stargateficrec | Old Friends and New Beginnings by babs and Darcy (PG13)

Rec Category: Daniel and Jack friendship
Title: Old Friends and New Beginnings
Pairing: Daniel/Sha're
Category: friendship, angst, hurt/comfort
Warnings: NoneAuthor on LJ: unknownAuthor Website: unknown

Link: http://www.thealphagate.com/viewuser.php?uid=132

Why this must be read:

This story has so much to recommend it. It's a lovely Daniel/Sha're piece, it's got angst enough to satisfy almost every reader, and at 33,000 words it's a long, satisfying, well-articulated portrayal of an alternate reality in which Daniel found Sha're and retired to Abydos to raise a family. However, it is at it's core a powerful Jack and Daniel friendship piece.

Six years into Daniel's new life on Abydos, Jack is brought to him, broken and battered with a traumatic brain injury. Daniel takes it upon himself to nurse Jack back to health against the wishes of Sam and Janet who believe Jack should return to Earth where he can receive professional care.

With the help of his family, and with infinite patience and care, Daniel gives Jack a reason to rejoin the human race.

Excerpt:

He curled his hands in the sand, fine grains sifting through his fingers and stinging where his skin was dry and cracked. He stayed where he was, on hands and knees, his head hanging down as he took in a few shuddering breaths. He was once a warrior--what had he become? Jack reached for his staff, driving it deep in the sand so he could use it to help him stand.

He thumped back to his knees with a grunt and a taste of copper from biting his tongue as the sand shifted under his weight and the staff slipped. Anger seized him and he threw the staff from his side. He pounded the sand with his fist, letting out a yell that was more sound than word.

Useless cripple. Was that to be the fate of the great Jack O'Neill?

The ending is poignant and bittersweet, a moving read from beginning to end.