Timestamp Meme: Pieces (SG-1)

[moonshayde]

This is a response to that timestamp meme that was going around. I'm still at a loss of what to do for the request for A Priori, so I decided to go with the request by sg_fignewton and martyfan for Apartment 8-3 first.

For those interested, Apartment 8-3 can be found here. It's my only OC fic about one of Daniel's neighbors. It serves as a character study of Daniel up until the end of Season 5.

This is a timestamp that takes place a little over one year after the events I wrote in Apartment 8-3. (Sorry, sg_fignewton, it's not in a grocery store.) It's not through Maggie's POV, but if I ever decide to do a sequel, that one will be back to the same format I used for Apartment 8-3.

Title: Pieces
Author: Moonshayde
Season: Seven
Category: Drama, Gen, Challenge, OC
Spoilers: Fallen/Homecoming
Pairing/Character: Daniel, Jack and Daniel friendship included
Summary: Daniel starts to pick up the pieces of his life through one person at a time.
Warnings: none
Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Stargate, Stargate SG-1 and all of its characters, titles, names, and back-story are the property of MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Productions, SciFi Channel, and Showtime/Viacom. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be printed anywhere without the sole permission of the author. Realize this is for entertainment purposes only; no financial gain or profit has been gained from this fiction. This story is not meant to be an infringement on the rights of the above-mentioned establishments


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Jack pulled up in front of the small complex. He turned off the engine, pocketed his keys, and glanced at Daniel. "We're here," he said.

Daniel stared at the building. "Where's here?"

"Get out and I'll show you."

Daniel sighed and opened the door. He was getting tired of playing this game. For the past couple of weeks, he'd been carted here, there, and everywhere as Sam, Jack, and Teal'c attempted to jog his memory. And while he appreciated the gesture, the expectations were just too high at times.

But the memories were returning, one by one. At least Daniel didn't feel hopeless anymore.

The two of them left the truck behind and headed toward the complex. Daniel frowned as he studied the building's unfamiliar brick surface and the blank faces he met along the way.

"I don't remember this place."

"You shouldn't."

Daniel started. "What?"

"You've never been here before," Jack said.

"Oh. Of course. That explains everything."

Jack didn't say anything, but Daniel was sure that he saw him smile.

Neither one of them spoke as they entered the building. Daniel silently kept tabs of everything he encountered: the smells, the sights, the sounds. He kept hoping something would trigger something in him, something deep, something that would awaken whatever was left locked inside.

If there was anything left to unlock, that is.

Jack approached the receptionist and started chatting with her while Daniel stood beside him and stared at the postings that were pinned to the wall behind her. He saw notices for different events like bingo and poker. Apparently, there was going to be a big penny sale on Saturday night.

"This is a retirement home," Daniel said.

Jack glanced at him briefly before he finished signing his name. He passed the clipboard and pen to Daniel. "What was your first clue?"

Daniel fought against the urge to roll his eyes and quickly signed his name. Jack waved him forward with his hand, urging him to follow down the hall to the elevator. Daniel went along with him, still cataloguing as many sights and sounds as he could. When they entered the elevator and Jack still hadn't said a word, Daniel got fed up with the silence and sighed.

"Who's here?" Daniel asked.

"A friend."

Daniel studied Jack's expressionless face, searching for any clues. He sighed again. "It's not Catherine. She doesn't live here."

Jack just smirked again, stepping out of the elevator as it opened onto the second floor. Daniel stalked after him, glaring at the center of Jack's back. It was no secret that Daniel was annoyed, but that only seemed to instigate Jack more.

So Daniel kept silent and thought about ways he could get even.

He didn't get to think for long. Jack stopped in front of a door that read "201" and knocked softly. After a brief pause, Daniel heard some shuffling behind the door. Slowly, he heard the locks click one by one before the door started to shake.

When the door opened, a small wrinkled woman emerged. She took one look at Jack before her surprised gaze darted to Daniel. There was a myriad of emotions in her confused face. But the last one was the one that Daniel felt the most, the one that sunk to his core and made something click inside. Her eyes filled and the brightest smile he'd ever seen lit up her face.

And Daniel found he couldn't help but smile in return.

Comments

[6beforelunch.livejournal.com]

Aw, that was sweet. :)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[martyfan.livejournal.com]

Aww! It's kind of sad but sweet anyway. I like it.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Thanks! A bit longer than intended, but thanks :)

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

Why do I have the feeling that all your comments (save this one) are going to start with "Awww!" This one almost did, until I realized the two before it had as well. Anyway, I loved Apartment 8-3, and this was a nice little companion for it.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Apartment 8-3 is always the fic I forget about. I'm glad you liked it and the companion ficlet.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

But...but... *looks for more* What happened next?! :P

I loved it, it's very sweet. Gave me warm fuzzies. Yay! :)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Her car Murphy eats their faces! It turns into a horror!

But eh...a long time ago I planned on sequeling it, but I don't know if I ever will even though I know how the sequel will go.

But thanks :)

[martyfan.livejournal.com]

car = cat? :P

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Oh hush. ;)

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

Her car Murphy eats their faces! It turns into a horror!

LOL! I actually don't put that past you. ;)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

::hugs Maggie::

Part of me is sad that Maggie had to move into a retirement home, but most of me is just delightfully touched that Jack would recognize that Maggie, and his outside-the-SGC life, is just as important for Daniel to get back.

Thank you for this! And I don't mind missing out on the grocery store. :)

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Glad that you liked it. For sequel purposes, I always had it planned that Jack would take him to her, partly because he knew that it was important for Daniel and partly because he didn't want a grocery store type incident occur. Always best to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand ;)

Still not sure if I ever will do a sequel because OC's are tricky. If you focus too much on them they can become Mary Sues very very easily. I'm of the opinion OC's should add insight into the main characters and not become a way of self-indulgence for the author. But it can be hard to do.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. And I've seen promising OCs that were nicely on the outside at first, and then, as time went on, became inextricably intertwined with the lives of the characters until they were such Mary Sues that it hurts.

...And then you go and read Redbyrd's fics. Yes! It can be done! :)

And anyway, I really loved Maggie.

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

I really liked the originating story - I love seeing the characters from outsider's perspectives and that worked really well even if it was also really sad.
And this piece was so great - Daniel getting tired of playing the memory game and Jack knowing how to jog what's important. So sweet. And you know I've been craving fics from this time period anyway :)