The Exchange Teacher

by Deepdale

**COMPLETE**. Yee hah. Hope you liked it.

1. Default Chapter

Title:                 The Exchange Teacher

Author:              Deepdale

Rating:              PG-13

Spoliers:           Very mild for end of Season 5, Season 6 & 7

Summary:         Cassie's new English teacher causes a stir in the lives of SG1.

Disclaimer:        Stargate SG1 and its characters do not belong to me, I just borrowed them a little. 

.                       This story is for entertainment purposes only.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 1.        On Campus

"Cassie," a voice called out across the campus grounds.  "Hey, cloth ears, Cassie, hold on."

She finally heard, stopped and turned to let the caller catch up.  "Miss Pallister, sorry, I was

miles away."

"You left your text book.  How would you have written your assignment?"

"I'd have found a way," she grinned.

"Yes I expect you would," Miss Pallister handed her the slim volume of short stories.

"Hey Cassandra," a man strode into view.

"Daniel!" the young girl's face transformed completely with that one word.  Interesting.  From sulky, difficult teenager to something softer, younger, more natural.  He clearly meant a great deal to her.  Which was quite understandable just looking at him.  Tall, well built, nut brown hair cut short but not too short, a half smile turning the corners of his mouth up giving him a friendly look.

"Hey sweetie," he dropped a kiss on her cheek.  Okay.  Not a dirty old man with a girlfriend almost half his age, must be a family friend.  "Your mom's tied up at work, asked me to come pick you up."  Yep, right guess.

"Great," Cassie's eyes shone with delight.  "Can we go for coffee?"

"I guess.  But then homework.  Hello there," he turned his attention to the woman standing beside Cass.  Oh yum, she thought.  Right there with you Cassie, that smile would make me light up too.

"Hello.  Goodbye," she replied.  "See you in class Cassie, and don't forget that assignment."

"Yeah, yeah, see you Miss Pallister.  Oh, and 'cloth ears', how terribly... British," she added with a wicked grin.

"Why thank you, I aim to please.  Enjoy your coffee."

Miss Pallister watched as he threw an arm affectionately around Cassie's shoulders and they headed toward his parked car, which is worth noting was low and lean and very sporty.  Double yum.  Hey Cassie, she felt like calling out, you take my marking and lesson preparation, I'll take your good looking, sports car driving friend.  A fair exchange wouldn't you say...

The car pulled away from the pavement, correction sidewalk with a deep throaty growl and disappeared round the corner.  With a sigh Miss Pallister returned to her classroom, collected the waiting books, bundled them in a holdall and headed home.

Home presently consisted of a room in the campus-housing village, at least as an exchange teacher she warranted a single room and private bath.  Spartan yet practical was about the best description she could come up with for her accommodation.  But as it was only for one academic year it didn't seem worth going to the bother of finding somewhere off campus to rent.  One year to leave behind her oh so messy divorce, one year to put some distance between herself and the main protagonists (ex-husband and his bimbo), and a chance to experience a whole new way of life, teaching aside.

She had hoped after two months in the U.S of A, she might have seen at least some man action.  The plan, drawn up on the long flight from England involved breaking at least one heart a month until, by the end of her exchange visit, her own heart would be whole again and she could get on with living.  Some plan.  With the possible exception of the tasty specimen collecting her most gifted pupil she had yet to find even the first remotely likely candidate for her plan to kick into action.  Femme fatale Jessie Pallister you aren't.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 2.        Shopping

Campus meals were ok, but every now and then Jessie craved something different, something she could cook for herself and eat in the privacy of her own room instead of the communal cafeteria.  To accomplish this involved a short bus ride to the nearest supermarket and a leisurely stroll down the miles of aisles looking at the multitude of produce available and impulse buying whatever caught her eye.  She loved it, which in itself was pretty sad.  Up and down the

aisles she drifted, tossing items into her trolley as the fancy struck.

Jessie would probably have walked right by him if his trolley hadn't cannoned into hers.

"I'm so sorry."

"No problem," Jessie smiled in reply.  "Oh, hello again."

"Hello.  It's... Miss Pallister, right?"

"It is.  And you are Cassie's chauffeur."

"Jackson, Daniel Jackson."

"Jessica, Jess to friends."

"Hello Jess," he shook her hand politely.  Nice hand, she noted, warm, dry, firm grip without being too butch and hurting, clean unbitten nails.  Hey, these things are important.

"Daniel."

This time the sunglasses he had been wearing when she met him with Cassie were replaced by simple framed ordinary glasses and she could see he possessed the most intense blue eyes she'd ever encountered.  Oh boy.  Blue as deep as the ocean, as clear as sapphires.  Jessie Pallister was a lost cause.

"So you're Cassie's exchange teacher from England."

"I am indeed.  And are you a doctor like Cassie's mum?"

"A doctor yes, but not medical.  However I do work with Janet up at the air base.  Is Cassie behaving herself for you?"

"We have our good days and our bad."

"Yeah," he agreed.  "It seems like that with all of us these days."

"It can't be easy for her, I mean she is only sixteen and the rest of her classmates are two years older, which at that age can amount to quite a gap on the maturity ladder," Jess pointed out.  "That could explain some of the moodiness."

"Yes," he looked surprised.  "You know I'd never thought about it that way.  Poor Cass, a victim of her own success."

"Partly," Jess didn't want him showering her with sympathy and making the situation worse for all concerned.  Cassandra had chosen to move up to University early, she could have waited for her peers but Cassie just wasn't that kind of kid, she met everything head on including her education. "Partly she's just your average moody, difficult teenager."

"So don't go spoiling her Daniel," he said.

"Exactly."   He grinned and her stomach took a nose-dive.  If the smile had been good the grin was great.

"So, how are you finding being over this side of the Atlantic?" he asked, moving his trolley alongside hers, allowing them to stroll side by side down the aisle.

"Mostly okay," Jess replied, pausing in front of a display of colourful packets.  "But I haven't found a really good strong brand of coffee yet."

"Mm, well maybe I can help you out on that one.  Jack swears by this brand, reckons a really big hit and you can keep going all night," he handed her a packet she hadn't yet tried.

"Jack?" Jess groaned inwardly.  Great.  Sounds like he really is too good to be true.  Gay?  Aaargh.  Why else would a guy talk about another guy with a quirky smile on his face.  Coffee strong enough to keep you up all night.  For what?  Sheesh!

"A friend... mostly.  I work with him too.  He hates paperwork, avoids filing reports until the last possible moment, hence the all night sessions."

"Ah."  Thank God.  Not gay.  Shame on you Jessie Pallister for thinking such things.  She smiled broadly.  "I'll give it a try."

"I hope you don't mind my saying, I couldn't help but notice, that's a strange mix of shopping," Daniel observed, looking at the contents of her trolley.

Jess laughed self-consciously "I know.  Mostly I eat in the student cafeteria but sometimes I get the urge to eat on my own.  I only have a microwave in my room so it is pretty limiting."

"You don't say," he lifted a pack of microwaveable popcorn from her trolley.  "Healthy eating at its best.  So you live on campus?"

"I'm only here for one academic year, it didn't seem worth going to all the bother of finding somewhere else."

"I can relate to that.  I have an apartment here in town but I seem to spend all my time up at the base.  I bet your cafeteria is way superior to our commissary delights," he joked.

"I sometimes wish I had somewhere to get away from all those young, healthy boisterous students with all their lives ahead of them, they can make one feel old, but, I'm ashamed to admit I tend to get lost in town."

Daniel grinned again and Jess's stomach did that funny flip-flop again.  "Easily done."

Jess glanced at her watch, "I'd better get a move on, I have a tutorial in an hour.  It was nice meeting you Daniel."

"And you Jess.  Enjoy your coffee and popcorn."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 3.        A Question

"Daniel, I'm curious."

Daniel glanced up from the text he was translating and smiled warmly at his favourite doctor.  "Curious, yes you often are."

Janet ignored his joke, "I'm curious about Cassie's English teacher."

"Jess?"

As in Miss Pallister.  Jess?"

"Her Christian name," he was being deliberately obtuse.

"And you would know this how?" Janet took the seat opposite and watched him closely.

"Because she told me."

"Yes? Come on Daniel."

"Janet," he removed his glasses and polished the lenses, checking them for imaginary marks, a delaying tactic she knew of old and was not going to allow to deflect her from her objective.   "I happened to bump into her shopping.  She struck me as a very pleasant woman, a long way from home and without many friends.  I know how that feels.  Then I happened to mention I'd met her to Cassie, that is all."

"Are you planning on seeing her again?" Janet wanted to know.

"Only if we happen to be in the same shop at the same time."

"Daniel you are impossible.  You liked her?"

"I barely know her, and stop before you start.  I know that look."

"What look?" She asked, a picture of innocence.

"No match making.  Janet I mean it.  I'm not... I don't..."

Janet smirked but wisely held her tongue.  She would do what she would do with or without his blessing.  It was long enough now since Shar'e died, and barring one brief moment with Kira/Linea he had made no effort to move on.  Time for a little outside help.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 4.        Janet's Birthday

Jess smoothed down her skirt for the hundredth time as she sat in the back of the cab speeding down the darkened streets to her destination.  Why, oh why had she agreed to this?  It was insane.  Okay so she now knew Cassie's mother, Janet, and liked her very much.  The evenings she had spent with the pair in their pretty little home had been both fun and comfortable, she thought of them both as friends, which in turn helped her to feel a little less homesick.

But Janet's birthday was a whole different kettle of fish.  Just a small group of close friends Janet had said in the phone, you'll have a great night, guaranteed.  Yeah, right.

The cab rolled to a halt.  "We're here lady," the driver prompted.

"Thank you," Jess handed over the fare and stepped nervously onto the sidewalk.  Perhaps she should just turn around and head for home before anyone even knew she was there.

No such luck.  Cassie was hovering just inside the door to the restaurant and opened it for her.  "Hey Miss P... sorry, Jess.  Mom thought you might lose your nerve."

"And you're here to make sure I don't?"

"Something like that," the young girl grinned.  "Come on back, everyone else is already here.  Don't look so nervous, you're gonna have a great time I promise.  These guys are like my family, I know you'll love them."

Cassie led her through to the rear of the restaurant and a table surrounded by people.  Jess took a deep breath and looked again.  There were in fact only five people sitting at the table, not such a crowd in reality.

"Jess, you kept your nerve," Janet smiled up at her.  "I'm really glad.  Sit down.  Jack move, make room there please."

"Napoleon," he muttered.

Jess blinked.  Had he just said?  Had she heard right?

"I'm choosing to ignore that," Janet told him.  "Now let me make the introductions.  I'd like you all to meet Jess, Cassie's English teacher, over here for one year on an exchange programme.  Jessie this is Sam, Jack, Teal'c and of course you already know Daniel."

"Hello again," Jess turned to Daniel.  "I had no idea you would be here tonight."

"Ditto.  How was the coffee?"

"Perfect thanks."

"Good."

"Daniel?" Jack raised an eyebrow Teal'c fashion.  "Is there something you perhaps would like to share with us all?  Like, oh for instance, how you know Cassie's English teacher?"

"I don't think so, no," Daniel replied completely straight faced and then winked at Jess.  "Don't mind him, he's under the misapprehension that he's in charge."

"Misapprehension eh?" said Jack.

"O'Neill is our commanding officer," said Teal'c, ever the literalist.

"Don't mind any of them," Sam told her with a faintly exasperated look on her face.  "They tend to fall into this corny routine and won't take our kidding that it really isn't funny.  Just ignore them and they'll soon get bored with it."

"Okay," Jess said faintly.

"Teal'c," Jack put on his most 'I'm in command here people' voice.  "I order you to take Daniel round the back of this establishment and beat the crap out of him for holding out on us."

"Certainly O'Neill.  How many limbs do you wish breaking?" Teal'c's face was so deadpan Jess was worried for a moment he might actually carry out the threat.

"All of 'em."

"Enough both of you," Janet's voice silenced them.  "This is my birthday and I forbid all violence."

Daniel squeezed Jess's hand briefly, noting the mounting look of horror on her face, "It's just their idea of humour."

Sam returned with a jug of beer, five glasses and a Coke for Cassie.

"So Jess," Jack turned his attention to the newcomer, "You teach our little Cassie do you."

"For my sins," Jess replied.

"And is she a total pain in the butt for you the way she is for all of us?"

"Jack!" Janet and Cassie exclaimed simultaneously.

"What?" he looked at them.  "What did I do?"

"Don't act dumb, it doesn't suit you," Cassie scolded.  "And I am not a total pain in the butt."

"Sez you."

"Drink sir," Sam slapped a glass in front of Jack and scowled at her CO.  "What the Colonel means is, is Cassie working for you?"

Jess took a swallow of her ice-cold beer.  "I think you can safely say Cassie and I have reached an understanding."

"What did you have to bribe her with?" asked Daniel.

"A trip to England," said Jess with a grin, damn but the man was quick on the uptake.

"Cool!" said Jack.  "Can I go too?"

"No you can't," Cassie told him.  "I want to enjoy myself, not have you checking on me every five minutes.  You've been to England haven't you Daniel?"

"A long time ago."

"Where?" Jess asked, keen to have at least the slightest contact with home.

"Oxford.  I carried out some of my doctorate research there."

"Lucky you, I would have loved to study somewhere so grand."

"Oxford is a beautiful place, steeped in history and the most amazing traditions.  Did you know for instance..." Daniel began, only to be cut off by Jack.  "No Daniel, nor do we want to.  Let's not delve into the fascinating historical culture of anywhere tonight or I may be forced to shoot you."

And so it went on.  For the most part Jess sat back and let the group of friends gentle banter wash over her.  They all knew each other so well.  Sam and Daniel could finish each other's sentences; they teased each other affectionately, more like brother and sister than workmates.  Jack liked to act the clown but she wasn't fooled, he was very much their leader and the humour was simply a mask to hide his inner will of iron behind.  And Teal'c, he was certainly an enigma,

the strong silent type.  Jess couldn't figure if he really took things as literally as he seemed, taking everything said strictly at word value, or if that was his particular brand of humour.

Mostly she watched Daniel, and that didn't go un-noticed by anyone sitting round the table, except maybe Daniel, and he was incapable of noticing far less subtle approaches by the opposite sex.  Janet and Cassie watched her watching him.  Janet noted the number of times Daniel drew her casually into the conversation, Cassie noted the reaction Jess had to that heart stopping smile of his and how her eyes sparkled with enjoyment as the night progressed.  They

had been right to bring the pair together and were determined not to see their careful planning go to waste even if it meant further interference, of the discrete kind naturally.

The party only broke up when the restaurant staff began unsubtly putting chairs on tables all around them in anticipation of calling it a night.  Coats and jackets appeared the instant they stood up and waiters helped them off the premises.

"I have had a lovely evening, thank you," Jess pressed her cheek to Janet's.  "I'm glad I didn't lose my nerve."

"We'll do it again," Janet promised.

"That'd be good.  I don't feel quite so far from home tonight."

"That's great."

"Only if I was at home my car would be here.  How do I get hold of a taxi, sorry cab, at this time of night?"

Janet stared at Daniel.  "Isn't the university campus on your way home?"

"Yes, and for your information I was just about to offer to run Jess home."

"No," Jess looked horrified, "I can't ask you to do that, I'm fine, I'll get a cab and be home in no time without putting anyone out."

"Daniel placed a hand in the middle of her back and moved her toward his car, "It is not out of my way, it is not a problem and I have not been pressured into this.  Now get in the car."  He stopped, looked at Jess then the rest of his friends.  "I have been spending way too much time with Jack."

"And that is a bad thing why?" Jack wanted to know amidst the general sniggers.

Jess slid into the passenger seat of Daniel's gorgeous little sports car, snapped on her seatbelt and held her breath as he pulled away from the kerb, the engine purring like a big cat, the interior dark and intimate.

"Relax," he said.

"How do you know I'm not?" Jess countered.

"Try breathing."

"Oh!" Jess laughed.  "Yes, in, out, in, out, something like that isn't it?"

"Something like that," he agreed.  "You had a good night?"

"I did.  Unexpectedly.  Janet and Cassie have been lovely of late, inviting me home for meals and just general evenings with them.  It's been a big help."

"Very homesick?"

"Mm."

"It's natural," he assured her.  "Being cut off from everyone you used to know can be pretty tough, but you make new friends, a new life, and sometimes that life can be far better than the one you left behind."

"You sound as though you're speaking from experience," Jess observed.

"I am."

The journey home was over much quicker than the trip to the restaurant.  Daniel pulled up as close to the living quarters as vehicles were allowed and killed the engine.

"Thank you for the lift," Jess popped her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.

"You're welcome.  Jess," he hesitated.

"Yes?" she turned to answer.

"D'you think we might, I mean if you've got nothing better, perhaps..."

"I'd love to see you again," she grinned at him.

"This is not a situation I have much experience in," he admitted sheepishly.

"Me too.  Here," she scribbled the number of her mobile phone on a scrap of paper.  "Call me."

"I will."

"Goodnight Daniel."

"Goodnight Jess."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 5.        Daniel's Apartment

"Daniel," Jack stuck his head round the door to the younger man's workroom.  "Fancy pizza and a beer at my place tonight?  Teal'c wants to watch yet another Star Wars video, the Phantom something or other.  Doesn't do much for me but the big fella enjoys them."

"Sorry Jack, I have plans," Daniel glanced at his watch.  "In fact I'm going to be late."  He pushed his papers together and switched off the desk light.

"Another date?  Daniel you dog, must be the second this week," Jack teased.

"Third to be exact," came the reply.

"Well good for you," Jack slapped his friend on the back.  "It's about time, and I like Jess, hell we all like Jess.  It is Jess right?  British girl, hair the colour of old gold, excellent accent?"

"It is," Daniel smiled at his commanding officer.  "Old gold, how unexpectedly poetic of you."

"Hey, just because I don't doesn't mean I can't," Jack faked a confused look.  "Or something like that."

Daniel reached for the overhead light switch, "Well to finish your poetic moment for you, she also has eyes the colour of slate and a tiny mole at the corner of her mouth like an old fashioned beauty spot."

"She sounds way too good for you."

"Oh she is," Daniel agreed.

"Wanna share?"

With you, no.  I already have to share her with all her students and Cassie and Janet..."

"Okay, go, have fun, take her somewhere special."

"Is that an order?"

"Damn straight," said Jack.  "Get outta here."

In the month since Janet's birthday Daniel had spent a considerable amount of his down time with Jess, and plenty of off-world time thinking about her.  He knew it was insanity to even contemplate a relationship with the type of life they led.  Who better than Daniel knew the cost of becoming emotionally involved with anyone.  The pain of Sha're's death had diminished to little more than a dull ache in those lonely hours of the dead of night.  The loss of Sarah was still raw.  Somewhere, out there was a woman he once loved, and now she was carrying out who knew what kind of atrocities to countless worlds.  And he would feel responsible for the rest of his days.  So far his relationship with Jess was purely platonic and she seemed quite happy with that.  Daniel got the feeling, although nothing had ever been said, that she had her fair share of pain clouding her past as well.  It was getting harder to remain casual; his thoughts

were wandering more and more into the realms of what if.  What if I kissed her, what if I told her about Sha're, what if I opened my eyes in the morning and she was still there...

The elevator eventually deposited him at ground level, a cursory check of his ID and he was out in the chill December air.  Down the mountain, taking extra care on the sharp corners, black ice was always a hazard at that time of year.  Fortunately the campus was on the same side of town as the base and Daniel was soon pulling into the now very familiar car park.

Jess was in the library, as he knew she would be, it was her refuge in an otherwise busy, noisy world.

Daniel!" the smile transformed her face and made all his 'what if's' coming rushing back.  Maybe he had been alone too long and maybe, just maybe now was the time to move on and live again.

"Jess."

"You look frozen."  Jess pressed her hands to his cheeks.  "You are.  Is it really so cold out there?"

"Dropping every second.  Ready to go?"

"Sure."  Jess pulled on her thick winter coat, scarf, hat and gloves, slid the book she'd been reading into her backpack and hand in hand they hurried from the warmth of the library to the fast cooling car.

Jess was excited.  Tonight she was going to Daniel's apartment for the first time.  She had mentioned in passing that it didn't really feel as though Christmas was approaching as she hadn't been able to put up any decorations.   So Daniel had taken her to the mall, helped pick out a tree, lights and decorations and tonight they were putting it all together at his place.  It was the first time he had made any effort for Christmas for more years than he cared to remember.

"We're here," he said at last.  "Home."

"Nice," Jess climbed out of the car and took a look around her.  An old apartment building of red brick, big windows, balconies on the upper floors looking out over an open space of immature trees planned to ultimately mask the bare lines of a car park.  An express elevator whisked them to the top floor where Daniel opened the door to his home.

Jess stood in the centre of the open plan living area and slowly circled.  From the front door there was a short passageway leading to a couple of steps up to the dining area, through an arch she could see a small functional kitchen, pans hanging from a rack on the ceiling.  But it was the living room that Jess fell instantly in love with.  Big sofa, a huge glass fronted bookcase and even small piano covered with sheet music and a couple of open books in what looked to be a foreign language.  And on every available surface, including the walls, there were artefacts, an eclectic collection covering a variety of cultures, some Jess recognised, Egyptian in the main, and many more she didn't.  Glass panelled doors led through to a study complete with an impressive array of state of the art computer technology.  There was only one closed door, back toward the kitchen, which Jess assumed (correctly) led to his bedroom and bathroom.  A fantastic home.

"This is amazing Daniel, it's wow!  And what a view."  Beyond the French windows leading to the narrow balcony the night was lit by a thousand street lights burning orange-yellow and away in the distance a ring of black mountains, the snow capping the range faintly visible against the darkness.

"You know, I can't remember the last time I even noticed the view," he admitted.

"Well come and look at it now," Jess held out a hand and drew him to her side.

As she continued to be entranced by the view Daniel preferred to look at her.  Still bundled in all her outdoor clothes she looked undeniably cute, the silly hat, multicoloured with ear flaps and pompoms was hiding most of her glorious hair, all except one shoulder length curl which was sticking out at the side.  With a quick movement he pulled the hat from her head and her hair flew every which way, tossed into life by static electricity.

"Hey!" Jess pulled her gloves off and tried to smooth her naturally wayward hair into some semblance of order.

Daniel tucked a lock behind her ear and without thinking let his fingers trace the line of her jaw down to her chin.  Jess jerked out of reach.  That was unexpected.  She was then completely blown away when he stepped closer and kissed her, lightly, tentatively.  "Sorry," he pulled back that time.  "You just looked so..."

"Do it again," she asked.

"I don't know."

"I do," catching hold of his scarf Jess pulled him back to her and this time she kissed him.  "That felt good," she said eventually once they broke apart to breathe.

"I think we need to keep practicing," said Daniel with a lazy grin.

"I'm inclined to agree.  After," she pushed away his hands as he moved to draw her back.  "Tree comes first."

"This is you being a teacher, right?"

"Right.  Now, where are we going to put it?"

"The corner by the study door," he suggested.

"Yes, that works," Jess pulled off her outdoor clothes.  "Let's get started."

"I think I'm very glad I'm not in any of your classes."

"Wuss."

It took over an hour before Jess announced herself satisfied with the tree and all its decoration.

"Well I for one am glad it only happens once a year," said Daniel, throwing himself onto the sofa.  "I'm exhausted."

"I'm starving.  What's to eat?" Jess sank down next to him and laced her fingers through his.

"Where would you like to eat?" he asked.

"Here would be good."

"Ah.  Slight problem with that, very little in the way of comestibles."

"Eggs?"

"Possibly."

"Bread?"

"Definitely."

"Sorted," Jess lifted a stray piece of tinsel that had managed to wedge itself between his glasses and his ear.  "Scrambled eggs on toast, a speciality of mine."

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather eat out?"

"No way, because then I wouldn't be able to do this," Jess moved closer and ran her fingers through his hair.

"I understand."  Daniel's arms crept round her and his mouth found hers more than ready to welcome him back.  Food was forgotten as they slowly explored one another, moving their relationship forward from the earlier tentative kisses to something more physical, no words were needed, their bodies did the talking.

"D'you think," said Daniel hesitantly as he traced the outline of her lacy white underwear against her creamy skin, "We might be more comfortable in the bedroom?"

Jess went still in his arms.  "I don't know Daniel."

"Okay," he kissed her lightly.  "Forget I said that."

She placed a hand over his heart, enjoying the smoothness of his skin.  Jess wanted to say yes, throw caution to the wind and get naked with this man.  It wasn't his fault she had hesitated; she couldn't go blaming him for another man's failings.

"I was married," she told him.  "To a man I loved and trusted.  He betrayed me.  He hurt me badly.  Now I'm divorced and I can't help but be wary, nervous.  It's not you it's me, it's a trust thing."

"I had a wife," Daniel stroked her faintly freckled skin as he spoke.  "Sha're.  She was young and so innocent, naive if you will.  Her people lived pretty much in isolation, they had never seen so many of the things we take for granted in our lives.  I loved her more than I thought it possible to love anyone.  Then an enemy of her people stole her away from me.  I took this job with the military in an attempt to find her."

"And did you?" she asked quietly.

The pain on his face told her better than any words.  "Eventually.  He had taken her as his own, she had his child and I finally found her in time to see her die."

"I'm so sorry."

"I spent so long believing she would one day come back to me, it's taken a long time to accept she is finally gone."

Jess spread her fingers over his heart, "Is that offer still open?"

"Which?"

"The one involving your bedroom?"

"Always," came the reply.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 6.        Christmas

Daniel woke on Christmas morning to the smell of coffee percolating and the muted sounds of another human being moving around his home.  Rolling over and stretching lazily he grinned to himself.  Who'd have thought it possible in just a handful of days to tear down all the carefully erected barriers that kept him safe from emotional attachment and let someone completely into his heart.  Because there could be no doubt that's right where Jess had wound up, in a heart he had thought incapable of ever feeling love again.  And damn but it felt good.

"Hey sleepy head," Jess appeared carrying two mugs of her extra strong coffee.  "Happy Christmas."

Daniel took in the view.  With her red-gold hair all mussed from sleep and face free of make-up she looked no older than Cassie.  Until you added in the wonderful body, the high full breasts, the gentle swell of her hips and that oh so sexy walk.  Then you knew for sure she was all woman.  Even in snugly Snoopy pyjamas.

"Come back to bed and it could be," he pulled the covers down.

"Too much to do," came the reply.

"You've plenty of time," he assured her.  "Come on."

"Just for a minute," Jess compromised and crawled back into the nest of covers still warm from the heat of his body.

Daniel rolled to pin her beneath him and slowly worked the buttons on her pyjama jacket free.

"I really have got lots to do," Jess protested.

"So have I," he replied.

"Okay, okay, you win," she gasped as he continued his attack.

"Lose the pj's," he suggested.  "I want my Christmas present."

With a quick wriggle Jess was naked in his arms and Daniel's Christmas was getting better and better.  "Live with me," he managed to say as Jess's gave as good as she was getting.  "Jess I really need you to live with me so I can start my day this way a lot more often."

Jess paused to look closely at him.  "Ask me again when we're not in bed.  Offers made during sex don't count."

Daniel pinned her under him, "Why not?" he asked.

"I got married after the last offer I accepted in this kind of position."

"Ah," Daniel moved against her and she arched to meet him.  "I'll remember that."

"You do," she gasped.  "Oh God!"

Jess returned the turkey to the oven and turned to find Daniel right behind her, hair still wet from the shower.

"Is now a good time?"

"A good time for what?" Jess was too wrapped up in her lunch preparations to follow his train of thought.

"To ask you properly.  Live with me, give up that little room of yours and water my plants when I'm away."

"You don't have any plants," she pointed out.

"I'll buy some."

"It's too soon Daniel, six weeks, not a good idea."

"Listen," he pulled her into his arms.  "Six days, six weeks, six months, what does it matter?  It either feels right or it doesn't, and this feels pretty near perfect from here.  I'd like to give it a try," he stroked her hair.  "Take this risk with me."

"Daniel," Jess buried her face in his neck.  "I want to."

"Was that a yes?"

"I think so, let's take a risk."

There was a hammering on the door.  Jess jumped, Daniel groaned.  "Jack's here."

"How do you know it's him?"

"Trust me, I know," Daniel kissed her.  "We'll talk more about this tonight."

"Hey Danny boy, and the lovely Jess, having a good Christmas?" Jack breezed in, arms full of colourful packages.  "Wet hair Daniel?  What have you been up to?  No, don't tell me, I'll only get jealous."

"Good to see you too Jack," said Daniel.

"Smells great in here," Jack inhaled deeply.  "Reminds me of Christmas at home as kids.  Jess, leave him, be mine, feed me this well every day.  I'm not getting any younger you know, I need someone to care for me."

"You need locking up," Daniel observed.

"It may just smell good and taste awful," Jess pointed out.  "Ask me again when you've eaten and I'll consider it."

"Yes ma'am.  Where's the beer?"

"Fridge.  Help yourself," said Daniel, buckling briefly under the weight of Jack's gifts as they were unceremoniously dumped on him.   "Thanks."

"No, no, thank you," came the reply.

Another knock at the door and Jess answered while Daniel dumped the gifts under the tree.  This time Sam Carter and an older man came in.

"You must be Jess," he clasped her hands warmly.

"And you must be Jacob.  It's good to meet you.  Hello again Sam, Happy Christmas."

"You too."  Sam noticed the tree and the carefully decorated dining table.  "Wow!  Spot the woman's touch, I've never been any good at this kind of stuff."

"Always too busy trying to be a better man than the men," observed her father wryly.

"Thanks dad.  This place looks fabulous Daniel."

"Jess has accomplished many amazing things round here," he agreed, hugging Sam.  "Happy Christmas Sam.  And to you Jacob."

Lunch over, table cleared, Cassie and Janet called to exchange presents and then bundled Jess and Sam into their coats insisting on an invigorating post pig out walk.  Snow had started falling lightly and for all Cassie tried to be a sophisticated young woman she couldn't resist the pull of snow.

"Don't you just love Daniel's apartment," Cassie was saying whilst trying to catch a snowflake on her nose.  "It's way cool."

"Yes it is great," agreed Jess.

"And you looked very comfortable," Cassie went on; deliberately avoiding her mothers warning glances.  "As if, I don't know, as if you've been spending a heap of time there."

"Cassandra," Janet warned her.

"I'm just saying mom."

"Well don't."

"Actually," Jess confessed.  "I could do with some advice from you guys."

"Sure," said Sam.  "How can we help?"

"Daniel has asked me to move in."

"Alright!" shouted Cassie.  Janet shot Sam an 'uh oh' look.

"Are you going to?" asked Janet.

"I think yes."

"Has he told you...?" Sam began.

"About Sha're yes, and he knows all about Will."

"Will?" Cassie wanted to know.

"My ex-husband."

"What about his work?" Sam continued, it had been the question she was going to ask in the first place.

"He's an archaeologist, works for the military and is often away from home," Jess laughed self-consciously.  "Sometimes I think I've fallen for James Bond, I mean what could an archaeologist possibly do for the military?"

"You would be surprised," Janet's reply was nothing if not cryptic.

"Well I think it's great," announced Cassie, linking her arm through Jess's.  "I can't believe he found the nerve to ask you so soon, he's normally so... reticent."

"What about your job?" Sam continued.  "I thought you were only here for a year."

"The Dean has offered me a position on the faculty which I'm thinking over."

"It's very quick," Janet said.  "Don't get me wrong, I think you've done wonders for Daniel, but you've both had bad experiences..."

"And living with someone in our line of work isn't easy," Sam continued.  "There's no set routine to our days, sometimes we can be on base for weeks on end, other times we can be away for weeks, months.  Think you can handle that?"

"I'm used to my own company, and of course I'll worry while he's away, that's only natural, but I won't know if I can truly handle it until I try it for myself."

"Then go for it," Sam said, surprising the hell out of Janet.  Sam smiled self-consciously.  "Don't look at me like that.  Sometimes I wish I could find someone to take the plunge with, have someone looking forward to me coming home nights."

"And then trying to convince you to give up your career and have babies and that kind of life instead so you'd be the one at home waiting for him," Janet added.

"You old cynic," Sam teased.  "There must be Mr Right for me somewhere."

"Maybe you're looking in the wrong place," Janet suggested cryptically.

"Thanks Janet."

Daniel pushed Jack further up the couch and sank into the cushions.  He was full from lunch and just a touch sleepy, it felt good.

"You're one lucky guy," observed Jack, eyes closed, long legs stretched out in front, just as full and as sleepy as his friend.

"She is a fine woman," agreed Jacob.

"I've asked her to live with me," Daniel told them.

"That's a big step Danny boy," Jack opened his eyes and looked at the younger man.  "You sure you're ready for that level of commitment, or was it just one of those heat of the moment proposals?"

"She said no in the heat of the moment."

"Too much information," said Jacob.

"You know you'll have to tell Hammond," Jack pointed out.

"I need his permission to live with Jess?"

"She'll have to be vetted," Jacob told him.  "Standard procedure in our business."

"And she is only here on an exchange, you sure you want to go through all that for a short term relationship?" asked Jack.

"The head of faculty has already offered her a tenure."

"Really?  Way to go Jess," Jack was impressed.  Clearly this young lady had made an impression on a number of people since her arrival, including him.

"I want this Jack," said Daniel.  "She's an amazing woman, it feels right and you know I wouldn't say that lightly."

"Okay, so what about work?" Jack wanted to know.

"What about it?"

What Jack wants to know," said Jacob, "Is what have you told her about your current occupation?"

"Next to nothing," Daniel replied.  "It hasn't come up in conversation."

"It will," Jacob assured him.

"You've both been in this kind of situation with non-military wives, what did you do?" Daniel asked.

"Not the best person to ask," Jack told him.

"Me neither," added Jacob.  "Made a bit of a mess of that one.  Keeping secrets is not conducive to a healthy relationship."

"So then I'll tell her everything."

"Steady on there Skippy," Jack warned him.  "You can't.  What happens if she decides when you've spilled your little guts out to her that she doesn't want anything further to do with you?  Do you think it wise to have a civilian loose cannon roaming around who knows all our sordid little secrets?"

"I think she is an intelligent woman," reasoned Jacob, "Who will be able to handle a certain amount of information, enough to satisfy her curiosity.  But that cannot happen until George gives you the all clear and then you need to be straight with your story.  Now enough, you're taxing this old man's grey matter too much, I need to sleep."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 7.        An Official Function

"How do I look?"

Daniel glanced up from the book he was reading.  "Wow."

"Good wow?"

"Oh yes.  Turn round again."

Jess obliged.  The delicate material of her outfit whispered as she moved, the slit to the knee at the back of the skirt gave a brief flash of pale black stockings and spike heeled sandals.  Daniel was entranced.  She looked so sophisticated with that glorious hair piled high in her head leaving tiny ringlets to frame her face, her skin shone against the dark material of the dress, even the faint covering of freckles on her nose and shoulders seemed to glow with an ethereal

light.  And the dress.  Jess had agonised over spending so much on just one gown but to his mind it was worth every cent and more.  So simple and yet so effective.  Thin straps, boned bodice accentuating her breasts, giving her an enviable cleavage highlighted further by the subtle necklace, the pendant resting just at the top and inviting ones eyes to drift lower.  Well any healthy male wouldn't be able to resist Daniel was sure.  From her breasts the dress moved on

down to her tiny waist and the straight skirt beyond.  Yes Jessie Pallister you would do very well indeed.

"I am going to be the envy of every man there tonight and all the women in their boring dress uniform's are going to hate you."

"Thanks," Jess looked horrified.  "I don't want people hating me."

"It was a joke," Daniel lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed each finger, afraid to get any closer in case the urge to find out what underwear was hiding under that dress became too great to withstand.  "You look beautiful.  Maybe we could stay here instead."

"Sounds good to me," Jess was quick to agree.

"Come on you big brave thing you, let me show you off to all the anal retentive soldier types I work with, let me gloat for just one night."

Jess grinned at him, "So you're just using me to improve your street credibility?"

"Naturally."  Daniel handed her the matching wrap, her tiny evening bag and they were ready to make the journey back up the mountain.

The official function was the result of a treaty being signed between the President of America and the Tok'ra.  From what Daniel had told Jess she understood the actual treaty signing was some months previous, however circumstances at the time had not allowed for a celebration, someone they all knew and respected had died, the details Daniel had kept deliberately fuzzy.  She had grown to accept that.  Jessie knew full well there was a great deal more to Daniel's

work than he was at liberty to tell her.  She knew there would always be things they couldn't share and she had accepted that.  From what he had been able to tell her she decided her initial joke about falling for James Bond perhaps wasn't so far off the mark.

So what did she know?  That Daniel was a member of a small team, SG1, who travelled through space using an alien piece of technology found during a dig in Egypt in the 1920's.  She knew all the other team members, Sam, Jack and Teal'c.  Janet was mostly earth bound dealing with unexpected accidents, illnesses and the occasional plague they inadvertently brought home.  Cassie was not her natural daughter rather a child from another planet used by an enemy of earth and rescued by SG1.  Teal'c was also not from earth, hence the strange marking on his forehead.  Daniel's life with Sha're had happened off world, he had chosen to stay with her rather than return after the very first mission through the 'gate'.  And none of this could she share with another person, ever.

This was her first visit to the base, to meet some very important people and to say she was nervous was an understatement.  Through an arched entrance guarded by soldiers with very big guns and into a huge floodlit parking area.  At a glance she recognised Jack's truck and Sam's vintage car.

Turning the key to silence the engine Daniel looked across at her, "You are going to be fine, I promise.  Just remember that many of the Tok'ra prefer to let their symbiote do the talking, Jacob is still human enough to choose to be the one doing the talking when around us.  So apart from their voices they're not so very different to us."

"Actually the Tok'ra aren't the problem, I'm more concerned about making a good impression on General Hammond and the rest of the powers that be."

"They'll love you, how could they not.  Ready?"

"Ready," Jess agreed and climbed warily out of the safety of the car.

After passing through a checkpoint and being issued with her temporary visitor pass, Jess next found herself in an elevator moving rapidly down into the mountain itself.  Level sixteen and the doors opened.

"Are we at the very bottom?" she asked Daniel.

"No, there's another twelve levels after this but we prefer to hold official functions away from the actual working area."

"Oh.  Twenty eight levels, that's deep."

"Very.  Come on," he took her hand and led her down the neutral looking corridor to a set of large double doors which were opened at their approach by a couple of Marines in full dress uniform, white gloves and everything.  Jess couldn't help but be impressed.  The room itself was far more decorative than she had been expecting given the colour scheme of the bits of the base she'd seen thus far.  Inside the dark wood doors was a ballroom sized area with mid sized circular tables spaced out around a central area, a space for speech making or dancing she guessed, if people danced at official functions, that was something she had never thought to ask.  Each table was covered with a starched white cloth and a small display of flowers stood to attention in the centre of each.  The walls were covered with cleverly hung swathes of material, probably to mask the army drabness beneath.  It was easy to look at it all and forget you were underground.  The crowd was a mix of military uniform's, formal evening wear and the one's dressed in unusual style Jess guessed to be the Tok'Ra.

"This is lovely," she said to Daniel.

"When pushed, our military lords and masters can come up with the goods," he agreed.  "And they have done us proud this time.  General Hammond, may I introduce Jessie Pallister."

An older man with an easy smile and a face that looked warm and friendly turned to greet her.

"Miss Pallister, it's an honour.  Doctor Jackson has told us much about you and I have to say I was surprised at his enthusiasm.  Now I understand it a little better."

"Thank you General Hammond," Jess shook his hand bemused.  "It was good of you to invite me to such a function."

"The General had nothing to do with it," a familiar voice said from behind her.  "I just wanted an excuse to dance with you."

"Hello Jack," Jess turned to him.  "My don't you scrub up good."

"Why thank you ma'am, I only joined the air force because I look good in blue.  And you look... stunning, I think that's the word don't you General?"

"Definitely stunning.  Enjoy your evening Miss Pallister and I trust we will be seeing plenty more of you."

"I hope so too," she replied.

"So Daniel," Jack continued, "You planning on looking that smug all night?"

"Definitely."

"Can't say I blame you," Jack grinned at them both.  "Save a dance for me teacher lady."

"Will do fly boy."

Looking back on the evening Jessie could hardly remember any of the people she was introduced to, so many names, so many unusual names, so many uniforms, so many 'alien' outfits, it all became something of a blur.  Jacob was his usual charming self, introducing her to the Tok'ra high council representatives and asking her questions about her life within the SGC community.  Jess actually found talking with members of the Tok'ra fascinating.  To share ones body and yet retain separate identities, to live for so long, it was intriguing to gain a brief insight into a totally alien culture.

And she danced.  With everybody it seemed.  Including General Hammond and Jacob who proved to be a very adept mover in a classically old fashioned way that Jess found entrancing.  Mostly she danced with Daniel, safe in the curve of his arms, happy to be with him, talking to him, laughing with him, being a part of the important side of his life.

"Hey Danny boy, I'm gonna cut in on you," Jack tapped the younger man's shoulder.  "Time for me to claim my dance."

"With me?" Daniel asked.

"Funny," Jack replied.  "Move over and let me at your woman.  Jessie, may I?"

"In that uniform Colonel O'Neill you may anything."

Jack grinned, "Works every time this old uniform of mine.  Brings out the colour of my eyes don't you think?"

"It's not your eyes one tends to notice first," she told him as they began to move decorously to the music.

"Really?"

"Really.  For me it's the hair and the breadth of your shoulders, but that's just my personal favourites."

"Okay now I'm blushing," he said faintly.

"And then of course there are your legs," Jess couldn't resist teasing him further.  "They're pretty damn good in your dress uniform, and I've always been a sucker for shiny buttons."

Jack laughed, "I hope Daniel Jackson appreciates what an extraordinary woman you are."

"I make sure he does," said Jess.  "Oh would you look, Teal'c is trying to dance with Janet, that has to be the funniest thing I have seen tonight."

"Yeah, for a black guy he's got no sense of rhythm.  Oh, there go her toes, gotta love'em for trying."

"You dance very well yourself Colonel."

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course."

"I took lessons."  Jess snorted, she couldn't help it and Jack looked most indignant.

"I'm sorry," she said, "It was the visual, you taking lessons, it just, oh God!" now she was laughing full out.

"Well that's the last time I share anything personal or intimate with you," he told her.

"Forgive me," Jess stood on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek.  "I promise it won't happen again.  And for your information the lessons were well worth it, you are my favourite dance partner of the night."

"That's alright then.  I may need another kiss before I forgive you completely."

"Don't push your luck fly boy."

The music (provided by a military band no less) finished and Jack hugged her briefly.

"We'll have to do that again some time."

"Any time Colonel, any time."

Daniel touched her lightly on the shoulder, "Want to sit the next one out?"

"No I want to dance with you," Jess replied and with a wave Jack was gone.

"So what did Jack have to say that made you laugh so much?" Daniel wanted to know.

"I can't tell you, sorry, state secrets and all you know."

"Really?" Daniel raised his eyebrows, an expression Jess had come to love.  "What'll it take to get you to spill?"

"More than my life's worth sir."  Jess snuggled her face into the crook of his neck and kissed the soft skin just above his collar.

"Jessie," he increased his grip.

"Yes Daniel?"

"Don't stop. Don't ever stop."

"No problem."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chapter 8.        Meridian

(excuse the re-write of their lines at first).

"Jack," Daniel touched his friend on the shoulder and instantly Jack was sucked into the shadowy world the younger man currently inhabited.

"Daniel?"

"Tell Jacob to stop."

"You sure?"

"It's time for me to move on.  You remember Oma?"

Jack acknowledged the second figure.  "Where you going?"

"I don't know," Daniel smiled, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Will we see you again?"

"I don't know.  Jack, I need one last favour."

"Name it."

"Will you tell Jess."

"Aw hell Daniel."

"Please."

"Sure, sure, I'll tell her." 

Jack found himself back in the infirmary looking down at Daniel's dying body.

"Jacob, stop."

Jacob looked up confused.  "Would somebody..."

"It's what he wants."

As they watched the heart monitor signalled his passing.

"General," Janet looked to their CO for help, but Daniel was beyond their medicines now.    The room was filled with a brilliant light as the young, brave archaeologist ascended to a higher plane of existence, leaving behind his grieving friends and setting out on a new journey of discovery.

Jack hesitated outside the apartment, sitting in the silence of his truck, staring up at the top floor windows blazing with light against the dark of the night.  This was part of the job he hated.  It hadn't happened too often thankfully but this time Daniel had not only been under his command he was also one of the few people Jack could call a true friend.  And Daniel had asked him to do this, he had no choice.

What was he supposed to say?  Sorry Jess, your man won't be coming home ever again.  Not dead, not alive, something in between, something indefinable, something impossible to explain.  With a deep sigh and feeling every one of his fast approaching fifty years he climbed out of the truck and made for the apartment of his recently semi-departed friend.

"Jack!" Jess smiled broadly as she opened the door to him.  "This is a surprise.  What brings you tonight?"

His heart contracted tightly, this was going to be hell.  He was going to break her heart into a million little pieces.

She followed an unusually subdued Jack into the living area.  Something was very wrong, where were all his customary wise cracks and corny jokes?

"Tell me about it," she urged, pushing him into a chair and kneeling by his side.

Jack took her hands in his and studied them closely.  There was the pretty Celtic ring Daniel had given her for her birthday, the intricate pattern of curls and whorls in the gold pressed against her creamy skin.  Daniel should be holding these hands not him."I know Daniel told you as much as he was able to about the work we do, and you've been to the base, so you understand," Jack began.  "Five days ago, off world, there was an accident  resulting in a massive dose of radiation being released."

The truth was dawning on her.  "Daniel," she breathed.  "Where's Daniel?"

"He saved millions of peoples lives Jess, and the bastards tried to blame the accident on him, but in the end they had to accept the truth, that Daniel saved them all."

"He's dead," her eyes were huge, glistening with unshed tears.  "Jack tell me, is he dead?"

"I don't know," he replied honestly.  "I know that sounds crazy but I really don't know.  Did Daniel ever tell you about Oma Desala?"

"Mother nature, the being responsible for the raising of Sha're's son.  What has she got to do with anything?" the first tear ran slowly down her cheek.

"Apparently she helped Danny to ascend, so I guess he isn't dead but he isn't alive either.  Jess I'm sorry, I know I'm explaining this badly."

"I'll never see him again?"

"I doubt any of us ever will.  It is probably for the best to think of him as dead, less complicated."

Jess bowed her head, resting against Jack's knees and wept, deep, soul wrenching sobs for the love she had barely been allowed enough time with to start to get to know, and now he had been taken from her for ever.  There was nothing Jack could do save stroke her thick gold-red hair and weather the storm with her.  Hair the colour of old gold, his lips twitched at the memory of the conversation with Daniel and the look of surprise on the younger man's face at his

uncharacteristic turn of phrase.

"Is there anyone I can call for you?" he asked eventually, once the worst seemed to be over.  "Janet maybe?  She could give you something, the doc's good at that, a needle in your butt and no more worries."

"No," Jess scrubbed her face with her hands.  "I don't need medicine and I don't need you to call somebody to come over and keep me company."  Jess stood up a little wobbly and steadied herself on the back of the chair.  "It was good of you to come over and tell me, I know you must be hurting too.  If you need to go..."

"Hell no," Jack pulled her into his lap and waited for her rigid body to relax.  "I'm not planning on leaving you on your own until I'm sure you're going to be okay."

"I don't think you've got enough time to devote to me for that," she half joked.

"You'd be surprised.  Cry, don't cry, yell, scream, do whatever you need, I'll be here."

"What I need is Daniel."

"So do I Jessie, so do I."