Mer Prinekh – My lifemate. A term of endearment, rather than a mere naming of the association.
"Italics" – Symbiote-Host communication
Author's Note: For those interested in following up on Martouf's thoughts concerning his family, that story is archived here, and it is listed on my bio page. It is called Take With You my Love: the blending of Lantash and Martouf. It fills in the background on what happened to Martouf and his family.
A Path Not Taken
Chapter Six
Doubts and Decisions
Martouf stepped out of the event horizon, and was not surprised to see Aldwin begin striding forward only to stop once he recognized him, and the people coming through behind him. He had known it was probable they would be coming. He stepped aside, and then retreated to his previous position. It was obvious that this group was in a hurry.
O'Neill caught up with Martouf and walked on one side of him as Jacob did on the other side. They stopped at the rings. Martouf had not realized or remembered how heavy a person could be when you did not have the extra strength of the symbiote. It did not matter; he would carry her to the medical bay. It was not far once the rings deposited them into the tunnels.
Striding swiftly down the tunnels, he looked neither left nor right. He was concentrating on nothing but arriving with Samantha as quickly as possible, so that they could begin treating her. Her body temperature was again rising, and the side that had been slashed and, they were fairly sure now, bitten, was against him. He could feel the heat pouring out of it.
Finally reaching the medical area, he looked to Arwanna. She motioned him to a platform that was covered in a pad of some kind that gave softness to the crystal structure. A new healer immediately activated her healing device, but after only a moment of using it, the look on her face was grim as she pushed a great deal of energy into it. Her glance at Arwanna showed her worry.
Janet had followed and was in a low conversation with Gava. Opening a large case, Janet withdrew several vials of fluids, injected them into Samantha, restarted her IV, and then stepped back out of the way. Some of the other healers came over to the group that had accompanied Sam and suggested they find places to sit and relax. It would be a while.
"Martouf, you will come here, please, and lie on this platform." Gava gave him no choice, but to acquiesce to her command. Once he was lying down, she slipped her healing device on her hand and began running it over his head. Thirty minutes later, she allowed him up. "You had no business being up and moving around. You had a concussion as your healer told you. You must stay away from the end of that ramp. Now, you may go and join your teammates."
Martouf meekly agreed and went to stand by Jacob. Healers, he decided, were the same the worlds over; somehow, you found yourself doing as they told you to do. Most of the time, anyway. "What have they tried so far, Jacob?"
"Just the healing devices so far. They tried dual healers concentrating on the largest concentration of the bacteria. So far, it's not doing much good. There were some minor areas, small scratches and possible teeth marks that they were able to heal but the ones on her side are so full of the bacteria they just don't seem to be able to get ahead of them."
Martouf nodded, but his stomach knotted. What if Jacob did not agree to allow them to use a symbiote? What if he did agree, but it was not what Samantha wanted? Could they let her go? Allow her to die? There was no point in worrying about that now, but in the end he knew that he might have to. And he was afraid he knew what he and Lantash would have to say. It was not a pleasant thought.
"I am going to go see Lantash, in case someone else has told him what has occurred. I would rather he hear it from me, since he will hear it eventually. I wish to be the one to tell him, although it will not be easy."
Jacob looked over at him. "Good idea, Martouf. He'll be frantic if someone only told him part of what's happened. Go on, if there is any change, or if any decisions need to be made, I won't do it without input from you and Lantash."
Martouf nodded and left to go into a room a few doorways down. Lantash would be in the lab where Anise and Arwanna could keep an eye on him. He frowned as he heard a voice in the room. He slowed his steps and made them stealthier.
"Well, Lantash, we have had some excitement today. Would you not like to know what it is? Hmm? I might even tell you. Or maybe I will just tell you part of it. So, let us see. It is about the love of your life. Only it is her life that is in the balance. I find it extremely amusing that that whey-faced disgusting Tau'ri is going to—"
"Get out. Get out of this room, Thoran, and do not ever come in here again. Not today, tomorrow, or any other day as long as Lantash is in here. Now. Get out."
"Just who do you think you are, Martouf? You are nothing but a human now. I can break you in half. I can break your scrawny little human neck without half trying, and if you ever order me around again, I will do so. Then again, perhaps I will simply rip his head off," Thoran sneered at Martouf as he nodded his head towards Lantash.
Thoran's eyes narrowed as he continued, "Perhaps I will simply take care of both of you at once. It would be poetic justice, after all the hours they wasted on saving you, to come in and find that someone had murdered you. Moreover, there would be no clue as to who might have been the one to do it."
Then he gave Martouf a malicious look, before telling him, "However, the Tau'ri are here, and everyone knows that O'Neill hates you and Lantash. You have been foisted upon SG-1, and O'Neill is no doubt furious. What a perfect opportunity. So perfect," Thoran murmured slowly, almost to himself, and obviously giving the idea extra thought, "that perhaps I should take it."
"Or perhaps you should not," Malek said quietly, as he stepped around the corner. "Threatening to murder someone is a grave offense, Thoran. Threatening to murder a symbiote and its host is doubly grave. I suggest you leave this room, and stay away from it. As of now, you are not to come near here."
"You have no authority on this base, Malek. You are here to do reports, no more, so do not even attempt to tell me what to do."
"Be careful, Thoran. Be very careful. Martouf might not be a match for you at this point in time, but I am, and I will not play nice. I said get out and, if you do not do so, I will throw you out myself. Stay away from Lantash. I am warning you."
Brushing past the other two men Thoran turned back, saying, "You should take your warning to heart yourself, Malek, you, Lantash, and Martouf. All of you." With that, he turned and strode away.
"Malek, I think he will harm Lantash, and it would not surprise me to find out that he is doing something to delay, or—or stop—his recovery."
"I agree. I will bring in some of my own people to guard him at all times, Martouf. Were you going in to tell him about Major Carter?"
"Yes, I am here to do so. Thoran was in here hinting to him about it, and no doubt, he now has him completely upset. I should go at once."
"Go ahead, I have a couple of things to attend to, and then I will return."
"Thank you, Malek. It is much appreciated."
Malek waved off his thanks as he walked away.
Martouf turned to face his symbiote and try to explain what had happened without alarming him. Considering that he was upset himself, it would be quite difficult to keep his Soulmate from becoming upset as well. But he had to try. He walked slowly into the room and up to Lantash's tank.
"I have missed you, and I have only been gone for one day, mer Prinekh. You would think that I could manage to stay away longer than that, would you not?" Martouf sighed as he took in the tension of Lantash's body. He really did not want to give him this news.
"Yes, you are correct, I have some news to impart, and it concerns the things that scum Thoran was hinting about. I cannot make it any easier, so I will tell you bluntly, but you must stay calm and not become upset." He paused, waiting for Lantash's agreement.
When it came, he simply stated, "Lantash, Samantha was injured this morning during a mission. She is in very critical condition. We were attacked by some creatures that prey on the males of a species by mesmerizing them. We, that is, those of us that are male, came under their control for a time; therefore, she was in command and was protecting us, as we attempted to escape back to the SGC."
"The short version of the story is that she was—she was hurt very badly, and—we did not realize that she could not make it to the Chaappa'ai, or that she was not planning on coming through it with us. She was too badly hurt to make it, but she placed a grenade in the mass of creatures, and somehow, it blew her through the event horizon. She was mauled badly, but that is not the problem; it is the bacteria they injected into her system that is the problem."
"Neither their healers, nor ours, can kill them. Our healers can control the infection, at best. They are going to try some other things, but I do not think they are going to be successful. In the end, Jacob will have to make a decision. I believe we all know what the question will be. What we do not know is what his answer will be. He told me that he would make no decision without our input, Lantash. So, we must decide what we would wish to be done as well. It is a very difficult question, is it not?"
After his recital of facts, given stoically as he stared at the nearest wall, he looked at Lantash and was surprised to see him lying still in his tank, completely unmoving. Martouf reached in and he came up to touch his fingers briefly, but then sank to the bottom of it to lie curled there.
Martouf was not sure how to interpret this, as he had never seen this type of behavior exhibited, unless the symbiote was completely and thoroughly furious about something, or was pouting, but he knew that neither of those emotions were the case now.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, startled to see Malek re-enter the room. "My guards will be here shortly. I've also notified Per'sus of Thoran's threats against both you and Lantash. He is not happy about him, and he has been watching him for quite some time. This will simply bring him under more scrutiny."
Martouf nodded. "Thank you. I will feel better knowing that Lantash is guarded. I feel that he is not safe here, but I know that he needs Anise to care for him. Now I feel that I have set him back again. I have never seen him act this way before."
Malek looked at the tank and the symbiote curled tightly on the bottom. "He is thinking deeply, Martouf, that is all. He is arguing with himself and weighing things out. You must have asked him something very important to get this type of reaction out of him."
"Jacob said he would make no decision about Samantha without our input first, and I told him that. He knows, as well as I do, what the only other alternatives will be if nothing else works. She will die, or she will be given a symbiote. There is no other way."
"I do not know how we truly feel about it, Malek. We know that at first Samantha would not even consider it after being taken as she was by Jolinar. Her experience was a bad one, and we could not blame her. Then she brought her father to us. Even though she herself could not become a host, she felt that for others it might work very well. Her mind allowed her to see beyond her own experience."
Martouf sighed deeply, before continuing, "It has been a long time. Have her feelings changed? We do not know. How can we give an opinion on something we have no knowledge on? We do not want her to die, but neither would we wish her to be miserable alive. That is not living; it is nothing but existing."
"Perhaps that is what you should tell Jacob then, Martouf. You want what would be best for Major Carter. If he feels that she would be unhappy with a symbiote, then she should be allowed to die."
"However, if you wish my opinion, Martouf, I know of no loving father, who would choose to allow their child to die, not if they could save them. I cannot see Jacob making that decision, unless she has told him quite plainly that she never wants to be a host. That would be the only way, and if she had told him that, I do not believe that you would be here now."
Martouf nodded. "You are probably correct. Whether or not I can be that logical when the time comes to actually give my opinion, I do not know. I may still decide no based on what we knew previously, but relate it to Jacob with the codicil that if he, or anyone else, has later information that negates our reasoning, then our no is invalid."
"Lantash has heard our discussion, and I believe he is ready to discuss this with you."
Martouf turned back to Lantash. "Did you listen to our discussion, Lantash? Yes. All right. Do you wish to answer Jacob with a no, not to give her a symbiote? Yes. All right. With a restriction that if he knows something that we do not, he will consider our no invalid? Yes. So you agree with my thoughts then? Yes. Good, then I can now answer Jacob when he asks me."
Martouf gave him a small smile and stroked him gently, "I will let you know as soon as we know anything, Lantash, I promise you, and Thoran will not be in here again. Malek is sending some of his people over to see to it."
Malek walked up to the tank and asked him, "Is Thoran in here often, Lantash?"
"That is a yes."
"Hmm. Does he ever put anything into the water?"
"That, also, is a yes, Malek. A very emphatic one." Martouf caught his breath as the ramifications of that hit him squarely in the heart and mind.
Malek both looked and sounded grim. "I will have this looked into immediately. I will do my best to see to it that he is not allowed around you any more. Does anyone else, other than Anise, ever put anything in the water?"
Lantash's answer was again quite vehement. "That is a definite no, Malek," Martouf said quietly.
"I believe that is a question that Anise needs to be asking you fairly often. I will see to it that she now knows to do so. Devlin and I will be in to talk to you later, Lantash. Here are my men now. You may trust them, I assure you. We will take care to safeguard you better, now that we are aware, I promise you."
He and Martouf both reached in to caress him before they left the room together. Both were concerned about the substance that Thoran had been putting in Lantash's tank.
"You will relay the information to Anise in case I do not have a chance to?" Martouf asked.
"Yes, I will and, in fact, I will do it immediately. We cannot be too careful, now that we know Lantash has an enemy such as Thoran. I believe he would balk at very little. I will also see to it that Per'sus is kept apprised of any new developments as well." Malek's voice was firm.
"Thank you, Malek. Lantash and I are in your debt. I feel much better knowing that you are here and watching over him. As for the substance that is being put into his water, I do not know why I never asked before, but I hope you will have Anise do a complete search, no matter how obscure and even ridiculous the idea of a certain element might be."
Malek shook his head. "There was no reason for you to wonder before, Martouf. One does not suspect one's family of attempted murder. Rest assured that I will see to it that Anise takes every precaution, now that we are aware of this particular threat. Furthermore, if my time here ends before we find out what is going on, I will see to it that Anise moves to my base with Lantash, if we still feel it is needed at that time. I promise you, Martouf, he will not be left unattended or unguarded, for so much as a moment, from now on."
"You have my thanks for protecting him, Malek. As for the other, I suppose it is true, and murder is not something one suspects one's family of committing. Except that we knew he was not getting well very fast. Perhaps we should all have wondered more about that." Furthermore, with my history, I, of all people, should have suspected my family, Martouf reminded himself. His thoughts were bleak as he momentarily thought back to a time when his entire family was betrayed by a family member. Even after all these years, that memory was extremely painful.
Bringing his attention back to the conversation, Martouf said, "I do thank you, even though you do not wish for me to do so. I know that you and Lantash are very old and very close friends. I am grateful and thankful that you are here with him, when I have failed him so badly. In fact, now that we know that he is in danger, I will return to the tunnels."
As he was about to criticize himself even more, Malek spoke up. "No, you should not return from the Tau'ri. That would only alert whoever is involved in this that we are aware of what has happened. For the moment, we know there could be more involved than Thoran, and if he even tells any others, they will believe that we have banned him for harassing Lantash. They would have no reason to believe that we know someone has," he paused before continuing, hating to voice the thought aloud, but knowing it must be said, "been attempting to kill Lantash."
His look was thoughtful as he gathered his arguments, "It is also best if you are off world, so that it will be harder for them to get to you. We must assume, until we know differently, that they would also kill you given the chance, and we must act accordingly. You are safer where you are at the moment."
"As for the other, you have not failed him, Martouf. If you and Jacob had not raised the question of poisoning, I would never have thought to ask him if anyone was putting anything into the water in his tank."
"I will admit I was surprised at first, when you told me of your request. I felt that you were, perhaps, letting your fears for his health make you paranoid and unnecessarily cautious. I apologize for my arrogance in thinking those things. Now, I am very glad that you started us asking questions. No, you are not to blame. It goes back to suspecting one's family, and as we said, we did not realize we should." Regardless what has gone before, Martouf, we will watch, and we will guard him better now that we know there is a definite threat.
"I have looked over Anise's charts on him. He gained strength faster at first. I know you all assumed it was because of your depression that he was not gaining in strength as quickly after you awoke. However, this new information adds new meaning to some of the readings Anise is charting for him, and it opens new avenues to explore and question. We will be more diligent, and it is thanks to Jacob and you."
Barely pausing in his narrative, Malek went ahead with his report on what he had found. "I have also looked up some mission reports. Thoran was gone on a mission for the entire time you were unconscious. His return was after you were awake, but only slightly before Lantash began to show such erratic gains and losses in strength in his recuperation."
"Before that, while you were in stasis, it was quite obvious that you were indeed causing his instability; however, once the monitor was set up in such a way that he could see it, he began a slow but steady gain. Until, that is, what we assumed was your depression."
"However, as we looked through her notes and records of both your moods and health and Lantash's, Anise and I both realized that you only became depressed after he began to lose ground, not before, so it was not your moods that caused it, at least not in the beginning. No doubt, it did affect him, but not as much as we were seeing."
"I believe that it is quite probable that there is a correlation between Thoran's return and Lantash's failure to gain strength and heal. Furthermore, I assure you, Martouf, that it will be investigated thoroughly. Not only Thoran, but anyone else that was gone and returned around the time that Lantash's recovery slowed, I promise you."
"I believe that as soon as it is possible for Anise to turn him over to me, I should take him to the Tau'ri and have her check on him there. It sounds as if there will be more of an exchange of operatives than we at first thought, so possibly she could volunteer to come and bring him with her. Although, sometimes I wonder…" Martouf shook his head at his thoughts. He sounded and looked weighed down by all of the new information that he was acquiring.
Malek seemed to understand what he was thinking, for he glanced around the area quickly then dropped his voice even lower, saying, "Anise can be trusted completely, Martouf, even though it does not always appear to be so. If her monitoring was not so constant and vital at this time, I would allow you to take him now, but not because I do not trust her, for I do. It would definitely take him away from whomever the person or persons doing this are."
Malek clasped him on the shoulder and his voice held concern and warmth, as he added, "What you say is true, and I believe your idea of taking him to the Tau'ri holds merit. It is a good suggestion. I will take it up with Per'sus as soon as possible, and I will discuss it with Anise, as well. There is also the possibility that I could take him to my own base. We will see which would work the best when the time comes."
Giving Martouf's shoulder a last supportive squeeze, before dropping his arm, he said, "However, for now, Martouf, go back to Major Carter. Jacob needs you with him. He has become quite fond of you and Lantash, and because of that, he will turn to you."
"During your recovery, he only left your side when he was forced, by either Garshaw or the healers, to go and get some rest. He sat with you and Lantash for days on end. He cares for you, and he will look to you for strength and support, at this, a time when he has need of a friend." He nodded toward the medical bay door, as they had traversed the short walk while conversing, and they were now standing outside of the med bay area.
Martouf nodded to Malek, unable to speak his thanks, but knowing that Malek would understand. He turned and entered the room where Samantha lie, and where the group sat anxiously waiting and hoping to see her begin to gain ground.
Jacob stood as he entered and came toward him. Martouf braced himself. "You've talked to Lantash, Martouf?"
"Yes, I have. What has been tried so far?"
"They've tried several of the different substances they use on us to help bolster our systems. They all work to a certain degree, but not enough."
"The drisk'nae seemed to work the best, but they aren't sure how much of that to give to an unblended human. The healers are having more and more trouble keeping the bacteria from taking over her system. It's time to make a decision, Martouf. I simply can't put it off any longer."
"Daimesh is ready to leave for the lost ones to retrieve one of Egeria's young. You know as well as I do that once he leaves, his course is set, and he has no choice, but to continue and come back with at least one symbiote. That is how the failsafe is set up. We need to make a decision now. While it does not take a long time to go and come back, it does take a little time to retrieve one. He's already taken the imprints and readings of Sam that he needs."
They had been walking toward the group sitting quietly on the tables and floor on one side of the room. As they stopped, Martouf found that he could not look up from the floor. "What is it that you wish to ask of Lantash and I, Jacob? I must know your actual question before I can answer."
"Yes, I guess you probably do need more than innuendo. All right, with no bark on it, then. Sam is going to die, unless we blend her with a Tok'Ra. That is her only chance. Both the Tok'Ra healers and Dr. Fraiser agree. So, the question is, do I allow my daughter to die, or do I make her Tok'Ra?"
"Is there even any debate here, Jacob? Are you going to wait a heartbeat? This is your daughter, for crizsake." It was apparent that Jack was exasperated and feeling helpless to do anything.
The group looked at him in surprise. Looking at the shocked faces around him he sighed. "Look, Carter's not me, okay? I think she could handle it. She did it for her father. He should return the favor. Besides, if it comes to the choice of Carter with a sn—symbiote, or Carter dead, I choose Carter with a s-symbiote, all right?"
He would no longer call them snakes as per the General's orders—but mostly because Carter deserved respect—and as the General had said about the Tok'Ra, the personnel would see how he treated them. The same went for Carter. They would follow his lead.
Jack shook his shoulders and grumbled under his breath, averting his eyes as if he'd said too much. He refused to look at anyone, but his mouth had a hardened set to it. He was not going to lose Carter to a damned wolf-bear thing, when it should have been him and Martouf. No way, no how. Not going to happen.
He'd do everything he could to make it bearable for her, including learning to like the Tok'Ra. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be one. It might be his fault, but he would see to it that she got the respect she deserved, and it would start with him.
Martouf was so surprised by the Colonel's remarks that he was shaken out of his numbness. He raised his head to gaze at him, as if studying a particularly interesting science experiment that had given him unlooked for results. O'Neill was for blending a symbiote with Samantha? He wanted her to be given a symbiote? He blinked at him, dazed.
Daniel and Teal'c both also offered an affirmative opinion. "Do it, Jacob. I think Sam will be all right with it. She's not going to come unglued or anything. You can't just let her die." Daniel was forceful in his opinion. "Besides, I'm pretty sure her opinion has changed. I've heard her say she wished she had been able to know Jolinar. She wouldn't say that if she was really opposed to it."
"I, also, have heard her say this, General Carter." Teal'c's words were measured and calm. "I do not find the idea of allowing Major Carter to die palatable when there is a readily accessible alternative."
They wanted Samantha Carter alive and well, regardless. Tok'Ra or not. They would live with it and see to it that she could, too. They wanted her back. Martouf was amazed at the comments.
At last, when they had all finished freely giving their opinions, Jacob turned to the person he had originally asked for one, saying, "Martouf, what do you and Lantash have to say?"
Martouf looked at him with anguish-filled eyes before saying, "We would give anything to keep Samantha with us, Jacob; you know this. However, all Lantash and I have to go on are her words when we first met her. We have not discussed it with her since then. Based on those words, and only those words, and knowing how she felt at that time, our answer must be no. Do not give her a symbiote."
At the sound of the gasps and muttered expletives around him, he knew that his response had not been expected. Surprise that the only 'no' came from two Tok'Ra was quite evident.
He raised his voice to be heard over the muttering, "However, there is a codicil to our answer. Lantash and I did discuss this for quite some time. It was not an easy decision for us, regardless what you may think. Though you obviously still do not believe us, for the Tok'Ra, death is an alternative. We do not take unwilling hosts; we have repeatedly told you this."
"That Jolinar took Samantha as she did truly surprised and upset us all. None of us understand it. So, the decision was hard for us because we do not want to lose Samantha, but it was easy from our moral point of view. The last we knew, she did not want to become a host."
"So, there is our answer quite plainly, however, we also have our codicil. Our answer is no, unless anyone here has since discussed it with her, and knows for a fact that her attitude has changed. Then our no is null and void due to other evidence to the contrary. I believe that in those circumstances our no would then become a very intensely heartfelt yes."
"You're basing your answer and her life on something she said two years ago right after a traumatic experience? Are you nuts or something?" Jack hissed furiously.
He continued just as vehemently, "Of course, she's changed her attitude since then. Hell, even then, she gave you her father. And, at the time, she told me that she thought it might have been an enlightening experience if she hadn't been fighting Jolinar and had understood what being a Tok'Ra meant to her. She didn't mean she never wanted to do it. She just didn't want to do it right away."
Martouf raised his eyebrows and looked to the others for confirmation. Jacob nodded his head. "She hasn't said she is against becoming a host. She has told me that if the right set of circumstances arose, she would consider it. She didn't tell me if dying was one of those circumstances. There is the crux of the problem."
"I know she had a set of circumstances in mind that would make it acceptable to her. I don't know if this was one of them. If she was just awake enough to tell me yes, I'd feel more comfortable. She, at least, gave me a choice."
Daniel looked closely at Jacob and then walked over to him. He placed his hand on the older man's shoulder, saying softly, but emphatically, "Jacob, I think you are over-analyzing this. The fact that Sam told you that she would consider it, tells you that she is not adamantly against becoming a host."
He shook his head and then firmly clasped both Jacob's shoulders, looking directly into the older man's worried, haunted eyes, to emphasize his point. "The chances are that she is not going to be upset with you, but if she is, she will get over it, and she will be alive, which is a much better scenario than her not being angry, but being dead."
"Somewhere in that sentence, there was something that made a whole lot of sense," Jacob muttered, as he stared at Daniel. He reached up and squeezed one of Daniel's hands before the younger man could remove them.
"Jacob, you are worrying over this needlessly. Per'sus has already agreed to undo the blending if Samantha does not wish to be a host. That is all you really need to keep in mind," Selmak reminded him gently. "As Per'sus said, it is Samantha's choice, not yours, or mine. Save our daughter first, and do damage control later, if it is even needed. I do not believe it will be."
"Yeah, I suppose you are right, Sel, it's just that I remember you saying that you could not do that to me. So, which is it?"
"Jacob, I had been sustaining Saroosh for quite some time, and I was not in optimum condition to be blending at all, let alone eradicating a disease that had riddled your body. I could not have left you and survived afterward. Certainly, I could do so now, but we no longer wish it, nor did we shortly afterwards, while I was still too weak to move again."
"Had I gained strength and you were not happy, I would have suggested it, although the risk to the symbiote is great when doing that. However, this symbiote will be young and strong. The risks would not be the same."
"Sorry, Sel. I do remember seeing that in your memories later, and I was glad you hadn't suggested it. All right, but I'm still of the opinion that if Sam takes a symbiote—well then—she will keep it. At least, I will try to convince her to if the situation comes up. Will that compromise work for us?"
"Yes, but you must now send Daimesh for a symbiote as quickly as possible."
"You're right." Turing on his heel, he looked at Arwanna and nodded his head. "Tell Daimesh to go. We're going to do it." She smiled at him and some of the tension left her face as she moved away and another healer took her place. As Daniel said, the worse thing that could happen was that she was angry and hey, they had a couple hundred years to work through that.
He would not think about her not keeping the symbiote. To his mind and morals, that just was not right. You just did not "use" someone that way, and the symbiotes had become "people" in Jacob's mind. You just didn't do that to them.
"If you do not mind, Jacob, I will go tell Lantash that the decision has been made and what is going to be done," Martouf said softly.
"Sure, go ahead. I'd bring him in, so he could be here, but…" Jacob's voice trailed off as he glanced behind him at the Tau'ri. He did not realize that Daniel was standing beside him.
"Are you going to go talk to Lantash now, Martouf?" Daniel asked quietly, but still loud enough to be heard by Jack and Teal'c.
"Yes, I am. He will be anxious to know what is happening."
"If I talked to him, would he understand me, or is there some special way of interacting that you have to know?"
"He understands you as you speak to him, and as long as you ask questions that do not require an explanation he will answer you. You are welcome to speak to him, if you wish."
"I'd like to tell him how glad we are that you both survived, and that we are looking forward to him being well and joining you on the team."
"Very well, then please, do come with me."
They didn't hear Jack asking Jacob, "Doesn't it feel kind of odd talking to a—a being in a tank?"
"You get used to it, Jack," Jacob answered mildly, but he noticed that he did not call the symbiote a snake. That was quite an improvement. It spoke well for the future.
Martouf was glad to see the guards posted at both doors of the lab. Anise had been told, he was sure. Malek was very efficient. Daniel looked at them curiously.
"What are the guards for?"
"It is just a precaution. This is a lab and," he glanced at Daniel and realized he was not buying his explanation and sighed. "We are not sure that Lantash's failure to gain strength is all from the experience we went through. It is possible that someone is tampering with his water or food supply. We are watching him for poison, but there are some that could be very subtle."
"I see. Why don't you bring him to the SGC? Then no one could get to him, but us."
"He needs Anise's care right now, Daniel, or I would. Malek is keeping an eye on him, and he will continue to monitor things for me."
"Malek seems pretty level headed from the few times I've seen him."
"He is, and he is close to Per'sus, so he, too, is aware of our suspicions. Malek shares not only the suspicions, but the direction we are looking in, so that helps."
"Yeah, I'll bet."
"We should approach, now. He will have sensed that we have entered the room and know that I am here. He may not be able to tell who you are, however."
Daniel was surprised at the slenderness of the body of the symbiote as well as the color. Lantash was white. He turned to Martouf to ask about it, but Martouf appeared to know what he was going to ask.
"Much of his outer body was left behind, Daniel. It is woven into my tissue. Tok'Ra, unlike the Goa'uld, do not depart from a host with the body intact. Even when extracted as he was, the outer layers are shed. Had he been re-blending, he would have left even more behind. They are much smaller when they blend."
Not waiting for an answer, he turned to the tank saying, "Lantash, Daniel Jackson has come to see you. It is he standing beside me." Daniel watched as Martouf put his hand in the tank, and Lantash greeted him. He followed his actions, and Lantash did the same to him. Daniel, always intrigued by meeting and interacting with anyone or anything different, smiled widely.
"Hi, Lantash, you have no idea how great it is to see you. We were very happy to hear that you and Martouf survived. I'm sure Jacob explained about our four month time-loop, so I won't go into that, but hearing about you and Martouf was certainly the best news we've had after coming out of it."
"He is acknowledging your comment and basically letting you know that he is glad to be here as well."
"Oh, you should tell him what was decided." Daniel suddenly remembered the reason they had come.
"Yes, you are correct." Turing to Lantash, he said quietly, "Lantash, Daimesh has gone to the lost ones for a symbiote. You will be surprised to know that we were the only ones against blending Samantha. Colonel O'Neill, Daniel, Teal'c, and her father all felt they should do so." He watched Lantash's motion's for I don't believe you.
He turned to Daniel. "He is telling me that he does not believe me. It is Colonel O'Neill's reaction that he is refusing to find true, I believe."
"He's not lying to you, Lantash, it's true. But, in all honesty, we have to confess that we had more recent information about Sam's feelings than the two of you did. Sam's attitude has changed as time has gone by, and she has, in the past, told her dad that in the right circumstances, she would consider blending. We are assuming this is one of those circumstances, and, since she can't tell us, we have to go on our interpretation of her words."
"So, Daimesh is going someplace to get," Daniel stopped talking, and you could almost see wheels turning in his mind mulling over this odd bit of information. "Where exactly is Daimesh going?"
Martouf looked at Lantash and saw his affirmative body language. He turned to Daniel and smiled slightly, "I will explain that to you later, if you do not mind, Daniel. For now, I wish to finish explaining to Lantash and then return, for it will take very little time for Daimesh to retrieve the new symbiote."
Turning back to Lantash, he said, "They have tried everything, Lantash. Short of a sarcophagus or a symbiote, there is no other choice. The healers are finding it more and more difficult to contain the infection and keep it from spreading. It is not something we can put off any longer, I am afraid."
"Isn't there any way that Lantash could be with us when it's done, Martouf?" Daniel asked softly.
"He could, but it might not be for the best. While the Tok'Ra are used to seeing symbiotes and interacting with them, I cannot help but believe that it would make Colonel O'Neill, Dr. Fraiser, and possibly even you, uncomfortable," Martouf answered equally softly.
"But they won't have to be in there when they actually blend, will they? But you, Jacob, Lantash, and I could be. I don't think this will bother me, Martouf. I've been thinking about it, and it's different than it was with Sha'uri. Hers was totally against her will, and it was a Goa'uld, not a Tok'Ra. You forget that I have the example of Jacob and Selmak and how well they get along to go by, so I don't have the anxiety about it that I might otherwise feel."
"You are correct in your comments; however, Jacob said that we should not, Daniel. I am sure that Lantash understands; I will ask him."
Turning to Lantash, he asked, "Will that be all right, Lantash?"
He was relieved to receive an affirmative answer. Jacob would be more comfortable not having to keep the symbiote and the Tau'ri separated.
Martouf smiled at him once again and placed his hand in the tank to stroke him for a short time before telling him, "I must go, but I will return to talk to you after the blending takes place, and we know if it was successful or not. We will have a long talk before I leave to go back to the Tau'ri, I promise you, Lantash." Lantash nudged his fingers and Martouf stroked him gently before sighing and removing his hand. Daniel watched the interaction and smiled at Lantash.
"I'm glad to see you again, Lantash. I will try to stop in and say goodbye before we leave if I can. Take care of yourself. We want to see you and Martouf back together. I have to admit that we are glad to have him, and as you can tell, we are keeping him busy. I don't think he's had a lot of time to miss you since he arrived at the SGC, though. "
Lantash was obviously happy with Daniels comments. "He is very happy to hear that, Daniel. The fact that I was missing him so badly was a worry to him. He is relieved to know that I have not had time to do so since I arrived there."
"You don't need to worry about him anymore, Lantash, we'll see to it that he has plenty to keep him occupied. Between learning about Earth culture and going on missions with us, he won't have any time left to brood. We'll see to it for you."
"He says thank you, but that we should go now. He is anxious about Samantha, and he is correct; we should go."
"I will return later, Lantash, my mate." Turning, Martouf led the way from the lab and back toward the medical bay. Daniel walked beside him, seemingly deep in thought.
"That's the real reason you chose to come to the SGC now. I'm glad you did. I think it is a good idea, and this way, too, there will be someone there to help Sam adjust. I doubt very much if she'll agree to stay with the Tok'Ra."
Martouf looked at him in surprise, and a flush rushed up his cheeks. "Yes, that is one of the reasons. My worry over him was obviously hindering his recovery. I could not go on missions for the Tok'Ra." He shrugged. "I would prefer that my true reasons for being there be kept quiet, please, Dr. Jackson," Martouf finished somewhat stiffly.
Daniel looked at him in some surprise, before he realized that Martouf was sensitive about this for some reason. "That isn't a problem. It's your business, and I have no reason to discuss it with anyone but you. If you ever need someone to talk to about it, I'm willing to listen. And, the name is Daniel. You were using it earlier."
He frowned and then placing a hand on Martouf's arm, he stopped him for a moment. "Martouf, I am not honor-bound to tell Jack anything, nor do I, when things are none of his business. You do not have to worry that anything you say to me, or to Teal'c, for that matter, would go directly to Jack. It won't."
He paused again, before continuing, "Even Sam, if it doesn't affect National Security, the Air Force, or the team. We're a team and a family and like all families, we all have things that we share with some, but not with others. So, a word saying, this is between you and I, is enough for me to know that you would rather it not be repeated. I understand."
Martouf nodded. "Thank you, Daniel. It is a very sensitive subject for me. I am sorry. It has been very difficult for us being parted. I can only hope that he will soon regain his strength and return to me. I should tell you, though, that Samantha does know, as well."
Daniel nodded his acceptance of Martouf's statement, as they resumed walking and approached the medical bay. They entered the door just as Daimesh returned with a stasis urn. That he held it reverently was obvious. That all of the Tok'Ra in the room looked at it with something nearing awe was apparent.
Daniel was burning with curiosity, but knew that unless someone in the room said something that he could piece together, he would know nothing until later when Martouf explained it to him.
He walked toward the table that Sam was lying on. Jack walked up to Jacob and tapped him on the shoulder. "Listen Jacob, I think that Teal'c and I are gonna wait out in the hall, if that's okay."
Jacob smiled wryly, "Sure, Jack, go ahead. I don't blame you."
Jack nodded and he and Teal'c made their way out into the hall. Jacob made his way to his daughter's side.
On the other side of her, Janet inserted a tube into her stomach and poured a vial of drisk'nae into her before removing it. Then, at a nod from the Tok'Ra healers, she injected her with some substance. Then, after stopping the IV and taking it out, she removed to the end of the bed out of the way, but still near enough, if the healers felt they needed her, to do something to the human form of Samantha Carter. Jacob stood at the side of the bed beside his daughter.
Daimesh would soon open the stasis chamber and make sure the symbiote was viable, although he could tell a great deal by the energy signature. However, by opening it, the symbiote inside would have time to awaken completely before attempting to blend with its new host. Soon, it would happen.
Jacob looked at her as Anise brought a tank with Lantash in it. "I am sorry, Jacob, but I felt he should be here. I believe she will want to see him, to know that we have told her the truth of his survival."
Jacob smiled at her. "That's all right, Anise, you may be right, and Jack is outside. I don't think it will bother the rest of us." Anise nodded and stood with her hand in the tank caressing Lantash, calming him.
Martouf looked around and realized that there were several people here. Usually, this was a more private event, with only the prospective host, the symbiote, and whoever was attending. The blending today would have many more individuals around to witness it.
He felt a little uncomfortable doing it with so may people here, but knew that each had a role to play except for, perhaps, Daniel and Anise. Still, he did not think that Samantha would mind. She would probably prefer being surrounded by those she knew cared for her and wished her the best.
Jacob gasped as Sam's lashes fluttered, and she gazed at them, her eyes traveling slowly from one to the other, before finally settling, at last, on Lantash's tank. "Lantash? Martouf? Dad?" Her voice was no more than a thread, but it was there. "Daniel?"
Jacob moved so that Martouf could join him. Daniel moved back and to the side, so that Anise, the tank, and he would be behind the two of them as they knelt by the platform. However, he stayed near enough that she could still see him, and know that he was there. "Samantha, we are here," Martouf said softly. She looked at him, and her eyes appeared to focus more fully.
"Dead. Should be—dead."
"No. No, Samantha; however, you were hurt quite badly."
Jacob broke in saying, "Sam, can you understand me?"
She nodded slightly, switching her gaze from Martouf, and Lantash behind him, to her father and Daniel, next to each of them respectively.
"You're going to die if we don't blend you with a symbiote, Sam. I made the decision to do it. Is that all right?"
Sam looked at Martouf. "Martouf? Lantash?" She drew a shaky breath before adding, "Daniel?" She frowned, not really sure exactly what she was asking of these four men who each held special places in her heart and in her life.
"Please, do it, Samantha. We all wish for you to stay with us. Do not leave us now that we are back with you. All of us wish for you to stay with us."
"Sure?"
"Yes. Very sure. Lantash is here. He wishes it also. Can you see him? He is just behind me."
Sam nodded as she looked at the tank. "Is he saying—yes, Martouf?"
"Yes, Samantha, he is telling you he wishes you to stay among us. Please."
"Daniel?"
"Please, Sam. We all want you to do it. All of us, Teal'c, even Jack voted yes."
Sam tried to grin, but didn't quite make it.
"All right, Dad?"
"Yeah, Sam, really all right," Jacob answered the question he knew she was asking. Yes, he was sure it would all work out.
She was losing consciousness; she could tell. She lifted her hand slightly, but only for a moment as what little strength she had gave out. "Martouf?"
He clasped it firmly. "Please do it, Samantha. Please," he was pleading with her, and the break in his voice told her what she needed to know, somewhere deep inside herself.
"Yes. Don't go. Don't—leave me—alone. Bring—Lantash. All…stay with—me."
"We will."
"Hurry," her voice, not strong to begin with, was now no more than a thread of a whisper.
Jacob stood. "Daimesh, are you…?" His voice trailed off as he looked at Daimesh. He was looking at the symbiote in the stasis jar with a smile playing around his lips and a look of, well, if Jacob didn't know better, he'd call it awe, on his face. But then, they probably all felt that when they were about to blend a new young symbiote. Daimesh's voice brought him back to the present.
"She is ready to blend, Jacob, she has already shed her outer body," Daimesh said quietly, as he walked to the other side of the table. "Help Samantha onto her side, please. Martouf, you will come to this side of the platform, please." Martouf walked around the table until he was on the same side as Daimesh. He knelt facing Samantha, where she could see him easily. He knew when Anise moved Lantash in behind him so that he was visible above him.
"She is losing consciousness, again," Martouf said urgently.
Daimesh nodded and placed the urn on its side. "Open your mouth, Samantha," he urged her gently.
Sam looked at Lantash, and then Martouf, one last time, squeezed his hand slightly, and closed her eyes. She opened her mouth, and then greeted her new mate, before drifting off into oblivion.
Her new symbiote began the battle to save her life. From what she could tell, it would not be easy. However, she was young and strong, and so was her new host. She did not doubt that those she sensed waiting were aware of how difficult a healing this would be, and they would not expect to see the battle finished anytime soon.
There was a slim chance she would not prevail, of course, but she was not overly concerned yet. She felt fairly sure it would be how long it would take her to succeed, not if she would succeed. She hummed quietly as she set to work.
TBC