Phase Shift

�So why did you cultivate a dead mammal on your face, anyway?�

The question was so out-of-the-blue, even for Vala, that Daniel looked up from his translation to stare at her in bewilderment. �What?�

The woman sprawled out over his desk reached over to stroke the side of his face. That move never failed to confuse him - he wanted to pull away, but it just felt so damn nice� �This,� the alien woman purred. �Your beard. Why�d you grow it?�

Daniel blinked. �I had all my stuff packed to go to Atlantis,� he explained somewhat irritably, pushing her hand away. �I just haven�t had time to dig out my razor yet. Wasn�t exactly high on my list of priorities.�

�Oh.� Vala was silent for a few moments, during which Daniel turned back to the artifact he was studying. �I don�t like it,� she declared suddenly.

�Well I�m sorry you feel that way,� Daniel replied, rolling his eyes. �It�s my face.�

�Yes, but you�re not the one that has to look at it,� she countered, turning over onto her back to watch him upside-down. �I�m telling you, you look much better without it. I nearly didn�t recognize you the first time I visited this�lovely base of yours.�

�Oh, if only,� he muttered to himself.

�It makes you look much less friendly,� she continued. �And I�ve always hated kissing a man with facial fuzz. Too tickly.�

�Well, that�s your problem.�

Later that night, Daniel stared in the mirror at himself, critically examining his face. �Less friendly,� he mumbled sarcastically, running a hand over his chin. �Then again, Jackson, you haven�t been on a date in�� He abruptly felt a twinge of panic as he realized he couldn�t even remember the last time he�d had sex. At least�six years?

�Damn,� he said to his reflection. �You so need to get laid.�

He spent five hours looking before he found his razor.