The doubts she had been so convinced were going to assail her at any given moment were yet to appear. She stepped through yet another event horizon with no feeling of trepidation; no fear. She had committed a criminal offence great enough to probably guarantee her a life-sentence in prison, she had sacrificed her career...

And she felt nothing except grim determination to see this through.

The current Tok'ra home planet of Tuin was unusually hospitable. The Stargate was half-overgrown, situated in the very centre of a wooded glade. A large proportion of Tuin's landmass was covered in forest, the majority of trees a deciduous species rather similar to the leafy oaks on planet Earth. It was daytime, and Carter crunched across the leaf littered floor of the copse in dappled sunlight.

She had left the SGC for a neutral site and immediately moved onwards to another location, in case Higgins sent men after her. She had debated internally whether or not to 'gate almost immediately to Tuin. She suspected that Higgins might guess her plan and send a team through Earth's 'gate to intercept her. Eventually her fear of delay had won out, she had dialled the address and stepped into the open wormhole.

An operative dropped out of a tree, startling her. "Colonel Carter?" His gaze dropped to her primed zat gun, trained on his chest. "I am Tok'ra," he added hesitantly. "Your father told us to expect SG-1."

She nodded and lowered the zat a little, still cautious. "I didn't see you there," she said apologetically, "You surprised me.

The man bowed his head. "I am glad. Had you not been a friend..." He left his sentence delicately unfinished.

She felt a measure of awkwardness return to her and felt relieved. She was still herself, after all. "Uh. Is my father around?"

"Jacob and Selmac? They are in a meeting of the High Council. I will take you to them."

"Thank you. Um, I'm sorry, I don't think I know your name...?"

"My name is Tel'esh, Colonel Carter."

She felt a blush colour her cheeks. "Then thank you, Tel'esh."

She followed the young man through the woods. Branches clawed at her clothes, leaving her stained with green smears of lichens, moss and a sticky patch of sap by the time she reached the Tok'ra tunnels. Tel'esh did not speak to her, but turned every so often and favoured her with a smile before leading her inexorably onward.

Eventually they came to a halt outside the opening to what was presumably a fairly large chamber, judging by the size of the arched entrance. Tel'esh smiled again at her and she felt a flash of irritation. "I will leave you here. The Council will be dissolved shortly."

"Thank you."

He disappeared into the maze of tunnels, leaving her alone again. She paced up and down a little, hands behind her back, feeling like a naughty school-child waiting outside a headteacher's office. Which, in a sense she supposed she was. She couldn't imagine her father being exactly ecstatic about her decision to commit treason in a foolhardy attempt to save the man she loved.

She stopped pacing very suddenly.

The man I love?

She was still pondering her thought when the councillors began walking through the archway, alone or in pairs, talking quietly amongst themselves. Her father was the last to exit the chamber. He was frowning a little and she felt the knot of tension inside her which had been building as she had waited tighten.

"No Daniel and Teal'c?" he asked.

She swallowed. "No Dad. This isn't a visit from the SGC."

There was a flinty look in his eyes she recognised. "I didn't think it would be."

If she had doubted her will before, such fears were allayed in the moment she spoke again. "I've left the SGC." Her voice was bored, almost disinterested. "They won't commit the manpower to a rescue operation."

Jacob bowed his head and Selmac spoke. "You have resigned?"

She paused. "Not exactly. I needed to use the 'gate to get here-"

"You have committed a criminal act?" Selmac sounded shocked.

"Yes," she replied, unflinching.

There was a pause and then Jacob returned. She had expected anger, disappointment.

"I thought as much."

Instead there was a lack of emotion.

"You're not... you're not angry?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm not angry. I thought that SG-1 might do something like this when I gave you the news. I admit, I though Daniel and Teal'c would have accompanied you..."

For the first time she felt a pang of guilt. "I didn't give them the chance. There wasn't much time to act." She faltered. "I should have told them." Her gaze dropped to the lacings of her boots.

Jacob's hand fell onto her shoulder, grip painfully tight. "Why have you come to the Tok'ra?"

She met his eyes. "I need intel, a ship capable of light-speed travel, supplies. I thought the Tok'ra might be willing to help. I thought you might be willing to help."

He nodded, face grim. When he spoke again, it was with Selmac's voice. "I will do everything in my power to help you, Samantha. You know that. But I cannot promise that... that the high council will authorise me to give you anything that you need. Particularly the use of a ship."

She smiled. "And I know that. Don't worry, Selmac. I'll take what I can and move on. The Tok'ra aren't the only ones who owe me... who owe General O'Neill, a favour."

Jacob smiled back at her a little sadly. "He means a lot to you, doesn't he?" her father asked.

She gulped nervously. "Yes."

"Does, uh, Pete know about this?"

She bit her lip. "He guessed as much. We... we're not together anymore."

Jacob nodded slowly, as if weighing up his options. "I talked to Jack, you know. Before your wedding."

"What?"

"Before you married Pete. I asked him... if he thought he was leaving things a little late."

"What?"

"He told me you'd made you choice and he respected it. And that I of all people should know there are some things in life that we can only hold in our hand for a little while, but carry with us for a lifetime. It struck me as a very un-Jack thing to say... He loves you."

She let the anger consume her before grief could claim her. "Why are you telling me this now? Why not then? Why were you talking with Jack anyway?"

He shrugged. "I love you too Sam. I wanted you to be happy. Come on. You need to speak to the High Council, remember?"

He turned on his heel and walked back through the archway, leaving her fuming in the corridor.