The next month was filled with traveling and parties, people and shopping, and a sharing of memories and knowledge. Sekhmet had planned the transition from her last host well and Tessa was never tied to the murder of the woman (Lora, Tessa was informed) so there were no issues with continuing to use her new host's name and identification. Sekhmet also wanted to create enough of a trail to follow when Tessa's family eventually sought her out. It was clear this was a carefully followed plan that Sekhmet had repeated often and Tessa only hoped that her parents, two older sisters, and younger brother would give up quickly so no harm would come to them if they should ever catch up to her.

Tessa had learned quickly over the last several weeks that while Sekhmet was intelligent and witty and often good company, she was also a killer and more than a bit unhinged at times. The memories Sekhmet shared had been both breathtaking and horrifying. She had seen great moments in history and all the wonders of the world, but she'd also committed countless atrocities. Her depravity seemed to have no boundaries and she took distinct pleasure in the pain of others, but she was charming and cunning and her insight into Tessa's thoughts allowed her to distract the girl with beautiful memories or knowledge not yet gained by the rest of her planet. Tessa soon realized this was her weakness. Her love of learning and the youthful desire for adventure allowed her to move past far too many of Sekhmet's evils.

As Tessa learned more of the Goa'uld, she came to realize that the relationship she had with Sekhmet was not the norm, as usually the symbiote took full control and did not interact with the host's mind, but Sekhmet had been alone for thousands of years and was growing bored with the life of excess she'd led. There was another form of goa'uld known as the Tok'ra who considered themselves a good within their species. Sekhmet spoke of them as traitors and disgust always rose up in Tessa's chest whenever they were mentioned, but apparently they shared the body of the host. It was a mutual and symbiotic relationship that had made Sekhmet curious as her own loneliness had grown. Of course, the goa'uld wasn't willing to really share control of Tessa's body, but she did seem to be enjoying the dialogue the two minds had developed.

It wasn't enough, though. Tessa should have seen right away that it wouldn't be, but she was caught up in Sekhmet's exciting lifestyle and interesting past. Sekhmet wanted a companion, not just in traveling and shopping, but in her need for power. She wasn't looking for someone to balance her out, but someone to revel with her in destruction and chaos and pain.

Tessa could feel a wickedness begin to spread through her mind and body. She worked to keep it out of her little corner, but it seeped into her until even her muscles relaxed into its druglike influence. Sekhmet settled into the familiarity of it like she was coming home after too long away. She breathed deeper and Tessa knew this was Sekhmet taking over her body completely. It no longer belonged to Tessa in any real way. Her mannerisms, the way she walked and talked, had all disappeared as Sekhmet expanded into every cell of her new body.

And then the murders began.

But not just murders. Tessa felt she could have dealt with simple quick killings like she had witnessed with the last host, but Sekhmet generally liked to take her time and unfortunately in this case, she had not simply been the goddess of war, but of healing as well. Though she had lost much of her race's technology over the centuries, she had maintained a hand device that could do some basic healing and its main use for her was to heal her victims enough to withstand her torture longer. Had she held onto some of the more advanced devices, she would have been able to kill and revive them repeatedly. In fact, that was precisely what she had done before her sarcophagus had been destroyed in a not too distant war.

Most victims were men easily lured away from bars after too many drinks and promises of further fun. Sekhmet's strength meant they were subdued easily, but she would patiently wait until they were sober enough to fully feel the pain she would inflict. Killings would take days sometimes and Tessa grew numb to the many screams, all blurring together as she tried to close the eyes that no longer belonged to her. Her retreat further into the last parts she possessed angered Sekhmet, but Tessa had begun to shut down. She sensed that she was the true target of the torture and killings, but it did not have the effect Sekhmet desired and Tessa stopped seeing the world outside her own eyes.

Sekhmet needed a new strategy and she found it rather unexpectedly in a detective investigating one of her murders.


Occasionally Sekhmet enjoyed toying with local authorities after a murder and she joined the crowd in downtown Denver as the police found her latest victim. She watched as forensics worked over the scene and officers interviewed witnesses. And then she saw him. He was tall and lean with short blonde hair and dark eyes and she felt Tessa stir for the first time in weeks. He seemed to be one of the assigned detectives and Sekhmet had the first inklings of an idea that she kept carefully sequestered from Tessa. A few quick questions and smiles directed at the closest officer gained the sought after information. Detective Sean Fields. She could feel Tessa's suspicion, but gave no explanation for her interest in the young officer.

It wasn't hard to track down where Detective Fields usually went for a drink after work, but Sekhmet knew a man good at his job would likely be suspicious of anyone new in his life just days after a murder he'd been assigned, but oh how she loved a challenge. Tessa could feel the hum of electrical excitement flow through Sekhmet as she sought out an avenue to meet the man, but people were simple and it was just two days before she had made herself a new friend in the wife of one of his fellow officers and good friends.

"Tessa, you know who I should introduce you to? Jake's friend, Sean. They were partners for a few years and he's such a great guy. Ohmygoodness, you two would look adorable together!"

It was hardly a proper challenge and Sekhmet felt both the thrill of the hunt and the disappointment over prey too easily caught.

Jake's wife, Carly invited her out for a drink at the bar the officers frequented so that she could casually introduce her to Sean. Sekhmet had played this game time and time again and picked an outfit that said she was both interested yet cautious. A little reluctancy always went such a long way towards dispelling any suspicions men might have.

After thousands of years living on Earth, Sekhmet had an incredible talent for adopting the exact personality that would gain her what she wanted from people. This time however, she chose a persona that was not quite perfect but would still work: Tessa's. She walked like Tessa, talked like her, used her facial expressions.

Her host felt the familiarity of movements and became more alert and watchful. "What are you doing, Sekhmet?"

Her face smiled just like Tessa use to smile as Sekhmet responded smoothly, not quite in a Tessa's voice. "You like him. You perked up the moment you saw him. I simply thought you would enjoy his company for a while."

There was a knock at the door, ending the conversation. Tessa's voice rang out with a quick "Come in!" and the door opened with a smiling Carly.

"This place is amazing! I wish I had known about house-sitting when I was single! You get to live here and you just watch the house?" Her attention finally fell to Sekhmet "Ah! You look great! Sean is going to go crazy over you! I love that skirt! I so wish I had your long legs!" Carly's bubbly attitude had already begun to grate on Sekhmet, but Tessa's smile sprang to her face with a clear appreciation over her compliments. Carly looked at her watch. "Let's go. If we time it right, the guys will have enough time to get a beer or two in them to unwind before we make an entrance."

The quick drive in Carly's car meant their timing was exactly right and they walked in as Jake and Sean sat with two empty glasses on the table and another two half drained in their hands. Jake rose to give Carly a quick kiss and Sean looked unsurprised and momentarily annoyed by Sekhmet's presence. Either he had been warned by Jake or she wasn't the first girl Carly had tried to set him up with. Still, he smiled and his initial ambivalence faded a bit as Carly introduced them.

"So you're new to Denver then?" Sean's dark eyes connected with her own and Sekhmet felt Tessa freeze momentarily.

Tessa's smile appeared. "Yeah, well, I wanted to see more of the country so I've been taking house-sitting jobs in different cities, just kinda trying them out." This was partially true. Sekhmet had been taking jobs as a house-sitter, but as they were all houses that she owned, it was hardly a difficult job. Still, the charade explained her presence and accommodations well with such a young host.

Tessa, the real Tessa, bristled at hearing herself speak in just the way that she used to speak. She'd grown accustomed to the way Sekhmet used her voice and she didn't like the impersonation she was witnessing.

"Carly says you just became a detective," Tessa's voice continued.

Sean's face turned just slightly red as he smiled. "Uh, yeah. Just a few months back."

Jake slapped Sean on the back and jumped into the conversation. "And he's one of the youngest detectives our department has ever seen." Jake batted his eyes at Sean and pitched his voice up. "And the ladies all think he's one of the best looking, too." Sean punched Jake's shoulder.

Tessa smiled inside her corner as she realized that Sean had a fairly strong shy streak. She jolted herself back to indifference, but not before Sekhmet took note of her reaction.

Conversation flowed easily around the table after Jake had broken the ice and made them all laugh. Turns out Sean had come from a police family. He was third generation and had three brothers who were officers as well, but they'd all left for the surrounding communities over the years and Sean was the last one left in the city.

"You still like the danger and thrill of the chase then," Tessa's voice commented with a hint of teasing as Sean drove her home.

Sean blew out a dismissive breath. "I like the puzzles, the mysteries. That's why I wanted to become a detective. I like looking at a crime scene and trying to figure out how everything ended up where it...ended up." He laughed, clearly embarrassed by his inability to finish up that last sentence.

"And do you have any good mysteries right now? Any puzzles to solve?" Sekhmet made sure to keep Tessa's voice innocent of any of the usual silkiness Sekhmet used.

"Yeah, actually. I mean, I can't talk about it too much since it's an ongoing investigation, but I'm sure you saw on the news about the body we found a few days ago. Pretty gruesome."

Sekhmet gasped in horror. "Oh! The chopped up one?! You're investigating that? How awful. How can you stand seeing that kind of stuff?" Tessa wished very strongly that she could have control of her arm for a long enough moment to slap Sekhmet, but the goa'uld's inner glee at her own game soared along, propelled even higher by Tessa's strong reactions to her deceptions.

"They're not usually so gory, but I've had a few other cases that were rather unpleasant as well. Once, this man was pushed into a-"

"Stop!" Tessa's voice screeched out. "I don't want to know! I mean, I'm interested, but I-I don't want to know."

Sean laughed to himself as Sekhmet directed him to turn into the driveway on his right at the end of the dead end street. He let out a long whistle as they pulled up to the moss green stucco house. "THIS is where you're staying?" he said as they both climbed out of the car. "How did you get this gig? Your parents friends with the owners?"

"Ha! No. My parents are friends with the maid. Honestly, I'm kinda terrified of the place. I mostly stay in my room and I moved out everything that was breakable. I would never be able to afford anything that I broke in a house like this."

Sean walked her up to the door, gaping at the stonework around the entrance.

Sekhmet turned around suddenly and Tessa's voice sounded nervous. "Sean, I-I'm sorry I yelled at you in the car to stop talking. I didn't mean to be rude. I've just never been one to enjoy all the gory details. I don't even like horror movies."

Again the real Tessa wanted to bash her own head into the wall just to shut Sekhmet up, but Sean smiled in a way that made the host forget all her annoyance.

"I'd much rather have you react that way than the opposite. Carly's set me up with a few girls that were a bit too interested and it's...weird. But I had a good time tonight. You are decidedly not weird. Very normal."

Sekhmet made her face completely serious. "Sean, you really shouldn't go around flattering girls like that. They might get the wrong idea. I personally have never had such nice things said to me. 'Not weird. Very normal.'" She shifted her mouth slightly into a friendly smirk before releasing one of Tessa's biggest smiles to reassure Sean she was only joking and the anxiousness quickly left his face.

He smiled again. "If you're wanting to check out the city and see how you like it, how would you like a tour guide? My usual day off is Sunday, but it will depend a bit on this case. You okay with making plans knowing I might have to cancel last minute? And are you even available, I guess. That's probably the first thing I should ask, right?"

His shy nature did like to creep in, Tessa noticed again as his cheeks tinged pink.

Sekhmet's smile became understanding. "Yes, I would like a tour guide. Yes, I am available on Sunday. And yes, I would be fine with making tentative plans. You can just call me if you have to cancel. Do you have a pen and-" Sean was already pulling out his little notebook and pen. A detective. Of course he had something to write notes. Sekhmet gave the number of the house and they agreed on nine o'clok Sunday morning unless she heard otherwise.

"I'm glad Carly thought to introduce us," Tessa's voice said nervously. "I'll see you soon." And with that Sekhmet said goodnight and went into the house.

Tessa heard Sean's car door open and close and the engine start. As he backed out of the driveway, Sekhmet dropped the Tessa mask and laughed in her thundering goa'uld voice. "Could he have been any easier? And YOU! Pathetic. You would love nothing more than to spend your days watching him smile. I offer you adventure and you'd rather have that boy's smiles."

Tessa let Sekhmet's revulsion feed her own abhorrence over the evening. She raged back at the self proclaimed goddess, "Why? Why are you doing this? Toying with him? We should just move on to the next city. The next murder. You're going to get us caught. And stop pretending to be ME! You've taken everything else. Let me at least be the only one to be me."

Sekhmet's wicked laugh filled Tessa's head, pushing her back to her corner, and her lungs expanded and breathed deeply as she soaked up her host's contempt.

Tessa realized then that she had done exactly as Sekhmet had wanted.

Her body wasn't the only puppet.

She wilted back into the only space she had claimed, knowing now that it wasn't even really hers.


Sunday morning came and Sean hadn't called to cancel, but as Sekhmet got dressed she offered a gift to Tessa: periodic control with conditions. Tessa could have control of her body throughout the day with Sean, but at even the slightest sign of disobedience or rebellion, Sekhmet would immediately take back control.

Tessa agreed to the arrangement. Of course she did. The chance to talk, to move her arms and legs, to laugh, to smile, to feel her own emotions instead of Sekhmet's. She went along with Sekhmet's eagerness though she knew hers was for very different reasons. There were games to be played and experiments to conduct and Tessa would be right in the middle of all of it.

The doorbell rang and Sekhmet handed control over to Tessa. It felt awkward at first, to be in control, but her limbs all responded to her exactly as they had done before. She was struck with how her heart began to race and her breathing quickened.

Sekhmet became primary again. "Get yourself under control. You're going to damage this body with your childishness." She sank back.

Tessa took several slow breaths and steadied herself as she walked to the door and opened it, marveling at every movement. She had forgotten how effortless it used to be, to decide to move and have her muscles respond immediately. The losing battle she'd been fighting had wearied her, making her remember everything as being much more difficult than it had been.

Sean smiled and Tessa again felt her heartbeat quicken, but then her head was filled with a sound of derision from Sekhmet when Sean cleared his throat, Tessa realizing she'd simply been standing and staring. She'd forgotten that she had to do the moving and talking. Suddenly she was nervous. She hadn't been in control for months and now her first chance was on a date! A date with a man who was investigating the body her hands had recently chopped up.

He cleared his throat again and Tessa finally laughed. "Maybe we can stop somewhere to grab a bit more coffee?" she asked with a smile.

"Absolutely," Sean chuckled. "Not a morning person, huh?"

"Hm? Oh, umm...no. I mean yes, normally I am a morning person, but I just didn't sleep all that well last night. Nightmares." Sean looked concerned. "It's nothing. More caffeine and I'll be good to go."

Sean was an excellent tour guide and Tessa enjoyed his company throughout the day, but any time the conversation turned to her life and past, Sekhmet was quick to jump in and take over. She made sure there were no holes in her story or anything to spark suspicion in the young detective. Tessa found the back and forth annoying, but her time guiding her own body and voice was far too exhilarating for the frustration to last long.

After dinner at one of Sean's favorite downtown restaurants, they meandered their way back to his car, Sean reaching for Tessa's hand and making her stomach flip. Her chest however ached with the knowledge that wherever Sekhmet was directing them, it would be filled with pain.

Her steps slowed a bit more and her voice resonated in her mind. "Please Sekhmet," she begged. "I can't-I don't want to to feel this-I can't."

Feelings were fine when they were good, but she had too many awful ones stored up as well. Sekhmet waited until Tessa's legs began to crumble before reasserting her dominance. A goa'uld had better and stronger control over human emotions and Tessa needed only to retreat to her corner briefly before her body returned to its former exuberance and then they again switched places. Sekhmet had kept her from falling, but Sean still reached out to wrap an arm around her waist to steady her.

"Are you alright? You didn't even drink." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes which were filled with worry.

Tessa was able to grab hold of the feelings Sekhmet had left for her and she returned his smile. "I just tripped over my own feet. Very smooth of me, right?"

They both laughed awkwardly, but Sean left his arm where it was, periodically shooting a worried glance at her as they continued walking. Though Sekhmet noticed Sean's behavior, Tessa couldn't think of much beyond how his hand felt on her waist, warm and strong.

Sean opened the passenger side door for Tessa as they reached his car and guided her in.

"Sean, I'm fine. Really. I just tripped."

He looked skeptical as he closed the door and walked around the front of the car. "You're sure?" he asked as he started the car. "The look on your face as you stumbled…"

"I was just embarrassed. I'm so clumsy sometimes. Really." She reached over and put her hand on top of his.

Sean flipped his hand and grabbed onto hers tightly, his fingers interlocking with hers, and Tessa's stomach flipped again as she worked hard to feel just that and not allow her mind to wander into darker depths.

The drive back to her house was fairly quiet, but it was a comfortable silence as they continued to hold hands, exploring palms and fingers, nails and knuckles. Sean's hand was rough and strong with a deeper scar starting between his first two fingers and trailing toward his wrist. She imagined there was a good story behind that scar, but didn't feel it was the right moment to ask about it.

They pulled into the house's driveway and both walked up the steps to the door in that slow way people do when they're not quite ready for the evening to end.

"I'd invite you in for a drink, but the owners have pretty strict rules about visitors. Especially in the evenings." A lie, of course, but Tessa didn't want to risk Sekhmet being completely alone with Sean. It wasn't safe for him.

Sean grabbed her hands, slowly pulled her closer, and then placed her palms on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her back. "That's probably good anyway. I have to be at work early tomorrow to work on that case and see what new murders happened over the weekend. People always cause trouble from Friday to Sunday."

Tessa smiled coyly. "Oh?" she asked innocently. "All people cause trouble on the weekends?"

Sean put on his best roguish smirk and leaned his face in closer, his eyes intent on her lips. "Well maybe not all people, but certainly us shifty characters." His eyes flitted up to hers momentarily before he pulled her just that bit closer and gently pressed his lips to her mouth.

Tessa's lips responded on their own, frightening her momentarily that she was no longer in control, but Sekhmet was still in the back of her mind, acting rather bored with all of it, despite Tessa's heart racing.

Tessa returned her attention to Sean and moved her hands up his chest and around his neck. The old Tessa would have pulled back from the kiss much sooner, but this version had no idea the next time she would be in control of her own body or with Sean. She only had right now, this very moment, with no ability to control anything beyond it.

Sean pulled her closer and deepened the kiss before seeming to realize that that might not be the best path so he slowly pulled out of the kiss and hugged Tessa close as they both breathed deeply.

"I should have started saying goodnight to you hours ago," he teased. Tessa giggled into his chest as he kissed her forehead. "Can I see you again soon? Once I see where things are at with work tomorrow, I can call to make plans."

Tessa sighed deeply. "Mmhmm. I'll be around." She tilted her head up for another quick kiss and Sean was happy to oblige. "Goodnight."

One more kiss and then Sean walked back to his car while Tessa unlocked the front door before waving goodbye and going inside. She leaned against the foyer wall. "Thank you, Sekhmet. I don't know what you're planning with him, but I had such a good time."

Sekhmet yawned and stretched, pushing Tessa back to her corner. "So little space in this brain of yours. I don't know how the Tok'ra tolerate sharing all the time. It was grueling enough just for the day and I'm exhausted after spending the day watching you two mooning over one another."

Tessa's wonderful feeling of bliss was quickly replaced with Sekhmet's aggravation, forcing Tessa to retreat further back to remember her time with Sean.

Her time as herself again.