that everyone in Atlantis no longer had any thoughts that Rodney was gay, or bi John's mind supplied helpfully.

Thanks to the help of Ronon and Teyla, John had managed to hide himself successfully from Rachel and Rodney for the passed three weeks – claiming that he was catching up on his paper work got him a few sympathetic smiles from the men under his command when they had paperwork, too.

He had to keep Ronon with him nearly all the time because, well, as much as he was really mad at Rodney for not telling him about his wife, he was pretty sure that Rodney would get incredibly even more pissed at John if he let Ronon, um, deal with her.

Yes, keeping Ronon with him most of the time was a good thing. Teyla had similar urges but he was able to convince her that now wasn't the time when they had to worry about a Wraith attack and all. Teyla agreed, if only reluctantly.

Of course, being alone in his makeshift office – there was no way he would actually be in his real office, a place where he would easily be found – he would never admit to nearly jumping a foot in the air when Elizabeth called him over the radios. He sighed.

“Yes, Elizabeth?” he listened for a moment. Then he sighed again. “Fine. I'll be there shortly.”

He had a sinking feeling he knew who would be waiting for him in Elizabeth's office. He grumbled to himself about the unfairness of the whole Pegasus Galaxy as he pushed himself up him his chair and started walking towards Elizabeth's office, dragging his feet the whole way there.