stargateficrec | "That Which is Broken" by Sholio (not rated by the author, my guess: Teen And Up Audiences)

Show: SGA
Rec Category: Team
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan, OCs
Pairings: none
Categories: gen
Warnings: none
Author on LJ:

sholio
Author's Website: City on the Ocean's Edge
Link: That Which is Broken by Sholio

Summary by the author:
Following the events of "Trinity", Teyla has a plan to repair the rift in her team ... but it may come at a terrible cost.

This story won in the 2006 Stargate Fan Awards for Best Episode Tag. Funny, I thought I had this one already recommended but I can't find it in the archived recs.

Teyla's plan backfires horribly and Rodney has to save the day, John and everything. *g*
Great, inventive story, in which everything fits perfectly together. This story just flows. Action, adventure, character background, arguments, bickering, angst, and a happy end, all written by an author who knows their art, what more do you want? If you're looking for a long, captivating read - that's the one for you.

"You will be the first to walk into the incinerator," Karmath said, appearing to relish his words. "Unless you would rather watch your friends go before you."

"The hell you're gonna do that to him!" Sheppard flared. "To any of us!"

But Rodney was already struggling to his feet, not looking at Sheppard. "That's fine," he said. "I accept."

All the breath left Teyla's lungs as if she'd been struck. Beside her, she felt Ronon stiffen.

As Rodney moved into the circle of guns, Sheppard said, "Hey. Wait." It finally seemed to be sinking into his head that this was serious, that they were serious, that Rodney was serious. "Wait!"

"I know what I'm doing, Sheppard."

"Yeah -- you're throwing your life away trying to make a point! Get back here, you moron! That's an order!"

"I'm off your team, remember?" With his back ramrod-straight, Rodney allowed himself to be led across the room and into the chamber. He turned around, facing out towards the room, not meeting his teammates' eyes. His face was almost as white as the walls of the chamber.

Teyla could find no words. Desperately she forced her hands against her bonds, but the knots held tight. Beside her, Sheppard had flung himself forward, only to have one of the Cletans strike him in the face with the butt of his rifle. He fell to the floor with a groan, and still tried to struggle upright again.

"Stop it!" Rodney snapped, apparently speaking both to Sheppard and his captors. To Karmath, he said, "They'd better quit hitting him or I won't do this. I mean it. If you want my cooperation, you have to promise me that my teammates won't be harmed."

"You have my word on that, as long as they don't try to escape." Karmath glanced over his shoulder. "They will be treated as guests. This is, after all, a great honor."

"Honor my ass!" Sheppard bit out. With his face pressed to the floor, he'd twisted his head to the side so that he could speak. Blood ran down his face from a split lip. "Rodney, get your butt out of that machine this minute!"

Rodney stared at him, his eyes shadowed and sad. It seemed to Teyla that he was trying desperately to express something he couldn't bring himself to say. What he finally said, though, was, "You still don't trust me, huh, Sheppard?"

"You're standing in a goddamn incinerator, McKay -- don't tell me this is all part of some grand plan!"

Rodney gave him one last, desperate stare, then turned to Karmath. "Turn it on. Get this over with."

Karmath looked at him for a moment with something approaching respect, then moved forward and quickly slit the rope with which they'd re-tied his hands. "You should not go before the Ancestors bound like a criminal," he said. "You have chosen to meet your fate with dignity."

"Yeah, yeah," Rodney snapped, very pale. "Just turn the damn thing on."

"Rodney!" Sheppard screamed, as the Cletans reached for the controls. The cry cut Teyla to the very depths of her soul.

Light flared in the room, a light so blinding that Teyla had to turn her head away, twist her eyes shut. Even this far away, she could feel the heat. When she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly, there was no sign of Rodney McKay ... just a few light particles of ash, as fine as dust, drifting down in the middle of the white chamber. The metal disc in the floor glowed red-hot, quickly fading as the heat dissipated.