Teal'c headed to the gym around his normal time. Usually a few of hours after lunch, about an hour or two before the shift change for the day occurred. At that time of day the gym was nearly deserted, which gave Teal'c plenty of time to complete the majority of his workout regiment before SGC personnel started trickling in before or at the end of their shifts.

As he approached, he could hear the distinct sound of someone hitting the punching bag. They were punching fast and hard. Very hard. He even thought he could hear someone grunting as each punch connected with the bag. As he entered, he was surprised that it was Colonel O'Neill punching. And poor Sgt. Siler was grunting as he struggled to hold the bag steady with each punch.

From the way the Colonel was slamming his fists into the bag Teal'c could tell his friend was upset. Very upset. Probably a little ticked off, as O'Neill would say it. And O'Neill appeared so recklessly ticked off that he didn't even break in his punches when one came dangerously close to Siler's face. When Siler had to duck to avoid the next punch, Teal'c decided it was time to step in and perhaps discover what was troubling O'Neill. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that O'Neill's nose was red and slightly swollen?

"Sgt. Siler, I will relieve you," Teal'c announced. O'Neill paused and stared at him for a moment. "If that is alright with you O'Neill."

"Whatever," O'Neill shrugged.

"Thank you, Sir!" Siler said, looking somewhat relieved probably because he managed to escape without too much bodily harm. He quickly nodded to Teal'c and then hurried away at almost a running pace.

Colonel O'Neill immediately resumed pounding away at the bag once Teal'c had a hold of it. Something was truly bothering the man as each punch had quite a bit of force behind it, even for O'Neill.

"O'Neill, is there something troubling you?" Teal'c asked out right as he always believed in being direct and to the point.

After two quick solid jabs the Colonel stopped, dropping his hands to his sides.

"What makes you think something's bothering me?" he grumbled, out of breath.

"You have never hit the punching bag with such aggressiveness before."

"And from that you think something's bothering me?" he asked, gingerly rubbing his nose.

"I do."

The Colonel gave Teal'c one of those incredulous looks of his. Teal'c was not fooled. He knew O'Neill was much smarter than he lead people to believe and in fact, relished playing dumb leading many of his enemies and some of his friends to underestimate him.

"We have been friends for a long time now, O'Neill. There is always a reason for your actions. I am simply here as your friend and want to understand what is troubling you."

"You really want to know…why don't you go ask him!" O'Neill snapped pointing off towards a wall.

Teal'c cocked his head to one side and observed that no one else was in the room with them.

"Perhaps I will, O'Neill. But to whom are you referring?" he asked.

"That sneaky, slithering, son of a bitch of a snake, Selmak!" O'Neill explained. "He punched me in the nose…damn near broke it!"

Teal'c raised an eyebrow in surprise. He never thought Selmak would ever raise a fist towards anyone he considered a friend. It wasn't in his nature to do so. Not even his host, Jacob Carter would do such a thing. Both were experienced warriors, had a great deal of poise under duress, and wouldn't even strike an enemy unless it was self-defense or unless they had a reason. And they both possessed a great deal of personal honor.

In fact, Teal'c was convinced the ex-Tok'ra resistance leader would never throw a punch at Colonel O'Neill unless he had good cause. Therefore, Selmak must have been provoked. Presumably by something O'Neill said or did. From Teal'c's experience it was probably something O'Neill said. And while Teal'c considered O'Neill a good friend, he did have to admit that there were times when O'Neill needed to... as they said it on Earth... Put a sock in it.

"All I did was call him a snake!" O'Neill said.

And thus confirmed what Teal'c had speculated. Only he never thought the two would get physically confrontational with one another some over name-calling.

"Was that all you did?" Teal'c asked.

"Yeah…well…maybe I taunted him with some ancient gizmo thing. But I've called him a snake on a number of occasions before. And today, of all days, he takes it personally. Ask Daniel, he was there...he witnessed the whole assault!"

In hindsight, perhaps Teal'c shouldn't have been surprised that the altercation had taken place. There has been a growing animosity between Selmak and O'Neill lately. During briefings that had been conducted by Selmak, O'Neill had repeatedly asked unnecessary questions or made illogical comments. Selmak was dignified enough to ignore them and on one occasion General Hammond had ordered O'Neill to 'zip it'.

"Then the arrogant bastard had the nerve to ask for me to apologize! Me!" O'Neill continued. "And that was after he called me a dense moron!"

"Did you not say you called him a snake first?"

"That's beside the point!" O'Neill snapped, slamming his fist hard into the punching bag, causing Teal'c to have to adjust his stance.

"And did you not say you taunted him?"

"Whose side are you on?" O'Neill growled throwing one last punch.

"I am on no one's side," Teal'c answered honestly. "I am simply trying to ascertain how to resolve the situation."

"There's nothing to resolve. He's a snake, you can't change that," he countered, turning to walk away. Then he paused and turned back. "Do you know what I hate most? He thinks he's so much better than the rest of us…like we're beneath him. I hate being talked to like I'm a fucking child!"

"Selmak is in fact some two thousand years old. From his point of view, we are all children," Teal'c pointed out. "Even Jacob Carter, who is younger than myself and host to Selmak, says he feels like a child at times when comparing his knowledge with Selmak's."

"Yeah…well, we didn't ask for Selmak's knowledge! And we certainly don't need his help or any other Tok'ra's help for that matter," he complained, ripping his gloves off. "If you ask me, Selmak should never have come to Earth!"

"He and Jacob Carter were no longer welcome amongst the Tok'ra. And this is Jacob Carter's home. Where else might have Selmak gone?"

"Anywhere but here!" he shouted. "I don't give a rat's ass if this is Jacob's home. Selmak is never going to fit in here."

"Perhaps…"

"What am I talking to a wall here?" O'Neill interrupted. "I've had it! Carter thinks I'm being childish. Daniel thinks I'm being selfish. And now you turn against me! You want to be buddies with Jake and his snake? Fine! Go right ahead. I'm going home and getting drunk…alone!"

And like that, the conversation was over and Teal'c was alone. But that wasn't enough for Teal'c. Clearly something had to be done. Colonel O'Neill and Jacob Carter used to be good friends. And Teal'c didn't want to see the friendship dissolve over something that seemed so trivial. So, instead of working out, he headed off to enlist Dr. Jackson's help. If anyone could help negotiate a truce it would be Dr. Jackson.

"Oh, hey Teal'c, how you doing?" Jackson asked, while diligently working at his desk.

"Not well," Teal'c frowned. "I was just talking with Colonel O'Neill…"

"Ah…that. Did he tell you what happened?"

"Indeed, he made his feelings quite clear," he replied solemnly.

"Actually, I'm not surprised Selmak was antagonized enough into throwing that first punch. The tension between those two has been building up over the past couple of weeks."

"I have noticed as much as well. However, I believe something needs to be done."

"I agree but not by us," Jackson said. "It's something they'll have to deal with on their own."

Teal'c gave Daniel a look of disbelief. From the altercation he would have thought for certain that Daniel Jackson would be the first to intercede.

"Come on Teal'c, you know Jack as well as I do. The man can hold a grudge. Do you remember a guy named Frank Cromwell?"

"Indeed, Colonel Frank Cromwell. He perished while assisting O'Neill in delivering the bomb to disconnect the black hole from Earth's Stargate."

"Right, I wasn't actually there but Jack talked with me later about it. During an incursion in Iraq, Jack's team came under attack. Jack went down. Cromwell thought Jack was dead and made the decision to save the team. Only Jack didn't die and he spent four months in an Iraq prison. He didn't forgive his own friend for leaving him behind. He felt betrayed and deserted. Jack held that grudge for fifteen years."

"I see. He feels the same way after Kanan left him to be tortured by Ba'al. But why be angry with Selmak? He did nothing to betray O'Neill. In fact, he has assisted in rescuing O'Neill on several occasions."

"True, but a few of those situations were because of the Tok'ra. And Selmak's Tok'ra just like Kanan. Jack didn't get a chance to take it out his anger on Kanan so he's taking it out on Selmak. Selmak personifies everything Jack hates about the Tok'ra. And until he gets over it, he'll never accept Selmak back as a friend."

"I still believe we should intercede. We cannot wait fifteen years for them to work things out," Teal'c said. "While Selmak and Jacob Carter will most likely still be alive, O'Neill does not possess such longevity. Plus, his animosity towards Selmak and Jacob Carter is troubling Major Carter. She is greatly concerned for her father's well being as well as Selmak's."

"Thankfully, we don't have to wait that long," Jackson smiled. "Jacob doesn't like it when Selmak's upset like this so I know he will take the initiative and work things out with Jack. You'll see. Everyone will get along again. Jack and Jacob will be closer friends than they were before."