The moment he had entered the science lab of P43-252 he should have known, but despite everything in his gut telling him that he was correct in his assumptions it wasn't until the words left the tall man's mouth that he knew his fears to be true.

"The only species we have yet to study is the Taur'i, so you must understand how excited we were to see you come through that gate."

The words would have been just that, words, had it not been for the fact that equally as large armed men, the copper of their large armaments seeming to gleam off of their purple skin, blocking their way to the gate.

"J'onn'o'vhan, if you would just allow us the opportunity to return to our home world, we are happy to provide you with volumes of research on the matter, videos, whatever you would like," Daniel offered quickly, again, but he knew it wasn't going to work. They wanted a live demonstration and they were not going to take no for an answer. He felt her quiver behind him and a sniffle, reading her mind without even needing to look at her face.

I promised I'd protect you...

"Dr. Jackson, considering what your people are asking of us I think it is a simple request," their host continued, eyeing Adrienne. It had been a bad idea, he cursed himself, a bad idea to take only four on this trip. A simple negotiation should not have taken more than he, his assistant, Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Teal'c, but right now more than ever he wished Vala was here.

This just wasn't fair to Adrienne, after everything else she had been through in her life.

Ad, I'm trying...

"Then, we withdraw our offer. We can find the naquadah elsewhere," Daniel spoke quickly, J'onn'o'vhan shaking his head in reply.

"No, the agreement from your superiors stated that you would provide us with the knowledge that we were seeking and now you are here. You will fulfill your end of the bargain and then you may leave," he repeated, his same argument that made Daniel stand from the table and lead the group away, refusing to take part. There was a thud to his left, the archaeologist peering over his shoulder to see where the two imposing guards had hit Teal'c again, rendering him unconscious. His eyes darting nervously, Cam remained still, for fear of what they might do to his team should he speak up himself.

Sighing Daniel peered back at the gate, knowing there was no other choice. The contract had been clear, but like a bad movie where the genie grants wishes using the most literal interpretation, these people were doing much the same with their agreement with command.

They wanted a demonstration and they were not going to let them leave until they got it.

Mostly like reading his mind Adrienne shuddered, reaching out for his arm. He stood for a moment, frozen, glancing around the scene unfolding, knowing instantly what had to be done.

I am so sorry...

"I'll honor your agreement," he stated, reaching out for his assistant's hand, pulling her closer. If this had to happen, if this was what it took to stay the execution of his friend and possibly all of them, he would be the one to do it.

Because she didn't have a choice.

And he wasn't about to let anyone else near her.

Nodding, the man used his eyes to direct the remainder of his guard to lead Daniel to the observation room, Adrienne in tow behind him.

She sat on the floor of the warm yet dark room, her knees drawn to her chest, her head resting on them. Daniel took a free moment to eye the room, noting the two way mirrors to his upper left and shuddering at what exactly might be going on on the other side.

"Ad, I'm so sorry," he said as soon as his eyes traced back to her, the cajun shaking her head already.

"No, Teal'c can't take anymore. It's ok," she whispered and he knew she meant it; she was that kind of person and despite the terror in her face she would have made the same decision as him.

"Well, I promise I'll - " he started to explain, to try to talk to her when there was a loud buzz, followed by a voice clearing over some loudspeaker system set up around the small room.

"Dr. Jackson, we are ready for you to begin the demonstration," the voice announced, not J'onn'o'vhan but that scientist from this morning, Iso, the one who had first brought it up. Breathing deep, Daniel looked around from somewhere to answer, opting instead to just shout out into the room.

"Humans do not work like that, we cannot simply jump into it," he retorted, Adrienne already trembling, making him rush to her side.

"Shhhh...it's me Ad, please," he pleaded, taking her into his arms and kissing her head. She'd already removed her tac vest, jacket and boots, sitting here on the floor in a black tank top and BDU pants, her white socks seeming out of place. Noting this, he did the same, stripping off enough to match her, before pulling her into his warm embrace.

"I'm scared," she whimpered in his chest, although of what exactly he wasn't sure. He knew about her past, her pain, but to be put on display could have been upsetting her just as easily. Regardless, he held her tighter, kissing her head, her temple, holding his cheek to her own.

"I swear I won't hurt you," he vowed, feeling her arms wrap around him, her face nuzzle closer.

"What part of the ritual is this?" that voice asked again, Daniel realizing that the stalling was over. He started to reply when he felt movement at his breast, a head pop up, gazing right at him.

"There's no way out. We just need to get it over with," she whispered, reaching her hand gently to his face, pausing a moment, capturing him with her dark eyes. It was too much, even here in this horror she was too gorgeous, and he reached his palm to her cheek bringing their lips together. There was a faint taste of sweet on her lips, the flavored water she had been drinking, and she was so soft and warm. He felt pressure back, she was kissing back, just as slow, arousing him, his tongue slipping into her mouth to explore. He felt a touch, a light slow flick, sending him into a frenzy, making him kiss her faster, frantically. He was lying her down, pulling his body on top of hers when he felt movement at his lips, her tongue retracting, his dear friend pulling away.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away," he apologized quickly having forgotten himself the moment their skin touched.

"It's ok, I like the kissing," she whispered back, caressing his face.

"Really?"

"Yeah, you're a good kisser," she answered to his surprise, biting her lower lip shyly. His eyes darting around again, knowing he was being watched, that they were being watched, but you wouldn't know were it not for the fact that they had been led here for that purpose.

"Then I'll kiss you again," his libido working his mouth. He kissed her with even more passion last time, deeper, feeling moment under his body as she brought her left leg up, wrapping it around his waist, pulling him closer to her body before pausing as if embarrassed.

"Sorry, natural reaction," she choked out, Daniel halting her retreat.

"It's ok I like that reaction," he answered, drawing her closer, reaching underneath. Breathing in she let him, opening her mouth as she brought herself closer, kissing his slowly once more. His hormones in overdrive, he reached behind her back, down to her butt, squeezing, kneading, touching her in a way he never had before. His fingers wandering, he paused yet again as he reached the space between her legs, not allowing himself the pleasure before asking.

"Is this alright?"

"Yeah," she panted, breathless, her body grinding against his own, that same place now curving, rubbing against the hardness forming in his BDU's. There was hissing, Adrienne pushing herself against him before freezing, her lips pulling away.

It's too far.

He couldn't do this to her, no matter what they wanted.

There had to be another way.

"We can stop," he offered in her ear so their observers wouldn't hear, Adrienne shaking her head as she brought her lips to his own.

"No, we have to do this," she whispered in reply, trembling slightly but determined. She was right, they could do this and he could only think of one way to make this better for her. He reached down slowly to her side, taking her hand into his own, slipping it between them to the top of his pants.

"Here, you do it."

"Do what?" the voice was timid and scared.

"Open my pants," he explained plainly, hearing her suck in breath at the command.

"Daniel, I - " she started to stammer, Daniel leaning in to silence her with a soft kiss, which she returned without question.

"It's okay, I promise. You lead," he instructed, moving her hand, guiding it with his fingers to the first button. She hesitated at first, but he reached back again for her chin, redirecting her mouth and kissing her once more, feeling her brave fingers getting to work. She undid the buttons slowly, one by one, taking only a moment before he felt freedom from the restriction of the outer layer of fabric and then a palm over his underwear, cupping him and squeezing gently. It sent waves through his body, of confusion and pleasure, making him throb in return.

"Wow," she muttered, running her open palm slowly back and forth.

"I'll take that as a good thing," he answered, moving his hips to encourage her touch further.

"Yeah," was the reply and then the squeeze, Daniel unable to contain his own enjoyment hissed in, bucking his hips slightly. He wanted to just lay there, tell her to keep toying, but that wasn't what they wanted, they didn't want heavy petting, they wanted a demonstration of human reproduction. He pulled her pelvis closer to his own, trapping her hand between them. scaring her, trembles once again his response.

"Adrienne, I know you're scared but I can make this pleasurable for you, if you want me to," he offered without thinking as if that was what was wrong, that she wouldn't enjoy it or something. I am such an idiot, he scolded himself, as she once again started to pull away.

"Daniel I,"

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that, I didn't mean to," he stammered back, his turn to be shut up with a kiss.

"No, do. I'd like that," she muttered as she started pulling away again, restarting her slow caress, the throb in his pants beginning once more.

"Ok, just keep touching, just gentle, let me take these off," he directed, his body willing, his dear friend willing, the watchers staring on. He needed to ignore that, so he leaned in, kissing her so softly, caressing her face, holding her gently, his lips to her ear.

"Adrienne you're so special to me. If that had to happen at all, I'm just glad its you and me," he admitted, untucking her shirt and kissing her neck, enjoying the quiet groans she was making at his lips and his touch.

"Me too," she gasped out as he unbuttoned her BDU's , sliding his fingers carefully inside, touching her gently in her panties. Adrienne hissed in again, feeling him slip his long fingers in between her lips, toying with her own hardness lightly.

"Like this," he checked, making sure that it was alright, that he was pleasing her.

"Yes."

Encouraged by her response, he slid down further, slipping his fingers inside, wandering and searching for the place that would give him the reaction that he needed and wanted, both to please her and to make her ready.

"Ah..." she blurted out, making him pause but not pull away, worried.

"Am I hurting you?" he asked, not knowing how long it had been for her and not wanting to do anything to make this all worse.

"No, I," she stammered, moving her body away from his but returning her hands to his pants, to his hips, yanking the fabric downward, "I want you inside of me."

"Really?" he honestly was shocked as she pulled, and grabbed, no longer acting like this was something that they had to do, more like acting as if this was something she wanted to do...

"Yes, now."

He did too, no question, he hadn't wanted someone this badly for so very long. Reaching for her face again he started to kiss her with more passion, drawing her pants to her ankles with his left hand, very gently, still rubbing her slowly with his right, his fingers lingering in such a way as to make her convulse against his hand. She was still squeezing him, timidly but enough, and he could feel his heartbeat in his groin. He couldn't wait any longer. Removing his hand, he stopped rubbing only to pull her away, to slip his own pants down, exposing his thick erection. She was smiling, looking, taking it all in as he removed his shirt and then hers, her black sports bra last to go.

And they were naked, in this small, dark, warm room, surrounded by mirrors that neither cared about.

It was time, both his mind and his body telling him so, so he laid back, pulling her to him.

"Come here," he ordered gently, Adrienne resisting his touch.

"What, you're," she stuttered, changing her mind, but they were too close now; even if they didn't want to be intimate together all they had to do was rush the act and they would be allowed to leave.

"It's ok Ad, I said you could guide this. On top, you can be in control," but she was shaking her head in disagreement, those knees back at her chest, blocking his view of her beautiful breasts.

"But I, I want you to," there was the stammer, some tears, Daniel crawling onto his knees to take her into his arms.

"Ok, I'm sorry, just tell me, what position do you want," he cringed at his own words, hating himself again, hating this, hating to have to do this to her. She was crying again, so he kissed her lightly, holding her until she stopped, sniffling in an answer.

"I don't want to have sex, I want you to make love to me," she admitted, pulling back and gazing into his eyes.

"I can do that," he assured her, laying her down gently, reaching between her legs again, rubbing softly to prepare her, making her moan in delight. Telling her with his eyes that it was going to be alright, he ran his his digits from front to back, massaging, toying, trying to get them both back to where they were before the tears.

"Don't stop that," she whispered, her hips matching his motion again.

"I thought you wanted me in you," he teased, feeling more like himself, like themselves, playful and relaxed.

"Ok, on second thought stop that," she giggled, "obey my first request."

Smiling, he nodding, planning to do as he was told, spreading her thighs, and crawling between her legs, positioning himself at her damp entrance.

"Ready?" he checked once more, wanting to know with her words as well as the look in her eyes that this was alright.

"Yea," she whispered, pausing, pushing against his bare chest, "no, wait."

"What's wrong Ad?" he questioned, fearful again, as she bit her lip, her bottom one trembling.

" love you Daniel," she said so softly that he was afraid that he heard her wrong were it not for the look in her eyes confirming her words.

"I love you too," he answered, not merely words but the truth, kissing her again with the passion of love, pulling her pelvis to his, and sliding slowly inside of her warmth. She hissed again, Daniel bringing their tongues together to kiss her passionately, pushing himself the rest of the way into her body.

"Are you ok?"

"Mmm Hmm..."

Kissing her again, he pulled back slightly to thrust in stronger, starting a slow rhythm, one that she matched with her hips. She purred at his neck, clasping his hips, angling her body to take him in deeper. Observers be damned, his body wasn't obeying his brain's desire to make this quick, make this tame, pushing himself onto his palms, gazing down at her, her dark cajun eyes, her open mouth inviting his back at he continued his drive. It had been a while, as long as she had said it had been when she confessed everything to him late one night; she was tight, warm, but so wet, moaning now at his motion.

"Daniel, dear god, harder," she begged, surprising him; she seemed to no longer care herself where this was happening, just that it was happening. Smiling he complied, leaning forward more to hold her body in place as he slammed into with a fury, her moans and scream louder with each thrust. It was amazing, and despite his own desire to just move faster, finish, and leave, he had promised her to make this pleasurable for her as well. He slowed, watched her face change to panicked, kissing her before he allowed her to speak.

Lips locked, Daniel wrapped his arms around Adriene, the woman he truly loved more than anything, rolling them to their sides, bringing her leg higher to his hip. She had not wanted to be on top, she seemed to want the security of his closeness, so he pulled back slightly, slipping his hand between them, searching for her again. Hissing, she was hissing in, and he knew he was close, crawling his fingers between her lips, rubbing as he did before.

"Ahhh..." she gasped out, grinding against him a bit harder, groaning, mumbling his name. He felt her clench around him tightly, not teasing but holding him from the inside. She was close, disappointingly so, he didn't want to stop, when he remembered again where they were and what was being asked of them.

"Ad, I feel you, I know you're close, I need you to get me there too so we can get out of here," Daniel tried to reason with her as she writhed underneath of him, not allowing his hand to escape.

"Like this," she offered when he felt a clench again, a different clench, and a release and then another.

"Yea," he stammered, "like that." That was making him throb, swell harder, lose his place with his fingers, but it seemed that she had trapped them where she wanted them, rubbing herself against them. She started to buck slightly, her hands wandering to his backside, squeezing opposite of her internal clenching. He felt kisses, at his neck, higher until there was a tongue at his earlobe and panting.

"You're amazing," she whispered as she sucked, still clench, still grinding, still bucking, sending his stomach into a frenzy. He wanted to reply, tell her that this was spectacular, but he couldn't speak, just groan out deep and low, his trembling hands pulling her pelvis impossibly closer. One more clech, a tongue high on his neck and he was at his edge, he was gonna blow and he needed to warn her.

"Ad, I'm.." he tried to explain but still at a loss for words, trapped in ecstasy, but she understood enough, pulling from his neck to shout out into the room.

"Now!"

As if she was commanding him rather than explaining that the ritual was at its close he erupted inside of her, hoping she had taken precautions, hoping that she knew he loved her more than anything, hoping she would forgive him for all of this. They were still alone but he could almost sense the flurry of activity around them as he drove into her, hearing her scream, driving harder, exploding, yelling himself.

And then it was over, the astounding sensation gone, his dearest friend hiding her nudity in his chest. He rolled only enough to hold her, cover her, envelop her with his arms, shouting around the room.

"You got what you wanted. That is how the Taur'i reproduce. Let us go!" he screamed, not letting go for a moment as she pulled closer. Lights shot on all around them, blinding him temporarily, and when he opened his eyes there was Cam, with a blanket, reaching for Adrienne, but Daniel wouldn't let go.

"Make them leave, give her privacy," he ordered, not caring that Cam was his team leader, not caring about himself, only about the shaking mass of soft skin in his arms.

"No problem," was the answer, Cam disappearing through a side door. Daniel breathed in as the light softerned a second time, squeezing Adrienne tightly.

"They're gone Ad, it's safe," he started, choking up slightly, "I'm so sorry." She was weeping, making him hold her tighter with one arm, reaching for her clothes at the other.

"Adrienne, please, let's get out of here, I'm so sorry," he apologized, pulling the shirt over her head, disregarding her sports bra. She looked up, letting him dress her gently, sucking in tears.

"Did you mean it?"

"What?" he asked as he paused, letting her adjust the shirt down her side.

"That you love me?"

After everything that had happened to them in the past day, the long tiring negotiations, the surprise element, the attack on their team, and now this, that was her concern.

Did he love her?!

"Adrienne I've loved you from the moment I let myself get to know you. That's why I said it had to be me, I would never let anyone hurt you."

And despite absurdity of it all he couldn't help but laugh as she tackled him down to the floor, kissing him playfully.

Strange how things work out...