SGA: Staring at the Sun, by Sholio.

[thady]

FANDOM: Stargate: Atlantis
FIC LINK: Staring at the Sun
AUTHOR LINK: sholio | sholio | sholio
RATING/WARNING(S): PG-13 | Future AU. Dark. Not a deathfic, exactly, but kind of similar.
WIP?/WORD COUNT: one-shot | ~ 4,700 words
MAIN CHARACTERS: Rodney McKay; John Sheppard

FIC SUMMARY: Rodney used to believe that death was the worst thing that could happen on a mission. He was wrong.

RECCER'S NOTES:

This one had me sobbing. I hardly ever cry reading fiction, but this felt very real and grounded. Some time in the future McKay visits a brain injured Sheppard. Dealing with what's left of his friend is hard, and McKay's reaction and his feelings are very believable portrayed. This could happen, and it does happen to soldiers all too often. If you like realistic fanfiction, this is as close as it gets.