[personal profile] what_works
Fandom: Stargate: SG-1
Title: Signs of Weakness
Author: Em
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~840
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Prompt: from [livejournal.com profile] zats_clear Jack/Daniel, "Prisoners," missing/expanded scene, power
085. She (Big Damn Table)
Summary: After returning from Handante, Daniel and Jack talk about signs of weakness.
Notes: To beg forgiveness for embarking into yet another fandom, I offered to write 5 Jack/Daniel fics for my flist. Originally posted here.
written for [livejournal.com profile] stargatefic100
Recced: Now recced by [livejournal.com profile] princessofgeeks


085 She
Signs of Weakness


He doesn't know what drags him there, but something does, his extrasensory-Jack perception is maybe what draws him to the Colonel's door. Of course the surly "What" Jack uses as a greeting makes him regret that he gave in to his compulsion.

"Hi." Daniel affects a smile, taking the slight gap between Jack's body and the door as an invitation to push his way in.

Jack cocks an eyebrow and shuts the door behind Daniel before entering the living room, settling back on the couch, and picking up his beer. The beer dangles from his fingers as he points to the kitchen. "Get a beer. Sit."

Daniel does what he says, thinking that one day he's going to tell Jack that the beer he buys is shit.

"So. . . ."

Daniel sets down the beer, turns to Jack, and takes off his glasses. He tucks them in his pocket, the same way Jack did on Handante, and doesn't know what to say.

Somehow, though, Jack knows where this is headed.

"You know I was captured in Iraq."

Daniel nods, leaning forward, his long bangs brushing against his temples.

"Well." Jack salutes with his bottle before taking a swig, like his statement explains everything. Like Daniel has asked a question, or knows what Jack is thinking, or just . . . like that explains everything.

Daniel flops back on the couch with a huff, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.

"You're like a child sometimes, you know that?" Jack says.

"You're like a child sometimes."

Jack grins a smile that slowly stretches from Jack's face across to Daniel's face. A moment later and they're both laughing, at each other, at themselves, at their lives. Still smiling, Daniel finally takes a drink of his beer, allowing the liquid to sober his laugh.

"Why do you always protect me?"

"It's my job." There's a smile on his face when Jack says it, but it sounds canned.

Daniel shakes his head. "I know the difference. What you do, it isn't just about the job."

Jack shrugs, hiding behind his beer bottle again.

Daniel pulls his glasses out of his pocket, opens them up, but instead of putting them on, he leans over, sliding the arms over Jack's ears, pushing the bridge firmly on to Jack's nose. Jack blinks behind the lenses, his mouth hanging open from an aborted sip.

"Is that really a sign of weakness?"

Jack pushes up, bringing their faces even closer together. "Don't." It's part warning, part command, but nothing that prevents Daniel from leaning forward, closing the gap, placing his lips on Jack's lips.

Just this once, he thinks, just this once.

He pushes his tongue into Jack's mouth, his stomach fluttering when he feels Jack's tongue flick against his. The edge of his glasses cut into his face from the wrong side and he doesn't know who he is any more, how he got here, why he isn't always here.

He climbs on Jack, barely remembering to set down Jack's beer, pushing until they're spread out on the couch, pressing together, and Daniel knows he's not the only one that's hard from this.

But when Jack's head hits the cushion, it's like something turns off, and he pulls back, licking his lips and turning his face.

"Daniel, we can't do this," he whispers.

"Why not?"

Jack's eyes are so wide behind Daniel's glasses that Daniel can see into them, see the desire, the fear, the name of the woman neither one of them want to say, the wife that keeps them apart.

"Oh." Daniel sits back, the guilt rising fast in his throat.

"We've been sidetracked, I know, so it's taking longer than you thought, but I won't be responsible for . . . this." Jack rolls, pulling the glasses off his face, handing them back to Daniel without looking at him. "I told you they were a sign of weakness."

Daniel slips his glasses on, slowly pressing his lips together, already missing the warmth that came with reckless abandon.

"Maybe you should go."

Jack picks up both of their bottles and heads to the kitchen. Daniel hears the sink running and the tinkle of over turned bottles, and imagines the suds as the remains of their beers swirl down the drain.

It's that same something that dragged him to Jack's door that leads him into the kitchen. That something that causes him to wrap his arms around Jack's waist, and bury his nose in the back of Jack's neck, inhaling the sweat and salt. That something that feels like inevitability that allows him to push away his guilt and say what he came here to say.

He kisses Jack's neck, closed mouth and chaste, and says, "I don't think I'm going to leave."

When Jack turns, Daniel knows Jack can see into his eyes and see the desire, the fear, the name of the woman neither one of them want to say, but Jack's hands fist in Daniel's shirt anyway. Giving into weakness, Daniel stays.


~Comments and feedback aren't signs of weakness.

Date: 2007-12-29 04:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] adafrog.livejournal.com
Wow, very powerful.

Date: 2007-12-29 04:25 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks. I'm glad it resonated with you.

Date: 2007-12-29 09:53 pm (UTC)
ivorygates: (Default)
From: [personal profile] ivorygates
Ah, lovely. And the harsh trueness of the characters makes them cut each other like knives. I particularly liked: "You know I was captured in Iraq."

Daniel nods, leaning forward, his long bangs brushing against his temples.

"Well." Jack salutes with his bottle before taking a swig, like his statement explains everything. Like Daniel has asked a question, or knows what Jack is thinking, or just . . . like that explains everything.


Because of the rhythms, and the visceral imagery of it, and the fact that you can just *see* the two of them so clearly, and hear the unspoken words.

Princess hooked me up, and even though you're on my flist I'm so glad I took the express lane here.

Date: 2007-12-30 12:29 am (UTC)
ext_2043: (obvious)
From: [identity profile] zats-clear.livejournal.com
ok, I went back to the original post and I think either I missed it (srsly, I remember reading it! *is confused*) or I read it at a time when I could not construct a proper thought to tell you how much I really really liked this. I am the angst-whore, so if it makes my heart ache, you know it works for me! Love love love how he puts the glasses on Jack. so much symbolism there. wow.

again, I am so sorry I do not seem to have commented in the first place...sheesh!

Date: 2007-12-30 02:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eregyrn.livejournal.com
Whoa! Excellent. Very convincing way of dealing with early-seasons J/D -- no dodging, no excuses, letting it be as painful and honest as it should be. Also, I loves me a forthright, strong, pushy Daniel. Great job!

Date: 2007-12-30 06:31 am (UTC)
sid: (J/D this is desire)
From: [personal profile] sid
This fic constantly surprised me by going in directions I wasn't expecting. Daniel putting his glasses on Jack, Jack remembering Sha're first, Daniel staying....

And I thought the imagery of the dregs of their beers intermingling as they swirled down the drain together was very symbolic. Of what, I'm not sure! *g* But it really caught my attention. :-)

Date: 2007-12-30 07:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] green-grrl.livejournal.com
Wow. So intense.

Jack grins a smile that slowly stretches from Jack's face across to Daniel's face.

That's so lovely and light and them, and then ... yeah. Very heavy, real dealing with Daniel's marriage.

Date: 2007-12-30 08:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackeyedwicca.livejournal.com
I loved it!!

Awesome work!!

Date: 2007-12-30 11:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jd-junkie.livejournal.com
Hurty, achy and so, so good.
Nothing, but nothing, at any stage of this pair's relationship is easy and you capture that so well here.
Thanks for sharing. :-)

Date: 2007-12-30 06:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_minxy_/
Oh, the straight-forward, out-in-the-open feel of this is just heartbreaking. Very nice.

Date: 2007-12-31 04:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melayneseahawk.livejournal.com
Oh my. That was a punch in the gut.

And yet, I felt some serious deja vu reading it. Weird.

Date: 2007-12-31 09:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kuonji14.livejournal.com
Oh. Wow. Beautiful theme. Heartfelt and hurtful.

Date: 2007-12-31 12:33 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Threads)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
*snort* I had serious deja vu writing it because I have a different Season 2-set episode tag which basically follows the same plot: one of them shows up at the other's place, there's drinking, talk about tragic things, and then kissing. Thy name is derivative. (Though between the two, I'm quite sure that this is the stronger one.)

Date: 2007-12-31 03:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] natsuko1978.livejournal.com
I'm never really sure how to comment on your fics - what I like in any one of them tends to be what I like about you as a writer... so I worry a little about becoming monotonous, even boring.

There are only so many ways to say you LIKE someone's style and take on the canon characters etc etc without sounding either stupid or a little creepy. ("I'm your number one fan!") You know?

I also - as we discussed - have to be careful what I read in order to avoid fics which reference seasons I have yet to see. *sigh*

Your great skill lies in evoking the mood. Present tense doesn't always work for me (as a reader) but you use it well - it's very effective here.

I don't know. I love your fics - especially the episode tags. I am(allegedly) a skilled beta-reader (according to Greenwillow and Kyabetsu) but when I'm not commenting line-by-line my analytical skills and ability to express my opinions seems to desert me. I', crap at effective feedback/reviews of this nature. Sorry.

Date: 2007-12-31 04:16 pm (UTC)
paian: blank white (jd spikyglow)
From: [personal profile] paian
This is like the perfect storm or the perfect cocktail, all the most important ingredients distilled and mixed together in just the right proportions. My favorite bit is The edge of his glasses cut into his face from the wrong side and he doesn't know who he is any more, how he got here, why he isn't always here, but I love every sentence of it. It's so great to see early-season J/D, and this is an outstanding one. So glad you were inspired to write it.

Date: 2008-01-01 04:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] justhuman.livejournal.com
Blown away. You captured the tension just right and played it out perfectly.

Date: 2008-01-06 01:07 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
I have such a glasses kink (particularly with Jack wearing glasses), and the idea of Daniel slipping his glasses on Jack just seemed so incredibly intimate. Hell, Jack taking off Daniel's glasses in the episode is pretty intimate. When I got the prompt for that episode and "power" I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

For me, the only believable early-season fics address Sha're, and I kind of love Daniel/Sha're, so I really enjoyed writing this.

Date: 2008-01-06 01:09 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
I'm glad everything was so visceral for you. I try so hard to write as vividly as possible, so I love it when people can see what I'm writing.

Thanks for the lovely comment!

Date: 2008-01-06 01:12 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Y'know, I knew this one worked, so it didn't bother me that you hadn't replied. ;)

It's a good thing you like angst if you're reading my fics; I tend to make characters suffer. *cringes* (And if they're not suffering emotionally, they're suffering humiliation.)

Thank you for the lovely prompt. I usually don't write early-season fic (because of the whole Sha're-thing), so it was fun to waggle my toes in that water again. (Though this is more or less the exact same set up as another Season 2 fic of mine. Heh.)

Date: 2008-01-06 01:14 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thank you. I don't think Jack would let himself be fooled. He lost his marriage and I believe the last thing he'd want to do is contribute to the break-up of another marriage. However, you have that much hot archaeologist coming on to you? Well, after you've laid everything out and he's made his decision, how can you resist? ;)

Date: 2008-01-06 01:16 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Yay for surprises! The glasses kind of surprised me at first and then I realized that Daniel has the same glasses-on-Jack kink that I have. ;)

The beer dregs catches my attention, too! I usually make the meaning of an imagry like that stand out a bit more, but this time I let it sit on its own. I'm glad the symbolism stood out, even if you couldn't explain why. Maybe I'm half-way there.

Date: 2008-01-06 01:17 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thank you. And see, no breaking up. They clearly have a very happy relationship after this. Heh.

Date: 2008-01-06 01:18 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Happy)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks! :D

Date: 2008-01-06 01:19 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Intention)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks. I'm glad it worked for you. I like early-season fic when it addresses Sha're. I think she's an insurmountable roadblock for Seasons 1–3.

Date: 2008-01-06 01:24 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks. I enjoy honest characters. ;)

Date: 2008-01-06 01:25 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Happy)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks!

Date: 2008-01-06 01:28 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
what I like in any one of them tends to be what I like about you as a writer... so I worry a little about becoming monotonous, even boring.

I have a secret: I never tire of people telling me that I'm awesome. No matter how they say it. And complimenting my writing? That's like awesome covered in chocolate and sprinkles. ;)

Your great skill lies in evoking the mood. Present tense doesn't always work for me (as a reader) but you use it well - it's very effective here.

I use present tense for stories that are immediate. I think present tense works well in flash fiction and other stories that require a visceral element. A present tense novel would probably drive me crazy, but I really enjoy present tense in shorter works . . . you just need to remember that your reflect needs to be short. ;)

Feedback of any kind is a joy, so thanks for leaving me a comment! :D

Date: 2008-01-06 01:31 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thank you, thank you. That's my favorite sentence, too. I love the "glasses cut into his face from the wrong side" bit. ♥ I'm glad people like my angsty take on early-season J/D.

Date: 2008-01-06 01:33 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thank you! I'm glad everything worked for you.

Date: 2008-01-07 09:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] blackeyedwicca.livejournal.com
No problem ^^

Date: 2008-01-11 12:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zebra-women.livejournal.com
i love this!!
it is sweet and just the fic i was looking for

Date: 2008-01-12 05:02 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack/Daniel Serious)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Date: 2008-01-27 04:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tresa-cho.livejournal.com
Guh. Very well done. My stomach was fluttering too.

Date: 2008-02-04 02:04 am (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Smart)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Thanks. Daniel usually makes my stomach flutter, but Jack does a lot of stomach fluttering for me in this one. (Jack in glasses? Guh.)

Date: 2008-04-13 07:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] getaway-machine.livejournal.com
oh man. I love, love, love the image of Jack in Daniel's glasses. Just. Yes.

Date: 2008-04-13 09:57 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (SG-1 Jack)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
Oh, yes. I have such a kink for that. Actually, just Jack in glasses.

It's not online anymore, but I have got to get you a copy of Dr. Jackson's Diary because there is a scene in there where Daniel goes guuuuuuh over Jack in glasses. Also, it's awesome crack.

Hell, next time you're over, I'll read you the first chapter or so and then hand you the rest of it. It's crack.

Date: 2008-07-04 10:29 am (UTC)
ext_33206: (NCIS baby duck)
From: [identity profile] roadrunner1896.livejournal.com
*is weak and can't come up with a comment*

I would apologize, but as you know by now, Gibbs sees that as a weakness, so I won't.

I am just happy that today is so slow and I am totally making progress in catching up on with reading.

Date: 2008-07-04 02:54 pm (UTC)
theemdash: (Daniel Bandana)
From: [personal profile] theemdash
I'm happy I could reread this fic. ♥

Date: 2008-07-04 04:08 pm (UTC)
ext_33206: (book)
From: [identity profile] roadrunner1896.livejournal.com
Glad I could make you a bit happy. Even though yesterday was More Joy Day.

Well, I am late with reading, too. I am just one of those persons who are always late. ;)

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