AN: Sorry this part took sooooooo long, but the story is almost done now! Once again, a huge thank you to Iona for the beta, and to all you nice people who left me feedback on fanfiction.net, you guys rock!

Daniel examined the writings on the wall of the first tunnel. "This sounds like another warning, but I can't be sure of the exact translation. It's a variation of the writing on the stone that got us down here."

"I trust your instincts, Daniel. Have a look at the rest of the tunnels and see if anything sounds like it bodes well, for a change."

While Daniel continued his study of the writings, Sam examined the walls, looking for anything that might indicate which tunnel they should take. Each tunnel had a gem embedded near its entrance.

"Daniel, what do you make of these stones?"

"It's hard to say, gemstones have many different meanings for different cultures. They could be for protection, or for power, or any number of other things." Daniel came over to the tunnel entrance where Sam was standing. "This one's an emerald, according to the ancient Egyptians it's supposed to ensure love, fidelity, and a safe journey."

"That sounds promising; it's also my birthstone. What do the writings on this tunnel say?"

"It's pretty vague, something about a long journey ahead, fraught with danger. Unfortunately none of the tunnels give a clear indication of which one is the way out. And I knew emerald was your birthstone." Daniel sounded a bit hurt during his last comment.

Sam was surprised at the hurt in Daniel's voice. She was tempted to tell him that she was starting to think about him as something more than her best friend, but changed the subject instead. "So since we aren't sure which tunnel to take, should we draw straws or what?"

"We'll go with the emerald one, for you. I was hoping for some kind of definite sign on one of the tunnels, like 'this way to safety', but since that isn't the case we might as well take this one."

"Alright." Sam stepped in front of Daniel and led the way down the tunnel.

As he followed, Daniel wondered why Sam always felt the need to protect him. Hadn't he proven that he could take care of himself? He worried that she might think of him as a little brother, someone to protect. He sighed.

"Daniel, what's wrong?" Sam's voice came from in front of him. Apparently his sigh was louder than he thought.

"Nothing, Sam. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Nothing, really. Hey, do you see that up ahead? It looks like there's be some outside light filtering in."

"Yes, maybe that means we did take the right tunnel." No sooner had Sam spoken those words than the ground beneath them began to shake.

"We have really got to stop being so optimistic," Daniel said, as he tried to steady himself. His efforts proved futile, and for the second time that day he found himself falling as the ground beneath him gave way. He heard Sam call his name, and realized both that she hadn't fallen and that this fall seemed a lot longer than the one that had gotten them down here. His last thought, before he hit the ground and everything went black, was of Sam, hoping she was OK and making up his mind to tell her about his feelings if he got another chance.

"Daniel!!" Sam watched in horror as her teammate fell through the ground, and the hole closed back up, looking as if nothing had ever happened. She stood there for a second, in shock, before she pulled herself together and tried to figure out a way to get to Daniel. The ground seemed solid again, but she tapped it with her foot and it sounded hollow. She looked around the tunnel, and spotted a panel on the wall that she and Daniel had overlooked during their trek. The panel contained writings similar to the others they had seen on this planet, and also gemstones like the ones embedded at the entrance to the tunnels, only these stones appeared to be attached to levers. Unfortunately, Sam had no idea what the writings meant, and she didn't really think that she should fool around with the levers, given her and Daniel's track record so far. Who knew where she'd end up if she pulled one? So instead she continued down the tunnel, hoping to find a way to get to Daniel, wherever he was now.

While Sam was searching for him, Daniel was just starting to regain consciousness. He was trying to get his bearings when suddenly he heard a voice, clear as day, inside his head.

~Are you alright?~

"What?" Daniel spoke aloud, sitting up and trying to get his bearings. He had landed in what appeared to be a small room, carved out of rock and covered in dirt. Aside from the lump on his head and a few scrapes, he didn't think he had sustained any major injuries from his fall. Then again, he was hearing voices, so maybe he did have a concussion.

~My name is Kymar, and I asked if you were alright.~

"Hello, Kymar, I'm Daniel Jackson, from Earth." Daniel's diplomatic instincts kicked in, despite his confusion. "Where are you?" Daniel couldn't see anyone in the room with him.

~I am in a cell similar to yours, on the other side of the wall to your left. I felt your pain when you landed. Who is Sam?~

Daniel didn't answer immediately, still processing the fact that there was someone in the room next to him who seemed to possess the power to read his mind.

~Your species is not telepathic?~ Kymar's words again echoed inside Daniel's head.

"No, we're not. Did you say a cell?"

~Yes, I am being held against my will by the inhabitants of this planet. The nightwalkers.~

"You mean the vampires?" Daniel paused, thinking of the earlier encounter he and Sam had with one of the creatures. "How long have you been here?"

~I do not know exactly, but it has been many days.~

Daniel fell silent. What if Sam couldn't find him here? Would he be kept as a prisoner like Kymar?

~I am sorry to intrude on your thoughts, Daniel Jackson, but who is Sam? If she is on this planet, she can help us to escape. I do not know if I am strong enough to contact her, but I sense that the two of you are linked, and I may be able to amplify that bond to reach her if she is still near.~

"Linked? She's my friend, that's all."

~You are not being completely honest, Daniel Jackson.~

"OK, could you please stop reading my thoughts? That's really disconcerting."

~I am sorry, I will stop, but first we must try to reach your Sam so that we can escape.~

"Alright, what do I need to do?"

~Just concentrate on her; visualize yourself speaking to her. I will try to increase the strength of your thoughts.~

Daniel thought about Sam; he pictured her in the tunnel where they had been prior to his fall. He imagined himself calling her name.

Up above, in the tunnel, Sam could've sworn she heard Daniel speak her name. It was a gentle but insistent tone. She stopped, and whispered his name into the empty air.

"I heard her!" Daniel exclaimed. "She whispered my name!"

~Good. Now tell her to follow the tunnel until it splits, and then take the tunnel on the right,~

Daniel imagined himself speaking to Sam, giving her the instructions Kymar had just relayed to him.

Back in the tunnel, Sam came to an abrupt halt. She could actually hear Daniel telling her to take the tunnel on the right at the fork up ahead. Something very strange was going on here. Since she really had no idea where she was going, she figured it couldn't hurt to follow the directions in her head.

"She's following the directions," Daniel told Kymar. Daniel still spoke aloud when addressing Kymar, he couldn't quite get used to the whole telepathy thing.

~Good, you continue to relay the directions to her and she should be outside of our cells shortly.~

Daniel did as he was told, and sure enough, he could 'feel' that Sam was getting closer. It was strange, but whatever the alien was doing certainly made him feel more connected to Sam. When he heard her say his name, he also felt a rush of relief, presumably what Sam felt when she realized he was alright. After a little while, he could feel that Sam was right outside.

"Daniel?" Sam called out. This time Daniel heard her both in his head and with his ears; it was a weird kind of echo.

"Here, Sam."