Five Things Jack O'Neill Left Behind by Reccea (R)

[paian]

Rec Category: Jack O'Neill
Pairing: None
Category: SG-1, Jack O'Neill, character study, team, vignette
Warning: Language, reference to sexual attraction and sexual fantasy
Author on LJ: reccea
Author's Website: LJ fic tag
Link: Five Things Jack O'Neill Left Behind


Why This Must Be Read: This fic uses the five-things format to provide a series of holographic snapshots of Jack O'Neill from the movie through Season 9, and integrates them into a thought-provoking thematic gestalt. Among the things left behind are expectations, guilt, and desire, but none of them in the way I assumed from the section headings, and among the topics covered are Jack's relationships with his past, his team, his job, and himself. The very fact that Jack is capable of letting go may serve him well in future, which I found interesting to ponder. The snarky, pull-no-punches, tell-it-like-it-is Jack voice is especially enjoyable, and the portrayal of dark-humored cynicism that can still feel and appreciate a lyrical sense of wonder is especially effective.

About 2280 words, and personally I'd really give it a PG rating, but I gave it an R just in case, for the stuff listed on the Warning: line. Unrated by author.

Excerpt:

So this is SG-1: the Captain who's probably smarter than any general Jack's ever met, an alien marsupial with the ugliest tattoo Jack's ever seen, and the dorky, four-eyed kid who's got more faith in the world than Jack's ever had. Jack wants to take them all fishing already, only the Big Guy isn't allowed off base and ten-to-one Carter'd rather shoot herself than get stuck in a place where the greatest technological breakthrough is the porch light. Daniel'd probably go and spend the entire time trying to explain to Jack the Goauld effect on the early Egyptian dynasties or something. So Jack doesn't invite them.

After everything (after Charlie, after Abydos, after coming home to find that everything and nothing had changed) Jack had thought his team days were behind him. He'd figured that his future involved a lot of NHL, eating Guinness for dinner, and trying to find some sort of equilibrium. His future isn't looking quite like that after all.

Comments

[sulien.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reccing this. It really brought some things that I just can't articulate into clear, sharp focus and I really enjoyed it, even that little twist of the stiletto at the end.

[paian]

You're so welcome -- I'm really glad you enjoyed it!