Alienism, by Jb (PG-13)
Rec Category: Sam and Daniel friendship
Pairing: none
Categories: Sam and Daniel friendship, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, episode related, angst
Warnings: language
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Jb at the Tablet
Link: Alienism
Why This Must Be Read: Because much as I admire and adore Daniel, being his friend must be utterly exhausting. :)
Alienism takes place in the wake of Ascension, when Sam is still shaky from the blatant lack of trust from her commanding officers. It's clear that Daniel has been a staunch support for her during the past few days, but now he's come to demand… what, exactly? He feels that she's failed him; he isn't quite ready to spell out how, although it's all too clear that he expects Sam to already know. Told entirely from Sam's POV, Alienism allows us to see Sam's struggle to deal with her own feelings and simultaneously cope with Daniel's evident distress.
Are Daniel's expectations for her unrealistically high? Did Sam fail him, or should her efforts in canon and Orlin's response have been enough to satisfy Daniel? Sam doesn't quite know, although she seems to agree with Daniel by the end of the story. As the reader, I'm not quite sure if we're supposed to agree with Daniel or not. And an author that allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions is obviously doing something right!
He was waiting for her at the kitchen, leaning against the high counter which served as her table. Sam noticed he avoided looking at her, a sure sign her preferred 'later' was not only going to be 'sooner', but in fact, right now. She tried for unconcerned and in-control, her voice lighter than her heart. "Want some coffee? I don't have any made, but it would only take a minute."
Was Daniel here to finally deliver his version of the inner sanctum party line - the inner sanctum so far having consisted of Hammond, Teal'c, and the colonel - a modicum of superficial support not quite able to conceal the under-the-table disapproval of her actions? There was silence, stretching out so long that she turned away and busied herself with complicating the preparations for making coffee as much as she could, even though it was pretty clear the offer wasn't going to be accepted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sam almost dropped the coffee filter at his sudden question. She turned to look at him, but he was facing the opposite way, looking out into the living room. If his eyes were even open. She'd heard that discouraged, hurt sort of tone from him before, albeit rarely, and each time it had been harbinger of a rapid retreat into himself.
She put down the filter. "Tell you what, Daniel?"
His shoulders straightened slightly, as if he was steeling himself for something. "It wasn't like you never had a chance. We sat there together in your office talking about the translation and the weapon, and then two weeks ago - two weeks - we sat side by side in that briefing, and you never - You didn't even bother."
Sam leaned back against the counter, frowning in puzzlement. Didn't bother with what? Despite her confusion and his seeming distress here, Sam felt herself relaxing slightly. Okay, so yes, she was in hot water with Daniel, but not in the way she had dreaded. He'd been the one - not the colonel - who had overtly stood by her over the last several days, waiting with endless patience and a steady supply of reassurance out in corridors and around corners for the latest group of torturers to release her from their clutches. And now... well, the debriefings and reprimands may be over with, but her need for support and reassurance wasn't over. She really hadn't wanted to face him turning his back on her. Not quite yet.
He pushed himself away from the counter and moved back to stand in front of the living room couch, putting more distance between them. He turned around, and Sam realised she hadn't answered him. He stared at her briefly, his face an impassive mask, before transferring his gaze down the hall toward the front door. She saw a precursor to movement, and realised he was about to leave. Before she'd even figured out why he'd come and practically pounded her door down in the first place?