Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda by liketheriver (PG-13)

[asugar.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Original Character
Pairing: None
Category: Original Character, John Sheppard, Hurt/Comfort, Gen
Warning: None
Author on LJ: http://liketheriverrun.livejournal.com/
Author's Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/755674/
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sga_flashfic/824414.html

Why This Must Be Read: Sheppard's team are rescued off-world by teams led by Lorne and Major Slater. During their egress, an already injured Sheppard and Slater end up separated from the others and in deep water under a broken floor. Slater must keep his CO alive and get them out of there.

This is a marvelous Sheppard whumper and the author has created a wonderful character in the good-humored and pragmatic Slater. The vividness of his personality and his affection and respect for his teammates, Atlantis and his much-injured CO elevate this story above the standard Sheppard-gets-hurt-and-rescued fic. The wonderful picture drawn of Slater's team and their various misadventures shows that there's more than one Atlantis team who are like family to each other and that we'd enjoy spending more time with. Maybe the author will give us a sequel with more of Slater and his team?

A snippet of fiction...
Lorne’s voice comes through my radio. "We’ve got hostiles between us." Apparently those three bodies Delph had seen had multiplied.
"How many?" I ask, weighing my options for getting us out of here.
"A couple dozen at least."
Dozens to their six weren’t good odds, for any of us. "Can you guys make it out?"
"Olson’s team is holding the front door open for us. McKay is already with them."
"Good to hear. Although, that kind of leaves us in a bind," I point out. "Seeing as I don’t remember there being a back door to this place"
"I don’t think they realize you’re behind us," Lorne continues, the sound of gunfire causing him to yell to be heard. "We’re keeping them pretty busy for the time being. Capt. Delph thinks he can take their numbers down pretty quick."
Understanding where he was going with his train of thought, I tell him, "We’ll fall back to the room with the cells. Tell Delph to see if he can keep from bringing the ceiling down on us."
"Copy that," Lorne agrees. "Standby."
"Oh, ye of little faith," Scott taunts back. "Although you might want to cover your ears, Major. Population control can get a little noisy sometimes."
I turn us around and Sheppard is instantly asking, "What’s wrong?"
"We’re cut off," I explain. "My guys are going to try to clear a path for us."
He actually resists moving, coughing before asking, "What about Lorne and McKay?"
"Dr. McKay is probably already in the Jumper by now. Once Delph blows the hall, we’ll be right behind them."
A few seconds later, a gleeful, "Fire in the hole," rings in my ear, and the entire building rumbles. Plaster from the ceiling rains down on us and the lights flicker before everything settles.
"Are we clear?" I ask through my radio.
"Well," Lorne drawls, "the good news is that we don’t have a problem with the hostile forces anymore. The bad news is that we don’t have a hallway anymore either."