Fic 5: Acceptance 3a/3

[rgcraeg]

"Hey, Sam," Jack tried through the dim shadows of their bedroom. "Are you awake?"

Rolling to her side, Sam glanced at the notepad on his lap. "How far are you?" Her hair was as flat as her tone. She struggled a minute with the blankets, which he was sitting on top of, oblivious to her distress. "Jack," she warned, "move."

Jack's eyes lifted

Comments

[thothmes]

Yep, that's our Jack. Able to navigate around the trackless wastes of alien planets, but lost and a bit helpless in an elementary school. And of course he sweats bullets in situations where he might let one of the very short list of people he lets into his inner circle down. He doesn't care what most people think of him, but those select few can cut him to the bone if he loses their regard.

This story started on the note that the boy was the different one, the one who had trouble reaching his father. I hope we'll get to see just how this speech strengthens his bond with his father (maybe by being the only one in the room who "gets" that his dad the galactic hero is scared now, but carrying on for his sake? Maybe by something as simple seeing Jack relax when he catches sight of the boy? Maybe by watching Jack give one of his out-of-left field speeches, and still warm up the room, so that he realizes that different ["You'll find he's not like other people!"] can in fact be a good thing?) I'm sure you have your own ideas about

[rgcraeg]

Oh yes, you have pegged Jack very well and it is particularly relevant to what I am saying with this piece.

As for the speech. Ugh, I really have no clue what I want him to say, in fact it is likely I will write it and rewrite it a hundred times before I get 'the one'. And I really might use the idea of Jack relaxing when he catches a glimpse of the boy, maybe with a look of awe on his face...something he's seen in Carter when she's impressed by his knowledge (something, not sure if you've noticed, he only seems to share with her. Then when Daniel and/or Teal'c are around, he's back to dumb leader, give-me-the-bottom-line-before-I-slap-you-in-the-face sort of attitude). Hmm, interesting, I'll try some tomorrow--er, later today :).

Thanks for the good eye! I blew past that, didn't even notice! Course I actually edited that part right in the posting window, so I didn't read it over first, oops.

Thanks for the feedback, it helps a ton :D.

[roachstar]

OhI love it! I definitely think you should continue it. Does everyone know about the Stargate now?

[rgcraeg]

Yeah, but I only briefly mentioned it in the beginning and haven't addressed it since. I probably should though, could be confusing otherwise.

Thank you for the kind words :)

[wanderingsmith]

I love how he sees the school the way he would have as a child. that the fact that it is the boy he most wants to impress who is within that makes it more intimidating than any Goa'uld throne room or dungeon. Far more intimidating than a president that he spends his career keeping out of trouble and fixing the foolishness of through blood sweat and tears

[rgcraeg]

Yeah, I think that's Jack through and through, bc the Goa'uld are just another enemy and it's all military tactics and big guns, but a kid? He's still a kid himself and I think he'd approach fatherhood with this mix of awe, everyday-Jackisms and shear terror

[wanderingsmith]

lol, I happen to like hearing how people think :)

I'd add that the people who took him under their wing.. or put themselves under his, probably had an effect. daniel and sam both had a very stubborn positive streak and he connected to them.. in a way leading him on the first step of the same journey you describe with his son.

having people he feels care for and is a litlte impressed with look up to him.. would both scare him.. and slowly tilt him t o try to live up to them.

and Teal'c both brothering him to a different kind of strength.. and looking for that hope outside of hope that a survivor like jack has

[rgcraeg]

Oh yeah, for sure. One of those perfect examples of how life gives you all the tools to make yourself better at just the right time. He had the opportunity to shift into a roll not so...demanding, mentally, and suddenly there are people around that he can connect with and are willing to fight with and for him.

And it's just like you said, the fact that now he has people that do look up to him, as a friend and a leader, and bc he cares about them, he does his best not to let them down. And honestly, some of the most poignent moments on that show are when he (feels like he) *has* let them down (off the top of my head: Daniel, after he shoots the replicator girl)