Fic: Wake (Main Page)
Title: Wake
Team: War
Prompt: Leave of Absence
Pairing(s): McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Major character death
Word Count: ~15,000
Spoilers/Tags: Set post season 5, so anything is up for grabs, but major spoilers for season 3, "Epiphany."
Summary: "Oh the blood and the treasure, and then losing it all. The time that we wasted, and the place where we fall. Will we wake in the morning and know what it was for, up in our bedroom, after the war?"-The Beginning After the End by Stars
Notes: And then, seven years later, I repost my final Mcshep Match story! This one looks a little different than the one that originally ran in the contest (which, due to the time constraints, was not as finished as I wanted it to be, and woefully under-edited.) There are a couple new scenes, and others have been modified or taken out entirely. Hopefully this version is a much cleaner read than the original.
Huge, enormous thank yous to my betas, windysame (whose lightning fast grammar checks are every writer's dream) and enviropony (who made my verbs work out their disagreements and my infinitive renew their vows.) They made this story into something actual people could actually read.
Now, on with the story!
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Comments and story page on mcshep_match
And, for those of you who are into that kind of thing, the official "Wake" playlist!
If you haven't already read it, this will contain minor spoilers for the story. I picked out a prime line of lyrics from each of the songs, but in pretty much every case the full song is applicable.
"Oh the blood and the treasure, and then losing it all. The time that we wasted, and the place where we fall. Will we wake in the morning and know what is was for, up in our bedroom, after the war?"
The Beginning After the End by Stars (and that's the whole fic right there, really. Just much more concise and eloquent.)
"Before you landed, I had a will but didn't know what it could do. You were abandoned, but still you're handing out what you don't want to lose. [...] Someone to die for. Someone like you."
Someone To Die For by Jimmy Gnecco (The only one that's more from Rodney's perspective. John had a major hand -- both canon and fanon -- in changing Rodney from a self-important lab rat into the kind of person that would die to save the people he cares about.)
"If I only could make a deal with God and get him to swap our places, I'd be running up that road. I'd be running up that hill. I'd be running up that building, if I only could."
Running Up That Hill by Placebo (This one really sets the tone of the story, I think, and it lines up well with John's general mindset. In any case, it shot up to one of my Most Played on itunes during the writing process.)
"All around me are familiar faces; worn out places, worn out faces. [...] Tears are filling up their glasses; no expression, no expression. Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow; no tomorrow, no tomorrow."
Mad World by Gary Jules (this one is definitely the scene in the mess hall.)
Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven (Featured in the fic, and also did a lot to set the tone while I was writing. No lyrics, obviously.)
"Two to none. Roads that lead away from this. I'm following myself, just this once. I got spun. It appears you're spun as well. It happens when you pay attention. This could take all year. [...] I'm finally numb, so please don't get me rescued."
Rescued by Jack's Mannequin (John's perspective as he goes back to the time dilation field.)
"I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, anytime, night or day. Only trouble is, gee whiz, I'm dreaming my life away."
All I Have To Do Is Dream by the Everly Brothers (generally a fun, silly song about a crush, but sort of haunting when it's recontextualized with this story.)
"Take your time coming home. Hear the wheels as they roll. Let your lungs fill up with smoke. Forgive everyone."
Take Your Time Coming Home by Fun. (In the time dilation field. There are two versions of this song. I'm using the slow one.)
"Am I alone or are you there? I turn around and I am scared. I can hear the echo growing where you were. [...] I am alone. I want you here, before it all disappears. I can feel your shadow lurking in the dark. [...] But I still wonder where you are."
I Still Wonder by Joseph Birdsong (John's perception of the experiences in the field as they get increasingly disturbing. At the same time he's getting closer and closer to really facing Rodney being gone.)
"I fought a war to walk the gang plank into a life I left behind. Windows leading to the past, think it's time I broke some glass, get this history off my mind. [...] Walls are caving in as far as I can see. Walls are caving in, door got locked for sure. There's no one here but me."
Caves by Jack's Mannequin (seriously, every damn word of this song.)
"Don't say we have come now to the end. White shores are calling. You and I will meet again, and you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping. What can you see on the horizon? Why do the white gulls call? [...] The ships have come to carry you home."
Into the West by Annie Lennox (The final scene with John's interaction with Rodney; saying goodbye.)
"What's left to lose? I've done enough. And if I fail, well then, I fail but I gave it a shot. These last three years, I know they've been hard, but now it's time to get out of the desert and into the sun, even if it's alone."
On Your Porch by The Format (Going home to Atlantis.)
"Wake up. Say good morning to that sleepy person lying next to you. If there's no one there, then there's no one there, but at least the war is over. [...] Lift your head and look out the window. Stay that way for the rest of the day and watch the time go. Listen, the birds sing. Listen, the bells ring. All the living are dead, and the dead are all living. The war is over."
In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars (This song was actually what sparked the inspiration for this entire story.)
Team: War
Prompt: Leave of Absence
Pairing(s): McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Major character death
Word Count: ~15,000
Spoilers/Tags: Set post season 5, so anything is up for grabs, but major spoilers for season 3, "Epiphany."
Summary: "Oh the blood and the treasure, and then losing it all. The time that we wasted, and the place where we fall. Will we wake in the morning and know what it was for, up in our bedroom, after the war?"-The Beginning After the End by Stars
Notes: And then, seven years later, I repost my final Mcshep Match story! This one looks a little different than the one that originally ran in the contest (which, due to the time constraints, was not as finished as I wanted it to be, and woefully under-edited.) There are a couple new scenes, and others have been modified or taken out entirely. Hopefully this version is a much cleaner read than the original.
Huge, enormous thank yous to my betas, windysame (whose lightning fast grammar checks are every writer's dream) and enviropony (who made my verbs work out their disagreements and my infinitive renew their vows.) They made this story into something actual people could actually read.
Now, on with the story!
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Comments and story page on mcshep_match
And, for those of you who are into that kind of thing, the official "Wake" playlist!
If you haven't already read it, this will contain minor spoilers for the story. I picked out a prime line of lyrics from each of the songs, but in pretty much every case the full song is applicable.
"Oh the blood and the treasure, and then losing it all. The time that we wasted, and the place where we fall. Will we wake in the morning and know what is was for, up in our bedroom, after the war?"
The Beginning After the End by Stars (and that's the whole fic right there, really. Just much more concise and eloquent.)
"Before you landed, I had a will but didn't know what it could do. You were abandoned, but still you're handing out what you don't want to lose. [...] Someone to die for. Someone like you."
Someone To Die For by Jimmy Gnecco (The only one that's more from Rodney's perspective. John had a major hand -- both canon and fanon -- in changing Rodney from a self-important lab rat into the kind of person that would die to save the people he cares about.)
"If I only could make a deal with God and get him to swap our places, I'd be running up that road. I'd be running up that hill. I'd be running up that building, if I only could."
Running Up That Hill by Placebo (This one really sets the tone of the story, I think, and it lines up well with John's general mindset. In any case, it shot up to one of my Most Played on itunes during the writing process.)
"All around me are familiar faces; worn out places, worn out faces. [...] Tears are filling up their glasses; no expression, no expression. Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow; no tomorrow, no tomorrow."
Mad World by Gary Jules (this one is definitely the scene in the mess hall.)
Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven (Featured in the fic, and also did a lot to set the tone while I was writing. No lyrics, obviously.)
"Two to none. Roads that lead away from this. I'm following myself, just this once. I got spun. It appears you're spun as well. It happens when you pay attention. This could take all year. [...] I'm finally numb, so please don't get me rescued."
Rescued by Jack's Mannequin (John's perspective as he goes back to the time dilation field.)
"I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, anytime, night or day. Only trouble is, gee whiz, I'm dreaming my life away."
All I Have To Do Is Dream by the Everly Brothers (generally a fun, silly song about a crush, but sort of haunting when it's recontextualized with this story.)
"Take your time coming home. Hear the wheels as they roll. Let your lungs fill up with smoke. Forgive everyone."
Take Your Time Coming Home by Fun. (In the time dilation field. There are two versions of this song. I'm using the slow one.)
"Am I alone or are you there? I turn around and I am scared. I can hear the echo growing where you were. [...] I am alone. I want you here, before it all disappears. I can feel your shadow lurking in the dark. [...] But I still wonder where you are."
I Still Wonder by Joseph Birdsong (John's perception of the experiences in the field as they get increasingly disturbing. At the same time he's getting closer and closer to really facing Rodney being gone.)
"I fought a war to walk the gang plank into a life I left behind. Windows leading to the past, think it's time I broke some glass, get this history off my mind. [...] Walls are caving in as far as I can see. Walls are caving in, door got locked for sure. There's no one here but me."
Caves by Jack's Mannequin (seriously, every damn word of this song.)
"Don't say we have come now to the end. White shores are calling. You and I will meet again, and you'll be here in my arms, just sleeping. What can you see on the horizon? Why do the white gulls call? [...] The ships have come to carry you home."
Into the West by Annie Lennox (The final scene with John's interaction with Rodney; saying goodbye.)
"What's left to lose? I've done enough. And if I fail, well then, I fail but I gave it a shot. These last three years, I know they've been hard, but now it's time to get out of the desert and into the sun, even if it's alone."
On Your Porch by The Format (Going home to Atlantis.)
"Wake up. Say good morning to that sleepy person lying next to you. If there's no one there, then there's no one there, but at least the war is over. [...] Lift your head and look out the window. Stay that way for the rest of the day and watch the time go. Listen, the birds sing. Listen, the bells ring. All the living are dead, and the dead are all living. The war is over."
In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars (This song was actually what sparked the inspiration for this entire story.)