Chapter Nine
As she laid herself down onto the mattress, Helen released a contented sigh as the cool sheets came into contact with her skin. With her skin still tingling from her recent encounter with Colonel Jack O'Neill, the cooler temperature of the bedding was a welcome contrast in relief. Replaying their embrace in her mind, Helen found herself blushing to an empty room as she remembered the moment their chaste kiss turned into something much more powerful. What was originally intended to be a gesture of compassion and support quickly became one of a deep understanding and communication, far deeper than she was ready to admit to yet. Closing her eyes tight shut to the emotions and sensations that were threatening to overwhelm her system, Helen took a deep, calming breath before attempting to fall off to sleep.
In another part of the building, Jack O'Neill found himself in a rather similar predicament as he continued to pace the length and breadth of his quarters. Knowing full well that dwelling on the matter was not going to get him anywhere but right back to square one, Jack decided with a frustrated sigh that it was time to hit the sack. Chuckling to himself, the irony of 'hitting the sack' was not lost on him. Remembering with humiliating clarity the embarrassment of trying to talk his way out of that remark when in reality, his use of phrase wasn't far from the truth if they'd carried on what they were doing not half an hour ago. Attempting to shake such thoughts from his mind with a vigorous shake of his head, Jack resided himself to the fact that now was not the time for such things and that she was only trying to help and it was time to try and get some sleep.
Determined to not get distracted from the task at hand, Helen got up the following morning and made it her business to try and find out as much as possible about the potential for multiple abilities to exist in one single abnormal. The majority of her research turned up nothing, leading her to the ever-likely conclusion that an abnormal has never been documented or studied before with so many abilities residing in one being at any given point in history. And with that notion, Helen found herself smiling as she realised how the possibility of all the powers that Colonel O'Neill's possesses may have come to exist in him alone.
Unable to contain her excitement at her discovery, Helen went straight from her lab to Colonel O'Neill's room, knocking almost impatiently as she waited anxiously outside his quarters. Opening the door, Jack was confronted with a rather smug-looking Helen Magnus as she stood there, practically grinning from ear to ear. Raising his eye brows at her giddy expression, Jacked asked in amusement.
"Where's the fire?"
Thrown slightly by his question, Helen replied in confusion.
"Pardon?"
Smirking slightly at her confused expression, Jack retorted.
"You were knocking on here as if the building was on fire. And why do you look like the proverbial cat who's got the cream?"
Giving him a mega-watt smile, Helen leaned in slightly as she uttered excitedly.
"I think I've figured out how and why you seem to have so many abilities."
Finding her enthusiasm infectious, Jack smiled back in kind as he injected tenderly.
"I'm all ears, doc"
Turning the computer screen to face them both, Helen explained.
"Don't quote me on it but I think that's how you've come to inherit all these abilities."
Frowning slightly in concentration, Jack injected simply.
"So, you're saying that I'm a, uh..."
"Significant step forward on our evolutionary chain, yes."
Smiling in genuine happiness, Jack clapped his hands together as he retorted cheerfully.
"Cool."
Finding his child-like enthusiasm infectious, Helen didn't even try to suppress the smile that broke out upon her face. Watching him as he continued to smile warmly at her, Helen found herself studying him up close. Noticing, not for the first time, the deep brown of his eyes; the silvery glint to his hair, that irresistible smirk of his, not to mention the kind, caring nature she kept seeing shine through, Helen realised with ever increasing clarity the fact that however much she might think it was impossible for it to work...she was without a doubt falling hard for this man. Just as she was about to speak, an immense wave of pain coursed its way through her head and she gripped the desk for support.
"Ow...God, that hurts."
Rushing to her side, Jack leaned down to her level as she braced herself over the desk and asked concernedly.
"What is it, what's wrong?"
"It's my head...it hurts...God, it really hurts."
Placing both hands either side of her head, he added gently.
"Here, let me help. Just relax."
Leaning into his touch, Helen found herself melting under his ministrations as he applied the gentlest and soothing of caresses. Closing her eyes at the feel of his hands as he continued his massage, Helen let out a low moan of approval which he responded to by applying more pressure to the area which he had been concentrating on at her sound. Humming contently as he stepped up his attentions on her; Helen found herself unable to suppress the guttural moan that left her lips as he moved his fingers down to brush the area just below her ear, causing a shiver of delight to slip her spine as he leaned in a little bit closer and whispered huskily.
"Feeling better?"
Smiling with her eyes still closed, Helen licked her lips self-consciously as she answered breathlessly.
"Yes." Earning a chuckle from him as he continued to caress the spot just below her ear, triggering her to clutch the arm of the sofa as he slipped down to her neck.
Leaning in close to her ear, Jack uttered softly.
"Turn round."
Complying with him instantly without question; Helen gasped slightly when her lab coat was taken from her and warm hands replaced it at her shoulders, rubbing them in soothing circles. Letting her head fall forward as he worked his way down to her shoulder blades, Helen's breath hitched as he leant forward and placed the softest of kisses to the nape of her neck.
Overwhelmed by his gentle and considerate actions, Helen felt the tears beginning to well up behind her eyelids at his touch. Bringing his hands back to the tops of her shoulders, Jack rested them there as he spoke softly.
"There...all better now." Before releasing his hold on her and stepping back slightly.
Turning round to face him, Helen was struck by how kind and compassionate he was turning out to be, considering the amount of hell he'd been through in his lifetime. As she looked at him, Helen started to consider his words from earlier that there may be some things worth taking a leap of faith for. Noticing the fact that she hadn't said anything for a little while, Jack realised that she was looking at him with a rather strange expression. An expression he soon recognised as he himself had worn a similar look as he gazed at her these past few days. As he took a few steps towards her, she saw his expression change from one of musings to a look of slight apprehension.
Slowing his pace to a few hesitant steps, Helen noticed a guilty look pass across his features as he blushed slightly before schooling his expression and looking at her with such clarity it stumped her a little. Never before had anyone looked at her with such clarity and it unnerved her slightly. Sensing her unease, Jack went to make some distance between them when she placed her hand gently upon his arm to halt his actions before saying quietly.
"Don't."
Alarmed by her choice of word, Jack looked directly into her eyes to see what she was referring to, whether to drop the subject entirely and leave her alone or to not move away. Breathing a sigh of relief as to the latter clearly showing in her features, Jack placed his hand on top of hers as he spoke ever so softly, stroking her knuckles as he did so.
"Okay...I stay if you want me to." Shortly before lifting said hand from hers and cupping her cheek. As she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, he whispered tenderly. "I'll stay as long as you want me."
TBC...
