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Attached to the chair they procured from P7J-989 Teal'c was subjected to an interactive 'game' made difficult by his own beliefs. It was only won by Teal'c's determination. And when in the final sequence of the game all of SG-1 banded together.

After Teal'c was through with playing video games and rested, SG-1 was sent on a milk run to a planet for a meet and greet.

O'Neill was on the phone when the Stargate flared into action. He would have gone down to see what was up or to greet a returning SG unit. SG -1 left not a half hour ago so it couldn't be them. And he really wanted to get off the phone. As it was he was rapidly losing interest in the endless blather but the blather was about next year's funding so he remained with the phone glued to his ear.

He tried to get up to peek out of his office to see who was returning unexpectedly, nearly dumping the phone base and a ton of paperwork on the floor. He needed a longer cord. Bad idea. He might be tempted to hang himself with it.

In what seemed like hours later he met with a freshly scrubbed SG1 for a debrief.

One look at Carter's face and he felt his blood rise. She noticed his concern and watched him look away, the muscles tightening in his jaw line. She watched him shove his hands in his pockets so not to touch her. She heard his off handed remark about it must have been a rough ride through the old orifice.

He had let it show, showed that he cared. Why now? It had been so damned long since she had even a glimpse of his feelings.

Why now, now that she was engaged, now that she had given up.

Why now? Had he been hiding it or had it newly resurfaced?

She had worn a long sleeved high neck shirt instead of the usual black t-shirt. Beside the obvious abrasion on her cheek barely disguised by makeup, O'Neill could not help but notice the bruising on her neck and the thin line of blood there too, no matter how she pulled up the high neck. In fact that just brought it all the more to his attention.

All the general asked was "Carter?"

"Sir, the inhabitants of P6X-452 adamantly refuse to speak with an officer of the SGC who is a woman. If you choose to send another team I recommend we send an all male team."

He could tell, actually anyone could tell Carter would prefer they lob a nuke through the gate to old P6X-452.

"Do they have anything we need?" O'Neill asked.

"No idea, Sir. Never got that far."

"Well, fuck'em. Tell Walter to lock out that address."

Daniel shot up "What about the people there? Shouldn't we…"

"I repeat fuck'em." With that O'Neill got up, told SG1 to take a few days off after submitting their reports. He then asked Teal'c to see him in his office.

"What happened out there?"

"O'Neill, we were within sight of a village when a group of the inhabitants approached us. Lt. Col. Carter began to introduce us when a large man raised his fist and struck her. I failed to respond in time. Before Daniel Jackson or I could act he used her as a shield and had a blade to her throat. I hit them both with my Zatnickatel. Daniel Jackson dialed back. I picked up Colonel Carter and we returned. It is my fault that Colonel Carter was further injured. The man fell holding firmly onto the knife. I take full responsibility."

"You did the right thing Teal'c. You got her home and she's okay."

"Colonel Carter despises looking weak."

"I get that." O'Neill said.

"She despises looking weak in your eyes O'Neill."

Daniel and Teal'c were talking as they continued to look over ads for available apartments. Sam Carter, the newly minted Lt. Colonel, was busy with other things, things that she excelled at. She was sent to confer with a business mogol about the increased production of engines for the recently depleted fleet of X-302s.

"Do you think Jack's jealous?" Daniel asked.

"No, I do not."

"No, not of Pete."

"He is of no consequence." Teal'c was certain.

"Of Colson?"

"Insecure, perhaps."

"Insecure? Jack insecure?"

"O'Neill is confident as a warrior, as is she. Colson is a scientist, a very knowledgeable scientist. Colonel Carter and Colson communicate on a different level, one that O'Neill cannot. I believe this is the source of his distress."

They scanned the car ads too. Teal'c would need a ride and he had saved quite a bundle since the Air Force started paying him a salary.

"Want to buy or lease?" Daniel asked.

"I am unsure."

"You know when Jack was always after Sam to take a break or go on vacation so she wouldn't burn out? Do you think this is her taking leave?"

"Leave of her senses?" Teal'c asked, not sure what Daniel was getting at.

"No, taking a break from Jack. I'm having trouble expressing this right. Burnt out from wanting what she can't have and going off in a different direction."

Teal'c gave a short "Hmph".

"You're looking for a SUV right?" Daniel asked, looking at the ads again.

"You have told me of when you first met O'Neill." Teal'c said.

"I was young and self-absorbed - it took a while to realize what pain he was in."

"Do you not see it now?" Teal'c asked.

"Because of Sam and Colson or Pete? Do you think this is something we should be worried about?"

"No."