I'm tired, it's late. It has taken all my spare time in between coursework deadlines and building a bookcase for resistant materials for me to get this chapter up and I think it shows. I don't like to whine but…*falls asleep* too tired for authors notes but let it be known that I love each and every one of you who read and reviewed.

Goodnight

Chapter 7

Dawn lay back on the bed in one of the VIP guest rooms in the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. She wondered bitterly why it was called a VIP room when all it was in truth was a concrete box with a bed, a desk and a cupboard. Even the light was harsh and clinical in the dull room. Tara was just down the hallway having decided that they would stay until Willow was at the very least awake. General Hammond had agreed, he couldn't release them anyway without having them sign secrecy forms. A knock on the door made her jolt from her rapidly spiralling thought pattern. Even though Tara had spared the details it had still brought the horror of the past few months barrelling back like an express train.

"It's only me!" Called out Cassie and Dawn invited her in. She took one look round the room and burst out laughing and after a while Dawn couldn't help but join in. Eventually, wiping away tears of mirth Cassie invited Dawn to come and sleep in her room. "Since our sleepover was cut short we can just have one here instead." They pulled the blankets from Dawn's bed and dragged them down the corridor gaining odd looks from some of the personnel. When they reached Cassie's room they piled inside and burst into another bout of hysteria. "Did you…did you see that Airman's face!?" Gasped Cassie through gales of laughter which caused Dawn to double up further. As she lay recovering Cassie crawled over to the phone on the wall and punched in a 4 digit code. A muted voice announced the kitchen. "It's Cassie, can you send up the usual for two?"

"Wow, you have your own room?" Cassie nodded and grinned. The concrete walls had been painted a deep purple colour and the lampshade was much more modern and trendy. The military issue bunk beds had lilac bedspreads and mounds of cushions on them and a toy snake coiled round one of the posts. The desk had several issues of old magazines strewn across is and on the bookcase was a hi-fi system complete with CD rack. The posters softened the fact that the walls were just painted concrete and a carpet spread luxuriously beneath their feet. There was also a TV, a couple of beanbags and stuffed animals lying round the room. All in all it looked more habitable than the room Dawn had been sent to.

"Cassie?" a male voice called through the door before entering with a trolley. Dawn's eyes grew as big as saucers at the pizza, ice-cream and various other goodies stacked on it. The young man saluted sloppily and gave them a grin.

"Thanks Rich," He sidled out and after a minutes tense silence both girls squealed in admiration of the young man. Dawn felt the happiest she had in months. She couldn't remember the last time that she had had a girlie sleepover or let herself worry about something other than demons and vampires. Maybe Willow had been right in moving them here.

Tara lay back on her bed with relief. She had just gone a round of 20 questions with Jonas. He was desperate to know more about Giles who had owned one or two books, dusty and ancient beyond belief, as most of his collection were, that mentioned, albeit briefly, a gateway. It differed from culture to culture if she remembered rightly, most referred to it as a gateway to or from the stars hence the SGC calling it a Stargate. One obscure text had also made mention of a gateway to the stars but also, in one case a gateway to heaven. Tara had not thought to deeply upon this matter because a flawless translation was not always possible with Giles' books. Another knock on her door caused her to sigh deeply as she called out a drowsy, 'who is it'.

"Um…it's me." Called out Jonas, Tara had to smile. Jonas had a big heart and had exhibited it by taking care of both her and Willow despite the fact that he looked exhausted. He also had a curiosity that was unmatched by any that she had ever known…that included Giles. When she opened the door he had changed from a hospital gown to standard army uniform. A folder was propped under one arm, a cup of coffee in one hand and a half eaten banana in the other. She was remotely curious as to how he had managed to knock on the door. "Janet sent me over, she said Willow woke up."

Willow felt absolutely wretched. Pain was drumming inside her head, her hair was matted with something black and her eyes itched. She fairly sure that her magick had never manifested itself in such a way before. Janet had done her best to reassure her that nobody had been harmed during her little episode but she still hated herself for her lack of self control. The fact that Tara and Dawn were here and knew that she had lied only served to make things worse. She felt an electric tingle in the air that meant another magick user was in the area, it carried an undercurrent of something distinctly Tara. She couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.

"Tara, baby, I'm so sorry." She began as her girlfriend sat down next to her and wrapped her in a hug. Across the room Teal'c was staring enquiringly at the pair.

"What for?"

"For lying to you, for going all grrrrrr." Tara gently wiped away the tears and began to stroke Willow's hair in a gesture of comfort. In the meantime Janet had phoned the General who had appeared in the doorway looking as regal and imposing as ever.

"It's nice to see you up and about Miss Rosenburg." He said without any trace of the animosity she had expected to be there. "I suggest that all of you rest now, in the morning we have a lot to discuss and we might even get round to showing Miss MaClay and Miss Summers the Stargate." He smiled with such kindness that Tara warmed to him even more before turning to get some sleep himself.

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Coffee Bean

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