Work Text:
Scene 1 - Rescuing McKay
"Hi! My name is Dr. Rodney McKay...could you, uh, get me down please?" the little man hanging upside down in the orange suit seemed terrified.
Ronon smiled at him, which looked more like a grimace. This failed to calm him and he recoiled. Ronon grabbed him from behind and pulled out his knife.
"No, no, no, no! Please!" Mckay began pleading and wriggling to get away.
"Hold still," Ronon instructed. He didn't. Ronon had to chance it and with one swift swipe cut the rope above his foot. McKay fell against him and began to sink slowly to the ground, shaking.
"Hey, you okay?" Ronon asked, removing the rope from McKay's foot.
"You…you didn't kill me?" McKay felt himself all over for injuries.
"Nope." Ronon said simply, amused at his behavior, "My name's Ronon. Ronon Dex. Let's go find your friends."
"You know my friends? Sheppard and Teyla? Where are they? I've been looking for them for hours! Hey! You must be the guy Ford was talking about."
McKay lay there babbling. Ronon thought this was peculiar. If he was so worried, why wasn't he getting up?
"McKay!" Ronon got his attention, "Get up and let's go."
Rodney nodded and stood up, shakily. His knees began to buckle again and Ronon caught him, "What's wrong?"
"I'm, I haven't eaten all day," McKay whimpered as he hung limply on Ronon, "I have a condition. If I don't eat after a certain amount of time, I, I feel like passing out...and I may pass out...gotta get something to eat."
Ronon was horrified. He'd had to go days without eating before and had never experienced anything like this. Rodney slumped over and Ronon caught him.
Just then Sheppard arrived, "What the hell have you done to him?" He pointed his gun at Ronon.
"He needs to eat, Sheppard," Ronon growled. He picked Rodney up, "Where's your ship? Hurry!"
“This way!” Sheppard put his gun away, realizing his error and they made their way to the jumper.
"Doc! It's McKay! He's passed out from his hypoglycemia." Sheppard told Carson frantically.
Carson wasted no time giving Rodney a glucogine injection, "We'll need to get him home."
He wrapped him in a blanket after Ronon laid him on the bench. Ronon sat beside him protectively.
"So, you finally found the geek," Lorne said, smugly, "should've known he'd get himself into trouble after Ford got ahold of him."
Sheppard turned around from the pilot's chair ready to punch his lights out but before he could respond, Ronon had leapt up to Lorne, pinning him against the wall, "You let that maniac get away with him?"
No one breathed. Lorne blinked, "The guy stunned me. I was out for a while."
"And you didn't go back for him?" Ronon growled.
"Uh, no," Lorne gulped, "I, I should've. Sorry."
"Yeah, you should have," Ronon growled at him, "He could die if he doesn't eat for a day!"
"Oh, I, uh, didn't know that. I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Lorne flinched. He looked at Sheppard for support. Sheppard merely smiled at Ronon.
"Better not happen again," Ronon let him go and sat back down next to McKay as he was stirring.
"McKay?" Ronon called to him.
"Ronon? Where am I?" Rodney looked around to see Carson and Teyla. Sheppard went back to check on him.
"You're in your ship, McKay," Ronon said.
"Oh," He stretched, then coiled back in pain.
"Try not to move," Carson gently instructed.
"Carson?" Rodney blinked in confusion, "Sheppard! You and Teyla are okay!"
John crouched next to him, "Yeah, we're okay. We're gonna get you home, McKay. Sorry about Ford. You did good but next time you're coming with me."
"Really?" Rodney's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, or at least with Carson. Can't have you passing out again," John smiled at him. Then looked at Ronon, "Take care of him. I'm flying us home."
Ronon nodded and looked at McKay. Rodney looked at Ronon. They nodded to each other. Sheppard started up the ship and soon they were through the gate with a new friend. Surely Elizabeth won't mind, thought John. After all, he was perfectly qualified to join them. He'd saved McKay.
Scene 2 - The Infirmary
They came through the gate and Carson immediately called for a medical team to the jumper bay. He wheeled Rodney out in a gurney with Ronon following close behind. John and Teyla came after. Lorne hung back, unsure of what the wild man would do to him if he came anywhere near McKay.
Rodney looked around nervously at the small crowd following him, “Carson, is this really necessary? I mean, I think I could’ve walked…”
“Yes, Rodney,” Carson patted his shoulder, “You had a hypoglycemic reaction and you’re severely dehydrated. I’d like to get ya under the scanner to check for radiation exposure as well. We were all quite worried about ya but we’ll get ya taken care of. Alright?”
“Oh,” Rodney took a deep breath, “You were worried about me? All of you?”
“Aye, why would ya think we weren’t, Rodney?” ” Carson wheeled him over to an empty area of the infirmary. He and the nurse began removing his orange suit and dressed him in scrubs to fit him for an IV and check his vitals.
John hung his head, “I tried to have guys out looking for you as soon as possible, Rodney. I’m sorry.”
Rodney teared up, “Oh thank god! I, I thought everyone forgot about me…and I was really worried about you guys…Ford…he wasn’t thinking straight. We were going around in circles and I, I tried to bring him in. Even shot him…just a fleshwound but it didn’t even slow him down.”
Teyla moved in closer, “We would have not stopped looking for you, Rodney. I am sorry Ford had you for so long. We were…delayed in finding you.” She looked at Ronon and he hung his head.
“I’m just glad you guys are alright, Teyla. It was hard to think about anything else when I didn’t hear from you…and Ford stunned Lorne. I had to leave him. Is he alright?”
“Yeah, Lorne’s okay.” John stood at the end of his bed, looking more ashamed than ever, “You did good, Rodney. You tried to bring Ford in. Hell, even I shot him in the leg. You’re right. Didn’t do much. I’m sorry it took me all day to get to you. It won’t happen again.”
Ronon watched all this quietly. He caught on quickly this guy was important to Sheppard just in the way he looked at him. There was genuine affection in his eyes for McKay. Ronon could see this guy was something special to all of them, Teyla and Beckett included. He couldn’t understand why McKay even cared what happened to Ford or Lorne. But McKay did care and this intrigued him.
Ronon had been looking out for himself and no one else for years and he couldn’t quite remember what it was like to care about what happened to someone else. He was curious what drove someone like McKay to care about guys who didn’t even seem to have his best interest or even his survival at heart.
“Ronon, I’d like to have a look at those stitches, if ya don’t mind,” Carson interrupted his thoughts. Sheppard had gone to get Rodney his dinner and Carson had finished with McKay who was lying contentedly in bed, free of his awful radiation suit and in comfortable scrubs.
Ronon reluctantly lay on the bed next to Rodney who turned to watch him, “You have stitches? What happened?”
“I had a wraith tracker inside me. The doc operated and removed it. In exchange for releasing your friends.” Ronon grunted as Carson checked him over.
“Oh, sorry,” Rodney swallowed, the thought of this guy capturing his friends unnerved him, “I’m glad it’s out now. And thanks for saving me but…why’d you capture my friends in the first place?”
“Rodney…” Teyla cautioned.
“It’s okay,” Ronon grunted as Carson finished up, “I…I guess I thought they were like your other friend…I was…afraid they were on his side. I bring the wraith and they take the enzyme. Was afraid they’d use me. Sorry. Didn’t know.”
“Oh,” Rodney nodded, “Yeah, I can understand that. That sounds…scary.”
Ronon merely nodded and the corners of his mouth turned upwards, nearly into a smile at Rodney’s understanding. He wasn’t used to being understood. But he liked it.
He sat up just as Sheppard brought in Rodney’s dinner. Rodney looked at Sheppard with that same affection, “Oh, thanks, Sheppard! I’m starving!”
Ronon smiled and was about to pull up a chair next to McKay when Sheppard motioned to him, “Uh, Ronon, these guys will show you to your quarters. I’ll bring you something to eat in a few minutes.”
Rodney stopped eating and frowned at the marines. Ronon looked startled. The two marines escorted him out. He took one last glance back at McKay with a disappointed look. Rodney’s heart sank and he looked at John, “Guards? Was that really necessary? He saved my life, you know!”
Sheppard blinked at him in surprise, “I, uh, well…you can never be too careful with a guy like that…”
“What?” Rodney was indignant, “What part of ‘he saved my life’ do you not understand, Sheppard?! Ford was gonna shoot me and he, he fought him off for no other reason than that I was in trouble! And you treat him like a prisoner?”
“He tied me and Teyla up…and wouldn’t let us go to find you, McKay,” John was frustrated but tried to remain calm since Rodney was making some good points.
“He was afraid you were with Ford! And technically, we were, ya know, before he went crazy. How long are you gonna keep up the act of guarding him? How much more does he have to prove to you before you’re convinced he’s on our side?” Rodney crossed his arms in anger.
“I…I don’t know,” Sheppard’s eyes met the floor when he really thought about what Rodney was saying, “I’ll have to think about it.” He looked back at Rodney, “You just get some rest. I’ll see you later.”
“Sheppard,” Rodney called to him before he could leave, “You’re right about one thing. He is dangerous. But you’re also wrong about him. He’s a good guy and you should give him a chance.”
John’s eyes narrowed in thought and he merely nodded before he left. Teyla and Carson looked at each other.
“I agree with you, Rodney,” Carson finally said, “But ya have to understand the Colonel’s point of view too. He just lost Ford and he almost lost you…”
“But he didn’t, Carson,” Rodney looked at him with determination, “Because of Ronon, he didn’t.”
Scene 3 - The Grand Tour or A New Home
This scene takes place the next day after John and Elizabeth show Ronon his home planet, Sateda, was destroyed by the wraith. He storms off and a Marine follows him as a guard. Rodney is coming up the hall carrying his laptop. He was headed to show Sheppard his progress on possibly locating the hive that took Ford but decides to help out his new friend instead.
Rodney saw the marine following Ronon and his blood boiled. If Sheppard wouldn’t listen, he’d have to take matters into his own hands. He could see Ronon was agitated and oddly enough it seemed tears had formed in his eyes for some reason.
Rodney walked right up to him, ignoring the marine, “Hey Ronon, I was, uh, just looking for you…thought I’d show you around. You don’t mind a tour do you? Ya know, get to know the place. Atlantis is a very impressive city and it helps to know your way around. What do ya say?”
Ronon’s face nearly lit up at the sight of McKay, “Yeah, sounds good.” He glanced at the guard as if to tell Rodney he wasn’t free to go and would need help.
Rodney looked at the marine, “I’ll take it from here. I’m sure you have more pressing matters to attend to.”
“But Colonel Sheppard’s orders…” The marine looked baffled.
“If he asks, you can tell him it’s on me. Let’s go, Ronon,” Rodney smacked his forearm and headed down the hall. Ronon smiled at the marine as if he’d won a bet and followed Rodney down the hall.
“Hey, you okay?” Rodney asked out of genuine concern.
“Not really,” Ronon’s honesty was oddly refreshing, “Just saw my home planet, Sateda, was destroyed by the wraith. I’m the last…the last Satedan.”
Rodney’s eyes grew wide with sympathy, “Ronon, I’m, I’m sorry. That’s terrible!”
Ronon hung his head and he seemed to break out of his macho facade for McKay, just a bit,
“I had always hoped…one day, I’d go back. When I was free of the wraith. Had no idea they’d destroy it completely…thought they’d continue to cull it but this…” He trailed off and Rodney could see tears forming in his eyes again.
“I don’t know what to say, Ronon,” Rodney hung his head, “I wish things were different…but that’s what we’re fighting for in Atlantis. For things to be different. One day, we’ll defeat the wraith but until then we’ll have to keep fighting. We could really use your help in doing that.”
Ronon lifted his head and his eyes lit up, “Really? You’d want my help?”
Rodney smiled at him warmly, “Absolutely. Oh, are you hungry? I was going to get something to eat before I started working again.”
“Yeah, I could eat. Thanks, McKay.” And they headed for the mess together.
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“Sorry I had to stop by my place to grab a few things before work. Hope you didn’t mind.”
“Nah, it’s okay.”
They sat together in the mess, both men’s trays piled high. Rodney noticed they were getting stares from almost everyone in the mess and he glowered back at them all. They seemed afraid of Ronon and he’d rather they be afraid of him. It seemed to work as they all went back to minding their own business.
Ronon began to pick up his utensils when he noticed McKay hadn’t touched his but was furiously stuffing his face with his hands. His plate mostly consisted of finger food but there was an occasional side dish and he didn’t bother to pick up a fork. He just kept eating with his hands and Ronon followed his example.
Rodney told him about their journey through the Stargate from Earth and finding Atlantis at the bottom of the ocean. How it rose to the surface. How Sheppard found Teyla. How Elizabeth was responsible for saving the city before they even arrived. How Carson had discovered the ATA gene. He seemed to talk about everyone else and didn’t really mention himself. He even talked about what had happened to Ford and the sacrifice he had made that went wrong.
He seemed sad when he talked about Ford.
“He was your friend, wasn’t he, McKay?” Ronon stared at him with sympathetic intensity.
“Yeah, he was…I don’t really know how to handle that he almost killed me…I, I just wish we could help him. He’s not thinking straight. That enzyme made him crazy. Most of all, it really hurt Sheppard when he left. He hasn’t been the same since,” Rodney hung his head, blinking back tears.
“You and Sheppard…you guys seem to be really close,” Ronon said simply.
“Oh yeah,” Rodney gave him a half smile, “Me and Sheppard, we go way back. I…I couldn’t ask for a better friend. I’d do anything for him.”
“Seems he feels that way about you too,” Ronon nodded.
Rodney was startled, “Oh, hey, don’t mention this to anyone or anything…”
Ronon nodded, “Your secret’s safe with me, McKay. Don’t worry.”
Rodney smiled, “Thanks…I appreciate it, Ronon. Ya know, I hope we can be good friends too.”
Ronon looked down at their empty trays, “I think so…we’re off to a good start at least.”
Rodney chuckled, “Yeah, guess so. Wanna come see my lab? I’ve gotta get back to work but you’re welcome to join me.”
“Sure,” Ronon smiled, “Got nothing else to do.”
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Ronon followed Rodney into his lab and his lab assistants grew quiet. They looked at each other, eyes widened. A few even had their mouths hanging open. Rodney rolled his eyes.
He started in on them, “Kusanagi, Pruitt, Danvers, where are your manners? This is Ronon and he’s new here. Thought I’d show him around. The least you could do is introduce yourselves…now come say ‘hi’.” He barked at them as if they were rude children then looked at Ronon, “Sorry about them. They don’t get out of the lab much.”
They reluctantly introduced themselves and one by one made an excuse to be elsewhere. Rodney wasn’t too unhappy about that since he felt now he could get some actual work done. He rambled on to Ronon about the inner workings of Atlantis and how the Ancient gene gave them a greater ability to control different technologies. He was afraid he was boring him but Ronon sat and listened patiently. He even seemed to relax at the sound of Rodney’s voice.
Eventually, Rodney quieted down as he grew consumed in his work. His vision began to blur as the evening wore on. He dropped off to sleep at the table. This startled Ronon out of his own repose at the lab table.
He smiled at Rodney, wondering what technological miracle he was working on before he dropped off. He could see he was working very hard in the fight against the wraith no matter what he was doing and couldn’t help but beam in admiration for him.
This wasn’t even his galaxy, after all. And here he was giving everything for the peoples of Pegasus. Ronon knew this was someone he could not only get along with but felt he was developing a deep fondness for him.
He carefully picked him up, cradling him gently so as not to wake him and carried him to his quarters. It was late and there wasn’t anyone around. Ronon was glad of that. He remembered how to get to Rodney’s place from their brief visit before the mess.
He got him to the door when he ran into Sheppard, “Oh, hey, he, uh, fell asleep,” Ronon explained to avoid a misunderstanding, “While he was working.”
“Oh, yeah,” John scratched the back of his neck trying to find a good excuse for why he’d shown up at Rodney’s at such a late hour, “He does that a lot. Was coming to check on him. Yeah, that’s it…”
“Sheppard,” Ronon raised an eyebrow, “Can you get the door?”
“Yeah, sure,” He swiped the panel and the door swooshed open.
Ronon laid Rodney in bed and he seemed to be muttering in his sleep. John took off his shoes and covered him up. He looked back at Ronon and bit his lip, nervously.
“So, uh, you guys have been hanging out or…?”
Ronon smiled, “Yeah, you could say that. He offered to show me around. He let the guard off but don’t worry, he kept an eye on me.”
They turned to go and as John shut the door, he looked at Ronon again, “Yeah, about that…listen, I’m sorry I put a guard on you. That was…unnecessary, like you said.
McKay didn’t like it either. I should’ve trusted you. You saved McKay and that should’ve been enough for me. So, I’m sorry and it won’t happen again.”
“Really?” Ronon perked up, “No guard?”
“No guard,” John said, quietly, “This is your home now, Ronon, if you want.”
Ronon smiled and smacked him on the back, “Thanks, Sheppard! Oh, and I won’t tell anyone…about you and McKay.”
John raised an eyebrow, “Me and McKay? What’d he tell you?”
“Oh, not much,” Ronon slapped a hand over his shoulder as they walked down the hall, “But I figured it out.”