Chapter Sixteen: They awaken, bathe, have breakfast, make love, and then Daniel, Martouf, and Lantash admit that their joinings are legal and will be considered so by both the Tok'Ra and the Tau'ri worlds. Sam threatens Daniel if he even thinks about telling her ways to get the marriage annulled. Before they know it, it is time to leave to return to the SGC where Jack explains the chains...sort of.

"Italics" – Symbiote-Host communications

Ketra'kesh'cor - Four bound by the heart

Chains of Gold

Chapter Sixteen

Well, There's This Plant

Sam awoke to the feel of lips on the back of her neck. They nuzzled her gently and she smiled softly. She could smell Daniel's scent in front of her, so it was his chest near her nose. That meant that Martouf was the one kissing the back of her neck. She opened her eyes, and in the dim light of the room, she could see that it was, indeed, Daniel in front of her, and he was still asleep. She rolled backward toward Martouf and whispered in a romantic sultry voice, "Where are the controls? I need to go to the bathroom, and I don't want to wake Daniel."

Martouf laughed quietly, and reached out for the control by the bed, quickly unlocking her from the two of them. She slid from his arms and padded to the other room. After finishing in there and seeing the bathing pool so close, she slipped out the door and quickly lowered herself into the wonderful warm water. She soaked for only a moment or two, before moving into the bathing section and quickly washing and rinsing herself.

She felt much better, and after using the local's version of a blow-dryer, she returned to the room and slipped quietly into bed. Martouf opened his eyes, and then they widened as he realized that she had bathed. She smiled at him and taking the control undid his side as well. He grimaced and agreed going quickly to follow her footsteps.

Sam waited a few minutes and followed him. She was just in time to see him slip into the first pool. She followed him in and ran her arms around his waist. "Hi. How are you and Lantash this morning? I think we all just kind of passed out last night."

He turned to face her and pulled her closer. "Yes, we did. Even Lantash took the time to become dormant and rest. It was a very long and eventful day."

"Yes, and it seems silly to have gone to all that trouble just to get a plant. I suppose bogus marriages are performed everyday though." Sam sighed as the pain of that thought hit her squarely in the heart.

"Samantha, make-love to me, and do no worry about our joining for now. We will work everything out later. For now, we want only to hold you in our arms and love you. One long kiss led to another until soon the only thing in their world was each other.

They came down cradled in each other's arms.

Lantash was back, for a moment anyway. "So you have discovered the secret the Tok'Ra do not speak of, my Samantha. Are you pleased that you can now bring me to my knees?"

She cocked her head studying him for a long moment, "Is that really how the Tok'Ra view that? As a weakness?"

Lantash laughed. "It makes us very vulnerable. How should we feel about it, but somewhat ambivalent?" He shook his head. "No, my Samantha, we do not look on it as a weakness, we consider it a pleasure point. I was simply surprised you found it so quickly this time when you did not find it the last time. I should not be, I know, for you are very observant—even in the throes of passion."

"You can be sure that I will use it to give you sexual pleasure. I'm thrilled to find out about it. As for finding it before," she paused, "If you mean in the gazebo yesterday, I think I was too strung out to notice anything and last night I don't even remember touching your neck. Does Martouf feel it too, or does it just affect you?"

"It affects both of us. A great deal. Martouf would have come to you before he did had you not begun to ah, pleasure us so, ah determinedly. He knew that he would not be able to hold back for you, so he stayed back until you were almost there. It does not really matter, you know. We both experience whatever happens if the one in control allows it. The only things we usually try not to share are unpleasant events. Otherwise we share all things. Sexual pleasure being one of the more involved experiences that we share. There are times during the sexual act that we are as close to being in dual control as we ever are. It is a unique sensation, and one that we seek. I will tell you one other thing that the symbiote does tend to do after exquisite sexual fulfillment. We go into torpor for a short time. We are not completely inactive; it is simply an effort to be active for a short time. Therefore, if you do not mind, my Samantha, I will return to the passenger seat and allow Martouf to drive. You see, we are beginning to understand Earth phrases better all the time."

Sam laughed. "Yes, you are. That was used completely in context and quite well."

Martouf leaned down and kissed her before sighing, "I believe I will bathe, and then we should return to Daniel, for we should see if our other-mate is awake yet."

Sam's breath caught and her eyes widened. She looked at him with stricken eyes. "Oh, Lantash, Martouf, what have we done?"

"Well, you gave me a very nice show, so don't screw it up now by getting all guilty, Sam. I can already see the wheels turning in that brilliant, but sometimes misguided, mind of yours," Daniel groused from the doorway to the cottage where he had been sitting. Standing, he walked over to them. He had his robe on, but it was wrapped as he usually wore them, not as they were wrapped yesterday.

He knelt beside the pool and reached out to Sam, brushing her hair back. "You know, just because we are all four bonded that doesn't mean we each have to be together every time. It means we can be together when we want to be. It's a choice, not a law, Sam, so don't look like you've just committed a crime." He looked over at Martouf and addressed both he and Lantash. "I hope neither of you see it the way Sam is heading?"

Lantash came forward and shook his head, saying, "You would be correct in your assumption, Daniel. We consider it a choice, as well. However, I suspected that my Samantha might not realize, or look on it, in that way. I wanted to see neither regret, nor guilt, later, if it could be dealt with before it raised its head. I had hoped that it would be brought out in this way."

Daniel grinned. "That sounds like you. I'll accept it as a true statement."

Leaning in he gave Sam a very soft, lingering kiss. "Sam, I am very serious about this. There will be times that one of us may be gone on a mission, to a meeting, or just out doing something. We can't set limits like this on our sex life, our love life. There are going to be times that I'm going to want to go to bed, and go to sleep. There may be times that Martouf does. What then? Lantash and I can't make love to you because Martouf is sleeping? Or Martouf and Lantash can't because I'm sleeping?"

"Or one or the other of us has to abstain because of an off-world trip the other is taking? I don't think that's right, and I certainly don't want us bound by those kinds of chains. The chains of gold are one thing. But those would be an entirely different kind, and I don't think any of us would be truly happy in a relationship like that. I know that I wouldn't be.

"We are all going to need those times when it is just the two of us, too, you know. It's inevitable. Not because we're jealous, or don't care about the other, but because something has happened that affects us in some way, and we need you. I can't explain it, but we'll know it when it happens."

Standing, he looked down on them and grinned, "Now. I'm sorry, but I'm hungry, and I need a bath as well. Therefore, if you two don't mind, I'm going to go have breakfast and then a bath, or maybe the bath and then the breakfast. Then, believe it, or not, I'll probably go back to sleep. I debated getting up at all, and if nature hadn't been so insistent I probably wouldn't have. I assumed you were, ah finished, but if I'm intruding I'll go have breakfast first and…" Daniel stopped as Sam threw water at him.

"We're bathing and then eating. Come in with us Daniel, please?" Sam tried the wheedling tone that usually worked on Daniel, but he shook his head, as he started back toward the cottage.

"I'll be out in a bit, Sam. I've got a couple of things I want to do first."

Sam frowned, "What could Daniel possibly have to do?"

"Well, he might wish to shave. That is a Tau'ri ritual in the morning is it not?" Martouf had come back and answered her question.

"Yes, it is and you're probably right."

Sam looked at Martouf where he stood leaning against the side of the pool. He raised an eyebrow at her and she looked down, not sure what to say. She cleared her throat and asked, somewhat haltingly, "Do—do you think he—he meant it? That it won't upset him? Is he right about you—and Lantash? You won't be upset if we aren't always all…together?"

"Yes. Yes, I believe him. He is telling the truth. I have no trouble believing him because he said nothing that Lantash and I do not feel ourselves. We, too, have felt that. Samantha, although, we are Ketra'kesh'cor, we will not always be together. It is the way of the pairings. I suppose we should have discussed this before the ceremony. It is the way of it. When one mate is absent, the other is still there. If one mate is tired, still the other one is there. It is simply part of the joining of this many hearts. We are not jealous of one another; we depend and rely on one another as trusted friends and lovers."

She watched as Lantash again threw off his tiredness to come forward to reassure her and add his feelings on the subject. "Martouf is correct. We do rely on one another as trusted friends and lovers. We have given our loved one into the hands of another man, one whom we trust and care for as a brother. That is why we call him the mate-brother. However, there is a different reason other than that of lovers and friends. It is the idea that if something happens to one of us, the other will still be there to care for the mate. It is the peace that comes from knowing that if we are captured or killed that our mate, that one thing that we cherish above all other things will be loved, honored, and cared for. It is the reassurance that no matter what happens to us, there is still a place for her heart to find the peace and love, and support it needs to carry on without us by her side. That, to us, is the greatest gift of the Ketra'kesh'cor."

He paused for a long time, looking downward at the water in the pool, before raising his eyes to hers. "You must understand, my Samantha, that there will never, from yesterday forward, be anything in this life that we will cherish more than we do you. You have all of our devotion and love for when we love; we love totally. We do not actively seek out a multiple bonding, but once the first shock of one wears off we once again recognize it for what it is." He smiled at her. "A Ketra'kesh'cor to us is one of the most wonderful things we could do. Now there are not two but three of us to love and care for you. So, yes, I believe that Daniel meant what he said, for I can understand exactly how he feels."

She went into his arms. Resting there, she wondered what they would all do when this dream ended. She knew she didn't want it to end, but what else could it do? She sighed and heard a faint splash followed by another pair of hands.

"I thought you two were going to bathe? I've shaved and changed the bed coverings already. Ah, and removed the other half of that chain. I have to agree that six feet apart is a little too close together for the three of us, unless in public here."

Martouf came back to laugh at him. "Yes, I agree, Daniel. I did not awaken one time last night to check to see if I was strangling Samantha. This entire idea is not safe."

"Yeah, I have to agree. We both talked about that remember? While we were both trying to, uh, yeah, well, never mind that."

Daniel forced himself to pull away from Sam, get out and go into the actual bathing rather than the soaking and relaxing pool. She heard Martouf sigh, and then watched as he climbed out and followed him. They talked and laughed together enough that it brought a smile to her face. In a perfect world, she would have them both. Seeing them both get out, she took her turn to go through the entire process again. It made her wonder why she had bothered the first time, but then she remembered that she was the one that had interrupted Martouf, not the other way around.

Finally finished, she entered the cottage to find a breakfast of pastries, more hearty fare if you preferred it, and juice. She sniffed it before she drank it, but did not detect that little aphrodisiac fruit. She watched as Martouf and Daniel did the same. Not that the fruit was all that bad. The affect didn't seem to last overly long any way. They sat in companionable silence. Sam, opting for a couple of pastries, was finished first and got up to wander around the rooms and when she found the bed with the fresh coverings on it she couldn't resist. She stretched out and relaxed. The day before and all of the stress had taken a toll and before she realized what has happening she had fallen asleep.

Her two new mates after finishing their breakfast, putting the dirty containers outside and keeping leftover pastries and juice inside, they had decided to see where Sam had disappeared. They were surprised to find her in the bed and asleep. It looked good to them. As they quietly joined her, she snuggled up to them as naturally as if she had been doing it for a very long time. They watched her sleep for a while before they each followed her, but they were dozing lightly, not truly sleeping, both keeping watch over her.

"If I could purr, I would purr, you know that don't you? I don't think I've ever been that contented in my life. You guys are for real, right? I'm not going to wake up to the best dream I've ever had, am I?"

"If you do Sam, I hope you're in the sleeping bag next to mine because I'm grabbing you and Martouf as soon as I wake up and hauling you both off into the bushes someplace."

Martouf came forward saying solemnly, "I will go willingly. No, I will help you." They all chuckled lightly, but Martouf sobered at once.

"There is something we need to discuss before we return to Earth tomorrow. Lantash has just reminded me that we should do so now so that we will have time to work out any problems that may arise.

Sam sighed and sat up, getting comfortable against the head board, or what passed as a headboard. "All right, what's the problem, Daniel?"

"I'll let Martouf and Lantash go first. Theirs is a little more straight forward than ours is." Sam blinked at him and then turned her attention to Martouf.

Lantash came to the forefront. "Martouf and I have discussed this and he feels that I should be the one to tell you, since it is Tok'Ra policy. He is Tok'Ra as well, however, that is neither here nor there. The fact is that the joining ceremony we went through together yesterday will be seen as legitimate by the Tok'Ra. As of last night, you are our mate. Legally, by our laws, we are now bonded to you, as these bracelets attest. Daniel, too, of course, in the way of Ketra'kesh'cor."

Sam looked at him for a moment and then said, "We're legally mated. You and me."

Lantash nodded

"You and me and Martouf."

Again Lantash nodded.

"You and me and Martouf and Daniel. We are all mated. Together.

Once more Lantash nodded.

"You, Martouf, me, and Daniel. We are all mated. Together. Forever, the until we die, kind of bonded, joined, mated. Like married. "

Lantash nodded once again.

"Do you think that you could possibly do something besides nod your head at me? I know you have more intelligence than a horse, and horses always nod their heads at you when you talk to them, too."

Lantash blinked and cleared his throat. He looked to Daniel for some kind of support only to see him pinching the bridge of his nose, never a good sign. He was on his own, "What would you like for me to say, my Samantha? I have answered your questions. I can add an affirmative to them if you wish. Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes. Is that what you wished me to say?" He heard Daniel groan and knew he was in trouble. For the first time in a long time, Lantash was not sure of how to handle a woman. Nor did he have any idea what she expected from him.

"Well if I have to tell you, forget it. Go away." The anger and pain pierced him and also threw light on what she was waiting to hear.

"There is one other thing you should know."

"What?"

"The only way the Tok'Ra will "not" acknowledge the bonding is if we repudiate it, claiming it was done under duress. We cannot and will not, ever do that. I meant my vows to you, my Samantha, as did Martouf. I will never give you a divorce, Tok'Ra or otherwise, so do not think it. Neither will Martouf." He saw the relief enter her eyes, but then her lids shaded her eyes.

"Then there's nothing else to say. We're bonded according to Tok'Ra law. In the Tok'Ra's eyes Daniel and I are your mates. That doesn't mean we are by our laws."

Daniel cleared his throat, "Actually, Sam, it does."

"What?"

"There were some new presidential orders sent down not long ago dealing with off-world policies. One of them, Presidential Order #6996, states that all marriages performed off world are to be deemed legal and sanctioned. So, um, they will recognize not only your marriage to Lantash and Martouf, but, um, also ours. That is yours and mine. As in, we'll be considered married when we go home tomorrow."

Sam stared back and forth between the two of them.

"You're sure? Absolutely, positively, sure. No loopholes, no last minute reprieve because it's polygamous, nothing is going to change it. The four of us are married, bonded, joined, tied, shackled, mated, paired, and entwined, no way out, together forever."

"Yeah, that's the way it is." Daniel cleared his throat, and said gruffly, "I have no intention of attempting to stop it in any way either. I mean, I'm not going to go looking for a way out of it. Not ever. As far as I'm concerned, we're married. All of us."

"I hear a "but" in there, Daniel."

"Listen, Sam, I'm sorry, I mean, I knew, Lantash and Martouf knew. Hell, even Jack knew. We should have told you, so you could make an informed decision. In fact, there is…"

"Shut up, Daniel! Just. Shut. Up! If there are loopholes, I do not want to hear them, do you understand? Do not tell me, for my own good, because you feel guilty, or any other crazy reason you talk yourself into."

She pointed at Lantash, "You! Lantash! Under no circumstances are you to allow him to open his mouth to me on ways to annul, set aside, tear asunder, rip apart, or destroy our bonds. I don't care how, short of killing him, you have to stop him, just do it."

"Sam, does this mean you don't want out? That—that you're glad we didn't tell you?"

"As long as you can assure me that it's what you want, Daniel, then yes, I am very glad. In fact, I couldn't be happier. This is the most perfect arrangement I could have envisioned. We're friends and we're lovers. What more could a woman want? Three of the most wonderful men in the Galaxy in her bed and her life, and you think I'd throw it away? I am not a dumb blond, Daniel."

Daniel smiled. "No, and you are a true blond, too. Speaking of blond. I haven't had lunch yet; do you think I could get a Samwich?"

"That is not nice, Daniel. That is really, really bad." The two fell on the bed, wrestling and tickling one another, as Martouf and Lantash looked on.

"Will you not join in, dear one?"

"In a moment, Lantash. I am still feeling the relief of knowing she is willing to stay with us."

"Yes. Yes, so am I." The sudden cessation of movement on the bed drew their attention.

"I believe that this Tau'ri ritual may have a different ending now that we can play it unclothed in bed," Martouf noted smugly.

"Yes, I may even be convinced to join into this "play". It looks very similar to one of my favorite forms of fun called "sex".

"Lantash, what am I to do with you? Why do you allow all of my blood to go there at one time? Have I not told you it makes me lightheaded?"

"You will survive, Martouf. Come. Let us join the "fun"."

"If you insist."

"I don't see myself exactly twisting your arm."

"No, no you won't have to do that, Lantash."

"What is Daniel doing? That is one of the moves that Jore was explaining, is it not?"

"It is time to join, Daniel. I believe I remember a few of those as well."

"Yes. It is, but I do not know how you could possibly remember anything. You turned to stone the minute you realized on what Jore was going to talk. If you had frozen in any other position, I would have been unable to see and catalog the entire lecture."

"You did? The entire lecture? Even the…the nose part?"

"Yes, yes, let us join our mates, Martouf, before they leave without us."

"Oh! Of course."

Lantash sighed. He liked when all he had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride. And it looked like he was in for a wild one. Maybe he should consider putting in seatbelts. And a good stereo. More subtle lighting. Maybe a wet bar… He chuckled to himself, stopped trying to use distraction to ignore the sensations, and then gave his senses over to the tide of passion Samantha was building within them.

The SGC was moderately busy. Two teams had already returned with minor scrapes, cuts and bruises. Just nice minor things. SG-2 would have had a few cuts, but Malek had his healing device and took care of them. He healed everything except for extreme injuries, in the field. Those he could sometimes help until they could get medical care. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't, but they all knew they had tried.

General Hammond entered the control room as an expected wormhole was established. Good, nothing out of the ordinary.

"General Hammond, sir, we have a code, it's SG-1, sir."

General Hammond nodded and answered, "Open the iris." He made his way down to the gate room, always happy to see his premier team return in one piece, with no problems, and with all members accounted for. As he reached the end of the ramp, three backpacks sailed through. The general was startled and started to call for security teams when Jack and Teal'c came through, walking very straight and stopped about three-quarters of the way down the ramp.

"Sorry about that General, but the bags spoiled the lines of the robes, so the locals didn't like it; they felt it detracted from their dignity. It's no big deal. Really. It's fine. Everything's fine. We're all good. Don't worry. Everything's under control. Really."

"Colonel, where's the rest of your team?" What's ha-happened…?" His voice trailed off, as General Hammond looked up the ramp to see his normally very professional looking Major Samantha Carter, looking quite lovely in a robe of some kind. Around her neck was a jeweled blue and gold collar. Attached to it were two chains. At the ends of the chains, one could find Dr. Jackson on one side and Martouf and Lantash of the Tok'ra at the other. There was no doubt that they were chained. To her. Not only that, but they both had what appeared to be nipple rings and chains on their chests. Major Carter smiled brightly at him, obviously not the least disturbed or concerned to have two men chained to her.

The event horizon within the Stargate dissipated and the gate room was completely silent. General Hammond decided to try one more time, "Colonel O'Neill, what ha-happened…?" he made the mistake of looking up at them again and his words trailed off.

Jack O'Neill answered, "Well, you see, General, there's this plant…"

The End.