Shannon looked out the window at the pastoral countryside below. It had been thirty-six hours since Director Kennedy's arrest and her reassignment to the SGC. She became slightly impatient while the plane landed then taxied to the terminal. After she'd gathered her luggage, she looked around for the government car that she'd been told would be waiting for her. She saw a man holding a cardboard sign that read "Weiss" and she followed him to the Lincoln Town car.

The ride to Cheyenne Mountain was quiet. The driver, some lackey airman, didn't engage her in conversation, for which she was grateful.

She was just getting off the elevator on the 28th level, when Daniel came around the corner.

"Hey, I'd heard you were back," he told her, grinning.

"Daniel!" He became mock-formal, offering her a bow and a horribly exaggerated French accent.

"Good day to you, Mademoiselle! Welcome to zee SGC. I will be your guide for the day." He stepped forward and placed one hand on each of her shoulders. "It is customary to hug the new arrival, is it not?" She giggled.

"It is."

Daniel hugged her tightly and then, just as mock formally, placed a loud, smacking kiss on each cheek. He dropped the accent.

"There we go. Consider yourself officially welcomed back," he told her. Her grin faltered just a little.

"I think you're about the only person who will be happy to see me," she said, glumly.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, you wouldn't be here if General Hammond didn't want you to be. And Sam and Jack seemed pretty vocal about you sticking around at that last meeting. You might be surprised," he said. He bent and picked up the luggage she had dropped in her excitement to see him. "Where to, Mademoiselle?"

"Back to the suite I was in before, I guess," she said, stealing a glance at him. "I'm glad to be back, mostly." Mostly because of you. Daniel was still musing.

" I can't say as I really blame you. You didn't exactly get a warm welcome when you first arrived, considering the circumstances. In light of what's happened since then, you might find your reception a bit warmer this time around," he stated. He stopped short, and looked around. "I guess it might help if I knew where your suite was."

Motioning with her briefcase, Shannon said, "This way." She walked down the hall ahead of him, and was glad to find the suite unlocked.
" I really appreciate you greeting me, Daniel. It means a lot."

", I didn't want you to think you didn't have any friends. Because you do. And…" he continued awkwardly, "I'd like to get to know you a little bit better." Shannon blushed and placed her briefcase inside the door.

"I'd like to get to know you a little bit better, too," she said, just as shyly.

This time it was Daniel's turn to blush. He pushed his glasses up on his nose nervously.

"So, um, I was wondering . . . after you're settled and debriefed . . . Dinner? Some place without chicken nuggets and mystery meat this time…" he trailed off.

Shannon chuckled.

"That'd be great. What'd you have in mind?"

"I guess it depends on the kind of food you like? Chinese? Mexican? There's a great Italian restaurant not far from my apartment," he told her. "Any preferences?"

Heaving her suitcase onto her bed, Shannon replied, "Italian would be fantastic." She popped open the suitcase and at the sight of lingerie, she shut it quickly and threw her gaze to Daniel.

Trying to hide the fact that he'd caught a glimpse of something light pink and lacy, Daniel blushed again, then looked away and studied the wall for a moment.

"Italian it is. I should, err, let you get unpacked and settled. You're probably meeting General Hammond and…" Still avoiding looking at the suitcase, he backed slowly out of the room. "I can pick you up here, say… 7:30?"

Shannon cringed. She knew why he was blushing and studiously ignoring everything on her bed.

"Wonderful. Any particular attire?" She wanted to die. She was so embarrassed, and now it sounded like she'd wear pink lace lingerie to dinner.

"No, not really. Just, um, whatever moves you. So, um . . . 7:30. Right, well . . . um . . . I'll see you then." He finished backing out of the door, gave her his boyish smile and headed down the hall shaking his head. Oh, that was smooth, Jackson. It's a wonder she didn't laugh you out of the room. He sighed and caught the elevator to the research level.

Back in her room, Shannon shut the door and then danced back to the bed. He likes me!