Interstice, by kageygirl, for the City Exploration challenge
Title: Interstice
Author: kageygirl
Rating: G
Category: Gen (McKay/Sheppard if you squint)
Spoilers: "The Storm", "Siege 2", minor implied for S2
Summary: The space between.
Interstice
"Supply closet," Peter Grodin said as he looked around at the space. There was something reassuringly mundane about the rows of empty shelving attached to the walls, about something so simple and easily identifiable. He marked the location down on his notebook computer, before moving on to the next room waiting to be added to their new and evolving city map.
~
"All right, where did--here we go," Carson Beckett murmured to himself, as he discovered where the rest of his supplies had gone off to. He made a note to have two of the pallets transferred to the storeroom off the infirmary, and marveled once again at the vagaries of "military efficiency" when it came to clearing things from the halls and stowing them out of the way.
~
"We're looking for small glass vials," Lieutenant Elbriss said as his squad entered the room. He'd been given very clear instructions by Commander Kolya on what to look for, how the medicine might be stored, but they couldn't read the Atlanteans' script, and they were running short on time. He ordered his men to grab anything that looked like it might be useful, and hoped that the commander would be pleased with their work. The commander did not look kindly on poor performance, and Atlantis being totally alien to them would be no excuse if they failed him.
~
"In here," Julie Simpson panted, as she dragged Dr. Langstrom through the door, staggering under the weight of his arm around her shoulders. She helped prop him against a wall, and darted back to yank the cover off the door control, popping out two of the control crystals and rendering the door useless. At least, so she hoped. She grabbed a first aid kit from one of the shelves and went to see what she could do for Langstrom, who'd been wounded by falling debris. The sounds of Wraith stunners just outside the door were met by the welcome retort of P90s, and she bit her lip as pulled the gauze out of the kit, trying to focus only on Kevin's face as he nodded his thanks to her.
~
"Oh, thank god," Rodney McKay said, when he saw that the place was unoccupied. He found an empty space by the back wall, between two shelves filled with god-only-knew-what, and sank to the floor, covering his face with his hands. It was all catching up with him, reaction, shock, stimulants, whatever, and he just needed a moment to himself, out of the way, no one talking to him or telling him to fix things or bringing him reports on all the damage or, god, asking if he knew anything about which of the people on the "Missing" roster were still unaccounted for. Just a minute or two, that's all, and then he could get back out there and deal with--
~
"Rodney?" John Sheppard asked, as the door slid open. He thought he'd spotted a flash of blue going in here, moving at the kind of speed Rodney tended to move at when some idea had him in its grip, but he didn't see anyone right away, so maybe... There. John followed the small noise he'd heard to find Rodney way in the back, sitting on the floor and pressing his palms against his eyes. Crouching in front of him, John put his hand on Rodney's upper arm, holding him firmly, because he knew what it was like to be in that place and need something to ground you. John gave him a few minutes before glancing at the little room around them and saying, "You know, your taste in hideouts kind of sucks. I've got a nice quiet place near the mess hall--crates to sit on, and if you're sneaky, you can even duck out for snacks without anyone seeing you."
Rodney gave a watery chuckle, but his eyes were dry when he uncovered them. He allowed John to help him to his feet. "All that, and you're willing to share?"
"Only 'cause I like you," John said, and he kept his hand on Rodney's shoulder to keep him steady as they stepped into the hallway, letting the door slide shut behind them.
Author: kageygirl
Rating: G
Category: Gen (McKay/Sheppard if you squint)
Spoilers: "The Storm", "Siege 2", minor implied for S2
Summary: The space between.
Interstice
"Supply closet," Peter Grodin said as he looked around at the space. There was something reassuringly mundane about the rows of empty shelving attached to the walls, about something so simple and easily identifiable. He marked the location down on his notebook computer, before moving on to the next room waiting to be added to their new and evolving city map.
~
"All right, where did--here we go," Carson Beckett murmured to himself, as he discovered where the rest of his supplies had gone off to. He made a note to have two of the pallets transferred to the storeroom off the infirmary, and marveled once again at the vagaries of "military efficiency" when it came to clearing things from the halls and stowing them out of the way.
~
"We're looking for small glass vials," Lieutenant Elbriss said as his squad entered the room. He'd been given very clear instructions by Commander Kolya on what to look for, how the medicine might be stored, but they couldn't read the Atlanteans' script, and they were running short on time. He ordered his men to grab anything that looked like it might be useful, and hoped that the commander would be pleased with their work. The commander did not look kindly on poor performance, and Atlantis being totally alien to them would be no excuse if they failed him.
~
"In here," Julie Simpson panted, as she dragged Dr. Langstrom through the door, staggering under the weight of his arm around her shoulders. She helped prop him against a wall, and darted back to yank the cover off the door control, popping out two of the control crystals and rendering the door useless. At least, so she hoped. She grabbed a first aid kit from one of the shelves and went to see what she could do for Langstrom, who'd been wounded by falling debris. The sounds of Wraith stunners just outside the door were met by the welcome retort of P90s, and she bit her lip as pulled the gauze out of the kit, trying to focus only on Kevin's face as he nodded his thanks to her.
~
"Oh, thank god," Rodney McKay said, when he saw that the place was unoccupied. He found an empty space by the back wall, between two shelves filled with god-only-knew-what, and sank to the floor, covering his face with his hands. It was all catching up with him, reaction, shock, stimulants, whatever, and he just needed a moment to himself, out of the way, no one talking to him or telling him to fix things or bringing him reports on all the damage or, god, asking if he knew anything about which of the people on the "Missing" roster were still unaccounted for. Just a minute or two, that's all, and then he could get back out there and deal with--
~
"Rodney?" John Sheppard asked, as the door slid open. He thought he'd spotted a flash of blue going in here, moving at the kind of speed Rodney tended to move at when some idea had him in its grip, but he didn't see anyone right away, so maybe... There. John followed the small noise he'd heard to find Rodney way in the back, sitting on the floor and pressing his palms against his eyes. Crouching in front of him, John put his hand on Rodney's upper arm, holding him firmly, because he knew what it was like to be in that place and need something to ground you. John gave him a few minutes before glancing at the little room around them and saying, "You know, your taste in hideouts kind of sucks. I've got a nice quiet place near the mess hall--crates to sit on, and if you're sneaky, you can even duck out for snacks without anyone seeing you."
Rodney gave a watery chuckle, but his eyes were dry when he uncovered them. He allowed John to help him to his feet. "All that, and you're willing to share?"
"Only 'cause I like you," John said, and he kept his hand on Rodney's shoulder to keep him steady as they stepped into the hallway, letting the door slide shut behind them.