The plan as Jacob quickly told her was that when the opportunity presented itself they'd make a run for it. He knew this Airport well and judging from the time of day it should be busy with lots of people. He hoped that they'd be able to blend in with the crowd as they made their getaway. From the Airport they'd make their way to Kokubu, a small town just outside of Osaka. There Jacob was hoping to look up an old friend who lived there or at least he hoped still lived there.
From what they had been able to deduce was that their captors had assumed they gave Selmak enough of a sedative to keep her knocked out for the entire trip. No one ever checked on them except in the beginning of the flight to give Janet food and water and let her use the lavatory. That's what they were counting on anyway. So Jacob pretending to be unconscious, using Janet's lap as a pillow. And she was being the attentive Doctor that she was keeping a watchful eye on him and Selmak.
After the plane had stopped, two of their captors entered the cargo hold. Now Janet had no clue as to what they were saying to each other. But the bigger of the two came over and yanked Jacob up onto his feet and supported him. The other pulled his gun out and said something to Janet, motion with the gun for her to get up.
Trusting in Jacob, she did as she was ordered. The sun setting in the horizon was breathtaking as she exited the plane behind Jacob. But she didn't have time to gawk and took in her immediate surroundings instead. About fifty feet from the plane was a four-door car with black tinted windows. One of its back doors was open and the driver was standing beside it as if to shut it immediately once she and Jacob were inside. She didn't see anyone else and was surprised.
Jacob who had been as limp as a rag doll suddenly exploded from his position. For a man with two bullets still in him, he moved rather well. It had actually all happened so fast that Janet was barely able to take in how he incapacitated one guy and then separated her from the other man, shoving him aside while managing to kick the gun out of his hand at the same time. Just that Jacob had done so and that his hand was holding tightly onto hers as they raced down the runway across another runway and into the main terminal.
Knowing that they had to run, Janet had opted to leave her shoes behind. They were barely designed for walking and definitely not for running. Boy, was she so glad she left them behind. She was barely able to keep up with his long strides barefoot and would have only slowed him way down if she had her shoes on.
Inside the terminal were hordes of people everywhere. Jacob's hand tightened even more around hers, keeping her as close to him as possible while they made their way through the crowds. Nor did he slow their pace when they exited the Airport. They hurried with a crowd as they crossed a busy intersection.
Several blocks later, Jacob suddenly came to a stop. Janet said nothing seeing that he was debating about which way to go. And for the first time she was able to take a look around. This really was a strange land to her. She couldn't make heads or tails of the storefront signs let alone the street signs! Everything was in Japanese. Although, Janet did recognized the McDonald's Arches the next block over.
Then Jacob moved again, pulling her slowly along. Janet was surprised to find that they were in front of a bank. Jacob opened his wallet and pulled out a credit card.
"Not sure if this is a good idea but we need money or we'll get nowhere," he explained as he slipped the card into the ATM machine.
Whether he intended to or not, Jacob hit the Japanese language button and Janet couldn't read a word of what was on the screen. She had a good idea that was about it and guessed that he had taken out nearly six or seven hundred dollars in Japanese currency. Once he had his money he pulled the card out and dropped it.
"No…leave it," he said when she started to kneel down as if to pick it up. "If they're looking for us, they might be tracking my credit card activity. I'm hoping someone will make use of my card to keep them off our backs."
"Ok," she nodded and glanced nervously around.
"Let's take care of you first before moving on," he whispered, taking hold of her hand.
"Excuse me?" she asked, wondering if he was going to leave her somewhere.
Jacob glanced down at her feet and smiled, "I can't in all good conscience allow a lady to walk around Osaka barefoot."
"Oh," she sighed in relief.
"Here…I'll only be a minute," he said and was gone inside a store before she could even tell him her shoe size.
It was the longest minute of her life. Although technically it was about three minutes. Still, Janet felt vulnerable just standing there. She was so glad to see him and so surprised that the shoes fit perfectly. But she didn't have time to question him how he knew as he insisted the getting moving as quickly as possible without drawing attention to themselves.
They had moved in a zigzag pattern through the streets. Every so often when they'd reach a corner, Jacob stood there for few minutes, and looked to see if anyone was following them. They'd been walking for half an hour when he suddenly stopped.
"Janet…trust me on this ok…I need you to keep watch while I go inside the store," he said, holding her shoulders with both his hands. "Ok?"
Janet nodded nervously.
"If you see anything suspicious come and get me right away."
"Ok."
Jacob suddenly engulfed her in a hug.
"It will be alright, I promise," he said. "I'll be out in fifteen or twenty minutes…no more."
He kissed her cheek and disappeared into the store. She couldn't tell what the store was selling by the name because she couldn't read it. But after a quick peak inside it looked like a little bit of everything.
While waiting and keeping watch her hand lingered on her cheek where he'd kissed her. The first time he did so she was shocked that he did it and then horrified at how hurt he'd gotten. His cry of pain had echoed so loud on the mountain road that Janet was positive or at least hoped they could hear it at the SGC. And then he almost kissed her on the plane. Again she was surprised. Though she was more surprised that she wanted him to kiss her.
Janet had to admit that in such a short time she had gotten to know Jacob Carter and Selmak rather well. She wasn't at all disturbed by the fact that he had a symbiote in his head. Actually, Janet couldn't imagine Jacob without Selmak. She first met him after he had blended, only really knew him as Sam's father but had enjoyed working with Selmak of the rare occasion.
But Janet never knew the pair until now. And she never would have guess that Selmak was predominantly female. Janet could understand why Jacob never mentioned that fact to anyone! He would be laughed at and never treated seriously. Which is why his secret would be safe with her; she would never tell a living soul unless Jacob or Selmak wanted her too.
"Here!" Jacob said, startling her. His arm quickly wrapped around her waist, holding her close. "Sorry."
"That's ok," she sighed in relief, feeling her heart returning to its original place within her chest.
"Here, I bought you a sweater," he said, wrapping it around her shoulders. "Again, I had a little help picking your size."
"Thank you," she smiled. "How did she know my shoe size or sweater size? That source of yours?"
"No, actually Selmak guessed your size…she used to be a woman, remember?" he smirked.
Janet giggled softly and felt a little at ease. Jacob and Selmak were just so full of surprises that Janet was determined to get to know both of them. Plus, she was confident that the two of them would figure a way out of this mess. After all, two minds were better than one.
They stopped at one other store. Once Jacob came out he quickly shouted something in Japanese. A moment later a man pulling a two-seater carriage appeared before them. He spoke to the man again using the native language. The man nodded and bowed. Jacob returned the bow, set the large shopping bag on the floor, and assisted Janet into the carriage.
It was after he settled beside her with his left arm wrapped around her shoulders that she noticed he was grimacing. Inside his jacket she could see the fresh blood stains on his dress shirt. Out of habit she touched his forehead and then grabbed his wrist, checking his pulse.
"I'm fine, Janet," he insisted with that typical male bravado that just irked her.
Since he had essentially rescued her, she kept quiet…this time.
"Now this…this is what we don't have in Colorado Springs," he smiled indicating the ride they were going on. "A nice…romantic ride under the stars."
"It truly is another world over here," she admitted watching the nightlife blossom around her.
"Not so different," he whispered.
Janet turned to see his dark eyes. They seemed to glimmer with a life she had never seen in the before and wondered if she was the cause. She turned away, unable to meet his penetrating gaze. Instead, she leaned into him as his arm tightened around her.
For the duration of the ride, Janet allowed herself to forget what they were running away from. But the Doctor in her was nagging at her when she saw him limping slightly after he paid their driver.
"Jacob, I need to tend to your injuries," she insisted when he reached her side. "You're slightly feverish."
"You will…inside," he said quietly, taking hold of her hand. "And the raised temperature is just a side effect of the symbiote working overtime. Please, try not to worry so much."
"I can't help it. It's in my nature," she countered.
"I know," he smiled tenderly at her, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "Come on."
They entered what she assumed was a hotel. Jacob immediately removed his shoes as a hotel maid hurried over with slippers for them. Janet just followed Jacob's lead. He obviously knew this culture's traditions. The desk clerk narrowed his eyes at them as they approached. He probably assumed that they were American Tourists. Only his demeanor quickly changed when Jacob spoke to him in Japanese and gave him what Janet assumed was a nice tip.
The same maid escorted them to their room. Jacob took his slippers off, setting them just inside the door. Again, Janet did whatever he did. While Jacob gave the maid a tip Janet took a look around the room. There was a small low table for two with mats on the floor for sitting on. A few decorations on the walls and a bed…or a bed rolled up or what she assumed was the bed. It was on the floor in a large area when one would think the bed would be. On the floor with it were two pillows and a blanket. But there was only one so called bed!
She turned when she heard Jacob's voice. He was talking on the phone. Janet had to admit she was impressed. He spoke the language fluently. No pauses or repeats. Not that she'd know, she couldn't understand a word of Japanese. All she knew Domo Origato Mr. Roboto. But that didn't really count.
"Sorry," he spoke softly. "Sel's running on empty and so am I. The food will be here in an hour. That should give you plenty of time."
That was her queue. Janet easily slipped into her role as Doctor and started helping him undo his tie. His arm seemed to just hang useless beside him now. Tiny beads of sweat had formed on his forehead and he was grimacing quite noticeably now.
"I should take a look around…make sure we weren't followed," he protested taking off his jacket.
"When I'm done with you," she said as she unbuttoned his shirt.
Jacob raised an eyebrow at her causing her to giggle softly.
"You know what I mean," she smirked.
"You know, I'm not totally incapable of undressing myself. Why don't you get the medical supplies out of the bag."
Janet was reluctant but she nodded and moved away from him.
"Wish there was a chair for you to sit on," she mumbled as she slowly rummaged through the bag, finding the medical supplies. "Might make things easier for me."
There wasn't much, just a knife, tweezers, some gauze, bandages, and iodine. Turning around, she saw he had stripped down to his pale blue boxers. Immediately she was concerned as the tissue surrounding the bullets in his thigh and shoulder was swollen and a deep shade of red. She just hoped that the bullets didn't penetrate too far.
"Maybe you should lie down," she suggested.
He slowly nodded then limped over to the bedroll. Janet hurried over and helped him unroll it before helping him lie down. Then she quickly retrieved the supplies. When she returned, Jacob looked a little more relaxed than before.
"Do not fear, Janet," Selmak said. "I put Jacob to sleep. It is for the best. He has exhausted himself these past few hours. And do not worry, he will not feel any pain."
"What of you?"
"I will be fine," Selmak replied, putting up that same bravado as Jacob had done earlier.
"You're so full of shit, Selmak," Janet said, causing Selmak's eyes to widen. "You and Jacob both have the same grimace when you're in pain and trying to hide it."
"You are a very perceptive woman, Janet Fraiser," Selmak smiled. "Then please hurry…Jacob's body needs nourishment and so do I if I'm to heal his wounds once you've removed the bullets."
Getting the bullet out of Jacob's shoulder was easy. It took Janet several minutes to stop the blood from flowing. Selmak actually was able to help by slowing Jacob's heart rate and thus slowing the rate of blood flow. The bullet in Jacob's thigh was a different story. It was imbedded much deeper. Selmak did her best to not make a peep. There wasn't any kind of an anesthetic Janet could use while she dug into the soft muscle tissue. It took her twenty minutes to dig the bullet out.
"Finally!" Janet exclaimed holding up the bullet fragment.
However, she was only entertaining herself. Selmak had passed out. Janet wouldn't have blamed anyone for passing out after that, especially after what they'd been through and under such conditions. Oh well, an unconscious patient was always easier to work on than an obnoxious, smart mouthed one! So cleaning and dressing the wounds went rather quickly. Now, all she could do was wait.