Author's note: Okay, for the record: Jaffer is a dog. He's not an Ancient in the form of a dog and he's separate from the Presence – although they're connected in ways that will be explored completely in future stories. The Presence is related to Dotty – she's called him 'father' in True Sight, after all – and since he's related to Dotty, then yes, he's related to Shawn as well. You're free to speculate all you want, but I won't let on any more than I've been giving out in dribs and drabs thru-out, since it'll make the other stories more fun if there's that lingering question. (fun for me, anyways)

OOOOOOOO

River came awake slowly, and sat up. Rubbing his forehead slightly, he looked around to figure out what had woken him, but there wasn't anything amiss in the room. A dark form separated itself from the shadows near Shawn's bed and ambled over to him, and a moment later Jaffer was up on the bed, pretty much straddling him because there really wasn't all that much room for both of them on the bed.

River rested his hand on Jaffer's chest, mainly to keep the lab from licking his face, and felt the silky warmth of the big dog's hide under his palm.

"You didn't hear anyone... did you?" He asked in a whisper, looking around again. Maybe Brooks and Shawn were playing a trick on him? He didn't think so, though, because neither of them were all that good at pretending to be asleep – they'd all tried it at some point or the other in the last few weeks – and he was certain he'd have heard someone trying to muffle their snickering.

Jaffer whuffled him gently, easily pressing against River – even with the straight arm to prevent it and River stroked the lab's ears gently. Obviously nothing was wrong, because he was sure the dog would be giving some kind of warning – at least growling or something. Shawn had told River and Ian both just how well trained the dog was – and they'd seen evidence of it themselves the last day - so he was certain that if someone – or something? – was lurking around, there'd be a warning. The dog looked relaxed, though, so River relaxed as well.

"River?"

He heard Shawn whisper his name from the other side of the room, and there was no laughter in it.

"Yeah."

"You okay?"

"Yeah... just a weird dream..."

He couldn't really remember what it'd been about. Something about a... Jaffer whined softly and stuck his nose into Rivers armpit, making the young man flinch as the cold nose hit warm, tender skin, and whatever memory he'd been about to latch onto was suddenly snatched out of his grasp by the distraction.

"Geeze!"

"What?"

"Nothing..." River moved his armpit away from the cold nose, and pushed Jaffer's head away. The lab's eyes gleamed in the dim light coming from under the door. "Call Jaffer, will you? He's getting snot all over me..."

"Jaffer..."

The big lab jumped from the bed and moved back over to Shawn's bed, and River looked around the room once more, then lay back down. Whatever it had been – if it'd been anything – it wasn't there now. But it took him a long time to get back to sleep.

OOOOOOO

"Jack, if you don't go to sleep, I'm going to have Janet come over and put you to sleep with something in a big needle."

Jack sighed, and fluffed his pillow again – for about the hundredth time that night, Sam thought – and then rolled over and wrapped his arms around her once more, pulling her close.

"I'm sorry..."

He knew he was keeping her awake, but he just couldn't sleep.

Sam snuggled against him, resting her forehead against his bare chest, and sliding her hand along his strong arm.

"I know. Want me to make you some warm milk?"

"Ugh."

She smiled.

"What's bothering you? The fact that Jaffer isn't here, or worry because he wouldn't come home?"

"A little of both." Jack admitted, tilting his head and pressing a kiss against her hair. "I just don't understand what he was thinking."

Nothing new there, of course. That crazy dog was always doing stuff – but usually there was a reason, and this time Jack just couldn't figure out what it was. Add to that the fact that he wasn't used to falling asleep without that great big comforting weight at the foot of his bed or pressed up against him with his head on his leg, and Jack was just not able to get to sleep.

"They'd have called if something happened..." She told him, softly, her hand sliding along his side, now, trying to relax him a little. As close as she was to him, she could feel how tense he was. No wonder he couldn't sleep. "It might have been nothing more than Jaffer missing Shawn and wanting to spend extra time with him. You know how he is when he wants something."

Of course Jack knew. He was the one that always let him have it, after all.

"Yeah..."

Her hand was sliding along his hip, now, and Jack was starting to tense for a completely different reason. He smiled, and hugged her even closer, pinning her hand to stop its progress.

"I thought you were tired?" He murmured into her ear, feeling her shiver at the contact.

"I thought you weren't?" She countered, moving her hand once more.

"Minx..."

She chuckled slyly in the dim room, and her hand moved once more, her touch and her gentle kisses driving away his anxieties and replacing them with other, far more interesting concerns.

Morning was soon enough to get his dog back, after all...