(Sweetangel4, thank you. I'm curious to what you think. :) )

Part 10, Sleep

-Planet Neeria-

-Samantha-

I wake up feeling a bit sad. Why couldn't I tell Martouf how he felt? I notice he's in the bed. I wiggle around to look at him. Can't really roll without knocking him out. I loved him, and I believe I still do, but why would it hurt him? I watch him sleep.

Ignore the dream, 'Carter' thinks.

But I might hurt him.

If what? If the Tok'ra come? If we get our memory back? You might hurt him if life changes, but you will hurt him if we end the relationship over a dream.

I love him.

I love him too.

I keep watching him sleep. Could how I feel really hurt him?

If he thought that loving you would hurt you before you lost your memories, would you want him to end the relationship now?

No. Of course not.

He wakes up after a moment. "Samantha." He frowns slightly. "You don't look happy."

"I was just thinking."

He sits up and stretches. "About what."

I don't answer. What do I answer? He would have never loved me before this.

So what? I probably wouldn't have even been involved before this. My emotions started from you. Everything I feel about him is because of you. Does that make it less valid? Of course not. It's part of what is it to blend. This is our new life Samantha. His, 'Lantash's,' yours, and mine, and we can't live it based on what may or may not be trace memories of our previous lives. Maybe there was never a chance for him to love you before, but he does now. If you don't believe me, then ask him.

I look to Martouf, who is still looking concerned at us. I bite my lip briefly. "How do you feel about us?"

Martouf doesn't hesitate. "We love you."

I told you he loved us, 'Carter' says happily and arrogantly.

I grin slightly as he sits back down on the bed. He takes my hand. "What did you dream about?"

"Lantash."

His eyes flash.

I grin, feeling a bit guilty. "No, this was before we lost our memories, so..."

"The real Lantash." He looks disappointed.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. You were there too though. All four of you were, and you all squealed at me."

"Was I cute?"

I have no idea which one he was but... "Yes."

He grins. "What did I say?"

I don't know.

"Forgiven."

What? I'm surprised.

That's what they all squealed at you, basically, 'Carter' thinks. Don't be so surprised that I understood them, I was one of them.

So what were all the things that Lantash said?

'Carter' goes over the dream. "Pretty," that's what he called you, "it is me." "Yes, it is me." "Did they hurt you?" "Yes." "Yes." "No." "Yes." "No." "I miss Host. Put me in the water." "Forgiven."

I grin a bit, focusing on part of it. Pretty?

Well, he can't squeal your name, so he gave you a new one.

Well, he may not have loved me, but he thought I was pretty.

I think he underestimated that. You're beautiful.

I relay most of the dream, including the new translations, to Martouf and 'Lantash.' I leave out the truth of my feelings at the time. Martouf smiles whenever he is in control. 'Lantash' is amused. They start with dinner afterwards. It looks like they started earlier. Martouf looks a little annoyed at the food, but refuses my help. He comes back to the bed with food when he's done.

I watch him for a moment after getting my meal. "We love you too."

Martouf grins. "I should have created a better dinner for this."

I look to the plate. "This is perfect."

"You always say that, even if you don't like the taste."

I grin slightly. It's not the food, Martouf. It's you.

-'Malek'-

Gete is sitting in a corner, tightly closing his eyes, and holding his head. He's muttering something.

I approach him. "Gete."

"I'm talking," he says firmly.

"With whom?"

"To Aldwin."

"Aldwin isn't there."

"Shhh!" He starts muttering to himself again.

"Gete, you need to sleep." In the past couple weeks he has gotten very little sleep.

"I'm talking," he repeats, now angry.

I kneel down by him. "I know you have been having trouble getting to sleep, but you haven't been trying anymore. You need to go to bed."

He starts muttering Aldwin's name over and over again.

"Gete!"

He looks up to me with hate. "I have to figure out what Aldwin is saying." He closes his eyes again, putting his head in his hands. "I can't go to bed until I figure out what he's saying."

"He's telling you to go to bed."

Gete looks back up to me. "Is he?"

"Yes." I'm surprised he believed that, and I hope he keeps believing me.

"How do you know what he's saying?"

"Because I'm telepathic." I feel bad for lying. "He's telling you to go to bed and close your eyes."

Gete shakes his head. "I have to hear him myself."

"He says you can't until you've gotten enough sleep." That makes no sense, but neither does anything Gete is saying. At least I know I'm not making sense.

"Why?" He frowns and starts crying.

You made him cry! Amb scolds.

I didn't mean to do that! "It's...the..." Um... "The Goa'uld. Yes, they are doing this." I help him up. "They made it so you can't hear him, but the trick is getting enough sleep."

He gets into bed, but immediately sits back up. "How much sleep is enough?"

"The more sleep you get, the better you can hear him."

He lays back down and closes his eyes. I sit in a chair and watch over him. Gete is too tense. He lays there stiffly for a long time, trying to sleep. He repositions every once in a while. Finally he sits back up. "I failed."

"You need to keep trying." There must be something that would help him.

Gete rubs his eyes.

"Stay there." I get up and head downstairs. I explore the store a while before spotting the music box he always plays. I forgot about that. I head back upstairs with it. I find him staring up at the ceiling as I turn the box on.

"Aldwin," he says as soon as the music starts. He relaxes and closes his eyes.

I repeatedly play the music, and it takes several minutes before I think he might be asleep.

"'Malek.'"

I wake up and rub my eyes. "You should be asleep."

"I woke up." He still looks exhausted, and I hope he doesn't remember my promise. He sits down in the chair near me. "It stopped snowing."

"That's good."

"Maybe we can escape soon."

"Hopefully." I'm very worried about Bex and his family.

"Rescue the others," Gete mutters. He closes his eyes. "The music disappeared. I think I remembered Aldwin. He used to sing to me..." He touches his forehead lightly. "...in my head. It wasn't words, just melody...when we first blended." He looks to me. "I was afraid of some of the other Tok'ra. They all looked very serious." He pauses for a moment. "Do you think the Tok'ra are still looking for us?"

"I don't know."

"I hope they are."

I grin. "Me too."

-Day 70-

-Daniel-

Laying on what is normally a bed for patients, I look up at the ceiling. Anise and I still debate, but there is nothing else left to read. I close my eyes. I hear a faint sound of scraping. Thom and Anise are busy playing a game. They don't seem to be responding to the noise. Am I hearing things?

"How long have we been here?" I ask.

"Three weeks," Thom answers. He grins as he makes a good move in the game. He enjoys watching his opponent frown. "You may be a smart snake, but I always win this game."

Anise concentrates for a long time before moving her piece. "I've read about some snakes eating men." She looks happy with her move.

"Yeah, but it's usually the other way around." The doctor makes several moves that he ends with a "Ha!"

Anise frowns, staring at the board for a moment. Then Freya takes control.

"Bringing in help I see. Daniel, do you think it's fair that I am playing against two?"

"It is if you always win this game." I briefly close my eyes again, hearing more scraping. "Anyone else hear that?"

Freya looks over and gets up.

"Hey, the game!" Thom exclaims as he quietly and quickly moves some of the pieces. I'll have to watch for that the next time I play with him.

"I don't hear anything," Freya says as she sits back down She frowns in confusion as she looks over the game. "Did something move?"

"Oh, you play two against one, and you accuse me of cheating?"

Freya studies the board before making her move. She winces when Thom makes a victory move. They start picking up the pieces.

I close my eyes for a second... Suddenly Freya is there and telling me I sleep too much. "Was that what I was doing?" I sit up.

"Only for a second." She takes my hand with hers. "It's not healthy to sleep so much."

"Yeah, well..."

She turns around, looking to the door. "Was it shoveling you heard?"

"Scraping."

"I hear it too."

"Really?" I look to the door. I was starting to believe I was hearing things or dreamed it. I follow her to the door.

"Hello!" Freya calls out.

"Freya?" The voice is muffled by the door and whatever snow is between us.

Freya grins. "'Malek!'" She looks to me. "It's 'Malek.'" She turns back to the door. "Hello 'Malek!'"

"Are Thom and Daniel in there?"

I grin. "Yes, we're here."

"Everyone is alive?"

"Yes, we're all alive."

I hear victory cheers. I realize they had no idea if we were alive or not when they started digging. Freya gets Thom back in the room. After waiting a while, Freya and I take turns trying to force the door open. It finally works with both of us pushing on it.

I quickly charge outside. Fresh air! The outside look beautiful. It smells good. It's clean. It's cold! Wow is it cold!

Freya comes out with extra layers for me to add. I thank her as I take them. I look to our rescuers as I put on the last top layer, a jacket. It's Amb, Gete, and some others. Most look exhausted and paler.

"We're digging out the town," Gete announces in a cheerful voice. "Want to help?"

"Of course."

Freya and I are given our own shovels. Thom, who is not healthy enough to to dig iced snow, is taken to a building set up for those who can't help.

The rest of us head to the next building.

-Day 73-

-'Lantash'-

"Ow!" I drop the knife and look at the cut I accidentally made on Martouf's hand. Now I have to heal that.

"What happened?" Samantha asks.

"I accidentally cut myself." Slow the bleeding.

Samantha looks at the hand. "Ouch."

"I know." Coagulate the blood.

"Can I help?"

Rebuild the skin. "No need." It's all stuff the body does anyway, but I speed it along. "See?"

Samantha kisses what is left of the cut. "You did a good job."

"Thank you." I pick the knife up and set it on the table.

"I wish I could heal myself faster."

I touch the side of her neck. "That's what 'Carter' is for."

"You make her sound like a healing device." She grins. "Besides, she won't be there for long if the Tok'ra find us."

I kiss her softly. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I really hate this house."

Samantha laughs lightly. "Yeah, I am starting to hate it too."

"When spring comes, Martouf and I can build you a new one." I kiss her again. "Freya and Anise can have this one."

"You and Martouf making my plans without me?"

"It can be right next to this one if you want."

She grins. "'Lantash.'"

"Of course it'll be Martouf and 'Lantash' friendly."

"Wouldn't it be easier to add on to this one?"

"This house isn't made that well. It's cramped and lets in too much of the weather."

"So Freya and Anise get to keep it?"

I kiss her again. "We love you."

Samantha shakes her head slightly as she pulls away. "You actually want to build me a house?"

"Yes."

"You and Martouf have been discussing this?"

"We really hate this house."

"This is... You want to build me a house. Most guys don't built a house for their girlfriends."

"If you don't like that, then we'll build us a house that you can live in."

"'Lantash.'"

"It's just a house."

She sits on the bed. "It implies more."

"I'm not asking for more. I am only asking to give you a gift that will keep you safer and more comfortable. That is not much."

Samantha still looks to be in disbelief.

"We don't even have to wait until spring. We can work during the winter."

"I'll talk to 'Carter' about it when she wakes up."

I go into the bed, kissing her as I take her arms. "We love you."

She holds my arms in return. "We love you too."

A couple days later we are freed from the wretched house. Samantha and I wish to help rescue others, but we were one of the last to be rescued. The week after is devoted to recovery and funerals. The family that took in Amb were one of the ones found dead, starved to death. The daughter had been found holding the engagement present her fiancé had given her.

Martouf and I start looking for supplies to build us a house. Even if Samantha says no, we can move in the house ourselves. Along the way, people we became friends with, or owe us, offer to help when we start building.

For really the first time, Martouf and I feel like we really belong here.

To be continued...

Besh and Joth-Elderly farming couple who took in Martouf
Ichard-Doctor's Assistant
Nara and Bex-Took in Amb. Daughter is getting married.
Starna and Teff-Store owners. Took in Gete.
Thom-Doctor