All We Need of Hell by Jennghis Kahn (NC-17)

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Jack O'Neill
Pairing: Sam/Jack
Category: dakfic, het, Jack O'Neill, Sam Carter, angst, hurt/comfort, Sam/Jack, torture
Warning: graphic sex, violence, language, suicide, angst, a slight military dog tag fetish (author's warnings)
Author on LJ surrealphantast
Author's Website: Mindrot (fic LJ)
Link: On her LJ: All We Need of Hell
On her fic LJ: All We Need of Hell

Why This Must Be Read: surrealphantast prefaced this story by saying she set it in season 6, "when Daniel isn't there to slap sense into everybody" and I agree with that completely. "All We Need of Hell" was written for dark_gate and even if the end does give the tiniest glimmer of hope, the story is very dark, but it's well worth the read and the mental roller coaster (it also doesn't feel quite as dark as the warnings indicate).

After time spent in a Goa'uld prison and a variety of torture that manages to break Jack in a way Ba'al never could, Jack finally finds himself rescued, but broken more than he can admit. surrealphantast strips Jack down to his most basic, survival-instinct, elements and gives us the hardened black-ops soldier within. The Jack in this story is unquestionably Jack from his resistance in the prison to what breaks him to his chosen method of recovery. As he slowly drags Sam down into the pit with him, he's all too aware of what he's doing, but needs it so badly that he can't care, while Sam herself is broken enough over Daniel and the possibility of losing Jack that she lets him pull her in.

This story gives us brilliant, if slightly creepy, characterization and rich symbolism. As a reader, you want to hate Jack for what he's doing, and yet you can't fault him for his decisions. Every word is carefully chosen to paint a wonderful, real story that'll stick with you. Even if you aren't a fan of ship or Sam/Jack, this is worth checking out.

( sneak preview )