Mitchell didn't wake up that day. Exhausted and weary – both in body and spirit – Talon kept her asleep so she could regain some of her resources. Besides, he was weary as well, from a full week of keeping her reserves intact enough that she didn't fall on her face, since she literally hadn't been able to sleep since she'd returned to Earth. Bundled warmly in blankets and in a safe place surrounded by those who loved and cared for her, bad dreams and memories kept away on purpose by Talon, Melony slept deeply, and wouldn't wake until Talon allowed her to.

Jack O'Neill had checked on her several times that day, and had brought Janet Fraiser in to check on her as well. Just to be sure. He'd stayed in the warmth of Sam's arms far longer than he should have, and had found comfort there. Daniel was never far away, either, although the archeologist rarely did more than put a hand on Jack's shoulder and handle the endless phone calls from various people, calling to check on Jack, or to ask about Mitchell, who no one seemed to be able to find.

Brad's brothers and grandmother were leaving town, and Jack left the house just long enough to go and talk to them. They understood what Melony was going through, and none of them were offended by her absence – they had seen the pain in her expression, and they all knew how much Mitchell had loved their Brad. It wasn't surprising to any of them – the grandmother especially – that she had finally collapsed.

"You tell her for me, General, that she's welcomed at our house any time, and if she needs us, to call. We'll come running."

Clearly the Andersons still regarded Mitchell as one of their own, and always would.

Jack had promised to pass on the message, and had assigned a couple of drivers to make sure the Andersons made it to the airport in time for their flight and to see them off. Then he'd hurried back to his house, where Sam, Daniel and Teal'c were holding vigil over Mitchell in case she woke up while he was gone.

He sent them home when he got there. Sam and Daniel looked exhausted – their week as no easier than Jack's, after all – and Teal'c, who had offered to stay, had responsibilities of his own that needed taken care of that day. When they were gone, he'd gone into the guest room to check on her, and leaned against the door, watching her sleep for a long time.

His own exhaustion and concern that she'd need someone to cry on when she woke up found Jack changing into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and sliding into the guest bed next to her. He pulled her into his arms gently, unwilling to wake her, but also determined that she knew he was there if and when she woke up. She'd have done it for him, after all. And had.

She sighed in her sleep, but that was the only sign that she had that she was aware of him, and it only lasted for a moment before she settled back into her deep sleep. Jack was asleep almost as quickly.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

She woke up warm. And enclosed in strong arms that she knew right away weren't Brad's, no matter how much she wished the last week had been a terrible dream and that it would all be okay once she woke up for good.

It's Jack Talon told her, unnecessarily. Melony knew there was only one person who'd hold her like this

How long have I been asleep?

17 hours

That long?

You were exhausted

She looked at the man sleeping beside her, and felt a fresh pang of hurt that gripped her heart so tightly her breath caught in her lungs and she thought she was going to pass out.

Easy, love

She felt Talon soothing, and it wasn't much, but it was enough.

What am I going to do?

She didn't think she could live without Brad. She couldn't remember hurting this badly when she'd lost Michael, after all. It didn't seem like the constant hurt was ever going to ease.

You were busy with the Air Force Academy when you lost your brother. You had something to distract you from the grief

True. That was what she needed, then. Something to do. Something to keep her mind off things. Something to keep her so busy that she wouldn't have time to think about what she'd lost. Something-

That's not the best idea Talon disagreed.

It's the only one I have.

Already she was considering possibilities in her mind – and Talon, of course, was following along as she did. There were a dozen minor system lords that needed taken care of. None were a challenge, but they were all far from Earth, which was where Melony wanted to be. She could go and finish consolidating the peace she and Talon had won two years before. That would be something to do. Something to take her mind of the hurt.

You should stay here. With those who care about you

I can't stay. I can't.

Running isn't the answer

I don't care.

With luck, the system lords would put up a fight instead of accepting her terms for peace – which would include them losing their Jaffa to the new Goddesses' army. An unprecedented army that had more than lived up to the dreams and hopes Mitchell and Talon had held for them. They were a force for good, now, and were only getting better. The colony was thriving, and more were being built under Tao's watchful eye. Melony wasn't even needed most of the time, so she'd hardly be missed while she was gone.

You'll be missed

Not by the Jaffa.

By Jack and the others

She hesitated, but eventually she shook her head. It didn't matter. They'd know she was safe, because there was very little out there she had to fear. She needed to go. At least this way she'd be doing something constructive. It was that, or fly Fuglier into a sun and make the pain stop.

You can't do that

Obviously, Talon would never allow her to suicide. No matter how much she wanted to. He'd simply take control of her body and stop her. Mitchell wasn't a suicidal type, anyways. She'd live on, because she had to. But she wouldn't stay, and she wouldn't become a burden to those who were worried about her. She moved slightly in O'Neill's arms, and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Jack?"

He woke up and found himself looking into her pale eyes. Eyes that were normally so cheerful and now held a bleak, dead look in them. A look that Jack had only seen once before.

"Melony..." He touched her cheek. "Are you all right?"

She shook her head, and closed her eyes for a long moment, then opened them again. They were bright with unshed tears, but she somehow held them back. Melony felt as if she'd never be all right again.

"Are you?"

Jack shook his head. How could he be all right when she was in such pain?

"Where are my clothes?"

He pointed over to the corner, where he'd hung her dress uniform on a hanger and put it on a hook that would normally have held a plant – if Jack had any inclination to put one up, which he didn't.

She frowned.

"You can borrow some of mine," Jack told her, correctly interpreting the look to mean that she didn't relish the idea of getting dressed in full uniform to get out of bed. Of course, when Jack had undressed her the night before, he hadn't thought of what she'd wear later, or he would have asked someone to go get some of her things. He'd been tired, too, after all.

"Give me your shirt?"

She couldn't run around naked. Not even in front of Jack – who was pretty much a brother to her.

Jack pulled his shirt off and handed it over, and Melony slipped it over her head. Yeah, it was baggy and when she stood up it would hang rather low, but that was all to the good. Besides, it was warm from his body heat, and it was comforting to wear. She pushed the blankets back and rolled out of the bed, heading for the door.

O'Neill assumed she was making a trip to the bathroom, but when she didn't come back he got out of bed and went looking for her. And found her in the kitchen, leaning against a counter and crying once more.

"Melony..."

He crossed the room and put his arms around her, and she wept against his bare chest.

"I'm leaving, Jack..."