Thirty Years On
by darkhavens
Pairing/Characters: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: G
Words: 300
Summary: Rodney found the key to unlock their ascension
They were the only ones left from the original expedition, the others being either dead or moved back to earth during the intervening years. But they had remained in the only place they'd ever seen as home.
Sheppard had retired after his promotion to full bird colonel. They'd wanted him back at the SGC, coordinating efforts from there. Elizabeth, knowing he'd never willingly leave, the city or Rodney, had offered him a civilian position on the primary science team. John had accepted and taken to calling Rodney 'the bossman' until Rodney threatened to sleep in the spare room.
But now they were both completely retired, from all official posts, though Rodney still kept a private lab and a willing team of acolytes who hung on his every snarling word. Even the latest Head of Science deferred to him when necessary - Atlantis had grown to accept her adopted, genetically mutated son as much as she'd originally only reacted to John.
They lived in a modest set of rooms atop the highest tower - the closest John could get to being airborne without a jumper. A transporter in the outer hallway kept them in touch with the city below, as did their closest neighbours, Halling's son Jinto and his family.
A year ago Rodney had found the key to unlock their ascension and since then had been busy recording his knowledge and theories for posterity. He'd poured his genius out into the database of Atlantis, pulling together many different threads to form the whole.
It wasn't quite the Grand Unified Theory he'd always dreamed of, but he was happy. Atlantis was closer to sentience than she'd ever been before - he'd given her a voice and the means to use it.
"It's time, Rodney."
"I know, but... Do you think we'll miss the sex?"
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