hathor_girl | Fic, A Promise of Better Times to Come, 3/4, Sam/Martouf/Lantash

"Dad?" I ask, touching his arm gently. "It's me, Sam."

My dad opens his eyes and blinks a few times, then focus on me. "Sam..."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm alive."

"Selmak?"

"She hasn't woken up since she fell into a coma. I'm sorry, kiddo... I don't think we'll be able to make it to your wedding."

"Ah, don't worry about that, dad..." I throw a quick glance at Martouf, who looks surprised, then sad, then gets a blank look. I sigh. "I don't think I'll be marrying Pete."

Dad nods. "Okay."

"Jacob, I would like to scan you briefly. Selmak should be getting better, even if you cannot yet communicate with her." Martouf says.

My dad frowns, then turns his head to stare at Martouf, who has walked up to the bed and is now activating a hand device. "I'm dead! This must be... heaven? Or some sort of afterlife anyway. Martouf..." He shakes his head, then stares at me. "Sam! Why are you here? What happened!"

I sigh. "Dad! Relax! None of us are dead! I realize it must come as a bit of a shock, but Martouf and Lantash are actually alive."

"Alive? How?"

"Yeah, that's how I reacted too."

"Please lie still, Jacob..." Martouf runs the beam from the healing device over my dad, focusing on his head. He nods. "Could you turn over on your side?"

My dad does, and Martouf scans his neck, nodding again.

"Well?" I ask, nervous.

"Selmak is indeed doing better. She will soon awaken and communicate with you again, Jacob. I feel confident she will make a full recovery, which means that so will you." He smiles.

I feel so very happy! "Thank you!" I give Martouf a hug, before realizing what I have done, then awkwardly pull away. "Um, sorry about that..."

"It is quite all right, Samantha." He smiles at me, a little sadly. Is it because of dad's comment about my wedding?

"Now, if I'm not dying, then perhaps someone can explain how you're here?" My dad says, looking at Martouf.

"Of course, Jacob. I shall explain. It is, however, quite a long story."

"I don't mind. All I do here is sleep!"

"Samantha, I would like to stay here and explain things to Jacob. When I have done so, I must return to the Tok'ra, and tell them of Selmak's condition. The healers in the tunnels are all working at testing the Tok'ra, finding out if anyone has been compromised, so I fear none of them will have the time to come with me, but if they have, we will return late today. Else, I will be returning on my own. Do you think it is possible to have arranged for quarters for me, and perhaps a Tok'ra healer? While Selmak will survive, it would be best to have someone keep an eye on her."

"Sure, I'll make sure rooms are prepared for you. I have...some things I need to take care of, but perhaps we will see each other again tonight?"

"We would like that."

"Okay. See you. You too, dad!"

It is evening, almost 8PM actually. I haven't had time to eat anything since I had a sandwich with Martouf/Lantash, so I am considering getting something in the mess hall, but I decide to go see my dad first. I have just returned to the SGC, after going to talk to Pete. He was unhappy I stayed at the base again instead of spending the night with him, and he became quite unhappy when I told him I would be going back to the SGC, and not staying with him yet again. It's been weeks since we've had time to be together. Part of me suspects it is because I didn't really want to spend time with him, but I don't know.

Of course, that was before I told him I am breaking up with him. I gave him his ring back. I feel like a creep. He became really sad - I am sure he really do love me, and he is a sweet and nice guy. I am just very sure I am not the right for him - or, at least, he is not the right for me. I have been aware of that for some time, I think, or suspected it, but this morning I was certain of it.

Also, now Martouf and Lantash are back. They are alive! I suspect they had feelings for me before...before I shot them. I don't know if they're still interested in me. Not that I deserve it, but a girl can hope, right?

I run into Colonel O'Neill just as I turn a corner. "Oops, sorry, sir!"

"Carter! I just came back here, and I hear your dad is doing better? Something about the Tok'ra figuring out how to cure Selmak?"

I nod. "Yes, I'm actually just on my way down there to check on him."

The Colonel nods. "That's good to hear. Mind if I join you?"

I shake my head. "Of course not, sir."

We walk to the elevator and get on, and I press the button for the 21st floor.

"So, what was wrong with your dad? Or rather, Selmak?" the Colonel asks.

"Apparently she had been exposed to strong radiation when she was still in a Jaffa, and it had damaged her DNA. She had recovered, but apparently there was some lingering problems, which caught up with her now. The Tok'ra introduced healthy DNA instead, and it clearly took, and she's on the way to recovery." I smile, happy.

"Great - but why didn't they do that until now? Had they forgot to check, or what?"

I shake my head. "No, it was something Selmak hadn't talked about. Apparently it's some sort of... I don't know... embarrassment? The symbiotes are so used to being in perfect health and being able to control everything, so when they can't, it's not something they want to talk about."

"And that almost killed your dad. Wonderful! How come they suddenly figured it out, then?"

"Ah, that's...sort of a long story. You see, there were a few that knew... Egeria, Jolinar, and...at least one more, and it was just so lucky that this person returned from a long undercover mission right now, and learned that Selmak was sick. He put two and two together, and went here immediately."

"Competence - that's a rare thing among the Tok'ra. Good to hear it. I'm guessing it's not someone I've met before?"

"Actually, it is...and that's...the weirdest thing. It's someone we know quite well, and thought was dead."

"Really? Who?"

The doors of the elevator opens, and we step out - and almost walk into Martouf/Lantash who are coming from the infirmary. "Hello, Samantha, Colonel...sorry, General O'Neill." Martouf nods.

"You have got to be kidding!" the Colonel exclaims.

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