Much Abides, by Debby (PG-13)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Sam and Teal’c friendship

Pairing: none

Categories: Sam and Teal’c friendship, Samantha Carter, Teal’c, gen, episode related, angst

Warnings: none

Author on LJ: unknown

Author's Website: Entlzha's Fanfiction Home

Link: Much Abides

Why This Must Be Read: In the wake of In the Line of Duty, Teal’c finds a depressed Sam sitting in the commissary in the middle of the night. The ensuing conversation touches upon guilt, culpability, strength, pain, and determination – in short, everything that embodies both Teal’c and Sam.

I am especially fond of Teal’c’s nightly routine in the SGC, and the commissary workers who take his habits in stride. But most of all, I enjoy this fic for the quiet-night feel of a discussion that could so easily have taken place on the show.

"You *will* overcome it." There was never any question in his mind as to her success. If only he could convey that in his words so she would believe as he did. These Tau'ri--they never understood their own potential. Never saw their own gifts, believed in their own strengths. Either they expected too little of themselves or they expected the impossible.

She sniffed heartily. "I just don't know what to do now."

Teal'c did.

He stood up and walked across the room. Inside the adjoining kitchen, SergeantRobinson was preparing coffee to replenish the container the SGC personnel seemed to empty continuously. He made his request of her and waited patiently as she searched for it. When she returned, what she had found was quite sufficient. He took the plate offered and returned to the table where CaptainCarter was blowing her nose on a napkin.

He set the plate in front of her.

"What's this?"

"Chocolate raspberry cake, I believe."

"Yeah. I, uh--" Unfolding herself from the hunched position she had maintained for the duration of their conversation, she pushed the plate back with a grimace. "I can't."

"You asked what it is you do now."

"Yeah...?"

"This is what you do."

She stared at the plate, with its slice of dark cake surrounded by pooling chocolate sauce. Back up at Teal'c. "It's not that simple."

"It is not," he agreed. "But it is a place at which to begin."