Reading

Lover Come Back (by Brighid) (Explicit)

Shows: SGA
Rec Category: Alternate Universe
Characters: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, (brief John Sheppard/Cam Mitchell), Ronon Dex, Teyla Emmagan, Hermiod, Elizabeth Weir, Laura Cadman, Radek Zelenka, Cowen, Chaya, Sam Carter, Vala Mal Doran, Miko Kusanagi
Categories: M/M
Words: 9705
Content notes: no AO3 warnings apply. Contains Mpreg.
Author on DW: n/a
Author's Website: Brighid on AO3
Link: Lover Come Back on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: This screwball comedy-romance is based on an old Doris Day/Rock Hudson movie, but Brighid's set it in a futuristic Pegasus with cloning (Hermiod's upgraded to a more human body and is having problems with bodily functions), automated transit pods, blue-skinned aliens, comm implants, and more. The worldbuilding is great, and the plot revolves around John, a partner in "Asgard and Mann" with Hermiod, competing with Rodney who works for a more science-oriented and less exploitative company headed by Elizabeth. Of course it's enemies-to-lovers, and in the best Harlequin style true love hits a bump in the road, before the happy ending. Rodney is the Doris Day character in this one! It's a wild ride, and a lot of fun.

( snippet of fic )

Blush by Helenish (E)

Show: SGA

Rec Category: John Sheppard
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay
Pairings: John/Rodney
Categories: Slash
Warnings: None
Author’s Website:

Helenish
Link: Blush

Why This Must Be Read: This fic has one tag and that tag is 'oh john sheppard' and I think that's very apt. I love John for, among other things, his awkwardness and his insanely guarded vulnerability and this showcases that fantastically.

( First paragraph to get you started )

Six crooked highways (by saraht) (G)

Shows: SGA
Rec Category: Alternate Universe - fork in the road
Characters: Teyla Emmagan, Evan Lorne, John Sheppard
Categories: Gen. John Sheppard & Teyla Emmagan
Words: 2012
Warnings: no AO3-type warnings apply
Author on DW:

saraht
Author's Website: saraht on AO3, and more on DW
Link: Six crooked highways on DW
Why This Must Be Read: I'm a fan of post-Conversion bug!John stories and this is darker than most, but with a hopeful ending. In this, John is only partially restored by Carson's treatment, flees through the gate into Pegasus, and Teyla and Ronon have searched for him for months. Finally, on an off-world mission, Teyla, Ronon, and Lorne find a number of dead Wraith...

( Teyla and Lorne snippet )

Come Back Later (by Cottontail) (Mature)

Shows: SGA, SG1
Rec Category: Alternate Universe - canon divergence
Characters: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, Jeannie Miller, Caleb Miller, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex, Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Sam Carter, Teal'c, Cam Mitchell
Categories: M/M
Words: 8673
Warnings: no AO3 warnings apply. Grief.
Author on DW: n/a
Author's Website: Cottontail on AO3
Link: Come Back Later on AO3
Why This Must Be Read: This goes AU at the end of Tao of Rodney - Rodney ascends, rather than figuring out a last minute save. So the fic starts with John's grief, linked to his unacknowledged feelings about Rodney. He returns to Earth to tell Jeannie and finds he can't bring himself to return to Atlantis. But then, some time later, Rodney returns. I enjoy ascension stories, and this delivers, with an eventual happy ending to comfort us for the pain John has to go through at the start of the fic. An excellent read.

( snippet of fic )

Accepting Me by Tazmy (T)

Show: SGA
Rec Category: Rodney McKay
Characters: Rodney McKay, John Sheppard, Madison Miller, Jeannie Miller
Pairings: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Categories: slash, emotional hurt, family, nonbinary character, on Earth
Warnings: No warnings apply
Word count: 3,962
Author's Journal:

sgatazmy
Author's Website: Tazmy on AO3
Link: Accepting Me

Author’s summary:After receiving an email from 12-year-old Madison, Rodney rushes back to Earth with John in tow.

Why This Must Be Read:
This new fic by the wonderful Tazmy revolves around Rodney and his niece Madison, and it's wonderful on so many levels. It's a companion piece to Festering Wounds, Hurting Souls, Loving Hearts, which I recced here, but can easily be read as a standalone.

There’s so much empathy, understanding, and unconditional love woven into the story, making everything feel deeply palpable and giving it real emotional weight. At its heart, it’s about how every living being deserves to be seen, heard, and treated as they wish to be—simply accepted for who they are.
You get to experience all of this through some endearing McShep vibes, with all the best Rodney-ness and John’s loving insights. The glimpses into their own, partially hurtful life experiences are emotionally perfect and add so much depth.

It’s a beautifully written fic where every word lands, leaving you with a warm feeling in your heart.

( snippet of fic )