A Healing Light by Jae Kayelle [PG13]
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sga_flashficTitle: A Healing Light
Author: Jae Kayelle
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 1214
Spoilers: one rather large one for Trinity.
Disclaimer: MGM and Acme Shark own the characters. No copyright infringement intended. No profit made from this work of fiction.
Summary: Rodney is good at fixing things. His next project is Sheppard.
A/N: for the Secret Superpower Challenge
Sequel to A Darkness Within
Rodney McKay woke up that morning and knew instantly that the time to use his power to heal was imminent. There could be no more procrastinating. Since the day he had met John Sheppard he felt that low level inner thrum that meant the USAF Major was the one. Rodney had been waiting his entire life for John Sheppard. What Rodney had not counted on was how obstinate Sheppard was, how totally out of touch with his feelings he proved to be. Rodney tended to use deception and distraction as a shield for his own emotions. Having so much practice at avoidance himself, he had gotten very good at recognizing the trait in others.
John Sheppard was the most damaged man Rodney had ever met, who was still capable of functioning as a – relatively – mature adult. There were some scientists and not a few Marines, who could give him a run for his money, but Sheppard exuded an inner fire that drew Rodney to his flame and Rodney knew he should have felt helpless to resist. It was close but he did manage to hold back just enough to maintain his sanity and his objectivity.
There was one thing about his healing power that had, up until now, prevented him from utilizing it. It scared the crap out of Rodney. He would almost rather hide behind his self-styled importance than let loose the potential bottled up inside of him. He had flirted with his power once before, when he was an undergrad. Nursing a semester long crush, and foolishly believing he could help his very attractive roommate, Derek, had resulted in a backlash that left scars on Rodney’s psyche, scars that still ached years later. However, as was the way of Fate, it was out of his hands. He had no choice. It was use it or be destroyed by it. His entire existence ached with the need to mend John Sheppard.
It took him nearly three years to shape their friendship. He pretended to not want the other man’s attention. He pushed him away. He scorned and insulted him. Sheppard refused to be pushed away. He scorned and insulted back, giving as good as he got and sometimes, with stinging accuracy, better. If Rodney had read the signs wrong it all could have blown up in his face. There were ups and downs throughout; some were more spectacular than others. At one point Rodney despairingly designated it Project Try Not To Alienate My Best Friend Again. That was after he destroyed most of a solar system.
Then little signs appeared that maybe he was making progress. Sheppard began to close the physical distance. He sat or stood nearer to Rodney than he ever had. He hovered at his shoulder and laughed at his jokes. He paid more attention to him. Rodney watched to make certain he wasn’t reading it all wrong and then he made his move. Caution was his buffer.
He waited until they had some downtime and they were alone. Following the colonel back to his quarters earned him a questioning look. Rodney merely settled into a place deep within himself that he had not dared to visit since that other time. It felt surprisingly comfortable. It welcomed him like an old friend. When the door shut behind them, Rodney leaned against the warm metal with his hands loose at his sides. Sheppard stood about four feet away, obviously curious as to what Rodney was up to, but he did not speak. The fact that neither of them was wigging out was encouraging.
Another minute passed.
“All right. I give. What’s going on?” Sheppard asked.
That brought Rodney away from the door.
“Oh, please don’t pretend. We got past that weeks ago.” He slowly approached the other man with his hands spread open. “Let’s just accept what is and go with it. Let me help.”
Sheppard’s mouth opened and Rodney knew he was about to ask, “Help with what?” but then he closed it without speaking. Instead, he continued to stare silently. Rodney stared back putting every ounce of his power into his look.
After a moment Sheppard did speak and when Rodney heard what he had to say he nearly sagged with relief. “It’s not a good idea, Rodney. I’m…I can’t. I know what you’re up to, though for the life of me I don’t know how I know. It’s just not a good idea.”
Rodney stepped closer. “I can help,” he repeated. “It’s something I can do. It will only work with you, though.”
Sheppard worried his bottom lip before asking, “How do you know?”
“I just do. I’ve been waiting for you for what feels like forever. Think about it. Just – think about it. We’re good together. We fit.”
They had another bout of silent staring.
Rodney knew the moment Sheppard accepted the truth. The change in his expression said it all. The man was really good at keeping his face blank to hide the emotions he did not want anyone else to see, but suddenly everything showed. Rodney knew what he was thinking and feeling -- all of it. It all showed right there. It was John Sheppard’s gift to him.
His eyes prickling a bit in the corners, Rodney stepped into the embrace offered so hesitantly, so sweetly fearful.
“This is really not a good idea,” John said hoarsely, but it was a token protest.
As his arms closed around the leanly muscled body, thrilling to the warmth sliding around his waist when strong arms held him closely, Rodney whispered, “The only reason this thing between us is working is because…”
Callused fingers brushed his lips interrupting him.
“It works because I think maybe I care about you more than I’ve ever cared about anyone in my life.”
“Exactly what I was going to say,” Rodney smiled against John’s neck, feeling the rasp of stubble scraping his cheek.
The arms tightened around him, shifting slightly so that they fit together even better.
“I have a confession to make and you might think I’m nuts when you hear it, but I need to say it.”
Rodney nodded his support.
It took a bit before John finally said, “I sometimes think I have the power, for lack of a better word, to make people feel a certain way about me. It’s possible this – power is affecting you right now.”
Rodney chuckled softly. “You moron,” he said without heat. “It takes two to make it work. You’re talking about sexual attraction. What we have is called love.”
He felt the last of the tension drain out of John’s body as they parted enough to see each other’s faces. There was a healthy light sparkling in John’s green eyes. It was a light Rodney had only caught glimpses of in the past three years. The beat of his heart altered slightly.
As they began a slow, careful exploration in the physical sense, Rodney was certain their emotional selves were merging, becoming one. It felt right. He felt complete and could tell that John was rapidly reaching the same curative plateau. What he had not expected was that under John’s questing hands Rodney’s own scars and emotions were also healing.
He was no longer afraid of his power.
# end
Author: Jae Kayelle
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 1214
Spoilers: one rather large one for Trinity.
Disclaimer: MGM and Acme Shark own the characters. No copyright infringement intended. No profit made from this work of fiction.
Summary: Rodney is good at fixing things. His next project is Sheppard.
A/N: for the Secret Superpower Challenge
Sequel to A Darkness Within
Rodney McKay woke up that morning and knew instantly that the time to use his power to heal was imminent. There could be no more procrastinating. Since the day he had met John Sheppard he felt that low level inner thrum that meant the USAF Major was the one. Rodney had been waiting his entire life for John Sheppard. What Rodney had not counted on was how obstinate Sheppard was, how totally out of touch with his feelings he proved to be. Rodney tended to use deception and distraction as a shield for his own emotions. Having so much practice at avoidance himself, he had gotten very good at recognizing the trait in others.
John Sheppard was the most damaged man Rodney had ever met, who was still capable of functioning as a – relatively – mature adult. There were some scientists and not a few Marines, who could give him a run for his money, but Sheppard exuded an inner fire that drew Rodney to his flame and Rodney knew he should have felt helpless to resist. It was close but he did manage to hold back just enough to maintain his sanity and his objectivity.
There was one thing about his healing power that had, up until now, prevented him from utilizing it. It scared the crap out of Rodney. He would almost rather hide behind his self-styled importance than let loose the potential bottled up inside of him. He had flirted with his power once before, when he was an undergrad. Nursing a semester long crush, and foolishly believing he could help his very attractive roommate, Derek, had resulted in a backlash that left scars on Rodney’s psyche, scars that still ached years later. However, as was the way of Fate, it was out of his hands. He had no choice. It was use it or be destroyed by it. His entire existence ached with the need to mend John Sheppard.
It took him nearly three years to shape their friendship. He pretended to not want the other man’s attention. He pushed him away. He scorned and insulted him. Sheppard refused to be pushed away. He scorned and insulted back, giving as good as he got and sometimes, with stinging accuracy, better. If Rodney had read the signs wrong it all could have blown up in his face. There were ups and downs throughout; some were more spectacular than others. At one point Rodney despairingly designated it Project Try Not To Alienate My Best Friend Again. That was after he destroyed most of a solar system.
Then little signs appeared that maybe he was making progress. Sheppard began to close the physical distance. He sat or stood nearer to Rodney than he ever had. He hovered at his shoulder and laughed at his jokes. He paid more attention to him. Rodney watched to make certain he wasn’t reading it all wrong and then he made his move. Caution was his buffer.
He waited until they had some downtime and they were alone. Following the colonel back to his quarters earned him a questioning look. Rodney merely settled into a place deep within himself that he had not dared to visit since that other time. It felt surprisingly comfortable. It welcomed him like an old friend. When the door shut behind them, Rodney leaned against the warm metal with his hands loose at his sides. Sheppard stood about four feet away, obviously curious as to what Rodney was up to, but he did not speak. The fact that neither of them was wigging out was encouraging.
Another minute passed.
“All right. I give. What’s going on?” Sheppard asked.
That brought Rodney away from the door.
“Oh, please don’t pretend. We got past that weeks ago.” He slowly approached the other man with his hands spread open. “Let’s just accept what is and go with it. Let me help.”
Sheppard’s mouth opened and Rodney knew he was about to ask, “Help with what?” but then he closed it without speaking. Instead, he continued to stare silently. Rodney stared back putting every ounce of his power into his look.
After a moment Sheppard did speak and when Rodney heard what he had to say he nearly sagged with relief. “It’s not a good idea, Rodney. I’m…I can’t. I know what you’re up to, though for the life of me I don’t know how I know. It’s just not a good idea.”
Rodney stepped closer. “I can help,” he repeated. “It’s something I can do. It will only work with you, though.”
Sheppard worried his bottom lip before asking, “How do you know?”
“I just do. I’ve been waiting for you for what feels like forever. Think about it. Just – think about it. We’re good together. We fit.”
They had another bout of silent staring.
Rodney knew the moment Sheppard accepted the truth. The change in his expression said it all. The man was really good at keeping his face blank to hide the emotions he did not want anyone else to see, but suddenly everything showed. Rodney knew what he was thinking and feeling -- all of it. It all showed right there. It was John Sheppard’s gift to him.
His eyes prickling a bit in the corners, Rodney stepped into the embrace offered so hesitantly, so sweetly fearful.
“This is really not a good idea,” John said hoarsely, but it was a token protest.
As his arms closed around the leanly muscled body, thrilling to the warmth sliding around his waist when strong arms held him closely, Rodney whispered, “The only reason this thing between us is working is because…”
Callused fingers brushed his lips interrupting him.
“It works because I think maybe I care about you more than I’ve ever cared about anyone in my life.”
“Exactly what I was going to say,” Rodney smiled against John’s neck, feeling the rasp of stubble scraping his cheek.
The arms tightened around him, shifting slightly so that they fit together even better.
“I have a confession to make and you might think I’m nuts when you hear it, but I need to say it.”
Rodney nodded his support.
It took a bit before John finally said, “I sometimes think I have the power, for lack of a better word, to make people feel a certain way about me. It’s possible this – power is affecting you right now.”
Rodney chuckled softly. “You moron,” he said without heat. “It takes two to make it work. You’re talking about sexual attraction. What we have is called love.”
He felt the last of the tension drain out of John’s body as they parted enough to see each other’s faces. There was a healthy light sparkling in John’s green eyes. It was a light Rodney had only caught glimpses of in the past three years. The beat of his heart altered slightly.
As they began a slow, careful exploration in the physical sense, Rodney was certain their emotional selves were merging, becoming one. It felt right. He felt complete and could tell that John was rapidly reaching the same curative plateau. What he had not expected was that under John’s questing hands Rodney’s own scars and emotions were also healing.
He was no longer afraid of his power.
# end
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-16 11:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-16 11:35 pm (UTC)