bantha_fodder: ([saab] shane and coop - tshirtgirl)
[personal profile] bantha_fodder
title: i get by (with a little help from my friends)
author: pen
fandom: space: above and beyond
summary: Shane Vansen, and the things that get her through.
i do not own

cancelling Space: Above and Beyond was the first time fox broke my heart. clearly it was not the last, though.

with thanks to [livejournal.com profile] zeplum and [livejournal.com profile] stars_like_dust.

*

Nathan leans against the wall, book level with his nose. "The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close," he reads, "and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive. Cars that were usually gleaming-"

"Not this shit again," interrupts Paul. "What are we reading children's books for? I'm sure I asked for something with more action. And maybe some sex."

"You really want West to read to you about heaving bosoms and erect dicks?" asks Cooper, and both men grimace.

"You're right," Paul corrects himself hurriedly.

"Quiet, both of you," says Vanessa. "I like it. It's different. Quieter."

"Not here," says Shane, and they all fall silent.

They fall asleep soon after that.

*

In the darkness, she hears a click. I believe in you. She covers her eyes with her hand and tries not to speak.

She'd think it pathetic if she hadn't been there herself.

*

Shane dreams of AIs and blood. The drop of bodies to the floor and the flash of lights. She dreams of bullets shredding Cooper's body; of Nathan lost in the mists of Kylen's memories. Behind her eyes she sees Vanessa paralysed by fear and toxins; and in the dark she hears Paul eaten alive by bugs the size of his head.

When the lights switch on and the alarms blare, she doesn't tell them about the blood running down Cooper's face; doesn't tell them about the gap where West used to be. They don't have that sort of time.

*

"There are no heroes," intones McQueen, and Shane remembers Paul, back straight and arms still, leading them into battle against leaky faucets.

She tries not to laugh, but when McQueen announces the code name for the mission is Shower Cap, she starts to giggle, and her friends follow her into the madness.

Just like always.

"So watch your six," McQueen says, and ignores the laughter.

*

Cooper splashes his face with water. Stares into the mirror. "I'm gonna drop," he says, and his voice croaks.

Shane hits him on the back as she strides past. Squeezes his shoulder and moves on.

"Take it like a marine, Coop," she says, drops her towel and steps into the shower.

She meets Cooper's eyes in the mirror, and draws the curtain.

*

Shane wanders into the bunk room, towel wrapped around her body and tucked under her arms. "You still watching?" This directed at Paul, still reclining on the couch, where he was when she left.

"The football!" he says. His eyes never leave the screen as he speaks. Paul leans forward, and then throws his arms up into the air and cheers with the crowd. "Hoorah!"

"We're shipping out in fifteen mikes," Shane replies, as she drops the towel and glances at the clock. "And we're not waiting for you." She pulls her underwear on, and rummages around for her tanks.

"It's not even at half time! Game doesn't end for another forty two minutes. I want to be left behind."

Vanessa presses buttons on the screen and flips to the History Channel, before settling herself in on the couch, whilst Paul protests. "I wanted to watch this thing on zebras anyway," she says, and pushes Paul to the floor. "Get ready to ship out," she says to Paul, and dismisses him.

"Hey," Paul says, and reaches for Vanessa's arm. "What have I ever done to hurt you?"

Shane looks over, and catches the moment of silence between Vanessa and Paul. Catches the way Paul's hand tightens on Vanessa's arm. Wonders if they're fucking.

Looks away, and pulls her shirts over her head.

Doesn't matter if they are, and she doesn't need to know.

*

On planet, the radio futzes and they get rained on. Paul falls into a river, and Nathan gets bitten by a bug.

They're out there fifteen hours longer than expected, and as they're lifting out of atmo, Shane falls out of her harness and stubs her toe.

It fucking hurts, but it's another mission over and they're still breathing.

Still marines.

*

As Cooper and Shane stagger down the corridor from debriefing to bunk room, heads down and backs weary, they hear voices drifting through an open hatchway.

"Man, the Five-Eight are always getting lost," bitches some guy from the flight crew. "How much fuel have we wasted looking for them?"

Shane shoves a hand out and wraps it around Cooper's arm. She knows what he's thinking. "Save it, Coop," she says, and he meets her even gaze with a glare, but lets her tug him away.

Later, she beats the guys from the flight crew at cards, and leaves them sitting around the table with nothing but the shirts on their backs. It's not what Cooper wants; there's no blood and blackened eyes and an evening spent in hack, but when she meets his eyes he smiles, and she knows he understands.

*

The sirens blare, and she reaches out for the people around her.

"Let's go, marines!" she yells, before she opens her eyes.

She smiles.

END

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 04:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meyerlemon.livejournal.com
OMG!

*flail*

SHANE! And COOP! And they are so MFEO (even though we all know that *really*, she's going to marry McQueen, yes.)

Love!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 05:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
Shane and Coop are CLEARLY MFEO, but I occasionally agree on the McQueen issue. Because Shane clearly had a crush on him at one point, although obviously that chick who died had a bigger crush, as she actually ASKED McQueen. Do you remember Winslow? Asking McQueen if he wanted to have sex with her in the low G chamber was possibly one of the most awkward things I've ever watched.

In conclusion: S:AAB!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 05:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hercircumstance.livejournal.com
Shane/McQueen!!!! I totally need to watch it again to see what I think now. At the time, my 15 year old brain thought it was inappropriate and awesome though I did like Coop/Shane (not Shane/Coop if that makes any sense). Shane will always be my favorite and she was very shipable. Drat, and I was going to wait til christmas for the dvds.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-13 07:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
though I did like Coop/Shane (not Shane/Coop if that makes any sense).

...

No. Please explain yourself.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-13 11:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hercircumstance.livejournal.com
*thinks* Well, his interest in her was much more consistant to me than hers in him. Thus the Coop/Shane. There are times when she does look at him as more than just a friend, but then he eventually says or does something that shows his age and then she reverts back to treating him more like a kid who has a crush on her. Which made it uncomfortable for me at the time because I was 15 and was put in Coops place more than once with guys who I liked who were older than me and would flip flop like that. Anyway, I'd have to watch it again, but that was my impression. I think he does honestly like her and if the show went on four more years or so he might have grown up enough for the rest of his personality to match it. War does make people grow up really fast. I just don't think he was quite there yet that season they were given.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 05:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] centerspire.livejournal.com
OMG! S:AAB fic! That is great. And a bit of HP, too! I think you're my hero.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 05:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
Ha! YAY! I'm so glad you like it. Because I am LOVING S:AAB so much at the moment.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 06:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] centerspire.livejournal.com
I need to go back and finish my DVDs...I'm only about half way through. I should make the guys at work watch with me. Hmmm...I like that idea!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-12 05:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hercircumstance.livejournal.com
>In the darkness, she hears a click. I believe in you. She covers her >eyes with her hand and tries not to speak.

>She'd think it pathetic if she hadn't been there herself.


YES! Pathetic! Go with the first thought! I usually only liked West when he had misplaced his little clicker of chastity.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-13 07:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
Every episode, I'm like, Nathan, shut up. Nathan, stop it. I have always hated the Kylen/Nathan story line.

*rages*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-13 11:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hercircumstance.livejournal.com
I remember watching a tape of the first episode way back when with a friend and I had to keep telling her the annoying chick would go away very soon, even if West was there to wave her banner every chance he got. Shane's reoccurring nightmares or even Paul's bug phobia was much more interesting than blonde bimbo storyline. It just made West seem pathetic rather than faithful. The storyline that would just not die. He was also predictable. I'd have loved to seen something better in that myst episode than her voice off in the distance leading him away. Was that really the worst fear he has? *gripe gripe*

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-13 11:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scottishlass.livejournal.com
Great ficlet :)

Don't forget to submit it to the S:AAB FanFic Flightdeck (http://www.fanficflightdeck.space-readyroom.de/)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-14 05:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
Ah. I shall try to remember to do that. (later when i am not dashing out the door *g*)

glad you enjoyed.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-14 01:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aparna.livejournal.com
always good to see more saab fic out there :) nice work!

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-14 05:43 pm (UTC)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-14 09:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fourteenlines.livejournal.com
Oh, wow. I LOVE you. S:AAB fic! Good S:AAB fic! (NEW S:AAB fic. I [heart] this like whoa.)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-14 10:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
Hee! S:AAB is so fabulous. And I'm so glad you heart it.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-15 12:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] annaalamode.livejournal.com
YOU WROTE S:AAB! This is an all caps occasion.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-15 06:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
Because S:AAB is great! There should be more S:AAB fic. And I should own the DVDs. And it should NEVER HAVE BEEN CANCELLED, OMG THEY BROKE MY HEART.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-18 09:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] annaalamode.livejournal.com
Everyone should have the DVDs. EVERYONE! (And your story was fab, btw.)

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-15 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] koalathebear.livejournal.com
Also love this ..... but I swear if you write Shane/McQueen I will never forgiven you. Ick!!!!! :) Shane belongs with Cooper .... McQueen belongs with some other person who overenunciates and pontificates! He probably does it in the boudoir, too:

McQueen: "And now.... let me tell you, I am about to ravish you and you're going to have a great time. Watch your six - I'm about to pounce."

Unspecified Love Interest Who Is Not Shane: "Oh just pounce already, will ya?"

It's not what Cooper wants; there's no blood and blackened eyes and an evening spent in hack, but when she meets his eyes he smiles, and she knows he understands.
Cuddles this line.

(no subject)

Date: 2005-10-21 05:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
I KNOW. MCQUEEN needs someone who accepts that he likes to be stupid like that.

And I almost cried today, because I watched the stupid last episode this arvo. Have you seen it recently? I knew what happened (Paul, Vanessa and Shane get killed/Missing presumed dead), having seen it ten years ago, but it still hurt. I was just, like, you didn't have to kill them! I spent all arvo at work working out ways they could be rescued, so at least they can live on in my fic.

And sometime this weekend I hope to cap the episodes, since clearly no one is going to do it for me.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-20 05:00 pm (UTC)
anr: (shanecooper semper)
From: [personal profile] anr
Perfect! Most especially this part:

It's not what Cooper wants; there's no blood and blackened eyes and an evening spent in hack, but when she meets his eyes he smiles, and she knows he understands.

(no subject)

Date: 2007-10-23 11:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bantha-fodder.livejournal.com
I love the 5-8 so much, even after all this time. HOW RIDICULOUS.
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