#
There wasn't anything in the food, apparently. Jacob and Selmac had tried and assured them it was normal, though Jack tried to argue that the symbiote could be neutralising any toxins without even being aware of it. The difficulty came when Jacob asked, exasperated, just what he thought the damn food was making him do, which Jack couldn't really answer.
'Oh, nothing much. Just making it damn hard to be near your daughter for any length of time without feeling the need to kiss her senseless.'
Yeah, no. Though Jacob seemed relatively accepting of Jack acting as Sam's overprotective Lo'taur for the purposes of the mission and hadn't seemed to object during the weird stars-as-a-metaphor-for-Sam conversation they'd had what felt like a very long time ago, Jack wasn't about to make it clear exactly how far his relationship with the former General's daughter had shifted.
Nope. He might be a lot of things but stupid wasn't one of them and he'd gotten over his personal death wish a long time ago.
He watched intently as the Goa'uld's and their chosen companions tucked into the feast prepared by To'ran's people will seemingly no ill effects. Even Shanna, the human companion of Thmei, and Borral, the human companion of Heset, both of whom were permitted by their Goddesses to join them at the table appeared to experience no side effects. Jack sat to Sam's right and ate as little as he could get away with, noticing Sam do the same.
Thank God for MREs, he thought, despite Jacob's reassurances that there was nothing amiss with their meals.
They were almost done with their meal when the Goa'uld claiming to be the Goddess Thmei cleared her throat, delicately demanding everyone's attention. She motioned to one of her Jaffa, who took out an ornate black bottle from the box he had held throughout the meal and brought it to the table.
He set it in front of her, and Thmei stood. "We propose a toast. To friends, old and new." She motioned to Shanna to start pouring the drink into everyone's glasses.
"What is this?" Heset asked, her smile cordial but her tone suspicious.
"A gift," Thmei replied with a smirk. "It is a fine wine with berries exclusive to one of the worlds under my control. It is most delicious, Heset. You would not offend us by refusing?"
Heset's eyes flashed and she motioned to one of her Jaffa who stood back from the table. She held out the glass that had been filled for the man to drink. "A precaution," Heset explained demurely. "We are sure you understand."
"Of course." Thmei's smile tightened but she nodded her agreement. "Though if we are to be allies, Heset, a little trust would go a long way."
The Jaffa tasted the wine and several tense moments passed. When he nodded and placed the glass back on the table, Heset inclined her head in acknowledgement and picked up the glass once more. "To new alliances," she toasted.
Having no choice but to join in, Sam also lifted her glass and toasted. "To new alliances."
Jack was surprised that a second glass was poured for the Goa'uld's chosen companions, and he had no choice but to cautiously sip from his own under Thmei's watchful eye. It tasted fruity, with a barely discernible edge of alcohol. He'd tasted stronger but he also knew from experience how misleading seemingly innocent drinks off-world could be. There was the incident on '595 with Sam, for starters…
He glanced at her, lips twitching, and the effort to grin became harder as she glared at him, clearly knowing the direction his thoughts had taken. Schooling his expression as best as he could, he focused his attention on the others at the table.
Thmei was watching them all, an amused smile on her face, which immediately set him on edge.
Heset was watching Thmei, eyes narrowed in suspicion as though she were waiting for something.
Whatever it was, it didn't happen. At least not as far as Jack could tell.
#
The Goa'uld excused themselves for the rest of the evening after thanking Sam – Ament – for her hospitality. Discussions would formally begin in the morning, and Jack was glad for it. He wasn't sure about Sam, but he was tired and looking forward to getting at least a couple of hours sleep in between taking his watch. Careful to keep his thoughts to himself, mindful of the Goa'uld and their attendants, Jack held his tongue until they were in the safety of Sam's rooms, accompanied by Jacob.
"I'll take first watch," Jacob volunteered before either Jack or Sam could offer. "It's been a long day for you both."
"Thanks, Dad," Sam said gratefully, a sure sign she was tired if she wasn't arguing. Jack looked at her in concern when she sat down on the edge of the bed, noting the pallor of her face and the almost distant expression on her face.
"Carter?" He knelt in front of her when she didn't look up immediately, eyebrows raising at the sight of her almost blown pupils. "I think we've got a problem here, Dad."
Jacob was there in an instant, almost pushing Jack out of the way in his haste at getting to his daughter. "Sammie, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Dad," she protested, but her words were slurred. "'m just tired."
"You're sure?" Jacob, like Jack, wasn't convinced. "You don't feel anything strange?"
Sam's lips curled up in a sardonic smile neither were used to seeing on her face. "I always feel strange, Dad. I'm a bit of a freak."
"A freak?" Jacob looked at Jack in alarm. "Why would you say that, Sam?"
"Because it's true. I'm a mess," she continued, her eyes slipping closed as she leaned forward, resting her head on Jacob's shoulder. "A freaky mess. God knows why he wants me," she muttered, sounding more asleep than awake.
"There was something in that drink," Jack muttered, beginning to pace in agitation. "I knew they couldn't be trusted."
Jacob wanted to deny it but found he couldn't. "Maybe it didn't affect Heset's Jaffa because of his symbiote," he theorised worriedly. "But if that's the case, it wouldn't affect Heset, either. Just the human Lo'taur."
"And Sam, because she doesn't have a symbiote," Jack pointed out.
"But Thmei didn't know that," Jacob mused, his eyes worried, "which means for some reason, she's targeting the human companions of the Goa'uld."
Jack nodded, remembering the way the Goa'uld had watched both him and Borral closely after the drinks had been poured. "I barely had any of mine."
"I'm guessing Sam didn't have much of it, either. Whatever it is." Gently easing his daughter back onto the bed, Jacob stood with an ease Jack envied. There were no cracking knees or grimace of pain for the older man thanks to Selmac's presence. "I'm going to head back to the banquet hall, see if I can find a trace of it. Selmac might recognise something about it."
"Thmei's the truth goddess, isn't she? Supposedly," Jack added. He looked at Sam again to find her looking at him, though her eyes closed when she noticed him watching. "Maybe it's something to do with that. Hathor did her love potion mumbo jumbo. Maybe this is Thmei's equivalent."
Jacob considered the idea, a sigh escaping him as Selmac confirmed it was indeed possible. "Selmac has heard of a variation of the blood of Sokar. Thmei and Sokar were allies for a short time, after Ra chose Hathor to be his consort and banished Thmei. It is possible that the potion used by Sokar was a variation of this wine Thmei has. It means you have to be extra careful, Jack," Jacob continued, fixing Jack with a solemn expression. "Thmei won't have expected it to affect Sam. Were Sam host to Ament, the symbiote would have protected her from its effects. That means whatever information Thmei is hoping to gain from this truth serum as it were is supposed to come from you, and from Borral."
"So keep my guard up around the Goa'uld, and don't accept any more fruity drinks from them. Got it." Jack glanced back at Sam but she appeared to be genuinely asleep. "You think To'ran knew about it? That maybe he's involved?"
It was Selmac who answered. "He appeared upset that Sam had not chosen him to be at her side for the feast. If he had known Thmei's plans, he would not have been so. That said, Jacob does not trust him, nor do I."
"That makes three of us," Jack muttered. "So we keep an eye on him, and on Thmei."
"Get some sleep, Jack," Jacob told him quietly, kindly. "Selmac and I will do some digging and let you know what we find."
#
Decision time: do Sam and Jack need to have a conversation under the influence of the truth wine or should it be saved for the morning after?