Solace by Celli Lane (strong R)

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

And since I'm going to be out of town for most of this week, here's another Alias rec to whet your fanfic appetite. :)

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: Jack/OC
Author on LJ: celli
Author Website: Fanfic 101
Why this must be read: I'm never quite sure how Celli does it, but she excels at intermixing angst and humor with pitch-perfect characterization.

In S1, we all knew Syd saw Jack as the aloof, unfeeling father, and even though we as viewers knew differently, sometimes it was hard to remember this all the time. But in "Solace," Celli points out why it is Jack behaves as he does, and how Jack's affected by his behavior:

It was always like this every time: Sydney was in danger; Vaughn was emoting all over the place and making grandiose plans to get her back; Jack was forced to be the realist, the pragmatist, the devil's advocate, and--when necessary--the devil himself.

And then he would sit and get drunk--his hand strayed to his phone--while he waited for the call that would tell him first if the mission had been successful, and only then if his daughter was unharmed.

See, I wasn't kidding about how well Celli mixes humor with angst. :) But the real joy to be found in this fic is how Jack allows himself a night of happy companionship with a woman who isn't playing any spygames, and how this companionship heals him, in a way. It's a story that's heartwrenching AND heartwarming AND provides us with an unforgettable glimpse into Jack's psyche. Furthermore, Suzanne's a kickass original character.

Go read and enjoy.

Solace