No. 5

Prompt: Stargate Atlantis, John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, learning to share
http://comment-fic.livejournal.com/687901.html?thread=90348829#t90348829

Growing up, Rodney had never had to share. As he only had a sister, he'd never had to share his room, or the bathroom, or clothes, or any of the other onerous things siblings were forced to share. In college he'd never had to share his dorm room, because putting an underage genius with a drunken frat wannabe was a legal disaster waiting to happen. In grad school he'd never had to share his research space, because he'd harangued all the other grad students within an inch of their lives if they messed up his careful arrangement of research materials and equipment. He never had to share his projects, either, because no one else understood them (although he wasn't above delegating the petty tasks to the mindless minions so his brainpower could be used on more important issues).

He'd also never had to share friends, because, well, he'd never had any. (Jeannie didn't count. She was his sister and therefore obligated to be his friend, and while she was a good friend, she wasn't the same as an actual friend who was his friend just because.)

So when Rodney happened upon John Sheppard, first colleague, then friend, then more, he had no intention of sharing. When John sparred with Teyla, that didn't count as sharing, because Rodney hated sparring. When John went running with Ford, that didn't count as sharing either, because Rodney hated running. And when Ronon replaced Ford, Rodney was okay with that.

And then there was Major Evan Lorne. He showed up on the crew of the Daedalus one day with another bunch of meat-head marines Rodney had to break in as careful pack mules, and Rodney hated him. Lorne had smooth golden skin, a quirky, easy grin, and beautiful blue eyes. Some of the social scientists - of both sexes - were speculating about his dating/marriage status and which way he swung. He was nice to them. He didn't think they were stupid. He approved of the expansion of their illicit coffee-growing scheme in greenhouse three. Everyone loved him.

Rodney hated him. Rodney hated Major Evan Lorne because he was there all the time. When Rodney dropped by John's office for a quick chat, Lorne was there, filling out John's paperwork so John could spar with Ronon. When John needed something, Lorne was right there at his elbow with, "It's already done, sir." He could always find the thing John was looking for, he always knew the location of the person John was searching for, and he always brought John a mid-afternoon snack on days when there was nothing but paperwork and meetings. (John did that sometimes for Rodney. It hadn't occurred to him to reciprocate the favor. He reciprocated all favors in bed.)

The thing was, Lorne's unnatural efficiency (he was too perfect, like that Chaya character, Rodney would have to run scans on him) allowed John more time to spend with Rodney. It might have been unseemly for the military commander of the expedition to hang around the lab as Rodney's Ancient Tech light switch, but Rodney knew the others let it go because John being around meant Rodney was nicer. Rodney hated Lorne with a passion, but there was nothing he could do about it, because no one would listen to him if he tried to complain. (He'd mentioned it offhand once to Parrish in botany and been deprived of coffee for a week.)

But enough was enough. Rodney was going to have a very strong chat with Major Lorne - and possibly science him into submission - because John belonged to Rodney and Rodney didn't share. John was only supposed to smile like that for Rodney, not when Lorne saved him the last brownie to be had for a month.

Rodney stormed around the corner and swiped a hand over the lock into Lorne's quarters - and discovered that Major Lorne, in addition to being a very efficient XO, was also an ardent yoga practitioner, and he brought that skill to the bedroom.

With Ronon.

There was an awkward pause, the three men blinked at each other, and Rodney beat a hasty retreat.

Fine. He could learn to share John. A little bit. For the good of the expedition.