We Love as One – Chapter 21

Disclaimer in index

 

The Tok’ra guard escorted Martouf and Sam through the tunnels and into a small room where there was nothing but two crystal beds with a still Elias lying upon one of them. Sam’s mind briefly flashed back to her first meeting with the Tok’ra and her introduction to Selmak and Sarooche in the exact same position.

 

“Sam. Martouf. You made it. Good.” Jacob hugged his daughter and nodded to Martouf. He noted with satisfaction that Martouf and his daughter were holding hands.

 

(Looks like they worked everything out just fine, Sel.)

 

<Yes, although what will happen now that Martouf is honoring Elias’ request to re-blend with Lantash? Martouf will once again be Tok’ra,> Selmak pointed out.

 

Jacob scowled briefly. (Couldn’t let me bask in one moment of joy, could you?) He said irritably, fearing that his daughter and friend were about to be subjected to yet another painful separation. He clenched his fists. (No way am I going to just stand by and let that happen again, Sel, I won’t.)

 

<And neither will I, Jacob. Martouf is also my friend and I think of Samantha as a daughter as well.> Selmak promised.

 

Elias’ grey eyes opened at the announcement Jacob made and focused on the newcomers. “Martouf, you have made it. Does this mean you will honor my request to take Lantash?” He rasped.

 

Martouf exchanged a glance at Samantha, who smiled and squeezed his hand in reassurance. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. “Yes, I will honor your request.” He let go of Samantha’s hand and stepped up to the bed where Elias was lying.

 

Elias’ eyes flicked to Samantha, standing next to Jacob. “Samantha...I am glad that you are here as well. I wish to tell you that I welcomed your friendship. Meeting you was a gift.”

 

Sam swallowed hard, walked to the other side of the bed and grasped Elias’ hand. “In the short time we talked, I knew that we would’ve made great friends, Elias. There is no one else in the world, galaxy, universe, whatever, like you and I’m glad I got to meet you.” She smiled, her thumb caressing his hand.

 

Elias’ eyes grew teary as he stared up at Sam and he tightened his grip on her hand. “In time, I think, no I know with utmost certainty, that I would’ve loved you as Lantash does now, Samantha.”

 

Sam choked and her eyes watered. Placing his hands on her shoulders, Jacob guided his daughter to a corner of the room. “Come on, Sam. It’s time. We should stay here.” He squeezed Sam’s shoulders before taking up a place on the opposite side of the room, between the two beds and behind Martouf.

 

Martouf looked at Elias. “Are you ready?”

 

Elias’ eyes flashed and Lantash answered, “We are.”

 

Martouf bent and his mouth hovered a few inches above Elias’. He opened his mouth as Elias did the same and it was only a few seconds before Lantash slithered from Elias and into Martouf.

 

 Martouf’s eyes flickered underneath his eyelids as he felt Lantash wrap himself around Martouf’s spinal cord with warmth and it was a contented smile that he welcomed the darkness and Jacob scooped him up, again thanking Tok’ra strength. He placed Martouf on the empty bed and then turned back to Elias as he gasped, eyes closing slowly, and his body became still. Jacob covered his body and face with a white cloth, much like Martouf had done at the death of Sarooche.

 

Sam gazed sadly at Elias’ dead body and tears ran down her face. “What will happen to Elias now?”

 

Selmak was the one who answered. “Elias’ body will be given placed within a burial chamber where other Tok’ra may pay respects to him before the chamber is destroyed. It is a proper Tok’ra ritual.” Jacob took over. “I’m going to give the High Council an update. I’ll be back soon.” He left, but Sam could hear her father mutter, “Again I’m going back into that damn room. I hate that room, I’m so sick of it. Stop it, Sel.” Sam was confused and shook her head.

 

 

Jack fiddled with his thumbs as he watched Daniel sneak in his Starbucks coffee. Handing it to Jack, Daniel sat in the hospital chair beside the bed.

 

“Where’s my pizza?” Jack asked, uncapping the coffee cup and inhaling the sweet-smelling aroma of caffeine.

 

Daniel rolled his eyes. “I didn’t think I could get away with that, Jack.”

 

Jack raised his eyebrows at Daniel. “I guess that means no Big Mac either, huh?”

 

“Is the food here so unsatisfactory, O’Neil?” Teal’c questioned from where he was standing beside the window, observing the people walking outside.

 

“Oh yeah, Teal’c. The hospital deliberately serves bad food just so that they can squeeze more money out of you by having you stay longer due to food poisoning.” Jack took a sip of his coffee.

 

“Jack, are you sure about this? I mean, what you told the general?” Daniel sat forward, looking intently at his friend.

 

Jack sighed and lowered his coffee cup. “Yes Daniel, I’m sure. For crying out loud, Daniel, we all had to face the fact that one day I wouldn’t be taking lots of trips off-world, whether it was because of my damn body getting old, or the possibility of being promoted to a position where I couldn’t leave, or because I was dead. Thankfully, it wasn’t that last option. I can accept that I’m not going to racking up any more frequent flyer miles through the gate, albeit extremely reluctant in accepting it and I’m betting a few days into my new job, I’ll be mad as hell, but what it comes down to is that I don’t have a choice.

 

“And if you’re going to start in on me about the fact that I swore never to have a desk job and that actually having one will no doubt cause me to have three fries short of a happy meal, you’re absolutely right. But there is an upside to it though, I’d get to spend more time up in my cabin in Minnesota with all the fish I want,” Jack shot a glare at the raised skeptical eyebrow of Teal’c before continuing. “And this way, I’d still have a reason to stay at the SGC; I’d still be there around hanging with you guys, just without all the hazardous stuff. It’s not as if I’m going to turn into one of those people who spend all their time behind a desk. I’d still be helping out, taking part in briefings, training new recruits, bothering you at 3 a.m. in the morning, and I’d still be able to go off-world, just only on missions where there isn’t a lot going on, that’s all.” Jack shrugged. “We are SG-1, though I’m no longer on it. Besides, you kids can take care of yourselves...wait…Teal’c and Carter can take care of themselves, you Daniel, I’m not sure of.”

 

Daniel shot Jack a mock glare. “Gee, thanks Jack. I appreciate that.”

 

“And both the general and I think that it’s time that Carter take the lead, what with her promotion and all. She’ll make an excellent leader; just...don’t let her go sugar-crazy too much around alien doo-hickeys and thing-a-ma-jigs.”

 

Daniel heaved a sigh. “I know Sam will do fine, it’s just...that it won’t be the same without you though, that’s all I’m saying.” He blinked behind his glasses.

 

“Indeed, O’Neil. Your presence will be missed greatly.” Teal’c echoed.

 

Jack rolled his eyes. “Aw shucks, guys, you’ve got me all kinds of weepy now.”

~~~~~

<Martouf, wake up, you have slept enough.> Lantash reprimanded a waking Martouf, who blinked his eyes against the light in the chamber.

 

(Lantash.) Martouf stopped and a smile spread on his face. (It feels good to talk to you again, old friend.)

 

Happy feelings coursed through his body as Martouf felt Lantash’s contentment at being reunited with his friend. <I return the sentiment, Martouf. I have missed you as well, old friend.)

 

Martouf’s eyes fixated on Samantha, still within in the chamber, pacing back and forth a few feet away and a feeling of dread passed over him. (Samantha...what are we to do, Lantash? I promised Samantha that I would never leave her and I do not want to. But once again, with the blending we are Tok’ra and our duties to them-)

 

<Martouf, calm down. I understand everything and I too, do not wish to either leave Samantha or have her become upset. I have a suggestion to propose to the council; I feel like it is not an unreasonable request and if the council thinks it is, then honestly, I do not care. For too long, have our own needs, our own happiness, been put aside for the greater purpose. I think that perhaps it is time we seek some of that happiness, for both our sakes and Samantha’s as well. We will request an audience with the High Council as soon as possible and return to our life with Samantha,> Lantash finished determinately.

 

Curiously, Martouf asked, (What suggestion are you thinking of Lantash?) A minute later, Martouf smiled as Lantash shared his plan with his reacquainted host. (That is an excellent idea, Lantash.)

 

Lantash ‘snorted’. <Of course, it is, I thought of it.>

 

The smile remained on Martouf’s face. (It is good to have you back, Lantash.)

 

Lantash agreed silently as he became distracted by a memory flashing through their mind. Martouf gingerly sat up on his bed and swung his legs over to the side, blinking away the white spots in his eyes from the bright light in the room.

 

<You have mated with Samantha!> Lantash expressed surprise as he ‘rummaged’ through Martouf’s recent memories.

 

Martouf was caught in between feeling guilty that Lantash had not experienced such pleasure with Samantha as he had and the euphoric happiness Martouf had with Samantha during those blissful encounters.

 

<Do not feel guilty, Martouf.> Lantash reassured him. <Besides, now that we have been blended together again; I too, will be able to experience such things...> Lantash hesitated before eagerly asking, <How good was it?>

 

Martouf laughed aloud. It felt so good, so right to have Lantash with him once again. (Amazing. And even that does not describe Samantha.)

 

“Martouf? How are you feeling? You’re kind of scaring me with that smile of yours,” Sam teased as she laid a hand on his shoulder, her eyes expressing concern and playfulness.

 

Martouf’s eyes flashed and Lantash answered, “We are both fine, Samantha. We were just...discussing some recent events that I was not privy to, but hope to be soon enough.” Lantash leered at Samantha hungrily, his eyes roving Sam’s uniformed body, his words and his actions making no doubt of what he was talking about.

 

Sam’s eyes widened and she flushed. Lantash rose from his seat and placed a hand on Sam’s cheek. “You are all hot, Samantha love. Trust me, if you will allow Martouf and I tonight, we will make things even hotter.” He winked and smiled cheekily. Sam clapped a hand over her mouth to stop her growing smile. Lantash removed her hand and leaned in to kiss her softly. “We must be going now, love. People are waiting for us.” He placed an arm around her waist and guided her out, taking one last moment to nibble her neck.

 

“I love you, Samantha,” Lantash whispered. “As does Martouf.”

 

Sam couldn’t stop her smile from growing. “I love you both too.”

 

“Ah, Martouf, Sam. I trust everything went okay? Good, Martouf, the council wishes to speak to you immediately. I’ll take care of Sam while you’re there,” Jacob said as he reappeared.

 

Martouf, in control, turned to face Sam and gently caressed her cheek. “Do not worry, love. Lantash and I will handle everything. Wait for us and we will return with you soon.” He gazed into her eyes and although he was aware that Jacob was standing right in front of him, he dared a small kiss before nodding to a smiling Jacob and heading off to set into action the suggestion that Lantash had proposed.