'Sel?' Jacob called. 'SEL!'
No response came.
'Shit,' he muttered within his mind.
Jacob opened his eyes then quickly snapped them shut as the light was way too bright around him.
"Jacob?"
His heart skipped at beat at the sound of Janet's voice. Only it was in fear for her.
"Janet…what are you doing here?" he asked, squinting until his eyes adjusted to the light.
"They we going to get rid of me but I pointed out that whatever they gave you and Selmak nearly killed you both. Both your heart rates dropped dangerously low. These people knew who I was and decided my expertise was more valuable to them and took me along for the ride just to keep an eye on you both."
"Thanks. They gave Selmak some kind of tranquilizer. It hasn't entirely worn off," he said as he slowly sat up.
His head felt like it had been kick a few times and he had a terrible taste in his mouth. When he reached to grab his head and pain shot down his arm and through his chest. Then his leg was killing him from hip to ankle and every muscle in his body ached as all of his senses awakened. The room started spinning and his stomach suddenly did a somersault. Jacob managed to turn his head away from Janet just as he puked up what little he had in his stomach onto the floor beside him.
"Sorry," he said, avoiding eye contact and feeling utterly embarrassed.
"Don't be," she smiled, pulling a Kleenex out of her purse and wiping his face.
"Normally I handle pain much better than this but I've gotten used to Selmak dampening the pain."
"How is Selmak?"
Jacob sighed, reaching to her again. But again, receiving nothing back.
"Alive. But still unconscious," he frowned.
The room suddenly jostled like…like they hit a turbulence pocket.
"We're on a plane!" he said looking around and noticing they were in the cargo hold of a small aircraft.
"We've been flying for some time now."
Jacob closed his eyes for a moment. His pilot senses telling him what he needed to know.
"We're descending," he said, struggling to get to his feet.
"I heard them talking…some kind…" she started as she helped him up.
"It's Japanese," he told her.
She was unable to hide her surprise. It made him smile.
"I was stationed in Okinawa when Sam was still in diapers," he explained and looked out a nearby window. "After Nam' they put my linguistic skills to use."
"Just curious…how many languages do you speak?"
"Italian, Japanese, Russian, and some French. Then there's the various dialects of Goa'uld I picked up from Selmak," he answered, continuing to look out the window trying to gage which island of Japan they were heading to.
"Any other surprises?" she asked.
"You'll have to wait and see," he smirked at her. "We're landing somewhere in Japan…I can tell you that much. I'll know more once we've descended even further."
Jacob paused and sighed, "I'm so sorry, but it looks like I'll be breaking my promise."
"What promise?"
"I had promised to have you home by midnight…I failed."
Janet gently took hold of his hand.
"I forgive you…this time," she smiled warmly.
"You're too kind," he smiled back. "You…you wouldn't happen to have anything else in your purse other than Kleenex?"
"I have some Aleve, lip gloss, and a couple of pieces of coffee candy. Why?"
'Coffee candy for a coffee fiend,' he thought to himself. Out loud, "I could use some Aleve for the pain. Maybe a piece of candy too."
"I thought you gave up coffee for Selmak?" she asked, pulling what he requested out of her purse.
"I did…but something's got to jolt her awake and the coffee candy should do the trick!"
"Her!" she retorted, making him blush slightly.
"Oops…that wasn't supposed to come out," he chuckled nervously. Then he decided that there was no use in lying to Janet…he couldn't do it. "Selmak has inhabited only women until me. After two thousand years as a woman, I can't take the girl out of her. Nor would I even try to. I love her for who she is. She's my best friend as well as my symbiote. She gave up so much when we left the Tok'ra. She wouldn't give me up for another. So, I owe her and I would do anything to protect her."
"Your secret's safe with me," she smiled softly, her hand resting on his as she set the Aleve and candy in his hand.
He knew the timing totally sucked and yet the moment seemed so right. He craved just one sweet taste of her lips. Only as he lowered his head, when his lips were mere millimeters from hers the plane dropped hard causing them to lose their balance.
Jacob held her close, managing to keep them both steady and on their feet. But the moment was gone. They both realized that as they smiled to each other.
"Janet," he spoke softly, grasping hold of her hand, looking into her gentle brown eyes. "I would do anything to protect you too."
She smiled, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. He could feel her trembling with fear. Even he was afraid…afraid for Selmak, for himself and for this beautiful woman. However, Jacob knew how to use his fear to his advantage. Plus, he had an idea where they were going. He just hoped these people who had taken him prisoner didn't do their homework on him because if they had they would have discovered that these islands weren't all that foreign to him.