Women Rule
Women Rule
by Kimberly
Summary: On this planet the women are in charge. Jack ends up bound to Sam who has to fight to win the right to have an audience with the Queen.
Category: Action/Adventure, Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Season: any Season
Pairing: Jack/Sam
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, none
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author(s).
Archived on: 02/03/04
"Ok, campers, where are we headed?"
"The MALP indicated signs of humans three clicks to the SE, sir. That is the same direction where we are getting naquada readings." O'Neill knew Carter always had the answer and he wasn't surprised hers was the first voice he heard after exiting the stargate.
O'Neill took point with Carter and Daniel walking together behind him and Teal'c taking the rear position. They were on guard, as usual, but so far, this seemed to be a nice quiet planet with plenty of trees, green trees as usual.
After a little over an hour they saw a man plowing a field. O'Neill left the path and began moving towards the man, the rest of SG-1 followed along.
"Good morning! We're new here and we were hoping you could point us towards the nearest town." O'Neill had been using his best nice to meet you smile. The man who had been plowing kept his head bent and would not make eye contact with SG-1.
"Danny, looks like it's your turn."
"Right." Daniel went up to the man and bent down low enough so he could see the mans face. "We want to be friends." The man took one quick look up but he focused more on Carter then Daniel.
"I am sure my lady would be happy to meet you. I can guide you."
"Thanks." O'Neill gave a nod to Daniel who stood back up.
The ten-minute walk was fairly quiet. Daniel kept asking questions but he did not get any responses and after a few minutes he gave up.
The house was a large sturdy wood building. The man opened the door and motioned for SG-1 to enter. He took one step inside the door behind them and whistled. Another man entered the room. There were numerous children running in and out of the house. If O'Neill didn't know better he might have though this was some type of school.
"Mikil, these strangers came to me in the field and asked for directions to town. I brought them here to meet our lady."
"Thank-you Joni. You have performed well. I will tell our lady of your service."
Joni nodded and smiled. He turned and exited the house as he closed the door.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Mikil was looking towards Carter but he did not make eye contact.
"It is a pleasure to meet you also." Mikil seemed surprised when O'Neill spoke but he continued to face Carter.
"I will inform my lady of your presence." He retreated quickly.
"They seem very interested in you Sam."
"What could that mean Daniel?" She was irritated, not because Daniel had mentioned it but because she had noticed it also. There had been too many planets where people were interested in females, for all the wrong reasons for her to be relaxed about this.
"Hello." The speaker was a tall, thin, strikingly beautiful woman dressed in comfortable looking but tight slacks with a form fitting tank top and a knife tied around her waist. She looked like she was in good shape.
All the members of SG-1 looked at her longer than what would be considered appropriate, but for different reasons.
"I am Amelie. I was told you were strangers to our land and looking for directions."
"Yes, we would also like to learn more about you and your town." Daniel was wearing his best meet new people smile, Carter thought it might be an even better smile then usual. Why did that bug her?
At that point, Mikil stepped forward. "Shall I kill him my lady?"
"What?" O'Neill suddenly tensed and gripped his P-90.
Amelie raised her hand, shook her head once, and looked at Carter. "Can you not control your men?"
"My men?"
"Of course. Why would you let them speak to a woman without it having been ordered?"
"We are from very far away. Where we come from men are allowed to speak freely."
"I see. It is different in Rodinia. Here men may only speak to their lady if it is requested or necessary. They may only speak in front of other women if given permission by their lady. We are more careful with our men then you appear to be."
"Oh. We didn't realize. We would like to learn more about your customs so we do not offend you any more then has already been done." Carter was just glad none of the guys had said anything else so far. She could feel how uncomfortable the Colonel was with this line of discussion.
"I would be happy to speak with you, all of you, about Rodinia. Can you have mid-day meal with us?"
Carter glanced at O'Neill and saw a subtle nod. "We would be happy to stay. Are there other customs we should be aware of during the meal?"
"Now that Mikil knows you are not purposefully being insulting I am sure any misunderstandings can be easily cleared up." Amelie smiled at Carter.
During the meal it became apparent that this world was a matriarchal society. The women were the heads of the houses. Each house might have three to four women residing together with one woman being in charge. The lady of the house had several men who were each bonded to her. Each of the other woman had one man, called a primary, who served as a protector and companion.
Mikil was Amelies primary. The two other women who lived in the house were Richa and Lossa. They each had a primary who stayed with them. Richa and Lossa were responsible for overseeing the other men, who maintained the household and farm.
As much as O'Neill hated it, he let Carter take the lead during the meal. Even he could tell that this wasn't the time or place to be giving lectures on equal rights. The food was good and O'Neill enjoyed watching all of the children, who could barely sit long enough to eat.
After lunch Amelie inquired about their desire to see more of Rodinia.
"You will not be able to travel with your men since they are not marked."
"What do you mean by marked?"
"Mikil come." As Mikil stepped over Amelie took his right hand and showed it to Carter. There was a circle tattoo with a sickle and mountain inside.
"That is my sign." Amelie showed them that she had the same tattoo on her right hand. "By placing it on his hand I have claimed him as my own. Any unmarked man can be claimed by any woman. Your men would be claimed as soon as they entered town."
Carter looked at O'Neill and then back to Amelie. "Can I have a few minutes alone with...my men?"
"Of course. Let Mikil know when you are ready for me to return."
Amelie stood and left. Mikil showed SG-1 into a separate room and closed the door. They looked around the room to find there was very large bed and two smaller beds on the west wall. There was a fireplace opposite the beds and a table in the middle of the room.
"You're loving this aren't you Major?" O'Neill had an unamused looked on his face but his eyes sparkled.
"I am glad we finally found a world where woman aren't the subjects of oppression but I don't agree with how the men are being treated." She was being sincere but she shared that sparkle in her eye that let him know this was a little fun.
"Are you still getting strong naquada readings?"
"Yes, sir. I know this is uncomfortable for you guys but the readings are strong. If you would like we could go back to the gate and I could return with an all female team."
It was clear that O'Neill was thinking about her suggestion. Neither Daniel nor Teal'c said anything.
"No. I made you wear that dress so the least I can do is get my hand painted and follow you around like a puppy dog for a few days." He couldn't help but grin at the thought of Carter in that blue dress. It really had made her eyes light up.
Carter went back out and informed Mikil that they were ready to speak with Amelie again. They waited in the entrance hall. Amelie returned quickly.
"We have decided to stay for a while and look around."
"That is wonderful. You will be welcomed. Would you like me to have Richa perform the bonding so your men will be safe with you?"
"That would be appreciated."
Mikil spoke to another male who left quickly. In a few minutes, Richa entered with a pot and some brushes.
"Is this your sign?" Richa was pointing to the SGC sign on Carter's coat.
"Yes, that works."
Richa took Carter's hand first. At first the paint just felt like regular paint but after a few minutes it began to burn. Carter tried to regulate her breathing so the pain wasn't evident. Amelie smiled.
"The burning doesn't last long."
"Oh, good. It is a little uncomfortable." Carter smiled. At least the guys knew what to expect now.
Richa looked at Carter. "Who is your primary?"
She hadn't been expecting this question but she answered with hesitation. "Colonel O'Neill." She looked at her commanding officer and he nodded his approval.
"Are you sure? Usually your primary is much....younger then you." Carter glanced at O'Neill and she could see him bristling about that comment.
"I am sure."
Richa took a small bit of paint out of the bowl and placed it in a smaller bowl. She took Carters hand and pricked her finger.
"Ow!"
"Sorry. I forgot that you didn't know I was going to do that." Richa bowed her head slightly.
"That's ok. It was just a surprise."
Richa let several drops of Carters blood fall into the small bowl of paint. She mixed the paint and blood. Richa placed O'Neill's hand on the table before her and used the paint blood mix to draw the SGC symbol on O'Neill's hand.
To paint the symbol on Daniel and Teal'c Richa used a different brush and the paint from the large bowl. Carter wondered why there was a difference but she didn't have time to ask.
Lossa entered with new clothes for each of the SG-1 members.
"Please accept these outfits, so you will blend with our people."
Carter thought about it for a minute and then she shook her head. "I think it would be safer for us to look different, so if we violate any of your customs your people would understand that we are not from here."
"You are wise. Please take the clothes with you in case you change your minds."
"Thank-you."
"I have written a letter to the leader of our province, Her Lady Holry. I have explained that you are visitors and you seek to learn more about us. I am sure you will find her accommodations to be suitable."
"Thank-you."
SG-1 walked towards Rodinia with Carter in the lead, O'Neill and Daniel in the middle, and Teal'c taking up the rear position. It was obvious as they entered the town that O'Neill, Daniel, and Teal'c looked like fine cuts of tenderloin to the women in town. It made all three of them uncomfortable, which made Carter smile a little bit. She tried hard to hide her amusement but she was sure the Colonel could tell even though he could only see the back of her head.
Carter walked up to one of the women, "Where could we find the home of her lady Holry?"
The lady agreed to show them the way. The house to which they were led was much larger then Amelie's. A tall well-built man who never made eye contact showed them inside. O'Neill was still having trouble not making eye contact although Daniel and Teal'c seemed to have gotten the hang of being subservient very quickly.
The letter that Carter had brought with her was delivered to Holry who came to the entrance hall after only a few minutes. Again the house was filled with the sounds of children. O'Neill figured any planet that had such happy children had to have it's pluses, even if the men were relegated to a subservient status.
"It is a pleasure to meet strangers to our land. Amelie has sent you to the right place since you wish to learn more about us." Holry had a smile on her face and she looked directly at Carter.
"We are pleased to have been so well received. Please let me introduce my companions and myself. I am Major Samantha Carter. This is Colonel O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c."
Holry glanced briefly at each man and looked back at Carter. "You must be from very far away if it is customary to introduce your men." She giggled softly.
They all joined Holry for dinner. O'Neill was seated just behind Carter but Daniel and Teal'c sat across the room with the rest of the men. After dinner Carter and Holry went to a living room like chamber to discuss what SG-1 wanted to see and do in Rodinia. Carter explained they were looking for mineral deposits and Holry said she would have one of her men act as a guide for SG-1 the next day. After some delicious chocolate like treats Carter and O'Neill were taken to a room where they found Daniel and Teal'c waiting.
The room was obviously a bedroom but there was only one very large bed.
"You guys take the bed. I can use my sleeping bag."
"As much as I appreciate that Sam I think there would be a lot of difficult questions in the morning if it was discovered that "our lady" slept on the floor and we occupied her bed." O'Neill decided that Daniel made sense so Carter took the bed and the guys took the floor. Carter found it difficult to sleep in such a big bed. The guys didn't find the stone floor very comfortable either.
The next morning SG-1 was accompanied by one of Holry's men as they followed the naquada readings. The preliminary readings indicated there was a substantial amount of naquada in the mountains of Rodinia. SG-1 returned to Holry's to discuss trade options and getting access to the naquada.
"Rodinians like trade. We have never done much mining here, most of our metals come from the south. Trading and mining on this scale would have to be approved by her majesty. I am afraid I have not earned the right to enter the Queens court but I can direct you to someone who does have the ear of the Queen." Holry got a roll of paper and wrote out a note explaining about the travelers and their desire to trade and mine. She drew them a map to the home of Her Lady Litor.
"Litor has proven herself in battle many times, which has earned her a place of honor in the Queens court. I do not know if she will help you but that is the only way I know to try and contact the Queen. I wish all of you luck in your journey. May I speak with you in private before you leave, Major Carter?"
"Of course."
Major Carter and Holry went over to the other side of the room. O'Neill saw Carter shake her head and there was a huge smile on her face. Holry nodded and left. Carter came back to the rest of SG-1 and they left the house together.
"What did Holry want?" O'Neill was glad Daniel asked, because he wanted to know but he didn't want to seem like he wanted to know.
"She wanted to trade some her men for you three."
"All three of us. Are you sure I wasn't too old for her?" Carter couldn't help but smile. She knew that age comment had gotten to O'Neill.
"She was very clear about her desire to have all three of you for her own pleasure. She apparently thought you three would work well together and that your comradeship would benefit her." Carter was trying to not explain that Holry had wanted them as love slaves but her blush was giving it away. Daniel started to blush with her. Teal'c raised an eyebrow. O'Neill picked up the pace of his walk, forcing Carter to jog a little to get back into the lead.
During their walk they discussed the weather and the scenery. They all agreed that the planet was very beautiful, the lack of pollution added to its appeal.
Litor lived in a small mansion. SG-1 was shown into an entrance chamber and the note they brought was taken away. A male returned a few minutes later with another note.
If you wish to speak with Litor you will need to prove yourself worthy. Return tomorrow to face battle with the Maids of Litor. If you prove your worth you will gain entrance.
SG-1 made camp about a click from the mansion. O'Neill was not happy with the request for battle but after much discussion he relented. O'Neill insisted that Carter not have a watch that night so she would be well rested the next day.
After a breakfast of MRE's and some fruit they had gotten from Holry they made their way back to Litor's mansion. There were several women out front practicing with quarter sticks. Carter couldn't help but audibly gulp. O'Neill heard her and looked at her. His eyes told her she could back out now. She shook her head and moved towards the other women. She registered herself to fight in the third match.
They all watched the first two matches and were relieved to see that they were not fights to the death. Essentially, you just had to floor your opponent. They weren't sure if there were rules governing how you floored them but there didn't appear to be any type of referee. Based on the number of adults and children watching the fights this was the local form of entertainment. There were even food and drink vendors. It was like going to a boxing match!
Carter stepped up to meet her opponent, a much smaller woman. It didn't take her much time to get a good hold on the woman and flip her. She stayed down once she was down, which signaled the end of the match and Carter's success.
There were two more levels to complete, which Carter managed easily, earning her the right to speak with Lito. They had to wait until night for a ceremonial feast in honor of the five women who had earned the right to speak with Lito. O'Neill was to accompany Carter but Daniel and Teal'c had to return to camp.
The dinner was amazing. The food was wonderful and the music and dancing was lively. The women shared stories of battles and Carter seemed to be the only woman who had ever really been in a battle instead of a contest. Her stories made her the center of the evening. As the dinner ended they were told to return in the morning for an appointment with Lito.
Early the next morning all four members of SG-1 went to Lito's mansion. Only Carter and O'Neill were permitted entrance to Lito's chamber. Inside they found Lito working at a desk with her primary sitting in a chair behind her rocking a young child to sleep.
"Good morning Major Carter. I was impressed with your fighting skills and your stories. I have also been told that all of your men look strong. You must be a woman of great power in your land."
"There are women more powerful than me where I come from but I have enough power to be happy."
"A very diplomatic answer. I think I will like you. What have to come to request from me?"
"We have found naquada, a metal important to our people, in your mountains. We would like to arrange a trade agreement that would allow us to mine the naquada."
"Why is this naquada important to your people?"
"We can use it to make energy. If you would like, as part of our trade agreement, we can help your people use the naquada also."
"What else can you offer us?"
"We have a large number of drugs we use to fight disease. They may be beneficial to your people. We also have agricultural and mining equipment which would allow your people to produce more food each season and mine faster."
"Those are wonderful offers. I will relay this information to our Queen. Return in four days and I will have answer for you."
"Thank-you. I will need to send two men back to relay this information to my people. Will they be safe traveling on their own?"
"Of course."
O'Neill and Carter went back to the camp. They decided that O'Neill and Daniel would return to the gate to report to Hammond and let him know they would be staying several more days to work on a trade agreement. After lunch Daniel and O'Neill left, retracing their original path in the hopes they could again impose upon Holry and Amelie again.
It took two days to reach Amelie's, since they had set a leisurely pace. By the time they got back to her farm O'Neill was beginning to feel fevered. He hadn't said anything to Daniel but it was beginning to show.
"Jack, what's wrong?"
"Just not feeling so hot Danny-boy. A night's rest and I will be fine."
"If you say so."
Mikil was happy to find them a room for the night. His confusion showed on his face and he couldn't resist questioning them as he helped them get settled
"Where is your lady, Carter? Why has she sent you away?"
It was Daniel who spoke, since it was obvious O'Neill was feeling worse not better. "We are returning to inform our people that Major Carter is working on a trade agreement so they will not worry about our absence. We will return to her as soon as we have informed our friends that we will be staying longer then expected."
"I am not sure that will be fast enough for O'Neill. He already looks as if his absence is making him ill."
"What do you mean?"
"He is a primary. He can not leave the service of his lady without dying."
"I'm sorry but I do not understand." Daniels eyes had grown larger as the look of shock crossed his face.
"Now that O'Neill is bound to Major Carter as her primary he must remain with her for life. Any separation will result in his death."
Jack had heard enough to get the point. "Will this affect her?" His question was quiet but said with deep feeling.
"No. Only the primary feels the effect of an absence."
Daniel looked at Jack. "Thank-you Mikil. We may be gone by the time you rise in the morning. We appreciate your hospitality."
"You are welcome to return whenever you pass this way. I hope you return to your lady and feel better soon O'Neill." With that last comment, Mikil bowed and left the room.
"Do you want to go back to Carter or go to the gate?" Daniel knew this was a decision only Jack could make. If Mikil was right and they continued to the gate Jack could die. If Mikil was wrong and Jack had some disease not going to the SGC could result in his death. Only Jack could decide what to do.
"Daniel, we go to the gate. Now."
"What do you mean now?"
"I can tell I am getting weaker the longer I'm away from her. Somehow, I already knew that was what was wrong but I couldn't bring my self to accept it. It seemed too ridiculous. We get to the gate, report, and get back as quickly as we can."
"Why don't you head back and I will go and report?"
"No we stay together. It would take too long for you and Teal'c to make it back if we returned to camp without reporting to the SGC. Hammond would send in rescue teams who wouldn't have any funky signs on their hands and they would end up being claimed. The resulting disagreements would derail any trade agreements before they are even decided. We eat and we leave."
"Got it." They ate in silence although Daniel didn't think Jack really ate much. They got to the gate before dawn. General Hammond was pleased to hear they were working on a naquada deal. Daniel, who was doing most of the talking so Hammond wouldn't see that O'Neill was sick, explained that this world was a matriarchal society so sending in unescorted male teams would be a problem for now. Hammond told them to take as long as needed but he expected them to check in within two weeks. Daniel agreed and he and Jack left the gate after sleeping for a couple of hours.
They made it back Amelie's before lunch so they waited and ate with Mikil. Mikil was still concerned with O'Neill's well being. He urged them to get back to Major Carter as soon as possible so they left once they finished eating.
Daniel could tell O'Neill still felt bad but he did seem to be improving as they moved back towards camp. They stayed the night with Holry's men. They enjoyed a large breakfast with fresh fruits, something that was like a pancake, and a variety of fried meats. As the day progressed O'Neill was able to walk faster and he felt less feverish. By the time they got to the edge of their camp Jack felt fine.
"Hey Danny-boy, how about we not mention this whole getting ill thing?"
"Aren't you going to tell Carter?"
"Why? Nothing happens to her."
"Don't you think she will begin to wonder why you are stalking her when we get back to Earth?"
"I'll tell her by then. I just don't want this hanging over her head while she is negotiating this trade deal. She has enough pressure on her as it is. She knows that since we're considered second-class citizens here that it is all on her shoulders. I don't want to add to that right now."
"Alright. I won't mention it, for now. But if you don't tell the Doc when we return I will."
"I gotcha."
Carter and O'Neill returned to Lito's and were directed into her inner chambers with only a small delay. Lito smiled brightly when she saw Major Carter. Lito handed the child she was carrying to her primary and turned to greet Major Carter. Lito offered Major Carter a chair and drinks were brought in for them.
"The Queen was interested in your offer. She was also interested in you and the stories you told in my court. She has requested that you meet with her."
"I would be honored."
"Let me explain first. Only ten women at any time can earn the right to speak with the Queen through battle. To earn that right you must battle as you did to earn the right to speak with me. The competition will be fierce. I tried to convince the Queen to provide you an exception but she felt it was necessary to maintain our traditions."
"I understand. Would I have to fight you?"
"No. As the member of the court who is sponsoring you I am not permitted to fight you. This is to ensure that the fight isn't faked, allowing someone unqualified to speak with the Queen. Of the nine others who have won the right to be in the Queens court only four are currently challengeable."
"What makes someone unchallengeable?"
"If you are with child or have given birth in the last four cycles of the moon then you may not be challenged and your place on the court can not be taken."
"That makes sense."
"Most of the time. Some women have too many children in a row and do not regain their fitness in between. Once they are no longer able to keep having children they find themselves easily defeated. I have chosen to have fewer children and battle between birthings to keep my fitness high. I hope to win enough battles to gain permanency in the court before I am too old."
"How do you win permanency?"
"You must win at least 100 battles and remain in the court continuously for fifteen years. I have been in the Queens service for eleven years and I have won over eighty battles."
"That is very impressive! Are there others who are as close to being permanent as you?"
"There are two who are closer then I. There are also four women who have gained permanent stasis. They no longer battle and can address the Queen at any time. They are not included in the ten who battle to gain admittance to the court."
"Which of the four available women would you recommend I challenge?"
"You will have to battle them in order, from weakest to strongest. As soon as you defeat one the competition is over and you will have the right to speak with the Queen."
"Then I win the first fight and it's over."
"You can do that but I don't recommend it."
"Why not?"
"The first three women you will fight are most likely to support your proposed alliance. They would be allies to you. The fourth, and most seasoned of the four, is already against your proposal. If you remove her from the court you would remove your most powerful adversary."
"Then I should throw the first three fights and win the fourth."
"It can not look like you are losing on purpose. This will also tire you before you take on your toughest challenger."
"I understand. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow. The Queen expects us the day after tomorrow and I want to have enough time to introduce you to your competition. All of your men may travel with us. Their strength and looks will earn you extra favor and help to display your strength. Several of my men will be traveling with us also."
"I look forward to it."
On the way back to camp O'Neill stopped Carter. "I don't like this."
"Do you doubt my ability to win?"
"No. I just don't want you to get hurt. Throwing the first three fights will tire you and put you at risk for injury."
"Would you do any less if the situation was reversed?"
"No. But..."
"No buts, sir. This is necessary and I'm ready."
Carter made her way over to the fire and was happy to see that Daniel had coffee waiting. He had also been shopping and gotten fresh fruit and vegetables for dinner. He had made a very appetizing stew.
"Danny-boy, I think you're made for the domestic life."
Daniel shot O'Neill a dirty look. As his face softened, he smiled and said, "It makes me a more valuable mate. Are you jealous?"
"Jealous?!? Of course not!"
Daniel just smirked. He knew he had gotten to O'Neill, at least a little bit. Carter decided to smooth everything over.
"According to Lito you are all very valuable and taking you with me to visit the Queen will increase my stasis among the other women."
"I am sure being with you increases our value as well MajorCarter."
"Thank-you Teal'C"
They packed quickly in the morning and finished the rest of the fresh fruit and vegetables. They were waiting when Lito's horse and men left the mansion. There was a spare horse prepared for Carter. She climbed up even though she felt bad that O'Neill, Daniel, and Teal'c had to walk. O'Neill stayed beside her horse during the entire trip. Carter assumed he was just doing what he saw Lito's primary doing. Carter never realized that O'Neill felt a need to be close to her. The need was growing stronger each day.
Lito escorted SG-1 to the Queens castle. Quarters were assigned to them. The "quarters" again consisted of one room with a huge bed.
"What do these people have against sleeping alone?" Daniel looked around the room, obviously looking for another bed.
"Have you seen the number of children on this planet? That doesn't happen if you sleep by yourself every night." O'Neill couldn't resist wiggling his eyebrows at Daniel. Daniel couldn't repress a grin accompanied by a sigh.
Dinner was marvelous, as they had come to expect. Carter had a chance to meet seven of the women who made up the Queens court plus two of the permanent members of the court. There were a large number of men and children attending the dinner and by the end of the evening, the guests began getting overly friendly with each other. SG-1 decided to leave after Carter had to turn down four different requests to loan out one of her men for the night.
Carter invited the rest of SG-1 to share the bed with her that night. She could tell they were uncomfortable but she reasoned the bed was actually larger than the tents they often shared and they would all be clothed. In the end, they relented. Daniel and Teal'c were in the middle between Carter and O'Neill. It still took them both longer then usual to fall asleep. They both felt it was ridiculous that they felt weird about sharing a bed when there were two people between them but that didn't change the fact they both did feel weird.
When Teal'c woke, he felt a hand on his chest. He looked down and saw that Daniel was pressed against him with his arm over Teal'c.
"DanielJackson, please move you arm!"
"Wha.....huh...ahhh!"
Carter and O'Neill couldn't take it. They both burst out laughing and it took several seconds for them to begin to get control of themselves. Just as Carter started to get her breathing under control, she heard Daniel stammering.
"I'm sorry Teal'c. I must have been dreaming and I just..... I mean I.....I don't know I must have.."
This lame attempt to explain himself and the look on his face brought a new round of laughter from Carter. By now she was laughing so hard she was crying. She decided she had better get to the bathroom soon.
They spent the morning exploring around the castle. The Queen had a reputation for being fair and compassionate. The vendors all spoke highly of living in Rodinia and SG-1 found several delicious new fruits to try. During lunch, O'Neill sat closer to Carter then usual. She noticed but she didn't think it was worth mentioning. The afternoon was dedicated to a light workout, to make sure Carter was ready for the fights the next morning.
Teal'c showed Carter several different ways to throw the first three fights. Each blow, no matter how light, that connected with Carter made O'Neill wince. It almost felt like he was being hit. He figured he was just imagining it.
After dinner, it was decided that they would again all sleep in the bed but Teal'c covertly maneuvered to not be next to Daniel by taking an extra long time to get ready for bed. Daniel ended up on one side of the bed beside the Colonel followed by Teal'c with Cater being on the side of the bed as far from Daniel as possible. When they woke up Daniel had one arm around the Colonel's shoulder.
"Hey Danny-boy. Daniel!"
"Huh? What?"
"Sleepovers were a real nightmare for you weren't they?"
"What can I say? I'm a cuddler."
"I can't wait until you get a girlfriend."
"Very funny, Jack."
Sam decided to skip the jacket and shirt that morning leaving just her tank top. She didn't want any extra clothing to get in way during the fights. She also knew it was going to get extremely hot the later it got. It would probably take several hours to get through all four fights since she apparently got about half an hour to rest between battles.
The first two fights weren't all that challenging. After putting up what she thought was a good show she lost the first two matches. She lost the first after succumbing to a hard blow to the gut. She let the second woman pin her after a tackle run that she didn't dodge. She was pretty tired as the third match began. She could tell both the Colonel and Daniel were worried. Teal'c told her not drag this third battle out too long. She guessed that was his way of expressing his concern also.
The third fight was definitely tougher. She was working harder to deflect the blows. Two blows connected with Carter's head before she figured out her opponent would shift her weight to her left before going for a headshot. Once she knew how to predict a head shot she decided to roll with the next one and stay down. It's a good thing she was ready for that last blow. If full contact had been made with Carter's head she might have really been out of it for the whole break period.
It was finally time for the real fight. The Colonel got her to drink a little but she didn't want to over do it and risk getting sick. She could see the pain in his eyes. He really does take it personally when any of his team is hurt. She didn't feel that bad but she knew he cared...more then he was supposed to as he put it.
The fourth woman was taller then Carter by at least three inches. She was lean and muscular but she looked like she had several years on Carter. Sam hoped her youth was more in her favor then her opponents experience. She began hard and fast with a blow to the gut followed by a shot towards Carter's head. She didn't connect with her head as Sam rolled to right and jumped back up on her feet. Carter kicked out towards her and hit her square in the ribs. Carter spun around and hit her on the back of her neck. She remained standing and pulled herself back up to look at Sam. Carter could tell that she realized that she was not going to be as easy to defeat as she had assumed. They parried back and forth solidly landing about half of their blows for over ten minutes. Sam never looked at any of her teammates but she could feel their worry as they watched her. Carter decided she had to end it before what strength she had left failed her. When she went for Sam's head again carter dropped down and kicked her feet out from under her. She landed hard and Sam was on top of her before she had a chance to roll away. Carter had her pinned and the battle was over. She had won the right to enter the Queen's court.
Sam was surrounded by well wishers. Her teammates had learned enough about the culture to know it was best to stay back until Carter came to them. Colonel O'Neill maintained eye contact with her while also trying to remain unnoticed. As she made her way towards him one of the Queen's men stopped to give her a note.
You are invited to have dinner with the Queen as a member of her court tonight. Tomorrow morning you will have your first opportunity to speak with the court.
She told him she would be pleased to attend dinner. He nodded and left quickly. As soon as Carter got over to Colonel O'Neill he made room between the well-wishers and got her back to their room. Daniel and Teal'c had already returned to the room to get hot water, antibiotic cream, and bandages ready. There were lots of bruises, more then a few cuts, a couple of bruised ribs that could possibly be broken, and in all likelihood a mild concussion. Seems like a normal mission. She didn't know why the guys were making such a fuss over it!
Dinner with the Queen's court was marvelous. They all thought they could get used to the food on this planet! Colonel O'Neill was sitting behind her. Daniel and Teal'c were with the other men in another part of the room, surrounded by children, very loud children. Teal'c was not enjoying his meal nearly as much as Sam, Jack, and Daniel. The three children hanging off his right arm made it difficult to eat.
"Your companions look very pleasing. Do you find them satisfying?"
It wasn't the first time she had been asked this question. Colonel O'Neill blushed every time.
"I am very pleased with them. They are all very special to me."
"Can you share one or two for the evening? I would be happy to exchange any of my men you might like for the night."
"No, I am sorry but when they were entrusted to my care I promised to not share them." This answer has gotten the most satisfactory results of all the ones Carter had tried. She knew she was getting a reputation for being greedy but she didn't have a choice.
For hopefully the last night, the whole team climbed into bed together but this time there was a fight about who had to sleep next to Daniel. Somehow, Carter lost. She ended up with Daniel on one side and the Colonel on her other side with Teal'c on the far side of the bed. When she woke, far too early, she was covered in hands. Both Daniel and the Colonel had turned towards her during the night. She managed to move their hands and turn Daniel away from her and towards the edge of the bed. As she rolled back over to turn the Colonel, she found his eyes were open.
"Sorry, Carter."
"Does this mean that you are secretly a cuddler also, sir?"
"I guess when the situation is right I might could be classified as a cuddler. What about you?"
"There have some times in my life when it felt good to cuddle, but during an off-world mission isn't one of them, sir."
"Of course not. Night, Carter."
"Night, sir."
The Colonel rolled over. In her heart Carter knew that she would have loved to cuddle with him but the regulations were clear, clearer than her head or her heart, which is why they existed. She could feel his sigh of regret even though she couldn't hear it. It took both of them a little too long to fall back asleep. Neither of them could stop imagining what could have been if only things were different.
The next morning Carter, with Colonel O'Neill following a few steps behind, was escorted into the Queen's court. She was shown to one of several seats encircling a large round table. The center of the table had a large gold guillotine inlay. It wasn't the first time Carter had seen a guillotine symbol and she decided she was going to ask Lito about it later.
The Queen entered, with her primary following her a few steps behind, and went to each woman in attendance and said good morning. She gave Carter special notice and a warm welcome before taking her seat. Several of the women at the meeting had requests to make for their respective provinces. The Queen postponed several decisions so she could contemplate her response or gather more data before making her decision. She struck Carter as intelligent and fair in her responses.
When it was Carter's turn she explained that she and her companions had come to Rodinia through the stargate. Even Lito was surprised since this had not previously been explained. Cater explained that her people used a mineral found in their mountains to create power. She offered the technology to use the mineral to make power for Rodinia as well as medicines and other equipment. The Queen and her court took in all of this information with no comments.
The Queen looked around the room before addressing Major Carter. "What you have told us is very interesting. I want time to discuss your offer with the others in my court. Can you return to have dinner with me tonight? I am very interested to hear more about your home and customs."
"I would be honored."
"I will send for you and your primary after the setting of the sun."
Carter stood and bowed before being shown out. She glanced back at Colonel O'Neill and could tell he joined her apprehension about what was being discussed by the court now that they had left.
Daniel and Teal'c spent the day getting to know several of the men who resided in the castle. Daniel was intrigued to discover that women had not always ruled Rodinia and he was able to explain the guillotine symbols to the rest of SG-1 during their noon meal.
"The third King of Rondinia was a cruel man. He had six different wives. The first three were believed to have died natural deaths although after the Kings death the causes of their demise were questioned. His fourth wife died in childbirth. His fifth wife was murdered. He blamed a rival who vigilantly voiced his innocence, until he was decapitated. His sixth wife figured out that she was going to be murdered, by her husband, and she set her own trap. She proved to the people of Rodinia that the King had murdered his fifth wife. That, of course, aroused suspicion about his other wives and several other high-ranking officials whose deaths had seemed strange. In the end, he was beheaded, because it was his favored method of execution, and the Queen was appointed as the ruler. The guillotine was retired from service, permanently, and women have ruled since."
"So they decided to pay back all men for what was done to a few women by that King? Seems pretty harsh." It was obvious that the Colonel was serious although not really angry.
"Actually from what I understand most women were being treated very poorly at the time. The treatment of men that we have experienced and witnessed is much better then what the women were suffering. We have been well feed and provided for even though we have not been allowed to participate in any decision making." Daniel had a point but the fact remained that this was not a truly free society and that would undoubtedly cause problems with any trade agreement.
"It still isn't right to keep people as pets." The Colonel looked right at Daniel.
"You have been spending too much time with Carter since we got here. All you have seen is the primaries following their ladies around. Behind the scenes, the men keep Rodinia working. They exhibit a great deal of freedom in choosing how to go about their duties and the women seem to listen to them, when they speak. It may be that the men here have more power behind closed doors then we are visualizing, much as women did before the women's rights movements on Earth."
"It's possible I suppose."
After lunch, SG-1 decided to do some more exploring. They found a beautiful lake fed by a natural spring. The Colonel was instantly sorry he didn't have his fishing pole. Carter and Daniel took off their boots and splashed their feet in the water. It was wonderfully refreshing. They ended up have a mini-water fight until they looked over to Teal'c with his one raised eyebrow and ended up laughing so hard they couldn't splash any more. The Colonel just relaxed in the sun until he fell asleep.
Cater saw a tree across the lake and she wanted a better look. She told the guys she would be back in a minute and began to hike around the lake, after putting her boots back on her now chilly feet. She had made it to the other side of the lake before the Colonel moaned in his sleep and rolled over clutching his stomach. Daniel looked over at him, obviously concerned.
When the Colonel sat up, grimacing in pain, he looked around for all the members of his team. "Where is Carter?" he croaked through the stomach discomfort.
"MajorCarter went to the other side of the lake to observe a tree." Teal'c's answer did not indicate his underlying concern about the Colonel's condition.
"Get her back!" Daniel was moving even before the Colonel had finished his plea.
"Sam! Sam!"
"Daniel? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. You just need to get back."
"Let me just get some more bark to take back with us."
"No! We need to go, now." Daniel rarely used that tone with Carter so she knew he meant it and there had to be a good reason behind his plea. She headed back to the other side of the lake quickly.
"Is every thing alright?"
"The Colonel was in pain when he woke but your arrival seems to have relieved his pain." Carter looked from Teal'c to the Colonel, her face showed that she didn't understand.
"There is something we need to tell you Sam."
"No we don't Danny-boy."
"You promised!"
"Yes I did and I can tell her without any help. We will meet you back at the castle in a little while."
Daniel took the hint and led Teal'c back towards the castle. It was obvious that Teal'c was reluctant to leave but after they had moved off Daniel began to tell Teal'c what had happened when he and Jack had gone to the gate. Teal'c was concerned but he understood why O'Neill would want to talk to Major Carter about this alone.
"What happened, sir?"
"I woke up with a cramp in my stomach."
"Based on your conversation with Daniel I'm assuming this isn't the first time it has happened since we've been here."
"That's correct. The first time I got sick was when Daniel and I were going to the gate to check in with SGC."
"And this is the first time you have been ill since you got back?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because that is the furthest you have gotten away from me since we returned."
"What do I have to do with it?"
"When Mikil saw that you were not with us and I wasn't feeling well he explained that once a man has become a primary he can not leave his lady for long before becoming ill. It has something to do with the stuff they painted on our hands."
"I guess Daniel and Teal'c aren't affected because they didn't mix my blood into their paint."
"I thought that part was pretty gross. I should have known it meant trouble."
"Will this wear off?"
"I don't know. I do know that the longer I'm around you the closer I feel I need to be to you. I made it about half way to the gate before I got sick. Today you only went to the other side of the lake."
"We need to get you back to Janet immediately."
"That's why I asked Daniel not to tell you what happened. You are the only person who can reach a trade agreement with the Queen. That is more important then me and I can't get back to the gate without you having to leave."
"This trade agreement is not more important then you, sir. I can always come back after she has fixed this."
"And if she can't?"
"Are you implying that you may have to move in with me, sir?"
"Who said we would go to your place?"
Carter started laughing, like only she could do, and the light in her eyes made O'Neill smile. He knew they would be ok, even if he did have to be her shadow for a while longer.
As dusk fell, Carter and O'Neill got ready to return to the castle. They were escorted into a smaller chamber then where they had met during the morning. Only the Queen and her primary were having dinner with them tonight so there were fewer place settings.
"Good evening, your majesty." Both Carter and O'Neill bowed as the Queen entered.
"It is pleasure to see you again Major Carter. Please be seated."
After the first course had been served, with a fine red wine, the Queen began asking about Carter's home. "Is your world like Rodinia?"
"There are several similarities. There are parts of my world that are agriculture based like Rodinia. We have some castles which resemble the structures you have here."
"What is your system of government?"
"My country is a democracy. We elect a new leader every four years. Other countries have monarchies, like Rodinia."
"Do the women of your planet maintain control of the government?"
Carter paused before she answered. She hoped her answer didn't blow any chance of a trade agreement. "No. Most government heads are males although both males and females participate equally in the voting process. Women are free to run for government positions and many positions are held by women but so far no woman has been elected president, our highest political office."
"So men and women are not equal on your world?"
"In the eyes of the law we are equal. Women are still having to prove themselves sometimes but it is better then it use to be."
"Why should we trade with people who do not respect their women?"
"I would like to say that everyone is respected on my world but it wouldn't be true. We are working hard to conquer our past inequities but these changes take time. Equality does not mean everyone can be treated the same but it means everyone is treated fairly. Can you say that everyone, even the women in Rodinia, are all treated fairly?"
Carter knew she was going out on a limb by redirecting the focus on Rodinia. She could tell by the slight shift in the Colonel's position that he was equally worried about her tactic.
"No, all the people of Rodinia are not treated equally. If the men of your world are treated as equals, why have the men who accompanied you not shown their true selves?"
"As explores we have learned it is best to blend with the local customs. On other worlds, our ability to assimilate has saved our lives. The initial reaction to Colonel O'Neill being my commanding officer was met with a strong negative reaction so we adapted quickly."
"Have you then assumed command?"
"No. Colonel O'Neill is still my commanding officer. He has allowed me to speak for us but he is ultimately still responsible for what happens on this mission. If he disapproves of one of my decisions then he would let me know it."
"How?"
"I have worked with the Colonel for several years. I know him well enough to be able to tell what he means by the look on his face or the way he moves."
"Is it this closeness that caused you to elect him as your primary?"
"The main reason he chose to be my primary was so he could be present during our trade negotiations, since he is responsible for reporting what happens when we return home."
"He chose to be your primary?"
"Yes."
"Why would any man voluntarily lose their freedom to be a primary?" The Queen was not looking at Carter. She directed her question toward Colonel O'Neill.
"I didn't realize I was giving up my freedom."
"It was not explained to you?" The Queen looked shocked.
"No."
"But you have since discovered?"
"Yes. I went back to the stargate to report our progress and became sick as a dog. It seems that I can't go far from Major Cater without experiencing some illness."
"The longer you are her primary to more of her companionship you will need."
The Queen returned her gaze to Major Carter. "We designed the drugs early during the rule of women. The men decided to not submit to us and the population was beginning to decrease. This drug made the men dependant upon being near their lady, as close as possible." A slight blush crossed the Queens face. "We have progressed to having only one man per lady. It has allowed us to maintain our birth rates and still have enough free men to work without their lady being present."
"Are you saying the primaries father the children?" Carters face showed her worry.
"Yes, although free men have begun to submit to their ladies more frequently. The primaries are still usually the father, since they require contact with their lady to remain healthy."
"By contact you just mean close physical proximity, right?"
"Right." The queen smiled and glanced at her primary. "Very close."
Major Carter paled. The implication was clear. She turned enough to see the Colonel shared her expression.
The Queen looked at the Colonel again. "Would you have made a different choice if you had known?"
It was obvious that the Colonel was thinking this over. "If Carter required a primary it was going to be me. She is my responsibility and I would do whatever was necessary to protect her."
The Queen seemed satisfied with his response and turned back to Carter who was smiling, just a little bit, at Colonel O'Neill.
"I find you both to be honorable. Will men be coming from your world if we have a trade agreement?"
"I was going to recommend that the negotiating team and ambassadors be females, just to reduce the risk that any males would be claimed."
"That makes sense. This might also be an opportunity for us reexamine the relationship between our men and ourselves. Perhaps you will be a good influence on us."
"I think this could be a mutually rewarding relationship for both of our worlds." With a smile the Queen nodded to Carter, who returned the gesture.
It was agreed that an all female negotiating team and some diplomats would return to Rodinia in three weeks time. Since they were off-worlders they would be granted an audience with the Queen without battle. Carter's spot on the council would be opened and new battles would determine who would replace her. That meant she was free to leave without any more fighting.
Two days later, after resting and enjoying more succulent food, all of SG-1 began the trip back to the gate. They enjoyed the scenery and the company. It was a relaxed trip, since they didn't fear a Jaffa would appear to gun them down any minute.
The General was thrilled to see them return after having been gone for so long. They went straight to the infirmary and their debriefing was scheduled for the next morning. Neither O'Neill nor Carter looked forward to the infirmary visit. There was too much to explain and too few answers for all the questions they would be asked.
O'Neill slept in Carter's room that night. The doc had approved the rooming situation, at least until he knew more about what had happened to them. The doc probably didn't realize that the Colonel was sleeping with one arm around the Major. He probably assumed one of them would sleep on the floor but he didn't specify it so they did what was comfortable.
During the morning debriefing, the General was thrilled with the prospect of negotiating for more naquada. He would begin arranging for an all female team immediately. He was distressed to learn about the new bond between the Colonel and the Major. He was more disturbed to learn that so far the doctor hadn't been able to figure anything out from their blood work.
Over the next week, both the Colonel and the Major underwent numerous tests. The tests were always worse on the Colonel, since he was the one who got sick every time they sent Carter away. They were allowed to leave the base, as long as they stayed together. They took turns going to each other's houses. O'Neill did most of his paperwork, or at least pretended to do it, in Carter's lab. He loved watching her work. She'd never tell him but she loved seeing him watch her work. Their friendship, which had been strained recently, blossomed with the forced time together. Even the time sleeping next to each other got less tension filled. They had come to an unspoken agreement to not go where they shouldn't go, according to the Air Force, but to enjoy what they had been given.
At the end of the week, the doctor had finally decided what had to happen.
"I believe if Major Carter was to get far enough away the chemical in Colonel O'Neill would be destroyed by his own immune system. He would get very ill but I have no doubt we would be able to medically support him until the chemical was out of his system."
The Colonel looked worried. "How long do you think it would take?"
"A week, possibly two."
"How far away would I have to go?" Carter refused to look at her CO. She didn't want to see if this worried and disappointed him as much as it did her.
"It would need to be very far. I recommend that you go through the gate. That puts you very far away but if a situation arises that requires your presence you could return faster then if we have you take a plane trip half way around the world."
The Colonel nodded. "Perhaps you could go visit your Dad?"
Carter nodded without making eye contact. They contacted Jacob and he was thrilled with the prospect of having his daughter visit for two weeks. She knew he would find ways to keep her busy, although she doubted she would be able to keep her mind off Colonel O'Neill.
She was packed and her gear was in the gate room the next morning. They walked to the infirmary together. The medical staff wanted to have the IV in place before she left him. They gave them a few minutes alone after they had gotten the Colonel prepared.
"I'll be fine, Carter. Enjoy your break."
"I won't be having fun, sir. I'll be worried sick the whole time." He could see the worry in her face. He didn't know how to help her because he felt the same thing. "I won't go far. If they need me I'll be back here in a flash."
"They won't need you. I've survived worse then being apart from my favorite Major." He smiled but she could tell it was forced.
She looked around and made sure they were alone. She bent down and placed a soft brief kiss on his cheek. "I miss you already, sir."
"I'll miss you more." They both smiled. He squeezed her hand and let go. She turned slowly and look back one time before striding out, using her best Air Force trained stride of confidence. If he didn't know her so well, he might have even believed in her confidence.
By the time she got to the gateroom he had spiked a fever and was finding it difficult to breath. The medical staff knew when she went through the gate because that was when he began to have the seizures. They had to resuscitate him four times. They put him on a ventilator and pumped epinephrine into him to keep his heart going. It was worse then they had expected but the doctor didn't change his mind. The machines and drugs could keep the Colonel's body alive until the chemical was gone. At least he looked liked he believed it and if he was asked he would have lied and said he believed it.
Major Carter reported in at least once every day, as ordered. For the first three days, she was told the Colonel was in critical but stable condition. Her requests to return were denied. She couldn't sleep and Jacob was unable to get her mind off the Colonel. On the fourth day she was told the Colonel had been removed from the vent and his condition was listed as serious instead of critical. It was the first time she had any hope this might work.
By the end of the week, the Colonel had regained consciousness. He felt miserable but he was alive. After ten days, he was allowed to go home, as long as Daniel went along to baby sit. Major Carter was told he had been released from the infirmary but the doc didn't want her to return until all of the foreign chemicals in Colonel O'Neill were gone. He didn't want to risk having to put the Colonel through this again.
It took three weeks for Colonel O'Neill's blood work to come back clean. Major Carter was contacted and told she could return the next day. A nurse hung out with Colonel O'Neill in his office while Major Carter was returning and being checked in the infirmary. The nurse escorted Colonel O'Neill to the infirmary, where Carter was waiting. The doctor wanted to be present, just in case there were any side effects from the two officers being in proximity again.
Other then the big smiles on both of their faces the doctor couldn't detect any symptoms. He took one more blood sample from Colonel O'Neill. Once it was confirmed to be clean he released both officers from the infirmary, declaring them both fit for duty.
Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter walked out of the infirmary together. The Colonel thought Carter looked tired. He figured she wanted to get to her own home, to rest and relax. The Major thought O'Neill looked extremely tired. She figured he must have been a lot sicker then even she had imagined.
"How about dinner out with the team?" The look on the Colonel's face told her no one would mind if she said no. "We all missed you."
"I'd love it. I missed you guys too."
They got Daniel and Teal'c and headed out for an Italian dinner followed by ice cream. They were back to normal. She would miss his arm around her at night and he would miss the feel of her hair under his chin in the morning. They would never be the same but they both hoped that maybe they could be better, some day, maybe even soon.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to Kimberly
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