This is a SGA thematic list (i.e. not recs) for stories in which John Sheppard is an Ancient, Ori or Ascended. John being an Ancient/Ori means that he's reincarnated, descended with amnesia, or hiding intentionally as human etc., but it does not include possession by an Ancient or Ori, or sharing consciousness or body with one, it has to be actually John who is the alien.
These are not recs, but a thematic list. I'll link gen stories as well as all kinds of pairings, but at least initially it's biased towards pairings I read, e.g. I don't read John/Elizabeth so I'll need others to point out stories from those corners of fandom fitting the list criteria to me.
If you want a story added, your own or others, please send me the title, author, pairings (if any), summary, a public link (i.e. no f-locked or community member locked LJ entries and the like), whether it's a WIP, and under which topic it'll fit, so that I can list the story.
Last updated: April 16, 2013
The Ancient!John 'verse, by aadarshinah
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. WIP, 132,414 words so far. The Atlantis Expedition never knew Major Sheppard. When they arrive in the Pegasus Galaxy, however, they discover a single Ancient remained behind to protect the city... His name is Iohannes Ianidedus Licinus Pastor. They just call him John.
Angels in the Architecture, by Tigerlady
Gen. 8,300 words. John has a hard time figuring out his place in the universe after Carson makes a startling discovery: John may very well be an Ancient.
Before and Forever, by Helena K.
John Sheppard/OMC, mention of John Sheppard/Rodney McKay. 2,323 words. John comes to in unfamiliar surroundings, yet perhaps not.
A Chance Encounter, by Slybrarian
Gen. 2,300 words. John's new team goes on a simple botanical mission, and they discover that even in the Milky Way John still attracts every female galactic overlord around. Set during "The Return, Part I" and features Team Bumbling Fools.
Down From Mt. Olympus, by Trinityofone
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 4,770 words. The force is strong with this one.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon, by Dossier
Gen. 150,000 words. That which does not kill us, makes us stronger--Friedrich Nietzsche.
Fall of Pegasus, by Slybrarian
Gen. WIP, 30,000 words so far. "Arrogance and stupidity in one package - how very efficient of you." How the oldest civilization in the galaxy lost to space vampires.
Family Ties, by melagan
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 1,300 words. John finds out he's an Ancient. He's not happy about it.
Gods That Slumber and its sequel Engineering the Fall, by Layton Colt
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,700 words and 4,320 words. They say there's no risk in anything if you can't actually die. John knows better.
Hope Flies Alone, by Slybrarian.
Gen. 88,600 words. Ten thousand years ago, a great darkness awoke in the Pegasus Galaxy. For almost a hundred years, the people of Atlantis battled the Wraith, until at last they were forced back into their city. There were great victories and great defeats, tragedies both small and large. Many saw the war as unwinnable and focused their efforts on seeking ascension, but some fought until the bitter end, even to the point of defying death itself.
Into the Light, by Merlin71
Gen. 13,400 words. John is seeing things. Or is he?
Mnemonic, or Four Ways John Sheppard Didn't Lose His Mind, by Cupidsbow
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 7,250 words. No summary provided by author.
'Til Human Voices Wake Us, by Medie
John Sheppard/Elizabeth Weir. 4,157 words. "I feel like a ghost," she confessed, rubbing her arms.
Total Recall series, by Cassandra and Melinda
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 68,056 words so far. Getting electrocuted by a sculpture was the least of John's problem. The burns would heal again quickly. The memory problem? Now, that was the actual catastrophe. It was just what he needed.
Uncanny Valley, by Sarah T.
Gen. 3,500 words. "Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you."
Unconventional Beauty, by Jane Elliot
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 30,400 words. Obsessive scientists, menacing Kolya, and aliens: an SGA version of Beauty and the Beast.
Yawning Angel, by Slybrarian
Gen. 1,850 words. They say that death's just the beginning of a new adventure. For some people, it's just a waypoint on the same one.
Aftertaste, by Kitanne
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,200 words. They didn't get his hair right but the nose was almost perfect and the corner of his stone mouth was drawn up as if he was about ready to smile and step off his pedestal to charm you off your feet or, at the very least, into letting him drive.
Ascension series, by hoktauri
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 24,666 words. If anyone is going rewrite John Sheppard's future, it's damn well gonna be John.
The Axis of Pythia, by packyrsuitcases
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 54,875 words. "The machine is a broken ascension machine and now I'm evolving at an accelerated rate..." John trailed off as he tried to assimilate the two very different viewpoints on the current information coming from Elizabeth and Rodney.
Circle of the Sun, by LadyAmarra
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, John Sheppard/OC. 42,300 words. The people of Cirellia find a naked stranger at the base of their sacred mountain and take him in. They give him a name, shelter and a Family, and the dark haired stranger tries his best to find a way to reciprocate their kindness but he struggles to fit in or be useful, secretly yearning for the sky of an unknown world, a city of silver spires and a blue eyed man who only exist in his dreams...
The Daedalus Ascension, by infie
Gen. 1,126 words. The 'other team' from 5.04 Daedalus Variations gets a happy ending.
Defract: Clear Blue Skies, by Senket.
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 683 words. John Sheppard is obsessed with speed; it's only fair that he should have the shortest Ascension in all of history.
Desolation, by ForCryinOutLoud
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 740 words. Time is no longer a constant to him - he isn't sure how much of it has passed since he was here... before.
Devil's In the House of the Rising Sun and its sequel Aces Over Eights, by Sian1359
Gen. 600 words and 3,700 words. After the fade to black.
Eighteenish, by Jenn
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 4,900 words. They woke up brand new.
Encounter At Dawn, by JA Baker
Gen. 81,646 words. As First Contact situations go, it could have gone better. But with the threat of the Wraith hanging over them the Colonials, Cylons and Tau'ri are just going to have to find a way to get along... Battlestar Galactica RDM Stargate Atlantis
Five times John has left someone behind, by Minnow1212
Gen. 1,700 words. No summary provided.
Five Ways Tao of Rodney Could Have Ended, by Ras Elased
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,300 words. Sometimes John swears he can feel him.
Found, by Ekaterinn & The Acrobat
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 5,160 words. "She says her name is John, which they pronounce 'Shon' and Ni'ara names her Shon're, which means found one."
Gone, by chimeradragon
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 458 words. When the worst happens on Atlantis.
Into the Dark, by Mad Maudlin
Gen. 3,000 words. We don't leave our people behind.
It doesn't really feel like dying, by Livia Penn
Gen. 800 words. No summary provided by author.
knowing, not knowing, pretending, by sabinelagrande
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 1,132 words. Rodney learns to carry on.
The Light Fantastic, by outsideth3box
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,605 words. Stupid, stupid ascension device.
Loose Ends and its sequel Work Undone, by thisissirius
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,880 words and 5,600 words. Set post-Epiphany.
No Explanations Necessary, by Kat Reitz and Tzigane
Rodney McKay/Acastus Kolya, Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 45,600 words. Five years later, Rodney was finally accustomed to the changes in his life. He worked in consulting for the SGC, visited with his sister, and expended an indecent amount of time attending soccer games. Life was easy and predictable, with obligations and responsibilities he took very seriously and no saving of the world involved at all. He didn't miss it, really. Until the day he looked up and saw John Sheppard on the sidelines, watching his son with dark, hooded eyes.
On the Outside Looking In, by FlickeringFlae
Gen. 3,038 words. He knew he never should have made this last stop. Then he wouldn't be dead, or Ascended, or fixing whatever the hell the Alterrans did to his poor TARDIS.
Out of the Blue, by Leah
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 6,500 words. "We're friends, and I missed you. Why can't I hold your hand?"
A Piano in the House, by goddess47
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 12,186 words. Crippled by arthritis, Rodney had resigned himself to living what was left of his life alone and without the music he loved. Until a man named John came looking for piano lessons.
Plans Change, by goddess47
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 950 words. John rides another explosive spaceship, planning to destroy the Wraith.
Plum 40, by Dossier
Gen. 840 words. He has no idea how he got here, or why.
Qui Habitat AU ending, by Domenika Marzione
Gen. 750 words. Qui Habitat AU where those with the strongest ATA gene ascended to take the fight to the Ori...
Revelation, by kyrdwyn
Gen. 1,100 words. They didn't come.
Sacrifice, by Seramercury
Gen. 2,500 words. No summary provided by author.
Second String, by Sophonisba
Gen. 9,275 words. The first time Dave heard of his brother was well before he ever met him.
Shades of Blue, by Melinda
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 11,855 words. That's what you get for not acknowledging the love of your life!
Sheppard's Pie, by Auburn
John Sheppard/Rodney McKay. 21,300 words. Cooking is just chemistry, so pie should be easy, if Rodney could just figure out what Sheppard wants.
Sing Blue Silver, by Halowrites
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,100 words. No summary provided by author.
*new*
Storytime by cat_77
Gen. 1,700 words. History lives on in stories... and other things.
The Supplication of Sheppard, by Silverspar
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, John Sheppard/Teyla Emmagan. 5,500 words. We did not ever believe that the Ancestors would want these terrible things, but, as I learn more of their nature... I am no longer certain that they are worthy of admiration.
The Theory of Light, by teh_helenables
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 965 words. The Lanteans age, but Todd doesn't.
Two Roads, One Moment, by Rachael Sabotini
Gen. 1,650 words. Tag for 'Epiphany', only in the Mensa-verse, it took them longer than a day to go back.
Unmanifest Destiny, by vain_glorious
Gen. 8,261 words. Following the events of 5X01, Team Sheppard goes to Earth and takes a roadtrip across the US.
Waking John, by Tara Keezer
Gen, Dave Sheppard. 1,450 words. No summary provided by author.
When Nothing's Left to Burn, by Auburn
John Sheppard/Vala Mal Doran. 8,575 words. Neither of them tend to think about the consequences.
Where Eagles Dare... We Will Be Playing Poker a Hundred Miles in the Opposite Direction, by d
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, John Sheppard/Cameron Mitchell, Teyla Emmagan/Evan Lorne. 19,131 words. SG-1 is assigned to Pegasus just as Team Sheppard arrives back injured with the exception of Teyla, who temporarily joins Team Lorne. Petty jealousy, unrequited lust, and general misunderstandings ensue.
Ashtaroth Series, by Orithain and Rina
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 45,000 words. The real John's about as far from a hero as you can get. In fact, he's a demon. Or so he says.
Tiger, Tiger, by Gaia
John Sheppard/Vala Mal Doran. 6,300 words. Sheppard, Vala, the Origin of things.
Angels and Wraiths, by maysecret
Gen. 9,388 words. Lost, alone, and unsure of how he got here, Sheppard has to find his way out. But, turns out he's not as alone as he first thought.
Ascension, by KarenMcFadyyon
John Sheppard/Chaya, John Sheppard/Rodney McKay. 17,574 words. John could have ended up being pretty glowy himself.
As Lost As You Get, by Lilysaid
John Sheppard/Rodney McKay. 10,000 words. This would be an Epiphany fic.
*new*
Being Different, by Ladyholder
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. Series. John knew that being differnet set him apart. And one way it had was never feeling at home anywhere. Well, all that changed when he went under the ice.
Bound Together, by blackchaps
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 49,718 words. John's life changes completely after he arrives in Atlantis: his higher-ups think he's been compromised, and he doesn't want to command, but has no choice. The entire expedition is in peril as he fights to keep both the Wraith at bay and prevent a city-wide mutiny from destroying everything he's sworn to protect.
Clava Thessara Infinitas Series: part 1, part 2, by Pfyre
Gen. 25,500 words so far. What if Major Sheppard had had a little more time to learn about the Ancient technology before they headed through the Stargate?
Evander's Heir, by ShepsReyna
Gen. 80,225 words. Sheppard learns it is more about him than he could ever imagine. His gene is strongest for a reason, and he learns why. Shepcentric but team invovled, even O'Neill. Shep whump sprinkled through this adventure. Not a fairy tale!
Evander's Heir II: Dark Mind, by ShepsReyna
Gen. 99,393 words. The continuation of Sheppard story and why his gene is strongest. He develops his abilities further and struggles to contain them. Shepcentric with shep whump, O'Neill makes a return because I love him too. Some profanity/violence.
A Final Awakening, by Smitty.
Gen. 3,500 words. For reccea's Post Secret Card although you may want to wait until the end of the fic to look at the card.
Genetic Drift, by Titan5
Gen. 7,000 words. This is a missing scene/tag to Spoils of War in which John's very confused DNA causes him problems.
A Growing Connection, by Joulez217
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 44,810 words. With two new growing connections, can John Sheppard cope or will he give in?
The Hands of a King are the Hands of a Healer, by Mirabile Dictu
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 2,031 words. He's our golden boy, he thought.
Haven't To Deserve, by Mad Maudlin
Gen. 5,500 words. Family is what you make of it.
I Am the Unlit Candle (A Foray Into Ascension by John Sheppard), by esteefee
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 3,066 words. Just your usual wacky Ascension device. John is unimpressed.
Imago: The Tao of John, by Kristen999
Gen. 49,759 words. Imago: a creature in its final stage of development. John receives a gift that might be used to destroy the Wraith. It might also kill him. Can his team convince him that the cost is too high? Team plus Carson and Elizabeth.
I See Skies of Blue, by Wintertime
Gen. 2,200 words. A mental component, Rodney told him once. You control it with your mind.
*new*
Life You Love, by aadarshinah
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 5,245 words. In which John is haunted by the ghost of his grandmother. pre-slash McShep, spoilers through "The Siege"
The Mind of a Child, by Titan5
Gen. 24,000 words. When McKay gets Sheppard to turn on an Ancient device, something goes horribly wrong. Some comfort, humor, and friendships.
The Mind of Atlantis, by Titan5
Gen. 82,833 words. This is a sequel to Mind of a Child. As John continues to explore his connection to Atlantis, he discovers that she is more than just a city and she has a lot to teach him.
Pocket Full of Kryptonite, by Margarks
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 41,075 words. "Sam, you don't... you don't understand." Rodney's hands clenched in frustration. "I can't let him go alone."
Resonance, by Jadesfire
Gen. 45,916 words. As everyone tries to put Atlantis back together again, John has an accident that gives him more of an insight into the city and the Ancients than he ever could have wanted. Unfortunately, this also gives the city and the Ancients an insight into him.
The Skywalker factor, by darkmoore
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, supporting Lorne/Zelenka. 8,888 words. John had suspected for a while now, that Atlantis might be sentient. He hadn't thought she'd be insane, though.
Ten Thousand Years of Solitude, by Zinnith
Rodney McKay/John Sheppard. 12,000 words. Rodney wished it could be just as easy to find out what was wrong with Sheppard. Just open him up and discover what makes him tick. Find the glitch and fix it. People were so complicated. No logic, no way to anticipate their reactions. It was so much easier with technology. Push a certain button and you knew you would get a certain response. With people, you never knew what to expect.
To Live Is to Fly, by Sundancekid
Gen. 2,744 words. John's always been closer to ascension. Uh, wingfic?