Choices Made, by Elyse Dickenson (PG)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none
Categories: Daniel Jackson, gen, angst, hurt/comfort, drama, humor, team
Warnings: Daniel-whumping
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Elyse at StargateFan
Link: Choices Made 

Why This Must Be Read: A story that can twist perception on its ear is always fun. In Choices Made, Elyse manages this not once, but twice.

The story seems, at first, to be a typical "Danny-whumping" fic – the team comes tumbling back into the SGC, with Daniel in need of serious medical attention, the only one singled out by the bizarre aliens. There's the team's worry over his health, and Hammond's concern that Daniel's torture might have resulted in spilled secrets crucial to the safety of the SGC - especially as Daniel has no memory of what he endured. But events tilt sideways when the real underlying cause for his illness is diagnosed, and we're well into black humor when the SGC technicians manage to salvage Daniel's filming of events to find out what actually happened. 

And then, just when you think it's over, the story makes another left turn when an ally shows up with a belated warning – and the complete truth of what happened on PL4-6Z9, and the horror that they narrowly evaded, is finally fully revealed.

My favorite highlights include Teal'c's delightfully smug and accurate assessment of Daniel's accomplishment, Janet's sputtered realization of the ultimate cliché, and Daniel's attempts at a codicil for his will. Cassie, I'm sure, would have been touched!
 

 

"This is Daniel Jackson of the SGC. Shortly after we arrived on PL4-6Z9, we were abducted by a large group of aliens. I don't know where Colonel O'Neill, Major Carter or Teal'c are, but I'm worried for their safety. These aliens aren't communicating in any language I can understand but if their pictographs are any indication, we're in deep trouble." The camera flipped around quickly with no consideration for whoever would be viewing the tape. Explicit illustrations on a plate filled the TV monitor's screen.

"Oh my God." Carter stared wide-eyed at the vivid detail of what the aliens did to Jaffa and, most likely, any Goa'uld.

"If we don't get out of here, Teal'c's gonna end up a Jaffa kabob," continued Daniel's voice.

Jaffa kabob? Jack mouthed incredulously at Daniel.

Daniel shrugged helplessly, apparently as perplexed as Jack was.

The videotaped image continued, changing angle. The zoom expanded until it was on wide-angle, capturing Jackson and both aliens on other side of him.

"I think this is some kind of ceremony. I'm honestly not sure, and trying to discuss it civilly may be out of the question." Daniel's image nodded his head a fraction to his right. "Aa-ken goes ballistic at half of what I say so for all I know I'm insulting him. The only weapons they've shown so far are knives—" The camera shifted ever so slightly to capture the wicked looking weapon that Aa-ken was toying with "—but their sheer number, there have to be at least two hundred of them in this hall, means they can take us down by just jumping on us."

As the camera swept slowly across a vast hall filled with a sea of blue oval faces, Jack turned to Daniel, who was staring at the video with his mouth half open. Déjà vu? Horror? It was hard to tell.

"You know, Daniel, you were dead-on there. I've got half a dozen footprints on my back from those things."

Daniel just nodded absently, and continued to stare ahead.

Yeah, nothing like seeing yourself on tape in a situation you couldn't remember, and dreading what might show up next, thought Jack.