Chapter Text
A wave of nostalgia settled over Atlantis as they returned to the Pegasus galaxy. November had just ended back on Earth as they’d left for New Lantia, meaning it had to be late December by now.
"I didn't realize how much I missed winter time," Jennifer said. She moved her food around her tray. The area of New Lantia they’d settled in was in a perpetual summer.
The entire gang was sitting together in the dining hall. The Earthlings picked at their food in unison.
"Never thought of it till now," John agreed.
“The season itself?” Teyla asked.
“More like the holidays,” Jennifer explained. “All the happy feelings in the air.”
“They don’t really matter in this galaxy,” Rodney said between mouthfuls. He was the only one not feeling the holiday blues. “I see none of you lived in the South,” he added.
That earned him a few dirty looks.
“Ever the Scourge,” Carson sighed.
Rodney narrowed his eyes at him.
“What are these holidays?” Todd inquired.
“Didn’t I mention any?” John asked.
“There’s Hanukkah,” Lorne begins.
“Christmas.”
“Yule.”
“Kwanzaa.”
“And a bunch of others.”
“Do you celebrate them all?” Teyla asked, surprised at the number.
“No, different religions and cultures do their own thing or a mix,” John explained.
“My people only celebrate with a winter feast,” Teyla said.
“Most holidays do that,” Rodney rolled his eyes. “That’s the only good part, if you ask me.”
“No one did, Rodney,” Radek said as he patted Rodney’s back.
“Oh my god,” Jennifer perked up, “Why don’t we just have a winter feast here? Like a huge, all-inclusive winter holiday festival.”
The group perked up at that idea.
“A brilliant idea, love,” Carson beams. “Everyone’s spirits could use a lift.”
“What? Why?” Rodney protested.
“Oh, come one, Rodney,” Lorne started, “even you can’t say no to a party.”
“Not unless it has an enormous buffet” Radek quipped.
“Shut up,” Rodney snapped. He wasn’t sure where his mood was coming from, but it was too late to stop now. “None of you have ever made a fuss about this before. We’re out here for years and one little visit to Earth has you all pouting? Good luck getting Woolsey to play along.”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
They looked up and saw Woolsey standing at the end of the table. “I believe it will improve morale,” he said. “And a chance to share culture with our alien friends.” He looked between Teyla, Ronon and Todd.
“I must agree that it sounds amusing,” Teyla said.
Jennifer clapped excitedly. “We have so much planning to do. I'll make a sign up sheet.”
“Perhaps that’s something we should work on together,” Woolsey said.
Rodney stood as the group continued chatting and coming up with ideas. “Some of us actually have work to do so you can count me out,” he said, but no one paid attention.
He left with a huff and stormed to his lab to do ‘real’ work.
Hours later, he went to his room and was surprised that Radek wasn’t there. He sat at the desk and fiddled with something on his tablet. He kept telling himself that he wasn’t waiting up. This was very important late night work.
The door opened and Radek walked in. Rodney straightened in his seat and didn’t look at him.
“There you are,” Radek greeted him. “You weren’t answering your radio.”
“I was busy.” Rodney stayed focused on his tablet.
“Right. Anyway, Dr. Keller was wondering if we could build a snow machine for the party.”
Rodney gave him a baffled look. “What?”
“I know it sounds a bit silly, but it could be fun.”
“Fun? We’ve been gone for months and we’re wasting time on fun? There are still repairs to do. We don’t even know the state of the galaxy since we left.”
“Rodney. It’s a small thing.” He moved closer and rubbed Rodney’s shoulders.
“A snow machine!? What do I look like? What’s next, an ice rink? Snowball fights? I leave for a few hours and this place becomes the Hallmark channel.”
Radek sighed and stepped away. “Forget I asked.”
Rodney watched as Radek grabbed a few things from around the room.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to sleep in my room for a few days. Give you more room for your work.”
“Oh, come on. Seriously?”
“Yes,” Radek said as the door closed.
“Fine!”
Rodney muttered to himself as he got ready for bed. “Snow machine, please,” he mumbled bitterly.
He shut his eyes and forced himself to sleep. His snores soon filled the room.
The only other sound was a ticking watch, long lost under a dresser. It made a string of beeps as it struck midnight.
Suddenly, a bright light filled every corner of the room. Rodney startled awake and tried to block the light from his eyes.
“What’s happening?” Rodney shouted.
The light slightly dimmed, and Rodney lowered his arm. He squinted and saw the glowing figure of Dr. Weir.
“Elizabeth?”
“Hello, Rodney.”
“What are you doing here? Why are you glowing?”
Weir looked at herself. “I guess that is a bit dramatic.”
She dimmed further and Rodney could look at her without squinting.
“How are you here? Are the replicators back?”
“Take my hand, Rodney. There’s something I need to show you.” She held her hand out.
He stared at it. “I don’t think so.”
She moved to the window.
“You know those don’t ope-”
She pushed the window open. Rodney’s jaw dropped. He walked over in disbelief.
“Let’s go on a trip,” Weir said.
“We’ll fall.”
“Not if you hold my hand.”
She held out her hand again. He hesitated, but took it this time. They began to float and he made a startled sound.
She chuckled. “Hold on tight.”
They flew out of the window and high into the sky. Atlantis floated down below them. All the stars in the galaxy reflected off the water’s surface.
“Oh, this can’t be happening,” Rodney squeaks.
They kept rising and rising.
“Wait, where are we going?” Rodney held tighter as they left the atmosphere.
They sped up, shot through the universe, and he imagined this is what it felt like before they added motion dampeners to the Stargate. He screamed the whole way.
They stopped abruptly. Rodney’s scream cut off when he realized they’d stopped moving.
“Where are we?” he panted.
“Don’t you recognize it?” Weir asked.
Rodney looked around. They were in a classroom surrounded by small children. It confused Rodney. Then he saw a boy that looked like his younger self.
“Is that me?”
“Hard to believe that cute little boy turned into you,” Weir mused.
“Hey!”
“Sorry. Do you remember this?”
Rodney looked around again. There were Christmas trees and Menorah paper cutouts decorating the walls. The class was gathered on a carpet surrounded by torn wrapping paper.
“Did everyone get a gift?” the teacher asked.
Little Rodney raised his hand. “Not me.”
“Oh.” The teacher looked around in her bag, but there was nothing. “I’m so sorry, Rodney, I must have miscounted. Does anyone want to share?”
Little Rodney looked around at his classmates. But the other kids either avoided eye contact, shook their heads, or giggled. Little Rodney’s lip trembled.
“Why is this so dramatic? Can we go?” Rodney snapped and looked away.
“Alright.” Weir took Rodney’s hand, and they whooshed away.
The trip was less intense this time. They ended up in what looked like Rodney’s old college lab. There was a holiday party happening. A bunch of students and some professors mingling. There was cheery music, silly hats, and sparkling cups that may or not have contained alcohol. School grounds, but it was the 80s.
“Do you remember this?”
“I think this was my first TA lab.”
“I’m sure you were super helpful.”
“Ha ha.”
“That looks more like you,” Weir said as she pointed to a young man making his way through the crowd.
“Professor,” College Rodney said as he reached an older man with a beard. “I figured out why the beam didn’t hold. There wasn’t-”
“Rodney! Glad you made it. Put that down. I want you to meet someone.” The professor redirected College Rodney’s attention.
“But professor-”
“This is Carson Beckett. He’s from the medical school across the street.”
“Hello.” A young Carson smiled at Rodney and held out his hand.
College Rodney looked confused for a second. He shook Carson’s hand and asked, “Medical? What are you doing here?”
Carson gave an awkward chuckle.
“Sorry. I meant that as a conversation starter.”
Weir chuckled. “I’m glad your social skills have improved since then.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wait, did you two date?” she asked as they continued watching the young men talk.
“That’s none of your business.”
“It is now.”
“Can we go? Who knows how much sleep I’ve lost? How am I supposed to work tomorrow?”
“Just one more to go, I promise.”
She held out her hand. He rolled his eyes as he took it. They whooshed ahead.
This time they’re outside a cafe. It’s a dessert. Rodney immediately recognized it as Nevada. It was a warm December, but there were still lights and garland decorating the cafe and the surrounding street.
“Oh, no,” Rodney groans.
“I take it you know where we are.”
They walk closer to the cafe and find the younger versions of Carson and Rodney sitting at an outdoor table.
“We never see each other anymore, Rodney, just this once?” the young Carson was saying.
“Some of us have work that we can’t just drop,” young Rodney replied.
“Is this really about your work, Rodney? Or are you just tired of me.”
“Why are you making it sound like I have to choose?”
“I’m not saying that. I just want you to make time for me.”
“I can’t. Maybe in a few months.”
Carson looks resigned.
“I don’t think so, Rodney.”
“Are you breaking up with me?”
“I just don’t think we’re well suited. Our personalities. Our schedules. Priorities.”
Young Rodney sat back and stared at Carson. “Fine.”
Carson gives him a weak smile and squeezes his hand before standing. “I’ll see you around, Rodney,” he said as he stood to leave.
Weir gave Rodney an unpleasant look.
“What? He was right and we’re still friends. We both have new relationships. It’s fine.”
“But are you taking better care of your relationship? All of them?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Take care, Rodney.”
She placed her hand on his chest and Rodney went flying back. He zoomed all the way back to the Pegasus galaxy and hit his bed with a thud.
He groaned and turned on his side.
“What was that for?” he asked an empty room. “Elizabeth?”
He sat up and looked around. The morning sun was streaming through the window, showing he was indeed alone. He went to the window and tried to open it. It didn’t budge.
Rodney shook his head. “Hallucination from undigested beef. That’s it,” he mumbled.
He showered. Dressed. Left the room.
Every hallway he passed was filled with people chatting about the holiday party. He had to squeeze past people in the mess just to get a plate.
As soon as he found a seat, Jennifer pounced on him.
“Did Radek ask you about the snow machine?”
“I haven’t even taken a bite,” he whined. “I’m not doing it.”
“Why not?”
“First, it’s a stupid idea. Think of the cleanup. Second, I have more important work to do. Unlike everyone else, it seems,” he said as he looked around the room.
John, Todd, Teyla and Ronon were at a table cutting and assembling decorations. Ronon was sitting as far from Todd as possible, which made the sight even funnier.
On a table near Rodney were Carson, Lorne, and Woolsey going over the menu.
“I say we just do a potluck. I can make latkes,” Lorne said.
“Aye, that way everyone can make their favorite dish.”
“I’m not sure how logistical that would be, considering the limited kitchens,” Woolsey said.
“Okay.” Lorne thought for a second. “How ‘bout we make a sign-up with scheduled kitchen times so there’s no overcrowding.”
“Please, Rodney.” Jennifer pouted. “I’m sure a silly little snow machine will take you no time.”
He squinted at her. “That won’t work this time.”
He grabbed his untouched tray and made his way through the crowd.
“Hey, Rodney,” John said when he got near his table. “Think you can help out here? I’m not really sure how I got stuck at the kiddie table.” He blocked his mouth, facing the others with his hand and stage whispered, “And apparently aliens aren’t very good at cutting out stars.”
“This in no way resembles a star, John Sheppard,” Todd said as he picked up John’s cutouts.
“It’s a simplified version,” John said for what Rodney assumed was the 100th time.
A mumbled “I’m busy” was the only response John got as Rodney left the room.
He made it back to his lab, food cold, and sank into a chair.
He was deep in reflection about his dream when Radek walked in.
“Rodney,” Radek greeted. “How’d you sleep?”
“Terribly,” he replied, then added, “But not because you weren’t there.”
Radek didn’t even bother rolling his eyes. He just kept gathering items from his toolkit.
“Hey, why can’t you make the stupid snow machine?” Rodney asked.
“Because I am working on the lights display and they asked you.”
“No, they asked you to ask me. Jennifer barely asked me today. Wait, what light display?”
“You left before we even discussed it. The one that’s going to hang from the ceiling.”
“Get electrical to do it. Why should you?”
Radek sighed. “Because it’s nice to do things for your friends.” He planted a kiss on Rodney’s head and left.
Rodney had this sudden feeling of guilt. Why? What should he be guilty about? He replayed the conversation in his head. He guessed he might have been a little cranky. Blame it on the restless sleep.
Yet, Radek was still loving towards him.
Rodney groaned. He grabbed his tablet and started working on schematics. Then he stopped. Was he really doing this? Was this emotional manipulation? He decided it was and continued on his own work of city repairs.
He came back to an empty room for the second night in a row. Fine.
He quickly got ready for bed and hoped he wouldn’t have any more weird dreams.