FanFiction - "A stupid thing" - Rodney/Elizabeth
Title: Stupid thing
Author: liz_weir
Pairing: Rodney/Elizabeth
Summary: Maybe calling him was a stupid thing to do.
Disclaimer: MGM
Author´ s Note: Finished last minute for mwexplosion. It’s not beta read, I hope it’s okay anyway. The song “Stupid thing” (from Buffy) inspired me. You can find the lyrics at the end.
"Uhm … Rodney? It’s uh me. Elizabeth. Uhm, I just wanted to call. I take it you’re not home. Uh … so. What I wanted to say …”
Say them. Just three Words, you can say them.
But Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to do it. Saying I love you over the telephone was pathetic and speaking on the answering machine as well.
No, it didn’t even have to be I love you. I miss you would be enough.
“Uhm… I just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas. That’s all. It would be nice to hear from you, we haven’t spoken to each other in ages. So call me back, if you have time.”
She wanted to add an “I miss you”, but her fingers had already decided to hang up the phone.
Since they all returned to earth again, they had lost contact. And it wasn’t just Rodney. Elizabeth hadn’t heard from John or Carson either. Sometimes she thought it was her fault alone. After all, she was the one who didn’t return phone calls and tried to avoid the others in the beginning.
But during the last weeks she had started to miss the people who were usually always around her. The last two years they had all celebrated Christmas in Atlantis together. And now, back on earth, there was nobody to celebrate with. Most of the people lived in different states and spending time together was complicated.
So maybe calling Rodney would make things better, Elizabeth had thought. Well, the opposite was the case, calling him made things worse. Because now he was the one who wouldn’t pick up the phone. And that just made her feel worried.
Maybe it was even better this way. Maybe hearing his voice would make her sad, just like thinking about him. Maybe calling him was a stupid thing to do.
It was probably just the time of the year. At least that’s what Elizabeth had kept telling herself in the beginning. But it was already the third time she had tried to reach him.
She looked around, trying to find some distraction. The flat was clean, all her books were already read and the shopping was also already done. Moments like these made her feel lonely and useless. There was nothing to do, her life just seemed empty.
She flinched, when the telephone suddenly began to ring. The loud sound filled the quiet room and it seemed unnatural. Elizabeth stared at the display.
Rodney McKay.
Her hands began to sweat and her heart started beating faster.
Rodney. Her Rodney.
“Yes?”
“Elizabeth? Hey. It’s me.”
And Elizabeth stopped breathing. Just like she thought, hearing his voice made her feel funny. But it was a nice way of funny and a small smile played around her lips.
“Yeah, I figured. So … How have you been?”
“Good, good. Sorry I didn’t call sooner, I’ve just been so busy.”
Usually Elizabeth knew the “I’ve been so busy” line was just an excuse, but there was a truth in Rodney’s words. Like there always had been. He was one of those people who were rude and direct, who just had to say what they thought no matter how much it would offend other people.
And that was something she had always liked about him, though it was often a bit embarrassing when she tried to negotiate with foreign people and he was blunt. But that’s the way he is and it was just another thing she loved about him.
“That’s okay. Though you had me a bit worried there.” She knew he would probably apologize again, so she quickly went on. “How’s work? Are you treading your colleagues well? Or do you think you have been a bad kid and Santa won’t bring you presents?”
Rodney chuckled and she would picture him clearly, rolling his eyes. “Oh I’m always nice to them, believe me. It’s them who are causing trouble. I think someone told them how much I hate it when somebody uses my computer and now, of course, they do that. And they don’t seem to know anything about science. Even the so called scientists from Atlantis were more capable of doing their jobs.”
Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to laugh, because this was just too much like Rodney. His laptop was holy and it was true that the scientists in Atlantis quickly learned not to use it.
“Yes, I remember what John said. If you want to use McKay’s computer you either want to die a painful and long death or he loves you just as much as that thing and trusts you to don’t do any damage.”
“Really, that’s what Sheppard said? Wow, he actually got something right, I didn’t think he was listening when I explained it to him.”
Elizabeth smiled, but her smile slightly faded when she realized something.
“Rodney?”
“Yes?”
“I used your computer.”
There was a long silence on the other and a huge grin broke out on Elizabeth’s face. So before he could respond she added: “And I didn’t die a painful and long death, I remember you allowing me to use it.”
There was another long silence until Rodney cleared his throat.
“Well I guess I had my reasons. Maybe you would have fired me if I said no.”
Elizabeth laughed out loud. Oh god she had missed this. Kidding around and teasing him, it had always been so much fun.
“You know, I miss this. I mean us being together.”
Elizabeth hadn’t intended to say that out loud, but she didn’t really care at all. That was one of the things she wanted to tell him all along and having said it made her feel good. Like there has been lifted a lot of weight off her shoulders.
“Yeah, I know. I miss it too. It’s not fair to be alone on Christmas when you’d rather spend time with your friends.”
Sometimes it was really as if Rodney read her thoughts.
“Hmm, you’re right. What … what are you doing on New Year’s Eve? Maybe you could come here. What do you think?”
“Yes, I would love to. But are you sure? I don‘t want to disturb you.”
“You won’t. Besides I would really like to see you again. It’s been almost four months, Rodney.”
Elizabeth knew she didn’t have to tell him that. But all this time without talking to anyone of her friends made her a little desperate and she wouldn’t allow herself to let Rodney go now.
Somehow he must have realized that now because he said in a calmer voice: ”I’ll be there, okay? I think I have to go now. I’ll call you, I promise.”
“Okay” Elizabeth said quietly and took a deep breath.
“Merry Christmas Elizabeth.”
That made her smile again.
“Merry Christmas Rodney”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I did a stupid thing last night
I called you
a moment of weakness
no, not a moment
more like three months of weakness
I'm one step away
from crashing to my knees
one step away
from spilling my guts to you
Author: liz_weir
Pairing: Rodney/Elizabeth
Summary: Maybe calling him was a stupid thing to do.
Disclaimer: MGM
Author´ s Note: Finished last minute for mwexplosion. It’s not beta read, I hope it’s okay anyway. The song “Stupid thing” (from Buffy) inspired me. You can find the lyrics at the end.
"Uhm … Rodney? It’s uh me. Elizabeth. Uhm, I just wanted to call. I take it you’re not home. Uh … so. What I wanted to say …”
Say them. Just three Words, you can say them.
But Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to do it. Saying I love you over the telephone was pathetic and speaking on the answering machine as well.
No, it didn’t even have to be I love you. I miss you would be enough.
“Uhm… I just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas. That’s all. It would be nice to hear from you, we haven’t spoken to each other in ages. So call me back, if you have time.”
She wanted to add an “I miss you”, but her fingers had already decided to hang up the phone.
Since they all returned to earth again, they had lost contact. And it wasn’t just Rodney. Elizabeth hadn’t heard from John or Carson either. Sometimes she thought it was her fault alone. After all, she was the one who didn’t return phone calls and tried to avoid the others in the beginning.
But during the last weeks she had started to miss the people who were usually always around her. The last two years they had all celebrated Christmas in Atlantis together. And now, back on earth, there was nobody to celebrate with. Most of the people lived in different states and spending time together was complicated.
So maybe calling Rodney would make things better, Elizabeth had thought. Well, the opposite was the case, calling him made things worse. Because now he was the one who wouldn’t pick up the phone. And that just made her feel worried.
Maybe it was even better this way. Maybe hearing his voice would make her sad, just like thinking about him. Maybe calling him was a stupid thing to do.
It was probably just the time of the year. At least that’s what Elizabeth had kept telling herself in the beginning. But it was already the third time she had tried to reach him.
She looked around, trying to find some distraction. The flat was clean, all her books were already read and the shopping was also already done. Moments like these made her feel lonely and useless. There was nothing to do, her life just seemed empty.
She flinched, when the telephone suddenly began to ring. The loud sound filled the quiet room and it seemed unnatural. Elizabeth stared at the display.
Rodney McKay.
Her hands began to sweat and her heart started beating faster.
Rodney. Her Rodney.
“Yes?”
“Elizabeth? Hey. It’s me.”
And Elizabeth stopped breathing. Just like she thought, hearing his voice made her feel funny. But it was a nice way of funny and a small smile played around her lips.
“Yeah, I figured. So … How have you been?”
“Good, good. Sorry I didn’t call sooner, I’ve just been so busy.”
Usually Elizabeth knew the “I’ve been so busy” line was just an excuse, but there was a truth in Rodney’s words. Like there always had been. He was one of those people who were rude and direct, who just had to say what they thought no matter how much it would offend other people.
And that was something she had always liked about him, though it was often a bit embarrassing when she tried to negotiate with foreign people and he was blunt. But that’s the way he is and it was just another thing she loved about him.
“That’s okay. Though you had me a bit worried there.” She knew he would probably apologize again, so she quickly went on. “How’s work? Are you treading your colleagues well? Or do you think you have been a bad kid and Santa won’t bring you presents?”
Rodney chuckled and she would picture him clearly, rolling his eyes. “Oh I’m always nice to them, believe me. It’s them who are causing trouble. I think someone told them how much I hate it when somebody uses my computer and now, of course, they do that. And they don’t seem to know anything about science. Even the so called scientists from Atlantis were more capable of doing their jobs.”
Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to laugh, because this was just too much like Rodney. His laptop was holy and it was true that the scientists in Atlantis quickly learned not to use it.
“Yes, I remember what John said. If you want to use McKay’s computer you either want to die a painful and long death or he loves you just as much as that thing and trusts you to don’t do any damage.”
“Really, that’s what Sheppard said? Wow, he actually got something right, I didn’t think he was listening when I explained it to him.”
Elizabeth smiled, but her smile slightly faded when she realized something.
“Rodney?”
“Yes?”
“I used your computer.”
There was a long silence on the other and a huge grin broke out on Elizabeth’s face. So before he could respond she added: “And I didn’t die a painful and long death, I remember you allowing me to use it.”
There was another long silence until Rodney cleared his throat.
“Well I guess I had my reasons. Maybe you would have fired me if I said no.”
Elizabeth laughed out loud. Oh god she had missed this. Kidding around and teasing him, it had always been so much fun.
“You know, I miss this. I mean us being together.”
Elizabeth hadn’t intended to say that out loud, but she didn’t really care at all. That was one of the things she wanted to tell him all along and having said it made her feel good. Like there has been lifted a lot of weight off her shoulders.
“Yeah, I know. I miss it too. It’s not fair to be alone on Christmas when you’d rather spend time with your friends.”
Sometimes it was really as if Rodney read her thoughts.
“Hmm, you’re right. What … what are you doing on New Year’s Eve? Maybe you could come here. What do you think?”
“Yes, I would love to. But are you sure? I don‘t want to disturb you.”
“You won’t. Besides I would really like to see you again. It’s been almost four months, Rodney.”
Elizabeth knew she didn’t have to tell him that. But all this time without talking to anyone of her friends made her a little desperate and she wouldn’t allow herself to let Rodney go now.
Somehow he must have realized that now because he said in a calmer voice: ”I’ll be there, okay? I think I have to go now. I’ll call you, I promise.”
“Okay” Elizabeth said quietly and took a deep breath.
“Merry Christmas Elizabeth.”
That made her smile again.
“Merry Christmas Rodney”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I did a stupid thing last night
I called you
a moment of weakness
no, not a moment
more like three months of weakness
I'm one step away
from crashing to my knees
one step away
from spilling my guts to you