Other Possibilities, R, 15/?

[hathor_girl]

 

A/N: I use Gerim as the name for Aldwin's symbiote - I've seen others use it, but I'm not sure if it's canon or not.

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15.

Martouf POV.

We've just stepped through the Tau'ri chaapa'ai. Lantash and I are very excited - and nervous. We look forward to seeing Samantha again, but what if she doesn't want anything to do with us? It's been a long time since we saw here and the life of a Tau'ri is short, so perhaps she has given up on us and found someone else?

Lantash tells me she seemed interested and that we were just fools not to see it. He's right, but I still think my worry is valid. He worries too, secretly. He just tries to act self-assured - typically him, thinking it will hurt less that way.

She did leave those 'tags' for us, I consider, feeling for them in our pocket. It is all we have from her. She accepted the necklace, so that is a good sign also.

I take a deep breath and look around me. Beside me are Selmak and his host Jacob - the father of Samantha - I have talked with Jacob and tried to get more information about his daughter. Trying to be subtle, so not to make him worry. Lantash scoffs - I guess I'm not good at subtle.

On the other side of Selmak is Aldwin. He looks a bit nervous too, but then he's the shy type - almost as bad as his symbiote. I don't want to think what would have happened to Gerim if he had been a Goa'uld! Lantash and I both laugh at the thought - a Goa'uld hiding behind his host and trying to make the world think he's a god. No, that wouldn't work.

We are underground, in a sort of grey-walled facility. Sensible - the Tok'ra also sometimes keep the chaapa'ai underground. The grey walls are a bit dull, though.

I look at the Tau'ri waiting for us - they're all in uniforms like the one Samantha and her team wore when they came through that first time. I see her team-mates, but she isn't here. I wonder why?

I feel worried. Is she sick? Injured? Dead? Or have decided she doesn't want anything to do with the Tok'ra?

Lantash tells me not to be so negative.

I greet the assembled Tau'ri politely and introduce myself - they remember me. Selmak introduces Aldwin, then he asks for his daughter. Good, I guess it's better he be the one to do so.

The one called Daniel tells us she's in the infirmary. I think I remember Samantha using that name for their healer's rooms. Panick stricked me and I can't stop myself from asking.

"Is Samantha sick? Has something happened to her?"

Jacob gives me a strange look. Well, I can be worried for a friend, can't I! He quickly forget about, though, turning to the Tau'ri, demanding to know what's wrong with Samantha.

"No...she's giving birth." Jack reluctantly informs us.

I gasp in shock. She's taken another mate - immediately after returning probably, and now has his child. I feel devastated. Angry. Confused. Lantash is berating himself and me for our stupidity in leaving on a mission without talking to Samantha first.

I vaguely hear Jacob exclaim something then demand to see his daughter. I just feel like returning to the tunnels. Lantash is trying to get my attention with something, though.

~Martouf - is not the human gestation period 9 months?~

~Yes?~

~If you withdraw 9 months from today we get about the time when we went to Marloon with Samantha - and you know what happened then. Actually, she didn't return to the Tau'ri until 7 1/2 months ago, so the child is likely to have been conceived in the tunnels - and if someone else had been with Samantha we would surely have been told. The Tok'ra can't keep something like that secret.~

~So the child is likely ours...~

I feel overwhelmed. My head spins. I don't know how to react. I think I'm happy? I do feel better.

"I would like to talk with Samantha as well." I tell them. "I wish to know if she is well."

"Samantha...I didn't think Sam let anyone call her that." Daniel says.

"Why are you so interested in Carter?" That one called O'Neill demands - I don't think he approves of me.

I don't know what to tell them, and feel myself blush. I look down, hating myself for reacting like this.

"Martouf, kree!" Jacob demand.

Lantash takes over to answer, holding his head defiantly.

"The child is almost certainly mine." He says. "After the initial surprise, we made the calculation."

"WHAT!" Jack exclaims. Daniel and Teal'c makes surprised sounds as well.

I think this meeting with the Tau'ri has just become more complicated. If it wasn't for Lantash, I think I would get a headache.

They do agree to take us to this 'infirmary', though, to see if someone called Doctor Fraiser will allow us to see Samantha. As we walk there, I can feel their looks on my back, the air feels cold - it's as if all of them are angry with me. Lantash wants to yell at them, but I insist on having control. Soon we will hopefully see our Samantha - and our child. How strange it sounds!