They went back to kissing, which soon migrated to other parts of the body. Eventually, Sam was lying on her stomach as Daniel placed kisses all the way down her spine. Once he'd reached the curve of her bottom, he grabbed a pillow and stuffed it underneath her hips. He then laid down on top of her and gently went into her. Sam let out a breathy moan.
Daniel moved slowly and purposefully, intent upon finding that spot within Sam that could prove to be so elusive. He knew when he'd found it. The woman beneath him suddenly cried out, her breathing going ragged. It didn't take long before she was coming. Daniel continued his movements as she shuddered through her climax. As her body went limp, he sped up. Seconds later, his climax struck.
After it was over, Daniel rolled off Sam, who stayed right where she was. She turned her head to face him.
"And that's the other thing your kisses make me feel like doing," he remarked, a twinkle of humor in his eyes.
"Ah, another thing we have in common. Who'd have known we were so compatible in so many ways?"
Daniel grew serious. "Yes, we are." He brushed his hand across Sam's cheek. "I think it's time that we talk about you being jealous of Ke'ra."
Sam rolled onto her side. "No, Daniel. It really isn't necessary. I really was just being stupid and insecure for no good reason."
Daniel searched her eyes. "I want to tell you something I said to Ke'ra." He recounted the words he spoke to the woman about his wife and what he'd found with Sam. "I meant every word I told her, Sam. What I now have with you is very important to me, the most important thing in my life. I honestly can't imagine ever wanting to go back to the way it was before."
This time, the tears did come to Sam's eyes. She cupped Daniel's face and gave him a long kiss. He pulled her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. Minutes later, they were both asleep.
Daniel entered the brig. From beyond the laser beams the woman in the cell met his eyes.
"Daniel. It is good to see you."
He walked up to the cell. "How are you doing?"
"I am well. How are things progressing with the Vyuns?"
"We've treated quite a few of them. They're all grateful for your help in finding a cure."
"Do they also know that I am the one who's responsible for what happened?"
"Yes, but they are aware that it was an accident." Daniel paused. "They don't know anything else, what you did in the past."
Ke'ra was surprised about that. "You didn't tell them? Why?"
"Because they didn't need to know the details. They only know that you were a criminal and did some things you shouldn't have."
"Thank you. They know, then, that my memories are going to be removed again?"
"Not yet. We'll tell Nodal and Layale after it's been done, and they can tell everyone else. We're going to make them understand that they can never let you know the truth about everything. It's safest that way. All of Doctor Zervis' papers and journals will be removed from the library."
Ke'ra nodded. "I agree. That is the most prudent thing to do. However, there is another issue. Before I turned my attention to the life-extending properties of the D'Argol, I did some research on the fertility problem. All of the people who are on Vyus now had not yet been born when the use of D'Argol was started. It took many years for the Vyuns to realize that the D'Argol was responsible for the dramatic drop in the birth rate, and, by then, the damage had been done. From my research, I concluded that the D'Argol in its original form destroys a human male's ability to produce sperm. Every Vyun male of the present generation never had the ability to father children."
"So you're saying that the women could still get pregnant?"
"Yes, if they had another source for sperm. I determined that, if such a thing was done, any new generations born would be free of all ill effects."
"Thank you, Ke'ra. That could be really good news for them. There might be something we could do about that."
The blonde woman stared at him. "Why do you keep calling me Ke'ra now that I know my true name?"
"Because I prefer to think of you as her."
Ke'ra's eyes went to the two guards in the room, then back to Daniel. "May we speak in private?"
"Sure." Daniel asked the two guards to leave. He then turned back to Ke'ra.
"You are a good man, Daniel," she said. "I recognized that when I watched your attempt to prevent those prisoners from being killed by the wormhole's vortex. Saving them would not have benefitted you in any way, yet you tried so very hard to do so. That is why I prevented Vishnoor from killing you."
That surprised Daniel. "I thought you did that to further your plans to use us to escape."
"That thought did enter my mind, but even if you had died, my plan would likely still have been successful, although it may have been delayed somewhat." She smiled slightly. "So you did come to realize that I was responsible for Vishnoor's death rather than you."
Daniel nodded. "We all figured that out after you were gone, though we didn't know how you did it. I never did understand how I could have managed to kill him while I was being strangled."
Ke'ra smiled. "Yes, it would have been rather difficult." Her smile disappeared. "I wish to apologize again for what I did before. I had no right to force my attentions upon you."
"It's okay, Ke'ra. I was upset at first, but I really do understand."
Ke'ra's eyes searched his face. "Samantha truly is a lucky woman. I can only hope that, as Ke'ra, I will someday find a man such as you."
Daniel's gaze dropped from hers. He left a few minutes later, thinking about how very different the life of that woman would have been if she had never gone down the wrong path.
The population of the planet Vyus had their memories back, and, thanks to the information Ke'ra gave Daniel, there were plans in the works to provide the Vyuns with donated sperm so that the civilization would be saved from extinction.
With Daniel and the two guards in the corner as the only witnesses, Janet had just given Ke'ra the concentrated D'Argol, and they watched as it took away her memories, tears falling down her face. She blinked and looked around dazedly.
"Ke'ra. It's all right," Daniel told her. "You're among friends."
"Do you remember anything?" Janet asked.
There was a blank look on Ke'ra's face. "Nothing."
Daniel gave her a reassuring smile. "Your name is Ke'ra. You've been a visitor here. Now, it's time to go home."
"Why can I not remember anything? I do not even recognize my name."
"You've been very ill," Janet told her. "There was an effect on your brain."
"Is my memory loss permanent?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so. I'm sorry."
"But you're going to be all right," Daniel said. "You have friends who will make sure of that."
Janet looked at Daniel. "She needs to rest for a few minutes. I'll then help her get dressed."
Daniel left the infirmary and went to his former teammates, who were out in the hall.
"Well?" Jack asked.
"It worked. Her memories are all gone."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Jack, I'm sure."
"So, that's that, then."
"We need to talk to Nodal and Layale and fill them in," Sam said.
Daniel nodded. "You go on and do that, Sam. I'm going to wait here."
Sam went off to talk to the two Vyuns and take them to the gate room as Jack and Teal'c went to Hammond's office to let him know that Linea was Ke'ra once again.
A short while later, Daniel and Janet brought Ke'ra to the gate room. She was still feeling a little unsure, and the doctor kept hold of her arm and hand. The wormhole was open and waiting.
"Ke'ra, these are friends of mine," Daniel said, "Sam, Teal'c, Jack, and General Hammond." He gestured at the two Vyuns. "And these are friends of yours. They've come to take you home."
Ke'ra stared at Nodal and Layale. "Do you know me?"
"We do," Nodal replied. "Ke'ra. We understand you have lost your memory. Know that you are a great leader of our people, and you are most welcome."
He and Layale went up the ramp and waited at the top.
Ke'ra turned to Daniel. "I sense we knew each other before my memory was lost. Did we?"
Daniel shook his head. "No. No, we didn't." He gave her a gentle smile. "Goodbye, Ke'ra."
"Goodbye."
The woman who had been Linea and was now Ke'ra again walked up the ramp and took Nodal's proffered hand. At the edge of the event horizon, she looked back down at the people watching and smiled at Daniel. She then turned and disappeared through the gate.
