Time Out of Mind, by Redbyrd (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none
Categories: Daniel Jackson, team, Makepeace, gen, episode related, character study, friendship, drama, angst
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: redbyrd_sgfic
Author's Website: Redbyrd's Stargate Fanfiction
Link: Time Out of Mind (feedback can be left here.)

Why This Must Be Read: Redbyrd is an absolute genius at filling in plotholes and inconsistencies in canon. In Time Out of Mind, Redbyrd tackles Daniel’s numb, abstracted behavior in Out of Mind and Into the Fire – and, while she’s at it, explains how Daniel can “remember” a scene in Hathor that he didn’t actually witness!

With her usual fantastic attention to details – for example, she has Daniel asking why Cassie, who they'd just seen in 1969, isn’t around in this strange future SGC – Redbyrd takes us through these two episodes from Daniel’s drugged and distressed point-of-view. If you’ve ever wondered why Daniel just stared while Jack got snaked, or why he turned back to the dead solider in the Tok’ra tunnels, or what caused him to be so hostile to Makepeace in Shades of Grey… well, Redbyrd clarifies all this and more, in her typically engrossing style. And with a satisfying final scene (what’s better than hot chocolate shared with friends?) in the bargain, Time Out of Mind is a long, entertaining fic that any Daniel fan can enjoy.

"I know you must feel rather confused right now," the man was saying.

What was his name? Daniel's head wasn't clearing. He pushed the distress away, reaching for a calm he didn't feel. Trofsky. That was it. The rest of his words floated in, recorded by the analytical part of Daniel's brain that never seemed to shut down. Cryogenic hibernation. The advanced race that must have sent them back. The Goa'uld.

"Why are you asking me about the Goa'uld?" Daniel asked absently. "We must file a pound of paperwork for every mission through the gate. Everything we know is there. Besides, it must be out of date anyway." He saw the man exchange a glance with the doctor, and the doctor did something to the device beside the examination table.

Daniel floated a little further away, still feeling numb.

"Many of those records were destroyed in an attack twenty years ago," Trofsky said. "We have some of them, but frankly we're not sure what we're missing. We are hoping you can corroborate some of those reports and fill in any gaps." The doctor brought a tray with several small devices on it. "We have a new technology to help you remember."

"Are we still fighting the Goa'uld then?" Daniel asked, almost dreamily. Records destroyed in an attack? That didn't sound good. Especially since there must be a dozen copies of every report. Still, the classified nature of the program must encourage--have encouraged--them to limit the number of copies...

The doctor's hands felt hot against his chilled skin.