THE STRANGER BY wildcat88 [LFWS #1 ROUND 13]
Title: The Stranger
Author: wildcat88
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Stargate belongs to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., no infringements of any rights is intended.
Spoilers: vague spoilers for Enemy at the Gate
Prompt for the Round: The story must be told by a less used character and must be written in first person.
THE STRANGER by wildcat88
At first I thought I was seeing things. After all, what are the odds that my brother and I would be in the same place at the same time? He’s supposed to be off doing…whatever it is he does. I live on the opposite coast. It shouldn’t be possible. But there’s no mistaking that hair. Or the big man with dreadlocks sitting next to him. They’re at a table with another man and a woman.
What is John doing in San Francisco?
I wave off the hostess so I can watch them unobserved. The woman throws her head back and laughs, a pleasant sound that makes them smile. The big man - Ronon, I think - shifts stiffly, keeping one arm wrapped around his ribs. John’s eyes never leave him for long.
The other man says something, and they shake their heads. John punches him playfully in the arm, and I can feel it. My memory adds John’s snort of laughter as he says, “Come on, Davey. I’m not stupid.”
John’s eyes dart back to Ronon, and I finally realize what I’m seeing. He’s afraid. They’re all afraid.
When Ronon winces and hunches forward, the woman touches his arm. “Are you-”
“I’m fine.”
I wonder what’s wrong with Ronon. I thought John was lying when he said they worked together, but they all have several nasty scrapes and bruises. What could’ve happened to them?
John’s left eye twitches, a sure sign that he’s stressed. “I think it’s time to head back, big guy. You don’t want to overdo it your first time out.”
Ronon growls, “I’m fine, Sheppard.”
I start at the name. Ronon’s eyes snap my direction, and John twists in his chair towards me. The color drains from his face then he pastes on a smile and waves. The other two turn.
I wave back and walk over. What else could I do?
John offers his hand. “Dave, good to see you. You remember Ronon?”
I shake my brother’s hand then nod at Ronon. “Yes, of course. You came with John to Dad’s wake.”
John’s shoulders tense, and his eyes darken, but he doesn’t look away. “Yeah. This is the rest of my team - Teyla Emmagan and Dr. Rodney McKay. My brother, David.”
Teyla smiles graciously. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” The handshake is awkward, like she’s not sure what she’s doing.
“You as well.” I turn to Rodney and extend a hand. “Medical doctor?”
Rodney huffs a laugh. “Scientist.”
“In what area?”
“Astrophysics.”
My brother, the pilot, has a civilian contractor team made up of a man with dreadlocks, a beautiful woman, and an astrophysicist. Riiiiight. I arch a brow at John who simply gazes at me, his expression inscrutable. He’s always been good at hiding his feelings, but there was a time I could read him, a time that has obviously passed. I consider asking for the truth, but I don’t. He wouldn’t tell me anyway.
“Do you live nearby?” Teyla asks.
“No. I live in Maryland most of the time.”
Her eyes flick to John, and I can see the confusion in them.
“What about you?” I ask. “Where are you from? I can’t place your accent.”
“What are you doing here, Dave?” John’s features remain carefully schooled, but the muscle in his jaw jumps. He’s angry.
My face flushes at the unspoken accusation. “I’m here on business. We’re working on acquiring a significant stake in a regional utility. Which you would know if you read the reports I send you every month.”
“Dave.” John’s eyes are flat and his voice is low with warning.
Teyla stands. “Perhaps we should-”
“What are you doing here, John? I thought you were out of the country. I haven’t seen you in over a year, and my last three emails have gone unanswered.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, I can see that. How was the seafood?”
John rises to his feet. “Don’t start,” he warns. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
I know he’s right, but I can’t help myself. “It’s never the time or place for you, is it? You always have somewhere else to be, something else to do. God forbid you ever put your family before your damn job.”
Something flashes between his friends, some wordless communication that I can’t read. Rodney drops cash on the table while Teyla helps Ronon to his feet, and they quietly exit. The pulse point in John’s neck throbs rapidly, and he struggles to retain his composure as we stare at each other.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says finally.
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t. You know that.”
Talking to him used to be so easy. Why do I antagonize him like that? I swallow my anger and try again. “I’m sorry, John. Really. I had no right… How long will you be here?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m here all week,” I offer. “Maybe we can get together.”
“Dave…”
“Please, John.” My throat swells shut. “I just want to talk. Like we used to.”
The mask slips, and I see him. My baby brother - hurt, vulnerable. Then the moment’s gone, and the stranger returns.
“Fine.”
“You have my cell?”
“Yeah.”
As he walks out and disappears into the night, I wonder if I’ll hear from him.
I wonder who his friends actually are.
I wonder if I ever really knew John at all.
Don’t forget to leave ONLY FEEDBACK in the comments and NOT VOTES. All comments will be screened until the voting closes.
Author: wildcat88
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Stargate belongs to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., no infringements of any rights is intended.
Spoilers: vague spoilers for Enemy at the Gate
Prompt for the Round: The story must be told by a less used character and must be written in first person.
THE STRANGER by wildcat88
At first I thought I was seeing things. After all, what are the odds that my brother and I would be in the same place at the same time? He’s supposed to be off doing…whatever it is he does. I live on the opposite coast. It shouldn’t be possible. But there’s no mistaking that hair. Or the big man with dreadlocks sitting next to him. They’re at a table with another man and a woman.
What is John doing in San Francisco?
I wave off the hostess so I can watch them unobserved. The woman throws her head back and laughs, a pleasant sound that makes them smile. The big man - Ronon, I think - shifts stiffly, keeping one arm wrapped around his ribs. John’s eyes never leave him for long.
The other man says something, and they shake their heads. John punches him playfully in the arm, and I can feel it. My memory adds John’s snort of laughter as he says, “Come on, Davey. I’m not stupid.”
John’s eyes dart back to Ronon, and I finally realize what I’m seeing. He’s afraid. They’re all afraid.
When Ronon winces and hunches forward, the woman touches his arm. “Are you-”
“I’m fine.”
I wonder what’s wrong with Ronon. I thought John was lying when he said they worked together, but they all have several nasty scrapes and bruises. What could’ve happened to them?
John’s left eye twitches, a sure sign that he’s stressed. “I think it’s time to head back, big guy. You don’t want to overdo it your first time out.”
Ronon growls, “I’m fine, Sheppard.”
I start at the name. Ronon’s eyes snap my direction, and John twists in his chair towards me. The color drains from his face then he pastes on a smile and waves. The other two turn.
I wave back and walk over. What else could I do?
John offers his hand. “Dave, good to see you. You remember Ronon?”
I shake my brother’s hand then nod at Ronon. “Yes, of course. You came with John to Dad’s wake.”
John’s shoulders tense, and his eyes darken, but he doesn’t look away. “Yeah. This is the rest of my team - Teyla Emmagan and Dr. Rodney McKay. My brother, David.”
Teyla smiles graciously. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” The handshake is awkward, like she’s not sure what she’s doing.
“You as well.” I turn to Rodney and extend a hand. “Medical doctor?”
Rodney huffs a laugh. “Scientist.”
“In what area?”
“Astrophysics.”
My brother, the pilot, has a civilian contractor team made up of a man with dreadlocks, a beautiful woman, and an astrophysicist. Riiiiight. I arch a brow at John who simply gazes at me, his expression inscrutable. He’s always been good at hiding his feelings, but there was a time I could read him, a time that has obviously passed. I consider asking for the truth, but I don’t. He wouldn’t tell me anyway.
“Do you live nearby?” Teyla asks.
“No. I live in Maryland most of the time.”
Her eyes flick to John, and I can see the confusion in them.
“What about you?” I ask. “Where are you from? I can’t place your accent.”
“What are you doing here, Dave?” John’s features remain carefully schooled, but the muscle in his jaw jumps. He’s angry.
My face flushes at the unspoken accusation. “I’m here on business. We’re working on acquiring a significant stake in a regional utility. Which you would know if you read the reports I send you every month.”
“Dave.” John’s eyes are flat and his voice is low with warning.
Teyla stands. “Perhaps we should-”
“What are you doing here, John? I thought you were out of the country. I haven’t seen you in over a year, and my last three emails have gone unanswered.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, I can see that. How was the seafood?”
John rises to his feet. “Don’t start,” he warns. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
I know he’s right, but I can’t help myself. “It’s never the time or place for you, is it? You always have somewhere else to be, something else to do. God forbid you ever put your family before your damn job.”
Something flashes between his friends, some wordless communication that I can’t read. Rodney drops cash on the table while Teyla helps Ronon to his feet, and they quietly exit. The pulse point in John’s neck throbs rapidly, and he struggles to retain his composure as we stare at each other.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says finally.
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t. You know that.”
Talking to him used to be so easy. Why do I antagonize him like that? I swallow my anger and try again. “I’m sorry, John. Really. I had no right… How long will you be here?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m here all week,” I offer. “Maybe we can get together.”
“Dave…”
“Please, John.” My throat swells shut. “I just want to talk. Like we used to.”
The mask slips, and I see him. My baby brother - hurt, vulnerable. Then the moment’s gone, and the stranger returns.
“Fine.”
“You have my cell?”
“Yeah.”
As he walks out and disappears into the night, I wonder if I’ll hear from him.
I wonder who his friends actually are.
I wonder if I ever really knew John at all.
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