Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate SG-1 or any of the characters.
This is the fourth chapter! I'm so excited! (This is my first fanfic, so please review.) :)
Selmak's point of view:
The Tok'ra symbiote watched from his position on the tank floor as his newfound Tau'ri friend fell asleep almost immediately as she had laid down. He, too, was tired, but sleep would not come for some reason. So he let his mind drift for awhile.
He remembered the picture on the table next to Maria's bed, and realized that Maria's mother, and Maria herself, looked very familiar. He realized who it reminded him of: Samantha Carter, the daughter of his host, Jacob. Jacob had mentioned that he had a younger daughter, but he never had the chance to tell him more about her. Selmak wondered if there was any possibility that Maria could be related to Jacob. His hopes soared for a moment, then fell. The Tau'ri world was huge. Jacob had told him that the population was somewhere around six billion people, and that it was growing rapidly. What chance did he have of finding his only daughter among that many people? Not much, that was his guess. He figured that to find out, all he would have to do was ask Maria what her last name was.
He watched as Maria turned over in her sleep. Related to Jacob Carter or not, he was sure that Maria would find some way to help him out. Help from a civilian was better than no help at all. He really hoped that no one would harm or threaten Maria because of him and what he was going to tell her. Like those NIS people. He was really starting to like Maria, for some reason.
He thought of that phrase Maria said. "Chill out." The Tau 'ri language English had changed much, especially in the last century. It was...colorful. But phrases like that were still hard for him to understand, Selmak thought. If there were many more phrases or slangs like that, he'd need Maria to explain what they meant, and that, he knew, would be hard on his pride. He was considered the oldest and the wisest amongst the Tok'ra, but he couldn't even figure out a simple phrase like "chill out." If the other Tok'ra learned... he'd die from the embarrassment. He planned to establish one rule with Maria tomorrow. It was similar to another phrase Jacob had told him once. What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico. That was what Jacob had said. But Selmak changed it to: What is written in the tank, stays in the tank. He figured that was pretty clever. He knew that Maria would probably understand what he meant by that.
Selmak pondered about exactly how much he needed to tell Maria. He could just explain the basics, he thought, just tell her the difference between the Goa'uld and the Tok'ra. And explain the Stargate to her, just in case she somehow wound up having to go through it. But he doubted that she would. What he hoped to happen was something like, as Jacob once said to him on a different matter was that Maria would "drop him off" near the Stargate Command, and then she would return home. But he knew that most likely would not be the case, with how everything was highly confidential. Civilian Tau'ri were apparently not supposed to know anything about the Stargate, much less the Tok'ra, She would probably be interrogated. He hoped it would be someone from SG-1, or General Hammond himself. Someone he knew who would never threaten someone like Maria.
For some reason, he felt some kind of connection between Maria and himself, but he couldn't figure out why. And, because of that connection, he decided that he would tell Maria everything he knew. At least, everything that he could actually explain in a way she would understand. He could only hope that she would not tell anyone else what he told her. But he trusted her, he decided.
He felt himself start to get tired, and he curled up on the bottom of the tank again. He could finally catch up on some much needed sleep, which he hadn't had much of for the past few days. His last thoughts were on his host. Selmak wondered how Jacob was doing without him. Had their plan worked? He vaguely realized that he'd have to tell Maria about what the plan was, too, as he drifted off to sleep.
Samantha Carter's point of view (the next morning) :
Samantha Carter awoke to the sound of sirens blaring, and the warning being issued over the intercom. "Unscheduled incoming traveler," was repeated several times. She'd fallen asleep at her desk again, she realized as she quickly stood up out of her chair and ran to the control room.
When she arrived, she saw that Colonel O'Neill, Teal'c, and Danial were already there, as well as General Hammond.
The man at the control desk looked at his computer, frowned, and then looked over at General Hammond, surprise written all over his face.
"Sir, it's the Tok'ra!"
General Hammond immediately gave the command to open the iris. As Samantha watched, she hoped that her father would be one of the Tok'ra that were coming. She missed him, and hadn't seen him in awhile.
Just moments after the iris opened, she got her wish. Martouf, Garshaw, and her father, Jacob, stepped through the gate and onto the ramp. Samantha and the rest of SG-1 followed General Hammond down to the gate room to greet them.
"Dad!" She called when he spotted her. He looked over at her and grinned, but something about the way the others were looking, she could tell that something had happened. Martouf also smiled when he saw her. Garshaw looked worried.
General Hammond stepped forward. "Good to see you all again. To what do we owe the honor of this unexpected visit?" He and Jacob shook hands warmly.
As usual, Jacob found a way to get straight to the point.
"George, we have a problem. A big one." As he spoke, Martouf and Garshaw walked forward to stand directly next to Jacob, one on either side of him.
"What is it, Jacob?" General Hammond looked concerned. Jacob was about to answer when Garshaw spoke before he could.
"May we discuss this somewhere more private, please? We must keep as few people from having this information as possible."
General Hammond blinked in surprise. "Of course. We'll discuss this in the de-briefing room. SG-1, come with me."
They all headed to the de-briefing room quickly. Jacob caught up with Samantha and clasped one hand on her shoulder, and even though he smiled, he looked worried.
"Hey there kiddo. It's good to see you. How are you?"
Samantha smiled. "I'm doing just fine. What about Selmak?"
At this, Jacob frowned. Oh, no, she thought, very worried. What had happened?
"Well, kid, that's exactly the problem. I'll tell everyone about it when we get to where we're going. But for now, how's Maria doing? I haven't seen her in, what, months? I really miss her."
Samantha remembered her younger sister and let out a worried gasp. She had fallen asleep at the base and had forgotten to go home. She'd forgotten about her own sister! Well, it wasn't like this was the first time it had happened, she thought. But still...
"What is it? Is she doing okay?" Jacob bit his lip, worried.
Samantha hurried to reassure him. "Oh, no. She's doing great. I just fell asleep here last night by accident instead of going home like I usually do," she admitted. Her father looked at her disapprovingly.
"Sam, she's your sister. You can't just-" But he was cut off by General Hammond as they reached the de-briefing room.
"Would everyone please take a seat. Now would somebody please explain to us what this problem of yours is? We'll assist you as best we can."
"General Hammond," Martouf began as he sat down between Garshaw and Jacob. "This is a long, and... very complicated story to explain. And what we will ask of you will take much time."
Garshaw spoke up. "Yes, and it is very urgent that you understand our situation as soon as possible." She sounded rather impatient.
"Then let's get to it, shall we?" General Hammond leaned forward, a sign that he was listening.
"I think I should be the one to explain," Jacob said quickly, before either Garshaw or Martouf could begin.
Garshaw and Martouf nodded in understanding, and Jacob started to explain what happened the best way he could.
That's the end of the fourth chapter! In the next chapter, you, my faithful readers, will finally know why Jacob and Selmak are separated. And give me more reviews, please! I need more reviews. Merci boucup.