Jack allows his lazy gaze to wander over the assortment of hats in front of him. He and Sam had accompanied Janet and Cassie to the mall for back to school shopping. They'd split off from the Fraisers for a bit to look for a new hat for Teal'c. "It will get chilly soon," Sam says, fingering the wooly knit hat in front of her.

"It will," Jack agrees. "But I don't know about any of these." The hats in front of them are well made and mostly attractive, but something was off. "These aren't right."

"What's wrong with them?"

"I dunno," he says, absently fingering the pom pom at the top of a bright pink and blue knit hat. "I just feel like pom poms are a very personal choice."

Sam's eyes fill with mirth and she dips her head to try hiding the smile she can't contain. "Sir?"

Jack grins at her and shrugs. "Don't you think? I mean there's a hat," he says, brandishing a plain knit beanie with no adornment at its top. "And there's a hat," he says, flourishing the pink and blue hat with its large pom pom."

"I guess you're right," Sam says. "I'm not sure what Tea-Murray-would prefer."

They spend another hour and trips to three more stores before Jack hears Sam's triumphant 'Aha!' From a few feet away. "Carter?" When he finds her, she's holding a huge knitted hat made from fat grey and orange yarn in stripes. The rainbow pom pom in her hand is attached by a pin, but a tag on the hat boasts its optional removal.

"The best of both worlds, sir?"

"Fuckin nailed it, Carter," Jack beams. He can't help putting an arm around her shoulders as he plucks 9the hat out of her hands. "Let's bet on if he keeps the pom pom."

As late summer transitions to autumn, Jack and Sam eagerly keep their secret bet, each hoping to be the first to see Teal'c wearing the new hat they got him and confirm or deny their bet. Jack thinks Teal'c won't want the pom pom out of some sense of it being useless and another adornment he doesn't need. Sam believes Teal'c will keep the pom pom because he appreciates a whimsical treat when he sees one.

The third weekend in October, Sam knocks on Jack's door for a team movie night. Jack answers, crisp $20 bill in hand, and tucks it into the pocket of the flannel shirt she's wearing. "Sir?" He pulls her in from the chilly evening and shuts the door behind her, then gently spins her around and points at the grey knit cap, rainbow pom pom still attached.

"You win, Carter," he whispers close into her ear.