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Xander Harris (B:tVS)

First and foremost, I will always love Xander because he stayed. He was just about the only guy in Buffy's life that did! I can forgive him for his participation in the kicking-out-of-Buffy scene in Season 7 because of his recent trauma and probable state of medication for it, but other than that, he was always there, despite his frequent and loudly expressed irritation at her choices.

He never stopped trying, even when the other Scoobies went through their occasional fits of trying to shoo him off somewhere safe. And even though he was very flawed-- he never could see straight on the subject of Buffy's boyfriends, and his actions in "Hell's Bells" were deeply selfish, among other things-- he was, at heart, a good, strong decent person who grew a lot over the course of the show and was frequently good for a pointed pep-talk exactly when it was needed most. People tend to remember Spike filling that role-- the whole "blood screaming in you to work its will" conversation, for one-- but Xander frequently did it, too, and not just with the yellow crayon speech. The whole one-who-sees conversation with Dawn about her turning out to not be a Potential was one of my favorite late-season moments for him, along with his conversation with Buffy in Season 6 just before she gets shot, and of course there are many more.

I liked him better when he was thinner and less bitter in the early seasons, but he was almost the Xander I loved again by the end only more mature, and I wished we could have seen what became of him after (and not the redundant useleness that ended up in the Nancy Holder book someone recced to me).

Jack O'Neill, two ll's (SG-1)

I freely admit that the entire Stargate universe revolves around Daniel for me, but I have much love for every member of both casts, and Jack ranks near the top. And for more than just his bond with Daniel (I do read slash, but I also like platonic friendship fics about the pair of them, because they both get under each other's skins and balance each other out in canon in ways that are fascinating and endearing to watch).

He's attractive, though generally a little older than I like my men; he's a smart and talented man, despite the dumb jock facade he puts up; he was very devoted to his job at the SGC and to his team in specific; he was willing to do whatever he had to do to protect his people, even when it got him in trouble. He had a fun sense of humor, and a reputation around the galaxy that Cameron Mitchell is never going to be able to live up to, much as I like the guy. He's been through hardship and tragedy and despite nearly breaking a couple of times, ended up even tougher and more polished in the end, like a diamond out of coal.

In conclusion, if I had to pick one TV character to have my six in a dangerous situation? It would always be Jack.