Jack patched Jennifer and Daniel into his call with Carolyn.

"You were right, Sir. The vitamins contain the same drugs that were used to erase Martin Lloyd's memory."

"Which means there is an antidote."

"I am having it flown to you as we speak. It should be there in a couple hours."

"You're amazing Doc."

"I never hear that enough General. Thank you."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

They were slowing jogging back towards the apartment when Jack stopped.

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"It sounds like crying."

"Crying?"

Jack walked down a narrow alley between a bakery and Chinese restaurant. "It might be a baby."

Sam followed him. "Jack, this doesn't seem like a good idea." Sam grunted as blue energy from a zat enveloped her. Jack caught her and eased her down to the ground, making sure she didn't hit her head.

Daniel slid out from behind a dumpster. "Here." He held out the syringe before tucking the zat back into his holster.

Jack aimed the syringe for her external jugular vein just as Carolyn had instructed him. The antidote needed to get into her bloodstream, and they needed it to kick in quickly. Her tail wasn't far behind them and ducking into this alley was very suspicious. It wouldn't be long before they had company.

Sam began to seize. Her muscles clenched and her back arched. Her fingernails dug into her palms as she shook. Jack kept his hand behind his head, waiting for her eyes to flutter open.

A couple seconds after her body relaxed her eyes focused on his face.

"Jack?" Her arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed her face to his neck. "They said you were dead."

"They lied." His arms briefly tightened around her.

She looked over his shoulder. "Daniel. You're alive too?"

"Sure am."

Jack pulled back from her. "Sam, do you remember what happened?"

Sam nodded. "They took me."

"We can't stay here much longer. Can you walk?"

She briefly closed her eyes. Jack could almost hear her running a mental check of herself. "Yes, yes I can."

Jack helped her up as Daniel slid back behind the dumpster. Jack and Sam emerged from the alley laughing together as her tail crossed the street looking a little panicked. They headed back to the apartment complex. Jack walked her to her door.

"Let's play hooky today."

Her eyes narrowed in confusion. "What?"

"You know, call in sick and spend the day with me."

She gave him a placating smile. "I have a budget meeting."

"What's the worst that happens if you don't show up?"

"Jimmy would have to go instead of me and he'd get less than half the funding I need for this year."

"So, nothing much. Come on."

She looked into his eyes and saw his need for her to follow him, like she had done for so many years. "Can I get shower first?"

"I think showers make sense. I'll meet you back here in twenty and then we can get some breakfast."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Sam forced herself to not look around her apartment for the cameras she knew had to be there. As she took off her sweaty shirt a shiver ran down her back thinking about the people who have been watching her change clothes every day. She slipped off her running shoes and socks before heading into the bathroom. She turned on the water in the shower before stripping off the rest of her clothes.

She leaned her head back under the spray just long enough to get it wet. She squirted a dollop of shampoo into her hair and scrubbed it through her hair, working it down to her roots. She tipped her head back again, to rinse out the shampoo. The muscles in her chest tightened and she scrambled to catch her breath as the water flowed over her face. She reached out, placing her palm against the shower tiles, to steady herself as her head swam. It didn't help. She couldn't take a breath. She slid down the wall of the shower as her trembling made it impossible to stay standing. The memories hit her like a speeding train. They had waterboarded her, trying to get her to tell them about the newest ship designs and the engine mechanics. Sam screwed her eyes shut as she scooted to the far end of the shower, away from the streams of water still hitting her. She stuck her head outside the shower curtain and gasped for air. After a few deep breaths her head began to clear. She pushed up and once she was steady on her feet she turned off the shower, hoping she had gotten enough of the shampoo out of her hair. She wrapped herself in a large towel and stepped back into her bedroom.

She sat on the edge of her bed, trying to sort through the images assaulting her. She wanted to look for the scars she suddenly remembered getting as they electrocuted her, but she knew she was being watched. The knock on her door roused her from her musings. She went to the door without even thinking about being in only a towel.

Jack's eyes widened at the sight of her. "I'm guessing you aren't quite ready yet."

"Hmmm?" She followed his eyes as he looked down at her towel. "Oh right, sorry." She looked around her. "You can wait in here while I get dressed."

"Ok." Jack knew something was off but he also knew he couldn't question her, not yet. He closed the door behind himself as he walked into her apartment. He moved over to the window while she went back to her bedroom.

Sam grabbed a pair of jeans, shirt, and undergarments before heading back into the bathroom. Once she was dressed, she ran a brush through her hair and put on a little make-up. When she walked back out to her living room Jack was still looking out the window.

"Ready?" She tried to smile but it didn't reach her eyes.

"How do pancakes sound?"

"Perfect."