Team Dynamics

by Remma (morennab@yahoo.co.uk)

"This shouldn't take too long, right? Daniel? You'll be done soon, huh?"

"Jack, can't you go and check a perimeter or something?"

"I've done that, there is nothing here. This has got to be about the most inoffensive planet I've ever seen. Nothing but blue skies, trees, grass, some birds, a few pretty flowers, little furry animals, not a cloud..."

"Okay. I get the idea. Surely there are some colonel type things for you to do?"

"Nope. Zip. Nada. Niente..."

"Jack, would you be bored by any chance?"

"Who, me? Why would you think that?"

"Look, I know you hate this sort of mission, but I have a job to do, and I'll be done a lot quicker without constant interruption."

"So why are you wasting time talking to me? Translate, translate, I'm not stopping you. I'm just sitting here, minding my own business. Occasionally commenting on the weather. Checking on your progress. That's hardly what I would call interrupting...how can you call that interrupting? So, you're about done, right? "

"Oh, good lord."

"Come to think of it, why on earth would anyone want to put this big rock out here in the middle of nowhere? What good is it?"

"Firstly, we're not on earth, and, incidentally, do the words 'stone henge' mean anything to you? Secondly, it's not a 'big rock', it's an obelisk. And finally, I hope to know a lot more about why it's here, and what it's purpose is, once I've translated the inscriptions."

"Oh."

"Jack, why don't you go and help Sam for awhile."

"Uhm, not sure that's such a good idea."

"Why not? It would give you a chance to sort a few things out with her."

"That's pretty much why not."

"You can't avoid Sam forever, Jack."

"I'm aware of that."

"Then..."

"Daniel, don't you see, as long as Carter isn't insubordinate offworld, I don't have to take any action. So..."

"So, you're avoiding her so that she doesn't get the opportunity."

"Right."

"And you're not jumpy about being alone with her?"

"Nu-huh, not me, not a jump in sight."

"Glad to hear it."

"Carter can't be mad forever, right. If we just leave well enough alone, we'll get back on track...eventually."

"We thought that when she went on her break, and look what happened. She went away hurt and heartbroken, she came back pissed and vengeful. Much better. There's no reason to assume she'll get over this any time soon, so wouldn't it be better to get a few ground rules set when were not being chased or shot at?"

"Probably. Dammit, why can't she just move on? I really don't want to lose her as my 2IC."

"Do you really think it could come to that?"

"I'm hoping not, but it might."

"Hasn't she already lost enough, without losing SG-1 too?"

"Daniel, I promise, I'll give her every possible opportunity, but if she won't cooperate, then I'll have no option but to transfer her."

"It doesn't seem right for her career to be damaged, when none of this is her fault."

"Her career won't be damaged, I'll see to that."

"How?"

"I'll recommend that she gets to lead a team of her own. If she hadn't been so vital to SG-1, that would have happened a long time ago anyway."

"Well, I suppose if she had to be transferred, that would be the best option."

"It would be absolutely the last resort."

"I know. I just wish none of this had ever happened. I miss Sam, I miss talking to her. After you, she's about the best friend I've ever had. We could always communicate, and now we can't."

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I miss her too...I miss being able to rely on her, I miss the trust."

"That's the thing, isn't it? Once the trust is gone, it's so hard to get it back."

"I know I let her down badly, but the crazy thing is, that even she must realize it couldn't have worked. There's just no spark between us, I don't know why. She's a beautiful, intelligent woman. I should be all over her, but there's nothing. I can appreciate that she's an attractive, but there's no attraction."

"Not for you maybe, but Sam..."

"I'm not so sure. I think maybe you weren't so far off the mark with the father complex thing. Frankly, I doubt she'd be anywhere near as interested if I wasn't a colonel and her C.O. Approval from an authority figure means so much to her, so having me fall in love with her would have to be a real high."

"You weren't a colonel, or her superior when we had our minds wiped by those bastards who had us working in the mines, and you were with Sam then."

"But that's just it, Daniel, I wasn't. Why wasn't I? There were no regulations to stop us sleeping together, so why didn't we?"

"Oh. I assumed you were, since you were together, and apart from me and Teal'c. You were close."

"We were, but that's as far as it went. There was more sparkage with you, when we were releasing that valve. And it was you I was dreaming about, not her."

"Really? You were? You never said. I told you that I dreamed of you."

"I thought it was a little weird, so I...uh..."

"Lied."

"Obscured the truth. She called me sir."

"What?"

"Carter. When we were talking, she automatically called me sir, without even knowing what it meant. What does that tell you."

"You know, it's Sam you should be telling all this to, not me."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes. Go now."

"I don't think I should leave you alone here. Anything might happen."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Anything."

"I thought this was the most inoffensive planet we'd ever been to?"

"It's still an alien world. A rock might fall on you. Rocks can fall."

"And where would this rock come from? I'm in the middle of a meadow, there's not even a tree nearby."

"There's that big rock, right there."

"The obelisk, you mean. The one that's been here for centuries without moving a millimetre."

"I'm not saying it will fall, only that it could."

"Well, I'll be sure to run away if it looks like toppling. Now off you go, Jack. You can send Teal'c to me, I'm sure I can hold out alone 'till he gets here. I could use his help, anyway."

"Hey, what about me...I can help."

"Oh? You speak Goa'uld now, do you?"

"Uh...kree?"

"Hmmn."

"I can do other stuff."

"I promise, Jack, the next time I have any heavy lifting, you're the first person I'll call. But for now..."

"Teal'c?"

"Please."

"I'll send him on up. Don't touch anything until he gets here."

"Ja-ack."

"MajorCarter, are you unwell?"

"I'm fine, Teal'c. Why do you ask?"

"The container in which you are placing your soil sample has been full for some time, and yet you continue to add more. Consequently, I do not believe that your attention is focused on your task."

"Oh. Damn. I guess I am a bit distracted."

"Indeed. You would do well to confront your feelings for O'Neill."

"I've already told you, I have no feelings for Colonel O'Neill.

"In fact, you have told me this many times, most adamantly. Your actions, however, say otherwise."

"I don't know what you mean, what actions."

"Your persistent disregard of O'Neill, and your excessive friendliness toward DanielJackson."

"My relationship with Daniel is none of your concern."

"That relationship has always been one of friendship, and yet your behaviour today has bordered on flirtatious."

"No, I was only being a friend, just like always."

"You do not normally touch DanielJackson continually, or whisper to him, and you most particularly do not giggle."

"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration."

"It is not. I found it most disconcerting."

"Daniel didn't complain."

"As you knew he would not. He was, however, clearly concerned by your attempts to separate him from O'Neill, as you would once have noticed yourself."

"I love Daniel, I would never want to hurt him."

"And yet you are. Your refusal to accept the love he and O'Neill feel for one another troubles him greatly."

"I accept that Daniel loves the Colonel, I'm not as convinced that those feelings are returned."

"What more proof do you require than O'Neill's willingness to change his lifestyle, and risk destroying his career, in order to be with DanielJackson?"

"He hasn't exactly been in any hurry spreading the happy news, has he?"

"I'm sure he would do so were it not detrimental to both himself and DanielJackson. You are aware of this, MajorCarter."

"See, his career is more important to him than Daniel."

"Concealing the relationship is of benefit to DanielJackson also."

"Daniel isn't military, there's nothing to stop him becoming involved with anyone he wants to."

"There are many on base who would disagree. An incomprehensible attitude. Sadly, these misguided individuals could put DanielJackson's health, indeed, even his life, at risk."

"The General would never let him be hurt. Neither would I."

"I am certain you would both try to guard him, as would I. I fear we would fail."

"So, how can you approve of this relationship? Can't you see that Daniel would be better off away from the Colonel?"

"This conversation is not progressing."

"Why, because I'm not agreeing with you? I have no intention of backing down, and I'll happily tell Colonel O'Neill that if he has a problem with my attitude."

"Hey, kids, how's it going?"

"Fine, Sir."

"Has DanielJackson completed his translation, O'Neill?"

"No, still going strong. He could use your help Teal'c."

"Then I will go to him. Do you intend to remain here, and assist Major Carter?"

"Yeah, sure, I could do that, no problem. Right, Carter."

"Fine, Sir."

"DanielJackson, do you require my assistance?"

"Oh, hi Teal'c. Uhm...well, actually...uhm...no, not really."

"I see. Were you then employing subterfuge to bring about a confrontation between O'Neill and MajorCarter?"

"Uh, I guess. I thought they needed to get a few things off their chests. Bad idea?"

"Risky."

"Oh god. This could all go horribly wrong...what was I thinking?"

"You were attempting to alleviate the tension in the team. Most commendable. The situation could not continue."

"That's true. I suppose it could work, right?"

"MajorCarter is not behaving rationally, and O'Neill's many admirable qualities do not include tact."

"Oh, god."

"Indeed."

"At least we have your support. Incidentally, I don't think I've ever thanked you for that, so, thank-you."

"No thanks is needed, DanielJackson. I have always believed you and O'Neill to be well suited. I wish you well."

"Oh. Always?"

"Always."

"Oh. You know we've only been together about six months, right?"

"A mistake. I was most surprised to discover that your relationship was one of friendship only when I first allied myself to the Tauri."

"Really, you were?"

"I was."

"Wow. We didn't even know there was anything between us way back then."

"Did you not suspect?"

"Not really...not then. Actually, not until..."

"Edora."

"Uh...how did..."

"I believe that MajorCarter also realised her attraction at this time."

"Oh. Do you think Jack..."

"No."

"No?"

"O'Neill had become aware of his feelings for you prior to this incident."

"He...you...dammit, Teal'c, how do you know all this? Has Jack been talking to you?"

"He has not. I have observed your interactions with interest."

"You have? Why?"

"I find your cultural taboos fascinating."

"Glad we were able to entertain you."

"Your initial avoidance techniques were amusing. However, I became concerned when the situation became strained. I was pleased to see these conflicts resolved."

"Oh, okay. So, when did Jack..."

"He has always had these feelings. His violent reaction when we thought you lost on Nem's world proves that. And again, his delight in your return from Klorel's ship. However, it is probable that he was not fully aware of the nature of his attachment at this time."

"U.S.T."

"Yes."

"So, when..."

"Kira."

"Kira?"

"Kira. Were you unaware of his antagonism towards her?"

"Well, yes, but I assumed that was because she was the destroyer of worlds."

"Jealousy."

"Really?"

"Her identity was initially unknown to us. We had no reason to believe her to be anything other than the kindly concerned citizen she appeared to be. Yet, even then, his antipathy was obvious."

"I knew he wasn't happy about me getting involved with her, but I never..."

"You were not ready."

"What? Not ready for what?"

"Shar'e had only recently died. You were not ready to accept that you would love again."

"Damn, you're good. Does anything get by you?"

"Very little."

"So, how do you think Sam and Jack are doing?"

"We can only hope that there have been no fatalities."

"Well, I'm done here, why don't we head back and check up on them."

"A wise decision."

"So, Carter, how's the dirt?"

"Fine, Sir."

"Fine. Nice planet. Carter? Nice planet, don't you think?"

"Lovely, Sir."

"Okay. Good. Dirt okay?"

"Fine, Sir."

"Hey, come on, give me a break. Trying to have a conversation here."

"Fine. What would you like to talk about? Maybe how you deceived me into thinking we had a future together, then broke my heart."

"Ah, crap."

"That topic of conversation not to your liking, Sir?"

"What exactly do you want from me, Carter?"

"Nothing, I want nothing from you."

"Then move on."

"That would just suit you wouldn't it, for me to let you get away with this?"

"Get away with what? Dammit, I never get away with anything."

"You've had your fun with me, now you've moved on to Daniel"

"Oh, for crying out loud, I'm not some mustache twirling villain in a melodrama. And newsflash, Carter, you're no shrinking maiden either."

"Thank-you for pointing that out, Sir."

"Okay, enough of this, I'm through apologising. You've blown this up out of all proportion. I flirted with you, that's all. It was hardly the crime of the century."

"It was more than flirting, and you know it."

"Maybe it was, but I never once claimed to love you. I said I cared about you more than I should, and that was the absolute truth. I'm sorry if you heard more, but that was not my fault."

"I heard what you wanted me to hear."

"No. You heard what you wanted to hear."

"And all the rest?"

"You're a very attractive woman, and I was attracted to you. I also liked you and respected you. Under different circumstances, I would probably have wanted to have an affair with you..."

"An affair!"

"Yes, an affair...nothing more. There was never the kind of commitment between us that could have led to anything more permanent. Believe me, if I had felt for you even a fraction of the love I feel for Daniel, I'd have told you. I'm not the type to suffer in silence, you've known me long enough by now to know that."

"Obviously, I didn't know you well enough."

"Obviously. Carter, I wish things could be as they were, but that's impossible. I want you...I need you to know that my relationship with Daniel won't make any difference to the team. You're still my 2IC. What's gone on between us won't make me treat you any differently."

"How can I believe that, when your feelings for Daniel changed the way you treated him."

"What? When have I ever shown any favouritism towards Daniel?"

"You haven't. It was before. You treated him like dirt for months. Tell me how I can be sure that won't happen to me."

"I behaved the way I did because I was repressing like crazy. The only way of doing that was to push Daniel away all the time. I'm just lucky he forgave me. That isn't an issue with you. The only thing that can screw things up between us, is you."

"I don't know what you mean. I've been perfectly professional, I'm sorry if I can't respect you as a man anymore."

"I don't expect that from you, not now. What I do expect is that you respect the chain of command. If you can't, then I'm sorry, but no matter how bad I feel for you, I can't let you stay on SG-1."

"Is that a threat?"

"No. You're the best 2IC I could ever want, and a valuable member of the team. The last thing I want is to lose you, but if you force the issue, I *will* have you transferred. Please, just think about what I've said. The decision is yours."

"Hey, Jack, ready to go yet?"

"Daniel, finished so soon? That's not like you."

"I got plenty of pictures and video footage. The rest I can do back at the base."

"Sweet. Carter, you ready."

"I have all I need, give me a minute to pack up."

"Okay then, let's head on home."

"Did you talk to Sam?"

"Geez, keep your voice down, Daniel. Yes, I talked to her."

"And?"

"Probably marginally less successful than when you talked to her."

"That bad, huh?"

"Worse."

"God. Now what?"

"Now she decides if SG-1 is more important to her than hating me."

"She'll make the right decision, I know she will. Teal'c and Janet are both working on her."

"God bless them."

"Yeah, it's good to have friends."

"That it is. Heads up, kids, we're here. Carter, you want to do the honours?"

"Sure, Sir."

"So, Teal'c, any plans for tonight?"

"There is a JerrySpringer special I wish to view. 'Women who were men, and the men who love them'."

"Sounds peachy."

"I am breathless with anticipation."

"Oh my god."

"Not a Springer fan, Carter?"

"Sir, the chevron, that wasn't me."

"What?"

"Someone's dialing in."

"Back into the trees, now. We need some cover."

"Okay, we're in the trees, now what, Jack?"

"Now we wait, and see what comes through the gate."

***The End***

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