Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and all of its characters belong to someone. I am not that someone and will be receiving no monetary gain from the publication of this story.

Time Frame: This deleted scene takes place during my novel "Expendable" which is set mid-season 8. It is one of the first scenes I envisioned while plotting "Expendable", but in the end, never made it to the final draft. It takes place right after Jack says good-bye to Nick and Saskia, before he and SG-1 board the Al'kesh.

My reason for cutting this scene, was simply that the chapter in which it belonged had a lot ground to cover and several loose ends to tie up, and I was worried it might start to feel too drawn out or emotionally repetitive. And since this scene was the only one that could be removed without damaging the story's flow, it fell prey to my editing scissors.

But I just couldn't bring myself to delete it entirely! And then I got to thinking that some of y'all might actually enjoy getting to read it as well, short and unimportant though it is. So, here ya' go! It contains no real spoilers, but if you haven't read "Expendable", it may not make as much sense as it should.

Enjoy!


10-22-2004, 11:19 OWT
10-22-2004, 10:19 Zulu
Corvee' Homeworld

The tall grass of the open field lapped at Sam's BDUs. It's steady swish hiss against her legs and those of her teammates was the only sound she could hear. All else was silence; heavy and thick.

The General had taken point, passing each of them with barely a glance.

I have a feeling I may be… reassigned…

Sam blinked — hard — as she remembered his words. Steps slowing, she chewed her lip. "Sir?"

He didn't turn around or stop, but he hesitated. "Yeah?"

"Sir… wait." Catching Teal'c's eye, then Daniel's, Sam came to a halt. So did they.

And so did the General. Shoulders stretched taut, he turned to face them. His mouth pulled into a stiff smile. "What's up?"

Closing the distance between them, Sam reached into her pocket. Her fingers wrapped around the General's SG-1 patch. She held it out to him. "I think this is yours, sir."

But the General made no move to take it. Eyes fixed on her open hand, he shook his head. "Carter—"

"They took a number off of your uniform, Jack," Daniel said. "That's all."

"He's right, sir."

"Indeed."

The General looked at each of them. His hands curled into fists, then loosened.

"We're still a Team, sir," Carter murmured. "If you want us to be."

Her words struck home.

A wave of emotion — of yearning — surged through the General's dark eyes. It was raw. Fierce. He swallowed, jaw flexed tight. And wordlessly took the patch.

With a trace of a smile, Teal'c bowed. "I believe it is time we return home, O'Neill."

"Yeah." The General nodded, coughed, rubbed at his neck… half-smirked. "Yeah. Let's go home."

They started walking. And this time they did it in a line, four abreast, their strides perfectly matched. A Team.

Still a Team.