Author:
velocitygrassPairing: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay
Rating: PG
Warnings/Content notes: (skip) None that I'm aware of
Word count: 1193
Summary: John had learned that when Rodney was working in his lab, it was hard to get his attention.
Override
John had learned that when Rodney was working in his lab, it was hard to get his attention. Or rather, it wasn't so much hard as that it usually required to be annoying until Rodney snapped. Which was fun in and of itself, but the result was a seriously pissed off Rodney, which, again, wasn't necessarily a bad thing—since John happened to find a pissed off Rodney incredibly sexy—but sometimes John just wanted to get Rodney to stop working and pay attention to him.
With all attempts—and there had been many—unsuccessful, John had to wait for something like divine intervention—or rather Czech when Radek one day pointed him to Rodney's whereabouts, saying, "He's locked himself in his lab."
John's eyes widened. "Is something up? Did something happen?"
Radek looked at him strangely. "No," he said. "He does this sometimes to work in peace. Keep out the morons, he says."
Since Radek sounded entirely unconcerned, John relaxed. He thanked Radek and made his way to Rodney's lab.
The thing was, he'd never found Rodney's lab locked. Ever. (Except for that one time early on when the whole city had gone into lockdown.) And he dropped by frequently to pick him up for dinner or lunch or other activities (the latter more frequently and persistently since they'd gotten together).
Standing in front of Rodney's lab now, he wondered if that had been a string of good luck or... He waved his hand over the sensor and the door opened without hesitation.
Rodney was hunched over his desk, not reacting at all, even when John came closer. "Hey," John said, but Rodney only made a generic noise which might or might not have been directed at him. "Radek told me you'd locked yourself in your lab."
"Uhuh," Rodney said. John wasn't sure if that meant Rodney had listened or just that he had heard someone was talking.
"So I came to check on you in your locked lab," John continued.
"Uhuh," Rodney said again, still not turning away from the screen.
"And, as you can see, managed to enter. The locked lab," John went on.
This time Rodney only hmmmed and typed something.
"Rodney?"
"Uhuh."
"How come I can enter your locked lab?" Maybe it was time to bring out the big guns. Questions that couldn't be answered with yes or no or "Uhuh."
Rodney didn't react all, instead typing away.
"Rodney!"
Rodney finally turned to look at him. "What?" he asked forcefully and pissed off.
"Radek said you'd locked yourself in your lab."
"Yes. The point of which was to work in peace in case you were wondering," Rodney said sarcastically.
"Why am I here?" John asked.
"Well, if you don't know, how should I? But it can be easily solved by you taking the same way back." He pointed at the door and was ready to turn around again, but John stopped him, putting a hand on the back of his chair.
"Why could I enter the locked lab?" John asked, hoping that Rodney couldn't not get it this time.
"Obviously because it's not locked to you," Rodney said, seemingly only barely not rolling his eyes.
"And you're not surprised by this because...?" John prompted.
"There is no reason for me to be surprised by something I programmed into the door. You're particularly dense, today, Sheppard."
John huffed. Then he realized what Rodney had said. "You programmed the door to let me in even if you lock it," he said, a wide smile creeping onto his face.
"Yes, and I'm beginning to regret it. If that was your intention, congratulations, you're almost there."
"You'll let me in even if everyone else is locked out," John said, warming more and more to the idea.
This time Rodney rolled his eyes for real. "It's not like that. I just wanted to make sure that nobody could break into the lab and lock us out. So there's an override for me and you and Ronon and Teyla. I figured those gave me a good chance to be reachable just in case. So it's not just you. And with them I didn't have to think twice. They never barge in here unannounced."
"But you know I do and still..." John didn't want to let go of the idea that it was somehow a romantic gesture, actually one of trust, but since they'd gotten together it all fell into the big package where Rodney loved him, which made John smile.
"Yes, still, though I'm rapidly beginning to change my mind. You know, the many things I do to prove my unending love and devotion to you? This is not one of them," Rodney said, slightly exasperated.
John mock-pouted. He knew that he shouldn't complain. Rodney did prove his love and devotion through words and gestures and things like voluntarily athleticism in form of amazing sex and sharing the last cupcakes.
"And I do really have to work," Rodney added, making John's lip protrude even further.
"See you later?" John asked, knowing that Rodney wouldn't send him away like this if he didn't have to.
"Yes," Rodney sighed. "It might be late."
"Okay," John said. He looked at the door and risked a quick peck to Rodney's lips.
Rodney gave him a small smile then turned back to his work.
John let him work but ideas formed with this new information in mind.
~~
It was several days later when Rodney had agreed to join John after "just another hour, Sheppard". Which had been about one and a half hours ago and also, John knew that this wasn't anything important. Armed with the knowledge that Rodney was keeping the minions and other potential disturbers out, John entered the lab.
Rodney lifted his hand, not turning around. "Just a moment. Give me ten minutes or so and I'll be with you."
John snorted inwardly. He knew Rodney's "ten minutes". He watched Rodney type and stare at the screen for a minute then quietly started unbuttoning his shirt and fly. He didn't actually pull off his clothes and waited for another minute.
"This is... I'm almost done. Really," Rodney said, still not looking at John.
"Uhuh," John said agreeably. Then he pushed himself up on the desk and moved backwards before sprawling sideways, head propped on his hand, the halves of his shirt hanging loose and the fly of his BDUs open so that Rodney could see his low-riding boxer shorts.
Rodney's eyes got bigger and bigger as they moved from John's head down his body to his boots and back up, finally coming to focus on the patch of skin above the hem of his boxers.
Yep, he'd always known he could get Rodney's attention if he was allowed to really try.
"So, what you're working on..." John prompted with a smile on his face.
"What?" Rodney asked, only hesitantly tearing his eyes away and up to John's face.
"I thought so," John said, pushing the keyboard aside and swinging his legs over until he was sitting opposite Rodney, knees spread wide enough to pull Rodney between them and into a kiss. "Let's go."