Past Perfect, by Debby (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Sam and Daniel friendship

Pairing: none
Categories: Sam and Daniel friendship, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, episode related, gen, hurt/comfort, angst
Warnings: bit of language, reference to canon minor character deaths
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Debby at Heliopolis
Link: Past Perfect

Why This Must Be Read: In Past Perfect, Debby gives us Sam, who has wryly dubbed herself "The Guardian of Time," following Daniel as he makes a hasty detour down a street in St. Louis of 1969. What does Daniel plan to do, and should Sam stop him before the possible consequences turn disastrous?

I know there have been many fics written about chance encounters with SG-1's past during the events of 1969; but this one has an added poignancy for me, as the confrontation is quite deliberate. Sam finds herself capable of little more than minimal damage control: both in preventing Daniel from doing or saying too much, and inhelping him pick up the pieces afterwards.

With some nice character insight, good background color, and a lovely friendship feeling, Past Perfect is a thoughtful story that you're sure to enjoy.

She watched Daniel watch the man talk to his mom. "Daniel, this is exactly what I was talking ab--"

"It's okay," he cut her off. "I'm not gonna change history or anything. I'm way over here, see?"

As though there was any safe distance in this type of thing. There were just too many variables. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"Probably not." He didn't move, though.

"But you did it anyway." She couldn't hide how disappointed she was. Daniel was smarter than this. Even the colonel had understood how important it was they protect history.

"Do you know what this is?"

Sam was confused by the apparent non-sequitor. "What?"

He looked down at the glass case under his elbows. She followed his lead. Colorful pictures and hieroglyphics she didn't understand adorned a long scroll of papyrus or whatever it was they were using to record life in ancient Egypt. Daniel cocked his head almost reverently as he examined the artifact. "The Book of the Dead. The route to the afterlife. Souls measured and weighed. Appropriate, don't you think?"

Sam didn't answer. What exactly was she supposed to say to that? Yes, Daniel, I really appreciate the irony of this situation, too. No, I don't think this is at all morbid. Sure, let's discuss ancient Egyptian death rituals and beliefs while we watch your dead mom build an exhibit.

"Let's go, Daniel. You shouldn't have come here."

He turned to look at her sidelong. It rooted her to the spot--the intense sadness in those deep, blue eyes. "How could I not?"

She turned to look at the woman, still deep in conversation with the well-dressed man. "Daniel..."

"Are you telling me if that were your mother, you wouldn't have come?"

Sam was caught flat-footed. Would she have? She watched Daniel's mother gesturing animatedly in conversation. Vital and passionate. So full of life. She thought unwittingly about her mom--with her soft, blonde hair and big smile. If she had her mom standing there alive--young and beautiful--would she be here, too? Could she have said no? The logical part of her--the one with a Ph.D. and years of Air Force training--knew it was wrong. But other parts of her--like the fifteen-year-old that had cried alone in the back seat of her father's sedan after Eddie Dayton got touchy-feely on her first date--that part of her honestly couldn't say if she would have done anything differently than Daniel did if she had a single, solitary chance to talk to her mom again.

 

Comments

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

Great rec! My goodness, this one made me cry! *sniffle*

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Especially when Daniel explains why he prefers archeology. Ouchie. :(

Glad you liked it!