stargateficrec | Hidden Truths by Sid (NC-17)

Rec Category: Jack/Daniel
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Category: slash, established relationship
Warning: sex, homophobia
Author on LJ:

sidlj
Author's Website: DW tag: fic
Link: Hidden Truths

Why This Must Be Read: There's a classic trope in Jack/Daniel fic that's not seen very often anymore: the homophobe who targets Daniel; I read scads of these on Area 52 back when I got into the fandom. Well, Sid has taken the old trope and done something fresh with it for this year's JD Ficathon. The highest praise I can give it is that it's real. As painful as it is for the reader to be inside the head of her OC, Lt. McMahon, his characterization goes far beyond cardboard villain to someone not entirely unsympathetic. Perhaps even more painful are the reactions of those around Jack and Daniel to the situation--they're not sugar-coated and not over-the-top angst, just sadly likely. Meanwhile, McMahon's POV scenes are alternated with Jack's POV, where steamy sex is just a bonus on top of the kind of everyday love and care McMahon can't comprehend. This story transcends the trope to be a masterful take on DADT in society today and how it might impact SG-1.

Excerpt (warning for homophobic language):
‘Gaydar’ some people call it. To McMahon it’s just a look about some people, more than anything they say or do usually. A look that warns him to stay away, because this person wouldn’t hesitate to drag you right down into the mud with him. Jackson isn’t one of the flamboyant ones, but it’s there to see now that McMahon’s looking for it, no doubt about it.

McMahon’s been taught to know right from wrong, and that sort of person, whether he’d opened up the ‘gate or not, doesn’t belong out there representing planet Earth to its potential allies. And he sure as hellfire doesn’t belong on the lead team. McMahon tries with all his might not to obsess about it, but every time he sees Doctor Jackson around the base he’s reminded, which makes it harder and harder to let go of it. He wants to point at Jackson and shout and make everyone see.

But this is exactly the kind of thing McMahon has had to learn to shrug off, because lieutenants don’t get a say in anything important. Ever. That’s just the way things are in the Air Force. A man tries to get past the bad taste in his mouth and ignore the offensiveness of a situation, because he’s got a job to do.