A Most Precious Gift by Polgana (G)

[liadan-n.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Sam and Daniel friendship
Pairing: Daniel/Sha’re
Category: Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter, Sam and Daniel friendship, episode related, hurt/comfort
Warning: none
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: none
Link: A Most Precious Gift

Why This Must Be Read: To start off a month of Sam & Daniel friendship I have a kind of tag to the episode “Children of the Gods”. This scene covers less than half an hour in real time, but it is a defining moment in the friendship of Daniel and Sam. As Polgana comments, “In ‘The Children of The Gods’, on that first mission to Chulak, Sam asked Daniel a question and didn't sound too thrilled with the answer. I thought Daniel needed the chance to defend himself.” Polgana does just that. The story begins with an awkward conversation between Dr. Jackson and Captain/Doctor, but it ends with just Daniel and Sam. 

"I'm . . . I guess I'm just trying to understand," Sam blurted, her words coming in a heated rush. "How could you, a highly intelligent, educated, civilized man have let some poor girl be treated like . . . like chattel! They gave her to you, and you accepted?"

With a sigh, Daniel let his head droop as he tried not to take offense at her tone.

"It wasn't that simple," he murmured. "When we first met the people of Abydos, they thought we were gods, or agents of Ra, and I didn't know enough of the dialect to set them straight."

"But you let them give you a wife," Sam reminded him.

"That wasn't until much later," Daniel told her, his expressive hands absently rubbing his thighs. "When I first saw her, it was when she offered me a drink of water." His eyes took on a distant look, a tiny smile tugging at his mouth as he recalled that moment as if it were carved into his heart. "She smiled at me. Not a big smile, sort of . . . shy, but . . . secretive, if that makes any sense."

"And you thank her, of course," Sam nodded, "by letting her share your . . ."

"No!" Daniel snapped, practically leaping from his perch to pace the narrow room, his hands waving in a gesture of denial. "It wasn't like that at all! You . . . God! You don't understand what it was like!"

"Enlighten me then," Sam encouraged him, trying to keep her tone neutral.