Wednesday's Child, by Betacandy (PG)

[figs_sg1_rec]

Rec Category: Episode related

Pairing: none
Categories: episode related, gen, Daniel Jackson, Jack and Daniel friendship, angst, character study
Warnings: features kid!Daniel; reference to canon minor character deaths
Author on LJ: betacandy
Author's Website: betacandy_sgfic
Link: Wednesday’s Child 

Why This Must Be Read: In this poignant story, Betacandy ties Gamekeeper and Fallen together – with a nod to Abyss, while she's at it – as she uses a substantive flashback to explain exactly why an amnesiac Daniel keeps calling his best friend "Jim."

In the tumultous aftermath of his parents' deaths, Daniel picks up his passport and plane tickets and quietly slips away, his absence unnoticed in the confusion. He hopes to make it to California, where Nick Ballard lives. Once the authorities discover what has happened, U.S. Marshal Jim Bonner is sent to bring him safely into custody.

Peopled with engaging original characters – Jim, in particular, is wonderful – and written with Betacandy's usual excellent prose, Wednesday's Child is a lovely character study and a sweet tribute to the closeness between Jack and Daniel… something that Daniel still senses, even if he no longer remembers why.

Daniel turned slightly onto his back so he could meet Jack’s eyes without straining his neck. “Did I ever tell you about the time when I was a kid and my, uh… I just hopped planes for a few days, flying all over the U.S. until-”

“You told me.”

“Well, Jim was the one who finally caught up with me,” he said, sudddenly feeling it was important Jack understand this.

Jack blinked, clearly not understanding.

Daniel pushed himself up to a sitting position. “He told me exactly what was going to happen to me. He didn’t try to hide anything from me. And he told me I could call him anytime I needed somebody, no matter when or why or how long it had been.”

Jack nodded slowly. “Did you?”

“No, every time I started to, I’d worry maybe he wouldn’t answer, or the phone number wouldn’t work anymore, or he wouldn’t be able to help,” Daniel replied thoughtfully. “And that made me take care of things on my own. But just believeing he was there if ever I couldn’t get myself out…”

Suddenly, Jack’s eyes registered comprehension. And something else - a thought, or a memory.

What?

Jack glanced away, ignoring the silent query. “Nothing like knowing there’s somebody who’s there for you no matter what.”

Daniel nodded slowly. There was nothing else to say: his message had been received, and if Jack ever wanted to tell him what it had made him think of, he would. That’s how it had always been between them. Always that understanding. This, I remember.