Uprising
Chapter Two: Someone Has to Care
John is a Vietnam veteran who has been dishonorably discharged for homosexual misconduct. His father has disowned him on the grounds he won't renounce an integral part of who he is. The citizenry isn't kind to returning vets and without work, he quickly finds himself homeless. But he meets up with an unlikely person at the Stonewall Inn, who he immediately defends and finds himself inexplicably attracted to - Dr. Rodney McKay, Phd Phd, technology and physics professor at City College.
Rodney fumbled with his keys and unlocked the door, “Here we are. It’s not much but I want you to make yourself at home. Sorry about the mess. My cleaning lady was off this month and…just didn’t have time to find another one on short notice.”
He turned on a light switch. A few light sconces on the wall lit up a somewhat unkempt apartment, filled with an eclectic assortment of furniture and knick knacks. Several bookshelves lined the walls filled to overflowing with books. A long burnt orange couch sat in the middle of the room with an old walnut coffee table next to it, overflowing with papers and used coffee mugs.
John stared at the couch. Rodney shut the door and nudged him over, sitting him down, “Sit down, sit down. Listen, there aren’t a lot of places we could go to eat for dinner and you seem tired so why don’t I just put on some coffee and we can have soup and sandwiches. There’s a, uh, television on the bookshelf across from the couch. It’s covered in some computer graphs. Sorry.” John watched, amused as Rodney uncovered the television, stuffing the papers into an already overflowing shelf.
John shook himself out of his stupor, “S’okay, really. Don’t need to watch anything…”
Unexpectedly, he began coughing, uncontrollably, “S’cuse me. Sorry. Don’t know where that came from…”
“Most likely three nights on a cold hard –”
“Park bench, I know.” John smirked at Rodney’s irritation. He coughed a few more times.
“Wait right there.” Rodney disappeared into his room, emerging seconds later with several blankets, pillows and cough drops.
“Take one,” Rodney shoved a cough drop into John’s hands. He removed his thin jacket and shoes and covered him in blankets, arranged the pillows so John’s head was elevated as he laid him down. He held a hand to his shoulder and felt his forehead. John’s face flushed.
“Hmm, could be a slight temperature. Don’t wanna take any chances. I’m definitely getting some coffee and chicken soup down you. Is the cough drop helping?” Rodney kept his hand on John’s forehead a few more seconds and he nearly melted feeling the loss as he pulled his hand away.
“Mmm, yeah, thanks,” John was beginning to feel both relaxed and petrified at the same time. His heart was beating out of his chest, all nerves, yet he felt safe and cozy. These conflicting feelings were confusing to say the least.
Rodney patted his shoulder, “Just stay there. I think it’s better to get cleaned up once you’ve warmed up. Coffee and soup will help. You like crackers? I think I have some saltines.”
John shot him a mournful expression, “yeah, that all sounds good but –”
“Oh shit! I didn’t even think about pajamas.” Rodney interrupted, “I think I have some extra ones. My cleaning lady usually does my laundry. I should have some left. Guess you’ll want to shower first and, oh, a toothbrush. I may have to run to the corner drug store.
“I’ve got plenty of clean underwear. Although we may be different sizes. For god’s sake, I feel so ill prepared. You’ll need a razor too. I have plenty of shaving cream and clean towels. I mean it’s just me…guess you’ll need coffee and soup first. I’m sorry. I’m out of sorts. My entire routine was thrown off when Miko decided to go see her mother. I mean she was very sick and she’s been talking about it for months. Miko wasn’t sick, her mother was sick. Sorry if this isn’t making any sense…”
“Rodney,” John suddenly interrupted.
“Hmm?” Rodney sat on the couch next to him, gazing at John worriedly. John felt tears welling up as his side pressed into Rodney’s hip. It felt oddly comforting.
“Sorry, John. You need something?”
“Yeah, I think I could get up and ya know, clean up a little before –”
“What? No, you don’t have to do that. You’re not feeling very well. I’ll go make your soup now. You just stay here and get all warmed up. That cough doesn’t sound too good.”
Rodney tucked the blankets further in, causing John to hum, making him nervous it was coming out how much he enjoyed the attention. How moved he was by even such a small gesture. He lightly coughed into his shoulder.
“See? You’re in no condition for housework.” Rodney chided him.
“Okay,” John said, doubtfully, “But you don’t even know me. You’re going to a lot of trouble for some guy you met in a club. Cleaning up is my way of, ya know, making sure things are square between us. It’s something I can do –”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Rodney chuckled, “You stood up to those cops when they were harassing me. That’s all I need to know about you, John Sheppard. At least for now. We’ll get better acquainted over time, I’m sure. But for now, all you need to do is lie there and let me rescue you from that miserable cough you’ve acquired from the infamous park bench. Only then will things be square between us, got it?”
John finally let himself relax and nodded towards Rodney’s beautifully indignant gaze, his blue eyes dark with worry, “Yeah, okay. Thanks.”
“Alright then,” Rodney stood up. John wanted to pull him back down, to feel the comforting weight of his body against his own. But instead he turned on his side and shot him a bashful smile.
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll stay put. Thanks…for all this...” John coughed into his shoulder again.
Rodney smiled through his worry, “You’re welcome.”
~ Continued in AO3
