Otter's Rock

okay, so this turned out to be more about Sha're and Sam than Sha're and Teal'c. Oops.

***

In some ways, being "in the field" with Teal'c was no different from being in the SGC with him. They did not speak unless they must. They were both ... very careful around one another. Polite. Politeness was not in much favor with the Tau'ri, Sha're had found, but it served her well.

Particularly when she must depend for her life on a man she would claw apart with fingernails and teeth, if she could.

When they came to the village, Colonel O'Neill and Sha're stepped forward to speak with the people who lived there while Teal'c and Samantha scouted the area. O'Neill was as impatient as always and Sha're had to smooth his words for the local leaders many times. But they would listen better if she had a man beside her than a woman, and she would not be paired with Teal'c.

When they concluded their business--no, there are no Goa'uld here, they left many years ago and have not been back, no, they do not know why--Samantha and Teal'c were waiting for them.

Teal'c bowed to her, and she acknowledged him with a measured nod. Samantha glanced between them uneasily before clearing her throat. "There doesn't seem to be any Naquadah in the area, sir. And no signs of advanced technology--the Goa'uld didn't leave anything behind when they left."

O'Neill nodded. "All right, then, campers, back to the Gate."

He led off, with Sha're following close on his heels. She studied the arts of battle, both with weapons and without, but of them all she was the least practiced; there was no shame in admitting it, and so she walked always in the middle of the group. Samantha walked behind her, and Teal'c at the end.

Back at the SGC they give their report and are dismissed for the night. "You know," Samantha said as they change, alone in the women's locker room, "Teal'c is a good guy. He didn't really have any choice. As soon as he found a way--any way--to really strike back, make a difference, he took it."

Sha're was surpised, but only that it had taken Samantha that long to speak of it. The other woman did not care for conflict. Sha're continued to undress, neatly folding each garment as it was removed and placing it in her locker. "And yet my husband and brother are still enslaved to demons."

"If he hadn't, another Jaffa would have," Sam said. "Apophis would have just killed him and found someone else."

"And yet it was Teal'c who did Apophis' bidding," Sha're said. She removed her civilian clothing from her locker and put it on. The dress was much different from what they wore on Abydos, but she found that she missed the feel of fabric swinging around her legs when she wore pants.

"Hanno and the people of Cartago forgave him," Samantha said. She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

"I know," Sha're said. "It is their right to forgive the harm Teal'c has done them. It is not their right to forgive what he has done to me. Nor is it yours."

"But--"

"When Teal'c has hurt you, you may forgive him or not as you choose," Sha're says firmly. "What is between Teal'c and I is indeed between us, and not you. He would not thank you for interfering."

Sam sighed. "Right. I'll see you tomorrow."

Sha're dipped her head, the acknowledgment due a friend and equal. "Until tomorrow."