The first time Colonel Mitchell and Lt Colonel John Sheppard saw Laney Jacobs fight they did something they'd never done before. They hung back, covering her with their P90's.

"This is good for her" said Mitchell

"Yeah" choked out Sheppard, as he watched her plant a kick to the chest of a large, hairy and very green creature, whilst simultaneously decapitating two others.

"Things have been quiet, she needs to let off a little steam"

"Right" croaked John, as she arced her body into the air driving a knife into the top of a creature's head.

"Jackson was right"

John watched her slam the last of their attackers into a tree, her elbow cracking its neck.

"Um, what?"

"It is beautiful carnage"

As she heard the neck of the last of the things that had attacked them snap Laney stepped back. She blinked, trying to rid herself of the image of Faith, head twisted, beautiful dark eyes devoid of life.

They'd come out of nowhere, and they were strong. What had scared her the most was that she hadn't sensed them until they were almost on top of her team. Laney clenched her fists.

She needed to start patrolling again, training, hunting. Sparring with the marines wasn't enough. She'd gotten slow, sloppy, over-confident, secure in the knowledge that she was the most powerful being on Earth. Except she wasn't on Earth all the time now, and neither were the two men who had begun to mean so much to her.

And Earth was open to so much more danger because of the stargate. She had to get better, get back in the game.

"Princess, you ok?"

She rolled her eyes "All good, just riding out the adrenaline"

Mitchell looked at her "Ok, you need a bit longer?"

She shook her head and grinned at him "I need tequila" She paused "And dancing"

Mitchell raised his eyebrows.

She shrugged "It's a Slayer thing"

The first time they saw her dance they watched her with hooded eyes.

They saw traces of the way she fought in her movements. Liquid and strong, precise, taking her to where she wanted to be. She demanded attention, as if her power was reaching out and daring you to try and get a taste.

"I'm not sure what I like better, watching her fight or dance"

Mitchell snorted "Think it's pretty much the same thing Shep"

"Yeah"

As she disappeared into the crowd John turned his head "She remind you of Val?"

"No"

"Not at all" John pushed.

Cam exhaled "In some ways, maybe. They're both broken, trying to find something to fix 'em. But I think Lane is closer to the answer than Val will ever be"

John raised his eyebrows "Really"

"Yeah. Vala was always too shit scared to get better. Meant she'd have no excuse for her actions. Lane already acts like she's fixed. Tells me she wants it more"

"Huh"

Laney closed her eyes and lost herself in the sound of the music. The bass vibrated through her muscles and bones, the brush of hands and breathes goose bumped her skin and sparked through her nerves, the smell of sweat and hormones, promises of more, made her pulse race.

God, she missed this. After the fight, when the adrenaline wouldn't stop pumping, they had gone dancing. Slayers weaving in and out of bodies, wrapping themselves around the people who would never know that tonight they had been saved. Laney had never been able to get enough, because of me you're alive, because of me you dance.

Laney smiled. They may not have always been the hottest in the club, or worn the most expensive clothes. Shit, sometimes they'd shown up straight from battle. Grubby jeans and torn t-shirts, but they always got in, never lacked for company. Somehow it was like who they were, what they did radiated from them. A Slayer never went home alone unless she wanted to.

She had felt their gaze as she skirted the edge of the dance floor. Their presence in her everyday life making them stand out from the others. It had made her feel strange. Like she wanted to hide and show off at the same time. She'd moved into the crowd to escape.

Then the hairs on the back of her neck pricked with heat and she opened her eyes. Arms still raised above her, head tilted. Her eyes met his. He didn't wave, tilt his head, smile. He didn't acknowledge her at all but he was watching. His darkened gaze pinning her.

She closed her eyes and began to move again. He'd find her later.

They watched Laney watch the man who had been watching her.

She'd paused mid-sway. Arms raised, head tilted up. It should have been provocative but something about the way they were watching each other caused the pose to make her seem vulnerable, as if surrendering.

Then her eyes slid shut and she melted back into the crowd.

The man left.

"Feel better Princess?" Mitchell smiled down at her.

"Umhm. Thank you for bringing me Mitch" She yawned "Guess it's my bedtime"

"Yeah, mine too Lane. Got to go rescue Shep first though"

Laney frowned at him "Did he get captured while I was busy?"

Mitchell snorted "In a way" He gestured over her shoulder.

Laney turned and saw Sheppard practically pinned to the bar by a rather stunning blonde, in a rather small dress. She was leaning up to speak into his ear, pushing her breasts up and into his chest.

"Are you sure he wants rescuing?"

Mitchell curled a hand around her waist, leading her towards them "Trust me on this one Princess"

"Hey hon. How was your night?"

"Um good. Just what the therapist ordered"

"Hm" Jack frowned, studying his god-daughter. She'd taken big steps in her time with him, and since joining Sheppard and Mitchell she'd flourished. But tonight there was a hint of tension in her body, a slight edge to her gaze. "What's bothering you Lane?"

"Nothing"

Jack sat back and folded his arms "Liar"

She rolled her eyes. He glared back.

"You're as bad as the guys"

"Good to hear they're looking out for you"

She rolled her eyes again.

"Please Laney"

"Fine" she huffed "Those things today that attacked us?"

Jack nodded.

"I didn't sense them until they were practically on top of us. And they were strong and fast. I actually broke into a sweat!" Jack snorted.

"A few months ago it would have been ME hunting THEM Jack. I'd have sensed them as soon as I stepped through the gate. They should have been easy pickings" She sighed and ran her hand through her hair "I'm losing my edge, I've gotten sloppy. Sparring with the marines and an occasional off-world scuffle isn't enough. What happens when something big comes? I'm the only one left. And I won't lose you guys just because I've let my game drop"

"Honey, you're not on your own, and the responsibility of saving the world doesn't fall on just your shoulders. We may not have your super powers but we've done just fine so far"

"I know that Jack. But I know I can also be better. If I lose someone the thought that I wasn't at my best will haunt me. At least when the others died I could look back and say there was nothing else in my power I could have done. I need to start patrolling again, going hunting. Without another Slayer to spar with my next best option is to fight the things I was made to. Kill my natural prey"

"Prey?"

"That's what they are"

He nodded "Anything else"

She bit her lip "I would like to ask Teal'c if I may visit him every coupl'a weeks so I can spar with him and his people. They are skilled warriors and stronger than the humans on Earth"

Jack hummed "I can't see a problem with that, I am sure Teal'c wouldn't mind. I'll send a messenger through the gate tomorrow"

"Thank you"

"As for the patrolling thing…this is done at night?"

She nodded.

"Are you going to be able to do that AND stay awake on missions? I know things have been pretty quiet out there lately but I don't want to send you through the gate exhausted. I'm pretty sure Mitchell'd be pissed too"

"I won't go every night. Just when we have no scheduled missions. We're off for five days now so I'll get a good run in and then take a break"

Jack raised his brows.

"What!"

"Very sensible Laney. SG-1 are a better influence on you than I thought"

She stuck her tongue out.

"You seen or heard from Laney since we've been off duty?"

"I live with you Mitchell, I think you'd have noticed"

Mitchell glared at him. They were sat in the briefing room waiting on O'Neill, again.

"It's just unusual not to hear from her for that long. She usually shows up at some point, if only to raid our fridge"

Sheppard smirked "I'm pretty sure last time she did our laundry too"

Mitchell stared at him "I thought that was you"

"Nope"

"Did you clean the stove a few weeks back?"

"Nope"

"Huh, maybe we should offer her the spare room"

"Oh yeah Mitchell, that's a great plan" Mitchell rolled his eyes.

"What's a great plan? And does it involve me beating things up?"

"Stop eavesdropping. And no it doesn't"

Laney grinned at him and dropped into the chair across the table. She tilted her head.

"Am I not allowed to know the plan Colonel?"

"There is no plan" snapped Mitchell.

John snorted.

"Well aren't we a little touchy today. Did Sheppard eat all your macaroons again"

"Hey, that was you"

"Was not"

"Was too"

"Wa.."

"Guys!" Mitchell rubbed his forehead "Please.."

"Oh" Laney leant forward to John and mock whispered "Is he hungover again?"

John grinned at her "Play nice Lane"

She smiled back. He eyed her.

"You're looking particularly pleased with yourself this morning Miss Jacobs. Does this have something to do with why our fridge is still full, and Cameron's macaroon stash still intact, despite us just having five days off?"

"Is this your long and complicated way of asking me where I've been Colonel Sheppard?"

"Yes"

"Good morning SG-1"

"Sir"

"Jack"

"I'll make this quick guys. Laney has requested regular sparring sessions with Teal'c and his Jaffa"

The two mens brows raised.

"Teal'c has sent word that they would be honoured for her to join them. It will be once a fortnight, starting tomorrow. As it's not officially an off-world mission I'm tempted to rota in a few of the marines to go with her. Save you two from being forced to go back and forth so often. What do you think?"

The two men stared at her. She looked back blankly.

"I think we're a team. If she would prefer us not to be there then fine but otherwise we go"

"Laney?"

"I'm happy with whatever decision they make"

Jack looked between them. "Will somebody make a bloody decision"

"We go"

"Fine"

After the short, and a little awkward, meeting Laney slipped away. She found refuge on Daniels couch in his lab. A silent half hour passed until he turned to her.

"Not that I mind you camping out on my couch Lane, but is there a reason you're here and not enjoying winding up your two Colonels? It seems to be your prefered method of self entertainment"

"They're already pissed, even I don't like to push my luck. And they're not mine" She glared at him.

"And why are they pissed?"

"Because I disappeared for five days, and I didn't tell them I was going to be going to the Jaffa settlement to train"

"Ah"

"I don't have to tell them where I am every single fucking minute of my day. They're my team not my bloody…..Well, anyway, I don't have to. And I don't have to make them privy to every aspect of my life either" She frowned.

Daniel sighed "The thing with teams here Lane is that they're pretty intense. They spend a lot of time together and they rely on each other completely. When you step through that gate it's just you and them. It kind of opens up the whole 'knowing everything about each other' and 'caring about each other' can of worms. If you usually spend a lot of your time off with them and then suddenly don't they're going to want to know why. If you start hiding things from them they're going to be upset"

"Demanding bastards"

"Yes, and you needed that when you were feeling hurt and lost. Now you're beginning to heal you're finding it suffocating. Do you want them to stop playing such a big part in your life? Because if you do SG-1 may not be the place for you anymore"

Laney left the mountain not long after her conversation with Daniel. Sat in her car, she thought about what he'd said. Then she drove into town, picked up a bottle of whiskey and a pack of Marlboro's and booked herself into a motel room thirty miles away.

She sat at the peeling table in her room, lit a cigarette, cracked open the whiskey and took a long pull.

He'd found her the second night she'd gone out on patrol. As the vampire in front of her had exploded into dust she whirled to come face to face with him.

"Well at least you're still doing your job" he drawled.

"Fuck you Dean"

He glared at her. "Think I'm the one who should be pissed here sweetheart"

She shifted uncomfortably.

"I mean, what the fuck Laney!? Some little streak of piss vamp laughs in my face, telling me all Slayers are dead and his 'people' are gonna fucking RULE, I drive like a fucking madman to Cleveland to find the house empty and full of dust and then six months later I watch your pretty little arse living it up on the dance floor. What the fuck!?"

"THEY ARE ALL DEAD!"

"YOU'RE NOT!"

Laney clenched her fists "And what would you have done if I'd shown up on your doorstep Dean. Given me a hug and told me it was gonna be ok, or told me to grow up and get on with it. 'Life's fucked up sweetheart, especially yours, deal with it' She quoted at him.

He narrowed his gaze "Don't fucking twist things Lane. Shit, I fucking mourned you. Bitch"

She blinked back the tears "I'm sorry Dean. I just…after last time. I wanted to come to you, I did. But you're so fucking hard to find and I wasn't really operating on all cylinders you know? Jack hasn't moved in like thirty years"

"Jack? One of those fucking flyboys you were with. Jesus Laney"

"No! They're my new team, I work with them"

Dean raised his eyebrows.

"It's classified, sorry"

He let out a dark laugh "Government, military. Fucking hell, you really have gone to shit"

And that's when her fist connected with his jaw.

"Fuck!"

"How dare you! You have no fucking idea, you never did!"

He scrambled upright.

"And Jack, for YOUR information, is my god-father. Apart from you he was the only person I'd told about being a Slayer"

"Your team" he sneered "don't know what you are"

"Yes they do. And they don't call me a 'what' either"

He fingered his jaw, wincing slightly. "You're right. I'm sorry I was out of line"

She looked down "So was I, I should have called" She raised her chin "Not sorry I punched you though"

"I've missed you"

"Me too"

He sighed "I'm leaving in the morning"

She nodded and followed him to his car.

After she'd slipped out the next day Laney had booked a room at the motel across from his. An hour later she watched him sling his bag in the boot and drive away.

Laney sighed and took another swig of her whiskey. She'd been feeling good this morning, in fact for the last few days. She was out hunting again, she'd gotten to say goodbye to Dean properly. Well, their version of saying goodbye anyway. She smirked, if you were gonna put yourself back out there after a year Dean Winchester was one hell of a way to start.

And then she'd been called to that stupid meeting, and John and Cam had been pissed, and then they'd pushed for where she'd been and what she'd been doing. And why the hell she thought it was ok to start patrolling again without telling them, oh and thanks for the heads up on the Jaffa visits.

She'd left before she'd put a hole in the wall, or their faces.

Maybe Daniel was right, maybe if she stayed it would all go to hell. Maybe it was time to get back out there, as a Slayer.

She took another drink and explored her feelings about walking away from them. Her Colonels, she snorted to herself.

"Hello"

"Mitchell?"

"Yes"

"It's O'Neill"

"Is something wrong Sir?"

John raised his head and rose an eyebrow. Cam shrugged.

"Um, don't think so Cameron. Laney with you?"

"Uh, no Sir. We last saw her just after the briefing"

John rolled his eyes

"Right"

"I expect she's out patrolling Sir"

"Not supposed to be, it's a school night"

"Ah I see. Do you want us to, um.."

"No. I'll see you at 0900 tomorrow"

"Yes Sir"

Cam replaced the phone.

"Don't tell me she's off on another fucking adventure"

"Don't ask me Sheppard. If she's not telling Jack, she's sure as hell not telling us"

Sheppard had been expecting to find her half asleep and pissed as hell the next morning when he entered the gate room. But she was smiling, talking excitedly to Daniel about something. Maybe she was just saving her rage for them. He was pretty sure she'd left them yesterday with an intense desire to punch them in the face.

He ran his hands through his hair. He couldn't really blame her. Him and Cam had gotten so used to her needing their company and reassurance that now, when she was finally on her way to being better, they struggled not to freak out at every little thing.

She caught his gaze and smiled. His stomach untwisted a little, and he smiled back.

"Shep, wipe that smile of your face. You look like some kind of lovestruck teenager"

"Mitchell, I see you're still in a delightfully foul mood"

"Just saw Jack. She hasn't been home, just strolled onto base half hour ago"

John sighed and turned to his friend "Mitchell, she's a grown woman, and a Slayer to boot. In fact I believe she turns twenty-six in a few weeks. If she wants to stay out at night then she has every right to. She crawls in here hanging out her arse when we're supposed to be going off world then I'll be pissed. Apart from that it's none of my damn business, or yours"

"What the fuck" Mitchell narrowed his eyes.

"Back off, or she'll be gone before you can blink"

And with that John walked to the foot of the ramp, taking his place by Laney.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome"

"You know my birthday?"

"I do my research"

Three weeks later Laney knocked on their door. Things had been awkward since the whole 'Jaffa Gate', as she now liked to call it. John had at least been making the effort but Mitchell was being a prick and she'd had enough.

He opened the door. "Laney, everything ok?"

She rolled her eyes. "Fine Mitchell" She held up a bag "I come bearing gifts and a promise"

"What's the promise?" yelled Sheppard from inside. Mitchell shot him a look.

"I'll answer any question you want to ask, truthfully. If you'll have a drink with me"

She looked at Mitchell. Trying to communicate to him that she was so close to walking it wasn't funny.

He sighed "Fine"

"God, don't seem too enthusiastic Mitch. I might get the wrong idea"

John snorted and reached past his housemate to grab her hand. "Come on in sweetheart, I'll get some glasses"

Laney sat at their kitchen table, watching John grab glasses and clear plates from dinner. She'd always felt so safe here, so relaxed but now it seemed weird, unwelcoming even. She hoped this worked.

Mitchell sat slumped opposite her, flicking through some paperwork. John snatched it out his hand and slammed a glass down in front of him. He cracked open the bottle of whiskey and poured them all half a glass.

"Jesus Shep" John rolled his eyes.

She took a long gulp. "First question"

"Where did you go the night before we went to the Jaffa?"

She looked at Mitchell "A motel, about thirty miles out of town"

"With who?"

She raised her eyebrow "No one"

"Bullshit" Laney shrugged.

John sighed "Why did you spend the night in a motel alone?"

"Because I needed to think"

"About what?"

"About whether I should stay"

"And what did you decide?"

"I decided that I shouldn't, but I want to. And I tend to do what I want"

Mitchell snorted. "Why did you need to decide whether to stay?"

Laney drained her glass "Because I'm not who I was when I first stepped though the gate with you. I was only little pieces of me. You two and Jack helped me find the other bits and kinda stick them back on"

"So, you're healing. That's good. Why would that mean you had to leave Princess?"

"Because you liked me better when I needed you"

"You what" Mitchell's voice was like ice.

"I said I'd answer truthfully Mitch. I feel like since I've gotten back to something resembling the old Laney you've spent most of your time pissed with me. The only conclusion I can come to is that you liked me better broken. Maybe I liked you both better then too"

"That's the most fucking ridiculous thing I've ever heard"

"Can we stick to questions and answers please?" Mitchell glared at her, John refilled their glasses.

"Who was the man at the club that made you stop dancing?" John asked.

Laney frowned, she didn't think they'd noticed. "Dean Winchester"

"You knew him before?"

"Yes"

"Elaborate"

"I met him nearly four years ago on a hunt. He and his brother hunt the same things Slayers do"

"You were together"

"As much as two people who hunt monsters for a living can be"

"Are you together now?"

Laney snorted "No"

"Then why was he there?"

"Coincidence. He left the next day. After giving me a bollocking for failing to inform him that I was, in fact, alive"

"Jesus Lane, you left him thinking you were dead?!"

She glared at John "I'm pretty sure I've already had this argument with the actual person who had every right to be pissed. I apologised" She smirked "thoroughly"

"Yeah, not needing to know that Princess"

John refilled their glasses.

"Why are you patrolling again, training with Teal'c?"

"Because those green hairy things freaked me out. They should have been easy prey but they nearly got the jump on me. I've let myself go"

Both men eyed her "Really?"

She rolled her eyes "Not like that. But I'm not like I was. I'm slower, weaker, my senses are dulled. Patrolling, hunting, training with the Jaffa will help pull me back. Without the other girls to spar with its been easy for me to let it slide. I have to be at my best, losing one of you because I'd let my training slip would be devastating"

John slid his hand over hers "Not your responsibility Lane"

"Yes it is. You're my team. My friends. I'd give my life for yours in a heartbeat"

John refilled, slopping a little over the sides.

"Watch it Shep, that's good whiskey"

Laney giggled "Don't worry, have another"

"Fuck"

They were sat on the floor of John and Cam's living room. The guys propped up against the sofa, Laney leaning on the recliner.

"I'm so going to regret this in the morning" mumbled Cam.

Laney snorted "My turn for questions"

"Shit"

"Were you both involved with Vala?"

John's head snapped up "What?"

She rolled her eyes. "You heard me"

"Yes" answered Mitchell "What gave it away?"

She shrugged "The things you say, and don't say, about her. The way no one ever talks about her around you. Sometimes I'd find something of hers while I was hunting out your macaroons"

John laughed.

"Why didn't she stay?"

They looked at her. Cam sighed. "Val was broken, bit like you were Princess. But she didn't want to stick bits back on. She liked having an excuse for the things she did"

"She wasn't a bad person"

"No Lane, she wasn't. But she didn't want to stop being like she was enough. Wasn't ready to stop moving"

"So she left?"

"Slipped away off-world, didn't say goodbye"

"Well this explains your tendency to…hover"

Cam laughed "Very diplomatic Princess"

"Learnt from the best"

She fixed them with her gaze, albeit a slightly blurry one "'I'm not going anywhere"

Laney woke in the dark. Surrounded by her friends scent, the warmth from their bodies seeping through her skin, she relaxed. Why was she between them, was she off-world? She tried to focus her thoughts.

'Huh, that went better than expected'