Chapter 7: Was it just a dream.

I need my boots, we're getting out of here." he said as they walked up the passageway towards the infirmary.

In the infirmary Jack sat down and quickly put on his boots, then grabbing his jacket they made their way to the exit. As they walked out into the glaring morning sun Jack stopped dead and grabbed Kate's arm.

"How did we even get here?" asked Jack confused.

Kate reminded Jack of how he had slipped and tumbled down the mountainside and hit his head and how Daniel had radioed Dex for help and she had airlifted him to safety by helicopter.

"You mean I just slipped and fell?" Jack asked disconcerted.

"Yes!" Kate answered.

"I slipped." He muttered to himself and he headed towards the helicopter.

"Come on," he beckoned. "I'll drop you off at your cabin."

Kate was slightly stunned that Jack knew how to fly the helicopter but quite dismayed at his suggestion that he was dropping her off at the cabin. After all that they'd just been through she thought she might at least get to spend a little more time with him.

…..

The next thing she knew they were up in the air and flying over the group of tiny islands.
She had always been a little scared of heights but the view was so beautiful she almost forgot her fear. So many things were swimming around in her head as she stared at the sea and the waves rippling gently. She felt as if the last day had just been a dream and she'd wake up all of a sudden to find that none of this was real.

A few minutes later they were flying over the mainland. Kate sat upright in her chair as the helicopter bobbed and weaved through the mountain peaks.

"There it is!" Jack shouted as he pointed towards the small wooden cabin perched almost at the edge of the plateau, it looked small and insignificant in comparison to the mountain and even the slope where jack had fallen and she suddenly felt the same way. Jack maneuvered the helicopter to a landing spot and set it down just meters away from the cabin.

Jack flicked the switch to stop the rotors, there was a moment's silence as neither of them knew what to say. Kate stared at her cabin a short distance away reluctant to leave the helicopter.

"I'll walk you," said Jack suddenly and jumping out of the pilot's seat he walked around to the passenger side and gently lifted Kate out. As her feet touched the ground and she held onto his strong, protecting arms she felt vulnerable once again. She looked into his eyes and she tried hard to stop herself from getting all emotional. She smiled but inside she was being torn into a thousand little pieces.

Jack walked with her towards the cabin. "Are you gonna be ok?" asked Jack sincerely.

"I'll be fine," spluttered Kate, that familiar lump coming to her throat.

"Ok then," he replied also seeming lost for words.

Jack turned to go and Kate watched him as he walked back to the helicopter.

"Will I see you again?" Kate blurted but Jack obviously was too far away to hear her.

Jack turned and smiled and waved before climbing into the helicopter and setting the rotors going. Kate just managed to waved back before the blades started to turn and dust began to fly everywhere forcing her into the cabin. She slammed the door shut and with her back pressed against it, she listened in silence and held her breath as the noise of the helicopter disappeared far into the distance.

Days went by… then weeks and Jack never returned to the cabin.

Autumn was closing in up on the mountain so Kate packed up her belongings, locked up the cabin and went back to her house in the city. She threw herself into her work and tried to forget all about the strange grey aliens, the lab and the cloning device and most of all she tried to forget about Jack.

Her career as a freelance photographer meant she worked most days from home and it was on one of these days, as she was knelt on the floor arranging some photos for a new layout, that she heard a knock at her door.

"Come in!" she called out turning and expecting to see the young man from the grocery shop or even the postman but it was neither.

"Dex!" Kate exclaimed as she jumped to her feet scattering the photos all over the floor. "How did you find me here?"

"Oh you'd be surprised at the technology these days." Dex said teasingly as she walked towards her. "I have something that belongs to you," she added as she handed Kate a brown paper carrier bag.

"Oh thank you!" she exclaimed as she dragged her old, torn dress out of the bag and placed it on the sideboard.

Dex went over to the sofa and made her self comfortable. "Well," she said as Kate nervously hovered. "Aren't you going to offer me a drink?"

Kate realised that returning the dress wasn't the only thing that Dex had come to see her about.

Kate made them both a drink and sat down on the sofa opposite her. Kate was just about to swallow a mouthful of tea when Dex spoke.

"So! How are things between you and Jack?" Kate almost choked as she drew in her breath instead of swallowing.

Dex got up and gently patted Kate on the back until she had stopped coughing. "I thought as much," Dex added sympathetically.

Kate took another sip of tea to get rid of the annoying tickle in her throat.

"They closed the lab and suspended me!" Dex exclaimed unexpectedly.

Kate swallowed hard and put her cup safely on the table.

"Jack did this?" she asked pensively.

"Oh it wasn't just Jack," replied Dex and she paused and had a sip of her tea.

"It's a messy business I know but…," she continued, much to Kate's increasing uneasiness "Thor and I go back a long way and I'm the only person they know might be able to solve their little problem. The poor little guys are so desperate that they gave me another cloning device and found me another lab in a secret location, but I desperately need your help."

"You need MY help?" Kate asked surprised.

"Yes believe it or not, I do," Dex replied patronisingly. "I've just got the device set up and working but I need some DNA to start my experiments and…" she purposely coughed "get more funding. But for obvious reasons I can't be seen anywhere near any SGC personnel." she added.

Dex paused and looked directly at Kate, who looked back at her open mouthed and still baffled. "I needJack's DNA."

Kate's eyes widened and she stared and shook her head. "I can't help you, I doubt if I'll ever see him again." Kate replied.

Dex took another sip of tea. "I think I might be able to fix that for you."