Viewpoints

by SwordQueen

URL: http://area52hkh.net/ass/swordqueen/viewpoints.php
Summary: A jealous Teal'c can be a very dangerous thing in any universe!

Part 1

"Ouch! What the hell was that for?"

Teal'c tilted his head to the side and watched as Colonel Jack O'Neill carefully lifted himself up off of the padded mat. "Is that not what you refer to as a ‘right hook,' O'Neill?"

Exasperated, Jack stood hunched over in front of his large alien friend and delicately patted at his bruised nose. "I asked you to pretend to hit me, Teal'c! I didn't mean for you to actually do it!"

Teal'c raised an eyebrow, but otherwise remained expressionless. "I see," was all he said as he turned around and climbed out of the ring.

"'I see?' Is that all you have to say about it, Teal'c?" Jack asked with annoyance.

Teal'c did not respond.

"Don't I even get an apology?" Jack persisted loudly as he too stepped out of the ring and followed his friend.

"If that is what you wish," Teal'c replied curtly.

Jack stopped a few feet away from Teal'c and watched with puzzlement as the darker man bent over to retrieve his bag. He had come to know Teal'c quite well and was certain that there was more to his current behavior than he was letting on. "Okay. I give. What's going on here, Teal'c?"

Teal'c looked up then, and Jack wasn't sure what bothered him more, the quick expression of sadness which had passed across his face, or the look of anger which now replaced it. "I do not understand the meaning of your question, O'Neill," he said evenly.

Jack was really concerned now. Taking a step closer to his friend, he placed a gentle hand on one of Teal'c's muscular arms. "Teal'c? Talk to me, Buddy. Tell me what's going on?" he requested softly.

Teal'c stared hard at him for a long moment. Then, with a deep sigh, he said, "I am fine, O'Neill. I apologize for any injury I may have caused you." Then he turned around and walked briskly out of the gym.

Taking a quick step forward, Jack's first impulse was to follow Teal'c, but as he watched the closing door in front of him, he stopped. Scratching at his head, he suddenly realized that his company would not have been welcomed. "What the hell is going on with him?" he wondered out loud to himself.

Picking up his bag, he decided to get dressed and then go and see if Daniel knew anything about what was going on.

Part 2

"Hey kids," Jack greeted the other two members of his team, the young anthropologist, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Major Samantha Carter, an extremely intelligent and equally attractive astrophysicist.

"Hi Jack," Daniel greeted him with a warm smile.

"Hello Sir," Sam said, also smiling warmly.

Jack paused as he looked closely at the two. "So? What are you two up to?" he asked cheerfully.

Daniel smiled and patted him sympathetically on the shoulder. "Nothing you'd be interested in, Jack."

"We were just working on a little project," Sam interjected enthusiastically. "If you'd like, I could explain it to you?" she offered with a broad smile.

Daniel stood quietly and took in the exchange. As fond as he knew Jack was of Sam, her constant use of "technobabble" when trying to explain her work was the one thing that never failed to annoy the Colonel. Unfortunately it was a fact that Sam seemed only slightly aware of.

Jack had a pained expression on his face. "Uh, no, Sam. That's … really not necessary. I mean, not that I don't find your research fascinating, but … well, I just don't really have the time right now. Thanks anyway."

Sam looked disappointed. "Oh, okay. Some other time then."

Jack tried to look remorseful, but failed completely. Realizing this, he immediately grabbed Daniel by the shoulders and quickly escorted him toward the door. "Daniel," he said. "Could I, uh, talk with you for a moment?"

"Sure," Daniel replied amicably. Then turning quickly back to Sam he said, "I'll be right back?"

"No problem," Sam agreed good-naturedly, then watched quietly as her two teammates left the room. She did wonder what was going on, but decided to wait and find out from Daniel when he returned.

Outside in the hall, Jack steered Daniel toward his office. Once they were inside, he closed the door and offered the younger man a seat.

"Jack? What's wrong?" Daniel asked with concern once he was seated.

Jack took his seat behind his desk and sighed deeply. "It's Teal'c. I'm really worried about him."

Daniel's look of concern deepened. "Teal'c? I don't understand. Why would you be worried about him?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because he just decked me in the nose just now?" Jack replied sarcastically.

"What?"

"Did you think my nose was always this size?"

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Actually Jack, I didn't notice your nose. It doesn't look swollen at all to me."

"Are you sure?" Jack asked as he rose up out of his chair and went to look in the mirror hanging on his wall.

Daniel sighed. "Yes, Jack. I'm positive!"

"Well, okay then," Jack said sheepishly. "Sorry I snapped at you."

"Forget it. Now, tell me what's going on with Teal'c?"

Jack returned to his seat and sat down. "Well, it's just that we've been getting along really well lately." He looked closely at Daniel then. "I mean, really well," he stated with emphasis.

Daniel leaned his head in closer to Jack. He was certain the other man was trying to tell him something important, but he had no idea what it was. "'Really well,'" he repeated slowly. "Like best friends?"

Jack didn't look satisfied, but nodded anyway. "Yeah. I guess that's as good a way to put it as any."

Daniel furrowed his brow with confusion, but decided against asking for an elaboration. Clearing his throat, he said, "So now that you two are … best friends, what exactly is the problem?"

Jack shrugged. "Well, he doesn't' seem to want to be around me anymore."

Daniel watched as his friend played nervously with his hands.

"I mean, I've been asking him to do stuff and all, but he just doesn't seem interested. Then, when we do get to spend a little time together, he just doesn't seem to be into it. Like just now in the gym. We had just started sparring when all of a sudden he decks me in the nose and leaves."

Daniel's eyes widened. "You mean Teal'c actually hit you on purpose? That doesn't sound like something he would do?"

"Exactly! Now do you understand why I'm so upset?" Jack paused as he watched Daniel take in all that he had just told him. "Sure, he's gotten a little rough with me when we've sparred before, but he's never actually hurt me, nor have I ever gotten the impression that he ever actually wanted to. This time though …." <Sigh!> "I don't know, Daniel. It really hurts, you know?"

"Don't worry about it so much, Jack. I'm sure your nose will be feeling much better by tomorrow. It really isn't badly bruised at all," Daniel tried to reassure him.

"I'm not talking about my nose, Daniel!" Jack spat out with annoyance. "When I say it hurts, I mean in here," he clarified, punching lightly at his chest to emphasize the emotional pain he was feeling.

Daniel nodded sympathetically. He really wasn't sure what Jack wanted him to say. Finally he decided to take the direct approach. "Jack?" he asked. "Forgive me if I'm being dense, but why do I get the feeling that there's something more going on here? I mean, you just seem to be taking this far more personally than you probably should. We've all seen Teal'c in his moods before. What makes you think this one is directed solely at you?"

"Well what else am I supposed to think? I mean one minute he's all over me, and the next he's treating me like I'm a system lord or something!"

Daniel looked puzzled. "What do you mean ‘all over you?'"

Jack was caught off guard by the question, and the deep shade of red now coloring his face confirmed it.

"Jack?" Daniel asked with concern. "Are you all right?"

Jack did his best to compose himself – and failed. Suddenly, he was up out of his chair and frantically pacing the room.

"Fine then," he blurted out unexpectedly. "You want to know what I mean by ‘all over me?' I'll tell you." Stopping his pacing, he leaned over his desk and fixed his gaze on Daniel. "The last time I invited Teal'c over to my house we drank some beer, watched the game on TV and then screwed our brains out! Is that a good enough definition for you, Daniel?"

Daniel's jaw hit the floor. "You did WHAT?!"

"That's right!" Jack declared as he sat back down. "And before you ask, it was the best sex I've ever had in my life!" Jack paused, his expression suddenly growing sad. "Now he's treating me like I'm Apophis' evil twin or something."

Daniel was literally speechless, and so was Jack, at least for the time being. The two sat quietly across from each other, both lost in their own individual thoughts. Several minutes later, it was Jack who decided to speak first.

"I didn't mean to lay all of this on you, Daniel. It's just the more I think about the way Teal'c is behaving, the more upset I get." Jack frowned. "My feelings are really hurt here."

The best Daniel could do was nod his understanding.

Sigh! "I don't know, Daniel. Do you think maybe I'm in love with him or something?"

"L-L-Love?" Daniel stammered out.

Exasperated, Jack looked hard at Daniel. "Yes, Daniel -- LOVE! What is with you today?"

Daniel stood up slowly and shook his head in an attempt to clear it.

Jack waited as patiently as he could for Daniel to say something -- but he wasn't exactly known for his patience. "Well? What do you think? Come on, Daniel, I really need some help here!"

Daniel closed his eyes and sighed loudly. "Well, Jack? W-What exactly is it that you want me to say?"

"Oh, I don't know! Give me some advice. Tell me what to do!"

"Well, I'm sorry, Jack. I'm not really sure what to say to you. Quite frankly, the very idea of you and Teal'c together … romantically … hell, sexually just … well it's just kind of … YUCKY!" Daniel immediately regretted his statement and tried his best to look as apologetic as he could. "I'm sorry, Jack," he added in a low voice.

"You know, Daniel, coming from someone who is always trying to convince me to be more open-minded, you sure are a hypocrite. The only reason I even told you about this is because I thought you'd understand."

Daniel genuinely felt bad. "I do understand, Jack. I don't really have any prejudices against homosexuality as a rule, but you and Teal'c?" Daniel sighed. "I'm sorry it's just the visuals that come to mind …"

"Well get over it, you pervert!" Jack stated with annoyance. "I'm not inviting you into the bedroom with us! All I want is a little advice. That's all."

Daniel sat back down in his chair and threw his hands up in defeat. "Okay, I'll try."

Satisfied, Jack relaxed a bit. "Good! Now, the first thing I need to know is what it is that's bugging Teal'c?"

"Can you recall when he first began acting funny toward you?"

Jack thought about it for a moment. "It was right after we got back from that alternate reality. You know, the one where Sam and I were married and Apophis was alive, and I was dead, and Teal'c had a goatee and then shot himself … or his alternate self." Jack shook his head. "Oh, whatever! You know what I mean, right?"

Daniel nodded slowly. "Yeah, Jack, I think I do." He sat back in the chair and went over what he could recall. "Well, you did get awfully cozy with the alternate Sam. Maybe that's what upset him?"

"No. I don't think so. He was acting strangely even before that. I first noticed it when me and Kawalsky, rather the alternate Kawalsky and I, ran into him when we were leaving the gym."

"Leaving the gym?"

Jack smiled proudly. "Yeah. Even in the alternate reality Kawalsky couldn't beat me, or the alternate me, in wrestling. As soon as he realized we had a bit of free time, he asked me for a match. I couldn't refuse him, now, could I?" he asked with a smirk.

Not being a violent man by nature, Daniel never understood why fighting was such a popular form of male bonding. "No, of course not," he replied dryly. "So why do you think that would have made Teal'c angry?"

Jack shrugged. "I don't know!" He thought about it some more. "It just did for some reason. It was almost as if – wait a minute! Wait just a minute! That's it!" Jack snapped his fingers.

"W-What's it?" Daniel asked with confusion.

"Kawalsky!"

"Kawalsky?"

"Yes, Kawalsky!"

"Okay, Kawalsky then." Daniel frowned and blinked rapidly. "Umm, what about Kawalsky?" he asked after a moment.

Jack slapped himself on the forehead. "Damnit! How could I have been so stupid?" Rising from his desk, Jack quickly headed toward the exit. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" he chanted with disgust as he opened the door. "I'll catch up with you later, Daniel," he said as he stepped out the door before pausing and pushing it back open again. "Thanks, Buddy!" he added as an afterthought, and then he was gone.

Daniel leaned heavily back in his chair. "Sure, Jack," he whispered aloud. "No problem."

Part 3

"Come on, Teal'c! Where the hell are you?" Jack said aloud to himself as he left the Gateroom. He had been wandering the halls of the SGC looking for Teal'c for over 20 minutes.

"Colonel O'Neill?" a male voice called from behind him.

Jack turned around. "Yeah? What is it?" he replied as he waited impatiently for the young man to approach.

"Colonel. General Hammond would like to see you in his office immediately."

Jack sighed. "Now? Can't it wait?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Uh, I'm afraid not, Sir," the young man replied, not realizing he wasn't expected to respond.

Jack nodded and waved his hand dismissively at the young soldier. "Yeah, I know that. Why don't you go on to wherever it was you were going. I'll go see Hammond."

"Yes, Sir!" the young man replied with a salute. Then he turned and left.

Mumbling under his breath, Jack headed to General Hammond's office.

"General," he greeted the older man as he entered his office.

"Colonel O'Neill," the general replied as he waved Jack toward a seat. "I'm glad you're here. We've got a rather interesting situation on our hands."

Jack sat down. "What's going on, Sir?"

"I just had a strange visit from Teal'c. It seems he would like to be reassigned to another team."

"What?" Jack blurted out. "Why would he want to do something like that?"

"He was somewhat evasive when I asked him that same question, Colonel. But from what little I could get out of him, he seemed to believe that it would ‘ease tensions' within your team." The general looked pointedly at Jack. "Now what do you suppose he meant by that, Colonel?"

"I'm not really sure, General. I have some idea, I think, but I'd much rather discuss it with Teal'c first, if you don't mind?"

The general nodded. "I was hoping it would be something you could work out amongst yourselves." He looked menacingly at Jack then. "Besides, you know how much I hate dissension in the ranks. So I'm counting on YOU to get this matter cleared up as soon as possible. Am I understood, Colonel?"

Jack nodded. "Yes, Sir. Understood."

General Hammond smiled. "Good. Dismissed."

"Thank you, Sir."

A few minutes later, Jack once again found himself wandering the halls of the SGC. This time, however, he was far luckier than he had been before.

"Teal'c?" he called out as he quickened his pace so that he could catch up to his Jaffa friend. "Teal'c? Wait up, will ya?"

Teal'c slowed down somewhat, but did not turn around, nor did he look up when Jack came to a halt by his side.

"Teal'c! I've been looking everywhere for you."

Teal'c frowned and considered Jack's statement. "I would not have thought that possible, O'Neill," he said.

It was Jack's turn to frown. "Huh?" Then he shook his head. "Never mind. Look, Teal'c. I just came from General Hammond's office, and he told me that you want to be transferred off of the team."

"That is correct," Teal'c confirmed with a nod.

"But why, Teal'c? I don't understand?"

"I believe it would be best," Teal'c replied.

"Best for who? For you? For me? For the team?"

"Best for everyone," Teal'c stated.

Jack grabbed Teal'c by the arm and looked pleadingly into his dark brown eyes. "Teal'c, I think we need to talk."

Teal'c stared at Jack with uncertainty.

"Teal'c. Look, I know you're upset with me, and I think I know why. But unless we talk about it, it will never get resolved, and I really want to resolve this. Don't you?"

Teal'c sighed loudly and nodded. "Very well. We will talk."

Jack looked visibly relieved. "Good. Come on. We can talk more privately in my office."

Part 4

Once safely back in Jack's office, Teal'c sat down in the chair while Jack propped himself down on the side of his desk.

"So, you want to tell me what's going on, or do you want me to take a good guess?" Jack asked as calmly as he could.

Teal'c said nothing.

"Ok," Jack began. "Then, I guess that means I get to start. Now, my guess is that this has something to do with Kawalsky … or rather the alternate Kawalsky. How am I doing so far?"

Teal'c looked up at Jack then. "You may continue," he said evenly.

"All right, I will. I take it that my association with the alternate Kawalsky bothered you for some reason?"

Teal'c nodded. "It was difficult for me to watch you with him."

Jack leaned closer to his friend. "Why?" he asked softly.

"Because I know what Kawalsky meant to you."

"But he wasn't Kawalsky, at least not the Kawalsky I once knew."

Teal'c looked closely at Jack. "But he was still your friend, and he considered you his as well."

Jack began to feel very uneasy. "Teal'c? Why don't you tell me your take on what was going on?"

"He cared very deeply for you."

"Who cared very deeply for me? Kawalsky?"

"Yes. The alternate one."

"But he and my alternate were best friends, Teal'c. He admitted as much."

"No! It was much more than that! I could sense it when he warned me off."

Jack was shocked. "What do you mean when he ‘warned you off?'"

"He told me to stay away from you."

"Why would he tell you something like that?"

"When I asked him, he would not say. But I spoke with the alternate Samantha Carter, and she told me that in her world, my alternate had killed your alternate because he desired him physically."

"WHAT?" Jack stood up and began pacing the room.

Teal'c looked shamefully down at the floor. "That was why I did not hesitate to kill my alternate as soon as I saw him."

Jack took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "So Kawalsky hated you because of what your alternate did to me … or to the other me in their reality?"

"That is correct. Your alternate was killed because he refused to give in to my alternate's advances. He was repulsed by my alternate."

Jack stopped pacing and looked down at his friend. Instinctively, he placed his hands on Teal'c's shoulders and began messaging them gently.

"Whatever your alternate did, Teal'c, it has nothing to do with you!"

Teal'c said nothing for a moment then he stood up and fixed his gaze on Jack. "There is more, O'Neill," he said. "The other Samantha Carter told me that Kawalsky and your alternate had been lovers before she and your alternate met. Although she was not the reason their romance had failed, she had always believed that Kawalsky still retained feelings for your alternate."

"She told you that?"

Teal'c nodded. "She said that their mutual affection for your alternate was the thing that bound them so closely together after his death."

Jack didn't really know what to say to that.

"You are lucky to have two such honorable people love you so, O'Neill," Teal'c said with tears in his eyes.

"No, Teal'c!" Jack corrected, cupping Teal'c's face in his hands and forcing the Jaffa to look him in the eyes. "He was lucky to have two such honorable people in love with him, not me!"

"But they would never have hurt him. They would only have loved him as he deserved to be loved. I believe that both the alternate Samantha Carter and the alternate Kawalsky would have welcomed the opportunity to share that love with YOU here in this reality had it not been for the phase shifting."

"Teal'c …" Jack began.

"I saw how happy you were with the alternate Kawalsky, and you told me yourself that your relationship with this reality's Kawalsky was a close one as well."

"So what?" Jack spat out. "Neither one of them is here right now, so why are we talking about them as if they were? Look at me, Teal'c, and listen closely. I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH THE ALTERNATE KAWALSKY, OR THE ALTERNATE CARTER, OR EVER OUR OWN CARTER FOR THAT MATTER! You got that?"

Teal'c did not look convinced.

"Teal'c, I thought that you and I had something special going on here? Was I just imagining all of the good times we had together? Was the passion that we felt when we made love just something I dreamed up? Is the pain I'm feeling in my chest right now, just gas? For cryin' out loud, Teal'c, YOU are the only person I want to be with right now. You! Not Kawalsky or Carter squared, just YOU!"

Teal'c shook his head. "I am not good enough for you, O'Neill."

"What?" Jack was way beyond frustrated now. "Teal'c, please. You gotta tell me, Babe? Where is this coming from?"

Teal'c turned away from Jack. "There are many things you do not know about me, O'Neill. Unspeakable things."

Jack stepped in front of Teal'c and forced him to look at him. "What kind of things, Teal'c? Things you've done in the past? Things that Apophis ordered you to do while under his rule? Things like what your alternate did to mine?"

Teal'c nodded slowly.

Jack sighed and patted Teal'c soothingly on the chest. "Look, Teal'c. That other guy … that big, muscular, bald guy with that goatee thing on his face. You know what? He scared me. He scared the hell out of me, in fact, and I can't honestly say that I was sorry to see him die."

Jack stared deeply into Teal'c's eyes then and gently began to caress his cheek. "But this guy here, this big, muscular, bald guy with the gentle hands … and the soft skin … and the kind eyes and delicious lips …" Jack let his hand roam down to Teal'c's rear and closed his eyes with longing. "… and the most incredible ass I have ever seen … now this guy I like! I like him a lot, in fact. I like him so much that I might even go so far as to say that I love him. And do you know why? Because I know he'd never do anything to hurt me. Because I know that the soul inside of him is a gentle and loving one, and that this Teal'c is one of the finest men I have ever known."

Teal'c smiled slightly and wrapped his arms around Jack. "You can really care for me so?" he asked, brushing his lips across Jack's.

"You want me to prove it?" Jack asked breathlessly.

"I would like that very much," Teal'c replied. Then he pulled Jack even closer and devoured his mouth with his own.

Part 5

Later that day at Jack's house ….

"Oh, Babe! Oh Baaaabe! Oh yeah! Ooooh yeah!" Jack panted hoarsely.

Teal'c glanced up at his lover and suppressed the urge to smile. He knew Jack was just seconds away from cumming in his mouth, and he didn't want to ruin it for him. Reinforcing his grip on Jack's shaft, he began sucking harder.

"Ooooh! That's it! That's it, Babe! It's happening! It's happening! It's haaaaappppeniiiiing!"

Teal'c gave one last squeeze and his mouth filled up with his lover's essence. He couldn't imagine anything better.

Jack threw his head back with exhaustion and gave a deep, contented moan. "Oh, Teal'c. You are the BEST, man! The absolute BEST!"

Satisfied, Teal'c sat up and stretched out along side his friend. "Thank you, O'Neill," he said proudly. "You inspire me greatly."

Jack turned his head and grinned happily at his Jaffa. "You've spoiled me, you know," he said with not even a hint of regret.

Teal'c smiled broadly. "It would be dishonest of me to say that I am sorry for that."

Jack leaned over and caught Teal'c's mouth in a lingering kiss. "You know," he began when he was done, "I can't help but wonder what would have happened if my alternate had given in to yours?"

Teal'c raised an eyebrow as he considered Jack's question. "He would probably have taken good care of him," he finally said.

Jack was surprised. "Really? You think so?"

"I do. That is exactly what I had been considering myself the first time I saw you in that prison on Chulak. I was prepared to ask Apophis to spare your life and give you to me."

Jack chuckled lightly. "You were?"

"Yes."

"Sweet," Jack replied with a smile. Unfortunately, a loud yawn quickly replaced it. Resting his head on Teal'c's chest, he said, "You know, it's weird how things work out. Just think. If my alternate had given in to yours, then maybe things would have turned out differently for him and the others in his reality."

"Perhaps."

Jack closed his eyes lazily and made himself more comfortable. "Well it does prove one thing, at least."

"What is that?"

"That whatever the universe, you and I belong together."

"It did not seem that way in the alternate universe that Daniel Jackson first encountered. If you recall, my alternate killed yours in that one."

"True, but then my alternate in that universe had made the mistake of admitting to destroying your alternate's world and killing his family, remember? I doubt that even in this universe you would be able to forgive me something like that."

Teal'c said nothing for a couple of minutes.

Jack decided it would be best to drop the topic. He didn't mind though, he was tired anyway. Besides, Teal'c's family was still a bit of a sensitive subject. Instead, he closed his eyes and prepared to go to sleep. Then …

"Let us hope that such an event like that will never take place in this reality, O'Neill, for I would sooner kill myself than be the cause of your death."

Jack recalled how efficiently Teal'c had disposed of his alternate self when they had visited the other reality. "Then let's continue to do everything we can to ensure that nothing like that ever happens, lover." Then he planted a quick kiss on Teal'c's stomach pouch and promptly went to sleep.

~THE END~