The Blue Jell-O Metaphor, by Jennghis Kahn (PG-13)
Rec Category: Gen
Pairing: none
Categories: gen, Samantha Carter, character study, angst, humor, team, friendship
Warnings: some language
Author on LJ: surrealphantast
Author's Website: Mindrot
Link: The Blue Jell-O Metaphor
Why This Must Be Read: My last Gen rec was my definitive Teal’c story. This one is my definitive fic for Sam.
Jenn does an amazing job of presenting us with the many aspects of Samantha Carter: her struggle as the only woman on the team, her frustration that her brilliance scares off men before a relationship can even begin, her isolation from the women who are supposed to be her peers. Ridiculous expectations from one side are paired with contemptuous dismissal from another, and Sam sees herself as the single glass of blue Jell-O in a sea of red.
But then she’s reminded of what she does have: an equally brilliant teammate who appreciates her mind and personality; a different teammate who knows, all too well, what it means to be an outsider and offers solidarity; and a CO who exasperates and inspires and encourages her in turn, to become ever greater than she already is.
“Super Sam” meets Major Sam meets Sam the woman meets Sam of SG-1, and they all decide, together, that things are pretty much okay the way they are... But she still isn’t wearing the tights.
Sam pushed her plate of food away and pulled her cup of blue Jell-O in front of her. Around her, the boys talked about ‘par’ and ‘strokes’ and explained to Teal’c what a ‘hazard’ was when he expressed concern about being caught in a sand trap as if it were a giant pit of quicksand set out to capture unsuspecting golfers. The image made her smile a bit, until she looked around the table.
They were all eating Jell-O out of the long dessert glasses. She had her usual, the blue raspberry vivid and bright. The boys all had red Jell-O. She looked beyond them to the other tables. Every single person in her line of vision had red Jell-O. She glanced up at the dessert case along the food line. There sat the other glasses of blue.
She knew that if she turned the other direction and looked at the other half of the cafeteria, there’d be more red Jell-O. She was the only blue. She stared down at her cup. She was always the only blue. Surrounded by a sea of red.
“Major Carter.” The deep voice was soft, concerned. “Are you all right?”
She glanced up at Teal’c. Their eyes met and she knew she hadn’t been able to hide her despair. She wanted to just tell him that she was fine, but now she hadn’t said anything in practically hours and it was too long now and there was no way to just say she was fine and make it believable.
Jack and Daniel had stopped talking and were looking at her worriedly now.
“Carter?” Jack’s voice brought her around. She stared at him, opened her mouth to tell him she was fine.
“I’m the blue Jell-O!” She blurted.
Jack blinked, seemed undecided in how to process this. “Are you now?” He opted for humor. Big surprise.
“Um, OK?” Daniel looked more worried now.
“Sorry.” Sam looked away from them. “I think I’m a little tired.”