[Next entry: "SG-1 Fic: Of Virtue Fair (Vala, Mitchell, Carter, Daniel, O'Neill, Martouf, Nirrti; PG-13)"]
07/28/2007: "SG-1 Fic: Without Complaining (Teal'c, Cameron; Teal'c/Cameron; PG-13)"
Title: Without Complaining
Characters: Teal'c, Cameron (some Teal'c/Cameron)
Rating: PG-13
Words: 1800
Spoilers: Anything for season 9
Notes: For rydra_wong who asked for good Teal'c characterization, and perhaps an illustration of Teal'c's thoughtfulness/intelligence. I hope you like this. Beta by the lovely janedavitt. Thank you so much (all remaining mistakes my own). Title from a definition of patience (the ability to wait without complaining).
It's not always shooting and running and wondering what the hell they've gotten themselves into this time. Even with the Ori threat, some missions are still quiet, some are still about science and visiting allies and checking out new planets for something they could use, something they could learn. Some days it's about keeping an eye on the Stargate while the science-types do their work.
Cameron gets that, knows it's the way it's got to be sometimes. They can't be on the edge all the time, or they'll eventually fall apart.
Still. "I've never been good at waiting," he says to Teal'c, scanning the ruins and the heavy, drooping trees. "Patience doesn't work for me." Not on missions, anyway. All keyed up and nowhere to go with that energy; it's like something's just taunting him.
Teal'c, of course, always seems to have patience in spades. He has that block-of-stone, never disturbed vibe, front and centre.
And no way does Cameron believe he was born like that. How many years of practice did it take for Teal'c to get the role – stoic, impenetrable, flawless – down cold? Whatever it was, it paid off, because Cameron can count on one hand the number of times he's seen Teal'c agitated or discomfited, or hell, even passionate and eloquent. These days, that passion, the agitation, always centres around Dakara, the endless power plays, the tensions of reworking an entire culture. He figures it's a privilege that he's been allowed to see those moments; Teal'c isn't the kind to drop the mask for anyone.
Right now, Teal'c is standing, watching the Stargate. He's somehow rigid and loose at the same time. But he turns his face towards Cameron, one eyebrow slightly raised. "Indeed?"
And Cameron gets it. Teal'c knows all about Cameron's lack of patience, his focus on getting things done. Teal'c looks at them all, sometimes, like he can see right through them, right to the heart of what makes them tick. Carter and challenges, Jackson and puzzles. Cameron and the need to do things, now, now. Not later.
It's tempting to take it at face-value, to believe Teal'c really is the inscrutable alien who understands them better than they understand themselves.
Some days, though, Cameron wonders how much of it is an act, and what it costs Teal'c to keep that act going. Cameron might be a flyboy, but he isn't stupid. Maybe Teal'c does read them well, but he's not all-knowing.
He smiles lazily at Teal'c, even though he's already turned away. "Yeah. It gets me twitchy."
There's silence, but it contains a question.
"Restless," he clarifies, even though that's not the question Teal'c was asking. He leans back against the stone wall of the ruin, his feet square on the ground. "You think they're going to be much longer?"
Carter and Jackson are out digging around among the ruins, looking for the source of the energy readings they'd detected.
"Possibly something that we could use against the Ori," Carter had said right after the Stargate disengaged. She'd already been distracted, ready to go. They'd been briefed by SG-13, who had done the initial recon on the planet. Energy readings, language carved on stones, and maybe SG-1's people should take a look at it, figure it out.
Cameron can picture it now; the two of them talking techy-talk and sharing those grins they get, like they know something the others don't. It's cute, though he isn't dumb enough to ever say so. Unless he maybe needs to bug them a little.
"I cannot say," Teal'c replies, and it might be Cameron's imagination, but is there a hint of resignation there?
He smirks a little. "Yeah, they're like puppies in a toy store, sometimes."
"Puppies."
"Running here, running there, excitable. You just can't rein 'em in. So much to look at! So much to sniff!"
"Sniff."
"Metaphorically speaking."
Teal'c turns back towards him, smiling faintly. "I see."
Briefly, Cameron wonders if they have puppies on Chulak. But no way in hell is he going to talk about baby animals with Teal'c. Or anyone. Especially since the puppies on Chulak are probably trained killers with tragic histories of cruel treatment and repression.
He must be more bored than he thought, if his mind is starting to wander like this. Hell. Waiting around is killing him.
"C'mon," he says, pushing himself away from the wall, rubbing his hands together. "Let's find something to do."
Teal'c doesn't move, still loosely standing.
"We should patrol the perimeter."
"Colonel Mitchell. The perimeter is secure. We have checked numerous times. This planet is uninhabited and previously explored."
Cameron shrugs. "How long has it been since our last patrol?"
There's a short pause before Teal'c says, "It has been five minutes."
Five minutes. That doesn't seem right. He opens his mouth to say so.
"I am not mistaken."
"How long since –"
"I believe they are due for a check-in now."
And as though on cue, Cameron's radio crackles. "Mitchell?" Daniel sounds distracted, maybe a little stressed.
"Yeah? Something wrong? You two need backup?"
"Ah. No. Just checking in."
Oh. "So no problems?"
"None. Gotta go!"
And that's maybe the tiniest bit suspicious. Sure, Jackson could just be caught up in what he's doing, focusing on ruins, or maybe the scrawl of language beaten into stone walls. But then again, maybe someone is forcing Jackson to pretend everything is fine. Pulling out his gun, he gestures at Teal'c. "Come on. Sounds like something's up."
Teal'c looks at him like he's a few fish short of a really good chowder. "I do not believe anything is wrong," he says, even as he turns towards the direction that Jackson and Carter had followed.
"You heard Jackson."
"I did."
"So? Don't you think he sounded stressed?"
"I believe he sounded as though he was immersed in his work, and resented the regulations that require him to constantly report his whereabouts and actions." Teal'c speaks as though he's had way too much exposure to those kinds of Jackson complaints. Hell, Cameron has, and he's only heard a few in passing. "It is possible he was also wary of contacting you, because he is aware of your inability to remain uninvolved in processes at which you do not excel."
Telling it like it is; that's Teal'c. "Hey now. You telling me that I mess up with the tech?"
But Teal'c is already walking away from their resting spot, his movements slow, precise, and really, really bored.
I know you, Cameron thinks, briefly. He doesn't know how it happened, but he can read Teal'c.
Sometimes. When Teal'c lets him.
Cameron scans the area as they go, looking for something, anything that might indicate any problems with Jackson and Carter. He doesn't radio them, just in case. Doesn't want to give it away.
He lets Teal'c lead. "See anything?"
Teal'c points. "They were not attempting to disguise their movements as they walked."
"Makes 'em easy to track. For anyone."
"I only see evidence of two people walking together."
Yeah. Cameron sees the same thing. "So you figure that maybe someone came at them from another angle, followed them –"
He cuts himself off when Teal'c stops suddenly, one hand warning for silence. Cameron tenses, crouching down slightly, and scans the trees. It's no good – the area is dense with underbrush and ruins, crumbling stone walls and rubble. There are too many hiding spots.
Teal'c gestures, slowly, and together they move through the underbrush. In the distance, over the birdsong and the tiny sounds of life, Cameron's sure he picks up hints of voices. He nods at Teal'c, gestures that they should approach from the right. Teal'c shakes his head and points to the left.
Slowly, slowly they move forward, and then suddenly, moving fast, Teal'c turns and pushes Cameron back until he hits a wall. He can feel it crumble a little behind him, small pieces of grit falling to the ground. "Teal'c, what the –"
"Cease talking," Teal'c says, crowding into him, one hand moving from his shoulder to cover Cameron's mouth. And this kind of personal space violation, it's not normal, not usual. "Listen."
Cameron listens, hears the approach of someone through the ruins. He shakes Teal'c's hand away from his mouth and concentrates as the steps get closer.
" – probably driving him insane," one voice says. Jackson.
"I don't doubt it," Carter answers. "Poor Teal'c."
Jackson snorts. "Yeah. Poor, defenseless Teal'c." There's a pause before he adds, "I give Mitchell 10 more minutes before Teal'c snaps."
"In a controlled way." It sounds like Carter's smiling, and oh, she is going to pay.
"Of course."
They must be close, so close, probably right around the corner. If they turn, they'll find Cameron, being held against the wall by Teal'c, whose expression is smug. Definitely smug.
" – I bet right now he's trying to –"
And Carter's voice fades. They must be moving away. Cameron turns his head to glare at Teal'c, who isn't moving away, who's still crowding in close, one leg pressing into him, his hips almost flush with Cameron's. His hand is heavy, hot, on Cameron's shoulder. "Yeah, OK. You made your point."
Teal'c smiles, slowly. "Of that I am aware." After a moment, he pulls his hand back and steps away slightly, just enough that they're no longer quite touching each other. Cameron can still feel the heat of his body, the way it contrasts with the cool, moist air of the planet.
It's close, still too close, and Cameron knows enough that this is deliberate. That Teal'c is thinking, planning.
They stay like that for a few moments, Cameron carefully controlling his breathing, waiting for Teal'c to say something.
It seems to drag on. Five more breaths, and Cameron knows what he wants to say, and it's a bad, bad idea, but he never has been good at waiting for someone else to get on with the plan, the planning. "So. Teal'c. Gotta say, I never would have –"
Teal'c looks at him, faint warning in his expression.
Cameron grins a little, his best cocky smile. "I mean, I know you're the kind of guy who takes what he wants, but here isn't exactly –"
Teal'c cuts him off, low and quiet, "Colonel Mitchell, I believe you would benefit from learning to kelnoreem."
Huh. "Kelnoreem?"
"Yes."
"Sitting around. Being at one with myself." Cameron knows there's more to it, but a guy's got to have some laughs.
"Not precisely."
Though maybe it isn't such a good idea to do that while poking at an irritated Jaffa. "You think it might be fun?"
Teal'c's eyes close, briefly. "Fun is not the purpose."
Cameron's heard the stories about kelnoreem, how Teal'c sits there, surrounded by candles, and just. Breathes. "Looks like a statue," he'd heard one of the marines mutter in passing. Cameron can imagine it, the way the candlelight would flicker and reflect from Teal'c's skin. He almost doesn't say it, because he knows he shouldn't, shouldn't open himself up that way. But hell, he's already started. "Candles. Solitude. You asking me over for a date?"
Teal'c's expression barely changes. There's the tiniest twitch of his cheek, though, and that's enough for Cameron. "OK, all right. Yeah. Sounds good." He pushes Teal'c back gently, and steps away from the stone wall, shaking himself loosely, already anticipating. "Thanks for the offer."
"You are most welcome," Teal'c responds, turning and heading back towards the Stargate. His tone is full of promise.
End
