For Now by paian (NC-17)

[magickmoons.livejournal.com]

Show: SG-1

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson/Jack O’Neill
Characters: Daniel Jackson, Jack O'Neill, Bill Lee, Teal'c, Janet Fraiser
Pairings: Daniel Jackson/Jack O’Neill
Categories: Slash, Hurt/Comfort, Episode Related
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: paian on DW
Author's Website: paian at AO3
Link: For Now

Why This Must Be Read: This post-ep for Evolution, Part 2 is one of my absolute favorites of Paian's work. It's a great hurt/comfort story, exploring Jack's emotional reaction to Daniel's hostage situation, as well as Daniel's recovery and a shift in their relationship. The scenes between Jack and Daniel are touching and tender and hot and loving. As a bonus, we also get a couple of great scenes of Teal'c and Jack friendship, and a wonderful, formidable Janet.


Excerpt:
Jack had stopped touching him, gradually, over the years. No more fond ruffling of his hair, no more too-hard squeezes of his shoulder, no more constant picking at his gear, adjusting it, checking it. No more arms thrown casually, loosely around his neck. No more affection. It was the price he paid for learning to take care of himself. But it came with bitter emotional distance. No more compliments, either. No more teasing. Ascension was the beginning of forgiveness for his failures, a necessary step on the journey. It was also just another way of running away.

So, time after time, he lay next to Jack and faced what he had run from. The ache was the cost of being human in a flawed, heartbroken world. You can't always get what you want, but whether or not you try, sometimes you get what you need. A presence beside you at night when it all becomes unbearable. Slow, even breathing. A rich low voice telling you to sleep, to forget, to heal.

This time, a hand reached out.