Fic, Returns, PG-13, 11/?

[hathor_girl]

11.

The SGC. O'Neill's POV.

Jacob's just arrived with some info from the Tok'ra operative at Zippy's. We're all hurrying to the briefing room to hear what he has to say.

Hopefully it's good news, and not something like Carters snake is a Goa'uld and has allied with Zippy or Zippy cut off the head of Carter after torturing her to death a couple hundred times.

"So, Jacob, tell us...what information do you have about Major Carter?" Hammond says.

I lean forward in my chair and I see Daniel doing the same. I can see Teal'c paying attention too. We're all very interested.

"Our operative reports surprising news. Zipacna was apparently killed, in front of his First Prime."

"Well, they just threw him in the sarc, didn't they?"

"They would have, but the person who killed him decided to vaporize him." Jacob looks surprised at this. I'm surprised they haven't done something like this before - it would make sense, wouldn't it?

"So Zippy's gone? For good?" I feel better already! "What about Carter?"

"Yes, apparently." Jacob nods. "It would seem his Jaffa had captured what they thought were two Tau'ri, which they brought before Zipacna. One of them was Sam, of course."

"And he no doubt did the whole gloat-thing, didn't he?" I can just see Zippy do this - somehow I enjoy how stupid he must have felt in front of his Jaffa, when he realised Carter had a snake. Must have been embarrassing - very un-godly for him not to know that already!

"Probably. He soon learned his error, because the First Prime reported to his underling - who is our Tok'ra, but the Jaffa doesn't know of course - that 'it turned out to be two gods, and that the male had killed Lord Zipacna.' It must have been quite a surprise for him!" Jacob grinned. "He apparently thinks it was more powerful gods." Jacob shook his head. "Our operative saw the two 'gods' when they were fleeing - and one of them was indeed Sam, so we know she is fine."

"Why didn't he just tell them he was Tok'ra and helped them?"

"Well, apparently they shot him with a zat'nik'tel before he had the time to say anything. He's got a new host, as I told you, so they probably didn't think he could be a Tok'ra and just wanted to get away from the attacking Jaffa. He's not blaming them."

"You are talking about 'them' - does this mean Martouf is with MajorCarter?" Teal'c wonders.

"Yes." Jacob nods. "Apparently Sam and Jolinar had enough time to heal him before the Jaffa attacked and captured them, so he is alive and well." He smiles.

I sigh. I can't say I'm happy he's with Carter. Well, I guess Marty's a good man - for a Tok'ra at any rate - so it's good to have him back, isn't it? Just as long as he doesn't make puppy eyes at Carter.

Now I just have to hope the Tok'ra can get Jolinar out of Carter, then that should solve the problem of Marty chasing Carter! He'll probably run after whomever new host old Jolly gets instead, so perhaps this may yet turn out for the best!

"So, where are they?" I ask Jacob.

"Presumably hiding on Zipacna's planet, somewhere. The Tok'ra operative have made sure the Jaffa will not go searching for them, so they are quite safe. However, they don't know that, so they will be staying in their hiding place for as long as they feel it is necessary to avoid the Jaffa looking for them. We will be probably be going there to pick them up."

---

Sam's POV.

We have walked the whole day and have reached an area with mountains. It is getting dark now, and the sky is almost overcast, so it will probably rain soon.

"There." Martouf points. "I think that is a small cave. We can hide there."

"Agreed." I say. "Let's go check it out. Hopefully there are no bears in it."

We walk the rest of the way up the slope and get to the opening. It is almost hidden, and we are far away from the Palace, so it's very unlikely we will be found here. We should be safe.

Martouf looks around and find a piece of wood which will work as torch, and stick it between to rocks, wedging it. I then fire at it with the zat, and it catches fire. Picking up the torch, Martouf goes into the cave first, and I follow, weapon at the ready.

"Nothing in here. It's dry and fine. There's even some dry grass we can use for sleeping on."

"Now we just need something to eat - I saw a small brook nearby which we can drink from, but I am getting seriously hungry!"

"So are Lantash and I. I saw no fruit or berries, and I believe it is too early for that in the season of this world."

"Agreed, so we'll have to hunt. It's twilight now, so many of the animals should be coming out soon."

Martouf nods. "I guess we can have a fire inside for roasting it. The opening of the cave is not towards the Palace, so they should not detect it."

---

It took us almost three hours, and we are feeling exhausted, but we actually managed to find and shoot two rabbit-like animals, which we are almost finished cooking over the fire. I'm so hungry my stomach rumbles regularly, so I don't care we've got no spices or anything.

Martouf checks on the meat with a knife he took from a Jaffa. It looks nasty, but I guess it works for food as well as killing enemies.

"It's ready." He carefully takes the food down, touching only the ends of the wooden sticks we have used to suspend the rabbits over the fire.

He puts them down on a flat rock and allows them to cool for a little while before he cuts them, handing me some meat before sitting down to eat.

We eat in silence, enjoying not to be painfully hungry anymore. Roasted rabbit tastes surprisingly good! Jolinar very much agrees with me.

It is nice sitting here in the darkness, the only light from the fire. I almost doesn't think of the Jaffa out in the woods, looking for us, and then it is actually quite romantic. I decide, that if we make it back safely, I need to take Martouf and Lantash on a camping trip, and I ask Jolinar about it.

She laughs a little at the idea - neither Martouf nor Lantash actually likes living primitively - but we both agree they will probably agree if we focus on the romantic aspect when we try to sell the idea at them.