"Do you think she understood what you were asking?" Sam said. They had gone for a walk after lunch and were discussing the Furlings – specifically Iola.

"I don't know," he shook his head. "I still can't figure out if they can understand me, or not. It's the weirdest thing. One minute I'm sure they know exactly what I'm thinking, and the next it's like I'm talking to the wind. It's frustrating as hell!"

"I know," she agreed. "I have the same reaction. What if we go together and stand in front of them until they respond. Or we can follow them around until they answer us."

He chuckled, although he was still frustrated. "That's probably what it's going to take."

"Well, they have to let us go sometime," Sam said. "I don't see the purpose of just leaving us here forever."

"It's strange. It's not as if they're interrogating us, or even studying us – except for occasionally watching us when we're outside – so why are they keeping us here?"

"I wish I knew. What if we ask Kimon?" Sam suggested. "He seems to be the person most interested in communicating with us."

"Yeah, that's an idea. He's young and so may be easier to crack." Jack frowned. "You know, I never thought about it before, but I wonder why he's here? If this is a hospital, it seems funny they'd have a teenager working here."

"He's Iola's son," Sam told him. "His father died a few years ago, so Iola brought him here when she came to work at the hospital."

Jack stared at her, causing her to look worried. "What?" she asked finally.

"How do you know that? How do you know he's Iola's son?"

"Uh – isn't he?"

"I don't know," shrugged Jack, "but I'd like to know how you know, unless you're just guessing."

She bit her lip, thinking about Kimon, aka Danny. Eventually she shook her head. "No – I'm sure that's who he is, but I have no idea how I know that. When you talked about him it just popped into my head."

"It's happening to you too, then," he pointed out. "Hey," he said, sounding excited. "That means it can't be my Ancient gene!"

"You think I – but I haven't noticed being able to communicate with them," she argued.

"It's subtle," he told her. "Why don't you actively try and talk to them – you know, with your mind?" he suggested. "Call Kimon over and see if he comes."

"How do I do that?"

He grinned. "Think him over Sam – I know you can do that cause you're so good at thinkin'."

She rolled her eyes at him, but then obediently closed them and asked Kimon to come and see them. For good measure she asked him to bring some Mora juice and a snack.

"Okay – now let's see what happens," she said a moment later. "I doubt if he'll come because I'm positive I can't communicate with them."

"And the knowledge that he's Iola's son?"

"I probably just figured it out. I expect I saw a resemblance between them."

"Okay," he said, doubtfully. "Although how would you know about his father? I still think you're developing the ability to communicate with them. Hey," he said suddenly, "maybe that's it! Maybe you have to be here a certain length of time to be able to talk to them. It could be why they're keeping us here."

"That could be, I guess. Although I bet they're just waiting to make sure you're completely better."

"Yes – well why don't we ask Kimon," he said, nodding in the direction of the buildings. Sam turned, to see the young man approaching, a tray in hand.

"Kimon, thank you!" Sam told him as she took the tray. On it was a pitcher of what she was sure was Mora juice, along with some fruit and the Furling version of cookies.

Kimon smiled – of course he did – and watched as she put it down. "I guess you were right,' Sam said to Jack.

"I was?"

"I told him to come and bring some juice and snacks," she told Jack, looking at the tray of food.

"Well then, let's try and ask him how the hell we get off the planet!"

Jack stared at the young man, and thought exactly that. A few seconds later, Kimon frowned. He then began to look anxiously back towards the buildings. It wasn't long before Jack and Sam could see Iola coming towards them. As she grew nearer, they could see that she too was wearing a frown.

When she arrived, Kimon scurried off, looking relieved. Iola then faced the two humans. With a sigh, she reached out and touched both of them on the arms.

Instantly Sam could feel and see thoughts running through her mind. It was just like the machine she'd experienced with Kimon. She closed her eyes – and this time could sense both Iola and Jack – sense them in a way she'd never experienced before.

She also began to understand what Iola was saying – even though she wasn't hearing actual words in her mind. But for the first time, they were finding out real information. It was all very strange, but a huge relief.

"I am sorry," Iola said. "We have not wanted to keep anything from you, but it is extremely rare for anyone not of Furlin to understand our language. We had hoped that O'Neill would be the one who could understand, and we rejoiced when it turned out he was. I was surprised that you, too, Samantha, could understand us."

"I think it's very recent," Sam responded. "But why can we suddenly talk to you? Up until now, we weren't even sure if you could understand us. And you didn't seem to want to try and communicate with us. And now – we can understand everything you say."

Iola looked sad for a second, but then her expression lifted. "It was not our role to try and explain things to you. We are healers and were asked to look after Jack O'Neill. As for why it has taken us so long to communicate – it is not something that can happen instantly. It takes time, for those few who are able communicate with us, to acquire the ability. We began to understand O'Neill after he grew well, but not enough to carry on a conversation. The same was true with you, Samantha, although the ability to understand you is much more recent. Now it appears as if you have fully learned our language."

Jack and Sam glanced at one another – this was the strangest language they'd ever encountered.

"Yeah – it's nice to be able to talk to you," Jack answered. "Uh, you said you were asked to look after me. Can you tell me who wanted you to do that?" Jack asked.

"The Assembly," she replied and then she smiled. "And you don't know what that is, do you?"

"Uh no."

"It is our ruling body," she explained. "Each year a lottery is held, and forty-one citizens are chosen to lead us for a year. When we got word that you were ill, the Assembly decided to offer to bring you to our asclepieion."

"Asclepieion?" asked Sam.

Iola gestured with her hand, indicating the area around them, including the dormitories and other buildings. "The asclepieion is a place of healing. It is away from the distractions of the world and everything here – the air, the water, the light – it is all life giving." She looked directly at Jack. "We were worried we would not be able to heal you. You were very sick – close to death. We are all extremely happy that you are now well."

"Yeah, you and me both," Jack told her. "Uh – thank you for that. I truly owe you my life. Can I ask why I – we – look younger?"

Iola smiled. "It is the Asclepius," she told him. When both Sam and Jack looked blank, she continued. "It was suspended over you while you slept," she said. "The Asclepius regenerates the cells and heals your life energy. It restores your body to it's ideal state."

"But why was I affected too," Sam asked. "I didn't sleep under the Asc – ur – the thing."

Iola frowned. "We do not know," she answered. "It could have been that for the first few days you were in O'Neill's room – or there may be another reason. Are you unhappy about this?" Iola asked, sounding worried.

"Heck no," Sam answered. "It's nice being young again – with the same mind as my old self!"

"I am pleased that you are not upset," Iola answered. "We will attempt to find out why you too have been affected."

"So Iola," Jack asked. "You said the Assembly offered to have me brought here. Can you explain to me why – and how they did it? Neither Sam nor I remember being taken from Earth, or arriving here."

"I am sorry," the Furling woman answered, "I cannot tell you anymore. I do not know of all of these things and it is not my place to speak of them. But tomorrow you will be taken to the mainland, and will speak with the Council – it is part of the Assembly. They will explain everything to you."

"Will we be back?" Sam wanted to know.

Iola smiled. "No. You have no more need of the asclepieion. You are healthy and ready to leave."

"But will we see you again?"

"I hope so," Iola told her. "I hope that this is the beginning of a new friendship with the Tauri and that we will see one another again."

"We'll miss you, Iola," Sam told her. "And Kimon – and all the others. You have been so kind to us, and thank you for saving Jack!"

"You are both welcome. It has been a pleasure to have you here and to get to know you. We only knew of the Tauri through our history. You were a very young race when we were active in the galaxy. It has surprised all of us how much more advanced you are. And it has been an honor to serve you." Iola grinned suddenly. "I am afraid that my son now wishes to be an explorer like the two of you. He is very impressed with you."

"He's a good man," Jack told her. "You should be proud of him."

Soon afterward Iola left, telling them she had to help make arrangements for them to leave the next day.

"Well, that was interesting," Jack said, staring after the Furling woman. "At least we know a bit more, although I'm still curious why I – we – were brought here. Why would they just help out a random person from Earth, after centuries isolated from the rest of the galaxy?"

"Because you're not random," Sam answered. "She said they expected you would be able to understand them, so they must have known about your Ancient gene."

"The damn gene," he said mildly. "And we don't know If it's what enables me to understand them," he pointed out. "The fact that you can too must mean it's something else. Maybe the Tauri, like the Ancients, can understand them."

"Maybe," she frowned, but looked skeptical. "Well, at least we're heading to the mainland tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get some answers.

That night the Furlings on their little island (or Asclepieion), threw them a party. Jack and Sam were surprised, since they'd never seen the Furlings anything but totally serene and composed.

But boy, could they party!

It was rather eerie, since they continued to remain completely silent. But they did interact with one another – and they became much more outgoing now that they could communicate with their Earth guests.

Jack and Sam found the party incredibly charming, and thoroughly exhausting. Their brains just weren't used to communicating in the way of the Fulings and before long, both of them had a headache.

But it was almost worth watching the aliens relax and be silly.

Finally the two of them headed back to their rooms, tired but happy at finally getting to know the Furlings a bit better.

"Who knew they could be like that," Jack said as they walked.

"I know," Sam grinned. "They're quite the party animals!"

"I expect they've been doing not much else than look after me since we arrived. They were probably ready for something different!"

"I'm gonna miss them," Sam suddenly announced. "They're really quite lovely."

"I don't know about lovely – but they are rather decent. And yeah, I'm going to miss them too."

They arrived at the dormitory, and Jack stopped. He put his arms around Sam, and kissed her tenderly.

"I know we agreed to wait," he told her, "but I don't want to let you go. Stay with me tonight? We won't do anything other than sleep – but I'd like to hold you."

"That sounds wonderful," she sighed, leaning into him and resting her head on his chest. "My room or yours?"

That night they slept in one another's arms. Tomorrow was going to be a whole new adventure.