Landry watched his best team with barely guarded interest during the necessary debriefing following their return and the equally necessary medical examinations. As a troubled looking Colonel Mitchell narrated the major events of the failed mission, including eventually finding the Anti-Ori Underground, which they had had to find by themselves due to the IOA not permitting Tomin to join them in this Universe, Landry's gaze wandered to the rest of the team.

Vala looked innocently exuberant, which admittedly troubled him to some extent, and he surmised that you could never be too sure with people like her, especially considering her skills earned and honed through goodness-knows-how-many years of being on the run.

Teal'c looked deeply disturbed despite his self-enforced stoic exterior, and the General wondered if the Jaffa was going to hit the weights when the team was dismissed, or worse, seriously harm a member of the SGC. He strongly hoped for the former as he didn't want to have to deal with the NID again.

Colonel Carter's eyes had always betrayed her feelings and he wondered why she looked so deeply haunted and upset, yet holding it together as she tended to do whilst on duty. The answer to that and Doctor Jackson's perfectly schooled emotionless façade, Teal'c's too, came in the following part of Mitchell's narrative,

"… And, Carter and Jackson got married and had a bunch of kids… in another Universe…"

Landry's eyebrow shot up, and he noticed his scientists discreetly glance at each other and trying fruitlessly not to react when they caught each other looking.

Oh dear, he needed a word with Mitchell afterwards. All those years of SG-1 saving the Earth and the galaxy because of their togetherness appeared to be coming to an end because of an accidental meeting with another Universe… Hopefully, they would be able to sort it out between them without outside intervention during their upcoming leave. He knew from experience that it could only end badly if he intervened at too early a stage.

He still needed a discreet word with Mitchell though, and maybe tell Carolyn to give Teal'c something to keep him from storming through the mountain.

Dismissing his team at the end of the briefing, having heard everything that he had needed to, and after instructing them to write their reports, he quietly requested Mitchell to stay behind as the rest of SG-1 filed out, and he called to Carter, who turned around on hearing her name, stopping near the doorway,

"Colonel Carter… Jack called earlier – he should be in Colorado Springs this evening."

"Thank you Sir."

As the Colonel left, he noticed Doctor Jackson's expressionless mask distort momentarily, an inordinate amount of pain and hurt showing for the briefest of moments.

Oh dear.

When the rest of the team had left, he turned to face his second-in-command as he thought to himself, "Well, at least Colonel Carter has good taste in men in one Universe…"

With a sigh and a weary expression, he gestured for Mitchell to follow him, saying, "We're better off in my office."

Mitchell nodded, knowing what was to come, and no doubt hoping that his friends could resolve whatever issues that they may have.

Inside, the door firmly shut, Landry paced behind his desk as Mitchell stood in front of it, waiting. The General finally spoke, stopping his pacing, his palms outstretched as he slowly dropped his arms, saying,

"What are we going to do, Mitchell? We both know that Teal'c, Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson are the core of SG-1. If they cannot work together, then SG-1 is no longer SG-1, and quite frankly, there is no-one who can fill their huge shoes, as you have long since discovered."

Mitchell nodded and replied, looking troubled, "Yes Sir. I don't want the band splitting up again – those guys have proved themselves in the field, time and time again, even during those reputed tension years between the General and Sam. SG-1 needs their skills…"

Landry, sensing that Mitchell wanted to say more, said, "You've got permission to speak your mind about this – I could use your insight."

Not missing a beat, Mitchell replied, letting out an explosive breath, "Well Sir, to tell the truth, I've always suspected that Jackson has had, what would be considered round this neck of the woods, inappropriate feelings for Sam over the years, and it's not just me. You know how insightful Teal'c is."

"I do."

"… And Sam's always been too damn stubborn to see the light. That's why Teal'c's annoyed. I do honestly believe that she, perhaps at one time if not still, returned Jackson's feelings, but getting either of them to open up is plumb impossible."

"What is your recommendation?"

Mitchell exhaled and replied, "I'd leave it for a couple of weeks Sir. They've obviously got some issues to work out but if they're not sorted by the next time we're on active duty, I flatly refuse to take them through the 'gate again – I won't have any guarantee that their issues won't overflow into the field and screw up a mission. It's bad enough with Teal'c acting like a bear with a sore head."

Landry nodded, inwardly admiring his Colonel's sense of responsibility despite his close ties with his comrades, and said, "Well, let's hope that it doesn't come to that, and that they can settle this. Dismissed, Colonel."