sga_flashfic | Cool by cat_77 (F**king Freezing Challenge)

Title: Cool
Genre: McShep, McKay/Brown
Season/Spoilers: Sometime between “Miller’s Crossing” and “Quarantine”
Rating: PG-13 for mild language & sexual innuendo
Synopsis: John knew something was up the moment Rodney stepped into his room.
Author’s Notes: Not exactly a true love story – Response to the “F**king Freezing” Challenge
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to people with far more money than I have. No profit is being made.

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John knew something was up the moment Rodney stepped into his room. The scientist was jittery, hopping from foot to foot and fidgeting with his hands, and he hadn’t even said anything yet. When he finally did, Sheppard kind of wished he didn’t.

“So, you know that thing we were doing?” McKay blurted out.

“Thing?” John questioned, leaning back against his headboard and crossing his feet at the ankles. And it had been such an interesting dream, too.

More fidgeting. “Yeah,” Rodney confirmed, waving his hand in a broad gesture. “You know, that thing. The thing with the room and the sleeping and the not actually sleeping and...”

Rodney had trailed off, but John got the point. The sex thing. “Yeah,” he drawled. As far as he was concerned it was going well, more than well, actually. He would barely admit it to himself, but he kind of looked forward to their thing and kind of wanted it to happen more often. He knew going in that there would be no strings attached, that’s what they both wanted. He also knew that now he was more than slightly wrapped up in it and maybe hoping it was starting to evolve into something more.

“I think we should stop.”

Or not.

John tried to keep a calm, cool demeanor as he asked, “Why?” Nothing in his life had ever worked out as easily as he and McKay had; it really should not have been a surprise that something could happen to screw it up. And yet it was.

Rodney started pacing, three short steps and then five, then another five, and back to three in a very distinct pattern. John resolutely did not think about the way his body moved, the subtle confidence and strength that was not there at the beginning of this expedition. He also resolutely resisted the urge to shout out, “Prime!”

“It’s Katie,” the scientist finally admitted, his hand doing something halfway between shaking and waving. Seven shakes before he noticed, held it and released it, only for it to shake again. “This thing I started with her, I think it might be serious. I mean, talking with Jeannie, she thinks it should be serious and she might be right. I’m a grown man, not getting any younger, and it’s time I settled down. Katie accepts me for who I am and is willing to put up with some of my less than stellar attributes.”

“And?” John prompted, already knowing where this was going. He could fight it, point out that he puts up with the annoying behaviors as well, but what was the point? This was a causal thing, right? No strings, no claims, no rights.

Rodney clasped his hands together, stopping his pacing long enough to look just above John’s head and say, “And I should probably not be sleeping with my best friend while trying to win her over.”

John wanted to point out that he probably should not be sleeping with his best friend when his best friend was also his team leader. Instead, all he said was, “Okay.” That one word was a hell of a lot harder to say than he thought possible, but he knew it was the right answer. This is what Rodney wanted, and he deserved to have it, even if every fiber in his being was screaming against the idea. No strings.

That brought him to a dead stop. Eyes wide, Rodney licked his lips and asked, “Really?” There was a crack to his voice, as if not sure if this is what he wanted, as if not sure this is what he was getting.

“Yeah,” John verified, swallowing slowly, exuding a sense of calm. This is what Rodney asked for; this is what Rodney was going to get.

McKay exhaled a long breath, and some small part of Sheppard hoped he felt a world of responsibility came crashing down on his shoulders. “Okay,” Rodney nodded. He started backing towards the door. “I, uh, just wanted to make everything was cool, you know?”

“It’s cool,” John confirmed. He watched as McKay made several nervous gestures before excusing himself and escaping out into the hall. As the door shut behind him, John thudded his skull against the headboard and whispered, “It’s fucking freezing.”

End.

Sequel is Warmth

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