From the Ashes, by Sam Walker (PG-13)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Teal'c and Daniel friendship

Pairing: none
Categories: Teal'c and Daniel friendship, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, Bra'tac, team, drama, angst
Warnings: emotional and physical trauma, language
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Sam Walker at The Grove
Link: From the Ashes

Why This Must Be Read: From the Ashes seems, at first, to be a rather typical story – Teal'c comes across a sick Daniel, asleep in the commissary, and shooes him off to the infirmary. But when the rest of SG-1 gate to a planet and meet up with the natives, it takes a recovery team to bring them back… and that's when disaster really strikes.

Sam Walker gives us superb Teal'c characterization with his anguish over a truly tragic accident and his determination to make it right. Ancient and obscure Jaffa rituals are such a fun plot device, after all! And this one takes a particularly fascinating turn, as Teal'c joins Daniel on a journey through his life's experiences… until the final moving confrontation on the "earth sea."

With Bra'tac in usual fine form, teamy goodness, and some great support from Janet and Hammond, this Teal'c and Daniel friendship fic is one that you'll remember for a long time.

Teal'c crouched down in front of Daniel, blocking his view of the accident. "Daniel Jackson."

Daniel shivered convulsively, staring blankly through Teal'c's shoulder, and gave no sign he'd heard.

"Daniel Jackson." Teal'c reached out and touched Daniel's face gently, drawing his fingers over Daniel's eyes, closing them.

"There is a place on my world where the plains seem to stretch on forever," Teal'c said, his voice soft and gentle, rhythmically hypnotic. "During the day the grass blows in the wind like waves. It is called the kasq naloh, the earth sea, for this reason. Once a year there is a great festival there. The people gather at night to see the stars race across the heavens. It is said that each falling star is a warrior. The fastest and brightest are the ones who died with the most honor, and each family tries to see their own warrior in the heavens."

He stroked Daniel's hair, soothing the shivers. "My people do not name the stars. We know that they are not gods, we know that they are not really warriors falling from the sky. But we also know that it is the job of the living to remember the dead, and so we gather each year and pretend."

Daniel's eyes opened. He was still shivering a little and his face was wet with tears. "Are my parents dead?"

"Yes."

Daniel closed his eyes again, then opened them, staring desperately at Teal'c. "What do I do now?"

"You must be strong, Daniel Jackson." Teal'c straightened, unconsciously deepening his voice to that of a commander. "You must go forward. You must choose how best to remember your dead. You are one now, Daniel Jackson, and you must be strong."

Daniel blinked up at him. "Strong like you?"

Teal'c did not look away.

"Stronger."