#

While Jack initially questioned Jacob's decision to stay and potentially put the whole mission at risk, he soon realised – and shared – the motivation behind it. It became rapidly apparent as To'ran showed them the rooms of the temple that would be used by those pretending to serve Ament that there was more to the man than met the eye – and that he had more than a passing interest in Sam.

"Tell me of Samantha Carter," To'ran all but demanded as he showed them the kitchens where a group of women worked diligently preparing a feast for the arrival of the Goa'uld. To'ran showed little interest in them, making no introduction by name, and instead turned expectedly to Sam's father and… Jack. "She is certainly very beautiful; Anise had said as much but I was not expecting one so fair."

"She gets that from her mother's side of the family, not mine," Jacob answered as a way of reminding To'ran that he was Sam's father and therefore the other man should be careful what he said but the warning went unnoticed or ignored. "She's also very smart, very strong."

"Major Carter is one of the best soldiers I've had the privilege of serving with," Jack added, his own not-so-subtle reminder that Sam was more than just a – very – pretty face. "Maybe you should be telling us what you know about Heset and Thmei. You've spoken to them both, what should we expect?"

"In what way?" To'ran frowned and began to lead them from the kitchens to the servant's quarters. "Anise said that you were familiar with the Goa'uld."

"We are, but each Goa'uld is different. Sure, they're all arrogant and egotistical and full of their own self-importance, what with the God complex –" Jack stopped when Jacob nudged him. "But they're different. Tell us about Heset. What does she look like, who is she likely to be bringing with her, where are they going to be staying?"

To'ran was quiet for a few moments. "Heset is known for her hospitality and her generosity to her people. She is most becoming, with hair the colour of the sky at night and eyes just as a dark. She will be accompanied by one Lo'taur, two attendants and two guards. She is the more benevolent of the two; where Heset will listen to reason, Thmei is quick to temper."

"You said Thmei will be travelling by ship. Do you know how many will be coming with her?" Jacob asked, as keen as Jack to keep the subject away from his daughter.

"She has agreed to bring four guards and one Lo'taur. It was a condition of the summit that each Goddess have no more than five companions. It is why there are few servants here and gave us a convenient reason for the lack of Jaffa." To'ran shot Jack a look over his shoulder. "It is a shame that the one known as Teal'c could not attend. As it is, we do not have any Jaffa at our disposal, which may cause questions."

"It's a temple," Jack said after a moment's consideration. "Just say it's out of reverence to Ament that no violence is permitted within the walls but drop a couple of comments here and there about the Jaffa waiting for updates."

"If there is a uniform we can use, Jacob and I can pose as Ament's First Prime," Selmac offered. "It would excuse our presence should we be detected."

"It could be done," To'ran said with a shrug. "It would have been preferable to have the one known as Teal'c but you will do."

"Back to Thmei." Jack cleared his throat. "Other than having anger management issues, is there anything we need to know about her? Anise said she was a rival of Hathor. That doesn't sound too promising."

To'ran again paused to throw Jack a speculative glance that was more annoyed than it was admiring. "Anise claimed that you are the one responsible for the death of Hathor."

Jack shrugged a shoulder and continued walking, forcing To'ran to get moving again, too. "There's quite a lot of them we've taken out. Hathor, Apophis, Ra, Cronus, Nirrti to name a few." He whistled as they walked into the servant's quarters, each of the rooms plain and barely furnished in comparison to what they'd seen throughout the rest of the temple. "Well, there's certainly a difference here, isn't there?"

"Those who serve do not need much." To'ran waved away the concern. "This is where you will be staying."

"I take it you mean me," Jacob spoke up when To'ran didn't say anything further. "Jack as Lo'taur will be permitted quarters near Sam."

"Those quarters are already filled," To'ran responded with more than a touch of smug arrogance. "I am sure Colonel O'Neill will find suitable quarters on this level."

"Unacceptable," Jacob shot back. "He's her back up. Jack stays near Sam or the arrangement's off."

To'ran held his ground, his mouth a flat line as his nostrils flared. "I am afraid there are no other quarters on that level. Those there are will be filled by Heset and Thmei and their attendants. Anise and I both felt it would be prudent to keep them close so there can be no sneaking in or out of the building undetected."

"That logic is flawed." Selmac's eyes flashed. "There should be distance between Samantha and the Goa'uld. If they believe her to be weak or accessible, they will attempt to kill her so they can lay claim to this planet. Jacob and I are in complete agreement on this; Colonel O'Neill must be permitted to be in close proximity should his help be required."

"It would be impossible to rearrange," To'ran argued. "Both Heset and Thmei are familiar with me and will expect me to be available to them should they or their companions have questions regarding their stay. I, therefore, must remain on the same level –"

"It's fine. It's okay." Jack gave Jacob a lopsided smile when the former General glared at him. Since he was pretty sure he was risking life and limb with what he was going to suggest anyway, he accepted the glare with an internal sigh. "I'll just bunk in with Carter," he said as casually as he could manage, purposely watching To'ran for his reaction and not the father of the woman in question. "It'll add to the story that I've been with Ament wherever it is Ament is supposed to have been, and that way I can make sure there are no unexpected surprises. I'll bunk on the floor and we can take it in turns to keep watch," he continued, venturing a look at Jacob.

To Jack's surprise, Jacob was nodding his agreement. Oh, he didn't look overly thrilled by the idea but he understood it wouldn't be the first or last time that Jack shared such close quarters with Sam. "That sounds like a plan, Jack. I'm sure Sam won't object."

To'ran glared at them, his mouth moving wordlessly for a moment before he clenched his jaw and turned on his heel. "You will need to know where to find her rooms in that case. And you will need to be suitably attired."

The attired part made Jack grimace, even as he felt a surge of satisfaction that he'd got one over on the other man. He wasn't sure what it was about him that he didn't like but there was definitely something about the man.

Something he didn't trust.

#

Tor'an excused himself after showing Jacob and Jack to Sam's room. He didn't return with suitable outfits for them, choosing instead to send a young girl who had been working in the kitchen and who clearly struggled with the weight of the Jaffa armour that had been procured for Jacob. She was red-faced and panting when she got there and looked horrified when Sam asked her if she was okay and needed a drink of water.

"I-I am fine, mistress," she murmured, dropping into a curtsey after Jack and Jacob relieved her of her load. "Thank you, I am fine." She hurried out of the room before Sam could tell her curtseying was unnecessary.

"That felt wrong on all kinds of levels," Sam muttered, not meaning to start a conversation.

"I wonder if they've been told you really are a Goa'uld," Jack mused. "It'd explain why they're all giving Oscar-worthy performances."

"God, I hope not." She shuddered visibly but her expression brightened considerably on seeing the outfit he was holding. "Is that really what you're wearing?"

"No. Not a chance." Jack turned the leather pants over in his hand, frowning at the lack of anything else with them. "There's gotta be more to it than this."

"When in Rome, Jack," Jacob teased, hefting the heavy armour as though it weighed nothing. At least he would be suitably covered, unlike the grumbling Colonel. "I'm sure there's something else you can wear with it. Maybe a belt or something."

Jack glared at him. "I was thinking more of a shirt. I'm not walking around topless."

"To'ran doesn't have a problem with it," Sam teased, though she was growing concerned again over her own choices of outfit. She missed what Jack said but knew he'd muttered something, glancing up at him to see him glaring at the leather pants. "I'm sure we'll be able to find you something else to wear with them," she added a little more reassuringly. "We can ask Anise when she stops in to say bye."

"Shame she's leaving so soon," Jack muttered. At Sam's surprised look, he quickly clarified. "She could've kept To'ran in line. Hey, maybe we can talk her into taking him with her. That'd be good."

"Unfortunately, I think we might benefit from him being here." Jacob's tone said enough about his feelings on the matter. "I'll have a look to see what I can find in the way of alternate clothes, Jack. Anise really should be going soon if she's going to leave before the others get here." He paused on his way out of the room to press a kiss to his daughter's cheek. "You'll be fine, Sam. Stop worrying."

Her smile was faintly embarrassed that he'd picked up on her apprehension but thankful all the same. "Thanks, Dad. We'll see you in the main hall soon if not before." She waited until he was gone, the door closed behind him, before letting out a sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Do you really think we're going to be able to pull this off?"

There was no Sir, which he noted, just as he noticed the self-doubt and anxiety, she'd normally do her best to keep hidden from him were clear for him to see. It made him feel warm to know she was letting her walls down with him, to know she had made a conscious decision to be open with him. "Of course, we will. When have we failed before?" Off her look, he shrugged. "We've made it through all the times it's gone wrong, Carter. We'll make it through this time."

"I know," she said, but she couldn't hold back another sigh. "I'd feel better if Daniel and Teal'c were here. And To'ran wasn't. There's something about the guy."

"Gives you the creeps?" Jack asked, nodding when she looked at him. "Dad's not that keen, either, so it's not just us."

"Which is why you're my roommate, I'm guessing." She arched an eyebrow. "To'ran wasn't prepared to give up his room, was he?"

"Nope."

"I wonder if it's because it's where he's been sleeping with Anise," she mused out loud.

"What?"

"He's been sleeping with Anise. Tell me you're not that oblivious." She laughed at the look on his face. "She thinks she's in love with him."

Jack blinked. "The snake?"

"Both the host and the symbiote. She – they – are hoping their relationship will continue to develop once he gains a symbiote of his own."

"Right. Ew." He shook his head. "Now I'm glad he wouldn't give up the room." He glanced at the large bed taking up the majority of the room. "Are we absolutely sure they didn't...?"

"Pretty sure. Though I might ask if there's a change of sheets I can use," she added, following his gaze.

"Good idea. Let's do that." He moved his gaze from the bed – big enough for the both of them with room to spare, not that he was presuming she'd prefer him to sleep anywhere other than the floor – and looked at her choice of outfits. "I like the red one," he said after a moment, tilting his head to get a better look at the scrap of material.

Sam gave him a sceptical look. "You do?"

"Yeah. Not for this place," he added, arching an eyebrow as he picked up the silken material. "Think we could take it back with us?"

She caught onto his meaning and blushed, shaking her head though a smile curled her lips. "Maybe let's focus on ourselves back first."

"We can do that." But he still reached out to touch her, his hand lingering on her waist. She leaned into him, tilting her head to rest on his shoulder for a brief moment. "We will get back, Carter. What're a few days with a couple of snakeheads? We'll wine 'em, dine 'em, find out what they know and then head back home. It'll be a piece of cake."

#

Uh-oh. Jack should know better... Next decision to make: which Goa'uld is going to make more trouble for our couple - Thmei or Heset? One is the Goddess of Food and Drink, a fertility goddess very similar to Hathor, and the other is the Goddess of Truth... Make your pick!