"Where The Hell Were You" by brihana25 (R)

[fhartman.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson
Pairing: None
Category: Gen, H/C, Angst, Friendship
Warning: Spoilers for Heroes II
Author on LJ: brihana25
Author's Website: http://www.thealphasite.com./index.php?id=home
Link: http://www.thealphasite.com/index.php?id=fanfic/stories/where_the_hell

Why This Must Be Read: Oh, dear. Where to begin? I've always felt that one of Stargate's greatest strengths is in the emotional and moral conflicts it opens up in the scripts, but by the same token, one of its greatest weaknesses is the failure to properly deal with the aftermath of those conflicts. Heroes is one such episode. The events of this ep exact such a heavy emotional toll on all of the characters - Daniel in particular - and I think the immediate issues are handled wonderfully in the episode itself. However, those issues are never heard from again once the credits roll. As always, I find myself wanting to know how these complicated people managed the impossible task of regaining their equilibrium after such a soul-shaking event.

Brihana has crafted an amazing story that deals with what we didn't see in Heroes, and probably couldn't, given the time constraints of episodic television. It's a fascinating glimpse into the tapestry of friendship, grief, guilt, anger, and love that binds all of these people together - and the understanding that Daniel is the thread that makes it all a cohesive unit. Most of all, it shows this unlikely family that there are many ways to lose people, even when they're still standing right in front of us. It's sad, it's hopeful, it's brilliant. A must read.