Title: Playing the Right
Hand
Author: Moonshayde
Season: Nine
Category: UST,
Pre-Ship
Spoilers: Ripple Effect
Pairing/Character: Sam/Teal'c
Summary: Teal'c considers that hand he's been dealt.
Warnings: None
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Part Two in the five part series
called Undulations.
Disclaimer: Stargate, Stargate SG-1 and all of its
characters, titles, names, and back-story are the property of MGM/UA, Double
Secret Productions, Gekko Productions, SciFi Channel, and Showtime/Viacom. All
other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of
the author. This story cannot be printed anywhere without the sole permission
of the author. Realize this is for
entertainment purposes only; no financial gain or profit has been gained from
this fiction. This story is not meant to be an infringement on the rights of
the above-mentioned establishments
"It was you."
The words had refused to
relinquish their hold on Teal'c. It had been several hours since the last team
had been sent through the Stargate and had returned to their homes. Yet, he was
still captivated by those words.
"It was you."
"Teal'c, it's your
turn," said Colonel Carter. "Teal'c?"
Teal'c withdrew himself from
his thoughts to focus on his hand. He spread the cards in a fan-like pattern
and pondered which to choose. Concentration proved difficult.
"Do you possesses a
ten?" he asked.
Colonel Carter shook her
head. "Go fish."
Teal'c proceeded to fish. He
picked up the first card from the center pile. It was a jack.
The card made Teal'c think
of O'Neill. He had been informed of the incident with the teams from the
alternate realities, having shared the same annoyance that Teal'c carried over
the ordeal. While Teal'c did not believe it ran as deep in O'Neill, it was
there nonetheless.
Teal'c had always felt the
other realities were of little consequence. He had never felt they were of any
use to him. He had never felt an emotional attachment.
Until today.
He heard coughing. Teal'c
glanced up from his cards to find Colonel Carter staring at him.
"I said do you have a
queen?" she asked. Teal'c could detect a flicker of concern in her eyes.
"Indeed," he said,
quietly handing her the card. "You may proceed again."
She hesitated, her
scrutinizing gaze boring into him. "Do you have a five?"
"I do not," Teal'c
said. "Go fish."
Colonel Carter complied, but
her gaze did not leave him. "Are you okay?" she asked as she took a
new card.
"I am fine," he
replied.
"I don't know. I don't
think so." She pursed her lips. "You just seem like you're a million
miles away tonight."
"It was you."
He had been startled by
Doctor Fraiser's words. He had not expected her to appear through the Stargate.
Nor had he expected her to depart her secrets onto him.
She had been unable to tell
Colonel Carter. He did not know why she would not share this information.
Perhaps Doctor Fraiser wished for her to discover for herself. But she had not
held the same restraint with Teal'c.
As he held Doctor Fraiser
close and informed her that she would always be welcome, she had whispered in
his ear. "Sam's maternity leave…it was you."
At first he was certain he
had heard incorrectly. He did not show his surprise or his confusion. But as
Doctor Fraiser and her team returned through the Stargate, he had caught the
glimmer in her eyes. He had witnessed the truth.
His world would never be the
same again.
Colonel Carter reached
across the table to take his hand. "Teal'c, seriously, what's wrong? You
can tell me."
Teal'c searched her face,
warmed by her courage, her intelligence, and her compassion. He found himself
wishing he could claim them as his own.
"It is nothing,"
he told her, forcing a small smile. "I am fine."
Colonel Carter appeared to
sense he was not yet ready to talk. She squeezed his hand. "You know I'm
always here for you."
He bowed his head. "As
I am for you."
Colonel Carter seemed
placated by those words. She tossed the cards on the table and stood,
surprising Teal'c. "It's getting late, and I'm starving. How would you
like to grab a bite to eat?"
The idea was more than
welcome to Teal'c. "I would be honored to dine with you, Colonel
Carter."
She grinned. "Great!
Let's get going then."
Teal'c followed Colonel
Carter out of her lab and into the hallway. He decided to bide his time and, as
O'Neill had once told him regarding other matters, continue to play his cards
right.
THE END
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