Title:  Love Me Tender:  Feeling Better

Author:  Angelee

Fandom:  Stargate Atlantis

Pairing:  Rodney McKay/John Sheppard

Rating:  Adult

Summary:  What does it take to make someone who’s feeling low feel better?

Beta:  By my sister Anna.  All remaining errors are mine own-with apologies.

 

Love Me Tender:  Feeling Better

 

“How is he?”

 

John looked up to meet Tayla’s warm brown eyes.  “He’s feeling better-I think.”  He replied as she knelt by them.  “I got him to eat and drink something.  He’s been asleep for a couple of hours.”  He smiled at her.  “I on the other hands, have numb buns.”

 

Teyla chuckled softly.  “I’m sorry to hear that.  You could always wake him and take him to his bed in his quarters.”

 

John stopped stroking Rodney’s soft hair.  “Na.  I’m cool with numb buns.  It more important that Rodney sleep.”  He frowned.  “He wants to leave Atlantis, Teyla.  What are we going to do if he does?”

 

“Why would he wish to leave?”

 

“Because he thinks he’s a royal fuck up and no one likes him.  All because he blew up a solar system.  It could have happened to anyone.”

 

“Rodney takes much to heart.  I do not think he would have survived if there were humans still left on those planets.”

 

John looked down at the man using his legs for pillows.  “No, I don’t think so either.”

 

“He is a smart man.  A brave man.  Despite assumptions to the contrary,” Teyla said softly, running her hand over Rodney’s broad back, soothingly.  Smiling when the scientist murmured softly in response.

 

John smiled too.  “He knows about the smart part and make sure everyone around him knows as well.  But the brave part he tries to hid.  But he is.  Very brave.”

 

Tayla stood.  “Do you need anything, John?”

 

“Hmm, some dinner would be nice, and a blanket to cover Rodney so he doesn’t get cold.”  Teyla nodded.  “Could you bring two dinners, in case Rodney wake’s up?”  John smiled up at her. “Chances are he will if he smells food.”

 

Teyla returned it.  “Yes.  I will return shortly.”

 

John sighed softly as he returned to his geeky watching.  Wishing there was some way to help Rodney feel better.  Something that would at least ease his worries a little.  Maybe take his mind off Atlantis, work, blowing up galaxies and dying a horrible, horrible death at any time.

 

He rubbed Rodney’s back gently. Smiling as he listened to the soft mewing noises Rodney was making.  Mewing?  Mewing noises?  Suddenly John felt his eyebrows go up as he thought of the perfect way to make Rodney realize that he was wanted and loved.

 

‘Yeah, even geeky, sarcastic scientist could be loved and Rodney certainly was.’  John thought to himself as he hit his ear thingie.  Hoping he hadn’t blow out an eardrum in his haste.

 

***

 

When Rodney finally stirred three hours later John had lost all feeling in his butt, but he couldn’t have been happier.

 

“It’s about time you finally woke up, sleepyhead.”

 

Rodney sat up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands in a way so childlike, John felt his heart melt.  ‘His geeky scientist could be so loveable,’ he thought affectionately.

 

“H…how long was I asleep?”

 

“About five hours and I don’t think I have a butt any more.”

 

“Hmm, you should have woken me.  I would have gone to my quarters.”

 

John moved around a bit trying to get feeling in his butt.  Wincing when he did.  The sharp tingles weren’t quite what he wanted.

 

“That’s alright.  I didn’t want to take the chance that you’d wake up and go back to work instead of resting.”

 

Rodney frowned at him.  “What am I-two, that I need a babysitter?”

 

John smiled.  “Sometimes you act like it.”

 

“Funny,” Suddenly there was a soft mewing noise coming from a basket next to John.  “What’s that?”  Rodney asked, stretching his neck to see.

 

John held it up.  “I think it’s called a basket.”

 

Rodney rolled his eyes.  “You’re a regular comedian, aren’t you?”

 

“I try.”

 

Again the soft mewing noise.  “What is it?  Let me see,” Rodney asked, ever curious, ever the scientist. John handed him the basket.  Watching as Rodney opened it.  Watching as the scientist blue eyes widened in wonder and surprise.  “Kittens.  There’s three kittens in the basket.  Where did they come from?” 

 

John smiled when Rodney reached in and picked up a solid white one and cuddled it close to his face.

 

“I thought about everything when I was watching you sleep.  How everything’s been getting to you and all.  I wondered about what would make you feel better.  Less likely to leave Atlantis…”

 

Rodney listened while picking up the other kittens, holding them to him like one big multicolored cotton ball.  The kittens as if understanding they were desperately needed, didn’t complain about being squished.

 

“Kittens, will do that?”  Rodney asked quizzically.

 

“Sure.  I talked to Elizabeth.  We discussed how you were our most important scientist.  How we needed to keep you happy and healthy.”

 

“Again I ask, kittens?”

 

John smiled at him, reaching out cupped the side of Rodney’s face.  Watching how the intensely blue eyes dilated.  “I love you, baby.  And I want you happy.  I need you, Atlantis need you and now your kittens need you.”

 

“Kittens?”

 

“I read somewhere that taking care of pets is a great stress relief.”  John gave a heavy sigh.  “And you’ve certainly been under a lot of that lately.  So we got you some kittens.”

 

“Where did they come from?”

 

Carson’s mom’s cat had kittens.  These little cuties are what is left of a batch of eight needing homes.”

 

Rodney looked at his kittens. A vulnerable look on his face.  “You used the Gate to get me kittens?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Oh,” Rodney replied in awe, that someone would think enough of him to do that.

 

John reached scooted over till he was closer to the scientist.  Rodney rested his head against his.  “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.  Nothing.  Climb any mountain, cross any river.  Send Carson through the Gate to bring you back kittens.  I love you, baby.  Very much.”

 

“We have permission for the kittens?”

 

John nuzzled Rodney’s soft hair.  “What do you think, sweetheart?”

 

Rodney smiled as he watched a black and white kitten, gently swatted his finger, with nails so tiny they could barely be seen.  “I’m thinking yeah.  You went to a lot of trouble for me.”

 

“Like I said there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.  Nothing.  I want my geeky scientist feeling better.  Insulting his staff.  Claiming to be the best scientist in two galaxies feeling better.  Eating everything in sight and staying close to where I can keep an eye on him and loving him every chance I get.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Did it work, baby?”  John asked hopefully.  “Stay?  Let me love you.  But if you have to go, I’ll go with you.  I’ll follow you to the ends of one universe to the other to be with you.”

 

Rodney gently stroked his kittens’ fur.  “I’ll stay.  I’ll stay on Atlantis.  With you.  Letting you love me when ever the urge hits you.”

 

John scoffed.  “You wouldn’t get any work done then.”

 

Rodney smiled at him shyly.  “Really?” 

 

“For a really, really, really smart geeky scientist you sure are insecure.  Yeah, really.  Once you’ve rested some more and we get your kittens situated I’ll start proving it.”

 

Rodney moved closer to John.  Sighing happily when John’s arms went around him, pulling him closer still.  “So these kittens came from Scotland?”

 

“Yup.”

 

Rodney looked at him from under really long eyelashes.  His eyes so blue John thought his heart would burst with awe at how truly beautiful they were and how much he loved his geeky scientist.  “Does that mean that when they purr or meow it’s going to be with a Scottish accent?”

 

John looked at Rodney for a moment.  Only Rodney would come up with something like that.  He kissed him on the forehead.  “We’ll just have to wait and see, baby.  We’ll just have to wait and see,  he replied, chuckling softly.