Cassandra Never Did by Devikun (PG-13)

[smilebackwards.livejournal.com]

Show: SGA

Rec Category: John Sheppard
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay
Categories: Gen/pre-slash (John/Rodney)
Warnings: Medical condition, angst
Author on LJ: devikun
Link: Cassandra Never Did

Why This Must Be Read: Last month I recced a fic where Rodney lost his voice and John tried to help him through it. This story reverses the situation. John temporarily loses his voice to aliens that need him to act as their oracle, and in a way it frees him to say things that he's kept locked down and opens the possibility that someday he'll say them again when people can hear.


Sometimes the most innocuous planets are the worst. It doesn't make any sense when he says it out loud, but John's a lot more comfortable when first contact is met with open hostility, feels better when a little weapons fire is exchanged. He's learned to be on his guard when strangers meet them smiling, when they're friendly, when they say, This way, Colonel Sheppard, and put a hand on the small of his back or his shoulder. Not that he's against being touched or anything, at least in principle, it's just that he feels a hell of a lot more secure when people aren't being so nice to them. Nice in this galaxy makes him think that there's probably a reason for it, and it's got nothing to do with being naturally warm and friendly. Some people would call that cynical. Rodney would call it realistic. John just prefers to think of it as an advanced survival instinct.