het_reccers | SGA: Sheppard/Weir Shipper Manifesto

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Elizabeth Weir/John Sheppard

Blurb: God, how do I beat the blurb on the last Sheppard/Weir Shipper Manifesto? I can't! I suck at artistic stuff, so I guess I'll keep this brief: There is something compelling about the dynamic between Sheppard and Weir that is augmented by the chemistry between the actors. The flyboy/diplomat relationship has been a favorite of mine since the early years of Star Wars, but Torri Higginson and Joe Flanigan played off each other so well, testing and pulling and pushing, and though they were playing complete opposites, they still came down on the same side every time. Also, I think they got each other in ways that no one else did, a type of bond that went way past words. Trust, friendship, love - this couple had it all, and then the fandom made it epically more-so with a wonderful array of fanfiction. I think I was kinda spoiled by the S/W fandom because I have yet to find another one like it. It was big, but respectful. It dealt with a lot of canon bullshit, but it wasn't wanky! (Mostly.) It was talented and awesome and engaging and encouraging. It was imaginative. This fandom was so great, that even years after the actors/actresses left the screen, we've still got fic being produced and people talking/reminiscing about the good ol' Shep/Weir days. ;)

I feel confident enough to say: We were epic.

Now onto the recs! The last S/W Shipper Manifesto did a lot of the newer fic recs, so I'm gonna go with what I consider the classic fics. Things I've read a thousand and one times by authors all far more talented than I. I stopped at 12 recs, but honestly, I could and have gone on and on and on about the talented writers in this fandom. There's too many to name, but here's a start.

Fic Rec #1 - Best Drama Story: ... And Peace
Author:

anr
Link: http://anr.livejournal.com/300076.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: One of my favorite one-shots ever, and something I frequently go back and reread all the time. A simple story that gloriously explores the aftermath of a wrath attack, chronicling the night through Elizabeth's eyes. Her relationship with John, her responsibilities as a leader, the weight and guilt and emotions - just guh. Anr has a gift for writing that I so envy.

This is what she knows now:

At approximately ten-hundred this morning she allowed her city to be compromised. This resulted in the loss of fourteen men and women -- nine military, four civilian, and one Athosian. She is responsible for these events.

This is what she knows will happen next:

She will write her report and forward it to the SGC. The SGC will forward it to the IOA. The IOA will review her report and take appropriate steps. This may be her final strike.

She opens her eyes to find John still staring at her; he hasn't moved. She studies his features, so close to her own, and wonders when she first memorised them. He is so familiar sometimes...

His hand leaves her abdomen, fingers skimming lightly over her arm until he reaches her neck, her cheek. He plays with a lock of her hair, gently tugging at a loose curl before tucking it behind her ear. It's a curious touch, almost exploratory, so there's no reason why it should send a spike of lust straight down her spine. Absolutely no reason at all.

She bites the inside of her lip, hard.

"Sleep," he says, voice low. "We should sleep."

Fic Rec #2 - Best Action/Adventure Story: Angels Without Wings
Author:

helent
Link: http://helent.livejournal.com/62939.html
Rating/Warning(s): Sex

Why This Must Be Read: A deftly written story set late Season 2, just after Michael that explores the off-kilter and jittery questions Elizabeth has about her relationship with John. This fic has established relationship with wonderful UST, and while that may seem counterintuitive, somehow Helent pulls it off! When Elizabeth seeks distraction by deciphering the Ancient text found on a mysterious device, she gets sent to a time pre-Atlantis, while John is on a black-ops mission in some jungle. Her sudden unexplained appearance in a dangerous situation doesn't endear her to John at all. I loved seeing this possibility explored, and so expertly. Helent has a wonderful way of writing, and the story isn't mushy or filled with cliches. It's great drama, with action and adventure and a little bit of sex thrown in.

“Do you ever stop thinking?” John asked dryly.

With her head pillowed on the crook of one arm, her lips twitched with wry humour, “Why was I thinking too loud?”

“I’ve gone deaf in my right ear,” he deadpanned.

With only limited shelter available they were laying side-by-side. All down her left side she was toasty warm. The downside to that was that the scent of him, Sheppard the man, and her lover; reminding Elizabeth of things that this version didn’t have a clue about. Something she was thankful for since he obviously didn’t trust her for a second with his rifle kept securely tucked on his other side.

Despite that uncomfortable face, her lips twitched with humour, “Sorry, I couldn’t sleep.”

“I hear counting sheep works,” he offered helpfully, “or, you might want to try talking. Y’know gets things off your chest…”

The pace needed to evade the guerrillas had precluded conversation to a large degree. Now it seemed he was feeling chatty. Elizabeth was instantly wary, “Talk about what?”

“How you got to be where you where for starters,” he said, confirming her suspicion. “You sound American. There aren’t too many of us around here unless they’re aid workers, special ops, or journalists. You don’t fit my idea of any of those.”

“And you’d be right about that,” she replied lightly.

“So…?”

“What?”

Impatience crept into his voice, “How’d you get almost under the wheels of my damn chopper—without me seeing I might add, which doesn’t happen to me—ever.”

Elizabeth was too tired and sore to get creative, “You wouldn’t believe me.”

Fic Rec #3 - Best Alternate Reality/Universe Story: The Other Side
Author:

peanutbutterer
Link: http://peanutbutterer.livejournal.com/5508.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13, Language

Why This Must Be Read: Ah, another classic. Diehard Sparky fans will love this one; a story that explores the idea that John needs to retrieve help from an alternate reality Elizabeth Weir in order to help his Elizabeth out of an Ancient trap. This fic does a great job of writing how different choices can lead to different paths in life, altering Elizabeth's personality in subtle but profound ways. John's relationship with this alt!Elizabeth is deliciously explored and will leave shippers very, very happy. ;) The epilogue alone made at least a dozen shippers' heads explode. *g*

They’re sitting on “her” couch, sharing the Snickers bar she had in her bag when he finally addresses the elephant in the room.

“Elizabeth isn’t well,” he says softly.

Okay, elephant addressed. Now if only she could get him to explain the damn thing to her they might actually get somewhere. “That much I’ve gathered,” she smiles gently in an attempt to put him at ease. She hesitates a moment, trying to find the right way to go about this, and finally begins with the all-important question. “What is it that’s wrong with her?”

“It’s complicated.” He lets out a long breath and laces his fingers together. “She’s in a coma.”

Liz wonders if he can string together a sentence longer than five words. He’s quickly reverting back to the tormented John she first encountered and she has a feeling that particular version will be harder to work with.

Fic Rec #4 - Best Angst Story: Coda
Author:

peanutbutterer
Link: http://peanutbutterer.livejournal.com/41142.html
Rating/Warning(s): R (Sexual content)

Why This Must Be Read: My favorite S4/S5 fix-it fic EVER, and OMG, the emotion in this fic hits you with a ton of force. I cannot even begin to describe how well this story is written; I'll let the popularity of it speak for itself because this fic is - I think - infamous in exploring a well-treaded idea in a unique way. I love the emotion; I love Elizabeth's characterization; I love how John reacts; I love, love, love every single thing about this fic. Angst is my favorite genre, and this is worthy of the Best Angst Story by far.

It wasn’t always John’s team that rescued her.

A couple of times the Daedalus simply beamed her from her cell and she materialized on its bridge, no scrapes, no bruises and not one bit worse for the wear. There were plenty of versions where Major Lorne’s team would force their way in with guns blazing, leaving a satisfying trail of destruction in their wake. Once it had even been a lone and fearless Doctor Zelenka armed with a P90 and a data pad, no hand free to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Remarkably, the latter had been no less convincing than any of the others. She’d never considered herself to be gullible, but her optimism had been known to get the better of her, and for a long while she had continued to fall for the delusions.

Following Ronon down the corridor, heart and the patter of weapons fire pounding in her ears, she figured it was only a matter of time before optimism was no longer a problem.

There were only so many times you could escape and still believe.

Fic Rec #5 - Best Fluff Story: Reconnaissance
Author:

lone_pyramid
Link: http://lone-pyramid.livejournal.com/92330.html
Rating/Warning(s): R, for sexy times

Why This Must Be Read: Fluff and balconies and making-out. What more could you want? I love how Lone_Pyramid writes this dynamic, because she knows how to write stuff like this without becoming overly sapping or OOC. This is a fic I could read whenever I want a smile on my face! :P

"I swear to god, Elizabeth, you need to stop looking at me like that before I—"

The rest of his warning – or threat; he wasn't quite sure which – was cut off by her lips on his.

Though caught off-guard, John didn't hesitate in responding. One hand went to her hip, the other to the back of her head, and he backed her up until they were both stopped by a pillar. The hands on his chest slid up to twine around his neck and pull him closer, her lips parting beneath his and her tongue slipping into his mouth as if they'd done this a hundred times before. John groaned, the hand on Elizabeth's hip sliding around to her back and then lower, pulling her flush against his body even as he trapped her more securely against the column. She gasped into his mouth, her right leg wrapping around his left as she arched into him. Unable to stop himself he groaned again at the increased contact, hungrily deepening the kiss, his entire world focused on the taste of her.

Fic Rec #6 - Best Hurt/Comfort Story: Veracity
Author:

mylittleredgirl
Link: http://www.mylittleredgirl.com/fic/lantis/veracity.shtml
Rating/Warning(s): R, for graphic sex, language and violence.

Why This Must Be Read: Oh, god. Mylittleredgirl has written more of my favorite S/W fics than anyone else, but this one? God, I cannot get enough of this one. It's my favorite, and what can I say? I'm partial to angst, but then again I'm also partial to seeing the journey towards a happier ending, even if that journey is painful. Here, the story is about John after he's been held prisoner and tortured by an Original villain, and the fallout is explored through Elizabeth's eyes. Their relationship, John's struggle, Elizabeth's doubt - god, it's just so good. I feel like I'm damning this with faint praise, but I just can't find the words to properly describe how much I love this fic.

When she emerges from the bathroom, he's not reading, only staring over the top of the book like his thoughts are a million miles away. She feels like an intruder in her own bedroom as she shrugs on a nightshirt and crawls into bed.

"Hey," he greets her, burying his nose in her freshly washed hair. "Good shower?"

"Yee-esss..." she drawls, kissing along his stubbled jaw, needing to do something to shake loose the haunted expression on his face.

"I'm tired," he argues when she slips a hand under the hem of his t-shirt. He never wore shirts to bed until recently, not even in the winter, and it makes her think he's sensitive about the deep scars on his chest and back. He then frowns at her, cupping her chin. He looks worried. "Is that okay?"

She tries to smile reassuringly, more unnerved that he asked that question than that he turned down a sexual advance. They're often too worn out for sex -- it's an understood part of their lives and their relationship. "Of course." She kisses him again and then curls up against his shoulder. "I'm tired, too."

Fic Rec #7 - Best PWP/Kink Story: Wireless
Author:

lanna_kitty
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/variousnsundry/5900.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17

Why This Must Be Read: John decides to distract Elizabeth during an important meeting with the IOA by, um, phone-sex through her radio headpiece? This fic is so. hawt. *fans self* I didn't even know this was a kink of mine until I read this fic. *g*

Elizabeth's mind took a detour before she firmly hauled it back on track. But the image of John lingered. She could hear the grin in his voice; picture the mischievous smile he wore when he played games like this with her. In her mind, his hand was fisted under the towel, moving slowly.

Elizabeth crossed her legs and leaned on one elbow. She heard a rustle of fabric over the radio.

"Towel's off," John informed her. "I'm sure this would be more exciting if I'd been wearing more clothes," he sighed dramatically. "I can picture taking off yours, though," he added.

Elizabeth knew she should turn her radio off right then, but his voice kept her from reaching for her earpiece, paralyzed by the imagery he was conjuring up.

Fic Rec #8 - Best Long Story: Lost in the Veins of this City
Author:

hariboo_smirks and

little_giddy
Link: http://sgabigbang.talkoncorners.net/?view=fic&id=47
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13ish

Why This Must Be Read: A novel-length AU that sets the Atlantis characters in a 'verse where John and Elizabeth are partners in a detective agency, and most of the SGA/SG-1 characters are cops. I just love the depth of their friendship in this fic, bone deep and strong. It's about the buildup to them crossing the line into being more than just friends/partners, and the dynamic is so believably co-dependent and raw, I just love it to itty bits and pieces. Great piece, with plot and drama and fighting and friendship!

"I get the need to get answers. What I'm trying hard to wrap my head around is why you didn't trust me."

"Fifteen years," Elizabeth says after a hesitation. Looking at him, she feels how the waves of anger and tension roll off his body in dark waves.

"Fuck that. You still treated me like a dog you had to muzzle." There's no self-pity or anger in it; just pain, and just that's enough. She'd thought he wouldn't see the thought in her head, but that's a flaw in her logic. He's had seven hours to bounce those thoughts around, use that overly-strategic mind and follow all the reasons she would lie - of course he'd come to the part where she didn't want him killing a potential ally. Suddenly she wishes he'd seen the thought in her head, the other one, the one that still thinks she has to look after him because it's now she realises he does that for her unflinchingly, faithfully, and not because he thinks she needs it. She winces, can't think of 'loyalty' because the way he's said she treats him like he needs a leash cuts to the quick.

"Fifteen years," Elizabeth repeats, voice thin and quiet even in her own years, "and nothing much is different, it seems."

They hear the words they've glossed over and joked about and thrown around like a game all over again; the reason they aren't cops anymore, and the secret, guilt-ridden and dark reason Elizabeth walked out not long after he did. It wasn't the whole reason, but it had enough of a presence in her mind and gut to be part of it. Too much of a part for her to make peace with it in fifteen years.

Fic Rec #9 - Best Overall Romantic Story: The First Ten Years
Author:

mylittleredgirl
Link: http://www.mylittleredgirl.com/fic/lantis/tenyears.shtml
Rating/Warning(s): R for a graphic sex scene.

Why This Must Be Read: One of the classic S/W stories out there, chronicling the first ten years of their relationship, starting from when they were just colleagues to friends, to them realizing they're more than just friends, to them actually getting together. It is long, gorgeously written, and romantic in a way that just leaves you aching to reread it through.

He remembers that it's Christmas four or five days into their incarceration.

It's only the two of them -- him and Elizabeth -- in the dark, cold cave that doubles as a Tolarian cell. He still isn't sure how they managed to get separated from the rest of his team after the negotiations Elizabeth came to mediate between the two nations of this planet went explosively sour. He's had plenty of time to think about it since being captured and tossed in here, brought out only for the occasional interrogation session. He can only hope the rest of his team made it to the Stargate in one piece.

Elizabeth hasn't stopped worrying about Atlantis, about what the city will do without them. He worries about that too, distantly, but is a lot more afraid that the next time their captors show up to drag Elizabeth away they'll execute her -- or worse. There isn't enough light to see, but he thinks he can smell the way one of the guards looks at her. Though he has screamed himself raw insisting that she doesn't know anything, that he's the one with the tactical information about the other side and extensive weapons knowledge, the Tolarians still seem to prefer dealing with her.

"I'm okay," she always tells him, gripping his hand. He can feel stickiness on her fingers that has to be blood. It's pitch black in their cell, deep underground and without any source of artificial light, so he can only evaluate her injuries by touch and by the strength of her voice. She has taken the worst of it, and he's pretty sure her ribs are badly broken by the way she screams whenever two Tolarians hold him down and a third forces her to her feet. He doesn't think he'll ever get that sound out of his head, and he forces himself to focus on how her breath doesn't have the sick whistle of a punctured lung and that she isn't in immediate danger of dying. At least, not from injury.

"Think they'll wait for us to throw the party?" he asks to distract her from what hurts and keep her awake.

Fic Rec #10 - Best Episode-Based Story: Defense Mechanism
Author:

ed_84
Link: http://ed-84.livejournal.com/51787.html
Rating/Warning(s): R, sex, violence, language

Why This Must Be Read: Conversion based fic, exploring the possibility of what could have happened if both John and Elizabeth were infected with the retrovirus. Oh, god, I have a weakness for Conversion fics but this one takes the cake because it's hot, it's in-character, it explores the mutation wonderfully, darkly and with great drama and suspense. It's long and plotty and yet it never strays from focusing on the relationship between John and Elizabeth. Plus, it's got great stuff for Carson and Caldwell, and they're characters usually not well-explored in most fics. LOVE THIS FIC SO MUCH.

She entered the brig, and there was another guard stationed to the left of her. The door slid shut behind her before she even made out the figure of John lying spread out over the cot. Whatever she’d been expecting, it hadn’t been this. His lanky body seemed relaxed and untroubled, and a spark of irritation went through Elizabeth for reasons she couldn’t even understand. She circled the cage, walking towards him until the moment she saw his eyes snap open. The knowledge of her presence quickened his breathing, almost imperceptibly, but Elizabeth noticed it among a dozen other things she could pick up now thanks to her heightened awareness.

He smelled different – well, not different, but stronger. His scent was a mixture of musk and masculine fragrances that muddle her senses again, and when she blinked and glanced away briefly in order to regroup, she glanced back only to find John abruptly standing in front of her, face inches apart from her own with a single horizontal bar between them.

“Elizabeth,” he breathed, in a tone that went straight through her.

The awareness of him was suddenly something that stole her breath away. She hadn’t been prepared for that. His body sang to her on a level she couldn’t even define, but it was instinctual and dark, and her breathing quickened. She traded a look with him that seemed to go right through both of them as if they shared one single impulse. Lust tightened low in her belly, and she could pick up a telling scent in the air from John — some pheromone, maybe? He was just as responsive to her as she was of him — as if there was some primal recognition.

Her mate.

Fic Rec #11 - Best Friendship/UST Story: Sometimes It’s Not The Space Battles
Author:

aj
Link: http://aj.livejournal.com/571212.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG

Why This Must Be Read: This story is simply genius. John and Elizabeth watch the show Battlestar Galactica, and the obvious parallels between John/Elizabeth and Adama/Roslin kinda jump out at you. It's humorous and serious and all the good stuff in between. You can't walk away from this fic without a smile on your face. I dare you.

He eyed her then. There was something in her tone that was almost devilish. “Oh, please don’t tell me you want them to hook up?”

She blinked at him, eyes wide in complete innocence.

“Oh, my god, you do!”

Unrepentant, she nodded. “I was totally in love with Edward James Olmos when he was on Miami Vice. I was thirteen, he was brooding and had a mustache.”

That earned her the hairy eyeball. “You like facial hair?”

She rolled her own at him. “I did at thirteen, John.”

“And this works out to you wanting the President and the Commander to have sweaty sex… how?” He made a face. “I don’t think you had adolescent fantasies about two actors making out.”

She snorted and took a sip of what he assumed was her tea. She tended not to drink coffee after midnight unless things were exploding. If they were, everyone left Elizabeth’s coffee pot alone without invitation. There were some memories even John couldn’t revisit without alcohol and Elizabeth without caffeine during a thirty-hour shift. Well. He had no tequila, so he wasn’t going there.

“Not those two, specifically, no. But I like Roslin.” He gave her a knowing smirk and she made a face at him. “What? She’s a politician and a leader who actually gets to throw people out airlocks when they try and kill her. There are days when I wish I could do that.”

“Speaking as someone who’s tried your last nerve, I’m kind of glad you don’t.”