Think the Dancer Mad by Darsynia (PG)

[margarks.livejournal.com]

Show: SGA
Rec Category: Sheppard/McKay
Characters:: Rodney McKay, John Sheppard
Pairing: Sheppard/McKay
Het/Slash/Gen: Slash
Warnings/Spoilers: Spoilers for all seasons up to Outcast.
Author on LJ: darsynia
Author's Website: Darsynia's Fandom Bookshelves
Link: Think the Dancer Mad

Why This Must Be Read: This story is for anyone who likes a good emotional h/c story.

Within seconds of the story's beginning, Rodney begins to hallucinate. As his sanity degenerates he is forced to live through his worst fears. The characterizations are great, with John, of course, feeling his usual helplessness and frustration because of Rodney's pain.

I love, too, how the author immediately establishes John and Rodney's closeness in the opening paragraph. John's observations of Rodney and how well he can read Rodney's body language tell you almost everything you need to know. And the fact that even during his hallucinations, Rodney focuses on John's safety, as well as his own, lead so well to the inevitable conclusion of the story.


Excerpt:
“Hey, look at me,” he instructed McKay, who had stepped closer to the window in frozen fascination.

“Watch out! I have no intention of losing you to something as stupid as drowning via gross incompetence!” Rodney shouted the last phrase over his shoulder at the figure coming toward them, just barely visible at the end of the hallway. It was hard to tell who it was, since McKay was forcibly dragging him away from the stained glass as though their lives depended on it. Which, John supposed, was probably the point, at least in Rodney’s mind.

“Slow down,” John said. “Tell me what you see.”

For a long moment it looked as though Rodney was going to snap at him, too, but suddenly all of the tension fell away as though leeched from him by John’s words, and he turned to look at the window that was now ten feet from them.

“Water,” he said flatly. “We’re— It looks like we’re submerged.”

John remembered the driving rain and desperation he’d experienced as a part of Rodney’s nightmare, feeling the cold drops as though they were sliding down his spine at that exact moment.
...