What's Beautiful Is Broken.
By. afg
Rating. All ages
Category. Angst/ Teal'c POV 
Spoilers. Shades Of Grey
Disclaimer. Not mine and no money is being made.
Notes. Written for The Gateship's Wednesday Shorts 
'Shades Of Grey' challenge.


A well-trained fighting unit is beautiful to behold. It 
functions as one being, a gestalt organism only as strong as 
the sum of its parts. Each member would lay down his life for 
his companions. The bonds formed within that unit will often 
last for life, and although, not tied by blood, are deeper than 
the ties between mother and child, sister and brother, husband 
and wife. Trust is the basis of that bond; it is the glue that 
holds everything together. Which means, of course, that it is 
the one thing that can tear it apart.

"Hey, T, how're you doing?"

O'Neill's voice jolts me from my worried thoughts

"I am well."

My friend looks at me for a long minute, then turns to open 
the door of his locker.

"Have I done too much damage?" He turns around and I see 
deep worry in his eyes.

"There has been damage, O'Neill, but I believe we know that 
you did it because you had to do so." 

"I don't want to lose people over this and I know you guys 
sort of understand, but still, I did some pretty hurtful things."

"That is true." I knew that if he was determined to wallow in 
feelings of guilt, there would be little I could do to bring him 
round.

"You know, I think I'll just go home and get drunk." He put 
on his jacket and started for the door.

"O'Neill?"

"What?"

"Do you not think that all of us have spent too long apart? 
Perhaps it would be more beneficial to get drunk with the rest 
of SG-1? I believe Major Carter and Daniel Jackson are still 
on the base."

O'Neill gave this some consideration and he walked to me 
and slapped me, hard, on the back.

"You know, Teal'c, buddy? That's not a bad idea. There's 
just one thing though."

"What is that?"

"You'll keep an eye on Carter, she's a mean drunk, and the 
way I treated her, I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to deck 
me. It wouldn't do to throw a court martial into this mess."

I thought, for a second, that he was being his usual flippant 
self until I saw genuine concern on his face. I understood 
how much he wanted to atone for his actions

"I will attempt to do so, O'Neill."

"Sweet, let's round 'em up then."

We walk together from the room. Perhaps, after all, this team 
is only bent a little, not broken.