thegrrrl2002 | Atlantis Ficlet: Into the Light

Just a quick little Sheppard/McKay ficlet, written for the Wraithbait's 1000th Post challenge (won by Shelly).

Into the Light

*****

The door swings open, and after so many days in the dark, the light blinds him.

"Jesus Christ. John," then more loudly, "Lieutenant, over here--"

Rodney's voice. Thank god, Rodney. John scrubs at his eyes, still unable to open them. A hand on his shoulder, startling him. "Shhh, it's all right, we're getting you out of here."

Eyes finally open, despite the burning and the tearing, and it's definitely Rodney. John tries but he can't speak, his throat is too tight, and he can't find any words to express the joy and relief. Ford is in the doorway, he's talking to John but John's not listening, he's just staring at Rodney, Rodney in his combat gear and boots and big gun and the expression as he looks John over--the expression that says maybe his throat is a little too tight, too.

"Doctor, we'd better get moving--" Ford is peering down the hall.

"Are you hurt? Can you walk?" Rodney asks.

John nods. "I'm good. Just get me the hell out of here," he whispers, his voice rusty.

Rodney tugs him to his feet. He feels shaky but Rodney slips an arm around his waist, supporting him and the touching is nice, very nice. He stumbles away from the grey stone cell that has been his prison for days and days. He doesn't know how long. He had left it only once since being locking away, to stand in front of a camera and tell Elizabeth that he was okay, he was being treated fine. Just fine. He carefully kept his eyes away from the armed guards, stun guns at the ready, standing just out of range. No, really, it's like being at Club Med. Give my regards to Rodney. I'll send a postcard as soon as I buy some stamps.

"So, the negotiations went well, huh?" he asks, remembering Elizabeth's tense expression, her tight, clipped words as she asked him questions he wasn't allowed to answer.

"I prefer this kind of negotiation," Ford says. He motions for them to wait, and they do, John shaking a little as he leans against Rodney. He thinks about asking Rodney for a weapon when Ford moves them along.

Running now, a steady trot down the long corridor, Rodney's fingers wrapped around his forearm. No shots fired--a smooth rescue operation. Even though it would make him very happy to shoot someone right now. Like that big guard with the sloping brow and no sense of humor whatsoever.

Teyla meets them at the stairwell, P90 at the ready, smiling beautifully at him. "Major," she says, her voice warm and welcoming. "You are well?"

"Kinda," is all John can manage, because right now he's incredibly proud of his team. She touches his shoulder, then watches their six as Rodney pushes him up the stairs.

Climbing is difficult, he's not used to being so weak, but he hasn't had much food in the past few days. After two flights everything around him fades to gray but there are hands holding him on either side, keeping him going, and he doesn't fall. They make it to the roof unaccosted. Fresh, clean air, blinding sunlight and he stumbles over something solid. A guard, either dead or unconscious. Dead, he hopes with vicious satisfaction.

"Come on, Major. Almost there." Rodney pulls him away, makes him run again.

He concentrates on putting one foot in front of the other, letting Rodney do the rest, letting him lead the way. A few minutes later he's flat on his back, staring at the ceiling of the puddle jumper as his head clears. "Cool", he says to the ceiling. He's free. He's been rescued. Life is good.

The door thumps shut and he can feel the vibration of the engines powering up. "Good to see you, sir," Stackhouse calls out from the front of the jumper.

John raises a hand in a weak wave. "Hi." He wants to fly home, wants to feel the controls under his hands; he wants to make the jumper jump. When he tries to sit up Rodney is there again, getting him settled against the storage bin even though that's not what he wants. He points to the front of the jumper. "But--"

"That's right, Stackhouse is flying us home." He pats John's leg. "Not you." He hands John a bottle of water and peels the wrapper from a chocolate bar.

Sitting with Rodney instead isn't so bad. John's is aware that he's pretty ripe--he hasn't showered since forever--but even so Rodney lets him to lean in close without blinking an eye or wrinkling his nose, and it's wonderful, the touching, the connection after being alone for so long. Ford is up front, Teyla is apparently monitoring planetary communications so they're basically all alone in back of the jumper. Their faces are close, and Rodney's eyes are so bright that John can't stop staring, ignoring the half-wrapped candy bar being pressed into his hand. He doesn't care if they're being obvious. It's impossible to look away from such raw emotion--something Rodney doesn't reveal easily. Even when they're making love, there's always a wisecrack somewhere, a joke, another barrier. Even when John fucks him there's a distance, as if Rodney is afraid of showing too much of himself when all John wants is for Rodney to stop hiding and let go.

The candy bar slides falls away, into his lap. John chooses to hold onto Rodney's hand instead. Rodney glances away, and John is disappointed until, after a quick look around, Rodney leans in and kisses him, hard and quick. John is touched and delighted all at once.

"I was so worried about you," Rodney says accusingly, as if John had gone away deliberately. He squeezes John's hand, then retrieves the candy bar. "Don't do this again, okay?"

"Okay." Rodney eyes are still captivating him. "I dreamed about you, you know." He had dreamed of Rodney sitting with him, chattering away, being his usual pain-in-the-ass self. Only John wasn't sure if he was awake or asleep and at times became convinced Rodney was actually in the cell with him. "It was nice. Comforting."

Rodney frowns. "Are you sure it was me?"

"Rodney," John starts, exasperated that Rodney just doesn't get it. But then Rodney grins at him and John realizes Rodney is yanking his chain. It makes him ridiculously happy.

"Here, eat something before you faint again."

John corrects him. "Passed out. I passed out. Almost."

It's an old joke by now, but Rodney is still grinning. "Right. Whatever you say, Major."

There's a loud whoop from the front section. They're dialing up, about to head through the gate. Ford announces that's something really rank in the back of the jumper, Stackhouse wants to open some windows, Teyla laughs and as the white glow of the wormhole fills the interior of the jumper, John realizes Rodney just might actually love him.