Neither Helpful Nor Comforting by 20thcenturyvole PG

[annieb1955.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping this one hasn't been recced before. I checked the memories very carefully but I'm tired from babysitting my grandson, Benji, the technotoddler, and therefore apt to miss stuff.

Show: SGA
Rec Category: John/Rodney
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay
Pairing: John/Rodney
Het/Slash/Gen: Slash
Warning: none
Author on LJ: 20thcenturyvole
Author's Website: Wraithbait
Link: Neither Helpful Nor Comforting

I loved the mix of snark and humor in this. Rodney his usual doom-laden self and John laidback. Loved the alien creatures, something a little different from the norm. And a really sweet ending.



Sheppard, dripping and shivering and propped up on shaking arms, knelt on the rock and heaved until his gut hurt and his mouth tasted more like bile than salt. It was black rock, sort of ripply and swirly in places; volcanic. Basalt, maybe. Pretty. He coughed and spat a few more times, then shuddered and leaned his forehead against the slick, cold surface.

Somewhere behind him (not very far behind him; it was a pretty small ledge), Rodney said, "Mwphgh."

John smiled slightly, nose still touching the wet rock, and decided to wait a few seconds until the shaking was manageable. Apparently Rodney took his silence badly, though, because his first actual words were, "Colonel? You didn't, you know, hit a rock and gain horrible internal injuries, did you? Because if you need first aid or emergency surgery then there's not much I'm going to be able to do for you down here—"

"McKay," Sheppard croaked; he could picture Rodney's face right now, half irritation and half genuine, flustered worry. There was an audible clack as Rodney shut his mouth mid-babble. "I'm really fine, I just hit the water at a bad angle." He pushed himself back upright and twisted around as best he could, his thigh brushing Rodney's as he sat back against the cavern wall – and shit, his hands and knees hurt from kneeling on the rock. He would've placed bets that it would be five minutes before his ass was numb, too. They were both soaked through, had both lost their packs with the falling and the almost-drowning. When he stretched his legs out, his boots just kissed the water.

All in all, not in a good position here.

Comments

[popkin16]

Oo, I haven't read this :D Thanks for the rec!

[annieb1955.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad I found something someone hasn't read. I loved it.

[popkin16]

It's brilliant. Kind of sweet and funny at the same time :D I had to tweet about it, too. The "antagonists" are funny!

[wanted-a-pony.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this rec--Neither Helpful Nor Comforting is a fun, science-y action-adventure with a twist I've never read before. I love that John is a bit of a volcano nerd too; seems like the sort of off-beat dangerous thing that would fascinate a too-young-to-legally-drive Sheppard. (If they'd been around then I bet he'd've been a big fan of Shark Week & tornado chasing too. ;-)

[esteefee]

this was *awesome*, thanks. loved the aliens!

[annieb1955.livejournal.com]

Very glad you enjoyed