Through a Glass, Darkly (by rhymer23) (T)
Oct. 26th, 2020 06:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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stargateficrecShow: SGA
Rec Category: Alternate Universe
Characters: John Sheppard, Dave Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex
Categories: Gen
Warnings: Nil (canon-typical levels of violence)
Author on DW: n/a
Author's Website: see the AO3
Link: Through a Glass, Darkly on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: I love stories that give us more Dave Sheppard, both his relationship with John and his own character, rather than the brief canon glimpse of him as an asshole. Also, this is Dave's POV, so an outsider viewpoint on John. Rhymer really likes to whump John so there's plenty of that, and lots of plot and gripping action/adventure in this story set in a dystopian AU Earth. An excellent read, with something of a twist!
His visitor looked up. "John," Dave breathed. If anything, his heart started to beat even faster, and he shook with relief mingled with something else.
"Dave." John's smile was nothing like how Dave thought he remembered it, and yet sharply familiar, both at the same time. "I'm sorry. I…" His smile faded. He looked over his shoulder, peering into the night. Dave tried to look out, too, but the light on the porch turned everything else into featureless darkness.
Dave tightened his grip on the handle. "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you since… God, since--"
"I'm sorry," John said again, but he was twitchy, still darting looks out into the darkness. "Something's wrong. I didn't know… Couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Something's wrong."
Dave felt the old, familiar prick of anger; it was easier, really, than feeling anything else. "Damn it, John, you can't just…" He gestured sharply with his hand. "This. After so long…"
John blinked. "It's not that long." He seemed to struggle for a smile for a moment – that familiar sheepish smile that always made you forgive him when he'd done something thoughtless – but gave it up with a sigh. "No. No, you're right. I'm sorry." He turned to go.
It was raining very hard, Dave noticed, and John wasn't dressed for a New England winter. His clothes were sodden, and as he turned, he swayed, striking the side of the porch with his shoulder.
And Dave hadn't even drawn back the chain. Dave hadn't even fully opened the door to him. Outside was a dangerous place to be after dark, and John was family. John was his brother, for God's sake.
"No. John. I'm sorry. Come in." Dave drew back the chain, the links fumbling in his fingers.
"Shouldn't have come," John mumbled, standing on the edge of the pool of light, looking out at the darkness. "Sorry. Sorry, I--"
"Don't be ridiculous," Dave found himself saying. "Come in."
John's hand crept out to his side, as if that was the only thing keeping him up. "I don't know if… Think I shook them off, but…" He half turned round, light falling heavy on his face. "Everything's wrong, Dave."
When Dave stepped out onto the porch, the cold struck him like a fist. "You're coming in." John's arm was shockingly cold when he touched it, and Dave could feel fine tremors beneath his brother's skin. "I won't take no for an answer."
"You're stubborn." John smiled the ghost of a smile.
Dave's own smile was grim. "I learnt from the best."
"Dad?"
"You."
Rec Category: Alternate Universe
Characters: John Sheppard, Dave Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Ronon Dex
Categories: Gen
Warnings: Nil (canon-typical levels of violence)
Author on DW: n/a
Author's Website: see the AO3
Link: Through a Glass, Darkly on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: I love stories that give us more Dave Sheppard, both his relationship with John and his own character, rather than the brief canon glimpse of him as an asshole. Also, this is Dave's POV, so an outsider viewpoint on John. Rhymer really likes to whump John so there's plenty of that, and lots of plot and gripping action/adventure in this story set in a dystopian AU Earth. An excellent read, with something of a twist!
His visitor looked up. "John," Dave breathed. If anything, his heart started to beat even faster, and he shook with relief mingled with something else.
"Dave." John's smile was nothing like how Dave thought he remembered it, and yet sharply familiar, both at the same time. "I'm sorry. I…" His smile faded. He looked over his shoulder, peering into the night. Dave tried to look out, too, but the light on the porch turned everything else into featureless darkness.
Dave tightened his grip on the handle. "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you since… God, since--"
"I'm sorry," John said again, but he was twitchy, still darting looks out into the darkness. "Something's wrong. I didn't know… Couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Something's wrong."
Dave felt the old, familiar prick of anger; it was easier, really, than feeling anything else. "Damn it, John, you can't just…" He gestured sharply with his hand. "This. After so long…"
John blinked. "It's not that long." He seemed to struggle for a smile for a moment – that familiar sheepish smile that always made you forgive him when he'd done something thoughtless – but gave it up with a sigh. "No. No, you're right. I'm sorry." He turned to go.
It was raining very hard, Dave noticed, and John wasn't dressed for a New England winter. His clothes were sodden, and as he turned, he swayed, striking the side of the porch with his shoulder.
And Dave hadn't even drawn back the chain. Dave hadn't even fully opened the door to him. Outside was a dangerous place to be after dark, and John was family. John was his brother, for God's sake.
"No. John. I'm sorry. Come in." Dave drew back the chain, the links fumbling in his fingers.
"Shouldn't have come," John mumbled, standing on the edge of the pool of light, looking out at the darkness. "Sorry. Sorry, I--"
"Don't be ridiculous," Dave found himself saying. "Come in."
John's hand crept out to his side, as if that was the only thing keeping him up. "I don't know if… Think I shook them off, but…" He half turned round, light falling heavy on his face. "Everything's wrong, Dave."
When Dave stepped out onto the porch, the cold struck him like a fist. "You're coming in." John's arm was shockingly cold when he touched it, and Dave could feel fine tremors beneath his brother's skin. "I won't take no for an answer."
"You're stubborn." John smiled the ghost of a smile.
Dave's own smile was grim. "I learnt from the best."
"Dad?"
"You."
