See No Evil by Greyias (PG-13)

[sholio]

Rec Category: John Sheppard & Rodney McKay friendship

Pairing: none
Category: Atlantis, AU, gen
Warning: none
Author on LJ: greyias
Author's Website: Shades of Grey
Link: See No Evil

Why This Must Be Read: In this AU written for sgabigbang, the Stargate program never happened, and test pilot John Sheppard meets Rodney McKay at a research facility. It's hate at first sight, from an inauspicious first meeting (John cuts Rodney off in traffic with his Harley) to the unwelcome realization that they're going to be working together, but both of them begin to realize there's more under the surface than first appearances suggest, especially when they both turn out to have a few skeletons hiding in their closets.

greyias's ability to combine hilarious and heartwarming in the John-Rodney friendship is second to none, and this long, satisfying story had me riveted from start to finish, alternating between "Oh my god, they're so unbearably cute" and "Eek! Rodney! Eek! John!" There are more one-liners and bad jokes than you can shake a puddlejumper at, but there's also a well-crafted and fascinating plot that weaves the characters' canon backstories into a very plausible AU. The reluctant friendship is perfectly true to what they have in canon, even as you watch it being built up, piece by piece, through a very different series of events. A few other canon characters are along for the ride, particularly a pitch-perfect Carson Beckett.

There's a fun movie-trailer-style preview at the sgabigbang community, or you can ( follow the cut to a snippet of fic )

The Seat of Talents by Xparrot (PG)

[sholio]

Rec Category: John Sheppard & Rodney McKay friendship

Pairing: none
Category: Atlantis, hurt/comfort
Warning: none
Author on LJ: xparrot
Author's Website: A Fan Page
Link: The Seat of Talents

Disclaimer: This story was written for a ficathon that I modded. Stories were posted anonymously by the mods - that's why my name's on the post in the above link!

Why This Must Be Read: This was written for the prompt "self-sacrifice" at sga_genficathon, and it's a gorgeous tale of friendship and love. The team are forced to choose one among them who must make a devastating sacrifice -- and the lengths that John and Rodney are willing to go, the price they're willing to pay for the team and for each other, and the consequences of that cost, breaks my heart and makes me love them all the more. A story like this could easily have degenerated into melodrama, but xparrot brings it to life with beautiful, lyrical prose that evokes a fairy-tale quality at times. And, though it's a John and Rodney story at heart, the rest of the team and the Pegasus galaxy itself are full participants and never given short shrift.

( Snippet of fic )

The Art of Reincarnation by Jenn (R)

[annienau08.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Jack O'Neill/Samantha Carter
Pairing: Jack/Sam
Category: Jack/Sam, Jack, Sam, het, angst, UST
Warning: none
Author on LJ: surreallis
Author's Website: Surreallis Fic
Link: The Art of Reincarnation

Why This Must Be Read: This fic is the ultimate in Sam/Jack angst and UST. Set post-'The Light', it interweaves their time in the Goa'uld palace with the events of 'Beneath the Surface'. As both Sam and Jack slowly go through withdrawal, the lines between their current relationship and the relationship they had as Jonah and Thera begin to blur, especially for Jack. Jenn does a wonderful job of showing how much their experiences as Jonah and Thera affected them, and how difficult it is for them to get past those experiences. An absolute must-read.

The Legacy of Babylon by CK (PG-13 by Rec'cer, 14A by Author)

[thenightsfall]

Rec Category: Jack/Daniel
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Category: First Time; Slash; Episode Related (The Fifth Race); Character Study; Daniel Jackson; Jack O'Neill
Warning: None
Author on LJ:  ckwellspring
Author's Website:  Wellspring
Link:  The Legacy of Babylon

Why This Must Be Read:  Weaving through and beyond the episode The Fifth Race, this beautiful little vignette offers up a character study that is as much about the individuality of the relationship between Jack and Daniel, as it is about each man himself, and it's told with language and metaphor that's both lyrical and a perfect accent to the canon story. 

"Without Sight Or Sound" by kristen999 [PG]

[tielan]

Rec Category: Sheppard/Teyla
Characters: John and Teyla
Category: action, drama, humour
Warning: None
Author on LJ: kristen999
Author's Website: LiveJournal
Link: Without Sight Or Sound

Why This Must Be Read:

Right now his job is leading Teyla to safety through a world of oil paintings and Charlie Chaplin. Sheppard can't hear his heart pound, but he can sure as hell feel it slam against his ribcage. He knows he won't notice the exhale of an enemy or the rustle of the jungle floor. He grips his .45 even tighter.

Kristen's work is always full of beautiful imagery and description, and this story is no exception. The Pegasus galaxy's version of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" is enacted upon the team, and disaster strikes in the middle of the ceremony to remove it. John and Teyla must rely on each other to get back to the camp - and do so with exquisite detail to their sense and what they've lost. The tension is perfect, the interaction and trust beautiful, and while I'd have loved to see an NC-17 scene...the trust and friendship and attraction is enough.

The Sky is Not Less Blue by Sazz (T)

[sholio]

Rec Category: John Sheppard & Rodney McKay friendship

Pairing: none
Category: Atlantis, hurt/comfort, gen
Warning: character disability
Author on LJ: n/a
Author's Website: Stories by Sazz
Link: The Sky is Not Less Blue on fanfiction.net or on one page at Sazz's site (Geocities, limited bandwidth - site may be down)

Why This Must Be Read: An offworld accident leaves John blind and grounded on Earth. The novel-length story moves back and forth between past and present -- revealing the course of events that led them to this point, while also following John's and Rodney's attempts to put their lives back together (and, in Rodney's case, to find a way to fix what John, and he, have lost). This is heartwrenching, sweet, believably detailed, and a wonderful character study of both men, as well as their friendship. (Note: It was written before "Outcast", so depicts what is now an AU version of John's family.)

( A brief snippet )

Rosemary for Remembrance by abyssis (PG-13)

[annienau08.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Teal'c
Pairing: Teal'c/Shau'nac, Teal'c/Va'lar, Teal'c/Drey'auc, Teal'c/Ishta
Category: Teal'c, angst, het, slash,
Warning: het, slash
Author on LJ: abyssinia4077
Author's Website: none
Link: Rosemary for Remembrance

Why This Must Be Read: In this remix of minxy's Into the Breach, abyssis does an amazing job of showing us who Teal'c is by looking through the eyes of others. Each character reveals another aspect of Teal'c, and shows how his choices and actions have helped create the person he is now. A wonderful fic that every Teal'c fan should read.