Of Warriors and Scholars, by Kellifer (G)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none
Category:  Daniel Jackson, gen, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: kellifer_fic
Author's Website: Master list of fics on LJ profile page
Link to Story: Of Warriors and Scholars

Why This Must Be Read: Cheerful full disclosure here: Kellifer wrote this ficlet at my request, so I'm kinda partial to it. :)

One of the most fascinating aspects of the evolution of Daniel's character is how he is perceived by the Jaffa, particularly Teal'c and Bra'tac. The first time Bra'tac met Daniel, he treated him with contempt and threatened to snap his wrist; by the end of Season 3, he was treating him with enough reverence to lower his weapon before Jack did in Maternal Instinct. And by Season 9, Daniel and Bra'tac were teamed together to investigate Teal'c's disappearance, clearly working as equals.

So I asked Kellifer to write a story about Bra'tac's evolving respect for Daniel, and this is what she came up with. Absolutely delicious, with a great Jack moment included. It's Daniel and Bra'tac under fire, with Bra'tac making some observations that leave Daniel a little lost and a lot confused… Oh, just go and read it. It's short and very sweet.

Daniel, belly-down in mud and watching the nearest hill, just hoping beyond all hope that it will be Jack, Sam and Teal’c that are the next to crest it and not the twenty or so Jaffa that has been pursuing them for three days straight, turned his head and looked at the man lying beside him, watching the hill just as intently as Daniel had been and looking for all the world like he hadn’t just spoken.

“Who’s with the what now? Daniel asked and Bra’tac let out a low chuckle, having recognised the Jack-ism for what it was.

Daniel had pulled off his glasses, tried to find a bit of his uniform that wasn’t caked in mud and gave up, sliding them back on his nose and resolving himself to having a smudgy time of it. “You mean the Tau’ri in general?”

“No,” Bra’tac shook his head. “I mean you in particular, not the collective.”

“I’m sorry Master Bra’tac, I’m not sure-“

“I could see why O’Neill would appeal to Teal’c, brusque and crabby just like myself but a warrior nonetheless. Samantha Carter would have made any Jaffa husband proud-“ Here Daniel tried to unsuccessfully disguise a snort with a half-hearted attempt at a sneeze. “But you, with the...soft hands.” Bra’tac waggled his fingers as if to demonstrate his point. Daniel looked down at his own work-roughened hands and thought Bra’tac’s standards must have been pretty steep.

Daniel was cold, bone-weary and hoping the strange sensation on his right leg was just mud drying and not a creature of any kind. He wasn’t sure he was up to being called a wuss on top of it by Bra’tac.