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Complications
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Age Friendly

Title: Complications
Author: Ky (venom69)
Fandom: Stargate: SG1
Rating: Age Friendly
Summary: 'You say interesting as though it were a good thing.'
Character/Pairing: Jacob Carter. A little Sam/Jack.
Spoilers: D&C.
Warnings: None.
Written for: [info]audreysmagic in the [info]loose_ends_fic. Prompt: Jacob/Selmak find out about Martouf's death in 'Divide and Conquer'
Author’s Notes: Song belongs to Aaron Neville.
Disclaimer: Usual guff. Not mine, promise to put them back where I found them.
Date: 26/12/06

***

Look at this man
So blessed with inspiration
Look at this soul
Still searching for salvation

***

He’s late getting back.

The cargo ship that he borrowed – stole – wasn’t very well maintained and the fact that he pushed the engines to maximum in order to get out alive probably didn’t help much. They had to stop twice in order to make repairs and Jacob thinks it nothing but sheer luck that the cloak didn’t fail completely.

That would have made life a little bit more interesting.

'You say interesting as though it were a good thing.'

The voice in his head startles him.

Even after two years, he still hasn’t quite come to terms with the fact that there is another person living in Carterland. 'I say it like it would have complicated things.' He returns.

Having someone speak inside of his head was strange, especially when he knew that no one else could hear her, but answering the voice was even stranger.

The fact that they argued like an old married couple most of the time?

That was just creepy.

'Creepy?'

'Unusual.'

Sometimes he forgets that Selmak hasn’t been with him all of his life.

Mostly he forgets that when he uses slang or makes any kind of obscure Earth reference, she doesn’t get it.

She has access to all of his memories, but she only ever goes there if she has to or if he offers. Generally, she gets his thoughts and feelings thrown at her on a daily basis.

But he gets hers as well, so they call it even.

***

When the reach Vorash’s atmosphere, Jacob announces their arrival and waits for conformation that he can land.

Shaknar is waiting for them when they land and lower the ramp of the Cargo Ship, leaving the cloak operational. “You are late.”

“We got out by the skin of our teeth.” He confirms, walking down the ramp with his bag of borrowed – stolen – crystals clutched tightly in his hand.

'Jacob…'

There is a hint of exasperation in her voice and Jacob knows what the expression on her – his – face would look like. If she were in control right now, that is. “It was a close call.” He amends.

“I am pleased that you survived.” Shaknar bows his head slightly.

Jacob pats him on the shoulder. “Me too!” Moving to stand where he knows the rings are, he nods to the other man. “Beam me down.”

It shouldn’t be possible, but he can actually hear Selmak sigh.

***

Garshaw’s worried expression is the first thing that he sees when the light of the rings dissipates. He feels like a teenager being caught sneaking back into the house after a wild night out. “Am I really that late?”

She inclines her head. They are all fairly used to his odd expressions and mannerisms. “Come.”

Jacob falls into step beside her as they navigate the bright tunnels. He realizes about halfway there that they are heading to the High Council chambers. “Everything OK?”

“Anise has returned.”

“The treaty?” He’d hoped to be back before that. The chance to see Sam again would have been welcomed; it seemed like years since he’d had the chance to hug his little girl. And he was looking forward to meeting the President again.

“It was successful.”

“You don’t look very happy about that.”

'Have you ever seen her look ‘happy’, Jacob?'

Jacob coughs to cover the snort of amusement threatening to escape. Selmak has a point; Garshaw wasn’t really the type to jump for joy over anything.

“There were… complications.”

“What sort of complications?”

Garshaw doesn’t reply and Jacob follows her around the corner, walking into the High Council Chambers.

The Council have assembled and they are a sea of worried faces that watch him as he enters.

Anise stands before them, her hands clasped behind her back and her head bowed.

Jacob has no real stirrings of friendship towards the Anise/Freya combo and he can’t help but think that, after the Armband fiasco, Jack probably feels the same way.

'Be nice.'

'Yes mom.'

“What’s going on?” He asks.

Garshaw takes her seat at the centre of the crescent shaped ‘table’ and nods to Anise.

“During the final stages of the treaty preparations, Major Graham attempted to assassinate Supreme High Councillor Per'sus.”

“He what?” Jacob doesn’t know Graham personally, but unless George is really hard up for new recruits, he finds it impossible to believe that they are sending head cases through the Stargate these days.

Anise frowns a little. “We encountered some… complications with the treaty signing.”

“What kind of complications?”

He listens as she explains about the attempted assassination, Aster’s suicide, the Za’tarc testing that took place and the subsequent discovery of who the Za’tarc actually was.

“Martouf?” Jacob doesn’t believe that Martouf would jeopardize the treaty any more than he believes that Major Graham was acting willingly when he went postal.

“He attempted to assassinate the President of the United States and Per’sus.”

“Where is he now?”

“He is dead.”

Selmak and, by default, Jacob, are assaulted by memories.

His eyes close without any conscious decision and he feels waves of emotions and memories wash over him.

***

The young host to be, Martouf, waits quietly.

'Are you prepared?' She asks.

'I am.'

Selmak watches the implantation dispassionately.

Martouf screams, his eyes glowing.

Lantash speaks. 'We are one.'

***

'I wish to bond with Jolinar' Martouf tells her.

Selmak is surprised.

The Tok’Ra rarely feel the need to formally bond with their mates. Once their connection as partners is made, it is simply understood that it is for eternity.

'When?' She asks.

'When her mission is complete.'

***

Jolinar leaves for her mission.

She returns, but she is not the same and, before long, she leaves them again.

Her explanation is vague. She says that she has to go and, before anyone can stop her, she steps through the Chapa’ai without looking back.

Martouf sits upon a sand dune, watching as the moons set. 'She was my mate.'

'I know.' Selmak sits beside him and they watch the sun set before them.

***

Jacob sits with Martouf, watching the sunrise.

He is still trying to adjust to being here, with them. He misses beer and television. And he would kill for a pizza with olives right about now.

But he’s gained another chance at life so he’ll give them up willingly.

Finding out what Sam does for a living has pretty much floored him. Meeting aliens, moving in with them, trying to understand their way of life. His head has been spinning for the last month.

He breaks the silence first. 'Are you in love with my daughter?'

'Yes.'

'Is that because she is Samantha or because she was Jolinar?'

Martouf looks down. 'I do not know.'

Jacob nods. 'Figure it out before you tell her.'

***

Jacob opens his eyes and stares at the faces of the High Counsel. “How did he die?”

“Major Carter was forced to kill him.”

Fear grips his heart and he can hear Selmak demanding that he remain calm, but he ignores her as instinct takes over. “Is my daughter alright?”

“She remains unharmed.” Garshaw replies.

“Unharmed is not the same as alright.” He returns sharply.

“Major Carter was most distraught when we departed,” Anise tells him. “I believe that killing Martouf, coupled with the revelation that came about during her Za’tarc testing made it a very distressing day for her.”

His first instinct is to go and see her, but he knows that he can’t.

They have to analyse the crystals that he managed to obtain – steal – on his mission. It could deliver a crippling blow to the Goa’uld and he hates it, but Jacob knows that it has to be his first priority now. “Revelation?”

“It seems that Colonel O’Neill cares for Major Carter.” Anise frowns. Jacob thinks that if the Tok’Ra were known for rolling their eyes, she would be doing that now. “More than he is supposed to.”

Jacob wishes he could act surprised, but he’s really not.

He’s seen the way that Jack looks at his daughter and, worse still, he’s seen the way that his daughter looks at her Commanding Officer.

'Do not judge them.' Selmak grieves for her friend quietly and Jacob can feel the pain but her voice still holds a warning note of experience.

'I don’t.'

“What now?” He asks.

“We will hold a memorial for Martouf.”

***

End

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