That first day, nightfall caught her by surprise. The warm breeze became a cold chill and Sam shivered as the temperature dropped several degrees in a matter of minutes. Her pack was still where she'd dropped it. Even after a warm, lazy afternoon of doing nothing, she had no willpower to go and fetch it. Sam slumped down, resting her back against a tree as the last rays of the sun sparkled through the waterfall.

The last thing she was prepared for was a night alone outside the mountain. A night not in her own house, in her own bed, or in some strange complex or make-shift camp with SG-1, all of them sitting around a small fire talking about nothing in particular.

There were no gray walls, no city lights. There was no hazy glow, no smoke or smog, no silvery moon. There was no sound but the gentle splashing of the waterfall.

And she knew exhaustion would soon get the better of her. She spread her jacket out beneath the trees closest to the edge of the water, and lay still, staring up into a blackness filled with stars she couldn't name, in patterns she didn't know, wondering.

The second day, she wandered about the island, climbing to the top of the waterfall, seeing for the first time how the lake filled the center of a huge caldera. She saw the ground naturally sloping away from the gate down to the water's edge. She saw the trick of the waterfall, of the illusion of height from level ground, of the curious horizons and the millennia over which the contours of the island had changed.

She took the day to walk the island's perimeter. In all directions there was clear blue sea, other small islands were mere specks in the distance. She followed the path of the sun in a cloudless sky. She sat for a long while watching the shadow cast by a sapling, marking off the hours and the changing angle against her watch. For a while she chased her own shadow until she saw the gate and remembered who she was.

The third day, after watching the stars for most of the night, she rose late. Breakfast was a bright selection of fresh fruit and cool, clear water. Later, she swam and splashed under the waterfall.

The fourth day she was up early, laughing at her modesty. Her pack was a hundred yards away, the water only ten. She stripped out of her t-shirt, ran into the lake and dived in the direction of the waterfall.

The fifth day, she would have killed for a coffee or even a slide-rule. There was only so far she could swim, only so long she could lay in the harmless sun -- not even going slightly pink. There were only so many meals she could make out of fresh fruit; there was only so long she could stare up at the stars without a computer to map them.

She stretched out on the edge of the lake, wriggling her toes in the water. The warm breeze idled along the shore, rustling through the leaves on the trees, tickling her skin, brushing the grass, snapping a twig. Eyes closed against the glare of the sun, she was learning to relax, to enjoy the scent of the flowers, trying to think of something else for dinner except fruit. She dreamed of pizza and ice-cold beer, of dry science labs, of twigs...

Sam sat up with a start, desperately trying to hide her nakedness behind trembling arms, squinting into the bright light, blinking rapidly. Far too aware, she could feel the heat in her cheeks at the sight of the equally naked man, blood rising more than she was accustomed to. Yet he stood casually, arms wide, non-threatening, smiling disarmingly.

"You're not Nox!" Sam exclaimed. He was tall and dark, his hair was long and black and free from foliage. A great tattoo covering his chest and arms snaked around his neck. The stranger tilted his head curiously at her words.

"No," he said. Cautiously, he moved a few paces closer. "Nor are you."

"Human." The stranger gave no sign of recognition. Sam could see that the tattoo was more decoration than identification, and the man looked normal. "Tau'ri," Sam added, almost compelled. This he did comprehend. At least, the raised eyebrow and enigmatic smile was an all too familiar sight. "What are you doing here?" Sam asked.

"Observing. Learning."

Sam nodded, then blushed even more. "Oh." She drew her legs closer to her chest, folding her arms around her knees.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Sam watched closely, ready to defend herself, as the man sat no more than six feet from her. He moved easily and gracefully, quietly, unhurried and incredibly unembarrassed. "I'm supposed to be resting," Sam said. "Alone."

"This is a good place to rest." He gazed out at the waterfall, an easy, gentle smile on his face as he took in the clear sky and the trees and flowers before returning his attention to Sam. "And to swim. You swim well."

Strangely, the gentle way he regarded her wasn't discomforting. His brown eyes looked modestly into hers; he was self-confident but not arrogant. Sam was sure he wasn't Goa'uld and quite obviously not Jaffa.

"My name is Saurav," he said. "I, too, sought a place to rest."

"So, the Nox have double-booked this place," Sam said. Saurav shook his head, not understanding. "The Nox have let us both here when we were both supposed to be alone," Sam explained.

"Oh, the Nox do not know I am here. No one knows where I walk." He smiled. "Unless I want them to."

Just when she was starting to relax, her faith in the Nox was gone and Sam tensed. The GDO and her pack were two hundred yards away; she could see them over his shoulder, in front of the stargate.

Saurav saw her expression cloud. "You do not want me here?" It was more a statement than a question. "I have taken great care to watch you, to study your ways, so that I should not alarm you." He spread his arms emphasizing his openness. "I shall go, then." He stood, unaware of Sam's effort to look only above his waist. Not even waiting for an answer, he turned to walk away.

It had only been a few days but she'd had been too alone and desperately needed someone -- anyone -- to talk with. And as he turned, she saw the whole of the tattoo on his back. It held her, watched her, she could almost hear it call out to her. "No!" Sam said, more urgently than she'd intended. "Please stay. But," Sam looked up as he turned to face her. "Do you have some clothes?" For the first time, Sam saw Saurav looking at her and not her face. She smiled shyly. He laughed and nodded before walking back into the trees.

As soon as he was out of sight, Sam made a dash for her pack. She pulled it open, scattering its contents over the grass, keeping only shorts and t-shirts and some underwear. With her back to where Saurav should be, Sam dressed as quickly as she could, fumbling with her bra and almost tripping over as she staggered into her shorts. She walked back feeling much more comfortable, and just a little bit silly for her haste. If Jack could see me now, she thought. Jack hadn't, and she feared that he wouldn't. Couldn't. But Saurav had, and he'd tried to put her at ease without knowing how wrong he was.

They reached the water's edge together. Sam still wondered about the broken promises of the Nox, but there was a peace about Saurav that instinctively she knew she could trust. More than that there was a familiarity about his presence, his demeanor. He wore a loose-fitting, brightly decorated sleeve-less tunic and silk trousers which only accentuated his tall, muscular physique; but there was more than that. She was wearing a plain black t-shirt and shorts; but he, too, she knew was looking beyond her simple clothes. Already she knew she was drawn to him.

That fifth day, Sam met a tall, dark, handsome stranger. They spent much of it laughing at their taboos, and most of it talking about themselves and their travels. Just before dusk they went for a swim. As it quickly darkened and the stars came out they swam to the shore. For Sam it was the most peculiar feeling as Saurav took her hand, bowed over it, and wished her a good night. She could only watch in silence as he turned and walked away.

...

Sam woke early from a mostly sleepless night, washed, dressed -- only t-shirt and shorts, but at least they covered her modesty. A discrete distance away Saurav stretched and exercised in the shade of a tree, the double-headed dragon writhing across his broad shoulders. Saurav glanced over his shoulder as Sam approached, smiling as the snake continued its dance. He stretched one last time then stood still for a moment. To Sam, it seemed that the dragon moved on its own, like two winged snakes, eyes sharp, watching her, seeking its own place to rest.

Almost shyly, Saurav picked up his tunic. "A strange thing that a man can walk unclothed without fear, yet is uneasy to cover his back."

"I'm sorry," Sam said, "I shouldn't have stared."

"Yet you are curious. That is your nature."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

Saurav looked puzzled for a few moments, then he laughed. "What a dull life it would be to sit still and not venture out." A faraway look of sadness crossed his face. "Yes, there are dangers... one needs only to learn to avoid them."

"Easier said than done."

"Observe. Learn. Trust." Saurav sat, crossing his legs beneath him in one fluid motion as he did so, resting his hands on his knees. "Do you trust me, Sam?"

"Of course," Sam said without hesitation. There was such a calmness about him and they'd struck an immediate rapport; there was no way she could imagine not trusting him.

"But why? All you know of me is what I have said, and what you see of me now." Saurav saw the look in Sam's eyes and the thought behind it. "And that, too." He laughed, self-assured, unintimidating. "Of course, you have the word of the Nox that you will be safe." Saurav looked up then, his smile wide, bright white teeth flashing in the sunlight. "Do you think their promises included me?"

Saurav sat still, holding Sam with his eyes. "Do you wonder how I came here? Through the circle, or by 'ship or boat? Or would you believe me if I said I flew? Do you think the Nox would notice a stranger using their gate?

"And still you trust me?

"You have no weapons, Sam. I am taller than you, stronger, faster; you think your training will protect you? Of course, there is the device you discarded." His voice still had the comforting gentle warmth to it, but underneath there was an edge that made Sam look back toward the gate. She could see her clothes spread out over the grass.

Saurav laughed, shaking his head at Sam's look of shock. "Would you like something to eat? This," Saurav held out a large orange fruit, "is best in the morning."

"Are you serious?" Sam couldn't remember the last time anyone had such nerve to play her like that. She'd actually clenched her fists, and stood ready to strike if Saurav did make a move at her.

"Sit, Sam," Saurav said softly. "You told me about your -- what did you call it -- door opener? I have not touched your belongings." Saurav split the fruit in half. "There is something about you, Sam, something I sense that makes me trust you, too."

Sam sat across from him, accepting the fruit, not mentioning the Tok'ra symbiote that had once been a part of her.

"Consider," Saurav continued. "I hear so many tales of the Tau'ri. You wander far, you create much... commotion among the Asgard and the Goa'uld. And the Nox let you here! The Nox, who are amongst the most reserved of the corporeal races! And now we meet, you intrigue me more than ever!"

"Corporeal?" Sam asked. "Intrigue?" The enigmatic smile returned to Saurav's lips. "You didn't come her by chance, did you? You knew I was coming here? You followed me?"

Saurav shook his head. "I did not know why I was to be here. I must believe in free will. Without it I am... "

"You were forced here, like me?"

"I go where I will. Always."

"Y'know," Sam said, "You've said a lot about where you've been, but not where you actually come from."

The comfortable smile left Saurav's face. He frowned, looked away from Sam. "My world was attacked by the Goa'uld. We were a peaceful people, a spiritual people. We enjoyed life, respected life -- as the Nox do -- but like you we could not sit still.

"We had a stargate, although when they came we seldom had use for it. Occasionally, we welcomed visitors. One day the Goa'uld came through the stargate, they were... do you know the Unas?" Saurav asked.

Sam nodded. "We've been there. Primitive..." Sam stopped -- Saurav's look told her that she'd used the wrong word. "Sorry. Young?" Sam smiled as Saurav nodded. "Except..."

"They were violent, brutal. We fled. Almost all of us got away."

"Most of you got away? We've seen what the Goa'uld do."

Saurav looked away. "We lost less than a hundred," he said, somberly. "They surprised us. They were indiscriminate. They killed hoping to subdue us but they did not understand. They killed women and children, teachers and philosophers. We were not warriors. We did not fight them -- we could not, we did not know how -- so we fled."

"But..." Sam started, "I mean, I'm sorry, I've seen whole races, whole planets destroyed, but..."

"How?" Saurav regarded the fruit in his hand. Deftly, he separated the seed from the flesh, raised his hand to his lips, and blew. The seed scattered in the air and vanished. "A simple illusion."

"But they would have guarded the stargate."

Saurav grimaced. "Indeed they did." Simply, gracefully, Saurav unfolded his legs and he was standing over her. He took her hand gently and lifted her easily to her feet. "Not every race needs a stargate. One million people could not pass through it in a hundred days." Sam looked at him, disbelieving, and with a hundred questions she wanted to ask. "Come, shall we swim?" Saurav asked, covering his distress.

As they walked out to the water, Sam trembled at the pain in his touch, and she, too, wondered at the fate that had brought them together.