Commentary on Wrong End of a Leash

[kriadydragon]

For ninja007 , who was curious about this part:

Wrong end of a Leash was the story that ended up being a black hole sucking me deep into the SGA fandom. I'll admit that the show didn't grab me right away - I'm incredibly finicky and it takes a lot for a show to suck me in on the first episode. But I found myself in need of a show for a very sci-fi idea, in which, instead of a human having an alien for a pet, the alien had a human for a pet. And at the time I was only writing for the CSI:NY fandom. I thought about going with Andromeda, the Battle Star Galactica though the latter I've seen very little of. Then SGA was on and I thought, why not? Sheppard's pretty hot.

And so began my obsession with SGA. I don't think I need to tell you that I've been writing for this fandom ever since :)

He heard frantic chatter, squeaks, and trills. Even with his body spent, John's heart still managed the strength to start another round of mad pounding. He tilted his head back to see a luminescent neon green eye peering at him through the hole.

John shrank back. “ Oh no, please no...”

By now, Sheppard has really been through the wringer and is far too spent and injured to even pretend to be brave. I'm a sucker for vulnerability in my heroes. I don't see it as a weakness, but as a way to show us that these people are human, and share the same fears we do, even if they're better at not showing it. Even then, there comes a point in which they can't help but to show it.

A hand slipped through the hole, smaller than the hand that had tried to slice him to ribbons. John tensed as the claw neared, but couldn't move even with terror trying to pump him full of the little adrenaline he had left.
The claw rested lightly against his chest, and soft purring trills echoed in the tiny cave.
Junior.

Junior laid his paw flat on the ground, palm up. John gathered the pint of strength he had left and pulled himself half-way into that palm. He didn't need to go the rest of the way. Junior lifted him up, and with the entrance being widened thanks to Dino-brat number one, slipped him out of the mouse-lizard cave with ease.

Junior's a good kid who loves his little human pet and only wants to do what is best for him. John isn't just some interesting oddity, he's Junior's friend.

What happened after that came to Sheppard in snatches of awareness. He remembered being passed off to Momma Beast who was hovering nearby. The pain of that simple transfer had sapped him of his lingering energy. He was taken somewhere – to someone. Sheppard saw a wrinkled Dino-face through the haze over his eyes. That sound, like a machine starting up or camera charging, drilled into his brain.
X-ray vocals...

Then came the odd part. Old healer man, or whoever it was looking John over, clicked something to Junior. Junior shrank back, shivering. John was set on the ground. Junior, using the tip of his claw, opened John's jaw enough to squeeze in the burning super-morphine drink. It worked fast, and John felt himself slipping into that wonderful land known as oblivion. He was distantly aware of Junior grabbing his leg, but a little more aware when the kid began pulling. He felt, and heard, the grate of bone against bone. It hurt, but not like it probably would have had he not been drugged. He winced, closed his eyes, and thankfully passed out.

This is how dedicated Junior is to his pet. He will do what it takes to ensure John survives. Even if it means eventually giving John up.

Ouch.
I loved writing this story, creating the world, the dino-people. It really gave my imagination a work out. I would, one day, like to write a story in which John and Junior meet again, or john comes across another of the dino-folk. I've yet to come up with an idea, but I haven't stopped trying, and hope to come up with something one day.

Comments

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading it and loved it at the end where Junior gently picks up Sheppard and brings him to the wormhole...
"Junior approached the gate hesitantly until he had John only an inch from it."
I was so keyed up about Sheppard's ability to make it through once he dialed given his broken physical condition......and Junior comes to his aid.....
Great story.
I would love to see them meet again.....

SQUEEEE!!

[ninja007.livejournal.com]

This, as I told you, is one of my absolute favorite fics of all time. This by chance is also one of the first fics I read in the SGA genre. Pulled me in hook, line, and sinker!

I adored this fic so much and am gratified to see I came away with the same ideas and feelings as you were trying to impart.

Well done!!

I would love to see Junior and Sheppard meet once again. An emergency where they can do something only dinos can do and that Atlantis needs? Maybe a time when Sheppard needs refuge?

I think it would make my year if you were able to write a sequel...