TITLE: Crash Course
E-MAIL: eli @ popullus.net
RATING: PG
POSTED: March 9, 2006
SUMMARY: Teal'c learns Earth as it comes.
NOTES: S1. For Cofax.
DISCLAIMER: Read
Sixteen days after stepping through the Tau'ri stargate, Teal'c has a solid grasp on the art of when to react to references he does not understand. That is a harder evaluation to make than when not to, and thus not become trapped in a cycle of twisted hand gestures and further confusion, as he is long used to preventing the peoples of other worlds from sensing ignorance. In the case of Earth, however, it is not always caution that prompts him; he will discover the meaning of each alien concept when it is truly necessary, not when Colonel O'Neill decides to say it.
Fifty two days after proudly donning clothing with the round insignia of SG-1, Teal'c moves away from the others, and absently nods and murmurs the Goa'uld phrase for the "flanking" action that Colonel O'Neill has just described. When O'Neill coughs, quiet but hard, Teal'c's surprise stops him, and he turns back to look. Captain Carter's eyes are wide. It is Daniel Jackson who steps forward to accompany Teal'c, and to explain in a low voice the similarity that phrase has with the English term for a sexual act that is far more ambitious than Teal'c imagines most humans would attempt.
On the seventy third night in the cold mountain that is now his home, Teal'c listens to the other members of his team...humming. It is a pleasant, comforting sound. This humming is not a full-throated song -- a celebration of battles won, or a tale and a lesson entwined -- but the simple melody of it is an element that was missing from this new life, Teal'c realizes as he takes it in. It started with Captain Carter as she examined the information flashing on her screen. The only words to the tune they are sharing came from Daniel Jackson when he raised his head from his book and met her eyes, and they both grinned before going back to their work; something about water fowl. Even O'Neill started making a soft, staccato sound and tapping his thumb on the table in time with the others. When Teal'c looks down, O'Neill stops abruptly, and then clears his throat.
"Silly song," he mutters.
Teal'c raises one eyebrow; the easiest response, he has found.
Still frowning, O'Neill shifts on his seat, sighs. "We're gonna have to hook you up with some tapes."
As the television has already become a valuable tool, Teal'c agrees, "Very well."
"The Air Force has tapes?"
O'Neill glares at Daniel Jackson. "Yeah. Cookie Monster works a hell of a lot better than Berlitz for most people who need a crash course in language and culture."
Daniel Jackson blinks while Teal'c thinks over that statement.
"Right."
"He does."
"Is this an official policy?"
"It's...written down. Somewhere."
Teal'c decides that this matter calls for the direct approach. Turning away from the exchange that past experience would say is only getting started, he asks, "Cookie Monster?"
Captain Carter smiles and shakes her head.
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