The time has come :p
As Sam was being bathed, a fact of 'royal' life she would never get used to, she started thinking about what the diary meant when it talked about the power that will be unleashed. Daniel and Teal'c were strong believers that it was written about her and Jack, and that once they are married on this planet something's going to happen. Sam couldn't get her mind off the fact she actually thought that they were right! Coming back to the present when she heard a small voice, she smiled at the young girl.
"Ma'am, we've finished, you can step out of the tub and we will begin to dry, and purify you before you're attired." She smiled at Sam, who nodded and followed the instructions she was given.
On the other side of the citadel, Jack was bathing him self, after he'd finally gotten rid of the young boys that were dotting on him. He found it rather uncomfortable that someone other then his wife would be bathing him. As he finally finished what they had told him to do, with the liquids they had given him Jack got out of the tub and dried him self off. As the towel was wrapped tightly around his waist the young men came back in with the clothes he was going to have to wear.
Swallowing he sighed as he saw the white material. Frowning he moved across to it, and knelt next to it, as he fingered it gently. It was silk. It looked like a dress with gold trimmings. He knew by now not to argue about the clothes, as they had let them where they're SG uniforms during the day and the tunics when they had to eat.
"So now what?" He asked gently as he stood. One of them men moved to him and draped a small amount of cloth over his right shoulder.
"Now we must purify you. You must…"
"Wait a minute; are you going to explain everything that you must do?"
"We are to make sure you understand what is going to happen sir," grumbling Jack nodded.
"Alright," he sighed.
"With this cloth we will wipe your entire body with these liquids that were used in your bath. By doing this it makes sure that, they are not only absorbed into the skin through the bathing, but are also on the skin when it comes time for you to meet with your lady."
"Ok then what?'
"Then we shall dress you," he smiled as the towel was removed and Jack tensed yet again.
"You know I could really do this by my self,"
"We must do it for you sir; you will not be pure if we allow you to do this,"
"Yeah what ever," he mumbled as he sighed.
Sam frowned as she looked at the material that the girls had ready to 'wrap' her in. it looked just like her other garment that she had to wear. The pyjama's that they had given her were so comfortable. She had to admit however that the sarong had been rather comfortable was well, but a bit too revealing for the likes of being around her teams mates. Sam moved forward as the towel was taken from her, and she was given back her washed, dried, and now clean underwear she was wearing only hours before.
As she raised her arms, the white material was wrapped ever so tightly low around her hips; Sam swore that she could see her pelvic bone above the edge of the material. As it was wrapped around her twice, she swallowed and thanked her lucky stars as her arms were lowered for her. They then proceeded to bring it up and over her right shoulder so her midriff was partly covered this time. She noticed that it had gold trimming, and that the bottom had golden embroidery on it.
As she took a deep breath the material was passed down her back and tide to a small loop that was concealed just above her tailbone. Once that was fastened, Sam watched as another bit of material, also white and silky, was past under the sash that went over her shoulder and was tightly wrapped around her chest. As it was wrapped around her twice, the remaining material was tided to the left side of the sarong, and then was left to drape down her body. Once she was dressed, she was forced to kneel, before the four young girls.
As they wove a native flower in her hair, and fixed it to a small tiara. She noticed that there was another bit of material, this time crystal blue, which was attached to the tiara, and was draped over her face. Realising that she couldn't see out of it, she swallowed.
"Ah…"
"This is so your man in waiting doesn't see you before the time is right," one of the girls reassured her.
"Ok," Sam whispered with a shaky voice.
"Everything will be alright, we will guide you to the room in which you will be with your man in waiting and be purified once again, only this time as one." Nodding Sam stood and took the girls hands as they led her out of the room.
As the silky material was passed over his head Jack winced slightly. He knew something was going to happen, he knew something bad was going to happen. As he managed to see light again, he forced a small smile at one of the men. He noticed that the material went to his ankles and that it was about eighteen sizes too big. As he was about to say something, he saw another man walk over with that horrid gold belt that got them into all this trouble to start with.
"Ah, I'm not wearing that again!" He stated watching them.
"But you must! This is the symbol of how you became affianced." Grumbling he sighed and shook his head.
"Alright, just don't tighten it like last time!" Smiling the men nodded. As the belt was wrapped around his waist and fastened loosely, Jack ginned. "That's better!" He stated, before he noticed that there was a pair of crystal blue tights being held out to him.
"You do not wish us to dress you in these, so you may do so your self," one of the more timid men stated. Sighing Jack took the tights, and put them on under the white 'dress'. Once they were in place he looked at them expectantly. They moved forward and started to re-arrange the 'dress'. They started to bring it up and tuck certain parts of it into the belt, before tightening it as far as possible.
"Gees!" Jack gasped, staring at them. When he looked down he noticed that the 'dress' was in fact a rather long tunic. It was with gold trimming, yes, but it also had golden embroidery around the bottom of it. It sat just above his knees, and looked as though it was pleated and that it was its natural length. Looking up, he smiled at them. "You boys are good!" Smiling they grinned at each other.
"If you come with us, we will take you to be purified as one with your lady to be," the eldest smiled at him, and moved out of the room, before Jack and the remaining three men.
As Sam entered the room, she could feel his presence. She knew that he'd been closer to the room they were now in, by the length of time it took them to walk her through the halls to get to it. She knew she was close to him, by the smell that was filling her nostrils. As she felt the hands release her, the young girls smiled at him.
"We will leave you both in the present company of cleric Gorman. He will make sure you do not see your lady to be, before the time is right, and he will also take the charms that you have chosen. Once you have be purified as one he will escort you to the basilica." Then the eight young people were gone, closing the door behind them, leaving Jack, Sam, and this Gorman character.
"Now what?" Jack sighed moving to Sam's side to help her sit in a chair.
"Now, we must purify your souls, and see how…" Stopping mid sentence, he looked at Jack. "You my friends are more then just compatible. You should have been married many, many seasons ago. It is an honour to be here during this time."
"Ah yeah ok," Jack frowned.
"At least you can see!" Sam sighed. Smirking he waved his hand in front of her face. "Stop it!" She laughed reaching for his hand. Laughing he shook his head.
"Sorry Carter, but you not being able to see and not biting my hand… I'm having fun with this!" He smirked.
"Payback, sir… It's really a bitch," she smiled.
"Yeah, yeah whatever Carter," he smirked, as the cleric moved closer, and pressed his hand to their foreheads. Gasping Sam's eyes widened, as she started to shake. While he was draining her soul of the evil within her, Jack was just as incapable to move. What seemed to be a life time later he moved away. Gasping Jack moved to Sam's slumped form.
"Jack?" She whispered as she felt a hand on her back.
"Yeah," he chocked out, before a coughing fit over took him. "You alright?"
"I think so," she whispered as he helped her to sit back up. Turning Jack glared at the cleric.
"What the hell was that?"
"That was cleaning your souls; you have been ridded of evil, and are of pure heart. We may now go to the basilica, once you present your charms to me," he smiled at Jack, knowing that nothing was going to stand between this couple. Grabbing the rock, from Sam's hand he threw them both at the clerics feet while continuing to glare at him. Turning as Sam shifted, he sighed.
"I wish you weren't wearing that thing! Are you sure your ok?" He whispered.
"Yeah," she muttered, as he helped her to stand. Leaning heavily against him, Jack wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"Hang in there Sammie, its almost over… Just a tattoo then you can lie down alright?" He whispered into her ear as they left the room. Nodding she squeezed her eyes shut, also wishing she wasn't wearing the cloth over her face. She wanted to see him, see his reaction to what just happened, but she couldn't. By the time they'd get to talk about it, all would be forgotten, and their instant reactions gone.
"You know for the amount of time we've been waiting in here, this better be worth it!" Daniel whispered to Teal'c as they sat at the front of the basilica.
"I believe it will be Daniel Jackson."
"Ever the optimist," Daniel muttered.
"I just wish we could be there with them, they have no idea what's going to happen, and I'm pretty sure neither of them will be together until this 'purification' where they obviously get 'purified' together, before coming here. I'm just over cautious since Jack read from that diary," Daniel whispered, making sure no one head him.
"I believe that everything will be fine indeed Daniel Jackson,"
"Maybe, but then again…" Daniel was cut off as some sort of music was played, and everyone started to stand. Moving to stand he saw Jack and Sam at the entrance to the basilica. Grinning, he nodded, before the cleric, moved forward and he got a better look at his friends. Gasping Daniel's eyes widened, as he saw Sam leaning heavily against Jack and with a bit of cloth over her face. Still standing up right thank god.
"Hey look, Danny and T are at the front," Jack muttered to which she smirked.
"Can't… Remember?"
"Oh yeah sorry forgot about that,"
"Liar," she muttered back.
"Sometimes," he whispered. As they got to the front of the basilica, everyone was seated and the cloth was removed from Sam's face. Seeing her for the first time, Jack could still see the hurt in her eyes and tightened his grip on her. Smiling at him gently she managed to force her self to push away from him slightly, and stand next to him unaided.
"We are here today, in order of Jonathon and Samantha. They were once strangers who came through the Stargate with our queen. But now they are friends amongst us. Today they will show their love and devotion to each other for the rest of their lives through what they have chosen." As he held up two rocks their were gasps and clapping throughout the basilica.
"Today I take this, and embed its importance into your wrist Jonathon," he stated moving the rock that was now red, to Jack's left wrist. As soon as it touched his skin Jack winced but didn't make a sound. Minutes later Gorman removed the rock, and smiled at the imprint of the fish, or in actually fact the 'Australian Bass' he now saw. Turning to Sam she took a deep breath and held out her left arm as well.
"Today I take this, and embed its importance into your wrist Samantha," he stated, as he pressed the reddening rock to her wrist. Again as it touched her skin Sam winced but didn't say anything. After they had both been 'branded', everyone watched in silence and awe, as Gorman, continued.
"As of today, throughout this galaxy and the many more that accept our ways of legally binding people, soul to soul, may you never be separated, and live a happy and fulfilling life in one another's arms," smiling at them, he dusted both 'tattoos' with a powder that helped the burning sensation, before they were taken from the basilica.
"Hey Jay, before they get locked away can Teal'c and I talk to them please?" Seeing his distress Jay smiled and nodded.
"Of course Daniel, please follow me." She stated and took them form the basilica, to the citadel, and on to the room Sam had been occupying during their stay. Knocking on the door, Jay unlocked it, before opening it, to see them checking out each others 'charms'.
"HEY!" Daniel squeaked. Moving into the room he grinned at them, as he looked at their wrists. "They look really good!"
"Yeah they do!" Jack commented.
"Hey I was thinking," Daniel whispered suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"Well what if what that diary said was right? I mean what if it was talking about you two, and there's something you have to, I don't know work out or something?"
"Daniel, I can assure you that Carter and I don't have any magic powers," Jack whispered glancing over Daniel's shoulder to Teal'c and Jayda.
"But I'm just saying, it said you had to be joined. Now you are, what do you think is going to happen? I mean I know they'll lock you two in here for the next ten days, but seriously! What if its something that only happens now that your 'joined'?"
"Daniel…"
"No Jack hear me out, since you've read what was written I've been thinking, it said what, something about not knowing their predetermined fate, right?"
"Yeah?" Sam frowned, deciding to join in.
"Well what if this power only comes out once you've accepted and realised your fate?"
"What that we acknowledge that we're supposed to be together no matter what?"
"Yeah,"
"Daniel, no offence, but I highly doubt that! I mean seriously, if anything it should have happened by now right?"
"No, not necessarily! If there's going to be an attack here or on Earth then maybe it'll come out then, but until then, it's like you have to accept your fate," he shrugged.
"Has anyone told you, you think way too damned much Danny boy?" Jack muttered. "Anyway I think Jayda's getting a bit antsy. So we'll see you in ten days if we haven't killed each other first," he smirked flicking a mock glare at Sam, who smiled at him.
"Yeah sure," he sighed, before he walked out.
"Well what do ya know, only four days left!" Jack grinned.
"Yeah," Sam sighed.
"What is it?" Jack asked as he shifted to get a better look of her.
"Nothing,"
"Come on Carter,"
"You know technically you can't call me that anymore, I mean if this is a galaxy thing," smiling he shook his head.
"Well if we start calling you O'Neill T's going to get confused!" Laughing she turned and buried her head into his chest as he held her tightly.
"I suppose," she smirked, before pulling away to look at him.
"So come on what is it?"
"I just miss being outside, staring out the windows isn't the same!" She stated, watching him. Smiling he nodded.
"You know we're going to have to tell Danny and T about this sudden telepathy thing you've got going!" He smiled kissing her forehead.
"Do we have to? And its not telepathy!"
"Then what would you call it huh? And yes we do!"
"I can see things Jack, I can't read peoples minds like you!"
"So maybe there was some truth behind what good ol' king Ian wrote?"
"Maybe, but I don't want to speculate!"
"Of course not! That's Daniel's job!" He smirked.
"All I'm saying is that since we've been 'joined' or 'branded' or whatever you want to call it, I'm feeling different, I can't explain it, and things are happening."
"Yeah I've felt a bit off too," he sighed, before falling back against the pillows, as Sam snuggled closer to him, letting her head rest on his chest. "What ever happens from here on in Sam, I'll support you,"
"I know, and the same to you,"
"You know this means that when we get back…"
"If we get back,"
"No Sam, we're going back to Earth, I promise you! And when we get back, things are going to be different, we'll have to end our previous relationships if you want to go down that road."
"My place is by your side now Jack, nothing is going to stop us from defeating the Goa'uld and if that prophecy or what ever you want to call it is right, then we better be expecting a few good things to come from this!"
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Not sure,"
"Sure your not sure," he smirked.
"Are you trying to work on me to get me to tell you?"
"Never!" He stated sarcastically. Smiling she sighed.
"I just don't think, that it's wise to talk about something that we have no control over. I mean when we go back through the 'gate, there might not be anything left for us, I mean, Pete probably moved on, and…"
"Kerri," he whispered.
"And Kerri probably has too, but then again nothing might have changed. There will still be the heartache for someone when we go back, whether it be ours or theirs." She sighed, moving she sat up looking at him. "I know we have to stay together Jack, and I don't want to be with anyone other then you, but we have to think about everything here. We know that the days are a lot shorter here then on earth. If we work out, that they have twelve hour days, and Earth has twenty-four, we can safely assume that the four of us will be MIA by now!"
"Maybe yes, but…"
"Not maybe Jack, we've been here for what, twelve days, that's about twenty-four Earth days, that's almost a month! All our codes will be locked out of the system, and we'll have trouble being allowed back. But once we get checked out on some random planet, hopefully they'll allow us back and Janet can have a closer look at us."
"Hey I want you to promise me something,"
"What?" She whispered.
"I want you to promise me that you'll stop thinking like we have to stay here or that we'll be stranded somewhere else…"
"But Jack can't you…"
"Please Sam, I don't need to be reminded that we may never get home, that the four of us would have to stay off world somewhere else, that we might end up being split up, Teal'c heading back to Chulak, and Daniel, well he'd probably hitch a ride with some alien to an ancient outpost or something, and I don't even want to begin to think what would happen to us!"
"Nothing's going to happen to us I promise you that! I'll never leave your side Jack, during the fight with the Goa'uld, the Replicators, or anything else that the galaxy throws at us. And when we're home nothing there can take me from you either, no matter what we're dealt." Smiling at her Jack couldn't help it, they'd been talking for non stop, over the last six days, and now he wanted to show her everything that he cared about. Looking at her as she lay back down by his side.
Leaning down Jack pressed his lips to hers, kissing her gently. As she parted her lips, without hesitation, he dove his tongue into her moth and started to devour her. His hands ran up her sides, and over her abdomen and stomach. As he let them run back over her abdomen, he pulled back slightly, giving a wicked grin, and she rolled her eyes.
"Can't wait for something to be in there," he whispered.
"Me neither," she muttered into his mouth.
"Boy or girl?" He smirked, just making sure that they were on the same page. Pulling back she watched him.
"Just as long as its healthy I don't care!" Grinning at her, Jack couldn't wait anymore. He pulled him self to lie over her, as he fiddled with the sarong that she was now wearing. Finding the knot with her help, Jack held her hips off the bed as he fiddled with it, and un-doing it. Lowering her back on the mattress her pulled back to stare at her.
"You sure about this?"
"If your having second thoughts about starting something you can't finish…" She whispered, before he cut her off.
"Who said anything about not finishing?"
"Then prove it," she muttered reaching her left hand to the back of his head and drawing him back to her. "No more talking," she whispered into his mouth seconds before he devoured her completely. Hands were everywhere but they never once broke their embrace.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Mm, I said no talking," she smirked as he pulled back to look at her as just their noses were touching.
"And I'm the man of the place," he smiled at her.
"Well that might change, if your not a good boy," she smiled. Stunning even her self with her next words. "I've always loved you, and nothings going to keep me from you anymore Jonathon O'Neill!" Grinning at her Jack couldn't take it anymore. He was going to pop. Leaning back in he held her tightly, as his hands and mouth worked on exploring every millimetre of her body.
