Stages of Love
by Lizardbeth Johnson
Author's Note: Written for the Livejournal stagesoflove community challenge. This is a story written in five drabbles (100 words), to five word prompts: attraction, romance, passion, intimacy, and commitment.
AU Samantha Carter and Martouf Romance, beginning when they meet in the episode "Tok'ra".
Attraction
The hat is goofy. But nothing else about him is.
Not his eyes, intensely pale blue and alight with curiosity, wary but open in admiration.
Not his smile, impossible to resist.
Not his body, which she knows is slender and strong.
Definitely not his hands, which she remembers touching her with intimate love.
But it wasn't her, and that makes things awkward and strange. She knows more than she should, and he doesn't know her at all.
When Martouf returns to his people, she says nothing. There'll be plenty of time once their loss isn't so raw. She can wait.
Romance
With Netu far behind them, Sam finds Martouf in the cafeteria, dinner tray untouched before him. She grabs a bowl of Jell-O and goes to sit with him.
"Samantha." He looks weary.
"You should eat," she suggests. "Here, try some."
She offered him a bite. He shrinks back, saying, "The blue is unnatural. What is it?"
"Tastier than Tok'ra rations. C'mon, try it. It's my favorite flavor."
"Very well." He nibbles it from her spoon cautiously. A surprised grin lights up his face. "You're right! More, please."
She feeds him the rest, smiling back.
She doesn't think of Jolinar once.
Passion
The za'tarc programming activates when he realizes they know. There is yelling, fighting, gun-fire -- she watches in terror as Teal'c tackles him, stopping his suicide attempt.
In the infirmary, Martouf lies unresponsive for days. "Help him, Lantash," she pleads desperately. "I can't lose you both. Come back to me."
Finally he opens his eyes. "Sam?"
She brushes her cheek against his hand. "I didn't know� not until I thought you were dying. Don't leave me."
"Never," Martouf answers. His fingers brushes her lips, trembling.
She touches her lips to his, needing more.
They can't stop kissing until Janet enters.
Intimacy
"You are insatiable, Samantha."
She rolls atop him and mocked, grinning, "Worn out, Mighty Tok'ra?"
Martouf yawns and closes his eyes. "Yes. Sorry. Morrigan's not stupid. Escaping was difficult."
"Then rest." She puts her head down on his chest and listens to his steady, reassuring heartbeat awhile. "Sometimes... I wish �"
His fingers trail gently up her spine. "What, love?"
"That you didn't have to go," she admits, whispering. "I'm always afraid you won't come back."
"I hate going so far from you. I wish I could stay."
"Maybe you can," she says.
His eyes snap open, brilliant with hope.
Commitment
Martouf walks through the wormhole. Sam keeps a smile on her face to greet him, even as her heart sinks.
He has nothing with him. Not even his favorite zat.
So he isn't staying. He's probably back to say the Council's sending him far away again.
He sees through her happy fa�ade, frowning in concern. "Sam?"
She murmurs, "I was hoping�"
He grins. "The Council agreed."
Joy flowers inside her, irrepressible. She is shaking. "You're staying? Really? But� you don't have a bag�"
He grasps her hands. "I'm staying. You are my future, Sam. Nothing else is worth keeping."
fin
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