Jack was pacing the familiar Tok'ra halls like it was a hospital waiting room, the blue crystal walls and ceiling sparking memories stored in his mind, some his own and some that weren't. His team was nearby, Sam, Daniel, Teal'c, and Janet (who had insisted she be there if, in fact, a transfer did occur). They were hanging back, giving him time to talk to the voice in his head, keenly aware that had they tried to grab his attention it would have been an utterly futile attempt.

'She's just a girl,' Jack fumed to himself, arms crossed as he paced slowly, looking much calmer outward than he really was.

Aetom was there, co-council to his dilemma, –It is quite young.–

'I don't care what any of the Tok'ra say, she can't know this is what she wants. She's just a kid, for crying out loud.'

–Is it ours to decide if she is prepared for the burden that comes with being a Tok'ra?–

'You're encouraging this, aren't you? It's your ticket out so you're all for it.' Jack felt a towering disapproval rise up in him from his symbiote, making him feel all of two inches tall.

–I would not take an unwilling or an unfit host, Colonel O'Neill. I would turn down blending with this woman if I felt it was the right course of action, whether that meant longer with you or even months in a stasis chamber.–

Jack's steps slowed fractionally, the colonel duly chastised, 'Sorry, Aetom, that wasn't fair to you. I know that, I just... I don't know if I can do this to her. Can you?'

Aetom was silent a moment before responding, –I shall make my decision when we have met her. She is young, yes, but becoming a host at her age is not unheard of.–

"Colonel O'Neill?"

Jack turned at Garshaw's voice. He met the elder Tok'ra woman's gaze only for a fleeting moment before his eyes fell to the young woman at Garshaw's side. She was slight, built like an elfin sprite, curly brown hair partially pulled into a braid, emerald green eyes so bright and innocent. Her clothing was not Tok'ra, most likely the style of her native planet, simple blue and gray robes that made the girl look like a Greek deity in a school play.

"This is Sanee, the one who wishes to become host to Aetom."

Sanee took a step forward, looking up in open hope at Jack, "You are the one who will give me this symbiote?"

Jack swallowed, feeling sick that she was a foot shorter than he, so damn child-like he wanted to hit Garshaw and every Tok'ra he ran across on the way out for even considering letting this girl give up her life to the Tok'ra. He looked to the Tok'ra elder and cleared his throat, "May we speak alone, please?"

Garshaw nodded and turned, effectively leaving them alone.

Jack looked down at Sanee. 'She's a baby.'

–She is small, O'Neill, but let us not judge until we have learned her mind. Great strength can lie in deceptive shapes.–

Jack frowned, trying to disregard the presence in his mind as he said, "My name's Jack."

The girl gave a strange bow, "Sanee Bel'Manear."

'I can't do this,' Jack's thoughts rang.

–Speak with her, for yourself and for me... I must know her, perhaps more than you ever need to.–

Jack kept his voice gentle, "So, Sanee... hear you want to become a Tok'ra."

Sanee smiled, "Very much so."

"Why?"

Sanee's smile took on a more mature tilt as she answered, "My mate has been given the gift of a symbiote and taken on the Tok'ra cause, devoted himself to striking back at the devil who killed our brothers and burned our homes. I wish to join him."

Jack found himself kneeling down before her, the way he would to a child on a playground, "Sanee... this is a very big commitment you're asking to take on, you understand that, right? Being a Tok'ra is a dangerous life, and you have so much of your life to live. You're going to give up a lot of that if you do this."

Sanee looked down at him, "I know this, Jack. The Tok'ra have explained it to me, and I am ready for the responsibility."

Jack frowned at her, unable to accept she could have any true concept of what she asked in becoming a Tok'ra. Her eyes were largely untouched by pain, unknown to grief... both of those would change the moment she took on a symbiote.

"What made you decide you wanted to be a Tok'ra? You said your husband took a symbiote... did he ask you to do this?"

"No... in fact, my mate asked me not to."

Jack watched her, urging her to go on with a nod.

Sanee's smile, her youthful innocence, fled faintly as she said, "When he had been taken by the symbiote he was not exactly the Isho of my memories, but still he was there, the mate I have loved since we were children. He told me there was danger, that the Tok'ra inside him showed him the risks in the Tok'ra way of life... at first I thought he no longer wanted me. It was very hard to hear, and I told him if I no longer appealed to him then I would return home in shame as is the way of our people, but he told me his love had not changed, had never changed, and it was because he loves me so that he feared for me choosing this life."

Jack nodded, "Maybe your mate was right."

Sanee shook her head, "I do not desire a life that is without him. He has been mine and I his since we were this tall," she gestured to her own waist. She looked closely at him then, brow furrowing. "Jack, would you be the one to say I am not within my rights to have this?"

Jack flinched backward, "Sanee... I just don't want you to make a mistake you'll regret for a very, very long time."

Sanee smiled again, "If there is ever to be regret it is mine to bear, and a life at my mate's side is not a life that I will ever regret." She sounded determined, completely convinced of every word she said.

"Do you understand what the Tok'ra are doing in fighting the Goa'uld?"

Sanee looked stormy for a second, "They seek to destroy the devils of the sky. I would like this very much as well. My people have been at the mercy of the devils for a long time... for too long."

'What do you think?' Jack questioned Aetom while he looked up at the girl.

Aetom was considering the girl just as closely, –I think she may be suitable as a host. She seems to understand what will be asked of her... she is not so much a child in mind.–

'I wish I could see what you do.'

Aetom's presence became reassuring, like a gentle arm around his shoulders. –There is always doubt before one becomes a host. She will learn, and I will take care of her until she is grown.–

Jack slowly stood again, his hands going into his pockets to still any anxious fidgeting. Sanee looked up at him, for a breath's moment not looking nearly as young as she had at first.

Jack was slowly relenting, giving in to someone who wanted to become so badly what he wanted to cease being with equal fervor. He and this girl could help each other.

'She's female,' Jack noted, a little wryly, 'you always take male hosts.'

Aetom's response was light, though still laden with sincerity, as he answered, –Perhaps change is a good thing. You said yourself a female body is better.–

Jack gave a mental laugh in return but trailed off when he sensed a strange emotion creeping up on him, rising from the depths of his chest, a feeling he couldn't identify.

"Are you absolutely certain about this, Sanee?" Jack asked one more time.

Sanee nodded, unwavering, then she brightened to ask, "I have heard that Tok'ra can be together for a thousand years... is that true?"

Jack heard the hope, the love of that idea this young girl had, and knew she was speaking of her mate. This girl was enraptured with the notion she could be with the man she loved for a thousand years, lifetimes of love and marriage beyond normal lives.

Jack smirked, heart-strings tugging because there'd been times he'd loved like that, too. "Well, I've only had the job about six weeks, but..." a mental imagine of Jolinar and Lantash flashed into his mind, "I knew two Tok'ra that were together for more than a hundred years."

Sanee smiled again, sweetly, wisely, and at that instant she looked older. A shift in her posture pressed her light robes against her body, revealing a womanly figure with curves and breasts where before he had imagined a girlish frame. The longer he looked the more of a woman he allowed himself to see, and it made it a little easier.

'She's in love,' Jack noted, 'will that be awkward for you?'

Aetom was indulgently kind to his current host, calming, as he answered, –In time it will be our love; it is the way of the Tok'ra symbiote, and half of the joy in sharing mind and body with another.–

Jack sighed, still holding on to a last thread of reluctance, 'Do you want to do this?'

–I would like to try.–

Jack mustered a small smile for Sanee, "Well, Sanee, looks like you're going to be a Tok'ra."

Sanee's whole being seemed to light up at his words, her happiness almost a glow emanating from her. "Thank you, Jack."