Chapter 80 - Remedy
Until she saw Sha're among them, Sam didn't know how they were going to react. She could have gone for detached objectivity, talking about formal negotiations. But this was her old home, and that needed to be her last straw.
Then Sha're made the step, and pulled her into a tight hug that broke through the first frozen layer of insecurity. Sam and Jolinar both felt the pang of regret, and the joy of reunion, and they laughed as they hugged her back, feeling on the verge of happy tears.
"It is so good to see you again," Sam said, pulling back a second later and looking at her. "And—you work for the SGC now?"
"I did," Sha're said, and her nod was grave, but Sam knew all that could wait.
"But what happened to you?" Sha're asked, a dark cloud crossing her face as she reached a hand to Sam's face.
She didn't flinch when Sha're touched the scar; it was far enough in the past now. "Things didn't go so well on our end," Sam said simply, and rested a hand on Sha're's arm.
"I'm afraid it is likewise," Sha're said, giving a painful shrug.
"That can happen later, right?" Sam said, feeling finally eager to see them all again. She took a few steps forward down the ramp.
"Wait!" Daniel said suddenly, and he had a gun whipped out faster than Sam could see. His face went suddenly hard and Sam wondered what could have driven him so quickly to such desperation.
Then she turned to see who he was aiming at, and came sharply into focus. "Daniel!" she cried out, stepping between his gun and Vala, who stood in stunned shock.
"I don't know what she told you, but she is not a Tok'ra," Daniel said, gun still aimed. "She's a Goa'uld, Quetesh."
Sam heard Vala shiver and take a step back. "Daniel, put the gun down," she said slowly, quietly. "If you will just take the time to check, you will see that yes, she was once a host, but this is not Quetesh. This is Vala."
Thankfully, comprehension came quickly to Daniel's eyes, and when he lowered the gun the others lowered too. "Oh‚ I'm sorry," he quickly apologized.
"I shouldn't have come," Vala said under her breath.
Sam, determined to make this all work, turned and grasped her hand, tucking it in the crook of her arm to keep her from hiding. "Vala wished to see Sha're, to ask her advice on how to live," she explained, and looked to Sha're.
"Of course," murmured Sha're, and stepped close to Vala.
Vala, who had gone stiff and nervous for a few seconds, gave Sha're a tight smile.
Sha're's own smile was genuine, and she clasped Vala's free hand openly.
"General Carter," Jack said, looking to Sam's other companion.
"Not anymore, Colonel," Jacob said lightly, stepping forward with a raised eyebrow. "This may not be the time, given the tension, but it appears that the Tok'ra cause has become a family business. Sam and I are both coming here as representatives of them, in fact."
Jolinar snorted inwardly at that, even as Sam kept a straight face. They hoped it would work, though.
Jack slowly nodded, and Sam saw confusion in all of her team, but most of all him. After a few seconds, though, he grimaced and looked around him. "Stand down, stand down," he ordered irritatedly. "Sorry, we're a little unprepared," he said, finally looking to Sam.
"Well, we expected something like that," Sam said, walking down the last few steps until she stood in front of them. Jack, Daniel, Teal'c, so different and yet still the people she'd once loved.
"SamanthaCarter," Teal'c said then, and Sam turned to him. "You are well?" he asked, nodding towards her.
Sam felt a little choked up at that, already. She nodded, trying not to let her eyes get wet with tears. "Yeah Teal'c," she managed, attempting a smile and only managing to look emotional. "I'm very well, actually, considering. Thanks."
Teal'c nodded, but before she could even think about what to do next, Daniel spoke.
"Sam, we're so sorry," he burst out, looking suddenly more conflicted than hard and desperate. "We had no idea—"
Jolinar pushed Sam and all her overwhelming emotions forward, and she didn't let Daniel continue, just grabbed him in a tight hug. "It's all forgiven, Daniel, really," she said over his shoulder, as he hugged her back and something healed between them.
When they pulled back, he looked full of sorrow, but smiled anyways. "We thought we'd never see you again," he admitted.
"And we were proved wrong, for not the last time," Jack said, and offered his hand.
Sam felt herself grin as she shook it, nodding to him. "Probably not, sir," she said, the last word coming automatically but feeling weird in her mouth.
"What brought you back now?" Daniel asked next, and they all seemed to settle into a circle around each other.
"There's so much to tell, but not in the gateroom," Sam said, feeling Jolinar's gentle push in the back of her mind. She was grateful to have someone more objective in this moment of hopes and dreams being answered.
"Right," said Jack neatly, and nodded upwards. "Briefing room?"
Sam felt another wistful smile. "Just like old times."
"No, not really," Jack said, sounding regretful. "But hey, protocol counts, right?"
Jolinar wondered sharply what could have affected them all so much, even as Sam's emotions clouded much of her clear vision. ~It'll all come out eventually,~ Sam said, as they all walked up.
She glanced back to see Sha're holding Vala's hand, walking with her up the steps. Vala's eyes were wide, wary, but curious at the same time. Sam hoped that things would continue to go smoothly.
ooooooo
Daniel knew just how Jack was feeling as he hesitantly sat in Hammond's chair. They were botching this, but had to keep going and fixing it along the way.
McKay and Dixon, who'd stayed in the control room the whole time, now took silent seats at the end of the table. Daniel and Teal'c sat on one side near Jack, Sam and Jacob took the other side. Sha're and the woman called Vala sat a little lower down on their side.
"Just for the record, I'm required to ask," Jack said, with a pained look. "You're not here on a mission to destroy us, right?"
"Not at all," Sam answered, with a purse of her lips. She smiled again, and even with all the changes, she still looked like Sam when she smiled.
"Good," Jack said, with a visible brightening to his countenance.
"I'll tell you why we are here," Sam followed, looking to him. He nodded his encouragement. "Well, first to heal the rift, of course," she said, her smile turning sad for a second. "But actually, it's mostly to bring Vala to you."
They all glanced down to the woman next to Sha're. Now that he knew otherwise, Daniel could easily see that she was not the Goa'uld he once saw.
"The Tok'ra helped her be free of Quetesh some time ago," Sam said. "But we don't have a place for her; she asked if she could come here, knowing that Sha're found peace. I thought that the SGC wouldn't mind, given that they're the only ones in the galaxy who are really familiar with the idea of hosts."
"That may not be so easy as you imagine," Jack said, frowning.
Daniel saw something crush in Vala's face, and saw Sam look instantly worried. "What is it?" she asked.
"The SGC's not going to be around in a few days," Jack explained, as if the words gave him a bitter taste.
Sam's face looked stricken. "What's happening?"
"We're being shut down," Jack said. "Too much risk involved. An alien force almost destroyed us a couple weeks ago, and before that, well, things weren't so hot."
"But they can't do that," Sam protested. "What about Earth's defense?"
"They aren't worried about that," Jack said, with snark that wasn't directed towards her.
The tone of the conversation had changed. Daniel saw Sam get a determined look on her face, and she turned to look at Jacob. He realized that so far, they hadn't gotten any indications that Sam and Jacob were Tok'ra—it was contrary to expectation, but a little comforting. Sam and Jacob seemed to share a silent conversation for a second, then Sam turned back to Jack.
"Okay, before anything else?" she said, sounding exactly like Sam. "I need to talk to the President, or whoever's controlling all this."
Jack's eyebrows rose. "Who do I say is calling?"
Sam's eyes glinted with purpose. "A High Ambassador of the Tok'ra, who has no intention of losing contact with this world due to minor political issues."
Jack's look to Sam held worlds of meaning, awe and apology and pride and regret all copied a thousand-fold. "Coming right up, ma'am," he said briskly, and rose and went to Hammond's office.
Sam was going to try and save their asses. Sam the Tok'ra was going to help them, if she could. And for some reason, Daniel had complete trust in her.
ooooooo
Jolinar was mildly surprised that Selmak had nothing to say when Sam spoke to the Earth authorities. After all, they were not supposed to do any of this. But perhaps they saw without Sam telling them that it was a bluff.
"Yes, I know, they made mistakes," Sam said over the phone after a couple hours of explanation and negotiation. "They're a young project, what do you expect? I've been out in the world for a while now, I know that you've got to trust in those. Youth will learn. And believe me, you're not in as great a danger as you think. Especially not if you've got us on your side, which is what will not happen if you shut the gate down. You may still be attacked, but you won't be able to call for help. I'm going to fight to make sure that you aren't left like that."
Oh yes, it was a major bluff. But one that was centered in truth, and for Sam and Jolinar, that gave them no regret about using it.
When the conference finally ended, all that Sam had gotten were a thousand questions about the Tok'ra and her experience, but Jolinar told her that it was plain that they were thinking about her request as well.
*They had to have been briefed about the Free Jaffa, given some of their questions,* Jolinar commented.
Sam nodded, assuming that Bra'tac must have made them aware. It would be a good bit of evidence to support their claim.
But for now, a day's recess was called, and Sam was to be set up in the SGC's VIP quarters. She had barely been given a key when she was reminded of the other reason why she was here. Resting a hand on the grey walls, she remembered when this had felt like home.
She had to go down to the infirmary, and give Janet a fierce hug of reunion. Janet had been sharp on the uptake, and had driven off during Sam's conference call to bring Cassie back. The rest of the team joined them, and after tears and more hugs and a few awkward questions, they all ended up in the mess hall.
"What does being Tok'ra mean?" Cassie asked after a few other questions.
Given the darting glances, Sam knew that they'd all thought it. She smiled. "This," she said, and stepped back for Jolinar to take control.
Her eyes flashed as Jolinar took control. "Greetings again," Jolinar said easily, a slight smile on her lips.
Sam nudged her and told her not to be so impertinent.
*The last meeting means little now,* Jolinar responded stubbornly. *Besides, this should be enjoyable for us all, including me. I like doing it this way.*
"You're Jolinar?" Cassie asked.
"Of course," answered Jolinar. "Who else should be a part of Samantha?"
"Well, we wouldn't know, would we?" Daniel said, his chuckle only a little shaky.
"Neither did Samantha in the beginning," Jolinar said, with a little sigh of remembrance. "But we found ourselves bound by friendship and experience after a time, and given all that happened to us, it is not surprising. Now we are too close to be separated."
"So Sam will always be...an ambassador?" Jack asked, trying to sound open but looking self-conscious.
Jolinar laughed. "I believe we both hope not," she said, sending an amused glance to them all. "We prefer other kinds of missions, with more action being in our taste." Sam saw a weird sort of relief on her team's faces, and felt a little more proud of herself and Jolinar for managing so far. "But yes, we are Tok'ra for life. As is Samantha's father; he is blended with one of our oldest and wisest citizens."
"I suppose we should thank you, then," Daniel offered, with a kind of awkward smile. "You took care of Samantha better than we did, in the end."
"How could I not?" Jolinar said and shrugged. "She is a part of me, and I love her dearly."
A few seconds of reflection settled around the table.
Jolinar closed her eyes for a second so Sam could come forward with little fuss. "So?"
"So, we're impressed?" Daniel said, a real smile flashing for a second. "I was just remembering what Bra'tac told us. How did you manage to pull that off?"
Sam's smile was slightly strained. "It's a long story," she said. "Long and painful, at points." She didn't have to say anything about her scar, they all looked to it as soon as she made the implication.
"Someday, I think we'd like to know," Daniel said slowly.
Looking around at all of them, Sam saw an honest if still slightly hesitant welcoming. Her fears mostly allayed, she knew that they did still care. It satisfied her mission quite well.
"And I should like to hear more about this Jolinar that, before this year, I heard of only in rumor," Teal'c spoke up, nodding towards Sam again.
"Oh, yes, Jolinar's pretty amazing," Sam admitted. "There's a lot to tell...I'm sure it'll all come out eventually."
There were a few chuckles at that, and then the conversation turned to other things when Sha're came with Shifu and Vala.
ooooooo
Daniel lost track of how many official things happened before the end of that day. Briefings beyond briefings, especially when Hammond returned, and briefings from both sides. For the government's sake, there were also medical tests by the dozen. Sam and Jolinar both laughed their way through these, and Daniel was glad that they had been able to see how much trust was given to them now.
He felt a little lost with it all, still, especially with the SGC's fate hanging so delicately in balance. And even more with the fact that there was no way to go back to the beginning. When they talked about the Re'tu attack, Sam had looked upset, but it was not the sharp blanching that it would have been if she had heard a year ago. The SGC was not her lifeline anymore, and so it being in danger wouldn't affect her so deeply.
It struck him again when the fact came out accidentally that Sam was now married. There was a lot of "What?" from everyone who heard, but despite a slight flushing, Sam conveyed all the information with an easy acceptance. He wondered if she even understood how confusing it sounded, how both she and Jolinar could possibly be married to two other people. But the Sam he had dealt with was gone, and any more of this and he'd probably figure it out for good.
He didn't mind so much, really. After all, she didn't, so why would he? Especially if things were fixed, he wouldn't mind so much that they weren't back to normal.
By the end of the day, the one thing that was settled was that Vala Mal Doran now had a home on Earth. Not that Daniel was surprised. Sam had guessed right when she thought that, if anything, Earth was friendly to ex-hosts. Especially ones like Vala, Sha're informed him later. "She is very lucky to have so much natural curiosity and tenacity to help her through this," she said. "Also, I like her."
But it was late that night when things started to make sense.
Sha're and Shifu had fallen asleep when Daniel woke and couldn't join them again. Too many things weighed on his mind, if not his heart.
The halls of the SGC were mostly empty, and he walked them, hands in pockets, running a dozen thoughts through his head at once.
When he came back to Level 25, he saw Sam sitting against a wall, knees bent.
"You okay?" he asked automatically.
"Oh—Daniel," she said, turning to him. She'd let her hair down, and it still looked a little odd to him to see it so long and so dark, framing her face. "Just couldn't sleep."
"Me neither," he admitted, and in a move that felt slightly odd, he sat down next to her.
"It's kind of weird, I think," she said, "but I can't sleep here because it doesn't feel like home."
"Really?" Daniel said, sounding more surprised than he felt.
"I didn't expect it either," she said with a small smile.
"How long a road was it to that point?" he asked curiously.
"Long," she answered, chuckling. Her face went dark for a second. "We had to go through a lot, Jolinar and I. After going through the fire, it was like we were melded together, and abandoning each other just wasn't an option."
"I'm sorry about that," Daniel said, worrying about what could have happened to her, and yet content that she seemed able to brush it off.
"What about you?" she asked, looking to him curiously.
Daniel breathed out slowly. "Well, McKay and Dixon are part of the team. It was nice while it lasted."
"It still will be, I'll make sure of that," Sam interjected.
"That would be nice," Daniel said with a light nod. "And then you brought Sha're to me, and Shifu, and things kind of formed up around that. Dixon has a family too. So does Teal'c, but you already knew that. Jack's been talking to Sara, McKay has a sister with a family, Janet and Cassie kind of ended up with us too. It didn't feel like a long road, but we had to go a long way. We were almost one large family, before all this. Now, I'm not so sure." He looked out at the hallway, feeling depressed in that moment, even after the hope he'd expressed.
"Hey," Sam said quietly, and he looked to her. "Family's important, Daniel."
"I know that," he answered, slightly confused.
"No, it's the most important," she said. She sighed. "Even when we choose what family it'll be. Family's got your back when things are down; they don't let things fall apart. You are all a family, I can see that. Which means, even if you're separated, even if there's disaster...you'll come back together somehow, someday."
Daniel was quiet for a moment. "I should start thinking like that more often."
"You should," Sam said, sounding almost amused. "You're all a bit pessimistic right now."
"Well, we've had plenty of reason over the past months," Daniel said, giving her a look.
"I know," Sam said, nodding. "And I know the feeling. But things get better, Daniel, and you keep trying and working and you make it better. You and your family."
They sat together, not sleeping, just thinking. When Daniel finally returned to his room, though, he felt like he had a hope that wasn't desperate.
ooooooo
Sam got what she wanted the next day, and the world became instantly brighter.
Her persuasion had convinced the IOA to reevaluate what the SGC had done, and they had decided to put a little more budget into the project, set up completely different guidelines, and restore focus on gate travel. Defense and caution had their part as always, perhaps more than before, but Sam's sharp words on the importance of diplomacy and exploration had found their mark.
Jolinar informed her that she clearly liked too much having the power as "ambassador". Sam retorted that Jolinar was enjoying the bluffing part too much. In any case, it did feel good to have both trust and a sense of control.
And then they got to watch the aftermath. Suddenly the base was alive, suddenly all awkwardness was gone, and suddenly it was the family that Daniel said it was. Sam found herself and Jolinar being introduced to everyone and their cousin, apparently, and even though she tried to focus on remembering names, mostly she got lost in watching them.
Clara Dixon would give McKay a look, as if he was a younger annoying brother. Teal'c and Dave Dixon talked quietly in a corner. Sha're laughed as the Dixon kids held Shifu and asked cute questions. Daniel grinned as he watched Jean and Jack argue about something, and Jean seemed to be winning even newly recovered. Even if they let Sam and Jolinar in, the connections were strongest among themselves.
Sam had never felt so happy. She didn't need to belong here, because they belonged here. She could come, she could visit, she could indulge a little remembrance. As official ambassador to the Tok'ra, she was given one of the one-time GDOs that they'd given her before, the little radiation sphere. Anytime she needed to come back, for whatever reason, she could do so.
"We haven't even touched your lab, you know," McKay said, when he finally talked to her. She found his personality just slightly grating, but it didn't matter so much when he was one of SG-1.
But she was also ready to go home. Back to her family, back to her connections, back to her life. Nostalgia was nice, and so was reunion. Just not permanently. And now that Vala was safe, and Sha're knew where to find her father and the rest of her people—well, Sam's official business was done as well.
*I am very glad that we took the risk, now,* Jolinar said warmly, as they prepared to return to Abydos through the gate, and then back to the Tok'ra home-world.
Sam agreed as she hugged her team goodbye. Slightly choked up, especially once she got to Sha're and Vala, she made her way through without a real tear. Her father was there too, having made all his connections while she was with her team.
"We'll be back, you know," she said as she stood at the bottom of the ramp. "Have to make sure you don't get threats of shut-down again."
"That'll be appreciated," Hammond said unexpectedly.
Sam smiled broadly. "I just hope you find amazing things to tell me about when we come back."
"And you keep safe," said Jack, pointing a finger at her.
Sam laughed. "Yes sir," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Good luck," said Daniel, nodding.
"Indeed," Teal'c concurred.
Sha're sent her a warm look that needed no words, and the gratitude on Vala's face made Sam really in danger of crying.
"Thank you," she said. She turned and walked up a few steps towards the already-open gate, then turned around at the top. Her father and Selmak stopped with her, and waited. "We, Samantha and Jolinar of the Tok'ra, bid Earth a cordial farewell."
And then, big smiles all around, she walked through the gate.
~And now,~ she said, as soon as they were back among the Tok'ra, back home. ~And now all our business is finished.~
*Which means a new mission,* Jolinar said brightly.
~I'm ready,~ Sam said solidly. ~Whatever it is. I've got a whole life of this ahead of me. It can't start too fast, not after all the waiting.~
*You have no idea how wonderful that sounds,* Jolinar said warmly.
~Of course I do,~ Sam teased back. ~What else would I know? I'm right here with you, after all.~
*And so you are.*
And so they were.