thegrrrl2002 | New Fic: Yes We Can

thegrrrl2002

Title: Yes We Can
Fandom: SGA, John/Rodney
Word Count: ~2000
Notes: For

sheafrotherdon's The Friendship / Flirting / Thinking of You Fest. Of course, I didn't use the proper someecards.com card because I went with a Valentine's Day card as a prompt. I SO cannot follow directions! Sorry about that!

"There you are," Rodney said, finding John uncharacteristically hunched over a laptop in the control room. "I thought we were having lunch?"

John raised his head, blinking, as if surprised to see Rodney in front of him. "Oh. Hiya Rodney."

"Oh god. Not again." Rodney rubbed the center his forehead, right where it was beginning to throb. He was hungry, damn it, and had just spent twenty minutes tracking John down. "What is with you?"

"He was speaking about the economy." John leaned back to reveal the new president of the United States on his computer screen. Looking, Rodney had to admit, very presidential.

"And that affects us here how?" Rodney scowled at John, who only grew even more beatific.

"He's really smart." John gazed adoringly back down at the computer screen.

"Yes, yes, so I've heard. Multisyllabic words and everything."

"Exactly." John nodded, dark hair bobbing. "He's eloquent."

"A tremendous improvement over his dubiously-qualified predecessor," Rodney said, chin lifting. He could be multisyllabic, too. "Now come on, I'm starving."

"About that." Glancing down at his watch, John said, "I have a meeting with Lorne in five minutes. Have to take a rain check."

"And you couldn't tell me this earlier? Before my hunger reached epic proportions?"

"Got distracted." John reached out to close the laptop, only to hesitate when the camera moved to focus on the First Lady. "You know, she's totally--"

"Awesome, yes, I know; you may have mentioned that a few thousand times."

"And they're--"

"Very much in love, yes, so it appears. And yes, the yellow sparkly coat she wore at the inauguration was 'awesome'." Rodney rolled his eyes for good measure, but John didn't even notice. He was too busy gawking at the computer screen. Rodney had to sigh loudly to even get John to remember he was there. "I guess I'll go get lunch by myself. All alone."

"Uh huh." John nodded, completely unmoved by Rodney's sad plight.

Shrugging, Rodney took a step toward the stairs. "Fine. See you later."

"Hey, wait up," John said, finally tearing himself away from the computer.

"What, not staying to listen to the question and answering period?" Rodney couldn't help asking.

"Please, don't get me started on the White House press corps." John fell in step beside Rodney as they made their way down the stairs. "They're..." John wrinkled his brow thoughtfully. "Totally stupid," he finally finished.

"Yes, they are," Rodney agreed.

They dodged a fully geared gate team heading toward the gate. "Have fun, Rodriguez," John said, waving to the team leader. "Hey," he said to Rodney, as the gate began dialing. "Wouldn't it be cool if the president came here to visit?"

"No," Rodney snapped. "It wouldn't be. It would be a national security nightmare. Even if he wanted to, they would never let him. A small matter of the war against the wraith? Remember that?"

"What if we had a whole bunch of ZPMs, and he could come right through the gate and then zip back again if anything happened?"

Jesus. John was serious. "I don't think so."

"He's already toured the SGC," John added, looking mournful. "I can't believe they didn't tell us ahead of time. I could have been there."

Rodney rubbed his forehead again. The throbbing was getting stronger. "I really need to eat something."

"You're a genius, or so you keep telling me," John pointed out. "You would be able to make it completely safe for him to visit."

"Well, yes. Maybe. If I had ten ZPMs," Rodney said. "No, make that twelve."

"That would be totally cool." They came to a halt in front of the transporter. John waved his hand in front of the control, opening the doors. "See you later, Rodney."

"Just tell me one thing," Rodney insisted. "What is it with you and this hero worship for the man? Aren't you the one who is always raging against 'the man'?"

John drew himself up, indignant. "He's a different kind of man, Rodney. And he's going to change things. For the better."

There was something about the intensity of John's statement that made Rodney wonder if he was missing something. Something important. "Fine. But let me just say that your--your man crush on President Obama is down right disturbing."

John stepped into the transporter. "I do not have a man crush," he said, turning to select his destination. "At least, not on the president," he added quickly. Then he touched a finger to the screen.

"What? Who?" Rodney asked, startled, but it was too late, the transporter doors were closing in his face. "Sheppard--"

Rodney reached for his radio, then stopped. It probably wasn't a good idea to to contact John over a public frequency and demand to know who John actually had a man crush on. But still--John? A man crush?

Rodney shook his head. "Ah, the teasing," he said to the door. "Very funny, Sheppard."

And he headed off to the mess for lunch.

***

Later that evening, Rodney caught up to John in the corridor. "Hey, Sheppard--hey," he said, matching John's stride. "Ready to run the cars? I finished repairing the drive train on the Roadster and it's ready to roll. Very fast, I might add. Rolling."

And maybe souped it up some, too. He was so going to leave John in the dust.

"Sure, Rodney." John tugged Rodney's arm. "But first--he's going to be on soon."

"What? Oh, not--"

"This time he's addressing us. Personally." And John's face had that glowy look all over again. "They're sending it in the data burst. Transmission starts in a few minutes."

"Fine, fine." Rodney waved a hand. "I'll meet you down there, then."

"Rodney." John stopped short. "Aren't you going to watch with me?"

If Rodney wasn't mistaken, John's expression had turned downright sulky.

"Um," Rodney said, oddly touched. "Okay. I suppose."

"Good." John grinned. "Come on, they have a big screen set up in the main viewing room."

And John practically bounced down the hall. John, lazy John who normally slouched and strolled so slowly it was as if he didn't care whether he actually got to where he was heading.

"You're freaking me out here," Rodney said, hurrying to keep up.

"Huh?" John frowned at him, then brightened. "Oh look, there's a couple seats right up front."

The transmission had already begun, the screen showing the SGC logo. John sat and pulled Rodney down next to him. He remained perched on the edge of his seat, leaning forward, gazing up at the screen.

Rodney shook his head in disbelief.

The screen switched to the presidential seal, and General Laundry's voice came over, introducing the President of the United States.

Rodney watched. And listened. Okay, so when the president admitted with a sheepish grin that he could barely believe that he was speaking to people in another galaxy, it's entirely possible that Rodney grinned back at him. And when the president talked about the best and the brightest and amazing achievements Rodney was pretty sure Obama was speaking directly to him, because yes, Rodney was the best and the brightest, and he had achieved some pretty amazing things, thank you very much.

After the president signed off, spontaneous applause arose. Rodney lifted his hands, then put them down, because it was a recording, for god's sake, and it wasn't like the man could hear them.

John nudged him with an elbow as he applauded. "Cool, huh?"

Rodney nodded, convinced that the war with the Wraith would soon end, and all the people in the Pegasus galaxy would be saved, alien technology would solve global warming back on Earth, and end world hunger, too. And maybe usher in a new era of prosperity for everyone.

Then he shook his head. "That's crazy."

"What?" John asked.

"I feel..." Rodney thought it over. "Hopeful?"

John squeezed Rodney's thigh, his hand warm and heavy. "See?"

"It's--it's--unsettling." Rodney stared at the hand on his thigh. "But not so bad, I suppose." Not when it made John so happy and hopeful and...touchy feely.

It was kind of nice.

"Come on," John said. "Let's go get those cars. I'm feeling hopeful, too, that you're going to eat my dust."

They stopped at Rodney's room first and Rodney quickly headed for his car, hoping John wouldn't notice the modifications to his Lamborghini Roadster--enhancements to the low end torque were barely visible, but the tiny naquadah generator took up more room than the battery pack and he had had to modify the body panels to make it fit. Just a bit.

"So," Rodney said as John cocked his head and eyed the roadster in his hands. "'fess up, what's this about a man crush?"

John's demeanor changed, from bouncy to awkward in an instant. He stepped back, stuffed his hands in his pockets, shrugged with one overly nonchalant shoulder, and turned to examine Rodney's wall of diplomas and photos. "Hey, is that a new picture of Jeannie?"

"Ah," Rodney said, intrigued. Maybe John hadn't been joking with him. "Misdirection. Very clever of you. Come on now, tell me." He snapped his fingers.

"Madison is looking very grown up," John continued, his back still to Rodney.

Puzzled now, Rodney put the car down. "Sheppard?"

"Hey, come on, we should go."

When John turned to leave Rodney stepped directly in front of him, blocking his way.

"What?" John asked, glancing up at Rodney's face before ducking his head to examine the tops of his shoes.

"You," Rodney said, pointing a finger at John, "have a man crush."

"Maybe." John twisted his foot and stared, as if the edge of his boot was particularly fascinating.

This was all getting even more interesting. "Who?" Rodney demanded.

John lifted his head, contemplated Rodney for a moment, then leaned forward. Rodney figured it out a second before it happened, that John was going to kiss him, and then John did, pressing his lips to Rodney's in a soft, slow kiss.

When John tried to pull back Rodney grabbed his shoulder and held him in place, because kissing, Rodney really liked kissing, and kissing John was surprisingly good, well, the whole thing was a surprise, but the good part, yes, very much a surprise and Rodney needed to confirm the whole 'good' thing with more kissing.

'Good' got even better when John relaxed and leaned into him, arms sliding around Rodney's waist, warm lean body pressing against Rodney's and Rodney got a hand up around the back of John's neck and then into John's thick thick hair. John made a small noise and parted his lips, and oh, hello tongue, sly and sneaky and things got a whole lot more interesting from there.

When John finally did pull back, his lips were wet and he was breathing heavy, cheeks reddened and Rodney couldn't help grinning a great big triumphant grin. "Me," he stated happily and maybe a little awestruck. "You have a man crush on me."

"What gave it away?" John asked.

"Oh, very funny," Rodney said, and he couldn't stop grinning. At last John grinned back at him, then with a little huff of laughter turned away. Rodney realized that John had been scared, afraid of what his reaction would be.

"That took guts," Rodney said, reaching for John, curling his fingers around John's narrow wrist. "You're not supposed to do things like that."

"Yeah, well." John turned back to Rodney, capturing Rodney's hand in his. "Maybe all that will change now."

"Hope and change?" Rodney said, raising his eyebrows. "You were inspired to kiss me because you have a new president?"

"Maybe," John admitted.

"Well then, hail to the chief," Rodney announced. And he kissed John again, for a long, long time.