 sighed and walked over to him.
"McKay?" he said tentatively.
"Look, uh," Rodney began as he drew him aside. "I want to apologize for what I said back there. I didn't mean to volunteer you like that."
"You didn't volunteer me, doc. I did," Aiden replied. Rodney looked relieved.
"Good, good. I just didn't want you to feel obligated on my behalf or anything..."
"Never mind, never--. I just--. Sorry. Look, I know I'm not the easiest person in the world to get along with..."
"I'd noticed that," Aiden said with a wry smile.
"You've done an admirable job."
"Thanks." Aiden's smile broadened, though he realized he probably shouldn't make Rodney even more discomfited.
"I get a bit cranky sometimes," Rodney continued. "You realize I'm under extreme pressure. The success of the entire mission is riding on my shoulders. I can see that amuses you, yes," he said sheepishly. "Well, it's true. Those others--."
"The other 137 scientists and research personnel?" Aiden said helpfully.
"Yes, them," Rodney said with a dismissive roll of his eyes, "they aren't critical to the expedition. I'm the lynch pin. I'm the one they're counting on to get us back to Earth. If I fail--not that I ever--. I mean--. Well, I kind of--. Never mind."
"Doc?" Aiden said, his face twisted in concern.
"I'm just..." Aiden prompted when Rodney fell silent.
"I'm nice?" Aiden was amused, but touched by the sentiment.
"I mean I'm glad you volunteered."
"Thanks, Dr. McKay."
"You're welcome," Rodney replied. Aiden nodded and turned to leave and Rodney cleared his throat. "You know, you don't have to--. Never mind."
"Look, doc," Aiden said, turning back. "Would you stop saying 'never mind' and just tell me whatever it is you're trying to tell me!"
"My name is Rodney. You can call me that." He cleared his throat. "Rodney." Aiden smiled.
"Okay, Rodney," he said impishly. "You can call me 'lieutenant.'" He saw Rodney blanch and shook his head. "Just kidding, doc--uh, Rodney." The klaxons sounded and security was summoned to the gate room. "I've got to go." Aiden turned and ran down the corridor. Rodney stood and watched till he disappeared.
"You didn't tell me your name," he said dejectedly.
"For a moment I thought you were going to ask him to go steady," Dr. Gruber said as he passed by. He laughed loudly and stepped into a waiting elevator. Rodney swore under his breath and went back to his lab.
Two days later, Rodney once again encountered Aiden in the corridors of the SGC. It was nearly midnight and the place was fairly deserted. Rodney was walking the halls in an effort to rouse himself before returning to his lab.
"Hey, Dr. McKay," Aiden said warmly, when he spotted Rodney up the hall. 
"I live here," he replied around a yawn.  I would have some coffee but there's none left and I can't--." he paused as another yawn overtook him. "You're out of uniform."
"They let us wear civilian clothes off duty," Aiden said with a smile.
"Oh," Rodney said wearily as he took in Aiden's attire. "Have you been away?"
"I had the day off...got together with a few friends. 
"...For a night of wine, women, and wrong?"
"Not exactly; more like beer, burgers and balls."
"Balls?" Rodney repeated, suddenly wide awake.
"Hoops," Aiden said. "You know, basketball?"
"Ah. So you just got back," Rodney said as his eyes wandered to the clock on the wall.
"Yeah. I've got to be back on duty in seven--," Aiden paused to check his watch. "...Make that six hours."
"Well, I'll let you get your rest," Rodney said as he watched Aiden yawn. "Looks like you need it."
"Yeah. Night, Rodney."
"Night," Rodney said as he watched him go. He sighed and returned to his lab. He was still there several hours later when Aiden appeared at his door.
"Lieutenant," Rodney said, looking up from his computer screen.
"Smelled coffee," Aiden replied as he entered the lab. "Would you mind? The stuff in the mess is especially bad today."
"Oh yes; I never knew there were varying degrees of 'undrinkable' until I tried what the SGC dining hall laughingly refers to as coffee. Please--help yourself."
"Thanks, doc," Aiden said as he scanned the room for an empty mug. Rodney, noting his problem, rose and went to the sink, dumped out his own coffee and rinsed his mug before offering it to him.
"Here. Use this," he said simply. Aiden took the mug guiltily, their fingers briefly touching.
"You didn't have to--."
"Oh, it's all right," Rodney assured him. "I've had six cups of coffee in the last--. Well, I've lost count of how long. I'm trying to cut back."
"Good idea, doc," Aiden said before taking a sip. Rodney stared at the mug as it made its way up to Aiden's mouth and back to the table. Aiden observed his fascination and sighed. He pushed the cup across the table to Rodney's side.
"Here, doc. Maybe you need this more than I do."
"No, no... I'll be crashing soon," Rodney insisted. "Besides, once we're in the Pegasus Galaxy, we'll probably have to ration our intake, anyway." He looked at the mug wistfully and sighed. "I'm preparing myself..."
"Cool?" Rodney was intrigued by Aiden's reaction. "You think so?"
"Yeah," Aiden said, retrieving the coffee and taking a gulp before Rodney could change his mind. "I haven't even thought about what it's going to be like there."
"You've been through the gate before, haven't you? I dimly recall you saying something to that effect," Rodney said as he hypnotically watched Aiden drink.
"Yeah, I've logged over four dozen off-world missions."
"So you have a pretty good idea of what gate travel is like."
"Yeah, yeah, but that was like--." Aiden's face lit up with boyish enthusiasm. "I mean the longest I've ever been off-planet was two weeks during a training exercise at the beta site. I never considered what it might be like to actually move to another planet, you know? Maybe forever..."
"I've never been off world," Rodney admitted.
"Scared?" Aiden immediately regretted his choice of words as Rodney began to sputter.
"You know, I--. Well, I guess--."
"I suppose it's natural to be nervous the first time you go through the gate," Aiden said, "especially if it might be a one-way trip. Colonel Sumner puked before and after his first trip through the gate. And from what I hear, the earliest gate trips felt like an arctic blast. People would come through the gate with icicles on their asses."
"Don't tell me," Rodney said perceptively. "You weren't at all afraid, right?"
"Dude! It was such a rush!" Aiden exclaimed. "You know?"
"Dude!" Rodney aped him. "No."
"Don't worry, doc. I'll have your back," Aiden said reassuringly. He checked his watch and rose. "I've got to go." Rodney watched as he went to the sink and washed the mug. He refilled it and placed it in front of Rodney. "Thanks for the java, Dr. McKay." He gave a curt nod and left. Rodney frowned.
"I thought you were going to call me Rodney," he said to the empty room. A second later, Aiden reappeared at the door, nearly stunning Rodney out of a year's growth.
"I meant thanks, Rodney," he said with a smile. He left again and Rodney downed the coffee and returned to his work. About ten minutes later he swore out loud.
"I still don't know his first name."
Rodney was in the dining hall the following evening, having dinner with Elizabeth and Carson Beckett, the physician assigned to the Atlantis expedition and only other person Rodney had befriended in Antarctica. They chatted comfortably on a number of subjects, lingering over dessert rather than retreating to their respective quarters. Aiden entered the dining hall in the company of his commanding officer, a few other Marines, and General O'Neill.
"That reminds me," Elizabeth said rising. "I need a word with the general." She took her leave of the two men, neither of whom seemed eager to move.
"This time next week we'll be having