One Half of the Equation, by Minxy (PG-13)

Rec Category: Sam and Daniel friendship

Pairing: none
Categories: Sam and Daniel friendship, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, angst
Warnings: original character death
Author on LJ: _minxy_
Author's Website: listing of fics as links on her LJ page
Link: One Half of the Equation

Why This Must Be Read: This bleak story has an almost metaphysical taste to it, as it gets squarely into the more scary parts of Sam's head. This is a Sam Carter who feels every ounce of the weight of nine years in the Stargate program, and it's only someone like Daniel – who staggers under only too much weight of his own – who can understand her and offer insight and comfort.

Sam uses her time at Area 51 at the beginning of S9 to create a weapon with the potential to do everything they've always sought to accomplish against the Goa'uld: destroying the parasite, but leaving the host alive and intact. And it works, only "intact" doesn't seem to be quite the right word for it. And when events turn towards the sadly inevitable conclusion, Daniel and Sam, both of whom bear deep battle scars, are left to wonder exactly why they've survived – and how intact they themselves still are.

This fic isn't an easy read, but it's a thoughtful one that offers an excellent understanding of Sam and Daniel.

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Wednesday's Child, by Betacandy (PG)

Rec Category: Episode related

Pairing: none
Categories: episode related, gen, Daniel Jackson, Jack and Daniel friendship, angst, character study
Warnings: features kid!Daniel; reference to canon minor character deaths
Author on LJ: betacandy
Author's Website: betacandy_sgfic
Link: Wednesday’s Child 

Why This Must Be Read: In this poignant story, Betacandy ties Gamekeeper and Fallen together – with a nod to Abyss, while she's at it – as she uses a substantive flashback to explain exactly why an amnesiac Daniel keeps calling his best friend "Jim."

In the tumultous aftermath of his parents' deaths, Daniel picks up his passport and plane tickets and quietly slips away, his absence unnoticed in the confusion. He hopes to make it to California, where Nick Ballard lives. Once the authorities discover what has happened, U.S. Marshal Jim Bonner is sent to bring him safely into custody.

Peopled with engaging original characters – Jim, in particular, is wonderful – and written with Betacandy's usual excellent prose, Wednesday's Child is a lovely character study and a sweet tribute to the closeness between Jack and Daniel… something that Daniel still senses, even if he no longer remembers why.

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