stargateficrec | Angels and Vagabonds, by Random (PG-13)

The last rec of the month - and the year! - for me, so I'm choosing one of my absolute favorites. Many thanks to the mods for this wonderful, wonderful community.

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none
Categories: Daniel Jackson, gen, team, Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, angst, drama, hurt/comfort
Warnings: Teal'c- and Daniel-whumping
Author on LJ: randomfreshink
Author's Website:
Link: currently offline

Why This Must Be Read: Angels and Vagabonds comes awfully close to topping Numerology as my favorite Random fic. I was lucky enough to read this as a beta reader, but it seems to get better every time I look it over again.

Daniel and Teal'c accidently spring a trap off-world, leaving Daniel stuck behind a seemingly impenetrable force-field. What follows is pure teamy goodness at its best, as SG-1 tries its shining hardest – despite the S4 political rumblings that cruelly cut their options short – to try and get him out before he dies of thirst… or "gives himself" to the temple.

We get amazingly good Jack POV and characterization, as always for Random. Sam aglow with scientific brilliance and her determination to get Daniel released – "she made science look good," Daniel muses at one point. Teal'c's amazing speech is so perfectly him that it only never took place on the show because they would never give him so many lines of dialogue. And Daniel… Daniel's beautiful thoughts that pay tribute to his love for his teammates, and wanting it to mean something, even in the end, for those who didn't make it.

The epilogue is one of my favorite bits, as Jack and Hammond turn those political rumblings on their heads to get a little payback. That, and the SGC's strenuous efforts to help one of their own, even in the face of the need to appear to be following orders. Hammond and Siler, in particular, are wonderful.

Really, this whole fic is fantastic. Go read it, and savor.

"Sir." Jack grated out the word, didn't manage any respect this time, then turned to face the MALP camera again.

"Colonel, as I said, I have orders. We're stretched thin, and with chances growing slim for...well, it's perceived--" Jack heard the sudden choke in Hammond's voice, like the man didn't want to say these words and didn't have a choice. Orders, hell. Perceived--what, that Daniel was good as gone, so time to cut the losses, write him off? This was so damned screwed.

Then Hammond started up again. "However, I understand, Colonel, that conditions on that planet can make travel to the Stargate dangerous at times, with a strong potential for violent sand storms..." Frowning, Jack glanced at Teal'c, wondered what he'd reported, but the other man only lifted one eyebrow in a cryptic clue as Hammond went on. "And I want you to take that into advisement, because I have also been ordered not to risk any other members of this command on this operation. Am I making myself understood now?"

Temper cooling, Jack listened to the Texas drawl creeping back into Hammond's voice, heard one message and the other underneath. Dangerous travel. Right. He took his time with a slow answer--this transmission, after all, would go into official logs.

"Yes, sir. Understood clearly, sir."

"Very good. We expect communications, due to the EM pulse Major Carter plans, to be interrupted. If we're unable to open a channel to you after this point, I want to be very clear about our priorities."

The subtle stress on 'our' was something that wouldn't read in any log, and Jack got that meaning just fine. Our priorities, not anyone else's. Good enough for him.

"Uh, yes, sir. Carter said we'd be taking out all our electronics, could be for a few hours, maybe more if we have to do more than one pulse to take out whatever's in that temple."

Teal'c stared at him, frown going puzzled since Carter hadn't said anything like that. Jack gave a shrug back. The gesture wouldn't go down on any record, either. And Hammond seemed to be working hard to make sure nothing incriminating would go down anywhere.

"Then you'll convey these orders to Major Waite and we'll hope to contact you soon. Hammond out."

The radio cut out along with the Stargate wormhole, and Jack stared into the distance. Then he glanced at Teal'c.

"You get all that?"

"Indeed. General Hammond has not been pleased. I am here only because I am not yet officially listed as ready for assignment to other missions."

"Still on stand-down? Nice of you to spend it here. Come on, we need to get back to camp, get Waite to pack everyone out. After they leave, I want you to make sure communications go out--and stay out. We're not leaving without Daniel, and I don't want orders coming through saying otherwise."