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sga_flashficLearning to Walk
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ldyanne
Rating: PG-13 for language
Words: 10,000+
Warnings: Minor character death
Summary: Rodney McKay was the kid who always sat in the corner of the cafeteria by himself to eat his lunch. He ate hunched over his tray like he was afraid someone was going to take it away from him. Maybe they would, John didn’t know. He was the new kid at school. He’d only been there a couple of weeks, so maybe someone did take Rodney’s lunch. John had a feeling that Rodney was the geek kid that all the jocks picked on.
With thanks to my beta chocolatephysicist, who makes sure that my stories are the best they can be. Any errors remaining are my own.
Rodney McKay was the kid who always sat in the corner of the cafeteria by himself to eat his lunch. He ate hunched over his tray like he was afraid someone was going to take it away from him. Maybe they would, John didn’t know. He was the new kid at school. He’d only been there a couple of weeks, so maybe someone did take Rodney’s lunch. John had a feeling that Rodney was the geek kid that all the jocks picked on.
If John were smart, he’d leave Rodney McKay alone and go sit at the table with the cheerleaders who kept smiling at him during class, twirling their curls over their fingers. If he were smart, he’d go sit with the guys from the football team. They’d been friendly enough, asking John to join them for practice, to think about going out for the team. And he might. He liked football a lot. Football was just a step above Ferris Wheels in the John Sheppard scheme of things, and just a step below things that went really, really fast.
There was just something about Rodney McKay. Maybe John recognized a kindred spirit. He was pretty much a loner, too. His family traveled a lot because his dad was in the Air Force. So he was never in any one place long enough to get to know anyone. People were nice enough to him, it just didn’t feel honest. He could feel them sizing him up. He was always afraid he didn’t measure up.
So, on his third week at the new school, it was his third Monday, he passed the table with the cheerleaders and the one with the guys from the football team and he walked over the table where Rodney McKay sat. Alone.
“Hey,” John said, “Anyone sitting here?” There never had been, but it never hurt to be polite.
Rodney’s head jerked up. He glanced around as if he expected someone else to be sitting there. Someone else for John to be talking to. He gaped up at John, his mouth open and still full of food. It was kind of gross. Then Rodney ‘s mouth snapped shut and he waved a hand.
“It’s a free country, or so I’m told. You can sit anywhere you want.” He went back to shoveling food into his mouth, ignoring John.
John shrugged, sliding his tray onto the table. He dropped his book bag with a moan and sat.
Digging into his own lunch – institutional chili with a cinnamon roll, John studied the other boy. Rodney was scribbling in a notebook while hunched over his lunch tray - absently shoveling his food into his mouth with one hand and working in his notebook with the other. His blondish hair was brushing the top of his collar; it curled just a little on the ends. He was kind of scrawny, but his eyes were bright blue, And he had a razor sharp wit. It was some of the only fun John had had in a while when Rodney went off on the teacher in their college calculus class, telling the man all of the reasons he was wrong, wrong, wrong.
Rodney glanced up to discover John staring at him. “What?” he asked, frowning. “Do I have food in my teeth?” His eyes went cross-eyed and he swept his tongue over his teeth.
“Nah,” John said, “you’re fine. I’m John Sheppard by the way.”
Rodney waved a hand. “Yes, yes, I know. Fourth period college calculus. You’re not entirely stupid, although you could do better if you applied yourself.”
“Wow,” John opened his milk. He took a long drink before he answered. “You sound just like my dad. Well except for the ‘not entirely stupid’ bit. He thinks I’m entirely stupid.”
Rodney nodded. “Mine does, too.” Rodney’s face flamed in a painful flush. “I mean my dad thinks I’m entirely stupid. Not you.” Rodney ducked his head and took a drink of his own milk and then choked. John politely pretended not to notice until the other boy had brought his coughing under control.
“What you working on?” John asked when it looked like Rodney was okay. He nodded to indicate the notebook at Rodney’s right hand. It was covered in equations.
Rodney shut the notebook, shoving it into his book bag. “Its homework,” was all he said as he bent back to his lunch and that was that.
John shrugged, going back to his own lunch. He’d learned a long time ago not to pry into other people’s business. If Rodney didn’t want to talk, he didn’t want to talk.
They were just finishing up when one of the guys from the football table stood and strode over to the table where Rodney and John sat. Acustus Koyla was the star quarterback for the school’s team. As far as John could tell he thought he was the coolest kid ever. He was in John’s second period Lit class. The only reason John knew that was because he showed up to class on Fridays to hand in his homework. Then he would leave again.
“Practice,” he would mumble as he left. The teacher, Miss Jenkins, would frown at him, but she didn’t call him back either.
Koyla sauntered up to their table pulling out the chair next to Rodney. Reversing it he sat. Rodney didn’t even look up at him. He just scooped up the last of his lunch. As he reached for his milk, Koyla’s arm shot out and grabbed Rodney’s hand.
“You know, it’s polite to say hello when someone sits down,” Koyla’s tone was studied and calm. But there was something about his eyes that John didn’t like.
Rodney did look up then. He glanced over at Koyla and then down where Koyla had a hold of his arm.
“You have met me, right?” Rodney sneered at him. “Rodney McKay? No one’s ever accused me of being polite.” He stared at Koyla, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
John wondered if it was his imagination that the temperature in their part of the cafeteria just went down. Or maybe it went up. It was hard to tell which.
Koyla let go of Rodney’s arm. He leaned forward in his chair. “I just wondered if you had that homework for calculus? Mr. Lister is getting kind of insistent that I turn it in.” John was surprised. He didn’t even know that Koyla was in their calculus class. Somehow Acustus Koyla didn’t seem like a calculus kind of guy.
Rodney blinked at him. “Homework?”
“You said last week you were going to help me out.”
Rodney tilted his head, regarding Koyla like he was a failed experiment. “You asked me to help you out in class,” he said flatly.
“By doing my homework.” Koyla spoke slowly, like it would make more sense that way.
“What?” Rodney frowned. John noticed that one end of his mouth tipped down while the other end stayed straight, it looked like it was sloping downhill. “I’ll tutor you if you want, but I’m not doing your homework.”
Koyla’s whole body went tense. “I thought you understood that I needed to get an A in that class. If I don’t get an A, coach won’t let me play and I’ll lose any chance at a scholarship. My whole future is riding on that class.”
Rodney rose, shouldering his book bag. “Well then come to class and do your own fucking homework, because I’m not going to do it for you.”
Koyla rose, too, and he was a lot bigger than Rodney. Not just in height, but in weight, and it was all lean muscle. If Kolya went after Rodney, the other boy didn’t stand a chance.
The cafeteria went quiet around them. The kids at the table closest to them moved away.
Rodney actually started to walk away. John admired his courage, but he was pretty sure Rodney was going to get killed.
Koyla went after him. He grabbed Rodney’s arm, pulling him around. “I don’t think you understand. I wasn’t asking you to do my homework, I was telling you to do my homework.”
Rodney stared down at Koyla’s hand on his arm until Koyla pulled it away. “And I don’t think you understand.” Rodney spoke clearly and distinctly, enunciating each word. His voice echoed through the nearly silent cafeteria. “I’m not going to do your homework. Now or ever. “
Koyla didn’t try to grab Rodney again, but this time when Rodney turned to leave, Koyla moved around to block his escape. He loomed over Rodney. “And you don’t understand, McKay. I don’t want someone else to do my homework. I want an A, you’re the only one that can get me that. Don’t make me hurt you.” He stepped forward into Rodney’s space. The sense of menace was so strong that Rodney did take a step back then.
John had had enough. Rodney had been holding his own and John didn’t want to make the other boy look weaker by stepping in. But Koyla had crossed the line. He’d threatened Rodney. John wasn’t going to stand for that. He jumped up, shoving his way between the two boys. Koyla took a step away in surprise. John could feel Rodney as a warm presence at his back.
“He said he wasn’t going to do your homework, Koyla. Seems simple enough to figure out to me.” Koyla had some weight on John, but they were of a similar height, and John had some wrestling experience. He might not be able to take Koyla, but he’d be able to get in a lick or two before Koyla took him down.
The bell rang then. Kids jumped up heading for the door - some of them dragging their feet, waiting to see if there was going to be a fight.
One of Koyla’s cronies approached them. “Leave it, man,” he whispered urgently, “we’ll get the geek to do what you want later when his bodyguard’s not around.”
“Oh, please, like I need someone to protect me,” Rodney stepped out from behind John to stand beside him. “I can take you guys and you’ll never know what got you,” he sneered.
The new guy took Koyla’s arm and shook it a little. “Come on, Koyla, Coach’ll have your ass if you’re caught fighting in the cafeteria.”
Koyla smiled at Rodney, it was cold and full of menace and the promise of future hurt. “Oh, we’ll go. See you around, McKay.”
“Only if I’m really, really unlucky,” Rodney muttered at their departing backs. He was silent until they disappeared then he rounded on John. “What the hell did you think you were doing?” he demanded. He poked John in the chest.
John fell back a step. “I was trying to help?”
Rodney hitched his book bag higher on his shoulder. “Well I don’t need your help, so next time stay out of it.” He took off for the door pushing his way through the throngs of teenagers. John had to run to keep up with him.
“Hey, no need to say thanks or anything,” John said when he caught up, a lot irritated that his show of comradery was being thrown back in his face.
“I had the situation under control,” Rodney hissed. He picked up his pace trying to get away from John maybe. Maybe he just didn’t want to be late for calculus.
“Oh, yeah,” John snarked back. “So under control that Koyla was going to break you like a twig. “Sorry for caring enough that I didn’t want to see that.”
“What?” Rodney stopped dead in his tracks. John stumbled trying not to run into him. Kids behind them nudged them on their way past. “Please! You were playing the big hero coming in to save the day. Well, thank you very much, but I can take care of myself.” Rodney turned and marched into class.
John followed him, throwing his back pack onto a desk. “Fine,” he hissed at Rodney, low. “Next time I’ll let Koyla break you and then pick your skinny ass up and take you to the hospital.”
“Fine,” Rodney hissed back just as the bell rang.
Mr. Lister showed up then and they couldn’t talk to each other for the whole hour.
As soon as class ended Rodney made a beeline for the door, but John was ready for him. He grabbed his book bag and rushed after him.
“Listen,” he said as they shoved their way through the mass of kids in the hall between classes. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was trying to rescue you. I’m pretty sure you can take care of yourself.” Rodney was pretty scrawny and a math geek. He’d have to be able to take care of himself to survive the likes of Acustus Koyla. “I just don’t like people like Koyla thinking they can run around picking on people.”
Rodney gave an aggrieved huff and turned on him, “I can take care of myself,” he declared. “I’m badass.” He stood there in the middle of the hall, his face red, glaring at John.
John couldn’t help the snort that escaped from him. It only made Rodney glare more, which made John laugh outright. Finally Rodney couldn’t help it. He laughed, too.
He bumped shoulders with John and jerked his head. “Come one, we’ve got to go or we’ll be late.” And just like that they were okay. It was the weirdest thing ever.
After that they had lunch together every day.
John didn’t know what there was about McKay. It wasn’t that he liked him exactly. He didn’t fool himself into thinking that they could be friends, John was never anywhere long enough to actually be friends with anybody. It was just that Rodney was interesting. The most interesting person John had ever met.
~~~~~~
One afternoon John saw Rodney going down the hall. John didn’t have anything to do after school; he wondered if Rodney might want to hang out. He shoved his books into the locker, hurrying after the other boy.
“Hey, Rodney,” he fell into step with him. “What you doing?”
Rodney frowned over at John. “Is this a trick question? I’m walking down the hall. What are you doing?”
John rolled his eyes. Rodney was an ass. But an interesting ass. “I thought we could hang out or something. What do people do for fun in this town?”
“I don’t know about <i>people</i>,” Rodney said, “but <I>I’m</i> going to the library.”
The library didn’t really sound like much fun, but John didn’t have anywhere else to go, so he tagged along. Maybe there’d be a chance to tempt Rodney away from the books. Maybe they could find an arcade or a Ferris Wheel.
The guy standing behind the counter of the library was easily the biggest guy John had ever seen. He was at least seven-feet tall. He sported dreads and he wore a duster even in the warmth of the library.
“Hey, McKay,” the guy greeted Rodney warmly. “Been wondering when you were going to stop by. Your math book came in.”
Rodney snorted. “Have some respect, Ronon,” Rodney told him. “Calling that book a math book is like calling the Bible a storybook.”
Ronon shrugged. “You want it?”
Rodney glared at him, which didn’t seem to faze the other guy at all. But then he was seven-feet tall. “Yeah, I want it.”
Ronon pulled a thick, heavy book off a shelf under the counter. “You can’t take it out of the library.”
“I know that, Ronon.” If Rodney’s glare could kill, Ronon would be a pile of dust behind the counter. As it was, Ronon just grinned at him. Rodney took the book with careful fingers, smoothing over the surface tentatively.
John liked Ronon a lot. Anyone who could snipe back at Rodney was okay in John’s book.
He stepped forward, leaning on the counter. “I’m John,” he introduced himself. “I like college football, Ferris Wheels and anything that goes over 200 miles an hour. Don’t think I’ve seen you around.”
Ronon took in John’s measure with one swift glance. He didn’t seem overly impressed. “Is that my problem?”
John shrugged, “Nah, I’m just saying, Rodney doesn’t have many friends and Koyla was picking on him the other day. Seemed to me it would be good to have someone like you to back him up.”
Ronon drew himself up and he was even taller than John had thought. “Hey, Rodney’s badass, he can take care of himself.”
John backed up a little, hands held up, “He told me that actually.”
Ronon’s eyes narrowed, “You don’t look very mathy, what are you doing hanging out with Rodney?”
John turned to see Rodney bent over a study carrel, running his fingers reverently over his book. “He’s kind of interesting,” he said off-handedly.
Ronon reached over the counter and grabbed John’s shirt, practically pulling him over. “Listen, Rodney’s kind of trusting where people are concerned. He doesn’t always get that they might not want to hang out with him because he’s so witty and charming. He doesn’t get that they might want other things from him like <i>help</i> with their homework, their reports, their test scores.”
It was the strangest library John had ever been in. No one even batted an eye at Ronon pulling him over the counter, much less told them to shush. John pushed at Ronon’s hands, but they didn’t budge.
“I don’t need <i>help</i> with my homework, okay,” John said desperately. “I get by. I may not be A material, but I’m happy with Bs. Rodney just seems like fun.”
Ronon let go. He seemed to be surprised. “Huh, not many people think fun the first thing when they meet Rodney.”
John chuckled. “Yeah, I get that. But really, I don’t want to take advantage of his geeky brain. I might like some tutoring in calculus, but I don’t want him to steal test answers for me, okay?”
Ronon studied him a moment more, but he finally nodded. “Okay.” He grinned and held out a hand. “I’m Ronon Dex. You new here? Don’t think I’ve seen you around.”
John grinned at him. “New guy,” he answered by way of explanation. “What do people do for fun around here?”
Ronon nodded at Rodney who had finally opened the book. “That’s what he does.”
“And you?”
Ronon grinned back. The smile was evil.
~~~~~~
That was how John met Teyla. She was a tiny girl; she was also the most beautiful woman that he’d ever met. Even though he doubted that she was any older than any of the rest of them, she carried herself with the poise and self-possession of someone much older.
“She’s from one of those South American countries where they’re having a coup every week,” Rodney whispered to John. There was something very like awe in his voice.
Ronon had brought them to a dojo-like place with mirrors on the walls and hard wood floors polished so smooth that John could nearly see his reflection.
He watched as Teyla and Ronon circled each. They both held two sticks which they used like an extension of themselves. They would strike and parry, push back, then circle one another until one or the other would strike and the rhythm would start again. It was like a highly choreographed dance. And John wanted to learn how to it, right damn now.
At least he wanted to learn it until he was on his knees with Teyla’s sticks at his throat.
“You are too eager,” she told him reprovingly. “You must learn the basic forms and steps before you can hope to be effective with the sticks.”
“You have to learn to walk before you can dance,” Rodney translated helpfully.
“Thanks, Rodney,” John said sourly. “I think I got that.”
Teyla came around and offered her hand. “You did not do badly. You lasted a whole minute longer than Rodney the first time he tried.”
John turned to Rodney in surprise. He didn’t think McKay was the physical type.
Rodney blushed. He shrugged. “I have depths,” he said defensively.
John grinned at him.
Teyla surprised him by gripping his shoulders like she’d done with Ronon. She tipped herself forward. John met her half way like he’d seen Ronon do.
“That was cool,” he said when they pulled away. “Can I come back and try it again?”
Teyla smiled at him. “Of course you may. Any friend of Rodney’s is welcome here.” While she smiled the entire time she said it, the threat was plain. If he wasn’t a friend to Rodney, she would kick his ass.
He gulped and nodded that he understood. She nodded her satisfaction.
~~~~~~
After a few weeks at the new school, John’s mom sat down opposite him at breakfast.
“You look happy,” she said. She tried to sound off handed and casual, but John saw through her. She always wanted him to be happy, and she tried so hard to make sure everything at home was perfect so he’d be happy there. She was the perfect mom. She was always there when he needed her; she always had the right thing to say. She was pretty and had the best hugs in the world. He loved her so much; he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
John smiled at her and shrugged a little. “School doesn’t suck this year.” He moved his eggs around his plate.
She smiled back at him, pleased, “I’m glad to hear that. You’ve got friends?”
John was a little embarrassed about that. He didn’t want his mom to think he wasn’t happy, but how could he tell her that he didn’t have friends? He had people to spend the time with until his family moved again. His little brother Dave had friends. But Dave seemed to have an easier time with people than John did. Dave brought people home all the time. There was always an extra rug rat or two hanging around the house.
“There are some people I hang out with,” he said at last, offering what he could.
Her smile was blinding. “I’m so glad to hear that. You should bring them to dinner some night.”
John gaped at her. He knew his mouth was open. But really what could he say? This was his mom. How could he bring home Rodney McKay? And Ronon? Then he thought about it again. Sure Rodney was kind of crass and he ate with his mouth open most of the time, but he was also funny and smart – he might actually want his mom to meet Rodney. He thought she might like him, too. And Ronon was big and looming, but he was fiercely loyal. Rodney didn’t know that Ronon growled at Acustus Koyla every time he walked by him in the hallway. And then there was Teyla. Teyla was the warmest, most likeable person John knew. His mom would love Teyla.
He swallowed. This was big. John hadn’t brought anyone home to hang out with since the third grade, and certainly never for dinner.
He nodded. “Sure,” he took a bite of his toast. “When do you think?” he asked trying to maintain his cool.
“How about next week?” she suggested. “Monday night?”
~~~~~
“Dinner?” Rodney asked when John asked him, trying to be nonchalant like it wasn’t a big deal if Rodney said no. Rodney chewed his school lasagna with his mouth open. It was pretty gross, but John was used to it now. “She a good cook?” he asked, his head titled while he thought about it.
“The best,” John enthused. “Her meatloaf is the best ever. And then I get to have meat loaf sandwiches for lunch the next day. With fresh-made bread.” John held up his sandwich as proof. Rodney thought he was insane when he brought his own lunch. But then Rodney had never tasted Caroline Sheppard’s cooking.
“Okay,” Rodney nodded his head. “But I should come to dinner tonight to make sure it’s good enough for Teyla and Ronon.”
John took a big bite of his sandwich to hide his grin.
~~~~~~
“Mom,” John shouted when he and Rodney came in through the door. “I’m home and I brought a friend.” He grinned at Rodney when he said it.
Rodney ducked his head, a shy smile on his face. “I’m your friend?” he asked, wonder in his voice.
John realized abruptly that Rodney didn’t know that John only hung out with him because he was interesting. Rodney thought they were friends. Of course Rodney was the first kid he’d brought home since the third grade. Maybe Rodney was a friend.
John’s mom appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She beamed at Rodney.
“I’m Caroline Sheppard. It’s nice to meet one of John’s friends.”
Rodney looked at John with wide, panicked eyes. “You didn’t tell me that your mom was hot,” he whispered loud enough for John’s mom to hear.
John punched him, hard. “That’s my mom, Rodney.”
“But she is,” Rodney insisted, staring at her, a blush creeping up his cheeks.
Caroline Sheppard laughed. “It’s alright, John, I’m flattered. I’ve never been called hot before, I hope that’s a good thing.” Rodney just nodded. “Why don’t you two go study in the den and I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”
“You might need help,” Rodney offered, suddenly generous.
John had to hook a hand in Rodney’s arm to drag him out of the room.
“I can’t believe you,” John said when they were out of ear shot of the kitchen.
“I’m not going to date her or anything,” Rodney protested.
“Yeah, cause my dad would kick your ass,” John told him hotly.
“She’s just really pretty and she loves you a lot. You can see it. Most days I don’t think my mom even likes me,” Rodney confessed. He sat down heavily on the sofa, his book bag falling to the floor at his feet.
John sat beside him, trying to think of what to say and coming up with nothing. “You want to study?” he asked at last. Because they didn’t have anything better to do, they dug their books out and got in a little studying. But mostly they argued over which was the best villain on Batman – the Joker or the Riddler.
Rodney was better by dinner. John was glad because Dave and one of his friends were there, too. He didn’t need anything embarrassing with the rug rat looking on. Although John did catch Rodney sneaking glances at his mom whenever he thought John wasn’t looking. He did manage to eat with his mouth closed, too. John thought that must be the height of love for Rodney McKay.
~~~~~~
John was a lot nervous about adding Teyla and Ronon to the mix. But he didn’t need to worry. Ronon was in instant hit with Dave who thought this new guy was a jungle gym, an idea that Ronon was happy to go along with. Dave swung off him as Ronon swung him around. They were fast friends after about two minutes. Teyla offered to help with dinner and they didn’t see her again until dinner was served. John and Rodney set the table.
It was the best dinner John had ever had. Of course his dad wasn’t there. His dad didn’t make it home for dinner much.
John looked around the table as the food was passed – his mom’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes, it was the best. Teyla and Rodney were fighting over the last roll as Ronon taught Dave how to flick potatoes off his spoon.
Everyone froze when Carolyn Sheppard tsked in disapproval.
But then she showed them the proper way to flick mashed potatoes hitting Ronon on the chest. Ronon did hesitate a fraction of a second before he retaliated. Fortunately there weren’t many potatoes left or the mess would have been a lot bigger.
John looked around the table at the people laughing and wiping potatoes up. He was kind of surprised to realize that he had friends.
After that all three of his friends had dinner at John’s house at least once a week. Rodney was there every chance he got, because John needed all the tutoring in Calculus he could get,. At least that was Rodney’s reasoning, but he always stayed for dinner.
~~~~~
Koyla didn’t mess with Rodney at lunch again, so John thought the whole thing was over. Until the night that Rodney knocked on his bedroom window. John opened it to find Rodney sitting on the roof outside his window, his eye swollen.
John caught a hold of Rodney and helped him inside. Rodney slid through the window and plopped down on the floor of John’s room. John inspected his eye with careful fingers. Rodney hissed, pushing John’s hand away.
“What are you doing?” John asked really worried. Rodney was listless and out of it.
“Stop it, that hurts,” Rodney whined. He slumped against the wall, his eyes closed.
John padded downstairs quickly to get some ice wrapped in a dishtowel. He checked on his mom to make sure she was still in the living room watching some show or other before he slipped back upstairs to take care of Rodney.
Rodney moaned an incoherent thanks as John pressed the towel to his face.
“Okay,” John said at last when Rodney didn’t seem to be willing to share what happened. “What’s going on?”
Rodney moaned again mumbling something.
John began to worry about head wounds and bleeding on the brain.
“Do I need to call an ambulance?” John began to push himself up to get his mom.
“No, stop, dumbass,” Rodney caught his arm, tugging to pull him back down. “It was Koyla and his gang, okay? Are you happy now?” He hissed and pushed the towel against his eye more firmly. He slumped in misery. “They caught me as I was leaving the library. Koyla said that no one told him no.”
“Well, fuck that,” John started to pull on his shoes.
“What are you doing?” Rodney asked his voice weighted down by misery and exhaustion.
“I’m going to go find Koyla and kick his ass,” John was surprised that Rodney didn’t know that already.
“No, you can’t do that. I’m the one that will pay the price in the end.” Rodney sounded so tired. John didn’t have the heart to argue with him. He went into the bathroom and came back with the bottle of aspirin, shaking a couple of tablets out into his hand.
Rodney took them and swallowed them down dry. He leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes against the pain. John settled down next to him.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, needing to do something.
Rodney shook his head and then winced. “Nothing,” he whispered, “I’ll take care of it in my own way.”
John didn’t really believe him, but every time he asked that’s what Rodney told him.
So he put together a spread sheet with Teyla and Ronon and they made sure that Rodney was never left alone again.
~~~~~
October arrived and the weather began to turn. The days were still sunny and warm, but the nights became chilly and the leaves turned into a riot of color.
One crisp October day fliers went up around town announcing the arrival of the Pegasus Carnival Company. It wasn’t difficult to get Teyla and Ronon to agree to go, and they helped John badger Rodney into accompanying them.
Oh, he whined, “I’ve got way too much studying to do to go out and risk my brilliance on those death traps they call rides.” He shuddered melodramatically.
“Come on, Rodney,” John wheedled, bumping his shoulder. “Even you can’t study all the time.”
Rodney looked at him askance. “Have you met me?”
“It’ll be fun,” John insisted. “One night off isn’t going to hurt your GPA. There’ll be food there.”
John didn’t miss the sudden gleam of interest in Rodney’s eye. “Yeah?”
“One word.” John leaned in and whispered into Rodney’s ear, “Funnel Cake.”
Rodney didn’t call him on the fact that Funnel Cake was two words, but he did go with them to the carnival.
~~~~~
It was a blast.
Rodney and Ronon had a contest to see who could eat the most. After three hotdogs, a funnel cake, cotton candy and something on a stick, John was surprised that either one of them could stand. Rodney did turn kind of green when he saw the tilt-a-whirl, but he got on. He gripped the handle tightly, the knuckles of his hands turning white. He screamed gleefully as the ride whipped them back and forth. He tottered a little when they got off, but he was fine. He dragged John over to the line for the bumper cars though swearing to get revenge.
They rode all the rides about three times and played the games. John got three hits with the air rifle and won Teyla an awesome teddy bear.
“You can’t be seen carrying that,” Rodney declared with horror after taking one look at the neon pink bear.
“I must, Rodney,” Teyla declared. “John won it for me.”
“Oh, no, we’ll be the laughing stock of the school if we’re seen in the vicinity of that.”
“Let ‘em laugh,” Ronon growled. “I’ll show them who’s a laughing stock.”
“You can’t be there 24/7,” Rodney mumbled. He made it a point to walk a little ahead of the rest of them after that.
“Oh, man,” John caught sight of the Ferris Wheel and stopped. “We’ve got to ride it.”
“What?” Rodney stared in horror. “It’s a bucket of bolts. It’s going to fall apart any minute.”
“Oh, come on, Rodney. It is not,” John wheedled pulling him along toward it. “They wouldn’t let it run if it wasn’t safe.”
“Oh, please,” Rodney hung back dragging his feet. “They just tell you that. There’s actually a long history of Ferris Wheel deaths. They just cover it up so people don’t know.”
John grinned at Rodney. “They do not. Come on, it’s cool.”
“Why don’t you take Teyla? She wants to ride it. Or Ronon? He’s cool with it.” They were both waiting in the line behind John and Rodney.
The guy taking tickets frowned at them. “You two girls going to ride or not? Either get on or get out of line.”
John rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to ride with Teyla or Ronon, I want to ride it with you, dumbass. Now come on.”
Surprise flashed across Rodney’s face as he let John pull him onto the ride. The guy locked the bar in place.
“No roughhousing, you hear?” he scolded them. “We just got this thing put back together after the last accident.” He pushed the lever that set the car in motion. By then it was too late for Rodney to back out and escape.
“What?” Rodney squeaked.
The car swayed and there was a metallic shriek as it moved.
“Oh, my god, we’re going to die,” Rodney moaned.
“We’re not going to die,” John said patiently.
“You heard what he said,” Rodney insisted. Rodney’s hand flailed about and the car swayed some more.
“Rodney, stop it,” John caught his arms and forced them down. “He heard you freaking out and he was just pulling your chain. It’s perfectly safe.”
The car came to a gentle stop as it paused to let on the next passengers – Teyla and Ronon.
“Really?” Rodney’s voice rose with anxiety. “Because seriously? I’m too young to die. I haven’t made any serious breakthroughs in science yet and I’m going to win a Nobel by the time I’m 40. I can’t do that if I’m dead.”
John had to work really hard not to laugh. “Really, Rodney, I’m not trying to kill you. It’s just this is my favorite ride and I wanted to share it with you.”
“Really?” It was kind of sad that no one had ever wanted to share something with Rodney just because it was fun. “Well, I guess this isn’t that bad.”
Then the ride started up again with a jerk. Rodney shrieked, covering his head with his arms. John gave it a minute and then he nudged Rodney.
“Look,” he said.
Slowly Rodney brought his arms down. When he saw the countryside spread out below them he covered his face with his hands and peaked through his fingers.
It was a beautiful, clear fall night. The full moon was high in the sky; it lit up the countryside with a gentle light.
“Wow, that’s just… wow.” Rodney said softly.
“Yeah,” John agreed.
“Is that why you like this ride?” Rodney asked.
John nodded. “That. And I feel like I can touch the sky from here.” He reached up like he could touch the moon. “I want to fly up there someday.”
They were quiet for a moment as the ride paused with them at the top so more riders could be let on at the bottom. They swayed gently. Rodney only clutched the bar a little.
“What are you going to do when you leave school?” Rodney asked.
John felt a little clutch in the pit of his stomach. He looked out at the town, with its lights scattered like so much fairy dust. “I’m going to join the Air Force,” he told Rodney. “I want to fly planes.” He hadn’t told that to anyone yet, not even his mom.
Rodney’s mouth opened, then closed. “That’s cool,” he said. It sounded forced.
“What?” John demanded.
Rodney looked away. He scuffed a foot on the bottom of their car and it kind of jerked. Rodney started and sat very still.
“What?” John demanded again.
Rodney shook his head. “It’s stupid. I was just kind of hoping… Well, you’re good in math, too, and I was kind of hoping that we maybe could go to the same school and be roommates or something because I’ve never really had a friend before and I thought it would be cool to go to college together.” The words came out so fast that they all blended together. John had to work to translate them.
He was left with a warm feeling. He’d never thought about continuing a friendship after he’d left a school. No one had ever wanted to continue being friends with him.
“That’s…” he swallowed.
“It’s dumb I know.” Rodney refused to meet his eyes.
“No, Rodney, it’s not,” John said fiercely. “It’s a cool idea. And really, I’d like nothing better than to go to college with you and be your roommate. Except…”
Rodney turned to meet his eyes then, “Except you really want to fly?”
John nodded, “I can’t explain it, Rodney, it’s something I’ve gotta do. It’s the coolest thing ever. It’s like when I’m in the air there’s only me and the plane and the sky and everything makes sense.”
Rodney nodded slowly, “Yeah, I get it. It’s like me and math. There’s so much bad stuff and stupid people, but math makes sense and it’s beautiful.”
Rodney did get it. And they were okay. They finished the ride in silence, just enjoying the company and the view.
After that Rodney and Ronon ate another hot dog and had a milk shake. And that was it. Rodney turned green and spent ten minutes in the bath room. After that they had to take him home.
They next day they all declared that the carnival was a blast.
~~~~~~
John kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for his dad to come home one day and announce that they were moving again. But fall turned to winter and they were still in their little house on the base and John was still at Atlantis High hanging out with Rodney and Teyla and Ronon. He argued the utter implausibility of “Back to the Future” with Rodney, and tried to convince him to design a time-traveling DeLorean to no avail.
“Come on, Rodney, it would be so cool,” John wheedled.
“Oh, please, Sheppard,” Rodney rolled his eyes, “there’s as much chance of that as there is of Acustus Koyla getting an A in calculus.”
But John found Rodney’s notebook covered with equations with ‘time travel?’ written at the top.
~~~~~
He got better at stick fighting, or at least so Teyla said. All he knew was that he spent as much time on his knees with her sticks at his throat as he always did. It was just that it was taking her a little more time to get him there.
One day he showed up at the library and Ronon shoved a book into his hands.
“War and Peace?” John asked.
Ronon shrugged. “It’s on the reading list for your lit class. It’s pretty good.”
So, John checked it out and shoved it into his book bag with the rest of his books.
On to Part 2
Author:
ldyanneRating: PG-13 for language
Words: 10,000+
Warnings: Minor character death
Summary: Rodney McKay was the kid who always sat in the corner of the cafeteria by himself to eat his lunch. He ate hunched over his tray like he was afraid someone was going to take it away from him. Maybe they would, John didn’t know. He was the new kid at school. He’d only been there a couple of weeks, so maybe someone did take Rodney’s lunch. John had a feeling that Rodney was the geek kid that all the jocks picked on.
With thanks to my beta chocolatephysicist, who makes sure that my stories are the best they can be. Any errors remaining are my own.
Rodney McKay was the kid who always sat in the corner of the cafeteria by himself to eat his lunch. He ate hunched over his tray like he was afraid someone was going to take it away from him. Maybe they would, John didn’t know. He was the new kid at school. He’d only been there a couple of weeks, so maybe someone did take Rodney’s lunch. John had a feeling that Rodney was the geek kid that all the jocks picked on.
If John were smart, he’d leave Rodney McKay alone and go sit at the table with the cheerleaders who kept smiling at him during class, twirling their curls over their fingers. If he were smart, he’d go sit with the guys from the football team. They’d been friendly enough, asking John to join them for practice, to think about going out for the team. And he might. He liked football a lot. Football was just a step above Ferris Wheels in the John Sheppard scheme of things, and just a step below things that went really, really fast.
There was just something about Rodney McKay. Maybe John recognized a kindred spirit. He was pretty much a loner, too. His family traveled a lot because his dad was in the Air Force. So he was never in any one place long enough to get to know anyone. People were nice enough to him, it just didn’t feel honest. He could feel them sizing him up. He was always afraid he didn’t measure up.
So, on his third week at the new school, it was his third Monday, he passed the table with the cheerleaders and the one with the guys from the football team and he walked over the table where Rodney McKay sat. Alone.
“Hey,” John said, “Anyone sitting here?” There never had been, but it never hurt to be polite.
Rodney’s head jerked up. He glanced around as if he expected someone else to be sitting there. Someone else for John to be talking to. He gaped up at John, his mouth open and still full of food. It was kind of gross. Then Rodney ‘s mouth snapped shut and he waved a hand.
“It’s a free country, or so I’m told. You can sit anywhere you want.” He went back to shoveling food into his mouth, ignoring John.
John shrugged, sliding his tray onto the table. He dropped his book bag with a moan and sat.
Digging into his own lunch – institutional chili with a cinnamon roll, John studied the other boy. Rodney was scribbling in a notebook while hunched over his lunch tray - absently shoveling his food into his mouth with one hand and working in his notebook with the other. His blondish hair was brushing the top of his collar; it curled just a little on the ends. He was kind of scrawny, but his eyes were bright blue, And he had a razor sharp wit. It was some of the only fun John had had in a while when Rodney went off on the teacher in their college calculus class, telling the man all of the reasons he was wrong, wrong, wrong.
Rodney glanced up to discover John staring at him. “What?” he asked, frowning. “Do I have food in my teeth?” His eyes went cross-eyed and he swept his tongue over his teeth.
“Nah,” John said, “you’re fine. I’m John Sheppard by the way.”
Rodney waved a hand. “Yes, yes, I know. Fourth period college calculus. You’re not entirely stupid, although you could do better if you applied yourself.”
“Wow,” John opened his milk. He took a long drink before he answered. “You sound just like my dad. Well except for the ‘not entirely stupid’ bit. He thinks I’m entirely stupid.”
Rodney nodded. “Mine does, too.” Rodney’s face flamed in a painful flush. “I mean my dad thinks I’m entirely stupid. Not you.” Rodney ducked his head and took a drink of his own milk and then choked. John politely pretended not to notice until the other boy had brought his coughing under control.
“What you working on?” John asked when it looked like Rodney was okay. He nodded to indicate the notebook at Rodney’s right hand. It was covered in equations.
Rodney shut the notebook, shoving it into his book bag. “Its homework,” was all he said as he bent back to his lunch and that was that.
John shrugged, going back to his own lunch. He’d learned a long time ago not to pry into other people’s business. If Rodney didn’t want to talk, he didn’t want to talk.
They were just finishing up when one of the guys from the football table stood and strode over to the table where Rodney and John sat. Acustus Koyla was the star quarterback for the school’s team. As far as John could tell he thought he was the coolest kid ever. He was in John’s second period Lit class. The only reason John knew that was because he showed up to class on Fridays to hand in his homework. Then he would leave again.
“Practice,” he would mumble as he left. The teacher, Miss Jenkins, would frown at him, but she didn’t call him back either.
Koyla sauntered up to their table pulling out the chair next to Rodney. Reversing it he sat. Rodney didn’t even look up at him. He just scooped up the last of his lunch. As he reached for his milk, Koyla’s arm shot out and grabbed Rodney’s hand.
“You know, it’s polite to say hello when someone sits down,” Koyla’s tone was studied and calm. But there was something about his eyes that John didn’t like.
Rodney did look up then. He glanced over at Koyla and then down where Koyla had a hold of his arm.
“You have met me, right?” Rodney sneered at him. “Rodney McKay? No one’s ever accused me of being polite.” He stared at Koyla, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
John wondered if it was his imagination that the temperature in their part of the cafeteria just went down. Or maybe it went up. It was hard to tell which.
Koyla let go of Rodney’s arm. He leaned forward in his chair. “I just wondered if you had that homework for calculus? Mr. Lister is getting kind of insistent that I turn it in.” John was surprised. He didn’t even know that Koyla was in their calculus class. Somehow Acustus Koyla didn’t seem like a calculus kind of guy.
Rodney blinked at him. “Homework?”
“You said last week you were going to help me out.”
Rodney tilted his head, regarding Koyla like he was a failed experiment. “You asked me to help you out in class,” he said flatly.
“By doing my homework.” Koyla spoke slowly, like it would make more sense that way.
“What?” Rodney frowned. John noticed that one end of his mouth tipped down while the other end stayed straight, it looked like it was sloping downhill. “I’ll tutor you if you want, but I’m not doing your homework.”
Koyla’s whole body went tense. “I thought you understood that I needed to get an A in that class. If I don’t get an A, coach won’t let me play and I’ll lose any chance at a scholarship. My whole future is riding on that class.”
Rodney rose, shouldering his book bag. “Well then come to class and do your own fucking homework, because I’m not going to do it for you.”
Koyla rose, too, and he was a lot bigger than Rodney. Not just in height, but in weight, and it was all lean muscle. If Kolya went after Rodney, the other boy didn’t stand a chance.
The cafeteria went quiet around them. The kids at the table closest to them moved away.
Rodney actually started to walk away. John admired his courage, but he was pretty sure Rodney was going to get killed.
Koyla went after him. He grabbed Rodney’s arm, pulling him around. “I don’t think you understand. I wasn’t asking you to do my homework, I was telling you to do my homework.”
Rodney stared down at Koyla’s hand on his arm until Koyla pulled it away. “And I don’t think you understand.” Rodney spoke clearly and distinctly, enunciating each word. His voice echoed through the nearly silent cafeteria. “I’m not going to do your homework. Now or ever. “
Koyla didn’t try to grab Rodney again, but this time when Rodney turned to leave, Koyla moved around to block his escape. He loomed over Rodney. “And you don’t understand, McKay. I don’t want someone else to do my homework. I want an A, you’re the only one that can get me that. Don’t make me hurt you.” He stepped forward into Rodney’s space. The sense of menace was so strong that Rodney did take a step back then.
John had had enough. Rodney had been holding his own and John didn’t want to make the other boy look weaker by stepping in. But Koyla had crossed the line. He’d threatened Rodney. John wasn’t going to stand for that. He jumped up, shoving his way between the two boys. Koyla took a step away in surprise. John could feel Rodney as a warm presence at his back.
“He said he wasn’t going to do your homework, Koyla. Seems simple enough to figure out to me.” Koyla had some weight on John, but they were of a similar height, and John had some wrestling experience. He might not be able to take Koyla, but he’d be able to get in a lick or two before Koyla took him down.
The bell rang then. Kids jumped up heading for the door - some of them dragging their feet, waiting to see if there was going to be a fight.
One of Koyla’s cronies approached them. “Leave it, man,” he whispered urgently, “we’ll get the geek to do what you want later when his bodyguard’s not around.”
“Oh, please, like I need someone to protect me,” Rodney stepped out from behind John to stand beside him. “I can take you guys and you’ll never know what got you,” he sneered.
The new guy took Koyla’s arm and shook it a little. “Come on, Koyla, Coach’ll have your ass if you’re caught fighting in the cafeteria.”
Koyla smiled at Rodney, it was cold and full of menace and the promise of future hurt. “Oh, we’ll go. See you around, McKay.”
“Only if I’m really, really unlucky,” Rodney muttered at their departing backs. He was silent until they disappeared then he rounded on John. “What the hell did you think you were doing?” he demanded. He poked John in the chest.
John fell back a step. “I was trying to help?”
Rodney hitched his book bag higher on his shoulder. “Well I don’t need your help, so next time stay out of it.” He took off for the door pushing his way through the throngs of teenagers. John had to run to keep up with him.
“Hey, no need to say thanks or anything,” John said when he caught up, a lot irritated that his show of comradery was being thrown back in his face.
“I had the situation under control,” Rodney hissed. He picked up his pace trying to get away from John maybe. Maybe he just didn’t want to be late for calculus.
“Oh, yeah,” John snarked back. “So under control that Koyla was going to break you like a twig. “Sorry for caring enough that I didn’t want to see that.”
“What?” Rodney stopped dead in his tracks. John stumbled trying not to run into him. Kids behind them nudged them on their way past. “Please! You were playing the big hero coming in to save the day. Well, thank you very much, but I can take care of myself.” Rodney turned and marched into class.
John followed him, throwing his back pack onto a desk. “Fine,” he hissed at Rodney, low. “Next time I’ll let Koyla break you and then pick your skinny ass up and take you to the hospital.”
“Fine,” Rodney hissed back just as the bell rang.
Mr. Lister showed up then and they couldn’t talk to each other for the whole hour.
As soon as class ended Rodney made a beeline for the door, but John was ready for him. He grabbed his book bag and rushed after him.
“Listen,” he said as they shoved their way through the mass of kids in the hall between classes. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was trying to rescue you. I’m pretty sure you can take care of yourself.” Rodney was pretty scrawny and a math geek. He’d have to be able to take care of himself to survive the likes of Acustus Koyla. “I just don’t like people like Koyla thinking they can run around picking on people.”
Rodney gave an aggrieved huff and turned on him, “I can take care of myself,” he declared. “I’m badass.” He stood there in the middle of the hall, his face red, glaring at John.
John couldn’t help the snort that escaped from him. It only made Rodney glare more, which made John laugh outright. Finally Rodney couldn’t help it. He laughed, too.
He bumped shoulders with John and jerked his head. “Come one, we’ve got to go or we’ll be late.” And just like that they were okay. It was the weirdest thing ever.
After that they had lunch together every day.
John didn’t know what there was about McKay. It wasn’t that he liked him exactly. He didn’t fool himself into thinking that they could be friends, John was never anywhere long enough to actually be friends with anybody. It was just that Rodney was interesting. The most interesting person John had ever met.
~~~~~~
One afternoon John saw Rodney going down the hall. John didn’t have anything to do after school; he wondered if Rodney might want to hang out. He shoved his books into the locker, hurrying after the other boy.
“Hey, Rodney,” he fell into step with him. “What you doing?”
Rodney frowned over at John. “Is this a trick question? I’m walking down the hall. What are you doing?”
John rolled his eyes. Rodney was an ass. But an interesting ass. “I thought we could hang out or something. What do people do for fun in this town?”
“I don’t know about <i>people</i>,” Rodney said, “but <I>I’m</i> going to the library.”
The library didn’t really sound like much fun, but John didn’t have anywhere else to go, so he tagged along. Maybe there’d be a chance to tempt Rodney away from the books. Maybe they could find an arcade or a Ferris Wheel.
The guy standing behind the counter of the library was easily the biggest guy John had ever seen. He was at least seven-feet tall. He sported dreads and he wore a duster even in the warmth of the library.
“Hey, McKay,” the guy greeted Rodney warmly. “Been wondering when you were going to stop by. Your math book came in.”
Rodney snorted. “Have some respect, Ronon,” Rodney told him. “Calling that book a math book is like calling the Bible a storybook.”
Ronon shrugged. “You want it?”
Rodney glared at him, which didn’t seem to faze the other guy at all. But then he was seven-feet tall. “Yeah, I want it.”
Ronon pulled a thick, heavy book off a shelf under the counter. “You can’t take it out of the library.”
“I know that, Ronon.” If Rodney’s glare could kill, Ronon would be a pile of dust behind the counter. As it was, Ronon just grinned at him. Rodney took the book with careful fingers, smoothing over the surface tentatively.
John liked Ronon a lot. Anyone who could snipe back at Rodney was okay in John’s book.
He stepped forward, leaning on the counter. “I’m John,” he introduced himself. “I like college football, Ferris Wheels and anything that goes over 200 miles an hour. Don’t think I’ve seen you around.”
Ronon took in John’s measure with one swift glance. He didn’t seem overly impressed. “Is that my problem?”
John shrugged, “Nah, I’m just saying, Rodney doesn’t have many friends and Koyla was picking on him the other day. Seemed to me it would be good to have someone like you to back him up.”
Ronon drew himself up and he was even taller than John had thought. “Hey, Rodney’s badass, he can take care of himself.”
John backed up a little, hands held up, “He told me that actually.”
Ronon’s eyes narrowed, “You don’t look very mathy, what are you doing hanging out with Rodney?”
John turned to see Rodney bent over a study carrel, running his fingers reverently over his book. “He’s kind of interesting,” he said off-handedly.
Ronon reached over the counter and grabbed John’s shirt, practically pulling him over. “Listen, Rodney’s kind of trusting where people are concerned. He doesn’t always get that they might not want to hang out with him because he’s so witty and charming. He doesn’t get that they might want other things from him like <i>help</i> with their homework, their reports, their test scores.”
It was the strangest library John had ever been in. No one even batted an eye at Ronon pulling him over the counter, much less told them to shush. John pushed at Ronon’s hands, but they didn’t budge.
“I don’t need <i>help</i> with my homework, okay,” John said desperately. “I get by. I may not be A material, but I’m happy with Bs. Rodney just seems like fun.”
Ronon let go. He seemed to be surprised. “Huh, not many people think fun the first thing when they meet Rodney.”
John chuckled. “Yeah, I get that. But really, I don’t want to take advantage of his geeky brain. I might like some tutoring in calculus, but I don’t want him to steal test answers for me, okay?”
Ronon studied him a moment more, but he finally nodded. “Okay.” He grinned and held out a hand. “I’m Ronon Dex. You new here? Don’t think I’ve seen you around.”
John grinned at him. “New guy,” he answered by way of explanation. “What do people do for fun around here?”
Ronon nodded at Rodney who had finally opened the book. “That’s what he does.”
“And you?”
Ronon grinned back. The smile was evil.
~~~~~~
That was how John met Teyla. She was a tiny girl; she was also the most beautiful woman that he’d ever met. Even though he doubted that she was any older than any of the rest of them, she carried herself with the poise and self-possession of someone much older.
“She’s from one of those South American countries where they’re having a coup every week,” Rodney whispered to John. There was something very like awe in his voice.
Ronon had brought them to a dojo-like place with mirrors on the walls and hard wood floors polished so smooth that John could nearly see his reflection.
He watched as Teyla and Ronon circled each. They both held two sticks which they used like an extension of themselves. They would strike and parry, push back, then circle one another until one or the other would strike and the rhythm would start again. It was like a highly choreographed dance. And John wanted to learn how to it, right damn now.
At least he wanted to learn it until he was on his knees with Teyla’s sticks at his throat.
“You are too eager,” she told him reprovingly. “You must learn the basic forms and steps before you can hope to be effective with the sticks.”
“You have to learn to walk before you can dance,” Rodney translated helpfully.
“Thanks, Rodney,” John said sourly. “I think I got that.”
Teyla came around and offered her hand. “You did not do badly. You lasted a whole minute longer than Rodney the first time he tried.”
John turned to Rodney in surprise. He didn’t think McKay was the physical type.
Rodney blushed. He shrugged. “I have depths,” he said defensively.
John grinned at him.
Teyla surprised him by gripping his shoulders like she’d done with Ronon. She tipped herself forward. John met her half way like he’d seen Ronon do.
“That was cool,” he said when they pulled away. “Can I come back and try it again?”
Teyla smiled at him. “Of course you may. Any friend of Rodney’s is welcome here.” While she smiled the entire time she said it, the threat was plain. If he wasn’t a friend to Rodney, she would kick his ass.
He gulped and nodded that he understood. She nodded her satisfaction.
~~~~~~
After a few weeks at the new school, John’s mom sat down opposite him at breakfast.
“You look happy,” she said. She tried to sound off handed and casual, but John saw through her. She always wanted him to be happy, and she tried so hard to make sure everything at home was perfect so he’d be happy there. She was the perfect mom. She was always there when he needed her; she always had the right thing to say. She was pretty and had the best hugs in the world. He loved her so much; he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
John smiled at her and shrugged a little. “School doesn’t suck this year.” He moved his eggs around his plate.
She smiled back at him, pleased, “I’m glad to hear that. You’ve got friends?”
John was a little embarrassed about that. He didn’t want his mom to think he wasn’t happy, but how could he tell her that he didn’t have friends? He had people to spend the time with until his family moved again. His little brother Dave had friends. But Dave seemed to have an easier time with people than John did. Dave brought people home all the time. There was always an extra rug rat or two hanging around the house.
“There are some people I hang out with,” he said at last, offering what he could.
Her smile was blinding. “I’m so glad to hear that. You should bring them to dinner some night.”
John gaped at her. He knew his mouth was open. But really what could he say? This was his mom. How could he bring home Rodney McKay? And Ronon? Then he thought about it again. Sure Rodney was kind of crass and he ate with his mouth open most of the time, but he was also funny and smart – he might actually want his mom to meet Rodney. He thought she might like him, too. And Ronon was big and looming, but he was fiercely loyal. Rodney didn’t know that Ronon growled at Acustus Koyla every time he walked by him in the hallway. And then there was Teyla. Teyla was the warmest, most likeable person John knew. His mom would love Teyla.
He swallowed. This was big. John hadn’t brought anyone home to hang out with since the third grade, and certainly never for dinner.
He nodded. “Sure,” he took a bite of his toast. “When do you think?” he asked trying to maintain his cool.
“How about next week?” she suggested. “Monday night?”
~~~~~
“Dinner?” Rodney asked when John asked him, trying to be nonchalant like it wasn’t a big deal if Rodney said no. Rodney chewed his school lasagna with his mouth open. It was pretty gross, but John was used to it now. “She a good cook?” he asked, his head titled while he thought about it.
“The best,” John enthused. “Her meatloaf is the best ever. And then I get to have meat loaf sandwiches for lunch the next day. With fresh-made bread.” John held up his sandwich as proof. Rodney thought he was insane when he brought his own lunch. But then Rodney had never tasted Caroline Sheppard’s cooking.
“Okay,” Rodney nodded his head. “But I should come to dinner tonight to make sure it’s good enough for Teyla and Ronon.”
John took a big bite of his sandwich to hide his grin.
~~~~~~
“Mom,” John shouted when he and Rodney came in through the door. “I’m home and I brought a friend.” He grinned at Rodney when he said it.
Rodney ducked his head, a shy smile on his face. “I’m your friend?” he asked, wonder in his voice.
John realized abruptly that Rodney didn’t know that John only hung out with him because he was interesting. Rodney thought they were friends. Of course Rodney was the first kid he’d brought home since the third grade. Maybe Rodney was a friend.
John’s mom appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She beamed at Rodney.
“I’m Caroline Sheppard. It’s nice to meet one of John’s friends.”
Rodney looked at John with wide, panicked eyes. “You didn’t tell me that your mom was hot,” he whispered loud enough for John’s mom to hear.
John punched him, hard. “That’s my mom, Rodney.”
“But she is,” Rodney insisted, staring at her, a blush creeping up his cheeks.
Caroline Sheppard laughed. “It’s alright, John, I’m flattered. I’ve never been called hot before, I hope that’s a good thing.” Rodney just nodded. “Why don’t you two go study in the den and I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”
“You might need help,” Rodney offered, suddenly generous.
John had to hook a hand in Rodney’s arm to drag him out of the room.
“I can’t believe you,” John said when they were out of ear shot of the kitchen.
“I’m not going to date her or anything,” Rodney protested.
“Yeah, cause my dad would kick your ass,” John told him hotly.
“She’s just really pretty and she loves you a lot. You can see it. Most days I don’t think my mom even likes me,” Rodney confessed. He sat down heavily on the sofa, his book bag falling to the floor at his feet.
John sat beside him, trying to think of what to say and coming up with nothing. “You want to study?” he asked at last. Because they didn’t have anything better to do, they dug their books out and got in a little studying. But mostly they argued over which was the best villain on Batman – the Joker or the Riddler.
Rodney was better by dinner. John was glad because Dave and one of his friends were there, too. He didn’t need anything embarrassing with the rug rat looking on. Although John did catch Rodney sneaking glances at his mom whenever he thought John wasn’t looking. He did manage to eat with his mouth closed, too. John thought that must be the height of love for Rodney McKay.
~~~~~~
John was a lot nervous about adding Teyla and Ronon to the mix. But he didn’t need to worry. Ronon was in instant hit with Dave who thought this new guy was a jungle gym, an idea that Ronon was happy to go along with. Dave swung off him as Ronon swung him around. They were fast friends after about two minutes. Teyla offered to help with dinner and they didn’t see her again until dinner was served. John and Rodney set the table.
It was the best dinner John had ever had. Of course his dad wasn’t there. His dad didn’t make it home for dinner much.
John looked around the table as the food was passed – his mom’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes, it was the best. Teyla and Rodney were fighting over the last roll as Ronon taught Dave how to flick potatoes off his spoon.
Everyone froze when Carolyn Sheppard tsked in disapproval.
But then she showed them the proper way to flick mashed potatoes hitting Ronon on the chest. Ronon did hesitate a fraction of a second before he retaliated. Fortunately there weren’t many potatoes left or the mess would have been a lot bigger.
John looked around the table at the people laughing and wiping potatoes up. He was kind of surprised to realize that he had friends.
After that all three of his friends had dinner at John’s house at least once a week. Rodney was there every chance he got, because John needed all the tutoring in Calculus he could get,. At least that was Rodney’s reasoning, but he always stayed for dinner.
~~~~~
Koyla didn’t mess with Rodney at lunch again, so John thought the whole thing was over. Until the night that Rodney knocked on his bedroom window. John opened it to find Rodney sitting on the roof outside his window, his eye swollen.
John caught a hold of Rodney and helped him inside. Rodney slid through the window and plopped down on the floor of John’s room. John inspected his eye with careful fingers. Rodney hissed, pushing John’s hand away.
“What are you doing?” John asked really worried. Rodney was listless and out of it.
“Stop it, that hurts,” Rodney whined. He slumped against the wall, his eyes closed.
John padded downstairs quickly to get some ice wrapped in a dishtowel. He checked on his mom to make sure she was still in the living room watching some show or other before he slipped back upstairs to take care of Rodney.
Rodney moaned an incoherent thanks as John pressed the towel to his face.
“Okay,” John said at last when Rodney didn’t seem to be willing to share what happened. “What’s going on?”
Rodney moaned again mumbling something.
John began to worry about head wounds and bleeding on the brain.
“Do I need to call an ambulance?” John began to push himself up to get his mom.
“No, stop, dumbass,” Rodney caught his arm, tugging to pull him back down. “It was Koyla and his gang, okay? Are you happy now?” He hissed and pushed the towel against his eye more firmly. He slumped in misery. “They caught me as I was leaving the library. Koyla said that no one told him no.”
“Well, fuck that,” John started to pull on his shoes.
“What are you doing?” Rodney asked his voice weighted down by misery and exhaustion.
“I’m going to go find Koyla and kick his ass,” John was surprised that Rodney didn’t know that already.
“No, you can’t do that. I’m the one that will pay the price in the end.” Rodney sounded so tired. John didn’t have the heart to argue with him. He went into the bathroom and came back with the bottle of aspirin, shaking a couple of tablets out into his hand.
Rodney took them and swallowed them down dry. He leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes against the pain. John settled down next to him.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, needing to do something.
Rodney shook his head and then winced. “Nothing,” he whispered, “I’ll take care of it in my own way.”
John didn’t really believe him, but every time he asked that’s what Rodney told him.
So he put together a spread sheet with Teyla and Ronon and they made sure that Rodney was never left alone again.
~~~~~
October arrived and the weather began to turn. The days were still sunny and warm, but the nights became chilly and the leaves turned into a riot of color.
One crisp October day fliers went up around town announcing the arrival of the Pegasus Carnival Company. It wasn’t difficult to get Teyla and Ronon to agree to go, and they helped John badger Rodney into accompanying them.
Oh, he whined, “I’ve got way too much studying to do to go out and risk my brilliance on those death traps they call rides.” He shuddered melodramatically.
“Come on, Rodney,” John wheedled, bumping his shoulder. “Even you can’t study all the time.”
Rodney looked at him askance. “Have you met me?”
“It’ll be fun,” John insisted. “One night off isn’t going to hurt your GPA. There’ll be food there.”
John didn’t miss the sudden gleam of interest in Rodney’s eye. “Yeah?”
“One word.” John leaned in and whispered into Rodney’s ear, “Funnel Cake.”
Rodney didn’t call him on the fact that Funnel Cake was two words, but he did go with them to the carnival.
~~~~~
It was a blast.
Rodney and Ronon had a contest to see who could eat the most. After three hotdogs, a funnel cake, cotton candy and something on a stick, John was surprised that either one of them could stand. Rodney did turn kind of green when he saw the tilt-a-whirl, but he got on. He gripped the handle tightly, the knuckles of his hands turning white. He screamed gleefully as the ride whipped them back and forth. He tottered a little when they got off, but he was fine. He dragged John over to the line for the bumper cars though swearing to get revenge.
They rode all the rides about three times and played the games. John got three hits with the air rifle and won Teyla an awesome teddy bear.
“You can’t be seen carrying that,” Rodney declared with horror after taking one look at the neon pink bear.
“I must, Rodney,” Teyla declared. “John won it for me.”
“Oh, no, we’ll be the laughing stock of the school if we’re seen in the vicinity of that.”
“Let ‘em laugh,” Ronon growled. “I’ll show them who’s a laughing stock.”
“You can’t be there 24/7,” Rodney mumbled. He made it a point to walk a little ahead of the rest of them after that.
“Oh, man,” John caught sight of the Ferris Wheel and stopped. “We’ve got to ride it.”
“What?” Rodney stared in horror. “It’s a bucket of bolts. It’s going to fall apart any minute.”
“Oh, come on, Rodney. It is not,” John wheedled pulling him along toward it. “They wouldn’t let it run if it wasn’t safe.”
“Oh, please,” Rodney hung back dragging his feet. “They just tell you that. There’s actually a long history of Ferris Wheel deaths. They just cover it up so people don’t know.”
John grinned at Rodney. “They do not. Come on, it’s cool.”
“Why don’t you take Teyla? She wants to ride it. Or Ronon? He’s cool with it.” They were both waiting in the line behind John and Rodney.
The guy taking tickets frowned at them. “You two girls going to ride or not? Either get on or get out of line.”
John rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to ride with Teyla or Ronon, I want to ride it with you, dumbass. Now come on.”
Surprise flashed across Rodney’s face as he let John pull him onto the ride. The guy locked the bar in place.
“No roughhousing, you hear?” he scolded them. “We just got this thing put back together after the last accident.” He pushed the lever that set the car in motion. By then it was too late for Rodney to back out and escape.
“What?” Rodney squeaked.
The car swayed and there was a metallic shriek as it moved.
“Oh, my god, we’re going to die,” Rodney moaned.
“We’re not going to die,” John said patiently.
“You heard what he said,” Rodney insisted. Rodney’s hand flailed about and the car swayed some more.
“Rodney, stop it,” John caught his arms and forced them down. “He heard you freaking out and he was just pulling your chain. It’s perfectly safe.”
The car came to a gentle stop as it paused to let on the next passengers – Teyla and Ronon.
“Really?” Rodney’s voice rose with anxiety. “Because seriously? I’m too young to die. I haven’t made any serious breakthroughs in science yet and I’m going to win a Nobel by the time I’m 40. I can’t do that if I’m dead.”
John had to work really hard not to laugh. “Really, Rodney, I’m not trying to kill you. It’s just this is my favorite ride and I wanted to share it with you.”
“Really?” It was kind of sad that no one had ever wanted to share something with Rodney just because it was fun. “Well, I guess this isn’t that bad.”
Then the ride started up again with a jerk. Rodney shrieked, covering his head with his arms. John gave it a minute and then he nudged Rodney.
“Look,” he said.
Slowly Rodney brought his arms down. When he saw the countryside spread out below them he covered his face with his hands and peaked through his fingers.
It was a beautiful, clear fall night. The full moon was high in the sky; it lit up the countryside with a gentle light.
“Wow, that’s just… wow.” Rodney said softly.
“Yeah,” John agreed.
“Is that why you like this ride?” Rodney asked.
John nodded. “That. And I feel like I can touch the sky from here.” He reached up like he could touch the moon. “I want to fly up there someday.”
They were quiet for a moment as the ride paused with them at the top so more riders could be let on at the bottom. They swayed gently. Rodney only clutched the bar a little.
“What are you going to do when you leave school?” Rodney asked.
John felt a little clutch in the pit of his stomach. He looked out at the town, with its lights scattered like so much fairy dust. “I’m going to join the Air Force,” he told Rodney. “I want to fly planes.” He hadn’t told that to anyone yet, not even his mom.
Rodney’s mouth opened, then closed. “That’s cool,” he said. It sounded forced.
“What?” John demanded.
Rodney looked away. He scuffed a foot on the bottom of their car and it kind of jerked. Rodney started and sat very still.
“What?” John demanded again.
Rodney shook his head. “It’s stupid. I was just kind of hoping… Well, you’re good in math, too, and I was kind of hoping that we maybe could go to the same school and be roommates or something because I’ve never really had a friend before and I thought it would be cool to go to college together.” The words came out so fast that they all blended together. John had to work to translate them.
He was left with a warm feeling. He’d never thought about continuing a friendship after he’d left a school. No one had ever wanted to continue being friends with him.
“That’s…” he swallowed.
“It’s dumb I know.” Rodney refused to meet his eyes.
“No, Rodney, it’s not,” John said fiercely. “It’s a cool idea. And really, I’d like nothing better than to go to college with you and be your roommate. Except…”
Rodney turned to meet his eyes then, “Except you really want to fly?”
John nodded, “I can’t explain it, Rodney, it’s something I’ve gotta do. It’s the coolest thing ever. It’s like when I’m in the air there’s only me and the plane and the sky and everything makes sense.”
Rodney nodded slowly, “Yeah, I get it. It’s like me and math. There’s so much bad stuff and stupid people, but math makes sense and it’s beautiful.”
Rodney did get it. And they were okay. They finished the ride in silence, just enjoying the company and the view.
After that Rodney and Ronon ate another hot dog and had a milk shake. And that was it. Rodney turned green and spent ten minutes in the bath room. After that they had to take him home.
They next day they all declared that the carnival was a blast.
~~~~~~
John kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for his dad to come home one day and announce that they were moving again. But fall turned to winter and they were still in their little house on the base and John was still at Atlantis High hanging out with Rodney and Teyla and Ronon. He argued the utter implausibility of “Back to the Future” with Rodney, and tried to convince him to design a time-traveling DeLorean to no avail.
“Come on, Rodney, it would be so cool,” John wheedled.
“Oh, please, Sheppard,” Rodney rolled his eyes, “there’s as much chance of that as there is of Acustus Koyla getting an A in calculus.”
But John found Rodney’s notebook covered with equations with ‘time travel?’ written at the top.
~~~~~
He got better at stick fighting, or at least so Teyla said. All he knew was that he spent as much time on his knees with her sticks at his throat as he always did. It was just that it was taking her a little more time to get him there.
One day he showed up at the library and Ronon shoved a book into his hands.
“War and Peace?” John asked.
Ronon shrugged. “It’s on the reading list for your lit class. It’s pretty good.”
So, John checked it out and shoved it into his book bag with the rest of his books.
On to Part 2