Chapter 5- What time is it? part two

The elevator doors opened and one confused Jaffa disembarked. He was followed closely by an earnest blue eyed archaeologist. The Colonel lagged far behind.

'I see,' the warrior alien muttered into the hopeful face of his companion.

Daniel pressed his lips together as it was obvious that Teal'c didn't understand his explanation at all.

'Didn't you have any lady Jaffa friends back on Chulak?' the young man asked with a hint of a teasing smile.

It took all of his years of hard experience as First Prime not to let any emotion play across his features. He had more than a 'lady friend' on his home planet and he still had no idea how he could speak of it now. He had sworn to General Hammond that he had no personal ties left on the planet, nothing that would make him vulnerable as a member of SG-1. His heart was heavy with this deception and with worry for the family he had abandoned when he joined the Tauri.

'I know of no female Jaffa experiencing the symptoms you describe, Dr. Jackson' he replied.

Daniel jerked back wondering why Teal'c was so upset all of a sudden. He was trying to hide it, so the young man backed away from the topic, granting him some privacy. He would mention it to Jack a little later. Maybe Teal'c DID have a lady friend back on Chulak. Oh dear.

'Perhaps the symbiote we carry regulates these hormonal imbalances you speak of,' the Jaffa surmised, unaware that Daniel had come close to the truth.

Daniel nodded his head in agreement. That was most probable.

'What do you think Jack?' the archaeologist asked companionably turning to the other man on his left. It was rare that the Colonel would go so long without speaking.

The three of them walked slowly down the corridor, having not yet come up with a plan of action as regards Captain Carter.

'Carter doesn't have a symbiote,' the older man pointed out annoyingly.

'I know that,' Dr. Jackson volleyed back with some heat.

Jack raised a pointed index finger, 'Do NOT take that tone with me, young man. This is a bad idea and you know it. We should turn around now, while we still have the chance.'

Their little group stopped about 20 feet from the door of Carter's lab. They could see the light on so she was most likely still there.

Suddenly there was a sound of a mug shattering.

'DAMMIT!' the Captain roared at the top of her lungs.

Teal'c frowned heavily.

'She will be this way every month?' the Jaffa inquired quickly, his concerned eyes darting between his two colleagues. 'Is there no medical procedure to correct this?'

Jack snorted and muttered under his breath.

'NO, she is not going to be LIKE this every month!' Daniel answered the question but spoke the words in Jack's direction. 'These symptoms are usually brought on by stress like, like…'

'Like being captured and beaten by a crazed Mongolian warlord,' Jack supplied. There was a hint of color on the Colonel's face as he realized that Daniel had heard what he had whispered. He deserved the disapproving look on Jackson's face. His snide comment had been unworthy for a woman of Sam's caliber.

'Exactly!' Daniel retorted angrily, not feeling very forgiving as yet.

Teal'c opened his mouth to ask another question but stopped when the woman in question charged into the corridor.

'Whoa,' the colonel muttered and backed away at the crazed look on her face. He waved furtively at Teal'c, warning him to get clear of the danger zone. The Jaffa stared impassively at the leader of SG1.

'Hi Sam,' Daniel said bravely, 'You wanna go get something to eat. It's late. Why don't you stop working now? Your experiments will still be there in the morning.'

Carter's eyes narrowed into slits.

'What's that suppose to mean?' she demanded.

Daniel hugged himself as she glowered at him.

'My work is every bit as important as yours,' she snarled, walking one step closer to the doctor. 'Don't you think so? You don't do you! Well I will have you know that it was MY work that…'

'Attend Hut, Captain!' the Colonel barked out, interrupting her in mid-tirade.

The blonde haired scientist snapped to attention so fast it made Daniel blink.

Jack stepped forward and slowly looked her up and down. She stood rigidly at attention, her eyes fixed at some random spot on the wall while he conducted his "inspection".

'You will apologise to Dr. Jackson,' he commanded softly, 'and then you will confine yourself to quarters until I send for you.'

Daniel opened his mouth to protest but Teal'c shook his head slightly in warning.

'I'm sorry, Dr. Jackson,' his friend offered feelingly, her eyes filling with tears of emotional strain.

The Colonel winced as he heard the crack in her voice as she struggled not to cry. She was going to be so embarrassed when she calmed down and he was glad for her sake that the corridor was empty. He could see how pale she was, the pain from her menstrual cramps gave her face a pinched look. She should have been in bed with a large bottle of extra strength anything a long ago.

'Dismissed,' he added finally.

Teal'c quickly stepped out of the way as she fled down the corridor away from them.