I'm not going to give you excuses. Let's just say I suck and leave it at that. It's been ages, but I hope I haven't lost all my wonderful readers. Enjoy the next part, it's for all of you.

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Part Ten

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She ached. She wasn't entirely sure what part of her ached, given that her form was that of a wolf, but she definitely ached. Stretching out to her full length, Sam let out a yelp of pain as her sore muscles were pulled. She had been training for so long that she had lost track of time; in fact, she wasn't entirely sure that time continued as she knew it. Moments seemed to stretch out and hours seemed to disappear, but she was still the same, still learning.

She let out a howl, before concentrating on the Change. The sensation of bones realigning was still uncomfortable, no matter how often she did it, but Sam blocked the pain as she had been taught. She stood up straight, the fact that she was naked no longer bothering her as it once had. She looked around her, the view from the cliff hauntingly beautiful. She stretched out with her mind and allowed the Infinite Thread to seep inside her. It was both scary and enlightening. She could feel everything; every plant and animal on the planet…the solar system…the universe. Hundreds of thousands of souls cried out to her in anguish, love, pain, passion, hate; they all called to her and yet she ignored them, seeking only him…only them.

She sensed him calling for her despite the fact that he didn't realise it. His love was a beacon, his pain a calling for all to hear. She smiled. Her initial confusion was gone, but she smiled as she realised that her first thoughts had been of him and their daughter. No, he wasn't her husband, not by law, but he was hers and she belonged to him. She would find him. She would return to him.

"You still let too much out."

She smiled, but didn't turn to face him. "Dhern, I'm letting it out because I want to. Why do I have to be silent when everyone else calls out?"

"Because you call more strongly. Listen."

Suddenly Jack was blocked out and all she could sense was Dhern. Everything around her was him. She saw his life as it once had been; as a young man. She watched him fall in love, she watched him transform through the Gates of Destiny, she watched him marry, have children, watched as he grew older, as he transformed into something beyond the physical form, she watched him return to his roots as granite, watched him want for more, watched him and the others leave the group as guides to The Touched, watched as he watched her arrive, as he watched her now…and suddenly he was gone, leaving her bereft.

"That is why. When you are Touched you are as we are. When you are let out, you are everything to the thread and when you leave you take something away from those you find."

Sam let out a shaky breath and nodded. She concentrated and reigned herself in, pulled back everything but her link to the thread. She watched as Dhern seemed to falter slightly then nod at her.

"You learn well, Samantha."

"Well enough?"

He smiled at her sadly. "Not yet."

She took a steadying breath and nodded. "I will return to him."

"There…there is a way."

She frowned. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you will not like it." He paused. "And because it is not your choice to make. Someone else must fulfil their destiny for you to seek what you need. There are two people who will aid your return, but in doing so will lose and gain so much."

"I don't understand," Sam said softly. She concentrated on him, followed the path through his mind and watched as he lay out the path before her. She recoiled and stepped back, shaking her head. "No. I won't allow it."

Dhern smiled sadly. "You have no choice in the matter, Samantha. It is their destiny."

Sam took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, joining once more with the thread. If she couldn't stop it, she could at least make sure that it didn't happen the way Dhern had shown her. She reached out, plucking the girl's mind from the millions upon millions that cried out to her. She made sure that she was seen, made sure that the connection went both ways, and soothed the girl. She spent hours teaching and learning and, when she was done, withdrew slowly, leaving a small trail behind her. As she came back to herself, she realised it was well into the night. The stars were shining above her and she was alone, crying gently into the almost darkness.

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"Cassie? Cassie, honey, wake up."

She shielded her eyes from the bright lights above her and coughed, her throat so dry she couldn't even think of speaking. She allowed her eyes to get used to the light before withdrawing her hand. The people around her were blurry, but somehow she could sense who they were and what they were feeling.

She croaked out a sound, before being helped to a sip of water. People were more clear and she smiled at Janet as she settled back into her pillows.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey yourself."

She could tell that Janet had been crying and she could feel the pain, worry, and relief around her mother. Cassie had long ago allowed herself to love Janet as a mother. Whilst the woman would never take the place as her real mother, Cassie no longer saw it as a betrayal to had two mothers. She could, and did, love Janet the same way a daughter loved her mother. And Cassie would really miss her.

"Sam," she said, her voice still rusty and sore.

Janet shook her head. "I'm sorry, sweetie, we still haven't found her."

Cassie smiled. "I have. She found me."

Janet frowned and looked up at the nurse who was by her bed before returning her gaze to Cassie. "I don't know what you mean, Cassie."

"I know."

Clearly not wanting to question her any further about Sam at that moment, Janet began to inquire about how she was feeling. After about an hour of examinations and questions, Janet finally let the others in to see her. They all hugged her and, although they were saying hello and welcoming her back, she couldn't help but feel like she was saying good bye.

Smiling as Jack handed her Shay, she looked down at the little girl, sharing the image with Sam. She wasn't sure how she was able to do it, but the surge of happiness she felt at the back of her mind told her that it had worked.

She glanced at Daniel and tilted her head to the side. "Are you any closer to finding Sam?"

Daniel glanced at Jack momentarily. "A little."

"Ask Lierel to help you." Her statement seemed to floor them. They glanced around at each other and Janet suddenly looked as though she wanted to start testing Cassie again. "Lieral knows how to help, but she won't unless you ask her."

"Cassandra," Janet said softly and she looked up. "How do you know about Lieral."

She smiled sadly. "Sam showed me everything." She looked at their confused gazes, before focussing on Daniel. "Go and ask Lieral."

He was clearly confused, but Cassie did as Sam had shown her and concentrated. A moment later the air was filled with wispy threads of light and tugged a little at the thread linking her to Daniel.

"O-okay," Daniel nodded slowly. "Will you be okay?"

Cassie nodded. "Yes, I'm not seventeen until Friday."

Her statement only added to their confusion, but she didn't elaborate. Jack and Janet left her alone with Shay, clearly wanting to inform General Hammond about what she had told them.

She looked down at the little girl in her arms and smiled. "It's okay, Shay, I'm going to get your mommy back to you. I want you to promise me something, okay?" She smiled as she watched the link between them grew stronger. "Okay, I want you to take care of everyone for me. I want you to promise me that you'll grow up loving everyone, including my mom. Don't let her be too sad. She's going to miss me. Like you miss your mom. But don't worry. When Daniel and I are finished, you'll have your mommy back. I promise."

With that, she leaned down and placed a kiss against Sha'uri's forehead. Reaching out to Sam and trying to tell her that it was okay. She didn't mind, not really. It was her destiny.

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End of Part Ten

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Okay, so the plot is finally moving. I was initially going to make this the same length and structure as The Touched, but I think this might not be so long. The story is finally moving, so we'll see soon enough, but I think it'll be shorter over all.