Striations by magickmoons (Teen)

[supplyship.livejournal.com]

Show: SG-1

Rec Category: Jack/Sam
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, George Hammond, Daniel Jackson, Jonas Hanson, Paul Davis, Charles Kawalsky, Louis Ferretti, Robert Rothman
Pairings: Jack O'Neill/Samantha Carter
Categories: Het, Episode: s08e20 Moebius, Episode Related, Alternate Universe, Romance, Domestic Violence, Antarctica, Community: het_bigbang
Warnings: NONE
Author on LJ: magickmoons
Author's Website: Magickmoons at Dreamwidth
Link: Striations

Why This Must Be Read: I love a well thought out and executed AU. Magickmoons takes geeky!Sam from Moebius and runs with her, creating a delightful AU where the ring is discovered in Antarctica, and Jack and General Hammond are tasked with bringing together the right people to solve the mystery of the Stargate. Geeky!Sam's confidence blossoms once she is away from her abusive soon-to-be-ex fiance and her smarmy, pompous manager. And just like in every AU/timeline we've seen on-screen, there's some undeniable attraction between Sam and Jack, and Magickmoons builds the romance slow and sweet. Great characterization for everyone, especially for Jack who is competent and not at all as dumb as he likes to pretend.


“You don’t think we can do it?”

“No, I’m absolutely positive that you can, and you will.”

“Then what’s the problem? You seem... worried.”

“I guess I am. Once we create that wormhole, who knows what we’re going to find.”

She slowly spread some butter on her toast as she considered his words. “That’s the beauty of it, though. We could find other worlds, intelligent life, to learn from and share with. There could be a cure for cancer just one step through the ring.”

He smiled at her. “Seeing the ring and all its wonderful potential, that’s your job, Sam. You and Daniel and the rest of the geek patrol around here. Seeing the less than wonderful possibilities - hostile aliens, weapons we have no defense against - and preparing for them, well that’s my job.” That and protecting her from ever having to deal with those possibilities coming to light.

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Jack felt bad about dampening her excitement, but come the day they actually activated the ring, she was going to see a very different Jack O'Neill. It was only fair to give her some warning.

“But, you still think it’s a wormhole, right?”

She nodded. As usual, talking about the ring lit her up, and pulled her away from the doom and gloom thoughts he’d put in her head. "Obviously, I can't say for certain. All of our theories on wormholes are theoretical at this point. But everything I've observed so far is consistent with what we think would have to be present to create one. You know, Weyl posited..." She trailed off contritely. "But I'm sure that you don't want to hear about this."

Jack shrugged. "It's pretty interesting."

She looked confused and shook her head. "Really? It's just, usually, no one wants to listen... well, to me, I guess."

The desire to cause Hershfield and Hansen massive amounts of pain flooded Jack once again. "Well, everyone down here wants to hear what you have to say."

"Wow. I just... I'm a research assistant."

"No, I think you're a whole lot more. You are smarter than anyone here, with the possible exception of Daniel, and you are lightyears more intelligent than that waste of space Hershfield and he knows it. Why do you think he's kept you getting coffee for him all this time? He knew if he let you loose, you'd surpass him in an instant. And you did."

"You really think I'm smart?" By this point, she knew she was fishing for the compliment, but she couldn't seem to help herself.

"Smart, charming, beautiful..." Jack stopped when he saw her eyes widen in surprise.