Absolute / Better To Light A Candle, by Redbyrd (PG-13)

Rec Category: Gen

Pairing: none
Categories: gen, Daniel Jackson, episode related, drama, angst, Sam and Daniel friendship, Jack and Daniel friendship
Warnings: canon minor character deaths
Author on LJ: redbyrd_sgfic
Author's Website: Redbyrd's Stargate Fanfiction
Link: Absolute / Better To Light A Candle (link also included at end of first story)

Why This Must Be Read: Redbyrd neatly puts her episode tags for Absolute Power and The Light together to form a long, fascinating whole. First, there's an intensely satisfying post-episode debriefing after Shifu's departure from the SGC, told from Jack's POV, complete with a Daniel who puts two and two together to get twenty-five and soundly puts Aldwin in his place. Then, as Daniel still struggles with the implications of Shifu's dream, he accompanies SG-5 to P4X-347… and, as the events of The Light unfold from Daniel's POV, we're treated to some excellent insight into Daniel's mindset and his desire to bring his relationship with his teammates back to normal.

By the time Redbyrd is done, the members of SG-5 have developed into characters so real and recognizable that you'll be astonished to remember that the only one we actually met was Barber - and that was only in the teaser, when he committed suicide. There is, as can be expected from a Redbyrd fic, lots of extra details and scenes that enrich the episode we saw onscreen, including the exchange where Jack and Daniel make their bet about whether or not Sam would agree to come to the planet. And then there's the final resolution: the discovery of Loren's homeworld, the tightening of bonds of friendship, and Daniel's quiet acceptance of who he is and what he is doing with his life.

There are hundreds of ep tags to The Light. Redbyrd's retelling is definitely one of my favorites!
 

( Snippet of fic... )