Breathing Space
Chapter five
Sometimes Life is Good
George Hammond and Jacob Carter relaxed
in deep overstuffed chairs and swirled their scotch. They’d had a wonderful meal, discussed old
times, more recent events, and talked about their grandchildren. They were back at George’s home now, though, so
they could talk more freely.
Finally, George brought up the topic
they had touched on earlier at the base, saying, “I had a long talk with Martouf,
and also with Lantash, after this happened.
I’m ashamed to say that it is the first time I’ve ever had a one on one conversation
with them, with no one else around, where we actually began to get to know one
another.” He looked embarrassed for a
moment, and then confessed, “When we first told them about Sam leaving, it was
obvious that Lantash was furious. At one
point, Dr. Fraiser suggested that Martouf take control and Lantash informed us,
in no uncertain terms, that if Martouf was in control the base would probably
be destroyed. Well, not exactly those
words, he was much more restrained, but we got the idea.”
“I realized then that I really knew
very little about them, and as two aliens under my command, just as I had spent
time with Teal’c to learn about him, I should have done the same with them. Everyone in that room assumed that Lantash
was the more violent, the less restrained, of the two of them.”
“Martouf admitted later that his temper
was something he guarded against because if he became really furious he tended
to break things. He told us that he
tried never to allow that to happen, but this had caught him off guard, and
Lantash had taken over to control him.
He said that he realized we wouldn’t consider that acceptable, but that
it was something those that blended came to appreciate and accept as a good
thing when they were prevented from doing something, ah, detrimental to
themselves and others.”
George stopped for a moment recalling
that confession, and smiling, he added, “He also assured us that his temper was
always taken out on inanimate objects or the Goa’uld, rarely against others who
were unable to defend themselves and never against women. I was glad to hear him say that, and yet, I
realized that we should have known it without him having to assure us of the
truth of that. Just another indication
that I needed to become better acquainted with the two of them.”
He shrugged self-consciously before
saying, “There is that underlying feeling that some of us seem to have, and I
am sure you are aware of it, that even though their beliefs and outlook are
different, they are still, at least physically, Goa’uld and therefore, we won’t
understand them, even if we try. I found
that to be very untrue after talking to Lantash. His emotions are as human as yours or mine,
and I’m ashamed that it took something like this, for me to take the time to
get to know him. He’s a very likeable,
er, being.”
“Lantash has always seemed so
controlled and for the most part, unemotional, other than a few somewhat
upsetting outbursts, most notably one time in particular over Sokar, which
shocked us all, that I think we all believed he didn’t feel things deeply
unless it pertained to the Goa’uld. I
think we’ve all felt that the only thing the Tok’Ra are truly passionate about
is the Goa’uld and defeating them. I can
only assume we made that assumption because they seem so formal and, sort of, I
don’t know, cool, standoffish?” He
allowed his voice to ask rhetorically, before continuing, “Anyway, after
talking to Lantash, I realize all of our assumptions were off the mark by a
whole big bunch.”
“I guess I was shocked, and surprised,
to find out that he is a very passionate being about other things as well. His feelings for Sam go so deep that…” he
stopped, not sure how to say what he was feeling. “I just never realized how deeply the Tok’Ra
feel about their mates. To him, Sam is
everything. She’s the center of his
world. Lantash has several
passions. One is the fight against the
Goa’uld. The others are Martouf, Sam,
and now this child. Should anything
happen to any one of them, it would devastate him.”
“I don’t know how they stand losing
their hosts as close as they become to them.
I guess that was another shock.
We always assumed it was just lip service, but I could tell, as we
talked that he truly cared about Martouf.
More than I would have thought possible.
And he also feels a deep bond with the other Tok’Ra.”
“Martouf, well, he explained the
symbiotic relationship in a much clearer way than it has ever been explained
before. I didn’t realize the bond
between the symbiote and the host became so intense. He explained it to me as the type of bond
that would exist between long time lovers.
He said that because you know everything about one another you
eventually do become almost as if you are one being. You still have separate emotions, likes, and
dislikes, but it becomes important to please the being you are sharing your
life with so totally.”
“He told me that the caring for one
another takes on the overtones of those you have for your mate, and that in
many ways you actually become mates with an intimacy that is the kind shared by
lovers. He went on to explain that in
many ways you become lovers in the true sense of the word, not in the sexual
context, but as beings who love each
other totally. I’m glad we talked,
Jacob, because I can understand more of their feelings now and how they exist
together. How they share
everything. Between Martouf and Lantash,
I think I have a much better understanding of the Tok’Ra, and what makes them
tick, what drives them, and how deeply attached they can become to humans. And how attached their human hosts become to
them.”
“I guess it just seemed strange at
first that there could be such love shared between different species. And I know this sounds silly, but I thought
about humans and their dogs, their cats, their horses, and on, and on. If we can have deep feelings about a species
we can’t really even communicate with on a verbal level, how much deeper could
a bond be between two that can communicate?
It opened my eyes, that’s all.”
“What are you grinning about,
Jake?” George stopped his monologue long
enough to ask.
“I was showing Selmak dogs, cats, and
horses and showing him some of my emotions about some of the pets I lost over
the years. He wanted to know if I was
the dog or if he was. He saw the
humorous side of your statement that’s all, George, and he isn’t insulted. He thinks it’s great if it helped you to
understand our bond and he can see how you could extrapolate from those
emotions onto the host/symbiote bond and realize how much deeper it would be.”
“Good, I’m glad he understands because
I wouldn’t insult him for the world. I’m
also glad because it upholds another thought I had. If the symbiotes were truly as arrogant as we
tend to think they are, he would have been insulted by my statements. He wasn’t.”
“And that brings me to the next part of
what I’ve been thinking about since my talk with Martouf and Lantash. I think their arrogance, in many respects, is
a shield they put up. In some of them,
it may be their Goa’uld genes showing themselves, but I don’t think that is the
norm. It is simply that they aren’t sure
how to relate to people, to humans, or how people are going to react to them.”
“I’m sure they don’t always get greeted
with open arms. Hell, we sure didn’t go
out of our way to be the most diplomatic of groups, and Jack’s attitude has
colored too many other people’s views of them.
I’m going to see to it that gets taken care of, too. I won’t have Lantash treated the way he has
been. Please don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean that Lantash has been mistreated
in an actively hostile way. He hasn’t
been. However, he knows that people are
uncomfortable with him and he doesn’t come forward in a group very often. It’s only since this has all come about that
I’ve realized that Lantash rarely comes forward except with Sam, Daniel and
Teal’c. He knows they are comfortable
around him, like him as he is, and accept him.
It’s only occasionally that he will come forward with Jack, myself, and
Janet Fraiser.”
“It’s time that other people get to
know, like, and accept him, so his not coming forward except with them is going
to change, too, and it’s going to change soon.
I plan to ask him to be sure to spend time at the forefront in front of
others, so they can get to know him. I
think once they do, they will find him as likeable as I do, as Sam does, and as
Daniel does. I think that perhaps Teal’c
understands Lantash more than we realize, too, and Lantash seems to know that.”
“I’m glad to hear that, George. I knew Lantash wasn’t feeling accepted, but
he would never actually say anything.
But, he didn’t come forward as often as usual. He and Martouf tend to share the body a lot more
than some. Many Tok’Ra simply find that
one is more comfortable being with certain groups, and they know when which one
should take control. Many of the couples
tend to allow the symbiote control on Tok’Ra business, but when they relax, the
host tends to take over. That is
something you rarely see, of course.”
“Selmak and I are unusual in that I
tend to have control quite a bit more than he does even in the tunnels. He doesn’t mind, and it allows him to monitor
things that I might miss. If added
strength is needed, or there is something that he is better at, then he comes
forward. Around the SGC, he lets me have
control almost constantly since he knows it makes others uncomfortable to be
around him.”
“I know. I’d like for him to start coming forward more
as well though, Jake. I think our people
need the exposure to the symbiote. They need to learn that they have human
emotions even if they aren’t human. Our
people need to actually see that they
feel the things we feel and want the things we want. Our people need to understand that, and the only way they will learn it is if
they are around them. I’m thinking about
contacting Garshaw about an exchange program other than Anise and Lantash. I think we need to see others as well.”
“And I’m also going to ask Anise to
come forward more often. It needs done
for our two peoples to come to know each other better, and it has to start
somewhere. We have the perfect opportunity
with two of our people marrying and, er, joining, mating, with Tok’Ra. I want that understanding to grow not
wither.”
George watched as his friends eyes
glowed indicating that Selmak had taken him at his word and allowed Jacob to
talk him into talking to his friend. “I
agree, General Hammond. Our people need
to come closer together if they are ever to understand one another. I will be most happy to attempt to help you,
and I will promise you not to be insulted by some of the things that I am sure
I will hear, any more than your people should allow themselves to be insulted
when they come to stay in the tunnels.
Both sides have much to learn and as you know in your own diverse
cultures, sometimes it takes time for understanding to grow. We will help you plant this seed and hope
that it grows into a healthy plant, or child, whichever way we wish to view
it.”
“Thank
you. And now that you’re here, I have a
question. What are the chances that
Daniel and Freya will have a child? I
know Anise would have to sleep, but it could be done, couldn’t it? Perhaps if it became a more common
occurrence, it wouldn’t be viewed as quite such an extraordinary event. And there really isn’t a reason they couldn’t
is there?”
Selmak blinked at General Hammond for a
moment before he smiled. “You are
correct, General. Perhaps some hints
should be dropped to Daniel, and of course to Freya, for she must convince
Anise to allow her to release her eggs.
Once Samantha has returned, perhaps she could talk to Anise and Freya
and point out that if they had their children close together, they would all
have playmates as they grow up. I agree
that it is a very good idea. The Tok’Ra
are not used to children, but they do not dislike them; they simply cannot have
them.”
The two men sat in contented silence as
they contemplated the future. Perhaps
things would begin to straighten out shortly.
Lantash and Martouf would learn to control their fear, Samantha would
come home, and the Tok’Ra and the Tau’ri would begin a new stage in their
relationship. Swallowing a little more scotch,
they both decided that sometimes life is good.
Selmak and General Hammond had
breakfast on base the next morning and true to his word, Selmak had remained in
control and talked to different people that had come up to talk to the
General. George had been sure to
introduce him as if he was a completely separate person from Jacob and after
the first shock of having Jacob take the back seat, most had not appeared to
have a problem with talking to him.
Jacob coached him, reminding him to smile once in a while. The fact that he and the General appeared to
be getting along well went a long way towards easing any tension. If it was seen to work at the top, it could
also filter down.
Jack looked curious as he was invited
to join them. He also seemed slightly uncomfortable
until General Hammond said quietly, “Get used to it, Jack, because this is the
way it’s going to be until people become more comfortable with the Tok’Ra. I’m not going to have Anise and Lantash
uncomfortable while they are here at the SGC anymore. It’s simply not acceptable. We are going to make them welcome and come to
know them. I’m not going to continue to
allow them to feel as if they should stay out of sight, so that our people
won’t be uncomfortable. Our people are
going to get to know them, so they won’t be
uncomfortable.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me to know that
Major Carter is also concerned about that, and it may be another reason she
wants to leave. She is as much aware of
the fact that Lantash is not as accepted as Martouf is, as we are. She was much more comfortable and accepted by
the Tok’Ra when she was in the tunnels, than Lantash has been here. That is going to stop. Your attitude is going to be seen to undergo
a change. You will speak of them with more
respect. That, Colonel,” General George
Hammond stated, “is an order.”
Jack understood. He nodded as he answered, “Yes, sir.” This wasn’t a suggestion by the General. It wasn’t negotiable and while there were
many things that Jack could skirt, avoid, and out right disobey, he could tell
that this was not one of them. The
Tok’Ra were to be treated with respect.
Period. Got it.
“George and I were discussing some of
the Tok’Ra that we thought might be good candidates for an exchange program,
Colonel,” Selmak stated. “Do you have
any that you feel would fit in better than others?”
“I don’t know a lot of them. Aldwin?
Maybe Ren’al and Malek?
Selmak nodded. “Malek is a base commander, so he might not
be able to stay for an extended time, but he might consider a short stay. I thought that perhaps Arwanna and Daimesh
might consider coming. They are a mated
pair, and she and Samantha became quite close during Samantha’s stay in the
tunnels.”
“I remember them. Yeah, they’d probably be good. I mean it would be a pair so people could see
that the Tok’Ra have couples that are sort of like our couples. I mean they see Carter and Martouf, but that
is one of us and one, er, two, ah, a pair of you, just like Daniel and Anise
and Freya. So they might be some good
ones to use for a getting to know you type of exchange.”
“I will ask them as soon as we return
to the tunnels then. Thank you for your
input, Colonel,” Selmak said solemnly, in his deep measured tone.
“Sure, anytime,” Jack responded, then
continued, “Well, if you don’t need me for anything else, I have some paperwork
with my name on it that is calling me.
Or so the General told me yesterday evening when he asked for it, er,
again,” Jack groused, almost good-naturedly, as he stood to leave. Giving them a lopsided grin and a jaunty
salute, he strode out of the cafeteria and headed for his office and the
dreaded paperwork. It had to be done, so
while they were on base he might as well get it finished. It looked like there were going to be some
changes. He wondered how everyone would adjust. Seeing Teal’c in the hall ahead of him, he
hurried to catch up.
“Hey, Teal’c,” he called as he got
closer.
Teal’c stopped and turned toward him as
he heard his friend call his name. “Good
morning, O’Neill. Is there something I
can do for you?” He asked in his usual
stoic way.
“Nah, not really. Have you, uh, talked to the General this
morning?” Jack asked, attempting
nonchalance and patently failing to achieve it.
“I have, O’Neill. I sat with him and Selmak for quite some time
during breakfast. We discussed the idea
of more Tok’Ra and SGC personnel becoming part of an exchange program. More people need to become accustomed to the
Tok’Ra if we are to remain viable allies.
Having Anise and Lantash here has not had the success I had hoped,
mostly, I believe, because they do not come forward often enough. I believe that GeneralHammond has come to the
same conclusion, and that he has asked Selmak to spend time talking to SGC
members while he is here, and that he plans to do the same of Lantash and
Anise. I believe it is an excellent
idea.” It was a very long speech for
Teal’c, but left Jack in no doubt as to how he felt about the entire situation.
“So you have no problem with more snakes walking around the base?” Jack asked, slipping into his normal mode of
referring to the Tok’Ra.
“I do not think of them as snakes, but as an alien species
different from any other I have known.
They are of the same species as the Goa’uld, yet they are not
Goa’uld. I have found Lantash and even
Anise, to be very intelligent and easy to talk to. I have found myself enjoying their company
very much,” Teal’c replied solemnly.
“Right.
I have to start thinking that way, too.
I’m just finding it a little difficult.
Like I said before; I will never trust a Goa’uld.”
Teal’c nodded, “So you have said
before. But we are not talking of the
Goa’uld. We are talking of the Tok’Ra,
who are very different from the Goa’uld.
By lumping them all together, it is the same thing as saying that every
human being is exactly the same with the same traits, weaknesses, needs and
wants, a patently untrue statement.
Therefore, while you can class the Tok’Ra with the Goa’uld, you cannot
paint them with the same brush.”
Jack stared at Teal’c, and then thought
of Lantash, and his obvious anguish over Sam, his love and caring of her. “Yeah.
Yeah, Teal’c, you may just be right.
Well, I’ve got paperwork calling my name. Talk to you later, T.”
“Indeed, O’Neill. Indeed.”
Teal’c agreed as he watched his friend walk away. Perhaps it was not too late to hope that Jack
O’Neill would discover that the Tok’Ra were not the Goa’uld. He certainly hoped so for he was missing out
on a very fulfilling friendship by not allowing Lantash to get to know him, or
for himself to get to know Martouf and Lantash.
Time alone would tell. He would
go to the gym. He needed some
exercise. These on world days were very
long for him at times. Or perhaps he
would kel-no-reem. Either occupation
would pass the time.
Selmak, Jacob, and General Hammond
wandered the base and talked to people, being sure they talked mostly to
Selmak. They did the same in the gym, in
the control room, in the infirmary, in the halls, in the rec room, although at
this time of day only a few off-duty personnel were there, and during lunch. General Hammond had been amused at the
alacrity with which Selmak had taken him up on his suggestion that they stop by
the infirmary in the middle of the afternoon.
He was not surprised to see Jacob come forward and spend most of his
time talking to Janet Fraiser. He didn’t
even notice when George left to go get some paperwork done, but Janet had seen
the hand signal over his shoulder and blushed as she realized that the General
knew she was attracted to Jacob Carter and was arranging for them to have time
alone.
She suggested that it was time for her
to take a break and invited them to join her.
After realizing that George had left, they agreed, and headed for the
cafeteria, the closest thing one could get to a place to meet and talk other
than the rec room. Neither was the most
romantic place in the world. She wished
she could somehow let Jacob know that she found him attractive, and that she
would like to get to know Selmak. She
didn’t want to insult him by telling him she wanted to talk to Selmak, but she
didn’t know how else to get around to meeting and talking to him more. After all, if you took one of them on, you
took both of them. From what she had
seen of Sam and Martouf’s relationship, the symbiote added another dimension to
the relationship that was pretty wonderful.
She was brought back to the present and
the man sitting across from her when what he said penetrated her mind. “and so we decided that the people need more
symbiotes to get to know than just Lantash and Anise. I imagine that Selmak and I will be spending
more time here with Selmak in control so that people can interact with him.”
“I think that is a wonderful idea,”
Janet said quietly. “So, does that mean
that he will be coming forward to talk to me, so that I can get to know him,
too?” She asked. What an opportunity, she thought as Jacob
looked up at her, appearing startled.
Then he smiled at her, “Yes, I guess it
does.” He dropped his head and she
watched as it raised and his eyes glowed.
“Hi,” she said softly. “How have you been?”
He smiled at her and even laughed a
little, saying, “I have been quite well, Dr. Fraiser.” The depth of his voice startled her. She had heard it so seldom, and though she
knew that Lantash’s was deep, it always startled her anew when she heard
Selmak, or Lantash for that matter, speak.
She smiled self-consciously, as she
said, “Yes, of course you have been.
It’s such a common question for us.
We tend to use it to break the ice, you know, start a conversation when
we aren’t sure what to say. And please,
call me Janet.”
Reaching across the table, he took her
hand as Jacob sputtered in his head.
/What are you doing? You’re going
to horrify her! She’s young enough to be
my daughter!/
“Very well. Janet.
It is a delightful name. Tell me,
Janet, are you as attracted to Jacob as he is to you? I feel that you are, but for some reason you
are afraid to tell him so. Is it because
of me?”
Janet Fraiser’s jaw dropped for a
moment, but she recovered quickly, as his words sank in. “Jacob – Jacob is attracted to me as
well? Why hasn’t he ever said so? He’s never even asked me out!” She exclaimed, suddenly indignant.
Selmak smiled sardonically, as he said,
“I am unfamiliar with the mating rituals of the Tau’ri, but this asking out, is it something which I may
do as well as Jacob? Would it be acceptable?”
“Yes.
Yes it would be quite acceptable.
I’m glad to see you work a little faster than Jacob does. Would you mind telling me though, why Jacob
never asked me out himself, if he really was interested in me in that way?”
“Two reasons actually. Myself, is the first, of course. He was afraid you would never consider
becoming involved with what is for all intents and purposes an alien being, for
now that we are blended, he is an alien,” he said, watching her expression
carefully. It did not change, so he
gleaned nothing from it. “The second is
because he feels he is too old for you.
Since I am very much older than he, if age is in fact a problem for you,
then you are much more likely to object to me, than to him.”
“We meet aliens all the time in this
job, and Sam is married to one. She
seems very happy for the most part, except for this problem with the, ah, over
protectiveness, which we are all guilty of, not just Martouf and Lantash. Her relationship with the two of them, though,
is wonderful from what she has told me.
So, I would like to get to know you, and I don’t consider the fact that
you are an alien a negative factor, or a detriment to us having a
relationship. As for his age. He will actually age slower than I will, so I
hardly think that matters, unless he doesn’t want to be involved with an older
woman down the road.”
“I doubt he had thought of it in those
terms, but you are correct, Janet, and he will age less quickly than you. And no, he had not considered it, and he says
it doesn’t matter. Age is
irrelevant. So, we have passed both
hurdles in a very short space of time.
Therefore, I will now, what was it you said? Ah, I remember. I will now ask you out if I can get the particulars from Jacob.”
Janet watched, fascinated, as they
carried on an internal conversation.
Finally, he looked up to say, “He informs me that we must request your
company to a meal, or a movie, or both.
Since we will, in all probability, not be leaving the base this evening,
would you consider joining us for a meal here in the cafeteria this evening,
and then, perhaps, a movie in the rec room?
Or, Jacob says we could go to our room here on base if that would be
acceptable, since it would give us more privacy from prying eyes. He is thinking that you might not wish to be
seen with us.”
Janet smiled and shook her head, as she
answered, “I have no objection to being seen with you, but I would like to have
a quiet evening just getting to know you both a little better, so I’ll
compromise. As I said, I won’t mind at
all being seen with you, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Therefore, I’ll accept your offer of a meal
here, and then we’ll go to the rec room, for a short time, and perhaps watch
some TV or play some pool. Then, we’ll
allow every one there to see us leave together, and we’ll spend the remainder
of the evening in your room watching TV, or doing whatever else sounds
interesting, or comes to mind. By
leaving early with you, and being seen going to your room, it will be
understood that I am staking my claim,” she said placidly. She watched Selmak’s eyes widen and grinned,
knowing that Jacob was explaining her final comment to him.
Letting him catch his breath, she
continued, “Now, thank you for the invitation.
What time would you like to meet for the meal? Would six or so do?” She asked, thinking she could go home and
change if she left a little early.
“That would be delightful, Janet. Tell me.
By being seen leaving with you in this way, does it also point out to
others that Jacob and I have also, er, staked
our claim?” He wanted to know.
“The women will understand at once, but
you’ll have to ask Jacob about the male half of the population. I can make it plain in other ways, of course,
if you decide you want me to,” she answered suddenly realizing how forward she
had been. It was out of character, but
she had wanted to get to know Jacob Carter for a long time, and she was tired
of waiting around. She had the
opportunity, and she was taking it, by golly.
“I find that I like the idea of the
other males on the base knowing that we have claimed you, Janet. Thank you for allowing that and for agreeing
to be taken out by us. Shall we come by your office at eighteen
hundred hours, er, six o’clock?”
“Yes, that will be fine, and unfortunately,
I need to go back there now. It’s
already well into the afternoon and I have some things to finish before I can
get ready for our date. We’ve been here
quite a while.”
“That is very true. I had hoped that Daniel and Martouf would
have returned today. Evidently Martouf
and Lantash are having a great deal of trouble coming to terms with
everything,” Selmak said, with a sigh.
Janet stood, as she nodded her
agreement. Then looking down and seeing
their troubled look, she said, “If they should come back, I’ll understand that
you need to spend time with them. I’ll
not expect you to come by if they come through.
We will do it another time though, that I promise you. I - I’ve wanted to get to know you, for quite
some time, and I’ve wanted to become better acquainted with Jacob as well, so
if something happens that preempts our evening, we’ll take a rain-check, and do
it another time.”
Selmak looked at her and his features
softened, as he said, “Thank you, Janet, that is very thoughtful and generous
of you. And be sure that if Lantash and
Martouf turn up, and we do have to cancel this evening, then we will gladly
agree to your rain-check, which Jacob
assures me is simply a promise to do something at a later time, and we will
indeed have our, ah,” he paused, obviously listening, “date, later. I will promise
you, also. I will, in fact, look forward
to it with great pleasure, whether it is tonight, or in the future.”
Leaning forward on the spur of the
moment, Janet surprised herself and kissed him softly on the lips, startling a
small gasp from him, before he smiled up at her. Blushing at her forwardness, she turned and
left the room. But, she couldn’t stop
the smile that kept curving her lips.
Whether tonight or some other night,
she would spend time with them. Suddenly, her life had taken a turn for the
better. She couldn’t wait for Sam to get
back. Somehow she thought she would be
pleased even though it was her dad.
Janet frowned thinking about that.
Maybe she should discuss it with Jacob.
She thought Sam wouldn’t mind, but it was her father, so maybe she
would. Yes, she definitely should talk
to Jacob about it first thing because she wasn’t about to cause Sam anymore
grief than she already had. She was
honest enough to admit that she, too, had been part of the problem that Sam had
finally had to run away from.
She walked into her office and sat
down. She was glad that Jacob had told
her that Sam was with the Tok’Ra, and that was why he was here. He had said she was fine, but missing Martouf
and Lantash very much. She had confessed
her part in the debacle, and he had assured her that he understood. And he said, it was worse even than she knew,
and he had explained about Jack and the guards.
Janet shook her head. She
couldn’t believe that Jack would have assigned people to follow Sam to the
bathroom. She sighed. Between all of them, it was a wonder Sam
hadn’t run off screaming long ago.
She just hoped that Martouf and Lantash
could come to terms with their part of this.
Jack could be ordered not to interfere.
She could be ordered to take fewer blood tests and not to hover so
much. Daniel would realize what he had
done and could talk to Nyan and explain so the young man’s feelings weren’t
hurt. But Martouf and Lantash couldn’t be
ordered to love her less, or not to worry so much. They were the ones that they should all be
concerned about. She knew she certainly
was.
She hurt for them. For all three of them. They needed something that had to do with the
joy of having a baby, not the worry part.
Her eyes opened wide. A baby
shower! They hadn’t even thought of
doing that yet. She would gather Lt.
Donovan, Capt. Adams and Freya/Anise when she got back, and they would plan a
baby shower…on the Tok’Ra base. It would
be a good experience for all of them, Tok’Ra and Tau’ri, alike.
TBC