hathor_girl

Sam and Martouf sat in quiet in her quarters, while Martouf was thinking about all he had been told.

Then Sam's phone rang. "Hello, this is Major Carter."

"Hammond here. Major, your father is here from the Tok'ra. Could you come to my office and bring Martouf?"

"Of course. We will be there in a moment, sir." She hung up and looked at the questioning Martouf. "The Tok'ra are here - or one of them is, at any rate. My dad, Jacob, host to Selmak."

Martouf nodded. "I do not remember meeting him, but perhaps I shall when I see him."

They stepped into the room, and Jacob stared at Martouf when they entered.

"I thought it was some kind of sick joke when you told me Martouf was alive, George, but that sure looks like him." Jacob said, shaking his head.

"Janet's confirmed his - and Lantash's DNA." Sam told him. "Hi, dad."

"Hello...Jacob?" Martouf sounded hesitant. "That is your name, correct?"

"Yes, you remember me?"

Martouf shook his head. "No, Samantha told me who we were going to meet...though there is something familiar about you...and I sense the...naquadah...in...in Selmak?"

Jacob nodded. "We are good friends. Martouf - if it's really you, then you have been sorely missed, not just by me and Selmak, but by a great many among the Tok'ra. You are well liked, , a gifted diplomat, and a talented, intelligent operative."

"Wow, dad! I've never heard you speak like that of anyone before!" Sam sounded impressed.

"Thank you. Those are very kind words. I wish I remembered any of this." Martouf said.

"Hopefully you soon will." Jacob sighed. "I have a healing device I can use to scan you with, but I didn't bring the necessary equipment to treat you, or even do a thorough examination - and I'm not the right for that anyway. What I will do is make a quick scan, and then talk to Doctor Fraiser, before returning to the Tok'ra. Tomorrow I'll be back, bringing one or more of our healers, so they can see what they can do to help you remember."

"That would be great. Thanks." Martouf smiled.

"Dad - it sounds like you didn't expect Martouf and Lantash to be alive, so I'm going to assume the Tok'ra didn't know? Do you have any idea what has happened?" Sam wondered.

Jacob looked stern. "No, but someone must know something, and I intend to find out!"

"Could Zipacna have taken Lantash and Elliot's corpses when he had conquered Revanna? Would that have been in time to revive them?" Sam asked.

"Perhaps. It is possible, though unlikely he would care. Even if he did, that neither explains how he got Martoud's body - sorry, Martouf - nor how Lantash got back into Martouf."

"It is...strange, hearing these things, but too unreal to bother me much." Martouf said.

Jacob nodded. "I understand."

"Couldn't the Tok'ra scientist have kept Martouf's body in stasis, and then Zipacna found it? I know Ren'al said they...did Tok'ra funeral rites for Martouf, but couldn't she or another scientist have lied and saved the body...perhaps to do more tests?" Sam sounded very distressed.

"It's possible, and I wouldn't put it beyond Ren'al. She is a competent scientist, and loyal to the Tok'ra cause, but she can be more than a bit...cynical. She very much believes that the end justifies the means...whatever the means, almost. Selmak has given me some stories..." He shook his head. "That's not what we should talk about...however, did Ren'al say that Tok'ra funeral rites were done for Martouf?"

"Yes, I am very sure she did."

"That's strange, because when we wanted to do that, she said that he had written requirements for his body being returned to his people - and that she had given it to them. It's unusual, but permitted, of course. Many were surprised at it, because Martouf become host very young, and never showed much interest in visiting his family or friends."

"I remember that from Jolinar - he was part of a group captured to be host to some Goa'uld's children. He volunteered to be Tok'ra instead, when another Goa'uld attacked during the ceremony, and some Tok'ra present were wounded." Sam said.

"I think...I remember being very young and scared...hiding, with a beautiful young woman." Martouf said.

"That was Rosha - she became host to Jolinar when you became host to Lantash. You begin to remember?" Jacob asked.

"A little bit. Rosha..." He shook his head. "I only remember a beautiful young woman - I think I have dreamt of her. I remember her name as Jolinar."

"Jolinar and Lantash were mates for 80 years when you and Rosha became their new hosts. The relationship continued, as I believe is usual for the Tok'ra." Sam explained. "Right, dad?"

"Yes, and I'm impressed you remember that much from Jolinar." Jacob said.

"Wait..." Martouf said. "You talk about remembering stuff from Jolinar. You were her host! That's why I sense some naquadah in you. You were host to...to my mate! And my mate died!" He suddenly looked devastated. "I...feel deep sorrow...even if I barely remember her. I remembered the grief of her death."

"I'm sorry, Martouf." Sam awkwardly patted him on the arm.

"I think I need to talk more to Ren'al - I think she is hiding something." Jacob concluded.

Sam nodded. "What about the device that is keeping Lantash from communicating with Martouf and taking control?"

"Right - that's just confusing! If Zipacna got the bodies of both Lantash and Elliot, and Martouf, and revived them, and Lantash jumped back in Martouf...why would Zipacna put in such a device? It is all strange, and doesn't make sense! There must be something we are missing!"

Jacob had used the healing device to scan Martouf and Lantash, and gotten to the same conclusion as Janet. He had then discussed it all with her, and then returned to the Tok'ra - both to find a healer that could help, and to dig into what had really happened to Martouf and Lantash.

This also meant he could not just bring any healer. It had to be someone he could trust implicitly, and he probably had to do the investigation discreetly. What a mess!

Sam and Martouf had eaten dinner together, and spent some time talking afterwards, and now it was getting time to say goodnight.

"Well, I'm going to call it a night, and I would think you'd like some sleep before tomorrow - there's going to be a lot happening, when the Tok'ra healer arrives." Sam said.

Martouf nodded. "Yes, I know. I feel some trepidation about it, I shall have to admit that."

"You don't have anything to worry about. They're just going to help you get better."

"I know that, but...what if I find out something about myself that I don't like? About the reason why I hid here on Earth. What if I did something?"

"I can't imagine you were involved in whatever the reason for all of this is. It's just not in your nature. You're a very honourable, and kind man, who will do all it takes for your friends - and give your life for the cause you believe in. No, Martouf! I can't believe you're responsible!"

"Thank you, Samantha. That is very kind of you to say." He smiled a little, then sighed. "There is also something else - when I remember who I am...if I ever do that...will the person I am now not disappear? In a way...die? I'm kind of attached to who I am, you know."

Sam nodded, solemnly. "I very much understand, but you are not so different from the person you normally are. Perhaps a bit more...open and direct. Martouf is quite shy...but other than that, you are very much like him. Kind, intelligent..." She blushed.

Martouf smiled widely. "Keep the compliments coming!"

"See? That's not something the Martouf I know would ever say - but Lantash might."

"So maybe I'm a little of both right now?"

"Maybe."

"Samantha, can I walk you to your quarters?"

"Yes, of course. I...I would like that." She smiled.

"You know, you didn't tell me..." Martouf smiled.

They were standing outside her quarters, and Sam had just unlocked her door.

"What didn't I tell you?"

"That you were host to my mate."

"Um, no, no I didn't. And yes, I was. Ah, it was just one more confusing thing, you know."

"I understand, however, you said that...'the relationship continued, as I believe is usual for the Tok'ra'."

"I did, yes."

"Wouldn't that mean...that you are my mate?"

"Well, I think I would have been, if Jolinar had survived. Maybe I am anyway, I don't know. I don't remember very much about Tok'ra costumes."

"But you carry her emotions, don't you? That is why you say things are complicated between us."

"Um...Yes, uh, I guess... that is, yes, I do...and it is confusing." Sam admitted, blushing. "That is part of... why it's, um, complicated, between us..."

Martouf nodded, then gave her a shy, charming smile, that was exactly like the ones Sam was used to from him, and she felt her heart beat faster.

"Then maybe we ought to do something to see if we can resolve that... confusion." Martouf took her hand, and entwined his fingers with hers, then slowly pulled her closer.

She did not resist when Martouf leaned in close, and their lips met in a light, gentle, kiss. Sam closed her eyes and returned the kiss, slowly moving her mouth against his. She pushed her tongue against his lips, and he parted them, letting her deepen the kiss.

Sam made a small sound and wrapped her arms around him, and she felt Martouf's arms go around her too. The kiss got more passionate, and she forgot they were still standing in the corridor outside her room.

That is, she forgot it until she heard someone talking to them.

"I see you haven't forgotten everything..."

Sam and Martouf slowly let go of each other and looked at Jack who was standing there, looking very unimpressed.

"Um, sir. Hi..." Sam managed, her brain still befuddled from the kiss. "Martouf was just, uh, saying goodnight..."

"Yeah, I can see that." Jack snorted.

"This is between Samantha and me - it is none of your concern!" Martouf said, getting angry.

"Ah, listen, we should all get some sleep. Frayed nerves and all that..." Jonas put in, and they now noticed him - and Teal'c - standing behind Jack as well. "Then we can talk tomorrow, okay? I'm sure Martouf needs sleep - it's been an eventful day."

"Yeah, and it would have been a lot more eventful if we hadn't been lucky enough to come this way now." Jack grumbled in a low voice.

"I told you to stay out of my affairs!" Martouf exclaimed, his hearing better than a normal humans.

"Affairs? So you're admitting you're just using Carter?" Jack said, immediately regretting it as soon as it was out of him mouth. Why did he get so annoyed when that Tok'ra was near Carter?

"Okay, that's enough, sir. You will stop that immediately!" Sam said, getting angry.

"We are leaving now." Teal'c said, and together with Jonas they gave Jack a gentle nudge, making him follow them.

"I should go to sleep as well. You know how to find your quarters?" Sam asked.

"Yes, I do." Martouf nodded. "Goodnight, Samantha."

"Goodnight, Martouf." Sam smiled at him.

Sam went into her room, admitting to herself she regretted not having had the courage to invite Martouf in. If only her team mates hadn't interrupted them, then Martouf might already been in her bed, with her! She sighed, thinking back to how nice it had been to kiss him.

Martouf walked back to his quarters, slowly, annoyed Jack had interrupted them. Tomorrow, he would not let him be dissuaded. He was certain he loved Samantha, and that she loved him.