The Wine of Dionysus, by ELG (PG-13)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none

Category:  Daniel Jackson, gen, team, friendship, Jack/Daniel friendship, drama, episode related
Warnings: violence, sexual situations, whumping
Author on LJ: elgrey
Author's Website: ELG at Bunnyfic
Link to Story: The Wine of Dionysus

Why This Must Be Read:  On to Season 3 today – lots of angsty moments for Daniel, and some really, really wonderful fanfic. I hope no one feels I'm spamming their flists with so many stories, but there are so many that are impossible to ignore! I kept it down to four with a major effort and many regrets at missed stories; some of  my favorites, though, are already recced here.

Can't rec the Daniel Jackson category without including an ELG fic, can you? After seeing what's already included in the category's memories, I chose The Wine of Dionysus, a favorite of mine for its emphasis on the lasting events of canon events on the characters, even months or years after they've happened.

In this story, a still-shaken Daniel, recovering from the events of Legacy, gates with the rest of SG-1 to a planet that is, unquestionably, an archeologist's dream come true, albeit with local Goa'uld included in the package deal. This particular Goa'uld, though, seems harmless… or does he? 

In the days that follow, Daniel and Jack do a lot of soul-searching, not quite sure if their distress over past events, particularly those of Need, Legacy and The Broca Divide, is entirely their own or somehow influenced and amplified by Dionysus. Sam and Teal'c play strong, supportive roles, but the story is mostly Daniel's and Jack's, as they both seem sure – or are they? – that the best thing for Daniel would be to leave SG-1 and return to his archeological roots. But those same skills seem to be warning Daniel that things aren't as they should be, and that Dionysus is a lot more dangerous than they thought. And when things suddenly become very personal and up-close, it's up to Daniel to overcome the Goa'uld's manipulations and save not only Earth, but the entire galaxy from the madness of Dionysus.

 Jack is in his element here as CO, period, protecting his team in every way, particularly in an amazing scene with Janet. (I miss Janet!) Sam is at her scientific best, Teal'c is… Teal'c, and Daniel, especially in the final confrontation with his fellow archeologists, is just plain wonderful.

 A long, satisfying Daniel story, with lots of Jack/Daniel interaction and teamy goodness… What more could you want?

As Daniel started towards the chamber, Teal'c grabbed him by the shoulder and hauled him back behind the pillar. Barely stifling an exclamation, Daniel had opened his mouth to demand to know what now when he saw Makepeace wander past unsteadily, an amphora in one hand and his machine gun held casually in the crook of his elbow. Daniel thought of the M-16 the man carried, the grenades around his waist. Makepeace could kill them all ten times over if the mood should take him. But Makepeace wouldn't, would he? They may have had minor disagreements in the past, but at heart Daniel knew better than anyone what a good man the marine Colonel was; he'd risked his life to save theirs, proven himself brave, and loyal, and, yes, even if it wasn't his defining characteristic, compassionate…

As he was thinking it, Makepeace took a grenade from his belt and began to toss it from hand to hand. The smile on his face was clearly deranged. "Oh…Fossil Boy…? Come out, come out, wherever you are!" As he was shouting, Makepeace pulled out the pin and tossed it carelessly into the first burial shaft. The blast was oddly muted, but dust and flame were exhaled from the hole like dragon fire; fragments of bone showered around them, chips of pottery, even small lumps of half-melted gold.

"Freeland's in the next chamber," Daniel said quietly. Makepeace was already giggling hysterically as he pulled out the pin on the second grenade.

Teal'c said, "I will stop Colonel Makepeace, Daniel Jackson. You wait here for Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter."

Daniel flinched from the reverberation of the second grenade and turned to look down towards the Lion Gate, hoping to see reinforcements already arriving, but the moonlight was showing him nothing but broken pillars and long shadows. He wondered how long he should wait before going to see if Teal'c needed any help. The Jaffa had told him to wait, certainly, but perhaps all the same he should…That was when Daniel again felt himself seized, another hand clasped across his mouth as he was pulled backwards by someone considerably stronger than himself. This time as the hand was removed, he said hopefully, "Jack?" But when he twisted his head round to look he saw only the inhumanly perfect face of Dionysus.

He wondered how he could never have noticed until now how cold the Goa'uld's golden eyes were. Daniel flinched as Zagreus stroked his cheek fondly in the same way that Daniel might have petted a kitten. He realized then that the way a selfish child perceived a kitten was probably much how the other perceived him – an appealing novelty, probably to be tired of as soon as he reached maturity. Daniel wondered how many metaphorical balls of twine he would be expected to roll across the floor for Dionysus' amusement. Daniel said desperately, "You have to stop this. Don't let what happened to your worshippers happen to these people. Or even if you won't reverse what you've done, then at least let me help Teal'c."

"The Jaffa is resourceful, intelligent, and strong, no doubt he will find a way to save at least himself."

Daniel tried to wrench himself loose from the other's grip but Zagreus only smiled. "Do you think that we would let you risk injury, foolish child?"

"Jack and Sam won't know what they're walking into, what your wine does to people's minds. Please, let me warn them?" Realizing it was futile, Daniel stopped struggling and tried to sound reasonable rather than desperate. "Look, I don't know what you want from me, something translated, or someone to talk to, or – whatever, but you can have it, okay? Anything you want. Just, please, don't do this again. Don't make these people die like this."

Dionysus held his palm in front of Daniel's eyes and the stone in it began to glow. So did the jewel in that thin golden coronet; a ruby light to go with the amber one in the Goa'uld palm. Daniel knew he should close his eyes, now, but it was as though someone had wired them open. The lights were everything; he felt them merge before melting into his mind, painless but utterly obliterating, and then everything went dark.