The doctors had said that it was a miracle that Jack had been able to survive up on the mountain and that they had a string of pretty good luck.

But that didn't comfort Teri much as her friend and partner was still hanging on the best he could and he hadn't reached conciousness yet but his temperature had rised a lot so it was pretty close to normal now.

And there was another problem; what about the overdose? When the toxicology report the doctor was working on came back Jack was in really big trouble 'cause he would most certainly loose his job.

So, all in all this was a no-win situation for her. She had managed to save his life but she would still loose him. In this situation she couldn't threaten to walk either because the evidence was too hard and she had managed to step on so many toes on her way to the top that people would like to see her leave.

But what Teri didn't know was that her partner and friend had been granted a second chance with completely clean sheets.

She sat by his side and held his hand in hers to warm it and to hold on to him, to know that he was still with her, still breathing, still alive. All the time she watched his face for any sign of him waking up. She didn't even notice the doctor entering the room.

"You should go home."

She jumped as the sound of the doctor's voice filled the room because she thought that she was alone in the room with Jack but she didn't turn around.

"You've been here most of the night, you should go home and get some rest."

She shook her head. "I won't leave him."

The doctor smiled at her back. "You know that usually only family is allowed here at this time of night and then in extreme cases."

"And I know I can shoot your kneecaps out if you try to throw me out" she muttered. She turned around at him to make sure that he had understood that it was a joke. "The only family he has is his daughter and I'm not about to call her down here in the middle of the night."

"You are very loyal to your partner. What was he doing up on that mountain anyway?"

Teri frowned. This doctor should know about the OD, he had been the one treating Jack. "Ehm… I don't follow."

"Why would someone go all the way up there just to freeze solid?"

"He took an overdose of Heroin, I have no idea why-"

"Heroin?" repeated the doctor with raised eyebrows and a weak smile on his face as if the woman in front of him had just told him that small green martians were attacking. He looked at her like she was imagening things. "His blood analysis came back clean."

"W-what?" She didn't belive what she heard. It couldn't possibly have left his system this fast.

"There was nothing wrong with him other than serious hypothermia. Look, I have to go now. Take care." The doctor left the room.

Teri stared at Jack in bewilderment. She had no idea how but he had managed to keep clear of trouble again. Then she cracked into a huge smile as relief overwhelmed her. She wouldn't loose him after all.

Jack woke up in the hospital bed and for a moment he had no idea where he was but as his surroundings finally came into focus he understood where he was. But it took a moment longer to remember why.

He managed after a short while to piece together fragments of last night, the out-of-body-experience and the fantasies. Or had it just been fantasies? That was what his rational brain told him but his heart told him otherwise.

Last night had been too real and he had been painfully close to die. But he was still here and as he cast a glance at the still form sitting next to him on a chair with her head resting on his bed he smiled. She had really come through for him.

He had no recollection of the images he had been shown about the future, he only remembered some of the words. He remember seing her next to his unconscius body, crying and again he got a lump in his throat as he was moved again by her compassion for him.

The smile still played on his lips as he reached out and gently pushed her hair away from her face.

She didn't wake but she stirred and released a soft moan. She had to have been up all night watching over him. It would be selfish of him to wake her but he just had to see her face, he had to see those sparkling eyes and that smile again.

"Teri" he said in a hushed voice.

She finally opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Jack!" Her face cracked into a smile.

He was safe now. He was safe now as she took him in her arms and kissed his forehead. He was safe and well taken care of but deep in his gut he knew that he had to protect this woman in return because he knew that if he didn't he would loose her.

He had no idea how he knew this, he just knew.

But for now everything was just how it should be.

The End

For now…

Merry Christmas!