Leap of Faith, by Sunrise (PG-13)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Jack and Daniel Friendship

Pairing: none
Category: Jack and Daniel friendship, drama, angst, hurt/comfort, episode related
Warning: whumpage, some language
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Sunrise's fics at FF.net

Link: Leap of Faith

Why This Must Be Read: Jack surely didn't intend to risk Daniel's safety and undermine his trust when he pulled the batteries out of Teal'c's phone in The Curse, but that's what essentially happened. In this tense story, Jack conspires with Dr. Frasier to get Daniel out of the SGC and do a little friendship-building... but instead of a quiet weekend in the cabin, an accident leaves them struggling on a mountainside for survivial.

All this seems pretty run-of-the-mill, but Sunrise adds a strong element of the supernatural to give this story a fascinating twist. Is Daniel, and later Jack, really hallucinating? Or is a certain badly-missed young man out there on the mountainside with them, helping them survive and ultimately get rescued? There's never a clear yes or no answer to this, although other readers might draw a different conclusion. What is clear, however, is the strong mutual affection and support that Jack and Daniel share as they deal with the multiple crises of staying alive and confronting the pain of their pasts.

There's great characterization in this story, including the frame of light humor in both the opening and closing scenes. Is Daniel all that easy when he's on pain meds? It seems that all his friends think so and shamelessly take advantage of it. :)

Sunrise has written many great Jack and Daniel friendship fics. Besides this one, I would strongly recommend Salvage and The Widowing Field. But it's well worth it to browse through all her fics. You'll surely find plenty of favorites of your own.

The snippet of fic I've included here isn't my favorite part of the story, but most of my favorite bits would reveal too much of the story in advance.

"Look, Daniel, I--"

"Do we have to do this now?"

Tuning into his own anger was easier than acknowledging the weariness in Daniel's tone. "You got a prior engagement?"

"You're a barrel of laughs."

"I'm just saying we're stuck here. Might as well clear the air."

"Fine. You want to get into this? You got it." Daniel shifted to look at him, white faced with fury and pain. "I'm tired of taking your crap. Not sure exactly when...I stopped being your friend and started...being your punching bag...figuratively speaking...but I've had enough and I--"

"Edora."

"--think it's time you-- What?"

"You just said you didn't know when it started. I'm guessing it was after I got stuck on Edora." Jack looked away from Daniel's slack-jawed stare. "I may be a bastard, Daniel, but I'm not an ignorant bastard. I know what I've been doing."

"You do?"

"'Shut up, Daniel.' Sound familiar?"

"You do." Daniel tipped his head back and squinted up at the tree branches over their heads. "Why then? You're my...I thought we were friends."

"That's the problem." Jack rubbed the back of his neck. God, he hated introspection. Why couldn't they just forget the last year and move on?

"My friendship's a problem? Well I'm sorry. You should've said something."

"Just shut up a minute, all right?" Jack sighed. "The real reason Sara left me was that she got damn tired of the fact that I wouldn't let her all the way into my life. I was so determined to protect her from myself--the distasteful things I'd done, and my own guilt and shame--that I put up barriers to keep her at a safe distance. I didn't trust her enough to let her see it all. I was afraid that if she did, she wouldn't stick around. Instead, I wound up driving her away." He chuckled bitterly. "Ironic, isn't it?"

Daniel didn't answer, but he glanced at Jack from the corner of his eye.

"I trust you, Daniel. All the way. So when this job starts to get to me, when I can't take Kinsey, or the Tollan, or the Tokra, or...or the damn Russians one minute longer, I unload. On you. 'Cause I know you'll swallow all my crap, even when you don't deserve it. Even when it hurts..." He blinked stinging eyes. "Truth is, I'm a selfish son of a bitch. And a lousy excuse for a friend."

Daniel was quiet for what felt like a very long time. When he spoke, he annunciated as if choosing each word carefully. "Then we are still friends. I have to admit...I've wondered."

It never ceased to amaze Jack just how badly words could hurt. He closed his eyes and swallowed. "I guess I deserve that."

"I depend on you too, Jack."

Jack heard the rest of the thought as clearly as if Daniel had verbalized it. "I'm sorry I've let you down."

Another silence, then Daniel's tense body relaxed and he leaned heavily against Jack. "You're here now."

Jack's throat was too tight to reply.