Love Under Duress

Why Does This Forest Hate Us

Pairing: Sheppard/McKay
Warning: Injury, delirium

Colonel Sheppard leaned over McKay, watching him with a concerned expression. He chewed his bottom lip, hoping that he and Rodney wouldn't have to wait too much longer for Teyla and Ronon to fetch help and that their friends would be able to find them easily in the thick woods. John was pretty sure Rodney couldn't be moved, and he didn't particularly feel like testing it, considering he'd have to carry him through what had felt like five miles of dense forest, and the aptitude for something to go terribly wrong, as they usually did on such missions.

They had beaten all the hostile aliens who had taken them by surprise, but not before Rodney was severely injured, and John couldn't bother to leave his side while the others went back to the Stargate to get medical help. He'd been sitting with Rodney's head resting in his lap for what felt like an hour, and sincerely hoped that the slight pulse he felt wasn't getting weaker.

John was so deep in thought, that he almost didn't notice Rodney's eyes flutter open. "So pretty," Rodney said, looking into John's eyes, his words slurring more than he probably intended them to. He furrowed his brow in frustration.

Sheppard, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow at him, trying to work out what Rodney meant. Perhaps the delirious man had mistaken him for an attractive woman. Or maybe McKay just really liked cave ceilings. One could never know. At least he didn't seem to be in too much pain, despite his wound.

Either way, this had not lessened Sheppard's concern by any great amount, and had, in fact, raised it some. He spoke gently, though still teasingly, trying to stay calm and normal, "In case you've forgotten, Rodney, I am a man and not a beautiful woman."

Rodney furrowed his brow even more, "I know you're a man, John. I'm not a complete idiot." His words were still so slurred John could barely tell them apart. John let his face turn red for a moment, before getting the better of himself and remembering Rodney was still majorly delirious. At least he seemed relatively fine, apart from the enormous arrow stuck in his abdomen.

"Okay, okay," he relinquished the argument, "Rodney, don't worry. Teyla and Ronon are getting you help. You'll be fine." However, this did not have the calming effect John had intended it would. It seemed to only confuse Rodney more, "Teyla? Ronon? Who're you talking about? You're not making any sense at all."

John sat back in shock, suddenly realizing Rodney was not as fine- mentally, at least- as he seemed. He couldn't remember Teyla and Ronon? This only confused him more. Why did Rodney remember him but not them? Did it have to do with the fact that he had stayed with him while they had left?

He steadied his breathing and calmly asked a question, "Rodney, how much do you remember?" Rodney looked at him as if he was an idiot and spoke again, his words gradually less slurred, "Remember? I remember lots of things. Like, I'm Doctor Rodney McKay, and I'm really smart. And... you're Colonel John Sheppard and you're really attractive and sweet and I really want to kiss you right now."

Rodney seemed so satisfied with his explanation of his memories, that he didn't even bother to mention that those were the only things he could remember. John sat in silence for a moment. The first part was definitely Rodney, so he had written off him somehow being accidentally being replaced by an alien. But the second part... Rodney describing him as attractive and sweet? Rodney wanted to kiss him? Maybe the man was more delirious than he'd thought, despite the less slurred words.

"I don't think your memory is as good as you think it is," John said as bluntly as he could, trying not to shatter the man's ego too much. However, Rodney seemed unfazed, "No, those things are certainly and irrefutably true. Although I don't seem to remember much else..." He trailed off.