Chapter One

As Helen Magnus leaned back heavily in her chair; she didn't even try to hold back the sigh of exhaustion that escaped her, pinching the bridge of her nose to try and stave off the beginnings of a headache. Closing her eyes as the comforting warmth from the fireplace seeped into her bones; Helen relaxed slightly as she concentrated on controlling her breathing as a form of light meditation. After taking a deep breath; Helen sighed again in resignation that she wasn't going to be getting any more work done tonight. Closing the draw of her desk and ensuring that it was securely locked, Helen dowsed the fire before heading into her bed chamber to rest.

After having drawn the curtains around the bed fully; Helen slipped in between the freshly washed sheets and closed her eyes in contentment, slipping in and out of consciousness, before finally falling into a restless slumber.

Meanwhile; on the other side of the city, another restless soul was enduring yet one more night in a cell as Colonel Jack O'Neill turned over on the limited space of the bed in a solitary cell of Cheyenne Mountain, currently under the command of Major General Bower. Knowing full well that the doctors were going to be back at any moment, Jack closed his eyes tight shut, trying desperately to think of a way to escape his prison...and before he knew what was happening, an all-encompassing wave of electricity passed through him before he vanished completely from the cell, only to reappear briefly near the ceiling of Helen's bed chambers before falling solidly onto the floor.

Instantly jumping awake, Helen automatically reached for the gun she kept by her bedside and aimed it squarely at the male form now cursing under his breath. Careful to keep her aim on him, Helen came to a kneeling position on the bed as she asked calmly.

"Who's there?"

Snapping his head up at the sound of her voice, Jack replied hesitantly.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill, Special Forces." Acutely aware of the sound of a safety catch being released, Jack continued cautiously. "Look...I'm not sure what's going on here but I can assure you I have no clue how I got here." Standing gradually, Jack turned slowly and raised his hands as he faced her and added. "Now...who am I talking to?"

"My name is Doctor Helen Magnus, and this is my home you've fallen into..." hearing the distinct air of sincerity in his voice, Helen turned on the bedside lamp and lowered her gun slightly as she asked kindly. "You really don't know how you got here?"

Lowering his hands down so that they rested by his sides, Jack shrugged slightly as he replied.

"Nope"

Warming to his calm and accepting attitude towards the situation, Helen lowered her gun completely and placed it back on the bedside table before climbing off the bed and walking towards him. Taking in her non-threatening stride as she came towards him, Jack adopted a similar stance and held out his hand in greeting as he said warmly.

"Let's try this again...Hi, Jack O'Neill. Nice to meet ya."

Reciprocating his tone, Helen reached out and took the offered hand, shaking it as she replied. "Hello, Jack. My name's Helen. And it's a pleasure to meet you."

Taken slightly aback by her appearance as he suddenly noticed in the light the deep blueness of her eyes, Jack didn't hear her until she asked again with a smirk laced in her voice.

"Do you think I could have my hand back?"

Realising she'd asked this question for a second time, Jack coughed in awkwardness at having been distracted before releasing her hand and shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other as he added in good humour.

"Sorry...still kinda sinking in."

Sensing his discomfort at having been caught staring, Helen's assessment of the man before her stirred a deep admiration for his ability not to seem too overcome with what she believed to have been a subconscious teleport.

"I have a proposition for you, Colonel. If you would be so kind as to wait on the other side of that door over there which leads through to my office whilst I change, I will be happy to show you round this facility and perhaps help you to understand how you came to be here."

Raising his eyebrows at her generous offer, Jack nodded happily as he replied.

"Sure. Take your time, Ma'am." Before making his way towards the door in question.

Suppressing a laugh at his use of the title, Helen called after him before he stepped through.

"Oh and Colonel..." Seeing that she had his attention, she added kindly. "Helen, will do fine."

Smirking at her unease with the title of Ma'am, Jack retorted in good nature.

"Whatever you say...Doc." before shutting the door.

Unable to stop the smile as it spread across her face at his reply, Helen chuckled to herself as she decided then and there that this one was going to be a handful indeed.

Watching the flames as they danced within the confines of the fireplace, Jack was just starting to relax when suddenly he heard the click of the door as it opened to reveal Doctor Helen Magnus. Jumping to attention from the comfortable leather sofa; Jack relaxed instantly when she emerged smiling warmly at him. Returning the smile; Jack was about to ask why she wasn't more concerned about how he had come to end up falling into her bedroom, when she beat him to the punch.

"So, Colonel...I've been thinking about how you may have come to end up in my bed chambers and I believe I may have an idea. However; I've learned to be prudent in such matters and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mind skipping the ten pence tour and accompanying me to my lab, so that I may assess your psychological condition and make a better determination as to your potential ability."

Understanding her need for caution as well as appreciating her offer of assistance, Jack was more than happy to accompany her and nodded silently in his agreement. Realising he was a man of very few words, Helen smiled in gratitude before leading the way down to her lab.

Placing the stethoscope around her neck loosely, Helen grabbed her lab coat from the stand and patted the nearest bed as she asked politely.

"Okay, Colonel, if you'd like to just pop up here for me a moment and take your shirt off for me please."

Whipping his head up at her request; Jack became slightly agitated as he sat with his back to her and complied, hands shaking ever so slightly as he proceeded to undo his shirt buttons. Noticing the slight tremor throughout his body as he did this, Helen was immediately intrigued as to where the confidant man she witnessed the character of only moments ago had gone to. As he lifted the shoulders of his shirt off carefully, the reason for his behaviour became readily apparent. No sooner had the material of the shirt landed on the bed did he hear a gasp of shock come from behind him. Closing his eyes to the shame of the marks on his body, Jack barely registered that Helen had come up behind him until she reached out a hand and traced one of the scars running the length of nearly one shoulder blade.

Feeling her heart constrict with an overwhelming sense of sorrow for what he must have endured to retain those scars, Helen was drawn to one of the most prominent marks on his back as she traced it softly with her fingers. Hearing his sharp intake of breath; Helen immediately withdrew her hand, whispering her apology as she asked tenderly.

"Sorry...did I hurt you?"

Hearing the genuine concern in her voice, Jack replied quietly.

"No...it's just...no-one's ever...I'm not used to people being gentle is all."

Feeling even more sympathy for this man whom she barely knew, Helen retorted just as quietly.

"Well, Colonel...I'm afraid you'll have to get used to it, because that's the only way I know how to treat people."

Chuckling at her kind response, Jack turned to look over his shoulder at her as he added softly.

"Thank you."

Smiling warmly at him; for the second time that evening, Helen found herself admiring this man for yet another of his rather enduring qualities.

TBC...