I am Iandrum.
Who? Nick asked as he returned to a state of semi-consciousness.
The symbiote that co-inhabits your body.
Ah…the goa'uld…so, why're you talking to me? I thought we were INFERIOR beings…
I'm not goa'uld.
He could feel the resentment that the symbiote felt toward him for comparing him to the demon that had just taken his freedom.
Okay…
I am Tok'ra.
Oh…you're the goa'ulds that pretend to be good to us! Nick said, mirroring Jack's own feelings toward the species.
He felt a shock reverberate through his nervous system. We are NOT goa'uld! The symbiote reiterated.
Okay…okay…sorry…didn't mean to offend!
Yet, you managed to do so… The Tok'ra said with obvious disdain.
Ian…this is NOT the time to have a hissy-fit!
HISSY FIT? You insulted my race!
Okay, Ian, I'm sorry.
The symbiote waited for a moment as he cooled down. Obviously that didn't go well…
Ya think?
Would you stop insulting the ONLY chance you have of going home?
Nick was quiet.
Thank you. Now, as I said before, I am a Tok'ra, and I'd rather not spend very much time in this dump either…however, you and I are probably going to have to wait a little while before getting away.
Why?
Nick…think about it…if you suddenly disappeared, then we're both dead…
Right…
We have to build their trust.
WHAT?
Nick…they're going to ask about Oz. Now, you and I both know that it's just a fairy tale land, and that Australia is located on Earth's continent. All you have to do is lie.
ALL that I have to do?
Remember when you tripped down the stairs and you told that girl that you liked that you were tackled in rugby?
All right…I see your point…I'm not exactly Mr. Honest over here…
Of course not…and I would know…
IAN!
You think I'm going to apologize for taking inventory of your colorful past?
You could have asked before you poked around…
You could have looked at MY colorful past…and I'll tell you, there's some pretty impressive blackmail there…
No thanks… The dancer sulked.
YOU refusing BLACKMAIL?
How the heck am I supposed to hold it over your head? It'd be over my head too!
In a manner of speaking, I suppose you'd be right…
Thank you…
Careful about that ego, Nicholas. You know what Lena would do…
You mention my wife again, and I WILL pull you out of my neck and fling you around so hard that you'd be dizzy and then, I'd stomp on you until you were begging for mercy…and that's just for starters…
Okay…that was NOT meant to be disrespectful, but it is most certainly duly noted.
Good.
Now, listen! It's time for you and me to set some distractions…
Wait…I thought that it was time for us to make them trust us…
And if they catch us, we will…
Taking a deep breath, Nick arranged his features into a mask of careful neutrality as he heard footsteps echoing down the corridor. The force field surrounding his cell was lowered and Aten appeared. His eyes flashed yellow as the Go'auld came toward him. "Master." he said, bowing low.
As he was allowed to wander freely through the fortress since he was Aten's new pet, so to speak, he noticed a room where the Jaffa were entering and coming out with weapons.
I think we should head that way. Iandrum mused.
Excellent plan, Ian.
Walking over nonchalantly, Nick entered the room and surveyed it carefully. A substance packed in a small box made his eyes gleam wickedly.
Jackpot, Ian! Unless I miss my guess, that's gunpowder...
He could sense his symbiote's amusment. And you already have PLENTY of experience with that, Mr. MacGyver addict!
Smirking, Nick collected the gunpowder in a small vial and stuffed it into his pants pockets. He also took some other small weapons as well as some coils of a wire that could, in a pinch, be used as dynamite fuses.
Let's make our escape memorable. Ian said, almost gleefully.
I think either way our escape will be memorable, small one. Let's just hope that it's memorable in the way that we want...
--
Jack sat in his office, thinking about the last mission. It had been a disaster. But thanks to Jacob, the wounds he and the other members of his team had sustained had healed in a fraction of the time, and Jack was more than grateful for it. There was a knock on the door, and Jack looked up to find Kinsah standing there. "Kinsah."
"Jack." he said respectfully entering the room.
"How can I help you?"
"Want volunteer for rescue."
"Kinsah...I'm getting a team together, but...I'm not sure you should go..."
"I know land better than anyone." He said, stubbornly.
"And you have a young son who's just lost his mother. I don't want to have to tell him that he's lost his father too." Jack said, calmly.
Kinsah closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "I have go."
Jack studied the young man who'd aged visibly over the last week. "All right. But you keep yourself from getting killed, okay?"
He nodded wordlessly.
"I have a few things to get in order before we suit up. I'll let you know when we go..."
"All right." he agreed, rising to his feet wearily.
Jack sighed as Kinsah left his office. It was going to be one hell of a rescue mission.
--
After receiving the message that General O'Neill needed him in the briefing room, Kinsah hurried down to the Briefing room where Jack sat at the head of the table, and the various members of the rescue operation minus Liam sat, ready to hear the rundown of the operation.
Sliding into his seat, he gave Jack his undivided attention.
"As you all are well-aware, the objective of this mission is to extract Nick. We know that there is an incomplete goa'uld fortress on the planet. Does anyone else have any observations?"
Kinsah hesitantly raised his hand.
"Kinsah?"
"Must be careful in way we approach...grasslands not offer much cover."
"Okay. Thank you. Anything else?"
"East wall not done. Would be easy to go in that way."
"Daniel, can we count on any help from the natives?"
The archaeologist thought for a moment. "Probably not...we might be able to get through without them coming after us, but I would imagine that's probably the extent of their help."
"Kinsah, do you think you could get through to them?"
He shook his head. "I am traitor. I have been banished from people. Only person who could is Nick...and he not here."
"Okay...so we go through and try to keep ourselves from getting caught by the natives."
"That's it in a nut shell." Daniel agreed.
"Teal'c, any estimation on how many Jaffa Aten has under his command?"
"I believe there to be in excess of 200, O'Neil."
"Harris, any ideas on strategy?"
"Well, like Kinsah said, the grasslands aren't going to offer us any coverage. However, Kin did outline the boundaries of the forest. They go right up to the South wall. It would be easier to go through the forest and then circle to the unfinished wall that way." Liam said.
"How many teams?"
Liam thought for a moment. "I would say stealth will be our best advantage so probably 2 or 3 at most."
"SG-1 and SG-3 it is then." Jack said, standing. "Gear up and be in the gate room in thirty minutes."
Various choruses of "Yes sir!" came from all over the room.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was standing, geared up, in the gate room. Jack looked up at his wife who stood in the control room as she leaned over the microphone. "SG teams 1 and 3. You have a go. Godspeed."
The others nodded and began filing up the ramp, disappearing into the event horizon.
Before going through, Jack blew a kiss to his wife who returned it discreetly.
Almost the moment he arrived through the event horizon, he felt a hand pull him from the steps of the stargate, practically dragging him to the brush at the edge of the clearing.
Kinsah was crouched low, his eyes sweeping everything carefully.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Jack whispered harshly.
Kinsah merely looked at him as a group of Jaffa went trooping by,
Moving smoothly, he went father into the forest, looking for any kinds of tracks.
Jack followed, signaling to the others that they were following Kinsah.
Suddenly, there was an explosion, and the Jaffa they'd passed stealthily ran by them.
Jack breathed a sigh of relief when he saw what he thought was the last of them run by.
"Jaffa! Kree!" One of the Jaffa called, his staff weapon pointed at them from behind.
Jack turned to see the Jaffa as he heard the footsteps of the other Jaffa. "Damn!" He grabbed his P-90 and fired, killing the Jaffa. "Let's go!" He yelled over the firefight that had begun as the other Jaffa fired on them.
Kinsah reached into his boot and pulled out his throwing knife, clutching it in his hand. He ran for the trail that would take them to the fortress.
A Jaffa leaped out of the underbrush and Kinsah cut his down without slowing down.
Just then, a twig snapped and the whole group turned, pointing their weapons at the brush. A figure emerged, his hands spread so that they could see them. "It's me." Nick said, practically surrendering to them.
"Nick?! How in the HELL did you get out?!" Jack sputtered.
"I set the explosion." He explained quickly. "But if we don't get out of here, we're going to end up back in there!"
Before anyone could say anything, Kinsah bent low to the ground and ran for the fortress.
Jack watched him in surprise. "What the HELL is he doing?!"
"Nik'las and Sauna are still in the fortress." Liam said, looking at the General.
"That boy is going to get us all killed!" Jack cried angrily as he turned to follow.
"That would not be wise, O'Neill." Came Iandrum's gravelly voice.
Instantly, Nick had guns pointed at him again.
"Hey! Guys! It's me!" Nick said, his voice normal again.
Kinsah crept toward the underbrush keeping a careful eye on the group behind him. He was going to go into the fortress and get his wife and son even though Jack had forbidden it.
Taking a deep breath, he bent over low to the ground and dashed forward.
Looking around the corner of the half finished wall, Kinsah crept into the room that he had seen Aten throw Nik'las into. "Nik'las! Sauna!" He whispered urgently.
"Kinsah?" Came the whispering voice of his wife, clearly worried.
"Come. We go now."
"Chained up. Cannot get out..." She said sadly.
Reaching into his boot, Kinsah calmly took out the lock pick kit Nick had given him and worked on the chains. He had them popped off of her in a few minutes.
She rubbed her hands, enjoying the freedom for a moment. "Come, Nik'las." She ordered, softly.
The boy came forward, wiping blood from his split lip.
She pushed him through the hole before she heard the voices of the guards. "Out of time. Go!" She said, urgently.
"No! You come too!" Kinsah said, tugging at her.
She used her other hand to pry his hand from hers. "NO! Go!"
Just then, he heard the voice of the Jaffa. "What is this?"
"I not tell you!" Sauna said, defiantly.
Kinsah winced as he heard the staff weapon open. He pressed his hands to his son's ears as he hurried to hide from the passing guards.
"Where is the boy?"
"I not tell you." There was the sound of a weapon firing, and he heard his wife's fatal scream.
Blinking away the tears from his eyes, he picked Nik'las up and swiftly began running for the tree line.
"Papa?" The small boy asked, whispering as they reached the trees. "Where Mama?"
"Mama is...gone." Kinsah choked.
"Gone?" He asked, his eyes wide with terror.
He nodded, hugging the boy close to him.
"Kinsah!"
He looked up.
He saw Liam motioning for him to join up with the rest of the group.
Swallowing, he shifted Nik'las slightly before coming forward to meet the others.
"What the hell were you...?" Jack began before seeing the frightened face of young Nik'las. "Where's your wife?" He asked, looking up a softer look on his face.
"We go." He said flatly.
"Kinsah!" Jack said, clearly agitated by the young man's belligerence. "Is she coming or not?"
"She gone!" He yelled. "She gone and never coming back!"
"SH!" The general said, looking up to see if anyone had heard the outburst. "Okay...let's go..."
Cradling his son, Kinsah felt numb and useless. He had failed her.
He felt Liam's comforting hand on his shoulder before they both ran to the tunnel that would take them to the Stargate.
The Jaffa were closing in behind them, so the team moved into high gear. Daniel, along with Kinsah and Nik'las were sent through the tunnel first with Teal'c, Jack, and finally Liam bringing up the rear.
As he descended into the darkness, Liam found his breathing becoming more labored. "Don't freak out Harris." He told himself firmly.
He could hear the heavy footsteps of the Jaffa and turned his P-90 behind him. He walked backwards, trying to cover them.
An explosion overhead rocked the ground around them. As dust and rocks fell, he could feel the beginnings of a panic attack coming on.
"Come on, Harris..." He heard Jack's gruff voice say as he pulled the young man back to his feet.
"Yes, sir." Liam coughed. Another bomb exploded very close to them. Almost in slow motion, he could see the tunnel wall collapsing. Throwing himself forward, he was able to avoid most of the debris but as he looked back, he could see the General was not so lucky.
"SIR!" He called, only able to see the man's leg through the debris.
Kneeling, Liam began moving rocks to the side. "Come on sir, answer me..." He pleaded.
"Har...ris..." Came the faint voice of the older man.
"Keep still, sir. I've almost got these rocks off of you."
"Go..." Jack said, wheezing.
"I'm sorry, sir." Liam replied shortly, moving the last of the rocks. "Nobody gets left behind on my watch."
"That's an..."
"There!" Liam said triumphantly. Picking up his light, he winced. The General's leg was obviously broken and was bleeding. Recalling his meager first aid, Liam took off his fatigue jacket and wrapped it around the wound. "I'll have you out of here soon, sir."
There was no answer from the unconscious man, not even a tiny moan as Liam moved the bleeding leg.
"Oh man." He sighed. Standing back up, he grasped the General under the armpits and began pulling him rapidly through the tunnel. There was a tiny glimmer of light able to be seen from the entrance. "Almost there..." He whispered. "Almost there..."
Another bomb rocketed the ceiling of the cavern. Liam dropped Jack's arms, leaning his own body over the injured man's head.
Looking up, Liam froze. The entrance to the tunnel had been sealed off. "NOOOO!!" He howled.
Losing the bit of sanity he had managed to hold onto, he began clawing at the rocks, pulling them down as he tried desperately to free himself from his underground prison.
He didn't register the sharp points tearing at his skin or the blood welling from the many wounds on his hands; he had only one thing on his mind: getting out.
There was a small explosion from the other side of the cave, and Liam turned to find Kinsah climb through the small hole. "Liam. Come."
Throwing himself at the hole, Liam clawed his way to the surface, curling into a little ball on the ground.
"Where's Jack?" Daniel asked, trying to give the man some space, but needing to know the answer.
"Behind...dark..." Liam whispered.
"He's still in the cave!" He yelled back to Teal'c and Nick.
"I will retrieve him." Teal'c said.
"No, Teal'c, you're too big." The lean dancer protested. "Stay on this side...I'll pass him through..."
Nodding, the Jaffa stood impassively as Nick slipped himself down into the hole. "He's got a bad leg wound." He called up.
"I will help carry..." Kinsah said, looking at Teal'c as he joined the Jaffa at the hole they'd made with a small blast from their C-4.
Nick carefully pulled Jack up to the hole, where Kinsah and Teal'c took hold of his arms and gently extricated him. Nick hopped out a moment later.
Daniel looked up over the top of the tunnel to find some Jaffa. "LOOK OUT!" He said, grabbing his P-90 and firing at the Jaffa, powering up his staff weapon.
Nick hit the ground, shielding Jack. Liam was in no state to fight, so he grabbed the man's P-90 and gave cover fire.
Within moments, all of the Jaffa were dead. "The other patrols will have heard the skirmish by now." Teal'c said, helping Nick up. "I will carry O'Neill...we must hurry..."
"Right." Nick said. Bending down, he gently scooped Liam up in a modified Jive lift. "He's a little heavier than Lena...let's hurry." He groaned.
Kinsah picked Nik'las up into his arms, and they ran toward the Stargate like their lives depended on it, and Daniel quickly input the symbols to get them home, and as the Stargate opened a wormhole, they heard the approaching warriors.
"GO!" Daniel cried as the sound of staff blasts began plaguing their ears.
Nick quickly went through followed by Kinsah and Nick'las.
Teal'c, still carrying Jack's seemingly lifeless body, followed Daniel through the Gate seconds before the wormhole shut down.
Sam nodded to Walter as she quickly counted the members of the team. He closed the iris, and she hurried down into the Gate room. It was then that she realized Teal'c held her husband's limp form in his arms. "Oh, God...Jack..."
"He's alive, Sam." Nick said quickly.
She took a deep breath to quell the tears before turning her gaze up to the control room. "Get a medical team down here immediately!" She cried, trying not to sound as desperate as she felt.
Liam was shaking uncontrollably in Nick's arms. "It's okay, Liam...it's okay."
Sam looked at the young man, and saw his vulnerability. She swallowed bile as she realized that in many ways he was probably worse off than Jack. Suddenly, risks that she'd calculated in her mind weren't so acceptable. "Call Dr. Mackenzie." She whispered to one of the SFs.
"Too...dark…not...enough...light." He managed.
"We're back, Liam...we're home..."
His eyes were wide, not seeing his surroundings. "Have...to...get...out..."
Janet had just run into the room. "Take him to the infirmary. NOW!"
Nodding, Nick jogged out of the gate room straight to the infirmary. However, when he tried to put Liam down, the young man clung to him. "NO!"
"Okay..." Nick said, holding the young man as he would one of his young sons.
Liam had a bruising grip on Nick's arms, as though he was afraid this one small piece of reality would be torn away from him.
"Liam?" Janet asked, her voice soothing.
The young man didn't answer; his eyes were still wide with fear.
"Liam, I need you to let go of Nick...I need to treat your arms..."
He was silent until she tried to pry his hands loose. "NO!" He howled.
She nodded to the nurse, who administered the waiting sedative.
Liam's eyes gradually calmed, but his knuckles were white from their death grip on Nick.
Janet gently pried his fingers from Nick's arms. "It's okay...we've got you..."
Liam nodded as he closed his sleep-laden eyes. She turned to Nick. "Thanks...you can go check in with Sam..."
He nodded. "Thanks."
He hurried up to the briefing room, and knocked on the door before entering.
"Come in, Nick." She said, from Jack's office.
"Thanks..." He said, nodding as he entered.
She stiffened as she felt the presence of the naquadah in his blood. She turned to him. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"
He raised a curious eyebrow before nodding amiably.
She got out of the office, and seconds later, two SFs came and took Nick into custody, strong-holding him and pinning his arms behind his back, forcing handcuffs onto his wrists.
"What's going on?" Nick asked angrily.
Sam walked back into the room, a steely look on her own face. "Take him to one of the holding cells."
"Sam!" Nick protested as the SFs dragged him away.
She sighed before sitting down in the chair and resting her head in her hands. Today had been a hell of a day...
Only five minutes later, she was standing in front of the holding room. "I'm here to question the prisoner." She said with another sigh.
Nick was sitting on the bench, his arms crossed across his chest starring off into space.
"I'm Colonel Carter...acting commander of this base at the moment. What's your purpose here?" She asked, harshly.
I think she means you, Ian.
He bowed his head and as his head came back up, his eyes flashed yellow. She stepped back as if startled, but she did so out of a mere precaution for her own life as well as the life of her unborn child.
"I am sorry that I have startled you." The Tok'ra began. "I am Tok'ra."
"Sure you are."
Nick sighed. "Sam, I'm serious...this is Iandrum...he's been a prisoner for a thousand years more than I have..."
She glared at the man. "You're not Nick."
"Then I guess we have nothing further to discuss." He said sadly.
"What are you doing here?" She pressed.
He bowed his head again and the alien was back. "My name is Iandrum and I need to make contact with Selmak." It said urgently.
"I don't know who you're talking about." She said, her features carefully schooled.
"Selmak of the Tok'ra...I know who you are, and I know that the host is your father, Jacob."
"You do, do you?" She asked, looking at the man standing in front of her with a look of defiance. "And why, if I knew Selmak, would you need to speak with him?"
"I have much to tell the Tok'ra council...I was sent on a mission many lifetimes ago and in order to preserve myself, I had to hide amongst the enemy."
She chewed on the information for a moment before she turned, showing no emotion and pounded on the door to be released from the cell.
Nick let his head drop into his hands. "This SUCKS!"
She walked out into the corridor only to be met by Janet. "Sam!"
"Janet!" The woman said, hope shining in her face. "Tell me you have good news..."
"Jack will be okay...he broke his leg, but it was a clean break. I've set it and stitched up his leg."
"Thank goodness." She said, releasing the tension she'd held as she waited for an answer. "Is he awake? I have something to tell him..."
"He is, but not very coherent."
"Okay...anything else?"
Janet's face became graver. "Liam...is pretty bad."
"How bad?" She asked, studying the doctor's reaction.
"He might never fully recover."
"Mentally..."
"He has claustrophobia, Sam..."
"I've already called for Dr. Mackenzie...hopefully he can help..."
Janet shrugged. "I honestly don't know."
Sam nodded. "Thanks."
The doctor smiled sadly and went on her way.
Sam released a sigh before she ran into Daniel. "Where's Nick?" The archaeologist asked.
"In a holding cell...he's a goa'uld." She told him, her voice cracking with emotion.
"No, he's not! Sam, he's a Tok'ra!" Daniel said.
"Prove it, Daniel." She said, angrily, before she reached the control room. "Send a message to the Tok'ra. We need to talk to them."
"Okay."
As Walter sent the transmission, Daniel looked at her. "Just remember the way he was holding Liam before you go condemning him, Sam."
Sam sighed as she walked back to the infirmary to sit with her husband. Her emotions were a mess, and she didn't trust herself completely right now. "Reynolds?" She asked, the nearby colonel. "Let me know if something happens."
He nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
She waved wearily to Janet who was on the phone as she walked over to the bed where Jack was lying. Then, she heard Janet's conversation. "Cassie, I need you to come in...I have some...bad news...leave the kids with Lena…"
Sam's heart felt like it was bleeding when she pictured the girl's response to the words. So many of the people she cared for were in the "line of fire", so to speak, and so many of them had been hurt by this mission.
Hanging up the phone, Janet sighed. "There are some days I really hate my job..."
"I know how you feel." Sam said, swallowing down tears. "I can hardly wait until I talk to Lena..."
"What? Nick's fine."
She shook her head. "He's a goa'uld."
Janet closed her eyes, feeling pain shoot through her as she recalled the man who'd brought such joy to their lives since his "induction" into the "family". "Do you want me to send Daniel back to your house?"
Sam shook her head. "I'll talk to him…and I'll call Lena…"
Daniel walked in. He swiftly headed to where his wife stood, and put his arms around her, enfolding her in a gigantic bear hug. She reciprocated the embrace, holding him tightly as tears misted her vision.
Sam looked back at the bed whereon her husband lay, and for a moment, she was envious of Janet's position. She, at least, had a husband who wasn't injured, she wasn't pregnant and in command of the facility, she wasn't…almost instantly, Sam's mind shot back into the proper perspective. Everyone was having trouble with this.
"You okay, Sam?" Daniel asked, not relieving his grasp on his wife.
She nodded as she swallowed down tears. "I need you to go and switch places with Lena…Cassie's already on her way down."
"You're gonna tell Lena about Nick?"
Sam nodded. "Somebody should…before she sees him…"
"Sam…I know you don't believe me, but…"
"I want to, Daniel. And believe me, if anyone knows what he's going through, it's me." She said, with a sigh. "But I can't let a goa'uld loose unless I know for absolute sure that he's a Tok'ra."
"Wait…I missed something…" Janet said, glancing between Daniel and Sam.
"Nick's claiming to be Tok'ra."
"Oh boy…" Janet said, recognizing the familiarity of the events.
"Yeah…and you thought YOUR job sucked?" Sam said, sitting beside her husband. "Try placing a friend under armed guard and listening to him scream your name…and do absolutely nothing about it."
"After the man who is now your husband did the same thing to you…" Janet said, softly.
"Yeah…" She said, taking a deep breath as she looked at her husband, tears welling up in her eyes. She took his hand in hers, and held it up to her cheek.
"I'll…be back…" Daniel said, kissing Janet quietly.
"I know. Say hi to Michael for me."
"I will." He said, nodding.
Just then, the klaxons went off, signaling an incoming traveler. "I'd better go..." Sam sighed.
"I'll let you know if he wakes up." Janet said, sympathetically.
"Thanks..."
She hurried to the Gate room, looking up to the control room for confirmation. "Receiving Tok'ra IDC, Ma'am."
"Open the Iris." She commanded.
A few seconds later, her father walked through. "You needed to see me?" He asked lightly.
"Dad!" She said with a sigh almost filled with a sense of relief. "Yeah...I need you..."
"What's going on?" He asked, his eyes focused on her.
"Kinsah's world has been taken over by Aten. He was exiled for blasphemy, if you can call it that...we recently received some intel that he's building a fortress, and we sent Daniel, Teal'c, Liam, Jack and Nick to try and talk some sense into them...Nick was captured...we sent a rescue, and now, Jack's healing from a broken leg, Liam's got a severe case of claustrophobia and Nick's a goa'uld...or Tok'ra...I can't tell...he says he's Iandrum..."
Jacob's eyebrows shot up to his hairline and Selmak took over. "Iandrum? Are you sure?!"
"He was asking for you." She said, focusing her sight on her father. "I thought it was just a ploy...you know, use the host's knowledge and get the rebel..."
"We have been searching for Iandrum for many years...we supposed that he had been lost."
"Well, Dad, I...I hope you've found him..." She said, leading him to the holding cell where the Tok'ra sat.
"Iandrum?" Selmak asked carefully.
"Selmak." Nick said, standing. "I would offer to shake your hand, but as my hands are quite literally tied behind my back, I am unable to do so...It is good to see you, old friend."
"To make sure it is you, I must ask you a few questions." Selmak replied apologetically.
"Like how when you were a mere child of 100 years, you got involved with Hathor...and it took you another hundred years- when you changed hosts- until they sent you out on missions again?"
Selmak narrowed his eyes. "Iandrum, we are NOT going there!"
"Why not? Would you rather I tell Samantha of the time that you were found without your clothes on by Garshaw, and nearly produced a new fleet of Tok'ra on your own?"
"IANDRUM!" Selmak roared.
Nick grinned before turning to the observation room. "So...believe that I am who I say I am?!"
"I guess so...sorry about all this."
"It's okay..." He said, shrugging as Sam motioned for the SFs to release his hands.
"Ah, circulation! It's a wonderful thing." Nick chuckled wryly as he rubbed his wrists.
"I'm sorry." Sam said, entering the room. "I've...I've been in your position before, it's just..." She took a deep breath. "We'll talk in the briefing room in a few minutes."
He nodded, stretching.
Sam turned to her father. "Dad, can you show him?" She asked, placing her hand under her extended stomach.
"Of course, sweetheart." Jacob said, smiling slightly.
"Thanks." She said, leaving the room.
She walked up to the surface where she met a frantic Lena. "Where's my husband? You found him, didn't you?!"
"Yes, Lena, we found him, but...I think you should hear this first..."
"No...I want to see my husband!" She cried, pushing past the pregnant woman.
Sam sighed as she hurried to catch up with Lena who headed straight for the briefing room. Nick looked up just as she walked in. "Lena..."
"Nick." She said, breathing deeply as she saw him standing there. "You're...you're okay...you're really okay..."
Before he could respond, she ran over and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him. "I've been worried sick!"
He hugged her tightly.
Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks as she pulled back and studied his face. "You're quiet...is everything okay? Everything's okay, isn't it?"
Sam walked in the room. "Lena, he's..."
He silenced the woman with the silent raising of his hand. "Lena, I'm...not who you think I am..."
She looked at him, confused. "What?"
He bowed his head and when he returned to his upright position, Iandrum made his presence known as he made Nick's eyes glow. "I am Iandrum. I am pleased to have met your acquaintance."
Her eyes widened as she stepped back with a gasp of horror. "You...you...you're not my husband!"
"Lena..." Nick pleaded, quickly regaining control as Iandrum relinquished it. He took several steps forward as Lena retreated some more. "Look, if you sit down, we can explain it to you..."
She slapped his face as he put his hands on her arms. There was a moment as she saw the hurt in his eyes before she hastened from the room, tears falling down her cheeks as sobs racked her body.
"Lena!" Nick called, running toward the door.
"Nick..." Sam said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'll go talk to her..."
His shoulders slumped.
"I'm sure she'll be fine." She assured. "Just give her a little time..."
"Well, that went well…" He said, sarcastically as he slinked back over to the briefing room table.
"Nick..."
He brought his eyes up to hers. "What the hell do you want me to say?! My wife slapped me and ran out of the room and I can't be the one to comfort her. How the hell would YOU be feeling right now?!"
Sam held his gaze steadily. "I had Jack walk out on me when I had a Tok'ra host, Nick...been there done that."
He studied her before sighing in defeat. "I'm sorry..."
"I understand, Nick...just don't shoot the messenger, ok?"
"I'm trying..." He said, bowing his head in pain.
Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder for a few seconds, Sam left the room to allow him time to think.
We're in trouble, Ian.
I know.
What are we going to do? It's not like I'm Harry Potter and can wave a magic wand to make everything ok...
Well, we're going to start by giving your wife the space she needs...sounds like Sam and Jack can do more for your marriage than you and I right now...
No kidding...
There was a moment before Nick sighed. Well, if you're going to be taking up real estate in my head, might as well be friends, eh?
We'll start by being properly introduced then. I am Iandrum of the Tok'ra.
Nick Kosovich. Nice to meet you, Iandrum.
And you.
Where are you from?
A little of everywhere...and you?
Australia originally, but New York City nowadays.
I've seen the images of Australia in your mind. It's beautiful. You must miss it greatly.
Sometimes...and sometimes it's better to have left.
You miss your mother.
Yes...and Thomas also.
It was an accident. His death was not your fault.
All it took was one game of Battleship...
Don't play the 'what if' game, Nick...it doesn't do anything except pull you down. Believe me, I should know.
Yes. my leige.
That's better...the Tok'ra have LONG since forgotten my TRUE title!
Don't get a fat head, Ian.
Nick...
Yes?
Just be quiet before you feel the most common tongue-lashing...and yes, I said 'feel' and not 'hear'.
Uh oh...
Oh yes...I'm connected to your nervous system...I wouldn't mess around with me, I were you...
Great...you've got the power and what do I get? I get to be the house.
Pretty much...
That kinda sucks...
I'm just giving you a hard time...I won't subvert control of your own body...just borrow it now and then.
Okay...and even then, advanced warning would be nice. Not always necessary, but nice.
Hey...that's the ONLY way I operate...
Just yanking your tail, small one.
Okay...well, this whole blending business is making me tired...I think I'm going to take a nap, and as I notice that your adrenaline spike has worn off, you should too...
Sounds good.