Chapter Twenty-two

Sam woke up slowly unsure of where she was or what was going on. A rush of warm air across the back of her neck reminded her of everything. Wriggling her shoulders she worked her way deeper into the soft bed and enjoyed the feeling of Jack's breath on her neck. Although still sleeping Jack automatically tightened his hold around her waist.

Taking a deep breath Sam settled into a pleasant space between waking and dreaming. She had feared that after last night that everything would change and there would be an awkwardness wedged between them. However she felt no guilt for her actions and felt closer to Jack than ever before.

Jack didn't seem to hold any regrets either. As he woke his kissed at her shoulder and then gentle bit down on her neck. Sam chuckled and tried to free herself from his embrace. Jack growled in protest and snaked his other arm under her to completely cage her in his arms. When she continued to playfully try to writhe away Jack put his leg over her hips. Sam gave in and pressed her self against him.

"Mine." Jack chuckled.

"I see how it is." Sam smiled. "I've traded one owner for another?"

"Hmmm...I didn't really mean it that way."

"Apology accepted."

"Good."

Sam laughed and managed to roll over within Jack's embrace to face him. He instantly kissed her. Lost in a passionate kiss the pair didn't even notice how bright the day was growing outside. Not that it really mattered, they had no where to be and nothing to do. Sam leaned back to look at Jack.

"I'm getting my memories back, the chaos is starting to settle."

"Good."

"Most of what I thought happened were just nightmares. I should have been able to figure it out sooner."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because half of the memories are in colour and the other are in black and white."

"You don't dream in colour?"

"No, or if I do the memories of the color fades upon waking."

"As long as your feeling better that's all I care about."

"I am." Sam smiled. "It feels so wonderful to be free."

Jack demonstrated his agreement by rolling Sam over onto her back and pinning her to the sheets with another kiss. Eventually they decided that they were going to have to get out of bed sometime. After a long shower together they stepped out into the main house.

Tai and Ser'in were sitting in two large plush chairs that were more like bean bag chairs in a supporting frame. They had been talking quietly and when Ser'in caught sight of Sam and Jack she suddenly looked embarrassed. Tai furrowed his brow and then looked over his shoulder at the new comers.

"Ja'ck, Saman'tha, tret na'tack." Tai greeted.

"Good morning." Sam replied.

"Good mour'ing." Tai repeated. "Tret na'tack."

"Tret na'tack." Sam imitated.

"I'm too old for a new language, Carter."

"I bet now that someone is willing to teach us we pick it up a lot quicker than you'd think."

Jack still looked skeptical. He led Sam over to the couch and they settled in together. Jack sat with his back against the arm rest so that he could put his legs up on the couch. Sam sat between his legs, leaning her back against his chest. Tai said something to the group and went into the kitchen. He returned a few minutes later with a large tray that held as assortment of baked goods and four small cast iron cups with what looked like a tea kettle.

"I bet there is no chance that there's coffee in there."

"Oh...coffee," Sam breathed in remembrance "I miss coffee so much."

"Personally I could use a beer. However any change from water would be nice."

Sam and Jack munched happily on a few of the pastries. Tai poured a pale green liquid out of the kettle into each of the cups. He gave one to each of his guests and then settled down with a cup of his own. Sam tasted the hot liquid and found it surprisingly spicy. Jack seemed to approve of the warm beverage and drank it quickly. He put the cup down on the near by table and giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"I have no idea." Jack chuckled. "Just...feeling good."

Sam shook her head sadly and continued to sip at the hot brew. It wasn't long before she started to feel a little light headed. There was something happening to her shoulder, but she was having trouble figuring it out. Looking down she saw that Jack was actually chewing on her. Caught in the act Jack blushed and started laughing.

Sam found herself giggling as well. She went to put the cup down and completely misjudged where the table was. The cup fell to the floor and for reasons she didn't understand she found it absolutely hysterical. Jack wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his forehead against her should and laughed until he was crying. With her senses swimming Sam leaned her head back and joined him in the inappropriate mirth.

Looking over at the dragons Sam noticed that they were both looking at them with concerned looks on their faces. This was also a great source of amusement and it wasn't long before Sam's ribs were sore from laughter. Tai got up and slowly walked over to the fallen cup. Picking it up he sniffed at it and then at his own cup. He turned to Ser'in and shrugged.

"Oh my god..." Sam panted through her tears "we've been drugged, Sir."

"What?"

"The tea." Sam stopped and tried to catch her breath. "It's a narcotic of some sort, like...uh...what's that stuff...marijuana."

"I was wondering why I was thinking about Boot Camp all of a sudden." Jack giggled.

"You smoked pot at the Academy?" Sam asked shocked.

"I didn't go to the Academy until later...no this was just when I first enlisted...like a zillion years ago."

"You're not that old." Sam admonished with a tittering chuckle. "It was only a few hundred years ago."

"Hey!"

Jack followed up his protest by tickling at Sam's sides. She squawked in surprise and tried to retaliate. They battled one another until they were completely helpless with mirth. Laughing so hard she could barely breath Sam buried her face in her hands and tried to pull herself together. Jack turned what he thought was an accusing look at Tai.

"T...buddy...what the hell did you give us?"

"Wen'ris." Tai replied with a shrug.

Ser'in came over and put her hand against Sam's forehead to make sure she didn't have a fever. Sam took Ser'in's hand and gave it a kiss. Tai and Ser'in exchanged worried glances. When Jack reached out to get the tea kettle Tai pushed it out of his reach. Tilting his head to the side Jack stared at the kettle as if he couldn't understand how it suddenly became out of reach.

"Carter, status report?"

"Floating on air, Sir."

"Yeah, me too, what the hell is going on?"

"The tea, the tea is drugged or it is a drug."

"Why are the lizards fine?"

"I'm just guessing here, but as aliens we have a different chemical balance."

"They're the aliens!"

"Not here they aren't. This is their home, we're the aliens."

"Bah! I'm not the one with scaly skin."

"What?"

"What, what?" Jack asked clueless

"This is silly." Sam shook her head trying to clear it.

"Why aren't Ser'in and Tai acting like idiots?"

"The tea must have an ingredient that the dragons aren't sensitive to."

"For cry'in out loud..."

"I need a nap." Sam muttered.

Sam didn't just need a nap, she passed out as soon as she had said the words. When she woke up again she was still laying on Jack who was still sleeping it off. Sam sat up and looked around. Ser'in and Tai were instantly at her side. She gave them a reassuring smile.

"I'm okay."

"Dali." Tai said sincerely.

"Don't worry about it." Sam smiled. "You didn't know."

Getting to her feet Sam was suddenly overwhelmed by nausea. Knowing she was about to lose whatever was in her stomach Sam looked around desperately for someway to contain the impending mess. She spotted what looked like a small waste bin over by one of the book shelves. Rushing over to it she barely hit her knees next to it before being violently ill.

"Ick." Tai sighed.

"I'm sorry, this isn't a waste basket is it?"

Extremely embarrassed, but feeling better Sam sat back on her heels. Her eye suddenly caught something on the spine of a book on the shelf in front of her. If she hadn't been sitting on the floor she probably would have never noticed the tiny picture at the base of the spine. Pulling the book off the shelf she opened it and gasped.

"Jack!"

Jack was still sleeping, drooling a small puddle onto the couch. Ser'in had come over to help Sam get to her feet, but Sam jumped up on her own in excitement. She nearly lost her balance on the short trip back to the couch. She shook Jack's shoulder and he opened one eye before welding it shut again. Sam insisted that he get up and shook his shoulder again. He grumbled and sat up, instantly regretting it.

"Ja..."

"I'm going to be sick..." Jack moaned.

With a look of resignation on his reptilian face Tai handed Jack the waste bin looking artifact that Sam had already ruined. Jack accepted the offer and spent a few minutes puking into it. When he was sure there was nothing left in his stomach he leaned back and closed his eyes again. Sam shook his shoulder again.

"Easy, Carter."

"Look at this!" Sam said in excitement as she handed him the book open to a large glossy picture.

"Pretty, what about it?" Jack said unimpressed.

"What does it look like?"

"It's...uh..." Jack rubbed some of the sleepiness out of his eyes "it looks like the pyramids of Egypt."

"You mean it looks like the Goa'uld landing sites of Egypt..."