Chapter Twenty-one Summary: - Lantash has transferred to Daniel. Things are not exactly going as they expected. In fact, there appears to be a problem that they do not appear to be able to solve. Lantash and Daniel are in a great deal of pain, and Lantash is bleeding where his tissue did not dissolve correctly when he left Sam. It is a slow bleeding; however, while not critical now, if they cannot get it stopped, it eventually will be. Jacob may have to go to Malek's base for the healers, since no one in attendance, here appear to be able to control it.

Cor's Trel'li-Mae'tek - Heart's Tear-Mate, the One who shared your deepest grief and suffered it with you. A strongly bonded mate, brought together by shared grief. Rarely a lover, however a very deep friendship is shared from that time onward.

Questelle – A substance that promotes blood clotting, used by the healers, when one of them are bleeding too rapidly for the Symbiote to be able to overcome it without help.

"Italics" – Symbiote-Host Communication

Author's Note: I've finished my contest fic, so hopefully updates for this story will be more timely. I hope. For anyone interested, I've started posting the other fic here ... it is entitled An Alliance of Friends. Pagan

Always Be Ours

Chapter Twenty-one

Joining

Lantash did not hear Sam's breath catch on a sob. He did not see Malek pick her up, so that Jacob could join them on the bed. He did not feel Per'sus join them and begin using the healing device on them. And he did not feel the jolt of alarm that ran first through Per'sus, and then through Jacob, at what they found, as they examined them.

Per'sus placed his healing device on his hand, and activated it, even as he joined Daniel and Lantash on the bed. He checked them swiftly. Glancing up, he nodded to Selmak, "He needs both of us. There are several places where his tissue is very thin and somewhat painful. It is not nearly as bad as it could have been." His gaze telegraphed to Selmak that things were not exactly as he was stating them, then he looked toward Malek and into Sam's alarmed eyes. "They will be fine, Samantha. There is nothing that we cannot take care of and mitigate. Lantash is working rapidly. You have no need to worry. Sometime tomorrow or the next day, they will awaken fully blended and well." He smiled slightly, as the tension left her.

She nodded and sighed in relief. Malek held her easily, stating firmly, "I will heal your throat now that you know they are all right, Samantha."

It was a good thing that Samantha could not read his mind. He had not needed to look into Per'sus' eyes to read that something was not as it should be. He could tell by the tension that never left his shoulders, after he checked them. Something was wrong. He just wasn't sure how wrong...whether it was very wrong or slightly wrong. There was no point in alarming Samantha, until they knew what was going on and, even then, if it was something which they could take care of, there would be no reason to alarm her at all. Only if things went completely, fatally wrong would he tell her.

She nodded once more, as she became aware of the pain in her throat, neck, and down her spine. It wasn't terrible and would, no doubt, heal quickly, even if left alone, however, Malek could finish what Lantash started. As he walked away from the bed, she looked back at them, and another sob caught in her throat. How very much she would miss his presence within her. She pulled her mind away from those thoughts, and she didn't try to answer Malek's comment, but relaxed into his arms, as he carried her up the stairs, and then placed her upon their bed. She felt the soft warmth of the healing device. It took little time for him to take care of the small area of trauma that remained I her throat. She wondered briefly why he didn't take care of the others, and decided that perhaps it was something he could do nothing about, and dismissed it. Then, he laid down beside her and drew her into his arms.

Soon now, the loss would begin to make itself known. It was there, lurking in the background, waiting. For now, she would simply accept Malek's warmth. There was no point in wondering when it would hit her. Whenever it happened, she knew that he would be there to help her through it. Feeling somewhat sleepy, she realized that it was possible that Lantash flooded her body with something to induce her to sleep. If so, that would be good. It would not hurt her to sleep for a short time. The pain of their parting would come soon enough.

Looking up at him, Sam smiled a little, saying, "I'm feeling very sleepy, Malek. I think Lantash must have done something. If I fall asleep, will you please go down and check on them? And, if something is wrong, you'll wake me, okay?" Even as she asked, her eyes closed and she slipped into a light sleep.

Malek was relieved that she required no answer. She had not recognized the thread of tension in Per'sus's voice, the rigidity of his body, the taut, strained nod toward Selmak, or his swift look at Anise, but he did. Even though he wanted to return to Lantash and Daniel immediately, he remained beside Sam, unmoving, for a brief time, before he slipped from the bed. He paused, as she stirred, and then waited to see if she would awaken. When she did not appear to, he let out the breath he was not aware he was holding. He did not think she would awaken for a time, which was probably for the best. He quietly left the room and took the stairs as quickly as he could.

Sam opened her eyes and frowned. She had dozed off, and then felt Malek leave the bed to check on Lantash and Daniel. She glanced at the bedside clock again. Where was he? He shouldn't be gone for this long, surely. How long did it take to ask how they were and get an answer? He left almost twenty minutes ago. No, he wouldn't stay away from her, even believing she was asleep, unless something was wrong.

"Daniel, as you are aware, I am having some…difficulties. I do not seem to have had quite enough tissue to make the exchange as pain free for us, as I would have liked, but I believe that the healing devices will be able to help with that. Unfortunately, I am afraid that our blending will be slowed by it, as I must help them as much as I can. Nonetheless, as soon as I have the pain and the bleeding under control, I will begin on our deeper blending, I assure you." Fighting against the pain, Lantash did another very quick analysis of his body, it's functions, and the substances, which were in his blood. Finishing, he returned his attention once more to attempting to stop both the pain and the bleeding.

Daniel knew that had he been conscious, he would have been gritting his teeth against the pain, and probably moaning as well. Even though he knew it was not 'his' body that was experiencing this searing pain, it still felt as if it was. He had to wonder how bad it really was, as he could also tell that Lantash was shielding him from the worst of it. He felt as if his skin was raw. It burned like fire in patches, some small and some large, down his spine, the backs of his legs, across his shoulders, stomach, chest, and then down his arms. "That's fine, Lantash. What, um, what has happened? I know you said you didn't have enough tissue, but I can tell by your tone of voice that something else is not as it should be."

"You are correct, Daniel, it is not as I hoped it would be, and actually believed it would be. I was quite sure that I had grown enough tissue to be able to make the exchange with minimal discomfort and, in fact, now that I have been able to check everything more thoroughly, I believe that I did have enough new tissue formed to make the transition quite painless. Even so, as you are now aware, that did not happen." He paused and Daniel waited quietly for him to explain what was occurring. He finally heard him sigh; before he explained, what he believed was going wrong. "For some reason, my tissue did not separate correctly. I left much more behind than I should have. Instead of dissolving uniformly, in places my tissue did not dissolve at all, which means that I have places that are somewhat, ah, sensitive." Daniel could 'see' him frown and his own joined Lantash's at his understatement of his condition. He could tell that it was much more serious than he was telling him.

"I am not positive if this affected it; however, there is a much higher level of certain hormones, and chemicals, than there should be, and there are some other substances, I have not yet analyzed, that are not normally there. I have to guess at this point, but it is logical to assume that, since I do not normally have levels this high, that they have caused my tissue to break down in an unexpected, as well as unpleasant, manner. I am afraid that I am also bleeding, Daniel." He sighed again, before telling him quietly, "I am bleeding much more than I should be with the type of damage I have received…and the healing devices are not stopping it. Luckily, it is a slow loss rather than a fast, constant flow. I am sure that once I isolate the substance, chemical, or hormone causing the problem, I will be able to counteract it."

"Are they aware of the problem, Lantash?" Daniel wanted to know what they were facing.

"Yes, if you listen closely you can hear them discussing it. It is difficult, but not impossible. It would be much easier to hear them, if they were talking directly to us. They may be speaking softer than normal, as well. They will not take a chance of Samantha overhearing them discussing it, should Malek allow her to return. I do not believe she will, as I flooded her with sleep inducing chemicals, just before I left her. Of course, that is assuming they worked, as they should have. At this point, I cannot be positive about anything pertaining to my abilities."

"What was that?" Daniel gasped as a sharp pain entered and mingled with all of the other pain.

Lantash did not answer at once, but waited to see if it was what he believed it to be. With a sigh of relief, he finally told Daniel, "I must assume that Anise came prepared for more than a simple exchange. She has given me a substance, which will help my blood to thicken and thus clot to stop the bleeding. Depending, of course, on whether or not it works correctly. While she is not a healer, as such, she does know a great deal about our physiology, and she has worked with Arwanna on and off over the years."

A few minutes later, Daniel felt the jolt of alarm, as it moved through Lantash. "What's wrong? You may as well tell me. I'll find out before long anyway."

Lantash frowned, before saying slowly, "It is not working, Daniel. If the bleeding continues, then I must leave you. I do not wish to take you with me, should I not survive this."

"Oh, no you don't. Don't you even begin to think about not surviving this. Do you have any idea what that would do to Sam? You will not die," Daniel told him fiercely. "Now, stop expending energy trying to keep the pain away from me, and turn all of your energies to healing yourself."

"Daniel, this is extremely painful. Are you sure you wish for me to do that?"

Daniel mentally gritted his teeth and ground out, "Yes. Yes, I am sure. Obviously, something is going wrong, and if you don't give it your total concentration, you aren't going to figure out what it is. So, just stop blocking it from me, and turn your abilities to where they are needed the most."

Lantash hesitated for a moment or two longer, before admitting that he was correct. If this continued unchecked, even though it was a very slow loss of blood, eventually they would both be in very serious trouble. After checking once more and finding the rate of bleeding undiminished, he sighed and then, 'nodded', "All right, Daniel, I will do my best."

He slowly allowed his blocking to disappear, monitoring to see how it would affect Daniel. When he was sure that, although in a great deal of pain, he was doing well, Lantash turned his complete attention to himself. There was something causing his blood to thin and keeping it from clotting, but he was still unable to isolate the substance. He would have to continue to try. He had no other choice, for Daniel was also correct about the devastation it would cause their Samantha, if one or both of them did not survive.

The group in the room stood quietly as Per'sus and Selmak continued to use the healing devices. Ten minutes passed, as they awaited the results of the injection. "What's going on, Anise? It's not working. What the hell is keeping his blood from clotting? And why didn't his tissue dissolve like it should?" Jacob was demanding answers.

Anise shook her head, replying slowly, "I wish I knew, Jacob. I am not a healer. The injection should have caused his blood to thicken and clot. As you said, it is not working, and I have no idea why. We are not in a med bay where we would have access to other alternatives. At the moment, I have no other ideas to try, but I am attempting to think about the problem and what could be causing it."

"Then perhaps we should send for Arwanna and Gava. As much as we do not want this to go further, neither do we wish to lose him. How bad is it?" Malek questioned as he strode into the room.

"It is not critical, Malek. In fact, it is a very slow seeping of blood in the places where his tissue did not detach correctly. He must have protected Samantha from the pain, as he had to tear himself loose in several places. I am quite sure that he and Daniel are in a great deal of pain. The injection I gave to him may and should have helped with that; however, it has done nothing to thicken his blood and stop the bleeding." She sighed and once again, they stood waiting for something to either worsen or get better. Neither happened.

A short time later, Garshaw stood from the chair where she was sitting and joined the group by the bed. "As you have already said, if he does not stop bleeding, even at this slow rate, something must be done, or we will lose both of them, unless Lantash also leaves Daniel. I have a very strong feeling that Daniel would not allow that, unless there was absolutely no choice left, as he would be concerned for Samantha, if Lantash passed from her. If we call in Arwanna and Gava, what is our excuse? How can we have them bring what we need without admitting that there is an injured Tok'Ra, and how do we explain the fact that we are not going to them?"

Selmak and Per'sus were still using the healing devices. They were not stopping the bleeding, but they were no doubt giving some small relief from the pain. They all stood quietly, deep in thought. So deep in thought, in fact, that none of them heard Samantha come into the room. All of them were quite startled when she spoke, "I would suggest that you start the cover story. We just have to modify it a little bit. Daniel has been taken by a Goa'uld. We add in a little here that we didn't plan on…Malek was critically wounded during his apprehension. We feel he is too critical to send through the gate or even to move him at all. And, on top of that, he was on a very highly confidential mission, which cannot under any circumstances be discussed. We need them to remove the Goa'uld, and to bring whatever they need for Malek. Tell them what you have done. I didn't hear exactly what the problem is, so I can't take you beyond that," Her soft voice and calm suggestion startled them all, again.

Realizing that he would have to tell her, Malek walked to her. Taking her in his arms, he told her softly, "Lantash's tissue did not dissolve as it should have, Samantha. He had to tear loose in several places, and for some reason his blood is not clotting. He is bleeding and we cannot get it stopped. The bleeding is very slow, so it is not a major loss of blood at this point, and he is not in a critical situation. Please, do not be alarmed. We will do everything in our power to bring both of them back to you, I promise you."

Sam nodded. "If that is what is happening then that is what I would tell them, well, more or less. Tell them that there is something in Malek's system that is keeping his blood from clotting, he's bleeding, and neither you nor he can seem to affect it in any way. Tell them that he was injected with something that may be causing it if you feel there should be more to the story. That should cause them to bring diagnostic equipment, medications, and, because of the Goa'uld in Daniel, whatever you use to remove one, even though we really do not need that. We can't tell them that, so they will just have to bring it. It will certainly help the cover story. Won't that work? I know it's kind of a simple plan, but…"

Anise walked over and surprised everyone by giving Sam a swift hug, before stating, "It's simplicity is what will allow it to work so well. Moreover, you have covered each eventuality. Thank you, Samantha."

Turning back to the bed, she looked at Selmak. "Jacob will have to go, Selmak. You must give your place up to one of us, either Garshaw or me. You are the only one that can return to the SGC and contact Malek's base. I suggest you make haste."

Selmak glanced down at Daniel and Lantash and nodded abruptly. "Garshaw would you mind? I believe that Anise should be kept free, for anything else that we may need her to do." He turned back to Anise asking, "How much of the coagulant can he be given?"

"I will give him another one in a moment. I was waiting to see if there was any change at all?" Her voice rose in a question at the end.

Looking grim, Selmak shook his head. "None. None at all." He quickly glanced at Samantha and saw that she appeared quite calm and in control of herself. He breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to Garshaw, as he allowed the healing device to stop. He handed it to her, adding, "Even though it is not stopping the bleeding, neither is it any worse in any way. It is still barely seeping. Still, over time, if we cannot control it, well…we will deal with that, if it arises."

Turning to Sam, he told her, softly, "Once we get our healers here, Samantha, they will be able to determine what is causing the problem and counter act it. Please do not become overly concerned quite yet. We are still a long way from being in a critical place and our healers will arrive long before we reach that place."

Jacob took control. "I'll be as quick as I can. If it's at all possible, I'll bring both of them. I know it's two more people that know what's going on, but I agree with Malek. We can't just…not do anything." On that note, he turned and left the room. Very shortly thereafter, they heard him grab his keys before he headed out the door.

As Anise, Garshaw, and Per'sus gathered around Daniel and Lantash, Malek looked down at Samantha and asked her, "You were asleep when I left, and it has only been twenty minutes, at most. Why are you awake, Samantha?"

Sam shook her head. "I don't know. I just…suddenly became more awake and when twenty minutes passed and you didn't return, I knew that something was wrong. I knew when you left the bed. I don't think I ever was fully asleep. I came down the stairs and heard you talking. I knew you'd probably stop, if I came in, so I listened from out there. You weren't going to wake me were you?"

Malek sighed. "No. No, Samantha, I was not. Not unless, well, not unless it became necessary. I am surprised that you have thrown off the chemicals that Lantash released into your system. Something is stopping some of his abilities. We do not know what. I promise I will not do so again. If you should fall asleep, I will not allow you to be kept out of what is happening. We simply did not wish to alarm you. As I said, at this point, while it is worrying, it is not critical. He is bleeding very slowly, more seeping than running. All right?"

Sam nodded and rested her head against his shoulder, as she told him, "That's why I am a little uncomfortable along my neck and spine, then. I assumed it was normal to feel some pain there once he left."

"No, there should be none, Samantha. I will get my healing device, and see if I can take care of it for you. I will return shortly."

"Wait! How long will it take the healers to gather what they need and arrive on Earth, Malek?"

"I would imagine it will be within the next hour or two at the very most unless they are not available."

"Is this really going to be a security risk? Having them find out about Lantash, I mean? Can they be trusted?"

"They can be trusted implicitly, Samantha. Both Arwanna and Gava have held many secrets for many centuries and neither have ever broken their silence. You may trust them."

Sam nodded and then looked around. Finally deciding that the end of the bed would be the closest she should get to them, so as to be out of the way, she released herself from Malek and walked over to it, after first walking up beside Per'sus and gazing down at them. She felt numb inside and was very thankful for it. She hoped it stayed until they were able to take care of the problem. They would take care of it. Failure was not something she would allow to enter here mind. It wasn't a matter of if they healed them; it was a matter of when they healed them. She held that thought closely to her. Reaching out she touched Daniel's leg for a moment before moving to the end of the bed. Malek returned from getting his healing device and seated himself beside her, activating it and attempting to heal the raw areas now that he could sense them.

He wasn't sure why he missed this the first time, when he healed her throat. She, too, had been bleeding slightly, however, hers had stopped by itself. That in itself was a positive event.

He turned to the others telling them, "I do not know how I missed it, when I healed her throat, however, she, too has had some bleeding. She said that she assumed the pain was normal, so she said nothing, at the time, but now that we know, it is actually somewhat encouraging, since her bleeding has stopped. She did bleed for a time, that is obvious, but it was, as you say Lantash's is, a slow seeping, and it has since stopped on its own."

She watched Malek as he gave them the information. He was not lying to her, she could tell. She didn't think he would make the mistake of not telling her something or in trying to sugarcoat something again. "Why is Lantash in so much pain, Malek? Mine was just a discomfort, not really actually painful, as such."

"I can only speculate, Samantha. However, my best surmise would be that the tissue stayed with you, and you would have few if any nerve endings in that area, since it was Lantash's tissue. Although attached to you, it still was basically his, so he is the one that has the raw nerve endings."

She yawned and nodded, satisfied with his explanation, since it made sense to her. She was still somewhat sleepy, even though she had thrown some of the effects off. "Samantha, why do you not lie down here on the end of the bed? I will stay with you, I promise."

She nodded, still more or less on auto-pilot. Lying down at their feet, she rolled onto her side so she could see their face. Then once more, more slowly this time, sleep claimed her.

Jacob walked quickly into George Hammond's office. He immediately looked up from the report he was reading, surprised that someone had simply walked into his office, until he saw Jacob. He frowned. Jacob was not happy. In fact, he was extremely tense.

"George, I need to head to Malek's base. I was going to contact them, but I've decided to go in person, so that I can be sure no one else over hears what I tell them." He shook his head, saying, "Sorry. Something went wrong with Daniel and Lantash's blending. We don't know why, but Lantash is bleeding, and we can't get it to stop. Luckily it's very slow, but I still need to make tracks. I need to go get the healers from Malek's base. They can be trusted. Much as I hate to let anyone else in on this, it can't be helped. If it doesn't get stopped, even as slow as it's happening, eventually, he'll bleed to death. I have no intention of allowing that to happen."

"Of course, Jacob. Give me the coordinates and head for the Gateroom. You have your GDO?"

"Damn. No, I don't."

"Come on, I'll get you one."

"Thanks, George. I appreciate it."

"No problem, Jacob."

The two men walked in silence. Entering the control room, General Hammond told the airman on duty, "Sergeant get a GDO for General Carter. He doesn't have his with him, and he'll be coming back fairly quickly."

"Yes, Sir. It won't take more than a minute or two."

George turned back to Jacob. "You don't have any idea why this is happening?"

"None, absolutely none. If Lantash can find out, he'll come forward and tell us. Until we can get the healers and some diagnostic equipment here, that's all we can hope for."

George nodded his understanding, and then turned as the Sergeant returned. "The code is here, Sir."

"Thank you. I need you to dial this address, Sergeant."

He slid into his seat and started to dial.

General Hammond turned to Jacob, telling him, "I'll have the forms and cards ready when you get back."

Jacob groaned. He'd forgotten they would need clothes. He nodded. "Thanks George. I'd forgotten all about getting them clothes." He frowned. "Listen, George, both Arwanna and Gava are really close to being the same size as Sam. Could we get something picked out for them? Just a couple of changes. I'm sure that Sam would share with them, if they have to stay longer and need more."

"Not a problem, Jake. Sounds like a logical idea. Janet had to come in, so she's here and will be able to pick some things out. I'm sure that she knows Sam's sizes. They'll be here."

"Thanks, George. I'm hoping this won't take long." Jacob took the GDO and headed toward the gate. He'd be there soon. The gate connected, and he walked up the ramp and into the event horizon.

Jacob stepped out on the world hiding Malek's base. The guards started forward and then halted when they recognized him. As he strode toward the rings, his mind was running in circles and Selmak was being exceptionally grim. He wasn't saying anything, but his very stillness indicated that he was deeply troubled.

The rings deposited him in the tunnels, and he turned at once to head for the med bay only to just miss walking into Zarest. "Jacob? Malek is not here. He is on the Tau'ri world on a mission."

"Ah, yeah, Zarest, I know. I'm on it, too. Listen, I'm kind of in a hurry. It's been nice talking to you, though," with those words, he proceeded on down the hall. Zarest stood for a short time staring after him, before shaking his head and continuing on to finish his present task.

Jacob walked quickly into the med bay and his gaze immediately took in both Arwanna and Gava working on something on a lab table. They were both here and there were no patients visible. Good, it shouldn't take long for them to gather what they needed to take with them. He lengthened his stride and was at their table within seconds.

Both women looked at him, appraisal, and speculation, in their eyes. Before he could open his mouth, Arwanna asked him softly, "What is wrong, Jacob?" Her eyes widened, and she gasped, "Malek?"

Feeling that perhaps he should handle this, Selmak took control, and told her, in a normal tone and volume of voice, "Yes, Arwanna, and we need both you and Gava to come back with us to the Tau'ri world." He leaned on the table, as he told them, "We will need to remove a Goa'uld symbiote from Dr. Jackson, and Malek is very badly injured. He was injured during the capture of Dr. Jackson. At one point, Malek was injected with something, and we think this is affecting him. He is bleeding and we cannot get it stopped…and neither can he. Take everything you may need to diagnose what he was given and anything that you have that might slow the blood loss. It is not extremely fast, but that will not matter, if we cannot stop it."

Even as she stood and began to gather things, Gava asked him, "Why did you not bring him here, Selmak? All of our equipment is here." She sounded truly bewildered.

Selmak took a deep breath and hoped he could make this sound as if he meant it. "We felt that his condition was too critical to chance taking him through the Chaappa'ai, Gava. We are afraid to move him at all in case it makes everything worse. It seemed that every time we had to transport him and move him the bleeding increased. After discussing it, we felt that, while more inconvenient, it would be better for him. Please be sure you take everything you even remotely believe you might need to look for a substance of unknown origin."

"You have no idea what he was injected with?"

"None. You should probably also take anything else you might need, if it proves to be something other than what was given to him. It is possible that we are not aware of something else that could cause this, so please be thorough in your choices."

Gava and Arwanna both nodded their agreement with his statements. Gava looked over at Selmak, "We will be ready momentarily."

Arwanna set two large cases down, and told Selmak, "I have to inform Daimesh that I am leaving and do not know when I will return." She turned to Gava asking her, "Do you wish for me to tell Markesh, or would you rather do it, Gava?"

Looking up from the different types of scanners she was contemplating, she told her quietly, "If you see him tell him, however, if you do not, then please ask Daimesh to explain things to him." She frowned, adding, "Let them know it could be more than one day. We will be in touch if at all possible, and if we will be gone longer than we anticipate."

Arwanna nodded and left to pass on her messages. Walking over to where Selmak was standing, she put a case on the table next to him and began to pack it. Almost quieter than he could hear, even with his enhance hearing, Gava asked him, "All right, what is really going on, Selmak? There is more to this than you are telling us."

Looking around the room as if simply bored, he answered just as quietly, "I cannot tell you here." Then he walked away and stood in the doorway as she continued to add things to the case. As he suspected Thoran was, for some reason, loitering a short way down the hall, as he pretended to read something on a data pad. After leaning against the door for a short time, he sighed, and walked back inside and joined her again.

Almost breathing her words, she told him quietly, "If you do not tell us everything, Selmak, we may not take what we need. That is why I questioned you."

Never looking at her, he answered, also barely loud enough for her to hear, let alone anyone else. "I told you the truth as far as the symptoms, Gava. He is bleeding and we have no clue as to why. Anise is there, and she injected him with Questelle. She tells me that should have thickened his blood and stopped it within twenty minutes. It did not work. When I left, she was preparing to inject him again. She did not bring anything else with her assuming that would work should it even be needed. There is something else, but I cannot talk here. You will understand why when we arrive at our destination—in the town of Colorado Springs on the Tau'ri world."

Gava's hands stopped for only a moment. "We are not going to be at the SGC?"

"No." His answer was blunt and to the point, however, he sighed and added, "You will understand when we arrive, I assure you."

"Let me see if I can understand this. Malek was injected with an unknown substance." She waited for his agreement, which he gave nodding yes. "He is bleeding, but not quickly." Again, he answered yes. "It will not stop, and that is all you can tell us at this time."

"Yes."

"All right Selmak. I have never known you to do anything underhanded unless it was very necessary, so I will trust you." Her lips quirked into a small smile for a moment, before she added, "I would tell you that, if you are lying to me, then I will never trust you again, however, that would be foolish, since I am well aware that something about what you have told us is not true."

Jacob came forward and smiled at her. "You got it."

She shook her head and looked up as Thoran entered the room. She was very glad, now that they had been talking so quietly, they could barely hear one another. "What can I do for you, Thoran?"

"I wish for you to help Calise this afternoon."

She frowned. "What is it that you wish us to do, Thoran?"

"I believe that the medical areas should be gone through and a complete record made of everything that is here. We should have an up to date listing of what we have and what we will soon need to replenish."

Gava looked at him, as if he'd lost his mind. "That won't be necessary, Thoran. We keep a running account of everything that is used and what we have left."

"I want it done anyway. You and probably Arwanna as well, should help her, and when you finish this med bay you will move to Garshaw's base, and do the same thing there."

She looked at him with disdain but none of her dislike showed, and she answered calmly, "I am afraid that neither Arwanna nor I will be here to help her, Thoran. Furthermore, even if we were to be staying on base, we still would not do as you ask. This is Malek's base. If he wishes another method of tracking used on our supplies—he will let us know."

"You will do as I have told you to do, Gava. I am a council member, and if we have decided to implement a new way to do things, then you will comply."

Selmak, having taken control and stood quietly, now looked up at him and asked, sharply, "When did the council meet and decide this? I do not remember voting on it."

"We will vote at the next scheduled meeting. I wish to have reports to put forth at that time."

Selmak turned to Gava, telling her with little inflection in his voice. "In that case, Gava, perhaps some other day you can go through your supplies, when you have the time to do so. Also, I would like for you to turn in a report of how it is done now along with a comparison of the two methods, pros, cons, equalities. But, as you say, not today."

He looked up as Calise entered the room and speaking up, he told her, "There is no rush on the report for the council, Calise. Leave it for now. Arwanna and Gava will help you with it on some other day."

Calise looked totally bewildered, but nodded her head in agreement, "Of course, Selmak, if that is what you would prefer that we do."

"It is," Selmak told her mildly. Turning slightly, he looked at the man standing rigidly beside him, and asked him, "Will there be anything else that Jacob and I can do for you, Thoran? I trust our arrangements meet with your approval."

Controlling his temper with much difficulty, Thoran bowed his head slightly, answering, steadily, "No, that will be sufficient. Now, if you will excuse me." He departed and once sure he was gone, Gava looked at Selmak and chuckled, as she shook her head, "Really, Selmak, someday your agreeable nature will come back to haunt you." She frowned once more before telling him in a very serious tone of voice, "I believe that you have made an enemy there."

Selmak smiled. "We have been enemies for a very long time, Gava; however, I do believe that I should be rather careful, when I am here. Or anywhere else that he may be, for that matter."

Calise looked at both of them, and then at the cases that were piling up around Gava's feet. "Are you going somewhere, Gava?"

Selmak answered, before she could, "Yes, she is. As you know, Malek was called to the Tau'ri world, as he is an expert in some…things…that they need translated. Doctor Jackson believed he was deciphering them correctly, but it was very important that the translation be as correct as possible." He sighed and glanced at the watch that he rarely wore in the tunnels, but always wore on Earth, before he continued, "Shortly after he arrived, soon after the mission began, Doctor Jackson was taken by a Goa'uld, and before he could be stopped, he escaped. He managed to capture Malek during the escape and used him as a hostage."

"When we finally tracked them down, he had joined the court of a minor System Lord. He learned through Doctor Jackson's memories that Malek was Tok'Ra. Needless to say, he was tortured rather badly. The Tau'ri came up with a plan, and we executed it. We retrieved Malek, captured Dr. Jackson, as well as, his uninvited guest, and exterminated the minor System Lord…he knew too much about the Tok'Ra to remain alive and at large amongst the others. His information would have made him a very nice living…at least, until the others became tired of paying for every piece of it, and then captured, and tortured the information out of him instead. We did him a favor. He won't now be tortured. Of course," he ruminated for a moment, before continuing, "there is the fact that he is also dead, which may not have been his choice of ways to avoid his fate."

"That does not answer your question, though. Malek was injected or given some substance that is interfering with his, and our, abilities to stop his bleeding. We must get it stopped. Moving him aggravates and speeds it up, so we decided to take Arwanna and Gava to him, instead of bringing him to them…and Doctor Jackson needs to be rid of his 'guest' as well."

Calise nodded. "So you are going to the SGC." She frowned and then looked at Selmak. "I would like to accompany you, if you do not mind."

"Now what, Sel?" Jacob wasn't surprised, since Malek was Calise's Cor's Trel'li-Mae'tek. "She can be trusted. Do we need her?"

"Yes, she can be trusted, but that is one more person who is in on this secret. I will try to discourage her, although it may not work."

"You're right, and that's something we would have liked to avoid happening at all. No point in adding in someone that is not really needed."

Selmak spoke in a softer voice than normal, since he had to tell her no, and he knew how close she and Malek were. "I cannot authorize that Calise." He sighed, as if in resignation and frustration. "This is a very sensitive matter that is absolutely top secret, not only on the Tau'ri world, but here within the Tok'Ra, as well. I will, however, promise you that should he become worse, I will personally get you clearance to come, and come for you myself, as well. I really do believe that he will be fine. If I thought for one minute that Arwanna and Gava would not be able to take care of it, I would take you with me. However, I do not believe it is that serious. All right?"

Reading in his face that he was being truthful, and he felt that Malek would be fine, she nodded. "All right, Selmak. I trust you to stand by your word."

Arwanna entered, and began to finish her own packing of instruments and chemicals they might possibly need, while searching for the substance causing the problem. While she did that, she told them, "I contacted both Daimesh and Markesh and explained what has happened." Turning to Selmak, she told him, "You did not say whether or not what you told us could be repeated, but I assumed that since you did not keep it to yourself, nor seem to worry about being overheard, that you did not care if that part was given as the reason."

Selmak bowed his head in acknowledgement. "You are correct. That part of the mission is not classified, er, secret information. Why they were where they were and what they were doing is what must at all costs not be discussed."

Arwanna nodded and continued her explanation, "I told them about the Goa'uld we need to extract and about Malek's injuries. I felt I must tell them something, since we may not be able to return right away. I also packed an extra uniform and other things we might need, Gava."

"Thank you, Arwanna. I am ready to leave, if you are." Turning to Calise, she told her, "If something happens and you need help, call for aid from Per'sus or Garshaw's base. All of their healers have worked here and are familiar with our medical bay area. Also, should Thoran show up and make noises or give you orders to do an inventory, of our supplies, tell him no. Selmak has already told him that, so you will be following Selmak's orders, not his."

Calise nodded, mutely, anxiety in her face and posture.

"Calise, I agree with Selmak. I do not believe that Malek is in any danger from this…however, if he is, we will notify you to come."

She finally smiled and then nodded, the tension leaving her quite obvious. "I know you will. I have both your promises now. I will see you, when you return."

They both turned to Selmak. Nodding, he picked up several cases and turned toward the rings. As they walked down the crystal hallway, he told them, "You will both have to sign some forms, when we reach the SGC. This mission is very much covert, and you will have to agree to absolute silence about anything that you may hear or see, while you are there."

They both looked at him in surprise, but simply nodded, and continued walking. Topside, Jacob came fore and upon reaching the Chaappa'ai input the address for Earth. After the wormhole stabilized, he sent the code. Receiving confirmation, they all picked up their cases and stepped into the Chaappa'ai, each of them wondering what they would find on the other side.

TBC