Discere et Docere, by Abyssis (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Sam and Daniel friendship

Pairing: none
Categories: Sam and Daniel friendship, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, gen, humor, angst, character study, episode related
Warnings: spoilers through S8
Author on LJ: abyssinia4077 
Author's Website: list of fics
Link: Discere et Docere

Why This Must Be Read: Abyssis always writes the most beautiful Sam and Daniel fics. This enchanting story, written for the sd_ficathon, is truly special.

In an arc that encompasses eight seasons of sea change before finally coming full circle, Abyssis gives us glimpses into Sam and Daniel’s friendship – the way they change and grow over the years, both through the events of their lives and the effect they have on each other. There’s compassion and tension and tears and laughter; and while the Season Five one (excerpted below) is my personal favorite, each of these is written with a kind of gentle affection that fits Sam and Daniel perfectly.

The lines that introduce each year, all by themselves, say more about these two than many other stories I’ve read. This is a fic to read carefully, and savor.

"There!" she announced proudly.

Daniel squinted at the stars – something he rarely did anymore – and could see nothing special about that area of sky. "What?" he asked, stepping close behind her to look from her vantage point.

"That's the planet we were on today," she whispered in his ear. "Right now there are thousands of people alive there because of us."

Daniel looked up and raised a hand, blotting out the light with the tip of his thumb. "It's so small from here, such a tiny part of the universe."

"Yeah." Sam exhaled heavily and then plopped down, back to the cooling ground and face to the sky so the silvery moonlight washed the color from her skin. "It's small, but it's still important."

Daniel lay next to her, thinking of the Tollan and the Tok'ra, of Sha're, of Reece, of Sarah out gods-knew-where among the stars and all the people they'd found wiped out, all they'd lost. They'd taken out Sokar, Apophis, and Cronus. Amaunet and Klorel would never take a host again, but it felt like for every Goa'uld they eliminated, two more stepped in to fill the gap.

"It's so big," he said. He imagined he could feel the Earth beneath him floating through space, feel how small it was against the vastness of the universe – a vastness he'd gotten to touch more than almost anyone on Earth. "What makes us think we can change anything?"

Sam rolled over onto her side and grabbed his chin, turning his head so his face was inches from her own. "We made a difference today," she said in the sincerity of someone trying to be sober. "We've got to hold on to any victory we can get." She stared at him for a long minute and Daniel could feel her searching him, trying to burn out the doubt and frustration.

Satisfied, she rolled back, twisting to put her head on his stomach, body sticking out perpendicular to his. His hand reached down to play with the strands of hair lying over his ribs.

"To save one life is as if you have saved the world," Daniel offered to the stars and the billions of lives looking back at him. Sam quietly murmured her assent.

Comments

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm still a little uncertain about this fic, but there are parts I really like and I think you definitely quoted one of my favorites.

Regardless, thanks for the rec. It's an honor!
(also, I don't have a website but I do keep all my fic listed here (http://abyssinia4077.livejournal.com/77789.html))

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Loved this fic. Loved innocent and naive Sam and Daniel turning into slightly world-weary Sam and Daniel that are still the same people.

And thanks for the fic list link! I'll add it. :)