"Till Death Do Us Part" by Susanne Schlimbach

Title: Till death does us part...

Author: Susanne "Prank" Schlimbach

Status: not yet complete - work in progress

Category: Sam and Martouf friendship, Sam and Jack friendship - and maybe a relationship

Spoilers: Some for "Solitudes" and "The Devil You Know", later maybe some more

Rating: PG, I think...

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters! "Stargate SG-1" belongs to MGM/UA, Gekko Productions, Double Secret Productions... yady, yady, yady. But oh yessss: This fantasy is very much mine!

Required Reading: none

Summary: SGC has got a new member, and she meets Martouf...

Author’s note: I love the shirt MacGyver is wearing quite often, so I borrowed that... Oh, and: This text wasn't beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine!

Warning: None, except if you HATE Martouf, you'd better NOT read it!

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to DHD - I got this wonderful sentence from her, she knows which... AND to my favorite actress Dina Meyer, I loved her Starship Trooper's Dissy so much, I had to re-vive her....

Archive: Sam and Martouf - yes please, Heliopolis -yes, Sam and Jack - if you care go ahead, and someday mine, I hope... All others should ask, please...

Feedback: Always welcome, even fire and brimstone!

Sam entered the cafeteria. Laughter greeted her. A crowd had collected around one table and Sam noticed - of course - Dissy was the center of attraction. Sergeant Dina Meyer was a new member at SGC, but everybody called her by her nickname "Dissy". With her quick humor and witty jokes the petite red head had immediately been everybody's favorite. Whenever there was an opportunity to pull a joke, on make a pun, she did it. Of course some feared to become the focus of her jokes or her sharp tongued comments, but since she never intended to hurt peoples feelings, she was easily forgiven. One of her most striking features was, that she could laugh about herself best, and if she ever put her foot in it, she made sure not to offend somebody.

She brightened the sometimes dull or tense days at SGC. Janet had told Sam, that she had once visited the usually grumpy Captain Smithers of SG-9, who had been nastily wounded during his last mission. He had even laughed and his medical bill had improved since then rapidly. Janet had been ever so grateful to get rid of the difficult patient way faster than she had expected. And Dissy had befriended Daniel and Teal'c! She was the only one how understood the strange Jaffa jokes, Teal'c sometimes told, and she laughed about them heartily!

But the outgoing ways of Dissy had it's backsides too. Sam had heard from General Hammond that Dissy had had quite some difficulties with her former superiors, and she had often been skipped when it had come to promoting her. But the General wanted to give her a fair chance, liking the good soldier and cunning technician in her and she having become the heart and soul of SGC helped too. Sam heard the next comment of Dissy as she approached the sandwich counter:

"Boy, you could shove the Hubble telescope up his backside and still not find any sign of intelligent life..."

This sentence made the cafeteria roar with laughter. And Sam had to grin too. She didn't know whom she was talking about, but there were several people coming to her mind to whom this remark might fit: Colonel Maybourne, Leutenant-Colonel Samuels...

"Sorry guys, I really gotta go now!" Dissy excused herself, nodding her greeting smiling towards Sam. "Major. How's your experiment going? Is the oscilograph still acting up?"

"No, no! You did a great job, it's just behaving really nicely now!" Sam replied smiling, remembering when the other day that stupid machine had suddenly gone havoc and after having tried to repair it herself she had asked Dissy to take a look at it. She had taken a look at it, removed the lid and just wiggled at a few of the cables, tightened a few of the screws and suddenly the thing worked as well as on it's first day. Sam had expressed her bewilderment, but Dissy had told her not to think about it, that sometimes the little Gizmos in the machines simply needed to be reminded who was their master. After a little laugh and a small chat she had left, leaving Sam smiling, having decided to like this woman a lot.

Sam grabbed her sandwich and was about to leave the cafeteria when she met Janet.

"Oh Sam, good that I meet you! I was planning to go to the festival with Cassie this weekend. She wanted me to ask you and the rest of SG-1 to join us... You know how she enjoys going there with you guys..."

"Great idea! I hear the weather forecast promised some nice weather for the weekend. My father planned to come, but he wanted to visit his grandchildren... Sure, I'd love to come along! Shall I ask the guys or will you?"

"Oh! But if your father is coming, you'd might want to visit with him..."

"Oh, no! He's made it perfectly clear that he wanted to be together with the kids - alone!"

"Well, then, how about you ask Jack and I ask Daniel and Teal'c... And oh, when your father travels, he's usually accompanied by Martouf, right?" Janet grinned.

"Yes, that's right..."

"Well, we'll drag him along too, what do you think? Might be an interesting experience for him..."

"You really think so?"

"Ya sure, it'll be fun, you'll see! Or do you want to lock him up in the broom-closet for the time being?!"

Sam laughed, imagining the hurt puppy dog look Martouf would give her. "Of course not! So if it's Martouf, we'll take him along..."

Just in that moment Daniel came around the corner. Quickly he was told the women's plans for the weekend. He got excited.

"Oh, sure, I'd love to come along. Teal'c and I were wondering what to do on this weekend already... Great idea! I'm looking forward seeing Cassie again, and I bet same is true for Teal'c! Oh, might we take Dissy along, what do you say?"

"Ya sure, the larger the crowd, the more fun we'll have! And maybe she can make Martouf laugh somewhat, he's been rather tense the last time I've seen him..."

Daniel forgot about what he had had in mind, excitedly he hurried into the opposite direction and shouted over his shoulder "I'll ask Teal'c and Dissy right away!"

Sam and Janet looked at each other eyebrows raised and grinning.

Jacob Carter arrived Friday early morning at SGC and indeed there was Martouf in tow. Quickly SG-1's plans for the weekend were shared and Martouf was glad to be invited along. Later that day Sam heard a hesitant knock at her lab door.

"Come in!"

Sam heard the person entering very quietly. She had to raise her head and look up from her experiment she and Martouf were involved with, unable to guess who was their visitor. And there stood Dissy, a brown bag in hand looking very uncharacteristically shy.

"Oh, Dissy! Nice of you to drop by! You haven't met Martouf have ya? Martouf, this is the new member of SGC I told you about, the one coming along tomorrow... " Sam started to introduce them to one another. " Dissy this is Martouf. Martouf, this is Sergeant Dana Meyers, but we all call her fondly Dissy."

Martouf bowed his head in greeting as was his usual manner, but Sam was amazed with Dissy's untypical behavior. She stood there, shy like a little school girl, cramping her hands around the bag, eyeing the young Tok'ra with big brown eyes, unable to say a word. Sam had to hide a grin, to see Dissy speechless was a very unusual sight. She even detected a slight blush in the young woman's features. After a few seconds Dissy seemed to get a grip on herself and addressed Sam very formally:

"Major Carter, our guest might consider changing his attire and I got some stuff that might help..."

And with those words she shoved the bag into Sam's hands and hurried out of the room.

"Well, thank you Dissy, how very thoughtful of you!" But Sam's words were spoken into empty air. Now this "girl" amazed her! Sam knew about the charms of Martouf, and she knew what the few women on the base thought about the attractive man. She had overheard enough chats in the locker rooms or in the cafeteria. Some were quite skeptical about the Tok'ra, reflecting much of the feelings Jack O'Neil had voiced before their experiences in Sokar's hellish prison. And some had gone into raptures whenever the talks had turned into Martouf's direction. Martouf surely had quite an effect on women... But Dissy, she had not seen him before... Shaking her head she turned towards Martouf.

"How about we look what she's got for you?"

Expectantly and with a little smile Martouf raised his eyebrows. Sam reached into the bag and retrieved a white cotton t-shirt. She held it up and commented "I should think that it will fit!" She noted the very soft fabric and well done fabrication... She recognized the brand immediately, it was the best and most expensive one there was. Why should Dissy go and buy such an expensive gift for a total stranger? But there was more in the bag and Martouf got it out. In his hands he held a pretty long sleeved shirt in a dark whine red with a small pattern of tiny gray flowers. As he held it up Sam noted how very becoming this color was to him, the color of the small pattern underlining the beautiful color of Martouf's gray eyes.

"Whow! I'm really looking forward seeing you in that blouse!" gasped Sam in amazement. Now Dissy really got her thinking. She must have seen Martouf maybe in the gate room, fallen for him right on the spot, quickly estimated his size, and rushed into town to get the things for him... With a mixture of pride and a tiny bit of envy she looked at Martouf, thinking 'Tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day!'

Saturday early afternoon the happy crow collected on the base's parking lot. First Jack, Sam and Martouf stepped into the bright sunny day. They were greeted by a happily smiling Dissy, all clad in black leather boots, jeans covered with black chaps, and black leather biker jacket. Her attire was completed by a bright red bandana around her neck and dark sunglasses. She leaned against a black chopper glistening in the sun. Jack and Sam immediately got out their sunglasses, and Jack commented grinning:

"Whow, Dissy! Is that your bike?"

"It sure is, and it's all my pride!"

"Cool!" Admiringly he touched gently the glistening chromium of the speedometer and the soft leather of the seat. "Taking someone along?"

"Well sir, I promised Teal'c his first ride today..."

Martouf approached her. She realized smiling that he was wearing her present shirts and the Colonel must have donated some of his jeans. Some light tennis shoes clad his feet nicely.

"I would like to thank you for your presents!" Martouf greeted her.

"I'm sure glad they suit you so well..." Dissy responded smiling.

And there came the rest of the group. A giddy Cassie was quickly introduced to Dissy, Teal'c smiled broadly much against his usual custom.

"I though, a hat or even our woolen cap to hide your tatoo won't come cool on a bike, so I've got you that...." and with those words Dissy tossed him a bandana showing an eagle and a skull stating "Bad to the Bone".

She helped him to put it on right and after a short inspection Jack gave him a lope sided grin and a two thumbs up. Daniel eyed the chopper respectfully and after a short chat Janet shooed everyone to the cars and on their way. Sam, Jack and Martouf hopped into Jack's car, while Janet invited Daniel into hers.

"I'll take a little de-tour for Teal'c. Meet you at the main entrance of the festival!" Dissy called and helped Teal'c with the helmet she had borrowed for him from a friend. Finally she put her own on, got on the bike, started the engine, wrapped Teal'c arms around her slender waist, and with the a thundering roar she sped off.

"Well, Colonel, let's go!" Sam reminded her CO, who was watching in awe.

"Oh my, I bet, Teal'c will enjoy this ride *a lot*!" Jack mused as he drove off the lot.

Sam grinned at Martouf, then she elbowed her CO. "Come-on guys, stop drooling!"

A happy laughter coming from three sources could be heard.

Cassie, Janet and Daniel waited expectantly as Jack's car arrived. He had hardly parked the car and the three had gotten off it, as the heard the roar of a motor cycle entering the festivals parking lot. Carefully Dissy maneuvered her bike towards the section reserved for bikes and gracefully she and Teal'c got off. The team didn't hear what was spoken, but immediately both were surrounded greeting by some other bikers and Dissy seemed to introduce Teal'c to her biker friends. Teal'c was friendly patted on the back by a huge guy who looked to Sam like a friendly grizzly. She wondered whether she'd feel comfortable in that company, but they seemed to be nice to the stranger.

"Seems to be a friendly crowd..." she commented aloud.

"Truckers and bikers..." Jack replied dreamily, which made Sam look up at him, wondering what stories he got to tell.

Finally the two took their leave and joined their friends. Sam noticed the broad smile on Teal'c's face, his eyes glistening.

"Well kids, how did it go?" Jack asked both, turning towards the festival's entry. "Teal'c, you look like the cat who got the cream!"

Teal'c spoke first. "I do not know how a cat who gets cream feels like, but this was a very enlightening and exciting experience for me! Thank you Dissy Meyer for sharing it with me!" and bowed his head towards her.

"Colonel, sir, you should get this man a bike of his own, he's a natural!" Dissy replied joyfully. "And now let's enter the festival! Rides, Sweets, ..." And with those words she grabbed the arms of Teal'c and Cassie and dragged them quickly towards the first ride.

The remaining five looked at each other. Janet grabbed the arm of Daniel and continued the sentence smiling, following her daughter "... and upset stomachs, headaches and dizziness..."

"Aw, come-on doc, let the kids have their fun!" Jack called after her jokingly.

He offered Sam his arm, which she gladly accepted. But she wouldn't want to leave Martouf stand aside, so she offered him her other arm and he even took it. As the three followed their friends, Sam realized how much she enjoyed being between those two attractive men. 'Now this is really going to be a very interesting day!' she thought smiling heavily.

***

The day went on full of fun and laughter. Teal'c has discovered his love for speed and smooth turns so he was the one to accompany Cassie on all rides. Dissy accompanied them on several ones, and often she sat at Martouf's side how seemed to enjoy the rides and Dissy's company a lot. Janet and Daniel also tried a few more milder rides and Sam and Jack even tried one of the very wild ones, only to have their heads spinning for the rest of the evening. Daniel and Jack treated the ladies to some cotton candy and roasted nuts. Dissy got a big portion of the candy and had Martouf take a hearty bite. This got her roar with laughter, since suddenly the Tok'ra's face looked like that of Santa Claus with a cotton candy beard. Bewildered Martouf looked at her, until he caught his reflection in a mirror and joined in. Her giggles were so catching that the group nearly rolled on the ground laughing. Jack got himself a Hot Dog commenting on the "kids" - meaning Cassie, Dissy, Martouf and Teal'c - only eating sweets. A not too earnest discussion on health food started, which produced even more laughter, when a part of the sausage slipped through its bed of roasted onions, ketchup and relish, escaping the Colonel's hearty bite.

"Seems like our 'health food' is still pretty much alive!" Dissy commented dryly.

Dissy bought herself a candy covered apple and Martouf asked her, if I might have a bite. Grinning she let him have his bite and then told him that this was often called a "Love's Apple", and provided him with a small report of the story around Adam and Eve sharing an apple... Sam watched how Martouf's face colored somewhat and then a broad smile enlightened his face. She was glad for him to have some happy moments after those hard times he'd been through. Maybe it was her motherly side in her, but she made a mental note to thank Dissy in a more quiet moment for making Martouf smile again.

They passed a shooting gallery and Dissy called out to Sam. "He Major, how about a little competition?"

"Yeah," Sam replied, "come-on Colonel, show us girls how to shoot!"

"Aw, come-on girls! You of all should know that with those rifles you could shoot around the corner, but not straight ahead!"

Dissy turned around and started to chant "Spoil-sport, spoil-sport!" Immediately all female members of the group joined in "Spoil-sport, spoil-sport!"

"Oh for crying out loud!"

He walked over to his friends how stated paying for their shots and loaded their weapons. First went Janet, but she had had little luck with her rifle and missed all. Next came Sam and she hit 7 times. She selected a cute white teddy bear which she presented it to Cassie, who was overjoyed.

Next came Daniel, but he only hit two artificial flowers, whom he gave to Janet with a mocking bow. This caused quite some raised eyebrows on the side of his team-mates. Next came Martouf and although he was very much unaccustomed to this foreign weapon he hit 6 flowers which he shared under the women, giving Cassie and Janet each one and Sam and Dizzy each two. This caused some darkening of facial color in the latter two...

Now it was Dizzy's turn and she also hit her target 6 times, for which she collected a small cuddly sheep with a reddish brown fur and a tiny bell around its neck. She quickly shoved it into Martouf's hands mumbling "To remember me..." and hurried out of the way to the other side of the stand to have a better view at the Colonel's shoots as she stated. Now it was Martouf's turn to blush. And Sam wondered about the cute 'revenge' Dissy had chosen.

Jack hit nine times, only the first missing by the hair's width. With a grin into Sam's direction he collected a teddy bear with a sign embroidered on it's belly saying "Tickle me!" He gave it to Sam, tickling it, and a loud giggle emerged from it's furry form. Sam grinned, being reminded of his order given so long ago in Antarctica: "No giggling!"

At last it was Teal'c's turn, and he hit the target all the time. Everybody was staring and another round of bullets was ordered. He hit again. After 30 hits the owner of the gallery gave him a huge cuddly ice bear with a bright red scarf and begged him to leave or he'd go bankrupt. Shining with pride he presented the bear despite of Janet's objections to Cassie, who's eyes shone like two bright stars. Cassie could hardly hold and much less carry the big toy, so he offered to carry it for her the rest of the evening.

The evening drew to an end as a bright firework was lightening the sky. With plenty of "Oh" and "Ah" every new blazing flower was painted against the brightly shining stars. As the last of the fireworks exploded Cassie jawed heartily.

"Time for your bed!" Janet commented.

They all headed towards their vehicles. Martouf quietly conferred with Teal'c and then approached Dissy with a request.

"Dissy, would you allow me to trade places with Teal'c? I'd like to experience too what he did..."

Dissy tried to get into eye-contact with her former pillion, but he was busy shoving the huge bear into Janet's back seat.

"Well, if Teal'c doesn't mind... But I warn you, it will get pretty cold due to the airflow..."

"We Tok'ra are accustomed to colds" Martouf informed her seriously.

Looking for an escape she looked at Sam and Jack who stood close. Sam came to her aid.

"Martouf, she's right, it might get pretty cold back there..." but Jack interrupted her.

"No, let the kids have the fun! Here Marty, you may have my jacket, that'll keep you warm.." and with those words he winked at Sam and tossed his leather jacket into the Tok'ra's arms. Sam looked art Jack with a raised eyebrow but kept her silence until they were out of earshot. The she asked.

"Colonel?"

"Oh come-on Carter, let the boy have his fun!"

"The BOY?! Usually you'd call him 'snake-head' or even worse!"

"Oh, for crying out loud, Carter! I am not as pig-headed as you think. Since our little trip to Netu I happen to think a lot nicer about old Marty... And since today he didn't behave so pushily..." He let his voice trail off as Teal'c entered the car.

Passing Dissy who was still helping Martouf with the somewhat too large helmet he called at her:

"And you bring her back home before eleven or I'll have your butt young man!"

Dissy turned around grinning and shouted "Well, since it is already half past, does that go for tomorrow?"

Waving good-bye at her Jack drove off, receiving raised eyebrows from Sam by his side and Teal'c in the back-seat.

******

Dissy had finally managed to gain control over her whirling mind and shaking hands and had fastened the security strap of Martouf's helmet and her own. The both sat on the bike and she turned to her guest telling him:

"It might get pretty cool, I'll drive not too fast to keep the cold airflow at a minimum. You might want to shove your hands inside my jacket's pockets or they might fall off from freezing."

Martouf nodded his ok, snuggled up behind her, and off she drove. After two thirds of the drive to the base Dissy realized that he had gotten awfully tense behind her. She drove to the verge and halted.

"Everything ok back there?" she inquired. As she turned off the engine she realized he was shivering from cold. "Oh my gosh!" She shoved the machine on the side stand and hopped off it, dragging Martouf on his hands to his feet. They were bitter cold and she started massaging them.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She asked him quietly. Looking up into his hurt puppy dog eyes she nodded.

"False pride, hm?"

Martouf nodded. She grinned, opened her jacket and shoved one hand each under her armpits.

"This is the warmest spot, should get them warm imm... Whoah! They're COLD!!!"

And both giggled. She drew him a bit closer wrapping her arms around his slender body, starting to rub his arms and back. An instant later she realized what she was doing to a perfect stranger, even an alien... Clearing her throat, mumbling "Er, sorry..." she stepped back somewhat, but

Martouf drew her closer again whispering "It's ok, among friends..."

Nervously trying to hide her tenseness Dissy started to chatter.

"How did you like the evening so far?"

"It was one of the most wonderful evening I had had in years." Martouf replied softly.

"Fine, I enjoyed it too a lot!"

Dissy felt him bend his head a bit and suddenly a different voice talked to her:

"We haven't met before Dissy, so I'd like to grab the chance to introduce myself to you. I'm Lantash, Martouf's symbiote."

Dissy jumped inside. Never before had she experienced the change of voice and shift in bodily control in a Tok'ra. She had hard about it, but... She leaned back somewhat to look into the Tok'ra's face. It still was the face of Martouf, but it looked older somewhat, more earnest now.

"Pleasure finally meeting you, Lantash!" she replied when she had regained control over her voice. "I have heard a lot about you already!"

"I hope, some was good." Lantash commented dryly.

"Oh, only the best!" Dissy crossed her fingers mentally at the friendly lie. She liked that other guy, his humor was close to hers.

"Martouf," Lantash continued "has enjoyed this evening with you immensely Dissy. He might be to shy to tell you that, but I would like to thank you for making him enjoy life again... Let me try to express it that way: You were to him like a well of joy in the desserts of hardship and pain."

"I've hear you guys have been through a lot... " Dissy whispered sympathetically. "Maybe the next time you come to visit Major Carter we could repeat this...?" she added hopefully, regretting it the same instant, having put her foot into her mouth again...

"Next time we come to Tau'ri, we'll come to visit you..." Lantash stated simply.

A tight knot formed in Dissy's throat and a few moved and joyful tears welled up in her eyes. Trying hard to cover her emotions she spoke up:

"If you're a bit better now, we should be on our way. You've heard the Colonel and we both need our beauty-sleep..."

Martouf had regained control and now he spoke up, holding her close a moment longer.

"Dissy, excuse the directness of Lantash... He's a bit more outspoken than I am..." Smiling shyly at her he continued "Still, what he said goes for both of us... Thank you for that wonderful day with you..."

Dissy nodded, hiding the tear that fell down her cheeks. On instinct she quickly reached up and gave the young man a hurried peck on his right cheek, then she quickly turned around and said "Come-on, let's get going..."

Late that night they arrived on the base. The night had been clear and cold, so they both were cold. Dissy was aware that she wouldn't be able to sleep, so she offered to make them some hot chocolate in the cafeteria. Martouf gladly accepted and they both enjoyed the warmth of the hot liquid and the company of the other in silence. Finally they bade each other good-night. Faster than she might have guessed Dissy fell asleep, dreaming of wide blooming meadows with her and Martouf having a pick-nick.

**********

The next day when Sam entered the locker room she heard the excited voices of several female SGC members talking to Dissy.

"Oh, now come-on Dissy, tell us all about it!"

"Yeah Dissy, let us know!"

"How was it, together with the Colonel?"

"And what's he like this Martouf?"

After some hesitation she heard Dissy speak up.

"You don't have the slightest idea! It was SO MUCH FUN!!! Teal'c was just great, he surely is a natural with the bike..."

"Dissy! Who want's to know about Teal'c?! Tell us about the Colonel and the Major"

"And Martouf!"

Dissy sighed. "Martouf... he's just the nicest, kindest of men there is in this whole galaxy and all the others too..." Dreamily she continued "His gray eyes... his soft, full lips, this dimple in his chin... Usually I always said: 'Don't trust a guy with gray eyes, they're cold!' But with Martouf... So much warmth in his gaze... He's such a gentle man! ... With him the word 'gentleman' gets a whole new meaning!..."

"Oh Dissy!"

"Just another oily guy from another galaxy... just like this Tollan guy, what was his name? Nasim?"

"Narim!"

Dissy protested. "Martouf isn't oily! He's a wonderful man! I don't know about this Narim guy, but anyhow Martouf is way different!"

"And what about Major Carter? Whom of the men did she give most of the attention?"

"Since I was with Martouf most of the time... I don't know, it seems, she didn't prefer one or the other... She seemed pretty much neutral..." Dissy was lost in thought.

"I can't believe it! She gets all the attention of all different kinds of men, and very interesting men, and still..."

"Yeah! Why does Major Carter get all the nice boys?"

"And she doesn't even seem to care!"

"Well gals,... I can understand her somewhat. The Colonel.. that's against regs... And Martouf... I mean, he's away all the time, only visiting now and then. I'd go mad with fear for him... and that Jolinar thing also isn't something easy to live with..." Dissy's thoughtful voice could be heard.

"And what about the other guys like cuty-boy Simmons?"

"Oh come-on, he's just like a little boy, he'd be nothing for her!" Dissy defended Sam.

"And Dr. Jackson? He's sooooo cute!" came a dreamy voice.

"Oh come-on, that would be like an incestuous relationship... They're more like brother and sister those two..." Dissy protested.

"And don't forget ladies," came another voice "he's on my list!"

"Well, I would gladly take one or another..."

Sam had heard enough, she raced out of locker room, banging the door.

"Uh-oh! I guess that was Major Carter herself..." Dissy made a face. "I'd better go and talk to her, apologize... I wouldn't wanna have that woman as an enemy..."

Sam stormed into her lab and banged her fist against one of her racks. The pain shooting through her hand could not ease her fury. What did those women think, talking about her like that. Why would they select her for their dirty gossiping? Had they no shame? How dare they!

But a tiny voice in her brain spoke up, telling her that those women weren't all wrong. She was lucky to be surrounded by so many attractive men. And some of them had made it pretty clear that they were interested in having more than just a friendship kind of relationship with her. But how dare they chat about her and her C.O. ...! Was it that obvious, that there was a certain closeness between the two officers? Would she have to worry even more about coming into conflict with the regs. The tiny voice spoke up again, telling her, that the women had sounded rather sympathetic, and no way malicious... Sam's fury ebbed down somewhat and she was deeply lost in thought, when she finally heard the hesitant knock at her lab door.

"Come in!"

It was Dissy entering, immediately coming to attention, greeting her formally, looking her straight in the eye and saying:

"Major Carter, I would like to formally beg your pardon for what you've heard in the locker room. It was none of my or the others business to judge upon you or your behavior. It was never my... or our intention of hurting anybody's feelings. I apologize formally to have taken part in that chatter and I await your punishment with the deepest regrets of my actions."

"Apologies accepted, Sergeant Meyer." Sam was amazed by the courage this women must have taken to rush after her to apologize. Others would have evaded her, or tried to defend themselves... Dissy on the other hand had even offered her the opportunity for punishment or at least for an onslaught of wrath from a superior officer. After a long pause she added smiling: "Come-on Dissy, I won't tear your head off... although at first I felt pretty much like it."

****

With those words Dissy sighed audibly and relaxed somewhat. Then she asked: "Permission to speak freely?"

"Sure! And come, sit here beside me, the whole base does not have to hear what we're talking about... And it's 'Sam' when we're alone... We rode the 'Wild Bull' together, remember?"

Dissy chuckled as she remembered their ride and how they all had gotten off it, dizzy and with a turning stomach. "Sam, I'm sorry about what was said in the locker room. Don't think we're thinking bad about you, it's just... You get all the attention of the most interesting men... Makes us other girls envy you - at times..."

"Well, there are some downsides to that to..." Sam confined to her.

"Yes, I've heard of that Jolinar incident... It must have been hell..." Dissy mused.

"Well, my friends helped me through all... Without them... I don't know..." Sam's voice trailed off.

Dissy felt sympathy for her. "Yeah, where would we be without our friends, pulling us through..." Trying to lighten the mood she added showing a lopsided grin: "And meeting that Martouf really was a downside..."

Sam snorted in amusement, nodded and then looked Dissy in the eyes. "You have really fallen for him, hm?"

All Dissy could respond was a heavy sigh and quite some nodding.

"Well, I won't be in your way... We're close in a very strange way, still..."

Dissy's eyes light up like a giant chandelier.

"But tell me one thing, that shirt you've got for him... How did you do it? I mean, the right size, the right color?..."

Dissy grinned. "I saw him when he arrived at the gate room. He was all eyes for you, but I managed to pass him an hour later in one of the passage ways and luck was on my side. It was pretty narrow due to an open hatch... " The next she whispered barely audible. "I had opened the hatch myself, doing an little 'inspection'..." and grinning she continued "When he squeezed through he looked at me directly and I was done for... Dr. Jackson had asked me the day before to come along to the festival and he had even not forgotten to tell me, that we had a Tok'ra guest coming along. You know him... always his mind on things far, far away in space and time... Some of the girls had gone into raptures on Martouf already, so I pretty much knew, what to look for... I had wondered earlier what he'd put on, knowing the problem with Teal'c's tatoo... Well, as I said, I had a good look at him... and in my lunch break I raced to town and got him the shirt... Didn't he look absolutely gorgeous in it?" she concluded dreamily.

Sam grinned, Dissy was really in love, head over heels. She grinned and said "Oh yes, he sure did! And he liked the shirt a lot!" And putting a finger on Dissy's wound she added "Too bad he's leaving today already..."

"Oh yes!" Dissy answered with a heart breaking sigh.

"I bet he'd like you to be at the gate room when he leaves... waving your good-byes..." She teased.

"Yeah! Maybe there's a little 'inspection' needed to some of the control panels...?" Dissy joined in the mood.

The women giggled some more, but then Dissy had to leave for her duties. Sam realized that she was in a way better mood than she had been half an hour before. She even started singing a little tune. And she thought about Dissy and Martouf... and her C.O. She would really need to come to a conclusion! Hiding behind the regulations was no option any more, especially when - as it seemed - the whole base knew more about her and her C.O.'s feelings than they were aware of themselves...

******

A few hours later Sam's father arrived at SGC. He was full of praise for his little grandchildren. Sam grinned inwardly. He had been abused as "pony" carrying the girls around on his back, he had been their "child" in the classic mother-father-child plays, he had pushed their swing and played in the sand with them. He had never played that extensively with his children, not only due to his duties in the military. Jacob had changed quite a bit since the blending with Selmak. And it did him good, judging from the happy shining in his eyes. Sam was happy for him to have gained some access to his softer, "feminine" side. Funny enough, but since her father had joined the Tok'ra the ties in the Carter family had become a way closer knit than they had been for years after her mother's death, Sam observed. She listened to his excited report he gave her and Martouf about their exploits to "Golddigger's Canyon", the children's success in finding golds and riches (it was only a small sample of pyrit, but to the children it must have been like a bonanza) and the wonderful pick-nick they had enjoyed. Sam and Martouf laughed heartily about the adventures with the giant dragon - a small lizard in reality that happened to cross the children's path - and how the "parents" had protected "child" Jacob.

In the early evening it was time for the Tok'ra to leave. As Sam accompanied the men to the Stargate room she noticed Dissy in one corner, bussing herself over a few cables, chatting with her colleague. Sam turned towards her and addressed her under her breath.

"Glad you've made it!"

"Wouldn't miss it!" Came the evenly quiet reply with a broad smile into Martouf's direction. He noticed his admirer and went over to her.

"I'm glad to see you again before we leave Dissy. I would like to thank you once again for the wonderful time we had together and the presents you've made." And with those words he reached into his tunic and showed her, what he had hidden there: the little cuddly sheep!

Their quiet conversation was interrupted as suddenly the Stargate's ring moved and the klaxon's blared. No arrival was due, so immediately after the whoosh of the event horizon the iris was closed. But then the iris code of SG-11 was received and the iris re-opened immediately. This smelled like trouble, SG-11 had just left the base and was due tomorrow noon, an emergency had to be at hand. Medics were called, soldiers loaded their weapons and took their positions. And there came the first members of SG-11 followed in hot pursuit by 3 Jaffa warriors. Everything now happened very fast. The last member of SG-11 stepped through the gate, the iris was quickly closed, the Jaffa shot into every direction, the present soldiers fired at them, the Jaffa went down. The whole attack had lasted only moments and as the sound of the last shot died away, one after another everybody of SGC came out of their covering. Sam looked around as one head after the other came up doing the same, checking whether friend, teammate or superior have lived through this suicidal attack. Jacob Carter gave his daughter a reassuring nod as did General Hammond. In shock Sam realized, that two heads had not come up, that of Martouf and Dissy.

"Martouf!" She cried out and with a few hasty paces she raced over to the spot she had seen them last.

"Over here!" came a muffled relpy.

Behind a small container she found them. Dissy's slender form was on lying on the ground on her back, her upper body cradled in Martouf's lap. Only as Martouf turned his grief stricken face towards Sam, she saw the small puddle of blood on Dissy's breast, right over the spot where her heart must be.

"Oh no!" Despair made Sam exclaim while she kneeled besides the two.

Martouf had turned his full attention towards the women in his arms explaining quietly to Sam.

"A bullet ricocheted off one Jaffa's breast plate. Dissy pushed me into cover, and then..."

Pain and grief silenced him. Comforting Sam lay a hand on his shoulder. Like through a haze she saw a medic approach the unconscious form of Dissy, but after a quick exam stepped back shaking his head. Sam became aware of the silence, that had befallen the gate room, one could have heard a pin drop. And then Dissy regained consciousness, opened her eyes only to lock them with Martouf's.

"Seems like I'll have to wait a bit longer until we'll meet again... " Her voice was so weak, only a hushed whisper, still as audible like a ring from a silver bell. "But I'll wait for you... at the great gate... Alone they won't admit me, I guess..."

'Joking till the last.' Sam thought, not knowing whether to cry or to laugh.

"Martouf?" Dissy cried out in despair.

"I'm here with you." He whispered quietly holding her even more tightly. Dissy reached up to touch his face gently. He leaned closer, then her hand fell down on one of his, which she caressed.

"I'll be waiting, please, don't forget me...love"

The last word was exhaled so quietly, Sam wasn't even sure it was being said. It took Martouf a few seconds to realize that she had passed away. Then a so unhumanly wail escaped his throat, so full of pain and grief that no one in the gate room was able to contain their tears any longer.

Epilogue

Dissy had lost her family a few years back, all her friends were at SGC. As a matter of fact she had stated on several occasions, that SGC had become her family in the short time she had been there. Dissy had also spoken quiet openly about burial customs and methods and of the body being sent through a disengaging wormhole being her preferred method. After some consideration General George Hammond agreed to hold a small ceremony at the base and to perform that form of burial. On the set date the gate room and the on-looking control room burst with SGC's personnel. Everybody wanted to attend the last service given for a popular team mate. SG-1, Doctor Janet Frasier and Martouf were the honorary guard beside the simple coffin, and Cassie placed a bouquet of freshly picked wild flowers growing outside the base on top of it. General Hammond held a little, simple speech, outlining the short life and career of Dissy. Then he made room for another speaker. Martouf had been asked earlier whether he wanted to say a few words, but he was way too lost in his grief, but Lantash agreed to take over this honorary duty. As Martouf stepped up to the ramp, his eyes were reddened by the man tears he had shed. Then he bent his head and Lantash took control. His sonorous voice rolled over the assembled heads like a wave over the shore.

"I did not have the pleasure nor the privilege to know Dissy as long as you did, I have not worked with her side by side, have not shared her laughter as you have. I knew her only for a very short time.... I talked to a few of you about her, listening what you could tell me about her, comparing this to my own... feelings... experiences. Her superiors say she was a good soldier, good technician, friendly, dutiful, punctual, maybe at times a bit forward... Colleagues called her a great mate, helpful, friendly, always a smile on her face. Her friends spoke about her absolute and unconditional love for the truth, her sunny mood, her jokes she told, sometimes putting her foot in her mouth, the laughter she provided, and her own laughter, that was so catching... Dissy, you wanted me to remember you... But how could I, how could we forget you? Dissy, we will remember you, since without you, there is much less sunshine, much less laughter, here on the base and in our hearts! I have only one thing that comforts me, and it comforts the others: You promised to be waiting 'at the Great Gate'... Then and there we shall meet again!"

Sobs rang through the gate room as the coffin was pushed through the shimmering surface of the established event horizon.

'Meet you at the Great Gate' was to become common expression at SGC.

*******

Sorry I had to kill her... (and not Marty as some of you might have hoped)

I always wanted one of my heroines to die in the arms of her beloved man... Yeah well, you psychoanalysts know what that means... Well, I wanted to do it at least once, so I did it now..., too bad it had to be Dissy... (It is also quite convenient, you know, who cares how Cinderella lives on after she married her prince?!) Maybe I'll revive her one day. ;)