Disclaimer: STARGATE is a registered trademark of MGM/UA and SHOWTIME-Online. This fanfic is not intended as an infringement to those rights and is written solely for entertainment. No copyright infringement intended. I'm only borrowing the characters and will give them back when I'm done writing. I derive no profit from this story other than the satisfaction of letting my imagination roam around in someone else's universe. So, on to the story…
SG-7 returned through the Stargate, and proceeded down the ramp in the embarkation room in Stargate Command, nestled deep within Cheyenne Mountain. Major Thomas pulled off his helmet, and spoke to General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill, who were waiting for the Marines' return.
"It's as you thought, Colonel," Major Thomas reported. "Apophis has deserted the palace. Apparently, he feels safer on Chulack, despite the failure of his plot to use Teal'C's son against us."
"And any sign of the technology we're looking for?" the General asked.
"Hard to tell, sir. The place looks empty, but we didn't have a lot of time to look around. I wouldn't rule it out," replied Thomas.
"I believe it is likely Apophis has left the technology in place. Eventually, he will return to the palace - as soon as he believes he has regained his place among the System Lords," came Teal'C's deep voice. He and the rest of SG-1 had entered the embarkation room, to assess whether the next phase of the mission would proceed.
Lieutenant Kristen Franklin listened with half an ear to the conversation, as she pulled off her helmet and ran her hands over her brown hair. The rest of the marines in SG-7 did the same. She hoped the mission would proceed, but she longed for a hot shower more. The planet was a strange climate - hot and muggy during the day, but the nights were cool, almost cold. SG-7 had been gone for 24 hours, on a reconnaissance mission. The next phase would involve a return with SG-1 to look for this technology they spoke of.
"It's up to you, General," Colonel was saying. "But I think it's worth a shot. The benefits would be incredible, and we would be safe with SG-7 to watch our backs."
The General considered this, and made his decision. "Colonel, SG-1 and SG-7 will ship out at 0600 tomorrow for the final phase of this mission. Dismissed!"
Major Thomas turned to his team. "Well, gang, hit the showers and get some shut eye. We gotta go baby-sit SG-1 in the AM."
This comment brought smiles from the marines, and a good-natured chuckle from Colonel O'Neill. "Yeah, get lots of rest, marines. We'll need you strong to carry all this good stuff back for us. That's all marines are good for after all - muscle."
Franklin smiled - she loved being part of the SGC - they were all part of a team, and this good-natured teasing was part of that. As she headed out of the embarkation room, she caught Daniel Jackson's eye and gave him a warm smile. Franklin had an interest in archaeology, and she and Dr Jackson had spent some time working together in the Cultural Studies labs. They were good friends, and this was the first time they would ship out together on a mission.
As Franklin shut off the shower and grabbed a towel, Capt. Sam Carter came into the locker room. She smiled at the younger woman.
"You know, it's going to be nice to ship out with another woman in the team for a change," Sam said as she headed for her locker.
"Yes, ma'am," Franklin responded. She liked Capt. Carter, and this would be a good experience, serving alongside her. She hoped she learn some things from Carter, about how to get on as a woman in a predominantly male environment.
"Ah, Franklin?" Sam said, "why don't you try just calling me Sam? Or Carter? I don't think I could stand being 'Ma'am'ed in the field."
"But, um, ma'am, you are my superior officer," Franklin stammered.
"Then I'll answer to Captain. But not Ma'am - it makes me feel old," Sam laughhed. "Get some sleep, Franklin, and see you in the embarkation room at 0545."
"Sure Captain."
Franklin finished dressing and returned to her on-base quarters. They were tiny, as befitting a junior officer, but at least they were private. She stripped down to her shorts and tank top and crawled into her bunk. She thought over the mission plans for the following day, and then drifted off to sleep.
Franklin fired from behind the boulder, and then ducked back under cover. Well, this was turning out to be an interesting day, she thought, as she loaded another clip into her weapon, and moved from cover to fire again.
They had arrived on the planet as scheduled, and had moved out in standard formation to the palace. SG-1 had started the search for the technology, as the marines of SG-7 had set up a perimeter outside the palace. What they hadn't expected was that the attack would come from within the palace, and they had been taken by surprise.
As they took cover in a room in the palace, Franklin overheard Thomas talking with SG-1. It appeared that Apophis' son, Klorel, had returned to the palace with a small contingent of Jaffar guards. Daniel and Teal'C believed that Klorel was in disgrace, and had been banished. But Apophis would never let him go unguarded - he obviously felt one day Klorel would one day rejoin him - thus, the Serpent Guards.
O'Neill and Jackson were talking about how they could rescue Skaara - the name of the Abydonian who was Klorel's host.
Things had moved pretty fast then - SG-7 had fought a battle in the corridors of the palace to enable the teams to withdraw. Teal'c and O'Neill snuck around the other way to capture Klorel. Now they were pinned down by the Jaffar not far from the palace. But it wasn't as bad as it looked. The Serpent Guards seemed unsure - Teal'C thought it was because they were very new troops - Apophis had lost a substantial number of his troops when SG-1 had thwarted his attack on Earth.
Franklin threw a quick glance over her shoulder to where SG-1 were sitting with Klorel. The Goa'uld's eyes glowed, and he railed against O'Neill from where he was trapped in Teal'C's grasp. And then the strangest thing happened - Carter, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly moved to Klorel. She grabbed his left arm, and began removing the hand weapon he wore. She had the strangest look on her face, like she was in a trance. She placed the weapon on her own hand, and suddenly, she turned it on Klorel. He shrieked and tried to get away from her.
Jackson called out in horror, "Sam!" He tried to grab her, stop her from attacking the young man, but O'Neill prevented him from reaching her.
"Daniel, I think Sam knows what she's doing," O'Neill said, holding the younger man's arm.
Franklin was drawn back into the battle at that point, and didn't see the rest of what happened. But she heard a long drawn out scream that was cut off abruptly. Her attention was focused entirely on the battle, and she blocked out the sound, or thoughts of what was happening to the young man they had captured.
When Skaara sat up, free from the Goa'uld influence, the first sight he had was Franklin, her trim body crouched behind the boulder fifteen feet away. He admired her lithe grace as she fired from behind the cover of the stone, and then O'Neill was there, smiling hesitantly at him.
"Skaara? Is it you?" O'Neill asked, almost as if he feared the answer.
Skaara beamed at him, "O'Neill!" and impulsively hugged the older man.
Jackson watched the embrace uncertainly, and then turned to Carter, who was removing the hand weapon. "How did you do that, Sam?' he asked.
"I'm not sure, exactly," she replied. "I just knew suddenly how to drive the Goa'uld from his body. It's why the Tok'Ra are so feared by the System Lords, it seems. The knowledge that the Tok'Ra can defeat them with their own weapons."
The sounds of gunfire ceased abruptly. Major Thomas ordered the marines of SG-7 to stand down, and Franklin wearily put up her weapon. She pulled off her helmet and ran her hands over her sweat soaked hair.
Skaara watched her from across the clearing. She was so beautiful, he thought, and a warrior as well. What an extraordinary thing.
"Sir, the Guards are all dead. What next?" Major Thomas asked.
"Typical Marine," O'Neill joked, as he hugged Skaara one last time and released him, looking down into his eyes. "Will Apophis send more guards?"
"Not for some time. He was very upset with Klorel about what happened on the ships sent to earth. This banishment was to last for some time. There is not even a long range communication device here," Skaara told him.
O'Neill thought quickly. "Okay, campers, here's what we're gonna do. Let's head back to Earth - I wanna have Skaara checked out by the Doc. Then we hightail it back here tomorrow, and grab the goodies."
SG-7 guarded their withdrawal to the Stargate, but there was no one left to oppose them now.
Back at the SGC, Dr Frasier examined Skaara closely. She ran all the the tests she could think of, and then made up some new ones. And then she joined O'Neill and General Hammond in the corridor.
"Unbelievable as it seems, Skaara is free of the Goa'uld, and there appear to be no side effects. His brain waves are normal, and the parasite is being broken down by his body," she reported, though obviously puzzled about this turn of events. She turned to Carter, who was waiting for news of Skaara with Daniel and Teal'C. "How did you do this, Captain?" she asked. General Hammond looked at Carter too - he wanted an explanation as well.
"Sir, I don't know exactly how I did it. Just that, when I needed to know the information, it was there," Carter said, aware that the response didn't please anyone.
Especially Daniel. While Daniel was delighted that Skaara had been returned to them, he couldn't help but think of Sha're. Could Sam help her this way? Would she be able to access Jolinar's memories when the time came, and bring his wife back to him? Since his return from Abydos, Daniel had been consumed with thoughts of Sha're. It was so unfair that he had been given a glimpse of her, and then had her rudely snatched away from him again.
"You're sure this isn't a trick, Doctor?" General Hammond questioned. "I don't want to think we may be harbouring a Goa'uld within our midst."
"I'm sure, General. Skaara is himself again - but he's going to need some time to gget used to the idea, I think. He's been witness to some terrible things, some terrible deeds by Klorel and Apophis, and he needs time to process that," Frasier said.
"How can we help him?" O'Neill demanded. Skaara was like a son to him, and he wanted to help in anyway he could.
"Well, sir, if you give him a chance to help you fight the Goa'uld, I think he can channel some of his anger safely that way," she told him.
"General, I'd like to take Skaara back to the planet with us tomorrow," O'Neill instantly requested of the General. "Before you say anything, hear me out. It will help Skaara, and with his knowledge, the mission will go that much faster. And, of course, SG-7 can still watch our backs."
The General considered this, and then spoke. "Very well, Colonel. If the Doctor agrees that Skaara is fit, then you can ship out tomorrow at 0800."
So, Franklin thought, as she left the mission briefing. We get to go back there again. I just hope this time, we actually achieve our objective.
As she wandered down the hallway, she found herself thinking about Skaara. He was rather extraordinary looking, she mused, with a lithe frame and such a handsome face. And when he smiled . . . well, she thought, that was enough to make any woman weak at the knees, even a marine.
Skaara wandered the hallways, trying to tire himself out enough to sleep. So much had happened in such a short space of time. He was having a hard time with some of the memories he had from the time as Klorel's host. Shooting Jack with the zat gun - that was awful, especially as he heard Klorel gloating over the pain it had caused Jack. And then trying to kill Daniel with the hand weapon. Skaara hated that thought. His own brother, the husband of his sister Sha're - and he had had to sit there, powerless, as Klorel attacked him. It was that act more than any other that had given Skaara the renewed energy to resist his Goa'uld parasite. That resistance had made it easier for Carter to kill Klorel.
And now he was going to get the chance to strike back at Apophis and the other System Lords, by helping the Ta'Ri to gain access to technology that would even up the playing field.
As he rounded a corner, he ran into Franklin, who was also lost in though. He reacted first, grabbing her shoulders to steady her.
Franklin felt the strength in his body as they straightened up, and then she looked up slightly into his dark eyes. 'Oh my!' was her only reaction.
Skaara found himself looking into the eyes of the young woman who had captivated him so on the planet earlier in the day. Her blue eyes gazed up into his, and he smiled.
"Hello," he said.
Franklin shook herself mentally. 'Get ahold of yourself!' she admonished herself. "Hello," she responded, and was thankful that her voice did not betray her feelings. God, he was so beautiful!
"I saw you on the planet, when O'Neill and the others rescued me," he said.
"Yes, I'm a member of SG-7," she said. And then added before she could stop herself, "I'm glad you're feeling better, Skaara. Welcome back."
"Thank you!" he smiled at her kindness. "What is your name? Please?"
Franklin told herself to behave as a member of the SGC here, not some giddy schoolgirl. "I'm Lieutenant Kristen Franklin, Skaara, SG-7. Well, I have to be getting on. I understand you'll be accompanying us to the planet tomorrow?"
"Yes I will," Skaara said, his heart leaping unaccountably. She had said 'accompanying us', he would see her again. He was very glad.
"Then I will see you in the morning. Goodnight," and she continued down the corridor. The military set of her shoulders did not reveal the quivering she felt inside. Was he interested? In her? It sure seemed that way.
Skaara watched her leave, regretfully. She was a lovely woman, and there was something about her that touched his heart. A warrior, who was kind enough to wish him well. And he would see her tomorrow. That made him happy.
Oh for God's sake, Franklin thought as she ducked behind the DHD with Daniel Jackson, this is getting to be a real pain!
SG-1 and SG-7 had only just emerged from the Stargate when they had been attacked by Horus guards. O'Neill only had time to growl, "Dammit! Heru'r!" before they had been forced to take cover under the onslaught.
They were pinned down here, and the only chance Franklin saw was to split up, and try to divide Heru'r's forces. Major Thomas and Colonel O'Neill were way ahead of her. The signal came, and Franklin darted off in the direction of the woods, keeping low. She was aware of one of the other marines heading in the same direction, and a third figure she didn't have time to identify.
When she and Wilson found cover in the trees, she noticed their companion was Skaara. He carried a submachine gun, and looked like he knew how to use it. She quickly ordered Wilson and Skaara to deploy to either side of her, and they set up a crossfire for the Horus guards who had pursued them. The battle was short and ugly, and soon the Horus guards were dead. Wilson moved to her side as she reloaded her weapon.
"Okay Lieutenant, what's the plan now?" he asked.
"Well, Sergeant, I think Skaara and I will move on before anyone comes looking for us. But I want you to head in the other direction. Let's give 'em lots of trails to follow," she said, hoping that there wouldn't be enough of the Horus guards left to be tracking down the survivors of the SGC teams. Wilson nodded, and they split up - Franklin leading Skaara deeper into the woods, and Wilson heading back towards the Stargate. It was vital that the SG teams held the Stargate - the last thing they needed was to have Heru'r start bringing more troops through it.
Franklin moved quickly through the woods, with Skaara right behind her. He kept up every step of the way, and she was glad. She didn't have time to mollycoddle him - she needed him to fight with her, if it came to that. When they came to a place where they could stop and seek cover, they did.
He sat beside her, quietly listening, as she did, for sounds of pursuit. There were none. He smiled at her. "I think we are safe - for the moment."
She regarded him curiously. He obviously had some military expertise - and then she remembered the briefings on what had happened on Abydos a little over a year ago. Skaara had been the leader of the Abydonian freedom fighters. He had natural military instincts, she thought, like Alexander the Great. Then her radio crackled to life.
"Franklin, are you there?" came Major Thomas' voice.
"Here sir," she responded instantly.
"Is Skaara still with you?"
"Yes sir."
"Franklin, I don't know where you are, but move out NOW. Find someplace to hole up and stay put. Things are getting ugly here and you need to keep Skaara safe from Heru'r. I'll explain later. We'll find you when things settle down," Major Thomas ordered.
"Yes sir," Franklin replied. Looking over at Skaara, she said, "You heard that?" When he nodded, she stood up and said, "Then let's go."
Hours later, Franklin and Skaara struggled up a hill, soaked to the skin and bone-weary. They had been avoiding the Horus guards off and on during the afternoon. They had been free of pursuit for some time, and had decided to seek shelter in what Franklin hoped would be a cave that she had spotted from a distance.
The rain beat down on them steadily, as it had done for hours now. Franklin brushed water from her eyes and looked ahead, trying to judge the distance to the opening in the rock. It wasn't far now.
When they reached the safety of the cave, Franklin explored the cavernous area. They would be out of the rain at least. But that was about all this cave had going for it. There was very little wood or even leaf litter that they could use to make a fire. Even if there was, the cave opening was too wide - the light would be seen for miles, pointing out their location like a beacon once it got dark. She judged they might be able to risk a small fire for a little while, and set about collecting fuel for it.
She noticed Skaara shivering in the ever increasingly chilly air. "Take off your jacket and shirt," she ordered, removing her pack and doing the same. "They're soaked, you're better off without them. Perhaps you can help me find some fuel for a fire."
After the fire was lit, they sat close to it and tried to warm up. Franklin stripped and dried her weapon with some cloths from her daypack, and then did the same with Skaara's. Then she did a quick inventory of the other contents of the pack and her vest. There were her waterproof matches, some field rations, a basic first aid kit, extra ammunition, a light sleeping bag and a water bottle. That, and her knife and weapon. It wasn't much, but it would keep them alive for a few days, she thought, if the others didn't find them straight away. She tried to calculate how far they had come from the Stargate, but they had taken a circuitous route, and she knew any estimate would be way off.
It was getting dark, she noticed then. And the fire would have to be put out soon. Not that it was doing them much good - the cavern was so large, the tiny fire could only warm them when they sat right on top of it. Besides, there wasn't much fuel left to burn.
Franklin was shivering, but Skaara looked chilled to the bone. He was a desert dweller by birth, she remembered, and perhaps the Goa'uld had somehow helped him to regulate his body heat. Whatever, he was suffering in the cold now. There was nothing for it, she supposed, ignoring the flash of delight somewhere deep in her mind at what she was about to propose.
She stood up and moved to her pack. She took out the light sleeping bag, and lay it out flat on the ground. She turned to Skaara and spoke quietly. "You are chilled to the bone, and we have to put out the fire soon. There is only one way we will be able to keep warm. We will have to get into this sleeping bag together."
He nodded, and she steeled herself to tell him the rest of it. "We will have to take off the rest of our clothes. They are still so wet, they will prevent us from warming up if we leave them on."
Skaara stood up, and said, "I understand." He turned his back to her, and continued, "Please, you undress first. I will not watch. When you are ready, I will undress too."
Franklin was touched by this courtesy, and she quickly stripped off her wet uniform. She spread it out flat on the ground, hoping it would dry out somewhat before morning. Then she removed her shorts and tank top, and moved to the sleeping bag. It wasn't going to be very comfortable with two people in it, but it was going to be warm and dry, she supposed. When she was lying down, she covered herself with the flap of the sleeping bag, and spoke to Skaara. "Thank you, you can undress now."
She looked away from where he stood, but the sounds told her he had followed her lead, and had spread his clothes out to try to dry them.
"Shall I put out the fire now?" he asked. When he spoke, she didn't even think about it, she turned her head to look up at him. Just as quickly she looked away, but not before the sight of him had burned into her brain.
God, he was glorious! His chest was smooth and well formed, and his abdomen rippled with lean muscle. He was lithe and graceful, and very, very beautiful. Her mouth was dry, and she swallowed hard before she was able to answer him.
"No, it will die out itself in a very short time, and it isn't quite dark yet. I think we can leave it to go out on its own. The heat it is putting out will help until then," she said.
"Very well," he said, and his steps moved towards her - and stopped. Suddenly, he chuckled, a warm, wonderful sound.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I was just thinking that I would have to close my eyes to get in there with you," he replied.
"And?" she asked.
"It just struck me as absurd - in a few short moments, I will be pressed against your naked body in very close confines, but I am not supposed to look at you now," he laughed again.
She had to admit, it was pretty amusing, and before she knew it she was chuckling too. And then, in a gesture that acknowledged the silliness of the situation, she threw back the sleeping bag covering her, and looked up at him. "You'll freeze if you stand there any longer," she said.
Skaara started - there was no seduction or temptation in the gesture, but he felt as if he had been hit over the head. Her body was lovely - firm breasts and a trim figure, as befitted a warrior. And the firelight turned her skin a pale gold. A gust of cold air through the mouth of the cavern shocked him into action, and he hurriedly lay down by her side.
They moved close together, and then it was Franklin's turn to chuckle.
"Now what?" he smiled.
"How do we do up the zipper?" she laughed.
"Well, how do you do up the 'zipper' when you are in this alone?" he asked her.
"Well, you sit up, and pull it up to your waist from there," she replied.
"Then we should sit up together," and they did so.
"Can you reach it?" she asked him.
He reached down to his feet, and grasped the pull tab of the zipper, sliding it up to about waist level.
"And now?" he asked.
"Well now, you lie down and pull it the rest of the way closed," she told him, and they both lay down. But with the two of them in the bag, Skaara didn't have enough room to reach the zipper. Franklin had to reach across his body and ease it closed. Now they were encased in the light fabric, pressed very close together.
"Well, the exercise has certainly warmed me up," Skaara said in a dry tone.
She couldn't help it - the laughter exploded out of her. The situation was so ridiculous! He laughed with her, and as their merriment taped off, she felt more comfortable with him. They arranged themselves into more comfortable positions, and relaxed. Before long, they had both fallen asleep.
Hours later, she became aware of him trembling against her. The fire had burned itself out, and the cavern was now dark and very cold. The rain had stopped, and she guessed that was why the temperature had plummeted.
"Skaara?" she spoke softly.
"So . . . very . . . cold," he stuttered the words.
Franklin thought again of the description of Abydos - a hot desert world - and then of Skaara's life as a Goa'uld host, where he would never have been in a position to endure physical discomfort of any sort. No wonder he was suffering now.
She did the only thing she could to help him - she manoeuvred their bodies so that she could wrap both her arms and legs around him. She rubbed her hands briskly over his back, trying to warm his skin. Slowly, his arms went around her, folding her into a tight embrace, holding her warmth against his. And gradually he stopped trembling. His breathing became slow and regular, and she realised he had fallen asleep. She continued to rub her hands over his back - she told herself it was to keep him warm, but that was only part of it. The silky sensation of his skin under her palms was delightful. But eventually, she relaxed and fell asleep too, continuing to cradle his body against hers.
The light woke them both at around the same time. Franklin, blinking, looked up into a pair of dark, beautiful eyes. Skaara smiled as her blue eyes focused on him, and said, very quietly, "Good morning."
Franklin smiled back at him, saying nothing. She became aware of the surprisingly intimate embrace she was in with this almost-stranger. Their legs were entwined, and their arms wrapped around one another. There was not an inch of her skin, it seemed, that was not touching his. And yet, she did not want to move.
He moved slowly, inclining his head to press his lips very gently to hers. He gave her every opportunity to refuse his kiss, if she didn't want it. When she did not draw away, he repeated it, this time more firmly. And was rewarded when she pressed more closely against him, her lips responding to his.
They kissed again, their lips meshing together. His tongue probed deeply into her mouth, and her hand came up to the back of his head, holding him as the kiss grew deeper. And then the radio cracked to life.
Franklin's head snapped around, seeking the vest which held the radio. She snaked a slender arm out of the sleeping bag and snagged it, as Major Thomas' voice issued from the radio.
"Franklin, you there?"
Wrenching the radio free from the vest, Franklin sat up. Skaara followed her - he didn't have much choice.
"Yes sir. Is everything okay, sir?" Franklin spoke into the radio.
"We're fine Franklin - Heru'r and the last of his guards just left - we gave them a sporting chance to get to the Stargate, and they took it. Only, we got to get out of here pretty damn soon, in case they don't play fair and bring back some more troops. Where are you?"
"We found a cave in a hillside north-east of the Stargate," Franklin reported.
"Any idea of distance, Lieutenant?" Major Thomas wanted to know.
"Sorry sir, we had to take the long way around avoiding Horus guards. No idea at all. Why don't we head back in the direction of the Stargate and hope you can rendezvous with us there," Franklin suggested.
"Good plan, Franklin, I'm excited to be a part of it," Major Thomas said. "We'll see you soon, I hope." It was code for 'Shake your tail, Franklin, we don't have a lot of time here,' and Franklin understood perfectly.
"Understood, sir. We're on our way."
She discarded the radio, and reached across Skaara's body to slide the zipper down. There was no wasted movement as she leapt up out of the sleeping bag and headed for her clothes. Skaara watched her for a few moments, admiring her sudden transformation from woman to warrior, before rising to dress himself.
Minutes later they were ready to go. Franklin knelt to roll up the sleeping bag, and stuffed it into the daypack. Skaara took it from her, and helped her adjust it on her shoulders as she did up the clips to hold it in place. Then he turned her around to face him, and leaned down to kiss her. She responded, despite the urgency she had displayed earlier.
He released her lips, and smiled into her blue eyes. "I know there's no time, but when there is, I want us to be together again."
"We will," she smiled back.
Franklin and Skaara met up with Sergeant Wilson an hour later, and they moved quickly back to the Stargate, which was still being guarded by the rest of SG-7.
"Good work, Franklin. Skaara, you okay?" O'Neill spoke with relief at seeing them both alive and well. At Skaara's nod, O'Neill turned to Carter, who was positioned by the DHD. "Dial us home, Carter, please. No offence to your former home, Skaara, but I'm not coming back here again. I have had enough."
Franklin heard several of the marines mutter, "Amen to that" at O'Neill's comment.
Skaara smiled at O'Neill, and simply remarked, "I don't know O'Neill, it has its attractions."
Daniel had been watching Skaara and Franklin since they returned, and happened to be looking at Franklin as Skaara spoke. She flushed a little, and a slight smile crossed her face. Daniel looked at Skaara then, and saw the smile in his eyes. So that's how it was, Daniel thought. Janet Frasier might think that fighting the Goa'uld would help Skaara return to himself, but Daniel had a suspicion that Lieutenant Kristen Franklin might be much better medicine for his young brother-in-law.
The next couple of days were a whirlwind of activity at the SGC. Franklin and the rest of SG-7, along with SG-1, endured seemingly endless debriefings and planning sessions. Heru'r was turning into a bigger threat than Apophis, and General Hammond and Colonel O'Neill wanted to be ready in case he came looking for the Ta'Ri. Skaara was involved in many of the sessions, because of his knowledge of Apophis and the other System Lords.
But the frustrating thing was that, no matter how hard they tried, Franklin and Skaara could not arrange to spend any time alone together. They had to be content with friendly greetings in the presence of others. Franklin felt her nerves beginning to tense to screaming pitch. She wanted to throw herself on Skaara in briefings, and fantasised about dragging him into closets - anything that would give her the chance to feel his body against hers and taste his sweet kisses again.
At the end of another day of endless planning sessions, of watching Skaara covertly and wanting rather desperately to jump his bones, Franklin headed for the showers. Perhaps a nice long hot shower would relax her sufficiently to sleep. She washed her long brown hair, and spent some time towelling it dry and brushing it until it gleamed. It didn't help.
Skaara paced the floor in the break room. He didn't want to be in the quarters O'Neill had obtained for him. They were perfectly adequate, but he felt like he would go mad if he stayed there a moment longer. He almost ground his teeth in frustration. All he wanted, he thought savagely to himself, was to spend five minutes alone with the lovely Lieutenant Franklin. All right, he amended silently, he wanted to spend a lot longer with her, but he would have settled for five minutes. Long enough to hold her in his arms, to kiss her soft lips, to know that they did feel something for one another. He was beginning to feel as if the time they had spent together was a dream - that it hadn't really happened.
The pacing wasn't helping. Perhaps a hot shower would help him to relax, and then he could sleep.
Franklin was heading back to her quarters. Lost in thought, dreaming about Skaara, she rounded a corner and collided with someone.
Skaara had been walking in a daze, his mind on a certain blue-eyed warrior woman, when suddenly someone walked straight into him. He reached out to steady the other person, only to find it was Franklin.
He held her arms lightly, unwilling to release her. She looked up at him, her eyes locking onto his dark ones. They stood like that for a long moment, and then both darted furtive looks around them. When they each realised what the other was doing, they chuckled.
"Can it be true?" Franklin laughed softly. "Are we really alone? Just us?"
Skaara looked around again, and then locked eyes with hers again. "It looks that way." He moved imperceptibly closer to her. She swayed closer to him.
"I've been trying to make this happen for days, and now we're alone by accident? This is too much," Franklin complained.
"Well, now that we are, what shall we do about it?" Skaara asked in a low voice.
It took Franklin less than a nanosecond to decide what to do. Grabbing Skaara's hand, she took off down the corridor at a run, heading for her quarters. Snatching open the door, she pushed him inside, following him in. She slammed the door shut behind her, and locked it.
"If you think I would take a chance on someone else coming along, or inviting us to a briefing, or to chat, you are sadly mistaken," she told him, advancing on him purposefully.
Skaara swept her into his arms, hugging her close. For the moment, it was all he wanted, just to hold her. She did feel the same way about him as he felt about her. His heart felt like it would burst from happiness.
Franklin felt his arms around her, and it felt like coming home. She relaxed into his embrace, treasuring it.
His hands began to caress her back, and then moved up into her gleaming hair. She raised her head to look at him, and he bent to kiss her gently. Her hands moved to his head, holding him down into the kiss. Her tongue probed gently into his mouth, exploring him, tasting him. He held her closer against him, delighting in the feel of her trim body against his.
When the kiss ended, they both sighed. And then chuckled. He continued his gentle caressing of her back, and said, "I was wrong."
"Excuse me?" Franklin said, a little more sharply than she intended.
"I thought I would be satisfied with spending five minutes with you. I told myself that five minutes would be enough, if I could not get anything else. I was wrong - it is not going to be enough!"
And she relaxed against him. "As long as you want, Skaara, that's how long you'll get," she purred.
He stroked her gleaming hair, and bent to kiss her again. The kiss picked up speed, and soon they were panting against one another. Franklin's hands came up to his shirt, and began to unbutton it. His hands tangled in hers as he tried to unbutton her shirt at the same time. She stopped his hands suddenly, and pushed him gently down to sit on the edge of her narrow bunk. Then she stepped back a pace, and began to unbutton her own shirt.
He watched with hungry eyes as she took off her shirt, and then bent to unlace her boots before removing her uniform pants. Finally, she stood before him, naked. He stared at her body, wonderingly, as she moved closer to him. She dropped to her knees before him, and began to unlace his boots. She removed each one, and placed it neatly to one side. That done, she rose smoothly to her feet, and pulled him up to stand in front of her. She turned him around, and took his place on the edge of the bunk.
"Your turn," she said with a smile, and watched avidly as he removed his clothes.
She stood slowly as he finished undressing, and they devoured the sight of one another. Then, slowly, almost hesitantly, he gathered her into his arms. The feel of her skin against his was achingly familiar, and he marvelled at the thought. They had been together only once, and already she felt like a part of him.
Franklin was unconsciously echoing his thoughts. He felt so good, so right, in her arms, like he had always been there. She turned her face up to him, and he bent to take possession of her soft lips once more.
Moments later, he slipped one hand beneath her thighs and the other around her shoulders, lifting her effortlessly off the ground and depositing her gently on the bunk. He eased his body down to cover hers, kissing her throat as he did so.
Franklin moaned as his lips trailed fire across her skin, down her throat and between her breasts. Her hands came up to tangle in his hair, and she writhed beneath him as his lips explored her breasts, finally coming to rest around one tight hard nipple. His hand came up to cup the other breast, and Franklin murmured incoherently as his lips and fingers caressed her.
Skaara blazed a line of soft kisses back up her throat, returning to her lips. They kissed deeply, and then he propped himself on his hands and looked down at her, loving the look in her blue eyes, and the kiss swollen lips, curving into a gentle smile.
She reached up to draw him back down to her, and breathed in his ear, "Love me, Skaara, love me now or I'll go crazy!" Her legs came up around his waist, and he moved very gently to enter her.
She sighed softly at the feeling of him inside her - it was so good. And then he began to move within her, and she moved with him. Her hands caressed his back and buttocks, encouraging him as he loved her. Their eyes locked, and they became lost in one another. Time seemed to stand still as their bodies worked together. He bent to kiss her as they approached the peak of their pleasure. Her breath, like his, was coming in short pants, and their bodies moved feverishly together.
She began to moan, calling out his name as her orgasm burst through her. Skaara was entranced - she looked so beautiful as her pleasure peaked. His own release came scant moments later, and he collapsed onto her, burying his face in her beautiful hair. As soon as he was able to move, he rolled his weight off her, and gathered her into his arms, resting his cheek against her hair.
They were silent for long minutes, as their bodies recovered from the exertion. When he felt able to speak, Skaara said, "I'm certainly glad I ran into you, Kristen."
She laughed, loving his sense of humour. "I thought I ran into you."
"Whatever. I'm glad it happened. I don't think I could have been held responsible for my actions if I hadn't been able to spend some time alone with you."
"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing," she said lazily, tracing aimless designs on his chest with one finger.
"Should I go back to my quarters?" Skaara asked. He knew customs among the Ta'Ri were different to his own people, and he did not want to commit a social blunder, not with this woman he was coming to treasure so.
"Do you want to leave?" Franklin asked.
"No!" Skaara exclaimed.
"Then stay with me. Please," Franklin said. "But I'm afraid the bed is a little narrow for two people. It might not be so comfortable."
"If I am with you, Kristen, then I will be comfortable. Besides, I am getting used to sleeping in close quarters with you."
"Perhaps you'd like me to get a sleeping bag from the equipment locker?" she teased, making as though to leave the bed.
His arms tightened around her, and he chuckled into her ear, "Let's save that for special occasions, shall we?"
Daniel Jackson ambled along the corridor. He had gone to see Skaara, but the younger man was not in his quarters. Daniel had checked the break room, but, not finding Skaara, had given up and was on his way to his own on-base room. He was deep in thought, but a sudden sound brought his attention back to his surroundings. Laughter, low, teasing laughter. It sounded like Sha're's laugh, only deeper. Skaara? And there was another voice, lighter in tone, that sounded familiar. Kristen? Daniel looked around, and realised that he had just passed Franklin's quarters.
The laughter came again, and then it was silent. The sort of silence he remembered from his time with Sha're - the silence that came when two people in love stopped laughing and started kissing.
Well, he thought to himself as he continued on to his own room, now he knew where Skaara was. And that he was in good hands. She might not be Dr Frasier's prescription, but Daniel knew that Kristen would be very good for Skaara. She was already making him laugh, and Skaara was so like Sha're - if he was laughing, he was well on the road to recovery.
Although, he wondered as he reached his own room, and spied the standard bunk bed, how could they stand such close quarters?
Fini
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