Disclaimer: I only own my oc.

Chapter Three

Three months later

Addison leaned forward on her stool, placing one elbow on the island beside her plate. Her other arm rested across her denim-clad lap, napkin balled up in her fist. Outside the large easterly facing windows across from where she sat, colorful Christmas lights twinkled amidst the softly falling snow. A fire burned in the fireplace in the adjacent room, its glow dancing across the hardwood floors and out into the hall. Addy's toes curled in her knit socks as she thought about warming them in front of the flames. She watched her father as he cut a piece from the Porter House on his plate. Addy's attention dropped to her own barely touched dish of food, eyebrow lifting. Her father had had steak on the grill and baked potatoes in the oven when she arrived home a half hour or so ago. Despite the fact that Christmas was in just a few days and the snow plow truck had left a four foot snow bank on the lawn, her dad was barbecuing. Addy shook her head in amusement, her smile turning wry.

She supposed that was just another sign that Colonel Addison James Palmer had grown up on a Montana Cattle Ranch. Her grandfather had reputedly pit barbecued Christmas dinner nearly every year, when her father and aunt Genie were little.

Addy straightened up, pulling her elbow from the granite counter. She could not eat another bite, she had grabbed something to eat at Taco Bell on her way through Denver. But she had not had the heart to tell her dad, her eyes drifted over his salt and pepper hair that used to be a little darker than her dark brown. She knew her father could take care of himself but she worried about him anyway. She had also missed him like crazy since she left.

Truthfully, she had not thought she was going to make it home when she hit Denver. The Mile High City was blanketed in snow and parts of it were shut down. There was no way that she would have if her father had not left her with his truck and driven hers back when he took her back to Fort Collins the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Four wheel drive or not, she never would have dared the trip down "eighty five" from Denver to The Springs if she had been driving her Xterra. It was a decent enough little four wheel drive, but it would not have handled this trip well. Especially, not when her father's full sized truck had been pushing snow in a couple of places. Luckily, the storm had ended a bit the other side of Monument so the last hour of her trip the road had been bare.

"What are your plans for tomorrow, kid?" her dad asked, pulling Addy from her thoughts.

She met a pair of eyes of an almost identical shade of blue as her own. "Uhhhhh, Grace is coming over and laundry. Lots and lots of laundry." Addy was pretty certain she had packed everything she owned in the backseat of her dad's pickup. She hadn't done laundry in nearly two weeks and that included her bedding. "Why, what did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking maybe we could do a little Christmas shopping tomorrow?" he suggested, adding, "Gracie could come along, if she liked." Her father had always had a soft spot for Addy's outspoken friend. And Grace likewise adored Addison's father.

"Fine with me," she said smiling. She had planned on curling up in front of the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and relaxing, but she needed to get some shopping done also. "I'm sure Grace won't mind."

"Cole and Sarah invited us to The Cattlemen's for dinner tomorrow night," he continued. "I figured I could safely assume the answer to that would be yes."

Addy smiled. Sarah Bennett had shared a love of horses with Addy's mom Maggie. They had met when her mum bought horses after they first arrived in Colorado and boarded them at Sarah and Cole's ranch. They had become fast friends, and that had left the two men involved with little choice but to become friends as well. Neither were exactly out going by nature but they seemed to "rub" along well enough as her mum would say. Now they were fishing buddies, hunting buddies and met for breakfast almost every sunday morning at Ruby's. "Sure," Addy replied.

Addison loved Sarah Bennett and always would. She had not left Addy and her father's side when her mum got real bad in the end. Both she and Cole were more like family than her parents' friends.

"So are we going to the ranch for dinner this year?" Addy asked, curious. She had inquired before but her father had never confirmed one way or the other. They generally went for the holidays like Easter and even Thanksgiving most years. But they usually went to Helena to spend Christmas with her dad's sister and her family since Addy's mom's death. This year her aunt and uncle, along with both of her young cousins were coming to The Springs and Addy could not imagine Sarah Bennett not offering. "Or are we all eating here?"

"Sarah has already talked to your aunt Genie and they decided to get us all together Christmas Eve. Josh and Joelean are both going to be home this year," her father went on referring to Sarah and Cole's children. Josh and his family lived out at the ranch, but Addy had never really got to know their daughter. Joelean was eight years older than Addy and had already graduated college was married and living in Oklahoma when Addy met her parents. She did not make it home for the holidays very often.

"Nice," she began." Aunt Genie said they would be flying in Saturday morning?" Christmas was the following Monday. They were flying which theoretically did save time, if you weren't talking about flying over The Rockies in December.

"Weather permitting," her dad offered, mirroring her thoughts. "Cole wanted me to let you know, you are not a vegetarian," he added, eyeing the steak that she hadn't even eaten half of. "These steaks are a welcome home present."

Addy chuckled lightly and shook her head. Cole with his mustache that went out of style with hoop skirts and pantaloons, salty disposition, and twinkling eyes had always been her favorite of the Sarah, Cole duo. According to him, steak and game were the only real meat, everything else was a vegetable, that included chicken and pork. He had taught Addy to rope and the way to ride a cutting horse when she was sixteen. She had never cared about the roping and a cowgirl she was not but helping to cut a herd with a well-trained horse was an amazing experience.

"How has Cole been feeling?" she asked, sliding from her stool. She grabbed her plate and headed for the counter. When Sarah had called two weeks ago, she had told Addy, Cole had wrenched his back putting up snow fences a couple days prior.

"Ornery as ever as far as I know," her dad began, folding his arms over his chest. Addy glanced at him while she grabbed a container to put her leftovers in. Her father continued, "Oh, yeah, you mean when he wrenched his back a while back."

"Alright, I guess. Having a hard time climbing up and down the ladder today, but too crotchety to take it easy," he said, following her lead. He stood up and made his way across the slate floor, plate and cup in hand.

Watching as he sat the latter down then scraped the food from his plate and into the trash can, she asked, "Movie?"

"Why don't you go to Ruby's and get us some apple pie and I will pretend I will still be up when you get back."

"Ookay?" Addy stammered, a little surprised. She had figured they would watch some corny movie like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or Rooster Cogburn.

"I went out to Cole and Sarah's and helped Cole shovel snow off of the roofs earlier today. It's been a long one. You go see Gracie."

XXxxxXXxxx

Addy pulled her father's truck up in front of the diner, put it in first and shut it off. Her traitorous gaze searching the windows for any sign of him as the noise of the power stroke engine died. She knew he was not here, his car was not anywhere in sight, yet somehow after everything she was still disappointed. Irritated with herself, Addy opened the door, stepping out into the cold night air. She knew, he had not been coming in much if at all, but still some part of her had hoped.

Trying to shove thoughts of Daniel and their one night together away, she shut the door and hurried toward the building. She would like to say, she never would have come to Ruby's tonight if her father had not given her license but that was not at all the truth. She most likely would have contemplated it before the night was out, even if she did not actually do it.

As much as Addison would like to deny it, Daniel had been in the back of her mind a lot lately. To be honest, she had been thinking about him off and on. Really, more on than off for the last few days. She knew this was stupid for her to feel this way. Everything had happened a little over three months ago and it was not like they were a couple or had even dated, but the facts did not seem to matter. It still hurt and a part of her still wanted to see him.

Addy stepped inside, Grace stood at the counter with her back to her. Addy lifted her finger to her lips and smiled at the other waitress. She snuck toward Grace. When she reached her, she grabbed her friend's sides. Grace shrieked, turning around looking ready to kill, until she saw who her attacker was. Her face lit up.

She pulled Addison in for a hug. "I've missed you."

"Me too," Addy agreed hugging her friend back with equal force.

Grace stepped back after a second. "Oh, asshole!" Grace exclaimed, rubbing her sides dramatically as if Addy had grabbed her hard enough to hurt her.

"Cry baby." Addy said skeptically, not commenting on the delayed reaction. Still eyeing her friend, Addy reached up pulling her knit hat from her head and shoved it in her pocket as she sat down on the stool close to where Grace stood.

After another second Grace quit rubbing her sides. "And you are an asshole."

Addison simply cocked a brow.

"Coffee?" Grace questioned unphased by Addy's eyebrow as she made her way behind the counter.

"Sure," she confirmed, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair then unzipping her jacket.

Grace turned back around, eyeing Addy's, now almost shoulder length hair as she handed her the coffee. "I like it."

Addy grabbed three packets of sugar from the little container on the counter in front of her. "Thanks, me too."

"I wasn't so certain you were going to make it home. I heard Denver is pretty much closed down?"

"Yeah, it was pretty bad when I came through. If I hadn't had dads truck, I never would have attempted it," Addy confirmed as she dumped her sugar packets in her coffee than reached for a creamer. "Dad wants pie," She added as she emptied the creamer in her coffee and stirred.

"I'm not surprised," Grace said, knowing the colonels like for all things sweet. "Why isn't he with you?"

"He was out helping Cole clean snow off the buildings early." Addy took a drink of her coffee before she continued, "So he kicked me out and went to bed."

"Why does he want pie then?" she asked amused.

Shrugging, Addy replied, "I don't know, he told me he wanted apple and we would pretend he would be up when I got home."

Grace shook her head as she made her way to the pie display. "We have half a dutch apple left," she said, checking the time. It was only eight twenty but she couldn't imagine anyone would be in. It was bitter cold outside and the weather had been questionable all evening. Besides the older couple sitting in the back of the diner eating, Graces was the first face she had seen in an hour or so.

"Sure, I'll take it."

"Want some before I box it up?" she inquired, grabbing a big white box from the stack under the counter.

"Nope. I ate two seven layer burritos and a chicken quesadilla on the way home from Denver and dad topped me off with steak for dinner, I don't think there is room." Addison trailed off, her mind turning back to Daniel. "Have you? Have you seen him?" she asked, already knowing the answer and silently hating herself for asking.

Grace paused, putting the pie in a to go box. She had wondered when Addy would ask. She never seemed to be open to talking about what had happened but she would ask that question. "No."

Really, Addy was a private person and was never one to talk a lot about her relationships or the guys she went out with, but Grace had her own theories about what happened between them. Honestly, she had thought if it did happen it might be good for Addy, but obviously she was wrong.

"I am such an idiot, you know," Addy asked rhetorically. She did not, could not understand why she still, shaking her head, Addy refused to let the thought finish. She was not going to think about Daniel Jackson anymore.

"Well, we all are sometimes," the blond began, a thoughtful look coming over her face. "That is, unless we are talking about me, of course."

Addy gave her a skeptical look, lifting one eyebrow. "That is debatable."

"Whatever! But we both know I am right."

Addy snorted this time. "Right," she opened her mouth a second later, "you know, I." Her mouth closed just as quickly. "I just…." her attention dropped back to her coffee.

Grace put the box containing the pie on the counter and pushed it toward her friend. "Add, honey. I don't know what happened, but I can guess." It didn't take a genius. Addy's vehicle was setting outside when Tony had arrived the following morning to open. "Maybe I shouldn't have pushed you."

Addy glanced up at her friend, her eyes dropping again as she began to talk. "No, it's not your fault, Grace." Her brows grew close, and she shook her head. "I just," she began, running her hands through her hair. She had just been far to exposed with him. She had never been one for casual sex, that was more Grace's territory. Daniel had not been a good place for her to start, no matter how unwittingly. She had always been all tied up, a mass of uncertainty when it came to him. And she still was. Meeting Grace's gaze again, "I just.. I had no business," she shrugged.

"I could kill him you know," Grace said vehemently.

Addy shook her head, "No. Just leave it." Shaking her head again, her attention dropped. She picked at the metal edge running around the counter. Her brows grew closer as she continued. "I went through that myself." Her blue eyes meeting Graces green again, Grace gave her a doubtful look, Addy continued anyway. "He is not a bad guy."

Grace's gaze grew heavier with disbelief and the new emotion of disdain. "How magnanimous of you," she sarcastically replied, shaking her head.

Addy wasn't being stupid as Grace was implying. "How long have we known him? He's not that type of guy. He is a good guy," she insisted. That did not in anyway, mean Addison understood what had happened. That didn't mean, she even knew how she felt or that she was over it. The thought of him used to bring butterflies to her stomach, now it brought a heavy weight and a wealth of regret.

"Good guy?" Grace scoffed.

"Yes," Addy began, shaking her head again. "He is a good guy, Gracie, and you know it. He is not in anyway that kind of guy who plays games. Think about it." Her words trailed off, her gaze dropping as the memory of her whispered words slipped into her mind, that ache settling in her stomach again. She doubted he would ever have initiated what happened between them. "I started it, Grace," She began her eyes meeting her friends. "Before you say anything, I am the reason we ended up in bed together." Fully aware she was the one who had brought Daniel Jackson into conversation to begin with, Addy went on. "Let it be."

Still uncertain, Grace studied her friend for a moment. "Quoting the Beatles, are we?"

"Yes," she said definitively. "Speaking words of wisdom, let it be," pausing for emphasis, before she continued. "Now, do you mind if we go Christmas shopping with dad rather than hangout at the house tomorrow?"

Letting the subject go, Grace said, "Sure."

"I was thinking, if the roads were not iced over, maybe we could do breakfast at the house?"

Xxxxx

Daniel looked up from the notebook lying open on his desk. He glanced at his watch before he reached for his coffee cup to find it empty. His brows rose: it was eight thirty: late but not as late as he had thought. His attention dropped back to the papers spread out across his desk as he lifted the insulated coffee pot sitting on the other side of them. It was empty as well and he had just got it when he returned from eating dinner in the mess. Daniel set it back down, he had apparently drank through four cups of coffee since he ate dinner around five. His brows lifted, maybe it was time to call it a night? None of what he was studying and researching was pressing at the moment. They were just notes and pictures, Sergeant Glasner had taken of some ruins when he was off world with SG-15 yesterday. They could wait. Daniel appreciated Glasners efforts but they needed someone to replace Robert Rothman. Unfortunately, that was not a simple task: the vetting process was rigorous. Anything questionable in their background and the candidate was discarded. Daniel had thought about contacting Catherine Langford to see if there was anyone she would recommend, but he had not.

That was because, at times, including this one, Daniel felt horrible about being irritated with still not having a replacement. He was the reason, Robert was in the position to be taken by a symbiote to begin with. Jack would tell Daniel it was not his fault. That he should not allow himself to take that responsibility on because feeling guilty for things he could not control was a bad road. But as Jack would also say, "to use a cliche which you know I hate to do, sometimes you had to call a spade a spade." If it was not for Daniel, Robert Rothman, never would have ended up working with the SGC.

Realizing the futility of his thoughts, Daniel left them behind, before they could turn down other paths he did not want to revisit tonight. He stretched and rolled his shoulders to try and alleviate some of the tension building in them. He was finding his desk chair supremely uncomfortable lately. He really wasn't certain what happened to it, it had never bothered his neck and shoulders before, but it did now. He had put in a requisition for another. Deciding to call it a night, Daniel got up. He also decided to just go home in his work blues, he shrugged out of his uniform shirt, laying it across the back of his chair, so just his black shirt remained. He gathered a couple of his own worn notebooks from the edge of his desk and gave his office a quick once over from the door, making sure he had not left anything out he did not intend to. Despite the fact he had been off world on four separate missions in the last two weeks and all of the work that required, Daniel had not been able to shake this restless feeling he had lately. He shut the light off and headed for the locker room to grab his jacket and keys. Honestly, he knew what was wrong: and it was not just the thoughts of his friend: It was her. He had realized quickly that he had underestimated or chose to ignore a great many things that night. One of which, was just how far what he felt for her might run. He knew he was taking a risk, but he had never expected her to try and kiss him and he had certainly never expected…. Daniel shut that thought down.

He had not spent every day since thinking about her, but he knew she would be in The Springs. Honestly, he had thought about her at Thanksgiving as well. Daniel still felt what he had done was right. Things were far too complicated to have her in his life, but it really was not so simple. The memory of her standing in his kitchen the next morning filled Daniels head. She had tried to mask the hurt and surprise that slid across her features. He had handed her a coffee and... That heavy weight that settled into his stomach when he thought about her came again. He had stood there, a knife like feeling twisting his gut, he had been helpless. She had only glanced at him a couple more times as she gathered her things. He had suddenly needed to touch her. He was not certain then and he still was not now, if the compulsion had been born of a need to somehow reassure her, too silently show her he wished there was another way. Or if it was meant to ease the chaos of conflicting emotions brewing inside of him.

But she had pulled her arm back and stepped away. The sun had barely been up and it had been cold out and she would not even let him take her back to her car. He shoved the memory aside.

Daniel wished he could go back and change things, but at the same time part of him did not. He never would have wanted to hurt her.

Even though, he knew it was not wise, he wished he would see her.

Xxxxxx

Grace continued to stare out the window, watching as the light came on when Addy opened the door and climbed into her dad's truck. Addy smiled, waving before she started the truck up. Grace remained where she was watching as Addy backed out of the parking spot and drove to the entrance. "Hey Evie," she said, turning her attention back to her coworker who she had barely spoken to in the last hour, since Addison arrived. "Why don't you finish wiping down the tables and I will finish the ketchups," Grace said, flipping one ketchup bottle upside down and placing it on another. She had gathered them up, while Addison was still here and they had started marrying the bottles. "Carlos is cleaning the kitchen," she went on, glancing at the brunette. "We can close up early."

"The boss won't mind?" Evie asked uncertain.

"As slow as we have been tonight, nope." checking her watch quickly, she went on, "It is already nine."

Grace left the bottles stacked and was starting to wipe down the napkin dispensers on the bar, when Evie said, "We got a customer."

"Of course," Grace mumbled. Grabbing her order pad, she called to Carlos, "Don't cover up the grill just yet."

The bell over the door dinged as someone stepped inside and Grace looked up a greeting on the tip of her tongue, until she saw their patron.

"Hey, Grace," he said.

Still surprised, Grace simply stared at his familiar face for a moment. He unzipped his jacket and shrugged out of it as he made his way to the counter.

Graces attention darted out the window then back to him as he sat down on the stool. He must have been pulling in almost as Addison was pulling out. "Doctor Jackson," she said, finally finding her voice. "What... What can I get for you?"

Brows knitting, he rested his elbows on the bar. "How about a coffee? You wouldn't have any Dutch Apple, would you?" he asked, a note of hopefulness in his voice.

"No, someone…," Grace trailed off and she shook her head. What were the fucking odds, she silently questioned. "Someone just bought what I had left. We have pumpkin though" she offered, still a little incredulous.

"Pumpkin it is then."

Xxxxx

The Next Evening

Addison hurried through the front door of The Cattlemen's ahead of her dad. Why on earth had she decided to wear a skirt, she questioned as she scuffed the snow from the souls of her black leather boots. She unwrapped her scarf from around her neck and unbuttoned her grey tweed peacoat, smiling at the hostess.

"How many," the girl asked.

"We are meeting the Bennett party," her father responded as Addy's gaze travelled around the busy interior as the girl scanned the page on the podium in front of her.

Normally, at the worst you only had to wait to be seated but the holidays were always busy and most times you needed a reservation unless you were setting in the bar area.

Addison slid her coat off, holding it over her arm, her attention returned to her father as the girl said, "This way; your party is already here."

Thanks for reading!

A/N: Hey, it is me again. So I kinda feel like I owe ya'll an apology. I know Daniel was not in this chapter very much, but in the next one that will not be the case, I promise! As always, thanks for the faves, follows, and reviews, they make my day! Okay, so one more thing, this story is going to be a little longer than I had originally planned. I am going to try a shoot for Thursday or Friday updates and promise the title, odd though it may be, will be explained. It is a reference but not that Daniel Jackson is better than Ben Affleck….