A Million Years Into the Sky, by Niamaea (PG)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Teamy goodness

Pairing: see below
Categories: team, friendship, futurefic, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, Teal’c, Jack O’Neill, Vala, Cameron Mitchell, Cassie
Warnings: canon character deaths (mostly off-screen, and of old age)
Author on LJ: niamaea
Author's Website: unknown
Link: A Million Years Into the Sky

Why This Must Be Read: Full disclaimer: I got to beta this. Lucky, lucky me. :)

Niamaea is one of the founders of sg1_ever_after, a relatively new community about giving SG-1 happy endings. This amazing fic offers a heartbreakingly beautiful look at that happy ending, as Niamaea provides us with a universe that cares for her children and the long, gentle journey that the members of SG-1 take, one by one, to get there.

The first part of the story is told from Sam’s POV; the second, from Teal’c’s, in one of the most stunning characterizations I’ve ever seen for our beloved Jaffa. The entire fic is chock-full of fantastic insights: Sam’s epiphany into how Jack and Daniel’s personalities complete one another. The team’s careful manipulations to ensure that Daniel is “remembered to history for his life,” and not how he died, because that’s what he would have wanted most. Teal’c watching, from the perspective of his longer lifespan, as one by one, his teammates slip away – complete, and in peace. (And Teal’c’s choice for his third grandchild’s name brought tears to my eyes.) 

While I would strongly call this fic gen, I didn’t add that to the categories, because it does include some mention of pairings peripherally – Ry’ac and Ka’ryn, for example. And Sam’s marriage to a teammate. But while the pairings are there, they are not the main import of the story – the quiet future, and the universe’s kindness, are what really matter. 

“Shal’kek nem’ron,” he says.

Daniel shakes his head and corrects him. “You lived free, Teal’c.”

It was difficult to choose a snippet for this, as much of the story is snapshots of events that span decades of time. I know this rec is longer than usual, but this story richly deserves it. Go read it, slowly, and savor.
 

Vala Mal Doran is not likely to stay in one place overlong; it is not in her nature. When she parts company with the Tau’ri it is well after Teal’c would have expected, but perhaps their belief that Daniel Jackson remained her only tether to the SGC had stopped being entirely accurate long before they had reason to suspect such.

She leaves them gifts before she goes, trinkets passed on over the course of several days. A small child’s puzzle acquired off-world slipped into Cameron Mitchell’s back pocket, accompanied by more groping than was perhaps entirely appropriate in the briefing room; a necklace left in Colonel Carter’s locker, a blue stone on a chain that appeared silver, made of materials that they are never able to identify. Teal’c she hands a folded piece of paper without pretense, just as the wormhole forms.

“For later, Muscles,” she tells him, and minutes later the gateroom is silent and Vala is thousands of light years away.

He keeps the paper in his pocket for the rest of the day, feels its presence against his thigh as he goes about his tasks. That night, after his candles are lit, he retrieves it, unfolds it.

It bears a gate address, and a hastily scribbled note. I hear winter on Chulak is dreadful – V.