Author's note: Yup, this is the Atlantis Cross-over, and no, I won't kill McKay. I might need him later!

OOOOOOOOOOO

Daniel was smart enough – and kind enough – to not take Melony and Jack back to her house. Her house was the absolute last place on Earth she wanted to go. Then, or ever again. There were far too many memories in that house. The house that she'd settled in, and had been deliriously happy in for the last two years since she and Talon had struck the decisive blow to finish off the Goa'uld system lords. Of course, she'd been off world as much as on, consolidating that tenuous peace – which was now almost complete – but she'd been happy, and Brad had always been there for her when she got home.

He'd been off-world, also. Just because the Goa'uld were far less of a concern than they'd been before, it didn't mean the SGC was out of business. There were worlds to explore and new people to meet. The teams were just as busy as they had been – busier, even. And Brad and SG-2 had been in the middle of it all.

Then there was the time Melony had spent with Carter and various eggheads, her and Talon working with the scientists to get Earth's defenses up and running, as they'd promised. It wasn't much yet, but the scientists didn't need her looking over their shoulders now to accomplish what was needed, so she'd been free to spend more time with Brad. Time that they'd thought would last forever, and was now just memories.

She was silent during the drive, looking down at her hands, which would occasionally blur with a new round of tears. In the truck it was impossible for Jack to sit right beside her, so she didn't even have the scant comfort of his arms around her for that time, but the moment the truck pulled into Jack's driveway, and Daniel stopped the engine, he was there again, his hands pulling her carefully out of the truck. Treating her as if she were made of spun glass and not the most powerful system lord that had ever existed.

"Come on, Melony..."

He led her into the house, an arm around her shoulder to support her in case she collapsed again, and Mitchell went without argument. She didn't have anyplace else to go, after all, and was painfully aware of that. Tears blurred her vision once more, and she would have hit the doorframe if Jack hadn't guided her through.

"Do you want to lie down for a while?" Jack asked.

She shook her head.

He settled her on the couch, pulled off his dress blouse, sat down beside her, and then pulled her once more into his arms.

She didn't cry, but she clung tightly to him, and there was no doubt in Jack's mind that she was thinking back to the day so long ago when he'd held her like this the day she'd buried her brother. That same ache, the same loss. He didn't know how she could be so calm – relatively – in the face of such hurt, but he was going to do whatever he needed to to help her through it.

"Is there anything I can do, Jack?" Daniel asked, softly.

"Make some coffee, Daniel, will you?"

Daniel nodded, and went into the kitchen, and Jack turned his attention back to Melony.

OOOOOOOOOO

She didn't have any coffee. She fell asleep before it was even finished brewing. This didn't surprise Jack; he knew she'd been up for days, and even with Talon's help no one could do that to themselves without eventually needing rest. As he picked her up and carried her into his guest room, Jack decided that Talon was probably the reason she was asleep now, although he'd never be able to ask the symbiote without Melony knowing. Probably, Talon had pulled her through the service but wasn't going to allow her to stay awake any longer.

That was fine. Jack was more than willing to take her in for as long as she wanted to stay. He was already planning on sending someone to take care of Brad's things out of Melony's house – but he'd wait on that, and would see if she was up to discussing that. Later. For now, he'd let her sleep. He undressed her, and covered her warmly – even though it wasn't cold – then left her alone.

"How is she?" Daniel asked, when Jack came back down the hall.

"She's asleep," Jack told him, taking the cup of coffee Daniel offered him. He walked onto the living room and sat down with a sigh.

"How are you?" Daniel asked, coming over and sitting in the chair across from him.

"I feel like shit."

"It's been a rough week."

Jack nodded, and leaned back against the cushion of the sofa, closing his eyes. He'd never felt older than he did just then.

"Are you going to keep her here?"

"If she wants to stay."

"She could stay with me and Janet..."

"I'll let her know you offer-"

They were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Daniel got up and went over to answer it.

It was Sam.

"Hi."

"Hi, Sam, come on in."

This was good. Daniel had hoped that Sam would come by. Jack needed some support of his own – he'd spent all week supporting the families of the lost members of SG-2, and it was taking its toll.

"How's Melony?"

"She's asleep."

Sam went into the living room and sat down next to Jack, who opened his eyes long enough to make sure it was her, then closed them again.

"How are you doing?" She asked, resting her hand on his.

"I'm tired..."

"Anything I can do?"

He could think of several things. None of them sexual, but all of them physical, and none of them things he could ask of her. Generals did not ask Lt. Colonels to hold them. It just wasn't done. Bad enough when he'd been her CO on SG-1, but now that he was the CO of the entire SGC... it just wasn't done.

He felt her arms come around him, and felt her pulling his head towards her shoulder. Grateful for her willingness and courage to make him do what he'd never be able to do on his own, Jack wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the junction of her neck and shoulder, and took the comfort she was offering, in much the same way Melony had clung to him only a half hour before.