As the others all wandered away to their Weir hung back with Kale. She'd grown rather used to him being with her as she went about her duties the last couple of days. He had a very likeable personality, was extremely interesting to talk to, and was always interested in whatever she happened to be doing – and in her – which Weir found rather flattering, she had to admit.

The Light One looked down at her, his gaze questioning.

"You have things to do?" He asked her.

She nodded, smiling a little self-consciously.

"There's always something I'm supposed to be doing…"

Kale took a step closer to her, reaching out and taking her hand.

"I have enjoyed the time we've spent together, Elizabeth. I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to be with you."

She flushed, despite herself, but couldn't pull her eyes away from his.

"You're acting as if you're going away…"

He smiled, and shrugged, "Once Colonel Mitchell is ready to start exploring the planets on her list, chances are I won't be around too much – and I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated you spending so much time with me. You've really made me feel at home."

"I'm glad. We're happy to have you with us, Kale. Your people are so interesting… so different from my own…"

"We have many similarities, though," he told her, and there was no denying what he was talking about. Weir felt her cheeks redden again.

"I have a fiancé…"

"I know." His free hand came up, the back of his fingertips brushing lightly against her cheek, and Elizabeth felt her knees tremble slightly. She didn't know if all the Light Ones were like Kale, but he was attractive to her in ways that she couldn't help feeling. "I only desire the sharing of pleasures, Elizabeth," Kale murmured, his voice husky. "I'm not asking for a commitment."

She took a shuddering breath, closing her eyes as his hand went lower, brushing against her collarbone, and his hand released hers, his arm coming around her lightly, loosely, allowing her the option of drawing back or pressing closer. She felt far too warm, suddenly, but couldn't step away from him. She'd missed this kind of touch… forgotten how good it could feel to be swept off her feet like this. Her hand came up and pressed lightly against his chest, but not to push him away, and she opened her eyes, looking up at him with an aching need in her expression.

"Where…?"

He smiled down at her, his eyes warm and sensual.

"Are there not many unused rooms on this level?"

She nodded, and reached up, taking his hand and leading him to the closest one.

OOOOOOOOOO

A knock on her door woke Melony from her slumber. She rolled over in her bed, opening her eyes and looking at her watch. She'd been asleep for several hours.

You needed it

Yeah. I know.

She did, too. She felt a lot better than she had when she'd fallen asleep – many of the aches were gone, courtesy of Talon.

You're welcome

She smiled, sleepily, and turned towards the door when the knock sounded again. Maybe it was Kale? Or Sheppard? They might be wanting to go over the list of planets with her again, just to double check before she and the Light One left.

One way to find out

Yeah, yeah… don't rush me…

She hated waking up – even when she felt better than she had. Waking up was something you should be allowed to do slowly, over a cup of hot coffee.

The knock sounded again, and she dragged herself out of her bed, untangling her blankets before she tripped over them and heading for the door.

"I'm coming…" she mumbled, slightly grumpily. She opened the door.

And found herself face to face with the last person she wanted to see. Hurt tore through her, and she took a half step back, her face pale. "Carson…" Then she retreated. She couldn't help it.

Talon…

The request was a plea that Talon would never ignore – not when he could feel just how badly she hurt just then.

The symbiote took over, and as Carson Beckett watched, Melony's face went from pale and wary to hard and uncompromising.

"Doctor Beckett… you are not welcomed here."

He'd seen the reaction Melony had had when she'd opened the door and saw him there, and had felt a stab of guilt that drove all the way through his heart. There was no denying he'd hurt her. Badly. But the sudden deep voice threw him. Melony had told him one time that although it didn't physically hurt her to have Talon take over her body, she didn't really like it all that much, so he didn't do it. The fact that she'd so readily given the symbiote control told him just as plainly as the trapped look he'd seen so fleetingly on her face just how disconcerted she was.

"Talon?"

He'd only heard the symbiote speak once before – and only for a moment – and had to make sure. But there was no mistaking the change. Where Melony's pale eyes were generally amused and lively, they were now cold and unforgiving.

"Your presence here is disturbing," Melony's mouth said – although it was Talon's voice. "You need to leave."

"I need to talk to Melony…" Carson said, frowning. He didn't want to be dismissed so easily. He'd waited for her to come to him all day, and when she hadn't, it'd taken him a long time to gather the courage to come to her, needing to talk to her and to make right what he'd done. "I sent word that she was to come see me…"

"She's not your servant, to come when you summon her."

"No… I know that…"

It was pretty obvious that while Melony was hurt, Talon was angry – and Carson wasn't sure what to make of that. How did you make a Tok'ra let you talk to his host, when the host just as obviously didn't want to talk to you?

"Then leave."

He took a step forward, entering her quarters.

"I need to talk to you – her… I need to tell her how much I-"

"She doesn't want to talk to you, and I won't force her to. She's-"

"I love her."

He couldn't think of anything else to say. Talon was as unweilding as anyone he'd ever met, and he knew it immediately.

"So you've said." Melony's arms crossed over her breasts, in an impatient manner. "I don't believe you. Lea-"

"What do you know about love?" Carson challenged; angry that he wasn't even being given the chance to apologize after he'd waited all day, thinking up the perfect words to say. "You've never-"

A hand shot out and Beckett suddenly found himself pressed back against the wall, her hand holding him firmly in place.

"What do I know? For love Melony has placed herself into more dangerous situations than you could ever imagine. She's risked her life several times, risked losing the love of the man she'd loved for years and faced horrors untold – to help me finish the Goa'uld. And she asked for nothing in return. That's love. I didn't ask her to do these things; she knew what I desired most, and she gave of herself willingly. Because of love. Never once did I have to ask her to prove her love to me – and never once have I ever had to prove mine to her."

Talon released Beckett, and Melony walked past him, leaving him alone in her quarters rather than allow the confrontation to go any further. His host was hurting enough already, and this wasn't going to make it any better – although Talon was glad that he'd had a chance to lash out at the cause of that hurt.

Once they were around the corner and he was certain that Beckett wasn't following them, he relinquished control once more back to her, and Melony took a deep breath.

Thank you…

You're welcome, love. You do know I meant every word?

She nodded. Of course she knew; he was right inside her, after all. There were some things you just couldn't hide.

I know. It's mutual, you know?

Yeah

She took another deep breath, and looked down at her bare feet.

"Why don't we go double-check the harness and make sure everything's ready to go? Maybe if we're lucky, we'll run into Kale, and he'll be willing to leave early." She wanted to get out of there before Carson had a chance to decide to come looking for her again.

You'll have to face him eventually

I know…

She just couldn't do it then.