sga_flashfic | Enclosed Spaces Challenge - Hidden in the Heart by history

First, I must say this is NOT the story I intended to write. I have fluffy fic sitting on my hard drive that was supposed to be my story for this challenge. Instead, my muse "strongly suggested" I write this. HUGE BIG WARNING: major character death. So, read if you want, you have been warned.

Big thanks to

ane and

idiotparade for the excellent beta jobs. They made this story much better than it was. Any mistakes that remain are mine.

Title: Hidden in the Heart
Author: hg
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: G
Warning: major character death

Hidden in the Heart
By hg

The gate shut down and the emergency medical team rushed forward, but Sheppard’s team moved sluggishly, their burden cradled between them. At Beckett’s terse command, they laid the body gently on the floor and stepped back to let the doctor do his work.

“What happened, Major?” Weir’s voice was quiet, but it cut through the medical jargon being spouted only feet away.

“He fell.” Sheppard’s voice was hollow as it echoed through the gateroom. “We had a nice, quiet mission, on a nice, quiet planet. No Wraith, no Genii, no traps or tricks, just a nice walk in a meadow. Then Rodney got some energy readings he wanted to track down. So, we walked some more, and we were laughing, and the ground just disappeared beneath his feet.” He didn’t notice the strange look he was receiving from Weir as he spoke.

Both Weir and Sheppard turned as Beckett approached them, his face grave. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing I could do. There’s evidence of blunt trauma to the head; his neck was likely broken on impact.”

Sheppard tuned out Weir’s response to the doctor, instead looking inward and thinking about the last three weeks; the three weeks since Rodney had kissed him. He replayed every smile, every laugh, and every touch they’d shared. He fondly recalled every hand gesture and power bar he’d teased Rodney about. He relived that first clumsy, nervous kiss, a quick mashing of lips and noses over a laptop in the lab followed by apologies and Rodney’s panicked laughter until silenced by a longer, sweeter kiss that tasted of coffee and hope. He catalogued the way Rodney’s hands would hover over a keyboard, fingers poised to strike, as he struggled with a problem that needed solving, and the look of joy when they’d gotten yet another Ancient device to work. Most of all, he cherished the memories of stolen moments together alone, the way Rodney’s eyes would darken with a kiss, the way Rodney’s breath would stutter at a touch, the way Rodney whispered his name.

Unclipping his P90 from his vest, Sheppard moved to stand at Rodney’s feet, unaware of the stillness that gripped the room. Gazing down on the body splayed almost carelessly before him, John Sheppard took all the memories and locked them away in his heart; he also locked away his joy, his hope and his love. All that was good in him was locked up tightly in a tiny box to stem the pain clawing at his chest.

With eyes as hard as diamond, Sheppard looked at Dr. Weir. “I’ll have a full report for you in an hour.” Nodding at what was left of his team, Sheppard placed his weapon on the floor and walked out.