friday: the classical elements

[beckonade.livejournal.com]

Hey all. I am, for one final time, beckonade and today's theme is the classical elements, which are earth, water, air and fire. And also possibly, if you believe Aristotle, aether. Use the concepts or simply the words to inspire your Friday prompts.

Just a few rules:
No more than five prompts in a row.
No more than three prompts in the same fandom.
Use the character's full names and fandom's full name for ease adding to the Lonely Prompts spreadsheet.
No spoilers in prompts for a month after airing, or use the spoiler cut option found here.
If your fill contains spoilers, warn and leave plenty of space, or use the above mentioned spoiler cut.

Prompts should be formatted as follows: [Use the character's full names and fandom's full name]
Fandom, Character +/ Character, Prompt

Some examples to get the ball rolling...

+ Orphan Black, Helena/Sarah, burning that much higher
+ Primeval, Helen, ice age
+ Arrow, Laurel/Sara, grounded

We are now using AO3 to bookmark filled prompts. If you fill a prompt and post it to AO3 please add it to the Bite Sized Bits of Fic from 2016 collection. See further notes on this new option here.

Not feeling any of today’s prompts? Check out the just created Lonely Prompts Spreadsheet. For more recent prompts to write, you can also use LJ’s advanced search options to limit keyword results to only comments in this community.

While the Lonely Prompts Spreadsheet and LJ's advanced search options are available, bookmarking the links of prompts you like might work better for searching for in the future.

tag=classical elements

Comments

[beckonade.livejournal.com]

Orphan Black, Helena/Sarah, burning that much higher

[beckonade.livejournal.com]

Primeval, Helen, ice age

[beckonade.livejournal.com]

Arrow, Laurel/Sara, grounded

[withasmile87.livejournal.com]

RPF, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, taking a bubble bath together.(water)

[withasmile87.livejournal.com]

RPF, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, Harry wanted a candlelit dinner and roses on special occasions. (fire)

[withasmile87.livejournal.com]

RPF, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, Drifting, weightless
Waves try to break it
I'd do anything to save it
Why is it so hard to say it?(Water)

[withasmile87.livejournal.com]

any, any, 'Cause nobody knows you, baby, the way I do,
And nobody loves you, baby, the way I do,
It's been so long, it's been so long, maybe you are fireproof,
'Cause nobody saves me, baby, the way you do(fire)

[femme-slash-fan.livejournal.com]

Uh, dibs.

[withasmile87.livejournal.com]

any, any, Someday
You're gonna see the things that I see
You're gonna want air that I breathe
You're gonna wish you never left me(air)

[femme-slash-fan.livejournal.com]

And dibs

[aivix.livejournal.com]

Stargate Multiverse, Any, Long before the birth of light, there was darkness.

Fill 1/3: + Night World

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

“Long before the birth of light, there was darkness.”

On the word light, the storyteller snapped her fingers, and there was a brief flare. Ancient blue. She had some kind of Ancient LED. On the word darkness, the storyteller twisted her wrist, and something like coal dust drifted down from her fingers, falling on the little green cloth she’d laid on the ground in front of her.

Her audience wa gathered around her in a semi-circle, listening. Enthralled.

Aiden bit the inside of his cheek so he didn’t smirk at the storyteller’s theatrics, but he’d never had the chance to interact with the Satedans much, few and scattered as they were, and he needed to learn, in case he ever needed to work with them or - more likely - blend in with them. He had a tenuous alliance with Larrin and her Travelers for transport from planet to planet when he needed it, if the Gate network wasn’t an option, and she agreed not to tell Sheppard about him because she liked having one over on Atlantis, but Aiden knew he needed stronger alliances, just in case things went sideways.

“Out of the darkness the gods came, floating and swimming and walking and flying, growing and growing and growing.” The storyteller fluttered her hands, and the green cloth rippled, and then she picked up a small box and opened it, and a sound like a lion’s roar echoed out of it for a second before she closed it.

Interesting tech. Looked primitive, but was basic sound-capture. Could be useful in the field for misdirecting enemies and pursuers.

“The gods shaped the world, raising the mountains, parting the seas.” The storyteller’s hands traced lines and curves in the air, and she had lovely hands.

Aiden had not yet encountered a planet that didn’t fall into either the Wraith- or the Ancestor-worshipping camp. Even if the natives weren’t devout, they acknowledged the former greatness of one or the other. This was the first time he’d heard talk of power besides the Ancients. He couldn’t tell if it was myth or real, like the Ancients had been. After all, Atlantis had been a myth to him all growing up.

He’d seen the reality, and it had been home, and then it had burned him and cast him aside.

He didn’t worship the Ancients, and he didn’t worship the Wraith, and he wasn’t looking to worship anyone or anything else, but if the Satedans had improved technology, he was looking to get his hands on some of that.

“When the fields needed clearing, the gods called the lightning and fire down from the sky.” The storyteller lit a candle which sparked before going out, like a trick birthday candle. “When the fields were dry and parched, the gods brought rain.” The storyteller flicked water droplets into the air.

“When enemies came, the gods fought them.” The storyteller unstoppered a glass bottle, and for a brief moment the air was thick with the scent of blood.

That would be useful in the field too.

“And when the people of Sateda had grown strong and wise, the gods returned to the darkness, sank down in sleep, and left remnants of their gifts - their strength, their speed, their healing, their mind-voices - with the people, so they could always protect themselves. The gods promised to rise again if Sateda needed them. And now the gods have come home.”

The storyteller ended her tale with a flourish, flung her green cloth up in the air. It seemed to hover there, for just a second, and Aiden thought he saw an iridescent pattern woven into the green square, of a giant feline, like a leopard or a jaguar. Then the storyteller snatched the cloth out of the air and bowed. When she held the cloth out again next, it was cupped like a sack, and the audience, applauding, tossed coins and trinkets and other valuables into it.

The storyteller bowed one more time, then turned and headed into the crowded marketplace.

Aiden followed her.

She moved quickly but calmly, unaware she was being followed, easily distracted by the bright and shiny wares in the stalls she passed, and Aiden had no trouble keeping up with her.

“Ronon!” she cried, and Aiden paused, because the man she was approaching was tall and broad and strong and looked like he could crush Aiden with one hand.

“Marita, stop bringing us your money,” Ronon said. “We don’t need it.”

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Leverage, good guy ensemble (and/or Eliot Spencer/Parker/Alec Hardison), white water rafting

[aivix.livejournal.com]

Stargate: Atlantis, John Sheppard/Rodney McKay,

If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
-"Stars", SKILLET

Fill: college AU

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Rodney got in late from his flight from Canada, had been half-asleep when he called John to swing by the dorms and hang out, had been almost completely asleep when John appeared at his door. But he’d let John inside and wrapped his arms around John’s neck and given him sleepy kisses, and John had been damn glad to see him. John hadn’t realized how used he was to having Rodney in his life, a phone call away, a push of the mop bucket away, a knock on Sam’s door away, till Rodney was gone and John was left alone with the racing, racing, racing in his head. He stepped into the circle of Rodney’s arms and Rodney’s lips on his slowed the hurricane winds in John’s mind, calmed the raging seas and storms of his imagination.

Rodney had been too sleepy for more than kissing and cuddling on the bed, so John helped Rodney out of his shoes and socks, undressed him slowly and gently, tucked him under the covers, and then stretched out atop the cover beside him.

Rodney was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. In sleep he was lovely, all the worries of the world he carried on his shoulders easing. John reached out, trailed a fingertip down the side of Rodney’s throat, along his collarbone, and to his shoulder, imagined dusting away the thousand cares and concerns that followed Rodney around all day, every day, buzzing and swarming like flies.

John really wasn’t a smart man. Certainly not smarter than Rodney. He just had the singular gift of being able to remember everything he’d ever read and being able to call up what he wanted, when he wanted. Math and physics were like construction and architecture. Know what the pieces are. Make them fit together in a whole. For John, solving math problems was as simple as wielding a hammer. So many people in the math department were impressed, but he wasn’t working any harder than Ronon or Aiden or Kanaan.

John was smart enough to know that Rodney McKay was way out of his league. Sure, Sam would keep John around and have him do math tricks, but once he pissed off Daniel or got into another fist-fight, it would be jail cells and Officer Weir’s disappointed frown and wielding a hammer on a jail work crew. Rodney would be disgusted and move on and find someone nice, and smart, and college-worthy, like Evan or Radek. Even if John didn’t end up going to jail, Rodney was going to graduate, and he was going to move on, and John couldn’t go with him. John was on probation. John was stuck in South Boston. John was going nowhere, except to work, and to the library, and to Ronon’s grandfather’s house to shoot the shit with the others (till Aiden wised up and went to college and Teyla and Kanaan got married and started a family and Ronon ended up as Evan’s kept boy or partner in a fancy home art studio) every day till someone got the better of him in a fight or drinking contest or when he was crossing the street in dark clothes on a cold night with ice on the blacktop.

John took a deep breath and gazed at Rodney. He could say it. Rodney was asleep. Rodney wouldn’t hear. It wouldn’t really count. No one could hold him to it.

He could say it.

He really could.

He couldn’t.

John wrapped an arm around Rodney and closed his eyes and let himself drift off to sleep. He’d be gone before Rodney woke.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Fullmetal Alchemist, Any+Any (or canon pairing), the joys in a campfire

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Any, Any+Any, Paint with all the colors of the wind

FILL: Hit the floor, Zero/Jude, fluff/cuddling

[cozy-coffee.livejournal.com]

Drip, drip, drop, little April showers—steady rain poured down from the heavens up above in thick, heavy wet droplets. A summer storm dampens the world outside their apartment, but inside they are cozy and warm.

The boys cuddled together in bed, exhausted after a busy work day. Zero’s fingers brushed Jude’s cheek gently, soothing across the smooth flesh with a soft touch. His fingertips grazed over Jude’s dimples, tickling and playful while full of love and warmth.

Jude leaned into the caress, laying a sweet kiss to Zero’s palm before he gently grabbed his cheeks and drew him into a soft kiss. Zero let his hands slide along Jude’s cheek, drawing tiny heart shaped patterns on his boyfriend’s dimples as the storm carried on outside.

Slowly, Zero began to fade into sleep. Jude was close to drifting asleep as well, and he sighed happily when Zero wrapped his arms around him to hold him close. It wouldn’t hurt them to catch some shuteye, and both boys relaxed against one another as they snuggled, still holding hands as they lay together. It was a random thought that came to Jude’s mind then, and without even thinking he whispered softly, “Did you know sea otters, to keep from floating away from each other, hold hands while they sleep?”

Zero giggled softly, letting the cheerful noise fill the bedroom. “What are you talking about? Where did that come from, Mr. Man of Random Facts”

Jude blushed at the nickname and ducked his head, pressing his face to his boyfriend’s throat. It was a stupid thing to say, sure; talking about otters’ sleeping habits was certainly not the best topic to discuss while cuddling, however, Jude couldn’t stop himself from blurting out the thought that came to mind; not as he lay in Zero’s arms, holding his hand, feeling safe, protected, and loved.

“They hold hands while they sleep, so they won’t drift away from the one they love.” Jude lovingly squeezed Zero’s hand as he snuggled closer. Zero’s palm fit his perfectly, like they were meant to be, and he smiled with a deep dimpled grin.

Zero smiled as well, a true smile—one that made his eyes sparkle and his lips curl into a grin that could light up the night. He said nothing else, only grinned and held onto his lover as the rain fell, drip, drip drop little April showers.

♥ END ♥

[aivix.livejournal.com]

Stargate Multiverse, Any, Fire drill.

Fill 1/2: + Night World

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Teyla had almost gotten Torren to sleep when the alarm sounded.

Kanaan looked up, alarmed. “What’s going on?”

“Some kind of emergency.” Teyla made sure Torren was secure in her arms, grabbed her weapon, and stepped into the hallway. Everyone was heading in the direction of Ops, in uniforms or pajamas alike.

“What’s going on?” she asked the nearest person she recognized - Amelia, from Control.

Amelia looked as tired as Teyla felt. “Fire drill, I guess.”

Ah. Emergency muster. Teyla remembered the protocol. Everyone was supposed to report to the Gate Room for staff muster, line up in alphabetical order and sound off for whoever was the highest-ranking officer or expedition member on duty at the time of the muster. For Teyla, who belonged to the military these days, that would be Major Teldy, who commanded second shift.

The most irritating thing about fire drills was that they were not supposed to use the transporters, and the trek to Ops was longer than Teyla remembered, but Kanaan was careful to stay with her in the press of people. Everyone was a jumble of pajamas and uniforms. Teyla saw more patterns and colors than she had known were possible on clothes. She was very amused when she saw kiss shapes on Sergeant Markham’s boxer shorts and bright red hearts on Captain Walker’s.

In Ops, everyone separated into their contingencies. Kanaan was technically a civilian, so he reported in to Chuck, shuffling into place behind Amelia. Teyla did her best to soothe Torren, who was upset by the sound of the siren.

Woolsey, yawning wore a sleeveless shirt, a pair of black boxer shorts, and fluffy pink slippers that resembled some long-eared Earth animal Teyla believed was called a ‘bunny’.

The scientists sounded off first, and they were all accounted for.

The Marines sounded off for Lieutenant Vega, and they, too, were all accounted for.

The Air Force officers sounded off for Major Teldy, Teyla among them, and they were all accounted for.

The civilian technicians, Kanaan among them, sounded off for Chuck, and they were present.

“Command?” Teyla asked.

“Richard Woolsey, present.” He yawned. And then he blinked. “Where’s everyone else?”

“Rodney McKay, present.”

Rodney shuffled into place beside Woolsey. He had nothing to protect his modesty save a blanket that was charred around the edges.

“John Sheppard, present.” John had nothing but a towel, also charred around the edges.

“So, maybe this wasn’t actually a drill,” Lieutenant Franklin whispered, nudging Teyla.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Lucifer (tv), Lucifer Morningstar+Mazikeen (or +Any), the Devil dreams of fire

Filled

[truthwritaslies.livejournal.com]

Lucifer's not sure where the fire comes from. Hell, after all, was almost entirely frozen: It being far easier to encase the wretched souls in ice and let their own minds come up with their eternal torment than to expel energy that one may or may not have depending on a number of factors both mortal and divine.

Which is not to say that the demons, or even Lucifer himself, did not take the time out to torment individual souls every now and again: if only to relieve the boredom of having to work to ensnare those souls day after day after millennia.

Hell is cold and The Devil dreams uneasily of fire.

Lucifer is pretty sure that not only are the dreams prophetic in some way, but that dear, old dad and all his little angels are laughing at him.

[aivix.livejournal.com]

Any, Any, The Things We Lost in the Fire (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGR4U7W1dZU), Bastille

Fill 1/3: SG-1, major character death, outsider POV

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

When Alira was sixteen harvests, she learned a strange truth: sometimes victory could feel like a loss.

The infidels had come through the chappa’ai, spreading their lies and their blasphemy, that the Ori were not divine, that the Priors did not speak truth, that the Book of Origin was fiction.

There were only five infidels, three men and two women, one of them bespectacled like a scholar, but he’d proved himself warrior enough, letting loose with his weapon when some of the village pickets tried to capture him. Alira’s parents had heard rumors of these infidels in their trade with other planets. They called themselves Stargate Command. They were almost as powerful as the Impostor Gods, the Goa’uld. They had better technology, better weapons.

Alira’s older brother trained with a staff and a bow, was a talented archer in his own right, but these Stargate Commanders had much greater weapons. Alira hadn’t known that so few could injure so many.

Injure, but not kill. It was just a misunderstanding, the scholar-warrior said. They didn’t wish to harm anyone. They wished to be allowed to contact their own people, and then they could summon help, get medical treatment for the wounded.

Alira’s parents and the rest of the village council convened - Alira listened shamelessly at the door, the other boys and girls crowded around her - and it was decided that they would not be allowed to contact their own people, because their people would only send reinforcements.

The only way to handle this incursion, these blasphemers, was to purify them by fire. So they were bound in the town square, and Alira’s brother and the other men built a massive pyre. The entire village gathered to listen to the Headman announce the charges - blasphemy, assault - and the verdict - guilty, all five of them, on both counts - and they were to be given the opportunity, in the night to think over their crimes, and if they were willing to repent in the morning, they would be set free.

Alira pretended to be asleep, and once she heard her father and brother both snoring, she sneaked out of the house and across the square to the pyre, where all five infidels were chained to wooden posts. They were awake, huddled as close together as they could, whispering.

“They knew enough to take our gear,” said their leader, who called himself Mitchell. “So we can’t radio back to the gate, or blast our way out.”

“What I don’t get,” said the scholar-warrior named Daniel, “is why Landry hasn’t sent Marines for SAR. We missed check-in hours ago.”

Alira knew why. There was a special shield the elders used to close the chappa’ai for important events, so no one could come in or out.

“Vala,” said the big man named Teal’c, who wore the emblem of the False Gods, “if you are so inclined, now would be an appropriate time to effectuate one of your clever schemes.”

Vala had dark hair and bright eyes and was huddled against Daniel. “No clever schemes here. Been in this situation before, burnt to death. Got the t-shirt.” Her tone was light but something hitched in her voice. She’d been crying.

“Sam?” Mitchell asked.

The blonde woman, Carter, shook her head. “Sorry, Cam. I got nothing.”

“Hey Daniel, think you could Ascend, do a little Oma Desala, fling some lightning, something?” Mitchell asked.

Daniel shook his head. “No. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.”

Carter said, “Should we repent tomorrow? See if they let us go?”

Vala said, flatly, “No.”

Teal’c also said, “No. Bowing to yet more false gods is not an option.”

Mitchell said, finally, “Let’s try and sleep.”

Alira turned and slipped back through the shadows to her house, climbed in through her window and back into her bed and fell asleep.

She dreamed of fire and sadness and lightning, and when she woke, it was just barely dawn.

Dawn. When the execution would take place. Of course her parents and brother hadn’t wakened her. Alira scrambled into a clean shift and kirtle and then out the window, to the village square, which was already packed with people. Alira had to elbow a few people to get a good vantage point.

The village headman stood on the pyre beside the infidels. He asked for their repentance; there was none, though Daniel expressed remorse for the people they’d injured.

[aivix.livejournal.com]

Any, Any, Captain Planet.

[doreyg.livejournal.com]

Avatar: TLA, Sokka/Zuko, convincing his firebending boyfriend to use a little flame in the bedroom

[doreyg.livejournal.com]

Legend of Korra, Asami Sato/Korra, having a girlfriend who can bend all four elements is unsurprisingly handy

[doreyg.livejournal.com]

Green Lantern (comics), Hal Jordan/Thaal Sinestro, sex in midair

[doreyg.livejournal.com]

DCU, Pamela Isley +/ Bruce Wayne,

How I wish I was like the earth,
Raising each flower from the ground
Seeing the beauty of death and birth
And then returning to the ground

[doreyg.livejournal.com]

DCU, Tim Drake/Bruce Wayne,

I was sinking, and now I'm sunk
I was drinking, and now I'm drunk
Your songs remind me of swimming,
But somehow I forgot

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

Supernatural, any Winchester, Fire of unknown origin / took my baby away

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

Stargate Multiverse, Any,

Even the stars sometimes fade to gray
Even the stars hide away

Fill: McShep, + Night World, tag to The Shrine

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

“He’s not all right,” John said.

Keller frowned at him. “What makes you say that? It’s just a cold.”

John had never appreciated how lucky he was, to have another Night Child as a physician before now. “No, it’s not. It’s worse. The stars in his mind - they’re going out. Or fading. Or hiding. Or - or something.”

“Stars in his mind…?” Keller looked totally lost.

John cast Ronon a look for help.

Ronon shrugged. “Evan and I can’t see into each other’s minds like that.”

John curled his hands into fists, frustrated. “Rodney and I are soulmates. We can see into each other’s minds, and the way we conceptualize our own minds - every mind is unique. Mine is a sky, because I love flying. Rodney’s is galaxies. Stars upon stars upon stars. And the stars are going out. There’s something very, very wrong with him, and we need to fix it.”

“The scans showed nothing,” Keller insisted.

“The scans are wrong!”

Everyone flinched, and John forced himself to take a couple of deep breaths.

“I’m sorry I yelled,” he said, “but we need to do something for Rodney now.”

Ronon leaned in and actually sniffed Rodney, and then he straightened up, expression grim.

Keller stared at him. “Did you just -?”

“He has Second Childhood,” Ronon said.

Teyla’s expression turned grim as well.

“What’s that?” Keller asked.

Ronon and Teyla explained. It was some kind of horrible dementia native to the Pegasus Galaxy. There was a brief cure, the Shrine of Talus, that allowed a victim one last day of lucidity to say goodbye. But the thought of having to stand by and watch Rodney’s mind - his mind, the most beautiful part of him, his soul fade out on star at a time was intolerable.

Keller said, “Could you heal him?”

“I - I don’t have that kind of magic,” John said. “I never learned how.” He cursed, not for the first time, his upbringing as a vampire, for never learning the magic he should have learned, the magic that would have mattered. Magic that could have saved Mitch and Dex and Holland instead of -

He shoved the memory aside.

“What about your vampire blood?” Keller asked. “Would that save him?”

John paused. He thought of Cousin James, who’d turned his soulmate because she was dying of cancer. “No. The Change would kill him. He’d never survive. He’s too old.”

“Not a full Change,” Keller said quickly, and she didn’t suppress the horror that crossed her face fast enough. “Just some blood.”

“I don’t know,” John said. “I could try, but if the Change would hurt him, I don’t know what my blood would do to him.” Keller was onto something, though. “But I could at least try.”

“We could reach out to other planets and see if Carson can come back,” Teyla suggested.

John nodded. “Go. Reach out to your allies.”

Teyla hurried from the infirmary.

“Are you going to do it?” Ronon asked. “Give him your blood?”

“I have to try,” John said.

“Can you feed off of a shifter?” Ronon held out his arm.

“Anyone who’s not a vampire.”

Keller swallowed hard. “What do you need me to do?”

“Stay out of our way,” John said. He sucked in a breath, reached out with his dulled senses, listened for Ronon’s heartbeat. And then he stepped forward, lowered his head to Ronon’s wrist, and bit.

[brumeier.livejournal.com]

Stargate Atlantis, Rodney McKay, his claustrophobia kicks in when he's trapped deep underground

Fill 1/2: + Night World, Tag to Search & Rescue

[nagi-schwarz.livejournal.com]

(sorry he's not that deep /o\)

Evan’s leg was broken. Even if the pain weren’t blindingly awful, he’d heard the snap of bone beneath the aural chaos of the explosion and the falling rubble. He’d be all right. He just had to breathe through it and wait for the bone to knit. It was his damn tibia, which would take a day because it was a big one, but he’d be all right. No silver anywhere nearby. It’d be okay.

Opposite him, Rodney tapped at his radio. “No signal. Too much interference.”

Evan nodded. “Pretty sure my leg is broken.”

Rodney blinked at him. “I think I’m remarkably fine.”

Evan sighed. “Well isn’t that wonderful. That brings me great comfort. Thank you.”

Rodney peered up. “I don’t know how deep we are. I can’t see daylight. I -” He swallowed hard. “We can’t be that deep. The building fell on us, but we didn’t fall down. Did we?” He reached up, tried to paw some of the rubble aside.

Dust and debris rained down on them, hit Evan in the leg. He let out an involuntary yowl of pain. Super-healing didn’t mean immunity to pain, thanks.

Rodney shrank back. “I’m sorry! I -”

Evan forced himself to take a deep breath. “I posted Edison at the entrance of the building. He’ll get help.”

“Assuming he wasn’t hit by falling debris.”

Evan had forgotten what an eternal optimist Rodney was. “Doc, the Daedalus left Atlantis when we were still confirming Sheppard's story. With that kind of a head start, they should be here in less than -” He calculated mentally - “Three hours. One way or the other, help is on the way.”

“I’m sorry,” Rodney said, and had he actually apologized? “I just - I’m not good at tight spaces.” He fidgeted. Evan could hear his rapid his pulse was. He’d assumed it was from the stress of having just been almost blown up, but now he realized it was something more. Damn.

“Look, there's no bad guys around, okay? No bad guys.” Evan smiled tightly. “Just a lot of debris. So, if you could please just sit tight and try not to make the ceiling collapse, that would be great.”

Rodney nodded. “Okay, no bad guys. Just...just sit tight.” But his heart was still racing and he was sweating and he was headed for a full-blown panic attack.

Damn. “Rodney,” Evan said.

Rodney looked up from where he was fidgeting with pieces of the computer. “Yes?”

“Look, my broken leg will heal in a few hours,” Evan said. Well, it wouldn’t be completely knit, but he could probably shift into True Form and limp around on three legs just fine. “Once I can stand on it, I’m pretty strong. I can see about digging us out, helping whoever is looking for us from up top. We’ll be okay.”

Rodney blinked. “A few hours? Really?”

“You saw how fast I sat up after I got stabbed in the heart last year,” Evan said.

“Oh. Yeah! Yeah. That’s, uh, kind of amazing.” Rodney smiled wanly. He wasn’t comforted in the least.

“Look, can you feel Sheppard?” Evan asked.

“What?”

“You’re soulmates. You’re linked by the silver cord. Can you feel Sheppard?”

Rodney’s gaze went distant for a moment. “Yes. I -”

“Can you go hang out in his mind for a while? A mind feels like a wide open space, right?” Shapeshifters couldn’t see into each other’s minds the way vampires and witches could, not unless they were soulmates connecting.

Rodney nodded, and he slumped back.

Evan relaxed, glad for the silence, for the way the stench of fear pervading the space around them was lessening some. Until it spiked, and Rodney’s pulse with it, and he cried out, “John!”

Evan came to alert. “What’s wrong with Sheppard?”

Rodney twitched. “He’s - he’s trapped. He’s dying. Ronon - Ronon can’t get the beam off of him. John!”

The debris around them shook.

Evan swore and launched himself across their little cave, swallowing back a scream at the pain in his leg, and shook Rodney, hard.

“Rodney, snap out of it. Come back, dammit! Let Sheppard go.”