Jacob woke suddenly and sat up quickly. The thin blanket that was covering him had fallen. A chill came over him as the cool air hit his hairy chest. He was still dressed only in his boxers. Beside him Janet was curled up. She appeared to have fallen asleep while keeping watch over him. Now it was his turn. He slowly got up and gently covered her with the blanket.
Gently removing the bandage dressings, he saw that his bullet wounds had completely healed. From what he could sense Selmak was resting now that her job was done. His stomach grumbled loudly as the smell of food lingered nearby. On the table he saw two trays of food. One was untouched and the other picked clean.
The food was still somewhat warm. Good enough for Jacob as he eagerly dug in with the chopsticks. He needed to keep his strength up. He wasn't entirely sure they were safe yet. Which was why he checked them into a hotel far off the main stream of town.
He was actually surprised he had remembered where the hotel was. The last time he was here he and George had a wild night on the town, got drunk on Saki, and enjoyed being treated to a bath and massage by a couple of hotel maidens. George had reached a milestone when he hit fifty and Jacob wanted it to be memorable. Little did Jacob know he would be diagnosed with cancer a year later and that his life would take an unexpected turn.
While taking another bite Jacob saw the décor wasn't that much different from what he remembered. He didn't expect it to be. Tradition was still highly valued in some Japanese Inns and Hotels. As expected, the tatami mats were perfectly aligned on the floor. The thin futon bed wasn't as comfortable as his bed at Sam's house but was infinitely more comfortable than those damn hard beds he and Selmak had to sleep on in their Tok'ra quarters.
The thick decorative paper on the sliding fusuma screen was different. The bamboo roll-up blinds were a different color than what he remembered. They even finally had more fashionable yukatas than the last time Jacob was here.
He quickly finished his meal then checked on Janet again. She was sleeping deeply and doubted she would wake any time soon. Just in case, Jacob left her a note so that she wouldn't worry. He put the black yukata on knowing it was for him as the other one was turquoise with red and yellow flower patterns…definitely a woman's robe. Confident he wrapped it correctly he then removed his boxers and put his slippers on.
One last look, he saw Janet hadn't moved. Jacob quietly slid the fusuma screen open, stepped out into the hall, and slid the screen shut. Guessing at the time, he deduced that the large public baths for the hotel should be sparsely populated. And he was right. Though he wasn't at all shy about nudity, having endured communal showers both as an Air Force officer and a Tokra, he still opted for a small, single tub near a corner away from the others.
Removing his robe, he hung it on the wall knob nearby and sat on the small wooden stool. As was tradition, he bathed and rinsed before climbing into the tub of steaming hot water. He let a small smile slip as he sank into the water up to his neck. He tilted his head back so that his entire neck and the back of his head were under the water.
He knew Selmak was going to love this!
Sure enough, a few moments later he heard her purring softly within his mind. Her coiled body relaxed and stretched, allowing the heat to penetrate and sooth her. His spine tingled pleasantly from top to bottom. Her way of thanking him as she awoke.
'How are you feeling, Sel?'
'Much…much better!' she purred. 'It's a shame we cannot stay here for much longer.'
'I know. Perhaps another time,' he sighed.
For ten minutes they soaked in silence. Allowing the heat to work into their muscles. Although Selmak was very good at healing and getting rid of the aches and pains she couldn't make his muscles feel this good. At least she was happy as he dried off and put his yukata and slippers back on. Even though she was quiet, he could sense she was content for the moment.
Back at their room, Janet was still sleeping soundly. Seeing her made Jacob feeling tremendously happy. A feeling that was also echoed by his symbiote. But seeing Janet also made Jacob feel sad. He didn't mean for any of this to happen and he certainly didn't intend to drag her into this mess with him. He was going to make damn certain that she made it out of here alive even if he or Selmak didn't.
Being as quiet as possible, Jacob removed the black slacks, white button up dress shirt, and clean boxers out of the bag he bought for himself. With no partitions he had to dress where he stood and did so quickly. Selmak playfully teased him about Janet suddenly waking up and seeing him naked. Of course that didn't happen. While folding up the shirtsleeves he peered outside the window. He couldn't see much of the street below. And no one could see in. Regardless, he let the blinds down.
Then for the next four hours he sat and watched over Janet while she slept. Both he and Selmak remained alert just in case they had unexpected visitors. None came. And Janet awoke with the rising sun. Jacob smiled as her first reaction was to see he wasn't were she had left him.
"Sleep well?" he asked.
Relief filled her eyes as she looked over at him.
"Surprisingly," she replied. "I didn't think this…bed would be comfortable enough. You?"
"Selmak and I are well rested and fully recovered," he said, rising to his feet. He headed over and grabbed the yukata for her. "You may want to hit the baths before they get crowded. This way you could have some privacy. You'll have to leave all your clothes here and wear only this. Remember, bath and rinse before getting into the tub. You wouldn't want to offend anyone."
Janet rose to her feet and took the robe from him.
"Um…where am I supposed to change?" she asked, glancing around the room.
"Selmak and I will have our backs turned or wait outside the door. Which ever makes you most comfortable."
"I guess…with your backs turned and eyes closed will do," she smirked.
Jacob complied. Although he did have a big smile on his face while standing there with their backs turned. Selmak chided him for having such thoughts.
'I'm only a man Selmak and she is a beautiful woman…get used to it!'
"I'm finished," Janet announced a few minutes later.
Jacob turned and his heart fluttered. She had let her hair down and it lay just so on her shoulders.
"Should I have left my hair up?" she asked, looking a little self-conscious.
"No, you look fine," he sighed. "I'll take you to the baths. Take as long as you want. We'll have breakfast when you get back."
Once Janet was safely in the baths, which were deserted when he left her there, Jacob headed back up to their room. First, he laid out the colorful silk, Chinese dress he bought for Janet. With Selmak's help he was able to find Janet's size. Then he gathered her old dress, his ruined suit, and the used and unused medical supplies and stuffed them into the bag. He folded the knife and placed it into his pocket.
'We'll have to buy her a dress when we get back to the States,' he said to Selmak as they headed down the stairs.
'We'll let her pick it out,' she suggested. 'You have no fashion sense for women's clothes. Without me, poor Janet would be running about Japan in a dress that didn't match her shoes.'
'Alright!' he chuckled to her.
Outside on the street he found an alleyway and threw the clothes away there. Working quickly he hurried back to the hotel. Near the hotel entrance he bummed a cigarette of a passing youth. Some habits die-hard. He always smoked when he was nervous.
'What are you nervous about?' Selmak asked as he inhaled deeply and let the smoke out slowly through his nostrils.
'I know we haven't seen the last of whoever these people are that want you,' he said while scanning the street.
'We must proceed with our plan Jacob. And we'll continue to be on alert. Janet will be alright.'
'I hope so, Sel. I really hope so.'