Twenty Seven

Without You

It was almost dawn. They hiked up the valley and when Martouf was satisfied they'd found an area completely safe they set up camp by a creek where the gate was still within sight far below. The soldier put Sam down onto her feet on the grass as Martouf and Teal'c headed to the water.

She caught up with them and matched their pace, "I can't leave dad out there looking for me. Who knows what could happen."

Martouf squatted to run his fingers through the current, "he can take care of himself, just as you will take care of yourself. Besides, the council will put a stop to it before long," he handed her his Goa'uld chemical analyser.

She activated it and used it on the water, soil and rocks, "I hope you're right."

Lantash ordered the soldiers into the forest for timber and other natural building supplies leaving Sam with Teal'c at the campsite.

Teal'c spoke some time after Lantash was gone, "Major Carter, do you truly wish to be with your father on the Tok'ra world? I believe there is still time before their evacuation is complete."

She shook her head, gazing into the forest.

By darkness the soldiers had built a log cabin big enough for everyone with a stone fire place and chimney. They then began digging a ditch in the center of the floor.

Lantash soon returned with a small, dead mammal draped over his arm. Dinner. Samantha and Teal'c tried to identify the species. No such luck. At least it smelled edible on the fire.

"It's a shame we could not bring more for you to work with," said Lantash taking a breather, he'd been thinking about it during his hunt. "Soon we'll have a tunnel and some chambers, then we'll be able to make metal and glass equipment and store supplies."

"Sounds fun."

Lantash looked around, "where are the others?"

They scanned the room. The soldiers had disappeared.

"I think they have gone into the forest to hunt," said Teal'c.

"To hunt what? They eat?" Samantha asked.

Lantash was apologetic, "I'll tell you after dinner..."

She looked alarmed, "Lantash."

"After we eat, Samantha."

"I'm not going to eat until you tell me!"

"Very well! I warned you," he snapped, crossing his arms. "They require fresh blood to access nutrients. I noticed that before when the Goa'uld ones... butchered Ganev and Sutiana. That's why there was so much... gore."

She realised her mistake, "I should have waited."

He smirked and made her sit next to him by the fire.

"I guess I can deal with that. Don't expect me to get much sleep tonight though."

Lantash laughed but withheld his cheeky comment, "the biggest problem is that we can't tell them apart."

"Indeed," said Teal'c emphatically.

A silence settled over them. Samantha broke it with a yawn. Exhaustion was setting in.

Martouf and Samantha slept through the day and woke up in each others arms with smiles. They found themselves alone and lying at the edge of a very deep hole, its makeshift steps descending into darkness.

While they freshened up at the creek a flicker of seriousness in Samantha's eyes caught Martouf's attention. Then he found himself staring. She gave him a questioning look. He wasn't sure how to approach her so he didn't seem to register the look until he turned his palm up for her to see. There a small red crystal winked in the late afternoon light. She came over to him for a closer look and saw that it was a heavy ruby, trillion cut, on a band of sapphires set in platinum. She looked it over and held it up between two fingers tilting it just enough to see that there was an inscription.

"What does it say?"

He looked into her eyes, "My Love for all Eternity."

She froze with the look she got on the rare occasion when she stumbled across a magic sequence of numbers with mind-blowing potential. Finally she asked, "What does that mean?"

His expression of pure and utter devotion faltered, "what?"

She took in a breath, "for a Tok'ra, what is that a symbol of?"

"I mean you to value it at what it symbolises in your culture. As I understand, it is a question... and a promise."

She wasn't quick enough to hide her giddy delight from him and his dazzling grin broke through his uncertain suspense. Martouf gave her a hug and kept his arms around her waist as they stared out over the water.

After some time of silent contemplation, Samantha spoke, her voice sounding far away, "how can you leave your people?"

He thought about all the many things stacking up against the Tok'ra, the low morale, crooked allies, new Goa'uld advances. Most of all, however, he needed a change from the Tok'ra.

"I want to take the best of all worlds... and make a world of our own in the process.

"This is the only way I have to do that. As you said, it's an opportunity that may never come again. Over my time with the Tok'ra I've learned how to live without things which I once considered necessary to get through the day. This time I'll be getting by without the Tok'ra."

"Without regulations and unspoken boundaries as well," she mused, beginning to move in some kind of slow dance which pleased him very much.

"Anyway I haven't given up what I really need."

Her steps guided him into the water, "and what would that be?"

"I couldn't have gotten this far without you. I need you, Samantha," he held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.

What he saw was a beautiful future.

Fini