This begins a series of drabbles. I love drabbles but never know where to put them, so, taking a book from some wonderful others (waves to emergencyfan), I thought why not create a fic and as the drabbles come, so the fic grows! Hopefully they'll be worth reading...

untitled dying fic

"I didn't think it end this way."

John slides his eyes at Rodney, and breathes in, slowly, before asking the inevitable, "How'd you think it'd end?"

Rodney snorts, before the pain in his middle edges it into a squeak. "Heroically, with lots of fanfare," and he breaks off to cough the dust out of his lungs. "I specifically remember making it clear to everyone that the only acceptable death is a heroic death."

"And this isn't heroic enough?"

John isn't moving much, just his head, a little. Rodney knows it's because he's too tired, too weak…too near death's door. Like him.

"We didn't save enough," Rodney protests.

The dry chuckle from John irritates him.

"I think her mom would beg to differ," John whispers now.

Rodney pushes his hand harder into his own wound, knowing the blood isn't slowed enough. "I don't even like kids," he adds miserably.

"I know," John manages to reply.

Silence creeps in, and he wonders if the end is always this quiet for the dying…

"Carson?" confused, Rodney pulls back from the concerned face. "You're in heaven, too?"

The fine lines crinkle, and he says, "Sorry, Rodney, you didn't make it into heaven today."

"Oh, that's a shame, I hear it's beautiful there," he rambles, and he feels his eyes closing again, but a memory sparks and he frowns. "Colonel?"

A ruffle of blankets, and the air shifts, before a familiar voice answers from far away, "Heaven can wait, McKay. We've got to find you a more heroic death first." And the wry comment wasn't weaker than it should be, he told himself, blinking against the warm numbness.

"Goob, cuz one kib isn' enuf," slurred Rodney, giving in to the pulling sleepiness. Because it wasn't. Rodney McKay was going to save the universe some day. And John Sheppard was going to be there with him when he did…