Chapter 65
Sam's POV
"SamanthaO'Neill." Greets Teal'c as I return to the village square alone fifty-five minutes later. "Did you enjoy your midday meal?" Is he smirking at me? I look again and our Jaffa has schooled his features into his usual solemn expression.
"Yes thank you Teal'c."
"And O'Neill."
Oh yes, I enjoyed him very much, I think evilly, before putting on my innocent face. "You'd have to ask him. When he gets back. Have you seen the others?"
"They are conspiring in the Inn."
"Conspiring Teal'c?"
"Indeed."
"Thanks for the heads up."
He nods and I see the others returning from the Inn. Daniel and Janet are on opposite sides of the group.
"Sam, would you and Jack like to participate in a game?" asks Olmas as they reach us.
"What kind of game Olmas?" I question, glancing warily at my colleagues and friends.
"A test of the connection between you. It is only possible between a bonded pair. Hugh and I shall go first to alleviate any worries you may have."
"As long as we reserve the right to back out at any time." says my husband as he comes up behind us, stroking a covert hand down my spine.
"As you desire. This way."
We are led towards a small tent to one side of the square and I feel Jack's reassurance even as I try to warn him of the trap that they've set for us.
As we enter the tent, Olmas takes a band and places it about her wrist from one tray, while Hugh puts a similar device around his opposite wrist and they join hands. A man places a blind fold over Olmas's eyes and a woman places one over Hugh's eyes. The pair are spun around like a game of blind man's bluff and then released as several dozen people enter the tent and mill about between them. A few moments later, Olmas reaches out to grasp Hugh as he passes her and pulls off her bracelet with her free hand, wearing a triumphant smile.
After a brief kiss, they remove each others blindfolds and head toward us.
"That's it? Find your partner amongst the crowd?" asks Jack and Olmas nods. "What d'ya think Sam? We up for the challenge?"
"Sure. It's only for fun, right?"
"Yes." Says Hugh.
"Okay." I stand still while they blind fold me and wait for the bracelet to be placed on my wrist. The second it is, I gasp and recoil automatically. Where is Jack? Where's our connection? I take a deep breath and calm down. The bracelet must run interference between our connection. I'll have to rely on my other senses to find him. Once I am released from the person spinning me about, I let my self stand still, while other people brush past me. I feel the fabric of BDU's brush past me, but recognise Daniel's breathing and scent.
There is a laugh from behind me, that has me instantly alert. Keja's here. The hair on the back of my neck rises in irritation. I step forward until I reach the opposite tent wall from where I heard that woman laughing. I tense as Jack's scent drifts past me but hesitate before reaching out. There's something wrong about it.
I hear more giggling from the opposite side of the room and then a measured stride that I'd know in my sleep moves across the room towards me with determination, I turn around with a smile and reach for him blindly. My hand grasps the native cloth and for a second I'm disappointed, until I feel the hands attached to the clothes grip my wrist, tearing off the band, even as I reach for his.
I pull off my blind fold and kiss my husband, revelling in the mental connection that has been restored.
As I pull back, I see Daniel, Teal'c and Ferretti all standing in the crowd. Hugh is wearing Jack's jacket, a few feet away from me and Jack has the native cloak Hugh was wearing earlier slung across his shoulders.
Olmas is laughing with delight at the look on the guy's faces. Daniel and Ferretti were so sure we'd fail with out our link. They should know better. After five years of working together Jack and I know each other. He knew I'd take up position directly opposite Keja out of principle. All he had to do was locate her and I'd be easy to find.
They tried to confuse me with the BDU jackets. I'll admit for a second I thought about reaching for the man with Jack's scent as he passed me, but now I know what was wrong with it. It was Hugh wearing my husband's jacket.
I send an evil smirk Keja's way, but to my surprise she smiles serenely from the arms of another man. Huh.
Hugh brings my husband his jacket and Jack barely lets go of me enough to shrug off the native garb and sling his own jacket over his arm, before kissing me again.