(Es Charmed, thank you. I'm curious to what you had expected. I'm glad you are enjoying the story.)

Part 13, Protective

-Selmak-

Jacob feels dizzy, and so do I. That hit was right over me. Jacob's vision is blurred, and I feel sick. I curl tighter and try to deal with both our pains. How can I deal with our attacker when I don't think I can even move right now. What does he want? He doesn't want to kill us. I don't know what he wants, but it's not our death. If he wanted that he would have shot instead of knocking us down first.

"Why have you attacked us?"

That question makes no sense...and as impossible as it seems, that sounds like... "Lantash?"

That's impossible, Jacob thinks. Don't even think it. He refuses to believe it.

"Why did you attack us?" the voice demands.

It really does sound like Lantash...well, Martouf's voice when Lantash is talking. "We didn't attack you." I need to look at this guy. Two challenges to that. Can I do that without getting shot, and can I do that without Jacob losing his last meal.

Lantash wouldn't have a staff weapon pointed at my head, Jacob thinks.

Jacob makes a very good point. So now what? Do I tell the mysterious-sounds-like-Lantash voice that I'm Tok'ra? That can get Jacob and I killed rather quickly. He seems about ready to shoot if I don't answer though. "Can I get up?"

"You had a weapon."

"I promise I'll leave it on the ground." I'm healing as I speak.

There is a long pause that makes me feel like someone is sending pieces of ice through my skin. He finally answers. "Very well."

I get up slowly, hands in the air, making sure he knows he has the control here. Once I'm up, I start turning around, hoping that doesn't get us shot. It's...

It is Martouf...or rather, Lantash...

...looking very pissed.

"Why did you attack us?" He repeats.

"We didn't attack you. We learned about the attack and came to warn Neerians."

"You're too late."

"We noticed." Martouf is alive? I can't believe it. Martouf is alive!

Does that mean Sam is alive? Jacob asks, a bit afraid to. What if the answer is no? What if it's something else though? What if he was stolen? What if it's some Martouf from another dimension?

He seems to be angry about the attack, I think. If Martouf was stolen, I don't think the Goa'uld would be out here defending...what is he defending?

There is something about him that just screams "I'm defending something!" He has several places to hide, but he's out in the open. His stance and posture looks as if he isn't going to let anything get around him. I'm pretty sure he'd shoot me if I moved any closer.

I need to tell him everything. "I'm Tok'ra. My name is Selmak. We heard about the attack, but we didn't know it already started."

He seems to respond to both "Tok'ra" and "Selmak." The weapon doesn't move away from me though. "How would I know you are telling the truth?"

Is it his memory?

Jacob ask for control, and I give it to him. He looks to Lantash. "Do you know if Sam is all right?"

Lantash frowns slightly. "Sam?"

Try Samantha, I suggest. If their memory is messed up, she might not be going by that nickname. He might not know that name at all.

"Samantha..." Jacob says, which Lantash clearly recognizes. "Please, tell me." Emotions are trying to overtake him now. He's hurting.

"That is not your concern."

He knows. Lantash knows, and he won't tell. That realization hits Jacob hard. He starts going into one of his pockets.

"What are you doing?" Lantash demands.

"It's not a weapon...please..." Jacob slowly takes out a picture of Sam and Mark. He offers it to Lantash, who rips it from his hand. This better be Lantash. "See? I have her picture. I'm her father. That's a picture of her and Mark, her brother."

Lantash looks at the picture carefully, not letting down his guard. Something about his mannerisms seem...un-Lantash.

You said it was Lantash! Jacob screams.

"Who else is missing?"

Jacob frowns. "What?"

"If you are Tok'ra, and you are Samantha's father, then you would know who disappeared with her."

"Well, you and your host, Martouf. There is also Malek, Amb, Aldwin, Gete, Anise, Freya, and Daniel."

Malek.

What? Jacob thinks.

That's what it is. His mannerisms aren't just not Lantash, they're...he's acting like Malek.

That...makes no sense.

Jacob's right. That doesn't make sense.

'Lantash' eyes us for a moment. "Back up." He grabs our abandoned weapon when Jacob does. "No sudden movements. Cooperate."

Jacob is saddened. He's not going to tell me about Sam.

As he pushes us, I realize he seems to be taking us towards whatever he is guarding. Okay, now I'm a little afraid of what he was guarding. It could be dangerous. What if-

Saaam! Jacob mentally calls out when he sees his daughter. He wants to rush towards her. She looks pale and shivery and weak...but she's alive.

'Lantash' and Martouf were guarding her. That's kind of sweet.

Sam looks up to us, then looks to 'Lantash.' "Who is he?" She unknowingly just stung her father.

"He claims to be Tok'ra," 'Lantash' says rather harshly.

Why is Sam weak? Is she injured?

Sam is now frowning at us, but seems to be thinking. "He looks familiar."

Jacob is stung again. "Sam?"

"He had this." 'Lantash' gives Sam the picture he got from Jacob.

She glances between the picture and Jacob several times before the frown disappears. She looks unsure. "Dad?"

Jacob smiles. "Yes."

"You're injured." Her eyes find the blood coming from the back of his head. I've done rather well to fix that, but the blood is still there.

"Yeah." Jacob glances to 'Lantash.'

Sam looks to him. "You hit my dad?"

"At least I didn't shoot him." He settles down, and his expression becomes very Martouf. "Sorry."

Sam frowns again as she looks to Jacob. "Wait...I remember now, you became Selmak's host. That has been driving 'Carter' insane."

Is there something about that statement that was supposed to make sense? Does Sam now refer to herself in third person? And hey, she remembered me!

"Are you injured?" Jacob asks. She looks very weak. Maybe that's why she's not making sense. "You look cold."

"She was shot," Martouf answers, more trusting now that Sam has identified us.

Jacob quickly checks the injury.

You are making your daughter shiver, I think. Jacob internally winces when he sees the wound. It looks like Martouf has taken good care of it, but... Jacob.

No.

Jacob, if we don't get her medical attention now she doesn't have a chance.

She's strong. She'll make it. I'm not losing her again!

Yes, but she needs medical attention now in order for that to happen. She can't heal herself.

Jacob nods. "You need a healer."

Martouf seems to realize what he is thinking. "You can't move her."

Jacob looks to him and moves away from Sam. "She needs medical attention," he whispers.

"There are Jaffa out there, and they'll shoot us."

"We'll have to pass them."

"Can you guarantee that?" Martouf is frowning. "Can you guarantee that you'll get her through the great ring?"

Jacob is frustrated. "No."

"Then you can't move her."

"Mart-"

"The last time I moved her, her condition worsened. We can't move her again unless it's guaranteed that she can make it through."

Jacob is getting angry. Every second of arguing means Sam gets worse. "If we don't get her help now, she doesn't have a chance."

"She is healing."

"She can't heal on her own, not like you." Jacob tries to calm down. Martouf has no memory. He can't be blamed for not understanding. "You have 'Lantash' to help you heal. She doesn't have anyone."

"But she does."

"No." What?!

Perhaps he's confusing what's left of Jolinar, I suggest.

Jacob shakes his head. "She was blended, but that symbiote died."

I take time to concentrate on Sam, realizing the sense she gives off is stronger. Wait a minute.

"She is blended," Martouf insists.

"No."

Uh Jacob?

What?!

I think he's right.

Jacob looks to Sam. He frowns slightly. "She's blended?"

Martouf nods. "We've been calling the symbiote 'Carter.'"

Sam's earlier reference to "Carter" makes more sense now.

Jacob is confused. "How?"

"The symbiotes were a bit mixed up," Martouf reveals.

"What?"

"...and without our memories, we didn't know who went where."

"She didn't used to be blended."

"We figured that out, but-" He stops, grabbing his weapon and hurries out at the sound and feel of people approaching.

Jacob follows in time to see Martouf aiming the staff at Teal'c. "Martouf, no." He pushes Martouf's arm down.

"He's a Jaffa."

"He's a good Jaffa." Jacob looks to those who had approached, Teal'c, Kela'an, and Phil. "He has amnesia."

"Martouf's alive?" Kela'an questions, even though Martouf is standing right in front of him.

"Why wouldn't I be alive?" Martouf frowns. He eyes Teal'c, still unsure what to think of him. He looks to Jacob. "Is that why you didn't come for us?"

"Are the others alive?" Kela'an asks. "Is Freya alive?"

Martouf hesitates before answering. "They're alive."

"We need to take cover," Teal'c says as he does so.

Seeing the approaching Jaffa as well, everyone else is already on the way. Martouf and Jacob both take cover in places where they can defend Sam.

-Samantha-

Did they run out? 'Carter' asks. Concentrating on healing me, she's only partly paying attention to what is going on.

They probably heard people coming. I wish I could help out. Martouf is stuck here guarding me. So, that was my dad.

And Selmak, 'Carter' cheerfully adds.

I soon hear firing, and it makes me cringe.

Relax. You are harder to heal when cringing.

I de-cringe, but keep a watch out. What if an enemy came through? I'd be helpless. Some of the shots come close to me. I can't see them, but I can hear them.

The firing lasts a long time before Martouf returns. "Your father is guarding. Other friends came. They are checking the area for more Jaffa."

Daniel comes in. "Samantha?" He kneels down. "How are you feeling?"

"Hurting."

He gives me sympathy with his looks. "I met a man named Teal'c. He said that you, him, and I are all on the same team. I also met your dad."

I grin. "Yeah."

"He was surprised about 'Carter,' and I heard someone else say something like 'Colonel O'Neill isn't going to like that.' Oh, and you and I are part of something called Stargate Command." He glances to Martouf. "We are allies with the Tok'ra."

I touch my head slightly. "Who is O'Neill?" Why wouldn't he like 'Carter?'

"I don't know, but the name seems familiar. The name Jack comes to mind."

I'm curious. "How did Teal'c react?" I don't know why I want to know.

"He raised an eyebrow."

"That's not much of a reaction."

"He doesn't seem to react much. He did look pleased when he saw me and when Jacob said you were alive."

"Who's Jacob?"

Daniel grins. "Your dad."

I feel bad for that. Daniel and I keep talking until my dad returns. "We can move Sam now."

Martouf gently picks me up and goes outside. I'm suddenly very cold again. We start heading to the ring.

"Will the Goa'uld attack this place?" Daniel asks.

"Hopefully not," my dad answers. "Kela'an is falsifying a transmission to Olo...the Goa'uld who captured you. It'll say you escaped and they pursued. Give him a new planet, put the bodies there, and hopefully he'll believe his Jaffa were ambushed."

I hear 'Malek.' "Some of us should stay. These people have helped us. We need to make sure they are safe."

I do feel a bit bad about that. I wish I could help them.

Dad nods his head. "You and Freya may stay as long as Kela'an stays. Gete, you are returning with us."

Gete frowns, clearly not happy with this. "But-"

"There might be Jaffa still around that we don't know about. Who is going to heal if you if you get shot?" Dad asks in a serious and familiar tone.

Someone in green, so I assume he's from Stargate Command, tells Daniel he'll be leaving as well, which Daniel promptly argues about. When the man in green makes it and order, Daniel still argues. "I'm sorry, but I don't even know you. I know these people, and I owe them this."

The man finally agrees and orders someone named Lieutenant Baker to come with us. Dad looks annoyed by this for some reason. We get to the giant ring, and Dad starts pressing the buttons.

-Selmak-

The wormhole engages. Martouf takes one sudden back step. His expression reminds me of when I first met him.

"You won't drown," Sam says.

Martouf looks to her, looking a bit relieved. "That's good."

He, Phil Baker, and Gete follow us through. I quickly head to the rings. No Tok'ra come out, so they must have recognized me before signaling to do so. I wonder how many of them wish to come out and greet the previously fallen, especially since they had no idea they would be returning.

Gete jumps slightly when the rings come up. In the tunnels, we catch attention quickly on the way to the healing halls. A couple take off to get the people needed at the moment.

Martouf is directed to which room Healer Kilso is in. He is already prepared by the time we get there. Martouf sets Samantha down on the bed, and Jacob cringes when he realizes she has lost conscious.

Just because she has, doesn't mean 'Carter' has, I remind him.

Garshaw approaches us from behind, followed by a couple Tok'ra. She says nothing, not wanting to disturb our healer.

Kilso's eyes are closed as he concentrates with a healing device. Should have mentioned that she was blended, though I'm sure he's figured that out by now. He probably thinks someone died then.

I hope that isn't distracting him from his work. Jacob worries.

It won't. He's a good healer.

Kilso opens his eyes. "I need blankets." He continues as his assistant runs off for this. "Was she shot before or after going into cold water?" He doesn't bother looking away from her, now giving her some type of drug.

"After," Martouf answers. He looks guilty. "I tried to keep her warm."

"How much was she moved afterwards?"

"I..." Martouf looks slightly panicked, probably frantically searching for the answer. "Several minutes. I had to move her. It wasn't safe where we were."

Kilso uses the healing devise again. Jacob cringes when he goes over her neck and head. It means the symbiote isn't doing very well. Afterwards Kilso says he'll be needing to change her out of wet clothes. Everyone but Kilso and Martouf leave. The assistant healer returns as we leave.

Phil looks to the direction of the room, though can't see into it from where we are standing. "Shouldn't Martouf be leaving too?"

"He can stay," Jacob answers. He knows Martouf wouldn't stay if he thought there was a chance she would mind.

He's about to protest, but Garshaw interrupts. "Welcome home." She's looking at Gete.

The expression on her face when Gete responds with "Who are you?" is quite amusing. It gets Jacob to make a grin. "They have amnesia." He looks back to Gete. "That's Garshaw."

Gete grins to her. "Hi, I'm Gete." He frowns slightly. "I guess you knew that."

Garshaw smiles. "Yes, I've known you for nearly eighty years now."

Gete's eyes widen. "I'm that old!"

Garshaw smiles to him for a second longer, but it fades as she turns to Jacob. "The others?"

"Everyone else, including the rest of the fallen, are still on Neeria. There is something else. It seems their symbiotes are mixed up."

Garshaw frowns. "Do you have any idea who is who?"

"Selmak and I could take a guess on a couple of them, based on their personalities."

Martouf comes out, wearing new clothes. He seems to notice that is what we are now looking at. "The man in there said I was too cold and that I needed to change."

Jacob allows me control to respond. "If you went into water in that weather, you certainly would be too cold." My voice is a bit disapproving.

Martouf's eyes flash. "It was 'Carter's' idea to go into the water, and we probably both would have been shot if she hadn't brought us in it."

"'Carter?'" Garshaw questions.

I look to her. "Sam is currently blended. The symbiote has been using her last name as her own."

My leader grins slightly. "It'd make a good name for a symbiote."

Jacob is given control. "Can we go back in?"

"You can. Gete and I have to be examined." Martouf frowns slightly and heads off down another healing room.

Jacob hurries back to his daughter, who is wrapped and covered in blankets. Her head is also wrapped. Jacob looks to her. "Sammy."

Garshaw is respectfully keeping her distance. Kilso is away from her, quietly waiting for Jacob to approach. It'd be rude to talk about Sam in front of Sam, even if she is unconscious.

Jacob approaches Kilso after a moment. "How is she?"

"She'll make a full recovery, but it's going to take a few days. Martouf said they were switched."

"That seems to be the case."

"This symbiote cannot return to its original host until it has fully recovered." He glances to Phil, clearing explaining the next part for his sake. "Leaving a host without killing it is dangerous for a symbiote. The symbiote must be at its full health to do so. It can also be dangerous for the host, so they both need to have made a full recovery."

Phil nods slightly. "I need to report back to the SGC."

Jacob points down the hall. "Tok'ra will direct you back to the rings." He looks back to Kilso after Phil has left. "Do you know who she is blended with?"

"From its method of healing, I am rather certain of its identity."

When he doesn't answer right away, both Garshaw and Jacob give him "Mind telling us?" looks.

Kilso smiles slightly. "I believe it is Lantash."

Garshaw frowns slightly. "That's going to be awkward when they get their memories back."

Yeah, no kidding.

Kilso glances between us. "I suggest keeping it between us for now. They might not want it announced before they themselves know.

Garshaw watches Sam for a moment. She shakes her head afterwards, keeping whatever thoughts she has about Sam between her and Yosuuf. "I have a feeling O'Neill will be here soon."

I wonder if she plans to avoid him again. She seems to be considering the idea.

"There is also the rest of the previously fallen. I am certain they'll want some answers when they return." She nods to herself, probably in response to whatever Yosuuf said. "I have some answers to get before we get more questions." She leaves.

Jacob watches his daughter some more.

"It might be a while before she's awake," Kilso says. "I will be helping them regain their memory, but perhaps you might want to get the pictures you have. She might enjoy looking at them."

Jacob nods.

"I've also tried to find indications of how she was treated while imprisoned-"

Jacob quickly turns to Kilso.

"-but with the time that passed, I cannot be certain."

Jacob looks back to Sam. "She's alive. Right now that's all that matters." He watches for a moment longer before turning back to the healer. "I'll get the pictures." Jacob heads to our room after a few more minutes. He gathers, not just the pictures, but Martouf's items that were put under our care after the funeral. It could be fun to explain to them what they are. When we return, we're a bit surprised to see Martouf is already there. He's now wearing more layers than he was before, one which includes a hood over his head.

A Tok'ra comes into the room. "Colonel Jack O'Neill has come to the planet. I believe he'll be wanting to see Lieutenant Colonel Carter."

Martouf notices the pictures Jacob has. He starts looking at them after getting permission. He stops at one picture and looks at it for a while. "Is this me?"

He isn't sure what he looks like?

How would he? Jacob thinks. That part of Neeria wouldn't have mirrors. He looks at the picture. "Yes, that's you."

"That's what I look like?" He grins. "I probably look smudgier at the moment."

This reminds me of the first time Martouf saw himself in a mirror. It was amusing. He had, on occasion, seen glimpses of himself in still water, and he knew what he looked like because Lantash saw him before they blended, but it was the first time he really got to see himself. He continues looking through the pictures, asking me who everyone is. "Hey, this is that woman who was in the room with us."

"Garshaw and Yosuuf."

"Right, women. Can you take a picture of Samantha's house on Neeria?"

"I could." Jacob is a bit surprised. "She has her own house?"

Martouf looks very proud. "I built it for her."

"You built her a house?"

I wonder if he realizes that with his own people houses were often built by grooms for their future wives.

"Yeah. I suppose someone will be living in it now." He looks a bit sad.

Jacob looks to Sam. "You were ready to settle in for your new life."

"Of course. We had no way of looking for you, and we had no way of knowing when or if the Tok'ra would find us."

Jack comes into the room and seemed to hear the last part. "The Tok'ra weren't the only ones looking."

Martouf looks up to him. "Well, apparently no one was looking. You all gave us up for dead."

Jack looks a bit stung by that response. "The SGC didn't give anyone up for dead."

"Were you looking for us?"

"We were on the look out."

"How helpful," Martouf replies with a sarcastic tone.

Stop them, I think.

Jacob gestures to Sam. "Jack, our healer says she'll make a full recovery."

Jack moves closer to Sam, and Martouf protectively follows. Can't really blame him. After all, he has no idea who Jack is.

"So she has a snake in her head..." Jack tries not to look annoyed by this. "...and will for a few more days."

Martouf picks up on the annoyance and looks a bit aggravated. "The symbiote saved her life."

Jack glances to him. "Who is it?"

Jacob hesitates with an answer. I'm pretty sure Jack was one of the people Kilso didn't want to be told.

I'm sure it was.

Martouf speaks before Jacob can answer anyway. "Don't say it if you know!" He sounds almost frantic.

Jack looks to him. "Why not?"

"It's not our business. It's their business."

Jacob interrupts whatever Jack was about to say. "We can't be sure until they get their full memories back anyway." He glances to his daughter. "Until then, refer to her as Sam, and to the symbiote as Carter."

Jack moves away to talk to Jacob. Martouf follows. Jack glances to him, trying to hide his annoyance. Humans really aren't all that good at hiding their emotions, even if some like to think they are. "She's going to be getting her memories back with it still in her head?"

"Most likely."

"Don't you think she might not take that well when she remembers her last 'blending?'" The word "blending" holds a slight sarcastic tone.

"She probably would prefer it this way. If she doesn't, we'll figure something out."

"That's because she doesn't remember."

"It's not up to you. It's up to her." Jacob's words are final.

"She remembers anyway," Martouf says suddenly.

We both turn to him. "What?"

"At one time or another we would have a flash of memory. She had nightmares about being taken over, controlled...and 'Carter' had nightmares about being removed and put in a tank." He frowns slightly. "Especially when we were trapped in her first house. We had been snowed in." His eyes flash. "We were not sure what caused them, but we hoped the new house would help."

I wiggle slightly. The idea of being forcefully removed from Jacob makes me feel icy and sick.

'Lantash' turns to Jack. "Why are you so protective of her?"

"She's part of the SGC, which I happen to be in charge of. We also worked on the same team for years...along with Daniel and Teal'c." He gives 'Lantash' a curious look. "And you? Why did you go with her rather than stay on Neeria with the others?"

"After she had been shot, we promised her we would take care of her." He turns away and goes back to Sam.

Garshaw rejoins us. After making a quick greeting to Jack, she addressees all of us. "Olokun is heading to the new planet. However, we do not yet know what he'll do once he finds his Jaffa have been killed." She pauses for a moment. "For that, we must wait."

to be continued...