Daniel, Vala, Teal'c, and Cameron, all dressed in black, were getting prepared in a room. The archeologist was putting something in his backpack already filled with books and the others were taking black tactical vests in a locker when Jack arrived. The general had exchanged his service dress for the SGC green BDU. He felt more comfortable with this clothing than with the blue dress, especially when there was no official reason to wear the service dress. The SGC had been his second house, or maybe his first, for almost a decade. Wearing the green BDU made him feel at home, with good friends.

Daniel was the first to notice Jack's presence. "Hey, what's up, Jack?", he asked, closing his backpack that was on a bench.

"I was just passing through, to say goodbye before you step through the gate." O'Neill answered, from the entrance. He made a few steps forward, and continued, "Lucky you, I wish I could do it again... It has become so rare that I don't even remember when was the last time I did it."

Mitchell provided the answer, while checking his P90 at a case, "Your last trip was two months ago, to Atlantis, sir."

"A long time ago..." Jack sighed.

The former commanding officer of SG1 went back to silence, but didn't leave the place. He kept on looking at SG1 finalizing its preparation. Although Jack's face was neutral, Daniel felt his friend had something on his mind that he wanted to share and not share at the same time.

"Jack, is everything okay?" Daniel queried.

"Oh, yes. Just... Just have fun, while I'm walking around in here."

The general left the group. The SG1 men were puzzled.

Cameron started, "Is it me or General O'Neill seems a bit...". The officer paused because he couldn't find the appropriate adjective.

Teal'c suggested, "Worried?"

Cameron thought about it, but he wasn't convinced.

Daniel shared another idea, "Nostalgic?"

Cameron nodded and approved, "Yes. Nostalgic. That's it. I've never seen him like that. Well, can't say I know him as much as you do, Daniel and Teal'c... Is it me or do you feel the same?"

The colonel took P90 chargers. Teal'c did the same, and confirmed, "Your feeling is correct, Colonel Mitchell. General O'Neill's behavior is unusual today."

Daniel nodded and closed his tactical vest. Mitchell sensed Vala was staring at her male fellows, while loading her P90 near the colonel. Her look was meaning they were missing the point.

"What?" Cameron asked Vala.

"You don't get it?" Mal Doran replied, tilting her head.

"What?" Cameron repeated.

"General O'Neill is neither worried nor nostalgic. He's sad. And bored. Because things are not happening the way he hoped."

Daniel, Cameron, and Teal'c stared at Vala, still not understanding. Vala rolled her eyes and shook her head, falsely exasperated.

"Isn't that obvious? General O'Neill came to the SGC to meet Colonel Carter in the first place! But she can't come, so, now, he's stuck here to talk about administrative matters with General Landry."

The men seemed to realize now.

Vala shared her personal opinion, "I don't understand why Sam had to go to Atlantis. She should be here, with us!". Vala paused. She corrected, "Well, with General O'Neill. They should be here together, making babies!"

Vala's face glowed at her last sentence. She said afterwards, more seriously, "Well, technically speaking, they could do it either here or in Atlantis."

Teal'c raised his right eyebrow, caught off guard by the suggestion, but remained stoic. Cameron grimaced.

Daniel was utterly embarrassed by this awkward statement. He would never get used to Vala's weird thoughts coming out of the blue. He sighed, "This conversation was almost normal, until that last sentence."

Vala's face glowed again. "Oh, wait a minute. I know what could help General O'Neill!"

The lady put the P90 on the top of a case, and before anyone could retort anything, she ran into the corridor. Cameron looked at Daniel, silently asking what Vala was going to do. Daniel had no idea. However, he had the feeling it would be another one of her atypical plans she was the only one to be capable of.

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