Mojo

By BadgerGater

Season: 7

Episode: Orpheus

Spoilers: Orpheus and before

Category: Missing scene, drama

Pairing: None

Summary: When Teal’c goes down, Jack is there to help, in his own inimitable way

Rating: PG

Warnings: None

Disclaimer: Don't own Jack or anyone or anything else from Stargate, I'm just a lowly, unpaid fanfic writer who borrows the characters for no motive other than fun. No profit involved. And remember, don't post this without asking.

Author’s Pledge: Badgergater fics are posted with fair, honest and accurate info about the fic, its topic and focus. Potential readers deserve the opportunity to make an informed choice on whether or not to read.

Author's Note: I just had to explain that scene with the empty cups of green Jello… thanks to Margo, Sis, Cokie, and all those who feedback.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ /-----------\^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I think I was damned near as stunned as he was when Teal'c went down.

I've always thought of him as SG-1's iron man. Right, right, I know he's not a normal man, not a regular human male. Or at least he wasn't, when he had Junior. But for the past year, without the snakelet, he was still the same big, bulky, Conan the barbarian, Schwarzenegger the body-builder type. Invincible, even without his Gould larva.

Or so I thought.

/-----------\

Today we came home hot, diving into the gate with a whole herd of Jaffa hot on our heels. We made it into the wormhole, got all the way home to the shelter of the SGC and damn it, just when it looked like we'd made a clean escape, Teal’c took a staff weapon shot to the torso. The look on his face, the realization, made me sick. Doc, looking damn near frantic, hauled him down to the infirmary as fast as I’ve ever seen her move a patient. Which, unfortunately, told me a lot about his condition.

For one stunned moment, I stood at the base of the gateramp gaping out the doorway after him, and then I followed.

I’ve been here ever since, here being the infirmary, my oh so favorite place. Not.

I skipped the post-mission briefing. I had the General's permission, of course. Even though I think I hid it pretty well, as always, I know Hammond saw how shook up I was, and he as much as anyone knows I don't rattle easy. He could see where I needed to be, and it wasn't in the briefing room, it was at Teal'c's side.

Besides, Hammond could get the mission report from Carter and Daniel. They could relay to him what a FUBAR mess the whole thing had been from start to finish.

Me, I needed to be there for Teal’c. T, after all, has called me brother. That's not just an honor, it's a bond. A commitment. Part of the warrior creed.

How could I *not be there for him? He'd been there for me so many times, his quiet presence always soothing and reassuring, even when I was barely awake enough to know where I was, much less if anyone was there with me.

/-----------\

Sitting at his bedside was damned disconcerting, I’ll tell you that, not just because I was voluntarily inhabiting one of those rock hard uncomfortable infirmary chairs, but because it was T lying there in that bed. For all these years, he'd almost never been incapacitated for any appreciable length of time, thanks to his snakelet.

Yes, yes, yes, I admit it, I had been happy when Teal'c had finally gotten rid of Junior. Hell, I know how much he'd dreamed of that and how hard he’d worked for it. Maybe I'd been wrong to want him to get rid of that butt-ugly little parasite, but how could I not want my brother to be more fully human? To be free?

Except now he was suffering for it.

Well, okay, not quite suffering *yet*, since he was still unconscious, sleeping off the anesthetic from the major surgery his wound had required.

But I could tell you, from far too much personal experience, that he was soon going to be awake and wishing he wasn’t.

A couple of times Doc came in, checking all the machines and monitors around T, writing something on his chart, and leaving again. Each time she smiled at me reassuringly or patted my shoulder before leaving. The nurses came and went at regular intervals, checking on the big guy and nodding warily at me- seems I have a bit of a reputation for surliness. And yeah, okay, it's deserved. So sue me.

Eventually, Doc was back, looking at me with concern. "Colonel, why don't you take a break? Go for a walk, get yourself something to eat…"

I shook my head. Maybe it was those all too-familiar infirmary sights, sounds and smells, but I didn’t have the slightest interest in food. "I think I should stay. Someone should be here when he wakes up."

She nodded in agreement. "Yes, this will be very disorienting for him and I agree, it will be very helpful for him to have you here. It's important that he keeps as still as possible, and you can keep him calm and tell him that. But he won't be awake for a while yet."

"I'll wait."

So I did, hour after hour. I paced a bit, and Nurse Lee brought me coffee and a sandwich. Daniel and Carter stopped in, offering to stay in my place, but I chased them away.

It was my responsibility to be here.

This was my vigil.

Finally, Teal’c began to stir. Jeez, do I look like that when I wake up? That *bad*? All those drugs the docs pump into you… eyes glazed and confused, movements uncoordinated. Hell, imagine this if you can, but he even looked pale.

When I saw the eyelids start to flutter, I put a hand on his shoulder. "Take it easy Teal'c. You’re gonna be okay."

He turned to look at me, blinking muzzily, and then he tried to sit up.

"Teal'c, stay put!" I ordered, putting my hands on his chest, not that I could hold him down, even on his worst day. Well, maybe this was his worst day, because he stayed down.

After that, he didn’t try to get up again.

He didn’t talk either.

Hell, he wouldn’t even make eye contact.

He acted like I wasn't even there.

/-----------\

I walked into the infirmary, a tray with four cups of green Jello in my hands. Setting then carefully on the bedside table, I pulled up a chair.

Teal’c looked once at me, then looked away.

"I brought ya’ lunch," I started cheerfully.

Teal’c didn’t even look at my offering. "I do not wish to consume Jello."

"Yeah, I know. But I tried with the pizza. Honestly, I did. I got as far as the corridor and Doc caught me. Probably should have left off the anchovies. They’re a dead giveaway every time."

T still evaded my gaze, silent.

"So the sad truth is, the nurses are eating your pizza. Maybe it will keep the big honkin’ needles away."

I sat down, slumping on the hard chair, and sighed. "No, I don’t suppose it will." I picked up a clear plastic cup filled with Jello, stirring it with the little plastic spoon, eating a mouthful. Okay, I like Jello, even if it is hospital food. Hey, I've never claimed to be a gourmet. I stirred the green stuff a bit more while I thought about what to say. "I understand, you know."

Teal’c just stared at the wall, ignoring me. It’s something he does very well. You’ve never really been ignored until you’ve been ignored by the big guy.

"Okay, so I don’t know *exactly*," I admitted. "I’m not a Jaffa. But I’ve been where you’re at, flat on my backside in a bed, and facing weeks and weeks of doctors, hospitals, therapy, all that medical crap."

"Jaffa do not need such things."

"Well, you’re not *exactly* a Jaffa anymore." The moment the words were out of my mouth, I knew I’d made a mistake, a monumental error of epic proportions. I backpedaled immediately. "I didn’t mean that in a negative sense. You’re the Jaffa-est Jaffa of them all. You’re just different than the rest. Better. Like cake with ice cream, a Jaffa with tretonin…"

"I am not better."

I set the cup of Jello aside, and waved a hand at the big man in the small infirmary bed. "Ah, see, that’s where you’re wrong, my friend."

"I am not wrong."

"Okay, so you’re not wrong. Usually. But take my word for it, as depressing as things seem right now, they will get better. They always do."

"For a human, perhaps."

Was that contempt in the voice? Okay. I can deal with that, because I know he doesn’t really mean it. Not really. Well, mostly not. "Yeah, well, if a mere human can do it, it’s got to be a walk in the park for a Jaffa."

Stubborn silence ensued.

Once again I picked up the cup of Jello, eating another spoonful while I contemplated what to say next. Finally, I put it aside and leaned toward the bed, lowering my voice. "Look, Teal’c, all joking aside. You will get better, Doc is the best. And once you’re feeling up to snuff, you’ll get your mojo back. I’ve been there, and I know."

"You are not Jaffa. You do not know."

"True, I'm not a Jaffa. But I do know mojo."

"And who is this Mojo?"

Ah ha. See, I had his attention finally. "Mojo, it's not a who, it's a what," I explained triumphantly. "It’s, you know, mojo, spirit, grit, attitude, cajones, the right stuff. Believe me, Teal'c, you've always been the *definition* of mojo. Give it a chance, T, and you'll see I'm right."

"It would be better if you found a new team member for SG-1."

"Now, wait just a minute here, Teal'c. No can do."

"That is not true," the alien insisted. "You can do."

"You’re absolutely right. I could do it, if I wanted to, which I don’t, so I won’t." I stood. "Teal’c, I am not going to replace you on SG-1. You are irreplaceable."

"I am worthless."

Exasperated, I bent closer. "You are *the* most *not* worthless person I’ve *ever* met."

He remained unimpressed. "I do not belong on SG-1. I am no longer able to perform my duties."

"Not now, at this very moment, no. But you will be. And I can wait for that. Just like you waited for me, that time I got hurt, um, twice when I got hurt. A bunch of times, actually, lots of times."

"That was different. You are Tau’ri."

"Yes, I am. And as a Tau’ri, I have different rules relative to Jaffa."

"There are no different rules regarding Jaffa."

Sheesh, the guy was stubborn. "Of course there are, T. Jaffa are unique. *You* are unique. You make SG-1 unique. All the other SG teams are jealous because SG-1 is the only team with a real, genuine, honest to god Jaffa."

"I am no longer Jaffa. And there are no honest gods."

I sighed. You know, trying to convince Teal’c of something can be worse than trying to convince Daniel. Which made me think that maybe I should go talk to the former glow-boy. Maybe he’d have some other-worldly once-ascended advice for me. Oh course, if he did, I’d probably never understand it. I didn’t think my tired brain was ready for any "the sun burns like a snowstorm, but the sky is green" Oma-speak gibberish.

"T, I’ll be back. Don’t you dare give up. That’s an order."

He only glared at me as I left.

Once out in the hall, I stopped, leaning back against the wall, closing my eyes. Actually, I was about ready to beat my own head against the wall in exasperation.

Footsteps tap-tapped toward me.

"Colonel?" Doc’s voice was soft and full of concern.

"I’m fine," I snapped, opening my eyes.

She looked at me with one of those ‘oh, yeah right’ looks. "Then why are you out here leaning against the wall with your eyes closed?"

"I was thinking."

"Ah, ha. Thinking."

I sighed and straightened, waving a hand toward Teal’c’s room. "How is he, really?"

"He has some serious injuries, including possible spinal damage."

"He’s gonna be paralyzed?" I asked, aghast.

"It should be only temporary. But he’s going to have a long recovery." Despite our height differences, she looked me square in the eye. "He’s going to need your support."

"Doc, you know he’ll have it."

"It’s going to take patience on your part…"

"Now that might be a problem…" I admitted.

"I know. But I also know how stubborn you can be, and how much Teal’c needs some of that."

"Teal’c has more stubborn than anyone needs."

"True. But this won’t be easy for him."

"I know that."

"Or for you."

"I know."

"But you’ll do whatever it takes."

"I will."

"Now, go home and get some rest. Things will look brighter in the morning."

/------------\

But they didn’t.

They didn’t for a long time.

Mostly, they got worse.

Hell, Teal’c at one point even asked me to help him perform some ritual called Nanaheyhey-something. Even though I didn't know for sure what the word meant, I was pretty sure it had something to do with noble sacrifice and maintaining the purity of the Jaffa race and an eerie parallel to hari kari. I didn’t help him, of course.

I knew he’d work his way through it, though in the end the way he did was pretty ugly. Then again, it was effective. He saved Bratac and Ry’ac and personally destroyed that Jaffa with the weird albino hair.

Nothing like a little hand-to-hand kill-the-bad-guy combat to get your mind off your problems, I always say.

/-----------\

So there I was, visiting T in the infirmary once more.

But it was a different Teal'c this time, one with a successful rescue mission under his belt.

The confidence was back.

The bravado restored.

The warrior spirit reclaimed.

I took him green Jello to celebrate. This time, I didn’t have to eat it all myself. He accepted my gift with a nod.

Pulling up a chair at his bedside, I scooped up a spoonful of the green wiggly stuff and slurped it down. "So, T, got the mojo back I see."

"Indeed."

"That’s good. Doc gonna let you out of here soon?"

"She has so indicated."

"Good, that’s good," I swallowed another spoonful of Jello, "Cause my team has been one short for too long now. That is, if you still want to be on SG-1."

"I would not wish to be elsewhere."

"That’s good. That’s good." I finished my Jello and stood. "You bring the mojo, I’ll bring the bravado, Carter and Daniel bring the smarts, and we’re good as new."

"Indeed," he answered with a small smile. "I shall look forward to resuming my duties."

I smiled, and gave him a little nod, and left.

T had his mojo back, and I was going to get my alien back, and SG-1 was on the way to being back to A-OK once again.

----- Finish -----