Starship.
It's quite possible John Sheppard has always had a death wish. It's why he joined the service in the first place. You don't volunteer to put your own neck on the line without some serious dedication.
"John, I can't ask you to do that."
He feels himself smirk, and he's at peace with it all being over. Finally, blessedly over.
He's always ready, at any moment, to jump. That's what makes him an excellent soldier. And a terrible leader.
His heart's beating fast and it's all he's ever wanted. A thousand tiny suns exploding behind his eyes as he climbs in altitude. He knows what's coming, but it doesn't make flying any less perfect.
"Just do me a favor, when Atlantis makes it. Tell them Goodbye for me."
His nonchalant step-out, just what he wants. None of that gushy soap-opera stuff.
Then he pictures their faces and his smirk falters just a minute.
"Teyla, John wanted me to tell you Goodbye." Her tears... He won't have to suffer them. But Rodney will. Poor, socially inept Rodney. Ronon will be their rock. He'll make an excellent team leader.
Maybe Lorne with make Lieutenant Colonel. The smirk is back at that image. Lorne would do so much better than him. Loyal Lorne, solid Lorne, always reliable in a pinch.
"I love you," he whispers to his jumper. This'll be the last time. The last time, and yet..
He always had been waiting for the adventure that was death. Leave 'em guessing, and with a good-looking corpse.
"Let's do this, beautiful," he mutters, thumping up the speed. He's really gonna do this. For real this time. No Rodney to stop him. No Carson to tell him sweetly that no, today was not his day to die.
Grinning now and almost there. "Let's do this." She seems as excited as he is, as if a little piece of his Lady Atlantis is right here with him, now.
Everything is just how it should be. Everything is perfect.
And fuck if the Wraith are ever getting through John Sheppard. He goes out swinging, and swinging hard.
"This place'll be swarming with Wraith any second. Just tell them." Tell them I love them.
Tell them not to forget me.
So stand up something to say
You turn on your radio
And the big man’s coming your way
And still you want to run
And still you want to hide
And still you think your Starship’s
Waiting outside
You think that you can run
You think that you can hide
You think that you’ve been living
such a beautiful life
"John?"
It's the most beautiful sound he's ever heard. Who the fuck knew it'd come by way of Rodney McKay's voice?
"John, please. Don't do this."
His mind's made up, just press the button... wait a fucking minute here. He's expendable. He's always been. But his team is here, with him. Where they belong.
He's wiping tears from his eyes, nodding even though Rodney can't see him. His choice was made for him when his comm had crackled to life.
And Rodney was real good at decision-making.
He really fucking thought this was it.
Better luck next time.
"John, I can't ask you to do that."
He feels himself smirk, and he's at peace with it all being over. Finally, blessedly over.
He's always ready, at any moment, to jump. That's what makes him an excellent soldier. And a terrible leader.
His heart's beating fast and it's all he's ever wanted. A thousand tiny suns exploding behind his eyes as he climbs in altitude. He knows what's coming, but it doesn't make flying any less perfect.
"Just do me a favor, when Atlantis makes it. Tell them Goodbye for me."
His nonchalant step-out, just what he wants. None of that gushy soap-opera stuff.
Then he pictures their faces and his smirk falters just a minute.
"Teyla, John wanted me to tell you Goodbye." Her tears... He won't have to suffer them. But Rodney will. Poor, socially inept Rodney. Ronon will be their rock. He'll make an excellent team leader.
Maybe Lorne with make Lieutenant Colonel. The smirk is back at that image. Lorne would do so much better than him. Loyal Lorne, solid Lorne, always reliable in a pinch.
"I love you," he whispers to his jumper. This'll be the last time. The last time, and yet..
He always had been waiting for the adventure that was death. Leave 'em guessing, and with a good-looking corpse.
"Let's do this, beautiful," he mutters, thumping up the speed. He's really gonna do this. For real this time. No Rodney to stop him. No Carson to tell him sweetly that no, today was not his day to die.
Grinning now and almost there. "Let's do this." She seems as excited as he is, as if a little piece of his Lady Atlantis is right here with him, now.
Everything is just how it should be. Everything is perfect.
And fuck if the Wraith are ever getting through John Sheppard. He goes out swinging, and swinging hard.
"This place'll be swarming with Wraith any second. Just tell them." Tell them I love them.
Tell them not to forget me.
So stand up something to say
You turn on your radio
And the big man’s coming your way
And still you want to run
And still you want to hide
And still you think your Starship’s
Waiting outside
You think that you can run
You think that you can hide
You think that you’ve been living
such a beautiful life
"John?"
It's the most beautiful sound he's ever heard. Who the fuck knew it'd come by way of Rodney McKay's voice?
"John, please. Don't do this."
His mind's made up, just press the button... wait a fucking minute here. He's expendable. He's always been. But his team is here, with him. Where they belong.
He's wiping tears from his eyes, nodding even though Rodney can't see him. His choice was made for him when his comm had crackled to life.
And Rodney was real good at decision-making.
He really fucking thought this was it.
Better luck next time.