First Aid by 2ndary_author (scars challenge)

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Title: First Aid
Author: 2ndary_author
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Characters: Sheppard, McKay (Sheppard/McKay?)
Rating: PG-13
Length: 2140-ish words
Notes: Not really a missing scene, but takes place during the events of  "The Rising, Part 1" at the SGC base in Antarctica; epigraph by Christiaan Barnard
Disclaimer: don't own, don't profit, only the words are mine.  Just something quick before the deadline…

Summary: They were a multi-national, intergalactic military/civilian enterprise on an ice field at the bottom of the world.  And they had a piano.

Comments

[bratfarrar]

Oh, that's cool.

The second is post-traumatic stress, much?, because he’s been a military contractor for long enough to know it when it lands on him out of a sound sleep.

I like this, because - yes, and ouch.

Aaand this is probably my most incoherent comment to date. So I'll shut up now.

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

See, with a prompt like 'scars,' no character escapes my fics unscathed! *evil laughter* But I'm really glad you liked it!

[http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/]

Oh, this was nice - great take on the challenge, and you catch the voices so clearly all the way through. And I liked the way you brought it around to the piano, at the end...

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Turns out there was a previous fic for this challenge, also about the piano thing, and really good. Nothing new under the sun:)

[skeddy-kat.livejournal.com]

I liked this a lot.

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mollya.livejournal.com]

Loved it.

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

oh, good! thanks for commenting

[zee.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really, really like this. ... Aaand I'm apparently sub-verbal tonight. I've been trying, for a solid five minutes, to express why I enjoyed it so much, with no luck. It's - you have that rare ability with words to create images that linger in the reader's mind. i.e. I feel like I was there, dude, complete with sense memories.

[zee.livejournal.com]

One question, on re-reading. This is set in Antarctica? AU?

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Mentally, I kind of had it set after JS activates the chair, but before the Earthlings go through the gate for the first time. So it's not exactly pre-show...or is it? In canon, I guess it would fall right in the middle of 'The Rising, part 1'The SG1 has a top sekrit base in Antarctica, yes? I guess I should write that into the notes...

[zee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's an Antarctic base, but they go through the gate to Atlantis back at SGC headquarters in Colorado. From the timing with Rodney's cut hand I was thinking that they were spending their last night on Earth down in Antarctica, which wouldn't work as there's no longer a gate there. :)

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Oh. I guess I'll have to fix that, then. Or start watching SG1.

[mellyna.livejournal.com]

Wonderful scene. Thanks for sharing.

[saffronhouse.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful! I love Rodney's voice, here. How satisfying.

And a gorgeous, (pitch-perfect!) final sentence.

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I don't give Rodney enough attention. I haven't got as good a picture of him as I do of other characters. Good catch:I totally started with the last sentence and worked backwards to find a story that fit!

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

Great tag/au/pre-slash/whichever. I love that you have John aware of things. First aid kits, exits... Safety first!

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Oh, the safety geekery! I don't think John is as reckless as he seems, especially where other ppl are concerned. That's how Rodney can go tromping through the rest of the universe (relatively)unscathed. Of course, I'm totally begging the question: what kind of life makes you start looking for exits as soon as you arrive? Thanks for the comment:)

[reen212000.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Hmmm. Methinks you need to write something on that... LOL

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Methinks I'm gonna pass that one off on someone else...someone less likely to go overboard with the angst;)

[spike21.livejournal.com]

I liked that a lot. Good voices, good characterization. yays!

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's always good news...

[dossier.livejournal.com]

Fascinating look at a moment off screen with lovely characterizations. and yes-what kind of life makes you look for exits and first aid kits?

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

Hooray! I kind of thought everyone would read over that little detail--I should have known better:) Glad you liked it.

[(Anonymous)]

and yes-what kind of life makes you look for exits and first aid kits?

One with a lot of power failures.

That of a competent military policeman.

And I can probably think of half a dozen others in the next five minutes.

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

well, then, John should be all set for where he's going;)
a detail too far, you think?

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Just watched the pilot episode yesterday; why was this story not part of it? :(

I love the way you really capture the sense of a moment in time; everything is so vivid and heightened: the awkwardness, anticipation, and even a little angst. *happy sigh*

P.S. There's a brand new Stargate & House comm (for fans of both shows as well as crossovers); it would be awesome if you posted a link there: http://community.livejournal.com/gate_house/

[2ndary-author.livejournal.com]

So weird that you should mention House! Somebody recently was talking about a plot bunny in which House is McKay's piano teacher. I tried to write it and ended up with this story instead.

And I see you link, and raise you another: http://synecdochic.livejournal.com/126570.html#cutid1 is a rewrite of the pilot that's worth a read, for the first section alone.