Fic: Sleep Guardian (G)

[aurora_novarum]

Title: Sleep Guardian
Category: Character study. Ficlet. Drama. Gen.
Spoilers/Warnings: Set anytime with established SG-1; G rated (no warnings)
Word Count: ~200

Summary: Teal'c watches the younger man as he sleeps...

Author's Notes: Something I've been thinking about doing for a while, and reading a fic last night finally made me decide to write it. Unbetaed.



Teal'c gazed down at the younger man. He'd fallen asleep at his desk again, always working so hard, never resting when he thought he was needed. He thought no one knew this secret, but Teal'c had discovered it. He watched the somnolent figure slowly breathe, his features relaxed and easy, so different from the stressed, pinched look he often showed when awake. His piercing blue eyes, so full of intelligence and drive, were closed now, making him look younger still.

He was not what Teal'c expected for a warrior; his way was not the Jaffa way. But warrior the man was. A world of knowledge and wisdom, despite his lack of years. Perhaps that was a factor of humans shorter life cycles. O'Neill certainly knew much, and he was barely of warrior age.

Teal'c would watch over this young warrior as he slept. His people would need him again soon enough. So when Daniel Jackson came to General Hammond's door with a folder of papers, Teal'c silently directed him back. Not even his teammates would disturb Hammond's sleep. He deserved the rest.

Comments

[thothmes]

Yeah, after I posted my comment and went down to cook dinner, it occured to me that you were probably thinking full investiture as a warrior, as opposed to warrior-in-training. And I can see that the Jaffa, who are taught that the weak are not worthy of continued survival ["It is a thing which all Jaffa know..."], and who have long lives in which to produce more strong sons, as being capable of risking their children in battle as apprentices. I hope that with freedom will come a greater value to individual lives, as opposed to service of the whole.

Now, see, that's what I like about this fic. It's short and sweet, but it made me think thinky thoughts!

I'd be curious to hear what you think of my take on early childhood in Jaffa society in my commentfic about a youthful transgression of Teal'c's here and in the comment immediately following But don't feel obligated. I just usually really don't have much to say about Jaffa culture, so it's a bit of a first for me.

See! You're not the only one who has trouble keeping short within comment length! My commentfics are often so affected, just like my five thingses. ;)

Edited to fix the link because my proof-reading skills are sleeping today. Sigh.

[aurora_novarum]

Hee! I never imagined my crackfic turned sweet character study would enlist such thinky thoughts! YAY! You made my day!

I am so glad you sent me to that comment fic link. That's one of the best Teal'c backstories I've read, and I've read some really good ones. I saw nanda's thursday thing but my brain went totally blank on it and never did go back to see the cute stuff people did. Look what I missed!

(BTW, if that had been on dreamwidth, totally would've fit in one comment so it's lj's fault, not ours for being...verbose. Heh. I think Sleep Guardian was my shortest fic EVER!)