Bootless by Adina_Atl (Darkside challenge)

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Author: Adina_Atl
Title: Bootless
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Major Sheppard
Word Count: 100
Summary: Before the Daedalus there was no resupply.
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't own them or get money from them.
Warnings: None



A pair of boots is irreplaceable.

So is a man, but you can't think about that lest you come to care too much--or too little. Too much and you are paralyzed with fear, with loss. Too little and people won't trust you, won't follow where you lead. Once there was another reason to care, but you can't remember what.

Dry-eyed you watch the mortuary assistants strip the body you brought back through the wormhole. Boots. Holster. Tattered shirt, rent by the Wraith's long talons. Even the underwear will be passed along.

Boots, size ten, made in another galaxy. Irreplaceable.

Comments

[almightychrissy.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, was this inspired by All Quiet on the Western Front? It called up many of those images to me.

Very sad and matter of fact and effective.

[tidal_race]

Stark reality, stark writing, great drabble.

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really like that. Thank you.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

So evocative of their first year in Atlantis.

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Great, great drabble! Thank you.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

I've never seen All Quiet on the Western Front, so probably not. But well-made military boots have always been valued--in World War II soldiers from Appalachia used to send their worn or out-grown boots home, providing the first shoes that some of their younger siblings had ever worn.

Glad the story worked for you.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Stark was what I was going for.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it. Thanks.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

They ripped, ruined, and just plain lost an immense amount of clothing that first year, yet always appeared for the next mission impecably dressed. Never figured that one out. *grin* Glad you liked, and thanks for telling me.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked. Thanks.

[bruinsfan.livejournal.com]

I would have killed to see Sheppard going on a mission in a borrowed "Mr. Fantastic" T-shirt toward the end of Season 1 due to all his uniform togs having been shredded.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

You don't know what he had on under the BDU. *grin*

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Nicely done.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

nice one. I'm also hoping for his nicking the Mr Fantastic t-shirt.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Though Rodney bitching about his "I'm with Stupid" shirt would be better.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[hajimebassaidai.livejournal.com]

The horrible practicality of it is chilling.

But it rings with reality.

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

I tend to be horribly practical myself.

Thank you for commenting on this--I had completely forgotten I'd written it.