Fic: Where the Heart Is
Title: Where the Heart Is
Author: eccentricweft
Rating: PG
Length: 440 words
Summary: It sounds like a promise.
ETA: Now on my Dreamwidth page: this story with the two sequels in reading order and with edits on the rough spots that were bothering me... so please go to that version!
It's still May 11 in my part of the world.
Rodney’s side of the sleeping space is empty when John drifts awake in the middle of the night. He blinks and twists around until he can see the front section of the jumper. There's a dim line barely visible under the door.
Rodney, working again. Even with the jumper hatch down, the nights here are so dark that the pale glow of the laptop screen stands out like a beacon.
He sits up, rubbing his eyes. It's warm and humid, but there's a faint breeze through the air-permeable forcefield Rodney set up across the open end of the jumper.
John hauls himself to his feet and palms open the hatch. Rodney's in the co-pilot's chair, staring at his laptop. His hands are still for once, motionless on the keyboard, and he seems -- drained, somehow. Empty of the frantic, manic energy that's driven him ever since they were thrown from an exploding space gate and crash-landed on this world.
"Can't sleep?" John asks softly, and he can just make out Rodney's shoulders, slumping a little. There's a long moment before he responds.
"I just realized something."
"What's that, buddy?" John edges closer.
"I can't fix the jumper." Another pause. "I can't get us out of here."
John has long since come to that conclusion.
"Yeah, buddy," he murmurs. "I know."
"And the Daedalus isn't coming. It's been five months. They've called off the search by now."
"Probably, yeah." John eases into the pilot's seat. He can see Rodney's eyes now, and the misery filling them.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" John asks, and puts a hand out tentatively to rub Rodney's shoulder.
"It's just, I ought to be able to get us home," Rodney chokes out. "Atlantis. Teyla and Ronon. Fighting the Wraith."
"Yeah," John whispers. "I miss it. I miss them. But I figured out something too, you know?" Rodney finally looks up at him, eyes narrowed against the emotion he's holding back. "I can take it as long as I'm not missing you."
The blue eyes go wide, and John stands up before Rodney can find words. A first time for everything, he thinks with a small grin, and tugs on Rodney's arm. "C'mon, it's the middle of the night. Let's go back to bed."
They step cautiously through the dark jumper and settle down on the pile of blankets. John pulls the sheet up and wraps his arms around Rodney carefully. "Tomorrow," he offers, hoping he's not going too fast. "We'll start looking for a place. Maybe up in the mountains. It won't be as hot."
"Tomorrow," Rodney echoes, and it sounds like a promise.
End
Sequel: Tomorrow
Author: eccentricweft
Rating: PG
Length: 440 words
Summary: It sounds like a promise.
ETA: Now on my Dreamwidth page: this story with the two sequels in reading order and with edits on the rough spots that were bothering me... so please go to that version!
It's still May 11 in my part of the world.
Rodney’s side of the sleeping space is empty when John drifts awake in the middle of the night. He blinks and twists around until he can see the front section of the jumper. There's a dim line barely visible under the door.
Rodney, working again. Even with the jumper hatch down, the nights here are so dark that the pale glow of the laptop screen stands out like a beacon.
He sits up, rubbing his eyes. It's warm and humid, but there's a faint breeze through the air-permeable forcefield Rodney set up across the open end of the jumper.
John hauls himself to his feet and palms open the hatch. Rodney's in the co-pilot's chair, staring at his laptop. His hands are still for once, motionless on the keyboard, and he seems -- drained, somehow. Empty of the frantic, manic energy that's driven him ever since they were thrown from an exploding space gate and crash-landed on this world.
"Can't sleep?" John asks softly, and he can just make out Rodney's shoulders, slumping a little. There's a long moment before he responds.
"I just realized something."
"What's that, buddy?" John edges closer.
"I can't fix the jumper." Another pause. "I can't get us out of here."
John has long since come to that conclusion.
"Yeah, buddy," he murmurs. "I know."
"And the Daedalus isn't coming. It's been five months. They've called off the search by now."
"Probably, yeah." John eases into the pilot's seat. He can see Rodney's eyes now, and the misery filling them.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" John asks, and puts a hand out tentatively to rub Rodney's shoulder.
"It's just, I ought to be able to get us home," Rodney chokes out. "Atlantis. Teyla and Ronon. Fighting the Wraith."
"Yeah," John whispers. "I miss it. I miss them. But I figured out something too, you know?" Rodney finally looks up at him, eyes narrowed against the emotion he's holding back. "I can take it as long as I'm not missing you."
The blue eyes go wide, and John stands up before Rodney can find words. A first time for everything, he thinks with a small grin, and tugs on Rodney's arm. "C'mon, it's the middle of the night. Let's go back to bed."
They step cautiously through the dark jumper and settle down on the pile of blankets. John pulls the sheet up and wraps his arms around Rodney carefully. "Tomorrow," he offers, hoping he's not going too fast. "We'll start looking for a place. Maybe up in the mountains. It won't be as hot."
"Tomorrow," Rodney echoes, and it sounds like a promise.
End
Sequel: Tomorrow