Stewardess Fanfiction

Absolutely makes sense.

It's interesting that another story written for this prompt also has reader comments about John's behavior seeming abusive. Also interesting: that author and I employed the same setup, John motivated by concern for Rodney's well-being or safety.

My job as narrator would have been a lot easier if I had written the story from John's POV, but the prompt, to me, required focusing on Rodney. If I write a follow-up (dang that angiepen!), it will have to be John's take.

I think both this story and the other inspired by the prompt are running into a wall because of the improbabilities of SGA canon, especially when combined with McShep.

If John was not a character on a sci-fi TV show, he would have taken Rodney off the team eons ago. No officer would keep a team member (no matter how brilliant) who consistently falls apart under fire. Nor can I buy that canon John would keep a lover on his team, particularly after how he handled Teyla's situation. He would never endanger the team that way, since he would constantly end up in situations where he had to choose between his lover and the team.

So, prior to the events of this story, I had to believe two impossible things. If I write a follow-up, I would have to address both problems.

What I think does fit canon, though, is John choosing to do something wildly against the rules, and highly likely to land him in serious trouble, for unselfish reasons. We've seen him shoot a superior officer, talk Wallace into committing suicide, and more. Every time John does something like that, his motives are always "good." Canon John is always sympathetic when he does bad things. :)