Victory and Loss
Rated: PG
Category: Angst
Season: Two
Spoilers: Family
Summary: Teal'c Had His Son, Jack Did Not.
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As he looked through the barred window, Colonel Jack O'Neill's heart both rejoiced and shattered at the scene before him.
He was happy for his friend. Really. He was.
He was glad to see Teal'c reunited with his family. Rya'c was a boy again, and not a weapon of Apophis. All was right in Teal'c's world for the time being. Joy radiated from the Jaffa's eyes.
Jack couldn't help but be happy, but he also couldn't beat back the extreme surge of jealousy, pain and guilt that threatened to overcome his senses.
In Jack's world, a wound not even close to healed was torn wide open again. The bandages he'd made to cover it were ripped off viciously.
Jack thought of how he would never reclaim his own son.
Of how the demons that had taken Charlie could not be fought.
Of how he'd failed where Teal'c had succeeded.
Jack would get very, very drunk that night.
He would call in sick the next day.
He would visit Charlie's grave the next afternoon.
The following day, he would pretend he was fine and buy a baseball glove.
And he would never look at Teal'c in quite the same way again.