stargateficrec | Ten Years Gone by Catspaw (NC-17)

Rec Category: Angst
Pairing: clone!Jack/Daniel
Category: Angst, Slash
Warning: Slash, Sex, Language
Author on LJ:

catspaw_sgjd
Author's Website: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/feistydanny/catspaw.htm
Link: Part 1: http://catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com/30294.html, Part 2: http://catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com/30523.html

Why This Must Be Read: Most post-Fragile Balance stories focus on the angst of the clone, having lost his friends, his career, his life. In this one, the clone has adjusted. When he has a chance run-in with Daniel ten years later, it turns out that it's the original Jack who has lost out. There is some bitter in the sweet for clone!Jack and Daniel, but it is the old guy who tugs the heartstrings in this one.

(Also, gorgeous cover art by

skater_g8r here.)

Excerpt:
"The same, but not the same," Daniel murmured, almost to himself. Jack stared at him, trying to divine his meaning from his look, but Daniel's expression was neutral. He couldn't tell what Daniel meant, whether it was a good thing or a bad, and he was suddenly fearful, heart hammering in his chest. So Jack, being Jack in all the ways that really mattered, forced his face into an expression of neutrality and offered Daniel a graceful 'out'.

"He loved you, you know. Possibly still does, I dunno. He just never quite got his head out of his ass to tell you."

With a gentle smile, Daniel replied, "Yeah. I really didn't know before tonight but I've kinda guessed as much. You're him in all the essentials after all, and people just don't change that much. I don't think. But why bring that up now?"

"Just - I don't want you to settle. I don't want this - you know, if there is a 'this' here," Jack sketched a vague circle in the space between them as Daniel raised one quizzical eyebrow, "to be second best, you know?" He gave a small, rueful grin and ran a hand through his hair in an achingly familiar gesture, leaving it tufted up and messy. "You know me - I never did like it when I wasn't top dog. Another of those things that's never changed, deep down."

Daniel watched Jack carefully as he was speaking. His face was almost smiling, mocking himself, but his eyes were anxious and his body was very, very still.