Gift 2

Exchange

by Cynical_Coat

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asc/ccoat/gift02.php
Summary: Rodney thinks he's being mocked again... how far will John go to prove him wrong?

Rodney fled into the crowd after another stunned, hurt glance at John-- no, Sheppard. He would have run straight through and out the other side, not stopping until he reached the relative safety of his quarters, but Carson stepped in front of him, catching his shoulders and smiling.

"Happy Birthday, Rodney."

"If you say so..." Trying to avoid that laughing stares around him, he allowed himself to be lead over to the side of the room.

"Oh, come on now, Rodney. We put a lot of work into this. The least you could do is enjoy yourself."

No, the least he could do would be to run away and find somewhere to hide for about an eon. But he didn't... He allowed a paper crown to be placed on his head, and made himself smile at the children running around with noise makers and balloons. And he kept one eye out for Sheppard, losing himself in the crowd every time the other man drew close.

Strangely, no one was jeering or laughing at him. Not directly at least. Hadn't they seen Sheppard making him look like a fool once again? Making him think for a nanosecond that he might actually care? That's what had him wanting to run, to hide... Sheppard had used his feelings against him, just as everyone always did... and he didn't even know it. That was a meager kind of solace. He didn't think that Sheppard would purposely hurt him like that if he knew. But you never knew...

His stomach was tied in so many knots that he actually turned down Teyla's offer of cake, promising to have some latter at her slightly hurt expression. Turning away from her, he nearly fainted just for an excuse not to see Joh-- Sheppard standing inches away from him.

"Great party, huh?" He said, smiling at Rodney.

"Sure..." He answered weakly and Sheppard moved a little closer, still not quite touching.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Sheppard asked, dropping the pretense. "I thought you'd be happy... I'm sorry if I was wrong."

Rodney blinked at him.

"You thought I'd be happy?" He asked, incredulity rampant in his voice. Sheppard flinched back from him slightly.

"Well, yeah... I mean... Everyone knows that you like me... I just thought--"

"You knew? And you still-- still---" He drew a deep breath, forcing it past the pain in his chest. "Humiliated me like that?"

Now it was Sheppard who looked confused.

"Humiliated you? Is that what you think I was trying to do? No..." He shook his head. "No, Rodney..." He seemed at a loss for anything else to say. Rodney squellched the tiny thread of hope that tried to wrap around his heart.

"Then what? You expect me to believe that you didn't know the door was going to open? That everyone was here?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "That they'd see..."

"That's just it, Rodney... I don't care if they see." Sheppard was smiling again, as though proud that he'd solved some problem.

"What are you--?" The rest of the question was lost as Sheppard's lips collided with his again. He lifted his hands to push him away, but instead found himself grabbing Sheppard's shoulders... no... John's shoulders. When he pulled away, they both stood in silence, panting for breath. And then a strange sound began all around him... it took a moment for Rodney to realize that it was the sound of everyone around them clapping and cheering. John just grinned at him.

"Now do you get it?"

"I think so..." He breathed, wondering how John could hear him with all the noise.

"Let me spell it out for you, genius... I love you."

Now that really was too much...

"Define 'love'."

John leaned in and stole his breath again, wrapping his arms around Rodney's waist and holding him against his chest.

"How's that?"

"It's a start..."

John laughed and squeezed him.

"Happy Birthday, Rodney..."

fin