Fanfic Transcends Into Art: A Review of yin_again's "In Sickness and In Health" By Helena Handbasket for the Midwestern BadFic Review
I must begin by saying that this reviewer often takes the time to reflect upon those stories that really are "the wind beneath my wings," - those beautiful, fanciful, carnation-scented tales that allow me to leave my world of cats and knitting and collecting Precious Moments figurines to swim in the tepid pools of fancy. "In Sickness and In Health" is one of those magical stories.
yin_again uses her four-star general-worthy command of the English language to show us a world where heroes are strong and stoic and sometimes have sex in showers; a place peopled with brilliant scientists, staunch warriors and rarely-seen custodial staffs. Yes, a place as magical as the fabled Lost City of Atlantis. The story begins with fear and trepidation, with our hero, John Sheppard, and his warrior-companion, Ronon Dex, being brought back to the city with grave injuries.
"Elizabeth, get Dr. Beckett down here now!" Rodney McKay screamed, his voice shooting up into registers that seriously disgruntled housepets. "Man down! And big, burly, dreadlocked Wookiee-thing down!"
The two men were injured, their skin marked with blackish-purple bruises and the vivid, garish red of blood, blood and more blood - and also some dirt and some stuff that looked like the remains of a spaghetti dinner. And possibly some yogurt. Elizabeth contacted the infirmary and ordered a medical team, wondering what would happen if John and Ronon died. What fate would befall the Lost City of Atlantis if its military commander was lost? What would they do without him? How could they function in the city without Atlantis' favorite son? Would John prefer an open or closed casket? Oh, yeah - Ronon was hurt, too. Elizabeth wondered if they had a coffin long enough for him - the brother was tall.
The author sets the scene with vivid prose and an engaging style, making the audience sit on the edge of their seat, hoping against hope that the heroes will recover and that they won't have to cut Ronon's hair. It's enough to make a body neglect to feed their cats and to be subject to quite a few out-of-litter-box rebellion-pees. By giving us the story from a variety of points of view, the author makes sure that the audience is never quite sure exactly what's going on. It's a bold stylistic choice!
John woke up to the reassuring sounds of home - monitors beeping, the low hum of the city and the comforting sounds of Rodney having a screaming shit fit at someone.
"Rodney?" he said. "I'm not dead."
Rodney turned away from the tall Scandinavian man he was shouting at, his body flooding with relief. "Beat it, Sven - John's not dead...yet."
Sven beat it, glad to have avoided the Wrath of McKay, and intent on hitting the mess hall for some sort of traditional Scandinavian food involving beets.
"Is Ronon okay?" John asked.
"He's going to make it," Rodney said. "They didn't even have to cut his hair. Sorry about yours, by the way."
John jerked one hand up to his head to check out his (still thankfully intact) hair and popped about thirty-five stitches and had to be sedated to have them redone. Rodney retreated to the dining room for some beets and Sven-baiting.
And this story never scrimps on the romance! We get to see the loving established relationship of John and Rodney - a true meeting of the minds and hearts. These two are like an old married couple, if one of them was a woman or if they were old or married, I mean. In contrast, we get to see the awakening of the stirrings of attraction between bold warrior Ronon - heroically fighting his injuries - and the kindly Scottish Doctor, Carson Beckett. These two are truly star-crossed, fighting barriers of background, education, and height on their way to true love.
"Now, son, be careful - we don't want to have to redo any of that surgical work. You just stay still and let me give you this sponge bath," Carson said. "I know ye don't like to have the nurses do it but are too macho to say anything. I just can't stand it when you look so upset when they touch you."
Ronon: *grunt*
"Is there anything else I can do to make you more comfortable before I return to me lonely quarters to drink tea and read boring journal articles about cloning sheep?" Carson brow furrowed adorably.
Ronon: *grunt*
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt anything to stay a while..." Carson perched on the side of the bed and smiled shyly at the warrior.
There are also some truly terrifying flashbacks in this story, but I'm emotionally fragile and had to read those parts through my fingers, so I can't really say much other than oooooh, scary! But, there's a puppy, and that makes everything better, doesn't it?
"Rodney, where did you get a puppy?" John asked, looking down at the little bundle of fur that was busily engaged in trying to shred his bedsheets.
"Jinto's pet dingo had them a few weeks ago - oh, don't let him bite you, they have really sharp...CARSON!"
This reviewer is proud, as always, to assist you, Gentle Reader, in finding those stories that will change your life and make it bolder and brighter and less stultifying - this story is one of those. I hope you'll find it within your heart to give this vital new writer a try!