Fic: Do You Believe in Magic? (John/Rodney, Rated PG)
Title: Do You Believe in Magic? 
Author: Sandy
Word Count: ~2,700
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rating: PG
Summary: "It was not my fault!" Rodney said frantically. "I told him never to touch anything in this lab until we'd checked it out. I told him."
Warnings: Kinda cracktastic with a heaping helping of schmoop.
Spoilers: Set in Season 2 but not episode related.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, and no profit was made from this fic.
A/N: Written for svmadelyn's Thirteen Challenge, Prompt: Fairy
Many thanks once again to my wonderful beta, linaerys.
~~~
"How did this happen?" Elizabeth asked, glaring at Rodney.
"It was not my fault!" Rodney said frantically. "I told him never to touch anything in this lab until we'd checked it out. I told him."
"I don't care whose fault it was, Rodney," Elizabeth snapped back. "I want you to fix it."
"Yes, of course I'm going to fix it. Somehow." Rodney felt frantic with worry as he watched the tiny fairy-like creature that had once been Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard flit frenetically around the room.
It flew past Ronon, Teyla, and Radek, and buzzed around Elizabeth's head. She ducked away from the darting creature and swatted at it.
"Don't hit him!" Rodney yelled jumping forward protectively.
Elizabeth blanched and said, "Oh god, I'm sorry. It was an automatic reflex."
"Yes, well," Rodney said. He calmed down a bit as the unharmed John-fairy flew away from everyone and fluttered about in an obviously anxious manner on the far side of the lab. "Maybe it would be best if you and everyone else left. Let me try to get this fixed."
"I'll stay and help," Radek offered, but Rodney shook his head.
"I think the fewer of us in this room, the quicker he'll calm down. Just go. If I need you, I'll call."
"All right, Rodney, we'll go," Elizabeth said, wary eyes on the John-fairy as Rodney slowly walked over to where it hovered by the file cabinets. "Get him changed back as quickly as possible. We have no idea what the long-term affects might be."
"Yes, yes," he said, his voice soft so that he didn't cause more fright to the tiny creature. "Just please go away so I can get to work without worrying about one of you smashing him."
Elizabeth glared at him, but left along with all the others.
When the door slid shut, Rodney relaxed a little and glanced at the small being. He took a calming breath and held out his hand, palm up. "Hey there," he said gently. "Remember me? Rodney? I won't hurt you."
The John-fairy hesitated for a few seconds, and then flew over to delicately settle onto Rodney's hand. Rodney carefully moved his hand until it was level with his eyes, and took his first good look at what John had become. It had the look of John in that its hair was black and stood up at odd angles, but its face was more androgynous than the handsome masculinity of the pilot's normal features, and it ears were even more sharply pointed than John's naturally elfin-shaped ears. It stood about ten centimeters high, and had flawless pale white skin, slightly almond-shaped, jewel-toned eyes of a deep emerald green framed by thick black lashes, and a double set of gossamer wings much like a dragonfly's. It was also completely naked and without visible genitals.
Rodney stared in wonder at it, and though not usually given to flights of fancy, at this moment he felt as if he had discovered a magical visitor from a mystical, mist-filled otherworld. It stood on Rodney's hand and looked with wide-eyed trust at the scientist. "Well, this is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into," he chided gently, a smile tugging at his lips as he looked at the breathtaking little sprite John had become. He was amazed how John's good looks had transmuted so perfectly into the ethereal beauty of the fairy. He lifted one finger to gently stroke the John-fairy's head and scratch lightly under its chin. It closed its eyes and sighed in apparent pleasure at the caress. "For a rough, tough Air Force officer, you make a very pretty fairy," Rodney said affectionately.
The creature's eyes snapped opened, and it scowled at Rodney and stomped one miniscule foot in displeasure.
Rodney was completely charmed.
"So, you don't like being called a fairy?"
The John-fairy lifted its chin, turned its back on Rodney and crossed its arms over its chest, back ramrod straight. It did not utter a sound. Apparently, though it understood perfectly well, it didn't have the power of speech.
"Hey," Rodney said apologetically. "I meant what I said as a compliment."
The creature turned its head and glanced over its shoulder at Rodney, wings twitching irritably. Then it smiled and turned back around. Launching itself back into flight, it flew over to Rodney's face and patted his cheek, then darted over to alight on the desk where Rodney's computer sat. It gave Rodney an imperious look, pointed at the computer, and stomped its foot again.
Rodney's smile returned, relieved to see that the creature retained at least some of Sheppard's awareness. "Still ordering me around, I see," he said as he walked over to the table. "Well, as much as I'd like to have my own pet, uh, not-a-fairy, I think I'd much rather get you back to normal."
The little creature's head bobbed in an emphatic nod of agreement and then settled down cross-legged next to Rodney's computer.
For the next little while, Rodney delved into the Ancient database searching for information on the artifact John had touched so that he could figure out how to reverse its effects. A tiny sound that sounded suspiciously like a yawn caught Rodney's attention, and he glanced down to see the John-fairy sitting with its head propped on its hand, eyes closed.
"You sleepy?" Rodney asked. The John-fairy opened heavy-lidded eyes and nodded. Rodney stood up and went over to where John's clothes lay in an abandoned heap on the floor. He leaned over and picked up the black t-shirt from the pile, then folded it until he had a thick pad, and walked back to his desk where he put it down next to the John-fairy. "Here," he said, "you can take a nap on this."
The John-fairy stood up and flew to the middle of the pallet. As it settled down on the soft cushion, it smiled at Rodney, and then lay down on its stomach, cradling its head on its folded arms. Within seconds, it was sound asleep.
Rodney swallowed down the lump in his throat, a rush of affection almost stealing his breath away, and pulled a corner of the shirt over the John-fairy being careful not to damage the wings. He stood for a few minutes watching it sleep, a soft smile on his face, and then returned to his research. Nearly an hour later he shouted, "Ah ha!" The John-fairy startled awake and took flight again, buzzing wildly around the room.
Rodney jumped up, distressed at what he'd done. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."
The John-fairy darted about a bit longer and then flew over to land on Rodney's shoulder. Rodney jumped a little when it nipped his earlobe painfully with its sharp little teeth.
"Ow! Hey, stop that," Rodney complained, though he very carefully made no move to dislodge the little imp. "I told you I was sorry."
The John-fairy flew off Rodney's shoulder and hovered in front of him. There was a distinct smirk on its face.
"Oh, very nice," Rodney groused holding up his hand again so the John-fairy could land on it. "Here I am ready to turn you back into your usual annoying self, and you thank me by biting me. Proving, by the way, that you can be annoying in any form."
The John-fairy's eyes grew big and it pointed to the computer and raised questioning eyebrows.
"Yes," Rodney said smugly. "I figured it out. So if you'll be so kind as to fly down and stand on the floor, we'll get you back to normal, okay?"
The John-fairy leapt off his hand and flew down to stand by the pile of abandoned clothing. Rodney returned to his desk to retrieve the Ancient artifact that had caused all the problems. Turning back to the John-fairy he said, "Okay, now all I have to do is-"
He stopped when the John-fairy suddenly held up a finger in a 'wait-a-minute' gesture. Launching itself back up into the air, it flew over to Rodney and hovered in front of him again. Rodney smiled indulgently. "Oh, want to take one last spin in your kicky new wings before I change you back?"
The John-fairy shook its head 'no' and then flew closer to Rodney until Rodney had to cross his eyes to keep it in focus. Rodney's heart began to pound in his chest when he realized that the John-fairy was staring at his lips. Then, coming even closer, the John-fairy pressed its hands to either side of Rodney's mouth, leaned in, and kissed him.
It was a delicate barely-there touch, and Rodney closed his eyes and stood utterly still, feeling as if he had been enchanted. All too soon, the John-fairy pulled back, smiled a sweet smile at Rodney, and returned to his place on the floor.
Rodney was shaken to the core. Kissing John was something that filled Rodney's dreams, and though the John-fairy wasn't really John, it was probably the closest he'd ever come to kissing him. When he finally got his jumbled emotions back under control, he punched a sequence of codes into the touchpad of the artifact.
"Okay, it's all set. You ready?" he asked. The John-fairy bit its lip nervously and then nodded. Rodney took a deep breath and pressed the 'activate' button. There was a distortion of the light waves around the John-fairy and then the John-fairy was gone. In its place stood a full-sized, fully-formed, and totally-naked Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. He blinked confusedly, muttered, "Rodney?" and crumpled to the floor. Rodney leapt forward and caught him, John's weight bringing Rodney down onto the floor with him.
"Oh god, Sheppard?" Rodney said frantically, cradling John in his arms and checking his friend's pulse. It beat in a steady if too-rapid rhythm. Hitting the transmit button on his earpiece, Rodney yelled out, "Medical emergency in Lab One. Carson, get down here."
***
Rodney stood apprehensively by one of the exam beds while Carson examined the still unconscious Sheppard. Though he'd been absolutely certain he knew what he was doing when he'd reprogrammed the transmogrification device, now he was terrified that he'd done something wrong. A low throaty moan caught his attention and he stepped forward anxiously.
"Is he waking up?" he asked fretfully.
"Aye," Carson said, and took a small flashlight out of his coat pocket, turned it on, and shined it into John's barely opened eyes.
"Colonel Sheppard," the doctor said clicking off his flashlight. "Do you know where you are?"
John's eyes scanned his surroundings until they landed on Rodney.
"Rodney?"
"Yeah, hi," Rodney said stepping forward with a relieved grin on his face. "You okay?"
"Uh, yeah, I think," John answered his tongue flicking out to lick dry lips. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Rodney asked not knowing whether to be relieved or disappointed that John wouldn't remember kissing him.
"Uh, I remember a weird dream. I was some kind of a bizarre little creature. With wings."
Rodney smirked. "A fairy, Colonel. You were a fairy. And it wasn't a dream."
"What?" John said his eyes wide in shock.
"All right," Carson interrupted, "that's enough for right now. Rodney can fill you in later, Colonel. Right now, I want you to rest." Turning to Rodney he said in his sternest doctor's voice, "Which means, I want you to leave."
"You're sure he's going to be all right now?" Rodney asked in concern.
"Aye, he'll be fine. Now go away."
Rodney nodded. He stepped closer, patted John on the arm and said, "Good to have you back, Colonel."
He started to walk away when he heard John whine, "How come I'm the one that always gets turned into things."
***
It was near midnight, and Rodney was in his quarters. He'd checked in with Carson before he'd left his lab and learned that John was doing fine with no apparent ill-aftereffects. It was only then that he had finally allowed himself to relax. He and Radek had spent the rest of the day studying the transmogrification device. It was the prototype of yet another desperate experiment by the Ancients to find a means of fighting the Wraith. Apparently they'd hoped to transform the Wraith into something relatively harmless. Relatively being the operative word here, Rodney smiled to himself as he touched his earlobe where the John-fairy had nipped him. They could still have been pests.
He had just turned off his computer after finishing his report, when a soft knock sounded on his door. Sighing tiredly and wondering what emergency required his attention this time, he opened the door and stared in surprise.
"Colonel, you're out of the infirmary?"
John smiled. "Yeah, Carson just sprung me with strict instructions that I go straight to bed."
Rodney licked his lips and fought against the vision those words brought to mind. "So, uh, what are you doing here?" he asked in a voice that was not as steady as he'd hoped.
"I, uh, I wanted to thank you for, um, you know, turning me back."
"Oh, well, sure. Just doing my job."
"Yeah," John said and then after glancing down the hall he turned back and said, "Can I come in for a minute?"
Rodney's eyes widened a bit. In the almost two years they'd been on Atlantis, John Sheppard had never asked to enter his quarters, and the one time Rodney had asked to enter his, he'd been refused. Stepping back, he gave silent permission.
The door slid shut behind John, and he suddenly looked nervous.
"Colonel?" Rodney prompted.
"I, uh, I remember a little bit about what happened now," John said looking into Rodney's eyes.
"Oh. I wasn't sure if you'd remember. You really weren't yourself except for the part where you ordered me around."
John grinned for a second and then sobered again. "What I remember most is being scared half out of my mind. I didn't know what had happened and all these people were there and talking too loudly and then Elizabeth almost swatted me."
Rodney's mouth tightened at the memory. "Yeah, if she had hurt you..." Catching himself before he said anything he'd regret he continued, "Well, she'd have felt pretty awful."
John smiled a tight little smile that was quickly gone. Taking a step forward, he said, "You know what else I remember?" Rodney shook his head, his eyes locked on John's.
"I remember you being very gentle with me, Rodney. I wasn't frightened with you. I knew I could trust you."
"Oh," Rodney said.
Moving another step closer, John said, "I remember you petting me, too. I liked that."
Rodney felt his face heat up. "Well, I used to have a cat, so-"
"I remember kissing you," John said interrupting.
Rodney nervously licked his lips. "Well, you really weren't yourself, Colonel, so-"
"I liked it, too," John interrupted again. He took one more step closer to Rodney. "I think maybe you liked it as well."
Rodney stared helplessly at John. John had an excuse; he'd really not been himself. But what kind of excuse did Rodney have? That he'd been under a spell?
Something of his distress must have shown on his face, because John said quickly, "Hey, it's okay. I'm glad you liked it."
"You're glad?" Rodney asked in surprise.
"Yeah, but it kind of left me wondering."
"Wondering?"
"Yeah," John said as he took one last step closer and brought his hand up to cup the side of Rodney's face. "See, kissing you is something I've thought about a lot, but I didn't think you'd be interested. Now, though, I'm wondering if you'd be interested in kissing me after all." Without waiting for Rodney's reply, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Rodney's.
Rodney heard himself whimper, and then he stepped forward closing the gap between them and wrapped his arms around John's waist. His mouth opened automatically when he felt John's tongue brush against his lips, and he moaned as the tips of their tongues touched. The kiss was everything and more that Rodney had ever dreamed of, and they pressed their bodies tightly together as they licked and bit and nibbled. They broke apart, both breathing heavily, and pressed their foreheads together.
"Yeah, that was the answer I wanted," John said shakily.
Rodney smiled and lifted his mouth for another kiss. As their lips met once again, Rodney felt as if he had taken flight on wings of his own.
Kissing John Sheppard in whatever form, Rodney decided, was magic.
The End
Author: Sandy
Word Count: ~2,700
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rating: PG
Summary: "It was not my fault!" Rodney said frantically. "I told him never to touch anything in this lab until we'd checked it out. I told him."
Warnings: Kinda cracktastic with a heaping helping of schmoop.
Spoilers: Set in Season 2 but not episode related.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, and no profit was made from this fic.
A/N: Written for svmadelyn's Thirteen Challenge, Prompt: Fairy
Many thanks once again to my wonderful beta, linaerys.
~~~
"How did this happen?" Elizabeth asked, glaring at Rodney.
"It was not my fault!" Rodney said frantically. "I told him never to touch anything in this lab until we'd checked it out. I told him."
"I don't care whose fault it was, Rodney," Elizabeth snapped back. "I want you to fix it."
"Yes, of course I'm going to fix it. Somehow." Rodney felt frantic with worry as he watched the tiny fairy-like creature that had once been Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard flit frenetically around the room.
It flew past Ronon, Teyla, and Radek, and buzzed around Elizabeth's head. She ducked away from the darting creature and swatted at it.
"Don't hit him!" Rodney yelled jumping forward protectively.
Elizabeth blanched and said, "Oh god, I'm sorry. It was an automatic reflex."
"Yes, well," Rodney said. He calmed down a bit as the unharmed John-fairy flew away from everyone and fluttered about in an obviously anxious manner on the far side of the lab. "Maybe it would be best if you and everyone else left. Let me try to get this fixed."
"I'll stay and help," Radek offered, but Rodney shook his head.
"I think the fewer of us in this room, the quicker he'll calm down. Just go. If I need you, I'll call."
"All right, Rodney, we'll go," Elizabeth said, wary eyes on the John-fairy as Rodney slowly walked over to where it hovered by the file cabinets. "Get him changed back as quickly as possible. We have no idea what the long-term affects might be."
"Yes, yes," he said, his voice soft so that he didn't cause more fright to the tiny creature. "Just please go away so I can get to work without worrying about one of you smashing him."
Elizabeth glared at him, but left along with all the others.
When the door slid shut, Rodney relaxed a little and glanced at the small being. He took a calming breath and held out his hand, palm up. "Hey there," he said gently. "Remember me? Rodney? I won't hurt you."
The John-fairy hesitated for a few seconds, and then flew over to delicately settle onto Rodney's hand. Rodney carefully moved his hand until it was level with his eyes, and took his first good look at what John had become. It had the look of John in that its hair was black and stood up at odd angles, but its face was more androgynous than the handsome masculinity of the pilot's normal features, and it ears were even more sharply pointed than John's naturally elfin-shaped ears. It stood about ten centimeters high, and had flawless pale white skin, slightly almond-shaped, jewel-toned eyes of a deep emerald green framed by thick black lashes, and a double set of gossamer wings much like a dragonfly's. It was also completely naked and without visible genitals.
Rodney stared in wonder at it, and though not usually given to flights of fancy, at this moment he felt as if he had discovered a magical visitor from a mystical, mist-filled otherworld. It stood on Rodney's hand and looked with wide-eyed trust at the scientist. "Well, this is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into," he chided gently, a smile tugging at his lips as he looked at the breathtaking little sprite John had become. He was amazed how John's good looks had transmuted so perfectly into the ethereal beauty of the fairy. He lifted one finger to gently stroke the John-fairy's head and scratch lightly under its chin. It closed its eyes and sighed in apparent pleasure at the caress. "For a rough, tough Air Force officer, you make a very pretty fairy," Rodney said affectionately.
The creature's eyes snapped opened, and it scowled at Rodney and stomped one miniscule foot in displeasure.
Rodney was completely charmed.
"So, you don't like being called a fairy?"
The John-fairy lifted its chin, turned its back on Rodney and crossed its arms over its chest, back ramrod straight. It did not utter a sound. Apparently, though it understood perfectly well, it didn't have the power of speech.
"Hey," Rodney said apologetically. "I meant what I said as a compliment."
The creature turned its head and glanced over its shoulder at Rodney, wings twitching irritably. Then it smiled and turned back around. Launching itself back into flight, it flew over to Rodney's face and patted his cheek, then darted over to alight on the desk where Rodney's computer sat. It gave Rodney an imperious look, pointed at the computer, and stomped its foot again.
Rodney's smile returned, relieved to see that the creature retained at least some of Sheppard's awareness. "Still ordering me around, I see," he said as he walked over to the table. "Well, as much as I'd like to have my own pet, uh, not-a-fairy, I think I'd much rather get you back to normal."
The little creature's head bobbed in an emphatic nod of agreement and then settled down cross-legged next to Rodney's computer.
For the next little while, Rodney delved into the Ancient database searching for information on the artifact John had touched so that he could figure out how to reverse its effects. A tiny sound that sounded suspiciously like a yawn caught Rodney's attention, and he glanced down to see the John-fairy sitting with its head propped on its hand, eyes closed.
"You sleepy?" Rodney asked. The John-fairy opened heavy-lidded eyes and nodded. Rodney stood up and went over to where John's clothes lay in an abandoned heap on the floor. He leaned over and picked up the black t-shirt from the pile, then folded it until he had a thick pad, and walked back to his desk where he put it down next to the John-fairy. "Here," he said, "you can take a nap on this."
The John-fairy stood up and flew to the middle of the pallet. As it settled down on the soft cushion, it smiled at Rodney, and then lay down on its stomach, cradling its head on its folded arms. Within seconds, it was sound asleep.
Rodney swallowed down the lump in his throat, a rush of affection almost stealing his breath away, and pulled a corner of the shirt over the John-fairy being careful not to damage the wings. He stood for a few minutes watching it sleep, a soft smile on his face, and then returned to his research. Nearly an hour later he shouted, "Ah ha!" The John-fairy startled awake and took flight again, buzzing wildly around the room.
Rodney jumped up, distressed at what he'd done. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."
The John-fairy darted about a bit longer and then flew over to land on Rodney's shoulder. Rodney jumped a little when it nipped his earlobe painfully with its sharp little teeth.
"Ow! Hey, stop that," Rodney complained, though he very carefully made no move to dislodge the little imp. "I told you I was sorry."
The John-fairy flew off Rodney's shoulder and hovered in front of him. There was a distinct smirk on its face.
"Oh, very nice," Rodney groused holding up his hand again so the John-fairy could land on it. "Here I am ready to turn you back into your usual annoying self, and you thank me by biting me. Proving, by the way, that you can be annoying in any form."
The John-fairy's eyes grew big and it pointed to the computer and raised questioning eyebrows.
"Yes," Rodney said smugly. "I figured it out. So if you'll be so kind as to fly down and stand on the floor, we'll get you back to normal, okay?"
The John-fairy leapt off his hand and flew down to stand by the pile of abandoned clothing. Rodney returned to his desk to retrieve the Ancient artifact that had caused all the problems. Turning back to the John-fairy he said, "Okay, now all I have to do is-"
He stopped when the John-fairy suddenly held up a finger in a 'wait-a-minute' gesture. Launching itself back up into the air, it flew over to Rodney and hovered in front of him again. Rodney smiled indulgently. "Oh, want to take one last spin in your kicky new wings before I change you back?"
The John-fairy shook its head 'no' and then flew closer to Rodney until Rodney had to cross his eyes to keep it in focus. Rodney's heart began to pound in his chest when he realized that the John-fairy was staring at his lips. Then, coming even closer, the John-fairy pressed its hands to either side of Rodney's mouth, leaned in, and kissed him.
It was a delicate barely-there touch, and Rodney closed his eyes and stood utterly still, feeling as if he had been enchanted. All too soon, the John-fairy pulled back, smiled a sweet smile at Rodney, and returned to his place on the floor.
Rodney was shaken to the core. Kissing John was something that filled Rodney's dreams, and though the John-fairy wasn't really John, it was probably the closest he'd ever come to kissing him. When he finally got his jumbled emotions back under control, he punched a sequence of codes into the touchpad of the artifact.
"Okay, it's all set. You ready?" he asked. The John-fairy bit its lip nervously and then nodded. Rodney took a deep breath and pressed the 'activate' button. There was a distortion of the light waves around the John-fairy and then the John-fairy was gone. In its place stood a full-sized, fully-formed, and totally-naked Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. He blinked confusedly, muttered, "Rodney?" and crumpled to the floor. Rodney leapt forward and caught him, John's weight bringing Rodney down onto the floor with him.
"Oh god, Sheppard?" Rodney said frantically, cradling John in his arms and checking his friend's pulse. It beat in a steady if too-rapid rhythm. Hitting the transmit button on his earpiece, Rodney yelled out, "Medical emergency in Lab One. Carson, get down here."
***
Rodney stood apprehensively by one of the exam beds while Carson examined the still unconscious Sheppard. Though he'd been absolutely certain he knew what he was doing when he'd reprogrammed the transmogrification device, now he was terrified that he'd done something wrong. A low throaty moan caught his attention and he stepped forward anxiously.
"Is he waking up?" he asked fretfully.
"Aye," Carson said, and took a small flashlight out of his coat pocket, turned it on, and shined it into John's barely opened eyes.
"Colonel Sheppard," the doctor said clicking off his flashlight. "Do you know where you are?"
John's eyes scanned his surroundings until they landed on Rodney.
"Rodney?"
"Yeah, hi," Rodney said stepping forward with a relieved grin on his face. "You okay?"
"Uh, yeah, I think," John answered his tongue flicking out to lick dry lips. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Rodney asked not knowing whether to be relieved or disappointed that John wouldn't remember kissing him.
"Uh, I remember a weird dream. I was some kind of a bizarre little creature. With wings."
Rodney smirked. "A fairy, Colonel. You were a fairy. And it wasn't a dream."
"What?" John said his eyes wide in shock.
"All right," Carson interrupted, "that's enough for right now. Rodney can fill you in later, Colonel. Right now, I want you to rest." Turning to Rodney he said in his sternest doctor's voice, "Which means, I want you to leave."
"You're sure he's going to be all right now?" Rodney asked in concern.
"Aye, he'll be fine. Now go away."
Rodney nodded. He stepped closer, patted John on the arm and said, "Good to have you back, Colonel."
He started to walk away when he heard John whine, "How come I'm the one that always gets turned into things."
***
It was near midnight, and Rodney was in his quarters. He'd checked in with Carson before he'd left his lab and learned that John was doing fine with no apparent ill-aftereffects. It was only then that he had finally allowed himself to relax. He and Radek had spent the rest of the day studying the transmogrification device. It was the prototype of yet another desperate experiment by the Ancients to find a means of fighting the Wraith. Apparently they'd hoped to transform the Wraith into something relatively harmless. Relatively being the operative word here, Rodney smiled to himself as he touched his earlobe where the John-fairy had nipped him. They could still have been pests.
He had just turned off his computer after finishing his report, when a soft knock sounded on his door. Sighing tiredly and wondering what emergency required his attention this time, he opened the door and stared in surprise.
"Colonel, you're out of the infirmary?"
John smiled. "Yeah, Carson just sprung me with strict instructions that I go straight to bed."
Rodney licked his lips and fought against the vision those words brought to mind. "So, uh, what are you doing here?" he asked in a voice that was not as steady as he'd hoped.
"I, uh, I wanted to thank you for, um, you know, turning me back."
"Oh, well, sure. Just doing my job."
"Yeah," John said and then after glancing down the hall he turned back and said, "Can I come in for a minute?"
Rodney's eyes widened a bit. In the almost two years they'd been on Atlantis, John Sheppard had never asked to enter his quarters, and the one time Rodney had asked to enter his, he'd been refused. Stepping back, he gave silent permission.
The door slid shut behind John, and he suddenly looked nervous.
"Colonel?" Rodney prompted.
"I, uh, I remember a little bit about what happened now," John said looking into Rodney's eyes.
"Oh. I wasn't sure if you'd remember. You really weren't yourself except for the part where you ordered me around."
John grinned for a second and then sobered again. "What I remember most is being scared half out of my mind. I didn't know what had happened and all these people were there and talking too loudly and then Elizabeth almost swatted me."
Rodney's mouth tightened at the memory. "Yeah, if she had hurt you..." Catching himself before he said anything he'd regret he continued, "Well, she'd have felt pretty awful."
John smiled a tight little smile that was quickly gone. Taking a step forward, he said, "You know what else I remember?" Rodney shook his head, his eyes locked on John's.
"I remember you being very gentle with me, Rodney. I wasn't frightened with you. I knew I could trust you."
"Oh," Rodney said.
Moving another step closer, John said, "I remember you petting me, too. I liked that."
Rodney felt his face heat up. "Well, I used to have a cat, so-"
"I remember kissing you," John said interrupting.
Rodney nervously licked his lips. "Well, you really weren't yourself, Colonel, so-"
"I liked it, too," John interrupted again. He took one more step closer to Rodney. "I think maybe you liked it as well."
Rodney stared helplessly at John. John had an excuse; he'd really not been himself. But what kind of excuse did Rodney have? That he'd been under a spell?
Something of his distress must have shown on his face, because John said quickly, "Hey, it's okay. I'm glad you liked it."
"You're glad?" Rodney asked in surprise.
"Yeah, but it kind of left me wondering."
"Wondering?"
"Yeah," John said as he took one last step closer and brought his hand up to cup the side of Rodney's face. "See, kissing you is something I've thought about a lot, but I didn't think you'd be interested. Now, though, I'm wondering if you'd be interested in kissing me after all." Without waiting for Rodney's reply, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Rodney's.
Rodney heard himself whimper, and then he stepped forward closing the gap between them and wrapped his arms around John's waist. His mouth opened automatically when he felt John's tongue brush against his lips, and he moaned as the tips of their tongues touched. The kiss was everything and more that Rodney had ever dreamed of, and they pressed their bodies tightly together as they licked and bit and nibbled. They broke apart, both breathing heavily, and pressed their foreheads together.
"Yeah, that was the answer I wanted," John said shakily.
Rodney smiled and lifted his mouth for another kiss. As their lips met once again, Rodney felt as if he had taken flight on wings of his own.
Kissing John Sheppard in whatever form, Rodney decided, was magic.
The End