Caissa's Muse, by Rigel (G)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Gen

Pairing: none
Categories: gen, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, Sam and Daniel friendship, team, Jacob Carter, humor
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: linnet_101
Author's Website: unknown
Link: Caissa's Muse

Why This Must Be Read: This charming fic is new and shiny and compelled me to rec it as soon as possible. :)

It's early season Sam and Daniel – one of my favorite incarnations. Jack convinces Sam to try playing chess with Daniel, and despite her mathematical logorithms and scientific methods, she keeps losing – and it's driving her insane!

I loved Daniel's battered magnetic chess set, tucked into his pack for missions. Sam, increasingly frustrated, gets well-intentioned but contradictory advice on How To Beat Daniel At Chess from Jack, and from Jacob, and from Teal'c. There's humor and teaminess and banter and great characterization, until Sam finally learns exactly why it's highly unlikely that she'll ever win a chess game against Daniel... or poker, for that matter!

"The key to beating Daniel lies in distracting him.”

“Sir?” she handed him a copy of the briefing report.

“You’ve got to direct the conversation. Maybe pick a fight over the benefits of the Sumerian system of writing over the Akkadian.”

She goggled at him for a moment over this hint of heretofore hidden scholarly knowledge.

“Or whatever, maybe you might be better to go with cuneiform; the point is: if you can get him passionately arguing away on something, then you can switch the pieces around while he’s waving his hands in the air and calling on the power of God to smite you for your ignorance.”

She let a hint of a smile linger on her lips as she replied. “Somehow I think Daniel might notice that, sir.”

“I was kidding.” He levelled a calculating look at her. “Your problem is that you’re over thinking it.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“You’ve got to feel the passion in the game, really want to win. It’s like an epic struggle between two great powers and you have to turn the tide in your favour. You have to seize the moment of opportunity and be ruthless in your attack.”

“I still think he’ll make a mistake soon.”

“You’re definitely one stubborn woman, Carter.”