January Recs: Samantha Carter, and Teal'c and Daniel friendship fics

[fignewton]

I started out 2007 by reccing two different categories for stargateficrec: Samantha Carter, and Teal'c and Daniel friendship. I love a feisty, strong-willed, intelligent Sam; I adore the astonishing close friendship that Teal'c and Daniel have developed. The stories recced below showcase these characters the way I like them most.

Please note that the links lead to the full recommendation in stargateficrec and not to the fics themselves. All stories recced this month, as well as those added from previous recs, are gen – with one exception, marked accordingly.

 The master list of fic recs can be found here.

Samantha Carter recs:

A Dangerous Business, by Tarimanveri (PG)

Chance, by Mitai (PG-13)

Five Resolutions That Sam Carter Broke, by Julie (PG)

It's the Little Things, by Julie Fortune (PG-13/R)

Proportional Hazards, by Eve (G)

Teamwork, by Courser (PG-13)

Travelers Return, by Redbyrd (PG)

West, by Minnow (PG)

Since I've always had a thing for good quality Sam gen fic – mostly because there isn't that much around, although matters are improving! – many previous recs fit nicely into the Sam category. I've listed the best below.

Charades by Aelfgyu (PG) – Great character study of Sam! Told from her POV as she watches her teammates – particularly Jack and Daniel – interact during a crisis and its aftermath.

Impossible Yet Useful Numbers, by Tallulah Rasa (G) – A gem of Tallulah Rasa's, as Captain Carter tries to comprehend those aspects of her team that don't quite fit into her neat, scientific view of the universe.

Jell-O Shots, by Jennghis Kahn (PG-13) – Great fun and teamy goodness as the SG-1 gathers to play poker in Sam's home… and Jack discovers the Jell-O shots in her fridge.

Meeting of Minds, by SEF (PG-13) – A wonderful teamy goodness story, told entirely from an intelligent, capable Sam's POV. Set in S7, it brings back the Gadmeer, touches on Daniel's ascension and its impact on the team, and dwells lovingly on that most special aspect of the best of Stargate – thorny moral dilemmas. A top ten fic.

Mostly Harmless, by Betacandy (PG) – Charming, delightful character study of both Sam and Daniel, eating breakfast in the commissary right before Daniel's appendix goes into crisis.

No Signs, by Random (R) – One of Random's first non-episode related fics, this gives us a strong, capable Sam, doing more than her share on the S&R mission in a matriarchal society. Wonderful characterization throughout.

Once Upon a Time in Egypt, by LJ (PG) – Lyrical and fascinating and almost dreamy in tone, this unusual fic traces the impact of SG-1's presence in Ancient Egypt to explain why AU Sam never joined the Air Force.

One Half of the Equation, by Minxy (PG-13)– Bleak and lonely and achingly good, this fic gives us a Sam all too aware of how damaged she is after eight years in the Stargate program. Only Daniel, equally damaged, can offer her true understanding and friendship.

Salt of the Earth, by ELG (R)  – This teamy goodness story gives us a scarred Sam in late Season 5, who's a little too tired of seeing good people die. And after Tollana – her ideal as a scientific, peaceful society – Sam badly needs a successful mission. This one is a mystery and adventure and a challenge all wrapped up on one.

The Taste of Honey, the Hum of Bees, by Salieri (PG-13)– This story is a delight. Written with elegance and poignancy and a beautiful setting, it's Sam's POV of a mission in early S7, when they're still trying to work Daniel back into the team dynamics.

Teal'c and Daniel friendship recs:

Sadly, this is a category where choices are still few and far between. We need more Teal'c and Daniel friendship fics, people! Write me some, okay?

Cut Here, by Tripoli (PG)

Five Cultural Misunderstandings…, by Minnow (PG-13)

From the Ashes, by Sam Walker (PG-13)

Little Things, by Debby (G)

Nocturne, by Purpleshrub (G)

The Summons, by Scribe (PG-13)

Fics I would have recced, if I hadn't recced them already in a different category:

Learning by Heart, by K Hanna Korossy (PG) – Light and fluffy and fun, we get Daniel taking Teal'c shopping for Sam's birthday present in early S1. The topics of conversation are all over the place, but it's Teal'c's choice of the perfect gift that will really have you grinning.

Learning, by Random (PG)  – This wonderful story seriously tempted me; I really considered reccing it again, even though my policy has always been not to rec the same fic twice. Unlike most Absolute Power ep tags, this one involves Daniel going to Teal'c for advice – and Teal'c's analysis of Shifu's dream/vision is utterly inspiring and absolutely, completely Teal'c.

Lost and Found, by Karen Greim Mullian (PG-13) – (Sam/Pete) While this story is essentially a Jack and Daniel friendship fic – really, it's about how lost Daniel is without Jack and the Stargate – there is an incredibly strong element of Teal'c and Daniel friendship running throughout the story. In Jack's absence, it's Teal'c who deals most capably with Daniel, who understands the depths of his despair, and who coaxes him back, almost despite himself, into health. My favorite snippet of Teal'c and Daniel is a flashback to Season 1, when Daniel confronts Teal'c about Sha're's loss in a manner that's a lot more realistic than most fic treatments I've seen.

Unto You This Night, by Moonshayde (PG) - the original rec was for all seven parts of Broken Dreams, Shattered Memories, a wonderfully long post-ascension story about Daniel coming fully back to himself. The section I've linked here is the one with Teal'c and Daniel.

With the Dying, by Dira Sudis (PG-13) – This one hurts. It's Daniel and AU Teal'c at the end of Moebius, after the battle against Ra has been won – and Daniel can do nothing more than sit by his side as Teal'c dies free.

Please let me know if any of the links are broken or misdirected!

Comments

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

Unless you're specifying gen fics that are mostly Jack and Daniel or Jack and Sam friendship... in which case I must regretfully inform me you that there are lots and lots of the former. Jack and Sam, not so much; but that's probably because they're an even greater rarity than Sam and Daniel friendship fics!

Yeah, I guess I was a little unclear. I was specifying the gen - but more specifically that I really love the Sam and Daniel dynamic and the other character combinations often get more emphasis, so I'm really excited to have more Sam and Daniel fics pointed out. I still love all the other stuff, just Sam and Daniel is the special thing there isn't enough of, you know?

I have poked at some of your older recs - but thanks for pointing out the other source.

I'm going to give S6 a fair shot. I love Daniel best, but I do like the other characters and love Sam almost as much as Daniel. I figure it can't be *too* bad, especially since I know he'll come back.

Thanks for the warning - but I'm not too worried about spoilers. something about just getting into a show that started airing 10 years ago that makes me think worrying about spoilers is too much effort. *sigh* Floppy hair!