Selmak's eyes literally popped open once the caffeine hit her system. It was only a miniscule amount. But any amount had an effect on her.
'Jacob! I thought I told you no coffee!' she shouted at him. 'This is a MAJOR VIOLATION of the Jacob Carter-Selmak Coffee Treaty of 1996!'
"You ok?" Janet asked, who was sitting beside her.
"I'm fine…my ears are ringing," Jacob answered. "Selmak just woke up on the wrong side of the brainstem! Give me a second with her."
'Selmak, are you ok?' he asked her, his concern evident in every fiber of his being.
'I'm fine,' she sighed hugging him tightly. 'The coffee candy worked…woke me right up. But…things are a bit fuzzy.'
'We're in an airplane and descending for a landing.'
Jacob shared everything with her from the moment he woke up which was only half an hour ago. Yet, in that half an hour he and Janet had gotten along very well. Including letting a little secret out with the slip of his tongue. Selmak was pleased about Janet's reaction. She and Jacob had both dreaded the idea of lying to the woman about Selmak's choice of gender.
'Go ahead, Sel,' he smiled, sensing her thoughts.
Selmak came for in dramatic fashion as usual by making Jacob's eyes flash white.
"How are you feeling, Selmak?" Janet asked, her smile as bright as the one she showed to Jacob.
"I've been better," she frowned then looked nervously as Janet put her hands on Jacob's neck.
Janet definitely had a Doctor's touch! Her fingers poked and prodded in a not so dainty manner!
"Ah…that's a little sensitive! Do you mind?" Selmak growled.
'Selmak, she's only trying to help us,' Jacob reminded her as Janet backed off and her smile faded.
"Please forgive me Janet," Selmak quickly said, grabbing hold of Janet's hand. "I have not fully recovered from the drug they injected me with. You may proceed with your exam. However, might I suggest you use a softer touch. The back of Jacob's neck is throbbing and I cannot understand why."
"Can I see?"
Selmak nodded and then leaned forward.
"Does it hurt here?" Janet asked, her fingers gently pushing against Selmak.
"Yes. What is it?"
"That's where they gave you the injection. By the way they jammed it in there it left a welt the size of a golf ball on the back of Jacob's neck…right where you are exposed."
Selmak frowned. It was not good that she could not detect the injury. If she couldn't detect her own injury how could be of any use to her host, a host who was in a great deal of pain but was doing a wonderful job at hiding it from Janet.
'Perhaps the drug isn't completely out of your system,' Jacob suggested.
'Perhaps,' Selmak replied with a heavy sigh to him.
She caught the fragrance of Janet's perfume sparking a memory of when Jacob was driving his car on the Highway. Before they'd even realized the danger they were in. She could sense that Jacob now wished he had never asked Janet out because then she wouldn't be in this mess with him.
'You must not think that way,' Selmak gently told him.
'But I'm right. If I hadn't asked her she wouldn't be here with us,' he said and then retreated.
"What is it? You look so sad?" Janet asked, her hand resting on Selmak's cheek.
"Jacob and I feel terrible for you being here."
"Neither of you could have known. Besides, shouldn't we be thinking about how we're going to get out of here?"
Selmak smiled. She had forgotten how Janet always looked on the positive side of any situation. Jacob's been such a sourpuss lately that it has rubbed off on Selmak.
"Of course we should," Selmak said as she got to her feet, ignoring the burning pain in her leg and shoulder.
"Jacob already looked around…there's nothing we can use as a weapon."
"It helps if I look for myself. Jacob has a keen eye but he's not perfect."
Janet giggled quietly to herself.
'I heard that, Sel,' he grumbled.
Selmak hugged him as she inspected the cargo hold. For once, Jacob was perfect and correct about there being nothing. Feeling the pressure upon her as the plane further descended, she headed over to a window.
'Looks like we'll be landing at Osaka International,' Jacob told her.
'A public airport?'
'Yes, why?'
'That could be to our advantage.'
'I'm sure they have a private landing area for the jet away from the main terminals.'
'Still…where there's a will there's away. Isn't that what you used to tell me?'
Jacob nodded.
"Janet, I must retreat," Selmak informed her.
"I'm sorry I was unable to help with the bullet wounds," Janet quickly said interrupting Selmak.
"We will be fine. I must retreat to do what I can to sustain Jacob. So please do not be alarmed if you do not hear from me for some time."
"Wait…can I…can I ask you a question? Just in case I don't get a chance to ask later."
Selmak nodded, curious about what Janet's question was.
"Why do you dislike coffee?" Janet asked.
Selmak laughed, as did Jacob within.
"It isn't actually the coffee but the caffeine," Selmak admitted. "Caffeine and I do not mix well together. I'm hyper enough as it is. The first time I tried coffee Jacob and I didn't sleep for three weeks! And I drove the Martouf nuts because I wouldn't shut up or sit still. Lantash said he was tempted to zat me on several occasions. But the worst was coming off that caffeine high…I was sick for two days and poor Jacob was the one doing all the puking. So we decided it was in both our interests to stay away from caffeine. But when he tells everyone he gave it up for me he speaks the truth. Jacob felt so terrible about what had happened to me."
"You really love him, don't you? You speak his name with great affection."
"The relationship between host and symbiote is complex," Selmak sighed. "Love is one way your people describe our relationship however it is an inaccurate description. True we have intimate knowledge of each other. But to know each other is the only way to co-exist in harmony and work together as one."
"How can you work as a team if you don't trust one another," Janet commented.
"Correct," Selmak smiled. She then took Janet's hand in both of hers. "Know this, Janet. Although there are two individuals within this body, we are one entity. We work as one…we live as one…we…we love as one."
"I understand," she smiled warmly.