Affinity

"Affinity" is the seventh episode of the eighth season of Stargate SG-1.

Synopsis
Teal'c moves into an apartment with the public, but his attempts to reduce crime in his area often lands him in trouble. While he befriends a local woman, Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter continues her relationship with Pete Shanahan.

Plot
On a city street an incident involving several thugs and a man with whom they are trying to pick a fight with occurs. As one of them threatens another driver he is suddenly stopped by Teal'c, who demands that they resolve the incident legally. The thugs refuse and try to attack Teal'c, and are subsequently easily dispatched.

After the incident, back at Stargate Command, Colonel Richard Kendrick comes into Brigadier General Jack O'Neill's office. He is displeased with Teal'c's recent behavior. He believes that Teal'c may become threat to the Stargate program's secrecy.

Dr. Daniel Jackson visits Teal'c in his apartments. He is worried that Teal'c attracts too much attention to himself with his habit of intervening in conflicts outside of the SGC. During Daniel's visit Krista James, a neighbor of Teal'c's in his apartment complex, shows up. She asks Teal'c for help with her plumbing. Before leaving them alone Daniel says that there are exceptions to every rule.

In a park Pete Shanahan and Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter meet. Pete tells her that he has asked for reassignment to Colorado Springs and proposes to her.

Teal'c meets a neighborhood kid Eric and they become witnesses of street theft. Teal'c hesitates to stop the thief, remembering Daniel's advice about interfering, but is swayed by the residents around him to act and easily knocks the thief out by throwing an avocado at him, much to everyone's admiration.

Later in the evening Teal'c hears Doug McNair, Krista's boyfriend, arguing with her in the hallway of the apartment complex. Teal'c politely asks Doug to leave as Krista wanted. Doug leaves, promising to return next day. Back in the SGC Teal'c asks Daniel and Sam to explain what was happening between Krista and Doug.

The next day in the park Krista meets Teal'c, who is practicing in loc'nel. She tells him of her break up with Doug and ask Teal'c to train her. Teal'c agrees. After several days of training Teal'c visits Krista to ask why she has missed her most recent training session. Teal'c finds Doug in Krista's apartment and learns that he has been violent with her. Teal'c and Doug have a short confrontation, which is witnessed by Mrs. Conners, in which Teal'c threatens that he will kill Doug if he hurts Krista again.

At SGC Carter seems distant, and is constantly thinking about Pete's proposal. She reveals this to Jack along with her worry about future of her family.

Teal'c finds Krista sitting next to her door. She tells him that she has broken up with Doug and that she wants to be far away from Doug. She asks Teal'c to go with her. Meanwhile Sam reveals to Daniel that Doug was found dead in Krista's apartment and that Teal'c is a suspect.

On a road Teal'c discovers that he is being followed by unknown people. They managed to lose them and stop in motel where Krista passionately kisses Teal'c.

Carter meets Pete Shanahan. She tells him that she needs more time to think and proceeds to ask for his help in an unrelated matter, presumably with Teal'c.

The following morning Teal'c wakes up to discover that Krista disappeared. He hears knocking on the door and opens it to find a police squad which came to arrest him for Doug McNair's murder. He was brought back to base put under arrest in his room. Kendrick reveals that he located Teal'c with an anonymous call.

Daniel Jackson, while working in his office, suddenly has a message appear on his computer in the Ancient language, along with a message saying "Looks familiar?". He receives a phone call demanding him to translate the Ancient message in exchange for proof of Teal'c's innocence.

Meanwhile Pete and Sam start making their own investigation of Doug's death. They realize that Teal'c was most likely framed and discover a former hideout of the people who were spying on Teal'c. Pete suggests that they look for witnesses in a nearby pizzeria. Daniel Jackson, at the same time, attends a meeting with a man about the translation. Dr. Jackson is threatened with snipers and the man forces Daniel to come with him.

Sam tells Teal'c about what she and Pete have discovered. They find out about a new client who may be a suspect in the case. Daniel, who is being transported and held hostage in a van, discovers that the people who kidnapped him and framed Teal'c are former NID agents who call themselves The Trust. He also discovers that Doug was killed by Krista in self-defense using a method taught to her by Teal'c.

Pete finds information about the car of the kidnappers and relays the information to Daniel. The Trust agents bring Daniel into an abandoned warehouse and threaten to kill Krista in order to force Daniel to translate the symbols. Using the GPS in the rental car of the Trust, SGC manages to locate them. The Trust agent stuns Daniel and Krista with a Zat'nik'tel and disappears with a beam transporter a moment before the assault team breaches the warehouse.

After the ordeal is over Sam and Pete talk about the disappearance of the Trust agents. In this time Sam also finally accepts Pete's marriage proposal.

Later, Teal'c packs his things, says goodbye to Eric and Krista, and leaves his apartment in a car, listening to dance music.

Notable Quotes
Pete: So, how are things in the galaxy?

Carter: You know I can't talk about work.

Pete: Sorry. I'm still getting used to the fact that my girlfriend's a superhero.

O'Neill: I never thought I'd hear myself utter these words... I need that report.

Doug: You better check yourself. Before you get hurt.

Teal'c: I have checked. I suggest you leave before it is you that gets hurt.

Carter: It's bad enough being on your own without every TV show and commercial and magazine ad trying to tell you how abnormal it is.

Jackson: It think that's what I just said.

Carter: I mean they make you afraid of being alone, at the same time telling you not to settle for anything less than the perfect romantic ideal like that actually exists anywhere in the real world. I mean either way you can't win.

Jackson: How's things?

Carter: Good. We were talking about Teal'c's friend, right?

Jackson: I thought we were.

Teal'c: On Chulak, a dispute between a man and a woman that cannot be resolved necessitates a pledge break. It must be requested by one and granted by the other.

Jackson: And if that doesn't work?

Teal'c: A weapon is required.

(Carter accepting Pete's proposal two weeks after he initially proposed)  Pete''': Just another day at the office?

Carter: Yes.

Pete: I figure you should be used to it by now.

Carter: No, I mean ... "Yes".

Pete: "Yes" as in ...

Carter: Yes.

Pete: Are you messing with me?!

Carter: No.

Pete: Which means?

Carter: Yes.

Pete: You don't need more time?

Carter: No.

Pete: Therefore ...

Carter: Yes.

(The newly engaged couple kisses.)

Nominations

 * Nominated Leo for "Dramatic Series: Best Screenwriting" (Peter DeLuise)

Characters

 * Jennings
 * Hoskins
 * Brooks

In other languages

 * French: Monde Cruel (Cruel World)
 * Italian: Affinità (Affinity)
 * Spanish: Afinidad (Affinity)
 * Czech: Spříznění
 * German: Affinität (Affinity)
 * Hungarian: Jóindulat (Kindliness)