Career Choices

"Are you unhappy with your position on SG-1, Colonel Mitchell?"

Cam looked up from the coffee warming his hands and blinked his surprise at Teal'c's off the cuff comment. "Err, what?"

"Was my question ambiguous?"

"No, I heard you, T. Just wondering why you asked."

"Hello, boys!" Vala slid in next to Cam at the table and plucked a piece of toast from his breakfast tray, frowning as she bit into it. "You like your toast cold?"

"No," Cam said, snatching it back. "I like my toast when it's actually MY toast."

"Someone is grumpy this morning," Vala grouched, plucking the slice back and stuffing it into her mouth around a smile.

"You have not answered my question, Colonel Mitchell."

"Take a load off, T-man," Cam pushed the chair opposite him out with his foot, "and then tell my why the question."

Tipping his head to one side in his trademark nod of accession, Teal'c pulled the chair out the rest of the way and sat, placing a small bag on the table. "I merely wished to know whether you were happy on SG-1."

Cam shrugged. "Sure. Got no complaints. What about you?"

"I am most satisfied with my career choice. And you, Vala Mal Doran, are you happy?"

Vala paused with another slice of Cam's toast half in her mouth. "Uh-huh," she mumbled, showering the table with crumbs. Swallowing quickly, she licked her lips and sucked a glob of jam from the tip of her finger. "Not quite as profitable as liberating treasure… actually, not even close, but on the upside, this planet sells the most wonderful panties!"

Cam spewed coffee over the table and clamped a hand to his mouth to hold the rest in.

"Something wrong, Cameron?" she asked.

Wiping his hand down his chin, he flicked the coffee dregs onto the table and reached for a serviette. "Nope," he squeaked, "not a thing."

"I believe Colonel Mitchell was responding to your use of the word 'panties', Vala Mal Doran."

"Really?"

Finished wiping up his mess, Cam turned and said, "There are some topics not meant to be shared over breakfast."

"Clearly not. So, Muscles, what's with the questions?"

Teal'c cleared his throat. "I was enquiring as to your other careers."

"Other?" they said in perfect unison.

"Yes. I always believed you were both well compensated for your efforts in protecting this galaxy from the challenges it faced, but it appears not."

"No?" Cam's brow settled in a heap on his nose. "Well, like I said, I've got no complaints. Don't suppose you'd like to get to the point here?"

"I am referring to your acting careers. The other roles you both chose to take, which I can only assume was an attempt to illicit more money to finance your lifestyle. Is this not the reason you would take on a second career?"

"Did you do this to O'Neill?"

"Do what, Colonel Mitchell?"

"This…" Cam checked his watch, "this confusing the heck out of us before oh eight hundred hours. Gotta tell ya, Teal'c, you're doing a ban up job of it."

"I saw no reason to confuse O'Neill."

"Yeah, and why was that?"

"Because O'Neill was always confused. He required no additional assistance."

Vala chuckled, but bit down on her lip when Cam tossed her a look of annoyance. "Sorry," she whispered.

"Teal'c?"

Teal'c reached into his bag. "I believe this should explain everything," he said, pulling a DVD out and sliding it across the table. "I shall leave this with you while I discuss Daniel Jackson's secondary occupation with him. I do not believe this 'Mega Snake' movie was a wise career choice."

Teal'c stood, nodded his farewell, and left his teammates staring open-mouthed at a copy of Farscape, season 1.