stargateficrec | Traces Through Time (by Icarus) (R)

Show: SGA
Rec Category: Time travel
Characters: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir, Radek Zelenka
Categories: M/M (pre-slash)
Warnings: Nil
Author on DW:

icarus
Author's Website: See the AO3, or Icarus's website
Link: Traces Through Time on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: Rodney gets sent back in time 150 years by another pesky ancient device, and John has to try to help locate him, using Rodney's scribbled notes from the time when he was alone for a few months in Atlantis's past. Which contain not only Rodney's deductions about what happened, but also his thoughts - and fantasies - about John, who's alternately embarrassed, touched and worried. Another interesting take on time travel, in which you can be displaced into the past and returned to the present. One thing I liked was Rodney's reluctance to use the device to rescue himself in a past Atlantis with the ZPM running low, as he feared he'd alter the timeline and kill the arriving expedition. An engaging read, and a hopeful ending.

"Rodney left us a little note," he explained in a casual drawl.

The bald guy, 'Fleming' it said on his uniform, reached for the manuscript. "Thank you. That—that will help."

John was just about to hand the whole thing over when he caught a glimpse of a line just under the schematic. …and I always wondered if you felt the same. I caught you looking when we were strip-searched by the Genii…

John abruptly pulled it out of reach. "Maybe I'd better look through it first. Just in case."

Elizabeth and the scientists were looking at him rather funny, so John explained, "He's, uh, said some things that are a little private." They were still staring. So John shrugged, elaborately casual. "We're friends. I wouldn't want to embarrass the guy."

His eyes trailed down the rest of that sentence.

…but I wasn't sure if it was me, or if you're just an ass man in general. I'm told mine is quite attractive and, wow, am I glad they didn't do a cavity search because I've always been very sensitive to fingers inside of me--

He tore the page with the schematic out after a quick speed-read across the back for anything else incriminating. He then very carefully folded and ripped off the bottom of the page and handed the diagram over. He answered the quizzical looks. "That was to me. And I don't feel like sharing."