SG-1 Fic: Role Model (PG)

[what_works]

Fandom: Stargate: SG-1
Title: Role Model
Author: Em
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~230
Characters: Daniel, Jack
Spoilers: "Prototype"
Summary: The first shot surprises him only because it hits.
Notes: "Prototype" is one of my favorite episodes and this doesn't even come close to getting out all my thoughts on Daniel in that episode . . . but it's a start.
Recced: recced by duonoaikouka on stargateficrec
recced by sg_fignewton on stargateficrec
recced by duonoaikouka on crack_van


Role Model

Sure hands pull back the slide, stripping a round from the magazine, knocking it into the chamber of the barrel. Daniel's finger twitches on the trigger, hesitating before it hits the hammer catch.

The first shot surprises him only because it hits, because Khalek didn't stop it.

Blood pools quickly, like there was never a hole where his heart should have been.

He fires unrelentingly, stepping forward with every shot. When the magazine is empty he stops and forces himself to look into Khalek's dead eyes.

He summarizes for Jack over the phone, giving no more than what will pass over his desk in Washington.

"Woolsey upset?"

Daniel snorts. "Does that matter?"

He can hear Jack's shrug and knows that Jack doesn't care about Woolsey either. But Jack won't ask the question he wants answered, and he won't voice what they're both thinking. Instead Jack will be there at 3 A.M., on the other end of the phone, breathing into the receiver until Daniel falls asleep again. They won't talk about the empty echo a gun makes in the 'gate room, or that for the first time Daniel doesn't regret taking a life. They won't talk about the man Daniel's become.

Jack will just be there, doing what Daniel did for him for years. Now that Jack's only field missions are navigating his way around the Pentagon, he'll take up Daniel's role . . . after all, Daniel's already taken over for Jack.



~Comments and feedback surprise me when it hits.

Comments

[theemdash]

Hee. Thanks. ;)

I actually had a lot of trouble articulating my thoughts through fanfic after reading janedavitt's One on One (Daniel/Cameron). But I still have a lot to say about this episode. Especially this episode in conjunction with "The Shroud" (both of which I watched today).

[zats-clear.livejournal.com]

They won't talk about the man Daniel's become.

see, this is fantastic. It is the transition from TWTID to Action Jackson.

[theemdash]

I've always been fascinated by Daniel's growth because he had this in him, but it's something that under different circumstances might have never come out.

[sid]

Daniel really has become more and more like Jack over the years, which is kinda dark and scary even if it is inevitable given the circumstances. At least Jack can understand without a single word being exchanged. *sigh*

[theemdash]

It's terrifying to think how much Jack has affected Daniel, but on a more positive note, I think Daniel has affected Jack just as much. In fact, in Season 9 and 10, I very much see them as having reversed roles. That moment when Daniel tells Jack he's scared—it all flipped for me then.

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Exactly. That. *marvels*

[theemdash]

Thank you. *bows*

[melayneseahawk.livejournal.com]

Ouch! *hugs them both*

[theemdash]

*hugs them both, too because it's fun*

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Damn. Nailed it. Thanks.

[theemdash]

Thanks back.

[bluemeridian]

Ooohh, very good. The last line really puts the polish on it.

[theemdash]

Thank you. That last line kills me every time I re-read.

[hariboo.livejournal.com]

Dude, yes. The last line, it just hurts.

[theemdash]

Thank you. I'm glad it worked for you.

[freetodream5.livejournal.com]

oh wow. This totally sums up what lot of my friends (and myself, begrudgingly) thought about Daniel going from pacifist to more aggressive. You did a wonderful and amazing job reflecting both Daniel and Jack's thoughts. great work.

[theemdash]

Thank you. I'm glad it worked for you and explained your own thoughts.

[kinkthatwinked.livejournal.com]

Damn, woman, I just finished sending you FB on your "Jack & Daniel in grass skirts" story, and now I find this!

I've been re-watching the first season of SG-1, and I'm floored by how much Daniel has changed. He did have his moments, like killing all those Goa'uld larvae in 'Bloodlines.' On the whole, though, he was always the one who'd come up with a non-violent solution.

But with everyone he's lost and all the close calls, he's a hell of a lot faster at recognizing situations where their only viable option is to fight their way out. Nice to see a story that addresses how that's changed him.

Keep this up and I'll be begging to friend you!

[theemdash]

Heh heh . . . Jack/Daniel is my thing. They are beautiful and wonderful. :D

I've been re-watching the first season of SG-1, and I'm floored by how much Daniel has changed. He did have his moments, like killing all those Goa'uld larvae in 'Bloodlines.' On the whole, though, he was always the one who'd come up with a non-violent solution.

I love that moment in "Bloodlines." I always point to that episode as evidence that Daniel's "change" wasn't that much of a change. Yes, he's different in many regards, but I think it was inside him all along; he just needed to be in the right situation for it to come out.

Feel free to friend. Friends are awesome.

[seanchaidh.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I like the way the characters are reversed. Very nice.:)

[theemdash]

Thanks. I think it's pretty much what's happened since Jack's been moved out of the field.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Ow. And oooooh.

::carefully bookmarks::

[theemdash]

Glad you enjoyed it enough to bookmark.

[roadrunner1896.livejournal.com]

Awww, Daniel. *snuggles him to sleep*

[theemdash]

He needs snuggles. Always.

[taselby.livejournal.com]

oh, ouch. What a perfect snapshot of that moment of transition.

{{{Daniel}}}

[theemdash]

Thank you! For me "Prototype" highlighted the character change Daniel had gone through over the many years of Stargate and it was the perfect opportunity for me to explore one of the many reasons I love Daniel so much.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Oh, yes. Daniel seemed so clearly not to regret what he'd done that it hurt. What he regretted was that Woolsey had put him in a position where he had to do it, and that's why he couldn't forgive Woolsey.

[theemdash]

This is exactly what I felt as well. And I think it was a very different experience for Daniel—to not regret taking a life, to know that taking a life was the right thing to do.

Thanks for commenting! (And please excuse my late reply.)

[(Anonymous)]

Enjoyed this! I find Daniel's transition fascinating, and that episode really showcase it. Thanks for writing!

[theemdash]

Thank you, anon! I agree wholeheartedly!

[m-dk.livejournal.com]

Gulp!

[theemdash]

Ha. Thanks for the amusing comment! ;)

[hannibal-topaz.livejournal.com]

...that is an awesome icon

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Three years since I bookmarked this, but I've finally gotten to rec (http://community.livejournal.com/stargateficrec/1652692.html) it. :)

[theemdash]

Many thanks for reccing it! I'm glad this little ficlet resonated so well for so many people (it's one of my favorites).

(Also, that icon is AMAZING.)

[sg-wonderland.livejournal.com]

Here via Fig's rec. Prototype is one of my favorite episodes because it holds an unflinching magnifying glass up to who Daniel really is. You've done an excellent job of portraying two complicated, not easily understood men. Good job!

[theemdash]

Thank you for your kind comments! I adore that episode and what it shows us about the man Daniel has become. It's so easy to remember him as the one who always goes for diplomatic solutions and to forget how much the solider has grown inside of him.

[eilidh17.livejournal.com]

Hot damn but this is good! Last line is just brilliant :)

[theemdash]

Thank you very much! The concept of the last line was what came to me first—then I just had to get there. ;)

fab!!

[(Anonymous)]

yup got here via figs rec... fab!!!! well done! i love these fics where we have a insight into changing/changed daniel!

Re: fab!!

[theemdash]

Thank you very much, anon! I love how Daniel changes over the series and I think "Prototype" is the best opportunity to really explain and explore those changes.

[cleothemuse.livejournal.com]

Definitely one of my favorite episodes. Season 9-10 Daniel is the leader, the man-in-charge, but he lets Cam pretend to be.

[duonoaikouka.livejournal.com]

Recced (http://crack-van.livejournal.com/5105939.html) ya again! :)

[theemdash]

Thank you for continuing to love this story so much!

[hannibal-topaz.livejournal.com]

ooo, love this. I haven't watched as much of the later seasons, but now I think I need to give it another try

[theemdash]

The later seasons catch a lot of grief, but if you can get over the fact that they're Different, I really enjoy them.

[peoriapeoria.livejournal.com]

Daniel goes through so much, it changes him. He also changes Jack.

Thanks for the story.