Teal’c kept up the soothing words, speaking of whatever popped into his mind. He encouraged Keelah to focus on the memories created from her time at the SGC. Softly reminding her of the acts of courage she had performed...killing the Jaffa to save Annika during the foothold situation, defending herself when Maybourne had ‘broken in’ to their home. He moved on to her personal accomplishments; of how much progress she had made in her new life, of overcoming her fears, even bringing up the fight they’d had, for it was the example that Keelah herself had pointed out as a sign of her dispensing with the trappings of her slave mentality.

At the mention of the last, Keelah’s grip tightened even more around his hand. Buoyed by the movement, he began whispering about the other significant milestone she had conquered. "Remember that first night we made love...of how you overcame your shyness...and made it into a night that we will both remember for eternity..."

"Your pleasure," he confirmed. Unable to resist, his mouth again closed over hers. She responded but after a few seconds he sensed that her mind was elsewhere. Peering into her eyes he saw that while she was still a little stunned and overwhelmed by the experience of her first orgasm, there was definitely thinking going on. Curious he broke off the kiss. "Where is your mind wandering?"

A blush burned her cheeks. "I...that was so amazing...I don't know that anything can surpass it."

It didn't take a degree in psychology to know what the 'anything' was she referred to. "The final act of sex can be just as enjoyable, if a little different."

"But we're not going to do that tonight?"

He heard the hope in her voice that they would and the longing look in her eyes only made him more aware of the fact that his body was still throbbing with arousal. It took every ounce of his willpower to shake his head. "The first time a woman is penetrated can be an unpleasant experience despite best efforts. I do not want to taint your memory of tonight in any way."

His concern for her caused that funny tingle in her belly to increase. She knew of the discomfort that many women went through. The slaves of her Master's household had been like any other bunch of women, and had gossiped about various topics including losing their virginity. But given the abuse she had suffered, she couldn't imagine that it would be anywhere near as bad as that. And going by the gossip, the pain lasted only a short time, unlike the continual burning and tearing sensation of being anally raped. "And if I said that I wanted to?"

Praise the gods! When she looked at him like that it was almost impossible to keep his resolve. However, he was determined. Physically she was not yet ready to accommodate him. "Then I would have to deny you the request." He couldn't bear the flicker of disappointment that crossed her face and he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "We will go on to that final stage, I promise you, just not tonight."

"Tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.

"Soon," he compromised, smiling at her persistence.

The pout she gave was playful. "That's the first time I've heard of a teacher refusing to educate a pupil."

His amusement refused to be contained and he chuckled. "You are a pure delight."

She nestled into his side, feeling a warm glow at the compliment.

Teal'c wondered if she was aware just how flirtatious her pout and teasing comment had been. It was another sign that she was becoming more comfortable and at ease with the ways of romance. He knew that she had no idea the effect her teasing and especially her wriggling against him was having on him. Every tiny movement reminded him that his body was far from sated. In starting this 'lesson' tonight, he had given nary a thought to the effect it would have on himself. As someone who prided himself on his ability to maintain control, his body's reaction was surprising. He wondered if the mystery problem with the tretonin was affecting his stamina. Whatever the cause, the matter would need to be dealt with. In his 'theory' discussions, he hadn't broached the subject of 'reciprocation' and he wasn't sure if Keelah was ready to attempt it. He didn't want to mar tonight by having her think she needed to return the pleasure, nor to stir up memories of her time as a slave. A quick trip to the bathroom and he would be able to snuggle with her comfortably.

"I shall return presently." He started to slide from the bed, but Keelah's soft hand on his arm bound him to stop as strong as any manacle. Her touch was like a branding iron to his already heightened nerve endings. She looked at him confused until her eyes followed his gaze to his crotch to see his very erect member tenting the cotton of his pants. "I am but a man," he shrugged.

"Will you not allow me to relieve your arousal?" she asked quietly, timid and yet at the same time with a hint of determination. "I was...taught...how."

His mind rebelled at the idea even as the fire consuming his body grew hotter. "I do not want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable...tonight is only for your pleasure..."

"And what of your pleasure?" she asked.

Her hand dropped to his thigh and though the move was not sexual, just to have her so close to his aching shaft had him drawing in a sharp breath. "It is of little consequence."

"Teal'c, I was forced to learn how to...pleasure a man, while my Master watched to make sure his friends didn't get overzealous and enter me any other way than from behind." She pushed aside the images that flashed through her mind of leering men and their cruelty, the humiliation she'd felt. "The...learning process...I cannot unlearn that. As much as I hated doing the act..."

"Which is why I do not expect nor will I ask you to-"

She cut him off by placing a finger to his lips. "For the first time, I find myself wanting to put those skills to use. I want to do this to you...for you." She could see the dilemma in his eyes and she hurried on. "You've shown me that when making love giving is as important, if not more so, than receiving. Please, let me put that philosophy into practice."

Teal'c swallowed, for words temporarily failed him as Keelah looked earnestly at him.

"If you leave now...I will feel as if I have used you simply for my own desires...it makes me no better than the men who raped me." Keelah was totally bewildered by the turn of events. Never in a million years would she have believed that she would be practically begging to perform an act that she had loathed; that a man would ever deny himself the pleasure she offered. Out of everything that she had learned about Teal'c, what he had done for her, shown her, his kindness, his compassion...this moment proved just how special a man Teal'c truly was...how lucky she was that he had come into her life. And it only made her more determined to have her way.

He wanted to deny that self-accusation, that the situation was completely different, that she was too tender and caring to ever be compared to those vermin. The words stuck in his throat. Keelah believed what she was saying, and the determination not to compromise her morals was evident. His body was telling him that playing the martyr was just down right ridiculous especially since she wanted to relieve the ache of his arousal. And may the gods help him, he didn't have the willpower to say no.

Though he made no outward move, Keelah sensed his defenses crumbling. Couldn't stop the grin of triumph from turning up her mouth. Oh, how I want to do this! The idea of sending him over the edge as he had done to her, stirred a new emotion in her. It was desire but it was different; it was desire to please him.

As she reached for the buttons of his shirt, a little voice in Teal'c's head whispered, this is what you want. It wasn't referring to the immediate need of his body, but to Keelah's confidence in herself. The whole point of taking Keelah under his wing was to instill in her the self-assurance to make decisions on her own, to make her into a strong woman, not afraid to take control. This woman who was a little nervously undoing his shirt, with the stubborn tilt to her chin, the slightly smug smile on her lips at having gotten her way, her cheeks still flushed with afterglow and with the unmistakable light of ardor in her eyes, was everything that he had hoped she would become.

A visible tremble shot through him when her hands slipped beneath the now open flaps of his shirt, ran over his pectorals and drew the shirt down his arms. Her fingers roamed back up over the muscles of his arms on their way back to his chest. A hiss blew from his lips when she brushed her fingers over the top of his nipples. Fascinated by the response, she toyed first with the left and then the right. She had no idea until now that a man's nipples were just as sensitive as a woman's. Tentatively her tongue darted out to trace around the flat nub and Teal'c's groan of pleasure made the heat pool between her legs. That sound is such a turn on! Laving his nipple, she steadied her position by placing her hand on his side and felt his muscles jump under her touch. A little nagging in her mind started as she compared his reaction to hers. Why is he so tense?

Teal'c fisted the quilt in an effort to remain in control. It was only natural that Keelah would want to explore his body, reciprocate the acts he had spent the last hour showing her...but she was too astute a pupil. Her touch, her breath, everything, was adding to the fire that was already ravishing him. And that desire was flowing like Niagara Falls right to his groin where his pining shaft was so hard it was a physical ache. It was all he could do to stop from exploding there and then.

When Keelah saw the bulge in Teal'c's pants twitch, realization hit. The man had been about to relieve himself when she had stopped him from leaving. Her research had warned of a man's erection becoming painful if culmination was not given. Her exploration of his body would have to wait. Gently she pressed against his shoulder, encouraging him to lie back, then sat back on her heels. "I would like to spend as much time...practicing...on you as you did on me...but you won't...last...that long, will you?"

"To my regret, I will not," he admitted. And it was regret, because what little she had done so far was wonderfully erotic.

"Are there rules?" She titled her head quizzically to one side. "Can I come back to this..." she traced her finger over his chest, "after I relieve this?" Her finger traveled down his stomach, circled the crossed scar of his symbiote pouch and skimmed the covered length of his shaft.

Teal'c nearly bolted off the bed at the feather light touch. Keelah had no idea what she was doing to him! She wasn't trying to be coy or a tease. It was a genuine question on the process of lovemaking. Dragging in a deep breath he replied, "There are no set rules."

"Oh good." She slid her thumbs under the waist of his pants but didn't start to remove them. Teal'c had asked her permission to remove clothing, it seemed only right that she should do the same. "Then, may I?"

Were the Goa'uld false gods? his mind cried. Out loud he could only manage a single word. "Yes."

Carefully she lifted the material from his waist and pulled down, and his engorged member sprang free. He lifted his hips slightly and she tugged the pants from his legs then dropped the garment off the end of the bed. She sat back on her heels once again, only now really registering the size of him. Wow. It was as impressive as the rest on him.

Teal'c was studying her reaction. When she slowly began to lean forward, he reached out to her shoulder. "You are sure you are comfortable doing this?"

She twisted her head to place a kiss to his knuckles. "I want to...I can't describe how much." She had an idea. Earlier Teal'c had said to tell him what she liked with her body's natural response. "Um...this is how much I want to." She took his hand from her shoulder. Widening her knees apart she hesitantly drew his hand down and placed it on the mound of her womanhood, rubbing it slightly against her so that he could feel the hot wetness that was trickling from her.

"Sweet gods." It came out a raspy sigh. Feeling the evidence of her ardor shoved whatever reservations he had about her feeling 'obliged' to do this from his mind. The sigh turned into a loud moan when Keelah crouched over him and ran her tongue up his entire length. Her fingers nestled in his pubic hair, her nails lightly caressed his twin orbs. Her other hand wrapped around the base of him and began smooth steady strokes. Her lips closing over the mushroomed tip caused stars to flash before his eyes. But that feeling of pure bliss was miniscule by comparison to when she slowly sucked him deep within her mouth.

For the first time Keelah felt a sense of feminine pride in the act. Teal'c's moan of pleasure, the salty-sweet taste of pre-cum seeping out, feeling the solid shaft of muscle pulse in her mouth as her tongue swirled around him, the involuntary thrust of his hips as he sought a deeper intimate kiss from her...there was no other act that made her feel as much like a woman as this. She gave a jolt when she felt movement between her legs. Teal'c hadn't removed his hand from her and had begun to stroke her, his finger keeping pace with every bob of her head. When his finger brushed over her clitoris her cry of rapture couldn't be stopped.

Feeling that moan reverberate around his member started to shatter his control, his skin breaking out into a sweat from the effort it took to hold on for just a few more magical moments. He hadn't expected this. He'd expected wariness from her, at the very best the same sort of shy curiousness that she had exhibited earlier. Definitely not the confident and mind-numbing, astounding technique he was being given the honor of experiencing. He increased the pace of his finger, using tight circular motions around her tiny nub, intent on making her climax again before he did.

Keelah could feel that tantalizing tightness building at supersonic speed and in response she increased her efforts, just as intent on making him explode first, for it didn't seem fair that she should have two orgasms before he'd had even one.

Teal'c won the game. Barely. That delectable aria once again greeted his ears, though it was a tad muted as it was absorbed by his member. With the last scrap of lucidity he warned her, "I'm going to cum."

The last notes of Keelah's climax rang clear as she released him from her mouth a second before he exploded. With her head thrown back as she tried to catch her breath, her hand continued to pump him until the last of the creamy essence spilt out.

They both needed a few moments to calm their racing hearts.

Teal'c wanted to pull her into his arms, but didn't want to coat her in the sperm now decorating his chest and stomach. Ever mindful of her history he didn't think it would be a wise move. Yet still wanting to show his adoration, he caressed her thigh, which was the only part of her within easy reach. She shuffled a little closer to him. Her hand closed over his, and she raised it to her lips showing her own appreciation, but her eyes had a slightly guilty tinge.

"I do not enjoy the sensation of ejaculation down my throat."

"There is no need to apologize for that." Teal'c was still blown away by the power of the orgasm she had coaxed him to. He propped himself up to place a tender kiss to her lips. "That you were willing to do fellatio at all is an astounding testament to your character. You are amazing."

"You enjoyed it?"

He glanced down at the large creamy globs on his body, thinking that should have been testimony enough, but he voiced what he was feeling. "It surpassed mere enjoyment. I have never had a woman pleasure me in such a way before." He couldn't say how it was different, but it was.

"My...um...technique is different?"

"Exquisitely so." He reached for a tissue from the bedside table to clean himself up, but Keelah stopped him.

"I may not like the sensation of the initial ejaculation, but..." she dipped her head, her tongue darting out to lick a drop of cum from his chest. "...I do like the taste." Shyly she looked up at him. "At least I like your taste."

"Then who am I to argue?" He didn't try to talk her out of it, not this time. He was confident that she wouldn't offer if she did not want to.

Keelah resumed her 'practice session' of exploring his body, taking the time she promised to perfect her lessons. For easier access she straddled over him on all fours, dipping her head to lick and suck every drop of his essence from him.

Teal'c however, couldn't remain still beneath her touch. Having sampled the sweet suppleness of her body he craved more. The inquisitiveness of her expression as she experimented, applying different amounts of pressure with her fingers and mouth, or choosing between a swirl of her tongue and a suck of her lips, entranced him. And his body, though only recently spent, responded to every little nip and caress. Taking great joy in exploring Keelah's body again, he traced a finger over a dark pink patch of skin in the valley of her breasts. He had noticed it when he had first removed the negligee, however, had not mentioned it because of her self-consciousness of the scarring on the rest of her body. Now he let his curiosity show. "This is not a mark from a past injury."

Keelah looked down, in truth having forgotten about the mark. "I have had it since birth. A hereditary quirk of my family." Gave a blissful sigh as Teal'c replaced his finger with his mouth. It must be a sin for something to feel this good!

Teal'c's tongue swirled around the oddly shaped birthmark, then his attention was drawn to a tiny freckle on the edge of the areola of her right breast. His tongue delicately danced over it. Gave a low chuckle when Keelah twisted her torso slightly so that her nipple fell under the path of his tongue. More than happy to oblige he teased the bud and was rewarded with a cry of pleasure from her, before allowing her to continue with her ministrations.

With her leaning over him she was unaware of the extent of his renewed arousal until the tip of his shaft nudged against her belly. She froze, peeking down between their bodies. Felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach at having his long, hard appendage so close to her womb. As it had earlier in the night, she was fascinated by what she wasn't feeling. There was no fear lurking from the memory of her abuse, no repulsion. There wasn't even a scrap of nervousness about his size. In that moment there was no past, there was no future. There was only the present, two bodies, hot with unquenched desire.

Slowly she lowered her waist down a fraction so that his full length was pressed against her belly, testing her response, hoping that those negative emotions continued their banishment. Cautiously she rocked a little, so his erection rubbed from her bellybutton to the edge of her pubic line.

"Keelah," Teal'c softly chided, placing a hand against her hip, stopping her from moving. "Not tonight." As glorious as it felt, it was a dangerous game to play with their bodies already so close to the brink.

Her head shot up, eyes wide in honest bewilderment. "I wasn't trying to...I just...to feel..." Struggled to find the right words. "When I asked you yesterday for this...I was scared my history would haunt me when we got this close..." She flexed her hips so her nether lips pressed against his shaft. "But I'm not afraid." Ridiculously she felt her eyes prick with tears of joy. "I'm not."

The wonder in her tone melted his heart even as it made it ache for her ever having that kind of fear. The burn of anger at her abusers, which was never really far from the surface, threatened to come out, but he tamped it down. Instead he raised his free hand to her other thigh and gently guided her hips so her womanhood glided the length of his erection. He couldn't deny her the chance to savor this revelation; he would control himself, somehow.

The smile she gave him was a mix of thanks for his understanding and happy bewilderment of what she was feeling. Hesitantly she slowly moved her hips again, sliding back down then up again. Then as she embraced the physical sensation, the only feeling that remained was ardor. She began to pick up a rhythm. When she applied a bit more pressure, she felt that little nub that had been stimulated twice tonight with such mind-blowing results, begin to tingle once again. "Ohhh, that feels so..."

"So good," Teal'c finished the expression with a guttural groan. Coating him in her hot juices, her labia running the length of him, the hint of the tiny bump of her clitoris, was sweet torment and he could feel himself swell in response. It was a battle against his will to not follow the natural urge thrust into her.

Suddenly, from directly outside the bedroom window, came a sharp bark followed by a screeching yowl. Unbeknownst to the couple, Hathor had been making her nightly trek from next door now that the rain had stopped. It had become routine for the pup to spend three or so nights a week curled up on Teal'c's bed, and to save himself from having to let her in and out, for she inevitably chose inconvenient times to arrive, he had installed a doggy door. On this night, she had spied a neighborhood cat prowling the yard and her canine instinct had kicked in to chase her natural enemy off 'her' property. The cat took off with an indignant screech and Hathor sprinted after her until the feline had leapt over the fence to the safety of the street. She patrolled the yard to make sure the enemy didn't dare come back, then with a proud bounce in her paws trotted through the doggy door, headed straight for the bedroom at the end of the corridor and with a satisfied sigh snuggled into a ball on the bed. Promptly she went to sleep, totally oblivious of what had resulted in the other bedroom from her show of protection.

So intent on each other that they had forgotten there was a world beyond the two of them, the unexpected animal cries startled both of them. Teal'c's decades of training had him automatically trying to sit up, and Keelah jerked, sitting slightly back.

The next second seemed to happen in slow motion for Teal'c. First he registered the noise was no threat and then the new positioning of himself and Keelah clicked in his mind. He tried to stop her descent, but the film of sweat from their passionate exertions of the night made him unable to get a firm grip. "Wait!"

But it was too late. Call it a twist of circumstance or Fate aligning their positions so perfectly, he could only watch as his solid member slid inside Keelah's tight, moist womanly well.

Keelah felt a strange pressure as she started to sit back on her heels, then the pressure eased as the mushroomed head of his erection squeezed passed the virginal tightness of her opening. It happened so fast she didn't comprehend what was happening and continued to sit. A harsh gasp blew from her lips at the sharp pain that lanced through her core. She barely was aware of Teal'c's hands diving beneath her thighs, stopping her from sitting all the way down.

The couple froze and for a long moment the only sounds they could hear were their shocked, shallow breaths echoing off the walls.

Teal'c struggled to remain still, his entire body taut with the effort of supporting Keelah's weight and controlling his natural urge to thrust. Keelah hardly dared to breathe at all, afraid that any movement would increase that sharp pain.

"Are you alright?" Teal'c could only manage a whisper. He intently studied her face, wishing that he could embrace her. This is not how it was supposed to be!

She started to nod, then slowly gave a single shake 'no'.

He silently berated his body's reaction. Keelah was obviously in pain, it should have meant an instant waning of his arousal, and yet cocooned as he was, with her muscles clamped around him, he remained hard as steel. He placed a tender kiss to her neck. "Try to relax."

She gave a stilted nod. "Can you keep doing that?" she asked softly. Feeling his lips against her skin distracted her thoughts and the ribbon of pain started to taper off.

Without hesitation he began trailing kisses down her throat, to her shoulders and back again. He traced along her jaw, seeking her lips. A little hesitantly at first, she started to respond.

Concentrating solely on the feel of his lips, the taste of him, the tension began to seep from her body. It wasn't long before her tongue was delving into his mouth to dance with his. Her hands reached up to cup his face for longer, deeper kisses. The more she kissed him, the less she thought about any further possible pain. The stirring of desire started to tickle once more through her veins. With each passing second the hard shaft inside her felt less of an intrusion and more like a welcoming visitor she wanted to invite deeper inside.

Teal'c felt his arms muscles start to twitch from holding her so still, but he'd be damned if he'd release her until she was ready. Gradually he felt her shift ever so slightly, starting to take her weight on her knees. Only when he was positive she was stable did he cautiously begin to lift her, intending to slide his member free. To his surprise her knees closed tightly around his hips, pinning herself to him and her hands dropped down to arms stopping him.

"Don't you dare."

The husky growl against his lips made his eyes go wide. "But the pain-"

"It's gone," she cut him off, her gaze locking with his.

Her dark depths were alight with determination and what he could only describe as lust.

"What's done, is done." She could feel his concern for her in the way that he held her and she tried to put him at ease. "And there is a fire burning inside me...only one thing can put it out." She playfully sucked his lower lip between her teeth. "Please, Teal'c, don't leave me this way."

The plea in her voice didn't overshadow the pure instinctual need darkening her eyes for him to keep going, and though he may curse himself later, he couldn't say no. He gave a slight nod of his head, surrendering. But he knew that their current positions wouldn't allow him to be as gentle as she needed him to be. He tried once again to move, but her knees remained clamped around him. "I promise," he murmured against her lips. "Trust me."

"Always." She released the breath she hadn't been aware of holding. Allowed him to lift her free, though her body seemed to ache at the loss, and lay her on her back.

Positioning himself over her, he placed tender kisses to her lips as he wrapped her legs loosely around his waist. With infinite care he slowly slid the tip of himself into her. There was some resistance as her muscles stretched again to accommodate his width. He eased in a fraction more. His senses were attuned to every little response of the woman lying beneath him, searching for any sign of discomfort. He ignored how sublime it felt to be encased by her slick well, afraid that if he thought about it, he wouldn't be able to control himself. It took monumental effort to enter her only as far as that accidental first time, draw back a little and then ease in again. With each partial thrust he could feel her muscles adjust. The next time he pushed just a little harder, easing in a few more millimeters.

Keelah had one hand resting on his arm, the other arm curled around his back, and she could feel by how taut his muscles were, how much of a strain it was to hold himself back to allow her body to become accustomed to his size. He entered her so carefully and with such gentleness that tears stung her eyes and she turned her head to the side so that he wouldn't see. She wasn't quick enough.

"I am hurting you." He started to withdraw but her legs tightened around him.

"No, you're not." As odd as the sensation was, it felt amazingly right. And with each movement the yearning inside of her was steadily building. "My gentle warrior, I'm not made of glass." To prove her point she lifted her hips slightly, forcing another centimeter of his shaft into her. It would have been more but Teal'c's reflexes were quick and he raised his hips to stop further penetration.

"I will not rush this," his replied gruffly. "Please do not ask me to."

His eyes burned with barely controlled passion, but beneath it she could see the tinge of guilt. He had not planned for this to be happening now, and in hindsight she understood why he had been so adamant that they should wait. He needed to be able to control this moment and though his slowness could quite possibly drive her insane from the need crawling through her veins, she nodded. She pressed her lips to his in a soft yet demanding kiss. "But know that having you inside me is the most sensual, erotic feeling I have ever had and I would not change one moment of tonight."

Her husky whisper threatened to unravel his resolve to keep going slow and his returning kiss was a little more forceful, releasing a smidgen of the ardor that was ravaging him. Maintaining the kiss to siphon his increasing desire, he continued to enter her millimeter by sensual millimeter.

Keelah responded eagerly, equally as needy, her hands caressing the muscles of his back, holding him as close as she could. Her hips instinctually flexed to meet his and a soft sigh escaped. "Bless the gods, that feels so good."

Teal'c couldn't agree more. Distracted by her roaming hands, her nails lightly grazing down his back sending a shiver of molten heat down his spine, the delectable taste of her full lips, it shocked him when felt his pelvis make full contact with hers and a gasp of disbelief escaped.

"What?" Keelah sensed the new emotion.

"I require a moment." His tone was slightly in awe. Never had a woman been able to fully accommodate him in their first sexual encounter, and all of his previous partners had been experienced, not virginal as the woman now in his arms was. It seemed as if Keelah's body was made to fit his perfectly. It was a wondrous and highly erotic thought. At her quizzical head tilt he explained. "No woman has ever been able to take all of me the first time."

"Really?" Her eyes widened.

He shook his head. Hardly daring to breath, wondering if he had imagined the occurrence, he slowly withdrew and then eased back into her, burying himself to the hilt.

Keelah would remember that moment for the rest of her life. The expression of wonder on his face, his kiss of adoration, and the look in his eyes as it dawned that he would not have to hold back the passion steaming his body for fear of hurting her. She felt his stance over her body subtly change and when he next thrust into her, gone was the tentativeness of the last few minutes. Yes! This is what my body has been pining for! Her sigh of bliss was drowned out by his low groan as he buried himself deep inside her.

Her hips meeting him thrust for thrust, her legs tightening around him and her lust filled mews echoing in his ears, shredded the last scrap of Teal'c's control. Basic instinct took over and her plea of 'deeper' had him pounding into her again and again. Her kisses became more demanding and he fervidly reciprocated. The fire consuming him burned hotter and hotter, converging in his throbbing shaft in an ethereal ache that had him panting for release. Keelah bucked, grinding herself against him and he lowered himself to his elbows so that he could hold her writhing body to him. She clung to him with wanton need and a tremor shook through her as her climax began. Her inner muscles clamping around his throbbing member was his undoing. His roar of ecstasy entwined with hers and his hot seed exploded inside her.

Chests heaving and limbs shaking from the power of their release, Teal'c wrapped his arms fully around her and rolled so that she wound up laying panting on top of him. When the world came back into focus, he tenderly brushed a stray curl from her cheek. "I would surmise that you found the experience enjoyable."

Between breaths Keelah laughed at what she assumed was a deliberate understatement. The stories she'd heard were true. She understood why Annika and Daniel took every opportunity to make love. It was a beautiful act that was a delectable torment to the soul. Even though she had sampled its magic just once, there lurked inside her the urge to do it again...that is, once she regained the energy to move. Her limbs were pleasantly lethargic, but she managed to prop her chin up on his chest. "To quote my dearest friend, it surpassed mere enjoyment...exquisitely so."

Teal'c craned his neck so that he could place a tender kiss to her lips and she responded, if somewhat drowsily, before snuggling deeper into his embrace. She hoped that Teal'c didn't want her to move, for she didn't think she had the energy to even roll over. To her contentment, he simply let his head drop back down to the pillow and kept his arms around her.

He could have justified his reasoning for not removing himself from her slick well, with logic. That it was physical confirmation of her words, for her inner muscles continued to quiver with fine aftershocks around his happily spent member. But he didn't. He'd admit that remaining as he was, was pure self-indulgence. More than that he didn't delve into. In the languid haze of afterglow, his mind didn't have the capacity to decipher the emotions bombarding him. He just basked in the wonder of the night, of the woman nestled in his arms.

Keelah had relaxed somewhat, leaning against him. She still hadn't spoken, but he was taking things one minute at a time.

"Carter, have you sensed any sign of juniors in the Light guys?" Jack asked.

While they had been waiting for the audience that had ended with them getting tossed in here, he, Sam and Teal'c had tried to get close to the armed zealots, but the King's Guard had stopped them when they'd gotten within a few feet. It was debatable as to whether or not the Guards had been protecting the Light Seekers or the 'curious foreigners'.

"No, sir." Sam figured Jack was just making conversation, because she knew that he knew that she would have mentioned that little detail before now.

"I also did not sense a symbiote, O'Neill," Teal'c said quietly. For the moment he had run out of memories and words of encouragement to relay to Keelah and was now simply caressing her arm soothingly.

"Me either," Jack sighed. Carter and Teal'c were much more attuned to that tug of naquadah in their blood than he was. He spent a lot of his time trying to ignore it. It just brought up too many unresolved feelings about the Tok'ra who'd taken control of his body and gotten him captured by Ba'al.

"But if we're going with the theory these Light Seekers are the ones who took Kinsey," Sam said thoughtfully, "I barely sensed the naquadah in the specimen Teal'c and Daniel recovered, and that was without the barrier of a body to mute it."

"Could the mineral be masking the naquadah?" Annika joined in the speculative conversation. They still didn't have any proof there were any Jaffa around, but at least it helped to wile away the time.

Sam nodded. "Possible. It could also be that it blocks naquadah absorption." Her brow creased in thought and then she shook her head, eliminating that theory. "Actually that can't be right. Besides the Stargate, the MALP didn't pick up any trace of naquadah. There's no naquadah to absorb."

Daniel considered her self-rebuttal. "It could be the Goa'uld queen doesn't have enough left in her to distribute to her larvae."

"Queen? Oy, I did not want to hear that."

"Well, think about it, Jack." Daniel adjusted his glasses. "If all these Light Seekers have symbiotes they had to have come from somewhere. It's unlikely that they would have procured them from another planet. With how other symbiotes react to the mineral, even transfer amounts on their shoes from walking the streets would alert a queen and any normal Jaffa who came to collect the larvae, they wouldn't have been allowed to survive. Statistically they would have been discovered before now. The only logical explanation is that they don't need to go off-world. The queen is here, somewhere."

Sam gave a nod of agreement. "Never really gave it much thought, but it makes sense that a symbiote would need to replenish its absorption of naquadah, like we need vitamins. A constant source of naquadah wouldn't be a problem for other queens, they're surrounded by it, but here there's none."

A frown creased Annika's brow. "If there have been Jaffa isolated here for at least two thousand years, why isn't there a slew of Goa'uld ruling here? What happened to the symbiotes once they matured?"

"Now that's an interesting question," Jack murmured.

"If such a Goa'uld existed at any time beyond this world, the rabid response of the other Goa'uld to its presence would have been noted by the Jaffa." Teal'c drew on his experience as First Prime. "And Apophis, as one of the ruling System Lords, would have been told by the one who destroyed the abomination, either to boast or gain good favor. Yet I had not heard of any such occurrence nor of the mineral until Major Carter identified it."

"If a Goa'uld did try to rule here, surely there would be records of the attempt. Military, or even medical if they thought them insane." Daniel heaved a sigh. "I'm guessing it would be too much to hope for that they," he motioned to the guards with his eyes, "would know their history even if I could convince them to speak." He paused the sudden spark of an idea lighting his eyes. "Annika, can you study their auras?"

At her nod, he clambered to his feet and approached the front of the cell, being careful not to block them from his wife's view. "Excuse me," he began. "Don't suppose you've had some arrogant stranger turn up in the last couple of weeks proclaiming to be your god?" Though there was no outward sign that they had even heard them, Daniel kept speaking. "Does this so called god have glowing eyes?" He considered what he had witnessed of the town folk. They weren't acting scared or worried. "More than likely has threatened your king with the death of everyone if he doesn't bow down to him? The Light Seekers have announced themselves as this god's henchmen?" Not really expecting an answer, Daniel returned to sit with the others.

"Holy shit! What did you say to them?" Annika whispered, surprised by the sudden light show she'd just seen.

He quickly translated his questions then asked, "What did you see?"

"Complete shock and then bafflement. That the bafflement came after the shock tells me they knew exactly what you were talking about but were confused about how you knew. Then it turned to fear and anger, but not directed at you. More shock when you asked about the Light Seekers, and now they're just wary of us."

"Way to go, Jacksons!" Jack grinned, happy to have at least one thing confirmed after all the speculation. "Now we know what we're dealing with..." he grimaced as he glanced at the guards. Their arrest hadn't had anything to do with the Light guys. "Kind of. Doesn't explain how we ended up in here."

"But it might help us in getting out," Sam pointed out. "We can offer to help them get rid of the Goa'uld."

"Right, so we just have to wait for his Royal Grumpiness to deign to acknowledge us."

A thought about their arrest nagged at Sam. "Was it just me, or did the guards move extremely fast in the throne room?"

"Oh good," Jack heaved a sigh of relief that Carter had brought that little detail up. "I thought I must just be getting old."

"I blinked and they were just there," Daniel confirmed.

"Think it's a natural ability?" Sam asked. "Or technological?"

A memory from a couple of months ago jarred Annika's memory. "Natural. Keelah did it the night of the Foothold on base when the Jaffa and then I charged into her room."

"Peachier and peachier," Jack grumped. "That's all we need. Jaffa who move at the speed of light."

Conversation drifted off and Teal'c found himself thinking about what had occurred in the throne room. In all his years he had never witnessed people, even with the enhanced abilities from a prim'ta, move so swiftly and with such agility...

They weren't too happy about it, but they let the guard at the antechamber to the throne room take their weapons. The disarming was actually expected. Only an idiot would allow strangers near their king with weapons. The guard who took their weapons led them to the end of the queue, telling them to wait. He then continued on to the guard, whom they assumed was his superior, at the head of the line. The superior didn't change his expression, though his shoulders tensed ever so slightly. He glanced at SG-1 then gave a nod and the original guard moved back to his post. When the next audience was granted, the superior personally escorted the man up. He stepped aside to the guards lining the back of the King and waited for the citizen to finish his request. While the next citizen was approaching, he leant close to whisper in the monarch's ear. The King listened, his thoughtful expression turning perplexed and a little wary before he gave a quiet reply. The guard moved back to his post at the front of the throne room. The King never looked their way, giving his full attention to his subject.

"Think that was about us?" Jack whispered so only his team could hear.

Five heads bobbed fractionally in a nod.

"Problem?"

He received the equivalent of shoulder shrugs in response.

"Yeah, it figures."

It didn't take long for their turn to come up. As they strode up to the dais, Daniel mentally went over the instructions Keelah had given to him. A slight bow but nothing dramatic, address him as Your Majesty. Only introduce himself, the King would decide if he wanted to know who the others were. He had his hood off as he would be the one addressing the monarch, as did Jack as the leader of the group. Again the King would decide if he wanted to see the others.

"Your Majesty, my name is Doctor Daniel Jackson, Please forgive our unorthodox arrival taking away from your time with your people, but we were unable to secure an audience any other way."

He gave a single nod for Daniel to continue. "You know enough of our ways that you know of this local custom. I will give you the courtesy of listening."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Why are you here?"

"We’ve come to pay our respects in hope it will lead to opening trade negotiations between our two people."

"Trade." His tone was slightly incredulous.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Colleagues of ours were visitors to your fair planet recently and they spoke of wonders that would be beneficial to our way of life."

The King scrutinized them all, weighing them up. He paused on Teal’c. "Your companion is not of your kind."

Did he mean because he was Jaffa or simply the color of his skin? "Our ancestry is the same, Your Majesty." The King continued to study them and Daniel hurried on. "My companions and I work as a team, but we consider ourselves much more than a simple working unit. By choice we are a family."

He frowned as though that was not the answer he was expecting. "You are the head of this family?"

"No, Your Majesty. I am simply the spokesperson as I speak your language. General Jack O'Neill heads our family unit." He gestured to Jack by his side.

Hearing his name, Jack didn't need a translation to know he'd just been introduced. Never one to bow down to anyone he settled for giving a salute.

"You look in good health, well fed, have advanced weapons. We are but a humble people, what would we have that such as yourselves would consider worth trading for?"

"We come from a land of lollipop trees..." Daniel grimaced. "I apologize, Your Majesty, I am still a novice conversing in your language..."

The team surreptitiously studied the crowd of nobles in the room looking for some sort of reaction, but no one so much as blinked at the 'slip' Daniel made.

"...We come from a land of many tongues and it is a barrier between the nations. The language pill you issue to your visitors would help us communicate freely..." his voice tapered off when he noticed the King's hand had clenched on the armrest of the throne. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, if my request caused offense." He repeated in his head the words he'd used, in case this time he had made an unintentional slip of the tongue. Was positive he hadn't.

"Take them into custody immediately."

The guards, though clearly surprised by the order, began to approach drawing their weapons.

"Daniel, what did you say?" Jack hissed, readying himself for a fight.

"Nothing. I just asked about the language pill." Daniel, as were Sam, Teal'c and Annika, was also adjusting his stance ready to defend himself.

Teal'c automatically motioned for Keelah to move to the center of the now circled team.

They were silently debating whether to go peacefully, when suddenly the guards who were still halfway across the room were inexplicably standing right in front of them. Instinct kicked in.

"What the hell?" Annika reeled back at the guard’s startling proximity. Reflex had her using her telekinesis to propel him away. She was barely aware of the man flying through the air as an instant shooting pain lanced through her skull. She stumbled to the middle of the ring SG-1 had formed knowing she’d be no help in their defense for at least a few crucial seconds.

Keelah clutched at her, panic in her eyes. "No, no, no, this isn’t right!"

Jack took a swing at the guard closest to him, punching at the man’s hand clutching the zat’-like weapon. The weapon went flying to be caught by Sam. She’d seen the tiny switch the guard had flicked to activate it, and she fired at the guard in front of her.

Daniel managed to topple a guard over by swiping his legs from under him and snatched up the zat’ device. It was different enough from the zats’ they were accustomed to that he didn’t try to work out where the ‘on’ switch was. He used it to give added weight behind his punch at the next guard.

Teal’c fought against two guards, head-butting the first then shoving the stunned man into the second. As two more descended on him he saw a flash of red from a guard's uniform penetrate their protective circle.

Still disorientated, Annika didn’t trust her aim to land on the man’s jaw, so she settled for a sharp jab to his solar plexus, winding him. Another took his place, this one grabbing a hold of Keelah.

The roar that erupted from Teal’c startled everyone. In a burst of strength, he threw the two guards attempting to subdue him off himself, and launched at the man holding the former slave.

There was a high pitch whine from the left and a bolt of blue energy hit Teal’c mid air. The results were instantaneous. The team saw the Jaffa immediately lose consciousness and crash into the guard he’d been aiming for. It had a domino effect of the guard knocking into Annika, who in turn fell into Daniel. The archaeologist practically fell into the restraining arms of another two guards.

With half of his team down, Jack knew when to give in. "Alright we give up."

Daniel angrily translated though it was unnecessary. When Jack, followed closely by Sam, lifted their hands above their shoulders, the guards recognized the universal gesture of surrender.

Sam tried to get to Teal’c, who was lying deathly still. She was only able to touch her fingers to his neck. A shot of residual energy flared up her arm and then the guards were yanking her upright, twisting her arms behind her back.

Considering they had taken down over a dozen of their comrades in the space of a few seconds, their escorts were remarkably light-handed during their trip down to the dungeon. Teal'c was carried in by two guards, the iron door was locked and SG-1 began the not so fun task of waiting for some kind of explanation.