Chapter Text
“Sheppard you old dog!” the newcomer boomed gleefully.
“Who’re you calling old, Grandpa?” Sheppard shot back, grinning as he looked up from the report he was reading.
This man was Maxwell Attenbury, an old friend of his father’s, who had gotten him interested in the Air Force all those years back with his reminiscing about what flying felt like to him. John had been surprised to receive an email from him once a connection had been established with Earth; informing him the older man had been working for the IOA for the past several years, and had actually backed Elizabeth when she had John’s SGC clearance fast-tracked so that he could go to Atlantis. They had traded emails back and forth over the years, so John was pleased when he found out that some of the IOA higher ups would be paying the city a visit and more specifically that Maxwell was to be one of them.
“Don’t try to play coy with me boy. I saw the way you and McKay were eyefucking during our little meet-and-greet,” the older man leered as he dropped into a chair opposite John. When all John could do was stare at the other man in alarm as blood rushed to his cheeks, Maxwell laughed raucously and then said in wonder; “You’re actually fuckin’ him, who would’a thought.”
John opened his mouth to refute the other’s claim but decided against it, he had too much respect for Maxwell and therefore could not lie about this. Rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, he could only manage a mumble in the affirmative.
Maxwell grinned at the younger man, amused by his discomfort. “It must be the Stargate; makin’ the military man fuck his scientist; O’Neill and Jackson, you and McKay . . . I wonder if Young and Rush are at it?” They both immediately dismissed the notion, knowing the two men could not stand the other. ”Except of course, with Jack and Daniel it’s love,” he concluded as he recalled seeing the two men reunite after Daniel was once again, mistakenly, declared dead.
“I love Rodney,” It was said with so much conviction that Maxwell could not dispute it as anything other than the truth.
“I apologise John, I did not realise that you were in love.” And now that the older man thought about it, John had had that same soft look on his face as he had watched McKay leave the conference room, as the day he watched Nancy walk up the aisle towards him.
“Not in love with him, I love him. I think that’s the right one,” John tilted his head as he thought about it, shrugging as he continued. “Whichever one means that I want to spend the rest of my life with him by my side.”
“Huh. Doctor Rodney McKay. The genius with no social tact and an ego so big two universes cannot contain it. Although I will admit he has an interesting mouth and a fantastic looking arse!”
Maxwell chuckled at the scandalised look John directed his way, before John burst out laughing. “While it may only look fantastic, Rodney has the most un-fucking-believably awesome ass ever! And the things that man can do with his mouth? Should be outlawed throughout the galaxy.”
They grinned at each other; Maxwell glad to see John this happy, and John glad he could talk about this with someone who would know just how much Rodney means to him. Sobering up John continued, “Seriously though, yes he comes across as arrogant and egotistical but he uses that to protect himself.” His eyes grew distant as he thought about the other man, the smile on his face soft and content.
“Rodney is all of the best things; brilliant, resourceful, loyal, protective, courageous, fucking gorgeous . . . and he wants to be with me! Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am to have him,” Here, John’s gaze drops to the desk before him and he flushes. “He makes me feel like I am worth something again, like I’m not a failure anymore, like I could do anything as long as he is by my side.” The blush darkens but he looks up to catch the older man’s eyes, “I love him Maxwell, more than I ever thought possible and I’d do whatever it takes to keep him safe; even if it meant sacrificing myself, the people of Atlantis or the city itself.”
Maxwell leaned forward and placed his hand on one of John’s, giving it a brief squeeze, unable to think of something appropriate to say.
---
Hidden out of sight but within earshot, Rodney; who had been distractedly making his way to John’s office unaware of the man a few steps ahead of him, scrubbed at his moist eyes. He had not meant to stay and listen to the entire conversation but found that he could not move away and had heard everything.
John loved him!
Since the first time they had tumbled into bed together, he had been convinced that it was just a ‘buddies with benefits’ kind of thing. That someone like John could never love someone like him. But now he knew differently . . .
Silently slinking away, Rodney racked his brain for a way to show John that his love was returned.