stargateficrec | The Little Sister by Martha (Saffronhouse) (M)

Show: SGA

Rec Category: Alternate Universe [Historical C20th (1950s)]
Characters: Rodney McKay, John Sheppard, Jeannie McKay, and many of the usual SGA & SG1 suspects
Pairings: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Categories: slash
Warnings: None
Author on LJ:

saffronhouse
Author's Website: see the AO3
Link: The Little Sister on AO3

Why This Must Be Read: This SGA/SG1 AU crossover is a lasting favourite of mine. It's a tour de force, managing both to be a sci-fi AU and an historical detective-noir work. As it includes Stargate sci-fi elements it's unlike the other historical recs I've done, but the closer we get to the period of canon, the more writers tend to bring in sci-fi aspects. The writing's really excellent, and the 1950s noir Philip Marlowesque feel is amazing and so well done. It's in 1st person, from John's POV, like a Chandler novel. I can't recommend it too strongly - it's one I go back to and re-read on a regular basis.

"Have you considered the possibility that Mr. Miller asked your sister to marry him because he likes her? It's been known to happen."

"I'm not hiring you to listen to you spin cockamamie theories," McKay said, but without rancor. Eating had done wonders for his temper. "In order to help Jeannie, I need you to find out what Miller is really up to."

"If you don't want to hear my theories, then I probably need to hear yours, because frankly, two college kids getting engaged sounds a little modern at worst. Our parents might not approve, but I don't see anything particularly sinister going on."

McKay's scowl blackened. "This is not just stupid young love. I think Kaleb's part of a scheme to recruit her."

I blinked. "You're making the Service sound like the Communist party, McKay."

"I'm not talking about the Civil Service," McKay snarled. "Did you pay attention to me telling you she's one of the great minds of the age? They don't want her fixing light bulbs or building rocket ships. They want Jeannie to be a host."

My jaw dropped.Then I picked up my empty coffee cup, trying to hide my expression behind the brim, but I needn't have bothered. He didn't recognize my incredulity. In McKay's world, it was perfectly reasonable to assume that his little sister was just that brilliant.

Of course, he had also told me that he was even smarter, and true or not - "Dr. McKay, are you jealous of your sister?"

He flushed redder than the strawberry jam on his toast. "You - you don't even-" He stumbled to his feet, knocking the chair down behind him. It looked like I had finally succeeded in going too far after all. I was almost sorry.

But instead of storming away, he leaned forward over the table, his hands on either side of the jam-and-butter carousel. The knuckles on his spread fingers were white. "When I was ten years old, the Canadian government tried to enroll me in their host program." He spit the words in a fury. "My parents couldn't even agree on whether the sky was blue, but when that order came through, they sold everything they owned and bought train tickets across the continent and two countries before fetching up in Los Angeles, and if you think I'm going to sit back and let Jeannie be snaked now -"

"Hey, hey, come on, pal." I got up fast and came around the table, up-righting the chair and putting my hand on McKay's shoulder to ease him down into it. "No need for that kind of language."