Date: 23-2-2003
Copyright © to Venom, 2003

~*+*~

Sam sat in silence next to her friend.

She didn't particularly feel the need to say much about anything with
him, Teal'c wasn't really one for idle conversation. He was, however,
very blunt when it came to voicing his observations.

He turned slightly towards her as he spoke. "I have observed that
Narim appears to have strong personal feelings for you."

"I know it's just I….."

"You do not return his feelings?" He supplied.

Teal'c had been there for the confession, he knew what was said
between the two officers and he knew how they felt-probably before
they did, being as observant as he was-but he wisely chose to omit it
from most personal conversations, which with him were few and far
between.

"No." She admitted.

"Why do you not just inform him that you do not return his
sentiments?"

"It's complicated."

"How so?"

"Because I do care for him."

"But you do not care for him in the same manner that he cares for
you."

Sam nodded. "Exactly."

"I believe that you should tell Narim that you cannot reciprocate his
feelings." Teal'c told her.

"Maybe I will."

The two lapsed back into silence again, and Sam found herself
thinking about Narim, *really* thinking about him.

He was a nice guy, sweet and affectionate-in his own way-and he loved
Schrodinger, which was always an obligatory part of any relationship.
But, could she be in a relationship with a man on another planet,
much less one she didn't love.

No, which was why Sam had tried to avoid any `personal relationship'
talks with Narim.

It was several moments before Teal'c spoke again. "I have also
observed that O'Neill appears to have strong personal feelings for
you."

How was she supposed to answer that without putting Teal'c in a
really bad position if they were court-martialed? "I know it's just
I….."

"You do return his feelings, do you not?"

"Yes, but it's complicated."

"How so?"

Sam sighed. "I'm not *allowed* to care for him."

"It is complicated." Teal'c agreed.

Yeah, Sam smiled ironically, it's *too* complicated.

~*+*~

End

I am a Doctor, not a Database. –The Doctor, STV