stargateficrec | No Creeds for Mathematics, by Jennghis Kahn (PG) (Reply)

Rec Category: Sam and Daniel friendship

Pairing: none
Categories: Sam and Daniel friendship, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, episode related, angst, humor, teamy goodness
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: surrealphantast
Author's Website: mind-rot.net
Link: No Creeds for Mathematics

Why This Must Be Read: Two recs today instead of one, as both of these very different stories share the same beautiful theme.

This achingly lovely story takes place shortly after Homecoming. SG-1 is dealing with a planet that believes quite fervently in freedom of religion (pardon the pun). One of those beliefs in that the End of the World is Nigh – via ascension. And while Daniel struggles to cope with that, Sam is busy trying to sort her own feelings into order: why did Ascended!Daniel visit Jack and Teal'c, and even the Abydonians… but not her?

Despite Jack's instant elevation to wise prophet by virtue of his quoting old song lyrics, this story is all about Sam and Daniel's friendship. And when we discover why he's been so reluctant to tell her the whole truth, and exactly what that whole truth is… Well, "being blown away" is always enough to make a story very highly recommended!

Sam glanced at him, watching the livid and fluctuating glow of the aurora paint his face and reflect off his glasses. “How close was Jack to ascension?” She asked suddenly.

He didn’t look surprised. “Not very,” he answered dryly. “I don’t think he ever really considered it. For Jack, you fight until you die. I think ascension would have felt like… giving up to him.”

Sam sank down on the field chair next to him. “Yeah, I suppose so, but you still helped.”

“Not as much as I wanted to.”

Sam swallowed her questions. “If you had broken the rules then, you wouldn’t have been around to help Abydos.”

Daniel’s eyes darted toward her and away. He licked his lips and shrugged. “By the time Abydos was in danger, I was already on my way out. It was only a matter of time before they found me, so I didn’t care if I broke the rules.”

Sam blinked at him. “But, I thought… what happened?”

He gave a small, bitter smile. “Sometimes the smallest rule…”

“Teal’c?” she wondered.

“No, I followed the rules, mostly, with Jack and with Teal’c. My descent had nothing to do with them. By the time I appeared to Teal’c and then later fought Anubis, I had already broken the golden rule and interfered. I was living on borrowed time. I could feel the direction of the others’ judgment. I figured that if my time was coming to an end, then I might as well do what I could for my friends.” At her confused expression, he added, “Actually, one little whisper did me in.”

“A whisper…” She frowned.

“It doesn’t matter how you say it, it’s the act that counts,” Daniel said quietly. “I just, I had to do it. I didn’t think they’d throw me out just for that, but…”

Sam swallowed, hard. “Ah.”