elementalv (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
elementalv) wrote2009-04-21 04:13 pm
elementalv) wrote2009-04-21 04:13 pm
FICLET: Espy, SGA, McKay/Sheppard
Title: Espy
Author: elementalv
Rating: PG
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mcsheplets Challenge Prompt: At first sight
~*~*~
John is weirdly grateful to Carson for waiting until just before dinner to remove the bandages. “Weirdly” because the timing means that Rodney will, in fact, be present and accounted for at the unveiling, and John can’t quite get over how calm that makes him. In the past, he would have harassed Carson into changing the time so Rodney couldn’t be around, but habit took a back seat to an unexpected need for comfort. And in John’s lexicon, comfort has come to equal Rodney bitching about the medical profession and whatever else might have pissed him off during the day.
This is a little too bizarre for John to want to look at very closely.
“Well? What are you waiting for, Carson? Lights, camera, and a call for action? Full orchestration?” John’s shoulders relax when Rodney arrives, because Rodney is a shit liar who thinks patient confidentiality is for other people. John has no doubt that Rodney has already read his medical file and found no cause for complaint. If he had, if the news had been bad, John would hear it in his voice.
“I don’t recall having sent you an invitation,” Carson says, a fine thread of irritation running through his voice. He can’t see it, but John is pretty sure Rodney is flapping his hands in dismissal.
“Like that would stop me. Get a move on, already. The mess is serving lasagna made with freeze-dried hamburger from Earth, and I don’t want to miss it.”
Carson mutters something too low for John to understand then tells John to keep his eyes closed. “I know you’re anxious, Colonel, but you’ve had the bandages on for the last two weeks, so light will be painful. Rodney, stop fluttering around.”
“What? I’m not fluttering!” John hears the scrape of a chair being dragged and then, “I don’t flutter.”
“Just keep telling yourself that,” Carson says as he begins to unwind the bandages. As the last of them fall away, John keeps his eyes closed, but Carson isn’t taking chances. He immediately puts his hand over John’s eyes and says, “The lights in here are dimmed, but your eyes may yet water when you first open them.”
“Can I? Open them?” It’s a tense moment — more so than John expected — and John is suddenly anxious about opening his eyes.
“Slowly, son.”
“He’s two years older than you,” Rodney says impatiently.
“Aye, and you’re a year older, but your behavior isn’t much better than a toddler’s.” John turns toward Rodney’s bitching and opens his eyes carefully. Despite Carson’s efforts, the room is still bright enough that the light kind of hurts. He blinks rapidly as Carson gradually pulls away his hand. “Well, Colonel?”
After a moment, John’s eyes remember how to focus, and the first thing he sees is Rodney’s vaguely anxious expression. “Still worried about the lasagna, Rodney?”
Rodney opens his mouth then smiles broadly. “Of course I am. And now that Carson has done his mother hen routine, we can get dinner.”
“Not so fast. I still have a few tests to run on the Colonel.”
“But —”
“Rodney.” John cuts him off easily more easily than he expected. It’s possible that Rodney was more worried than he let on.
“What?”
“I’ll be right behind you,” John says, making a promise that doesn’t have a lot to do with dinner.
Rodney goes an impossibly delicate shade of pink, and John grins. Being able to see to stay in Atlantis is one thing. Being able to see Rodney blush is a hell of a lot better.
Author: elementalv
Rating: PG
mcsheplets Challenge Prompt: At first sight John is weirdly grateful to Carson for waiting until just before dinner to remove the bandages. “Weirdly” because the timing means that Rodney will, in fact, be present and accounted for at the unveiling, and John can’t quite get over how calm that makes him. In the past, he would have harassed Carson into changing the time so Rodney couldn’t be around, but habit took a back seat to an unexpected need for comfort. And in John’s lexicon, comfort has come to equal Rodney bitching about the medical profession and whatever else might have pissed him off during the day.
This is a little too bizarre for John to want to look at very closely.
“Well? What are you waiting for, Carson? Lights, camera, and a call for action? Full orchestration?” John’s shoulders relax when Rodney arrives, because Rodney is a shit liar who thinks patient confidentiality is for other people. John has no doubt that Rodney has already read his medical file and found no cause for complaint. If he had, if the news had been bad, John would hear it in his voice.
“I don’t recall having sent you an invitation,” Carson says, a fine thread of irritation running through his voice. He can’t see it, but John is pretty sure Rodney is flapping his hands in dismissal.
“Like that would stop me. Get a move on, already. The mess is serving lasagna made with freeze-dried hamburger from Earth, and I don’t want to miss it.”
Carson mutters something too low for John to understand then tells John to keep his eyes closed. “I know you’re anxious, Colonel, but you’ve had the bandages on for the last two weeks, so light will be painful. Rodney, stop fluttering around.”
“What? I’m not fluttering!” John hears the scrape of a chair being dragged and then, “I don’t flutter.”
“Just keep telling yourself that,” Carson says as he begins to unwind the bandages. As the last of them fall away, John keeps his eyes closed, but Carson isn’t taking chances. He immediately puts his hand over John’s eyes and says, “The lights in here are dimmed, but your eyes may yet water when you first open them.”
“Can I? Open them?” It’s a tense moment — more so than John expected — and John is suddenly anxious about opening his eyes.
“Slowly, son.”
“He’s two years older than you,” Rodney says impatiently.
“Aye, and you’re a year older, but your behavior isn’t much better than a toddler’s.” John turns toward Rodney’s bitching and opens his eyes carefully. Despite Carson’s efforts, the room is still bright enough that the light kind of hurts. He blinks rapidly as Carson gradually pulls away his hand. “Well, Colonel?”
After a moment, John’s eyes remember how to focus, and the first thing he sees is Rodney’s vaguely anxious expression. “Still worried about the lasagna, Rodney?”
Rodney opens his mouth then smiles broadly. “Of course I am. And now that Carson has done his mother hen routine, we can get dinner.”
“Not so fast. I still have a few tests to run on the Colonel.”
“But —”
“Rodney.” John cuts him off easily more easily than he expected. It’s possible that Rodney was more worried than he let on.
“What?”
“I’ll be right behind you,” John says, making a promise that doesn’t have a lot to do with dinner.
Rodney goes an impossibly delicate shade of pink, and John grins. Being able to see to stay in Atlantis is one thing. Being able to see Rodney blush is a hell of a lot better.
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Espy
I loved how John's perspective has changed to wanting Rodney around for comfort. And then seeing Rodney's worry and blushing.
I've added your author tag (also pairing and rating). Welcome to the community!
Re: Espy
[pets John and Rodney]
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(Anonymous) 2009-04-21 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
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Yay! Glad you enjoyed it.
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(Anonymous) 2009-04-22 12:01 am (UTC)(link)Nice!
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This was just what I needed to read this morning. And I adore the last line.
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allmuzed up from LJ
(Anonymous) 2009-04-22 04:31 am (UTC)(link)Re: allmuzed up from LJ
Thank you right back!
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Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the story.
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*sigh*
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(Anonymous) 2009-04-22 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)That's a strange reason - but if it works for John it's perfect! *g*
Nice, heart-warming story.
Antares
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Espy
Re: Espy
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Much, much better:)
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[pets John and Rodney]
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(Anonymous) 2009-05-18 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)Aww this is so sweet! I can totally see why Rodney would be a comfort to John .. . and why he would turn pink. ;-) Lovely!
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