Storms, by Merry (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Time to go back to what drew me into Stargate fandom in the first place: Jack and Daniel friendship!

Rec Category: Jack and Daniel friendship
Pairing: none
Categories: Daniel Jackson, Jack O’Neill, Jack and Daniel friendship, gen, episode related, character study, angst
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: merryish 
Author's Website: any road
Link: Storms

Why This Must Be Read: In the aftermath of Torment of Tantalus, Jack makes Daniel take a hard look at his behavior and forces him to recognize that the underlying motivations are simply not acceptable – or even necessary.

Merry does a marvelous job of sketching Jack and Daniel’s turbulent emotions, as they confront his near-suicidal behavior and uncover the faulty reasoning that causes it. There’s deep understanding, even when the two of them are at odds; and in the end, Jack trusts Daniel enough to walk away, and leave him to make what Jack only hopes will be the right decision.

With some great cameos from Sam and Teal’c and Hammond, and a sense of things clicking together with Daniel’s acceptance of the burdens and benefits of friendship, Storms is a wonderful episode tag that will stay with you for a long time to come.

"You asked me to leave you on Abydos. You asked me again in that tower. You might as well stop asking, Daniel, because from now on, the answer is no."

"Please," Daniel said softly. He said it the same way he had in the tower, with the same look in his eyes, but this time Jack wouldn't give in to it. Couldn't. Something was at stake here that Jack didn't quite understand, some part of Daniel that was necessary. Not just to Daniel, not just to the Project, but to Jack himself.

He wasn't about to let it go just because Daniel was turning the eyes on him.

Reaching up, Jack took Daniel's head in both hands, and turned it toward him. He forced the younger man to meet his gaze, his grip gentle but resolute. "I know you think you have no family here," he said quietly, "but you're wrong. Ya got me. And I've lost enough family, Daniel. I'm not losing you, too."

"I--"

"Promise me this isn't going to happen again. Promise me right now, or that's it. I'll suspend you, so help me, and you'll sit behind that Plexiglas screen and watch while the rest of us save the world...and maybe Skaara and your Sha'uri, too."

"This is how you solicit trust?"

Jack laughed, a bitter sound. "Trust? You just said I couldn't have your trust. Fine, I can deal with that. You want to think I'm going out there just for my God and Country every day? Fine. Work it out in therapy. But I got news for you, Daniel. I trust you. You've never lied to me, never let me down, and I don't see you starting now."

"So, where exactly does that leave us? What does it mean, Jack?"

"It leaves us here: You don't take one step through that gate until I have your word -- your word, Daniel -- that you're gonna do everything humanly possible to be with us when we come back home."

Quiet, almost inaudible, Daniel's voice rasped out a whisper. "This is not my home."

Leaning in close, eyes dark and intent, Jack matched Daniel's tone. "Check the address, friend. It's the only home you've got."