stargateficrec | The Return by Dira Sudis (PG by reccer)

Show: SG1
Rec Category: Character: Daniel
Characters: Jack, Sam, Teal'c, Daniel
Pairing: none
Het/Slash/Gen: gen
Warning: spoilers for episode "Fire and Water"; perceived canon character death
Author on LJ: dsudis
Author's Website: Words, Words, Words; AO3
Link: The Return

Why this must be read:

A very moving look at what Daniel's perceived death does to his teammates, and how they are trying to come to grips that he's back and safe. Dira Sudis always does emotions very well, and she doesn't fail to deliver here. The reader can actually feel the desperation and pain at the lingering effects of Daniel's "death" on Jack, Sam, and Teal'c. How measures such as a sign by a bedside reassuring that Daniel's still alive are a necessary part of life and recovery now. And then there's Daniel's segment wondering what the heck has gotten into his team. The final campfire scene is a beautiful look at a team who needs reassurance that their fourth is with them and well; they're now whole again. Beautiful writing and beautiful emotions, definitely a fic to curl up with.

Story Summary: Post-"Fire and Water." The team reunites.

About the time he realized he was hearing in color, Jack rolled out of bed and headed for the kitchen. He hit the junk drawer, and the cabinet by the phone, and the closet by the door, and then leaned against the kitchen counter for a moment, wrinkling his nose against the marker fumes as he wrote. He carried the piece of cardboard and roll of masking tape to his bedroom, sat down on the edge of the bed, and picked his spot. The side of the night stand would work, just under the alarm clock where it would pick up the faint red glow. He taped all four sides down, tossed the tape on the floor, rolled over, and went back to sleep. Again.

Jack finally woke up in daylight, and when he turned his head, he was surprised to see a sign, tilting gently to the right, written in his own capitals with glow-in-the-dark paint marker on cardboard.

CALM DOWN!

DANNY'S FINE

That's good to know, he thought, amused and wondering what he'd been drinking, and then he remembered. Daniel's scream, the heat and light and oh Christ the smell. His heart started to race, even with the reassurance of his own writing before him, because Daniel was burning to death behind his eyelids and nothing was stopping that no matter how much Doc Fraiser promised the cognitive diss-whatever would go away on its own. He sat up, elbows on knees and face in hands, and when he could hear himself think over the pounding of his heart, he reached out one hand and smoothed the tape on one corner of his little sign.