Chapter Fifteen

"Are you going to get out of bed today?"

"No."

"I see...are you going to let me get up?"

"Um...." Jack thought about it and then held Sam tighter. "No, I don't think I will."

"I have to pee."

"That's not my problem." Jack teased.

"It will be soon."

Jack chuckled and released his captive so that she could attend to urgent matters. When Sam returned Jack was still curled up in the mass of pillows. He looked so comfortable that Sam decided to rejoin him. Like a venus fly trap Jack engulfed Sam in a full body embrace. Yelping in mock distress Sam gnawed playfully on his neck in an attempt to escape.

In retaliation to his prey struggling Jack rolled over her and pinned Sam to the pillows. Giggling Sam freed one hand so that she tickle at his ribs. Crying out from the assault Jack rolled back over so that she was laying on his stomach. Peaceful once again Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and went to go back to sleep.

"What are we going to do today?" Sam asked.

"We're doing it right now."

"I can't lay here all day."

"What do you have in mind then?"

"I want to go swimming."

"What?"

"You heard me." Sam smiled. "I can't spend the rest of my days afraid of the water, today seems as good as any to face that particular phobia. It'll give us something to do."

"Okay, under one condition."

"Name it."

"Five more minutes in bed."

"You got it."

Jack smiled brightly and settled further into the pillows. Sam put her head down on his chest and before either one of them knew it they had fallen asleep again. The amount of time they spent sleeping was starting to disturb Sam, but at the same time when there was nothing better to do it was a good way to pass the time.

It had been just over a week since Jack's confrontation with Ser'in. She had visited them once since then, but she had come during the day and she hadn't come alone. Jack tried to apologize, but she was still nervous around him. Sam wished that she knew more of Ser'in's language, but it was so complicated that she wasn't sure anyone other than Daniel would have a chance at it. It wasn't just the words themselves but apparently what tone they were said in that determined their meaning. Changes in pitch and emphasis determining the meaning of a word was not something that the English speaking pair were used to.

Waking up for the second time that day Sam opened her eyes and spent a few minutes playing with the dog tags and tooth that Jack still wore. Before she read the tags she tried to recall her serial number. After all this time she could only remember the first three numbers. Reading the dull metal tag the number and the life associated with it seemed so foreign.

Jack was still snoring softly so she let him sleep for a while longer. When her energy finally got the better of her Sam stretched out causing Jack to jerk awake. She could feel his whole body tense as he tried to figure out his surroundings. She still felt disoriented sometimes when she woke up in the middle of the jungle rather than in her bed. Jack relaxed and rubbed Sam's lower back.

"So...still care to take a dip?" Jack asked.

"You bet cha."

Sam crawled out of the large nest and stretched out her back. They had been staying active just in case the chance to run presented itself. If anything they were both in better physical shape than either of them had ever been in. Jack got up and shook himself off like a dog getting out of a lake. He looked out at the aliens watching them.

"Not much of a crowd today."

"I'm thinking this must be a 'weekday' for them." Sam noted. "They seem to work off an eight day week."

Jack nodded and looked past the few aliens milling about to the enclosure across from them. He had spent so much time avoiding looking at the boundaries of their prison that he'd never really thought to look at the other inhabitants. In a smaller area the dog like creature that had been locked up across from them at the side show was sleeping on his back. There were three others in the enclosure as well, but Jack recognized his old companion in suffering instantly.

"Hey, look who it is." Jack chuckled as he pointed at the dog.

"You didn't notice him before?"

"Nope. He looks good. Nice and fat."

"Yeah, I think he's happy here."

"At least someone is."

"Life's not that bad is it?"

"No, I guess not. This just isn't what I had in mind when it came to a retirement."

Sam smiled and started to make her way down to the large pool. She sat down on the flat rock that acted as point of entry and put her legs in the water. Her breathing instantly started getting shallow at the thought of not being able to stand in the deep water. Jack sat next to her and put his arm over her shoulders.

"How do you want to do this?"

"Probably best to just jump in." Sam replied with more courage than she felt.

"I'll go first."

Jack slid off the rock and slipped under the surface. He came back up, treading water easily. Sam hesitated to follow. She was more afraid of panicking than actually drowning. Jack offered her his hand and she leaned forward to take it. Taking a deep breath Sam pushed herself off the rock and plunged into the warm clear waters.

The first moment of weightlessness sent a familiar icy spear of anxiety through Sam's heart. However, Jack was right there and he guided her back to the surface. Treading water as well Sam took a moment to familiarize herself with the motions needed to keep her head above water. Not being restrained and held under made all the difference and Sam found her fears quickly melting away.

"You look more comfortable already." Jack said.

"I am."

Sam took a deep breath and ducked under the surface. She swam down to the bottom and back again, enjoying the freedom of motion that the weightlessness of the water allowed. Jack chuckled as Sam splashed him and dove away from him again. Following her this time they played around in the water like a pair of carefree otters.

Swimming over to the barrier Sam flipped upside down and put her hand against the force field. A young alien stretched up to touch the place where she had her palm. Sam did a somersault and was amused to find that the young dragon instantly copied her on the ground. After a quick breath Sam dove down and did a handstand on the bottom. Her new friend tried to imitate her, but kept falling over. Sam chuckled, causing bubbles to float up to the surface.

Needing another breath Sam returned to the surface. Jack was there and gave her a knowing smile. Sam splashed him again and returned to the edge of the pool for some support. She held on to the rock's ledge and caught her breath.

"Having fun?"

"Yes." Sam admitted.

"Good."

The pair spent about half an hour playing in the refreshing water. Jack even managed to steal a kiss under the waterfall. Getting out they hung out on the rock while they drip dried. As they waited Jack's attention was suddenly elsewhere. Sam looked in the direction of his gaze and found an orange alien watching them. He had a book in his hands and was scribbling in it. He had a quiet intelligence to him as he continued to take notes.

"Who does that alien remind you of?" Jack asked.

"Daniel." Sam replied instantly.

"Same here."

"He's here a lot."

"You've seen him before?"

"Quite a few times. This is the first I've noticed him actively taking notes, but he watches us a lot."

"Have you ever tried to make contact with him?"

"Once, when you were gone."

"What happened?"

"He started to come closer, but one of the staff chased him away."

"Interesting."

Jack got up and helped Sam do the same. He took her hand and led her over to the 'glass'. When the orange alien brought his nose up out of his book and saw that they had come closer his green eyes dilated. Sam had learned that this was about as close to a smile as this race came. Putting his pen in his book he looked around to see if anyone was watching him.

Satisfied that the staff was busy elsewhere he walked up to the energy field and put his palm against it. When Jack reached up and did the same the alien quickly picked up his pen again and wrote something down. After looking around again he held up the page so that could see it. There was a row of six symbols in a vertical arrangement.

"I bet it's his name." Sam said.

Sam pointed at the symbols and then pointed at the alien's chest. His eyes lit up with excitement and he moved his head in circular pattern for 'yes'. He flipped through a few pages of his book and then held up another page. This one held a sketch of Jack and Sam kissing and under it was another drawing of two aliens doing something very similar only they were more like bitting on each other's lip.

"He's trying to equate our culture to his own." Sam said excitedly. "He's noticed similarities."

"Maybe he can help us."

"I wish I knew how to draw Ser'in's name. I never thought to ask her."

When Jack turned back to the orange alien he found that one of the staff had approached him. The staff member looked like they were trying to be polite, but the orange alien was arguing with them. He pointed at the open page in his book and after a quick look the staff member gave the orange alien a dubious look.

"Why is it so hard to believe that we are intelligent?" Jack snarled.

"At least we've made contact with someone other than Ser'in now."

Sam watched as three security officers started to make their way over to the argument. She pounded her fist on the glass to alert him of the approach. The orange alien looked at her startled and she pointed over his shoulder. He looked behind him and clutched his book his chest. After a moment of indecision the orange alien bowed to them both and quickly fled. The security guards seemed satisfied that he was leaving and did not chase after him.

"That was interesting." Jack said.

"I think we might have another ally."

"Excellent. We should show him your book."

"Hopefully he'll be back tomorrow."

Jack nodded. He reached out, caught Sam around the waist, and pulled her tightly up against himself. Sam chuckled as he leaned in for a kiss. She accept the passionate offer and returned it enthusiastically. A new chance at escape had instantly elevated both of their moods.

The next day they both got up early in hopes that the orange dragon would return. Sam had retrieved her latest book from its hiding place under the rock and moved it to under a large plant near the wall. She had spent most of last night drawing a picture of the orange alien and his unusual necklace in hopes that he would recognize her efforts.

The zoo wasn't open yet so Sam and Jack just waited on the rock by the pool. When they heard the door opening they both got to their feet to investigate. Sam had hoped that it would be Ser'in and perhaps she could show her the drawing of the orange dragon. However it was Va'lo and several others, when he caught sight of her he pointed a thin finger at Sam. She sighed and started towards him, but Jack put his arm out to stop her.

"Whoa, wait, they always take me first." Jack said nervously. "And it was only like two weeks ago that he was here."

"Don't worry about it, they're probably just checking me today."

"No." Jack shook his head. "Don't go, make them get Ser'in to get you come over to them."

"If I make Va'lo do that he'll just treat me poorly when he does get a hold of me. There is no fighting this."

Jack ground his teeth together. Sam could see that he was about half a second away from rushing Va'lo to try and kill him. Knowing that Va'lo wasn't about to let Jack get within ten feet of him Sam stepped between the two. She gave Jack a kiss and smiled at him reassuringly.

"I'll be back."

"I'll be here." Jack sighed.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Sam smiled sadly once more and made her way towards Va'lo. The dragon stepped to the side and allowed her to step through the open door. The men he had brought with him stayed close to her as they made their way through the hall. Sam knew the way and she started to go to the left. However Va'lo barked at her and they pushed her off to the right.

"Ser'in." Sam requested nervously.

Va'lo and the others ignored her completely. Sam didn't dare use Va'lo's name, it tended to send him into a rage. When they came to a familiar room Sam relaxed a bit. They were in the original medical lab that they used to get treatment in. It wasn't until Sam caught sight of the set of chain bracelets and necklace on the exam table that her heart rate spiked again.

Sam tried to take a step back but Va'lo was right there. When he put his hand on her shoulder she jerked away from him. Sam turned to face the dragons and backed further into the room to get away from them. Grievously out numbered Sam took a deep breath to call for help.

"Ser..."

"Calista!"

Va'lo's harsh word spun Sam's world around instantly. Like being tossed into a violent sea Sam didn't know which was was up and she fell to the floor. It was instinct to close her eyes against the sudden dizzy spell but she forced herself to keep them open so that she had a chance at fighting. However the dragons were smart and waited until she was seized by the uncontrollable convulsion of dry heaving before moving in.

Sam cried out incoherently as they secured the new set of chains around her throat and wrists. One of the aliens held her tightly by the collar while another grabbed her elbow and held her arm steady. There was a brief sharp pain of a needle and then the dizziness was joined by a heavy feeling that made it even more difficult to keep standing despite the support of the scaly hands on her.

When she found herself free and laying down Sam closed her eyes for a moment. Fearful of falling asleep she snapped them open again and tried to stand. Slamming into something solid Sam fell back to the cold floor. Rolling over onto her back Sam stared up at the close metal ceiling. Gasping sharply Sam sat up and scrambled back, knocking into the back of the small kennel. She stared out of the mesh wire door and cried out in horror.

Even the sedative in her blood couldn't keep her calm as she realized that there was good chance that she was about to be sold or transferred somewhere else. When a new set of aliens wearing a dark blue uniform were brought into the room to look at her Sam threw herself at the wire door and laced her fingers through the bars. The aliens chattered casually with one another.

"Don't do this, don't separate us!"

"Va'lo?" Ser'in's voice sliced through the general commotion. "Ken tua? Ju'sta me renin tak merin!"

"Ser'in, de'l nara." Va'lo said calmly. "Tu nerei tak mal hestri."

"Kak! Far'is..."

"Dak, Ser'in."

Sam watched as Ser'in's eyes filled with fear and it only served to fuel her own terror about what was happening. Ser'in started to argue, but Va'lo was not about to be embarrassed in front of the others. He pulled her roughly to the side and hissed something to her quietly. Ser'in looked over at Sam and then returned them to Va'lo with a look of sheer spite. Va'lo produced some paperwork which she snatched away from him. After reading it she growled at him angrily and turned to leave.

"Ser'in, wait! Don't leave me!" Sam cried desperately. "Please! Please, far'is, far'is! Ser'in!"

Va'lo barked an order at one of his staff and they walked out of view for a moment. When he returned he had a heavy black blanket in his hands. The thick cloth was thrown over the small cage plunging Sam into a inky darkness.