Life In the Shadows – Part Nine
Daniel was the first to arrive back at their quarters. He stopped dead in the doorway as he saw the young girl with the light from the fire casting a glow over her face, giving her an ethereal quality, her long hair shining. He watched for a few seconds, enthralled by the sight, and the soft melody of her humming. He felt the brief surge of desire flood through him and chastised himself as quickly as the thought occurred - the girl was … well, a girl!
Sam prodded him in the back, making him jump with a guilty flush. "Come on, Daniel, what's the hold up?" she demanded.
He moved further into the room and watched Sam stop short as she saw the girl's hand threading its way through the Colonel's hair. The way Serena was caressing it shrieked of an intimacy he knew Sam would never demonstrate.
Then Serena seemed to only just notice them and smiled sweetly. "He woke briefly, but I gave him some dyla and he rests again." Sam's face must have shown concern for Serena frowned as the woman approached her. "I was very careful how much I gave. You can give him the rest later."
Daniel realised Sam was hovering, in her 'mother hen' mode, as Jack would call it.
"Thanks," said Daniel, coming to Serena's rescue. He still felt disconcerted by the image of her as entered, his senses were still heightened by the flare of desire he'd felt and the guilt was still flooding through him. Serena gave him a charming smile, her hand continuing to thread softly through Jack's hair.
Teal'c quietly placed the supplies he carried at the back of the room and picked up the buckets, one for water and one for fuel.
Serena noticed the supplies and gave Teal'c a shy smile. "You have earned well today," she commented.
"We will do better as we become more accustomed to the labour," acknowledged Teal'c.
"You are very lucky to be provided for so well, Sam," said Serena, "Which of these is your mate?"
Daniel could almost feel Sam's gall rising at the remark and he moved closer to the girl. He'd also noticed that Serena hadn't stopped stroking Jack's head, and knew that that had to be annoying Sam as well. Despite how Sam protested, he knew how she felt about Jack.
"We're like family, we're not bonded," said Daniel, hoping to disarm the situation.
"Oh." Serena looked a bit puzzled, and then brightened visibly. "So … he is not bonded?" She indicated Jack with her head.
Daniel watched Sam open her mouth and then close it again. Daniel shrugged "Well …" He hesitated, not wanting Sam to 'rip him a new one' as Jack would have put it. He hesitated because he knew he was damned in the eyes of Sam whether he said yes or no.
"Good," replied Serena, seeming satisfied she'd had her answer. "I must go now and see to my chores. I will come visit tomorrow."
Daniel could feel Sam bristling again, but she didn't answer as she knelt to begin checking the dressings on Jack.
"Thank you, Serena, that will be … um nice …" he finished lamely. 'Oops I'm a dead man' he thought, cringing as the girl left. "Err, Teal'c, I'll come help you with the water." He rushed out before Teal'c could respond and before Sam could throw anything at him.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam tended to the Colonel's back. The raw flesh seemed to be keeping clean, with no sign of inflammation around the open wounds. She shuddered slightly as she applied the balm, her blue eyes troubled as she worked. She was trying to figure out why she felt so … antagonistic towards the young girl. It was only as she was finishing up that it hit her … she was jealous! She was jealous that the girl could sit there and touch the Colonel so intimately without embarrassment, without anyone passing judgement on her actions, something Sam longed to do herself … so longed to do ….
The thoughts of running her hands over his body … it was something she only permitted herself when alone, at night … in her own bed, never when they were off world together, never when he was so dangerously close. She shook herself and covered him once more with the blanket. She said a silent prayer for him, sending thanks for Reena, for the balm and the dyla.
Teal'c and Daniel made a couple of trips replenishing the fuel and water. Sam had calmed down by the time they all sat at the fire. She felt a little ashamed of her actions and began to dish up the food. She heaped the food onto the men's plates, giving herself a small portion. She handed Daniel his plate and met his direct stare. His eyes flicking to the meagre portion on hers. He opened his mouth and Sam knew he was going to protest, but she forestalled him.
"You and Teal'c need the energy. I've just been here all day." Daniel still seemed unhappy though, so she continued. "When the Colonel's better I'll be pinching yours, don't worry, now eat," she ordered.
Daniel shrugged and ate without further preamble. She watched as both men attacked their food ravenously and vowed to try and get more to bulk it up for them tomorrow. They'd not long finished eating when Daniel collapsed onto his 'bed'; a blanket on the ground, snoring softly within a few minutes and Teal'c immersed himself in meditation.
Sam realised she needed to get something prepared for morning and after clearing up she examined their meagre supplies. Reena made a timely appearance just as Sam was realising she didn't have a clue what to do with the bag of stuff Reena had told her to get. Reena, laughingly explained how to make the thick broth everyone had for the first meal of the day and soon it was under way, ready to be just re-heated in the morning.
They settled by the fire with a cup of kofa. "How is he?" asked Reena, with a nod of her head towards Jack.
"The wounds seem to be staying clean. He's certainly not fevered."
"That is good. He is strong thankfully. He will heal, but it will take a while, and the pain will not be good."
"Serena gave him more dyla earlier; he's not yet woken again."
"Ah, Serena," commented Reena with a smile, "You have competition there, Sam."
Sam pretended not to know what Reena was driving at.
"Serena has set herself for your man. She was overjoyed earlier to find he is not bonded."
Sam's felt her face flush. "He's not my man." she said with as much firmness as she could muster.
"Sam, please, I have seen how you look at him. I watched you as they beat him, I understand how you feel."
"We are a team. He is my commanding officer and a friend." hissed Sam.
The woman shrugged. "No matter, but you have competition."
Sam sucked in a breath. "She's far too young. She's a child!"
"She is a young woman, usually bonded well before that age, but Serena has … well always refused any would-be suitors and her father allows her to …"
"He's over twice her age." interrupted Sam with a snort.
Reena raised a placating hand along with a brow that would have done Teal'c proud.
"He is a strong, capable warrior, as indicated by him reaching his age. He's already proved his worth. The youngsters who came in with you have already been singing his praises and filled Serena's head."
Sam opened her mouth to speak, but Reena placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I can see what she sees, Sam, and so do you, for all your protest. A strong man who is willing to fight and to put others first attracts much attention here, it is not the way we are used to. He is a hero in Serena and others eyes. That he is handsome too is only the bonus. You must have noticed the looks Daniel and Teal'c also draw?"
It was on the tip of Sam's tongue to ask why Serena hadn't jumped on Daniel or Teal'c when she realised she knew exactly why.
"I would have had designs on him myself if I had not seen that he is spoken for in your eyes," said Reena with a smile.
'Over my dead body!' was Sam's silent response. She gave herself a mental shake. They wouldn't be hanging around for too long. As soon as the Colonel was well enough they would find a way out.
Reena helped Sam to apply the balm again. Sam felt clumsy all of a sudden compared to the other woman's gentle touch and as if to press the point home the Colonel began to stir. He moaned and flinched, his back arching in protest as Sam's fingers spread the balm.
"Sir, hold still." Sam's voice came out sharper than she intended, trying to hide the distress she was feeling at the pain she was causing him.
Reena gave Sam a quick look and moved around to face Jack.
"Ssh," she crooned softly, "try and remain still, let the balm begin to work."
The Colonel opened his eyes at the strange voice, slowly coming to focus on Reena. She gently lifted his head and pressed some water to his lips. Sam watched, feeling helpless. loathe to continue her application of the balm for the moment.
"Carter?" gasped out Jack, his eyes searching around.
"I'm here, sir. We need to redress your injuries, I'm sorry." Her voice was just a whisper.
"S'ok," he murmured, seeming to relax at the sound of her voice.
xoxoxoxoxoxo