Cello Suite No. 1

Cello Suite No. 1

“Come on, Kahlen, we have to keep going if we really want to cover any ground at all while it's still light out.”

Sam was holding up Kahlen as she struggled to stand properly, her legs having decided during their own counsel meeting that they would protest any form of action that Kahlen would try to take and perceive it as hostile, retaliating in the only way they could – by refusing to work. Kahlen shook her head.

“Sam, I can't. My legs are too taxed; I can't walk any more. At least not for now.” her thigh apparently thought she was going to try something anyway and after prompting from the calves, it spasmed painfully as Kahlen's hands tried to ease the spasming muscle. Sam let go of Kahlen helping her lay on the soft ground of the shore around the lake. Her hands immediately pushed Kahlen's away from her thigh and pressed against the muscles hard, trying to gently massage them into submission.

Kahlen bit her lip, trying not to move – what Sam was doing was both very painful and very nice. The muscle was relaxing, but it ached so horribly. Sam must have known what the problem was; she reached up with one hand to grab Kahlen's tightly in her grasp as her other hand continued to rest on her traitorous thigh, her thumb massaging the still spasming muscle.

“Is that better?” Kahlen nodded jerkily.

“Yeah, but it still hurts. But it's a lot better. Thank you.” Kahlen wove their fingers together and sighed, trying to relax to help with the soothing of her muscle. Sam sighed, too, though for a different reason.

“As much as I hate to say it, I think that we'll have to just take today to rest. You might have worked your legs too hard while you were here by yourself and it's finally catching up with you.” Kahlen's eyes closed, taking deep breaths.

“Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'm sorry, Sam. I know I shouldn't have done that.” Sam's other thumb stroked the back of her hand.

“You did what you thought you had too. You didn't even know if any one else would show up, so you have no reason to apologize, all right?”

“Ok.” Kahlen opened her eyes and smiled at Sam softly. She shifted her hips her thighs relaxing further. “God, you're good at massaging muscles. Sure there isn't some secret life you've been hiding?” Sam snorted softly.

“Well, if you count fighting aliens are a nearly daily basis and never being able to tell anyone hiding a secret life, then yes. I've been keeping a secret life all these years.” Kahlen laughed, relaxing into the shore life, feeling a glimpse of the happiness that she was sure had been slaughtered when she broke down on top of the cliff.

“God, Sam, is it selfish of me to say that I'm actually glad that you're here?” Sam smiled, giving Kahlen's thigh one last rub of her thumb before using both of her hands to pull Kahlen up into a sitting position, scooting towards her to wrap her arms around her shoulders. Kahlen wrapped her arms around Sam's waist, resting her head on her shoulder.

“No, it's not selfish. I think that, maybe, when people were sent here, they were sent here alone, maybe for a punishment or something. Because, really. What would be the point of having those creatures attack someone, have them transported to another planet with animals here that could kill us? It's not selfish that you'd want someone else here.

“And frankly, I think you got lucky that it was me. I don't think Daniel, Vala or Cameron would have done in this situation. Daniel would get bored quickly, like Vala, but Vala would be a lot worse when she's bored, and Cameron would just get too antsy to really think straight. Teal'c might have been able to deal with it, but he needs his tritonin.”

Kahlen nodded, smiling softly, she tightened her arms around Sam's waist, keeping her legs in a comfortable position and sighed let out a breath.

“Yeah, I'm glad it's you that was sent here. Not that, you know, I'd want you to be sent to some planet some where in some place in some galaxy.” Sam smiled, resting her chin on Kahlen's head.

“Yeah, me too.”

The two stayed hugging each other, trying to find some comfort within each other; both of the tried not to think about the oppressive force of isolation that kept poking and prodding them, trying to get their attention.

Right now, all they cared about was holding someone and being held.

~

“All right, let's try this now, Kahlen.”

The two of them had spent the rest of the day light hours holding each other, taking solace in each other's presence. It was only when they feared it to be getting too dark that they untangled; Sam helped Kahlen stand and limp towards the trees, helping her get settled on the higher branch this time. Apparently sleeping up in the trees, however necessary, proved to have been a bad idea for Kahlen's protesting muscles.

Kahlen grunted as she stood on shaky legs, her fingers digging into Sam's arms insistently. Sam was trying to get Kahlen towards the lake to drink some water before they set out again. She hadn't expected the trouble getting Kahlen down from the tree would bring and they were both now supporting rather nasty looking scratches on their forearms; Sam had a small cut on her cheek and Kahlen had a scrape on her stomach when her shirt rode up and she fell the last few feet to the ground.

“Ok, I'm good, let's get to the lake.” Sam was supporting most of Kahlen's weight as she leaned heavily on her. They made it to the shore line and she helped Kahlen get down to the water, letting her rest for a moment and take a drink. Sam sat down, too, taking her own drink.

“I've been thinking.”

“No.”

“But you haven't even heard my idea!”

“That's because I know what you're going to suggest, Kahlen, and the answer is no.”

“How do you know what I'm going to suggest? Can you read minds now?” she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Hm, let me think. Was your idea along the lines of me leaving you here while I go on ahead to see what's out there?” she looked away.

“It might have been similar...” Sam gave her a stern look.

“I'm not leaving you behind, Kahlen, that's just not an option.”

“But, Sam-”

“I know we're the same rank, but even in the field I have rein over you because of my experience and I will make it an order for you to come with me. If I have to.” Kahlen sighed, rubbing a hand over her face.

“Fine. But only because I don't have the energy to out stubborn you.” Sam smiled.

“Good. Now, let's get you up so we can start walking.”