A/N: Response to a challenge. First McShep…really.

Author: Lady Valmar

Genre: Smut, H/C

Rating: M or FRM

Pairings: Sheppard and Rodney

Spoilers: Season 2 onward

Summary: Rodney has a secret fear involving relationships and Sheppard has a plan to make him face it. McShep Slash.

Warnings: Adult content. McShep. Don't read if you don't like slash, and don't blame me for reading this when I warned you about it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: Atlantis but…everything else is mine and therefore please ask and do not infringe nor steal my original themes, concepts, ideas or characters please.

Challenge: Everyone has a secret fear, some more than one. I'm hoping some of you would like to write me a fic where your character has to face the thing that scares him the most (prefer not a character death fic on this one). Can be as long or short as you like, any pairing by PEJA (Stargate Atlantis Slash - yg)

… .LV. …

Rod Fears

By Lady Valmar

"Rodney…?" asked Sheppard as he passed him in the halls.

"Yes? What!" demanded Rodney, shuffling the stack of papers in his hand.

"Have you given any thought to that idea I proposed?"

Shuffle from foot to foot. "No…absolutely not…I told you if I'm afraid of splinters just imagine how I would feel with you…" Rodney's words trailed off as a marine walked past.

"Come on…why do you get to do all the…" Sheppard lowered his voice. "Action…and I don't get to?"

"Because…it's painful and…you know how I am about pain…I don't like it period. Physical…mental…emotional…you know! Pain!" grouched Rodney, as he continued his walk back to his lab.

"…Oh yeah don't forget that we have an agreement for the gift thing for our anniversary of…"

"Yes yes yes. You don't need to shout it…remember covert!" snapped Rodney, looking around. He was in no mood for all of Atlantis to find out about him and Sheppard.

"Good," smirked Sheppard, "I'll be waiting in my room."

Rodney frowned. "But I thought we agreed not to…meet in your room for this sort of thing…because of…covertness…"

"Yes…well I've got something that involves my room and your gift," said Sheppard, letting a devilish grin slip.

Rodney sighed. "A surprise?"

"Yup." Said Sheppard, rubbing his hands together.

"Oh no…" groaned Rodney.

"Come on go in here. We can chat more privately," said Sheppard pointing to the nearby storage room.

Rodney stared at him as they approached the door. "Surprise?"

"Yup!"

Apparently Sheppard had neglected to remember that Rodney hated surprises period. Not to mention that he hated needles just as equally. Well actually Rodney hated pain…no feared it…okay so it so that wasn't his secret fear…now being dominated through pain was a fear of Rodney's for sure but he wouldn't dare tell the Colonel that.

The Colonel tended to do the opposite of what Rodney adamantly was against…one being surprise anythings…and pushing for his own try at mounting Rodney instead of the other way around as number two.

They had a system. Him and Sheppard. And Rodney liked to think it was a stable one at that. It was one in which he did all the giving and Sheppard did all the taking. Well referring to pain and pleasure of it that is.

Rodney's secret fear was that he would one day have to facetaking that sort of pain instead of being the one who gave it and he was not going to let that ever happen if he could help it. He didn't mind the idea of the pleasure but the pain...

"I know…just give it a chance Rodney. Would you at least give it some more thought and jeez I only want to try it…just once?" pleaded Sheppard, ignoring the strange looks a passing tech gave him and Rodney.

Entering the storage room, Rodney grumbled about persistent flyboys and their ideas. When the door shut Sheppard spun around and

"Please?" whined Sheppard, his eyes puppy like.

"No!"

"Pretty please?"

"NO!" shouted Rodney.

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" begged Sheppard, raising his eyebrows at Rodney.

"No no no!"

Sheppard smiled. "Cha Cha Cha…No more Tickle!" he teased.

"Oh God why do you have to remember that stupid song…I hate it…you know…"

"Yeah I know that's why I do it! Okay…look just forget it for now but as for the gift you had better say yes."

Rodney scratched his head. He didn't like surprises. In fact he despised them with a passion. Talk about a new word for hate but then again he had already agreed to the whole stupid gift thing so he couldn't back out now just because of what the circumstances might involve in getting the gift…

"Okay…fine…I'll do it if you'll stop pestering me…"

"Yay!" said Sheppard, a twinkle in his eye.

Rodney shook his head. "Like a little kid…just like a little kid. Here you were complaining about me acting child like for not…"

"For not wanting to let me do you?" sizzled Sheppard, pulling Rodney into a passionate liplock, his hands gripping Rodney's back tightly.

"Ahmmmahoha…"

After Sheppard had released Rodney, he licked his lips. "You make the most girliest sounds when I kiss you…did you know that?"

Rodney sneered. "Oh shut up!"

"But you do…it's so…adorable?"

"What?" said Rodney, stumbling on a box nearby.

"Yeah…" said Sheppard, his hand on his chin, his eyes turned up, "Adorable…cute even…makes me want to do you right here actually…"

Rodney backed away. The last thing he wanted was to end up going at it with Sheppard in some old smelly storage room, and have some stupid tech waltz in on them.

"No absolutely no. Sheppard maybe one day but not now, I'm serious I've got work to attend to. Those idiots in the lab are gunna screw up things and I need to be there to prevent that."

"Screw up things…don't you mean screw things up…ow…screw…things…" said Sheppard, pushing body against Rodney's, his throbbing pulse touching Rodney's. "I want you Rodney…now…"

Rodney could feel even inch of his body turning on fire. Like something electrical was zapping his skin. "I hate it when you do this…I've got to go…later!" said Rodney, making a quick dash out of the storage room. Bumping the same tech that had looked at him and Sheppard earlier in the hall.

"Excuse me! You big oaf!" grouched Rodney, glaring at him and then racing towards his lab. That was too close…Whew…

Running as fast as he could, Rodney skidded to a halt in front of Sheppard's room, he knocked on the door gently. A few crash and booms later, he heard Sheppard grunting as the door slid open.

Rodney smiled. This was perfect. Rodney smiled and held his gift in front of Sheppard's face. "This is for you ah…Sheppard…?"

Observing the messy hair, the slightly disheveled shirt and unbuckled pants, Rodney stared at him. "What…happened to you?" Feeling the hackles rise. He didn't like how this was looking. Sheppard would never…he wouldn't…he wasn't…cheating…he wasn't…not maybe…it's something else…yeah maybe I'm panicing for no reason…

Sheppard made a disgusted face. "I found it in my room that's what I found."

Rodney stared. What did that mean? Found what? And why did that have anything to with Sheppard's appearance? Panic attack!

Watching, Sheppard shifted his weight uncomfortably, as he leaned against the doorframe. "Rodney…you okay…you look like your…having a…Oh Rodney…why are you panicking?

"Because your disheveled and…I thought…you…"

Sheppard hated this. Rodney did this at least twice or three times a month since they had officially gotten together well covertly anyways. Rodney was just plain insecure. John Thought. But he had a right too. After all the shit people put him through and all the madness of being a Genius and all…Rodney was allowed a little ego and insecurity. Still John was hoping Rodney would have figured it out by now that he wasn't going anywhere or rather going with someone else.

"Rodney…for the last time! I told you…yes this was going to be difficult but I also told you that despite this being a tad weird and this being my first time too you know…that I never cheat on the people I care about."

"What…"

"Rodney…God…have some faith in me for once…"

Rodney's shoulders hunched forward. The man looked almost teary eyed. "You…do? I mean you don't? I mean okay I get what you mean…I'm sorry for always doing this to you…it's just…"

"I know. Its okay Rodney…just remember I'm new at this whole…ah…"

"Gay thing?" supplied Rodney, brightening a bit.

"Yeah…I guess you could call it that…"

"What do you mean call it that? Of course it's a gay thing we have going on here. We're not buddies doing it, we're…"

"I know, I know…lovers," said Sheppard, waving dismissively with his hand.

"Lovers? I suppose that would be the term. Okay so what did you find in your room?" said Rodney decided to change the subject.

Tonight was going to be a night for just them and he didn't want to keep up petty arguments on introspective look into their whole relationship definition and the like. He wanted this evening to be well…romantic.

"You know…"

"No…I don't," said Rodney, finding his impatience slipping. Why did Sheppard have to be so difficult?

"Yes you do," said Sheppard, his eyes dilating and a sly grin at his mouth.

Rodney thought for a moment…disheveled state…taunting…kissing like crazy in the storage room earlier today…gift surprise…Rodney felt his heart beating wildly…oh…

"Nope! I've no clue…" said Rodney, grinning. He liked where this conversation was going. Okay so maybe this disheveled state had to do with the present.

"Sure you don't…babe…" said Sheppard, grinning, as he took Rodney's wrapped up gift.

"So what's this?"

It was a10 x 6inch present wrapped up in gauze painted in a blue-purple color with a purple string and some silly foam curly-cues tapped to the top as decoration.

"Wait a minute…you didn't just call me babe? Did u? Please…I know this whole relationship thing with you is uncharted territory…you said it yourself the other day but honestly…were not that gay to start making up ridiculous names for one another. Beside were supposed to be…well…covert about this…cause of your job and my job…and…"

Rodney's voice caught in his throat, as Sheppard pounced him, his lips taunting Rodney's with his wicked tongue. Rodney shuddered. Sheppard could be outright forward with his urges that was for sure but he didn't want anyone to discover their little thing…the last thing he needed was for everyone in Atlantis to know that he was screwing his team leader. Oh and not to mention the whole gay thing…and Sheppard! Whatever he was doing just keep it up.

Sheppard's tongue darted its way between Rodney's dry lips and touched his tongue, sending the blood down to swell in Rodney's pants.

Okay so what was I thinking…Thought Rodney…oh right…were not gay just with each other…and not to mention the whole…oh God…more…tongue action…

Rodney's body pressed closer to Sheppard's, avoiding the gift that was still held in Sheppard's left hand. Reaching up with his hands Rodney, held John's head under his ears around his neck and allowed his tongue to make exotic swirls with John's.

After what had seemed long enough, John let go and grinned. "I swear, you think too much McKay," said John then bringing the gift up to eye level he rattled it's content. "So what's in here? Lubricant? Minty flavored condoms? Ow…those fluffy handcuffs I saw you hide away in your drawer yesterday…?"

Rodney glared back. "I do not have fluffy handcuffs! No flyboy but it might contain something else…more romantic…" said Rodney, crossing his arms.

"Romantic?" mouthed Sheppard, perplexed.

"Oh come on you're a hopeless romantic…well not so hopeless anymore though…" said Rodney grinning.

"Okay but flyboy?"

"Yeah you know…pilot hence fly and boy hence the childish behavior you're always doing."

"Gee thanks," said Sheppard, batting his eyes at Rodney.

"That's really gay…"

"And you giving me a purple gift isn't?" said Sheppard holding up the gift at Rodney.

"Okay, okay. I see your point…Look…Sheppard…I'm not so sure I'm up for tonight's surprise…um…maybe we should go inside…I know it's late and there's not lots of people up but just in case…"

"What surprise?" said Sheppard innocently, crossing his right leg over his left, and leaning against the doorframe, his hands on his hips.

Yes he was sidestepping the go inside thing for the moment. He wasn't worried. It was late and not very many people went down his hall at night but Rodney was right, he did feel some small piece of anxiety about being seen.

"Don't play innocent!" grouched Rodney, "You know I hate that!"

"Oh Rod…my romantic buffoon…or should I say my honey sweet pukums!" said Sheppard, in a squeaky, feminine voice.

Rodney shuddered. "Don't you ever do that again…that was just disturbing…"

"Was it sexually disturbing…?" teased Sheppard as he backed into his room, sticking his tongue out.

"Sheppard! Stop it!" said Rodney, stepping forward into the room.

"Stop it! Oh god Rodney! Stop it! It hurts! Oh it hurts!" moaned Sheppard, his teasing eyes, darkening. His face scrunched in pain and his fists out front.

"You sex maniac."

"You too."

Every time he heard Sheppard moan…Rodney felt his blood drain immediately. It was so tempting so seductive and he hadn't of known these qualities could exist in Sheppard. The man had such a power over him that one little word made the difference between snarking and romping.

Rodney smiled at the memory of what it had been like…well their first time as he watched Sheppard disappear into the restroom.

Shaking his head Rodney pulled on the collar of his shirt. "Look I just wanted to give that to you and leave. I've got a lot of work to do…I hope you know I would just rather have the gift and leave off the surprise factor."

"Oh come on…surprise gifts are meant to be a well...surprise Rodney," said Sheppard, making ouch sounds as rustling sounds accompanied the ouches.

Rodney wasn't too sure about what Sheppard was doing but in any case as long as Sheppard didn't realize force him to face his fears he was fine.

It's funny how…several months ago…a year ago…we had such tension because of the denial…and now…look at us…sex maniacs…jeez…did I just call us sex maniacs…oh wow we are aren't we. Thought Rodney.

Both unsure of how to do it, considering how neither he nor Sheppard had never done it with a guy before…a guy being each other…

And now… it was their six-month anniversary since they had done it. And it was also Sheppard who had been the most enthusiastic to celebrate. It was weird because frankly, Rodney didn't know what to expect from this little celebration let alone each day they interacted…or night…

It was still so strange and foreign to both of them that he had thought Sheppard would have given it up already and said that it was just too weird for him and he didn't want to risk his career for him. But instead Sheppard continually surprised Rodney with his total acceptance of the situation.

Rodney still didn't know if he was completely comfortable with it. He just didn't want ruin Sheppard's career…and he certainly didn't want anyone to find out…you know…shame factor and all…still he didn't think he could stand Sheppard being with someone else either…

On that thought, Rodney soured. He wasn't gay. He was just in love with his best friend and liked sex period. So the two made sense. Lovers, he guessed was the term, though he wasn't one for all that gay pride crap now that he and Sheppard were considered gay well as least to each other. As for the whole job thing…career thing…he figured the don't ask don't tell always worked…he hoped at least.

From the restroom more ripping sounds and ouches rippled out. Rodney had drifted so far into thought that he hadn't even of noticed when Sheppard had lowered the lights to pitch dark, ripped open his gift, or when Sheppard had led him to the bed.

One thing Rodney could agree on was that he didn't regret it…not one single moment of it. He enjoyed the simplest moments of banter or an argument over the next woman they came across in a mission to the sexual encounters between each other or to the falling asleep together chatting about nothing…

He treasured every moment he could spend with the man he truly cared about and no matter what it costed him, he didn't care anymore…as long as he could be with Sheppard, he would gladly give up his career for this man. Okay so there was some bumps in the whole feelings thing category but Rodney never let a few kinks get in the way of something he became passionate about and Sheppard was one of those passions.

Now…speaking of kinks…why is Sheppard blindfolding me? Thought Rodney as he felt Sheppard tie something smooth and satiny around his eyes.

"Sheppard? What ah…you know I hate the dark…Sheppard?" stammered Rodney, reaching up to yank the blind fold off.

"Come on Rodney, relax…this is all part of the gift," soothed Sheppard, "Ah do you mind if you removed your shirt first though before I completely blind fold you.

"Why? So you can tickle me again. I told you I think it's juvenile and I hate that damn song. So just…ow…what are you…owww…" said Rodney, feeling Sheppard's cold hands lifting up his shirt, to allow his tongue to probe Rodney's erect nipple.

"Yes yes, more…" gasped Rodney, as he felt his shirt come off of his head and hit the floor somewhere near the bed.

Suddenly the sucking stopped and then he felt the blindfold tighten. "Please more…"

"In a moment my pretty…" sizzled Sheppard, running his cold fingers down Rodney's sensitive sides.

"Ow…"

"Okay, I'm gunna lead you to the bed so don't trip got it?" said Sheppard putting his hands on Rodney's shoulders and leading him to it.

"Uh…Sheppard why do I feel something silky rubbing against my back?" simpered Rodney, he had a bad feeling about this.

"Don't worry it's nothing just a little something…come on…" said Sheppard helping Rodney to the bed and into it.

Once he was sure Rodney was laying down, he kissed Rodney's chest and then pulled off the belt. Once the belt had slipped off, he unbuttoned the pants and then slowly slid the zipper down, letting its sound ring out in the silent room. Then as he rubbed Rodney's sides with his hands he licked around the belly button area, letting Rodney giggle and moan at the same time.

"Stttop…it….hehehe….Shep…pa….rd….it…hehehe….tickles….hahaha…."

"Come on do the tickle song for me Rodney" pleaded Sheppard, he loved it. He knew it was a really childish thing to do. Considering they were grown men and all but he liked it and so why not?

"Cha, Cha, Cha….hahahahahah No, No, No….hhah ehehahahahaha haha…No more tickle…hahaha…."

As Rodney began to moan again, Sheppard licked his lips…now the easy part was going to be taking off the pants and underwear…the hard part was going to be tying Rodney's hands to the bed…considering he knew Rodney wouldn't be too happy if he figured out what Sheppard's plan was.

Sheppard kissed Rodney's stomach over and over…until he was sure Rodney was more relaxed. Then he slowly slid the pants down inch by inch until he had them off and tossed onto the floor. Then remembering, Sheppard mentally locked the door…no need for uninvited eyes…just in case.

Then he rubbed Rodney through his underwear, taking his time he wanted Rodney to be relaxed enough that when he did go for it that it wouldn't hurt. Sheppard shuddered the first time they had tried it he'd nearly hurt Rodney…so that was why they had agreed for it only to be Rodney who did the giving in a sense. But now after so many sessions and understanding of how it worked he was ready…he just wasn't sure Rodney was…but that was okay…he knew that it took relaxation and trust. Both Rodney could do…he just needed a little push was all.

Sheppard slid the boxers down careful not to hook it on the throbbing flesh beneath. Once he had tossed the boxers he searched for the leads to the restraints he had improvised on. Okay he knew he'd have to do this quickly before Rodney had a chance to run. He was only going to get one shot at this and he had to do it now. He rolled Rodney over who moaned but didn't protest.

"Ow a massage? You know I haven't gotten one of those in a long time…Mind doing that rolling technique you used last time…that felt…what are you doing…Sheppard!" demanded Rodney as he felt his hands suddenly restrained to the bed. Struggling Rodney kicked his legs out as he tried to avoid the restraints tying them down too.

"Relax…this won't hurt a bit…" said Sheppard, finishing the last tie. That was it. He was done.

Now all he had to do was set up the room like he had been trying to do before Rodney had arrived early. As Rodney struggled and protested at the top of his lungs…Sheppard raced around the room looking for the candles he had borrowed from Teyla. Setting them up strategically, he found the Athosian lighter and lit them.

"Rodney…relax! I'm just lighting candles. I'm not doing anything to you…"

Rodney's struggling ceased. As the muscles in his butt eased and his arms, Rodney sighed. "Why do you have to be so creative all the time?"

"Because I like to experiment…don't you?" asked Sheppard as he pulled out the lube from his drawer.

"Okay now Your not going to like this but I've decided that this time I'll be twice as gentle and go four times slower…you just have to trust me Rodney…" said Sheppard, climbing onto the bed to remove the blindfold.

"No! I told you already…I don't' want to! It hurts Dammit! Why won't you listen to me! You do this and this will destroy our relationship you get that? I don't want that to happen. I don't want to destroy what we finally managed to make and…ow…."said Rodney, feeling his anger subside as slick fingers teased his tender opening.

"The way I figure is that your so scared it's going to hurt that it does, so just relax."

Rodney shook his head.

"Okay?"

"Yes…owww…that feels…ah…"

"Good right?" said Sheppard rubbing Rodney's back with his hands.

"Surprisingly yes…just…"

"Be careful? Don't worry I don't plan on going too fast, besides I'm going to take it one step at a time. I know this is your secret fear…the fear of feeling this pain again…you didn't even have to tell me after that first time…I just knew it…I want you to overcome it and I want you to feel what I feel when you do this to me. If…and if…it hurts too much…I promise to stop…okay?"

"Okay," mumbled Rodney.

As Sheppard slowly slid his finger in, Rodney tensed. "Don't tense, it will only make it hurt. Relax. It's okay. Everything is going to be fine. I'm right here okay."

"Okay"

Sliding his finger in a bit more, he gently pushed in and out slowly. He could feel Rodney relaxing, already it's muscles loosening up for his finger.

"Okay so far Rodney?" asked Sheppard, rubbing his other hand, palm down in lazy circles on Rodney's back.

"Yes."

"Alright I'm gunna try for two okay"

Then carefully he slid in the second finger, at first he felt it contract, and he feared Rodney was panicking.

"Rodney relax, its okay. Relax."

Feeling the tension release, he moved his two fingers back and forth inside. Looser still. Then he began to lube up after removing his fingers…maybe he was pushing it but he wanted…oh did he want this. He wanted to feel it. The tightness surrounding him wholly. It wasn't better than regular sex just different. The tightness and the way the muscles contracted felt good and different not better but just pleasant.

"You ready to try going further?" asked Sheppard, preparing to move into position.

"Yes."

Rodney had remained surprising calm so far, aside from his initial reaction. Sheppard was glad that Rodney wasn't letting his fear take over and was relaxing. He just hoped that Rodney would feel good not bad after this.

Approaching Rodney he grabbed his hips and lifted them up. Sheppard had tied the ties loose enough for leeway so it wasn't a problem for Rodney to get up on all fours on the bed. "That's it, Rodney. I need you to rotate you hip up and your torso down. Can you do that for me? Good. Okay remember if it hurts too much I'll stop okay?"

"Okay."

The one thing Sheppard had to remind himself was that after this he'd need to clean up good. Reluctantly he had asked Carson about doing this type of sex (leaving out the details of who he was planning to do it with) because he'd heard about diseases from it. Carson had been good about it informed him and told him that there wasn't any prefect way of staying free of them but to use a condom so that was what John did. Use one. It was kind of annoying but he'd prefer it to being sick for weeks.

"Alright here we go," said Sheppard gently rubbing the entrance, applying more lube to it as well.

Once he was satisfied that Rodney was loose enough, he gently pushed inside. Initial reaction ouch but soon Rodney was actually moaning. Sheppard was pleasantly surprised. His own first time hadn't been this comfortable. He'd endured a lot of pain before he had felt anything at all 'good'. Rodney seemed quite different.

Maybe it was because they both trusted each other more now than ever. Maybe just maybe Rodney was finally trusting him enough for do this. In any case he felt soon enough himself slid almost halfway inside. The warmth…the tightness it was truly amazing. He had never felt anything like it. It was truly amazing. Rodney's girly moans only made it that much sweeter.

As he picked up a rhythmic pace, he suddenly slid all the way into Rodney. "Whoa…I'm…ah…wow…"

"all the way in…harder…please…" moaned Rodney.

Sheppard smiled. Rodney really was crazy like him. Of course Rodney would never admit it. Jeez sex maniacs, was that the term Rodney had used, that was for sure. Sheppard's pace quickened beating harder and faster. And then he felt it a little tickle just beginning to build.

Reaching bliss Sheppard cried out Rodney's name as he heard Rodney coming to his own end in gasping moans. As he exited, he heard Rodney yelp before laying down on his stomach, letting the white spots clear from his eyes.

Sheppard went to the bedside table and put the lube away. After that he didn't think they had energy for much more than sleeping. As he turned he saw Rodney's eyes looking at him.

"Your wearing it?"

"Yeah, I was curious as to where you got it but it's my size and it's really comfortable. So you over your fear yet?" asked Sheppard still holding the slack, filled condom.

"Yeah…okay…I'm over it…jeez…go clean up…that thing is disgusting to look at," grouched Rodney, as he closed his eyes.

"Right."

Once he had removed it from himself and disposed of it properly, he cleaned up and when he had returned, Rodney lay asleep, legs and arms tied to the bed, his snores loud. Sheppard smiled. He would have to do the rest of the clean up too huh.

Sheppard went around and cleaned up the condom wrapper and then picked up all the clothes off the floor piling them in a stack on his desk, he blew out all the candles. No point in leaving them on when he was asleep. Then he carefully untied Rodney's restraints one by one. Once he had done that he'd taken a clean wash cloth and used it to clean up the mess Rodney had.

Rolling Rodney over he tugged the blankets from beneath the snoring frame, sliding in beside him, Sheppard faced him. As he watched Rodney's rise and fall of his chest and his eyelids flutter, he smiled. If this was what I felt like to love someone then he was…was in love…with Rodney… He couldn't deny that he still couldn't voice it out loud yet…it was still too soon… but he also couldn't deny that his feelings were just that.

As Rodney grumbled something inaudible and snaked an arm around Sheppard's torso, he snuggled close to Rodney. Before he had even closed his eyes he heard Rodney say, "Secret fear #2 in case you were wondering is having a threesome…"

Sheppard's eyes popped out. "What?"

Rodney opened his eyes. "Just kidding, acutally I'd like to know what yours is? I think it's only fair?"

Sheppard shook his head. "I don't think so!"

"Oh come on…lover boy."

Sheppard blushed. Honestly blushed. "Your blushing?" sputtered Rodney, a smile creeping up his face.

"Yes yes. Oh alright…you really want to know?"

"Yeah."

"Okay it involves tentacle sex…"

Rodney stared. "Your strange…go to sleep."

And with that the two in each other's arms feel asleep. Sheppard dreaming of doing the night over again and Rodney planning for the next anniversary on what he could do to make Sheppard face his own fear.