Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Rodney glanced up from his lunch with Radek, catching sight of John as he strode into the mess with Lorne at his side. They'd been scouting some of the other sections of the city over the past two weeks, looking for areas that the current Atlantis contingent could move into to make room for some of the newbies coming in on the Daedalus in a few days.

Things between them were good—really good.

Radek, though, had been watching the door almost since they arrived thirty minutes ago and Rodney simply rolled his eyes. The Czech was worse than a love-struck teenager some days.

"You should just talk to her."

The other man jumped, eyes flying back to Rodney. "What?"

"Come on. You know me. If I can tell that you have the hots for Elizabeth…" he let his words trail off as his hand gestured in the air between them, finishing off his statement without words.

Radek's eyes widened slightly, his ears going pink. He muttered a few words in Czech that sounded suspiciously like cursing.

"Don't deny it. My genius brain has finally picking up on something personal. I must be making progress on those required 'how to treat your employees better' courses Elizabeth insists I take." Rodney took the time to be smug. It was fun to watch Radek blush.

"You are evil, evil man." Radek sighed—there was no heat behind it. "I will not deny it, but there is also nothing I can do about it. She is... untouchable."

"Just because she's more or less the boss doesn't mean she's untouchable. And besides, you'd be good for her. Better than that prick…what was his name? Steve? Sean?"

"Simon. And she still pines for him, 'prick' or not." Radek sighed. "And it is a testament to how low I have sunk that I am having this conversation with Rodney McKay. How you managed to be the person you have with your social skills is beyond me."

"That part's easy. It's all John. He's glutton for punishment is all." Rodney glanced up again, spotting the two soldiers heading their way. "I still think you should talk to her. At least you can carry on a conversation without any problems."

Radek just sighed again as the two men dropped into seats next to them. "Hi guys. McKay, you're going to love what we found." He and John had worked out a semi-silent agreement: when John used his last name in public, he wasn't expecting Rodney to do or be anything he didn't want to. He could snark and snip and tease as much as he wanted. But if John switched to using his first name...

Then all bets were off.

"Hopefully something that's not going to get us blown up in the next ten minutes. I'd like to enjoy my lunch."

"Nope." John bounced a little, and even Lorne looked happy. "We found suites. A whole wing of them. They all have two rooms off a central seating area, and even a little kitchenette kind of thing. Sort of like the Ancient version of a microwave and mini fridge. We plan to open them up to anyone willing to take on a roommate." His grin got wider. "It would be setting a good example if some of the senior staff made the switch from a private to a double. Interested?"

Rodney knew his eyes had widened. "Does it have a balcony? And what kind of square footage are we talking about?"

John bounced in his seat again. "I have one in mind. It's a corner room near the transporter, so instead of just a standard balcony, it has a sort of wrap-around. The bedrooms are about the size of the rooms we have now, with double that for the sitting area."

Rodney did the math in his head. "That's not bad. Anything bigger?"

Both men laughed, but it was Lorne who answered. "That's the biggest we've found so far. We wanted to keep it to one wing, so that's going to be the biggest in the new sector. There are two of them on that corner—the rest of the rooms in the sector are about the same size just without the balcony."

Rodney huffed and scowled. "I have a lot of very sensitive equipment. It needs room. If I’m going to move I want it to be well worth my effort."

"It will have more room. Not only your bedroom, but some of it can go in our common area I'm sure." John was still grinning hugely. "I can have the room requisitioned and assign Marines to help you move today if you want."

"Are you sure you can't find something a little bigger?"

John rolled his eyes. "Without opening up another section, no. And you're the one who said we can only afford to power one additional section of living quarters, remember? Come on. It'll be fun. We can be roomies." Under the table, John's foot rubbed against the side of Rodney's leg.

"And who else is doing this roommate thing? Teyla and Ronon?"

John nodded. "Yes. Lorne is going to try to grab the other corner room if he can convince Parrish to room with him. In fact, there's a lot of interest from the gate teams, especially the established ones, to make the move. It won't take long for all the suites to be filled, freeing up a huge chunk of rooms for the new personnel."

Rodney raised an eyebrow toward John, more of a "are we really going to move in together" question than anything. He shrugged. "I don't know. I have a lot of stuff to move and I have a great view."

John rubbed his calf again. "I'll help you pack if you want. I don't have much to move. Just a few odds and ends. Come on, you can see the room before you make up your mind."

Lorne nodded, talking around a mouthful of food. "It's a prime piece of real estate, McKay. You need to snap it up before someone else does."

"Yes," Rodney said turning to the major. "That's the issue. What if there are bigger apartment-suite-things in another section? I don't want to move twice."

Shaking his head, John stood. "Come on. I don't think you'd want to move even if we did find bigger quarters down the road. The view is spectacular. Just come look. You can always say no after you see it."

Rodney rolled his eyes, shoving the last bit of his lunch into his mouth. He gestured to Radek. "Meet you in an hour?"

Snickering, Radek nodded. "Yes yes. Go look at your new soon-to-be home. I will manage labs without you for a short time."

"And make Simpson go over that data she gave me this morning. It's all wrong," he said, rising to his feet. "She needs to double-check her work before turning it in."

John was bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Lorne, go ahead and start the paperwork to open up the section. Once Elizabeth approves it, we'll adjust the patrol routes, then open up the rooms to be claimed."

"Wait a minute. I thought she approved it already. Wasn't that what we decided in the senior staff meeting from hell two weeks ago?"

"She approved opening up a new section. Lorne and I were scouting to decide which one. This is going to be it. This is just a formality in case anyone ever wants to see something official." John quirked his lips. "And you can berate me and walk at the same time. Come on. I want to claim this room before anyone else sees it, which means if we're going to do it, we need to go see it and see if you wanna do this before we open it up to the general population. Command does have a few perks."

Rodney huffed, but nodded following behind John once he got rid of his trash and returned the tray to its rightful place near the kitchens. "Which section is this again? We talked about a lot of them at that meeting."

"It's part of the west wing of the city. It's actually closer to the labs than your current room."

"Really?" Rodney perked up at that.

John shot a grin over his shoulder. "Thought you'd like that." He hit the transporter destination, and led Rodney to a room not far away. He paused at the door, though. They were alone since the area hadn't been officially cleared yet. "Look, as much as I want this, I won't make it an order. If you really aren't comfortable with it, or you don't like the room, you can say no, with no consequences."

"John, I’m more or less living with you in your quarters," Rodney said quietly.

"I know. But this would be a big step. You wouldn't have any place to go back to at all. I want it because we wouldn't have to worry anymore. No more sneaking out at 0300 when Caldwell is in residence. No more worrying about someone seeing us going into the other's room. But still... moving in together officially is a big deal. I don't want you to feel like I forced it. This is something I want you to want, not just obey me on."

Rodney nodded. "I understand. Can I see them now?"

John looked a little nervous now. "Yeah. I mean, I know I talked it up, but if you hate it, we can look at some of the other rooms..."

"John…" Rodney rolled his eyes, a silent "come on already" finally urging the soldier to open the door. And wow. The common room was nice, large—and very empty.

There were four doors leading out of it—one to the balcony, one for each bedroom, and a bathroom. The bedrooms were about the same size, but there was one a little larger—which Rodney immediately labeled the master bedroom—each with its own private bathroom. The master bath was large but not quite as big as the one they'd used months ago, near the secondary infirmary. The other bathroom actually had two doors: one into the common room, the other into the smaller of the two bedrooms.

This really was a family apartment.

John was fidgeting. Rodney didn't think he had ever seen his lover this nervous. "So, ah, I was thinking we could use the bigger room as our bedroom, maybe try to figure out a way to get a big bed in there. And you could use the second room as an office-slash-workroom for when you don't want to be in the labs... And we could get a couch and some chairs, maybe rig up a screen of some sort to have team nights here instead of in the common room..."

"We'd need a bed in the other room…the other bedroom."

"Not really. If we kept the doors closed, no one would know it wasn't a bedroom. They'd have no reason to look unless they were invited, and we wouldn't be inviting anyone who doesn't already know about us." John had moved to the door for the balcony, which was just past the 'kitchen' area. John was right—it had the Ancient version of a mini fridge and microwave oven they had found in other places in the city, along with storage space to serve as a kind of pantry.

"We have to keep up appearances, John."

John nodded and opened the door and stepped outside. The view was spectacular, overlooking a good chuck of the city because of the way the balcony wrapped around slightly. John stepped to the railing, looking out. "So we could put one of the small beds against the wall for me to sit on and watch you while you work." He sighed softly. "I just want a place for us. Both of us. Not my room or your room. It would be ours."

"I know," Rodney said, stepping up beside John, bumping his shoulder. "We just have to make sure that this doesn't make too many problems for you." He turned and wandered the length of the balcony, looking in the master bedroom from the outside and realizing that the bathroom shared the outside wall—right where the tub and shower was.

He thought the doors open and stepped inside, moving to the bathroom. Sure enough, the outside wall was the same as the bedroom. It should look out over the city, but it was a wall.

But…huh. A thought came to Rodney's mind and he tilted his head to the side, feeling John step up behind him.

His lover wrapped his arms around Rodney's waist, resting his head on Rodney's shoulder. "What are you thinking? You have that evil genius look."

"That wall is the outside wall," Rodney said pointing.

"Yes, it is. That feature was only in the two corner rooms."

Rodney raised an eyebrow and thought hard at the wall—surprised when it actually turned translucent.

John nuzzled at the side of his neck. "Watch this." After a moment, the wall did something, and seemed to completely disappear. Unless he squinted really hard and tilted his head the right way, Rodney couldn't tell there was anything between them and the outdoors. There was even a hint of a breeze coming through.

Rodney turned to John. "We need this room."

John's smile was hesitant. "So you'll move in with me? Live together for real?"

"We need a bigger bed. A couch. Desk in the common room. We might be able to make the smaller bedroom into a partial playroom."

John shifted against him, the beginnings of an erection pressing into Rodney's ass. "Home. We have a home now. I'll put you in charge of getting us furniture. I'll tell Elizabeth we're setting the example as senior staff members willing to give up our private rooms, and make arrangements to start having our stuff moved. I'll do the toys myself, so don't worry about it."

"I won't. I trust you," Rodney said, turning in John's arms, a smirk on his lips. "While I'd still like something a little bigger, this will do."

John kissed the corner of Rodney's mouth. "I want to wait to inaugurate our new suite until we've moved in. Why don't you see about getting us something to sleep on tonight? And I can take care of the rest—at least enough so we can start living here right away."

"Hmm…I guess I can wait until later," Rodney said with a smile.

They kissed for a few minutes before John broke away. "All right, let's get started so we can be moved in to our new home by tonight. Together. God, you have no idea how much I've wanted this..."

"Can you get the stuff from our quarters? I think I have an idea of where to get new furniture." There were a few rooms down in the one section where the room with the "big bed" was, that were only partially furnished. "I might need a few muscles to help with the actual more though."

"Yes. I'll have all our stuff packed and moved, and let me know when and where you need a few Marines. I'll make sure you have them."

"Good, good. I'll…give me them in about twenty minutes. Have them meet me in my lab with a dolly or something. The stuff will be heavy—damn Ancients insisted on it. I have to grab some tools." Rodney paused, offering John a smile.

He was pulled in for another hard kiss. "I'll see you later. Try to get off early tonight so we can try this place out."

"Do you trust me?" Rodney asked, his eyebrow on the rise. He had an idea, but unless John agreed to it…

John nodded immediately, using the back of his hand to caress Rodney's cheek. "Yes. Absolutely."

"After you move our crap in, can you wait to come back until I call you?"

His eyebrows went up, but he nodded again, without hesitation. "I'll let you know when it's all here and I'm clear."

"Thank you," Rodney said, pressing a kiss to John's lips, his mind already spinning to the plans he had. "Marines in twenty, right?"

John laughed softly, pulling away. "Marines in twenty, along with the official okay from Elizabeth for us to claim this room. I'll see you tonight, if not before."

John strode out, already on the radio talking to Elizabeth. Rodney clapped his hands together, putting his plans in place. But first things first. He needed tools.

Heading to the lab he ended up digging through the supply closet—one of John's favorite places for a quickie lately—for the tools he knew he'd need. Marine One and Marine Two showed up right on time and with a wheeled cart. He dumped the first case on the cart and pointed at several others.

Power tools were always good to have and you could never have too many.

Radek just rolled his eyes when Rodney informed him he was taking the rest of the day off. He was the boss. He could take off if he wanted.

They headed down to the bowels of Atlantis and Rodney poked his head into several rooms before finding the right bed. It was big—a queen/king-sized bed and there was a closet-full of sheets and blankets and such.

He sent Marine one to the laundry to get them cleaned while he and Marine Two stripped down the bed to its smallest pieces so they could transport it.

Once that was done, Rodney sent him on his way with orders to reassemble it in the room on the right—what Rodney has designated in his mind as the master bedroom. For everyone else, it would just be his room. Everyone knew he was picky about his beds.

Marine One showed up about an hour later—arms piled with clean sheets and blankets. Rodney had already started looking for chairs and tables and sofas. He'd dragged a few chairs into the middle of the hallway.

"Are you an idiot? You were supposed to leave them in the new apartment."

"Sir?" The man looked confused.

Rodney sighed, turning to the Marine and making sure he talked slowly. "Go put them in the new apartment and then come back here with the cart so you can start taking some of the chairs up there."

The Marine was too well trained to roll his eyes. "Sir, yes, sir."

"And hurry. I still have a lot to get done."

A hasty salute was shot off before the man scampered back. John must have told them to behave.

Tugging a PowerBar out of his pocket, Rodney ripped open the wrapper and started munching on it while he looked for a few other pieces. He wandered in and out of several rooms, finally finding a table and a few chairs. He dragged them out into the hall to find Marine One loading the cart.

After a quick "these too" Rodney ducked into another room, spotting the couch he wanted. It matched the first chairs he'd found.

"Oh," he said, stepping back into the hall. "I want the sofa that's in here, too. Don't forget it."

The Marine grunted. "If you don't mind my asking, sir, what else do you plan to find? Some of this stuff is a little heavy, so if there are more large pieces, I'd like to see about getting another guy down here to help."

"Well, I found the table, four chairs to go with it, two arm chairs, and a couch. Not to mention the bed. Maybe a desk. Maybe a coffee table or something. I'm still looking. If you think you need someone else, call now. I don't know how long Sheppard loaned you out to me for and I'm trying to be quick."

The soldier's eyebrow had gone up, but he nodded. As he walked back out to the hall, Rodney heard him on his radio.

Rodney rolled his eyes, thankful the Marine hadn't complained. At least John knew how to train his men….

He paused in the middle of the room he'd stepped into, a smile growing on his face. John certainly knew how to train his men—if he were any indication of the specialized training John did.

Humming lightly to himself, he found a few other pieces—extra chairs, bedside tables, a low table they could use for the common room/living room thing, and another bed for the second bedroom.

It took four more Marines to help him haul everything back to the apartment and put it all together.

Afterwards, the men grinned at him, patting each other on the back. "This looks great, Doc! Who knew the Ancients actually had stuff like this lying around. I might have to go scout a bit for myself when I go off-duty."

Rodney narrowed his eyes slightly. "You scout only within approved areas and with permission from both Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Weir."

He grinned at Rodney. "Of course, sir. But I'm planning to claim one of these suites myself as soon as the Colonel opens them up for general claiming. And now I know where to find the good furniture."

"We'll see about that," he said, shooing them out the door. He waited until they were finally gone before turning to survey the apartment. It was still pretty Spartan and their crap was everywhere, but the main pieces were in place.

He nodded to himself as he walked around, checking everything. Marine One had actually proved to be helpful, even making the bed with the sheets that had been washed.

Wow. What a bed.

Taking a deep breath, Rodney finally let himself relax a little. He was home, this was home. It was theirs.

And because he was home, he had a few things left to do before John got here.

He stripped out of his clothes, quickly, efficiently, folding them on the armchair he'd placed in the master bedroom. John liked him naked then they were alone, and Rodney actually enjoyed it, enjoyed being like this with him. So, as soon as he stepped in the room at the end of the night, the first thing he did was shed his clothes, making sure his lover had full access to his body for whatever he wanted to do.

Tapping his radio, he called John as he padded into the kitchen area, looking through the cabinets.

"Sheppard here."

"It's McKay. You eat yet?"

John's voice got fractionally warmer. "Hey. Not yet actually. We finished packing all the stuff in both bedrooms, and I got help moving it over. I just left it scattered in the place, figured we could sort it all out later. I'm in my office at the moment doing reports."

"Yes to the scattered. Would you mind grabbing something for dinner?" Rodney shook his head as he realized nothing had been put away at all. Ugh. There was still so much work to do.

"Sure. We eating in the apartment tonight? When do you want me?"

"If that's okay. There's still a lot to do and I could use some help."

John's voice took on a tinge of excitement. "I can come see what you've done with the place now?"

"Um…" Rodney paused in his poking around the apartment. "Yes, actually. It's as good as it's going to get for now."

"Give me ten to run by the mess and grab something, and then I'll be home."

"I'll be waiting," Rodney said, padding around the apartment, still looking at everything, making sure it was where he wanted it.

"Great. Sheppard out."

Rodney tapped his radio off and then tugged it from his ear, leaving it on top of the table near the door.

With a nervous sigh, he moved into the master bedroom, digging around in the box in the closet. Sure enough beneath the clothes he found some of what he wanted—the blindfold and leather cuffs.

He quickly pulled them in place and locked them closed before climbing into the middle of the bed. He turned so he was facing the door, kneeling with his legs spread slightly.

He put the blindfold on last, securing it in place.

He wanted something special for John to come home to tonight.

It didn't take long before he heard the door open, John calling out. "Hey, honey, I'm home! Where are you? Sweet! We have a couch! And chairs!"

Rodney remained quiet, letting John weave his way through the apartment. The footfalls got closer until they finally paused at the door to the bedroom and he heard John's in-drawn breath.

"Fuck. Talk about a housewarming gift..." A moment later, the bed dipped as John climbed up, hot hands immediately on Rodney's body. "Beautiful..."

Rodney let the corner of his mouth inch up. "Best I could offer."

"You somehow found us a huge fucking bed, and then this..." John shifted, and Rodney felt the press of an erection. "I was half-hard when I got home, knowing it is home now, our home. But this... You make me crazy with need. I don't suppose you found the lube already? I want to be inside you."

"No," Rodney said shaking his head. "I didn't know where you put it. I just found this stuff in the closet, but there wasn't much else in that box. I guess it was just the stuff from last night."

John kissed him sweetly, briefly. "I tried to keep the boxes with the toys close together. I'll be right back."

"Not going anywhere."

The bed shifted again, and Rodney listened to John rooting around through boxes. "We're going to have to get this stuff organized. Sex, dinner, then unpacking."

"We have time for the unpacking," Rodney said quietly, forcing his body to remain still. "And I'll keep for as long as you want me to."

The bed dipped again, this time from behind him. Hands urged Rodney to sit up on his knees, and then a slick finger slid inside him. "I know. But right now I'm really, really hard, and I really, really want to fuck you in our new suite."

Rodney moaned at the intrusion, spreading his legs a little wider to give John better access. "Can you…make me wait?"

A hot mouth had attached itself to the side of Rodney's neck. John's breath sent shivers up his spine as he replied, continuing to move his finger in and out. "Oh, yes. I'm going to come, but that doesn't mean you are. Not yet."

"Thank you, John…" he moaned, feeling himself falling down easily, slipping into John's hands, his capable hands. "Feels so good…want to feel good all night…want to beg for you…"

His lover chuckled, working a second finger into Rodney's body. "And you will. You'll beg and plead and leak for me. But you aren't going to come for a while yet. It's only late afternoon, and Ronon and I just threw everything into some boxes and on carts so nothing is in any order. After I bury myself in you, I'm going to feed you, and then you're going to follow me around, stay close while I start to sort through everything so I can play with you."

Rodney moaned loudly and his body shuddered. His hands immediately moved from the small of his back where they had been clasped, to the bed at his side, as he tried to steady himself, but paused even before they touched down.

John chuckled again, a dirty sound. "This isn't a very steady position for what I want to do to you. On your hands and knees."

"Yes, sir," Rodney said, letting John's free hand guide him into position, spreading his legs even wider apart. All the while, John's two fingers stayed buried within him.

The new position opened him up even wider, and a third finger was worked inside. "I love this ass. So plump and perfect."

Rodney's head dropped down, hanging between his arms. He was panting, his cock hard and leaking. He wanted to feel like this all night, for as long as John could play with him. He felt alive. "So good…please, more…I can take more."

"Don't come, no matter how good it feels. When I'm done, I'll try to find the box with the cock ring. I had to throw the toys into the bottom of boxes when no one else was looking, then toss other shit on top of them. I don't want you to come yet, or anytime soon." His fingers disappeared, only to be replaced by his cock, pressing in deep. Rodney felt the brush of fabric against his thighs when John was all the way in—he had just opened his pants and pulled himself out.

"Oh god…so good, feels so god," Rodney panted, whispering and chanting it over and over again, the words beginning to blur together as each thrust of John's cock into his body made him drop down deeper and deeper into submission. He loved getting fucked by John and knew he was a slut for it. He could never get enough.

All too soon, there was a sudden rush of heat, John's moan deep and sexy as he came. His body went heavy against Rodney as John rolled them sideways, managing to not pull out as he did.

Rodney keened long and loud, his cock hard and needy, but John just tugged him closer, the fabric of his clothes rubbing against Rodney's skin. The sensation just made him moan and whimper more, his entire body one big nerve.

"Shhhh. I've got you. Breathe with me until the arousal is manageable again. Don't come."

It took him several minutes—and more than several large gulps of air—to knock his arousal back. And he slipped another notch, moving into the place he craved.

John knew Rodney's body better than he did sometimes, so he knew exactly when Rodney had found that happy place. He gave a possessive purr. "Good boy. Very good. I'm going to pull out now. After I clean you up, I'm taking the blindfold off. Once that happens, you are never out of my immediate reach."

"Yes, sir," Rodney said with a small nod, trying not to hiss or whimper when John pulled free. The lube and come were cool when the air moved across his skin, making him shiver slightly as John scooted from the bed.

A moment later a cool cloth was on his body, cleaning away the mess and stickiness, and then the blindfold was removed. John was directly above him, smiling down. "Hey there."

Rodney blinked his eyes a few times and tilted his head up and he smiled, loving the expression on John's face, that he'd been able to make him happy. "Hey."

"This is an awesome bed. You did a great job finding us furniture."

Rodney warmed at the praise. "It's a weird size, so we'll be stuck with Ancient sheets, though."

"That's okay. These are pretty nice. And we can always have silk sheets made specifically for us if we decide we want them later." John put a hand in the center of Rodney's chest, petting him. "It's probably going to take a few days to get everything unpacked and organized though. I had four people in each of our rooms tossing stuff in boxes, so it didn't take long to pack it and move it, but finding places to put it all will be more challenging."

Rodney leaned into the touch, feeling his eyes slide closed. He nodded. "I know."

John's voice was warm, full of affection. "I want to at least see if I can find all our clothes and get them folded and put away before they wrinkle too much. Come on, and stay close. If I didn't think it would get in the way, and I knew where it was, I'd use the leash —so I want you to behave as if there was one and never move further than that from wherever I am."

"Yes, sir," Rodney said, opening his eyes and shifting forward so he could get off the bed. "And if you find the things you're looking for?" He let this voice trail off a little in suggestion.

John had stood up, and grinned a little. "Then you'll get more toys added to your body."

"I'd like that." He'd really like that.

"I know you would." John kissed the tip of Rodney's nose, and then moved to open a box. He began to work his way through them, most of the ones in the bedroom containing clothing that was either folded and put in their new dresser—and wasn't that a thrill to see their clothes fully mingled together—or hung up in the closet in the corner of the room. All the while, he was constantly reaching out to touch and pet and caress Rodney's body.

They worked silently side-by-side for a while, getting into a rhythm, Rodney always about a foot away from John. They stumbled over some of the toys about an hour in—the leash and collar as well as some the tethers and straps. While the toys went into a drawer near the bed—the built in wall dresser was very cool and opened with a light touch at the top right corner.

Rodney glanced up as soon as John tugged them out of the box, his eyes widening.

His lover smiled. "Come here."

Stepping closer immediately, Rodney dropped to his knees before John, excitement and anticipation pooling in his stomach. "Really?"

John chuckled softly, the sound going straight to Rodney's groin. His jeweled collar was removed and the heavier-duty leather was put on. The leash was long enough to give him some room to move, but it gave John the option of tugging him back, keeping him exactly where he wanted him.

When Rodney heard the click of the lock snap closed and the leash was attached to the d-ring on the front of the collar, he felt himself slide down a little more. They hadn't done anything like this in about two weeks—since his time under John's full strict control—and he'd missed some of the harder play. He didn't like it all the time—neither of them did—but sometimes…

Rodney purred a little, letting the collar and the feelings settle over him. He watched as John secured the end of the leash around his left wrist, linking them together.

"Very good. Go back to unpacking those clothes into the drawer. If you find anything other than clothing, let me know and I'll tell you where to put it." John caressed Rodney's face, giving a slight tug on the leash.

With another purr and nod, Rodney moved slowly to his feet, his cock hard and leaking. He needed to push down his arousal, force it down, so he could work. God…he loved John's voice when he got like this, how it sounded, how it made him shiver.

Before he could turn, a quick command from John made him freeze. Long fingers wrapped around him, stroking him lightly. Since John was sitting, he leaned forward to lick the pre-come off the tip of Rodney's erection. "Beautiful. I want you just like this for the rest of the night."

"Oh god," Rodney said, trembling. "Please…need some help…"

John's hand moved to the base of Rodney's dick, just behind the jeweled ring that matched his set but was more decorative than anything, squeezing hard, while his other reached around to tug Rodney's balls down from his body. "When we find the rest of the toys, I'll give you a ring. Until then, you just have to hold it back because you want to obey me."

"I want to," Rodney panted, nodding, closing his eyes as he tried to get his body to back down a little. "Love feeling like this…"

"I know you do. You're doing very good." John purred the last two words.

"Please, John," he whispered, begging slightly, leaning in toward the other man, into his hands and his touch.

John did another growly-purr, and squeezed a little harder, pushing back Rodney's impending orgasm. "Go unpack boxes."

Rodney whimpered, but nodded, the order and tone ramping him up even as he tried to back himself down. John just chuckled, knowing exactly how Rodney was reacting to him.

They got a few more boxes done, before they found the one with the cock rings. John pulled out the Ancient ring and switched it out with the jeweled one. As soon as it was on, it started to buzz softly.

"Oh, god, John," Rodney panted, reaching out to hold onto John, his fingers digging into fabric. He half-swallowed a moan, his entire body trembling with need and desire and want. Every nerve ending felt awake and alive.

John wrapped his arms around Rodney, pulling him close and just holding him for a moment. Rodney could feel the faint tug of the leash from where it was trapped between them. "Breathe for me. You aren't going to come any time soon. I'm not ready to let you."

Rodney nodded, taking a deep, open-mouth breath that ended in a moan. God. He loved this, loved feeling like this, loved that John could do this to him each and every time.

John chuckled again, and then stepped back, tugging on the leash. "Come on. I left dinner in the other room. We can try out the new couch while I feed you."

Moaning, Rodney managed to hold his hands up to John as he shifted closer, his eyes wide. He knew they were probably blown out, mostly pupil.

John smiled gently. "You'll get what I choose to give you. Come." He started walking toward the living room, tugging Rodney's leash.

With a nod and another moan, Rodney followed, padding barefoot behind John, spotting the covered tray of food on the table in front of the couch.

John sat down, arranging Rodney so he was half-lounged back against John. The position allowed him to feed Rodney and play with him at the same time, which he proceeded to do.

Rodney relaxed against John, his hand resting on John's cloth-covered thigh, fingers grazing gently back and forth and around in circles. Ever since they'd agreed and made their contract, things had been a whole lot easier between them. Nothing was strained, or weird, and Rodney had never felt more at ease with himself and his body and his relationship with John.

There was no worry or even the nagging doubt anymore.

John had signed the same paper he had.

They had it in writing.

There was no need to try to win John, to impress him, to worry about him finding someone else.

With a hum, John picked up a piece of pastry and held it to Rodney's lips. Rodney could feel him looking around the room, his other hand absently stroking Rodney's erection. "Wow, we have a lot of stuff. I didn't think we had this much."

"Mmm," Rodney agreed, moaning around the mouthful. He chewed carefully and swallowed, watching as John took his own bite. "Been collecting."

"I see that." John gave him an amused look. "We'll get the bedroom done first, then work on this room. What furniture did you get for the second bedroom?"

Rodney relaxed into John as he finished off the last piece of the pastry, reaching for some other finger food. It actually didn't matter. Rodney would eat whatever John gave him. "Smaller bed…" he said, moaning slightly as John stroked him a little harder. "Chair…table…same….same setup as the other room…more or less…oh god, feels good…"

Pressed back against John's chest, his lover's chuckle rumbled all through Rodney's body. Another piece of food, this time a bit of a local cheese, was pressed to Rodney's mouth. "I know it does. But I'm not even close to ready for you to come yet. We still have some unpacking to do, and I want to check out the rest of the pieces you found for us. So just sit back and enjoy."

"Oh god…am…feels good…love this," Rodney panted after swallowing the cheese, his eyes sliding closed as he rubbed his open hand along John's leg.

John nibbled on the side of Rodney's neck, biting sharp flares of pain/pleasure that shot straight to Rodney's dick. "Almost done with dinner. Can you eat a few more bites for me, or are you full?"

"I can," Rodney moaned, nodding as he tilted his head to the side, loving the feel of the leather on his neck.

Several grape-things were fed to him as John ignored his own meal and seemed content to lick and suck and bite Rodney instead.

The door chime interrupted John mid-nip.

Looking up, John sighed. "Rodney, go into the bathroom and close the door. I'll tell you when you can come out. Grab a pair of boxers and a tee-shirt on the way in case I can't get rid of whoever it is."

Rodney opened his eyes and nodded, watching as John took the end of the leash off of his wrist, pressing it into Rodney's hand. He rose on slightly unsteady feet and John tapped his ass to get him moving faster. As he headed into the bedroom, John was moving to the front door, arranging his clothes into some semblance of order. Rodney grabbed a shirt and boxers from the drawer and stepped into the bathroom, letting the door slide shut behind him.

He moved to the tub, sitting on the edge, the clothes next to him. His cock was still hard and leaking, the ring continuing to buzz quietly.

Rodney was content to sit and wait. John would take care of things.

After a few minutes, the buzzing of the ring stopped. John appeared in the door a moment later a pair of jeans in his hand, as well. He took the clothes from Rodney's hands and unsnapped the leash, leaving the collar in place and began to dress him. "It's Carson, and he wants to check out the new place. He won't stay long, but I need you semi-presentable. Since it's just him, you don't have to come all the way up if you don't want to. We will be returning to where we left off later."

Rodney nodded. "Okay," he said, pressing a kiss to John's lips once he was on his feet once again. "You okay with me like this?" He gestured a little at himself—the cuffs, collar, erection…

John stood back to admire. "Mmmm. God, you're hot. And yes. If it was anyone but Carson I'd talk you down and bring you out of headspace, but he knows about us, so you'll be fine. And I warned him you were in headspace when he got here, and told him if it would bother him, he should come back later."

Nodding, Rodney pushed a little of his nervousness down. This would be the first time Carson had seen him like this…or anything close to this. John wouldn't do anything that would put him at risk or demean him. He knew that. "Okay. Did he bring a housewarming present?"

Laughing, John wound his hand through Rodney's as they walked back out. "You can ask him yourself. Beckett? Where did you go?"

"You would have seen it if he brought one," Rodney said quietly, glancing around the living room. He spotted Carson out on the balcony.

"Maybe. Depends on how big it is. Carson?" John walked them out onto the balcony. "Great view, isn't it? It's one of the things that drew me to the room."

Carson turned to them, offering a wide smile. "Aye, I didna realize there were rooms out this way."

John grinned slightly. "Neither did we until Lorne and I started scouting. But I'm glad we got here first. This way I don't have to kill someone to free the suite."

Rodney leaned into John, watching his friend closely. But apart from a blush high on his cheeks, Carson didn't make any comments or act different in any way. It was weird—Rodney expected something else—but nice.

"Aye. The paperwork would be a nightmare and then I'd have to do an autopsy and it would just spiral on from there."

John's arm snaked around him, pulling Rodney closer and letting him rest his weight against John's welcoming body. "Who says there would be a body? I know Marines, not to mention my lover is a brilliant astrophysicist. If I was going to commit murder, it would be a perfect crime. So it's a good thing the suite I wanted was free—it's a moot point."

Carson rolled his eyes and chuckled, turning his attention and a smile to Rodney. "How are you doing, lad?"

Rodney nodded, offering a smile in return. "Good."

John's fingers were tracing idle patterns on Rodney's hip. "He wanted to know if you brought us a housewarming present."

"Aye…did he now?" Carson said, an amused expression on his face. "I actually didna bring anything, but I'm sure if I were properly invited back I can arrange to have something."

John laughed softly, the sound going straight to Rodney's groin again. "Once we get unpacked, we'll throw a party. This was sort of a spur of the moment decision, and packing was pretty much a bunch of Marines throwing shit in boxes. It will take a few days to get it all sorted out."

Carson nodded, his eyes straying to Rodney. "And I heard Rodney was ordering around Marines. If I'd known I would have gone down to watch."

"I loaned him a few to move the furniture. We're men of action." John was smiling, looking down at Rodney. "Still with me, buddy?"

Rodney nodded. "Listening. Want to see the apartment?"

Carson nodded. "Aye. I do, if you'll give me the tour."

John tugged Rodney back inside, Carson behind them. "Well, this is the common area—kitchen, living room, hopefully an entertainment center at some point in our future."

"Need to order a plasma screen or rig one up from the Ancient stuff we have," Rodney said quietly, coming up a bit more. If Carson was going to stay it would be rude if he didn't talk to him.

John glanced over, grinning. "You figure out how to wire this place for killer sound, and I'll find a way to requisition a projection unit and screen."

"Hmm…I'll figure something out," Rodney said. He turned and pointed toward the second bedroom. "That will be John's room, officially."

Carson's eyebrows went up, but he just nodded, peeking a head into the room.

John nodded in agreement. "We'll maintain the fiction of separate rooms, but the other is where we'll both live. This one is up in the air. We have a small bed in there, and the desk will be moved there eventually. I want to use it as an office, so we have some place to work when we don't want to go to the lab or my official office. The bed can double as a place to lounge for whichever of us isn't actually working."

"The bathroom connects to this room and the living room. The master bedroom has its own bath," Rodney said as John moved them toward the other room—their room. Carson walked in, looking around.

John sat Rodney on the bed, staying close enough to touch. "We've been working on this room most of the evening. I figured getting the clothes put away first so we can find them would be a good thing."

"Aye," Carson chuckled, walking around, poking his head in the bathroom. "It'll take you a few days to get everything straightened out."

Rodney watched his friend, John's hand on his shoulder, his fingers softly caressing the skin just above the collar of his shirt.

"Yeah. But we're home. We actually have a home now, Carson." John's voice took on a note of wonder.

"And you don't have to worry about mowing the lawn, either," he said walking back toward them. "I am sorry to have disturbed you. I didna think you'd mind."

John shrugged. "We don't. To be honest, I should have planned better, but I couldn't help myself. Consider this the sneak-peak. In a few days we'll have a real party. The Athosian festival is in three days, right? Let's plan our housewarming for the day before."

"I'll bring something with me next time," Carson said heading toward the door.

John hooked a finger in Rodney's shirt to gently pull him up and back out to the main room. "Hey, on your way would you mind dropping the tray back at the mess? I promised it would get back tonight and that'll save me a trip."

"I can do that. It's actually a quicker trip now with the transporter right next door, isn't it?"

John grinned again and bounced. "It totally is. This apartment rocks."

Rodney chuckled. "I think he likes it."

John's finger moved to catch in the waistband of the jeans Rodney had pulled on. "By the time I'm through with you, you'll like it as much as I do."

"Oh, I think I like it already," Rodney said with a smirk, his voice low as he turned toward John.

John's eyes went dark with arousal, and the cock ring, which had been still since Carson arrived, suddenly flared to life again.

Rodney moaned, his body trembling slightly. He could hear Carson's in-drawn breath. "I should probably be going."

John barely glanced away. "Thanks for coming by, Carson. I'll see you tomorrow at the staff meeting."

Rodney heard the door slide closed and the lock click into place a beat before the cock ring's vibrations increased again, making him clutch onto John.

"Now where were we? Oh yes. You, aroused and leaking, and not coming anytime soon. Go take off these clothes and bring the leash back out."

"Oh…yes, John," Rodney panted, trying to get himself to move toward the master bathroom where John had left the leash. "You…Carson was nice."

John chuckled. "It was nice of him to stop by. And you aren't moving." John gently pushed him away, giving him a light swat on the ass.

"Ow!" Rodney said, scowling lightly, but moving nonetheless. "He…he didn't look at me strange."

"It didn't hurt." John was moving back toward the couch. "I told you before that I'd warned him you were in headspace. He said it was fine."

"Oh." Rodney ducked into the bedroom, tugging off his shirt and boxers, leaving them folded on the chair where he'd put his clothes earlier. He moved into the bathroom and picked up the leash, returning a minute later. "I…I liked that he didn't treat me differently," he said as he gave John the leash, kneeling next to the couch where his lover was sitting.

"He's finally learning." John smiled, snapping the leash back into place and upping the vibrations of the ring.

"Oh…" Rodney said quietly, his eyes sliding closed as the sensations overtook him.

John just chuckled again. "Take a minute to adjust, and then we're going to do more unpacking."

"Yes, sir," Rodney said, leaning forward a little. John's hand threaded through his hair, easing his head down to his thigh. The gentle caresses calmed him, dropped him down, helped him to focus.

"Good boy." It was a soft whisper, the words as much of a caress as John's touch.

"Thank you," Rodney whispered in return, humming a little as he eased into headspace and his submission.

John waited until Rodney had fallen pretty deep before standing, using the leash to lead Rodney back to the bedroom, where they once more started to unpack a few boxes.

The worked easily together, Rodney following John's orders without question, without thinking, letting the other man lead him, guide him. John continued to touch him, stroke him, making him feel more and better with each passing caress.

He didn't even know how much time had passed until John was suddenly slipping a finger under his chin, forcing him to look up. "I think we can stop for the night and pick up the unpacking tomorrow."

"Yes, John," Rodney said, blinking slowly, focusing on John's face and his eyes.

"Stand up."

With a tug on the leash, Rodney stood, his gaze resting on John. Waiting for John.

"Good. Very good." John let the leash fall, then started to circle, humming in appreciation as he admired Rodney's body.

"Please, sir," Rodney whispered, trembling under the weight of John's gaze. It had been two weeks since they played hard, since they'd played like this.

He heard John moving around behind him, and a moment later, the gag was slipped on. "Don't close your eyes. I want to watch you fall apart for me."

Rodney moaned as John buckled it behind his head, the click of a lock making sure it stayed in place. He trembled again, slipping down. Tonight would be a night for locks and permanence and full control.

Moving back around, John's eyes glittered, the lights dimming enough to throw the room in shadows, but not enough to hide the expression on his master's face. "Go sit on the bed, back against the headboard. Spread your legs as wide as you can comfortably."

Rodney nodded, moving as quickly as his body allowed. John had already tugged the pillows off the bed, leaving it bare. Settling in the middle, Rodney spread his legs wide, watching as John watched him, waiting for John to make the next move.

With another hum of praise, John retrieved the straps they had found in a box. He hooked one to each of Rodney's ankles, securing them to the bed. His wrists were next—John positioned him so his arms were stretched out wide to each side and secured in place.

Everything was locked together, the click of the padlocks sending him deeper each time. He tugged at the bonds, moaning at the security, the tightness.

Rodney watched as John nodded, a pleased smile on his face. He moved off the bed and dug in a drawer—their new toy drawer, coming out with two other cuffs and the thigh cuffs.

The cuffs went into place—just above his knees and elbows, respectively—getting locked into place before they were secured to the headboard as well, four more points of security, four more locks restraining him.

He tried to shift, but couldn't, the strain of his muscles just ramping him up a little more, making him groan and moan.

"Very nice. You're pretty like this, stretched out for me." John laid on the end of the bed, his limbs loose and relaxed, although there was a huge bulge in his BDUs. He settled in to just look at Rodney, not touching.

Rodney tried to shift, to move, but he couldn't, trapped in the bonds and under John's gaze. He moaned and whimpered, the gag muffling his sounds. Oh god. Please…more. He wanted more.

John's lips curved upward. "I can hear you thinking. You're chanting 'please' and 'more' and 'fuck me' and 'touch me', aren't you?"

Rodney nodded, his sounds of arousal and want only increasing the longer John watched him.

"But you don't really have a say. You just have to stay there and let me look at you. In a little while I'll touch you. Maybe stroke your dick, leaking so nicely for me. Maybe work a finger under and inside you, touch you deep."

Rodney moaned loudly, whimpering and begging, but John didn't move. Instead he talked to him, told him all the things he'd like to do to him. John's dirty talk just about undid him every time.

"As I touch you in the most intimate of ways, maybe I'll suck on your nipples. Lick them and kiss them and bite them until they're both red and swollen and so sensitive even breathing on them makes you moan."

Whimpering, Rodney closed his eyes, wanting John to touch him.

"Open your eyes."

He couldn't ignore the tone, John's voice, his order, so he did. Rodney tugged at the restraints, his head falling back against the wall, the leash rubbing against his chest.

"You don't close them, you don't take your eyes off me."

Rodney tilted his head down again, looking at John and the serious expression on his face. He whimpered once, quietly, not as desperately.

"Good boy. You know if you obey, it will be better for you in the end."

He tugged at the bonds, moaning again, breathing heavily. His cock was hard—rock hard—the cock ring vibrating constantly, sending continuous sensations into his body. But John just watched him, his gaze caressing him, touching him, making him tremble without laying a finger on him.

"I wonder if you could come just from this, from being watching, listening to me tell you what I can do to your body."

Whimpering, Rodney nodded, knowing he could. One word was all he needed.

John smiled again, possessive, aroused. "Do you have any idea how hot that is? Knowing you can and would come right now, with only a word? And you would come so hard you'd white out, floating in pleasured bliss."

He moaned, the sound heading toward begging. But John wasn't ready yet.

In fact, John's chuckle was dirty. "You don't want it enough yet. You aren't desperate, needing to come so bad you want to cry. I can wait until you get there."

The keening was loud.

"Maybe later I'll suck on you, like the best popsicle in the world. Suck you so hard you swear you're losing brain cells out of your dick. I'll swirl my tongue over the slit, lap you up, fondle your balls gently with my free hand."

Oh god, oh god, oh god… Rodney moaned, watching as John's hand moved down to touch himself through his BDU pants. But John just kept talking, talking about sucking his nipples, marking him, teasing and tormenting him. And through it all, Rodney listened and watched John, whimpering and moaning and groaning and begging.

But John was teaching him tonight, training him.

He slipped his pants open, pulling himself out, stroking slowly. "I could come now, could bring myself off while you watch, helpless to touch, to taste, to feel. I could even use one of the vibrators, fuck myself on it while you watch, wishing it was you touching me, wishing I was buried inside you fucking you hard, marking your prostate on every thrust."

Rodney shook his head, the keening sound of his protest loud, which only made John pause, a slow smile growing on his face.

"No? You don't want to watch me pleasure myself while you're helpless to participate?"

Rodney whimpered. He wanted John to fuck him, touch him.

"I could jerk off now, come, take the edge off again, then keep you like this until I'm ready again, hard again. Or I could be nice, could come touch you, use my mouth to make you feel so good. So many choices."

Tugging at the bonds, Rodney tried to squirm, to move, to get closer to John somehow, even though he knew he couldn't, knew that there would be no way for him to free himself.

John spread his legs wider so Rodney could see as he stroked himself. After a few minutes he stood and stripped, baring his lean, toned, hairy body. With a quirk of his lips, he positioned himself so he could continue to put on a show, this time with nothing hidden.

Moaning and whimpering, Rodney pleaded with John, every sound muffled by the gag.

"Hmmm. I have an idea." John sat up and crawled over. He had grabbed lube at some point, and with eyes sparkling, he started to smear it on Rodney's erection.

Rodney keened long and loud, needing to thrust up but unable. Please, pleasepleasepleaseplease…

Finally touching him, John put a hand on each of Rodney's shoulders and slowly—so slowly—lowered himself down onto Rodney. He hadn't prepped himself at all, so he was only going fractions of inches at a time, only to pull back up and push down again, each time a little further.

Panting and moaning and whimpering, John slowly enveloped him, surrounded him, his own leaking dick spreading come on Rodney's stomach.

John's breath was a bit ragged, the first time he had started to show how fine his edge of control was.

Once he settled down, Rodney's cock filling him, he smiled, looking into Rodney's eyes as he relaxed, clenching down on Rodney and pulling a deep moan from him.

"God, so fucking good..." His hands finally started to roam Rodney's body, pinching nipples, caressing everything in reach. The angle wasn't the best, so he didn't try to ride, just used his body to hold Rodney, clench down and caress him with everything.

Rodney could only feel, the sensations driving him out of his mind as he trembled and shuddered. He whimpered and moaned, sobbing around the gag, needing to come so badly, and yet needing more.

John leaned slightly, kissing the side of Rodney's face, nuzzling softly. "I love you."

Leaning into John's touch, Rodney closed his eyes and whimpered and sobbed as John's hands teased his nipples.

"Open your eyes."

Rodney shook his head. He couldn't.

"Now."

John clenched down on him and Rodney moaned, sobbing a little more as he dragged his eyes open.

He came up slightly, pulling off the cock ring. "Come, fill me, fuck me." He bounced up and down on Rodney's erection.

With a loud, sobbing cry, Rodney came, pulsing into John's ass, the bedroom whiting out as he felt his head drop onto John's shoulder and John's come spilling between them.

When he came back to, his limbs were free, the gag was gone, and he had been cleaned up. John was sprawled out in a semi-boneless heap next to him.

He moaned, his muscles aching as he shifted.

John moved his head, opening one eye. "Hey."

Rodney managed to move, curling into John, burying his face in John's shoulder. He could feel he cuffs—all eight of them—still attached to his body. He didn't care. Right now he needed to hold John, to feel him.

John curled in, wrapping his own arms and legs around Rodney and pulling him close. He whispered endearments and praise softly into Rodney's ear.

He trembled slightly before relaxing into John's arms, his warmth, letting the words and his touch wash over him.

John's voice got quieter, his words slowly slurring as he started to fall asleep. "Think we need to go to sleep."

Rodney shivered as he nodded, John tugging the blanket over them. A beat later and the lights dimmed before darkening entirely. They were home. This was home.

With a contented sigh, Rodney closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

***

John was having a great dream. It involved a slick hand stroking him, fondling him. Fingers sought out each of his erogenous zones—his nipples, the sides of his ribs, his neck—and touched him just the right way, making him moan and arch up for more. He put his hand above his head, spread his legs wide, wanting the languid touching to never end.

His body responded, reacted, and it felt oh so good. He moaned again, wanting more, wanting to be touched—just wanting.

He was rolled gently onto his back the kissing and nipping and touching continuing until he felt the base of his cock being held steadily and then he was surrounded by a tight warmth. When he was all the way in, flush up against skin, hands continued to touch his nipples and trail along his sides.

Moaning, John tried to thrust up. When his hips were more or less held down, and he got answering moan, his eyes fluttered open. Holy shit! Not a dream! "Rodn—" he cut off as his lover clenched around him and twisted a nipple hard at the same time, making John buck up and almost scream, pleasure shooting through his body.

It was still dark, the moonlight trailing through the bedroom, making harsh shadows in some places, highlighting the sheen of sweat across Rodney's skin in others. The cuffs were dark against Rodney's skin—all eight of them still attached from earlier that night—the collar a stark contrast to the pale white.

Gripping the headboard, John spread his legs a bit wider, tactic permission for Rodney to play as he wanted. Their unusual dynamic meant Rodney didn't take the lead very often, or ask for a specific scenario beyond what John was willing to give. Since John happened to like occasional surprises, especially when it came to sex, he was more than willing to encourage his genius' creativity every now and then.

Rodney was whispering quietly to himself, his gaze focused entirely on John and where his hands and fingers were pressing.

John panted, trying to hold on as his body was touched and loved. "Yours, Rodney. For right now, I'm yours. Whatever you want, you can have."

He leaned forward, licking his lips. His words were deep and low and slow. "I want you to fuck me. I want to feel it for days. I want you."

John bucked up again, unable to help himself. "Fuck... Yes, God, Rodney..."

"Come on, John. Make me take you, make me remember who owns me, who loves me. Every time I sit down I want to remember what you did tonight, how you took me." God. Rodney like this was amazing.

With a noise somewhere between a whine and growl, John used a military move to flip, managing it without pulling out of Rodney. He pushed his lover's legs back and started to take him hard. He was close, but Rodney had managed, as usual, to spark both the need to claim and the need to love in him at the same time. "Mine. You're mine and you better fucking remember it."

Rodney clutched at the headboard, holding on as John slammed into him, moaning and growling with each and every thrust. And even though panted breaths, he was still egging John on. "Harder, god…feels good, but need more, please…fuck me, please, John…"

Bracing himself, John let go. He was usually fairly gentle with Rodney, preferring to make it slow, prolong the sweet torture for as long as possible. But this... Rodney waking him up wanting so badly, begging so nicely... He fucked him hard, knowing he was leaving bruises and that his lover would have trouble sitting tomorrow.

And Rodney just begged for more, taking everything with obvious pleasure and abandon.

When he knew he was getting close, he wrapped a hand around Rodney's leaking erection, stroking it with force just this side of brutal. He growled. "Come."

Rodney's body shuddered hard and he came with a yell, John's name on his lips. John could feel the orgasm shaking his lover, the aftershocks rolling through him in waves.

With a few more hard thrusts, John followed him over the edge. He shuddered through it, then slowly pulled out and rolled to the side of the bed, fishing out the metal plug they had finally found shortly before calling it a night. He slicked it up then pushed it into Rodney, sealing his claim inside. Finally, limbs feeling like Jell-o, John collapsed onto the bed to wait for Rodney to come around again.

And he did, quickly, just after the plug was in place. He moaned and rolled his head to the side, only to moan again.

John wiggled so they were pressed together. "Well, that was a hell of a way to wake up. Feel better now?"

"Mmm…much," Rodney said, and John could hear the smile in the tone of his voice. He shifted and hissed quietly, the sound ending with another moan. "So good…"

John chuckled, groping in the dark until he found one of Rodney's nipples to play with. "Your ass was feeling a bit neglected, hmm?"

Rodney moaned and arched into John's hand, panting quietly. "God, yes…needed you, wanted you so badly."

"It was a nice way to wake up. I went from dreaming of great sex to having great sex. It beats wet dreams, hands down."

"I just…woke up and wanted to feel you in me," Rodney said quietly, his words so open. He arched and moaned quietly as John continued to stroke him and play with his nipples.

"Can you get hard again for me?"

"Make me, please," he begged, panting heavily.

John didn't touch anything other than the nipples he was fondling. "Just from this. I can keep this up until you're leaking from it."

"Oh…John…" he moaned, arching into John's touch, the moonlight highlighting his face, casting harsh shadows to the side. God. So open, so wanton and all his.

John kept it up, varying how hard or light his touches were, but never straying from Rodney's nipples. It took quite a while—they were both pushing forty—but finally Rodney was hard again, leaking and squirming and begging. John loved him like this.

And if Rodney was going to wake him up at three in the morning for sex, he was going to make the most of it.

Once his lover was hard, John sat back, knowing the light was casting the same shadows on his face as it was on Rodney's. "Touch yourself. But don't come. Start slow, barely stroking."

Rodney whimpered, but touched himself, arching up into his own hand, at the first hint of skin on skin. John never let Rodney touch himself like this anymore, but god…it was a good look for him.

John watched for what probably felt like hours to Rodney, stopping him every time he started going too fast, or stroking too hard. "Feather-light. This is about sensation, not getting yourself off. For now."

Rodney nodded, his lips forming an "o" as he moaned and panted, his body arching into his touch, his cock hard and leaking and needy.

"You look like sex. Like my own personal fantasy boy-toy. Only you're real and here and your mine to enjoy. I could watch you touch yourself like this until sunrise."

"Yes, John…whatever…whatever you want," he finally whispered, the words dusted between breathy moans and panting breaths.

Grinning, John reached down to wiggle the plug in Rodney's ass. "Use your other hand to play with your nipples like I was doing before."

Rodney whimpered loudly as John tugged at the plug, his ass had to be sore. John could already see the hint of bruises where he'd dug his fingers in on Rodney's hips. His lover, though, obeyed immediately, his fingers circling and teasing his nipples. Rodney's body arched between the sensations, back and forward, as if it didn't know which one it wanted more.

"You are so beautiful." John knew his voice held a note of awe, but he didn't care. He was the luckiest man in two galaxies, to have this man share his bed and his life.

"Please…" Rodney begged, his eyes closed tightly, his head thrown back, mouth open as he gasped for breath and moaned.

Gently pushing Rodney's own hand away, John wrapped his hand around the base of the impressive dick, moving so he could suck the head into his mouth. Mmmmm. Pure Rodney.

Rodney keened and moaned loudly, clutching at the sheets. But he didn't arch upward, John's training finally kicking in. He hummed in appreciation, praising Rodney for keeping still, for taking what John gave him.

Because his lover was being so good, John didn't tease him anymore. Instead he got to serious sucking, pulling out all the stops. He deep-throated and hummed hard.

And that was John's signal that Rodney could come, and he did, pulsing into John's mouth as he swallowed every drop. Once Rodney was spent, John crawled up his lover's body, kissing him, letting him taste himself.

The foreplay, followed by the taste of Rodney, had gotten John aroused again as well. He moved so he could thrust lazily against Rodney's hip as they kissed.

They were deep and sensual, Rodney's hands tugging him closer as they kissed. Rodney was just about purring in contentment.

Catching one of Rodney's hands, John pushing it between them, toward his own aching member. John didn't want to break the kiss to order him to touch, so he hoped Rodney would get the picture.

And genius that he was, he did, wrapping his hand around John and slowly stroking him.

Finally, the need to pant overcame John's need to kiss. He turned his head to bury his nose against Rodney's neck, breathing him in as he spiraled closer to another orgasm.

"Please, John…" Rodney whispered. "Come…please…"

Shuddering, John did. Where before the release had ripped through him, this one was almost painfully sweet, leaving him loose and languid, with no plans to move from his comfy Rodney-pillow any time soon.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you…"

John pressed a sloppy kiss into the patch of skin closest to his lips. "Tha' was a good midnight break. Let's go back to sleep now. Nice and relaxed."

"Thank you," Rodney whispered again, turning his head slightly into John's.

"Mmmmmm. Love you."

"Love you."

John drifted back to sleep, sated and happy.

The next morning was a continuation of a languid feeling. They were both still loose and relaxed from the late-night sex, and the bruises on Rodney’s body from the rougher stuff made John smile.

So did the fact that his lover was moving carefully, sore, but also obviously loving it.

John took out the plug while they showered and got ready for the day, putting it back in just before they got dressed.

The next few days followed the same pattern. They both had work they had to do, but whenever they could get away, they returned to the room. If it was just the two of them, there was lots of touching and sex. If there were others, they worked at unpacking and putting everything away.

All of their friends pitched in to help them get settled, during meal times and in between shifts. Consequently, it took far less time than John thought it would to get completely unpacked. The rest of the suites in the wing had been claimed quickly, so there were always a lot of people around to help move furniture or have a quick beer in between boxes.

Three days after they had claimed the suite, they opened it up to all their friends for the official housewarming party.

Rodney had been hyper most of the day, calling John several times to make sure he didn't forget things.

Since he was with Lorne bringing down two massive trays of chocolate cupcakes John had managed to sweet-talk the kitchen staff into baking for them—Rodney didn't know about them yet. He fought the urge to roll his eyes and manfully ignored Lorne's snicker as he listened to John's side of the latest conversation. "Sheppard here."

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, having people troop through our apartment. What if we leave something out?"

"It will be fine. You've gone over the place. I've gone over the place. Everything is put away. But if it will make you feel better, I'll do another sweep when I get back."

"Yes, I know, but what if someone pokes around? I know Radek. He likes to be nosey. And are we going to have enough food and stuff? And what am I actually supposed to do, tonight? I'm not very good at small talk…or any kind of social…whatnot…" John could see Rodney's hands waving in the air as he talked. "…and I'm not sure getting presents is worth having all these people in my house and besides, we have a mission tomorrow…well, not really a mission mission, but…you know…we're going out as a team—"

"Rodney, I don't think you've taken a breath in like five minutes." John and Lorne managed to maneuver into the transporter without spilling any cupcakes. "No one is going to go rooting through your drawers. People do have some level of common courtesy. And you don't have to do anything tonight except be yourself. You know everyone. We all see each other every day. This is just an excuse to all get together at the same time, drink a little, gossip a little, laugh a lot and generally have a nice time hanging out. Presents are just a bonus."

"But I have to be nice." Rodney was whining.

"You don't have to be nice. You can be as snarky as you want. Zelenka will be there. The two of you trying to best each other with insults is one of the most entertaining shows in the city."

"I'm not a side-show at the Atlantis circus, Sheppard."

John snickered at the mental images that produced. "Come on, McKay. It will be fine. There will be lots of food and presents, and you'll have a good time. I promise."

"If it doesn't involve me naked with you I’m not sure I will." They'd moved on from panic to whining to annoyed to petulant.

"That will come later. Where are you now anyway?" John figured he should get Rodney's brain moving in a different direction. Besides, they were almost back to the room with the chocolate.

"Cleaning up. Where else?"

"You're home now?"

"Yes. What else do you expect me to be doing with hundreds of snotty-nosed, grubby handed people on their way to tear through my house in less than an hour?"

"Okay, there won't be hundreds, more like maybe twenty at most. And snotty-nosed is a term used to describe children, not the best and brightest Earth has to offer. And finally, the place was squeaky clean this morning..."

"You'd left your clothes in the bedroom," Rodney said, his tone accusing John of some horrible crime.

John glared at his XO, who was no longer even trying to hide the snickers. "I left a pair of pants I needed to repair a seam on folded in the chair."

"Yes. In my bedroom."

"It was a folded pair of pants."

"A folded pair of John Sheppard pants in my bedroom."

"I'm sorry I left pants in your bedroom. There isn't a chair in mine so I tossed them there to get them out of the way."

"This is why I'm spending my precious time cleaning our apartment."

"It was one pair of pants."

"Yes. Yes, it was. But what else might I find?"

John didn't bang his head against the wall only because if he did, there would be no cupcakes. After all this, he deserved them, damn it. "McKay... I'm almost there. Lorne's with me, so please don't come out waving any other taboo items I might have left lying around in my face, okay?"

Rodney huffed in his ear. "Fine."

"Sheppard out." John sighed.

Lorne chuckled, glancing over at John. "Problem, sir?"

John shot him a dirty look. "What will it take to bribe you to keep this quiet?"

"Wife driving you crazy, sir?"

"I know where you live, Evan."

This time Lorne did laugh. "Yes, you do. Your face was just priceless…" He chuckled again. "McKay will be fine once he calms down."

John shot his second another look, getting another amused snicker for his trouble. They were at the suite, so John told the door to open and slipped inside, Lorne behind him. "Rodney?"

His lover appeared a moment later, panic etched into his face. Damn. He really was worried about this. "What?"

"Just wanted you to know we were here." John set down his tray on the wide counter in the kitchen area. He picked up a cupcake and handed it to his lover. "Here. Peace offering."

Rodney's frown deepened and he just handed it back. "Eating is not a good idea right now."

Sighing, John put it back. He glanced over at Lorne. "Hey, would you mind running interference for me with Elizabeth? I want to stay here and help finish getting ready for tonight."

"Of course, sir." Lorne nodded, putting down the tray he was carrying before moving toward the door. "I'll be back in about twenty with the other stuff from the mess."

"Thanks." Waiting until the other man had gone, John gathered Rodney into his arms. "Hey. It's going to be fine. These are our friends. They already like us and don't need to be impressed. Hell, most of them either know we're together or suspect, if the rumor mill is to be trusted."

"I know," Rodney sighed, leaning into John, wrapping his arms around him. "I just hate this…I don't know why I agreed to this."

"Because you know it will be fine. They just want to celebrate us having a new home. Just relax and try not to worry. Why don't you go back to the lab and let yourself get lost in a project for a bit? I can call you just before everyone starts to arrive."

"Radek kicked me out."

"Then go play with the wiring you've been fiddling with for our eventual sound system. It will calm your nerves."

"There's only one thing that will calm my nerves and that's not it." He sighed again, moving to push away from John. "I’m an idiot. I'm sorry I'm ruining this."

John tightened his hold, nuzzling his face into the side of Rodney's. "You're not an idiot, and you aren't ruining anything. You're nervous, which is perfectly all right. I am too, just not as bad. If you can stay out of headspace, I'll give you a quick blowjob. I just don't want you falling far when there will be people here in a bit."

"You have better things to do—"

"No. I don't. No matter what else is going on, never forget that you are, and always will be, the most important thing."

Rodney sighed again. "I just hate social things. I’m bad at them. I yell. I talk and eat at the same time. I say inappropriate things."

"And everyone who's coming already knows all those things and likes you anyway. That's one of the benefits of throwing a party instead of just attending one. Everyone who gets invited likes you just the way you are."

This time John got a snort. "Yeah, right."

"It's true." Lifting his head, John smiled and kissed the corner of his lover's mouth. "How about I blow you, then put the cage on you? That should get you nice and relaxed, and remind you of what we'll do later, when everyone leaves." And would have the added benefit of bringing Rodney down slightly—hopefully enough to quell the panic—without slipping him so deep people would notice.

Rodney shrugged. "Lorne's coming back in five minutes and the guests are due, what, fifteen minutes later?"

"Guess that means I'll have to be fast." John started for the bedroom, one finger hooked in Rodney's pants.

"John…" Rodney protested, but let John tug him along.

"Not your choice, buddy." John put a note of command in his voice.

A whimpered moan from Rodney and John knew he was with the program.

Once they were in the bedroom, he quickly found the cage and set it on the bed, then unfastened Rodney's pants and pulled them and the boxers down to his lover's ankles. Sitting Rodney on the bed, John spread his legs wide then licked a stripe up the rapidly filling cock.

Rodney leaned back, his arms supporting him as he moaned quietly. John knew he had to be quick, so he got to work immediately, making sure he hit all of Rodney's buttons. And a few moments later Rodney was coming—quietly, sweetly—before he slumped back against the bed. John fastened the cage in place and locked it before tugging his pants into place and tucking everything away.

He had a puddle of Rodney-shaped goo on the bed, which made him happy in so many different ways. "You can stay here until you're ready to face people again. I'll keep the door closed and not let anyone in here."

Rolling his head to the side, Rodney looked up at John, his eyes blown out with pleasure. His brain was offline, however.

Chuckling, John leaned down to kiss that crooked, perfect mouth. He had time to quickly go rinse his mouth out before the door chimed—Lorne probably. "Just stay here for as long as you want. I'll be right out in the living room if you need me."

John got a partial nod in reply as he headed out, closing the bedroom door behind him. And sure enough, it was Lorne. "It safe?"

John dropped into a chair, his own pants a little tight. Tasting Rodney always did this to him. "He's relaxing for a few minutes. By the time everyone else is arriving, he should be good."

"Good, good," Lorne said, putting the tray of finger food on the counter before moving to the chair in the living room, dropping into it. They ended up chatting for a few minutes before the door chimed again and people began arriving.

It was nearly twenty minutes later—the apartment swarming with people—that John realized the door to the master bedroom was open and he had yet to see Rodney circulating.

Damn. Had someone wandered in and spooked him?

Eyes drifting around the apartment, John headed into the bedroom—Carson, Parrish, and Cadman were checking it out—but there was no sign of Rodney. The bathroom door was open so it meant Rodney hadn't barricaded himself in. Always good.

With a flutter to his stomach, John caught Carson's eye and the Scot just rolled his eyes and pointed toward the balcony. A few strides later and John stepped outside, spotting Rodney talking with Lorne, a bottle of water in his hands as they leaned on the railing.

Elizabeth caught his elbow, offering a smile. "Everything looks good, John. Very comfortable."

Moving so he could talk to her and watch Rodney at the same time, he smiled. "Yeah, thanks for expediting the move-in process. And for letting us claim this place before the suites went up on the open market. I know all of them got claimed pretty quickly, but overall, what's the response been to the concept with the rest of the city?"

"We actually have a few more requests than we have rooms," Elizabeth said quietly. "I may have to ask you to take a look for some additional rooms."

"Wow, they were that popular? Besides just wanting to move in with Rodney, I thought people would need to see the senior staff willing to make the move to even consider it. And even then I thought there wouldn't be a ton of interest. I guess the comfort of coming home to someone, even a roommate, is a bigger lure than I anticipated." He glanced over at his lover, relieved to see that he didn't look uncomfortable or upset.

"Most are from the gate teams, a few scientists, a few others…" She shrugged. "It will give some of the new team members some privacy as they settle in."

"How many rooms are free now, after we account for all the new personnel the SGC is sending?"

"Free?" She let out a breath as she mentally counted. "As it stands right now? Maybe one or two."

John's eyes widened. "What? Shit, that means we're going to have to open another wing."

Elizabeth nodded. "In addition to some more suites, yes. The next round of expedition members will be the largest number since the original mission."

"Do we have the power to support that many new people?"

"We've been told we do."

He sighed. "In other words, the SGC is just making assumptions and sending us what they think we can handle. I'll let Rodney know later. I know the science team has been trying to optimize as much power as possible. I'll see if he thinks another naquadah generator will help, or if there are specific sectors that would take less power to occupy than others."

"I've already asked for additional generators and supplies, but I've been told that the supplies sent with the Daedalus would be sufficient." She sighed again, forcing a smile. "Now's not the time for business. We're having a party and tomorrow is the Athosian festival."

He groaned a little at the reminder. "I promised Teyla I would participate in exchange for a favor she did me a few weeks ago. Every time I've asked about it since though, she just goes all mysterious on me. I don't think I want to know what I'm doing tomorrow. I'll be headed over a little early—probably flying over the first wave of attendees—and staying so Halling can teach me whatever it is they want me to do."

She nodded. "Yes, Teyla mentioned your participation. She is looking forward to the festival. She said it was the first time in many years that someone from her family would be taking part."

He felt his cheeks heat. "Ah..."

Elizabeth patted his arm, offering a smile. "Take it for the compliment it is, John."

He ducked his head slightly, deciding to try and change the topic. Run away to fight another day and all that... "So what do you think of what we've done to the place? Did you get the full tour?"

"Yes," she nodded, glancing around. "I took a quick walk through. I see Rodney claimed the larger room as his own."

He looked around the room, feeling a wash of contentment at knowing this was their room. "Yeah. He had to have the good mattress. His back, you know."

"Of course," she said with a knowing smile. The Johnny Cash poster was in the smaller bedroom so they did have distinct rooms set aside. "I'm actually surprised you don't have a television set up yet."

He grinned. "Some things are worth waiting for. Rodney is wiring us for surround sound, and is going to install a retractable screen in the wall in the living room. I'm requisitioning a projection system to go along with it, and it will be compatible with our iPods for music too. We are going to have the best entertainment system in the whole damn city when he's done."

"You're going to hide away in here, aren’t you?"

They moved out to the balcony proper, and John leaned against the railing taking in the air and the fantastic view as the sun set over the city. "Can you blame me? Our lives are full of so much stress. Having a place where we can come to ignore the rest of the world for a while is going to be nice." He glanced over at her. "I wish you had somewhere to do the same. Have you thought about moving into a suite and getting a roommate? I'm not suggesting shacking up, but just having a person around at the end of the day to talk to goes a long way."

Elizabeth shook her head slowly, her eyes fixed on the city spread out before her. "It's really not appropriate."

"I know you want to keep a certain distance because of command, but you can't wall yourself off, Elizabeth. We don't have the luxury out here of separating our work and personal lives, which means we have to blend them more than was customary on Earth. You have friends here. I know Heightmeyer would love a roommate if you would be more comfortable with a female in the indirect chain of command. Or Radek if you want someone outside of the structure. I know he'd like a roommate, but didn't want to move in with any of the science staff, and he doesn't know any of the Marines well enough."

"I appreciate what you're trying to do, John, but it's really not appropriate."

He reached over to put a hand on her shoulder. "I disagree with you, but I also know I can't convince you otherwise. You are welcome here anytime though. Rodney found us a pretty comfortable couch, and we do, ah, have an extra bed. Please don't hesitate if you just need to have other people around for a little while."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Just be careful, John. There are some people that would make sure to give you grief about this."

"Hence, the official separate bedrooms. To the world, we're just roommates. But seriously, Elizabeth, I understand why you aren't comfortable getting a full time roommate. But Rodney and I are part of the command structure, we know the stresses, and we won't think any less of you if you need to come be with other people for a while. Even if you just want to sit on the couch and watch a movie or something. We're your friends, and I don't want to see you break."

"I'll be fine, John. But thank you for your offer." She glanced past John's shoulder. "But I think I'm monopolizing your time, so I should let you mingle with your guests."

He squeezed her shoulder again. "The offer is always open if you change your mind." He glanced over to where Lorne and Rodney were still talking. "I think I better go see if my XO is trying to lure my partner in crime away though."

"And I think Radek was looking for you."

"I'll go find him in a minute. Did you get a cupcake? I had to promise unspecified favors to the mess staff to get them to use the real chocolate."

"I'm heading there now. They looked good."

John grinned. "Good. I'll be out to circulate again in a few minutes."

"Enjoy yourself."

With a final light squeeze to her arm, John drifted closer to his lover and second in command. "Hi, guys."

Rodney still looked a little blissed, much quieter than normal. Evan smiled and shifted to let John into their conversation. "Evening, sir."

John moved close enough to Rodney to feel his body heat, but if anyone else came out, it wouldn't look suspicious. "Is the view from your balcony as good as this one?"

"It's a different angle," Evan said, pointing at some of the closer buildings. "They block some of the water, but we can see the control tower from our side."

"Huh. Bet that's nice at night, when it's lit up." John used his body to block the fact that he had a hand in the small of Rodney's back. "So did I miss anything interesting?"

Rodney shook his head, shifting so he was leaning into John's hand. "Just talking a bit." John tilted his head, raising an eyebrow when he realized that Rodney hadn't come up that much after the blowjob.

Shooting Lorne a grateful look, John realized the other man had more or less been sheltering Rodney while John played host. He was going to have to do something nice for Evan soon. "Good. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, and they like the apartment. Did you get any of the food?"

Rodney shook his head. "Didn't make it that far."

Moving just his thumb, John rubbed his lover's back a bit. "Want me to get you something? Elizabeth said Radek was looking for me, so I should go back out there. You can stay here if you want."

"I can go," Rodney said quietly, but Evan quickly stepped in.

"I'll grab you something. Besides, I see David headed this way."

John gave his second another grateful look. "Thanks. I'll be out in just a minute if anyone asks."

Lorne nodded, already turning to head back inside. "I'll grab a cupcake for you, McKay, before they all disappear."

John waited until the other man had left before turning all his attention to Rodney. "Hey. How are you doing?"

Rodney shrugged. "Better than before."

"You still look pretty relaxed. Good." John let his thumb dip just below the waist of Rodney's pants.

Rodney's eyes fluttered for a minute and he sighed. "Trying."

They just stood there for a few minutes, enjoying the view and each other. Finally, John sighed. "I need to go back in, but you can stay here as long as you want."

"It's a nice night."

"It's a beautiful night." John caressed one last time before pulling his hand free.

David Parrish stepped up a beat later. "Great place. I can't believe all the stuff you have in here already."

John smiled. "Most of that is due to Rodney's ransacking the unused suites. He could probably be bribed to show you where."

"Maybe," Rodney said, brightening slightly when he spotted Lorne returning with a cupcake and some assorted finger foods.

John laughed. He caught Lorne's eye, getting a nod in return. So John touched Rodney's shoulder briefly. "I'm headed back in. I'll come find you again in a bit."

"I'll be around somewhere. I promise I won't jump."

"Always good to hear." John smiled again, a more private smile just for Rodney, before slipping back inside.

John circulated for a while, eating and drinking and talking as his friends and colleagues wandered in their apartment. Lorne and Parrish were keeping an eye on Rodney out on the balcony—he'd spent most of his time out there. At one point Carson and Elizabeth had joined them and they were chuckling and talking, his lover relaxing finally.

Spotting Radek, John remembered someone had told him the Czech was looking for him. He moved alongside the other man, smiling. "Hey, you needed me?"

"Yes, I brought drink for housewarming and wanted to give it to you to put in safe place. I put it in the cabinet," he said, gesturing toward the kitchen area.

"Thanks. Sorry I couldn't swing by earlier. I'm trying to make the rounds. What do you think of the place?"

"Very nice. Spacious. I expect many invitations for movie night when Rodney finishes entertainment system he is planning."

"Oh, I'm sure we will. When he's done, we'll have the best system in the city. If you ever get around to getting a roommate, I'll convince him to hook you up too."

"He will be updating the system in the main entertainment room once he completes his own system."

John laughed. "Maybe."

"No maybe," Radek said, shaking his head. "He had already agreed. It was price of my assistance."

John raised an eyebrow. "Do I want to know what kind of assistance he asked for?"

Radek smiled broadly. "No. Only know that he has temporarily sold his soul to the devil."

That startled a laugh out of John. "Good to know you at least embrace your demonic roots, my friend."

"How else do I survive out here? Rodney is one with guardian angel." He glanced at his watch and yawned. "I should be going. Thank you for lovely evening."

John squeezed the Czech's shoulder. "I'll tell you the same thing I told Elizabeth. You're always welcome here."

This time Radek's mouth twisted up in a smile. "Not always, Colonel. Such as the time just prior to party."

John raised an eyebrow. "Lorne was here just before. Why couldn't you have come, too?"

Radek shot him an amused expression. "There are only two things that make Rodney quiet. One of them is food. The other is sex. Do I need to explain further?"

John felt his ears go a little hot. "He was nervous about having everyone over."

"So, as I said. I am allowed over, yes, but only at very specific times."

John rolled his eyes. "We do have self-control you know."

"Yes, I imagine you do," Radek said, angling his head to the side as he looked up at John. "I am glad you make him happy. It makes him seem a little more human instead of the prick and asshole he usually is."

John shook his head. "Most of that is just a defense mechanism. Once you get past it, you realize what a great guy he really is."

"I do not wish to date him," Radek said, rolling his eyes. "I will let you enjoy the last of your company."

Snorting, John grabbed a soda off the counter. "If you did, I'd have to hurt you. So it's probably better all around this way."

"Yes," Radek said nodding, pushing his glasses back into place as he glanced around the room. It looked like only Lorne, Parrish, and Carson were left besides Radek and Rodney was still out on the balcony.

They both drifted over to the others. "Where did everyone else go?"

"Home?" Rodney raised an eyebrow as he looked over at John. The paper shell from the cupcake was on his plate—along with everything else. Apparently Rodney had decided not to eat dinner tonight. Rodney glanced at his watch. "Well, it is almost 2600."

"Huh. Didn't realize it had gotten so late. Anyone know what time the first wave is leaving for the mainland tomorrow for the Athosian thing?"

"According to the schedule Doctor Weir posted, 1100," Lorne said with a smile. "And you're the pilot for that run. First and last run."

"Last run? I thought I was just first, since I'm staying to learn whatever it is I'm going to be doing for it."

"There and back," Rodney clarified, peeling the paper from his half-empty bottle of water.

"Ah. That makes sense." John scrubbed a hand across his face. "Guess that means I need to kick the rest of you out so I can get some rest. Teyla has been very mysterious about exactly what I'll be doing tomorrow, so well-rested is on my agenda."

"I flew her over earlier so she could get ready tonight," said Lorne. "I guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out."

John gave Lorne a suspicious look. "What do you know that you aren't telling?"

"Only that she's spending the night with Halling and Ronon was keeping an eye on her." Lorne shrugged. "She seemed excited about the festival."

Grunting, John walked them to the door. "Well, I guess we'll see tomorrow. It can't be worse than any other harvest festival we've gotten roped into participating in."

"Didn't you do this last year, sir? I figured you knew what it was all about."

"No. Last year we were in the middle of relocating them, and getting them settled, not to mention trying to find enough food, etc. to supply everyone. I think that's why they're so excited to be able to have it again. I guess missing it last year was a big deal."

Lorne shrugged, letting Carson and Parrish step outside the apartment. "I guess, sir. Either way, it'll be a nice day off for most of us. See you in the morning and congratulations on the apartment."

"Thanks. Sleep well, and thanks again everyone."

He got a round of goodnights before he closed and locked the door, turning around to survey the room. There were cups and plates everywhere. The food trays in the kitchen still had some food left on them. Rodney was standing in the doorway leading out onto the balcony, leaning on the doorframe.

"This turned out really well," he said quietly.

"It did. I think everyone enjoyed themselves." John picked up one of the small finger foods from one of the trays and held it up to his lover's lips. "You didn't eat though."

Rodney took a bite and chewed. "I know."

John pulled Rodney so the other man's back was against his front, wrapping his arms around him and putting a head on his shoulder as they looked out over the city. "You should eat at least what's left on the plate, so you don't have a reaction in the morning."

"I wanted to wait for you," Rodney said quietly, shrugging lightly. "Want to clean up and head to bed?"

John snagged another piece and held it up for Rodney to take. "We can head to bed in a minute. Cleaning will wait for tomorrow."

"I'm selfish," Rodney said after a minute. "I wanted your undivided attention."

Straightening a bit, John turned Rodney so they were facing each other. "You have it now."

Smiling lightly, Rodney wrapped his arms around John's waist. There was an unhurriedness and calm about the scientist tonight—at least after this afternoon's freak-out.

John leaned in to claim a lazy kiss, more brushing their mouths together than anything else. It was nice to know they didn't have to go anywhere or worry about anything except right here and right now.

Rodney purred quietly, kissing John back sweetly. "Want to watch a movie or something?"

Since neither of them was really tired yet, John nodded. "Go strip and pick something out. I'll clean up the couch and coffee table so we have room, and grab a plate of food to share."

"Hmm. 'kay," Rodney said quietly, giving John another kiss before heading back to their room via the balcony.

Feeling more content that he ever thought it would be possible to feel, John quickly straightened up the living room and piled a plate with leftover goodies. By the time Rodney reappeared—gloriously naked—John was sprawled on the couch waiting for him.

Rodney had one of the box sets—Quantum Leap from the looks of it—with him. He settled on the coach, leaning into John with a contented sigh. Apparently it was one of those nights tonight—quiet, calm, and cuddling.

Which was just fine with John. They put in the first episode, and just snuggled, John feeding them both bits of food until the plate was empty and he could wrap both arms around his lover, just enjoying the weight and heat of him.

By the time the second episode finished, Rodney was sleeping, quietly huffing against John's chest. He was still plugged and held within the chastity device, but it didn't seem like either were bothering him.

The couch wasn't the most comfortable of places, but John didn't want to wake his lover. So he managed to shut the laptop and then shifted carefully, relaxing into the couch with a soft sigh.

John woke suddenly in the middle of the night, the moonlight making shadows on the far wall. The room was quiet, silent even, but something had wakened him. A twitch from Rodney answered his question.

"Rodney?" He kept his voice quiet, not sure if the other man was awake or just moving in his sleep.

The scientist shifted again, a whine in the back of his throat.

"Rodney." This time it was louder, and John ran a hand over his lover's chest, shaking gently. "Hey, buddy, you're having a nightmare. Wake up for me."

It had been a while since nightmares had marred Rodney's sleep, but given their lives it was surprising he hadn't had any. It took a few more shakes before John felt Rodney stiffen, his entire body tensing.

"You're safe, you're home, and I'm here. Whatever it was, it was just a dream."

Rodney groaned, hugging John a little tighter. "Can we go to bed?"

"Yes. The only reason we're sleeping here is that I didn't want to wake you." John hugged him back, rubbed his cheek along the top of Rodney's head.

"Please?"

Sitting up slowly, John shifted Rodney so he could stand, then held out a hand. "Come on."

Rodney blinked up a little blearily at John, but took his hand, following him into the bedroom. John sat Rodney on the edge of the bed as he stripped quickly. John tugged Rodney into bed and the scientist shivered as they slid under the sheets, wrapping himself around John once they were settled.

"Want to talk about it?"

Rodney shifted and John could tell he was uncomfortable with the subject, but he did answer before John could tell him to go to sleep. "It was a Wraith…killing you…"

He tightened his arms around the other man. "I'm here. Whole and still the appropriate age."

"I was watching…it…hate that nightmare."

Pressing light kisses to the curve of Rodney's neck, John sighed softly. "I know."

Rodney pushed closer, his head on John's shoulder, hand on John's chest, leg shoved between John's. His other hand curved under John's back.

John let him, slotting their bodies together so closely he could feel Rodney's heartbeat against his side. "Better?"

Rodney nodded.

"Good. Try to go back to sleep. We'll have a busy day tomorrow."

"The only thing that would be worse would be if Kolya was there."

"It was just a dream. While I can't promise we won't run up against the Wraith or Kolya again, the odds of meeting both at the same time are slim to none."

"I hate nightmares."

John tightened his arms a little. "I know. But that's all it was—a nightmare. It wasn't real."

Rodney shivered again before cuddling closer. "Still."

"Yeah. I know."

Rodney huffed again before falling silent. It took a while before he dropped off to sleep, his body getting that loose-limbed feeling when he finally let go.

John pressed another light kiss to the top of Rodney's head. "Sleep well."

The next morning came way too early. They had to cut the sex part short so they would have time to clean the place before heading off. Rodney was working in the labs for half the day, so he would come over to the mainland after John.

After grabbing breakfast and checking e-mail, John jogged to the Jumper bay to take the first load of passengers of the day, mostly those who were going to help set things up. They made it over with no problems, landing in the clearing designated for this purpose. Teyla, Ronon, and Halling were waiting for him as he sauntered out of his baby. He tossed off a lazy salute. “John Sheppard, reporting for duty as promised.”

"It is good to see you, Colonel," Halling said, offering his hand. "I had assumed Doctor McKay would be with you."

John shook the Athosian's hand, glad to see him again. He really needed to make an effort to get over here more often for visits. "He'll be along later. He had some work in the labs that needed to get done this morning."

"Oh. Teyla said that her family was taking part and I had assumed it would be both of you. I am sorry for presuming."

John blinked, glancing over at her. "I'm sorry. If I had known, I would have had him come early too. I can call Atlantis and see if he can come with the next wave..."

Teyla stepped forward, flashing an annoyed glance at Halling. "John was kind enough to volunteer. Doctor McKay will be along tonight to take part in the festival."

"Seriously, I don't want to cause problems. This is supposed to be a fun thing, right? We never talked about Rodney coming, so I just assumed..."

"There are no problems," Teyla said firmly. "Come. I need to make sure everything has been prepared for you."

John trailed along behind her. "So what exactly will I be doing? I really don't want to screw up and ruin the whole festival or something."

"It is easy. I will show you later this afternoon. Right now, I require your help setting up some of the tents and tables."

"Sounds like a plan!" John did as directed, enjoying the purely physical activities required to set up everything. By the time Teyla found him again, he had stripped down to his BDUs and was sweating, but he felt fantastic.

Several more jumpers full had already come and gone, depositing people and food. Some of his own men, catching sight of him working, had joined in, helping wherever it was needed. It was great to see their two peoples working side-by-side like this.

"John," Teyla said, stepping up next to him holding onto a towel. "It is time and you need to clean up before we can go through tonight's ritual."

He used to towel to wipe his face, before tossing it to a Marine sweaty nearby. "Johnson, I'm going to go learn my part for tonight's festivities. Make sure the rest of this gets done in time, and the men pitch in anywhere it looks like someone needs help."

"Yes, sir," Johnson nodded as John followed Teyla to one of the larger tents. She pointed to the wash basin. "Please, use that to clean up and strip. Your clothes for tonight are on the chair. I will return shortly."

"Yes ma'am." He grinned at her, taking a few minutes to enjoy the cool water against his overheated skin. He pulled on the tight leather pants—and wow, they left almost nothing to the imagination—she had left for him, noting the complete lack of anything resembling a shirt. And as for the feathers... he had no clue what to do with them, so he ignored them and stepped outside. "How do I look?"

A few of the Athosian woman outside took one look at him, eyeing him carefully before gesturing for him to go back inside. "It is not right for you to be outside yet," one of them scolded him, the mother he thought.

"It's not?" John allowed himself to be herded back in. "But I thought Teyla was going to show me what I was supposed to do tonight..."

"She will return for you. Now, stay here."

"Yes ma'am." John sat on the bed, then widened his eyes in alarm when she returned with what looked like paints, and had the feathers in tow. "Ah..."

"Audra tells me you were outside."

"I didn't know I wasn't supposed to..."

"I asked you to remain. I should have been more specific," Teyla sighed, putting the paints on the small table near the bed. "Can you stand?"

He rose to his feet. "Ah, Teyla? What are those for?"

"You must be prepared."

"Yeah, about that. You still haven't told me what I'll be doing. I am going to get some advance warning, right?" He kept his sigh internal as she picked up a brush and began to paint intricate and colorful designs all over his exposed skin.

"I have not?" she asked, intent on her painting.

"No. Not so much. I really don't want to mess up your ceremony."

"You simply need to follow the lead of the festival-keeper."

"All right, I can do that. Follow the Leader. I was always good at that as a kid." He did his best not to wince when another woman—the one who had scolded him for going outside—came back and started braiding the feathers into his hair.

"This is a very joyous occasion for our people," Teyla began to explain. "We have not had a large harvest such as this in years and your people have helped us to thrive and survive. For that we are very grateful."

He started to nod, but got his hair pulled and another glare. That old woman was mean! He made a mental note to try and avoid her later at all costs, for fear of getting paddled or something. "It's been a good year for all of us. I don't even really think of you as a separate 'people' anymore. We're all Lanteans to a certain degree now."

"This festival is a joyful one for our people. It is to celebrate life and love and a bountiful harvest. Tonight around the bonfire we celebrate all things and pray for them to continue."

"Got it. Celebrate, be joyful, be thankful for all we have been blessed with, and for all we'll be blessed with in the future." John's Grandmother had been religious, and had insisted he go to services with her ever Sunday when he was visiting. So he could talk the talk—sort of.

"It is a great honor for one to be part of the festival, to dance with the others, to become the offering. I still remember my father dancing. It was such a magical night that night…"

"Dancing?" John's eyes widened.

"Yes," Teyla nodded, continuing to apply paint to his chest. "The steps are simple."

Well wasn't this peachy? Pretty much the entire city was going to see him decked out in feathers and tight leather pants, while dancing. God he was never going to live this down. But he had promised Teyla, and it was obviously important to her. So he made an effort not to let his embarrassment or discomfort show. "How, ah, long a dance is it?"

She shrugged. "Until the ritual is complete."

Which told him nothing. He stayed as still as possible until the woman finished decking him out. When they stepped back, he was glad there weren't any mirrors. If he knew what he looked like, he would probably be tempted to call it off. "Am I ready?"

Teyla took a step back, looking him over carefully. She finally nodded. "Yes. There is some ceremonial wine in the corner. You may wish to avail yourself of it. The festival-keeper shall come and retrieve you when it is time." She paused, offering a broad, open smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm honored to be able to participate." Then the rest of what she said sunk in. "Wait, are you telling me to get toasted before doing this?"

"I am told it helps to make the dancers less self-conscious."

He blinked, then went to retrieve the wine. If the dance was bad enough that the people who grew up with it needed something to get them through, who was John to go back on tradition? "So how long should I be waiting?"

"I do not know. I can inquire if you like."

He waved a hand. "No, that's okay. I'm sure you have things you need to be doing to prepare. I'll enjoy my ceremonial wine and wait here until someone comes to get me." He smiled at her.

She smiled. "Thank you, John." And with a whoosh of fabric, she was gone and he was alone.

Sitting on the bed, John tried the wine. It didn't taste too alcoholic, so he passed the time sipping on it. By the time he got to the bottom of the flask, though, he was feeling pretty damn good. Huh. So apparently it was a lot stronger than he had thought. God, he really hoped he didn't fuck everything up.

Before he had the time to work himself into a panic, however, the tent flap parted again.

"Come. It is time."

Standing, grateful the world didn't spin when he did, John followed the Athosian man out of the tent. He vaguely recognized him, but didn't know his name. "So I'm just supposed to follow you, and do everything you do, right?"

"Yes," the man nodded solemnly. "The steps are simple, the movements fluid." He paused between the tents, the darkening skies giving them the illusion of privacy. "Observe."

The Athosian stepped slowly, deliberately. Four steps and a hop-turn. Four steps and a hop-turn. The feathers in his hair danced in the breeze.

John felt himself flush. He could do this. It didn't matter that everyone whose opinion he actually cared about would be watching. He could do this. Concentrating, John mimicked the movements. He did love dancing, so he tried to think of it as just a club thing, willing his body to flow with it.

"Good, good," the Athosian said, the voice close, soothing. "Lift your right hand higher when you turn…yes, yes…good. The music will help to guide you, as will the others."

John found himself lulled, whether from the alcohol, the beat of the music that was already starting, or from the soothing voice of his guide. He followed his instructions, repeating the movements until he had it perfect.

"Good, good, come. You are ready and the festival is to begin. All other things will be prepared as we give ourselves to the music, the fire, and the gods."

Blinking slowly, John followed him out, further slipping as the beat of the music picked up, along with the flickering of the huge bonfire and the chanting going on somewhere.

Someone must have thrown incense or something on the fire because the smoky, spicy intense smell only increased as they approached. The music and drum beats intensified and John suddenly found himself dancing—uninhibited and unselfconscious—with the others. They had been right. With the music and the beat and the wine and the incense it was not difficult to dance, to be fluid and one with the others. He could feel the crowds' eyes upon him, buffering him, holding him and imparting him with their strength. And each time he circled the fire, at one location, he could feel love emanating and he knew it was his family, Rodney.

He had no idea how long it lasted. He got lost in the dance, eventually his world narrowing down to nothing else. Finally, though, the music stopped, and a hand on his arm led him gently, handing him over to someone else. Rodney. Teyla. Ronon. And others. He was aware of eyes on him as he moved to sit, drinking whatever had been pushed into his hands.

Teyla's voice was quiet, soothing, speaking to him, calming him, bringing him down from the place he'd been. He stayed there, eating, drinking, just being until Teyla settled before him, hands on his thighs as she kneeled before him, looking into his face.

"Are you prepared for the second part of the ceremony?"

Since he was still feeling pretty damn mellow, he didn't question it, just nodded.

"I know I did not explain it to you and if you are uncomfortable with it, you can choose not to participate."

Blinking slowly, he had to work for a few seconds to find his voice again. "What do you want me to do?"

"Come with me," she said, tugging him to his feet. "The dance was the primary part of the festival and your obligation ends there. This second part was the private part of the ritual…of which I was not privy to until Halling informed me earlier." She led him through the settlement, weaving through tents until they stopped outside one of them.

The short walked had cleared his head somewhat, although he still felt languid. "Private? What does it entail?"

"Look inside. You can decide before stepping in."

John peeked inside, sucking in a deep breath as he caught sight of Rodney, naked and glistening with some sort of oil. His body immediately responded. "Fuck... Who... What?"

"That is the final part of the ritual, yes…" Teyla said quietly. "I know your desire to keep this private. Halling insisted that you be permitted the opportunity to complete the entire ritual."

He swallowed hard. "Who touched him? And was he given the opportunity to decline?"

"Halling prepared him when you were eating."

"And he was allowed to say no? He wasn't drugged or coerced?" John badly wanted to go in and touch, but he couldn't if Rodney hadn't been given a choice. He would deal with someone else putting their hands on what was his later.

Teyla nodded. "Halling would not have proceeded unless Rodney had told him it was okay."

John relaxed minutely. "Okay. Just so I'm clear, I'm allowed to go in and touch him however I want, right?" Mmmm, oiled Rodney.

"Yes, John," Teyla laughed. "Your union now completes the circle of life. This night we celebrate the harvest and also the planting, the cycle that sustains our people. The tent is yours until morning. Food and drink are inside."

The leather pants weren't really hiding the fact that he was aroused, so he didn't try. "You'll, ah, make something up if anyone who doesn't already know about us asks?"

"Many from Atlantis are staying this night. I do not believe many questions will be asked and you will not be disturbed."

He pulled her in to the forehead-hug thing. "Thank you, Teyla, for letting me be a part of this. I'm honored to have been asked to participate." And oddly enough, he really was. He knew what this meant to her, and he was touched that she had trusted him with it. Despite the feathers and addition of kinky sex. It wasn't like he could pretend he didn't like it kinky.

She held the pose for a few more seconds before stepping away. "When you enter I will place the festival ribbons on the entrance. None will enter until you remove them."

"Enjoy your night." He stepped inside, his attention immediately riveting to his lover. The soft candlelight made his skin glisten like he was some kind of sex god. John was helpless to do anything but stare.

Rodney was lying on the bed, a simple scarf across his eyes. John could tell he was nervous, but he was still, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Moving closer, John couldn't take his eyes off all that beautiful skin. "Rodney... God you're so perfect... Stand up. I need to touch you everywhere they did, make you mine again."

"John? They'd said…promised me it would be you, but when no one was coming…"

"I'm here." He reached out to cup Rodney's face. "Just me. And Teyla promised we won't be disturbed. The tent is ours for the night."

"Halling said the blindfold had to stay on until morning. Some stupid religious thing," he said, letting John pull him to his feet. "Have I mentioned that I hate religious ceremonies and rituals and festivals?"

John let out a breath he didn't even know he had been holding. Rodney was still Rodney, no drugs, nothing to force him. Teyla had said there wasn't, but still... "It's okay. It's not like we don't like blindfolds." He started to touch, using the entire palm of his hand all over Rodney's body, wanting the memory only of him lingering in his lover's mind.

"I know, but it's different when it's you putting it there instead of the towering beanstalk of an Athosian."

Reversing the path of his hands, John touched Rodney's face again, tracing the edges of the silk. "Forget him. It's just us now, and that's all that matters. I want to touch you everywhere, and then I'm going to make you whimper and beg before I let you come."

"I think that's the whole point of the ritual," Rodney said with a smile.

"Good." John purred. He recognized the oil as a vegetable-based product used in a variety of applications in Athosian life, including cooking. So after he touched, he could taste. Running his hands down Rodney's back, John pushed a finger just inside, pleased there was no oil there. He could live with the superficial touching, but this was his, and his alone.

"I wouldn't let him," Rodney whispered, wrapping his hands around John's waist and leaning in.

"Good. He left some oil on the table. I'll slick you up there in a few minutes."

"I didn't let him touch my cock either."

At the mention of one of John's favorite toys, he slid his hand around to find that it, to, was devoid of oil. Using what was already on his hands from the touching, John stroked it a few times. "Very good boy," he murmured, brushing his lips briefly across Rodney's.

"I…I couldn't let him…" Rodney said quietly, panting into John's skin as his hands explored—skimming John's back and his leather-covered ass.

"You did perfect. He got you all ready for me, but there are certain parts of you I don't share." John kissed him again, still not allowing it to be more than a light dusting of lips. "You're beautiful like this."

"You can keep these pants, right?" Rodney asked, his hands resting on the cheeks of John's ass.

John chuckled as he nibbled a bit on Rodney's ear. "You like them?"

"Mmm," he answered, tilting his head to give John better access. "They're skin-colored…almost looked like you were naked…"

"What were you thinking about while I danced?"

"I wanted you…didn't want to share with anyone else…was amazing to see you up there…"

"You didn't want anyone else looking at me, watching me move? Knowing that later it would be you, and only you, who gets to touch?"

"I didn't know I'd get this," Rodney said with a soft exhale. "Everyone wanted you."

That made him blink and lean back a bit. "Really? Honestly I thought I probably looked a little silly, but since it was for Teyla, I did it anyway."

"All of the dancers…they were amazing."

"But you just wanted me." It came out more possessive than John had thought it would, almost a growl. He didn't want Rodney looking at anyone but him.

"Yes. Just you. Only you," Rodney replied, breathless and needy.

"Good answer." As a reward, John reached around to push a finger inside the other man again, deeper this time, using the oil to ease its passage.

"Only answer," he said as he moaned, pressing closer to John.

Needing more, John slid to his knees, licking at Rodney's erect cock a few times before gently taking it into his mouth. He kept his finger where it was, moving it slowly in and out of Rodney in time to the movements of his mouth.

Rodney whimpered and moaned above him, his hands resting in John's hair, tangling with the feathers. "Oh John…please…"

Pulling off just enough to talk, knowing his breath ghosting over the slick erection would just ramp Rodney up further, John shook his head. "No. I want to play with you for a while. Don't come."

"Please…" he whined, whimpering when John licked the head of his cock.

"No." John turned his attention back to Rodney's cock. With a wicked grin, he rubbed his cheek, rough with a day's worth of growth, along its length.

Rodney shuddered, hands gripping more tightly onto John's hair as he moaned.

Chuckling, John went back to sucking and finger fucking, doing his best to draw out every moan and whimper and groan from Rodney that he could.

A few times, Rodney nearly lost his balance, caught up in the sensations, but John caught him, steadied him.

He wasn't nearly ready to end this yet. He wondered how non-verbal, how deep into headspace, he could push Rodney, just from this and the blindfold and nothing else.

His lover was trembling, moaning quietly, his hands clenching and unclenching in John's hair, his body trapped between John's mouth and hands.

Carefully pulling his fingers free, John let Rodney's dick slide out of his mouth. He licked his lips, chasing the flavor. "I'm going to guide you to the bed. I want you on all fours with that beautiful ass in the air."

"Please, John…" he whimpered, barely releasing his hold on John's hair as he rose to his feet.

"Soon. You can come when you feel me filling you."

"I just want you…please."

John quickly climbed into the bed behind him after shucking the leather pants. He grabbed the little bowl of oil and slicked up two fingers, pressing them back inside his lover to finish opening him up. "Soon. Just hold on a little longer for me."

"John, please…"

Ignoring the begging, John took his time prepping Rodney, almost mesmerized by watching his fingers disappear in and out. They didn't do it this way often, so it was different enough to be noticeable. It wasn't until Rodney's noises started taking on an edge of desperation that John finally had pity on him and pulled free, only to push his own oiled cock in their place.

A strangled "oh" was Rodney's only reply as John settled into place, his entire body nearly molding to John.

John paused long enough to give Rodney time to adjust, then he started to fuck, slow and sweet, trying to drag out the pleasure for as long as possible.

Rodney rocked with each thrust, panting and moaning quietly, the oil and sweat mingling on his back and his skin, the candles casting a golden hue over his body. His ass was warm and welcoming and familiar. His was home.

And that thought was all it took to push John over the edge. With a soft cry he was coming, feeling Rodney clench around him a heartbeat later. They collapsed down to the bed together, John twisting slightly so they were on their sides, back to front.

Panting quietly, Rodney's body trembled with the aftershocks, his face pressed into the bed.

John shuddered through his own shocks, his body left feeling loose and relaxed. He hummed softly as he pulled Rodney closer to him.

Rodney purred, settling close as he shivered, the cooler night air drifting across their sweaty bodies.

With a soft groan, John pulled free of Rodney's body, sitting up on one elbow to grab the soft blanket draped across the end of the bed and drag it over them. He snuggled back down, eyes starting to drift shut. It had been a long day.

Rodney shifted, trying to get closer.

Humming again, John pressed a leg between Rodney's, twining them together more firmly.

He hummed quietly, contentedly, letting out a long breath as he tugged one of John's arms around him a little tighter. Huh. Two nights in a row with the very close cuddling.

John wasn't going to complain. He was glad Rodney had finally gotten comfortable enough with their relationship to want and accept the closeness. John pressed his lips against his favorite spot on the back of Rodney's neck before letting his eyes start to drift shut once again.

This wasn't the worst way to end an alien ritual.

With that thought in mind, sleep finally claimed him completely, warm and surrounded by his favorite person in two galaxies.

***

It was about three days after the Athosian harvest festival when Rodney found himself trailing behind John and Teyla on some tree-infested planet as they walked toward the nearest village. Ronon was on their six, stalking along behind them.

They were friendly. Willing to trade. Eager to trade. And made the best wine in the quadrant.

At least that's what Teyla claimed.

Poking at the life signs detector, Rodney sighed. This was ridiculous. There were plenty of other teams available, but they had to go make nice with the agrarian people—again.

John was quizzing Teyla on what to expect. "So there will be no throwing rocks at us or trying to kidnap our scientist to fix some broken-down piece of junk, right? Just going in, smiling a lot, trading medical supplies for alcohol, and we all go home and get tipsy tonight."

"And why is it that we need alcohol? What need does that fulfill, exactly?"

John glanced back at him. "No idea. The need to escape from reality maybe? I'm just along to make sure no one gets hurt while negotiating, you'll have to talk to Elizabeth about the actual things we negotiate for."

"But what strategic advantage does wine give us?" Rodney trotted up a few paces so he could talk to them a little easier. Ronon, likewise, closed the space. "I can see grain and fruit or vegetables. But wine? Come on. We have better things to do."

The soldier shrugged. "They do make other things besides wine. And it also makes a good resale item."

"Wine's good, too," Ronon piped up from behind, making Rodney roll his eyes.

"Well, I guess that seals everything, doesn't it? Conon likes it, so we have to get some."

He saw John and Teyla exchange a look. She was the one who responded. "The Mallains are quite good at their craft, and John is correct, it will make an excellent trade-good in the future. I know of several worlds where medical supplies would not be looked upon with favor, but bottles of Mallain wine will yield great returns for us."

Rodney rolled his eyes. "I don't understand why you need me—genius with the brain the size of a planet—to pick up a few cases of wine."

John gave him a mild look. "Because you're part of our team."

"And Ronon here is the one with the brute strength. Me…not so much."

"Doesn't matter. We're a team. Ronon is the muscle, Teyla is the negotiator, you're the brains, and I'm the fearless leader. It doesn't work if you take out one of the parts."

Rodney scowled, but got John's message to stop complaining loud and clear. He had been at it for two days already, so Rodney imagined it might be running a little toward the annoying side. Maybe. He was just trying to voice his opinion.

John stepped back slightly, letting Teyla take point alone for a moment. Ronon dropped back again to keep an eye on their six. "Hey. This is better than a 'run for our lives' mission. I know you would love to just have us doing the science runs, but we have to balance things out. Otherwise there will be a lot of resentment. And anyway, these easy runs are good for us, give us a chance to get out of the city and work together when it isn't life or death."

"This is a waste of my time."

John shook his head. "Don't look at it that way. Think of it as an extended team-building exercise. They aren't always the most fun in the world, but when it counts, you have a stronger team for it that works together better and faster. And that could save your life."

Rodney rolled his eyes and grumbled. "And we all know how well I do with team building exercises."

John's chuckle sent heat to certain parts of Rodney's anatomy. "That's okay. You don't have to love these missions, as long as you still come along. And while they don't do much to advance the scientific community, they do pay off for the city in the long run most of the time."

"As long as we don't end up on the wrong side of somebody's pointed stick."

"Here's hoping." John sighed, his fingers tightening slightly on his gun. "Personally I'll take boring milk runs over worrying about getting everyone out alive any day."

"I'd rather be exploring an Ancient city or outpost or something useful."

"I know." John smiled gently. "But not every mission can be full of technology that makes you bounce on your toes. We do have to let some of the other teams play too, sometimes."

"No," Rodney said raising his finger, "no, I don't think so."

John laughed softly again. "I'm pretty sure we do, or Elizabeth would kick our asses. We'll put in our quota of boring shit in the next few missions, and then we can get back to the exciting discoveries."

"There is no reason that Lorne's team is looking at the ruins of that Ancient outpost. No reason at all!" Sore subject? You could say that.

John rarely touched him in the field, so the warm fingers on his back were surprising enough to jolt him a bit. "Rodney. They didn't know the ruins were there when the planet was originally assigned to them. And protocol is that if a planet is deemed worthy of a second visit, the original team is the first to go to make the final assessment unless there are unusual circumstances. I know you would rather be there, but that's not the mission our team drew."

"Ancient technology…" Rodney grumbled.

"I know. And if it makes you feel any better, they've been told to tag anything that looks like it could be interesting, and it will be our team who goes in if anything there looks halfway promising. Think of it as using the minions to do the grunt work so you can dive right in to the fun stuff if it makes you feel better."

"And if they touch something that blows up? Three of them have the gene on that team. It's like a bad situation just waiting to happen."

"Then we'll deal with it then. Don't go borrowing trouble." John gave him a tired look. "Please. I know this is a big deal, but can we drop it for now? I have to change up the missions or I'll have riots on my hand, and that means we have to do some of these trading runs along with everyone else."

Rodney huffed. They'd been through it before…several times before. It didn't mean he was any happier about it. "Fine."

John sighed. "Teyla, how much further is it to the village?"

"Not much," she said slowing up. Her hand was raised, pointing the way. "You can see the path turning from here. It is only a short distance past that final turn."

"Excellent." John glanced back briefly to include Ronon. "All right everyone, I know this is supposed to be a friendly village, but it's still a first-contact. Stay sharp, and let's hope our new friends are as nice as advertised."

"And not drunk off their asses," Rodney muttered, poking at the touch-screen to his handheld device.

John shot him a look, but didn't respond. About ten minutes later, the village was in sight, two younger people rushing off as soon as they had spotted the team, returning a few moments later with what looked like elders of some kind.

They approached slowly, looking at their team carefully, but the eyes of the one man kept returning to Teyla. "Welcome to our village. You have traveled through the circle?"

She stepped forward, nodding. "We have. I am Teyla Emmagan of the Athosians, and these are my allies and friends, Colonel John Sheppard, Doctor Rodney McKay, and Specialist Ronon Dex. They come here on behalf of their people in hopes of trading with you."

"Teyla of the Athosians. I knew your father," the man said with a smile as he bowed. "You reminded me of him."

She bowed as well. "You must be Rethin. My father spoke highly of you, and valued you as a trading partner. It saddens me that it has taken so long for me to follow in his footsteps and call you friend."

"You are most welcome here. Your friends are not Athosian, are they?"

She shook her head. "They are not. They are formerly of Atlantis, which was destroyed by the Wraith. They are seeking to reestablish their people, and because mine are their allies and friends, and they did the same for us when Athos was ravished, we are aiding them as much as possible. Part of that is to introduce them to those we have found to be fair and equal trading partners."

Rethin's eyes narrowed for a brief moment and Rodney knew right then there were going to be problems. "Friends of the Athosians are friends of ours. Please, follow me to where we can get refreshment and talk further."

The team followed Rethin into the village, and Rodney noted that both John and Ronon were still holding themselves on high alert, although to the casual observer they were loose and relaxed. So they must have caught the slight hesitation as well. Teyla and John sat across from the village leader with Rodney and Ronon standing behind them. Several other villagers stood behind Rethin. Teyla picked up the thread of conversation again. "Since it has been many cycles since my people last traded with you, please tell us what you are willing to trade."

"If it is sanctuary you are looking for, we cannot help. We have enough here and do not wish to call the attention of the Wraith."

John shook his head. "We understand that sentiment and wouldn't burden you that way. We've found a previously uninhabited world to move to. We're looking to trade for food and other basic goods—we were told you have some of the best wines in this part of the galaxy—for things such as medical supplies and knowledge. Our people have made an advanced study of healing and preventing sickness."

Rodney could feel the eyes of the village bystanders on him and John, examining them, judging them from their appearance, their manners. He just let John and Teyla talk, trying not to react or comment—it was hard. He didn't want to screw anything up.

John and Teyla talked and negotiated. And negotiated and talked. Rodney shifted on his feet, trying not to grumble about his back or his feet—which both hurt by the way.

This was just such a waste of time. Right now he would be climbing through an Ancient outpost, looking at the mainframe there, searching through the files, maybe even finding a ZPM or other really cool technology.

But no. He was standing in a hut not listening to the trade negotiations.

Well, not listening until one of the women hovering over Rainman said something to him, cutting into the trade negotiations—something about trust. He hadn't been listening.

John looked like he was trying hard not to roll his eyes or otherwise look depressed. "We're allies of your allies and trade partners for many years. We wouldn't have come to you and sat here willing to negotiate in good faith if we couldn't be trusted."

The woman didn't back down. "You are here in good faith. He is not."

John blinked. "What? Who?"

She narrowed his eyes and raised her hand to point past John right at him. Of course.

John looked back, and his shoulders slumped slightly when he realized who she was pointing to. "Ma'am, Doctor McKay is a scientist. He's on my team to identify and repair the technology of the Ancestors as part of our occasional trade deals."

"I've been nothing except quiet and supportive," Rodney finally said, figuring he might as well defend himself. He hadn't said a word!

John shot him a look that plainly said 'please be quiet now' before turning back to the woman accusing him. "If you don't mind my asking, Ma'am, why do you think he isn't here in good faith?"

"We know Teyla's people, also the Satedan—even though he does not say anything. You are open and trustworthy. He is not."

"But he hasn't done anything! He's just been back there being quiet and supportive, just like Ronon." John sounded bewildered.

"Your repetition of his statement does not make it true." Rainman was nodding, along with most of the other people in the room. Great. For one he held his tongue and he got in trouble for it.

John blinked, before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, let's back up a minute. Usually Rodney causes problems when he talks. So this time he didn't talk, and you have a problem with that? Am I getting it right so far?"

She nodded. "It is more than his lack of speech. It's his demeanor, his lack of interest in a true partnership with our peoples."

John closed his eyes briefly. "He is very interested in a partnership between our people. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't. What you believe to be lack of interest is him following orders I give to my team members who aren't in active negotiations. It's why both him and Dex have been silent and removed from the talks."

"He wishes to be elsewhere."

"The goods we agreed upon are important to my people. What can I do to convince you otherwise?"

"You cannot convince us of anything." Her words were harsh, sharp.

John glanced at the team before slowly asking the next question. "All right, what can he do to convince you he's trustworthy? And before you tell us, you should know that I take my people's safety and welfare seriously. I will reserve the right to decide if he participates or not."

Rodney knew his eyes were wide. He could also feel the panic pooling in his stomach. It always had to be him, even when he didn't do anything. This was so not fair.

The woman regarded John for a long moment. "We have several…rituals he could perform to prove his trustworthiness and his…commitment to the trade agreement."

Oh great. Alien sex rituals.

John's expression hardened slightly. "Whether or not I agree to even let him consider it depends entirely on what kind of ritual you have in mind."

"He would not be injured."

"I don't doubt that. But injury isn't the only thing I worry about. Can I be frank without offending you?"

"I prefer it," she said. It seemed that she was really the power behind the throne, much more than Rainman.

John held up his hand, checking off fingers as he went. "I won't even allow him to consider anything that involves anyone putting their hands on him in any way. No touching. Two, if it involves food or beverages of any kind, I want the right to taste it first. There are certain compounds that are harmless to most people but could kill him and my team is all trained to recognize them on taste. Three, if it involves drugs of any sort, I want to be able to send a sample to my people to test before he takes them. We've had several of our people become seriously ill when they tried narcotics that were mostly harmless to the native peoples, but interacted badly with our chemistry."

The woman's face hardened. "You do not trust us."

John shook his head. "It's not a matter of trust. I don't allow anyone to touch him, ever, and we've had problems in the past where foods and other ingested materials that had little to no effect on the local population have almost killed our people. Even in goods we've traded for, nothing is sampled by any of our people without testing first by our scientists now. There is something in our bodies as a result of where we originally came from that renders some things deadly to us that might not to others. We've learned to be careful about it."

"So now you accuse us of poisoning you even before our trade agreements are concluded. I do not know if we should bother with this. I had thought friends of the Athosians were to be trusted, but it seems I am wrong."

This was stupid. Rodney moved, opening his mouth to protest, to say he'd do whatever stupid ritual they wanted, but John didn't let him get a word out.

"You said I could speak frankly without giving offense. In no way was I accusing you of anything so rash as poisoning. You want to protect your people with a show of trust, and yet you want to deny me my right to protect my people. Nowhere did I say we wouldn't agree to the ceremony if food or drugs were involved. I only asked that we be allowed to test a small sample to ensure our unique chemistry won't end this badly on all sides. We want to trade with you, but no, I'm not willing to risk my scientist's life for it."

Someone leaned down to whisper into her ear and she paused, listening. Her expression hardened but she finally nodded. "I will speak to you of the ritual, but only you."

John nodded and rose to his feet. "My team will wait here for us to finish."

Rodney watched as John walked out of the hut, his P-90 held close to his body. Damn, damn, damn. Why him? What did he do to win the worse cosmic karma award?

He threw a hopeful look to Teyla, but she simply shrugged. Of course her people were long lost friends. No show of trust was ever needed.

It was about a half-hour before John returned, and even Ronon was starting to look restless. He glanced at them, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I've been asked not to reveal the ceremony, as it was told to me in confidence. But Rodney, if you're willing to do it, I won't object."

"Why don't you do it if it's so unobjectionable?"

He shrugged. "I asked, and they won't accept me." He sighed. "This would be a good trade and potentially good allies, so yes, I'd like to see that cemented. But I won't force you to do this."

Rodney scowled, crossing his hands over his chest. "If you tell me what I have to do, then I'll consider it."

John shook his head. "It doesn't involve eating or smoking anything, or anyone touching you. It does involve, probably, feeling a little.... self-conscious.... around a bonfire. I can't tell you any more than that. If you agree to it, Terese will bring you to a tent to prepare and tell you what you'll need to do."

"Prepare me! Sheppard—"

He held up a hand. "Give you the clothes you'll have to wear, and walk you through what they'll want from you. No touching, remember?"

"This is ridiculous," Rodney said, already unsnapping his thigh holster to give to John.

John leaned in to take it, brushing their hands together. He dropped his voice enough that only Rodney could hear. "I promise, it won't kill you, hurt you, or maim you in any way. You know how protective I am. Do you think I would agree to anything if I didn't think you would be fine?"

"No," he huffed, unhooking his vest and shrugging out of it.

"Good. And tonight I'll make it up to you." He took the vest and stepped back slightly.

"You had better," he grumbled, looking at Terese. "Well?"

She seemed faintly surprised that he had agreed so quickly. "Come with me."

They led him to a nearby hut, opening the door to let him step inside. "So? What do you want me to do?"

She pointed to a set of leather things on a bed. "You must put these on. I will return shortly to inform you of the rest of the ceremony."

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. What are they first of all?"

"Clothing." Her eyes narrowed again just before she swept out of the tent, the flap falling down with a whoosh behind her.

Rodney grumbled as he moved to the pile—very small pile—and picked them up. Oh, this was wrong on so many levels.

A leather loincloth with no back that would barely cover him. A sleeveless leather vest thing. Moccasins. And a headband with feathers. This was not clothing. This was a rejected costume from the Village People.

He had just finished pulling on the—he refused to call it an outfit—when his resident torturer returned. She gave him a once-over, sniffing slightly. "As the sun sets, we will begin the beat. It is a call to the heavens and the earth, to bring all together and make us one. You will join the others as they stand between the sky and ground, mingling the beat between the two."

"I will do what?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You may observe the supplicants for a few moments before joining in so you can understand your role. But then you will participate, you will show that you honor our ways and our people."

"You want me to dance? In this?" He gestured to the little piece of leather covering him. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Are you refusing to join the ritual?"

Rodney sighed, shaking his head. "No. I’m not refusing, but I think the ritual would be a whole lot better if I wasn't standing out there naked!"

"It is the traditional garb." She gave him a look that clearly said she thought very little of him, and probably thought he was going to run away. "Our men have worn such garb for the Hash-Dai for as long as we have performed it."

He sighed again, knowing there was no way out of this. "Fine. How long until the sun sets and this…ritual begins?"

"You will join the other supplicants now—I will lead you to them. The fire, and the beat, will start as soon as the sun begins to touch the horizon. It ends when the last of the heavens has sunk into the earth."

"Yeah, but how long? I need to eat regularly…"

"You will participate in the feast that follows. Come." She stepped outside and led him through the village to where a group of people dressed like he was—and apparently not caring that they were mostly naked—were waiting. They had a good view of the setting sun. It would probably start to 'touch the ground' or whatever nonsense these people believed in, in about another twenty minutes.

Wonderful. Twenty minutes of being on display and then he had to prance around a bonfire for an hour. And then have a feast.

He scowled at the man nearest to him who tried to say hello. He had no intention of making nice. This was blackmail, pure and simple.

The guy didn't seem too put off, in fact, he grinned. "This is your first time, yes? It is a great honor to be asked to participate."

"If I don't participate I get sent home empty-handed and I did not walk this entire way to go home with nothing."

"Do not listen to Terese. She's a bit of a nag." His grin got wider. "Good in bed though. The day she agreed to bear my children was a good one."

"You're married to her?"

He nodded. "Almost ten full cycles now. Don't mind her too much. She just gets a little paranoid sometimes."

Rodney snorted, shaking his head, trying not to be self-conscious but failing miserably.

Big Burly Man slapped him on the back. "You can follow me when we get started. The wind in your face, the fire at your front and the setting sun at your back. What more can a man ask for in life?"

"Wait a minutes. They're going to see my ass?"

He laughed. "Trust me, things get warm out there. You'll be glad for the breeze."

"There is no need for anyone expect my partner to see my ass."

His eyes lit up. "You have a partner as well?"

"Yes."

He got another burly back-slap. "Good man! They say participating in Hash-Dai bestows great virility in a man. It is one of the reasons participation is so hotly sought after. The nights after I have danced... they are some of the most memorable of my life. You and your partner are in for quite a treat."

Great. Just great. He had no need for Teyla or Ronon to see him with a hard on.

As he watched, someone lit the pile of wood in the middle of the clearing, stoking it into a huge fire. More people had started to trickle in—he caught sight John, Teyla, and Ronon off to one side. "Soon my new friend. The sun gets ready to begin its descent into the earth. The drums will begin soon."

Rodney nerves just increased. He didn't want to do this.

Burly got a cup and drank deeply of something he poured out of a flask. "Would you like a cup my friend? It is not required at all, but it is bracing to sustain us for the dance."

"What is it?"

He poured another cup and handed it over. "Tis the hearty wine our little village is known throughout the galaxy for."

There was no way he was doing this sober, so Rodney took a sip before downing the whole cup, holding it back out for more.

Burly laughed, giving him another slap and sharing another round with him. Then the drums started to pound. "Come lad, it is time to welcome the heavens as they descend to the earth!"

Leaving the cup on a stump, Rodney let himself get pulled into the group—there were about ten of them—and then they started to dance. The wine had gone straight to his head, but the beat was easy to follow. The steps were a little more complicated—step, step, step, twirl, tap, tap, step, step, twirl, twirl, step, step, step, twirl, tap, tap, step step, twirl twirl. He was getting dizzy, but no one had kicked him out yet.

He lost track of time, every now and then getting caught up with Burly, who would twirl him and they would be off again.

He realized about halfway through a turn he was drunk. John wasn't going to be happy, but he was doing this for Atlantis, for their stupid trust ritual thing.

Someone put a hand on his arm at one point and he swayed to a stop, vaguely realizing he was sweating and it was dark and John was next to him.

A hand cupped his chin. "Rodney? Buddy? Are you all right?"

Rodney leaned into the touch, into John's hand, his body loose, exercise-warmed.

John tipped his face, looking into his eyes. "You're drunk."

"Ah…maybe."

His lover's lips twitched. "You looked amazing out there, and Terese agreed that you were giving it everything you had. We're staying the night, and resuming negotiations in the morning. Teyla already let Atlantis know when they dialed in for the check-in. Right now, we're going to get you some food, and then we're going to put you to bed."

Rodney hiccupped. "O…kay."

John's lips twitched again, and he took Rodney's arm, steering him toward what looked like a buffet. John parked him next to Ronon and Teyla and disappeared for a moment, only to return with a plate of food. "You need to eat, so your blood sugar doesn't crash overnight."

"I'm…thir…thir…need a drink," Rodney said, looking up from the plate.

"That's next. Eat a little while I get you some water."

"Wine was good."

"You don't get any more of that tonight." John smiled slightly before disappearing again.

Rodney watched him go, absently wondering why it was so dark or why his ass felt weird. Teyla just pointed to the plate in front of him.

"Eat. Please."

Dropping his head, he focused on the food, picking up a piece. He managed to get half of it in his mouth, the rest seeming to just fall out of his fingers.

She laughed softly. "John will return in a moment to aid you."

"Don't need help."

She patted his leg, and a moment later John was there. He took one look at the plate and shook his head. Sitting down, he held the cup up to Rodney's lips. "Drink."

Rodney backed away. "Can do it."

John's other hand came up to card through Rodney's hair, pulling the feather headband out. "I know you can, but this way will be faster and cleaner."

"Hey," Rodney said, looking at John's hand, "that's mine."

"I'll give it back. I'm just holding it for you."

Rodney looked at John for a long moment, his gaze shifting between the headband and John's amused face. "Why are we here?"

"We're here to trade with the nice people, and you did a very hot dance to prove you're trustworthy."

"I know how to dance," Rodney said, nodding his head.

"You really do. You looked amazing." John picked up a piece of the food on the plate and neatly popped it into Rodney's mouth.

"Hmmm," Rodney said around the bite, looking down at the plate in front of him. "That's good."

"It's very good. We all had some a little while ago." John selected another piece and fed it to Rodney. "Everything here is approved citrus-free."

"You should eat some more," Rodney said, reaching for what looked like a grape, but missing entirely, nearly knocking over Teyla's glass. "Whoops."

She dodged neatly, and smiled. "It is all right."

John laughed softly. "I'll eat if you do. And here, have some water."

"Huh? What?" Rodney turned, his lip bumping into the glass. He took a sip, letting it wash down some of the food.

John continued to alternate feeding him and giving him sips of water, with quiet amusement and patience. When it was all gone, he held out a hand and pulled Rodney to his feet. "Come on, stud. Let's get you to bed."

"I could sleep," Rodney said, swaying on his feet. "John…" he said, realizing he felt air on his ass.

His lover caught and steadied him. "I'm right here. Come on. The tent's already set up. All you have to do is crawl in and go to sleep."

He leaned in, whispering. "I think someone stole my clothes."

John's whole body shook as he tried not to laugh. "Don't worry, buddy. We found them for you. When you wake up, they'll be waiting."

"Oh. Okay." He paused, letting John lead him. "Where are we going?"

"To bed."

"But why? I’m not tired."

John led him to the tent, gently pushing him inside. "Because you're going to be very tired as soon as you lie down. I'd rather than happened here, than outside in the grass."

"Oh." Rodney sank down on the bedroll. "I’m still not tired."

John was carefully divesting him of the leather he was wearing. "That's because you aren't lying down. Just sitting."

"Hey, those are mine."

"I'll give them back to you tomorrow." John grinned as he pushed Rodney gently back into the sleeping bag.

Blinking up at John, he just looked at him. "I'm still not tired."

"Close your eyes then." John's hand moved to the center of Rodney's chest, rubbing lightly.

"But what are you going to do?"

"I'll be here with you most of the night, except for my watch."

"Oh. But I’m not tired."

John took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Rodney, you had a lot to drink, and then danced for about an hour straight. You don't feel it yet, but you will soon. And I'll be waking you up part-way through the night to make sure you eat and drink a little something so you don't feel sick tomorrow."

"Huh. I’m drunk? Why don't I feel drunk?"

"It was very smooth wine."

"Drink some with me?"

John stroked along the side of Rodney's face, caressing. "You don't need any more, and I can't drink. I'm still on duty."

"Oh," Rodney said, leaning into John's touch. It felt good. There was something digging into his back, though. "My bed's lumpy."

"Roll on to your side and I'll see what's there." John moved a few small rocks, carefully working them to the edge of the tent and pulling them free. "Better?"

Rodney rolled back and shifted around a bit before nodding. "Uh huh," he said looking up at John with wide eyes. "I'm naked."

John laughed softly. "You are. But it's a good look for you, so I think you're fine."

"Oh. Really?"

"Yes, really." John's smile was gentle, and he had gone back to caressing Rodney's face and jaw line. "Starting to feel tired yet?"

"No and you're being really nice. Did I do something stupid?"

John's amusement washed over him. "No, you didn't do anything stupid. You saved our trade agreement. You just got a little toasted in the process. And I'm being nice because you're pretty cute like this."

"Oh. Are you staying?"

"I'll stay until you fall asleep. Teyla has first watch tonight, and Ronon has last watch. I'm taking the time in the middle."

"I don't get a watch? I can watch. I'm good at watching."

"You're the hero of the hour. That means you get perks, like getting to sleep through the night with no watch."

"Oh. But you told me you were going to wake me. But I'm awake now. I can just stay up."

"I'm going to wake you to eat a PowerBar and drink some water later." John's hand started to roam, stroking down Rodney's arms and over his chest.

"Mmm…that feels good. Keep doing that."

"You like to be petted, don't you? You always arch up into it when I do this."

As John's hands continued to stroke and pet him, Rodney immediately reacted, arching into his touch without real thought. "Yeah…feels good."

"I love you like this, wanton and open for me. It really, really sucks that we're off-world right now."

"Why?" Rodney asked, purring as John's hands stroked down his sides.

"Because this can't go any further as long as we're on a mission. And has anyone ever told you that you revert to the wonder and curiosity of a child when you're drunk? It's very endearing."

"What?" Rodney felt his eyes widen. "I do not. I'm a grown man."

"You know, I've noticed that. But right now you're a drunk grown man who is very cute with wide-eyed wonder at everything."

Rodney huffed. "Am not."

John just smiled and continued to pet, running his hands through Rodney's chest hair.

Rodney hummed in contentment, his eyes slowly getting heavy as John continued to pet him, caressing his chest and sides. He felt safe, loved.

He woke again and it was very dark. John's hand was on his chest, calming him, soothing him, but making sure he was awake.

"Rodney? Hey, buddy. I need you to wake up enough to eat a little bit and have some water." A straw was placed against his lips.

"...time is it?"

"Late. I just got off my watch. As soon as you eat so your blood sugar doesn't crash overnight, I'm coming to bed with you."

"Mmm. Okay," Rodney said, shoving himself upright so he wouldn't choke on the water or food. He expected a headache and was surprised when he didn't have one.

John quickly fed him a PowerBar—a peanut butter, mmmm—and had him drink about a quarter of one of the canteens. Then he put everything away and scooted close. There was no tack vest, but John was still fully dressed otherwise, which was how he usually slept off-world.

"Um…John?"

"Yes?"

"Why am I naked and what are we doing here? I thought we were going home after the most embarrassing moment in my life was finished."

John snorted softly. "You're naked because I undressed you from the leathers you wore during the ritual. Your regular gear is at the foot of the bed. You had too much of the excellent wine our hosts provided, so you were a little fuzzy after the ceremony. Since it went late, we checked in with Atlantis and decided to stay the night, and finalize negotiations tomorrow morning before heading home."

"Oh," Rodney said, scowling a little as he tried to piece the memories together. One plus one in his head was giving him a negative number though. He scratched his nose. "So…I have to go through the really boring trade thing again in the morning?"

"No. You and Ronon are going to pack the gear and get us ready to go while Teyla and I do the boring trade thing. You proved you weren't trying to disrespect them last night, and I'd rather not force a repeat if we can help it. We were pretty much done, so it shouldn't take long."

"Oh, thank god," Rodney said, sagging against John, the other man chuckling at him. "Once was enough. I can't go through that again."

John snaked an arm around him, spooning them together to sleep. "Yeah, I didn't think you would want to do that again."

"So…was there a reason why you didn't let me get dressed again?"

John's voice was sleepy. "Because it was more hassle than it was worth, and I don't mind sleeping next to you naked."

"But we're off-world. What if man-eating bears attacked the camp? I would be running for my life stark naked."

John was silent for a few heartbeats. "If it bothers you, your clothes are at the end of the sleeping bag. You can pull them on. But right now, I really need to get some sleep. I've been on watch after negotiating all day, and I have to get up and do it again tomorrow. So if you want to get dressed, go ahead and do it, and come back to bed. We can talk about everything else in the morning."

Rodney huffed. "You were the one who woke me. And I don't have an issue with sleeping naked—I do it all the time. It's just that we never do it off-world, so it's weird and a little strange."

John's hand splayed wide across Rodney's chest. "I know. The only reason I left you this way was because you were very drunk and getting the stuff off you was hard enough. You kept trying to take it back. It was easier to leave you naked at that point."

"I was wearing a leather napkin. How hard could it have been?"

"You said it was yours. You liked the feathers. I got them to agree to let me keep that, since you were very put-out when I tried to take it off you."

Rodney felt his cheeks flush. He'd hoped that particular memory was a dream. "No, I didn't."

He felt the soft puff of John's laugh against the back of his neck. "Yes, you did. It was very cute." He yawned. "And I really need to sleep now."

"You were the one that woke me up."

"Wanted to make sure you ate a little something, and had a drink. Alcohol makes your blood sugar plummet sometimes. Didn't want you to get sick."

"Oh…yeah. Thanks."

Lips were warm on Rodney's neck. "You're welcome."

"Let me guess. You're tired and want me to stop talking now."

"I've been up since 0700 yesterday."

"I'll take that as a yes." Rodney quieted, letting out a long breath. He managed to stay silent for a few minutes before he sighed again. "Are you sure it's not time to be up?"

John whined softly. "I'm sure. It's 0100 in the morning. We have to be up at 0700."

"Oh." He was quiet for a few minutes. "But I'm awake."

John took a deep breath, then his arm disappeared as he rolled onto his back. "Your laptop is with your stuff. If you can't sleep, you can work on that. Just don't leave the tent."

Rodney watched John for a few minutes before finally sitting up and sneaking out from under the sleeping bag. He managed to get into his clothes without trampling John. After poking around on his laptop for a little while, he realized he had to pee.

With a sigh, he looked at John, debating whether to wake him or not. He really didn't want to. He was exhausted. It was the middle of the night.

Dragging on his socks and boots, Rodney unzipped the tent and headed out, finding a quiet place to take care of nature's call. Ronon was supposed to be on guard duty—at least he thought so. Either Conon or Xena. One of them.

His spurt of wakefulness was wearing out, though, as he trudged back to the tent, climbing inside.

Narrowed hazel eyes greeted him. "What part of 'don't leave the tent' did you not understand?"

"I had to pee," Rodney responded as he zipped the tent closed.

"And you didn't think it was a good idea to tell me?"

"You were sleeping and I'm not five." Rodney tugged off his boots, leaving his socks and clothes on as he crawled back to the sleeping bag.

John made room for him, letting him slide into his usual place in the other man's arms. "I know that, but waking up to an empty tent—and I woke up probably as soon as you were gone—wasn't much better. I had several seconds of panic. It's field protocol. You always let your tent-mate know if you leave, so I know if you've just gone to pee, or been kidnapped and I need to stage a rescue. I was about ten seconds away from radioing Ronon and Teyla to help me storm the place before I heard you coming back."

"One of them was on guard duty I'm sure," Rodney said, not feeling bad about what he did. "Besides, you don't tell me half the time where you're going."

John sighed. "I don't tell you what I'm doing all the time, no, but that's when we're all awake and in the middle of maneuvers. I don't leave the tent in the middle of the night without telling you. I would do the same for anyone I was bunking with in the field. But I don't want to argue about it right now."

"Good, because I don't want to either. I want to sleep."

"Thank God." It was quiet, but John's arms tightened around him, pulling him closer.

"You just want me to shut up. I understand that."

"I want you to sleep, because I don't sleep when you're not here with me and I'm exhausted."

"I'm not stopping you from sleeping. You were doing just fine before."

He felt John nose into the warm spot where his neck met his shoulders. For some reason he always liked to sleep with his face pressed there. "Lightly. I sleep better when I have you here like this."

Rodney sighed. "So sleep. I'll try to make sure nature doesn't call again until a time more convenient for you."

John squeezed slightly. "Don't care if you go pee, I just want to know before you do, so I don't have to worry."

"You have someone on guard duty. There's not going to be an issue when I have to pee."

John was silent for a few minutes, so Rodney didn't think he was going to respond. When he finally did, it was quiet. "I worry about you. I try not to, in the field, but I can't help it."

"I have no issues with you worrying, but there's worrying and smothering."

"I know. I try not to but... I woke up to an empty tent, and too many people have tried to steal you in the middle of the night. I started to panic."

"And a simple question to whoever your guard is will tell you where I might be."

"I hadn't gotten that far. I was getting ready to call Ronon."

"See, look. It would have been all figured out in a few seconds. No need to panic."

John sighed again. "Can we go back to sleep now?"

"I thought that was what we were doing."

"Talking and sleeping don't go together very well."

Rodney shrugged. "I talk in my sleep sometimes."

"I know. But that's reassuring noises, and you don't expect me to reply."

"You're the one continuing the conversation. I'm just keeping up my end of it."

John laughed softly. "I guess you're right. Sorry. I'll shut up now."

"Good night. And shouldn't I be the one complaining of the hangover and headache? I was the one who drank the wine. And it was good wine, too. Really nice. I know why they like it so much. You can get a nice buzz, but you don't wake up with the other usual alcohol-induced issues."

John's body shook with silent laughter again, but he didn't respond, just pulled Rodney a little bit closer, tangling their legs together.

He sighed, resting against John. "You know, I should be the one complaining. You were the one who woke me up in the middle of the night to shove food down my gullet and then complained when I was awake. It's not my fault. You did it."

John's hand moved up to cover Rodney's mouth.

Rodney tried to pull back, but John moved to keep his hand there.

"Sleeeeeeeeep."

Rodney huffed, unable to respond.

John kissed the back of his neck again, body relaxing. As he started to drift off to sleep, his hand slipped down.

Rodney shifted again, letting his eyes slide closed. Oddly enough, he was more comfortable with John's hand where it had been before…and wasn't that strange? Shrugging off the thought, he let his body and mind drift off to sleep.

***

They stepped through the Stargate on yet another alien planet. John had been with Rodney one this on—they had just done a boring milk run. They totally shouldn't have to do another again this soon. Granted, after the whole trust ritual thing, the last one had gone pretty well and they had returned home with a fair deal all around.

Rodney had even had the pleasure of knowing Lorne's team had found diddly squat, and had, in fact, been partially mauled by mutated plants. John still couldn't look at his XO without chuckling at the neon pink stains that still hadn't faded from his skin.

But that didn't mean he wanted to do another boring trade mission. Granted, they were better than fighting for their lives, but still…    

Sighing to himself, he glanced over at Teyla. "Which way?"

She shifted her gaze to the surrounding tree lines, her eyes narrowing as she took in the formations and landmarks only she knew. She pointed a few moments later. "The village should be a short walk in that direction. Once we are past the meadow, there should be a winding trail along a river."

He nodded, pushing his sunglasses into place. "All right, take point since you know how to get there. Ronon, you're on our six. Let's move out."

"We're walking again," Rodney said quietly after a few minutes. "I blister easily."

John made an effort not to sigh. This time, he did agree with his lover, and had fought Elizabeth as much as he was comfortable pushing it right now. "I know."

"What did we do, exactly?"

"Do?" John glanced over.

Rodney's hands waved in the air between them. "Do. You know, to deserve this. Did we piss her off? Did we accidentally step on a bug on some god-forsaken planet a few weeks ago that happened to be the re-creation of the Grand Poobah of bugs and then he called down some kind of curse on us?"

It startled John enough to get a short laugh out of him. "While that theory is plausible, my guess would be that she's just being overprotective. Our team was having a run of pretty bad luck and pretty bad times for a while. I think she thinks she's giving us a chance to ease back into things again."

"Okay…there's easing and then there's easing. We didn't break or anything," Rodney said, pausing slightly as he considered everything that had happened over the past months. "Okay, well, maybe we were a bit bruised and battered, but we didn't break. She doesn't have to go easy on us. I mean, look at Conon and Xena. They're withering away from boredom."

John could almost feel the amusement coming off his other teammates in waves. He was pretty sure he and Rodney were their chief source of entertainment most days. "You were there. I fought it this time, but I was overruled. And short of staging a coup, which I'm not really interested in, do you have any idea how much paperwork there would be? There's not much more I could have done. So we do a few of these cake missions, prove we aren't wilting flowers, and we get back to missions with a little bit of meat to them."

Rodney snorted. "I am not a wilting flower. You're the one with the Aqua Velva fetish. Maybe Elizabeth's olfactory senses are screwed up and all she smells when she sees you is flowers. Yes, that has to be the answer. This is all your fault."

"It's not Aqua Velva, it's Old Spice—and I haven't heard any complaints when I put it on in the morning after I shave. Apparently it's sexy."

"I'm not complaining. I think Elizabeth's sense of smell is screwed up."

John shot him a grin. "I'd dare you to try saying that to her in person, but I'm afraid you actually would, and then we'd both be in the dog house."

"I think we're already there. This can't get much worse."

"She could confine us to the city. That would be worse. At least this way we're getting out and getting some fresh air."

Rodney snorted shaking his head. "We've explored, what, a quarter of the city? We have plenty to do there."

John did sigh this time. "I know. Look, if we come home from this one in one piece with no one chasing us, I'll give it another go at convincing her to put us back on the front lines."

"Rash or no rash, exploring an abandoned Ancient city is still a better day in my book."

"I'll keep that in mind when I put together the mission schedule for next month."

"Okay," Rodney backtracked, getting amused glances from Teyla and Ronon. "I don't want to go to M79. That planet just looks deadly…that whole lemon-yellow cast to everything."

"Right. No citrus-colored planets. No worlds with bugs. A low UV factor is preferred... And we wonder why Elizabeth is giving us these missions." John grinned again.

"Oh, so now it's my fault," Rodney rolled his eyes throwing his hands in the air. Oh, an indignant Rodney was so much fun.

"Actually, the no bugs was mine." He shuddered dramatically.

"I still think it's your Aqua Velva," Rodney grumbled as the path turned to skirt along next to the river. John could see the village up ahead, a few buildings right on the riverbank.

He clapped the other man on the shoulder. "I'll look for aftershave that smells really bad, just for you."

"Great. You'll find something lemon-scented."

John made a face. "Then I would smell like a pie. I'm not sure I want that distinction."

"No, you'd smell like death. And then, of course, that would be a distinct turn-off for sex."

"So if I wore chocolate aftershave, you wouldn't mind pie-smell?"

Rodney leered at him. "What do you think?"

"We barely manage to leave the suite in the morning as it is. If I switched to chocolate, neither of us would be able to walk straight anymore."

"It's not my fault that my ass is so tempting," Rodney said quietly, his eyes shifting to their teammates as a blush highlighted his cheeks.

John's chuckle bordered on the dirty. Rodney was cute when he blushed. "You can't expect me to resist it when you parade it all around for me. It's so pert. It begs to be played with."

Rodney ducked his head, hiding the blush.

John's fingers twitched with the need to reach out and touch. He finally gave in briefly, brushing the back of his hand against Rodney's cheek before dropping it back to his gun. Since he enjoyed teasing his lover, but didn't want to make him really uncomfortable, John changed the subject. "Teyla, is there anything we should know about these people going in? Like not talking is considered a sign of distrust, or putting sunglasses on your head is a declaration of war?" He had caused a minor incident on one planet because of that.

Teyla turned, her expression slightly puzzled. She still had some issues grasping their humor at times. "They are a very warm and welcoming people. I have been here before to trade."

"Yeah, but I just want to know up front if we were going to have to prove we're not out to do anything except trade." Although the leather skirt had shown of Rodney's ass nicely, that ass had been on display for everyone. John really didn't like to share.

"I have never experienced any such thing and I have been here several times," Teyla said.

John relaxed a little. "Good. We'll go in, trade, and get out, home in time for roast beast and mashed potato things."

"And what is it we're trading for this time?" Rodney piped up, sarcasm in his tone. "Was it butternut squash or something like that?"

John shrugged and looked over at Teyla. "What are we trading for this time?"

Teyla's comment was quiet, resigned. "It is a gourd that grows plentifully in these lands, as well as other produce."

John looked back over at Rodney. "Yes. We're trading for squash. I wonder if the mess staff has something tasty we could use to bread and fry it. I always loved fried squash. I used to get it at roadside bar-b-que places when I was on leave in the South."

"Sometimes you should actually pay attention to the mission briefings," Rodney commented, rolling his eyes.

"I pay attention most of the time. Besides, that's what my team is for. You guys pick up on anything I miss and fill me in later." He broadened his grin to include all three of them. "That's why it's good to be the leader."

"Then go be the leader," Rodney said gesturing toward the village they were approaching. "You have your chance now."

With a wink and a smirk, John sauntered up to join Teyla, gesturing Ronon forward to stand with Rodney, so they were in pairs. However, he wasn't stupid enough to let his sense of humor override Teyla's better diplomatic skills—knowing when to let your team do its thing was just good leadership.

A few children and adults looked at them oddly as they walked into the outskirts of the village. They silently watched them pass, their eyes constantly on them. It had weirded John out at first, but had gotten used to it over time. It happened everywhere.

They made it to the center of the village before anyone stopped them. The leaders had assembled and were waiting for them there. John fell back half a step to let Teyla take the lead.

It was a little eerie how many people Teyla knew. They greeted her warmly, drawing her into Athosian-style hugs. She turned and introduced them in turn, each of them nodding as they were presented.

"So these are the Lanteans you've been living with," the man said, eyeing them carefully.

John took that as his cue, stepping forward to bow slightly. "We're honored to meet you."

"You're military."

John acknowledged that with a slight head nod. "I am in my world's military, yes. Doctor McKay, however, is a civilian scientist, and our people are ruled by a civilian."

"Huh," he said, looking at John for a long moment before nodding his head, gesturing to them to follow him as he headed deeper into the village. "You haven’t been in these parts long, have you?"

John shook his head. "We haven't. We are actually from another galaxy altogether. We are explorers tracing our roots from what the Ancestors left behind on our world." It was the explanation he usually gave out, and helped to avoid a lot of weird questions most of the time.

"Interesting. Very interesting," he said, rubbing his hand over his chin as he glanced back at them. "I've heard all kinds of stories about you and I was hoping Teyla here would be nice enough to bring you by."

John blinked. "I didn't realize we were getting a reputation. I hope people are only saying nice things about us."

"Depends who you talk to, but then, that's the same as everyone. I try not to judge people from what I hear, but without meeting someone it can be difficult."

John nodded again. "Understandable. I hope we live up to the positive stories, and prove the negative ones completely wrong. We're here because Teyla praised you highly as allies and traders, and we're hoping to establish a relationship as both with you ourselves." Okay, so he could do the diplomatic thing when he chose to. He just preferred to let someone else handle it so he could smirk in the background most of the time.

Instead, Rodney was doing that this time. John could feel the smirk without needing to turn around to look.

"I'm glad you came. We have a feast tonight that I'd like you to stay for. We can talk and get to know each other over dinner."

John gave it a half-second of thought before making the call. "Our people are expecting us back tonight. I'd like to send someone back to the Stargate to check in and clear a longer stay with our leader, Doctor Weir. As long as she clears it, we'd be more than happy to accept your hospitality this evening."

"I'll go," Ronon said gruffly, already turning to head back.

John didn't try to stop him, knowing the Satedan would not only be the fastest, he was the least likely to get mauled along the way. He turned all of his attention back to the head villager. "Is there anything in particular you're interested in trading in? We have medicines and medical knowledge on preventing and treating many diseases and sicknesses we'd be more than happy to provide, as well as services in identifying and fixing Ancient…Ancestor…technology."

The man glanced over his shoulder. "Well, that rumor was right."

John raised an eyebrow. "That's one thing we've never tried to hide."

He waved his hand in an absent gesture. "No, not that, although it is good to know. The whole get down to business thing you people do."

John felt himself flush slightly. "Ah, that's my fault, not necessarily how all my people act. I don't pretend to be a diplomat, sir, which is why I'm grateful to have Teyla here to kick me if I get out of line."

"And I'm sure she does a good job of it," he commented, sending a smile toward Teyla. "I know there was more than one occasion where she bested some of my boys when she was still a child."

John couldn't help the look of pride he shot Teyla at that. She could totally kick anyone's ass.

He gestured to a nearby building—rough stone and a thatched roof—ushering them inside. It was quaint if rustic—wood table and chairs, a fire blazing in the corner. It was more a meeting hall than a home, but it still had that same type of atmosphere.

"Please, have a seat. Would you like anything to drink or eat? I can have Audry bring something to us."

John shook his head, sitting with Teyla on one side and Rodney on the other. "I know I'm good, but thanks." They settled in to talk, mostly small stuff, Teyla and Yaalin—John finally picked up the guy's name—exchanging stories and catching up. John did his best to curb his impatience and smile politely, answering questions directed at him.

At one point, Yaalin leaned back, regarding John carefully before he spoke. "You seem very eager to share of yourselves, but you do not say much. Is that a mark of your people or simply of yourself?"

Snapping back to attention, John gave the man a rueful look. "That would be me. I'm not much of a... sharer. I think I mentioned that I'm not a diplomat. My job is to protect my people while they do the talking, sir."

"Yes, you mentioned that. Why?"

"I'm not sure I understand. Why what?"

"Why are you not a sharer?"

John resisted the urge to shift in his seat. He had spent the bulk of his life hiding pieces of himself. Only now, with Rodney and his team, was he starting to let some of that tight grip loosen up. He really wasn't comfortable discussing it with a stranger. "I never have been, sir."

"That's really not an answer."

"I don't really know what you want me to tell you. I've never felt the need to...share... with anyone, with only a very few exceptions, all of them recent." And why did it matter? But he wasn't stupid enough to ask that out loud.

"Then how do you intend on making alliances if you do not share part of yourself?"

Oh, he didn't like where this was going. "I'm seeking to make alliances on behalf of all my people, not myself, personally. I share my people's skills, compassion, and willingness to help with our allies and partners."

"But you are here."

God, he hated talking about this shit. Rodney was the only one it had ever been easy with, and his lover looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh. "I am."

"And you represent your people—the good, the bad, the passion, the love, the hates. You embody all of your people's qualities. If you do not share of yourself, how can we even begin to understand you? Your wants? Needs? How can we even hope to be friends or allies if we do not know each other?"

John's fingers twitched against his leg. They needed allies, badly, even with the reconnection with Earth. Otherwise he would just say fuck it and leave. He sighed internally. "What would you like to know about me?"

Yaalin paused, regarding him for a long moment. "You are uncomfortable."

He thought about saying 'Duh!' but figured that would be in poor taste and would probably end things right here. So instead, he nodded. "I don't like talking about myself. My people, yes. Our needs, what we can share with each other and do for each other, yes. But me, personally? That makes me uncomfortable. However, if you need to know about me to consider trading with us, I'm willing to answer questions."

"Why do you dislike speaking of yourself, your ideas, your opinions?" Yaalin was openly curious.

Well, he had said he would answer questions. John slouched in his seat a bit. "It was...discouraged when I was younger. After a while, it got to be habit, and as I reached adulthood, I found it was easier for everyone if I continued the practice."

"Are you hiding from others or yourself?"

John's eyes snapped up. He could feel both Teyla and Rodney watching and listening with avid curiosity. "I'm not hiding."

Yaalin nodded to himself, as if John's response was to be expected. "Would you prefer talking to me without your team members present?"

He immediately shook his head. "No. I don't mind them here. Look, I'm not trying to be rude. I got the shit beat out of me until I was six years old every time I opened my mouth to do anything except answer a direct question. And it only stopped then because I learned to keep things to myself. I'm sorry if that's not kosher here, but I don't really know what you want from me."

Yaalin sat back, a smile on his face. "Exactly that. Your honesty."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, John didn't fight the small sigh this time. So much for an easy mission. He somehow doubted Yaalin was going to be satisfied with just that one tidbit of information. And from the way Rodney had perked up next to him, he knew he would get questioned later, too.

"You had a large family?"

Looking up, John shook his head. "No. My mother died when I was a baby. My father....didn't like me much, so he sent me to my Grandmother every chance he could get away with. She died when I was 12."

John cool feel his teammates eyes on him, but he concentrated on Yaalin, who was nodding. "You loved her."

He shrugged, trying to push down the panic that talking about himself, his past, always brought to the surface. "She was the only one who gave a damn for a long time."

"Hmm…" Yaalin said, tilting his head to the side. "She taught you well. Do you dance?"

The non sequitur made John blink a few times. "Do I... what?"

"Do you dance? It is a simple question."

"Yes, but--"

"Good!" Yaalin clapped his hands together. "We shall dance tonight."

Opening his mouth a few times, John tried to figure out what had just happened. "We'll... dance. Um... May I ask why?"

"Of course." Yaalin leaned forward, his hands gesturing as he spoke. "You can learn a lot about a man when you dance with him. I would like to learn about you tonight."

John stared at him for a few heartbeats before nodding. If he screwed up a trade agreement because he refused to dance, Elizabeth would never let him live it down. "All right. I guess we get down tonight."

Yaalin chuckled. "There is no need to be nervous. This is not a test."

That did make him relax a bit. "You just want to dance with me. I think I can handle that." It was better than talking, at any rate.

"Good, good." Yaalin smiled again, this time turning toward Rodney. Apparently his lover was not going to be spared and John watched the realization flash over his face.

Sitting back, John was glad he was out of the spotlight.

"And what of you?"

"And what of me what? You need to be a tad more specific when you ask questions if you actually want to get a somewhat articulate and detailed response."

Yaalin just continued to smile. "Do you have an aversion to sharing yourself as well?"

Rodney shrugged, seemingly uncaring, but John could see the tension in his frame. "Depends on who's asking, what they're asking, and just how personal the information is."

"I am asking because I wish to know you."

"And yet you haven’t asked me anything."

"Tell me of yourself."

Rodney sighed quietly, shifting in his seat. "I'm a scientist."

"I believe that was mentioned, yes."

"That pretty much describes me."

The elder tilted his head. "You have no likes, no dislikes, no opinions on your science?"

"I’m the smartest man in two galaxies, but most of my opinions about science you'll have no reference for, so why share them?" John cringed a little at the tone, trying to shoot Rodney a 'play nice with the natives' look. Rodney, however, was not paying attention.

And surprisingly, Yaalin seemed amused instead of offended. "So tell me your opinions of yourself. Tell me of your family."

"I have a sister and two parents, a typical family arrangement." Rodney shrugged. "I haven't lived at home for close to twenty years so there's not much to say about that."

"And do you dance?"

"I try not to."

"So you will not dance with me this evening as well?"

"If I have to I will."

Yaalin nodded firmly. "It is settled then. I will give you some time to talk among yourselves, and I will return shortly to escort you to the dance and feast this evening."

John heard Rodney sigh quietly as Yaalin rose to his feet, exiting the building as Ronon was returning.

Leaning back in his seat, John waited. He had just let more about his past drop than he had previously in the several years he had known these people. He was surprised to realize that, if they asked, he was willing to tell them more. Huh. He still didn't necessarily like talking about it, but he didn't hate the idea of them knowing him that well as much as he used to, with others.

Rodney looked up at Ronon with a hopeful expression. "Please tell me Elizabeth said we can't stay out tonight."

The big man dropped gracefully to a seated position on the floor. "She agreed."

"She hates us. She has to," Rodney groaned, his head in his hands.

"I'm beginning to reassess my opinion on that. I might have to agree with you." John sighed, making himself more comfortable in the wooden chair, letting his limbs sprawl out a bit.

"What does she have against us?" Rodney asked, his eyes wide as he stared across the table. "Is she trying to turn us into hippies or something with all this peace, love, and happiness crap we've been force-fed?"

"I don't think she actually knows about this stuff in advance. It's just our cosmic karma." John looked over at Teyla. "So is this dance thing usual, or is it new to you, too?"

"I have danced with Yaalin and others here on many occasions." She shrugged. "They are a very friendly and welcoming people."

Well, at least this wasn't a made-up ritual just for them. That was reassuring. "What about the twenty questions? Is that usual too?"

"He has always been inquisitive."

They sat quietly for a few minutes, each of them lost in thought—well, John was, and he assumed everyone else was too since it was quiet. He finally sighed softly, needing to get some of this out so he could move on. Damn village elders making him think of shit he hadn't actively examined in years. "That's why I wanted to fly so badly. I always envied birds. Just spread your wings and soar away."

Teyla's hand on his arm made him glance up. Her expression was soft. "You do not need to explain anything to us."

He half-shrugged a little uncomfortably. "I know. But... I guess if you're going to hear bits and pieces, its probably better if you know the whole thing. Sort of like ripping off a band-aid. Do it all at once instead of dragging it out."

"Yaalin does mean well and will be a good trading partner. He likes you."

His lips twitched up. "If this is how he treats the people he likes..." He sobered slightly. "Seriously... I... know I don't talk much about myself. I'm really not trying to, to hide anything though. While I won't make the offer to the general public, if you guys... if you want..."

"It is not needed, John. We know."

He relaxed a little, relief flooding him. He would tell them if they wanted to know, but God, he was glad he wouldn't have to. "Thanks." He put his hand over hers where it was still on his arm, squeezing slightly.

"So this….dancing thing," Rodney said a few moments later. "What's that all about?"

Teyla's smile was serene. "It is a celebration of life and friendship. As he said, it is not required or a test, but Yaalin is very shrewd. He can tell much about a person from how they move and let go in the dance."

"I'm not letting go of anything," Rodney grumbled, rolling his eyes. John swore he heard Rodney mutter something about tree-huggers and hippies under his breath.

"You don't have to, at least not for anyone else." John reached out to touch his arm. "You can dance with me."

"And that defeats the whole point of him 'getting to know us'." Rodney's fingers made air quotes before him.

"He can watch us. He'd probably learn more about us both that way anyway."

"Well, I guess we'll see now won't we?" Rodney commented, rolling his eyes.

John shifted his chair so he could reach out and touch Rodney's arm. "You don't want to dance with me?'

"You know I'll dance with you," Rodney said defensively.

Smiling, John let his fingers trail down until he could push them just under the sleeve of Rodney's shirt. "Just checking."

Rodney huffed, rolling his eyes before turning his attention to Ronon. "So Elizabeth thought this was a good idea?"

The big man just shrugged. "Said we had a go."

"What did you tell her?"

"Said we were staying the night to cement the deal."

"Oh, great. They just wanted us for dinner and you tell her we're having a sleepover."

Ronon just shrugged.

Rodney sighed loudly, dropping his face into his hands. "This is a nightmare. It has to be a nightmare."

John reached out to touch again, letting his fingers linger on warm skin. "Dancing isn't really all that bad."

Rodney didn't reply, but he did straighten up, letting his fingers tangle with John's for a moment.

The team sat together for a while, exchanging small talk until Yaalin returned. He wasn't decked out in feathers or anything, so John took that as a positive sign. It was starting to get dark, so they followed the leader to a large bonfire—why was it always around a bonfire?—where already there was a band of sorts playing a very tribal-sounding song, with people dancing.

John glanced at their host. "So, ah, do you just want us to jump in there and, you know, dance?"

"No. Now we eat. When the music slows we can dance."

Rodney had perked up at the mention of food, so they moved to the table where a variety of dishes had been laid out. Between them, John, Teyla, and Ronon identified all the dishes that tasted safe for Rodney, with only two giving off a suspiciously tangy flavor they all decided to steer clear of. Just in case. Yaalin sat them on a log bench near the fire to eat, while he disappeared again, presumably to do something leaderish.

"Mmm. This is good," Rodney said around a mouthful of some stuffed bread thing.

The sight of Rodney so outwardly enjoying the food sent a jolt of need straight to certain parts of John's anatomy. He shifted a bit, hoping the darkness would hide the evidence.

Ronon shoved an elbow in his side, but otherwise didn't comment. Rodney was oblivious as he dug into his food with gusto.

Yaalin returned a moment later, laughing at Rodney's obvious enjoyment. "It is good to see you enjoy good food."

Rodney just grunted, which made John shiver a little. He set his plate aside, and rapidly told his body this was neither the time nor the place. When he looked back up, Yaalin was watching him closely. "The food was excellent, thank you."

"And yet you did not finish it. There is plenty."

"I'm a light eater."

"It is good to see your friends are not," Yaalin said with a light smile. "If you are finished with your meal will you walk with me?"

Wondering if he had just screwed this up, John rose to his feet, handing off his P90 to Ronon. "I'd love to."

"Good, good. Perhaps when we are done with our walk the musicians will have switched to music more appropriate to dancing." He gestured John to walk beside him, staying silent until they were moving away from the more crowded areas around the bonfire. "You do not trust easily."

Somehow John had thought this wasn't over. Yaalin seemed fascinated with him for some reason. "No, I don't. It's my job to protect my people, which means I have to be the one keeping an eye out for danger. And we've been burned a few times already, when people welcomed us with open arms, and as soon as our guard was down, attacked. I'm not saying I think you're planning something, but I've learned to stay on alert, always."

"Ahh. So those stories are true as well." Yaalin nodded to himself. "I had heard of the siege on your city from your supposed allies. It is difficult to place trust in others when it has not always been returned."

John gave the other man a startled look. He didn't realize anyone else besides them and the Genii knew about that. "We had evacuated our city for safety reasons, because of an incoming storm. A group we thought were, if not allies at least not direct enemies, took advantage of it to send in a strike team. I was the only soldier left to defend my leader and my scientist, and it was a close call." His words had gone flat telling the story. He hated Kolya with a burning passion for what he had done.

Yaalin was nodding, as if placing John's explanation within the context of what he knew. "What is it you look for in allies, friends?"

"Trust. Both someone we can trust, and who trusts us, even if that has to be built over time. Someone who keeps their word when they give it. Someone who is willing to be our allies as we fight this war against the Wraith and try to find a way to rid the galaxy of their threat once and for all. We also want and need trade partners, for both goods, and to spread the word that we aren't the monsters some groups are making us out to be."

"We don't have a lot to offer when it comes to weapons, though, Colonel."

John shook his head. "We have weapons and men who know how to use them. I wouldn't ask anyone to throw their people into the front lines. I'm more interested in people who are willing to pass along information to us. We've been dealing with the Wraith for a few years—you've been doing it for generations. We want and need people who are willing to help us look for patterns, weaknesses, and ways to exploit them. Hell, even knowing we have people willing to trade with us for food so we can focus our energy on beating those fuckers is a big help."

Yaalin chuckled. "Do you not mean suckers?"

That startled a laugh of John. He let some of the tension he had picked up bleed out of his frame. Running a hand through his hair, he shot the other man a rueful look. "Exactly, and sorry. This is something I feel pretty strongly about. Didn't mean to go off there."

"It is understandable. You wear a heavy cloak of responsibility for your people." Yaalin smiled at him again as they weaved their way through the small houses in the village. "It is much the same with me. I have to pick and choose my allies very carefully for fear of reprisal or treachery."

"I can understand that, and I don't mean to pressure you, so I hope you haven't taken it that way. I would much rather part wary friends than have another potential alliance blow up into all-out war. It's one of the reasons we're trying to reach out to people the Athosians have dealt with before, and had good relations with. It doesn't work every time, but at least this way no one is going in completely blind."

"I agree, although Teyla does have a good sense for people generally," Yaalin said, pointing John back toward the center of town and the roaring bonfire.

"I'm very lucky to not only have her as an ally, but to call her a friend and teammate. I'm not sure we would have survived this long without her guidance."

"And you mean that," Yaalin said, a pleased expression on his face. The music changed and he sped up his pace. "Come. It is time."

With a slight smile, John nodded and followed him. He did actually like dancing, and at least this time everyone he knew wasn't watching. He decided he liked Yaalin, even though the man was incredibly nosey; he would do his best to enjoy the dancing instead of looking at is as a chore.

And John nearly stopped in his tracks and laughed when he caught sight of his team. They'd all be pulled into the affair—even Ronon who was dancing with just about the smallest woman he'd ever seen. Teyla was dancing with a young woman and Rodney was dancing awkwardly with a tall brunette.

His smile was genuine as he watched them having a good time—even Rodney to a certain degree—and he didn't realize he was being watched until Yaalin caught his attention again.

"Come. I dance with you first and then your awkward friend."

John did laugh then, and let himself be led into the circle. It didn't look like there was a set dance, so he tried to match his pace and steps to both the music and the people around him. He spun and danced with Yaalin for a while, before a cute red-head snatched him up and the leader moved on to dance with Rodney. John got passed from person to person—eventually dancing with both Teyla and Ronon, before he finally had his lover in his arms. By then, the music had slowed, and most people were doing more swaying that dancing. "Hey, there."

"Oh. Hi," Rodney said, actually focusing on who he was dancing with. John could feel him unclench a little. "This is like my worst nightmare. Senior prom all over again."

"I've been watching you, and you're doing fine. You looked amazing. Your body was born to move."

Rodney huffed as he wrapped his arms around John a little more. "Yeah, move around the buffet you mean."

Feeling a little punch-drunk, John leaned in, breathing in the scent of exercising!Rodney. It was intoxicating. "Everyone wants to be the one who takes you home, but I'm the only one who gets to touch you like this. You call me Kirk, but God, Rodney... you really have no idea how fucking sexy you are, do you?"

John could feel Rodney ticking off the points behind his back. "Balding. Overweight. Bad with people. Talk when I shouldn't. Say things I shouldn't…"

John flicked off a few of his own. "Brilliant. Solid. Amazing hands. Quirky sense of humor. Eyes... God, your eyes. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you're really fucking hot."

Rodney sighed, leaning back to smile up at John. "Thank you."

Unable to help himself, Rodney's lips glistening a bit in the firelight where he had licked them, John leaned in for a taste, the kiss light, teasing. He whispered softly into the warm mouth, "Love you."

"Mmm," Rodney hummed, leaning in and deepening the kiss.

They weren't really even swaying anymore, and with a sigh of regret, John broke the kiss slowly. Even on friendly worlds that made you relax with oddly probing questions, they couldn't follow through, so getting them both aroused wouldn't solve anything.

Yaalin, of course, picked that moment to show up. "See. Dancing brings out your true feelings, your honesty. It is good to see."

They both flushed, although John didn't let Rodney pull away. "I—"

"You have nothing to be ashamed about. It is good to see you relax and trust others, Colonel and you, too, Doctor. I believe tomorrow we have much to speak about."

John pulled away from where he was still pressed to Rodney, but caught the other man's hand, tangling their fingers together. "I'll be looking forward to it. And since it is getting late, I'll let you go find your own bed, and see if I can't find the rest of my crew and bunk down for the night ourselves."

"We have several smaller buildings set aside for visitors if you so require one."

"That would be nice, thanks. Better than sleeping on the ground at any rate."

Yaalin smiled, gesturing for them to follow. The stopped at the table to retrieve their gear and their other two teammates. Yaalin showed them to two neighboring buildings. "You will not be disturbed. I can send someone to wake you in the morning for breakfast."

They all said their thanks, and then John sighed. "Okay, usual watch schedule—I'll take first, Teyla, you're next, then Ronon on sunrise shift."

"Hey," Rodney protested. "I can watch just as well as the rest of you."

Most of the time Rodney didn't notice he wasn't given a watch. Figures today would be one of the times he did. "I know you can. But you're also not a soldier. In the field, it's our jobs to make sure you get home safe before any of the rest of us. Not to mention, we rely on you being fresh and sharp when the unexpected threatens to blow up."

"And, therefore…" Rodney crossed his arms over his chest, his chin tilted up, lips a thin line.

It wasn't worth the argument, especially not in friendly territory. "All right, Rodney can take first watch, I'll take second, Teyla's third, and sorry Ronon, you're still on sunrise."

"Fine with me," he said, ducking into one of the huts, Teyla following a few steps behind. Rodney glared at John for a moment before shrugging on his vest and checking his thigh holster.

John didn't arm himself yet. He didn't want Rodney think he was trying to belittle him or anything, John settled down next to the other man, sitting with his back against the hut wall. "So what did you think of all the dancing? Yaalin's an interesting character."

"I thought you were going to get some sleep." Rodney didn't look at him, instead checking his gear to make sure everything was in place—just like John would.

A warm thread of pride went through him. "I won't sleep anyway. I usually don't before I go on watch. It's why I always put myself on first or second, so I still get at least some sleep in the field."

"Then go rest. I'll be fine."

"I know you will, Rodney. When I take second watch, I usually stay up and keep whomever is on first watch company. You can ask Teyla. It's usually her."

"So that's why you look like you're running on the barest energy reserves when we're out on a mission."

John shrugged. "I can't always take first watch, it wouldn't be fair to everyone else."

"You're the boss. You can do whatever you want." While Rodney's answer was normal for him, the tone was off.

John sighed. "What's bothering you? I can't change it or fix it if you don't tell me."

"You're coddling me."

"I'm not, at least not right now. I don't do this for just you. I can't sleep when I know I have to get up to take a watch. I'd rather spend it keeping you company than staring at the ceiling is all. I'm not even armed right now, Rodney. If someone did attack, I'd be relying on you to warn everyone and hold them off while I got to a weapon."

"You mean the weapon that's sitting on the ground next to your thigh. Yeah, very non-weapon-like. I can take a watch just like everyone else."

Pushing himself up, John fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Fine. I'll be in the hut. Come get me in two hours for my shift. I'm not trying to coddle you. Well, not on purpose. You're my responsibility out here. My first and last duty is to get you home safe as not only a civilian, but as the chief science officer of Atlantis. Yes, I have very personal reasons for it, too, but that's not why I act the way I do in the field. I want you to know that."

"I understand that, but I'm more than willing to do my share."

"No one ever said you weren't. We just all know that when it comes to the science stuff, and fixing it or getting us out of something tech-related, you're the only one who can. You pull more than your fair share in that regard. So to try and balance it out, we don't make you sit watches most of the time."

Rodney didn’t answer, but his back tightened a little.

"If it means this much to you, I'll make sure you get a watch rotation whenever we're off-world."

"Sure. Whatever you want. I'll wake you in a few hours."

John knew there was nothing he could say to make Rodney happy right now, and everything he tried was just making things worse. So he sighed again and slipped into the hut, lying down to stare at the ceiling. He started counting primes in his head to keep himself occupied while he waited for his shift. He was up to 5,897 when a noise at the door made him lift his head.

Rodney was digging in his pack by the door, tugging out a bottle of water. He moved outside again and John could hear his footfalls against the dirt as he walked the perimeter.

Sighing, John let his head fall back down and started counting again. He was at 7,537 when he glanced at his watch—Rodney should be coming to hand off soon.

John waited five minutes. And then another five minutes.

Fuck. Please, please, please don't let this be one of the times the friendly people just waited for them to go to bed before trying to kidnap the scientist. He rolled onto his feet soundlessly, grabbing a weapon to start for the door.

And then he heard Rodney's light chuckle from outside and a few whispered words.

He holstered the gun and let out some of the panic that had been building. If someone was out there trying to poach his geek...

"Goodnight, Yaalin," Rodney said, the words finally clear. A moment later, Rodney was pushing open the door to the hut, obviously on his way to wake John. He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted John on his feet in the middle of the room.

"You were late, and I couldn't hear anything, so I was coming to check. But then I heard you talking to someone, so I stopped to wait here until you were ready to be relieved."

"Yes, all of two minutes late. I didn't think you kept precise military time in that brain of yours," Rodney said, his eyes narrowing. "And I'm tired and going to bed. Wake me in the morning."

"I was counting primes actually. I know exactly how many are in a half-hour." John sighed. "I've been keeping time until my watch that way since basic training. Sleep well. I'll be in to bed after I hand off to Teyla in a few hours."

"Sure. Try not to wake me."

John just moved outside, walking the perimeter and wondering how the hell he always managed to piss Rodney off in the field without trying. It was like his lover was just looking for things to get mad about sometimes. After securing the area, John settled in to watch the night pass by.

It was quiet, peaceful. Whoever was up and about during Rodney's watch had long since gone to sleep leaving John alone with the crickets—or whatever passed as crickets on this world.

The time to pass off to Teyla came and went, and John wasn't really tired or anxious to crawl into a bed where his welcome was in question, so he made the decision to let his team sleep. They were only out for a night, and it wouldn't kill him. He walked the perimeter again a few times, and was still awake when the sun started to breach the horizon, staining everything a peculiar shade of grey.

Ronon, of course, was the one to growl at him on one of his passes.

"I know. But I couldn't sleep anyway, so there was no reason to disturb everyone else's sleep. Go back to bed, I'll get you up in another hour when we break camp."

"Just go make nice to McKay and go to bed."

"At this point it would be useless. I'm up and I'm fine. Go enjoy the wonders of sleeping in for a change."

"I'm up. So's McKay. Heard him cursing a little while ago."

Lovely. "Ronon, if I tried to go lie down now, I'd only make myself groggy. I'll sleep tonight when we're back in the city."

"Fine," Ronon shrugged. "I'm going for a run."

"Would people stop saying that to me?" John snapped it, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry. Go, enjoy your run. I'll get everyone else up in an hour, so be back here by then."

"I will," he said, already heading off into the woods.

John made himself a cup of instant coffee and did another perimeter sweep before glancing at his watch. It was time to get everyone else up. He poked his head into Teyla's hut first. He made sure she was awake, not giving her time to question why he had never come to get her last night before walking into his and Rodney's—well, Rodney's—hut. "Hey, wake up. Time to break camp, negotiate, and then head for home."

Rodney glanced up from where he was sitting on the bed, working on his laptop. "Fine."

"Still mad at me I see." John sighed, but started gathering up the little gear he had pulled out, packing it away.

"Tired of waiting."

"I thought you were sleeping."

Rodney shrugged as he shut down his laptop. "Lasted about two hours. Watched you march around for a while. When I finally figured out you weren't coming to bed I tried to sleep." He shrugged again. "Looking forward to going home. So, can we get this over with?"

Guilt washed over him. Fuck, why did he always manage to do exactly the wrong thing. And he had no idea what to say that wouldn't just piss Rodney off further. "I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. Are we ready?" Rodney rose to his feet, shoving his laptop into his backpack.

John moved up behind the other man, wrapping his arms around him, resting his face against Rodney's neck. "Yes, there is. I'm sorry I pissed you off, sorry I didn't come to bed, sorry I'm an ass sometimes."

"I’m the one who started it, so it's my own fault. Can we just get this done so I can go home and go to bed?"

John tightened his arms a bit briefly. "I love you. Please... I don't want to fight, especially about something this stupid. I don't want to go home if it means I'm sleeping on the fucking couch tonight."

"I'm not fighting. I'm tired and I just want to get this over with so I can go home. Can we do that?"

John gave up. He let his arms drop and turned to grab his pack.

He heard Rodney sigh loudly, the shuffle of the scientist's feet on the floor. "Look. I'm tired. I want a shower and a good fuck and both of those are not happening here. I know I was wrong to push last night and I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated that you're not using me for things I know I can do. I realize that you're just trying to protect me—and that's nothing new—but sometimes it just seems like you almost want to wrap me up in some blanket or force field to protect me from every single bump along the road. While I don't necessarily like the bumps, they're part of life and you can't avoid them all. And that's all I'm saying on the matter."

John blinked. Turning around, he caught Rodney's hand before the other man could move away, pulling him in so their fronts were pressed together. "We can continue this later, after we've slept and fucked and touched. But Rodney... I want you know that's not what I was doing. I'm sorry it felt that way to you, and I will try to do better. But I wasn't trying to protect—well, not any more so than usual. In my head, for tactical reasons, your strengths lie in the science and tech stuff. I know you work better fresh, and we never know when an emergency might happen. So it seemed like a better division of resources to take you off the watch schedule so I always know you're fresh, and split the time between Teyla, Ronon, and myself, who are next to useless at anything except keeping you alive if that kind of situation arises."

"I know that, but sometimes it just seems different."

John didn't want to give the other man a flippant answer, so he thought about it for a minute. "Could it be because I don't change that policy generally no matter what the situation is, but when we're on worlds like this one, where there isn't much for you to do, you notice the difference?"

Rodney shrugged. "Maybe."

John brushed his lips lightly over Rodney's. "Then I'll try to remember, on worlds like this, to alter how I divvy up the duties. I didn't mean to make you feel useless. Just the opposite. Your role on the team is too important to risk having you at anything less than one hundred percent."

Rodney nodded slightly, more a tilt to his head than anything. "Thank you."

"Are we okay now?"

"As good as I'm going to be without a shower or food or coffee."

"Then let's see what we can do to wrap this up. I could go with a shower and about a gallon of coffee myself." They separated again, gathering up their items and meeting the rest of their team outside the huts. Yaalin was already waiting for them, so John ignored the narrowed glances of both Ronon and Teyla. He knew he was going to hear it from them later. Well, he would hear it from Teyla while Ronon stood behind her and glared. Instead, John turned his attention to the village leader. "Good morning. I hope we're ready to pick up where we left off yesterday?"

Yaalin smiled gently at John. "Once we break our fast, yes, I believe we can."

"Great. Lead the way." They followed him through the village, John popping a few caffeine pills he kept in his vest for times when he needed to be awake in the field and didn't have time to sleep—or, in this case, had chosen not to. They weren't the best, or the healthiest, but they would get him through the negotiations more or less clear-headed.

Breakfast was good—from fresh breads and jams, to fruit and cured meats. It was like Yaalin was pulling out all of the stops for them. John was a little surprised then, when Yaalin asked if he could show Rodney something while they finalized the negotiation.

Immediately wary, despite himself, John unconsciously moved closer to his lover. But so far, these people hadn't given them any reason to doubt, so he, somewhat reluctantly, nodded. But he wasn't letting anyone on the team go off on their own, for any reason. "Ronon, you can be his buddy while Teyla and I finish up here."

The Satedan nodded, climbing to his feet as one of Yaalin's aids led Rodney away. For the next hour, though, John's mind kept drifting to what might be happening beyond what he could see. When Rodney burst into the room with a huge grin and wide eyes, John almost shot to his feet.

His eyes flickered to Ronon, who was as relaxed as the man ever got. That made John relax. Whatever it was, it wasn't going to kill them or explode or anything. "Found something new?"

"Whatever they want, just say yes. This is good. Really good."

John raised an eyebrow, glancing back over at Yaalin, who was openly smiling. "We were just about done here—is there anything we need to talk about adding to the deal? My resident science geek doesn't light up like that for just anything."

"As long as we can come back as often as we want…" Rodney said, turning his hopefully wide eyes on Yaalin, who simply laughed and nodded.

Come back...? "Rodney, what exactly are we talking about here?"

"An intact Ancient lab."

John's eyes widened. "Intact as in whole and powered and accessible? And what kind of lab?"

"I don't know and I don't care. But it wasn't destroyed by the Wraith and it's still got a little juice. With a generator hooked in…" Rodney's voice trailed off.

John nodded slowly, turning back to Yaalin. "All right, what can we offer in exchange for unrestricted access to the site?"

"Share what you learn with us."

"That would be a given, yes. From what we've encountered in the past, local labs, even the ones no longer in use, have had major impacts on the ways cultures and customs were shaped on those worlds. Anything we find that you could use, or that impacts you in some way, would be made available to you. Hell, if you have someone who can keep up with the geniuses, you'd be more than welcome to have them join our team in examining it."

Yaalin nodded. "We have two who would like to learn."

John looked over at Rodney. "I'm assuming it would be a given that you would be in charge of getting the project off the ground. Do you have anyone on staff who could help out at the lab, and spend some extra time educating the locals on the technology, how it works, and what we find?"

"Yes, yes. Of course." Rodney was not going to say no to anything right this minute—which was also probably why Yaalin had shown it to the scientist.

John turned back to Yaalin. "This changes things a bit, as I'm sure you know. I'd like to have a chance to run this by Doctor Weir, my leader, before I start promising too much. I was authorized to bargain for food stuffs and goods, but I'd like to check in with her before we go too much further negotiating time for the lab. If you don't mind tabling that part of the discussion, I'll meet with her as soon as I return and draw up a proposal as to what we'd like to have, in terms of personnel and access, and what we can do in exchange, like training your people and getting the information to you."

Yaalin nodded. "A good choice and one I approve of."

"Excellent." John rose to his feet, bowing to Yaalin. "I think it's safe to say this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Give us a day or two to fill in Doctor Weir on everything we've discussed, and either myself or another team will be through to go over the finer details, make any necessary adjustments, and then get started. When we come back, I'll bring our Doctor Beckett and some of the medical supplies we talked about, so we can start teaching your people what they are and how to use them."

"I’d like you to come and finalize this," Yaalin said, offering John a bow. "While I understand there are others among you, I wish this of you."

Since that wasn't a completely unreasonable request, John nodded. "I'll make that clear to Doctor Weir, that you've requested that. I don't think it will be a problem at all."

"Good, good. Then I shall see you, your partner, and your team in a few days."

They all bowed again, and then were escorted back to the gate. Rodney was practically bouncing. As soon as they were through, John caught the eye of Elizabeth, who was at the top of the stairs waiting for them. "We come bearing allies, Ancient labs, and trade partners. No running for our lives, no kidnapping attempts, and no incidental drugging."

Elizabeth chuckled and smiled. "That's always good to hear, Colonel. Why don't you get your check and get cleaned up and we can reconvene for a post-mission briefing in two hours?"

He shot off a quick, sloppy salute. "Yes, ma'am. We'll see you in a few hours." The post-mission went quickly. As they were wrapping up and getting ready to go change before heading to the conference room, John caught Carson. "Hey, could you sit in on the post-mission? We offered med supplies and training, and I'd like you to come through with us when we return to finalize this thing."

"So you're offering up my staff again, are ye?" Carson asked, a smile on his face.

John winked at him. "You're the best renewable resource I have access to."

"Aye, I'll give you renewable resource," he said shaking his head. "If I canna be there I'll send someone else."

John nodded. "Great. I' like it to be you, just because the leader of this world, Yaalin, has the potential to be an excellent ally. But if you can't make it, one of your staff will be fine. Now, I think I need a hot shower, a change of clothes, and then I have a briefing to get to."

"Aye, that you do," Carson said—a little too quickly.

John raised an eyebrow in question.

"The lot of you were a little more fragrant than normal."

Laughing, John nodded his head and scooted out of the infirmary. He arrived in their suite to find Rodney already in the shower. He stripped down quickly and joined him, pressing against his lover's back. "Mmmm, my favorite. Wet, naked Rodney."

"Wet, naked John is not bad either," Rodney said, leaning back against him with a sigh.

When Rodney turned his head, John kissed him lightly, settling his arms around the other man's waist and pulling them together so his dick—which was starting to get interested—was nestled against its favorite place in two galaxies.

"Mmmm…we have a briefing," Rodney protested in between kisses even though he didn't stop and his hands drifted down to John's thighs, tugging him closer.

"Not for a half hour. I can work with that." John dragged one hand along Rodney's hip, working it between them so he could pet that perfect ass. "We have waterproof lube and multi-tasking is sexy—shower and fucking at the same time."

Rodney moaned and John could feel the vibration move through his body.

His body went from sort of interested to urging him to get on with it already in a few breaths. With a moan of his own, John grabbed the tube of lube off the shower shelf and quickly slicked up a finger, working it inside the tight heat of his lover. "Want to be inside you right now, want to feel you around me, know I'm touching you deep inside, making you cry and beg and push back for more and more and more."

Rodney trembled, letting his head drop back against John's shoulder. His eyes were closed and he was panting through his open mouth. "Yes, please."

Since they were both tired and horny and did have a briefing to get to, John didn't try to drag it out. He stretched Rodney until his lover was accepting three fingers, then removed them and pushed his aching erection in where it wanted to be. They both sighed as he slid home, their bodies melting together.

Shifting them, John pushed Rodney against the wall, pressing as close as he could get. Rodney pushed back against him, moaning and begging quietly for more.

Working a small patch of skin on Rodney's shoulder between his teeth, John started to move, fucking almost gently, as he snaked a hand around to give Rodney a place to thrust into as they moved.

"God, yes…" Rodney panted, his voice quiet, broken a little.

Marking and fucking and jerking Rodney off—John lost himself in his lover, letting himself just feel and taste and smell. It didn't take long for orgasm to build, so he growled out an order for Rodney to come when he did just before he tipped over the edge.

Rodney shuddered and came with a soft cry of John's name. John could feel all of the tension instantly evaporating from Rodney as his lover slumped against the wall, blanketed by John behind him.

They panted in sync while the water continued to pour over them. Loving the feeling of intimacy, John put a finger over Rodney's lips to indicate he wasn't to speak. He then pulled out slowly, grabbing a soft cloth and the soap so he could wash his lover carefully, completely.

Shifting them as little as possible, John let the soap, the wash cloth, and his hands clean every area of Rodney's body, feeling his lover relaxing further, slipping down into submission with each pass. It was so sweet so perfect like this.

Once Rodney was completely clean, John swiftly washed himself before shutting off the water. He linked their fingers to guide Rodney out of the shower, toweling him down, making each pass as much of a caress as he could. When they were both dry, he glanced at the clock. They had fifteen minutes before they needed to be anywhere. Leading Rodney to the bedroom, he pulled the other man into bed and wrapped his arms around him, just wanting a few minutes of closeness.

Rodney didn't protest, didn't pull away, didn't question anything. He shifted closer, sighing quietly in contentment as his eyes slid closed. His arms were wrapped around John, hands splayed across as much skin as he could touch.

John wasn't aware that they had both fallen asleep until there was a discreet throat-clearing next to the bed, a hand on his shoulder shaking him slightly.

"John?"

"Mrph? C'sn?" John forced his tired body to respond and wake up. "What're you doing here? Time's'it?"

"You're about thirty minutes late for your briefing." His voice was quiet, but amused.

"We are?" He squinted at the clock on the nightstand. "Shit. Neither of us slept last night, but I didn't plan to fall asleep. Rodney? Hey, buddy, we're late."

A soft puff of air was his only answer. It was about the same time that John realized they were stark naked on top of the covers.

He felt himself go bright red, and of course the doctor could see that he blushed with a good amount of his body. "Ah..."

Carson laughed as he headed out. "I'll wait out here and give Elizabeth a call to let her know you're on your way."

"Thanks." Slipping off the bed, he quickly pulled on a pair of boxers, then did the same from Rodney, who still hadn't moved. "Rodney? Hey, I know you're tired but I need you to wake up. Let's go brief Elizabeth about the cool new lab you found and then we can call it a day."

"Later." The answer was mumbled and barely loud enough for John to hear. But it was an answer.

"She's waiting for us now." He stroked the curve of Rodney's cheek. "I'm sorry I can't let you sleep right now, but to make it up, I'll break out a square of the really good chocolate as a reward for getting moving."

Rodney just huffed and didn't move.

Padding out to the kitchen, John ignored Carson's raised eyebrow as he rooted around for the chocolate. Finding it, he broke off a square and re-hid the rest. God, he was tired. He had known a nap would just make him groggy. Still not saying anything, he walked back to Rodney and rubbed a corner of the dark candy against the other man's mouth.

An eye opened slowly, regarding John for a moment before he shifted, taking the small square in his mouth. He moaned as soon as it touched his tongue, the eye sliding shut again.

"Ah ah. You only get the chocolate if you get up. Come on." John tugged on his arm. "The sooner you get up, the sooner we can get this over with and go back to bed."

With John pulling him upright, Rodney did finally open his eyes, scowling at John the entire time. "So unfair."

"I know. But Ancient lab with full access. More of those little berry things they had at dinner. And as soon as we convince Elizabeth to give us a go, we can come back to bed and not get up until tomorrow."

Rodney groaned. "I have to do work after the briefing."

"It can wait until tomorrow when you're fresh."

"No, John, it can't." Rodney sighed, sliding to the edge of the bed and standing. "It has to be started today and I have a few meetings scheduled I can't put off."

He sighed. That meant he would actually have to go do work, too. "All right. But can you end fairly early tonight? Say 1500? I'll grab us some dinner to eat here, and we can crash. We both need a good night's rest."

"I have a 3:30 meeting."

John banged his head against the nearest wall.

"I'm not trying to be difficult. Look, these were scheduled before this mission and we weren't supposed to stay over." Rodney was standing with his hands on his hips, going from lazy and half-asleep to awake and annoyed in ten seconds flat.

"I know." John kept his forehead against the wall. It was nice and cool. "I wasn't saying you were. I know how it goes, and work is the one place I try not to interfere with you. What time do you think you can be done?"

"It should be a normal day. If I can get away earlier, I will. I won't know until I actually go to work."

"Okay. If I decide to turn in early, I'll let you know. Otherwise, I'll be in my office, probably."

Rodney was silent, but John could feel the weight of his eyes on John's back. When he turned he had to laugh. Rodney was standing there, his arms crossed over his chest in a position that was just so normal for him. The only difference was the distinct lack of clothing. Since they'd been together naked had become almost normal to him.

"Do you have any idea how appealing you are? I'd say adorable, but you know where I live and I like hot water."

"What?" And his confusion…god. That just made it ten times better.

Crossing the room, John pressed his lips to Rodney's forehead. "Never change."

Rodney huffed, rolling his eyes. "Shouldn't we be somewhere?"

"Mmmm hmmm." John had gotten distracted by how good Rodney smelled, all clean and sleep-warmed. He rubbed his nose in the other man's hair, moving down his neck.

"John…" Rodney's protest was half-hearted. "Isn't this how we ended up being late?"

"Mmmm hmmm." Opening his mouth, John started to lick at the spots he was sniffling.

Rodney's hands slid over the skin just above John's waistband and he hummed, whatever remaining protest he had dying on his lips.

Making a happy noise at the submission and the glide of Rodney's hands, John let his eyes drift shut as he continued to taste and nibble his lover. So good...

The pounding on the door made them both yelp and jump. "What are you doin' in there? Elizabeth's waiting."

John sighed and kissed Rodney lightly before pulling away. "We're coming. Just let us get dressed."

"I thought that was what ye were doing all this time."

"We got distracted." John pulled out a fresh set of clothes for each of them as he shouted at Carson through the wall.

"Distracted!" John could almost feel the red in Carson's face through the door and wall. Rodney just shook his head and climbed into his clothes as Carson went on at length about meetings and issues and lateness. Rodney paused only long enough for John to add the cock ring from his set before he pulled up his boxers and pants.

Tuning out the ranting doctor, John reached over to flick one of Rodney's nipple rings. He kept his voice low. "I love seeing you decked out in this. When we aren't being hounded and we aren't exhausted, I want to spend a whole night with you in nothing but this full set—cuffs included. It can't be used for any real bondage, so you'll have to submit to me because you want to."

Rodney nodded, moaning quietly as John played with the one ring, his shirt clutched in his hands. "Okay."

"You'll kneel at my feet while I feed you, and then we'll watch a movie with you nuzzled against my leg. I'll give you a pillow so your knees don't bother you. Later, you'll spread yourself out on the bed for me like a feast, and keep your hands above your head and your legs wide because I tell you to."

"I will, John," Rodney whispered, leaning forward to kiss John.

They kissed for a long moment before there was another bang to the door. "For God's sake, can't you two keep your hands off each other for ten minutes? I'd think after a year you'd bloody well be over the honeymoon stage."

Rodney turned to the door as he straightened. "I'm not touching him!"

John let his hand fall away. "It's not my fault he's so, so touchable! You can't put me in a room where he's naked and expect me not to touch him, Carson."

"People are waiting on you." Carson had moved past amused and annoyed to angry.

Pulling his shirt on over his head, John sighed, doing a last quick sweep to make sure they were both decent before wandering out. "We're here, we're coming."

Rodney was a few steps behind him, his shirt and jacket in place. He was carrying his socks and shoes with him. John spotted Rodney's radio on the small table by the door. "About bloody time," Carson said, scowling at them.

While Rodney put his shoes on, John slid his own radio into place and tossed Rodney's over to his lover. Then he grabbed two PowerBars, opening one for himself and handing the other to Rodney as he rejoined both him and Carson. "Let's go."

The briefing—once they got started—didn't take long. Rodney only had so much information on the Ancient outpost but had intentions on doing more research in the Ancient database that afternoon between his meetings. During the short time he had to look at the base was promising, though.

Elizabeth was happy, but cautious. She called for another meeting tomorrow to make the final assessment for the follow-up mission once Rodney had a chance to pull together his information.

John headed to his office, trying to plow through reports until it was time for dinner and bed. And god, did he need to go to sleep.

A late afternoon chat with Lorne kept him awake—at least partially—but it was only enough to keep him in his office until 1800. He had an hour until Rodney was off-duty and they'd get dinner. To kill the time, he headed back to their apartment figuring he could nap for an hour or else work from home.

John wasn't expecting to find Rodney—a naked Rodney—sitting on the couch with his laptop.

Sucking in a breath, John slowly walked across the room.

Rodney glanced up and offering John a quick smile before going back to what he was working on. "Hey. You're back early."

"I want to suck you right now. Please. Put the laptop aside and spread your legs for me. I'll let you finish what ever you need to in a minute." He dropped to his knees in front of his lover.

The scientist didn't protest, setting the laptop next to him on the couch as he spread his legs as John had asked. "John? I'm really not going to argue with you about the whole blow-job thing because…well, frankly I really like them…but what exactly brought this on?"

Humming, John leaned in, licking his way up the shaft that was rapidly filling until he could suck on the head. He wanted to answer, but that would require letting Rodney out of his mouth, and he wasn't ready for that yet.

"Oh….okay…good answer…feels good…don't stop…" Rodney panted, his head dropping back against the couch.

Letting his hands rest on Rodney's legs, John set about making him feel really good. He sucked and licked until the twinge in his jaw told him he just couldn't keep it up much longer. He took Rodney deep and hummed hard, hoping the other man got the message.

And he did. With a soft cry and a slight thrust upward, Rodney was coming, the tension in his frame evaporating as the orgasm rolled through him. John petted him and sucked him, making sure he got every last drop before he pulled off.

John laid his head against Rodney's thigh as the other man recovered, closing his eyes and just relaxing. He licked his lips to chase down the lingering flavor of Rodney.

"Not that I'm complaining," Rodney said quietly, his fingers threading through the hair at the base of John's neck, "but I have to ask: what was that for?"

John purred at the contact, feeling boneless. "Needed you."

"Well, I have no plans on leaving this room until tomorrow morning."

"Good." John hadn't opened his eyes, and was feeling pretty damn good himself. "Need to finish what you were working on?"

Rodney shrugged. "Trying to get some more information pulled together for tomorrow's meeting with Elizabeth."

"'Kay. Don't mind me."

"Unfortunately, I can't work with you down there. It's distracting and I have no intention of putting my laptop on your head."

Huffing, John forced his eyes open, moving his head so he could look up without losing the contact. He flicked his tongue out, the tip of it catching a bit of Rodney's now-soft dick.

Rodney moaned quietly, his eyes sliding half-closed.

John finally moved, kissing the tip of Rodney's cock before pushing up on his knees to brush a soft kiss across his lover's lips. Not letting Rodney deepen it, John continued his upward momentum, getting back to his feet. "Do we have anything here suitable for dinner?"

"I…" It took a few beats for Rodney to continue, wrenching his eyes open again. "I didn't even look."

"I'll do that while you finish what you need to then." John started rummaging through their pantry, finding some random things they had both hoarded that could be made into a meal of sorts.

It took Rodney a few minutes to get himself back into work mode, finally tugging the laptop back into place, his fingers drifting over the keys as he searched through the database. The wireless router in the apartment gave Rodney a nearly perfect connection into the Atlantis mainframe from the comfort of the couch.

When he had the assortment of crackers and jam, cheeses that didn't need to be refrigerated, one of the apple-like things he had sliced into sections, and a bowl of assorted nuts—from both Pegasus and Earth—John rejoined Rodney on the couch. He popped a few things in his mouth, munching as he sprawled out. He had popped the button open on his fly, relieving the pressure that had built during the blowjob. With his eyes closed, John let the comforting sound and presence of Rodney soothe him.

At some unspecified time later, Rodney was lightly shaking John awake. The laptop was closed, sitting on the table. Rodney had pulled his legs up onto the couch and was staring at him with a soft smile. "The bed is more comfortable you know."

"Mrpgh." John just let his body tip over, so he was lying half on top of Rodney. "Comfy."

Rodney snorted, but shifted to give John a little more room.

John purred again as a hand wound through his hair. He started to drift again, but forced himself to open his eyes. "If we don' move now, M'not gonna."

Rodney nodded. "And I should probably eat, too."

"Left you sm'stuff on the coffee table." John's eyes started to close again, before he jerked himself awake.

"Come on," Rodney said, shifting out from under John and tugging him to his feet. John let him, trying his best not to make things more difficult. Rodney stripped him and pushed him into bed, dragging the covers over him. "Get some sleep."

"Cm'to bed with me?" John knew he was slurring his words, but he didn't care. He just wanted to sleep, snuggled up with a warm and pliant Rodney.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. I need to eat first."

"'Kay." John let his body relax. He managed to hold on to the edge of consciousness long enough to feel Rodney climb into bed beside him. He was surprised to feel a warm hand on his dick, even more surprised to realize it was still half-hard. With a wordless mewl, he pushed up a bit into the touch.

"Shh…let me. Please."

He spread his legs, giving Rodney the access. It was almost surreal, and John was so exhausted that all he could really focus on was how good even the light touch felt.

After a few strokes, the blankets shifted and then John was enveloped in a wet warmth. He groaned and thrust up into Rodney's mouth. His lover worked him quickly, lovingly, drawing out his pleasure without it becoming too intense, too painful.

With a cry, John came, pushing up into it, letting Rodney lap up every little bit of come. When he finally relaxed back into the bed, he was nearly incoherent with relaxation. "Mmmm."

Rodney shifted around on the bed, barely rising out from under the covers. His head was resting on John's stomach, arm thrown over John's thighs, leg bent at the knee over John's lower leg and ankle. John felt the contented sigh as Rodney relaxed against him.

With a happy sigh, John let his eyes close a final time, and let sleep claim him.

***

Two days later they were back on Yaalin's planet and Rodney was elbows-deep in the Ancient computer systems. The small naquadah generator had been enough to get the main systems up and running to the small research lab.

Yes. An Ancient research lab.

So while John and Teyla were off playing diplomat with Yaalin, Carson and one of his nurses—with Lorne as a babysitter—was with Enyran going over medical stuff. That left Ronon with him and the two native scientists. Rodney used that term loosely. Frick and Frack—as he'd dubbed them—had been hovering all day. They did ask good questions and they'd learned when to be silent—which was most of the time—but it was odd to have them staring at him as he worked.

Buoble—a.k.a. Frick—leaned over and pointed toward one of the consoles.

"Please, Doctor McKay, could you tell me why this light has started blinking?"

Light? What light? Groaned Rodney shifted and turned so he could see what Buoble was pointing to. "What? Oh. It's fine."

Buoble got a very diffident look. "Could you tell me what it means? I do not wish to intrude, but I am interested..."

"Yes, yes. You're interested in learning of the Ancestors and their ways. You said it fifteen thousand times." Rodney sighed, pulling himself out from under the console and to his feet, dusting himself off. "That light indicates whether or not the console is correctly connected to the rest of the facility. For some reason the power between this console had been disrupted so I've been trying to re-connect it."

"Ah. Thank you." The native made a few notes in the book Rodney had given him before going back to watching avidly.

Rodney rolled his eyes, catching a smirk from Ronon, as he turned back to his work. It wasn't long until Frack—a.k.a Igmohen— had questions. And then, of course, Buoble had more. Rodney was shocked that he actually got any work done, but after about an hour of interruptions the console was up and running and he was scrolling through the data housed within.

That, of course, was when John strolled in. "Hey, kids. Find anything interesting?"

Rodney tried not to sigh, he really did. "Some."

"Do we know what this facility was for yet?" John was absently stroking a console, although he wasn't pushing any buttons. Rodney knew Ancient technology liked to flirt with his lover, calling to him, trying to seduce him into turning it on.

"Don't turn anything on," Rodney snipped, turning back to his tablet PC that he'd connected with the mainframe. "It's a research facility, which we already knew. It was a little bit of a hodge-podge though. There's no real specific answer as to what they were researching. Oh, and the facility is a lot bigger than you think."

Moving further in, John nodded. "It feels... big. Bigger now that you have some power getting to it. I suppose it's too much to hope that we've finally managed to stumble across the place where they researched and built ZPMs."

"I wont know until I can get through more of the database here. I have time to do that, right?"

"Yeah. We're staying the night again, and Yaalin's given us permission to set up a semi-permanent camp here if it turns out this place is useful, as long as we agree to give them access to anything we find."

Rodney nodded, his eyes flickering for a brief moment to Frick and Frack who were listening intently. "Good. I'll need more time to go through everything. I'm just surprised the Ancients didn't keep more information in a central database somewhere. Would have made my job a whole lot easier."

"When have the Ancients ever done anything the easy way?" John grinned wryly. "I'm going to go out to establish camp and the perimeter. Holler if you need me for anything."

"You think I won't?"

John just laughed as he made his way back out, pausing briefly to speak quietly with Ronon before disappearing again.

Rodney rolled his eyes and went back to the scrolling data. A blinking notification grabbed his attention a few minutes later.

"Experiment completed" it said along with several lines of informational data—length of the experiment, lab, scientist assigned.

Huh. It seemed that something had been left running.

A few clicks later and Rodney had narrowed down the lab in question. It was a few hallways deeper into the facility than they'd already explored. In for a penny…

"I’m going to check something out," he told Ronon as he unhooked his tablet PC.

The former Runner pushed off the wall, following him.

Rodney expected the bodyguard. He'd resigned himself to it—not that he really minded, honestly. At least Ronon didn't argue with him.

It took about ten minutes to find the right section, Rodney's flashlight providing most of the illumination in the area. A few quick checks on his PC and he hummed to himself. Yes, this was it. Three doors down on the right.

Ronon just quietly followed along, staying far enough back that he wasn't interfering with anything, but close enough that he could jump in should trouble pop up.

And Rodney wasn't expecting trouble. There was nothing alive down here except him and Ronon—and the two villagers. He waved his hand over the door panel and the doors slid open, revealing the half-lit interior of the lab.

It was bare, but several of the consoles were active, displaying data. Rodney immediately plugged his computer in, making sure to pull all the information he could. This was actual Ancient research. How cool was that?

He tugged a stool to the console and sat down, absorbing himself in the data. It was scientific—that much he could make out. No odd medical tests. It looked like it had to do with shield technology. Huh. Maybe.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he heard Ronon rumbling something into his radio.

Rodney ignored Ronon and his mumbling. If these figures were correct he could augment the shield around Atlantis to provide a little better protection.

"Sheppard wants to know if we're dead yet."

"Not dead."

"I'll tell him. He says dinner is almost ready."

"Good. I’m hungry. Tell him to bring me something good."

"He says you have to come up for it—stew of some sort."

"I’m busy."

With a huff, Ronon walked over and flicked Rodney's radio on. "Tell him yourself."

"Ow!" Rodney said, flinching away from Ronon as he looked up to him with a glare. "What did you do that for?"

"Tired of being the go-between."

The now on radio in his ear crackled. "Rodney?"

"I heard you're bringing me dinner."

"It doesn't travel well. They made us a local stew, but the bowls are shallow. From what Ronon tells me, you're in there pretty deep. By the time I'd get to you what little was left would be cold. How long do you think it will be until you hit a stopping point for the night?"

"Oh. Ah…I can just grab a PowerBar, then."

"No."

"Come on, Sheppard," Rodney started to whine, only to be cut off by John again, his tone hard and a little hushed. He must have turned away from the group he was with.

"When do I ever let you work through the night when it's not an emergency? No, Rodney. I know you want to play, and I'm willing to be flexible if you need to find a stopping point. But you are coming up here for dinner, and then getting a good night's rest so you can start again fresh in the morning."

Rodney sighed, but he knew better than to argue. John was right. This wasn't an emergency. "Fine. I'll be up there in about twenty minutes."

"I'll keep a bowl hot for you." John's voice held a definite note of affection. "Sheppard out."

Rodney turned his radio off and made sure he had everything he needed from the console before disconnecting. Ronon just smirked at him as he walked past. "What? I'm hungry."

His teammate fell into an easy step beside Rodney, herding the natives ahead of them. When they got to the surface, Rodney saw Teyla talking to a group of women, and John sprawled on the ground, chatting with Yaalin, who was perched on a stump next to him.

It was already starting to get a little dark and the bonfire in the center of the village was lit once again.

John glanced up, his expression happy when he caught sight of Rodney. A shallow bowl was sitting on the ground next to him. "Hey! I have your dinner here. Ronon, Teyla snagged you a bowl too."

"Where's Carson?" Rodney asked as he settled in on the ground next to John with a loud groan.

"Over there." John pointed to the bonfire, where the doctor and his nurses were dancing.

"Oh. Look. Dancing." Rodney rolled his eyes as he dug into his food. "Now there's a big surprise."

John chuckled, but turned back to Yaalin, obviously returning to a conversation they had been having. "So, yeah, that's what its like, sort of. I wish I had planes here so I could really show people."

Rodney just rolled his eyes, tuning John out as he ate. As he was finishing the bowl, it was John's tap on his leg that pulled his attention back to the present. "What?"

"Yaalin has some...questions...he'd like to ask us both privately. If you're okay with it, that is."

"Ah," Rodney glanced back and forth between John and Yaalin. "Sure," he shrugged. "Why not?"

John rose to his feet, holding a hand down to Rodney. "Let's go somewhere less public then. If we're answering personal questions, we aren't doing it in the middle of camp."

Letting John tug him to his feet, Rodney followed them as they moved to the buildings set aside for guests. Apparently John had picked the same one they'd been given a few days ago. Once they were inside, Rodney tugged off his vest and pack, dropping down to sit on the edge of the bed.

Yaalin made himself comfortable in one of the chairs while they both settled sitting on the bed. "You are lovers, are you not?"

Rodney shot John a wide-eyed look. "What does it matter?"

John shrugged, catching Rodney's hand in his. "Yes."

"Again, my question. What does it matter?"

Yaalin was watching them carefully. "It is not unusual for two men to seek comfort in one another, with cullings and other disasters leaving almost everyone mourning a loss. However, you fascinate me. Your attraction to one another is deep, and yet you go out of your way to hide it. Colonel Sheppard refused to answer my questions about this without both of you present."

"You said something when we were leaving the other day and you're bringing it up again. Is there a point to your curiosity?"

Yaalin shrugged. "You interest me."

"But why?"

John had leaned back on the bed, propped up on his elbows. He was watching the conversation avidly.

Yaalin smiled. "Because you seek happiness, but neither of you is a man used to getting it, I think. You do not share easily of yourselves, but you trust one another, more perhaps than you realize."

Rodney sighed. "Fine. I'll play along." He shifted on the bed, his legs bouncing a little. "Yes, we're lovers. Yes, we trust each other. I trust Sheppard with my life and my sanity. Is that what you wanted to know?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you love him?"

"Why do I…" Rodney turned to John who just looked at him, offering no help. He sighed, turning back to Yaalin. "Why do you want to know?"

"Why are you so reluctant to answer the question that you try to deflect it?"

"Because it's none of your business."

"Ah, but you agreed to answer my questions when you came here with Colonel Sheppard. So you have, in effect, allowed me to make it my business."

Rodney turned to John, his eyes wide and pleading.

John's lips curved up slightly, and he squeezed Rodney's hand. "He's just going to keep finding ways to ask until we tell him what he wants to know. I'm not against answering a few questions."

"Well, you might be more inclined to share with others, but I'm not."

"I know. But I have a feeling the fact that talking about this stuff makes us uncomfortable is half the reason he's asking."

Yaalin just smiled serenely.

"Then you answer him."

"He didn't ask me this time."

Rodney sighed, shifting on the bed. "I know. How about I leave and then you can answer anything he asks you? I think that's a good idea." John grabbed him before he even made it to his feet.

"Stay." He glanced over at Yaalin. "I'm sure I'll regret this, but I'll answer anything you want to know."

"We have spoken and you have answered the questions I posed of you. The Doctor has not."

John stared for a moment. "All right, but he gets to refuse to answer anything he isn't comfortable with."

Yaalin's lips pursed slightly before he rose to his feet, and Rodney knew at that instant that his refusal to answer a personal question was probably going to ruin their stupid trade agreement.

"Look," Rodney said, shifting slightly, John still holding onto his arm. Rodney's hands were clenched into fists and his stomach was ready to turn inside out. "There is no reason to be talking about any of this except for your insane curiosity. I love him because he makes me happy and he makes me feel complete and safe. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Yaalin smiled slightly. "Yes. I want to hear your honesty. It is easy to be honest when discussing a topic that means little to you. When confronted with something that does, it is both harder to tell the truth, and to hide when you lie."

"Fine. You got your question answered. Are you done?"

"Why do you feel safe with him, when you did not with others? How is he different?"

Rodney opened and closed his hands once before clasping them together. "He is."

Yaalin sat back down, and John was trying hard not to look interested, but was failing miserably. "Have you simply never tried to put this difference into words, or do you just feel uncomfortable sharing them with him present?"

"He knows how I feel."

"You are secure in your feelings for one another, yes. That much is clear, and admirable. However, I am asking what attracts you to one another over all others."

This apparently wasn't going to be over until Yaalin's curiosity was served. "He's different than everyone else. He actually cares about what happens to me, cares about me as a person."

"No one has ever cared for you this way before?"

Rodney shook his head. "No."

John's hand had moved from his arm to the small of Rodney's back, where his thumb was caressing a small strip of skin. "They were stupid, but their loss is my gain."

"John's the first who actually cared about my opinion and what happens to me," Rodney said quietly, knowing that until he actually said the words Yaalin would not be happy. It would be easier just to get this all out in one fell swoop—even as painful as it was to talk about. He'd rather forget it, but apparently the guilt trip from aliens was all he needed to spill the beans. "Who wanted me for something other than a convenient ass to fuck. I've…I've been on my own since I was young and he's the first person to actually want me to succeed, who encourages me to be myself, to fulfill my potential, but who also takes the time to tell me when I'm wrong and when I'm headed down a path that may be self-destructive."

"He gives you reign to be your own person, but pulls you back when you seek to push yourself too far?"

"Yes. And he's been patient and has stayed with me when others, myself included, would have left long before."

Yaalin rose suddenly, moving over to them and reaching out a hand to each of them, resting on their shoulders. "This is the kind of men I seek to be allies with. I thank you for your honesty."

He left a few moments later, the door closing behind him with a thud. Rodney just sat there, John's hand in the small of his back, his body shaking slightly. God. He hated that.

He was gently pulled backward, until his entire back was warm against John's body, strong arms wrapped tightly around him.

"What they hell was that all about?" Rodney asked, the words a hissed whisper.

"He wanted to see how we would react, what makes us tick. I think he needed to know more about us, feel more comfortable with us, if he's going to be more than just a trading partner. He has the potential to be a real, strong ally."

"He had no right to ask those questions."

"It's over now." John's breath tickled his neck.

"No right." He closed his eyes, letting the warmth from John seep into him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to grill you like that. I knew he wanted to know about our relationship, but I assumed they would be questions for both of us."

"Not your fault. Not like you could read his mind."

Lips brushed Rodney's ear. "I know. But I'm still sorry you were uncomfortable. Let's go back to our tent. I've put the Marines on watch duty, so we're both free. You can tell me about the lab, and then we'll get a good night's sleep."

Rodney opened his eyes and shifted so he could see John. "I thought we were staying here. Isn't that what these buildings are for?"

John shrugged. "We could. Yaalin offered. But I thought you'd be more comfortable in our tent after that. If you want to stay here we can."

"There's a bed that's not on the ground."

John's body jiggled with amusement. "Here it is then. Let me up so I can get out of my vest. Take off your shoes and get comfortable while I check in and let Teyla know where we are."

Rodney shifted forward so John could climb off the bed. In the meantime he tugged off his boots and stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt. A quick check of the bed for strange creatures and he was sliding between the sheets. Rodney could hear the beat from the villagers' instruments and the low chatter of John on his radio.

Soon, the other man was sliding in behind him, spooning them together. "So how was the lab? Is it worth our while to negotiate for the permanent camp?"

"It'll take a long time to go through everything, but yeah, worth it." Rodney shifted, pushing his ass into John's groin.

It was only because they were so close that Rodney heard the soft groan John gave at the contact. "Do we know yet what type of research they were doing here?"

"Lots. Different projects. The one I was trying to sort through involved shield enhancements. The experiment finished processing once we got the generator hooked up. The Ancients didn't even stay there long enough to finish it."

"Shield enhancements?" Rodney could hear the tactical wheels in John's head starting to spin. "Like for the city? Or more personal shields?"

"For Atlantis. At least that's what it seems like from the power requirements."

"Can they be implemented without draining our power any more than the current ones? Because I'd love to have stronger shields, but not if it means we only get to have them for a few hours instead of days."

"I don't know. I was still making odds and ends of everything when you demanded I come to dinner." Rodney rocked against John again, loving the moan he got in return. So he did it again.

"You can...go back down tom…tomorrow. God, Rodney..." John's hands moved to Rodney's hips, digging in a little.

Rodney rocked back again, feeling John's hardening cock rubbing against him.

"We can't... aren't supposed to do this... god... off-world." Rodney loved that he could drive John crazy, make him want so badly. And that it happened every time, that John always wanted him so much, was just... amazing.

"And?" Rodney rocked his hips again, his own cock hardening as John's erection aroused him more.

He got a growl. John's heat disappeared suddenly, making Rodney gasp in protest. But before he could really panic, or worry, his lover was back between the sheets, yanking him close again. He got another growl, and then his boxers were pulled down just enough to let John work a hand in. The slick finger that pressed inside him let him know what John had gotten up for.

"Oh god…"

John sucked Rodney's earlobe into his mouth at the same time he pushed a second finger in alongside the first.

Rodney moaned, a little louder this time, only to have John shush him.

"Quiet. You make any noise louder than my voice right now, and I'll stop. I'll jerk off where you can watch, but you won't be allowed to touch, and you won't be allowed to come."

Rodney whimpered, clamping down on the sound before it got too loud. He wanted this, wanted this so badly.

"Very good. You want to be a good boy for me, don't you? Want to feel me pushing in deep, claiming you right here, off-world, in an alien bed. Make you mine."

"Yes. John, yes, please," Rodney panted, rocking back into John's fingers.

He got another growled 'good boy' before the fingers were withdrawn, to be replaced with John's hot, heavy dick, stretching Rodney open. When he was fully inside, Rodney could feel the scratch of John's boxers—his lover had just pulled himself out through the slit to fuck Rodney senseless.

John rolled him so Rodney was on the bottom, stretched out on his stomach as John filled him. John shifted him upright onto his knees a beat later, a position Rodney knew allowed John to fuck him quickly.

And then he was taken hard, John hitting Rodney's prostate on almost every stroke. It was rough, it was fast, and god it was good. A hand snaked around to fist Rodney's leaking erection. "Come when I do."

Rodney panted into the bed, moaning, trying to let the mattress absorb the sounds he was making.

It didn't take John much longer, and he bit Rodney's shoulder hard as he came.

Rodney moaned as came, falling directly into the wet spot a few seconds later, but too sated to care.

John stayed on top of him, heavy, comforting, for several long minutes before pulling out and rolling off. He moved off the bed, returning a moment later with the handkerchief from Rodney's tack vest. Rolling Rodney over, he quickly cleaned them both off then pulled boxers back into place before situating them for sleeping comfortably.

Pushing his face into John's shoulder, Rodney sighed and relaxed into him, listening to the beating of John's heart and the thumping beat from the bonfire dancers.

"Night." John whispered it softly, pulling Rodney a little closer.

"Night," Rodney said quietly, letting his body tumble down into slumber. He wasn't really expecting to be woken up a little while later from a pounding on the door.

John was up in a flash, a gun almost seeming to appear in his hands.

The pounding repeated and Rodney sat up in bed, his eyes wide as John padded barefoot to the door.

"Colonel Sheppard! Doctor McKay!"

John opened the door, gun still held at the ready. "Yes?"

"Are you sleeping already?"

"Well, we were."

"You must come with me. Both of you."

"Why?" John had narrowed his eyes slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Please. The moon will not stay in its position long and we must have you with us."

With a sigh, John started grabbing his clothes. "All right, but you're going to have to let us get dressed."

"No. Clothes you do not need, are not required. Please come." Yaalin was very insistent.

"Wha...?" Yaalin had grabbed John's arm and was tugging him insistently. John glanced back. "Rodney, come on. We'd better go see what this is about."

Rodney quickly rose to his feet, following behind, feeling exposed in his boxers, his ass sore from the fucking. Great. Just great.

Yaalin was saying something about the bonded and the color of the moon and a required something something. Rodney's jaw just about hit the floor when they rounded the corner to the slowly dying bonfire.

Surrounded by dozens of naked couples.

Yaalin lost his robe a moment later as his wife—naked wife—tugged him into the group.

John had frozen and was just staring.

"John?" Please let this be a nightmare.

"Oh my god."

"They're all dancing aren't they?"

"Naked. They're dancing naked."

"Yaalin wants us to do that."

Several people were suddenly there, and before either of them could process it, they were stripped of their clothes and pulled into the circle.

Rodney fought against the hands touching him, tugging him forward. "Nononononono." There were Marines on the planet with them, people who didn't know about him and John. This was bad. Very bad. Horribly bad.

John was fighting it too, a look of panic on his face as he tried to get free, get to Rodney.

"Let go of me," Rodney demanded, trying to get himself free of the moving naked bodies.

John was suddenly there, grabbing him. "Oh my, god we have to get our clothes and get out of here before one of my men comes by."

Yaalin swooped past, breathing heavily, the dying embers of the firelight making him glow a little. "None of your men are awake and Specialist Dex assured me none would venture out of their tent."

Both of them froze. "What?" John's eyes were wide. "Ronon...."

"He was patrolling when I went to retrieve you. All bonded couples are required to attend. It is a great honor to be a part of this."

"And he said none of my other men were up or would see this. Yaalin... I know you're...understanding... of Rodney and I, but some of my people aren't. If they find out we're together, it could cause problems for us."

Yaalin nodded. "As Specialist Dex informed us. Please, dance with us. You will be back in your beds shortly."

Rodney watched John's face flicker through several emotions before he finally nodded. "All right. But no one else touches my lover." John pulled Rodney closer, his posture possessive.

"You were not appropriately attired and the moon does not last long like this," Yaalin said, his hand gesturing up to the red-hued moon. "It is an insult for the bonded not to participate. I apologize if we were too…aggressive in our insistence of your participation."

"Just next time... give us some warning." John sighed, but took Rodney's hand and pulled him into the dance. He lowered his voice for Rodney's ears only. "Just you and me."

"I explained as we walked here," was all Yaalin said before his wife tugged him away once again.

"John?" Rodney asked a beat later.

"We need them as allies. If all they want us to do is dance naked for a few minutes, we can do that. Just you and me. Focus on that, and ignore everyone else." John was actually a good dancer, so he picked up the rhythm of the bodies around them quickly, leading Rodney through.

"I'm naked!"

"So am I."

"But….but…I’m naked."

"You're naked all the time for me." John's voice dropped into his bedroom tones as they moved. "I like you naked. You're beautiful."

Rodney shifted in John's arms, trying to push down his panic at the situation. They were dancing, naked, along with like half the village. And they were all naked. And actually, looking around, there was no one watching either. The two musicians had to be husband and wife from the looks they were giving each other. There were no kids around. No one was watching them from the side lines. It was just naked couples dancing. Men with men, men with women, and women with women.

"Close your eyes and let me lead you. Forget about everyone else. Just focus on us, together."

With another glance around the area, the firelight nearly gone, Rodney nodded. They were just two other naked dancers. They blended in. Leaning in closer, Rodney closed his eyes, letting the music and John move him.

And John did, pulling him to what felt like new heights. When he surrendered his body completely to his lover, they soared.

With every step, Rodney felt something change, felt the air shiver and shake around them. He could hear the hushed panting breaths, the slide of skin against skin, the quiet moans swallowed by kisses.

Closer to home, John's breath was getting harsher, and when they moved together just right, his erection brushed against Rodney.

"John…" Rodney whispered, wanting to taste him.

"Rodney..." John's hands pulled him closer, their mouths meeting, tongues mingling.

Had to be the moon. Had to be. Rodney groaned into John's mouth, opening up under his lover.

And John took. Everything, everyone, else faded. His world was just John, and John's hands on his body, guiding him as they continued to move to a dwindling beat.

Now this…this was dancing.

John's kisses got hotter, more demanding, more sensual. "Want you. Now."

Rodney just tried to get more from John, touching him, tugging him closer, rubbing himself against him. God. It was like he couldn't get enough.

John moaned, and stopped dancing, lowering Rodney to the ground. Between kisses, his voice was breathless. "Please tell me there's still enough lube from earlier to fuck you now."

"Just do it," Rodney growled, pushing up into John.

"I'm not going to hurt you." A finger was pressed to his entrance, and John groaned. "Not enough. Fuck, not enough to be inside you."

"Oh god, John please…" He needed him inside him right now. He tried to press down on John's fingers, let them slide inside. Vaguely he knew other couples around him were in similar positions, but right now he didn't care if he was in the middle of one huge orgy. He could freak about it tomorrow. Right now he wanted to get fucked.

"Lube, we need lube. If they're going to have a fucking sex ritual..." John trailed off. "There's a bowl of something over there. Don't move."

"John, damn it, get back here!"

His lover scrambled, grabbing a little bowl near the fire and coming back swiftly, kneeling between Rodney's legs. He coated a finger and this time pushing all the way in. The lube he used was warm, almost hot, from where it had been near the flames.

"Oh god….more, please…fuck me, please."

John moaned as Rodney clenched around his fingers. "Soon. God, soon."

Rodney heard someone moan loudly near them, which only turned him on more. "Fuck me, please."

John growled and pulled his hand free, replacing it once more with his erection. He pushed in deep, bending Rodney's legs back as far as they would comfortably go so he could fuck him hard.

This did explain the whole off-world sex before. A fucking moon.

But Rodney wasn't complaining, his moans and groaning only spurring John on more.

Whatever the moon was doing to them, it was giving John amazing stamina. He just kept going, kept taking Rodney, driving him higher and higher.

He was going to be sore in the morning, but he didn't care one iota. He clenched his ass where John was thrusting into him, pulling a groan out of John.

John started talking, dirty words about how good and tight Rodney was, how much he loved him. When he resorted to just chanting Rodney's name over and over, Rodney knew he was getting close.

"Please, John…please…take me…want you to…"

"Come. Rodney, please, come, pull me over with you..."

Rodney whimpered, but obeyed, letting go as John thrust in again, spilling between them as he clenched down on John's cock.

A moment later, heat filled him, John making a high-pitched whine as he came. He collapsed down on top of Rodney, panting hard. "Nng."

Panting, Rodney moaned, his entire body over-sensitized, wanting more.

"So good..."

"More…please…John…" Rodney felt an almost desperate need for more. Damn fucking moon.

John moaned. "Fuck me. I need... Rodney... Let me ride you."

"John…" Rodney was begging, his cock already hard again.

Getting the bowl of lube, John sat up, coating his fingers and almost clumsily started to open himself up while his other hand fumbled lube on Rodney's dick.

Rodney's cock was so hard it hurt and watching John and listening to the moaning all around him was not helping.

"Fuck it." John sat up on his knees, grabbed Rodney's cock, and sank down. He moaned, his own dick full and leaking again.

"Oh….oh…so good…feels so good…"

John took him all the way, head thrown back. The he started to move, fucking himself on Rodney, clenching around him. "T…touch me. Please...."

Rodney touched as much as he could reach, his hands tracing patterns on John's skin, stroking him. "So good, so good…"

John's breath was hitching as he continued to ride. He caught one of Rodney's hands and moved it to his nipple. "I need... Rodney..."

Shifting up a little, Rodney reached for John's nipples, playing with them, tugging on them as John rode him hard.

With a soft cry, John let his head fall back again. He managed to work out that Rodney could come when he did before he seemed to lose himself in the fucking, in the feeling of Rodney moving deep inside him.

They moved in rhythm, holding out until John finally spilled across Rodney's chest, clenching down on Rodney's cock deep inside of him. With a groan, Rodney followed him over the edge, panting and moaning as he tried to catch his breath with John lying sprawled across him.

John wiggled his ass a little, making them both groan since Rodney was still inside him.

"I think I'm broken."

"Me, too."

People were beginning to move, shuffling to houses and shoving arms into robes. Rodney glanced overhead, noting the normal looking moon. "I think it's over."

Sitting up, John moaned as he moved to let Rodney slip free. "God, neither of us is going to be able to walk tomorrow. What was that?"

"A fucking moon. Had to be."

They managed to stumble to their feet, just before Yaalin and his wife appeared, wearing robes and holding out a set for John and Rodney. They took them and shrugged them on quickly. "Does that happen often?" John sounded tired.

"Once every several lunar cycles." Yaalin shrugged. "It was time. We shall have healthy children added to our numbers in nine cycles."

"Please tell me that the...the fucking moon... just makes couples horny and doesn't magically make everyone have a baby. Because I'm not sure we could explain that to Doctor Weir, if one of us came back knocked up." John's lips twitched slightly.

Yaalin laughed heartily. "Only those to whom the natural ability lies will produce offspring. Is it different on your world?"

John grinned. "No, but we've seen weirder stuff. You just never know sometimes, so I figured it didn't hurt to ask. Good, so we participated in a moon-drunk orgy, had some pretty spectacular sex, and now we can go sleep it off, right? Or is there anything else we need to do?"

"The time of joining is complete. Have a good night, my friends."

John clasped elbows with the other man, and then linked his fingers through Rodney's. "Come on, buddy. Let's go get a few more hours of sleep."

"Oh, god, yes…" Rodney said, his eyes already closing, his body finally exhausted and sated. He stumbled a few times as they walked back to the house they'd claimed. Ronon's knowing smile was bright in the darkness as he nodded to them before they slipped inside.

Great. Just…great.

But he didn't have much time to think about it. John divested them both of their robes and pulled him into bed. They kissed a bit—more for comfort and the connection than anything else. There was no way either of them was getting it up again tonight.

"We just had public sex."

"Mmm hmmm. But we weren't the only ones, and no one was paying any attention to us."

"Public, off-world sex in an alien sex ritual."

"Blame it on the moon."

"And we mooned a lot of people tonight."

"None of them were watching." John's eyes were sparkling with amusement. "They were too busy getting laid themselves."

Rodney shifted and moaned. He was sore. But it felt really good.

John chuckled. "Go to sleep. We can deal with any residual freaking out in the morning."

"Good plan," Rodney muttered, his eyes closing as he shifted again, trying to get closer to John. His ass though, still complained.

John's arms wrapped around him, holding him tight. He was safe. Loved.

Humming Rodney let himself fall asleep. He'd worry about walking in the morning.

***

John slipped into the mission briefing, wondering why Elizabeth had seemed a bit hesitant about it when she had called him to arrange the time. He slouched into his usual seat and waited for everyone else to arrive, Rodney wandering in last and taking his usual seat next to John.

Weir still looked a bit nervous, which was making John suspicious. “So, we getting something other than a milk run this time? We won’t break you know.”

"Yes and no," Elizabeth said, glancing down at her PDA. "The Sudukans have requested your presence."

Sudukans... why was that... John's expression suddenly went flat, anger, rage, running through him almost in an instant. "No."

"They are insistent and the trade agreement we made with them has been very good for both of our peoples."

John felt Rodney shifting in the seat next to him. "Sudukans?"

John's gaze didn't waver from Elizabeth. "I don't give a fuck. Send someone else."

She sighed. "I tried that already. They wish to see your team and the one who brokered the first agreement." Her eyes fell on Rodney.

"No." John narrowed his eyes, fists clenched so hard he was almost certain he was going to draw blood with his nails.

"But…" Rodney sounded confused, his big brain still trying to match the names, but as soon as his words trailed off, John knew he made the connection. "Not Planet Touchy-Feely?"

"We are not going back to the planet where Rodney was fucking raped in front of us to seal a trade deal. I don't really give a shit how bad they felt about it afterward, or how good their fruit is."

And then Elizabeth dropped the bombshell. "Brendal is dead."

It probably should have made him feel better, but instead, it just fanned the flames. It should have been him that killed the fucker who dared touch what was his. It didn't matter that at the time Rodney hadn't actually been his yet.

"There is a new…leader in charge and he requires your presence to renew the trade agreement. You will be going."

"No."

"Yes, you will, Colonel. You're leaving at 0900 tomorrow morning so I suggest you get your team prepared."

"No, we're not. Elizabeth, I am not taking my team back to that world, where one of us was drugged and publicly abused, while the rest of us had to watch at knife point. We aren't going."

"Then you can explain to IOA and the president why we lost a trade deal when all they want to do is talk to you." Elizabeth was not backing down.

"Fine. Get them on the line." John didn't care that he was essentially offering to out himself to the president of the United States. He wasn't taking Rodney back there.

"Colonel, you do not want to cross me on this. I know what happened and it was inexcusable, but we've been dealing with these people for more than a year and they have been nothing except honorable." She leaned forward, her eyes intense. "The last time I checked I was in charge of this expedition and you will obey your orders, Colonel."

God fucking damnit. He bristled, and for several long minutes he debated actually willfully disobeying her orders, something he had never done, not to Elizabeth.

Her eyes narrowed, daring him.

John wasn't expecting Rodney's hand on his leg, and it startled him enough to break his staring contest with Weir.

"We'll be ready," Rodney said quietly.

She nodded to him, offering a tight smile. "Good. You're dismissed." Elizabeth was gone even before the doors of the conference room were fully open.

John's eyes narrowed. "No."

Rodney shifted in his chair, turning to face John. "No what? What exactly were you trying to prove there?"

"I'm not taking you back there."

"They asked for us, for me."

John didn't care. He was willing to throw away his career to keep Rodney out of the hands of people who had... Vaguely aware that he was breathing hard, his vision still red, John shook his head. "No. I'm not letting them—"

Rodney's hand was on his arm. "I trust you, John. Everything will be fine."

Shaking, John shook his head again. "I can't do that again. It was bad enough the first time, when we weren't even... Now? I'd kill every last fucking one of them. It should have been me that killed that piece of shit Brendal."

"But he's not there. You don't have to worry about him."

"Which means I don't know who to point my gun at this time."

"Everyone except our team?" Rodney offered a half-smile and a tilt of his head.

John's eyes narrowed. It was a good thing the only people in the room now was his team, the doors shut. "The only way I'll agree to this is if you're very visibly mine. Cuffs, collar where they can see it—Mine. They put one fucking finger on you and I start shooting."

"John, I wear the collar everyday. That won't change."

"Cuffs. The God damned Ancient ring." John's hands were fisted again. He was surprised when Rodney caught one and almost gently forced him to open his fingers.

"I won't wear them while I’m on Atlantis, not the way you want me to."

"Then they go in your pack and you put them on as soon as we're through. I'm not... I can't..."

"Fine. If that's the only way you're going to be comfortable, fine." Rodney nodded, his eyes on John, his gaze refusing to slide to Teyla or Ronon who were listening silently.

"I'll never be comfortable with this." All at once, the anger drained away, leaving John feeling like he had been run over by a jet.

"Want to grab some lunch or something?" Rodney asked after a minute of silence, as if he didn't know what else to say to break the tension in the room. Ronon and Teyla both declined, heading for the door. Apparently they knew the rest of the conversation needed to be private.

When they were alone, John looked up, letting Rodney see everything. "I don't like this."

"I noticed. It will be fine."

"If they touch you again... Rodney, last time nearly tore me apart and we weren't even lovers yet. You didn't even know I was interested yet. If they try anything again..."

"They won't. You won't let them. Brendal's dead. It's going to be different this time."

Closing his eyes briefly, John didn't wonder any more why Elizabeth had scheduled this meeting for late afternoon. She had known he would react this way. "Is there anything pressing you need to deal with back in the labs today?"

"It can wait," Rodney said immediately, his eyes knowing. "I just need to tell Radek."

"Do it. Do what you need to. I'm going to the mess to get food for the rest of the day, then I'll meet you in our quarters." John needed, badly, to have Rodney's submission, his love. He needed to reassure himself that Rodney was unequivocally his.

"Give me twenty minutes and I'll be there." Rodney was already on his feet, the doors of the conference room opening again to let him out.

John took another minute to collect himself, then pasted on as polite an expression as he could manage before strolling out.

"Colonel Sheppard." Elizabeth's voice was tight.

He took a deep breath. Then he took another one. "I don't like this. But my team will be geared up and ready to go as ordered."

"Good." She paused, her expression softening. "I'm not assigning this mission to you because I feel like it. We need the treaty."

"I know. But... don't expect me to like it, or to play nice. I can't, not to them. They so much as twitch wrong..."

"They have been honorable in all of our dealings with them."

"Except to my team. Which is why I'm... suspicious... when, after a year of dealing with someone else, they suddenly decided it had to be us. What if that damn ritual was a yearly thing, and they want to recreate it to renew the treaty?"

"There is a different leader. Talk to him."

"We will. Well, Teyla will. Ronon and I will be glaring and ready to shoot anyone who even thinks about touching McKay."

Elizabeth sighed, her eyes drifting around the control room and the people trying not to pay attention. "I know you'll act in a professional and diplomatic manner befitting your rank. If you have any questions for the other teams who have been dealing with them, you should plan to talk to them this afternoon."

John narrowed his eyes again. "Despite my unprofessional, disgraceful behavior, I do actually read the reports. I know what the teams have encountered there."

"Good. Then there shouldn't be any problems tomorrow."

He gave her a clipped salute. "Yes, ma'am. Am I dismissed?"

The muscles in Elizabeth's jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Yes, Colonel."

He nodded once and then turned on his heel to leave. He was still seething that she was forcing this, that she had brought rank into it.

But honestly, if she hadn't, Lorne's team would be the one heading to Suduka tomorrow.

He didn't want to do this, didn't want to set foot on that damn planet ever again. Apparently the word got out that he was less than happy, since no one tried to stop him as he strolled into the kitchen. He gathered up a variety of foods and headed back to their suite. Rodney wasn't there yet, so he put the food on the counter and had gotten his holster off when the door chimed. Growling, John went to answer it, surprised to see Lorne there. It took effort not to snap at the man. "Yes?"

Lorne was stiff and formal. "Requesting permission to accompany your team on tomorrow's mission, sir."

John stepped aside so the other man could enter. He wasn't doing this in the hall to add even more to the rumor mill than he had already. "Are you volunteering or were you ordered to volunteer?"

"I was going through the mission schedule saw your team's assignment. Although I was not here at the time, I remembered hearing some rumors when I first arrived. After a brief review of the reports, I thought it might be prudent to have two teams on the mission, sir."

John paced into the suite, needing to move, to prowl. "Yes, then. Full gear. If anyone so much as twitches wrong..." He forced himself to take a deep breath. "Apparently the leader I had...issues...with is dead, but I don't like that they're refusing to deal with the teams that have handled those negotiations for a year. Why my team again? I'm willing to admit my objectivity on this one is skewed, but I will not allow them to hurt my geek again." John almost hissed out the last of that.

"Understood, sir. I'll have my team ready to depart at 0900."

"Very good, Major. Thank you."

Lorne nodded, the gesture brisk. "Anything else?"

"I'm off the radar for the rest of the day unless someone is invading. So is McKay. Make sure no one comes looking for us."

The Major's eyes widened, but he nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll take care of it."

John nodded once, relaxing slightly. "That was all then. I'll see you in the ready room at 0900. Dismissed."

"We'll be there at 0845, sir. Have a good evening." Lorne headed out of the suite, nearly walking into McKay who was headed inside. "Doctor," he said without pausing, moving into the hallway as the door slid shut.

McKay turned a questioning look to John as he pointed over his shoulder. "Lorne was here?"

"His team volunteered to come as our backup tomorrow. He's also going to make sure no one comes looking for either of us for the rest of the evening unless it's an emergency." John held out his arms, willing Rodney to come to him as he spoke.

Rodney looked over his shoulder again, throwing a confused look toward the door before slowly moving across the room, dropping his radio headset on the table. "Why is he coming with us?"

When his lover was close enough, John snagged him, pulling him close. "Because he was going over the mission roster and saw our assignment. Like any good XO, he did a little research to make sure he knew what his commander was facing, saw we'd had...problems...there in the past, and offered to come as backup. I accepted, since I don't think I can remain objective."

"Oh," Rodney said with a soft sigh, letting his arms slip around John's waist. "So, I’m here. Radek is finishing up the one thing I was working on that needed to be completed today."

John made an agreeable noise, nibbling on the side of Rodney's neck. He lifted his head before this went too far, though. He didn't want to get lost in his lover just yet. He needed to reaffirm who Rodney belonged to, so neither of them were tempted to forget tomorrow. "Go strip. Pull out the leather cuffs, all four, and the leather collar. Lay them out for me, then wait, on your knees, in the bedroom."

For a brief moment, John thought Rodney might protest, but he nodded, stepping away from John and heading into the bedroom.

John took his time, setting the platter of food on their coffee table, setting out the laptop with a mindless movie they had both seen a thousand times. He wanted to drag this out all evening, keeping Rodney in deep submission, that meant he would need something mildly entertaining, but not distracting for either of them. When that was done, he made his way to the bedroom.

Rodney was waiting for him just as John had requested. He was naked and kneeling on the floor at the foot of the bed, his hands behind his back, his head down slightly. The leather collar and cuffs—along with five padlocks—were on the bed.

"Good boy." John purred the praise, running his hands over Rodney's body.

"Thank you," he whispered, his eyes sliding shut as he let himself feel.

John first removed all the jewelry, setting it aside on the dresser to go back on in the morning before they left for the mission. Then he locked the leather into place. He attached each piece slowly, with as much caressing as he could manage, trying to encourage Rodney to sink deeper.

With each click of the padlock, John could see Rodney's body tremble slightly, but the tension was still housed in his shoulders, in his muscles. Even though Rodney had been confident about tomorrow's mission, his body told a different story.

Once each piece was on, John felt himself relax. His. This was all his. "Get on the bed, face down. Get comfortable. I want to work the knots out of your back and shoulders."

Rodney glanced up, his eyes focused on John. "Are you okay?"

He stepped forward to cup Rodney's face. "I will be. I need this though. I need to play hard so we both have something to anchor us tomorrow. Odds are good—better than good actually—that they won't even try anything. But for now, we both need something to hold on to."

"You won't let anything happen."

"No. I won't."

Rodney held his eyes for a long moment, his gaze weighing John. It was nearly another minute before John saw Rodney relax, submit, his head nodding. "Take what you need, John. I’m here."

John stepped close, leaning down to brush a kiss over Rodney's lips. "I love you. Now get on the bed so I can put my hands all over your body."

Chuckling, Rodney nodded as he climbed to his feet. "Sir, yes, sir."

Certain parts of John's anatomy tightened up, while others relaxed. John watched as Rodney got settled on his stomach, head pillowed on his arms. He stripped himself, needing the skin-on-skin contact. Straddling Rodney's thighs, John went to work on the tight muscles, finding and releasing each point of tension.

Rodney's sighs of contentment as the muscles relaxed under John's hands helped to push John into his own headspace. He loved making Rodney feel good, loved having his hands on him.

When he had a puddle of Rodney goo underneath him, John gradually lightened his touches until they were nothing more than a fingertip tracing patterns on his lover's broad back. "I have dinner in the other room. When I get off you, go get the leash and bring it to me, and then we're going out to the living room so I can feed us."

"Mmm…'kay," Rodney said, his response quiet, relaxed, submissive.

With a lingering touch, John rolled off. His body was aroused, but he ignored it for now.

It took a minute for Rodney to push himself upright, the skin on his back red from where John had been working it. His eyes narrowed. The red and the dark color of the leather contrasted so nicely with the pale skin.

Rodney crawled off the bed, moving to the drawer that had been set aside for their toys. A few seconds later and he tugged out the leash and closed the drawer, crawling back onto the bed to John. Sitting back on his heels, he handed it over, giving John a small contented smile.

John snapped the leash on to the collar, and watched as Rodney almost visibly fell further into his headspace. John reached out, caressing, touching. "So good. You're perfect."

Rodney opened his eyes that had drifted closed, the blue nearly taken up entirely with the dark pupil. "All because of you."

John hummed, kissing the other man lightly before sliding off the bed. He gave the leash a light tug to get Rodney moving, bringing him to the couch. John threw a pillow on the ground and arranged Rodney on his knees, leaning against John's legs once he sat down, head resting on his lap. Picking up a small piece of cheese, he ran it over Rodney's lips a few times before pushing it in the other man's mouth.

Chewing quietly, Rodney's hand traced patterns on John's leg, relaxing against him.

They were quiet, John taking his time feeding them both. He touched constantly, loving that Rodney responded to him every single time. Perfect. So fucking perfect...

Rodney shifted slightly, nuzzling into John's leg, pressing a light kiss against the skin. His hands had stopped moving, choosing to simply encircle John's ankle, thumb drifting lightly back and forth over the bone.

When the food was gone, John just gave them time to be together, like this, the silence soft and warm and comforting. He ran his hands through Rodney's hair, letting the soft strands drift through his fingers.

"Mmm," Rodney hummed quietly, shifting again so he could lean a little more against John's legs, his arms circling around him. One arm slid between John's ass and the couch, the other draped across his legs, Rodney's face pressed against the top of his thigh, nuzzling into John's groin.

Dragging in a breath, John's body got a bit more insistent about what it wanted. He spread his legs a little, as much as he could without dislodging Rodney. He kept his voice low, quiet. "Use your tongue. I don't want to come, not yet. Just make me feel good."

Rodney didn't reply, but he shifted again, reaching out to lick John's cock, mouthing it, pressing kisses from tip to root. Another small movement and he was touching the end, licking away the pre-come from the slit at the tip before moving back down the shaft, licking and caressing as best he could.

Moaning softly, John half-closed his eyes and let himself feel, enjoy. Rodney had a truly talented mouth, and John loved when he just took his time, teased. When it started to get to the point where he was going to have a hard time holding back the orgasm, he gently pulled Rodney off, tugging him up so he was straddling John's lap and kissing him deeply.

With his arms around John's shoulders, Rodney gave himself entirely to the kiss. He opened up when John wanted him to, when he pressed forward, but gave as good as he got when John backed off a little. It was hot and wet and intense.

When it was getting to be too much, to start to frazzle John's control, he broke it off, forcing Rodney to stop. "Cock ring. Go get two—the Ancient one, and the gummy. I need a little help, too, since I really don't want to come just yet. You're just so damn sexy, I can't help but be aroused."

It took a long moment before John's order processed and Rodney nodded. God, he'd slid down so nicely, so completely. Moving slowly, Rodney padded into the bedroom, returning with the items in question a few minutes later. The leash was in one hand, the rings in the other.

"Very good." John loved the flush of satisfaction Rodney got at the praise, especially when he was down this deep. He slipped the gummy ring on himself first, needing the little bit of control it gave him. Rodney was next, with a mental command to the ring to tighten enough that his lover wouldn't be coming until John was ready for him to. He also set up a low-grade vibration, just enough to feel good.

Rodney's eyes slid closed and his entire body trembled at the sensation. He moaned, low and deep in his throat, his hand reaching out to John.

Catching it, John squeezed lightly, anchoring Rodney as he adjusted to the pleasure washing through him.

God. Rodney was beautiful as he stood before John, wanting and needy and so very submissive.

Reaching out, John snagged the leash, using it to pull Rodney back onto the couch, moving so they could lie together, and he could wrap his arms around his lover. He loved the way they fit together, the glide of skin, the faint tremors rushing through Rodney's body as he sank further into the haze of pleasure John was creating for him.

Rodney settled into John, letting their bodies tangle together. His hands were tracing patterns, following the curve of muscles along John's back and arms, fingers dipping into the crack of his ass, cupping his ass cheeks. It wasn't pushy or demanding, but very, sensual.

John returned the favor, gliding his hands all over every part of Rodney he could reach. This wasn't about getting off, or drowning one another in sensation. It was about connection, being together, just the two of them. Getting the time to do this, in the city of a thousand emergencies, was a luxury. And John wasn't going to pass up the opportunity now that it was here.

As Rodney's hands eventually slowed so he was simply holding John, fingers spread wide, John heard him purring slightly and had to smile, pressing his lips into Rodney's skin.

He had been right. More than possessive sex, both of them had needed to remember this, the deep love between them. John could face the Touchy-Feely planet tomorrow, knowing without question that Rodney belonged to him.

They drifted like that for a while, hovering between sleep and wakefulness until Rodney shifted slightly, turning his head toward John. "'on?" The word was quiet, barely formed.

Running his thumb over the curve of the other man's jaw, John smiled softly. "Yes?"

"'otta pee."

Chuckling softly, John carefully sat them up, winding the leash over his fist. "We should take care of that then. I'm not letting you out of my immediate area, but I will give you a choice as to whether you want me to help you or not."

Rodney shrugged, his eyes at half-mast, fingers trailing across the skin over John's hip.

"Then I'll decide for you. Your body is mine, and I don't really want anyone else touching it tonight—not even you."

Lifting his head, Rodney finally opened his pleasure-blown eyes and licked his lips. "Okay."

Leading his lover forward, John helped him take care of business, cleaning him up gently before bringing him back out. This time his destination was the bed. John arranged Rodney on his back, pillow under his hips, and limbs spread wide, locked down. Once that was done, he removed the leash and stored it. Rodney wasn't getting up again tonight. While up, he grabbed the rest of the supplies he wanted—the gag, blindfold, and a vibrator—and moved the lube within easy reach.

Rodney simply watched John as he moved around the room preparing everything, making sure everything was exactly the way he wanted it.

Crawling back onto the bed, John claimed Rodney's mouth for another deep kiss. The gag was a double-edged sword. John loved the freedom it gave Rodney, pushing him further under, but he missed the ability to kiss whenever he wanted.

Humming into the kiss, Rodney let John plunder his mouth, arching up when John pulled away slightly, only to dive in again to claim him.

They kissed until they were both breathless. Pulling back, John gave Rodney a finger to suck on—and god that was obscenely hot—while he grabbed the gag.

Rodney sucked and licked and moaned around John's finger. God. So open, so wanton, so…John shuddered slightly, knowing how talented that mouth was on his cock, knowing how those same sensations felt on his shaft.

He slowly withdrew his finger. When Rodney whimpered at the loss, John let him see the gag. "I'm going to play with you now. You're going to have the gag and the blindfold on, so you'll just have to accept what I choose to give you."

Instead of whimpering again as John expected, Rodney nodded and simply lifted his head and opened his mouth, waiting.

John purred softly, making sure Rodney could clearly read his approval as he buckled on the gag.

With Rodney tied as he was, there was no need for the padlock, but tonight John wanted it. He pulled it out, making sure Rodney could see it before he turned his lover's head and attached it to the small ring, clicking it into place.

Rodney trembled, moaning quietly.

Smiling, John lightly kissed each of Rodney's eyes before slipping the blindfold in place. He watched the full-body shudders running through his lover, his erect cock dripping continuously now. "So beautiful..."

John sat back and watched, waited for his lover to settle. It took some time, it look patience not to touch, but he wanted to wait, so see what his lover did, to watch the pull of muscles as he tried to tug free of his bindings only to relax again.

Only once the panting and moaning subsided did John reach out again.

He wrapped a hand around Rodney's erection, keeping the touch very light.

The low, deep moan was perfect—needy and desperate and wanton—even as his body remained still, or as still as Rodney could manage when he was this aroused. Like this, Rodney arched into every touch, his body trembling and shuddering, all his nerves alive.

John let go, loving the needy noises Rodney made. He slicked up the vibrator and trailed it along his lover's opening. They had been together enough that, as long as he went slow, he could push it in without using his fingers to stretch Rodney first.

Besides, there was still something so primal about making Rodney take it just like this, without the preparation they normally did. John knew it would be tight, that it would feel a lot larger because of the lack of preparation, but if he went slow, it wouldn't hurt.

And John had every intention of going very, very slow—just to drive Rodney just a little crazy. Because then…god the noises were always good.

Smiling, he did just that, glad for the ring that helped give him the little bit of distance he needed to not come just from watching, listening to this. He spent several long minutes, pushing the vibrator in fractions of inches, only to pull it back out, then push it in again. By the time it was fully inside his lover, Rodney was almost sobbing, his dick bright red. That, of course, was when John turned it on.

And oh god, the keening and muffled begging around the gag was so, so perfect.

Instead, John told the cock ring to vibrate a little harder, concentrating until it was running at the same speed as the vibe.

Rodney was tugging at the restraints, his body shuddering and bucking hard as he sobbed and moaned.

And John sat back and watched.

John slid off the bed, grabbing the vibrating nipple clamps. He quickly attached them to Rodney's perk nubs and flicked them on. With a wicked grin, he mentally told the cock ring to rotate between matching the speed of the vibe, and matching the speed of the clamps.

For someone who had been so very quiet when it came to sex when they started, right now John could swear Rodney was a totally different person. Even with the gag in place, Rodney's sobs and howls and begging were very loud—really loud.

And then there was the tugging and pulling against the restraints, his body covered in a sheen of sweat.

It was perfect. John wanted to overwhelm Rodney completely, make himself the center of his lover's world, the only thing he knew or was thinking about. Grabbing the lube again, he stretched himself a bit before straddling the other man and sinking down onto him, taking him deep. He could feel a faint buzz from all the vibration on Rodney's body, which was pretty damn good.

Rodney's desperate broken sob made John lean forward, his hand resting in the center of his lover's chest.

He finally spoke again. "I've got you. I'm not going to let you break. Just relax for me, let me love you."

Even though Rodney nodded—the gesture jerky, and stilted—his body continued to tremble with the repressed arousal and need to come, his moans and sobs panted out around the gag.

Keeping his movements fairly slow, John began to rock, to ride, swallowing hard at how good it was. He knew Rodney was getting desperate, that he couldn't push his lover much further without making this almost like torture. So he rode for a few minutes, until Rodney's noises were getting desperate again. With a mental flick, he told the cock ring to come off, whispering the command for Rodney to let go at the same time.

And he did. After an initial howl as he came, his body trembled and shuddered under John until he relaxed completely, his limbs limp as his head rolled to the side. But even though Rodney's body was relaxed, the tremors and shudders continued as the nipple clamps and the vibrator continued to vibrate away on overly-sensitive nerves.

John quickly removed them and shut them off, setting everything aside to clean later. He very carefully sat up to let Rodney slip out, whimpering at the loss. He was so hard it hurt, but he wanted to come inside his lover—he was willing to wait until the other man was awake again.

With a quick check of Rodney, John moved into the bathroom, cleaning himself up while keeping an ear and eye on his lover. A few minutes later and John returned with a warm wash cloth and he gently cleaned away the sweat before wiping down Rodney's soft cock.

By the time Rodney started to stir again, John had cleaned away all traces of Rodney's orgasm, although his own was still leaking and begging for some attention. He ignored it, instead fitting himself along Rodney's side. "Hey, buddy. Did I break you this time?"

A soft moan was John's only reply as Rodney turned his head toward John.

John pressed his lips to Rodney's bare shoulder, shifting his hips so Rodney could feel he was still hard. "I'm going to fuck you in a few minutes, when you've had a chance to recover."

Rodney moaned again, shifting against the bonds holding him down.

"Mmm, no. You can't get up until after I've claimed you. Then I'll loosen the bonds so you can sleep comfortably."

He tugged again at the straps, shifting his body to make sure he rubbed up against John.

John gasped. He was so hard even the slightest bit of friction sent tremors of pleasure and pain through his body.

Rodney moaned and whimpered, rubbing against John again.

Growling, John moved so he was covering Rodney. He sucked a new mark in the other man's shoulder, fumbling to get some lube on his dick so he could press home inside his lover's body.

Bucking up as much as he could, Rodney's movements only made John crazy. God. Even tied down and gagged and the scientist still drove him to distraction. The sounds, the sensations, just him.

Making noises of his own, that he knew were probably starting to sound a little desperate, John started to move, to claim, to fuck. He only went slow for the first few thrusts before he needed to speed up, push harder, faster.

Rodney moaned and whimpered as John pounded into him, his body still pliant and sated from his earlier climax.

John was too close to the edge to make it last long. With a cry, he finally started coming, the ring he was still wearing only intensifying the release. Twitching hard, he collapsed on top of Rodney.

When he came back to himself, his body finally calming from the aftershocks, Rodney was panting quietly under him, completely immobile from the bonds and John's weight pressing him into the bed. There was no panic, which was good.

He moaned softly, pushing up onto his elbows although he kept his face pressed into the curve of Rodney's neck. "You okay?"

A small nod and a press of Rodney's cheek against John's head was his reply.

Giving himself another second to gather his wits—John felt like he had seriously lost some IQ points this time—he finally got up the coordination to roll off of his lover and loosen the bonds that held him to the bed. He also took the gag off, knowing it would be painful by morning if he didn't—although the blindfold and all four cuffs stayed right where they were.

As soon as John was lying down again, Rodney's arms wrapped around him, his leg shoved between John's, face buried against John's shoulder.

John just held him close, murmuring soft words of comfort.

And oddly enough, a few minutes into the desperate embrace, John felt Rodney's grip easing off and then heard a gentle snore.

He couldn't help but laugh quietly. Very carefully, he slipped out of bed, grabbing the damp cloth to clean them both up again before reclaiming his place. With a soft sigh of contentment, John slipped into his own rest.

***

It was odd, in a way, at how possessive John could get. Not that Rodney really minded. He actually didn't in a strange, weird way. It was sort of…endearing…if John Sheppard could ever be considered endearing.

And that was why Rodney found himself going on a mission dressed a little differently. He had been wearing the collar and nipple rings more or less everyday, and he discovered that he felt naked without them now. But this time, John had added the matching cock ring and cuffs, making sure everything was locked into place. He was just grateful that John hadn't insisted on the heavy leather. At least with the jeweled set, it was a little less noticeable. The last thing he wanted was for John to have problems. They were skirting the edge as is.

Rodney just hoped it was a normal mission, an easy mission. They needed it.

The two jumpers headed out right on time, landing in the clearing that had been designated as a landing site. Lorne's team headed out first. Through the open back ramp, Rodney spotted Lorne, Parrish, Dumont, and Jenkins all standing in a loose circle. Teyla and Ronon moved to stand with them, but John held Rodney back.

He kept his voice low, pitched for Rodney only. "Please... I usually don't ask you to do anything special on missions, but on this world... stay close to me, okay?"

"John, I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to. The last time I was here things didn't go too well and the first time I still don't remember."

He felt John relax slightly. "Good, thank you." Together, they moved out of the jumper, John's posture screaming 'fuck with me and I will start shooting'.

"Can you take it down a notch?" Rodney whispered.

"No." John's eyes swept the small gathering of natives who had come to meet them, stopping on the one who was, presumably, Brendal's replacement.

The man was broad and tall—almost as big as Ronon but with closely cropped hair and a beard. He welcomed them warmly. "Thank you for coming to speak with us. My name is Kipfer and I am the leader of this village. We are honored by your presence." He smiled and bowed before turning to John. "Although we have not met, I feel as if I know you through your people, Colonel."

John hadn't taken off his sunglasses. "Really now? They've only been saying nice things I hope."

"Of course. The teams who have visited have spoken highly of you and your team, and especially the one through whom the first treaty was brokered, Doctor McKay. While I am but one of many, I thank you for your patience with us and for honoring your agreement."

John had stiffened at the mention of how the treaty was...brokered. He shifted closer to Rodney. "If you don't mind my asking, you were very insistent my team come today. I hope you aren't planning on a repeat of last time. It's been a good treaty for both sides, but I will not allow anyone to touch any of my team again."

The man's face faltered slightly. "Perhaps matters such as these would be best spoken of in private. If you and your party would accompany me?" He gestured toward the village and a familiar hall.

Rodney could feel John's hesitation. Finally, he nodded. "Lorne, wait with your team out here. Teyla and Ronon, you're with me and McKay." They walked into the hall, and even Teyla seemed a little wary. But they sat on the cushions provided for them, across from the new leader.

"I was present for the initial treaty," Kipfer began after an attendant brought out several pitchers of mead and water along with glasses and several trays of finger foods. I quick glance from John and Rodney knew to stick with water even though he remembered how nice the mead tasted.

"Then you know that participation on our part was not entirely voluntary. As a matter of fact, McKay was drugged and the rest of my team were held at spear point and forced to watch while he was violated. Our people have moved past that little...misunderstanding...and we've had a good trade partnership going on. No offense sir, I'm sure you're a great guy, but I need some reassurances right now that nothing like that is going to happen again."

"Your people have moved past it, but you have not. While we may be primitive compared to you, my people are not blind." He took a breath, obviously considering his words carefully. "Perhaps it would be…beneficial for a much more thorough explanation and a little…history."

John leaned back slightly. "Admittedly, no, I haven't. If I can be frank with you, I was perfectly happy to let my people trade with you, but I was ordered by Doctor Weir to return here myself." John's eyes flicked to Rodney, to the jewelry he was wearing. "You chose a very...personal...target last time. I would like to hear your explanation though. I may not be here entirely by choice, but I'm not going to tank an alliance because of personal reasons, especially if you're going to offer a few more facts than the ones I already have."

"I do not know if Brendal spoke of Mansea during any of your discussions."

John shook his head. "No, that doesn't sound familiar."

"It is as I feared, then. While it is most likely too late to make atonement, please let me apologize for Brendal's actions. As a follower of the Mansea rituals, Brendal limited himself to the ways of our ancestors."

"Oh?" John tilted his head slightly, encouraging Kipfer to go on.

"Brendal was seeped in their ways as was a small, loyal following of his. The ritual which Doctor McKay went through, was part of the Mansea ceremony, a giving of oneself to the goddess. It is a ceremony few follow in these…modern times."

That was actually surprising. It surprised John enough that he finally pulled his Ray Bans off. "Wait... so that...ceremony we were forced into isn't even something most of your people practice? God damnit! I knew I should have—"

Teyla cut in before John cold get any further. "Then why was the ceremony observed?"

John pointed at her. "Exactly. Why didn't anyone stop it, especially once we resisted. You said you were there, Kipfer. Why didn't you stop it if you don't believe in it?"

"The wishes of the village leader are respected—especially when others are present. There cannot be dissention for it would make us appear weak."

"It almost cost you an ally."

"I know that. As did several others…many others."

John quietly sized Kipfer up. "How did he die? I was told he had, but not how, or when."

"It was a hunting accident. We mourned him for ten passes of the sun, as is our custom. I was next in line to lead our people."

With a soft sigh Rodney was pretty sure he was the only to hear, John finally nodded. "Tell you what then. Let's start over here." He held out a hand to shake Kipfer's.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Colonel Sheppard," Kipfer said, taking the hand John offered. He's introduced to the entire team, shaking hands up and down the table before settling back into place. "I wished to bring you here to speak with you, to tell you of the mistakes that had been made. We wish to continue our arrangement with you, but if you choose not to, I understand. If you will continue it, I thought it best for us to work out all the details and create a new agreement—one that befits men of our stature."

One of John's eyebrows shot up. "O...kay. I'm willing to listen. What did you have in mind?"

"If you, and the treaty broker," Kipfer's eyes shifted to McKay for a brief moment, "were willing we would like to renew our agreement, and perhaps expand upon it."

John glanced at Rodney as well, before looking back. "My willingness depends entirely on what you're asking for. Our people want to renew our trade agreement, and we're open to expanding it. But I'm not willing to let anyone touch McKay again."

Kipfer nodded. "And that will not be a problem."

John's lips twitched up in a half-smile. "Excellent. So, what will it take to expand and renew the agreement? And what were you interested in trading for above what we already exchange?"

"We wish to learn more of your methods of farming. What you have taught our people has resulted in an abundance we have not seen in many cycles. We will be willing to share more of our produce with you if you so desire. Also, we would be willing to offer whatever other assistance you may need."

Rodney saw John's eyes widen slightly in surprise before he settled back again. "That sounds like a pretty fair deal. I know we've been trading basic tips on improving crop yield, but we do know advanced methods as well. We could also offer the basic design and help implementing some of them, such as irrigation of the fields."

Kipfer nodded. "That would be much appreciated. We have benefitted greatly from our abundance in the markets."

"Excellent. I'll go back to my leader with this, and as soon as she gives it the okay, we'll be ready to begin drawing up the plans to increase your yields. Some of the people you've been dealing with already will be the ones to return again—they're our experts in this arena, so they're going to be your best bet in terms of getting as much as possible from the crops."

"Good," Kipfer clapped his hands together, offering a wide smile. "With the blessing of the treaty broker we can finalize these agreements."

"Blessing?"

"Yes, of course. Without his participation and blessing the treaty cannot be completed."

John looked over at Rodney. His lips twitched again. "How does this sound to you? Have I traded well, and can you give this deal your blessing?"

"Ah…" Rodney's eyes glanced back and forth between John and Kipfer. "I doubt that's what he wants."

His lover turned back to Kipfer, eyebrow raised in question.

"Doctor McKay is correct. Mere words are not sufficient."

"So what is sufficient?" Rodney asked, narrowing his eyes. He wasn't going to panic because John wasn't going to let anything happen to him. And besides, Kipfer already said no touching.

Kipfer watched them both quietly for a moment, taking in the very obvious claims John had put on Rodney's body before they left. "As I said earlier, most of us do not practice the old rites of Mensea. Over time, a different set has evolved, due in large part to reactions of potential allies such as yourselves, who objected to the ritual. As the original trade broker, my options are somewhat limited. To seal this agreement, we must have his participation, however, we are willing to accept both of you in the rite. There is no law against having two, and it will, in fact, cement our alliance further, demonstrating a deeper commitment from both of our peoples."

"Wait a minute? You expect us to do what, exactly?" Okay…this sounded bad and like public sex while totally sober and in front of way too many Marines.

"The ritual requires an equal number of participants from each of our peoples—if you have two involved, it will be myself and one other. When the sun reaches its zenith, we adjourn to the fields, which are blessed by its mighty power. There, the ancient heartbeat is played while the participants show our gratitude." Kipfer gestured a young man standing in the background forward. "Because of previous...misunderstandings between us, I will have Jaalin demonstrate. I wish there to be no impediments to our completing this deal."

Kipfer snapped his fingers, and another native started to play a quiet drumbeat against the ground, while Jaalin began a slow dance that was both simple and somehow primal. He danced for a moment before stopping, moving to stand back again. "That motion is repeated, as a group, as the heartbeat gets louder, bolder. When that ends, the ritual ends, and we are all born together as one people."

Rodney was skeptical. "That's it?"

Kipfer smiled. "It does not seem like much here, but under the sun, with the heartbeat strong and our people standing around as witness, chanting their approval to the heavens, you will realize its power. This has its roots in the Mensea rites, but, we have found, is much more accessible to other cultures, while allowing us to still honor our own beliefs."

"You want us to dance."

John coughed, and maybe it was only Rodney who caught that he was trying to cover up a chuckle. "If that's really all there is to it, I think we can agree to participate."

"Wait. How about clothing? I distinctly remember a robe which had no business being called a robe let alone a piece of clothing."

John's gaze sharpened again. "He's not going to dance naked."

Kipfer shook his head. "There is a set of clothing all participants must wear, but I do not think you will object to it. If you wish to see it, I can have Jaalin retrieve a set so you may see it on him."

"Yes," Rodney nodded immediately, crossing his arms over his chest as he glanced at the rest of his teammates. Teyla looked serene. Ronon was bored. John was too amused for Rodney's liking.

At Kipfer's nod, Jaalin disappeared. They stuck to small talk for a while, waiting for his return. John was more relaxed, and didn't lose his mild amusement, but he didn't seem to be dropping his guard completely either. When the young native returned, he was dressed in a leather skirt. And nothing else.

Rodney was horrified. "That's a skirt."

John shot him a look that clearly said 'be quiet' before turning to Kipfer. "What about paint. I seem to remember the drugged body paint was what got us in to trouble last time."

Kipfer nodded. "The main participants would be designated as such through the application of several symbols upon our skin."

John leaned forward, his expression intense. "What's in the paint? And who puts them on your bodies? I'm assuming you and Rodney would be the only ones to be decorated, since you'll be the 'main participants'."

"A person would be designated."

"No one touches him but me."

Kipfer nodded again. "That would be agreeable. We would be required to teach you the symbols to apply."

John stared at the outfit for a few moments. "Is there anything in the paint besides pigment?"

"Yes, of course."

"What is it, and what will it do?"

At Kipfer's hesitation, Rodney's stomach dropped. Oh god. They were talking about drugging him again. "Wait a minute. I have no intention of voluntarily getting myself drugged."

John's hand was immediately on his leg, squeezing gently. "I want to hear what it does first. Last time it made you completely unaware of your surroundings except for what was physically being done to you. I won't accept that again, no." He turned back to Kipfer. "Since you'll be getting it on you, too, I'm guessing it can't be as strong. Having the leader drugged unconscious during trade negotiations isn't a good move, and you aren't that stupid."

"You are correct," he said, watching both Rodney and John carefully. "It contains the same ingredients, but at a much lower amount."

John hadn't removed his hand from Rodney's leg. "So it will act like an aphrodisiac, leave you both feeling aroused and pretty good, but still able to think clearly and respond to your surroundings?"

Kipfer nodded. "Essentially, yes. Much of it depends upon the tolerance of the persons involved."

John licked his lips, turning back to Rodney. "If it was just me painting you, and I was never away from your side, would you be okay with this? It's a good trade, and while I'm not completely comfortable, I'm willing to give it a shot if you are."

Rodney's jaw was tight. "Can we discuss this without an audience?" he finally asked, the words hissed.

"Yes." John glanced at Kipfer. "Give us ten minutes."

"Yes, of course. I will prepare my people." Kipfer rose to his feet and bowed before gesturing for his attendants to follow him out the door.

John glanced back at Teyla and Ronon. "Wait outside for us. No one comes in until I give you the okay."

Teyla and Ronon did not move, however. "Would not this best be discussed among us all? While Rodney was the one directly affected by the rituals during our initial visit, he was not alone in his suffering." Teyla turned so she was facing John.

John's thumb moved almost absently along the inside of Rodney's thigh, where it was still resting from earlier. "I'm willing to hear you out, but I reserve the right to kick you out in a minute if Rodney and I need to chat alone."

Teyla nodded. "As the team leader the final decision rests with you, but you and Rodney are part of our team and our family."

John gave her a wry look. "You had to use the f-word on me, didn't you?" He gestured them forward. "All right, so what are we going to do? Personally, I don't like it, I don't really want to do it, but as long as I'm assured that no one but me gets anywhere near Rodney, I'm willing to go through with it to keep this trade deal. Personal issues aside, it's a good deal."

"Why?" Ronon, of course, had to ask.

"Which part are you asking that about? Not wanting to do it, or willing to go along with it under certain conditions?"

"These people are farmers. What do we really need from them?"

"Food." John sighed. "You weren't here that first year, so you don't know what it was like. The Daedalus brings us regular supplies now, but for a while there was a big concern over what we were going to be eating the next day, if anything. I don't think any of us are willing to let that happen again, which means we need these trade agreements and allies to stay in good standing, just in case we ever get cut off again."

"And they drugged McKay to get the trade agreement?"

John's thumb dragged along Rodney's inseam again. He didn't even seem to be aware of it, but Rodney was finding it hard to keep from slipping into a light headspace—between that and the jewelry he was wearing. John kept talking, trying to explain it to Ronon, his voice going a bit flat at the memory. "Yes. Brendal, the old leader, singled him out. The body paint they used had some serious drugs in it, making McKay pliant and...aroused. They stripped him and put their hands all over him until he reached orgasm. The rest of us were held at spear-point when we tried to object. Eventually it was smoothed over by Elizabeth. We really needed the food they were offering."

Ronon's face was blank, his jaw set tightly. "And we came back."

"I wasn't given a choice. Why do you think we have another team of heavily-armed Marines waiting outside, with orders to start shooting if anyone twitches funny?"

"I do not believe they mean to injure any of us," Teyla said. "They seem to be sincerely apologetic about the past incident."

"Which is the only reason I'm considering this. Kipfer seems a lot more...honest than Brendal was. I disliked that fucker on first sight, but I don't get the same feeling from the new guy. Brendal was just looking for an excuse to put his hands on what didn't belong to him. Kipfer is trying to clean up his predecessor's mess and cement a deal his people need. And let's be honest, they do need us more than we need them."

"Which gives us the advantage in this agreement," Teyla said firmly yet quietly.

John nodded slowly. "So what do you suggest, Teyla? You're better at this diplomacy thing than I am."

Teyla was quiet for a long moment, her eyes finally resting on Rodney. "Do what you are comfortable with and no more. The produce we have received has been good and well-liked. Your people have been able to cook many things."

Both John and Ronon turned to look at him. John's voice was gentle, but held a note that let Rodney know he was only going to be given so much leeway here. "You've been quiet. What's your opinion on this?"

"I guess going home isn't an option, is it?" Rodney asked wryly after a long moment.

John's expression turned serious. "Actually, yes, it is. I'm not going to force you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. If you really don't feel like this is something you can do, we won't do it, and trade deal be damned."

"Yeah and explain that to Elizabeth." Rodney sighed. That really was the whole thing. He didn't want to prance around in a skirt. He didn't want to get drugged—again.

"Don't worry about her. I'll deal with it later if necessary. She ordered us to come here. She didn't order us to let them drug you again. That's a decision that has to be made in the field."

"What the hell is it about primitive societies and drugs?"

"It's primal, and the ultimate leveler. Especially in less advanced societies, it's the only real advantage they can get over their more savvy neighbors. It lets them survive." John sighed. "But are we going through with this?"

Rodney sighed, glancing away as he considered his options. They needed the treaty, but not as badly as before. It was a whole lot better of an arrangement than the first one—that he still couldn't remember. John would be there to make sure nothing happened.

But it was a leather skirt and he was agreeing to let them drug him.

His team was quiet, letting him weigh the options for himself.

Rodney sighed again. He hated this.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" John's tone made it clear he wasn't ordering them out, but asking them for a moment alone with Rodney.

Rodney didn't look up as Ronon and Teyla stepped outside, the door closing behind them.

As soon as they were alone, he was pulled into John's strong arms. "Tell me what you're thinking."

Rodney moved to pull away—they were on an alien planet not home—but after a moment he just sighed again. His body hurt from the tension, from muscles held too stiffly. "I don't remember the first time I was here and we're talking about letting it happen all over again."

John's hands settled against his back, rubbing slow circles. "I know. But there are some major differences this time. Last time we weren't given a choice, didn't know what was coming. I was prevented from interfering, where this time I'm participating right along with you. And the most important difference: last time you didn't belong to me, and this time you do. I won't let anything happen to you."

"If our positions were reversed would you do it?"

John didn't answer right away. In a way, it was comforting that he was taking the time to think about his answer. "I think so. Under some very specific circumstances, but yes. Not only would I have my lover there to keep an eye on me, but also my teammates nearby, and another jumper of soldiers ready to step in if the natives decided to spring something at the last minute."

Rodney finally sat back so he could look John in the eye. "I have no issues with you or the rest of the team…teams. I trust them. I don't trust everyone else."

"But we'll be between you and everyone else." John cupped his face. "I'm not going to order you to do this. I'm uncomfortable enough with it that I don't mind taking on Elizabeth for you. However, if you decide you're willing to give it a shot, I'll stand beside you and make sure no one lays so much as a finger on you except me."

"At the first instance that the drugs are the same as the ones from before, I want you to take me back to Atlantis."

"You know I will. It's the same drug, he said, just in a much lower dose. So if you go beyond just really aroused, I'll have you bundled up and back home before the natives can blink."

Rodney sighed. "I still don't like it, but I'll do it."

John let his hand drift down, thumbing Rodney's collar, then lower, to flick one of the nipple rings. "I won't let anything happen to you that we don't want."

"And everyone's going to see those…and the cuffs."

John caught his wrist, rubbing the metal there. "Would it bother you if they did? Honestly, I'd rather keep them on you, but I also don't want to make this any worse for you than it has to be. The ring and collar stay on, but I'm willing to take off the cuff and nipple rings for the ritual if you need me to."

"Our relationship is private—although lately it seems like that's opposite the case."

John sighed. "I know. And I am sorry about that. It's not as easy as I thought it would be to draw the line between private and public, especially as we've gotten deeper into our lifestyle. If I didn't have DADT to worry about, I'd be making damn sure everyone in the galaxy knew you were taken."

"But we have to worry about that, John." Rodney sighed. "Look. I really like what we have, how we are. I'd rather not have to hide it, but I live in the real world. We need to be careful."

His lover was quiet for a moment. "I'll take off the cuffs and nipple rings when we get changed. I'm not taking off the collar. You're being given an aphrodisiac. There is no way in hell I'm letting that happen without a visual claim of some sort."

"Okay. I won't argue with that."

John pulled him in, kissing him lightly. "Then let's tell them we're doing this and get it over with before we change our minds."

"Trust me that would only take a second."

"Then let's get it over with and secure this trade deal now. I don't plan to stay on this planet overnight."

Rodney nodded, watching as John climbed to his feet and headed outside to talk to Kipfer and the rest of the team. His stomach was in knots and he knew things were going to get worse before they got better.

About ten minutes later and the room was swarming with people, but John was at his side. They were ushered into the changing area—the same room Rodney remembered from last time even down to the fabric which was a sad excuse for a door.

They were given the skirts, and John quickly changed himself first, striking a pose for Rodney. It was obvious he was trying really hard to help Rodney relax. "Does this make my ass look fat?"

Rodney scowled, his vest still clutched in his hands.

John sighed, moving closer. "Trust me. Forget about everyone and everything else. You trust me, and you know I won't let anything happen to you."

"And great choice of words there, Sheppard," Rodney snipped, turning to drop his vest on the bench.

John grabbed him and turned him so they were eye-to-eye. "Stop it. I know this isn't ideal and neither of us is happy about it. But we do need this trade deal. I gave you an out and it still stands. Either do this without taking it out on me, or we don't do it at all."

"What do you want from me? I still can't remember what happened the first time we did this and not remembering is a concept so utterly foreign in my head thanks to my near-photographic memory that it makes me nervous."

"I know you're nervous, and that's not the problem. My issue is you getting pissy at me about it. Stop pushing me away and let me help you. I'm your partner."

"Who else am I supposed to get pissy with? Myself?"

John just rolled his eyes. "Hold still while I get you stripped and take off the jewelry you won't be wearing."

"John—"

"It's out of your hands now."

Without further ado, John manhandled Rodney, stripping him quickly and efficiently, even though Rodney was not being particularly helpful. It was only once he was standing in the middle of the room naked did the nerves really begin to get the better of him. He was really going through this.

"Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe we should just tell them that we changed our minds and we were going back to our floating city and they can have their mead and their fruit and—"

John shut him up with his mouth, his tongue immediately diving in and licking away Rodney's words and breath. While they kissed, his hands roamed, caressing, supporting, reassuring.

Rodney squawked in surprise, tried to pull back but John held him close, not letting him run away. It took nearly a minute or two before Rodney finally relaxed into the kiss even though his body was trembling with nerves.

John backed off slowly, nibbling on Rodney's bottom lip.

When John finally stepped back, Rodney was still a bundle of nerves, but John had managed to get him rooted to the spot.

John smiled, then grabbed a key to removed Rodney's cuffs and nipple clamps, stowing them safely in his tack vest. The leather skirt was tied into place quickly.

It felt weird not to have the nipple rings in place. He'd gotten used to them. After fingering one of his nipples lightly, he glanced up at John who was watching him carefully.

He carefully reached out to roll the other one, fondling it softly. "You look more naked without these than you do without clothes."

"Got used to them, did you?"

"You know how I feel about shiny objects. In combination with your nipples, it is an almost irresistible combination."

Rodney snorted. "I'm surprised you haven't asked me to pierce my cock yet."

Both of John's eyebrows went up. "I hadn't thought of that actually. Hmmm... I wonder if this set has a matching bar..."

"No. Absolutely not. I draw the line at that."

John laughed softly. "Deal. It's already such a pretty dick. It doesn't really need embellishments."

Rodney sighed. "I already feel like an idiot."

"Don't." John kissed him again, softly this time. "You are the very opposite of an idiot."

"Sometimes it doesn't seem that way."

"Then take my word for it."

"I'm a genius, but prancing around in a short leather skirt is not exactly a brilliant idea."

"Hey, I'm in the matched set. As will the other participants of this little ritual. And the sooner we go dance around the circle, the sooner we can change and go home, okay?"

"Oh yes. Doing the chicken dance in a leather mini-skirt while high. Such a good idea." Rodney shoved himself away from John, his nerves rocketing upward again.

"Rodney..." John sighed softly. "Can we just do this so we can go home?"

"We're already dressed for it," he said, gesturing to their attire, "if you call it that. Sure, why not? Let's go and get some nice patterns and designs painted on my pale body so I can get nice and high and forget everything that happened today. Yes, that certainly sounds like a good idea." Without waiting for John, Rodney stepped into the hallway and upon finding the waiting attendant, waved him forward.

John was right behind him, but didn't say anything else until they returned to find Kipfer and Jaalin dressed similarly. John stepped forward again, putting a hand on Rodney's arm to keep him from walking away. "You said someone would show me the symbols?"

Kipfer nodded, his eyes lingering on Rodney before turning to John. "Yes. Sangrius will instruct you in the ways of our people. Perhaps Doctor McKay and I can speak while you are walked through your lesson?"

"Only if you're doing it where I can see and hear you. I'm not letting him out of my sight right now."

"I was going to have Sangrius bring you to—"

John held up a hand to stop him. "We're trying hard to work with you, and follow your local customs. But your previous leader's...views...have me a little nervous. Maybe after this is over, I'll be able to relax and we can come back and have a good laugh over my over-protectiveness today. But for now, all I'm asking in return is that you respect my desire to not have McKay out of my line of sight."

Kipfer hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding and Rodney took a breath of relief. "Sangrius can bring the items to you here. Can I have food brought in for us to enjoy while we wait?"

John gave a short half bow. "Yes, and thank you. I'm not trying to be overly difficult. We do want to renew and expand this agreement, but I'm not comfortable letting Rodney go off on his own right now. I appreciate your willingness to adapt."

Rodney made his way to the other side of the table away from Kipfer, settling down gingerly. Even though there were three other mostly naked men in the room, he was still very uncomfortable. As John and Kipfer talked quietly, several well-dressed attendants came in and out, depositing food and drink on the table for them. Jaalin served himself immediately, taking a large glass of the mead for himself and Kipfer.

Sangrius arrived a few minutes later brandishing a large book as well as paper and pencils, laying them out on the table near John.

John turned to him, and the two quickly got absorbed in the symbols. Rodney took a moment to be glad John was intelligent, if he hid it most of the time. Hopefully this wouldn't take long.

Kipfer tried to start a conversation with him several times, but Rodney more or less ignored him, providing short answers in-between small bites of food and drink.

"Doctor McKay... I understand you bore the brunt of my predecessor's misguided adherence to the old ways. I do not know if it will do much good, but I do offer sincere apologies."

"Brendal apologized and five minutes later he was trying to feel me up, so don't be insulted if I think you're less than sincere."

Kipfer winced slightly. "Yes, I can understand both your's and the Colonel's distrust. I hope that we can prove to you that I am not my predecessor. Our people have been told nothing but high praise of both yourself and the Colonel. I wish greatly to be able to call you friend. My dearest wish is that I can prove worthy of that."

Rodney glanced up, pinning Kipfer with narrowed eyes. "I'm here to do a job, nothing more."

Kipfer met his gaze steadily. "I understand. I can only hope that will change some day. You will not be forced to participate in anything against your will again. The paints we will use today should give you no more than a pleasant sensation. What was used on you before was a highly concentrated version."

"And I'm different than most people, so I guess we'll see what kind of allergic reaction I get, won't we?"

"The compounds used are the same, only in lesser quantity as was intended."

Rodney huffed, turning back to his food, listening as John and Sangrius talked. It sounded like it was winding down—John's sketches in a pile next to the book.

Huh. John actually wasn't half bad of an artist. Why didn't he know that?

"...so it won't offend anyone?"

"The ones I showed you are required for the treaty to be sealed. Others are not necessary," Sangrius said.

"But it won't hurt if I add others, as long as I get these in the right places, right?"

Sangrius nodded. "You are correct."

John stood smiling. "Perfect. Thank you."

Rodney glanced up, catching John's eyes. "Are we ready?"

"I think so. I know the symbols, so we can get started whenever Kipfer is ready to begin."

"As we walk to the field, the others will know it is time to begin." Kipfer rose gracefully to his feet and moved out first, Jaalin following closely behind. John held out a hand for Rodney to lift him to his feet, his other hand holding the sketches.

They walked quietly, John catching the eye of Ronon and Teyla. Using some sort of silent soldier code or something, they seemed to all come to some agreement in the space of a few seconds, and the other two fell in discreetly at the end of the column of villagers.

Rodney felt like he was walking to the gallows.

When they arrived in the field, they followed the other pair to an open spot in the field. At least this one didn't have a bonfire. Kipfer stood and gave some kind of short speech, and then John was in front of him, taking his arms and raising them above Rodney's head. "Keep them there."

"What? Why?" Rodney asked, immediately moving his arms down again.

John caught them, raising them again. "Because I'm going to paint on you now. Leave them."

"This is harder than it looks, Colonel." With his hands above his head, he felt like an idiot, but Kipfer was standing the same way as he was. But still…

"Close your eyes and just relax." John dropped to his knees with an easy grace. He dipped a small paintbrush in a bowl and began to write on Rodney's skin, talking softly as he did. "These are their symbols, for health, vitality, good luck, and long life."

"Yes, yes," Rodney said, twitching as the brush touched his skin, his hands dropping to his sides.

"Arms up, Rodney."

"There is no need for me to lose circulation in my arms when you're down there. I'll put them up later."

John looked up through his eyelashes. He used his bedroom top voice. "Put them up until I'm done."

Rodney's arms went up immediately, quicker than even he thought they would. "Sheppard—"

John just hummed softly. And then he began to paint Ancient symbols on Rodney's body, over his heart, intertwined with the others—the symbols for love and trust and beautiful and forever.

Rodney trembled as John moved around him, continuing to paint, referencing the sketches he'd done in the hall earlier.

By the time John was done, Rodney had about twice as many symbols on him as Kipfer, all in Ancient, all referencing how John felt about him, what they meant to each other. The final symbol he painted, in the center of Rodney's chest and prominent, was the Ancient symbol that loosely translated to 'owned' and 'beloved'. Rodney had always thought it was an odd symbol until he and John had gotten together.

No one except him and John—and maybe Lorne—could read them, but Rodney knew his eyes were wide when he met John's eyes. Between the symbols and the lightheadedness he was allowed to have the "oh my god" look.

John just smiled. "They'll be covered before we go back. So just enjoy them, enjoy this."

"Mmm…'kay."

John gently lowered Rodney's arms to his sides, then turned to Kipfer who was looking at all the extra symbols on Rodney's body. John just smiled again.

"Colonel, are you prepared?" Kipfer looked funny. All painted and colorful. Huh.

"Yes. We can begin any time."

The drums sounded moments later, and Rodney could hear the echoing thud of stomping feet. Huh. Not quiet stereo, but close. He tilted his head and let his eyes close so he could listen better.

A hand took his. "Follow me, Rodney. Dance with me."

Rodney forced his eyes open, the colors of the field spinning before him, mingling with the beat of the drums and feet, the world moving, tilting, making him flush.

And then they started to move, the beat of the drums driving him on. John never let go of his hand, keeping Rodney close, guiding him as they moved.

He was panting heavily—from exertion and arousal—when John finally drew them to a halt, Rodney moaning quietly when they stopped moving, when the air stopped caressing him.

"Hey, buddy, how you doing?"

"Huh?"

John's voice got a little louder. Rodney was pretty sure he was talking to someone else. "What else do you need from us? I'd like to get him home so he can bathe and sleep this off."

Rodney tugged at the hand on his arm. "Where are we going?"

"Home." John. That was who it was. "Thank you, Kipfer. We'll return in two days, when you've both had a chance to get this out of your systems to finalize everything."

Rodney was looking around, the colors in the field mixing with the trees. He reached out, wanting to touch, but John caught his hand.

"Hey, buddy. Just stay with me. We're going to change and then fly home, okay?"

"I’m here…here…not going anywhere."

"Good." They stopped, and then John's hands were on him. "I'm putting the nipple rings back in, and then getting you dressed. Since we're going back to Atlantis, I'll hold off on the cuffs."

Rodney stood still, the darkness in the room they were now in held shades of blue and purple and grey. He went to turn to follow the curve of the light cutting into the inky blue, but John stopped him, a hand on his arm tugging him back. "Was following the sunbeam," he said, his eyes barely focusing on the man in front of him. "My foot hurts."

His foot was lifted. "You were standing on a little rock. It's gone now." Clothes were pulled on to Rodney's body.

He shifted, tugging at the sleeve. They were hot, confining. "Take them off."

"When we get home I will. I promise. Just wear them for me for a little while, okay?"

John. That was John. He smiled widely. "You're here."

"I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." John was standing again after tying Rodney's shoes. He reached out to cup Rodney's face. "I probably shouldn't have drawn so many extra symbols."

"The…he was all…colorful."

"Yeah, you're kind of stoned right now. But we're both decent again, so let's head out."

"Really? I never did drugs," Rodney said, letting John tug him forward. "Tried it once…just got hungry."

"Yeah, you really are. It's in the paint in all the pretty symbols all over you."

"Oh," Rodney said, his eyes drifting around the village. He spotted a very nice spot and started tugging John toward it. "Come here. It's pretty over here and you can fuck me."

John made a choked noise, as did several other people standing nearby. "Ah, not here okay. We have to go home first."

"Oh. But it's really nice over there."

John was turning a pretty shade of pink. "I'm sure it is. Maybe later, okay? Right now we have to go back home."

Rodney slowed, reaching out for John instead. "Wow. That's a pretty color, too."

"What?" John glanced back over his shoulder. "What color?"

"This," Rodney said as his hand touched John's cheek. Wow. That felt good. So he touched it some more.

The pink got more pronounced, even as John caught his hand and moved it away. "Hey. Home remember? Have to get home first."

"Oh." Rodney considered it for a moment before nodding. "I think I might be a little high."

John's perfect lips curved up. "Yeah. More than just a little there, buddy."

"Was I supposed to be high?" John moved them along again and Rodney glanced around, the scenery moving faster than he was, but he did spot the caveman and warrior princess. So they were good.

"Yeah. We knew it was going to happen. You did a great job and saved our trade deal."

"I did?" He turned and caught John's smile. "I did!"

"You totally did. You rock." John's smile got bigger.

John's face was the only thing clear in the middle of a swirling mass of color and he tripped over something, John's hand—and the barbarian's quick catch—kept him from falling on his face.

"Steady there, buddy. We're almost to the jumper now, then you can sit down and just relax."

"How about now?"

"Nope, not there yet." John was guiding him, and Rodney heard the warrior princess talking to someone behind them.

He turned trying to see who it was, but the cave man that had latched on to his other arm kept him moving forward. "Hey. What's going on?"

It was John who answered. "Teyla is talking to Kipfer and Jaalin, and saying our goodbyes for today."

Rodney felt his forehead furrow a little. "I should know them, right?"

"It's okay if you don't. Kipfer is the local leader, and Jaalin is his assistant."

"Oh." Rodney fell silent, finding it hard enough to concentrate on his own steps and the ground that kept jumping up to grab his feet. They stepped into something a few moments later and John settled him on a chair…bench…thing.

"Stay right here for me, okay? Ronon and Teyla will be right here next to you." John looked a little worried.

"Who?"

"Don't worry about it."

"You mean the cave man and the warrior princess?"

There was a snort next to him, and John's expression turned amused. "Yeah, them."

"Okay," Rodney nodded, putting his hand on the cushion beside where he was sitting. He angled his head up. The colors in here were all wrong, boring. "I need some paint."

From the front, where John had moved to, Rodney heard a grumble. "Paint is what keeps getting us into trouble here."

"Huh?"

"We'll be home in a few minutes, Rodney. Just hang on." John sounded tired. That was all wrong.

Rodney was quiet for a few minutes, the warrior princess settling down next to him on the bench. Her skin was soft where it touched him. It felt good, but he tried to ignore that for now. Something was wrong with John. "John?"

"I'm right up here, Rodney, I'm not going anywhere."

"Why are you sad? Is something wrong?"

There was a startled silence before John answered. "I'm not sad, Rodney."

"Oh…okay," Rodney said, listing to the side as they started moving.

"Just about home. I just need you to stay with me a little longer, okay, buddy?"

"I have you, Rodney," the warrior princess said quietly, pressing him upright again.

"Mmm…" he said, flashing her a smile. "Feels good."

Her mouth stretched upward. "I am glad to hear that."

"You're pretty," he said, waving his hand. "All colorful."

"Rodney, stop hitting on our teammate. You're taken." John's voice was firm.

"I'm…" Rodney turned toward John, the jumper walls—yes, that's what they were in!—swimming a little. "…not hitting anything. Just stating a fact."

The warrior princess patted his leg. "It is all right, Rodney. I understood what you meant and did not take it as a sexual advance as John fears."

"Oh, really?" Rodney turned back to her. "Why, would you…would we…?"

She shook her head. "No, we would not. You and John are devoted to one another and I would not intrude on that relationship."

"Oh…okay." He absently scratched an itch on his chest through the fabric of his shirt. "Do you know where we're going?"

Her eyes were all sparkly. "We are returning to Atlantis, where you will be examined by the good Doctor Beckett."

"Isn't he a vet?"

Her quiet laugh was like honey being poured all over his body. It was warm, smooth. "He is not, although you often tease him."

"Hmm," Rodney hummed, smiling at her. He liked her.

"Almost there gang. Dialing Atlantis now." John's voice, which was usually smooth, sounded off again.

"John, don't be sad. I like you better than her."

The short laugh from up front was a little strained. "I know buddy. Just hold on." There was a sound of buttons being pushed. "Atlantis, this is Sheppard. Transmitting my IDC now, and requesting a med team. No one was injured, but McKay is pretty high and should get looked at."

A voice came back over the radio, a woman. She sounded angry. "Colonel, anything I need to be concerned with?"

John's voice got tight, clipped. "No, Ma'am. Just your average, 'to continue trading with us we need to drug your scientist' ritual. Not as bad as last time, admittedly, and we had some control over it, but you wanted us to re-up this agreement, and the only way they were having it was letting them drug McKay again."

She sighed. "I'll let Doctor Beckett know. Do you need a gurney?"

"No, he's mobile. Do we have permission to enter the city?"

"You do, Jumper One. Doctor Beckett will meet you in the jumper bay. Atlantis out."

"All right gang, time to head home." There was a tingly feeling, then the door was opening and there were more people. John took Teyla's place next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Huh…oh fine…would really like a fuck."

That got more coughing all around, and John turned that pretty shade of pink again. "Ah, Doctor Beckett needs to look you over to be sure I didn't do any permanent damage."

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make those pretty colors," Rodney answered, reaching out to touch John's face.

The red got more pronounced. "Ah..."

"Mmm," Rodney hummed as soon as his fingers touched skin. "Ooo…it's warm, too."

"Rodney..."

"What?" Rodney asked, turned his eyes away from where his hand was touching John's face to his eyes.

"You're really high right now." John's hazel eyes—what color were those flecks anyway—flicked up and then back to Rodney. "Here's Carson now. I need you to go with him and do what he says."

"But, John," Rodney leaned forward, his words loudly whispered. "He likes sheep."

There was a huff of startled laughter from John. "You're going to kill me for this when you sober up, but you're really adorable like this."

Rodney tilted his head, the room continuing to spin after he's stopped moving. "Why?"

"Because you are." John touched his finger to the tip of Rodney's nose. "Now go with the good doctor and let him make sure I haven't permanently damaged you this time."

Rodney glanced down at himself, catching sight of a small patch of blue paint on the back of his hand. "You just made me all colorful."

"With drugged paint that was stronger than I was anticipating from the descriptions. I'm sorry." He stood, carefully pulling Rodney up and turning him to face an amused-looking Carson. "Hey, Doc."

"John, Rodney," he said, looking back and forth between the two of them. "Did I hear right that our resident genius is a little stoned?"

"More than a little Carson." John caught Rodney's hand and showed him the blue paint. "He's got this on his chest, back and arms. The same compounds as the first time we were there, but in a lower dose. So no memory wipe this time, but he is pretty out of it right now."

"Aye, seems that you're right," Carson said, flashing a light in Rodney's eyes before he had the chance to duck his head. "He's conscious which is always a good thing."

"And aware. Mostly. Just, you know, stoned. I'd like to take him home and get this paint washed off, let him sleep it off in private if that's okay?"

Carson looked at Rodney for a long moment. "I need to get some blood drawn and do some tests. Shouldn't take long."

"Any way you can meet me in our quarters and do it there? He's really out of it Carson, and asking some...questions that I'd rather the whole city didn't hear. When he sobers up, he'll be embarrassed enough as it is. I don't want to make it worse by bringing more people into it."

"I'd like to run him under one of the Ancient scanners."

John's sigh sounded sad again. "I can't talk you out of it until tomorrow, eh?"

"No. Do I have to worry about the rest of you?"

"No. Ronon and Teyla watched but didn't participate, and Lorne's team stayed with the jumpers."

"Good. While I get Rodney through his test you can all get checked out with the rest of my staff." Carson turned to Rodney and offered a smile. "Think you can get down to the infirmary?"

Rodney blinked twice. "Huh? Why?"

"We're going to give you a wee check-up, and run you through the scanner. Then you'll be free to go home and sleep this off."

"Oh. But why are you doing the…thing?"

"Thing?"

Rodney tilted his head, the light behind Carson's head bright, making swirling patterns on the wall. "Um…the test, thing."

"The scanner? I want to compare the levels of the drugs in your system against the records from last year when you were comatose from it. Obviously you didn't get nearly the same amount this time, but it never hurts to record this kind of thing, so I have some facts on hand on the off chance something goes wrong."

"Oh. But you're the vet."

Both of Carson's eyebrows went up. He looked funny like that. Behind him, John started making distressed, donkey-like noises.

"What?"

John sounded a little breathless. "He's not the vet, Rodney. You just like to tease him about sheep."

"Oh…" Rodney paused for a moment before realization dawned. "Oh. I insulted you, didn't I?"

John made another chocked noise, while Carson just shook his head. "Aye lad, you did. But since you're very obviously not in your right mind at the moment, I'll let it slide this time. Come along then."

It took both John and Carson to get him upright and they both ended up steering him to the infirmary through really pretty hallways. They looked vaguely familiar, but it was too much work to try and figure out why. Rodney spotted the cave man and the warrior princess on two different beds when they arrived, Carson leading him to his own bed.

"Do I have to stay here?"

"For a little bit, yes. When I'm done with your tests, and John has been cleared as well, I'll allow him to bring you home, with some conditions."

"Conditions?" he asked as Carson made him swing his feet up onto the bed, letting him lay down. "Can I get a pillow?"

Something soft was put under his head. "Aye, but nothing you need to worry about. I'll talk them over with John in a bit. Now Colonel, Katherine is waiting to give you your post mission. You can come back and hover when you're done."

"Is John okay? He was sad before."

"Sad?" Carson's gaze seemed to sharpen. "Why was he sad?"

"I don't know. He wouldn't say," Rodney said with a sigh. "He sounded sad and he wouldn't fuck me in the really pretty place I saw wherever we were before. Maybe that's why he's sad."

Carson choked for a moment. That seemed to be happening a lot. "Ah... perhaps that's it. When he comes back, I'll give him a good once-over as well, if it will make you feel better."

Carson did some tests, drawing blood and doing a few other things. He made Rodney sit up so he could take his shirt off, looking over the markings all over his body. Wow. There were a lot.

"I don't want him to be sad," Rodney said quietly.

"Aye, I know. I don't want him to be sad either. So we'll get you all fixed up, then I'll help him."

"Okay. And did you know the ceiling is really pretty? All swirls and curves and colors?"

"I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'm going to have to take it away from you for a moment however—when I put you in the scanner, you won't see it. But you'll only be in for a short time, and then I'll bring you back out again."

"Will it hurt?"

"Nay lad, You willna feel a thing. It will make a little humming noise for a few minutes, then you'll be all done."

"Oh, I like humming," Rodney said offering Carson a smile.

"Then you'll enjoy this." Carson smiled back, broad and happy. He patted Rodney on the leg. "Here we go."

Carson moved Rodney's bed to another section of the infirmary and he was shifted to yet another table thing. It was hard and cold, but Carson told him he wouldn't be there long. And he was right. The machine hummed really nicely and before Rodney knew it he was back on the other bed, getting wheeled back to the pretty ceiling.

John was waiting for them when they got back.

"Hey, there." He smiled at Rodney, eyes tracing the blue lines on his exposed torso. Then he looked up at the doctor. "About done with him?"

"Aye. I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes, though, before you head home."

"With me?"

"Aye. A few things to watch out for and the like." Carson patted Rodney's leg. "John and I will be right back. Don't go anywhere."

Rodney shook his head. "Nope, not going."

He watched as Carson drew John to the side and they talked, but that quickly got boring so he started looking around the room, swinging his legs as he hummed. This place was very pretty in places. The walls and ceiling, for instance. The stuff inside was what made it boring. It didn't have the color contrast he liked…or was beginning to like. He mentally shrugged. It really didn't matter.

John didn't look much happier when he came back with Carson, but he did smile at Rodney. "All right, Doc says I can spring you. Let's get you home and to bed."

"But I’m not tired."

"That's okay. You don't have to sleep." John tugged him up and gave him his shirt back which he tugged on. "But you are going to stay in the suite until this wears off."

"But why? I feel okay. I'm fine. Carson said so. Right?"

"Aye lad, you're fine, just a wee bit on the drugged side. I agree with the Colonel. You can leave, but only to go home. Take a shower to wash off the paint. After that, my guess is that you'll start to feel like yourself again in a few hours, and be completely free of outside influence by tomorrow morning."

"Drugged? I'm drugged?" Something about that seemed familiar.

John and Carson both said yes at the same time. That was pretty funny. John was the one who kept talking though. "You're pretty high, buddy. Come on. Home for you."

"Oh." He glanced between John and Carson before letting John tug him forward, out of the infirmary. "But…how did that happen? I wasn't high before."

John sighed. "I used too much paint."

"Oh. But it's nice."

"Being high is nice?"

"Well…it seems nice right now. Everything's really…nice and soft and everything feels really good and nice."

They stepped into a closet with pretty buttons. Transporter. Cool. John pushed one. "Well, at least you're enjoying it. Maybe you'll hate me less when you sober up."

"Why would I hate you?" Rodney asked as John tugged him out of the transporter when the doors opened. That was cool.

"Because you didn't want to do this, and I made you."

"Oh." Rodney scratched an itch on his chest. "But why would I do that?"

They got to the suite, and John led him to the bathroom, tugging Rodney's clothes off. "Because you trusted me."

"Wow…" Rodney said, catching sight of himself in the mirror. He paused, turning a little and then looking over his shoulder at the symbols all along his back and his legs. "That's cool…I can't read it though."

John joined him looking in the mirror, pointing to each of the symbols and telling him what they were. "But now I need to wash them off."

"Why? They're really pretty. You painted them on me. And they really mean nice things."

John was kissing the side of Rodney's neck. Oh, that felt really good. "Because the paint has drugs in it. If, when you're sober again, you want more symbols, I have some regular body paint I can use, okay?"

Rodney tilted his head, moaning a little. "Oooh. Keep doing that."

"In the shower." John pulled away, shedding his own clothing. "Come let me wash you, and then I'll kiss you all over."

Rodney nodded, pushing John into the shower and plastering himself along the other man as he shoved him against the wall. "Oh…feels good," he said, grinding himself into John.

"Fuck..." John gasped, bucking up slightly. "F...figures you don't realize you outweigh me until you're high..."

"What?" Rodney asked, pulling back just enough to look at John. "You're all boring. You need some color."

"Color?" John gasped again as Rodney found a nice hard dick and wrapped his fingers around it. Mmmm, soft.

"You were pink and red before. It was pretty. Now you have some blue, too."

"I have...? Oh shit. Carson is going to kill me." John leaned back against the wall. "At least we don't have to worry about me being as out of it as you are. The dosage I'll get from this will be minimal."

"The blue is pretty," Rodney said, drawing his hand down John's cock.

"Oh god! Rodney... Washing. We need to wash this paint away."

"Why? It's pretty." Rodney leaned against John again, rubbing his chest against John's. Oh…that felt really good.

"Be…because I'm supposed to be the one in control here. How is it that I have less control with you high than I do with you sob...sober?"

"You're trying to be nice?"

"I think you're just more aggressive like this. And I... fuck that's... I have a bit of a kink for that apparently."

"You like me stoned?"

"I like you taking what you want, or at least telling me what you want. It's kind of hot." John did something, and suddenly Rodney was the one against the wall. John grabbed a washcloth and the soap. "But as much as I like the occasional Aggressive!Rodney, we need to get this paint off you."

"Oh. I want you to fuck me."

"Let me wash this paint off you, and I will."

"Really?" Rodney felt his eyes widen.

"Really." John soaped up the washcloth and began to run it all over Rodney's body.

Rodney shuddered and moaned, his head falling back to thud against the wall.

"Good boy." John was purring, the noise a soft rumble in Rodney's ears as he stroked and cleaned every inch of Rodney's body.

God. Every touch, every pass of the cloth just drove him higher and higher. It was like he could still hear the thumping of the drums—or maybe it was just his heart pounding in his chest.

Once the blue had all washed down the drain, John started tracing the same paths with his mouth, kissing every inch of Rodney like he had promised.

"Oh god…John, please," he begged, the on-edge feeling he'd had for hours multiplying exponentially.

"Mmmm." John urged him to turn, and then that talented mouth was licking at Rodney's entrance, pushing just inside him.

Rodney keened loudly, pushing back against John. More now.

The other man didn't draw it out too long. After a minute he stood, grabbing the shower lube and pressing inside, filling Rodney completely.

Rodney uttered a choked off sob/moan as John pressed him firmly against the wall, covering him and filling him, John's fingers tangling with his own, pressing their hands together.

John moved slowly, pulling almost all the way out before slamming back in. Then doing it all over and over again.

Rodney moaned, lost in the sensations, colors swirling in his mind as John fucked him.

Warm breath tickled his ear. "Come."

With a hard shudder, Rodney did just so, clenching down on John as his body shook with his climax.

John followed him over the edge, slumping against Rodney's back. "I'll get us cleaned up again, and then we can go lie down."

The swirling colors had slowed, so Rodney simply nodded, slumped against the wall where John had pressed him. He moaned as his lover pulled out, but didn't have the energy to move as John cleaned him carefully. Every touch, though, aroused him again, making him want more.

The water stopped, and John gently led Rodney out of the shower, using a soft towel to strip the stray drops away.

Rodney tried to grab onto John, but he gently batted Rodney's hands away.

"Bed. Come on, you're looking a little sated and loose-limbed."

"Want you to touch me more."

"Jesus, you're hard again? Those are some pretty good drugs."

"You just feel really good."

"Go lie down for me. I need to go debrief with Elizabeth, then I'll come back and touch you again."

"I can come with you," Rodney said as John steered him toward the really big bed. Wow. That was nice.

"No, I think you need to stay here until the drugs wear off."

"Bu that means I'm going to be alone."

John paused, giving Rodney the chance to wrap himself around the other man. Mmm, skin. "Rodney..."

He pushed his face into John's shoulder, breathing in his clean scent. "What?"

John's arms wound around him, even as he steered them both to the bed. Along the way, John managed to snag his radio. "Sheppard to Weir."

John paused next to the bed, hugging Rodney close. Rodney just listened to the thumping beat of John's heart, relaxing his body against him.

"Yeah, I need to know if I can reschedule our briefing."

Rodney hummed to himself, loving how John's voice rumbled in his chest.

"Carson cleared Rodney back to quarters, but only under supervision. He's still drugged out of his mind."

"Then bring the briefing here. I can't leave him alone, and I'm sure as hell not dragging him through the halls…Under supervision. He's too scattered to be left alone right now. Look, Elizabeth, I'm not trying to be difficult, but—" John paused, obviously listening. "Well we didn't debrief before he was released, and now I have an armful of drugged McKay. What would you like me to do?"

Rodney could feel John tensing. "God damn it!" John's arms tightened around Rodney. "All right buddy, Weir has decided this thing has to be now. I need to get up and get dressed."

"Okay," Rodney said quietly, slowly letting John go. He tilted his head up to look John in the face. "Do you want me to come with you?"

John looked at him closely. "How...happy... are you still feeling?"

Rodney brightened, flashing a smile. "You still feel really good."

"Pretty happy, then." John sighed. He got up and came back with a bag of candy. He unwrapped one and pushed it between Rodney's lips, letting the buttery taste melt against his tongue. "These are caramels I won at the officer poker game the other night. If you come with me and don't say anything unless I ask you a question, I'll keep giving them to you, okay?"

"But they're yours."

"I won them for you. I don't want to leave you alone, Rodney, but I also don't want you embarrassed later. Come with me to the briefing, and I'll feed you the caramels if you don't say anything. Hopefully once Weir sees you, she'll keep it short and we can come back here."

"But why?"

John caressed Rodney's face. "Please. All you have to do is come with me and not talk. That's all I'm asking."

"But I like talking."

"I know you do. You only have to not talk from when we leave here until we get back after the meeting. Then you can talk all you want."

"But what if I want to talk in the meeting? I have valuable things I can share."

John finally nodded slowly. "You can talk in the meeting, just not in the halls. How's that?"

Rodney nodded. That sounded fair. And maybe it would make John smile again. He liked when he smiled. It made him all warm. "Okay."

And John did smile, big and soft and wow, that was nice. He also got another piece of the smooth candy. "Very good. Let me get us dressed and then we'll go."

"I can get dressed, too," Rodney said around the candy. Huh. It made it hard to talk when he was chewing one of them.

John's laugh was warm. "I know you can, but I'm faster right now." He quickly got Rodney's clean clothes on, and then dressed himself. "Ready?"

"Do we have water? I'm thirsty?"

John detoured to get a glass of water, letting Rodney drink the whole thing before taking the empty glass and steering him out the door. Just before they stepped out, John grinned and gave him another caramel.

"But I didn't want another one yet," Rodney protested as they walked, trying to talk around the candy.

"No talking in the halls, remember?"

"But you're talking in the halls."

"Rodney." John shot him a look and kept them moving. They used the nifty transporter again, and then they were in the control room, walking into the conference room. A pretty lady in a red shirt was waiting for them.

"Wow…you're all colorful," Rodney said, his eyes wide as he stared.

She looked startled, but John responded as he steered Rodney into a chair. "Sheppard and McKay, reporting as ordered, ma'am."

"I only ordered you, Colonel." She raised an eyebrow at them before settling into a chair. "Teyla and Ronon are on their way as well as Major Lorne and his team."

"And I told you I wasn't leaving him alone like this." He sat next to Rodney, slouching in the chair. Ooo, when his tee-shirt rode up there was skin.

Rodney reached out, but John caught his hand. "But—"

"Not here. If you're good, I'll think about it later. Want another piece of candy?"

"No, they're too sweet."

John pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay. What else can I get you then?"

Rodney smiled nice and slow and John immediately turned bright red.

"Okay, what else can I get you except that?"

Rodney scratched an itch on the side of his neck. "Why are we here?"

"Colonel," the woman said, her voice hard. "Are you sure this was a good idea?"

John looked back at her, and he looked angry. "No, as a matter of fact I don't. As I recall, I said we needed to postpone this until tomorrow."

"And Doctor McKay was not required to attend the briefing," she said as the cave man and warrior princess entered the room. They looked at him for a long moment, surprise on their faces. The warrior princess sat down in the seat next to him.

"Hi," he said, smiling at her.

"Hello. I did not expect to see you here."

John's voice got harder. "I wasn't leaving him alone like this. Hell, the only reason Carson released him was because I promised I'd stay with him."

"John's a little angry," he whispered to her before pointing down the table. "She's making him yell."

"And you postponed the briefing once already."

"I postponed it because I needed to have my chief scientist checked out! I'm sorry if his health and mental state are more important than sitting here and getting called on the carpet for it."

Teyla nodded slowly. "I see that. I believe we should allow them to argue for a bit before we attempt to step in."

"But the tones are all jarring," Rodney said quietly, waving his hand in the air between them. "John sounds a lot better when he talks normally."

"And how exactly did your presence aid in that, Colonel?"

"They are both very angry right now." Teyla patted his arm lightly. "But they will get over it."

"What do you mean how did my presence aid that? I was getting my own post-mission, and then Carson released McKay into my care."

"But why?" Rodney asked, leaning closer to the warrior princess. "I think we should leave. I don't like how they sound."

"And yet both Teyla and Ronon and Major Lorne managed to give me a short briefing before they went on to their other responsibilities. I'm sure Carson could have looked after Rodney for a few minutes while you reported in."

John wasn't leaning back anymore. And every line of his body said he was angry. "And none of them is the fucking team leader either. I'm sorry, Elizabeth, it was my job to get my people home and then make sure they were okay. I told you I wanted to wait to do this, but you didn't listen to me."

Teyla shook her head slightly. "I do not believe that would be wise. It would only anger them both further."

"I don't care," Rodney whispered before standing very deliberately, his fingertips of his left hand resting on the table. "Hi," he said, seeing everyone's eyes drifting to him. He wiggled the fingers of his right hand in the air. "Since you're all arguing I thought I'd just let you know that the warrior princess and I are going to go for a walk. Your tones are making my head hurt."

John immediately stood up, his hand on Rodney's arm. "Hey, I'm sorry. Sit back down. We won't yell at each other anymore right now, will we, Elizabeth?"

"No," Rodney shook his head. "I don't want to be here anymore and I know she'll stay with me."

John looked at the warrior princess for a long moment. "Teyla, can you walk with him back to our suite and stay there until I can get back? I'd appreciate it."

"Of course," she said, tilting her head toward John.

Rodney glanced back and forth between John and Teyla. "Really?"

The other man nodded. "Really. I probably should have thought of that before. Go with her, and I'll come find you in a little while."

Rodney smiled at John as Teyla rose gracefully to her feet. The doors to the room were still open and he spotted four other people walking to the room as they were leaving, Teyla at his side.

Maybe she would walk with him for a while. This place was really pretty.

***

John watched Rodney and Teyla leave, barely acknowledging Lorne’s team as they slipped in, looking confused. He turned back to Elizabeth, eyes narrowed. But he wasn’t going to start the next round. He wasn’t.

As the doors to the conference room slid shut, Elizabeth's eyes wandered around the room, her gaze piercing, settling on John when she finally paused. "Now that everyone's here, I think we should get started." She took a breath, the muscles in her jaw tightening. "Who here would like to explain how Atlantis' chief science officer came back from a mission drugged?"

Since Teyla was now gone, Ronon didn't talk much, and Lorne wasn't there, John sank back into his chair and slouched deliberately. "You made it very clear that if we fucked up that trade agreement, I would be answering to the IOA. They didn't require...touching like last time. But to renew the agreement we had to participate in another ritual with the same drug as before. Rodney was the only one who could, being that he was the one to 'seal the deal' last time."

She nodded, her lips tightening further, but she didn't comment.

"There were stipulations this time. I participated as well, and I painted the symbols on him rather than let a native do it. They were very apologetic for the ass who used to lead them, but to renew, and to expand on it like they're looking for, this was necessary."

"And is it complete?"

"Teyla has the fine print. We need to send someone back to complete the deal, and hammer out the extras. They want more advanced help with their fields in exchange for a greater portion of the crops. I haven't the slightest idea how to build an irrigation system, so someone who does needs to be the one deciding exactly how many barrels of grape things the work is worth."

She nods, jotting down a few notes on her PDA. "What else was promised?"

"That's what they were looking for. Most of my conversation with Kipfer revolved around what happened last time, and reassurances that it wouldn't happen again."

"So this was a better version of what happened before?"

John sighed. He was fucking tired, and the day was catching up to him. He just couldn't sustain his anger anymore. "Pretty much. Drugged blue paint, leather skirts instead of nothing at all, and barefoot dancing in a field instead of watching at spear point while my teammate gets jerked off against his will. Kipfer's... not a bad guy. My problems were with Brendal."

"You'd go back?"

"It's not my favorite place to go, and I don't really want to be drugging McKay every time I do, but, yeah, if there was no other choice."

Elizabeth looked at him for a long moment before nodding, making a few more notes. "Major Lorne, I'd like you team to go back and make sure we have all the 'i's are dotted and 't's are crossed. Do either of you think that will be an issue?"

John was grateful. He glanced at Lorne, who was watching him. "I don't think that should be a problem. I can send another team to back you up if you think you need it."

"No, sir, the natives were friendly. It shouldn't be a problem," Lorne said, his voice even.

"Good," Elizabeth nodded again. "I'll need a list from you, Colonel, from the personnel we need to put together to fulfill the requirements of the treaty you brokered."

"I'll work on it." He wondered how Rodney was doing, and if he was giving Teyla any problems.

"When are we supposed to return?"

"I told him in a few days. I didn't know how long the drug would take to wear off, or how long we would need to put the personnel together. Frankly, whoever's been dealing with them so far is probably best equipped to know what more we can offer them."

"As you know we've been rotating staff, but going forward we may not have that luxury," she said, her eyes on John. "Do any other expedition members have to worry about the incident with Rodney becoming standard protocol for each visit?"

"If it hasn't yet, probably not. I gather this was to renew the agreement with the new leadership, and was required in order to expand on it." She was fishing for something, but he hadn't figured out what yet.

"You gather?" Oh, the sarcasm was lovely.

John narrowed his eyes again. "Major Lorne, I'm sure your team has other things they need to be doing. Dismissed. Ronon, I'll catch you later as well."

"Colonel, you're not in charge of this briefing. Major, you and your team will remain."

"I may not run the meeting, but the Major and his team are under my command. Not to mention, this isn't about them, it's about you and me. Or did you want to scream in front of the children again?"

"Right now I'm trying to ascertain the potential for another member of Atlantis to come back stoned, Colonel." Her tone was tight, her eyes flashing with warning and something else.

"No, you want to berate me, and if it's just as well, having this conversation in front of both of our subordinates isn't a good idea." He flicked his gaze to Lorne again, noting the almost terror on the man's face. Disobey his commanding officer or the civilian leader—neither one was a good option. His expression got darker. "And by countermanding my order, you've put them in bad place. They have to disobey one of us."

Elizabeth ignored everyone else, looking down the conference table at John. "Right now I just want you to answer the question. How much of a possibility is it that someone else will come back to Atlantis stoned?"

"They only seem to like drugging McKay." He stood up. "And if you're countering my orders to my men, ma'am, then I'm assuming I'm being removed from my post and taking command yourself. If you need me, you can find me in my quarters." He started for the door.

"Colonel, we're not done."

"We are for now. Come find me when you aren't looking for ways to undermine my authority."

"Colonel, you're not in charge here. I'd recommend taking your seat so we can finish the briefing, or is it too difficult for you to perform your duties?"

He didn't bother to respond. He was feeling reckless and angry and tired, and on some level he suspected the drugged paint Rodney had smeared on him had probably affected him somewhat. He wasn't usually this bad. But he was out the door and heading for the transporter, pretty sure he had just fucked his career over and could kiss Atlantis goodbye.

He ignored Elizabeth's calls as he left, ignored the radio hails a few moments later. A quick transporter jump and he was walking into the suite, but it was dark and quiet. Rodney and Teyla weren't here.

He didn't really feel like wandering around, so he flopped on to the couch to wait. Someone—either Elizabeth or Lorne—would be by to relieve him of his command. He'd bank on sooner rather than later.

His mood was nearly as dark as the room when the door finally opened. No door chime meant it had to be Rodney and Teyla. And sure enough, they stepped in a moment later, Rodney all smiles and softness. "Thank you," he said, his voice sounding a little awed.

"Teyla." John called out to her, wanting to catch her before she left.

"John, I did not think you were here," she said, turning toward him, squinting through the darkness.

"John? Why are you in the dark?"

He mentally brought the lights up a bit, but not enough that Rodney would be able to read his expression clearly. "Long story. Hey, Rodney, how are you doing?"

"Teyla and I walked back. Everything is all colors and swirls and really nice."

He let his lips curl up slightly. "Why don't you go get comfortable? I'll grab you something to eat and be there in a minute, okay?"

Rodney shifted on his feet, head angled to the side. "You're sad again."

He sighed. Even stoned his lover was too perceptive. "A little. I need to talk to Teyla about it though."

"Oh. Okay. I've gotta pee." He pointed to the bedroom. "I'm going in there."

John nodded, forcing another little smile. As soon as Rodney was gone, John turned back to his teammate. "I fucked up."

"John," Teyla said gliding forward, her hand moving to rest on his bare forearm. "Both you and Elizabeth were not thinking rationally. Things said in anger are often hurtful and insincere."

"So it's already making the rounds huh? Fuck. I challenged her, then walked out of the fucking meeting. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. The best I can come up with is that Rodney was smearing that paint all over me in the shower. I didn't get a big dose, but enough that I was feeling reckless and pissed off. What the fuck am I going to tell Rodney when he's sober?

"No," she said shaking her head. "I merely guessed based on what I saw before I left with Rodney." She paused for a moment before continuing. "It may be best for both you and Elizabeth to cool off before you attempt to speak with her about this any further."

John snorted, moving to look out the window, out over his city. "I more or less resigned my position, Teyla. In front of my men. There's no going back from that."

"Have you not said things in anger you later regretted or rescinded?"

"Of course. But regretting it and actually being able to fix it are two different things."

"I am sure that once cool heads surface, things will be quickly righted. I have faith that both you and Elizabeth can work things out between you."

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I can't un-quit my job. If it comes down to it, I need you to help me convince Rodney to stay on Atlantis. This place means too much to him for me to take it away because I lost my temper."

Teyla shook her head. "That is one task I will be unable to do. Eat something and sleep this night. Tomorrow is another day."

He sighed again. He didn't think he would be sleeping. Anger, both at himself and Elizabeth for pushing it, still simmered too close to the surface. He was going to have to be careful with Rodney. Any bondage would be a bad idea. He didn't want to actually hurt his lover.

Rodney appeared a minute later, his eyes wide, face in a broad grin. "Did you see this?"

John schooled his expression. Rodney was too genuinely happy right now. John would give the world to keep him this way, and he wasn't going to take away from it now. "See what, buddy?"

Rodney gestured widely over his shoulder, his hands flying around. "The bathroom wall is like…gone, but there and it's like…wow…so cool."

John chuckled. "Yeah, one of my favorite features of this place. Why don't you say good night to Teyla, and we'll turn in for the night. You've got to be getting sleepy with all the dancing you did today."

He shook his head. "Not tired. Teyla walked with me. Did she tell you? We saw lots of stuff and it was really nice."

"She wanted to wait until you could tell me. I want to hear all about it." John caught Teyla's eye and managed a small smile. He pushed back his own worries for now—Rodney needed him. "I'll see you tomorrow I'm sure."

"Yes, John. I will see you tomorrow and we will straighten things out." She smiled and bowed her head, heading out a moment later after saying good night to Rodney.

John gathered up some dinner from what they had stashed away, letting Rodney's happy descriptions wash over him, soothe him.

"…stained glass is really pretty. Almost as pretty as Teyla," Rodney was saying, his hands waving in the air. But he paused, his eyes narrowing. "Are you mad at me because I didn't stop talking?"

That snapped John back. "No, Rodney, I'm not mad at you." He moved, pulling the other man into his arms. "I'm just tired. But I like hearing about your day. What else did you see?"

Rodney shook his head. "I’m tired of talking now."

John leaned in, brushing their lips together. "Okay. I made some dinner. You should eat, so you don't get sick."

"Okay," Rodney said without argument, his eyes on John obviously waiting for him.

John smiled a little, then led his lover to the small table. He put a plate in front of him—just an MRE, but Rodney liked them, and they were nutritious at least. "It's the chicken one you like so much."

Rodney leaned over it, taking a deep sniff. "Mmm. Smells good. Thank you. I'll eat when you're ready."

Chuckling softly, John grabbed his lover's fork and raised it to Rodney's lips.

"No, John," Rodney said, his hand circling around John's wrist and for a moment John saw sobriety in his lover's eyes before they glazed a little again. "You need to eat."

"I will. I want to make sure you do first though."

"I will. When you eat."

John didn't want to argue with him, but they only had the one MRE. He went and grabbed a PowerBar from Rodney's stash. "I'll eat this."

"But that's not dinner."

"It'll hold me for tonight." John picked up the fork again, holding it out. "Now eat for me."

Rodney's lips pressed together and he shifted away from John as he shook his head.

John hung his head for a minute. "We don't have any more MREs, and it's more important that you eat than I do. I'll just be a little hungry in the morning. You could get sick."

"Let's share it and the PowerBar."

If he was feeding them both, he could make sure Rodney got the lion's share. He ate the bite already on the fork, and then scooped up another for the other man. "Deal."

Rodney finally opened his mouth and let John feed him, but only taking another bite once John did.

John made quick work of the meal, making sure Rodney ate enough. He tore open the bar and tore it in an uneven half, giving the bigger side to Rodney. "What have you got planned for tomorrow?"

Rodney shrugged, but the door chimed before he could answer.

John cursed silently, but rose to his feet, patting Rodney's shoulder as he passed. "Wait here. I'll be right back." He moved to the door, triggering it open as he did.

Lorne was standing stiffly in the doorway. "Sir, since you were off radio I wanted to let you know that tonight's patrol schedule had been adjusted."

John sighed. "I'm assuming that's because I'm confined to quarters?"

"No, sir. It's because you were scheduled for the East Pier and I didn't think you'd be up for a 0300 patrol, sir. If I overstepped my responsibility I apologize."

John blinked. Huh. He'd forgotten about that. "No, thank you. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry about the meeting. I shouldn't have put you in that position. What was going on was between me and Elizabeth. At the time I thought clearing the room would be a good idea."

"It's not a problem, sir. Things have been straightened out."

He raised an eyebrow. Considering he hadn't seem Elizabeth since that disaster of a meeting... "Major?"

"My team and I, along with Specialist Dex, were able to explain the situation on Planet Touchy-Feely to Doctor Weir's satisfaction, sir."

Well, that was one less thing to worry about. "Then thank you. And I apologize for losing my temper—it was uncalled for and unprofessional."

"It's understandable, sir, given the circumstances." Lorne finally broke out of his official posture, a smile creeping up on his face. "Although, I was certain Doctor Weir did not expect so many words to come out of Ronon's mouth."

John raised an eyebrow. This had to be good.

"It seems he can speak quite well when he has something to say."

John chuckled a little. "He has a few degrees from his world. He was a scholar before he joined the military, and then later became a Runner. So that doesn't really surprise me. Not many people know that about him though."

"I don’t' think I've seen a better dressing down from a Drill Sergeant."

John leaned against the wall, his body relaxing a bit. "Dressing down? I'm sorry I missed it. What did he say to her?'

"If I can get Zelenka to find the feed for the room I'll show you. It was…memorable."

John shook his head. "I'll have to track it down." He reached out, putting a hand on Lorne's shoulder. "Thanks, Evan."

"Not a problem, sir. Get some rest."

"You, too. I'll talk to you in the morning I'm sure." John watched the other man go, closing the door behind him. He took a few beats to gather himself, then turned, surprised to find Rodney almost directly behind him. "Hey, there."

"I'm sorry you got in trouble because of me."

John shook his head. "I didn't get into trouble over you. I made my own mess this time, so don't worry about it, okay?"

"John." Rodney's tone was serious, hard.

Great. The drug starts wearing off now of all times. He sighed. "It really isn't over you. I fought with Elizabeth, and was stupid enough to challenge her in front of witnesses."

"I might still be stoned, but I can tell when you're lying."

"I'm not lying. Leaving out a few things, sure, but I'm not lying about it." He moved closer, pulling Rodney into his arms.

Rodney sighed, but didn't pull away. "That's not the answer to everything you know."

"I'm not trying to be difficult. You're...happy. Enjoying your day. I don't want you to have to give that up sooner than necessary."

"I'm stoned. There's a difference. And as much as I hate to admit it, a blow job or sex is not the best way to settle things sometimes."

John chuckled. "I agree. Look, I really did have a fight with Elizabeth, and I don't know what's going to happen. I was reckless and pissed off and worried. I have no idea what's bothering her, but she wasn't willing to stop pushing, so I pushed back. I got up and left the meeting, more or less resigning my position, and then refused to answer radio hails. It was a mistake, I acted in anger, and I don't know what will happen now. Apparently Ronon chewed her a new one after I left, and Lorne seems to think everything is settling down."

"I heard."

"Which part?"

"All of it."

John let himself soak up Rodney's warmth. "Teyla suggested I don't do anything tonight. I'm still angry, and I'm willing to bet Elizabeth is too. We'll get a good night's sleep, and deal with fixing it in the morning. By then you won't be stoned anymore, so I'll have one less thing to worry about. Hopefully I can be a bit more rational."

"Hmm. The stoned part is coming and going," Rodney said, rubbing his face against John's shoulder.

"Good. Carson said it would start wearing off faster once we washed the paint away. Come to bed with me. I just want to hold you for a little while." Rodney always smelled so good. John got his own sort of high from it.

Rodney nodded, but his hand slid down to cup John's ass.

"Mmmm." It felt good, but it would feel better naked. Reluctantly, John pulled back and locked his fingers with Rodney's, tugging him to the bedroom.

As soon as they got there, however John spotted a veritable smorgasbord of bondage stuff on the bed. God, had Rodney emptied the entire drawer?

"Ah... Rodney?"

"Yeah?" His eyes were wide and wow…really blue.

"What's all this?"

Rodney bounced on this toes a little. "What does it look like?"

Damn it, Rodney was adorable like this. The corners of John's lips twitched up. "It looks like you emptied the toy drawer on the bed. Is that a hint?"

"Maybe." Rodney smiled shyly.

John looked over the collection. Arousal stirred in the pit of his stomach. "All right, you're in charge of getting us both naked while I decide what I want to use on you."

It was actually pretty amusing to watch Rodney try to get his clothes off without taking off his boots as he hopped around the room a little, trying not to topple over.

John sat on the bed and examined all his options. They really did have a lot of toys, which made him smile. He didn't trust himself completely right now. While he didn't think he would lose control and hurt Rodney, he wasn't going to risk it. So the cuffs, but not attached to anything. Hmmm, maybe the OhMiBod vibrator and the iPod. They hadn't used that combination in a while, and with Rodney half-stoned still, the music would add an extra element for him.

Rodney finally managed to dump his clothes in a pile on the floor and approached John with eager hands. They slid under the hem of his shirt and up his chest, pushing the fabric up and away. "Wow. You feel so good," he whispered, his eyes wide as he watched his own hands.

John hummed, lifting his arms to give Rodney better access.

Shoving the material up and off, Rodney stepped back, looking John over carefully, the shirt fisted in his hands.

"Like what you see?" John leaned back on the bed, posing a little for Rodney's benefit.

Rodney swallowed and nodded.

With a small smile, John stretched, spreading his legs a little to let Rodney see the bulge that was starting to grow.

"Is that for me?" John didn't think it was possible, but Rodney's eyes had gotten even wider than before.

John smirked. "It's always for you."

Rodney looked for a long moment before dropping to his knees, his hands running up John's cloth-covered thighs. He leaned forward, pressing his face against John's cock, mouthing it through the fabric.

Moaning, John let his body relax the rest of the way into the bed, spreading his legs more to give Rodney access. "Love your mouth... such a great mouth..."

Fingers awkwardly unbuttoned John's BDU pants, tugging them open as he took a long deep breath of John, pressing his nose into the crease of John's leg as his hands snuck under John's ass, holding him, hugging John close.

"Oh god... Rodney..." His lover hadn't even really done anything yet, and John was hard as a rock.

But instead of moving, Rodney just settled in, breathing in John's scent, holding him close, moaning and purring quietly.

John couldn't help it. He shifted his hips up, wanting, needing, some friction.

Rodney whimpered, holding John even tighter.

"Rodney... please..." He tried to move again, but his lover was using his advantage of position and weight to keep John pinned. Sure, he could flip them, but from this position it could mean one of them getting hurt and that wasn't the goal here. Damn Ronon and teaching McKay those moves!

It took another few minutes before Rodney finally moved, but instead of finishing John, he crawled up his body onto the bed, wrapping himself around John.

John groaned, loving the feel of another body pressing him down, surrounded by Rodney. "Love you..."

Rodney began pressing kisses along John's collarbone, nipping at the skin. He was purring a little to himself, but otherwise was quiet. Finally. Apparently they only thing that shut McKay up was sex.

Since Rodney was so obviously enjoying himself, John just relaxed and went with the flow, humming his own encouragement. When his lover was tired of this, John could return the favor and get them both off.

Licking and nipping and kissing, Rodney was intent on the skin of John's neck and shoulders. John could feel that he was hard, very hard, but Rodney wasn't rushing.

"Are you marking me?" John got a pleasant shiver up his spine as Rodney bit down a bit harder.

Rodney leaned back, shaking his head a little as he moved to another spot a few inches to the right.

"Oh god..." John purred softly, loving the way Rodney was so intent on this. "Killing me here..."

John got a light chuckle and another lick in response as Rodney finally settled down on the opposite side.

"You... you have a... a choice." John tried to get his brain back online. "Make me come now, and then I'll play with you for a while with the toys, or finish undressing me and I'll fuck you hard and fast."

Rodney shook his head, continuing to nuzzle and worry at John's shoulder.

"Is that no you don't like the options or... oh fuck..." John let out a groan as one of Rodney's hands found his nipple and started playing.

The touch varied from light to hard, from a gentle caress to a quick pinch and tug. Once John was moaning, Rodney finally shifted upright, capturing John's mouth in a wet kiss.

It was good. Really, really good. John let Rodney dip his tongue inside, then chased it back, getting a taste of the MRE they had eaten and pure McKay. John moaned again into the kiss.

Rodney simply hummed into John's mouth, his hand continuing to play with John's nipple.

John arched up. He was getting close. He could come just from this and his lover knew it. The noises he was making started to edge toward a low whine.

Rodney ground himself down, adding more friction and pressure as he continued his assault on John's mouth and nipple.

With a cry, John couldn't hold on any longer. He let his head fall back, panting hard as he came, the world going soft around the edges and his muscles doing a decidedly Jell-o-like impression.

Rodney simply moaned, kissing along John's neck, worrying over the pulse point as John slowly climbed back down.

He let his head fall to the side to give the other man some room to play. "You made me come in my pants. Again."

"Hmm?"

John was feeling too languid to flip them yet. "Now you have to get me out of this wet material before it chafes your favorite bits."

John's comment made Rodney pause mid-lick, pulling back enough to look John in the eyes, confusion on his face.

John knew he had a goofy, sated grin on his face. "Hi."

It took a long moment for John's greeting to process. "Hi."

"You made me come."

"Oh." Another long pause. "Was I not supposed to?"

He blinked slowly. "It was awesome."

"Oh. Good."

"Your turn now. Finish stripping me, then let me play with you."

"Um…" Rodney glanced down John's body, his hands slowing inching down toward the waistband of John's boxers. "You still have clothes on."

"Yes. You made me come in my pants, and now they're starting to rub."

"Oh." Rodney glanced back up at him. "Whoops."

John had to laugh, softly, liking the soft look Rodney got as he was bounced a bit on John's chest. "I stand by my earlier comment that you're adorable like this."

"You like me stoned?"

"I like you confused and comfortable and enjoying yourself."

"Hmmm….okay," Rodney said as he finally rolled to the side and sat up, tugging on John's pants and boxers.

Lifting his hips, John helped Rodney get him naked, sighing a bit as his groin was finally freed from its fabric prison.

"Huh," Rodney said as soon as the fabric was bunched around John's ankles, draping over his boots.

"What does huh mean?"

Rodney's hand waved toward John's feet and he offered a silent shrug.

"Take off my boots, and then the pants will come off easily."

John heard a sigh before Rodney finally shifted off the bed so he could untie John's bootlaces, tugging them off a moment later. The socks and the rest of his clothing ended up in a pile on the floor.

"See, not so hard. Now come up here. It's my turn."

"For what?"

"To play."

"Oh." Rodney tilted his head to the side, a small smile growing on his face. He crawled up onto the bed a few moments later, sitting back on his heels when he got next to John.

John reached for him, pushing him onto his back and crawling on top, planting sucking, wet kisses all over everything he could reach.

Rodney giggled—outright giggled—when John hit a spot on his side, twitching and trying to get out from under John.

Instead of relenting, John focused on that spot, licking and blowing on it, wanting to hear that noise again.

Rodney squirmed and bucked up, trying to get John away from the spot. His breath caught in his throat as he tried not to laugh, tried to hold it in, but a puff of air escaped every now and then and with it another giggle.

John finally lifted his head, grinning. "You have a cute giggle."

Rodney huffed as he tried to catch his breath.

John wiggled his way up Rodney's body, pressing light kisses to the corner of his lover's mouth. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"

"I…" Rodney thought for a moment. "I don't think so."

"Then I should fix that. I love you so much it hurts sometimes. I want to touch you, cherish you, do all the things those sappy romance novels talk about and I never believed was real."

Rodney tilted his head to the side, a smile on his face. "I’m not going to stop you."

John kissed him deeply, if briefly. "Put your hands above your head and leave them there. You can grip the headboard if you need to."

"Why?"

"Because I want you to."

"Oh." Rodney took a long look at John before nodding to himself, his hands sliding over his head, fingers feeling for the headboard.

John gave a little possessive growl, and then started to use his mouth and hands all over his lover's body in what could only be called worshipping. God, he loved every inch of this man.

Rodney hummed and moaned and squirmed as John played with him. John loved the sounds, the movements Rodney made.

He took his time, covering every inch of Rodney's body with his mouth, going back over it with the tips of his fingers. For now, he avoided only the obvious places—Rodney's nipples, cock, and entrance were ignored.

Rodney's cock was hard, leaking pre-come from the tip, but John was far from done. He watched as Rodney's hands gripped the headboard, fingers wrapping around the metal, turning white as he tightened his hold before relaxing again.

"Spread your legs as wide as you can comfortably. Don't let go of the headboard."

"Please, John…" Rodney whispered as he spread his legs just as John asked him to.

"I'll get you there, Rodney. Just relax and trust me."

A small, quiet whimper and a nod answered him.

John made a happy noise, and retrieved the OhMiBod and his iPod with the playlist specifically for this purpose. He made sure Rodney could see what he was doing as he returned to the bed with the headphones.

Widened eyes greeted him, Rodney's lips forming an "o" as he watched John settle in next to him.

With a smile, John put the buds in Rodney's ears, starting the music softly at first. He attached the vibrator and slicked it up, pressing it slowly inside the other man. Once it was seated and pressed against Rodney's prostate, John turned the volume up.

Rodney bucked up, heels digging into the bed as he moaned loudly, his body trembling.

John fiddled with the volume until he hit the sweet spot, where the little toy pulsed in time to the music. Then he sat back to watch.

God. Rodney was beautiful like this. He was holding onto the headboard tightly, his body trembling and shuddering, his hard cock bobbing up and down with every movement of his body.

And the sounds. Moaning, whimpering, begging…

John couldn't not touch anymore, but he didn't want Rodney to come yet either. He snagged the Ancient cock ring off the bedside table and slipped it on to Rodney. No vibrations, since he didn't want to distract from the music, but tight enough that his lover wouldn't come until John was ready for him to. Then he attacked the poor neglected nipples just begging for attention.

Oh, the moan Rodney made as soon as John started tonguing his nipple was perfect. It was desperate and needy and oh so wanton.

John could tell when there was a break between songs, Rodney going limp for a few moments before the next one started, driving him higher again. Both nipples were wet and red from the attention John was giving them. Finally, knowing it had to be driving his lover crazy, John reached down to wrap a hand around Rodney's erection, stroking slowly as he continued to bite and tease, using his teeth to pull a little at the rings.

The high-pitched keen that ended in a small sob was what John was waiting for.

He released his prize and dove into Rodney's mouth, claiming it, claiming him.

Rodney's moans and whimpers were swallowed up by John's mouth. John's tongue plunged in, demanding entrance and receiving it as Rodney opened up under him.

He kept up the torture, bringing Rodney higher and higher. He was hard again, so he broke the kiss and grabbed the lube slicking himself up. He pulled the vibrator free and sank home with a moan.

Rodney swallowed a groan before hooking his feet around John, crossing his ankles to push John even deeper.

Rodney was too close, and John wanted to feel him come too badly to drag it out for long. With a mental flick he took off the cock ring, briefly praising the Ancients for their kinky mind-controlled sex toys, and growled the command for Rodney to come.

With a choked off cry, Rodney responded, clenching down on John's cock as waves of pleasure rolled through him. He collapsed onto the bed, muscles limp, legs sprawled on either side, even as the aftershocks—nearly as powerful as the orgasm itself—continued to roll through him.

It was enough to pull John over the edge, filling his lover. He managed to pull out and roll to the side so he didn't crush the other man as they both struggled to catch their breath.

Rodney was still panting heavily, his body covered in a sheen of sweat. It took a minute or two for John to finally shift, removing the headphones from Rodney's ears and turning off the iPod.

He watched his lover's face until Rodney opened his eyes, the clear blue making John want to use romance-novel language again. He resisted. "Hey, there."

Rodney offered a warm, lazy smile. "Mmm….hi."

Leaning in, John brushed their lips together. "Let me know when you have enough feeling in your limbs to walk. I want us to take a quick shower, then we can pass out for the night.

"…showered before."

"True, we did. But we just got dirty again."

"Gonna get dry skin."

That made John chuckle. "We can't have that. I'll put some lotion on you."

Rodney huffed at John. "And we both know what will happen then."

"I've come twice tonight, and once earlier. I'm afraid that short of a miracle or some really impressive trying on your part, I won't be getting it up again today."

"Oh."

John kissed him again. "Come on. This will just be a quick shower to wash the come away. It won't take long, and we'll both sleep better."

"Have to clean the sheets again," Rodney said with a sigh, letting John tug him upright. Pushing Rodney ahead of him into the bathroom gave John the opportunity to get an eyeful of Rodney's ass—complete with the come dripping down his leg.

"I'll do that before we go back to bed. With all their technology, you'd think the Ancients could have invented self-cleaning bedding."

"There are still some things that can't be automated no matter how advanced you might be," Rodney commented, rubbing a hand across his face.

John started the shower, and pushed Rodney inside, pressing light kisses to his shoulders and the back of his neck. "I would have said that about showers and cock rings a few years ago, but look at us now."

"Hmm. Different." Rodney leaned back into John, tilting his head to the side, offering up his neck.

"How so? You could build us a robot that would change the sheets for us. That's not beyond possibility is it?"

"Easier to get a maid."

"That would require telling someone else about us. Probably not a good idea until they finally abolish DADT. Or I retire."

"You mean besides how many people who already know?"

"Our close friends know, but that's about it. And I doubt any of them would agree to come clean for us, and change the sheets after every time we have sex."

"More than close friends," Rodney said with a sigh. "More people than I thought would know. Just think about it. Carson, Teyla, Ronon, Elizabeth, Lorne, Parrish, Radek, Kate, Carter probably suspects, Smythe knows and his entire group of however many people. I'm sure some of my staff knows, but they don't care that much about it."

John pressed a few more kisses into Rodney's skin. "I'm sorry. Hiding the fact that I'm with someone has never been hard before. I hate that I have to keep it quiet. I want everyone to know you're mine. But I am trying. I'm not doing very good, I'll give you that, but I am trying."

"I know. I just…worry." Rodney shifted in John's arms, turning around to tug him into a hug.

"I know." John pulled him close, letting them both take comfort in the contact. "If we were still on Earth, I admit it would be a problem. But the SGC in general tends to turn a blind eye, and being stationed in another galaxy fighting space vampires makes it even less relevant. I will try to be more careful though."

"Space vampires and natives who insist on drugging me."

John pushed his face into the curve of Rodney's neck, pulling him even closer. "I'm sorry."

"It's not like you planned it. There's nothing to be sorry about."

"I'm still sorry." He lifted his head. "You don't sound stoned anymore."

"Uh…no."

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay, actually. And I remember most everything—especially the making a fool of myself parts of the afternoon."

"You didn't make a fool of yourself. You were cute." John grinned. He knew using that word when Rodney was in full possession of his faculties would probably get him an eye-roll, at least.

"I was there," Rodney grumbled, shifting in John's arms.

John lifted his head again and slipped a finger under Rodney's chin, forcing his lover to look up. "You were drugged, and everyone who saw you knew it. You didn't make a fool out of yourself. If anything, it was painful to see how much simple wonder you have when the pressures and worries of the day-to-day aren't on your shoulders. I wish I could give you that freedom without drugs, and more often."

"Oh yeah, stoned is not a good look for me."

"Not stoned, just excited about life and everything we've started to take for granted. I still remember your face when we first came to Atlantis, before things started to go wrong. You were in awe, taking so much pleasure just in the discovery, and you were beautiful."

Rodney lowered his eyes. "Can we just shower and go to bed? It's been a long day."

John forced the other man to look up again, wishing he could make him believe. Instead, he gave him a deep kiss, trying to say it all without words. Pulling back, John made quick work of cleaning them, flicking off the shower and grabbing a towel.

Rodney stood still, letting John dry every inch of him before leaving him to brush his teeth while John stripped off the sheets, replacing them with clean ones. Rodney joined him just as he was finishing up, scratching his chest. There was a small red patch John hadn't noticed before.

Pulling Rodney's hand away, he examined it. "What's that?"

Rodney shrugged. "Itches."

John brought the lights up, examining him and not seeing any more patches, but he was still concerned. "How long has it been bothering you?"

He shrugged again, glancing down at his chest and the red skin. "I didn't really pay much attention. Do you think something bit me?"

John stared at the little spot again. "I'd like to call Beckett and see if he'll come take a quick look at it, if you're up to it. With all the drugs you've had in your system, and your allergies, I'll feel better making sure it's nothing."

Rodney glanced up, his eyes wide. "But Carson already checked me over. Why didn't he see it? Do I have any other spots?" Rodney craned his head around trying to look at his back and every other piece of skin. "Oh god. Is there more? Am I allergic to sex? That would be bad."

John grabbed him to stop him, smiling gently. "No, there aren't any more spots that I can see. And if you were allergic to sex, we would have known long before now. Odds are good it's just a bug bite, but he looked at you right when we got back before this spot was either visible or this irritated, so I'd like to have him look at it, just to be sure."

"Do you have any cream? Did I move my allergy creams with me when we changed to these quarters? I should put something on it."

He held on to prevent Rodney from moving away. "It's in the medicine cabinet, but let's have Carson look at it before you do anything else. Pull us both out a pair of boxers and I'll call him now."

"Do you think it might be contagious? Do you think I might have given it to you?"

John grabbed the boxers and put them on his lover since the other man was too caught up in the 'what ifs', putting a pair on himself too. He kept a hand on Rodney, steering him out into the living room where John had tossed his radio before. If Elizabeth was still awake and on the command channel she would know he wasn't off the grid anymore, but it couldn't be helped. He slipped it on. "Sheppard to Beckett."

It only took a minute for Carson to respond. "Beckett here. Is everything okay with Rodney?"

"Maybe I should just go to the infirmary," Rodney said, glancing at his chest again. "Carson can put me under one of the Ancient scanners. Maybe I came across something when I walked back here with Teyla. You never know what those ten-thousand year old plants left behind."

John rolled his eyes, grabbing his lover to stop him from going and getting dressed. "It's just a little spot, Rodney. Let's wait and see what Carson says."

"It might be cancerous. Why didn't Carson notice it before?"

"Notice what? Would someone talk to me?"

John sighed. "Rodney, stop panicking. Carson, he's just got a little itchy spot that looks irritated. He's apparently been scratching at it for a while, and I don't see any others on him."

"You just noticed it now?" Carson asked as Rodney scowled at John, but held his tongue.

"I just did, but he said it's been itchy for a while."

"Aye. All right. It's probably nothing. Give me a few minutes and I'll take a look at it. Beckett out."

"Thanks." John pulled the radio out and tossed it back on the counter. "Beckett is on his way."

Rodney scowled, his hands twitching. John knew the scientist was struggling not to scratch the small patch of skin.

He caught both of Rodney's hands and backed them up until his lover was against the wall, pinning his hands above his head. "Why don't I take your mind off it?"

"Sex isn't the answer for everything," Rodney grumbled, trying to shift out of John's grasp.

"I wasn't going to have sex right now. Just this." John captured Rodney's mouth with his own, not relenting until the other man opened up and let him inside. He took the time to explore, just enjoying kissing for the sake of kissing.

When John finally backed off, Rodney was panting, but unfortunately, his mind hadn't gotten derailed at all. "It itches more. I think it must be a sex allergy. Is it bigger?"

John was saved from having to answer by the door chime. He released Rodney and went to answer it. "Carson, thanks for coming to check this. Rodney's working himself up."

"That doesna surprise me," Carson commented even as he flashed Rodney a kind smile. "John mentioned something about a rash?"

Rodney pushed forward, pointing to his chest and the angry red spot. "It has to be some kind of alien growth or something."

John stood back to let Carson work, letting the back-and-forth banter between the two men wash over him. He was surprised to hear his radio chirp. With a mental sigh, he fitted it back into his ear. "Sheppard here."

"Lorne here, sir. Just checking in. I heard you page Doctor Beckett. I wanted to make sure things were okay."

John grinned a little. He had lucked out in the second-in-command lottery. "All's clear, Major. McKay just has a spot we wanted to have Beckett look at, given all the weird compounds smeared on him today."

"Parrish mentioned something about the paint to me earlier. Wondered if McKay had had any kind of reaction to it. He managed to grab some of it before we left."

"Good. I'll let Beckett know we have a sample if necessary. That was good thinking on his part. Tell him I said 'good job'."

"Will do, sir. Everything else okay?"

"As far as I know. We'll know whether or not you get a promotion tomorrow morning. So enjoy what could be your last night of freedom."

"Don't get your hopes up, sir. All the paperwork on your desk you still need to turn in. Have a good night, sir. Lorne out."

John chuckled and signed off, removing his radio again. He rejoined his lover and their friend. "So what's the verdict?"

Rodney's lips were pressed together in a tight line. Carson looked a little sheepish. "It seems that Rodney was allergic to the paint. There must have been something different in it this time." He pointed to Rodney's chest. "It's hard to tell, but Rodney has a few areas of irritation on his skin." A finger followed the path of one without touching the skin before moving on. "There's one here, and here, and here."

Damn. Everywhere the paint had been.

"I want to get a topical anti-itch cream from the infirmary along with some allergy medications. That should help to bring the itch under control. It's mild so there's nothing to worry about," Carson concluded.

John sighed to himself again. He really had fucked up by using more of the paint than necessary. "Parrish has a sample of the paint if you need to analyze it."

Beckett nodded. "I'll do that. Sit tight and I'll be back in ten minutes." He was out the door a second later.

John pulled Rodney into a hug. "He said it's just mild. And the cream will take care of the itch."

"I'm now itchy all over," Rodney grumbled.

"That's only because you're thinking about it. What can I do to help?"

"Nothing."

John just held the other man close, kissing his shoulders. "When Beckett gets back with the cream, I'll put it on you. I can reach all the spots easier."

Rodney sighed and nodded. "Fine. It's really itchy, though."

"Would another kiss help distract you?"

"No. I really just want to go to bed and forget this day ever happened."

John nodded. "I know. As soon as Carson gets back with your stuff, we can."

"If it's okay, I’m going to wait in the bedroom."

John nodded, letting him go. "I'll keep Carson out here, so get comfortable."

Rodney nodded, his fingers already scratching at the spot on his chest as he moved into the bedroom.

John rubbed the bridge of his nose. He hopped up on the counter to wait, knowing if he sat on the couch, the odds of drifting off were much higher.

He watched the light in the bedroom dim about five minutes later and the shift of the sheets. It was quiet in this section of Atlantis—not a lot of foot traffic yet—which was good.

On a whim, John opened himself up to the city, something he didn't do often, and hadn't done in a while. The last time he could remember doing this had been back when he and Rodney were still new. He felt the flood of almost awareness filling his senses, soothing him, calming him. He could feel which sections of the city had people in them—they were warmer, more welcoming. No major problems, although, as always, there were little systems not running at optimal capacity.

The soft chime of the door jolted him back to reality. With a quick thought, he let the door open as he slowly pulled back from Atlantis.

"Sorry it took so long, Colonel. I got sidetracked in the infirmary." Carson rolled his eyes as he stepped inside.

"S'okay." He still felt steeped in the city. "You got what you needed?"

"Yes. I have some cream and pills I'd like Rodney to take. They may make him a wee bit drowsy, so keep an eye on him in the morning. I donna think the rash will get much worse than it is, honestly."

John took them, looking over the instructions on the bottle of cream. "Should I put this all over him, or just the areas with visible irritation?"

"Just the effected areas."

"So his back, chest and arms?"

"Wherever the paint was."

John was silent for a moment. "I suppose you heard what happened at the briefing. Have you seen Elizabeth since then?"

Carson raised an eyebrow. "Trolling the rumor-mill, John?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm wondering if I fucked up badly enough that I need to start packing. Lorne seems to think otherwise, but... I know I messed up here. On pretty much all fronts."

"Honestly, I dunno know. I wasna there."

John nodded. "I know. But I also know that Elizabeth talks to you. At any rate, I'll track her down tomorrow and try to fix things. Tonight I need to take care of McKay."

"Aye," Carson said with a knowing smile. "Do that before he scratches his skin raw. Call me if you need anything else."

Hopping off the counter, John briefly put his hand on Carson's shoulder. "Thanks."

Carson nodded as he headed out. "A doctor's work is never done especially when it comes to hypochondriac scientists."

John smiled. "Especially when said scientists have paranoid pilots who will do anything to protect them as their dom."

Carson paused mid-step before continuing on. "If you say so."

John didn't bother to defend himself or Rodney again. Carson would either learn to accept their relationship dynamic eventually or he wouldn't. "Thanks again. I'll put this on him tonight, and make sure he comes down to see you at some point tomorrow to check it."

"Thank you. Have a good night." A few seconds later and Carson was gone, John locking the door behind him. Padding on bare feet into the bedroom, John had to pause at the door as soon as he caught sight of Rodney—asleep in the center of the bed, his finger still on the red spot on his chest. It was as if he'd fallen asleep mid-scratch.

Setting the pills Carson had given him on the bedside table, along with a glass of water in case Rodney woke up itchy later, John stripped and carefully climbed into bed next to his lover with the cream. Trying not to wake the other man, John slowly started working it into all the skin he could easily get to.

Rodney shifted a few times, humming quietly, but otherwise stayed asleep as John applied the cream. He had to raise the lights to tell where some of the rashes were, but it was visible—all the symbols.

God, he had done this to his lover. It didn't matter that if they wanted to renew the treaty, they'd had no choice. Very carefully, John managed to get his lover to roll onto his stomach so he could make sure he got all the lines on his back as well.

Tugging back the blanket, John made sure he got all the spots before finally capping the tube and arranging Rodney once again on his back and pulling the covers over them. Rodney sniffed and snuggled into John with a content sigh.

With another small sigh. John put his arms around Rodney, pulling him close. He pressed a soft kiss into the top of the other man's head, then closed his eyes and let sleep claim him. Tomorrow was another day.

The next morning, the red lines on Rodney's skin seemed quite a bit less prominent, and they didn't seem to be itching. Still, John made him take the allergy pills and promise to go see Carson sometime that afternoon. Once he had his lover squared away and off to the labs, John ate a quick PowerBar and pulled on his uniform—time to try and find Elizabeth. He went to the control room first, happy to see her in her office. Taking a deep breath, he went to the door and knocked on the frame. "Busy?"

She glanced up once, quickly, before returning to her computer. She looked up again a few seconds later. "What can I help you with?"

He slipped inside and let the door close behind him. "I wanted to apologize for yesterday."

She raised an eyebrow and leaned back in her chair, but otherwise remained silent.

Great, she wasn't going to make this easy. "I know I was out of line. I let my anger bleed through. I still don't agree with you, but challenging you was, well, stupid. I've already told Lorne as much, and I intend to make sure I talk to the rest of his team and mine as well."

Elizabeth held his eyes for a long moment, letting the silence grow between them before she finally moved, shifting forward in her chair, elbows resting on the desk. "It seems as if I may not have had all of the…details about the situation during our briefing yesterday."

He took that as an invitation to sit. "I, ah, heard Ronon had a few things to say, although not exactly what. I take responsibility for my team, so if he was out of line, I'll take the heat for that, as well."

"He wasn't wrong."

John raised an eyebrow. "What did he say?"

She shifted uneasily in her chair. "A lot more than I thought he would. The gist of it was that I had no…right to judge your actions because I wasn't there."

Both eyebrows went up at that. "Huh." He thought about it for a moment. "How about we both admit we didn't handle that well, forget it happened, and try this again?"

John saw the hint of a smile on her face. "I think we can probably do that. Is Rodney a little less stoned this morning?"

He finally relaxed a little into his chair, smiling a little. "Yeah, by last night he was his old self. The only hitch is that he's having a mild reaction to the paint. Carson came over and took a look at it, and gave him some cream and a few pills. It was just a little itchy, which seems mostly gone this morning, although he's under orders to see Beckett again today to make sure."

"His allergies acting up?"

John made a rueful face. "Everywhere I painted the damn symbols on him he's got a mild rash. If you looked close enough last night, you could actually read them."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Was that what the call to Carson was about last night? I didn't see anything that jumped off of the infirmary logs from last night."

He ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I thought it was a good idea to have Carson look at it, and it turns out I was right. There was more irritation than I saw at first."

"Nothing too serious?"

"Carson doesn't seem to think so. The reaction wasn't bad, he was just red and itchy everywhere the paint had been."

"Good, good. So are you going to be ready for your mission tomorrow?"

He blinked. "Mission?"

Now he got the sigh. "You did read the mission briefing for this afternoon's meeting."

"Ah, would 'afraid I didn't have a job today' count as a good excuse why I wouldn't have read the briefing?"

"It's been on your schedule for two weeks."

"All the dancing is starting to mess with my head," John muttered to himself.

Elizabeth's head tilted to the side. "Sorry? I didn't catch that."

He flushed slightly. "Nothing. Just beginning to wonder if I'm really starting to lose my mind. I'll read the report before the briefing this afternoon."

"Very well. If that's all, I believe you have some work to get done," she said, her eyes drifting back to her computer screen.

He rose, pausing. "Elizabeth... are we really okay? Believe it or not, I do respect you. I just...don't always agree with you, and I didn't handle that very well yesterday."

"No, no you didn't." She paused, pursing her lips. "But then, neither did I. It was supposed to be a simple meeting and yet it seems like your team manages to simply make it complicated just by showing up. It just gets…frustrating at times especially when you continually keep coming back injured."

"Trust me, I couldn't agree more. I'm beginning to suspect we have the collective karma of a moth at a bonfire."

"Well, how about we try to avoid that during your next mission?"

He nodded, counting things off on his fingers. "Okay, so one: no getting hurt. Two: no getting drugged. Three: no Wraith encounters. Four: No pissing off natives and running madly for the gate. And last but most certainly not least, five: no dancing. I'm starting to get a little tired of dressing up and looking silly."

"Dancing?"

Rolling his eyes, John made a Rodney-like gesture. "It seems like everywhere we go these days, someone wants me to strip and dance for them."

"And why haven't I read about that?" This time there was teasing in Elizabeth's voice.

He grinned. "Tell you what, some day, you can get me drunk and get me to admit to how many times I've stripped and danced either naked or semi-naked to secure a treaty."

"How about I just ask you now?"

"Just remember you asked for this." He sat back down and began to go through all the times he—or one of his team members—had done something embarrassing to get them a treaty or trade agreement. He stuck with the ones where said incident had been left out of the official reports.

Elizabeth's eyes got wider and wider as he went on. By the time he finished, she was shaking her head. "I'd…why didn't you mention all of this in your mission reports?"

"Because those reports go to the SGC, and my reputation is already bad enough there. Besides, if you ask any team if they include everything in their reports, they'll look at you funny. It's the first thing any officer is taught: how to read and write creative reports."

"Uh huh," she said, her eyebrows raised. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Do you have any idea how many times SG1 was in a compromising situation? I've read the reports. They left a lot of shit out."

"I've read all the reports, John. Remember, I was at the SGC for a year."

"And I'm telling you, that's only half the story. If you know what to look for..."

"Yes, well, then I'll just have to keep that in mind."

He grinned. "Some day when we have time, I'll pull out some of the more obvious ones from here and the SGC and show you what I mean."

This time she rolled her eyes. "Another time, Colonel, because right now I have an appointment." She gestured at someone just outside her office, pressing the button on her desk to open the door.

He grinned again. "I'll see you later this afternoon. Try not to work too hard."

"Easier said than done, Colonel."

He saluted her with a smile and slipped out the door. He took a deep breath once he was clear of the control room. God, he was glad that was taken care of. Now to track down Rodney and make sure he hadn't forgotten the briefing too, and then on to read his reports...

***