11 Sheppard/Weir Recs (SGA)

[irony-rocks.livejournal.com]

In no particular order whatsoever, here's eleven recs for the S4/s5 Fix It Challenge held over at john_elizabeth. Disclosure: I am only doing 11 recs, omg. No more. 'Cause, dude, this post took forever to write up. There are nearly twenty fics in the challenge written thus far, so there's plenty of more goodness that I did not praise!

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Fandom Category: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John Sheppard/Elizabeth Weir
Fic Title: Tracing the Years on your Skin
Author: sugargroupie
Link: http://sugargroupie.livejournal.com/256693.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Genre: AU
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: They've been together ten years, and she hasn't aged a day.

Beautifully written angst, with an evocative John second person POV. This fic is filled with fantastic lines as it follows the story of John, rescued from Oberoth by Elizabeth. Except he doesn't believe it's the real Elizabeth for a very long time because of all the mindgames and torture he's been put through.

You can still recall the memory of Atlantis and your people, but the smell and particular blue of the ocean surrounding it slips through your fingers. You remember some of the reports that were last sitting on your desk, but you can't remember what Teyla wore to your last sparring.

Elizabeth, who is a constant presence and never far away from your thoughts, is sometimes the one memory you want to shake loose. You want to claim that freedom she's promised you, but to do that means to leave her, and that's something you can't do yet. Not when you've just found her again (found another being wearing her face).

It's hard to keep it straight in your mind anymore, whether or not she's real. But when she brushes up against your arm or deliberately grabs your hand or allows you to lean against her when you've taxed your body, she feels real. She feels like Elizabeth, like home, and you have to force yourself to turn away.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir
Fic Title: Specter
Author: peanutbutterer
Link: http://peanutbutterer.livejournal.com/68695.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG
Genre: Angst, AU
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: John leaves Atlantis with Elizabeth

Elizabeth gets sent back to Earth, and John volunteers to go back with her. Oh, glorious angst of epic beauty. The internal struggle as Elizabeth attempts to "become human" again, and John's struggle to be there for her? Dude, I cannot expound enough about how beautifully this is written. Like a work of art.

Two weeks pass and they release you from custody.

John takes you to his apartment; his place is your place. After all – he promised he’d look after you.

“You’re free,” he says, happiness finally reaching his eyes.

You don’t know how to tell him you’ll never be free. You’re eroding, nanites slowly but persistently swallowing you whole.

You order your cheeks to smile and they obey.

They always obey.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Sheppard/Weir
Fic Title: The Upside of Down
Author: ed_84
Link: http://ed-84.livejournal.com/35759.html
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17, sex
Genre: Angst, AU
WIP?: No

Why This Must Be Read: AU for the last two seasons, in a screwed up 'verse where John and Elizabeth are back on Earth, cut off from (a possibly destroyed) Atlantis. This explores their survivor's guilt so well, and though John and Elizabeth are both dark and fucked up, there's such a strong current of love under it. This story has layers, man. Also, really absurdly hot smut. Like really hot.

She gets her key in the door, pushes it open and enters first. By the time she finally has it closed again, she twists around to face John and without entirely knowing who initiates it, finds herself kissing him. Their lips fuse together, tongues toying angrily, fists in hair, clothes disheveled, and John pushes her back against the door with his body pressing into her.

His mouth taste like beer, and she hates beer. The kiss is sloppy and desperate, and John is either more drunk than she realized or better at covering it up these days. He lacks the finesse he usually possesses, the normal primal heat that often leaves her defenseless against his advances. She thinks of all the ways this meeting is a bad, bad idea. That list is probably longer than the list of charges at his court martial.

It’s stupid and foolish, but this too is familiar. When they don’t talk, when they don’t fight (and even if they do), it all invariably leads back to this. She thinks she’s had more angry sex with John Sheppard than is healthy for any countless number of relationships, but she really can’t claim that any of her relationships since Atlantis have been healthy. Elizabeth knows the routine of this as much as she knows the length of his zipper and the feel of his half-mast erection beneath his jeans.

The thought sobers her, tempering the dark heat of the kiss. Elizabeth can’t do this anymore; they’ve danced this number once too many – and how many times can you decide to self-destruct anyway? There should be a limit on that.

She pulls back and rips herself free of his embrace, stumbling down the hallway a little to put distance between them. They can’t do this. Not now.

“Eliza—”

“Don’t,” she warns him, and he stills with one look at her.

She wanders down the hallway and turns the light on in her living room.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: S/W
Fic Title: The Twists and Turns of Fate
Author: lone_pyramid
Link: http://lone-pyramid.livejournal.com/146770.html
Rating/Warning(s): pg-13
Genre: au
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: A year after Elizabeth sacrificed herself to save Atlantis, the people left behind are finally moving on -- until an Elizabeth from an alternate reality shows up and opens old wounds. Twice the S/W UST/Friendship than your average fic, and omg, this is so perfectly in-character, especially John. His subtle grief, the brief flickers of emotions that betray him, are woven perfectly into this fic.

Their expressions are grave when they look up and John braces himself for the news.

Rodney glances away, then back. "We think Elizabeth is suffering from entropic cascade failure."

John blinks at him. "Excuse me?" He's sure he must have heard wrong.

Keller straightens. "Based on what you've told us and some preliminary scans, it looks like Dr. Weir is suffering from entropic cascade failure. We're looking through the SGC's reports now and Colonel Carter is on her way down – she was directly involved in the first few contacts with visitors from alternate realities."

This is not happening, John thinks, grateful beyond relief for the solidity of the door frame as the implications sink in. "But that wouldn't be possible unless...." He can't say the words.

Rodney can, apparently. "Unless our Elizabeth is still alive."

"Jesus," John breathes, not sure if it's a curse or a prayer. He closes his eyes and grips the door frame so hard his knuckles crack. "Thirteen months." The words feel as though they're being ripped from his throat, leaving it raw. "Thirteen fucking months." That's how long they've left her at the mercy of the Asurans. He turns to leave.

"Sheppard?"

"Not now, Rodney," he says without turning or slowing. He's curiously calm just now, but it's not going to last and when the numbness wears of it's going to be violent. He needs to be either running himself exhausted or locked in a gym with Ronon and two pairs of bantos sticks when that happens.

A hand lifts to his radio. "Ronon? You busy?"

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir
Fic Title: First Impressions
Author: bigdamnxenafan
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/john_elizabeth/1284304.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13 for language
Genre: AU, Episode related
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: Vegas based fic where John and Elizabeth meet.

John survived the ep, and now plans on joining up with the SGC. But first, he has to pass the standards of the woman-in-charge: Dr. Elizabeth Weir. This is friendship/pre-ship, a first encounter between them in this verse. It's a completely plausible addition to this episode/au, and has a nice Sheppard voice.

John blinked. “Dr. Elizabeth Weir, huh? How come this is the first I’m hearing of her? I take it she’s not military?” he asked irritably. He was rapidly tiring of McKay’s little mind games.

“Need I remind you that much of what goes on inside this facility and its affiliates is classified. You don’t yet have the clearance to be privy to every little detail,” Rodney scoffed. “Dr. Weir is indeed a civilian. She’s also very capable, almost as competent as I, though I do set a rather high standard that would be difficult for anyone to live up to.” Rodney cut the diatribe short under Sheppard’s withering stare. “She’s no-nonsense, tough, but fair. You shouldn’t have a problem.”

“She a physicist like you?” John asked.

“Nope, a diplomat. One of her doctorates is in political science, the other in linguistics.”

John sighed heavily and fell back against the pillow. Great, just great: a politician and a bureaucrat, he lamented to himself. If there was anyone he got along with worse than superior officers it was politicians and bureaucrats and this woman was both. Not to mention, an intellectual. Intellectuals like McKay had a habit of looking down their noses at him. And she had to be like a hundred, he reasoned, what with her being a doctor in two fields. Yep, he was screwed. “Okay, so when does this alleged interview take place?” John was starting to picture something more like an interrogation.

“Tomorrow if you’re up for it,” Rodney said. “All I have to do is pass on the word and she’ll stop by the infirmary at ten sharp to interview you. We would do the formal interview in a briefing room, but Dr. Keller thinks it best you remain in the infirmary. You know, due to your excitable nature and all.” Rodney bit back a chuckle.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir
Fic Title: Cake or Death
Author: muppetmandaLink: pg-13
Rating/Warning(s): none
Genre: au
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: "... and my only other option is, "or death"?"

Look at the prompt, okay? The fact that this author could apply this prompt to angsty s4/s5 and make it work flawlessly? Says a hellava lot. Great cameo by Woosley, as he tries to figure WTF is going as John and Elizabeth explain her escape. They blame Eddie Izzard.

Elizabeth did indeed like it, and about twelve minutes in, as Eddie expounded on the brilliant military strategy of surprising enemies with the first battalion, transvestite brigade – airborne wing – John realized, he liked it too.

"Where did you get this," Elizabeth asked in between laughs, a huge grin on her face as Eddie came back out for his encore – lamenting technology.

"Lorne."

"This is fantastic."

John watched her laugh, the lightheartedness melting away the stress from her day. Changing her from Dr. Weir – always in control, always in charge – into simply, Elizabeth. His Elizabeth.

She felt him watching her and turned, the end of a laugh still on her lips. "What?"

"I wish you smiled more." Rolling her eyes, she turned back to the TV screen. "I'm serious."

"We haven't had a whole lot to smile about around here."

"It's been a rough year," he conceded.

"Sometimes it seems like it’s never going to get any better," Elizabeth admitted softly. "As soon as we think we've got one enemy defeated, someone else pops up even worse."

"You know what you've gotta do then, don't you," John asked, all wide smile and charm. Playing along, Elizabeth shook her head no. He pulled her closer on the couch, his arms wrapping around her shoulders and drawing her in. "When it gets bad… I mean really bad… just think back on tonight, and Eddie, and ask yourself… Cake or death?"

She smacked him once, then kissed him to keep him quiet as the credits started to roll.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir
Fic Title: Blood Union
Author: oparu
Link: Http://oparu.livejournal.com/133539.html
Rating/Warning(s): R, non-graphic sex, violence
Genre: au
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: "Alternative s4 fic - John + Elizabeth were both captured, and must escape the Asuran homeworld together."

Bonding nanites. Replicator Sparky sex. Anything else I really need to say? No? Okay then.

Elizabeth’s superior, nanite-enhanced senses recorded each nanosecond of his death charge in perfect clarity. When she brought it to mind, she could see the blue disruptor blast move through the air so slowly it looked like it was floating. The delicate ball of energy slammed into John’s chest in slow motion, scorching the cloth of his uniform. When his T-shirt turned to ash, the flesh beneath boiled before it began to char. The muscle of his chest stunk like burned meat before the disruptor sank through to the bone. The cartilage and connecting tissues of his ribcage stunk like burnt leather. Elizabeth’s newly amplified hearing made the hiss of air fleeing his lung an explosion against her eardrums.

When he fell, knees hitting first, arms limp like ropes, he was unable to stop his face from slamming into the deck. The crunch of his nose as the bone broke against the hard metal deck seared into her memory with a force that stung her eyes. Each moment since then, each second of life where his heart foolishly continued to beat, was duly noted and filed into her memory. Flashes of sensation and images that held no meaning, though they would be remembered until the silicon pathways of her nanites turned to dust.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir, Shep/Teyla
Fic Title: End of the Beginning
Author: rillarilla
Link: http://rillarilla.livejournal.com/6929.html
Rating/Warning(s): nc-17, sex
Genre: au
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: This has both Sheppard/Teyla and Sheppard/Weir, but S/W is clearly the driving force. The first half of this fic is seriously gutwrenching with angst, because it follows canon logically and then takes an abrupt right turn: Long after Elizabeth's capture by the Replicators, the Pegasus Galaxy is suddenly awash in Elizabeth Weirs, all of them troubled and dangerous. But which one is the real one?

He ended up in the empty mess late one evening, staring blankly into the depths of his seventh cup of coffee and wishing he had the means to make it Irish when Cadman plopped down beside him. For a moment she contemplated her own mug. Then she dug into her pocket and produced a flask. She offered it to him. He scooted his mug toward her and she tipped some booze in before doing her own. “L'chaim.”

He saluted her with his mug. “Against regs, you know. Unsanctioned alcohol.”

She shot him a wry glance. “Breaking regs, you say? Oh please don't dock my allowance.”

John took a long pull on his drink, hissing at the burn down his throat. It was Irisher than Riverdance.

“Broke up another fight today,” Cadman said presently.

“Yeah? That's been happening a lot lately.”

“Yeah. One of the new Marines, Lieutenant Ochs? Built like a bus? He was going on to his buddies about how anyone who came to Atlantis the first year was basically a loser, because they didn't have anyone to leave behind. I quote: 'a bunch of shut-in geeks and losers who couldn't get any tail so they tried to commit mass suicide-by-gate.' And then he said something about Topher and his 'Athosian ho.'”

John shook his head. “I hate that guy.”

“Yeah. Anyway, Dr. Yang was sitting at the next table, and all of a sudden he jumps on Ochs and just starts whaling on him.”

John laughed. “Seriously? Yang? He's, what, 130 pounds?”

She grinned. “If that. Guess they make them tough at Caltech, though. I had to pull him off Ochs.”

“Wish I'd seen that.”

“Yeah. It was pretty funny.” Her smile faded slightly. “You know, after I broke it up, I looked around the mess hall, though. Busy time of day, lot of people there. And when I broke up the fight there was this—tension in the air. Everybody was on their feet, like they were going to join the fight. And I started looking around at people's faces, going, that's McClane, he's Och's buddy, been here two months. That's Dr. Sura, been here four years. Dr. Lesley, here since the beginning. Dr. Dyckman, Woolsey brought him in. I think I've been doing that for awhile without realizing it—thinking of people in terms of when they came to the city. And I realized a couple of things.” She held up a finger. “Everyone Woolsey's brought in sits together in one corner of the mess. They don't sit with the rest of us. Or maybe we don't sit with them.” She held up a second finger. “For every single person in that mess, I could tell you in a heartbeat which side of the fight they would've been on.”

Her eyes bored into him. Both of them were clenching their mugs like their lives depended on it.

“Lieutenant,” John said carefully, “What are you saying?”

“Just wanted you to know,” she said, “Who in that mess would have your back if someone insulted your girlfriend.” She smiled slowly.

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir
Fic Title: Bridges Burned
Author: angelqueen04
Link: http://angelqueen04.livejournal.com/320968.html
Rating/Warning(s): pg-13
Genre: au
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: Angsty. A story where Elizabeth returns, and Elizabeth is righteously pissed - at John and Atlantis. The words "leave no man behind" are explored to their full meaning, and ouch. This hurt, but only because her reasons were so valid. You literally cringe hearing the details of her tirade, because it was probably a hell canon!Elizabeth lived through.

“Atlantis, this is Weir.”

John was pretty sure his heart stopped and slid right up into his throat. He couldn’t believe it. She was here? How? Eliz–

“We have been tracking that hive ship for several weeks, monitoring its movements and communications with other groups. There has been no collaboration on their part to attack Atlantis, so I believe your location died with them.”

John’s hand clenched the console in front of him while he tried to steady his breathing. It’s not possible…

“However, we are uncertain as to how they divined your location. I would suggest in the future that you take more care when you are dialing Atlantis.” Her tone was scathing. Sheppard winced.

Rodney wasn’t so tongue-tied. “E-Elizabeth?”

“Our assistance appears to be no longer needed. We will take our leave.”

“No!” It had taken those words to make Sheppard find his voice. “Elizabeth, wait!”

There was a pause for several seconds, but he knew that the channel had not been closed. Still, the response was not what he had hoped for.

“Colonel Sheppard.” If anything, her voice was even more frigid than before.

“What’s your hurry?” he asked, trying to sound flippant. He doubted anyone was fooled by it. “We appreciate the help. Give us a little time and we’ll break out the cake and –”

“Our presence here is no longer required,” she cut him off abruptly, “but there are other hive ships that we have been tracking that must be dealt with before they attempt to cull some of the more populated worlds. Please try to keep the city intact. I may not be here to save it a third time.”

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir
Fic Title: No Drop of Water
Author: hariboo_smirks and little_giddy
Link: http://community.livejournal.com/sharedbrain/955.html
Rating/Warning(s): pg-13
Genre: au
WIP?: no

Why This Must Be Read: "The Last Man". What if the Last Man was really a woman?

Evocative look at the prompt; great narration that's almost poetic. This one was a sparky treat, so it's shorter than the other stories.

"You're the city's insurance- both of you, but you're the secret."

He points in the direction of an eastern corridor becoming more familiar if she imagines the windows full of an ocean, not darkness, when she points to her throat.

"Elizabeth-"

His hand passes through hers. The hologram stands as she does and she raises her head.

"There's not much time - we're sending you back."

Rodney's hologram is spouting things - things her brain can't process because she's too tired and thirsty to think right. He tells her of timelines, and research and sending her back. She can't focus on anything else beside those words: sending her back. She doesn't even care to when just as long as he does.

He's telling her to just hang on a little longer. She nods, or at least she thinks she does, her voice is too raw for words and she can barely work up some saliva anymore. Rodney tells her what happened, his voice a ghost in the city because he needs to close the hologram to suck as much power from the city.

The walls are her guide, Rodney's voice her beacon. You're almost there, he tells her. His voice echoes in the dark halls, but the timber is familiar and comforting.

"Without you, everything was lost," he whispers, "We were lost. We floundered, we teetered on the edge for years until everything was gone. Everything that mattered. You're the base code, Elizabeth."

Fandom Category: SGA
Pairing: Shep/Weir, Cameron/Weir
Fic Title: At Last
Author: world_of_blade
Link: http://world-of-blade.livejournal.com/154806.html
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Genre: AU
WIP?: NO

Why This Must Be Read: An AU based on two Bollywood movies.

Based on Bollywood movies, omg! *hearts WoB forever and ever* A complete AU that has nothing at all to do with S4/S5, but I'm tossing it into this list as a bonus, because seriously, SGA/Bollywood AU. Based on "Babbul" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai," although you don't really need to know these films to understand the fic. Cameron/Weir and Sheppard/Weir. Major character death warning, but this is actually mushy, as is all good bollywood movies.

When John rounded the corner to where he knew the activist group would be making their signs, he was shocked to see Elizabeth and some unknown guy running around trying to paint on each other. Plus, Elizabeth was giggling. Giggling! He had never heard Elizabeth Weir giggle- ever. Narrowing his eyes, he decided that he didn’t like the unknown guy who was now holding his arms up in surrender as Elizabeth dabbed his nose with blue paint.

“John, you came!” Elizabeth called to him as he made his way toward the group. As he got closer she hit him with a megawatt smile.

“Don’t I always come to your rallies?” He gave her a quick smile and then concentrated on the unknown guy.

“Hi, I’m Cameron Mitchell.” Cam said. “Elizabeth was sure that you weren’t going to show. She said you wouldn’t want to protest about better wages for the college’s industrial personnel.

“Industrial personnel?” John asked. Not liking the way Elizabeth was smiling up at this Cameron Mitchell guy.

“Cam came up with the name.” Elizabeth said. “It sounds a lot better than janitor, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, sure.” John leaned back on his heels, with his hands in his pockets. Cameron seemed to know exactly what he was thinking, because he smirked a little before heading back to his own sign. Now he was sure, that he didn’t like Cameron Mitchell.