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Title: Bloodlust
Author: Chaps1870
Pairing: McShep
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Vampire AU
A/N: Yes, this is a NEW chapter and I apologize for both the long delay and its shortness but at this point, it's better than nothing. Thanks to my beta for all the harassment... and such. Any problems are still mine.
Previous chapters here
Author: Chaps1870
Pairing: McShep
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Vampire AU
A/N: Yes, this is a NEW chapter and I apologize for both the long delay and its shortness but at this point, it's better than nothing. Thanks to my beta for all the harassment... and such. Any problems are still mine.
Previous chapters here
Chapter Eleven
Rodney opened his eyes to semi-darkness, awareness coming slowly. Rolling to his side to investigate, the jarring pain in his leg brought him fully awake and he wished more than anything to be back in blissful slumber. The pain had him grimacing as he tried to sit up and he swore out loud, “Fuck, ow, ow.”
“You’re awake.”
Turning towards the voice, Rodney growled at obvious, “Yes, I’m awake. Pain has a way of doing that.” He automatically reached for his radio and slumped dejectedly to find it missing. Glaring at Radek, he ground out from the pain, “Carson?”
“Is sleeping.” answered Radek, not bothering to look up from his datapad.
Rodney rolled his eyes and said gruffly, “Well, call him. I need drugs. And I want the good stuff, not the Tylenol he pawns off on the Marines.”
Relenting, Radek set aside his work and reached for his earpiece. “Carson.”
Several seconds later, a groggy Carson responded, “What is it, Radek?”
“The grumpy one is awake.
Carson sighed, “I’ll be right there then.”
Rodney shifted on the bed, grabbing his leg with a hiss of pain. Radek rolled his eyes, reaching for his friend to keep him from moving. “Lie still. The healing has started.”
Ignoring him, Rodney shrugged off Radek’s help and eased his good leg off the bed. As he moved his bad leg, he paled, sweat beading on his brow as he hunched over the pain, hands clenched into fists. Radek hurried around the bed, shaking his head. “You are stubborn fool.”
Rodney’s head shot up, pain etched in his face. “I have to pee and I’d rather not do it in my bed.”
Sighing, Radek stooped low and wrapped his arm around Rodney’s waist, “Let me help.”
Grunting, Rodney allowed Radek to help. Just standing up was a chore. By the time he made it to the bathroom he was sweating profusely and biting his lip to keep from screaming. He was shaking so badly by the time he finished he hoped he didn’t pass out before Carson arrived with the good drugs. That would be a waste.
Radek hovered nervously, but didn’t argue, just handed him a glass of water.
After a drink and several deep breaths, Rodney found if he didn’t actually move the pain was tolerable. One hand was squeezing the material of his boxers, just above the site of the injury. It wasn’t really helping, but it gave him something to hang onto while they waited.
Radek blurted out loud, “So, you are vampire?”
Rodney looked up in disbelief and finally shook his head. “Well, that was subtle. If that is your attempt at small talk you might consider a different approach.”
Looking around the small bathroom they were presently sitting in, Radek scoffed, “Oh, and you are expert in social graces.”
Shooting him a scathing look, Rodney dropped his head, his fingers tightening as he hissed, “Can we not do this right now…or ever?”
“I think you should return to bed,” said Radek, his voice softer, concerned.
A shadow drifted into the small space followed by Carson’s booming voice. “What are you doin’ out of…” He stopped mid-sentence, losing all the gruffness as he worriedly asked, “Are you in pain?”
“No, Carson. This is my happy face,” said Rodney. Looking up at Carson, he frowned at the vivid bruising on the doctor’s face. Something niggled the edge of his consciousness that he was somehow responsible. Too many things were still blurry. He dropped his head.
Ignoring the sarcasm, knowing it was the pain talking, Carson stepped closer. “Let’s get you to bed then. I need to check your leg again.” Nodding to Radek, they flanked Rodney and carefully eased him to his feet.
Head swimming as he stood, Rodney’s fingers gripped their shoulders tightly as they inched their way to his bed. He hurt too much to offer much more than begrudging silence as they half dragged him. His leg felt like fire and every step shot daggers into his thigh. Only with Radek and Carson’s help did he make it, panting shallowly through the pain. As Carson eased him back on the bed, Rodney didn’t fuss when Radek raised his legs and helped him slide back.
“I’m goin’ to put an IV in then we’ll give you something for the pain,” drawled Carson, taking Rodney’s arm and working efficiently. “I’m sorry for not givin’ you something sooner. I wanted to wait until you’d returned to normal. You weren’t in a whole lot of pain earlier. I’d hoped that would stay the case.” The IV in place, Carson administered a pain killer.
Clenching the bedsheets, Rodney was uncharacteristically quiet as the drugs did their work. It was only a short time before he began to relax, the painkillers taking the worst of his discomfort away. He let go a long breath as Carson asked, “Better?”
Rodney nodded weakly, still trying to catch his breath. “You could have thought of giving me that before you dragged my ass from the bathroom.”
“And what fun would that have been?” teased Carson, patting Rodney’s shoulder. “Let’s have a look at your leg then.”
“Let’s not,” moaned Rodney, tensing automatically when Carson touched his thigh to remove the bandage. Rodney really didn’t want to see what was under the bandage. He remembered getting shot and a vague recollection of events after but the details were sketchy.
As the pain faded, his mind cleared and with a little effort he lifted up on his elbows. “How bad is it?”
“It went through and through and is healing quite nicely. You were lucky,” answered Carson, deftly cleaning the wound despite Rodney’s squirming.
Rodney flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and mumbling sarcastically, “Oh sure, my lucky day.”
Radek leaned over Rodney and said nonchalantly, “You could be dead.”
Carson flashed a glare in Radek’s direction as he cleaned Rodney’s thigh. “You’re lucky that you heal faster or you might have bled to death. It certainly explains all the bitching and moaning you do over a paper cut. It hadn’t occurred to me it was pain from accelerated healing.”
Rodney stared up at Carson, his brow furrowed. “What are you going on about?”
Radek looked the most surprised, frowning as he and Carson traded looks. “Do you think he suffered memory loss?”
Carson shook his head.
“He is right here,” snapped Rodney. He raised his chin indignantly, “Okay, things are a bit fuzzy after the shooting, but I remember enough.”
Radek asked slowly, tentatively, “You do know you are vampire?”
Rolling his eyes, Rodney smirked, “Of course I do.”
“And yet you do not know you heal faster than others?” asked Radek.
“No, I did not know that. I don’t make a habit of getting shot,” said Rodney, his words emphasizing his irritation.
“What about when Genii stabbed you?” Carson asked.
“Oh, forgive me. I haven’t had a lot of experience with knife wounds either.”
“You did not get hurt as a child?” questioned Radek. Carson listened absently as he went over Rodney’s vital.
There was a topic Rodney could live without. His childhood wasn’t something he was comfortable discussing… with any one. There weren’t a lot of people that could relate to ‘my mom is a vampire.’ Everything Rodney associated with being a vampire was mired in heartache and misery. Present situation included.
Forgetting himself for a moment, he sighed. “I wasn’t allowed…” Catching himself before he revealed more than he cared to, he huffed to hide the awkwardness, “Is there a point to this?”
Radek nodded, “How could you not know you heal faster? Every vampire knows this.”
Rodney scowled, “Oh please, and you’re what, a self-proclaimed expert?”
Snorting, Radek proclaimed, “I am vampire that obviously knows more than you.”
Surprised for a brief second, Rodney’s eyes darted to Carson, recalling an earlier snippet of conversation. He’d forgotten that Radek was a vampire. Okay, so maybe he was an expert. Although, it wouldn’t take much to know more than Rodney did. He did his best to recover, glancing towards Carson. “I suppose you’re one too.”
Carson shook his head and answered with a cheeky smile. “No, but we are bonded.”
Rodney looked at both of them. He wondered how that had happened in such a small community but didn’t voice his curiosity. He really just wanted them to go away. “I’m so happy for you.” He didn’t bother keeping the sarcasm out of his voice. It was grossly unfair that Radek and Carson were bonded. Even more unfair that he didn’t know about it.
Carson ignored him and redirected the conversation back to the original question. “So you didn’t know you healed faster?”
“No,” claimed Rodney, dismissing further discussion with a glare to hide his discomfort. “Can we drop it?”
“Testy. I was only asking,” said Carson, taping off the clean white bandage. “There. All done.” He arranged the blankets to cover Rodney.
Shifting on the bed, Rodney made himself comfortable. The drugs, having taken away the worst of the pain, allowed him to move without gasping.
After several moments, he realized that Carson and Radek had no intention of leaving. He lifted up enough to say so. “I don’t need a babysitter.” Waving towards the door, he added, “I’m sure I have guards to keep an eye on me.” The guilty looks on their faces confirmed it. He was more than a little miffed about being under guard. It did nothing to temper his present mood but he also knew that there was little he could do about it. He made his choice when he decided saving John was worth everything.
“Why aren’t you having tantrum?” asked Radek, clearly puzzled that Rodney wasn’t ranting about his present situation.
Carson nodded in agreement. “You’re a wee bit calmer than we expected. You haven’t asked what’s going to happen or even how the colonel is doing.”
Rodney scooted lower and closed his eyes, “I’m locked up. That pretty much says it all. And Sheppard is fine. He’s sleeping.” He had hoped that John would be there when he woke, but he wasn’t too surprised to find him absent. Besides healing from his own injuries, Sheppard probably didn’t want anything to do with him after his less than stellar performance in the brig. Rodney had come too close to exposing this thing between them. There was no other way to describe it, since he had no clue what was going on in Sheppard’s mind. The ‘thing’ between them was more than likely not a thing anymore. Opening his eyes, he glared at them both, hoping to mask the hurt. “You can go now.”
“We’re only tryin’ to help, Rodney. We know you’re bonded to him,” said Carson, sympathetically. “We also know it’s not easy here.”
Rodney paled, “Um…we uh…” He stiffened defensively, “It was only the one time so it’s really immaterial.”
Brows furrowed, Carson was appalled, “That’s like saying you only did it that one time¬¬-- after you’re pregnant. You’re bonded to the man, Rodney.”
“Oh and that worked so well for me,” sneered Rodney, unable to hide the pain it caused to admit that. He added stubbornly, “You know what? I really don’t want to talk about it, as in I’d rather have spikes embedded under my nails.”
Which was the truth. He’d spent a great deal of time and effort throughout his life denying his vampire side. The few times he’d thought it was safe to reveal himself had bit him in the ass. This time was no exception and he had every intention of burying it again. Hopefully if he could get John to forget about it, he might still have a chance at salvaging a ‘normal’ relationship between them. At the very least, he might save their friendship.
“Talking might help,” suggested Radek, innocently.
Rodney could feel his face heat up. “Oh right, because talking about it will make me feel so much better that the one person I chose to bond with doesn’t want it. Let’s. Share. My. Pain.” His last words were punctuated with bitterness.
Carson asked in disbelief, “How could he not want the bond?”
Burrowing further under the blankets, Rodney refused to answer. Carson and Radek traded concerned looks. It was Radek who finally broke the silence. “Have you ever bonded with anyone before, Rodney?”
There was more silence before Rodney finally answered quietly, “No.”
“Never?” asked Radek, incredulous.
“No, never. You’ll forgive me if I haven’t embraced my inner vampire. All it’s ever done is cause me grief.”
Carson sighed sympathetically “It cannot have been that bad. Surely there was some good. You are bonded to the colonel.”
“I’m bonded to someone that is scared shitless by the whole thing.”
Radek frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Did you not tell him about bonding?”
“Yes,” said Rodney defensively. He added less certainly, “At least what I knew. There isn’t exactly a manual on it.” Noting Radek’s stunned expression, he asked, suddenly unsure, “There isn’t a manual, right?”
Chuckling, Radek shook his head. “No, no manual.” He asked more seriously, “How is it you know so little? Did your parents not teach you anything?”
Rodney snorted, “Oh please, my parents could have kept a therapist busy for years. They couldn’t be burdened with a half-blood.”
He didn’t say his sister had been the lucky one. She’d turned out normal. As soon as his father realized his newborn daughter didn’t carry the tainted gene, he whisked both children away from their mother. Seems dear old Dad could no longer justify his wife’s lifestyle with raising two small children. Six-year-old Rodney was told to forget it all and they could pretend that the years of compromise for his mother’s idiosyncrasies were all a dream. No doubt his father was relieved that he would never have to plan another family outing that revolved around sunset and sunrise. All he had to contend with at that point was a normal daughter and a half breed son. It was a lot easier than admitting he’d married a vampire. They never spoke of her again.
His father could pretend his son wouldn’t play outside like all the other boys instead of explaining he couldn’t. He could ignore the hungry looks from his son when nothing he ate satisfied the cravings. His father could ignore a lot of things, first and foremost being the fact that his son was a vampire. After a few years away from their mother, Rodney was pretty sure his father was so far in denial that he’d forgotten his son was even a half-blood.
What little Rodney learned about himself he gleamed from books and delving into the dark side for a short time in high school. Most of that crowd was rebellious teens that only saw it as a way to irritate their parents. For the most part they didn’t have clue. He’d experimented with feeding a few times but his fear of getting caught overrode the satisfaction he derived from it. The guilt added to his paranoia and he learned to hide that side of himself. He buried himself in his studies, went to college and never looked back.
His half-blood status afforded him a semi-normal life and his job postings at Area 51, the SGC and Siberia weren’t the hardship that most people associated with the months underground or endless nights. It wasn’t all that hard to forget he was a vampire until Atlantis…until John.
Staring at Carson and Radek, Rodney lifted his chin. “So I missed Vampires 101. I’ve managed on my own up ‘til now, I don’t need your pitiful looks or your sympathy.” He closed his eyes and flopped back on the bed, shifting to his side with a wince. He yanked the covers up and grunted, “Go away and let me sleep.”
Carson met Radek’s eyes as adjusted the IV. Radek shrugged. “Elizabeth wishes to speak with you.”
“Why?” grumbled Rodney from beneath the covers.
“Oh, I don’t know, Rodney. Maybe she’s trying to help you. You might try being a wee bit more pleasant,” grumbled Carson.
He glared out from under the sheet. “I’ve been locked in a cage, put in restraints and treated like a common criminal.” Nodding towards the door, he added with a snort of disapproval, “And let’s not forget the guards.” He shook his head and pulled the covers up higher. “You’ll forgive me if I’m less than understanding here.”
Carson glanced at Radek for some support, but only receiving a shrug he sighed in resignation, “I’ll let Elizabeth know that you’re up for visitors in the morning.”
Rodney snorted his disapproval, “I’ll just wait here.”
Part 12
Rodney opened his eyes to semi-darkness, awareness coming slowly. Rolling to his side to investigate, the jarring pain in his leg brought him fully awake and he wished more than anything to be back in blissful slumber. The pain had him grimacing as he tried to sit up and he swore out loud, “Fuck, ow, ow.”
“You’re awake.”
Turning towards the voice, Rodney growled at obvious, “Yes, I’m awake. Pain has a way of doing that.” He automatically reached for his radio and slumped dejectedly to find it missing. Glaring at Radek, he ground out from the pain, “Carson?”
“Is sleeping.” answered Radek, not bothering to look up from his datapad.
Rodney rolled his eyes and said gruffly, “Well, call him. I need drugs. And I want the good stuff, not the Tylenol he pawns off on the Marines.”
Relenting, Radek set aside his work and reached for his earpiece. “Carson.”
Several seconds later, a groggy Carson responded, “What is it, Radek?”
“The grumpy one is awake.
Carson sighed, “I’ll be right there then.”
Rodney shifted on the bed, grabbing his leg with a hiss of pain. Radek rolled his eyes, reaching for his friend to keep him from moving. “Lie still. The healing has started.”
Ignoring him, Rodney shrugged off Radek’s help and eased his good leg off the bed. As he moved his bad leg, he paled, sweat beading on his brow as he hunched over the pain, hands clenched into fists. Radek hurried around the bed, shaking his head. “You are stubborn fool.”
Rodney’s head shot up, pain etched in his face. “I have to pee and I’d rather not do it in my bed.”
Sighing, Radek stooped low and wrapped his arm around Rodney’s waist, “Let me help.”
Grunting, Rodney allowed Radek to help. Just standing up was a chore. By the time he made it to the bathroom he was sweating profusely and biting his lip to keep from screaming. He was shaking so badly by the time he finished he hoped he didn’t pass out before Carson arrived with the good drugs. That would be a waste.
Radek hovered nervously, but didn’t argue, just handed him a glass of water.
After a drink and several deep breaths, Rodney found if he didn’t actually move the pain was tolerable. One hand was squeezing the material of his boxers, just above the site of the injury. It wasn’t really helping, but it gave him something to hang onto while they waited.
Radek blurted out loud, “So, you are vampire?”
Rodney looked up in disbelief and finally shook his head. “Well, that was subtle. If that is your attempt at small talk you might consider a different approach.”
Looking around the small bathroom they were presently sitting in, Radek scoffed, “Oh, and you are expert in social graces.”
Shooting him a scathing look, Rodney dropped his head, his fingers tightening as he hissed, “Can we not do this right now…or ever?”
“I think you should return to bed,” said Radek, his voice softer, concerned.
A shadow drifted into the small space followed by Carson’s booming voice. “What are you doin’ out of…” He stopped mid-sentence, losing all the gruffness as he worriedly asked, “Are you in pain?”
“No, Carson. This is my happy face,” said Rodney. Looking up at Carson, he frowned at the vivid bruising on the doctor’s face. Something niggled the edge of his consciousness that he was somehow responsible. Too many things were still blurry. He dropped his head.
Ignoring the sarcasm, knowing it was the pain talking, Carson stepped closer. “Let’s get you to bed then. I need to check your leg again.” Nodding to Radek, they flanked Rodney and carefully eased him to his feet.
Head swimming as he stood, Rodney’s fingers gripped their shoulders tightly as they inched their way to his bed. He hurt too much to offer much more than begrudging silence as they half dragged him. His leg felt like fire and every step shot daggers into his thigh. Only with Radek and Carson’s help did he make it, panting shallowly through the pain. As Carson eased him back on the bed, Rodney didn’t fuss when Radek raised his legs and helped him slide back.
“I’m goin’ to put an IV in then we’ll give you something for the pain,” drawled Carson, taking Rodney’s arm and working efficiently. “I’m sorry for not givin’ you something sooner. I wanted to wait until you’d returned to normal. You weren’t in a whole lot of pain earlier. I’d hoped that would stay the case.” The IV in place, Carson administered a pain killer.
Clenching the bedsheets, Rodney was uncharacteristically quiet as the drugs did their work. It was only a short time before he began to relax, the painkillers taking the worst of his discomfort away. He let go a long breath as Carson asked, “Better?”
Rodney nodded weakly, still trying to catch his breath. “You could have thought of giving me that before you dragged my ass from the bathroom.”
“And what fun would that have been?” teased Carson, patting Rodney’s shoulder. “Let’s have a look at your leg then.”
“Let’s not,” moaned Rodney, tensing automatically when Carson touched his thigh to remove the bandage. Rodney really didn’t want to see what was under the bandage. He remembered getting shot and a vague recollection of events after but the details were sketchy.
As the pain faded, his mind cleared and with a little effort he lifted up on his elbows. “How bad is it?”
“It went through and through and is healing quite nicely. You were lucky,” answered Carson, deftly cleaning the wound despite Rodney’s squirming.
Rodney flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and mumbling sarcastically, “Oh sure, my lucky day.”
Radek leaned over Rodney and said nonchalantly, “You could be dead.”
Carson flashed a glare in Radek’s direction as he cleaned Rodney’s thigh. “You’re lucky that you heal faster or you might have bled to death. It certainly explains all the bitching and moaning you do over a paper cut. It hadn’t occurred to me it was pain from accelerated healing.”
Rodney stared up at Carson, his brow furrowed. “What are you going on about?”
Radek looked the most surprised, frowning as he and Carson traded looks. “Do you think he suffered memory loss?”
Carson shook his head.
“He is right here,” snapped Rodney. He raised his chin indignantly, “Okay, things are a bit fuzzy after the shooting, but I remember enough.”
Radek asked slowly, tentatively, “You do know you are vampire?”
Rolling his eyes, Rodney smirked, “Of course I do.”
“And yet you do not know you heal faster than others?” asked Radek.
“No, I did not know that. I don’t make a habit of getting shot,” said Rodney, his words emphasizing his irritation.
“What about when Genii stabbed you?” Carson asked.
“Oh, forgive me. I haven’t had a lot of experience with knife wounds either.”
“You did not get hurt as a child?” questioned Radek. Carson listened absently as he went over Rodney’s vital.
There was a topic Rodney could live without. His childhood wasn’t something he was comfortable discussing… with any one. There weren’t a lot of people that could relate to ‘my mom is a vampire.’ Everything Rodney associated with being a vampire was mired in heartache and misery. Present situation included.
Forgetting himself for a moment, he sighed. “I wasn’t allowed…” Catching himself before he revealed more than he cared to, he huffed to hide the awkwardness, “Is there a point to this?”
Radek nodded, “How could you not know you heal faster? Every vampire knows this.”
Rodney scowled, “Oh please, and you’re what, a self-proclaimed expert?”
Snorting, Radek proclaimed, “I am vampire that obviously knows more than you.”
Surprised for a brief second, Rodney’s eyes darted to Carson, recalling an earlier snippet of conversation. He’d forgotten that Radek was a vampire. Okay, so maybe he was an expert. Although, it wouldn’t take much to know more than Rodney did. He did his best to recover, glancing towards Carson. “I suppose you’re one too.”
Carson shook his head and answered with a cheeky smile. “No, but we are bonded.”
Rodney looked at both of them. He wondered how that had happened in such a small community but didn’t voice his curiosity. He really just wanted them to go away. “I’m so happy for you.” He didn’t bother keeping the sarcasm out of his voice. It was grossly unfair that Radek and Carson were bonded. Even more unfair that he didn’t know about it.
Carson ignored him and redirected the conversation back to the original question. “So you didn’t know you healed faster?”
“No,” claimed Rodney, dismissing further discussion with a glare to hide his discomfort. “Can we drop it?”
“Testy. I was only asking,” said Carson, taping off the clean white bandage. “There. All done.” He arranged the blankets to cover Rodney.
Shifting on the bed, Rodney made himself comfortable. The drugs, having taken away the worst of the pain, allowed him to move without gasping.
After several moments, he realized that Carson and Radek had no intention of leaving. He lifted up enough to say so. “I don’t need a babysitter.” Waving towards the door, he added, “I’m sure I have guards to keep an eye on me.” The guilty looks on their faces confirmed it. He was more than a little miffed about being under guard. It did nothing to temper his present mood but he also knew that there was little he could do about it. He made his choice when he decided saving John was worth everything.
“Why aren’t you having tantrum?” asked Radek, clearly puzzled that Rodney wasn’t ranting about his present situation.
Carson nodded in agreement. “You’re a wee bit calmer than we expected. You haven’t asked what’s going to happen or even how the colonel is doing.”
Rodney scooted lower and closed his eyes, “I’m locked up. That pretty much says it all. And Sheppard is fine. He’s sleeping.” He had hoped that John would be there when he woke, but he wasn’t too surprised to find him absent. Besides healing from his own injuries, Sheppard probably didn’t want anything to do with him after his less than stellar performance in the brig. Rodney had come too close to exposing this thing between them. There was no other way to describe it, since he had no clue what was going on in Sheppard’s mind. The ‘thing’ between them was more than likely not a thing anymore. Opening his eyes, he glared at them both, hoping to mask the hurt. “You can go now.”
“We’re only tryin’ to help, Rodney. We know you’re bonded to him,” said Carson, sympathetically. “We also know it’s not easy here.”
Rodney paled, “Um…we uh…” He stiffened defensively, “It was only the one time so it’s really immaterial.”
Brows furrowed, Carson was appalled, “That’s like saying you only did it that one time¬¬-- after you’re pregnant. You’re bonded to the man, Rodney.”
“Oh and that worked so well for me,” sneered Rodney, unable to hide the pain it caused to admit that. He added stubbornly, “You know what? I really don’t want to talk about it, as in I’d rather have spikes embedded under my nails.”
Which was the truth. He’d spent a great deal of time and effort throughout his life denying his vampire side. The few times he’d thought it was safe to reveal himself had bit him in the ass. This time was no exception and he had every intention of burying it again. Hopefully if he could get John to forget about it, he might still have a chance at salvaging a ‘normal’ relationship between them. At the very least, he might save their friendship.
“Talking might help,” suggested Radek, innocently.
Rodney could feel his face heat up. “Oh right, because talking about it will make me feel so much better that the one person I chose to bond with doesn’t want it. Let’s. Share. My. Pain.” His last words were punctuated with bitterness.
Carson asked in disbelief, “How could he not want the bond?”
Burrowing further under the blankets, Rodney refused to answer. Carson and Radek traded concerned looks. It was Radek who finally broke the silence. “Have you ever bonded with anyone before, Rodney?”
There was more silence before Rodney finally answered quietly, “No.”
“Never?” asked Radek, incredulous.
“No, never. You’ll forgive me if I haven’t embraced my inner vampire. All it’s ever done is cause me grief.”
Carson sighed sympathetically “It cannot have been that bad. Surely there was some good. You are bonded to the colonel.”
“I’m bonded to someone that is scared shitless by the whole thing.”
Radek frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Did you not tell him about bonding?”
“Yes,” said Rodney defensively. He added less certainly, “At least what I knew. There isn’t exactly a manual on it.” Noting Radek’s stunned expression, he asked, suddenly unsure, “There isn’t a manual, right?”
Chuckling, Radek shook his head. “No, no manual.” He asked more seriously, “How is it you know so little? Did your parents not teach you anything?”
Rodney snorted, “Oh please, my parents could have kept a therapist busy for years. They couldn’t be burdened with a half-blood.”
He didn’t say his sister had been the lucky one. She’d turned out normal. As soon as his father realized his newborn daughter didn’t carry the tainted gene, he whisked both children away from their mother. Seems dear old Dad could no longer justify his wife’s lifestyle with raising two small children. Six-year-old Rodney was told to forget it all and they could pretend that the years of compromise for his mother’s idiosyncrasies were all a dream. No doubt his father was relieved that he would never have to plan another family outing that revolved around sunset and sunrise. All he had to contend with at that point was a normal daughter and a half breed son. It was a lot easier than admitting he’d married a vampire. They never spoke of her again.
His father could pretend his son wouldn’t play outside like all the other boys instead of explaining he couldn’t. He could ignore the hungry looks from his son when nothing he ate satisfied the cravings. His father could ignore a lot of things, first and foremost being the fact that his son was a vampire. After a few years away from their mother, Rodney was pretty sure his father was so far in denial that he’d forgotten his son was even a half-blood.
What little Rodney learned about himself he gleamed from books and delving into the dark side for a short time in high school. Most of that crowd was rebellious teens that only saw it as a way to irritate their parents. For the most part they didn’t have clue. He’d experimented with feeding a few times but his fear of getting caught overrode the satisfaction he derived from it. The guilt added to his paranoia and he learned to hide that side of himself. He buried himself in his studies, went to college and never looked back.
His half-blood status afforded him a semi-normal life and his job postings at Area 51, the SGC and Siberia weren’t the hardship that most people associated with the months underground or endless nights. It wasn’t all that hard to forget he was a vampire until Atlantis…until John.
Staring at Carson and Radek, Rodney lifted his chin. “So I missed Vampires 101. I’ve managed on my own up ‘til now, I don’t need your pitiful looks or your sympathy.” He closed his eyes and flopped back on the bed, shifting to his side with a wince. He yanked the covers up and grunted, “Go away and let me sleep.”
Carson met Radek’s eyes as adjusted the IV. Radek shrugged. “Elizabeth wishes to speak with you.”
“Why?” grumbled Rodney from beneath the covers.
“Oh, I don’t know, Rodney. Maybe she’s trying to help you. You might try being a wee bit more pleasant,” grumbled Carson.
He glared out from under the sheet. “I’ve been locked in a cage, put in restraints and treated like a common criminal.” Nodding towards the door, he added with a snort of disapproval, “And let’s not forget the guards.” He shook his head and pulled the covers up higher. “You’ll forgive me if I’m less than understanding here.”
Carson glanced at Radek for some support, but only receiving a shrug he sighed in resignation, “I’ll let Elizabeth know that you’re up for visitors in the morning.”
Rodney snorted his disapproval, “I’ll just wait here.”
Part 12
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