22 - Recovering
~*Amb*~
~Year 1, Month 3, Day 11~
I flinch when Samantha begins putting oil on me.
"Amb?"
"Sorry. Unpleasant memories."
She continues. We are by the river. Lantash is standing guard while Pete is washing clothes. I hate the fact that he's there, but a recent wave of newcomers, some who have gained power, make him vulnerable.
Her hands feel wonderful on my skin, and I close my eyes.
"How do you feel?" She asks.
"I like your hands."
I feel them change, from being extra gentle to pressing slightly, massaging.
"I'm sorry. I know I smell bad."
"Probably, but I'm used to all of us smelling…not great."
I chuckle slightly.
"Besides, that's why we are bathing you."
My scalp tingles as she massages oil into my hair, and I gasp slightly. Her sensual hands slowly work down my body, and I almost reach for myself. Pain shoots through my arm and hand instead.
You can't stroke yourself anyway, Malek thinks. Burns, remember?
I wasn't thinking. Tears threaten in the reminder, and Pete can see everything. I stiffen slightly, glaring at him. He probably took joy out of seeing the burns.
I doubt that.
Of course, he did. Now I can never-
I assure you, I can heal these burns. In a few days, you'll be fine.
I feel a touch on my face, and I realize that Samantha is wiping away tears.
"Amb?"
"I became distracted." I glance to Lantash, and I see that he is worried.
Malek sends warm vibrations in my skin, and that helps me to relax.
Samantha continues.
"Be…gentle," I say when she reaches the very area I so wish wasn't burned.
She is, and it feels strange. It feels like she's touching me through a thick layer of cloth, distant. It feels good, but it also hurts.
"Sorry," Samantha says.
I nod and she begins down my legs. My feet tickle when she reaches them, and she smiles as she makes sure to get between the toes. They are not burned, so she takes her time, just massaging my feet for several minutes, and the tingles move upward.
Then she and Lantash help me turn.
"He should also be cleaned…thoroughly," Lantash says as he carefully places my arms by my sides. "I can do so if that makes you uncomfortable."
"Amb?" I hear her say. "Do you mind me cleaning you?"
"No. It's not like you haven't touched me there before." I hear a soft hiss, and I realize I forgot about Pete.
Malek takes over when he feels my irritation growing again. "Though that was under much more pleasant circumstances."
Lantash chuckles.
Unfortunately, my back took the brunt of the burns, but Samantha is gentle. Up. Up. …Neck.
I moan as she massages over me.
Lantash apparently cannot resist because he approaches.
"This." His hand brushes against my skin, and I know he's directing her hand.
Fingers press against me. Malek and I jerk suddenly as tingles run through our skin. I make halting moans, then feel his fingers press harder in a stroke.
"Shall we continue?" He teases.
"You are not allowed to stop," I answer hoarsely. "You…"
"Then squeeze right-"
Shivering bliss overpowers me.
Aw, it feels good. My pain and humiliation seems to melt away. I feel loved.
When I return to reality, I hear Lantash's sensual, vibrating laughter.
"Now she knows how to curl your tail," he whispers to Malek.
"This is taking a bath?" I hear, and that makes me groan. Pete.
He is annoying, Malek thinks.
"This is mild," Lantash teases as he helps me into the water.
Sam follows with a rough cloth, and she helps me hold the side.
"Ready?"
I nod. I can't stand, not even in the water. I feel her begin to scrub the non-burned areas. Water and oil clean me better than water would alone.
It also makes us smell pretty, Malek thinks.
Given that it's cooking oil, that makes me laugh. At this point though, I mostly associate the scent with sex.
Sam switches to another cloth when she needs to clean injured skin.
"Now my skin is very soft," I say with a smile.
She kisses me softly.
I carefully wrap my arms around her, using her for support as I kiss her. Then I grin in amusement.
"What is it?"
I blush.
"Don't you blush on me."
That makes me laugh. "Sorry. I… I can taste Jolinar."
"What?" She frowns.
"The naquadah. There is much more in your system than before." I smile. "See? Taste." I kiss her again.
She looks confused, but kisses me. Her hands hold me close.
"Oh!" She realizes. "You have a slight…metallic taste."
"That's from Malek."
"I never noticed it before."
"Jolinar has had time to enhance your taste buds," Lantash says as he looks back to us.
I retreat so that Malek can ask, "Do I taste good?"
"Yes." She smiles. "It reminds me of iron."
He smiles. "I still need help with his hair."
She nods.
~+~+~.
It taste several rinses to get the oil out of my hair. After, Lantash carries me to the room.
Pete follows with the laundry. Sam only carries a knife, essentially acting as a bodyguard for the moment. I admit, I feel much safer this way. It is rare, but every once in a while, someone tries to attack while one of us is carried. Martouf and I have both been dropped as a result.
My eyes close. Malek is still in control, and he's drifting off to sleep.
I soon follow.
~*Sam*~
~Year 1, Month 3, Day 15~
Lantash leans in, touching my sides lightly. His lips brush against mine. My head tingles, moving down my spine. I find myself moving over him, and he immediately removes his prison gown.
Mine stays on. Being so intimate in prison is still very strange to me. Jolinar is quiet, purposely, letting us have this to ourselves. Malek is also quiet, though he's clearly entertained.
Lantash gasps, and that entices me. I begin moving faster. It's been too long since I've had good sex.
"You feel great," he says as one of his hands takes advantage of our position.
I gasp as a new sensation is added. He is different from Malek, but no less skilled. There is an almost strange, wonderful, combination of submission and dominance on the same time. Even in taking his time, I am soon shuddering over him.
He lasts for several minutes longer, and I catch my breath after, realizing that my hands are on his wrists. I laugh. "I didn't realize I pinned you."
He sits up and kisses me. I don't know if it was habit or intentional, but he touches my neck in a way that makes Jolinar tremble. I gasp, surprised as a powerful shiver extends throughout my entire body. It takes me a few seconds to catch my breath again. Malek approaches as I do.
"Was I as expected?" Lantash asks smugly.
"Memories don't do you justice." I grin.
Malek kneels down, caressing Lantash's neck before kissing me. "Do I need to earn back my…what do the Tau'ri call it? My title?"
I laugh. "You are equal champions."
"Above all others?" He moves over Lantash.
"Oh, are we having sex now?" Lantash asks.
"Yes, and in front of your wife."
Lantash laughs before retreating.
Don't just watch, join in, Jolinar thinks.
I am unsure what to do, but Jolinar has multiple ideas. I kiss Malek as he begins thrusting.
They both grab me closer, and I feel Martouf's fingers, matching Malek's rhythm as Malek himself kisses me.
"Tell me," Malek demands as he wraps a hand around me.
"Far beyond," I gasp as his own fingers explore.
"More?"
"Harder."
"You're tight. Had no one else explored you in this manner?"
"Only you and Amb."
"No wonder Pete hates me."
"You have a…strange fixation…" I gasp.
He laughs, thrusting harder. I feel Martouf's fingers curl as he moans.
"Tell me," Malek demands.
"No," I tease.
He kisses me again, gripping me in a manner than he never could before. Jolinar intensifies every touch, every move.
"Tell me," he growls playfully.
I grip over him as I kiss him again.
"Now." He stops suddenly, shivering over Martouf.
I squeeze to make him moan even louder. Suddenly, I'm on the floor, and he's over me. His eyes flash playfully.
"Tell me."
"You already know it."
"I want to hear it. My ego needs the boost."
I laugh. "Your ego never needs a boost." I kiss him. "Even your fingers are better than Pete."
His eyes glow in delight.
"Happy now?"
"Almost. Did you think about me when he was on you?"
"I tried not to."
He laughs. "Truly?"
"I didn't want to be rude, but…" I trail off as Pete walks in…and he looks pissed. I sit up quickly as Malek gets off me.
"You had to insult me?"
"How long were you out there?" Martouf asks.
"I just arrived."
"We were just playing around." Malek excuses.
He feels bad, Jolinar thinks. Pete is angry, but he's mostly hurt.
"Pete…" I approach him. "I didn't know you were there."
"It's his own fault," Lantash says. "Stop spying, and you won't hear what you don't like."
"I heard you having sex, and… I didn't want to see…or hear it, but it's evening. It's not safe out there." Pete crosses his arms, looking down. "I didn't know what to do."
I glance down, feeling worse. Part of me hopes that he is lying.
I swear, I didn't realize he was listening, Jolinar thinks.
He is telling the truth, isn't he?
This time, yes.
"The fault is mine," Malek defends. "I won't do it again."
Pete nods slightly, but it's already too late. The damage has been done. He is quiet when he goes to his bed of rags.
~+~+~.
The next morning, Malek starts breakfast early even though it's Pete's turn to cook.
"Malek?"
"I wanted chili," he excuses with a smile.
"It's my fault too, for playing along." I help him with the breakfast.
"I should not encourage discourse within the group. I…" He sighs. "I don't like him. He has a way of making Amb…uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable."
"Uneasy. There's a…prickling in Amb's chest, a heaviness when Pete is too near, or when he makes comments."
"I don't know what to do with that."
"It's not Pete's fault. Nor Amb's. I wanted to make him feel better."
"Could it be jealousy?"
"I considered that," he admitted. "We don't know."
Can I talk to him? Jolinar asks.
Yes.
Jolinar takes over and takes his hand. "I would suspect that it's a combination of jealousy and anger, and perhaps, insecurity about himself."
Malek looks to her.
"Maybe Martouf isn't the only one who needs time alone."
Shame crosses his features.
"There is no reason to be embarrassed. Taking care of our hosts is our priority. You cannot let this anger…this hatred consume him."
He kisses her softly. "Thank you."
She serves him some chili. "Martouf would not mind sharing his calming room with you."
He takes the bowl, smiling before he leaves.
~*Selmak*~
That was impulsive, I think as I see Fin'ar drop to the floor.
He won't touch my daughter again, Jacob replies.
We don't know which prison is under his care. How do you propose we rescue Sam when you killed the only one who could have told us?
Do you honestly think he would have answered that question?
I sigh softly. True, I admit. Zar keeps that on a strictly "need to know" basis, and I simply don't have the clearance.
And it might be years before we do. She doesn't have years. We don't even know if Malek survived his injuries.
I am not going to presume his death again.
And despite what you think, I do have a plan.
Oh?
With him dead, his two subordinates will be recalled. We have a better chance in intimidating them into talking than we did with Fin'ar.
That…is actually a really good plan. I wiggle in pride. My intelligence is wearing off on you.
I love how you managed to take credit for my plan. He smiles, knowing that I am joking.
Yes, of course. I send him warmth as a way of hugging him.
~+~+~.
Before we can even get to the prison, we need a way off when we get there.
Which prison? Jacob thinks.
He's abandoned these ones.
That one as well.
He's been favoring this one lately.
For normal prisoners, Jacob replies. Sammy was sent to wherever Malek was sent.
There is a tel'tac in the hanger bay that can cloak. If we can figure out which prison to go to, we can use it.
Definitely not that one, I think as he mentally gestures to a frozen planet.
The door behind me opens, and I turn to see Shak'l…with his staff weapon open and pointed at us.
Shit, Jacob mutters.
"Tok'ra, you are to be executed, then revived for questioning." Instead of firing though, he stands there with an evil grin.
I run. As others come in, he does make a shot, and the fire hits close enough to burn his arm. I retreat to heal him as Jacob keeps going without a break in our stride.
I thought we were dead, he admits.
At that range though, and his skill? The miss was intentional, but he had to make it look real.
He's a spy?
He's too old to stand there and gloat. Only the young Jaffa make that sort of mistake.
"Kree… Kree… Kree…" is softly heard with the sound of the alarm.
Jacob runs to the hanger bay.
"Lord Jarl," greets one of the Jaffa. "What is happening?"
"Kree," says Zar's voice over the speaker.
Jacob hurries to the tel'tac without looking like he's rushing. Once he's inside, he cloaks the ship and prepares for takeoff.
"Lord Jarl is a traitor-"
The tel'tac is immediately fired on, but it can thankfully take a hit. Jacob flies us out.
The ship is firing, I warn with a wiggle.
I see that!
A beam hits near, and I am thankful they are shooting blind.
That was close, I think.
The ship suddenly shakes.
They hit our engines, Jacob thinks.
I can see that. I cringe as I prepare for the next hit.
They fire elsewhere.
We are still cloaked. I sigh in relief.
Finally, we are out of range, but our engines are failing. Jacob hurriedly selects a planet to crash on.
A planet or it's moon are the only things in range, he thinks.
You can't possibly be thinking of the planet. It's pure ice and snow.
Sam, he argues.
Fin'ar did not live on an ice planet.
Are you sure?
Yes.
He aims for the much more hospitable moon.
Jacob. I feel his anger and sorrow, more concerned about her than he is for us.
I failed to get her out of there.
We aren't dead yet. I haven't given up.
His hope is renewed as we brace for impact.
