FIC: The Pack (Stargate: Atlantis AU) 4/10

[ashinae]

The Pack: A Stargate: Atlantis AU - Chapter 4
by ashinae and jay_linden
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10



John sat heavily on the side of his bed, elbows on his knees, and stared down at the floor. He hadn't said a word for quite some time now; long enough to actually make Rodney worried.

Rodney gave him a long time--especially for Rodney--before he couldn't stay quiet any more. He pulled a chair around and sat in front of John, reaching for his hands. "Talk."

John lifted his head and looked up at him, eyes haunted. "What if he's dead, Rodney? If he's dead, I've failed him. Again."

"You didn't fail him. You didn't fail him the first time, and you didn't fail him now. You did everything you could," Rodney said, keeping eye contact with John. "He saved you. All three of you. He chose to do it, because he remembered who he was, and a big part of that he learned from you. You have to honour what he did. You have to respect it. And even if he did die? He died as Ford."

John closed his eyes. And even though he nodded, he found himself tongue-tied again. He brought one of Rodney's hands to his mouth and kissed his fingertips.

"Plus... you're safe, and I'm here, and I helped save the day... so Ronon's going to owe me for that one. That's always worth a lot."

John laughed softly. "Of course, Rodney." His hands suddenly clutched Rodney's a bit tighter. "He tried to use you against me."

"People seem to like doing that to us," Rodney said. "Kolya, as one example, seems to think that it's a really good idea, although they don't seem to realize that it's generally bound to backfire, usually spectacularly." He didn't protest, even though John was holding on pretty tightly.

"Yeah, but at that point, I hadn't decided that I wanted you to be my mate," John pointed out.

"That's true too," Rodney said. He looked at John for a moment. "Did he... you and Ford, did you... were you... you and Ford? You were, weren't you?"

John blinked at him a few times, not quite understanding, and then he nodded. "Yeah," he said, "we were."

"Wow," Rodney said, a strange look on his face as he flipped through the events of the previous year in his mind, when Ford was still with them. "I actually did not know that. That explains a lot of things, actually. Especially about the way he was acting when he was holding us hostage."

"Well," John said, "yeah, I suppose--that is, I--yeah. He figured it out pretty fast, and he saw us. At least once."

Rodney gave John a look. "You didn't tell me he was watching us."

"I didn't know."

"So... when you say that he used me against you, what did he do, exactly?"

"He held you behind on the planet so that I'd co-operate."

"I knew that part. It's what taking a hostage is..." Rodney trailed off. "Specifically me. Instead of Ronon or Teyla, because he knew about us."

"Yeah. That's why you were the one on the planet. Because we're... because you're my mate."

"So your ex-boyfriend left me behind because he was jealous, and he thought that would make you do what he wanted," Rodney said.

John was about to protest Rodney's wording there, and then he sighed. "That's pretty much it exactly."

Rodney just snorted. Loudly.

John frowned at him, then sighed and pulled his hands away so he could flop back on the bed. "Dammit."

"Oh, what?" Rodney said, getting up and coming to join him on the bed. "Now you're going to be all dramatic? I'm the one who got left behind on the planet because your ex-boyfriend is possessive. How long was it going on for anyway? You and Ford?"

"A while," John admitted. "Sometime after the whole situation where I had a bug stuck to my neck and we were stuck in a stargate."

"That long? That long, and I never knew?"

"So?" John said as he pushed up onto his elbows. "You were sleeping with Grodin."

The fact that his surprise regarding Ford was rather hypocritical did not seem to faze Rodney. "Well... yeah," he said. "Wait. You knew that? I didn't know that you knew that."

"Of course I knew it," John said. "I could smell you all over each other."

Rodney's jaw dropped. "Okay, that's just... that's an invasion of privacy," he protested.

John pointed at his nose. "Wolf senses. I can't help it."

"Oh, that's your excuse for everything," Rodney huffed. And then he lifted his head. "So... Ford could smell us? But we hadn't... we weren't exactly honeymooning on his little deserted planet, John." Being hopped up on the enzyme wasn't exactly something that put Rodney 'in the mood'.

"Yeah, he could smell us, and while we weren't exactly having crazy mad sex against cave walls--" or even a single blow job, despite Ronon's suggestion, and oh God, John was never thinking about that ever again, "there were a couple of... moments, Rodney. I mean, think about how I kept you calmed down. And I--well--that is--getting close to you like that, I... it put my smell all over you," he added in a mumble before flopping down again.

Rodney couldn't blame him for that. They were surrounded by half-crazed werewolf pups and he had to keep them off of Rodney! Right?

Rodney stared at him, looking vaguely appalled. "You put your smell all over me," he repeated. "Well, that's just... that's mental imagery that I'm not sure I needed." His eyes widened. "And it still doesn't explain how you knew about me and Grodin. Neither of us are wolves. And we--it's not like we didn't shower!"

With a huff, John pushed up on his elbows again and gave Rodney one of those oh please looks that he surely picked up from Rodney himself. "Wolf. Senses. Can't help it. It doesn't matter if you bathe or wash clothes or anything like that. You spend that kind of... quality time with a person, it's on you, and that's just the way it is."

"So as soon as we started having sex, back when we weren't even on Atlantis, before we told anyone, every wolf on the Daedelus knew? Caldwell knew?" Rodney's voice got a little high-pitched.

"Yes. They did."

"Oh my God," Rodney said. "We are never having sex in the middle of the day again. Or in the morning. Or at any time before we're going to be seeing people."

John finally rolled his eyes. It felt good. "Rodney, it really doesn't matter. They'll know we had sex even if we go on a week-long hiatus. Which we are never doing except under extenuating circumstances."

"You know what? Werewolves are nosy," Rodney huffed. "No expectation of privacy."

"How do you think we feel?" John asked. "We can't help it. There is nothing we can do about our hearing or our sense of smell. Do you think we want to be able to hear conversations that we shouldn't be able to, or that we want to know who's having sex with whom?"

Which actually made Rodney pause. "I never thought about it like that," he admitted.

"Well, there you have it," John muttered. He flopped down again.

Rodney was quiet for a bit longer before he settled in next to John. "So... I didn't know about you and Ford, because I'm not a werewolf. You knew about me and Grodin, but you didn't say anything. Why?"

"Well--because I figured he was your boyfriend," John said.

"That's not exactly how it worked," Rodney said, although he couldn't help smiling, even if there was sadness in his expression.

John rolled onto his side, then pushed himself up on one elbow to look at Rodney. "It really wasn't that way with Ford and me, either," he said, softly.

"I was getting that impression, yeah," Rodney said, watching John. "I'm not jealous of you and Ford."

"I was more than a little jealous of you and Grodin."

"Well, you're a werewolf, and a possessive one at that. I'm completely unsurprised that you were jealous... except, wait," Rodney said. "Even back then? When you were with Ford, and I was with Grodin, back then, you were jealous?"

John nodded. "Yeah, I was. I wanted you for my own." He ran his fingers over Rodney's neck.

Rodney leaned into the touch. "Possessive wolf," he murmured. "So. Maybe he had a reason to be jealous, if that was the case."

"Maybe he did at that," John agreed. He leaned over Rodney and pressed in close, smelling his neck. "Mine."

He groaned, very softly. "Yes I am," he murmured. "You're stuck with me."

"Good. That's the way I want it." John licked Rodney's neck.

"It's almost as though you've been deprived of something for a while," Rodney said. "I wonder what it could be... MREs? Sleep?"

John growled at him.

Rodney really, really loved that particular growl. "The pile of paperwork that's probably waiting for you in your office?" he asked.

John climbed over Rodney, found his wrists, and pinned them over his head. He growled again.

"Or, maybe, we could stay right here?" Rodney suggested, already breathing more heavily.

***

When John was agitated, he tended to shove Rodney into walls, which was exactly where he had Rodney at the moment.

"Uh, ow," Rodney protested. "I'm not as strong as you, you know."

John growled at him. It was damn close to the moon. He dragged his teeth over Rodney's neck.

One part of Rodney wanted to melt every time John did that, the other part of him wanted to swat John on the nose. This time, he went with the latter instinct.

John drew back, startled, and blinked at Rodney a few times. Then surged forward again, grabbed Rodney's wrists, and pinned them above his head. He growled, low and rumbling in his chest.

"Oh, no--we are not going to do this like that," Rodney vowed, kicking John right in the shin. "We are going to fight about this by yelling at each other like civilized people!"

John swore, loudly and colourfully, hopping back away from Rodney. "I don't want to fight!" he yelled.

"Well I do!" Rodney yelled back. "And you're the one who pushed me into the wall, which is one thing when you do it all the rest of the time, but an entirely different thing when you're angry, and you've got that thing on your face, AND when you were clearly shacking up with some Ancient chick!"

"It's been six months, Rodney! And if you're so upset about the beard, I'll shave!" And then he reached for Rodney again, long fingers curling around his wrist.

Rodney slapped the back of John's hand with his free hand. "Not for me it wasn't months," Rodney said. "And what would you do if you came back here after a day, I told you it was months, and that I'd been sleeping with, I don't know, Katie Brown?"

The growl rose in John's chest again. Possessiveness flashed in his gaze. Rodney might as well have just poked him lightly in the shoulder, because John's fingers tightened around his wrist and he yanked Rodney in against his chest so he could smell him again.

It was illogical and ridiculous. Rodney didn't smell like anyone but their team and Elizabeth.

"Yeah... just me. Where you smell like incense and village and Ancient. What is it with you and women who glow, huh?" Rodney demanded, giving John a shove.

John stared at him for a moment as he took a step back and finally let go of Rodney's wrist. "You can smell that on me?" he asked.

He scowled at John. "I'm not a wolf, but I can still smell. I remember from last time."

"You weren't my mate then," John said, scowling back. "You've got no ground to stand on for that one."

"I'm not talking about then, I'm talking about now, and I'm backing up my current hypothesis with relevant data from another time, and you didn't deny it!"

"I thought I was never going to come home!" John shouted. "I'd resigned myself to staying there--with people who weren't afraid of me!"

"I'm not afraid of you, you giant poodle!" Rodney said, damned near stamping his feet. "I was afraid that I'd lost you! I was screaming at everyone, desperately trying to get enough supplies through that you could survive. I never, ever thought I'd see you again. Maybe it was six months for you, and a day for me, boo hoo, poor Rodney, but I lived and died with every second of that day."

That brought John up short. Mouth open, frozen on the spot.

There was a reason that John had chosen Rodney for his mate, against all his better instincts. Teyla and Elizabeth both would have made far more sensible choices; they were leaders, diplomats, and above all else--they could give him offspring.

But for all his flaws--and they were myriad--Rodney'd been the one to call to John. He was fire and passion and he had already learned how to stand up to John in ways that no one else really would. He stood up to the soldier and the wolf. And it was frustrating as hell. It was what John needed.

Rodney wasn't afraid of him.

"I love you," he said, the words springing up as unbidden as the growls from moments ago.

Now it was Rodney's turn to stop short and stare. "You've never said that before," he said, looking stunned, the anger slipping away, before it flared up again, just a little. "Don't... if you said that just now because I'm yelling at you and you think it'll make me stop, so help me, John--"

John reached for him. This time he wasn't rough. He didn't force himself on Rodney. His hands were gentle as he cupped Rodney's face in his hands, and when his mouth found Rodney's, the kiss was just as gentle. Soft, sweet, tender, and then he whispered against Rodney's mouth, "I love you."

"I love you too," Rodney whispered back, throat tight. He cleared it quickly, then pulled back just enough to look at John, watching his face as he gave him a sharp cuff upside the head. "Don't you ever, ever doubt that I will come for you," he said, voice rough, eyes bright. "Not ever. I will always find you. Always."

John caught Rodney's hand, but brought his fingers up to his mouth, biting playfully at them. "Same," he whispered, voice rough. "No one will ever take you from me."

"Okay." Rodney finally calmed down, getting himself back under control. "And no more Ancient chicks," he added.

Yes, that was going to be a rule. "No more Ancient chicks," John agreed.

"Okay... so we're good?" Rodney checked.

"Yeah," John said, squeezing Rodney's hand. "We're good."

"Good. So, now if you wanted to pin me up against the wall and ravish me, that'd be just fine."

John grinned at him.

Wolfishly, even.

And did just that.

***

John spent a lot of time thinking about the Wraith and discussing them with Elizabeth. She figured that the myths of vampires on Earth must come from the Ancients--an ingrained fear left behind in all the humans who remained.

Agreeing to all of this sometimes seemed like a bad idea. He even considered telling General O'Neill just that. On the other hand, he thought as he curled closer against Rodney--he wouldn't have this. He'd still be a lone wolf among the greater pack. All alone in a crowd.

***

"Rodney?" Elizabeth appeared before him. It was very late, and the mess was more or less deserted, save for Rodney, his blue jell-o, and his laptop. "May I join you?"

"Of course," Rodney said, pushing his computer a little out of the way. "Have a seat."

She sat down across from him. "John's been avoiding me," she said.

Rodney frowned. "He has?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Something tells me it has to do with what happened while we were..." Possessed? Hijacked by alien entities? "Inhabited."

"Ah," Rodney said. "Yes. That was really a lot of fun for everyone."

"Rodney, I don't need you giving me the cold shoulder, too," Elizabeth said, finally allowing her exasperation through. "You're not a wolf."

"Not when I last checked, no," Rodney said, reaching for his Jell-o. Although honestly, if John didn't lay off the biting...

Elizabeth tilted her head to the side for a moment, regarding Rodney. And then her eyes widened in surprise. "This isn't about him. It's about you," she said. "He's upset because you're upset."

Rodney sucked at lying. "Am not!" He tried anyway.

"Yes you are. And your mood is affecting his."

"I'm sure that's not true." Oh, liar liar, flaming underpants.

"Rodney. We've known each other two years now. I know when you're lying. Remember how you're not very good at it?"

He scowled. "Oh, fine."

"We're still friends, aren't we?"

"Of course we are," Rodney said. "I'm just... I'm small, and I'm petty, and I'd like it if every time we get attacked by aliens, he didn't end up sucking face with someone. I really, truly don't think that's too much to ask. When it's me, I end up terrified and trying not to pee my pants, and I get Kolya, but not him."

"Kolya certainly isn't a fair trade, no," Elizabeth agreed. "But, Rodney, you're taking it out on me. And so is he."

He sighed loudly. "And that isn't fair, is it?"

"No. So I think there are two options. We talk about it, or I turn you into a rat until you learn how to play nice again." She smiled, dimples and all.

Rodney looked nervous. "Hey... I asked Carson to turn Kavanagh into an invertebrate dozens of times and he never would."

"That's because you asked."

"How is it more ethical to turn me into a rat?"

"Because I'm not doing it for someone else."

"Well, if you ask me, that's cheating," Rodney muttered.

"Probably," she admitted. "So. Do we deal, or do I make you small and furry for a while? That would probably really annoy John..."

"Or he might eat me, and then you might have to deal with him," Rodney pointed out.

"So I think the rat thing is out of the question."

"I think I can learn to behave. And stop being a jerk."

"It wasn't your John, Rodney. And it wasn't me. They used us." Elizabeth reached out for his hand. "I need the two of you back to normal."

"I know," Rodney said, taking a deep breath. "Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I apologize."

She squeezed his hand. "I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you sometimes."

Rodney sighed. "Don't make fun of me, Elizabeth, please? I know I can be ridiculous," he said.

"I'm not making fun."

He looked up at her, almost like he wasn't sure he could believe her.

"Rodney," she said, "did you have many male lovers before John?"

His cheeks went a little pink, and he shook his head. "Not in the sense you mean, no."

"And now here you are, in an alien galaxy, surrounded by witches and wolves and a few others, hunted by the vampires we never thought were real, and you're the mate of the Alpha male wolf. How am we doing so far?"

He squirmed. "Well, when you put it like that...."

Elizabeth looked thoughtful. "I wonder if Dr Heightmeyer has some time available for you..."

"No--no, no, no, no, no," Rodney said, shaking his head furiously. "I'll be fine. Last time I had to see her, I ended up kissing Carson, and that made things very uncomfortable for awhile."

"Yes. Yes, it really did. I had to hear about it. Lieutenant Cadman wanted to transfer back to Earth."

"Well she might have thought about that before she bodyjacked me to kiss the local he-witch."

"Her Alpha wasn't very pleased, either."

"True," Rodney said. "So... are we all right?"

"Of course we are."

"Okay. I'll let John off the hook."

"Thank you, Rodney. And me?"

"You I already forgave," he said. "It's not your fault that John is irresistible."

She laughed. "Alphas are like that sometimes, you know."

"Nothing about my life has been normal since I met any of you, you know that?" Rodney said ruefully. "Good thing you're all worth it." Then before anyone could point out that he'd actually said something complimentary, he was getting up and getting ready to leave.

"Rodney," Elizabeth called out, "take care of him."

She knew he intended to, but it felt nice to say. She didn't need the city's Alpha to be so unbalanced.

***

John had already lost one second. He wasn't going to lose another.

He knew instantly that those remains did not belong to Lorne and his team. Lorne was alive--he was going to do everything in his power to save him.

***

"Teyla." John caught up with her. "Can I...?" He nodded in the direction of a room he was pretty sure was empty right now.

"Yes, of course," Teyla said, nodding as well.

He led her inside and the door slid shut behind them. This was awkward. "Listen. Uh. About Lorne."

Teyla's face gave nothing away. "Yes?"

"It's good he's not actually dead," John said, a bit gruffly. "And we're gonna get him back."

"Yes," Teyla said, a hint of a shadow crossing her face. "I know that we will. Your people don't leave their own behind."

"Hey," he said, gently. He really wasn't good at this. This was why he had a second--but his second was missing. "It's gonna be okay. You're not going to lose him."

She met his eyes, and this time, she let the fear that she was hiding show. "John?"

"Yes, Teyla?"

"You know."

"I might miss a lot--that's why I need a second--but I can still smell him on you. And you on him. I don't disapprove."

She looked away, needing the moment to compose herself. "I am not used to talking about my private life. I never have been," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Well, he didn't tell me, either. I'm sure you had a reason for keeping it to yourselves."

"There are people who are still uncomfortable with my presence on Atlantis," Teyla said bluntly. "For me to be involved with your second... for it to be an actual relationship... there are people who will not approve."

"That's true," John said. "Prudence only makes sense."

"Still. I should have told you," Teyla said. "And I should not have asked Evan... Major Lorne to keep it a secret." Her voice only wavered the slightest bit on his name. For Teyla, that might as well be breaking down and crying.

"No, you shouldn't have. But it wasn't a secret. Not from me." He put his hands on her shoulders. "We'll bring him home. I promise."

She nodded and leaned her head forward, gathering strength from him. "Thank you," she said, very softly.

***

The Genii just kept on making his life difficult. It made John cranky, especially the part where they were developing various chemicals that could seriously hinder a wolf's ability to, well, wolf.

(Could one use 'wolf' as a verb? John decided that he could.)

***

The first time that Lorne's relationship with Teyla caused trouble was when they tested the retrovirus. John had to take his second down to the floor. He'd never had to do that before, but Lorne's anger and jealousy over the amount of time Teyla spent with Michael became a problem.

The only time John wasn't sure he could keep up the charade was when Michael had wistfully commented to him that he was disappointed to discover he wasn't a werewolf.

Were-space-vampire-wolf? No. Thank. You.

Later, he figured the universe was going to have "I told you so" rights for what they'd done to Michael.

Even later, he might have almost, maybe, considered rescinding that thought when Michael helped him rescue Ronon and Rodney. Maybe for just a few minutes. Or a moment. A very short moment.

Nobody said it out loud, because nobody likes admitting to mistakes, but the retrovirus was a really bad idea.

***

John's relationship with Rodney was a series of events that could be labelled 'trouble', even if the events weren't exactly their fault or even had anything to do with their relationship. It was the way of life for them that sometimes, events spiralled and spiralled before they concluded.

But finally, John and Rodney had some time to breathe. Shower first. Rodney still smelled of Wraith and John couldn't stand it. For once, Rodney hadn't protested being told what to do. The shower felt amazing, like they were both letting all the stress and fear and panic just wash away. He was safe. He was here, with John. They were both still alive.

And then the old familiar routine: he pushed Rodney against the wall and buried his face against Rodney's neck. The growl he let out was one of intense pleasure. "Mine," he mumbled against Rodney's skin.

Rodney sighed, tilting his head back. No fighting this time. "Yours," he said immediately.

John pulled Rodney back away from the wall and urged him across the room. They shed their clothes along the way. "They tried to take you away from me," he said.

"I'm fairly certain that at some point I told them that was a very stupid thing to do," Rodney said.

"I made them regret it." John was terribly proud of himself. The wolf was a little more in control right now. He shoved Rodney down onto the bed and covered his body with his own. "They hurt me. I hurt them." He licked Rodney's neck.

"I'm a little turned on by that, and I'm not sure if I'm happy about that, or disturbed by it," Rodney admitted, gasping.

"I can tell," John mumbled, biting at Rodney's shoulder. He alternated now, marking one, then the other once that bruise had healed. He worried at the soft, pale skin with teeth and tongue, sucked until the mark raised, and he lifted his head and admired his work with a smile.

"Animal," Rodney murmured, smiling at him.

John licked his lips. "You want me that way."

"As it happens, yes I do," Rodney admitted. "Make me forget."

John growled, shuddering all over from those words. His mouth worked its way down over Rodney's body, licking, nipping, kissing. His teeth scraped over Rodney's hip. The smell of him was overwhelming John's senses now. He took Rodney's cock in his mouth, moaned around him, and pushed him down onto the mattress.

Rodney let out a shout at the first touch of John's mouth, trying to buck up against him. Not the easiest thing to do when you're pinned down by a werewolf.

John had taken a few human lovers in his lifetime, but Rodney? He was so responsive. John sucked hard on him, wanting his pleasure. All of it. Everything that Rodney had to give him. Rodney babbled John's name, grasped at his shoulders, squirmed, and tried to move. It was. Not. Happening. Not unless John let it happen. And when John let it happen, it was so that he could allow Rodney to move when he lifted his head and said, "Lube."

Rodney moved. Rodney moved fast. He all but threw the lube at John in his haste to get over, and get his ass up in the air.

Oh, well, when Rodney put it like that. John set the lube down and pressed in close behind Rodney, spread him open wide, and dragged his tongue along Rodney's crease. He moaned, and licked him again and again and again.

Rodney was rapidly losing his mind, and it was all John's fault. He let out a strangled sound, shoving back against him, spreading his legs wider still. He pleaded, he begged, he lifted his ass up as high as he could get it, and did everything he possibly could to encourage John to give him more, more, more. Always more.

John reached blindly for the lube. And just as he pulled away from Rodney, he pushed a finger inside him. Rodney was tight. Hot. John growled. He'd make this good for both of them, of course he would, but damn if Rodney didn't shatter his control sometimes.

Rodney practically wailed when John's finger pushed inside. He shoving back against it, all greed and need and desperation.

Another growl. John pressed in a second finger, his free hand rubbing over the small of Rodney's back. "Shh," he soothed--as much for Rodney's benefit as his own. "Soon. I promise, soon."

"Soon... please, please, soon," Rodney murmured, tensing around John's fingers.

John still hadn't managed to figure out how to make the one-handed act of getting the lube open and his cock slicked effortless. Soon enough, though, he pressed up close behind Rodney again. Close as he could get, and pushed inside him. Slow, deliberate, barely daring to breathe. He fell still; pulled back, then pushed inside again.

Rodney was out of words as soon as John pushed inside, not that it meant he went quiet. Not even close. He keened wordlessly, ass high, ready for anything, and John grinned. He didn't take it easy on Rodney. He tried, he really did, but that tenuous grasp on his control was gone. He gripped Rodney's hips, tight, knew he'd leave bruises. Fucked him hard. Thrust into him again and again, groaned, growled, licked the sweat from Rodney's back.

John suspected that if Rodney had the breath to say it, he'd be calling John an animal. Right then, all he could do was take it. And moan like a--John wouldn't think it. Rodney might yell. But still: Rodney sounded amazing. Every noise that came up out of him made John wonder, sometimes, if Rodney sounded like that because he knew what it did to John. And then other times, it was so damn perfect he didn't care one way or the other. All he knew was that Rodney was his. Taking everything he could give.

One hand finally let go of Rodney's hip and moved under his body, found his cock, stroked him off. He wanted every last drop of Rodney's pleasure. Rodney shoved back hard and clawed at the bed. John couldn't hold out much longer, but he wanted Rodney to come first. He was stubborn that way. Well, he was stubborn in a lot of ways.

And it didn't last. There was no way, not after being separated from Rodney like this. The same thing had happened after that whole botched affair with Ford and the enzyme and the hive ship. John had fucked Rodney like this--just as hard, just as desperate, and that time, John had come first, too.

He howled through his release, head back, eyes squeezed shut, his one hand digging hard into Rodney's hip. The other kept moving until he felt Rodney's cock pulsing over it. He panted desperately for breath. It took everything in him not to collapse on top of Rodney. He withdrew from him, carefully as he could, and then collapsed. Next to him, arm over Rodney's back, taking Rodney down to the mattress with him.

Rodney just grunted when John pulled him down, landing in an undignified heap.

Mine. John couldn't talk right now, but he hoped Rodney felt it. Love and possession and devotion. Loyalty.

Everything.

***

John received a very interesting e-mail from Carson one morning, which contained a PDF file of a paper he had completed. There was growing evidence that there was a connection between werewolves, witches, other fae, and the ATA gene.

Not all people who had the ATA gene were any of the above; not everyone who was werewolf, witch, or fae, had the ATA gene. But there was significant overlap. Some ordinary humans who had the ATA gene were descendants of someone from the 'other' community.

The ATA gene therapy was successful in less than half of the people inoculated; however, in those people were the therapy worked, it turned out that a fair number of them knew that they had a werewolf, witch, or other fae in their ancestry.

Carson didn't have to spell it out. He was delicate that way. But John spun in his desk chair and regarded Rodney, who was still fast asleep in bed.

People who had ancestors who had been other-than-human were more likely to be able to survive the werewolf metamorphosis.

The ATA gene therapy had worked for Rodney.

Rodney might survive. All he had to do was ask.

***

Not for the first time, and probably not for the last time, John was grateful that being Alpha granted him what could only be described as magic powers. Nothing tangible; nothing he could do on purpose, but it allowed him to do things like resist creepy Lucius and his creepitude. It did not, however, allow even powerful witches or, for instance, his beta from resisting what really ought be resisted. He never, ever needed to see Lorne giving a man flowers with that look of adoration on his face. It was just downright disturbing, and besides, it hurt Teyla's feelings, even if she wouldn't admit it.

John needed a witch. Radek wasn't powerful enough; Elizabeth was a little too close to Lucius. So John kidnapped Carson.

They'd had a plan. It was a good plan. It was a wonderful plan.

Carson, however, was deeply annoyed by the whole situation. In fact, John might say he was downright pissed off. He turned Lucius into a frog. John had never been so proud of Carson in his life. He could have kissed him right on the mouth.

He wondered, for a few minutes, whether or not Elizabeth actually did, but John tried not to spend much time dwelling on the intimate lives of witches.

He loudly and repeatedly denied to Rodney that he had now, or ever had in the past, a crush on Carson and his dimples.

***

While it was traditionally an Alpha's decision, being in the military, and their unique situation, John couldn't turn someone without rather a lot of red tape. First, he had to talk to Lorne. And then he and Lorne needed to inform the pack. Deal with anyone who really didn't want an outsider brought in.

Then he had to sit down with the highest ranking people of the expedition. He sat in the conference room with Elizabeth, Rodney, Carson, Lorne, Teyla, and invited Dr Heightmeyer, just to cover all of his bases.

"I think it was being back on Sateda that cemented the decision for him," John explained. "Ronon's been with us a year, but now Atlantis is home. And he wants me to try. I'm confident that he'd survive."

"You can't be certain though," Dr Heightmeyer pointed out. "You don't know that he'll make it."

"They can never know," Rodney said. "It's becoming a werewolf, not pledging a fraternity."

"Ronon is... insistent. I think he's going to continue to be insistent. I don't want to lose him. He's valuable to us." And he was John's friend. John never had many of those, even before he was a wolf. "It's what he wants. And something tells me he's wanted it the entire time he's been here."

"He's already seen as an unofficial wolf," Lorne pointed out. "And Colonel Sheppard's never actually chosen a third. Ronon would make an excellent choice."

"I agree," Teyla said, and although she was echoing Lorne, she certainly wasn't agreeing because he had. "Ronon's people are gone. To him, your people, and Atlantis itself, represent a cause worth fighting for. A people worth aligning himself with. I would not turn him away."

"I just wish you could be more certain that he'd survive," Elizabeth said.

"There's never certainty," John said. "Just instinct."

Elizabeth nodded slowly. "If it's what he really wants, and it's what you want, Colonel, I won't stop you."

"Thank you," John said. "It'll be a good idea to have as much privacy as possible. We'll take one of the uninhabited parts of the city. Most of the pack will want to be there."

"I'll make myself available for the day," Dr Heightmeyer said. She didn't like it, but she wasn't military... and this wasn't her choice. "In case anyone needs me, before or after."

"John... is it only the pack who can be there?" Teyla asked, looking at him. "If I would not be a distraction, I'd like to be present."

"Thank you, Doctor," John said, nodding to Heightmeyer, and then he turned to Teyla. "It's not that others aren't allowed, but Ronon has to invite you himself. I wouldn't be surprised if you and Rodney at least get asked, and probably Elizabeth and Carson, too."

Rodney looked nervous, but stubborn at the same time. If Ronon asked him, he'd find a way to attend.

"Thank you," Teyla said. "If he asks, I'll be honoured to be there."

***

About a week later, Ronon stopped Teyla and Rodney from leaving the conference room after a briefing with Elizabeth. They'd been attacked by a Wraith scouting party on a planet they were exploring, and John had fought them as a wolf--and taken a lot of abuse. He was still in the infirmary.

"I'd like you both to be there," Ronon said. "When the time comes. When Sheppard's ready, I'll be ready."

"Thank you for asking us," Teyla said, looking up at Ronon. "I'll be there."

"So will I," Rodney said. "I've never been particularly good with violence and... you know, all that, so I might look away when it gets particularly... well. You know. But I'll be there."

"Thank you," Ronon said, a little gruffly. "That's important to me." He clapped Rodney hard on the shoulder. "You're both pack already, anyway."

Rodney staggered a bit when Ronon's hand came down across his shoulder, but he did smile. "I suppose that's true, isn't it?"

"You've both been accepted. And now it's my turn."

"Just so you know... you're already accepted," Rodney said. "I'm not going to try and talk you out of it, but you should know that."

That got one of Ronon's smiles. A big one. "Thanks, McKay." He clapped Rodney on the shoulder again. "I'm gonna go check on Sheppard. Coming?"

Another stagger forward. "I think so, yeah. Teyla?"

"Give him my best... I need to go see Lorne," she said. "I'll be there later."

***

The black wolf padded into the room last. John had shed his clothes in the corridor, folded them carefully, and then made the change before he stepped inside. The whole pack was there, some as wolves, some as human. And Rodney, Teyla, Elizabeth, and Carson. And Ronon, right in the middle of them. Shirtless, barefoot, he stood ready.

John wasn't sure he was as ready as any of the rest of them. He was not in any way prepared to lose Ronon.

Ronon was still, silent, and waiting. Prepared. He locked eyes with the black wolf for a moment--but just a moment. He looked down, signalling his submission.

He'd been studying.

John approached Ronon with purpose. And then he attacked.

Rodney was pale; white as a sheet, actually. He wanted to be here, because it felt like the right thing to do--to support John, whatever happened, and to support Ronon... also whatever happened.

He just desperately hoped that 1) it went well, and 2) he didn't throw up on the floor.

The mate of the Alpha really wasn't supposed to throw up on the floor in front of the whole pack.

Rodney and Teyla had both seen John fight as a wolf. This was just as savage, just as brutal--but this was Ronon, not some nameless Wraith hell-bent on killing them. And for once, Ronon wasn't exactly quiet about the pain he endured.

And then suddenly it was silent. Ronon lay sprawled on the ground and John sat back on his haunches. Everyone in the room was so quiet that it was like no one was breathing. All they could do was wait. The only clear sounds in the room came from Ronon, still lying prone on the floor.

And then Ronon just stopped. Lorne stepped forward, crouched down next to John, and said, softly, "C'mon, Ronon. C'mon. You can do this."

Teyla's fingers dug in deeply against Rodney's arm, her lips moving, but no sound coming out. Elizabeth and Carson had clasped hands but weren't doing anything particularly witchy; it wouldn't help anyway.

"Don't you dare," Rodney said, voice low. "Don't you dare give up on us, Ronon."

The wounds started to close. It seemed to take forever. And then Ronon's entire body jerked, arched off the ground, as he sucked in a ragged and desperate gasp of air. Lorne helped him roll onto his side as the entire room breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The change was slow and sounded as though it was as agonising as the savaging had been. But then there it was--a magnificent, beautiful wolf. He rested his head on his paws, eyes closed, panting. He didn't even move when his Alpha started to lick his face.

Rodney didn't relax until the moment that Ronon completed his change, letting out a sigh so big and loud it probably took half the air out of the building. "Oh thank God. If he'd died, I would have killed him."


| Chapter 5 |