Week 37.7
Patient’s Name: John Sheppard
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Prompt: 68.3 - Have you ever contacted an ex after a breakup? Why?
Spoilers: SGA 04x15 - Outcast
Word Count: 539
Partner: Nancy Sheppard (canon)
A/N: This is also part of John's RP time-line, and takes place around the beginning of July during the week right before he goes to visit Mia for two weeks.
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The news about his father's death had been both blessing and curse. Blessing because now he'd never have to worry about living up to his father's expectations, and curse for much the same reason. The fact that he had never made amends with the elder Sheppard was eating at him, and John regretted the missed opportunity. He had changed during his time on Atlantis, but no one he knew on Earth would ever realize it. He had cut all ties to his past with the acceptance of the Antarctic posting and when that had morphed into a transfer to the Atlantis Expedition he had failed to tell anyone he had been reassigned. John figured his guilt was the main compelling reason he went back, the secondary reason being that it was expected of him. He was glad of Ronon's presence, since he'd at least have someone to talk to. John wasn't expecting much by way of people coming to offer condolences, and when they had arrived at his childhood home, he wasn't surprised when he was right.
The private moment in the room with his father's coffin was surreal, and John found himself almost blind-sided by memories that he had thought were buried too deep to ever resurface. Again, he found himself regretting the fact that he had not made more of an effort to reconnect with his father, but when his only recollections of the man had a tone of condescension and the sensation of epic failure in the eyes of the only man in the world that John should have worshiped, it was easy to see how John had allowed himself to get lost in his work and blame his inability and unavailability on the rapid-fire of events that had marked the last three and a half years.
And then there was Nancy. Wow, he never thought he'd ever see her again. John was startled by the bitterness that welled up inside him as she offered her condolences and gave him a hug he didn't feel like returning. The jibe about their marriage being a good idea only in the eyes of Patrick Sheppard had the desired effect of getting her out of his personal space and precipitating the beginning of the end of their conversation.
Having to bite the bullet, swallow his pride and go knocking on her proverbial door several day later left a sour taste in his mouth, and the whole matter of their failed marriage got a whole bunch of new light shed on it. He definitely bit his tongue, since he really needed her help. Finding out she was now finally in the same position he had been during their brief time as man and wife was a small victory that he didn't have the heart to indulge in. He was just tired of the whole thing, tired of his past having such a grip on him.
He vowed that after this was all over he'd make amends with his brother, at the very least. He owed his baby brother that much, at least. As for Nancy, well...
...well John desperately prayed that after this whole Replicator issue was resolved that he'd never, ever have to call on his ex-wife ever again.
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Prompt: 68.3 - Have you ever contacted an ex after a breakup? Why?
Spoilers: SGA 04x15 - Outcast
Word Count: 539
Partner: Nancy Sheppard (canon)
A/N: This is also part of John's RP time-line, and takes place around the beginning of July during the week right before he goes to visit Mia for two weeks.
-------
The news about his father's death had been both blessing and curse. Blessing because now he'd never have to worry about living up to his father's expectations, and curse for much the same reason. The fact that he had never made amends with the elder Sheppard was eating at him, and John regretted the missed opportunity. He had changed during his time on Atlantis, but no one he knew on Earth would ever realize it. He had cut all ties to his past with the acceptance of the Antarctic posting and when that had morphed into a transfer to the Atlantis Expedition he had failed to tell anyone he had been reassigned. John figured his guilt was the main compelling reason he went back, the secondary reason being that it was expected of him. He was glad of Ronon's presence, since he'd at least have someone to talk to. John wasn't expecting much by way of people coming to offer condolences, and when they had arrived at his childhood home, he wasn't surprised when he was right.
The private moment in the room with his father's coffin was surreal, and John found himself almost blind-sided by memories that he had thought were buried too deep to ever resurface. Again, he found himself regretting the fact that he had not made more of an effort to reconnect with his father, but when his only recollections of the man had a tone of condescension and the sensation of epic failure in the eyes of the only man in the world that John should have worshiped, it was easy to see how John had allowed himself to get lost in his work and blame his inability and unavailability on the rapid-fire of events that had marked the last three and a half years.
And then there was Nancy. Wow, he never thought he'd ever see her again. John was startled by the bitterness that welled up inside him as she offered her condolences and gave him a hug he didn't feel like returning. The jibe about their marriage being a good idea only in the eyes of Patrick Sheppard had the desired effect of getting her out of his personal space and precipitating the beginning of the end of their conversation.
Having to bite the bullet, swallow his pride and go knocking on her proverbial door several day later left a sour taste in his mouth, and the whole matter of their failed marriage got a whole bunch of new light shed on it. He definitely bit his tongue, since he really needed her help. Finding out she was now finally in the same position he had been during their brief time as man and wife was a small victory that he didn't have the heart to indulge in. He was just tired of the whole thing, tired of his past having such a grip on him.
He vowed that after this was all over he'd make amends with his brother, at the very least. He owed his baby brother that much, at least. As for Nancy, well...
...well John desperately prayed that after this whole Replicator issue was resolved that he'd never, ever have to call on his ex-wife ever again.