Cut Here, by Tripoli (PG)
Rec Category: Teal'c and Daniel friendship
Pairing: none
Categories: Teal'c and Daniel friendship, Teal'c, Daniel Jackson, gen, episode related, character study
Warnings: none
Author on LJ: tripoli8
Author's Website: Sign of the Times
Link: Cut Here at her website, or on her LJ
Why This Must Be Read: I have a particular fondness for the developing friendship between our Daniel and AU Teal'c in Moebius. In this short story, told from Teal'c's POV, Tripoli gives us Teal'c struggling with the dichotomy that is Daniel - his odd familiarity with Chulak and kel'no'reem and Teal'c's family, and the face of the man he'd killed before escaping with the Tau'ri through the Stargate.
This Teal'c didn't have time to truly accept what joining Jack and Sam and the others would mean - the loss of everything he knew, of his time, even of his reality. There's culture shock and antagonism and reluctant respect, and it's all written in Tripoli's elegant style.
Cut Here is only a snapshot of AU Teal'c's adjustment to Ancient Egypt and Daniel, but it's powerful enough to leave you thoughtful… and moved.
"It has been a strange day for all of us," Teal'c said, and joined him at the door. He thought of the urban legends that had passed between the neighborhood boys where he'd grown up, about how the chappa'ai had really grown out of the ground, or that the powers that shaped Kheb and Dakara had scattered them like seeds across the galaxy, to bring glory to the gods to come. This desert seemed like an odd place to leave a chappa'ai, transcendent wisdom or not. He asked, "Does the entire planet look like this?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Most of it's ocean, actually, and then there're all different kinds of land. Where I come from looks a little like Chulak."
He turned, brows lifting in surprise. "You have been to Chulak?"
"Not in years, even before I left, but sure," he said. "It's nice, as long as the whole planet isn't trying to kill you."
Daniel meant it as a joke, but Teal'c couldn't stop the sudden image of Drey'auc, alone in their house in Sulmarr District when the damnation writ came down, or Rya'c, in training at the central temple to be a warrior-priest. Bra'tac would shield them from the worst of Apophis's rages, out of respect for Rona'c if nothing else, but there was no imagining they would ever forgive him for this.
"Indeed," he said, more quietly. "Daniel, if you will pardon my imposition, I would like to meditate for a while."
He squinted up at the black sky. "Now?"
"I will not require full kel'no'reem for several more hours. I only wish to gather my thoughts." He paused. "Ordinarily I would pray, at a time like this, but under the circumstances it seems inappropriate."
"I haven't even tried in years, but sure, if you want," he said. "I haven't got any candles, but the mat's all yours."
Sometimes Daniel would say something in a perfectly reasonable tone of voice that was so totally alien, Teal'c forgot he wasn't really from here either. "It is of no importance," he said, and then realized Daniel meant to meditate with him. "Serenity requires nothing but an ordered mind."
Daniel quirked an eyebrow at him. "I suppose not."
They sat down facing one another with the width of a body between them, and with the door-flap tied shut, the hut was kept out the whine and sharpness of the desert wind. Teal'c watched Daniel awkwardly fold himself on the ground, grunting and shifting around to get comfortable, but surprisingly natural once he got there. "Do men where you come from meditate like Jaffa, or did you learn it from the Teal'c of your world?"
Daniel thought a moment, and answered, "I learned from Teal'c. Some people meditate, but humans can't really reach kel'no'reem."
He had never heard the word fall so casually from a human's mouth before, and he was surprised at the little discomfort it summoned in him, the disapproving prickle of not for you.