Fig Newton's SG-1 Gen Recs

Rec Category: Jack and Daniel Friendship

Pairing: peripheral Sam/Pete
Category: Jack and Daniel friendship, Sam/Pete, episode related, team, hurt/comfort, drama, angst
Warning: physical and emotional Danny-whumpage
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Stargate SG-1 Slightly Off Base
Link: Lost and Found

Why This Must Be Read: It may seem odd to rec a fic in the "Jack and Daniel Friendship" category when the two of them, technically, are never face-to-face throughout the story. But this fic is very much about how desperately Daniel needs Jack's friendship, and how very lost he is without it.

The story opens sometime after the events of Lost City, when Jack is still frozen in Antarctica and the Stargate is still closed. Lost and adrift without those two anchors, Daniel struggles to find the courage to keep going. Visitations from Ancient!Jack, and some of the best-written and creepiest hallucinations I've ever read, aren't much of a help, either.

There's lots of team support in this story - both for Daniel and the struggle to keep the Stargate program going and to get Jack rescued. Teal'c is a strong, unwavering presence, sometimes more unwavering than Daniel might want. Sam is a wonderful support, and shares an interesting friendship with Dr. Weir, who still serves as head of the SGC before the events of New Order. Janet's loss, as highlighted by Daniel's visit to her grave at the beginning of the story, is very strongly felt.

I'm the poster-girl for non-shipping, but Pete and Sam in this fic are just right. Pete is lightly irreverent and strongly supportive, offering a friendship that Daniel finds just a little bit off-kilter - exactly what I'd expect it to be. The scene in which he calms Daniel in the midst of a particularly painful hallucination is both moving and perfectly in character.

Despite the constant beating Daniel takes in this story, both physical and emotional, he does not come across as pathetic or whimpering, both of which are fic aspects that I strongly dislike. Instead, we see a strong person struggling with even stronger difficulties... and eventually making it through.

(As an aside, there is a truly wonderful flashback of Teal'c's to the first confrontation he had with Daniel regarding his role in Sha're's abduction. Unlike many other fics, with "Saint Daniel" forgiving Teal'c all too easily, this flashback depicts true rage and anguish before acceptance.)

I won't say this fic is an easy read, but it's definitely satisfying and highly recommended.