Author's Note: It seems I'm on a roll :grin: So in this chappy we have a couple more flashbacks in italics and we meet someone new :grin:

Hannah554 - Thank you thank you thank you :hugs: Your demand worked for once, lol. I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much.

quietfractures - Thanks, I'm glad you think so :grin:

fyd818 - Umm...wow...one of the best beginnings you've ever read :blushes: Thank you so much, you don't know how much you've just motivated me, lol. I haven't stopped grinning like a fool since I got your review and I'm sure I'm still bright red :grins: Um...I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much. :huggles:

Manic Penguin - I hate it too, lol. I've got to admit though the Sparky in this fic is very angsty; well, apart from some of the flashbacks :squees: Thanks for the review and I hope youy like this chappy too.

Sounni - I can't beleive it either, lol. When I read it through I was hitting myself screaming 'How could you do this to Sparky' :smiles sheepishly: but...wait i can't tell you, it would give it away, lol. Thanks for the review, I hope you like this chapter.

Landing on Earth this time around was a lot different from the first time. Even though the ship needed repairing, it was no where near the condition it had been the last time round - Laura was a natural with engines. Gazing back at his ship fondly, he reluctantly headed towards the one place he would rather never see again, the only problem was he had promised the owners that he would stop by if he was ever in the area and he never broke a promise - intentionally anyway - which was why he found himself staring at the silver doors before him in trepidation.

He had left Laura and Lorne with the responsibility to get the parts they needed, knowing that Laura knew what she needed and that Lorne would keep her on check with the budget - she tended to get over excited if she found any new parts and Earth was bound to have more new inventions.

"You can go in you know," a highly amused voice said from behind him. He spun around to face the owner and sure enough there stood the one and only Jack O'Neill, adjourning his usual sunglasses and casual clothes - it was as if nothing had changed. Jack stepped forward so that he was by John's side. "Is their something wrong with the doors that I don't know about?"

John snorted, "Well they could do with a bit a work."

"You offering," Jack retorted, raising his eyebrow threateningly. John smirked cheekily.

"Normally I would but you know I'm here on business an all." Jack smirked before hitting John's back and pushing him through the doors.

"It's good to have you back Sheppard, thought we'd never see you again. What's it been, five years?" He maneuvered John into the same seat he used his first time in the bar then jumped over the bar so that he was behind it, grabbing two glasses from beneath the counter along with a bottle.

"Yeah, I'm surprised you remember me," he joked, snatching his now full glass from the bar and taking a sip.

"I always remember my best customers," Jack said simply, "You and Beth were especially entertaining." Jack noticed John stiffen but pretended not to notice.

"Yeah…well." He shifted uncomfortably on the stool. "How's the old ball and chain?"

The person in question punched John in the arm making her presence known. She had been standing in the corner of the bar when both men had walked in and had listened to every word.

"Who are you calling old?" she cried out, feigning hurt before a grin broadened her features, lighting up her bright blue eyes. She gave John a quick hug and kissed Jack's cheek causing the older man to grin. "I'm fine thank you very much," she continued, pulling herself up onto the bar so that she was sitting on it, her legs swaying in front of her.

"I was talking about his other ball and chain Sam," John teased, "You know short brown hair, glasses, always talks a lot."

"Oh Daniel," she assumed, going along with the joke. O'Neill scowled and threw a cloth in Sam's face which she quickly caught and threw back at him.

"You two are worse then kids. Now I remember why I was happy to see you leave," Jack groused good- naturedly as he narrowed his eyes at John.

Sam continued, "Janet and him left a couple of years back, they took Teal'c with them too." She smiled sadly. "They finally got married you know," she announced happily.

"Wow," John grinned, "I always knew Daniel and Teal'c were meant to be." Jack burst out laughing as Sam groaned.

"Oh I give up, you are impossible." She jumped back to her feet and headed towards the door to go into the back room, as she reached the threshold she looked back over her shoulder. "They'll be sorry that they missed you." With that said she disappeared behind the door, leaving the two men alone.

"You wanna room then," Jack questioned.

"No it's alright. I'll stay on my ship," John replied, his eyes becoming distant.

"So do you live around here then?" John asked his companion, who had just finished his bottle. Her eyes were slightly glazed and he could tell the alcohol had taken affect on her - it was after all a large bottle, not too mention strong stuff and he was surprised she wasn't out of it yet, most men twice her size would have been.

"No I'm just passing through. Speaking of which…I need a room," she answered, leaving the bottle on the bar and glancing around the room. When she didn't spot who she was looking for she got to her feet and headed to the door at the side of the bar, opening it immediately..

"Jack?" she called out, her brows furrowing when no one answered. "O'Neill, get your butt out here. I know your there." John heard someone shouting back but he couldn't make out the words, he was kind of distracted by the smile on Beth's face. Suddenly a older man, with graying hair and brown eyes poked his head out of the door, grinning when he saw the person who summoned him

"What the hell are you doing here?" The man asked in shock. "I didn't even know you were on Earth."

"You know me, just passing through," she told him, running her fingers through her hair and grinning. "You wouldn't happen to have a room available would you? Oh and another bottle of that," she asked, pointing to the empty bottle next to John.

"Make a new friend," he teased and she rolled her eyes, heading back in John's direction and re-taking her seat as Jack headed behind the bar, taking a card key from a shelf on the wall and throwing it in front of her. He took another bottle out from beneath the bar and set it in front of them both. John went to hand him some credits but Jack dismissed his hand.

"It's on the house," he explained causing Beth to smile her thanks.

"Thanks," John said gratefully before smirking at Beth. "I wish I'd have met you sooner Beth, especially if you can get me free drinks." John was turned away from Jack and didn't notice the man's eyebrows rising at the mention of her name.

"Who says you can have any," she retorted, narrowing her eyes in Jack's direction, he backed away with a smirk on his face.

"Well I'll leave you kids to it," he stated, heading back towards the door.

"Cya Jack," she said, giving him a small wave.

"Yeah, thanks for the drink," John added as he poured himself a glass.

"No problem," the older man replied disappearing through the door, leaving the two of them alone, or as alone as they could be with a room full of patrons. John swirled his drink thoughtfully and started when a hand covered his on the glass and another took the glass from his hand.

"Hey," he cried. "You stole my last drink and you want to steal this one too."

"Yep," she answered gleefully, downing the rest of his drink in one swig. John stared in astonishment, his eyes darkening as she licked her lips to remove the liquid that remained there causing her rose coloured lips to shine irresistibly.

"How is that fair?"

"It isn't," she responded, "but who said anything about me being fair," she teased as she grabbed the bottle, using her free hand to pick up the key and put it in her pocket. She peered out of the window and John followed her gaze, noticing that it was darker now as dusk set in; streaks of light could be made out on the horizon as the sun inched its way out of sight and the moon glistened translucently in the darker part of the sky. "Well I'm going now; it was nice to meet you."

John felt a deep sense of disappointment set in, for some reason he really didn't want her to leave. "Can I walk you to where you're staying?" he asked, getting up on his feet so that he was standing in front of her, gazing into her eyes. He noticed a blush staining her cheeks and he couldn't help the smug inner smirk - she was obviously affected by him as much as he was her.

"I don't know," she drawled and looked up at him through her lashes, "I don't want you to maul me on the street or anything."

"I promise, no mauling," he replied grinning impishly. He placed his hand on the small of her back, gently escorting her away from the bar. As he got to the door he added, "for now anyway." He couldn't help but smile as her laugh permeated the air.

They slowly walked to where she was staying, which was only down the road from the SGC. Beth had told him that Jack and a group of his friends owned quite a few small business's around this area of Earth; the bar, the motel they were approaching and a shuttle shop - O'Neill's wife was something of a mechanical genius and had come up with evolutional designs, causing quite an uproar in the tech world.

"How did you meet then, if you're not on Earth much?" John asked curiously, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Teal'c travels a lot and Jack tends to accompany him. I literally bumped into him on Chulak, when Teal'c was visiting his son."

"You weren't kidding when you said you traveled a lot," John whistled, Chulak was at the other end of the system, two weeks away even with the best jump systems. She smiled slightly and paused at the steps to the motel.

"It's part of my job," she told him as she turned into his personal space finding him so close to her that she could actually feel the heat from his body, she swallowed quickly and gazed up into his eyes.

"And what is it that you do?" he asked in a low tone, his eyes moving between her lips and eyes as if he couldn't decide where to look. She tilted her head back and pursed her lips.

"Wouldn't you like to know," she retorted, her lips a mere inch away from his. He moved closer and was just about to kiss her when she turned her head and is lips landed on her cheek. He groaned and looked up to see her smiling knowingly at him.

"Tease…" He muttered with a smile in his voice causing her to chuckle quietly as she slowly backed her way up the stairs. She turned and put the key in the door, the sound of the card being scanned indicating the lock was dong its job. A click sounded signifying the unlocking of the door and she glanced over her shoulder, seeing him licking his lower lip with an anxiously puzzled expression on his face - it was cute.

"I'll see you tomorrow John, it's the SGC's weekly Barbeque event, Jack loves trying to cook," she announced, breaking the electrified silence that had befallen them before entering the motel. He watched her get greeted with a hug by a short, pretty brunet woman with brown eyes before the doors shut completely, leaving him alone with a ridiculous grin on his face, one he couldn't get rid of even when he returned to the Liberty.

"Earth to Sheppard…hello," Jack said, bringing him back from his thoughts by waving a hand in front of his face.

"Sorry Jack, I was miles away," he replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand and rolling his shoulders.

"You should take the room," Jack insisted, "It's much better then those racks you sleep in on that ship of yours."

"Thanks but…"

"No buts, I insist," Jack demanded, pushing the key card over to John across the bar. John was about to protest when he noticed Jacks 'don't argue with me' look and he sighed in resignation, taking out the communicator from his pocket and bringing it to his mouth.

"Lorne, you there?" John spoke into the device which crackled slightly before another voice sounded through it.

"No," Lorne mocked causing John to snort.

"I'm staying in the motel tonight so I won't be coming back to the ship," he told him, his face showing his bewilderment when he heard arguing in the background. "What's going on over there?"

"Oh nothing much," Lorne insisted, though John could hear his pilots amusement clearly. "Laura's just met her match," he added vaguely. "Do we have enough money to bail her out for murder?"

"What?!" John laughed.

"I think that might be where this is headed," he warned jokingly as the shouting increased.

"Well keep her in check, if she gets sent down we're leaving her," John kidded, shaking his head at his crews antics.

"Got it," Lorne responded. "See you tomorrow." The line cut just after John heard Lorne yelling 'Laura Sheppard says I can leave you if you get sent down'. Shaking his head he turned back to Jack who had a bemused expression on his face.

"Thanks for the room, I think I'll head there now," he told Jack, waving the card in the air pointlessly. Jack gave him a sharp wave before he turned to serve another customer, who was tapping a foot impatiently. The doors parted and the sound of the busy Earth port hit his ears causing him to sigh - today was going to be a long day.

-----

Angry shouts and frustrated growls formed a symphony as two figures argued with each other in the centre of one of the main tech shops on the port. Shelves and more shelves lined the walls, filled with all sorts of parts and various materials. Lorne casually leaned back on one wall, bracing himself with his elbows on a shelf behind him and watching the argument with great interest.

Laura's blonde hair whipped around as she turned on the annoying man before her, his brown eyes flashing as his cheeks flushed an angry red. She gestured wildly with her hands to emphasize her point.

"I don't want that one," she hissed, pointing to the part in the man's hands, "I want that one!" She pointed sharply at a part on the shelf near Lorne's head.

"You can't put that part in a class four Liberty," the angry man shouted. "It's not compatible."

"Yes it is!" Laura hissed.

"Oh really and you're qualified to make that judgment how? I don't see you're name above the door of your own tech shop," the man retorted smugly.

"That's because I've got better things to do with my time, like actually running a cruiser and gaining first hand experience around an engine. You obviously wouldn't know one if it hit you in the head," she shouted, earning a grin of approval from Lorne.

"Sorry to interrupt," Lorne butted in sarcastically, pushing himself away from the wall and taking the part Laura wanted from the shelf before walking over to the steaming duo. He glared at Rodney, "You're supposed to SELL parts the customer wants and the customer wants this one. You're not supposed to bore us to death with your endless tirade. Now can we buy this and leave you to your miserable existence…please," he added with a cheeky grin.

"You can't talk to me like that?" He cried.

"He can and he just did," Laura told him happily.

"But…but…you can't…I," he spluttered at an obvious loss for words. His partner walked towards him with a scolding expression on his face, having witnessed the whole exchange from the back office.

"Rodney, you can't treat customers like that," he told him as he bounced on the souls of his feet, his mess of curly hair bouncing with him.

"What would you know Zelenka?" he snapped before shoving the unwanted part into his hands and heading towards the counter.

"Enough to know that the lady," he smiled shyly in Laura's direction, "is right"

"Thank you," Laura beamed after throwing a glare in Rodney's direction.

"What?" Rodney cried indignantly. "I think you've inhaled too many fuel fumes, you obviously don't know what you're talking about…then again you never do," he ranted.

"Think about it Rodney, it is simple really. If you just change the resonating…" Rodney cut him off as he snapped his fingers repeatedly, quickly walking behind the counter.

"Yes, yes, yes, of course. If you just change the resonating wave to a lower frequency and switch the release valve to full…its simple but," he reluctantly glanced at Laura and with a forced tone continued, "ingenious."

"There you go Laura, you can live the rest of your life in splendor, the great Rodney McKay complemented your work," Lorne drawled, earning himself a chuckle from Zelenka who got glared at by McKay.

"Oh joy," she sighed. "Can I have the part now?"

"What? Oh yes, of course you can," McKay said, ignoring the sarcasm aimed at him. "What other modifications have you made?"

"Lots," she replied dismissively, rolling her eyes as she turned her back to him. Lorne handed the credits needed for the part over to Rodney, who stared at them blankly for a moment.

"I'll give you all the parts you want for free if you let me look," he offered quickly." Both Laura and Lorne spun in his direction as Zelenka sighed tiredly and used his finger to push his glasses back into place before muttering under his breath and leaving the room.

"No!" Laura exclaimed just as Lorne said, "Really?!"

"Yes, every single part you want, for free." Laura saw the look in Lorne's eyes and shook her head.

"No Lorne, I don't want him in my engine room. No, no, no and no!" She hit his arm and growled, noticing that his expression hadn't changed at all. "I can't believe you're doing this to me, I'm never going to forgive you…ever!"

Lorne guffawed, "You'll get over it. Just think of all the new shiny toys you'll have to play with."

"I hope you like taking cold showers because I have a feeling, the water system in your quarters is going to malfunction…very, very soon," she threatened.

"Is that a yes?" Rodney asked hopefully.

"Yep, it is," Lorne stated cheerfully, winking in Laura's direction. She growled and stormed over to the shelves, pointing at the different parts she wanted as McKay called Zelenka back in to start packing the parts - hopefully some retail therapy would make her feel better, Lorne thought.

-----

John dragged himself up the stairs making his way to the room Jack had given him for the night. The new manager of the inn was a man by the name of Jonas Quinn and he had been waiting for him to arrive, probably because Jack had informed the man of his arrival. He had dismissed the man's offer of help, knowing the way to this room like the back of his hand. It seemed like only yesterday since he had last been here and even though it had been five years the memories still hurt like hell.

John threw her over his shoulder, even as she protested half heartedly and tried to break free of his grasp. It was very early in the morning; the SGC barbeque having lasted much longer then anyone had expected it too. With the unexpected arrival of Beth the SGC staff - which he learned consisted of; Jack and his wife Sam, Daniel and his long time girlfriend Janet and last but not least Teal'c - had wanted to play catch up. They were a friendly group of people and John knew he hadn't laughed so much in a long time - they were ridiculously funny.

Alcohol had flowed freely and he had - rather foolishly - challenged Beth to a drinking competition, much to the amusement of the others, who had placed all of their bets on Beth - now he knew why, she had won hands down. The side affect of this was of course the fact that they both were more than a little gone, but neither of them minded.

"John," she squealed girlishly, pushing at his back. "Put me down." He laughed as he neared the door to her room, letting her slide down his body to her feet, still pulled flushed against him. He stepped forward forcing her to take a step back, her back hitting the door with a thump. She tilted her head back and her lips were instantly by covered by his. He coaxed a moan from her throat, using that as an excuse to slide his tongue in to meet hers. Everything about her filled his senses; her scent, her taste, the feel of her skin against his palm as he discovered the skin beneath her top. She pulled away breathlessly, her hands resting on his chest.

"This is insane," she whispered as his hands drifted to her waste, his thumbs caressing the skin above her waste band.

"I know," he whispered back, moving his lips to the curve of her neck. She bit her lip to stop a whimper escaping her throat and blindly reached for the door handle, finally gripping it on the third try. The old fashioned door swung open and with a surprised yelp she fell backwards, John following her lead and landing on top of her. They both laughed before he smothered the sound with another soul shattering kiss, kicking the door closed with his foot.

"I shouldn't feel like this," she continued when the kiss broke again. He rested his forehead against hers and opened his eyes.

"Neither should I, but I do." Her hands caressed his back, slowly moving upwards until she threaded them through his hair, scraping his head with her fingernails lightly. She gently kissed his lips again, then again and again until they got lost in each other.

He pushed the door open, his heart aching with the fact that this time he was alone, she wasn't here and she would never be again. An unexpected surge of bitterness overwhelmed him and he forcibly removed his jacket and threw it across the room, the material thudding painfully against the wall. He slumped onto the bed, cradling his head in his hands and closed his eyes to stop the onslaught of tears that threatened to fall. He would never allow him self to be hurt like that again.

Tbc…