Sweat pouring off him, Daniel threaded the strap from the mobile hoist under one of the larger, flatter chunks of rock and hooked it in place on the pulley. Tested it to make sure it was secure and wouldn't slip off, then stood back. "Okay, mine's ready."

The captain controlling the device gave a nod, but had to wait for a second strap to be secured by one of the sergeants.

While Daniel waited, keeping his fingers crossed that beneath this slab would be at least a few plants worth of intact leaves, he went to get some water from the supplies stacked off to one side. He kept a hopeful expression on his face though he avoided making eye contact with anyone. He didn't have the best poker face, at least not to people who really knew him and he knew that hopefulness wasn't reflected in his eyes. It had been just under an hour but judging by how much they had been able to excavate of the fallen cave there wouldn't be nearly enough of the plant to take back. Yet Daniel refused to admit that out loud until the last rock had been looked under.

"Greetings, Dan'yel."

He spun around at the familiar voice nearly choking on the swig of water he'd just taken. For a split second he thought that Skaara had somehow stowed away on the Prometheus, until he saw his expression. There was none of the cynicism that was constantly marring the face of the Skaara currently residing at the SGC. Instead there was the calm serenity that only existed on one of the Ascended. He smiled at the young man, responding in kind in the language he had learned to speak on this very planet. "Feeling a little homesick?"

"I miss the warmth of the sun," he admitted. "I often come to walk in the sands of my birthplace."

Daniel knew better than anyone that one of the Ascended, even a former family member, didn't just drop in to say 'hi'; that Skaara was walking a fine line to have appeared to him and to do so in front of so many witnesses. Feeling the claws of desperation scratching at his heart, Daniel was ready to beg Skaara to break the cardinal noninterference rule of the Ascended. Clung to the idea that there was no other reason he would appear now if not to help them. "Don't suppose you'd like to give us a hand?"

Skaara gave a softly chiding look with eyes that were too wise for his young face. "You know I cannot."

The archaeologist gave a shrug. "Had to try."

"You would not be Dan'yel if you did not." Skaara spread his arms wide. "Walk with me, brother, in the footsteps where you helped us gain our freedom. I have the blessing of the Others to share what has transpired since we last spoke."

Daniel really didn't care at this particular moment about what was happening on the Ascended plane, not when time was of the essence with those he loved dying. However, something in those dark eyes was pleading with him and he found himself heading to Skaara's side. "So, what's the word around the Ascended water cooler?"

"There are many who are concerned about what transpired in the diner." Skaara started to stroll in the direction of the sun, which was a third of way risen. "They are unhappy about the threats you made."

Daniel fell into step with him. "Forgive me if I'm not upset about that."

"They are watching to see what you are doing."

"Should I feel honored that they have deigned to acknowledge a mere mortal?" Daniel couldn't help the bitterness in his voice.

Skaara titled his head with an expression of perplexity Daniel didn't understand. "But you are not-" He broke off, a glazed look in his eyes.

Daniel had seen a similar look in his wife's eyes often enough to know that Skaara was receiving a message from 'elsewhere'.

Skaara frowned then shrugged, as if whatever the message was, it was of little importance. "Some they watch out of interest, others from wariness."

Squinting from the glare, Daniel gave up trying to look ahead and kept his head lowered to the sand, assuming Skaara would eventually circle them back. He found it amusing that anyone, let alone Ascended beings, would be wary of him.

"And then there are those who have begun to watch the Others." His expression turned slightly mischievous. "Have started asking questions about the...issues...you raised."

"I bet Auberrat is just loving that." Daniel's tone was dry. Inwardly he was pleased to hear that his visit to the Ascended plane had started a ripple in their sea of apathy.

"He and Oma have been debating some of the rules, in particular the noninterference rule."

"Really?" Daniel felt a surge of hope. "Who's winning?"

Skaara shrugged. "It is too early to say. It is my understanding that such discussions can last for many, many moons."

The hope died.

"At the moment they are discussing the differences between 'interfering' and 'guiding'."

"Interesting." Daniel had the feeling of walking a tightrope. Which, he thought ruefully, was generally on par when dealing with one of Oma's 'disciples'. "What have they come up with?"

"They have not yet reached an agreement on a definition of 'interference'. 'Guiding' they have tentatively agreed, requires the person not being aware they are receiving assistance."

"Like magically dreaming the answer to a problem?"

A small smile played on the man's lips. "That was one proposed option." He cocked his head as though listening. "Your people are looking for you."

Daniel gestured the way they had come. "They should be able to see us. We haven't gone far."

"A long journey begins with just one step," Skaara replied mysteriously. "It has been good to walk with you again."

Daniel recognized the signs of farewell and tried to stop him. "Wait, you've hardly told me anything." A sudden gust of wind blew sand in his eyes forcing him to close them.

"Be well, my brother."

"Skaara, wait!" He blinked his eyes clear only to find he was now alone. Wiping the water from his eyes, he looked up to the sky. "You too, Skaara." With a sigh, wondering what the point of the visit had really been, he turned to head back to the excavation. The only thing that greeted him was a vast expanse of sand dunes. There wasn't a single rock in sight, let alone the collapsed cave or work crew. He turned in a full circle. All he saw was more sand. His gaze dropped to the ground intending to retrace his steps. The sand was smooth with no signs of footprints in any direction.

He gave a resigned shake of his head as it dawned on him that his Ascended brother-in-law had taken him for a ride rather than a short walk. "Dammit, Skaara, where did you take me?" He gained what he hoped were his bearings from the position of the sun and started heading in the direction of the crew. He did take comfort that the sun had barely moved so he hadn't lost any time. Of course, that was providing he was still on Abydos and that Skaara hadn't whisked him off to another planet. Tried to use the radio to contact either the Prometheus or Teal'c. Only static came back.

Again he scanned his surroundings. He could see nothing identifiable standing as he was in the valley of two high dunes, so he began to hike to the top of the closest peak. Halfway up the steep dune, after sliding partially back down the soft sand for the third time, he was none too happy. "You couldn't have dropped me off at the top?"

He would have sworn he heard Skaara's chuckle in the breeze that had remained blowing. After two more attempts he made it to the top. Almost lost his balance at the sight that met him. Then he was running and sliding down the other side, his heart in his throat. Once in the basin he cautiously approached, reaching out to the first of at least a thousand brown stalks. The plants were lopsided, the desert wind having uprooted many as the roots of the annual plant had withered. Hardly daring to breathe he picked one of the leaves. Though it broke off with a sharp snap, it remained intact in his grasp.

Standing back a little to again confirm that his eyes were not playing tricks on him, he realized what had happened. The Abydonians must have already planted the next season's crop before Anubis's attack. The Ra'sil'ic had grown and then with no one left to tend and harvest it, had died. The desert sun had taken care of the drying process. Daniel carefully rubbed the leaf between his thumb and forefinger. The result was a little more brittle than the Abydonians' dried leaves, the smoke would be a bit sharper to breathe in, but surely it was still usable.

Another gust of wind brought Daniel's head partly out the clouds. He had a full, viable crop. Pity he didn't know where the hell he was. Despite that 'little' problem, excitement and almost overwhelming relief began to spread through him. With a burst of energy he decided to head for the next dune, entirely confident that he would find some clue as to his location or even better a Stargate, on the other side.

Colonel Ronson activated the comm to the planet the second the small blip showed up on his screen. "Teal'c, our sensors have just picked up one life sign five miles due south-east of your current position."

"Is it Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c sent up a silent prayer that it was his missing teammate, at the same time wondering how Daniel had traveled so far in such a short time.

"Checking bio signature now...it is Doctor Jackson."

The second he received the confirmation Teal'c was changing the signal on his radio, opening all frequencies. "Daniel Jackson, do you copy?" When only a burst of static came back, he switched back to speak to the Prometheus. "There is too much interference. Can you beam him directly to the ship?"

"Moving into position now," the colonel replied.

A moment later Daniel, who had been sprinting up the dune, barely stopped from careening into the control console of the bridge. He pinwheeled backwards to prevent himself from winding up in Ronson's lap.

"Doctor Jackson, what happened?"

Catching his breath, a wide smile spread across Daniel's face. "I was receiving a little guidance."

"Excuse me?"

Daniel didn't bother to explain. "The position where I was. There's an entire crop of Ra'sil'ic."

After that joyful statement everything happened quickly. The people planet-side were beamed directly to the coordinates. Daniel, with as many extra crewmembers who could be spared, was transported down. A little over an hour later all the dried plants had been uprooted and bundled. A few minutes after that, as the Prometheus opened the hyperspace window back to Earth, the cargo bay became a production line. The leaves were stripped from their stalks, crumbled or cut into tiny pieces and tipped into bags. With everyone working in an exuberant frenzy, by the time the ship reentered Earth's orbit almost half of the crop had been prepared for use.

"Okay, beam us down." Daniel, with the last sack of the desiccated plant leaves, entered what was the official transport room. To his surprise, Colonel Ronson was there rather than on the bridge. He blocked Daniel and Teal'c's path, taking the sack from Daniel and passing it behind to a crewmember ready to add it to the neatly stacked pile.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Jackson, my orders are to only beam down the plant extracts."

Daniel exchanged a look with Teal'c. Wordlessly they agreed there was no point trying to argue with the ship's commander. "Let me talk to Colonel Carter."

Ronson kept his face neutral as he opened the channel that had been on standby since they had entered orbit. The acting OIC had been expecting this. "The Colonel is already on comm."

"Sam, what's this about not beaming us down?" Daniel demanded.

"We're still in lockdown, Daniel. You know the procedure. No one in, no one out."

"But we have the cure."

"No, you have a possible inoculation. We have no idea if the plant works only as a preventative measure, or if it simply needs time to build up an immunity in the body. With our test patients it is proving more to be a stopgap than a cure."

"When we left Janet and you said there had been improvement."

"There had been," Sam confirmed. "And then we used up the last of the tobacco we had. The symptoms started to come back."

"Colonel Carter, we could help administer the plant," Teal'c interjected. "Help prepare the remaining leaves. You must be low on able bodied personnel."

"I'm not going to expose you or anybody else to the virus needlessly. You can help prepare the rest of the leaves topside and we'll beam them in." Sam took a deep breath recognizing the stubborn tenaciousness from both her teammates and ignored their continued protests. "Colonel Ronson, beam down the plant. If either of my teammates try anything restrain them."

"But, Sam-"

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I won't risk it," she interrupted, quietly but firmly.

Ronson took advantage of the shock the two men were feeling and activated the transport. "Transport in progress."

A flash of light and the crop was gone.

Sam's voice checked in. "We got it." She paused. "Beam Daniel and Teal'c to the command hub topside then divide the remaining unprepared plants between us and the hub."

"Yes, Colonel." Ronson gestured for the pair to move forward. Somewhat stiffly they stepped to the center of the room and the commander inwardly winced at the angry glint to both men's eyes. Thought it was probably a good thing for Colonel Carter that she was locked in the base right now.

A few seconds later Daniel and Teal'c found themselves in the hanger. Colonel Piper was waiting for them, holding out cell phones with the booster signal to each of them.

"Colonel Carter would like to speak to you."

Daniel glared at the man, then glanced at the tiny screen and saw the line was already connected for conference. The pair stalked to the bathroom, the only room in the hanger that would offer any privacy. Before Teal'c had closed the door behind them, Daniel was holding the cell to his ear. "'Restrain them'?" he quoted. "Not happy, Sam."

"I know."

"You knew from when we set out that you wouldn't be letting us in," he accused.

"Yes."

"We would have risked contamination to assist you," Teal'c pressed.

"I know that too. I just couldn't let you risk yourselves. Please tell me you understand."

Daniel heard the strain in her voice and he knew issuing that command hadn't been easy for her. "Of course we do," he sighed. "Doesn't mean we have to like it."

"Thank you." Her reply wasn't as strong as she'd wanted.

Daniel didn't miss her waver. His tamped down his frustration and asked softly, "How's Jack?"

"No change. Which I guess is a good thing. The virus in him literally just stopped progressing when his body shut down." The scientist hesitated, wondering if she should mention the continuing 'incident' she been seeing. Weighed up the huge risk of her teammates thinking the pressure of command was making her go crazy. Decided she had to tell somebody otherwise she really would go nuts. "He's intermittently, kind of...glowing."

"Glowing? Glowing how?"

"Like someone is lighting a candle beneath his skin."

"I'm assuming no one else is showing that...er...symptom?"

"No. And no one except me has witnessed it."

"Would it not show on the security footage?" Teal'c asked.

Sam cursed herself for not thinking of that herself. "I haven't checked. But Janet was in the room one of the times it happened and she didn't see anything."

"Mind if we check it?" Daniel was already making his way out of the bathroom, with Teal'c on his heels, to the workstation they'd used yesterday.

"Please do. Jack's in the first isolation room on level twenty-one. Best bet would be from ninety minutes ago." She dropped her voice. "At first I thought there was something wrong with the lights...I feel like I'm going crazy."

"How often does it happen?" Daniel tapped at the keyboard, typing in the time to bring up the bird's eye view of the room.

"It's happening about every hour. It's just a flash, lasts for less than a second." Sam took comfort in Daniel's unwavering support. There wasn't a scrap of doubt in his voice that she hadn't witnessed the strange occurrence.

Clicking through the frames both men had their eyes glued to the image of the unconscious general.

"There." Teal'c pointed to the screen as a definite flash encompassed Jack's body. "We see it, Colonel Carter."

"Really?" Sam was equally relieved and confused. Then why hadn't Janet or anyone else seen it?

"It's clear as day to us," Daniel confirmed.

"The general looks surprisingly well compared to the others."

Both men looked up to see Colonel Piper also looking at the monitor over Daniel's shoulder. He grimaced. "Aside from being in a coma."

"You don't notice anything odd?" Daniel replayed the few seconds with the brief flash of light.

"Not really," he shrugged.

"You don't see a glow?"

"I think you need to get your eyes checked, Doctor Jackson."

"Colonel Carter, has Annika Jackson been in the room when the glowing occurred?"

Sam thought back. "I don't think so."

Daniel guessed where Teal'c was leading. "Can you get her to look at Jack or the footage now?"

Sam paused. "No."

Daniel felt bile rise in his throat. "Why not, Sam?"

The blonde drew in deep breath. "She lapsed into a coma twenty minutes ago."

Daniel felt his heart skip a beat. "You didn't think to mention this before?" His fingers flew over the keyboard to bring up the real time footage of the isolation room. Seeing his wife lying in a bed next to Jack's made him physically ill. A waspish part of his mind concluded that Sam had deliberately delayed telling him, had even directed them to look at the old footage rather than the current so he wouldn't see.

"If I had, there would have been no way to stop you and Teal'c from finding a way into the mountain."

Resting a hand of comfort to his friend's shoulder, Teal'c asked, "Colonel Carter, are your symptoms also increasing?"

"Yes," she admitted. "Using Jack and Annika for a timeline for the numbness, I have approximately two hours before my body shuts down too." It amazed her how clinical she sounded discussing her own fate. Concluded the numbness must be affecting her emotional state as well. "Hopefully once I get a dose of the Ra'sil'ic it'll stave it off."

Daniel's eyes hadn't shifted from the screen. "Annika's glowing as well." He watched the weird light show of both Jack and Annika pulse in sync. His gaze briefly flitted to Colonel Piper who was watching them like they had lost a marble or two. "You really can't see those flashes of light?"

The Colonel shook his head. He was willing to put his theory on hold that stress was playing tricks on them. Had been working at the SGC long enough to know that just because he couldn't see these so called lights did not mean they did not exist. There had been the time Carter had an 'imaginary friend' who had turned out to be not so imaginary and had built a homemade Stargate in her basement. Then there had been those freaky psychedelic bug hallucinations a couple of years back which hadn't been hallucinations. And that was only the tip of the iceberg. If three members of SG-1 were claiming their teammates were lighting up like glow bugs, he'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

"How is that possible?" Teal'c demanded.

A gear clicked in Sam's head and she murmured, "We're different."

"What was that, Sam?"

"Something Annika said when Jack collapsed. She said 'SG-1 are different'." She quickly recounted what abstract details the psychic had been able to give.

The knot in Daniel's stomach tightened. "So it's possible that the tobacco will have no effect on the three of you."

There was silence down the phone line for a long moment. "I hadn't thought of that."

In the background they heard footsteps and then Janet's voice.

"Sam, I want you in the first treatment room ASAP."

"There are other's who need it more than me. I'll be fine for a while."

"It'll be bad for morale if we go through a third CO replacement in the space of a day." Janet was in full doctor mode. "I...we, need you to stay in command until the end of this crisis."

Sam reluctantly nodded then spoke back into the phone. "I'll keep you posted."

"We'll be watching," Daniel countered.

The acting CO was about to hang up but the archaeologist called her back.

"Sam, you do realize that the 'order your team arrested to shock them into immobility' stunt will only work once, don't you?"

"Yep." Sam felt herself smiling at his half serious, half teasing tone. "Guess I'll have to think of something else next time."

The unprocessed plants had been beamed down while SG-1 had been talking, and Piper had set up tables for the personnel to work on. Though it would be a good while before those inside the base would need it, everyone was grateful to have something useful to do beside waiting for word that the tobacco was having a long lasting effect.

Teal'c was just sitting down to help when he realized someone was missing. "Colonel Piper, do you know the whereabouts of Keelah?"

Piper nodded. "There wasn't much to do here except twiddle thumbs, so she suggested she carry on with her training. She's with Captain Sanchez at the range."

The Jaffa was torn between wanting to assist with the plant and to resolve their argument.

"Go." Daniel waved him away, understanding the dilemma of his friend. "We've got things covered here."

Teal'c set off at a brisk walk, though drawing near the hanger his pace slowed, trying to figure out how to word his apology. Keelah would be well within her rights if she wanted to void their agreement. His attack on her had been unwarranted and she deserved better than to have him vent his personal frustrations at her. Entering the firing range he gave a nod at the gunny in charge, then focused on the only other two people inside.

They both had their backs to him, their concentration on the target twenty-five feet down the range. Keelah had a gun drawn, arms extended in a two hand grip.

Teal'c procrastinated, taking a moment to observe her stance, noticing straight away that she was leaning too far to the left. Sanchez saw it as well and Teal'c felt a knot of resentment when the captain leant in close to speak to her and reached out his hand to her shoulder to correct her. There was nothing sexual in the contact, the logical part of his brain could see that and yet he had to fight down the urge to yank the man away. Teaching Keelah was his job! Unless, a small voice whispered in his mind, after his appalling behavior she wanted nothing more to do with him. The mere thought of which caused a hollow ache in his gut.

Under Sanchez's direction Keelah aimed her gun and began shooting. Sanchez turned side on, more concerned with his trainee's posture than her bullets actually hitting the mark. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Teal'c. He gave an easy smile and stepped back, his smile faltering a little at the Jaffa's dark look.

"Things didn't go well on Abydos?"

"We procured more than a full crop." Teal'c forced the glower from his face. "Doctor Fraiser is administering the tobacco now and they are preparing the remainder of the plant at the mobile command."

This time the man's smile was one of relief. "That's great news. Any word if it's working?"

"It is too early to speculate."

"Do you mind taking over?" Sanchez motioned with his head towards Keelah who was still steadily firing the gun. Was pretty sure that since Teal'c and Keelah were a couple, the Jaffa would have no problem with it. "I'd like to help out if I can."

Teal'c nodded. Raised an eyebrow in surprise when the man practically bolted for the door. Sanchez had been working at the base for some years and was long passed being intimidated by his presence. It was curious that he would react as such now.

Keelah couldn't explain how, but she was aware the moment Teal'c had entered the hanger. Her emotions were such a jumbled mess that she hadn't trusted herself to verbally acknowledge him until now. Unable to resist, she had snuck a peek at him between shots and had seen the perplexity mar his face at Sanchez's departure. Found she wanted to soothe the frown away. "The Captain is in love with one of the nurses infected," she explained softly. "He is very concerned for her welfare."

"I was not aware Captain Sanchez was involved with anyone." Teal'c found it an odd way to begin this conversation. It was all very civil and polite. He didn't like it, yet he couldn't bring himself to discuss the argument that was an invisible wall between them. If he had ruined the friendship that had been growing between them, then this stilted discussion could be the last they'd have. He would not blame her if she wanted to sever their relationship. He had lashed out at her, abusing the trust she had put in him, acting no better than the man who had enslaved her.

"They are keeping their relationship discreet." Keelah released the empty clip and added a fresh one. Frowned as she recalled the last few hours of waiting for word from the Prometheus, watching helplessly as the personnel in the base drew closer to death with every passing minute. In the short time she had been at the SGC, she had observed that the people, especially the military personnel, rarely discussed serious emotions. Their common demeanor was to joke and make light of any situation and yesterday had been no different. Yet when she had arrived today there had been no banter, despite the hope the Prometheus would return successful. The chatter had been quiet, melancholy, more tense and anxious than when they had no clue of a cure. Sanchez had been milling around the caterer's table when she had fixed herself a cup of tea, and had struck up a conversation. Keelah suspected it had been a way to distract himself and he hadn't been paying attention to precisely what he was saying. Otherwise he would not have confided in her as he had. "This situation has people acting differently to how they normally would."

"Indeed. It is said stress brings out the best and worst in people." Teal'c took a deep breath. "To my dishonor this instance brought out the worst in me."

Keelah had been angry at Teal'c, confused and hurt by his outburst. Still was to a certain degree, though her temper had cooled over the course of the morning. She found his words bitterly amusing. Compared to what her Master had done, Teal'c's yelling was nothing by comparison. "I have experienced worse."

"Not from me." Guilt deepened his voice. "I have betrayed your trust in me. My behavior was inexcusable. I have no right to dictate what you do. If you wish to do domestic tasks for whatever reason, it is your decision."

"I was only cleaning to keep myself busy."

"I realize that now." He put as much sincerity into his words as he could. "You were right. My own history affects me more deeply than I wish to admit. I swear on my honor I will not treat you in such a way again."

"Do not make promises you may not be able to keep." She had all morning to ponder not only Teal'c's reaction but her own. "Friends have disagreements. I suspect we shall do so again. I...I am relying on it."

Teal'c couldn't hide his surprise at her comment. "You wish us to fight?"

"No...yes," she struggled to verbalize her thoughts. "Do you know when was the last time I felt safe enough to express myself in such a manner?"

He shook his head.

"My brother decided he needed the trim of my favorite gow...dress...to make a..." She had to think for a moment for the equivalent translation of the toy. "...a kite. It was the day before I was abducted."

"I frightened you..."

"No, you didn't. I was confused and hurt but never was I scared." She reached for his hand turning it palm up, laying hers against it. "I know that you would never raise a hand against me in anger."

"I would cut off my arm first." He threaded his fingers through hers, lifting their hands up and placed a light kiss to the back of her hand. The exhilaration at having cleared the air between them made him feel like he was floating on air.

Warmth spread through her and a smile touched her lips at the overdramatic declaration, though from what she knew of the man standing before her, he would have no hesitation in following through with it. "I'm sorry for throwing the plate."

"As am I." His tone was slightly teasing. "Your muffins I find more desirable than Annika Jackson's, though I wish to keep that between ourselves."

"Your secret is safe with me," she promised, activating the controls to bring the paper target in from the range. "And I baked more than what I destroyed."

Both studied the paper target. It was an equal mix of perfect shots and misses.

"From the ferocity of your glare at the target I feared you must be envisioning my silhouette."

"I would never point a weapon at you, no matter how mad you made me." She gestured to the paper target. "I was picturing a man named Wicharis. He is a most...vile...associate of my former Master."

"Loosening your grip may assist your accuracy," he suggested.

"Perhaps I did not want to shoot him." She heaved a sigh. "I find I cannot hate Wicharis as I once did."

"Why is that?"

"It was he who played a large part in convincing my Master to rid himself of me. Were it not for Wicharis I would not have been on the auction block when Annika and Daniel rescued SG-2. I would not be here."

"You have pondered much this morning," he observed as they began to walk back to the mobile command.

"There wasn't much else to do," she shrugged. "I have drawn another conclusion, if you wish to hear it."

"This crisis has made me appreciate the very fragile gift of life. Seeing the Cupidians...their whole village gone, their lives over. The talk in the command today...people were contemplating their relationships with those so sick inside, discussing things they had done, things they wished to do but for whatever reason had not." Captain Sanchez had wistfully mentioned that he and his lady friend had been taking their relationship slowly and that he wished that they been more 'aggressive' in their pursuit of each other; that they had wasted time from shyness of taking that next step. "I do not want to have such regrets. I want to experience as much of life as I can before the Gods decree I join them."

"It is a philosophy many try to follow," Teal'c said with a note of approval.

"Yet I cannot appreciate what I do not know. I know fear and hate and recently friendship and compassion and kindness, but I know little of..." She broke off taking a deep breath. "You have taught me about love, the premise of how the emotion evolves...and the more I learn and observe from others, it seems that being in love also means physically making love."

"The two do usually go together," Teal'c said slowly, his heart rate beginning to speed up.

"How am I to learn to be in love when I lack the knowledge of the practical, physical expression of it?"

Her question was rhetorical, which was just as well, because Teal'c didn't quite know how to respond. He had come in here to apologize, expecting to beg for her forgiveness, hoping that their friendship had not been irreversibly damaged and that he had not wounded the self-confidence he had been working to instill. Instead she had moved on, trusting him with the insights to her thoughts and feelings as though the argument had never happened.

"You said that when I was ready that you would teach me how to make love."

"I did." Teal'c's throat was suddenly parched.

"I do not know if I am ready...but when this crisis is over...and you have the time and compunction...I would like to start those lessons." Her resolve not to let her fears control her any longer was forefront in her mind, however it was with a touch of nervousness that she looked up at him, waiting for his answer.

Teal'c felt a flutter in his stomach. He knew this situation had been close in coming, had prepared as much as he could to ensure that his teachings would be a pleasurable experience. And yet now that she had officially asked he felt the same nervous anticipation as he had when he had lost his own virginity. It took effort to keep his voice calm and normal. "As you wish."