Preview: That Which, by darsynia
Title: That Which
Author: darsynia
Pairing: Sheppard/McKay
Story Rating: NC-17 (snippet rating: PG)
Word Count: 54,192
Story Warnings: sex, language (snippet warnings: language)
Story Notes: This story goes AU at the end of season four, and starts right where The Last Man left off (so those of you that have avoided season five can feel free to read it; a very few concepts seem drawn from season five's premiere but were written prior to its airing). It is best described as an action/adventure story masquerading as a humor first time fic, complete with pining Rodney, oblivious John, and lovingly-written character bits for some of the supporting cast. Many thanks to everyone that dealt with my whining about finishing this--you and my lovely and talented betas will be thanked profusely in the (edit: official) story notes.
Summary in snippet form:
That which does not kill us by falling on us,
When Rodney next opens his eyes, the light has shifted, and so has the temperature. This is disheartening, given that he’s in the same position as before, but before he can work up enough energy to feel abandoned, he hears a shout somewhere above him. He can’t quite make out words, and this is worrying enough that he keeps his eyes closed for fear of what his pain-hazed mind will make of his surroundings. Soon enough, the sounds draw closer, and he’s able to lift a corner of his mouth in a hidden smile when he hears a voice he can recognize.
…frustrate us to death by refusing to love us easily,
Rodney's always been good at keeping secrets and terrible at telling lies, a dichotomy that only works because he rarely has occasion to lie about what his job entails in a place like Atlantis. He's less used to hiding how he feels about-well, about anything, but he's nothing if not determined. They're subtle adjustments, really. On Earth it had become easy to replace his mental response of 'saving the world' with 'something really, really complicated that you would never understand' when asked what he did for a living; on Atlantis, he'd learned to replace a certain name in his head with 'Colonel' and 'Sheppard' in conversation. Rodney's life is mostly focused around self-preservation, after all, and if he allows himself the luxury of saying that name out loud once or twice after four years of abstinence, there's no real harm done. He can keep a secret when he's motivated enough.
…sabotage us into the ocean-
“Damnit, John, I’m not fucking with you. There are two options here, two. We contain the explosion or I come down there and replace the crystal. There is no third option!” Rodney hisses into his mic, barely audible in the control room, he hopes, but perfectly clear in John’s earpiece. The resulting silence would feel gratifying in any other situation.
“I’m fixing the camera,” John says, voice so flat he might have been talking about a bad golf score. Then, lower, and with more emotion, “Never rule out the third option, Rodney.”
On hearing this, Rodney leans down and closes a fist around his fallen crutch, yanking it towards him and up as he grabs at its mate. Tucking the crystal into a pocket, he stands up and shoves his chair back and out of the way with his good leg...
…that which gives us hope...
“Are you an idiot? You need me. Atlantis has Zelenka,” Rodney says, square-jawed and implacable.
“We’re headed to a hive ship, Rodney. Teyla’s life is at stake-”
“Which is why you’re going to stop being obtuse and let me come with you. She’s too important to lose,” Rodney says, and the mirroring of John’s earlier thought makes him forget to hold back.
“So are you!” John shouts. This shuts Rodney up, and in the quiet of the jumper bay, they both stand there looking at each other for a long uncomfortable moment.
“So, don’t lose me,” Rodney finally says, swinging himself up into the jumper John plans to use for the rescue.
…makes us stronger.
Author: darsynia
Pairing: Sheppard/McKay
Story Rating: NC-17 (snippet rating: PG)
Word Count: 54,192
Story Warnings: sex, language (snippet warnings: language)
Story Notes: This story goes AU at the end of season four, and starts right where The Last Man left off (so those of you that have avoided season five can feel free to read it; a very few concepts seem drawn from season five's premiere but were written prior to its airing). It is best described as an action/adventure story masquerading as a humor first time fic, complete with pining Rodney, oblivious John, and lovingly-written character bits for some of the supporting cast. Many thanks to everyone that dealt with my whining about finishing this--you and my lovely and talented betas will be thanked profusely in the (edit: official) story notes.
Summary in snippet form:
That which does not kill us by falling on us,
When Rodney next opens his eyes, the light has shifted, and so has the temperature. This is disheartening, given that he’s in the same position as before, but before he can work up enough energy to feel abandoned, he hears a shout somewhere above him. He can’t quite make out words, and this is worrying enough that he keeps his eyes closed for fear of what his pain-hazed mind will make of his surroundings. Soon enough, the sounds draw closer, and he’s able to lift a corner of his mouth in a hidden smile when he hears a voice he can recognize.
…frustrate us to death by refusing to love us easily,
Rodney's always been good at keeping secrets and terrible at telling lies, a dichotomy that only works because he rarely has occasion to lie about what his job entails in a place like Atlantis. He's less used to hiding how he feels about-well, about anything, but he's nothing if not determined. They're subtle adjustments, really. On Earth it had become easy to replace his mental response of 'saving the world' with 'something really, really complicated that you would never understand' when asked what he did for a living; on Atlantis, he'd learned to replace a certain name in his head with 'Colonel' and 'Sheppard' in conversation. Rodney's life is mostly focused around self-preservation, after all, and if he allows himself the luxury of saying that name out loud once or twice after four years of abstinence, there's no real harm done. He can keep a secret when he's motivated enough.
…sabotage us into the ocean-
“Damnit, John, I’m not fucking with you. There are two options here, two. We contain the explosion or I come down there and replace the crystal. There is no third option!” Rodney hisses into his mic, barely audible in the control room, he hopes, but perfectly clear in John’s earpiece. The resulting silence would feel gratifying in any other situation.
“I’m fixing the camera,” John says, voice so flat he might have been talking about a bad golf score. Then, lower, and with more emotion, “Never rule out the third option, Rodney.”
On hearing this, Rodney leans down and closes a fist around his fallen crutch, yanking it towards him and up as he grabs at its mate. Tucking the crystal into a pocket, he stands up and shoves his chair back and out of the way with his good leg...
…that which gives us hope...
“Are you an idiot? You need me. Atlantis has Zelenka,” Rodney says, square-jawed and implacable.
“We’re headed to a hive ship, Rodney. Teyla’s life is at stake-”
“Which is why you’re going to stop being obtuse and let me come with you. She’s too important to lose,” Rodney says, and the mirroring of John’s earlier thought makes him forget to hold back.
“So are you!” John shouts. This shuts Rodney up, and in the quiet of the jumper bay, they both stand there looking at each other for a long uncomfortable moment.
“So, don’t lose me,” Rodney finally says, swinging himself up into the jumper John plans to use for the rescue.
…makes us stronger.