Our Own Reality by velocitygrass (NC-17)

[georgiesmith.livejournal.com]

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Length: 54,296
Author on LJ: velocitygrass
Author Website: Her work is archived at AO3
Why this must be read: An accident with an Ancient device leaves John with memories of a year that never existed. A year in which he'd fallen in love and had been happy. This is a gorgeously angsty, character-driven story that focuses on John Sheppard as he comes to grips with missions never taken, memories that aren't real as well as lessons that were learned in his virtual year and how he might be able to apply them with his return to reality. My heart ached for John throughout this story; seeing him so happy and watching it crumble around him was painful to watch. Rodney flounders as he tries to help his best friend, while learning about himself in the process. It's just so good, so richly compelling that I was up way past my bedtime because once I started reading it there was no way I was going to stop until I got to the end. I can tell you, it was well worth it.

Our Own Reality