Sharing Him, Sharing Her

Part Five - Parting Company

The Gate room was in chaos. Soldiers lined the walls with their guns trained upon the refugees, the eight men of the rescue teams stood on the ramp, their two Colonels reporting breathlessly to General Hammond. Janet flitted between the wounded humans and Tok'ra, barking orders to the white-coated med-techs who followed.

As Jacob, Carter and O'Neill emerged, General Hammond breathed a sigh of relief and signalled up to the Control Room to shut off the Gate. He blinked as it's brightness disappeared, and his sight readjusted to the usual electric lighting. He gestured to a nearby soldier.

"Restrain those Tok'ra, Lieutenant!" The soldiers advanced on them, weapon at the ready. O'Neill raised his hands.

"Whoa, there. Not me, okay. Just them." He pointed at Sam and Jacob, who returned looks of hurt.

"Hey, you started this," he reasoned.

But the Lieutenant was not about to take any chances. Joined by two of his comrades, he diligently kept his gun at the ready as the General joined them at the top of the ramp.

O'Neill began to protest further but Hammond simply held up his hand.

"I don't want to hear it Colonel! You're all under arrest for…" he trailed off, flustered, "Well, for going AWOL and causing all this damned havoc!" He looked at each of them, obviously still wondering if they really had been kidnapped by their symbiotes, or if they had simply been persuaded to disobey orders and go vigilante. He turned to the guards, "Lock 'em up; I'll be there in a while ."

Carter, O'Neill and Jacob were frog-marched out of the Gate room, and promptly secured in a bunkroom with a guard posted outside the door.

Carter and Jacob seated themselves on a bunk each, glaring as O'Neill flung himself down in a much more inelegant fashion.

"So, are you guys gonna let go your stranglehold now?" He asked the Tok'ra, "Or is it that you got a little taste of power and just can't let go? Sounds just like another parasitic race I could mention."

I thought you'd gotten over this, Jack. Kal'ai scolded.

Oh yeah, ancient history. So, you took control of my body and squashed my mind away in a corner, which is NOT a nice feeling by the way, and you may just get me court-marshalled, but sure, forgive and forget!

A powerful Goa'uld is dead, and we saved lives! The Tau'ri don't value this at all?

It's the principle of the thing. Like stealing for a good cause is still stealing.

And yet Robin Hood is one of your celebrated heroes. Kal'ai commented dryly, a note of childish stubbornness in her thoughts.

She'd been rooting round in his memory again, he knew. God, if she was plucking folk tales from his mind she must be going deep. Who knew what else she'd find there. The thought creeped him out more than he thought possible.

Get the hell out of my memory, you nosy worm!

Selmack spoke up, his eyes lowered to the floor and Jacob's face fixed in a grim frown. "We will release our hosts soon. First we wish to explain our actions to General Hammond. He must understand that it was necessary."

"I'm just saying that the relationship between humans and Tok'ra has always been fairly shaky - God knows I'm not a big fan," O'Neill felt a bite of anger from Kal'ai at this, "And purely for the sake of keeping the interplanetary peace, I'd offer this advice: You need to let Carter and Jacob speak now, trust me, Hammond would rather listen to them."

The door clicked and opened. General Hammond stepped in, red-faced and furious.

The three prisoners stood instantly, and O'Neill saluted.

"General, on behalf of all Tok'ra we must--"

"Quiet." Hammond cut off Selmack's speech. "Let me speak to my officers, NOW!"

O'Neill threw Selmack a 'told-you-so' glance. Jacob and Sam's heads bowed, for a longer time than they would usually for a transition of control. O'Neill guessed it would take a few seconds for Carter and Jacob to ease back in.

Carter shuddered and looked up, quickly snapping a smart salute.

"Major Carter here, sir."

Similarly Jacob shook his head as if to clear it and looked at the General. "It's me George. Ugh, that was unpleasant."

Hammond eyed them suspiciously. "It's really you?"

"I assure you sir, we're back in control of ourselves now." Carter said firmly, then added, no doubt to ease the General's wrath, "As a mater of fact Yanock already released me back on Van'Tesh, but I was fairly traumatized, so he lead us home."

I appreciate your defence of my actions. Yanock thanked her silently.

I'm not defending what you did, just that you ended it. She pointed out in reply.

The General looked at his officers, friends, really, and was at a loss for what to do. Things had started out so well when the Tok'ra had offered their assistance in saving the lives of his two best officers, but now…

"Well what would you suggest I do with you? Obviously I can't give you the freedom of the base knowing that your symbiotes could just take over anytime and go off on some personal quest!"

We would NOT! Kal'ai exclaimed sharply.

A look at Carter and Jacob told Colonel O'Neill that their snakes were making similarly vehement denials. Carter relayed the Tok'ra's sentiments to General Hammond, and Jacob nodded his agreement.

"Van'Tesh was as important to them as this place is to Earth," Jacob put in, "I don't agree with their methods, but I think the result was worth it. I wouldn't be too harsh on them General."

Selmack glowed with pride at his host's devotion to the Tok'ra cause. It ached the symbiote to know the discomfort he had put Jacob through, but was pleased he understood that only the most urgent circumstances could have caused him to abuse their blending.

The door opened again, and Dr. Frasier stepped in, motioning for a private word with General Hammond. The General listened as she reported in hushed tones, then turned back with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Well, it seems there might just be a solution convenient to all parties. Come with me."

- - - - - - - - - - -

The SGC's med-lab was purposefully dim, no doubt to spare the patients from the garish halogen lights.

"Most of the Tok'ra were able to heal their own injuries, and they've been sent to guest quarters to rest," Janet reported, "But these two…" her voice held that familiar tone a doctor only uses to imply the worst.

Jacob's face fell as he recognised the two Tok'ra warriors whose faces were almost completely obscured by oxygen masks, their beds surrounded by life-support equipment.

"Toreph," he touched the hand of the first, closing his eyes as if he could feel the man's life-force draining away, "The architect of Van'Tesh."

O'Neill felt a welling of sadness within his mind and knew instantly that Kal'ai grieved. He looked towards the occupant of the second bed, surprised to see a dark-skinned young woman. Back on Van'Tesh when he'd helped free the captives, it was so dark and they were all so battle-stained that he'd had no idea there was a woman amongst the injured.

You knew her? O'Neill asked his symbiote delicately.

She's not dead, Kal'ai pointed out, Not yet. Her name is Iyola - She was meant to be my host, before I was called to heal and blend with you. I do not know the Tok'ra she eventually bonded with.

"Will they make it?" Carter's voice held the same note of concern and sadness, Yanock's emotions superimposing themselves onto his host's.

They will not. Yanock answered her question within her mind, even as Janet replied in kind.

"Their symbiotes were very weak from healing their previous injuries, and then they were caught in the crossfire too. It was too much for them." She looked towards a large metal canister sitting on a trolley at the far end of the infirmary. "I had to extract the Tok'ra as soon as they died, or their hosts would have been poisoned."

"And now they're dying anyway, because they have no immune system." Carter finished sombrely.

"Well, as I was just suggesting to General Hammond, we could save them yet," Janet looked meaningfully at O'Neill and Carter, "Or your symbiotes could."

You mean to extract me? Kal'ai was incredulous.

I don't want to offend you or anything, but it's the perfect solution. You can have the host you were meant for--

You mean someone who actually wants to be blended with me? She sounded bitter.

I think we both realise this relationship isn't working, honey. O'Neill joked softly, and he could feel her amusement as she conceded.

What will happen to you? Kal'ai's thoughts held a genuine tinge of concern and affection.

I'll be fine. The doc has all sorts of concoctions for this sort of thing. O'Neill assured her, at the same time wondering why he was trying so hard to spare her feelings.

You've grown to like me, perhaps? She suggested.

Call it a momentary lapse in judgement.

O'Neill looked over at Carter, who nodded back at him. "Yanock's agreed, sir." Her tone held a touch of regret.

"Okay doc, lets get these snakes in where they can do some good."

- - - - - - - - - -

The procedure was a relatively simple one. O'Neill begged Dr. Frasier to sedate him completely, since frankly the thought of being awake whilst Kal'ai burrowed through into his stomach, travelled up his oesophagus and exited through his mouth was too disgusting to contemplate.

Unfortunately the doc' was adamant that he would only need a local anaesthetic injected into his belly, since any more than that would affect Kal'ai too, and she needed to be on top form to heal her new host.

Here goes, then. Good luck. O'Neill told Kal'ai by way of a goodbye. From the symbiote he felt a pang of sadness at the parting.

I'll miss you, Jack. You were a good training period. After you, I'll be able to put up with any host.

I'm flattered. He replied dryly, Weren't you leaving? He felt her amusement briefly, then concentration as she readied herself for the effort ahead.

I'll try to make this quick, Kal'ai told him, and in a rush of strange sensation she was out, wriggling into Janet's gloved hands. O'Neill gagged and coughed, sickened but glad it was over.

The fearsome-looking snake-creature that was Kal'ai squealed and writhed to be in the open air, and Janet took her quickly over to the unconscious Iyola. The Tok'ra leaped straight into the girl's mouth and disappeared. Briefly her eyes opened and glowed as Kal'ai settled into her new home.

"Ugh. I can't believe you did that to me!" O'Neill commented as he watched.

"It saved your life, Colonel," Janet chided.

Moments later Carter went through the same unpleasant experience, and Yanock was transferred into the dying architect, Toreph.

"How are you feeling, Carter?" The Colonel asked her.

"It's weird, sir. I think I'm actually sorry Yanock's gone. It feels like losing a part of myself."

O'Neill grinned. "Like a diseased kidney."

Carter laughed lightly. The experience of being blended certainly hadn't diminished the Colonel's open disapproval of it. Having carried a Tok'ra twice now, she could admit that it was not the lifestyle for her. Both Jolinar and Yanock had at some stage dominated her against her will, and even though she was not the type to hold a grudge, she felt that she would never attain the kind of true symbiosis that her dad had reached with Selmack. Yanock had been a calm presence, wise and determined; Sam felt he would co-exist well with Toreph, an older man, and a respected craftsman and warrior of the Tok'ra.

At last, Sam thought to the quietness of her own mind, I'm just myself again.

Janet checked on the new hosts briefly and then left them to begin their healing process. Instead she advanced on O'Neill and Carter with a couple of prepared syringes.

The Colonel groaned. "Tretonin?" Frasier nodded. O'Neill looked over at Carter and rolled his eyes. "Guess we'd better get used to needles, huh. We'll be on this stuff forever now, like Teal'c."

"Actually," Janet corrected him, "It'll only be for a few months. You were blended for so short a time that your bodies won't suffer so badly from the loss of the symbiotes. The dose will be decreased each month until you can sustain yourselves."

The Colonel huffed in mock-disappointment. "Aww, and I was planning on starting up the SGC branch of Tretonin Addicts Anonymous."

- - - - - - - - - -

While the Tok'ra were left to recover in their own time, Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter were called to the Briefing Room, where Daniel and Teal'c sat in the comfy swivel chairs at one side of the huge oval desk and General Hammond sat at the head of the table, flipping the pages of some mission report or other.

He pushed it aside as the two officers entered and saluted. After so much insubordination recently, O'Neill figured he'd pay more attention to the details for a while.

"Have a seat, Colonel, Major." The General nodded to each in turn, "I take it the operation went smoothly?"

"As smoothly as having a parasite crawl out of your mouth can go, sir." O'Neill replied, his expression still a little sick.

"It went fine, sir, and the Tok'ra have already started healing their new hosts." Carter clarified the situation.

"So, how will this affect our alliance with the Tok'ra?" Daniel asked, ever the diplomat.

"Well, officially, they're on a warning, which means that we'll be more wary in our dealings with them--"

"Sir, I know what they did was wrong, but--" Sam interjected, worried that she'd have even less contact with her father than she already did. The General cut off her protest with a raise of the hand.

"Don't worry, Major. Jacob won't take any heat for this, you have my word. And as for Selmack and the other two… well I think we can just guilt-trip them into, say, letting us have a little more of their technology. I think for all our trouble they can afford to be very generous to us in trade for a while." The General smiled slyly. "So, SG-1, go get some R&R. Dismissed."

Daniel, Teal'c and Carter stood to leave, but stopped when the Colonel stayed seated.

"Just a minute, sir," O'Neill said, "I'd like a favour."

"What's that, Colonel?"

O'Neill reached inside his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper and a pen.

"Your signature on this," He handed the handwritten note to Hammond, "A declaration that no matter how grave the circumstances, no one on this base will ever Tok'ra-fy me again!"

General Hammond smiled, "You have my sworn word on that, Colonel."

- - - - - - - - - -

Around noon the following day, five Tok'ra warriors, among them Oreth, Serrith and Ferrinor, stood in the Gate Room, awaiting their recovered comrades.

The great steel door slid open and in strode a procession of General Hammond, Dr. Frasier, SG-1, Jacob and the newly blended Toreph and Iyola. The Tok'ra greeted their friends, clasping arms with each other in solidarity.

Finally all the Tok'ra lined up to leave, and Jacob stepped forward to shake hands cordially with General Hammond. The General raised his eyebrows in a comment unsaid, and Jacob smiled.

"We'll be alright, Selmack and me. Things were done and said, but every partnership has its ups and downs."

"More downs than ups in my experience…" O'Neill couldn't help putting in with a sly smile. Iyola stepped forwards.

"Kal'ai has not stopped speaking of you since our joining. I think you cared more for her than you will admit," Iyola bowed her head briefly, and when she looked up her eyes shined with mirth. "And I definitely cared for you." Kal'ai said, the distortion making her host's voice sound exotic. She stepped in and kissed the Colonel passionately.

Daniel smirked and General Hammond chuckled lightly as Iyola stepped back into line with a satisfied grin at O'Neill's face, flushed with embarrassment.

Carter's eyes widened briefly as Toreph stepped towards her, but thankfully he only extended his hand. "Farewell Samantha," Yanock said, bowing slightly as she took his hand, "It was an honour to be bonded with you, and I will carry your integrity within my soul forever." Sam smiled and bowed back to him.

"Why couldn't you have said that?" O'Neill whispered at Kal'ai. She grinned even wider.

"Come on, Jack, you know me better than that." With a wink that made her seem more human than ever, she turned and led the way up the ramp towards the Stargate, the wormhole already open, and stepped through, followed by the others.

As the Gate closed, leaving only the humans, O'Neill cast a glance around him at all the amused faces and scowled.

"Hey, she came on to me!"

"Whatever you say, Colonel." General Hammond commented with a smile and headed for the door.

Fin