After quickly downing a liquid meal replacement, which certainly tasted better than any similar substance she'd had back home, Sam admitted she was drained. A few hours of sleep was exactly what she needed, and now Martouf was taking her back to her quarters. As they wound their way through the base, she found herself absorbed by the bluish-grey crystals which formed the base. "Why is the tunnel structure so different on Vorash?"

"The crystalline formation of the tunnels changes according to the composition of minerals they are created from. This planet has a higher level of iron and boron than our previous planet. I will explain further after you have slept if you wish."

"Okay," she agreed. She noticed they were heading back near the healing chamber when Martouf abruptly retraced part way back to the main corridor. She didn't question where they were going, she was far too tired to care. When they made their way to a small room off an antechamber, she looked briefly around the room. "These are your quarters," she said, though she had never before been in his private space.

"Yes," he nodded. "You will not likely be disturbed here."

She debated whether or not to protest, but the part of her that didn't care anymore held firm. Her eyes studied the belongings in the room. There was only a futon like mattress on the floor, two small trunks, and a shelf built into the wall which held a number of items she didn't immediately recognize or remember. Sam turned back towards him, almost swallowing her words. "Being alone is probably a good idea."

"Do you wish to be alone, Samantha?" he asked softly.

"Not really," she admitted.

"Shall I stay, then?"

She simply nodded, as he took her arm and led her over to the bed. Following his lead, she sat down and she broke the contact between them as she undid her military issue boots and pulled off her socks, noting he had done the same. She watched him pull the baldric off his chest, and feeling nervous she asked, "What is that? I know it signifies something, but I can't really remember."

"When a member of the Tok'ra takes a pledge of martial service and becomes a tek'nal - a soldier, they are given the braid. Its three lengths represent the host, the symbiote and our objective. Queen Egeria wove the first braid."

As he explained, she realized she was simply stalling. She knew if she said anything else, she would either fall apart or completely retreat from him. She really didn't want to do either.

She felt more than a little awkward as he turned down several blankets from the bed. Gently, he grasped her hand, intertwining their fingers as he had the day they first met, and she felt as though she had known him much longer than two short years.

Sam tried to block the stray thought, knowing it came straight from Jolinar, but part of her wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, not all of the feelings came from Martouf's deceased mate. As she settled herself beneath the covers, her doubts about being in his quarters boiled up again... doubts about being alone with him. Doubts about being here, in his bed.

As she continued to doubt, Martouf silently caught her up in his arms and just held her. She felt his warmth as he gently stroked her back, and for the second time in as many hours, she felt protected and comforted in the arms of another.

All misgivings faded as she collapsed fully into his embrace, and at that moment, she was actually thankful for some of the jumbled up mess Jolinar had left in her mind. Being held by him just felt right, as though this was where she was belonged. She finally felt safe and she let go, allowing the tears to come.

She held back nothing and cried over the cruel loss of her brother and his wife, her little niece, and her nephew who had just started kindergarten the month before. Cried for Cassie and General Hammond; for the destruction of Earth and her way of life.

And she wept for Graham Simmons.

The next morning she remembered how Martouf had simply listened, how his soft, whispered sounds had soothed her, how he gently kissed her hair as she held onto him long into the night. She didn't recall when she had finally fallen asleep, but when she awoke, she was alone in his bed, the room was dimly lit and she didn't remember dreaming about anything except the warmth of his embrace.