Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or its characters. If I did, the show would still be running.

Warning: Light JS/RM. I tried to keep the Katie Brown bashing to a minimum too (though I really don't like her).

Summary: Set during episode 3x08. After playing golf, John and Rod talk about their relationship with their own Rodney and John.

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Lt-Colonel John Sheppard and the other Dr Rodney McKay had just dropped the golf clubs in John's room and were on their way to the mess hall to have lunch. They were still laughing about that one time when Rod had planted a Wraith mask next to his John in his bed while he was sleeping, which had led to a very awake John Sheppard and several bullets in the innocent pillow.

"We heard the gunshots, so we ran to his room. And when we got in, he was standing on his bed, his gun pointed at a destroyed Wraith mask and his face… You should have seen his face! Of course, he knows it was me so I have to sleep with one eye open now, but it was totally worth it. Plus, it was only payback for that time when he hacked my computer for it to freeze on a porn site next time I would use the projection device. If Dr Weir didn't know better, she'd think I have a terrible kink for busty Asian women. Colonel Caldwell, on the other hand, still thinks I do, which makes my trips aboard the Dedalus extremely awkward."

John burst into laughter hearing that. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to make fun of you, I'm just picturing Caldwell's face!"

"It's all right, my John was laughing so hard he fell on the floor. Don't do that to Rodney, though, I don't think he'd take it so well. He doesn't strike me as the prankster type. By the way, speaking of the devil, how are things going between you two?" Rod asked.

"Good. I mean, it might sound like I don't like the guy, but we're actually good friends. We watch movies together, sometimes. We're planning to have a Batman series marathon next time. The ones with Julie Newmar as Catwoman."

"You must see each other a lot."

"Not as often as we used to, now that Rodney has a girlfriend, but yes, we do."

Rod looked surprised. "A girlfriend?"

"Yes. Katie Brown. You know, the botanist?"

"Yes, I remember Katie Brown. I'm just surprised, that's all."

"Well… I never thought a botanist would interest him, but…"

"No, I meant I'm surprised that he has a girlfriend."

"I take it you don't have one, then?"

"Not exactly. I do have someone in my life, but not a girlfriend. What about you?"

John suddenly looked uncomfortable and rubbed his neck. "I'm not really looking for someone, actually."

Rod grinned. "Oh, I see, you're just like my John, then. You're in love but you have no idea how to bring it up, don't you?"

John smiled sheepishly. "Is it that obvious?"

Rod smirked. "Only if you know what signs to look for. I know my John, and you're behaving the same way he does around his husband."

A wide-eyed John Sheppard stopped dead in his tracks.

"His husband?" he repeated.

Rod stopped too and turned to John. His grin grew wider. "Yes, his husband. Me."

"John and you are married?!" John was now downright shocked.

"Well, technically speaking, we're bonded. It's pretty much the same. You see, when I explained to Teyla that we couldn't get married on Earth due to DADT, she offered to perform an Athosian bonding ritual for us. It took some convincing, but as John pointed out, it would have been quite rude of me to decline since I am a member of the High Council. So I agreed and now we are married."

"Hold on, you were the one who needed to be convinced?"

"Not for long, the sneaky dude asked in bed. Don't look so surprised, I'm sure you can get your own Rodney to do whatever you want after sex."

"… We don't sleep together!" John yelled, earning several questioning looks from people passing by.

"What? You guys are not even sex buddies here?" Rod looked genuinely surprised.

"No!"

"Why not? You obviously want to. Are you some kind of prude? Oh my God, is Rodney some kind of prude? Please tell me he's not a virgin, here."

"What? No! I… I didn't even know he was gay!"

"He's bisexual at least, I can assure you. Is that why you never told him you loved him?"

"I… I don't know, I guess I didn't think he'd like me like that." John started, looking uncomfortable.

"He most certainly does."

"Really? How can you tell? I mean, sure, he's you in some way, but you are quite different from each other. How can you be sure?"

"Haven't you noticed how jealous he's been since I got here? And only when it comes to you. He does pout when I'm talking to Jeanie, Ronon or Radek, but when I'm talking to you, I can tell he's wondering what to do with my dead body after he forces a whole bucket of lemons down my throat."

John smiled and seemed to consider it. Eventually he asked "What about Katie Brown? He sounds serious about her."

Rod snorted. "She's not the right one for him. Rodney needs someone who can stand up to him when he aims too high for his own good. Like when he blew up that solar system. Katie is too… Hum… I'm sorry, I don't know how to say it nicely. Why is he dating her anyway?"

John shrugged "Beats me. So… Sheppard and McKay, a married couple, huh? I'm not gonna lie, that was unexpected. How did the others take it?"

"Surprisingly fine. Of course, only a few people know because of John's career and they don't bring it up a lot. I did hear Major Lorne refer to us as "McShep" once when he thought I wasn't listening, though. I think Zelenka came up with it."

"McShep. I like the sound of that. But doesn't it sound suspicious to those who don't know?"

"No, they just think it's a team name or something. What might seem suspicious, on the other hand, is Ronon bursting out laughing when Caldwell mentions that we, and I quote, "bicker like and old married couple". Though in Ronon's defence, even Teyla had trouble not to giggle hearing that."

"Rodney and I fight a lot here too. About him being arrogant, about me getting hit on by alien women, …"

Rodney rolled his eyes "Tell me about it. Sometimes I just want to glue a sticker that says "MARRIED MAN, GET LOST" on his forehead. It took some time for us to get together, there's no way I'm letting some easy alien babe get into his pants."

"How did the two of you get together anyway?"

"My John is about as subtle as you, which means very little. Once he decided to go for it and made his intentions clear, it took a while to convince me I wouldn't be a one-night thing. Came by the lab every morning to bring me a coffee with a cheesy pick-up line written on it. At first, I found it annoying and asked him when he was going to stop. He said "When you're in my bed when I wake up". He kept bringing me coffee and I grew to like it eventually. So, one day, I got up earlier, brought a coffee to his room, sat on his bed and woke him up with the most ridiculous pick-up line I could think of. We've been dating ever since."

"Cheesy pick-up lines?"

"Yes. You know, like "Know what my body is made of? Boyfriend material" and others like that."

"So coffee and pick-up lines. Smooth."

Rod patted John on the back. "You should try, it could work with your Rodney."

"I don't know. I've never given it much thought. Rodney is my best friend and I don't want things to get weird between us. Plus he's dating Brown."

Rod grinned. "For now…"

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When they found a way to send Rod back to his own universe, John came to the lab to say goodbye. He couldn't help but glance at his own Rodney, frantically working on his computer and snapping at Zelenka. He then noticed that Rod was watching him, clearly trying to conceal a knowing smile. John cleared his throat and went to talk to him. "So… Going home to your own Sheppard, then?"

"Yes. I didn't think I'd be able to. He's gonna be pissed that I did it, but on the bright side, it means a lot of angry sex in the foreseeable future."

John chuckled. "Lucky you."

"Speaking of which… I talked to your Rodney."

"You did what?"

Rod raised his hands in a defensive stance. "Hear me out before yelling at me, okay? Turns out he broke up with Katie Brown some time ago. It took some effort to drag it out of him, but it seems that he was just trying to persuade himself that he wasn't head over hills for some sexy Mensa smart American flyboy with messy hair. See where I'm going with this?", he finished, looking smug.

"You mean Rodney really does love me?"

"Yep. No matter what parallel universe we're in, some things seem like they're just meant to be."

"Things like McShep?"

Rod smiled. "Yes, things like McShep. Anyway, I have to go, so take care of yourself, John. And of Rodney, of course."

John hugged Rod. "I will. Thanks for everything, Rod."

"You're welcome. Oh, and by the way… Two sugars in his coffee."

John smiled. "I know, I've noticed."

Rod chuckled. "Of course you have."

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A few days later, John came to see Rodney in his lab early in the morning. "Hey Rodney!"

Rodney looked up from his computer, obviously surprised to see someone had come in without him noticing. "John? Good morning. Is there a problem?"

"No. I was just in the mess hall earlier and I thought I'd drop by to bring you a cup of coffee, since you'd probably have been working all night on something important and have no time to get one yourself. Here."

John showed Rodney the extra cup and put it on his desk with a napkin.

"Gotta go, though. Training session with Teyla in ten minutes. I'll pick you up for lunch. You look like you could use some time out of the lab. And that's not a question, so don't even think about saying "no", okay?"

Rodney looked about to protest for a moment, but nodded. "Okay, see you at lunch, then."

John grinned. "Great! Enjoy your coffee."

"Thanks! See you later!"

Rodney grabbed the cup and tasted the coffee. Just like he liked it. He took another sip…

And choked on it when he noticed "Hey, my name is Microsoft. Can I crash at your place tonight?" written on the napkin.

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Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. Just a couple of things I would like to add:

This episode (3x08) is so awesome I can't believe I still haven't come across a McShep fic using it. Another McKay, from a parallel universe? Could be useful in so many plots. Maybe I'll even write another one some day.

I might write the lunch scene and/ or a first date as a sequel, but only if I come up with something I like, so don't hold your breath.

This is the only way I can see awful pick-up lines actually working. I have not tested it yet, though, so if you plan on doing so, please let me know how it works out (and please don't blame it on me if it fails). :)

Speaking of terrible pick-up lines, if you like these and ship McShep, you should totally read Nevyn's story Aromas to Truth (you can find it in my favourite stories, on my profile). You'll love it.

Writing in English is still pretty new to me, so if you spotted grammar or spelling mistakes, don't hesitate to point them out so I won't make them again.