Zorro's Legacy by ShepsReyna (PG-13)

[asugar.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: John Sheppard
Pairing: none
Category: John Sheppard, Team, Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Action/Adventure
Warning: Sheppard whumping abounds
Author on LJ: none known
Author's Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1392830/ShepsReyna
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/r/4153326/

Why This Must Be Read: Zorro's Legacy by the brilliant ShepsReyna is a great whumper/team-on-earth tale and a nice look at John as a pilot of planes rather than jumpers. In this story, Sheppard and McKay arrange with the IOA to take Teyla and Ronon on a trip around Europe. John is thrilled when it turns out Colonel Ramos, one of his first flying instructors, is the pilot on their flight to London. John is as jinxed on Earth as in Pegasus though and their reunion is soon marred when things soon go very wrong per usual (albeit in a more mundane and non-Ancient technology or Wraith way) in this excellent action-adventure story.

While the plot will be familiar to anyone who's seen an action movie involving a commercial jet, this is in no way a bad thing since it allows the author a lot of room to focus on and flesh out the relationship between Sheppard and Colonel Ramos. Their friendship and mutual respect is carefully drawn and he and Sheppard have a touching camaraderie and father-son-like affection between them. Sheppard's rebellious streak and issues with authority have been explored ad nauseam and it's a wonderful change of pace to see him with a beloved former commander and mentor. I love most the scenes of the two of them flying. The team dynamic is well-used to propel the action and Ronon, McKay and Teyla all play important parts. There's also much painful Sheppard-whump for hurt/comfort aficionados and O'Neill makes a very special cameo appearance.