Bane: Friendship

Author's Note: And I'm back! Thank goodness for Spring Break!

"Hey Teal'c!" Jack chirped happily. He walked into the infirmary holding Ryan and smiled. "I've got someone to cheer you up."

"Hello Ryan," Teal'c smiled wearily. The toddler cooed happily and crawled up the bed. Ryan pulled a book behind him and poked it into Teal'c chest.

"Thought he might cheer you up after you almost became a bug person," Jack shrugged. "I've got to go finish my report before Hammond kills me."

"Bye bye!" Ryan waved cheerfully. Jack kissed him on the forehead and gave them a smile before walking out of the room.

"What do you have," Teal'c said softly and took the large picture book from the toddler. "'The Farm.'"

Ryan settled down next to Teal'c and opened the book. He ran his fingers down the large picture of a duck and smiled softly.

"There is a duck," Teal'c read and smiled at the way Ryan stared at the book, completely engrossed in the colorful pictures. "It goes…"

"Quack!" Ryan shrieked and burst into giggles. Teal'c couldn't help but smiling at the enthusiastic toddler and gently ruffled his soft hair.

They continued through the book in the same fashion. By the end Teal'c found himself highly enjoying reading the book to Ryan. The toddler's enthusiasm lifted his spirits greatly and he couldn't help but smile at him.

"There you are!" Teal'c looked up to see Daniel standing in the doorway, a huge smile on his face. The alien nodded to him and gently closed the book.

"It is good to see you Daniel Jackson," Teal'c tried to push himself up the bed but found a small boy on his chest made it far more difficult.

"You to, I'm glad you're feeling better," Daniel pulled up a plastic chair and sat down next to the bed. "How are you feeling about all of this?"

"I am fine," Teal'c responded, noticing how awkward Daniel seemed. "I am completely healed and my symbiote has suffered no damage."

"Um, that's not quite what I meant," Daniel glanced down at his feet for a moment. "Teal'c, I understand that the venom began to affect your mind but why would you have ripped out your symbiote?"

"I did not want to transform and hurt others," Teal'c said simply. "I knew that removing my symbiote would kill me."

"You wanted to kill yourself?" Daniel asked incredulously.

"Yes," Teal'c observed Daniel's shocked expression and the younger man leaned forward.

"Why would you do that?" The archeologist asked softly. "We were working hard to help you and wouldn't have let you hurt anyone."

"How can you ask me that Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c felt surprise and anger begin to well up in him. "I am the reason your wife is captured. You should hate me, you should have been happy I tried that. I don't understand why you give me your friendship."

Daniel was surprised at Teal'c outburst; he had never heard the warrior talk about himself so much.

"I should hate you," Daniel said truthfully. "But I've seen how good of a person you are and how much you care about Ryan. I couldn't hate anyone who cared about my son as much as you do."

"I do not deserve your friendship," Teal'c said softly, looking down at the huge blue eyes of Ryan.

"I don't care whether you think you deserve it or not. I respect you Teal'c and regard you as one of my closest friends," Daniel said sincerely. "Now, the reason I came down here is to ask if you wanted eggrolls. Jack is ordering Chinese so we can bring it down here and eat with you."

"Eggrolls sound appealing," Teal'c nodded and Daniel grinned before he stood to go call Jack.

"Duck go quack," Ryan said solemnly and Teal'c smiled warmly at the child.