NON REVERSABLE EFFECTS
CH6
Mitchell had given me a long, hard look when I had asked him if I could go with him on his little off-world mission. The look on his face was calculation, weighing the pros and cons of me going. I knew that he would after what he had seen the scene me and Daniel had had. But as it turn's out, the pros must have weighed more than the cons, if only by a little. And I was just a buzz — at least on the inside; on the out I was as calm and collected as ever, because there was no way that I would risk Mitchell changing his mind. I wanted to be there when Mitchell convinced Teal'c to rejoin SG-1 and in the process I would get to visit with Teal'c — I hadn't seen the Big Guy for awhile after all.
Dakara was busy, as should have been expected what with the Jaffa trying to reinvent themselves in their new found freedom. I stuck close to Mitchell in all of the chaos, afraid that if I lost sight of him it would be hard to catch his scent again as the Temple was filled with many unfamiliar scents, so it got confusing at times.
We had to wait because Teal'c was in a council meeting, so Mitchell parked himself at the base of a statue that was in the Temple and pulled a tennis ball from his vest pocket; tossing it into the air and catching it when it came back down. I may not have been a dog, but Tigers did like to play just as any feline did, so I found that it was hard to tear my eyes away. Mitchell glanced at me out of the corner of his eye as he started to toss the ball between his hands. I fought the slight urge to pounce.
"Can I ask you something?" he finally said, his brow raised.
I tore my eyes away from the ball in his hands to look at him in the face. "Of course, sir." my eyes flicked towards the ball again, but I forced myself to focus on his face.
"You're not Human, are you Lieutenant." it wasn't a question.
"No, sir." I confirmed just incase.
He gave a satisfied nod. "Your eyes change."
I nodded, forcing my eyes to change; my pupils turning to diamonds. Overlapping colors filled ever inch of the open air around us, and I was correct in assuming that if I had lost sight of Colonel Mitchell it would be very hard to scent him again. The only air that was pure Mitchell was that of a few inches that surrounded his body; the space filled with his dark navy scent.
He stared at me hard for a moment before he looked down at the ball in his hands. "When you fallow people, it's like your stalking them."
"What?" I raised my brows in surprise. "I don't stalk people." my tone was incredulous, if only a smidgen nervous.
"You do." his tone and drawl were conversational, but I could see how serious he was. "You get this intent look in your eyes, like you're tracking or something — stalking. You had it when you were watching Jackson after those bracelet things, like you were watching, waiting."
"Of course," I scoffed. "I wanted to be ready when he tore my head off."
Mitchell shook his head and didn't say more on that subject. "So what are you?"
"I am what is called a Quatonian, but I'm not one of them." I put that in there because I wasn't. Quatonian was my race, but it wasn't who I was. My home was Earth, I was a Tau'ri — I was no way associated with Them.
"Okay." he nodded, but gave me a sort of pinched look too. "And what type of race are the Quatonians?"
I mulled it over. "They are a animal-shifting race,"
"And what animal are you, if I may ask." his blue eys sparked with interest.
"King of the Jungle."
"George of the Jungle?" Mitchell's face scrunched up in confusion.
It took everything I had not to snort loudly and rudely. I opened my mouth, ready to correct him when I glanced past him instead. "Teal'c!"
Mitchell turned too, standing up and stowing the ball back into his vest. Even through all of the bodies that filled the Temple, Teal'c spotted us. Clad in the folds of a robe, he slowly advanced towards us. I forced myself to stay where I was, to hold myself in check and not jump him in my excitement. Finally, after what felt like a way too drawn out minute, Teal'ce was in front of us; his hands clasped behind his back, half bowed in greeting.
"Nickolas." he bowed his head slightly, a curve to the corner of his lips as we clasped arms.
"Teal'c." I said in turn, a grin playing across my lips. "How are you?"
"I am well." he said. "And I trust the same is for you?"
I nodded. "This is Lt. Colonel Mitchell, Teal'c." I introduced to change the subject. "And he would like to discus something important with you." I gestured to Mitchell, who was standing beside me waiting patiently, I might add and took a step back.
"It's nice to finally meet you." Mitchell greeted in his usual drawl.
Teal'c gave him a head bow back. "What is it that you wish to speak about, Colonel Mitchell?"
"I have a proposition for you." Mitchell said in a formal, business-like tone of voice.
Teal'c nodded his consent.
"Rejoin SG-1."
"I have to be here, Colonel Mitchell, this is where I am most needed — where I need to be." Teal'c tried to decline, but Mitchell shook his head.
"You can rejoin SG-1 and still come back here when you're needed. I'm sure that the General would allow that." Mitchell made a counter offer.
Still, Teal'c looked conflicted.
"Come on, Teal'c." I gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder and he raised his brow at me as if to say what-the-Hell. "I know that you know that I know that you like being part of SG-1. They're like your family, Teal'c. Yes, this place is too and the rest of the Jaffa are, but are you really content to just stay here and be a council member? You are a man of action Teal'c, and you'll go crazy if you just sit there and twiddle your thumbs." I gave him a firm look, "Daniel and Colonel Carter have already agreed to join SG1 again, Teal'c. And that is the place where you belong."
Teal'c didn't say anything as he looked me for a moment and then Mitchell. "Indeed." he agreed with a bow of his head.