Try Again, by Tefnut (PG-13)
Rec Category: Daniel Jackson
Pairing: none
Categories: Daniel Jackson, gen, drama, hurt/comfort, team, friendship, Janet Frasier, Robert Rothman
Warnings: suggestion of alien assault
Author on LJ: tefnut_
Author's Website: Tefnut’s Stargate SG-1 Fan Site
Link: Try Again with feedback here
Why This Must Be Read: In this intense story, two very unstable aliens - based on a nice twist of Greek mythology - find the perfect way to truly hurt Daniel Jackson.
Tefnut gives us a Daniel robbed of speech and the ability to communicate. The team rallies to support him however they can, each in their own way: Sam with an affectionate sense of touch and comfort, Jack with astonishing patience and determination, Teal’c with unwavering support and strength (the scene in Teal’c’s room is especially beautiful). But it will take all of Daniel’s courage and strength of will to face what has happened to him and convince the others to allow him to seek what might be a solution - or might be death: “I will not try again, or they will kill me.”
There’s great teamy goodness throughout, and cameos from Janet, Rothman, and Mackenzie to round out the fic in a most satisfying manner, but Try Again is really Daniel’s story - and one that you’re sure to enjoy.
Janet asked him questions, none of which he could answer. He'd achieved better in the temple while dazzled and scared. He wasn't dazzled any more -- though he was still scared -- so why was it so hard? Janet barked, not at him, but at all the other people buzzing around the place. She'd probably asked them to shut up, because suddenly Daniel couldn't hear anything but the doctor's voice.
He caught a word. "Name?"
Daniel rolled his eyes and engaged in the difficult task of uttering his first name. Two syllables, three if he pronounced it the Abydonian way. He settled on "Dan". Short and to the point. Good think he hadn't tried his last name. It would have come out as "Jack". He didn't want them to think he was delusional, on top of it.
He couldn't tell them where he was, though he understood the question. He pointed at the bed and at various torture instruments laid out on a stand, and pulled at Janet's medical uniform. The word for the place wouldn't come. Jack had to find a seat at this point. Daniel looked a message at him, hoping he would get the right expression across. It would have been so much easier to just say, "I'm sorry," followed by a confident "I'm fine". If only.
Daniel hadn't learned twenty-three languages without getting to know the areas of the brain involved in the process. He could picture them easily. While Janet talked more nonsense, he painted a nice schema with vivid colours. He put names on the three significant parts of the drawing, and picked up the easiest one.
He sent the two syllables to the tip of his tongue. He made them roll in his mouth. This word had a bitter taste.
When he felt ready, he hushed Janet with a finger, and spoke. From the look on her face, his first try hadn't been coherent. So he said it again, taking a deep breath to fight his welling tears. "Broca."
She averted her eyes.