AN: the parts are shorter lately because I'm posting sections as I finish them rather than entire chapters.


SUSPICION


He waited a second until he reached the floor to transport straight back up again. By the time he got back the room was empty and eerily silent, she was out of sight, and the hope for her to be waiting for him in his room lured him to the doorway. When he reached it was greeted by the sound of the rings slicing through the floor behind him.

"So she wants wider playing field."

He spun around and headed for the control panels. Bringing up a holographic screen he watched her run through a colonnade and serene, open air courtyards, the sleek dress rippling with her movements. She stopped at the crossing paths between the flower bed and checked behind her and not seeing or hearing him coming stopped and waited, alert. He sealed the surrounding areas, checked all the views of the garden, entered a few commands, deactivated the display and headed back down.

She'd ducked into an ivy covered alcove. Maybe it was his heightened senses from the sarcophagus because he hadn't seen anything but he knew it instinctually. Equally silently he crept up to the corner, reached around and grabbed her arm which slipped free easily as she ran the other way and bumped into the force field blocking the exit into a corridor. She slammed her fist into it and its interlocking scales shone for a moment then disappeared. She put her back to it and glared at him.

He smirked and spoke as though to a child, "Look, Martouf! A butterfly has caught in my web. See how she flutters as we near," he spoke quietly coaxing her away from the barrier.

She pulled him down to her by the chain around his neck but he looked up past her with an expression of interest.

"General Ganev," he said to the man on the other side of the force field as he placed his hands on Sam's bare shoulders to pull her away protectively.

He addressed Lantash respectfully, "I'm sorry, My Lord, Anubis wishes to speak with you," and left them.

Their eyes snapped onto each other, minds calculating at warp speed in the adrenaline rush for what seemed to be the longest time.

Anubis will destroy the planet if he sees that Samantha is here.

He focussed himself and then whispered into her ear, "Wait for me here."

She nodded, didn't say a word and watched him walk slowly back to the rings and to transport up. Their eyes met with blank expressions as he took his place on the floor then disappeared, in a daze.

He strode into his gold control room and activated the link. Anubis' black form appeared instantly before him.

Lantash cast his eyes down humbly, "My Lord," he said, his voice steady but his heart racing.

The cold voice behind the mask said, "we have not spoken in a very long time."

Remember what happens to Tok'ra posing as high ranking Goa'uld?

"Why have you kept the Tok'ra host this long?" Anubis demanded.

He looked up, "My Lord, there is still much to be learnt."

Anubis seemed to settle a bit, "What have you learnt already?"

Not knowing what had been said before, Lantash started at the beginning.