Author's Note: I don't think Janet's being portrayed as over the top in her protectiveness. Lots of single mothers (especially – but not exclusively) are overprotective like that when it comes to their daughters. Add in the fact that she has a dominative personality – she has to to work where she does and get the people around her to do what she wants them to – and it's a recipe for over protectiveness. Then when you throw Jack into the mix – and we all know how he is – you just gotta feel bad for Cassie, lol. That said, thanks for the reviews. I think the site is finally catching up.

OOOOOOOOO

"It's not that bad, Jack," Cassie told him as they put the final touches on the dinner that Sam had started. It wasn't anything too fancy – they ate like normal people most of the time, after all. Pork chops in mushroom sauce, scalloped potatoes and salad.

"How not that bad is it?" He asked her, pulling down a serving platter for the pork chops.

"There's no plunging neckline or anything like that," Cassie told him. She gestured to a spot about 2 inches below her collarbone, making a line across her body. "It goes to there, and the skirt comes to here…" She slid her hand along her mid-thigh.

"And it's strapless?"

"Yeah." She couldn't hide her smile of excitement. And Jack couldn't hide his scowl.

"What holds it up? It better be crazy glue – and a lot of it."

Cassie laughed, and her hands came to her breasts, up underneath them to cup them and lift them.

"It has a-"

"Eh!"

He held up his hand. He didn't really want to know if it involved anything where she was holding.

"It stays up?"

She nodded.

"It'd better."

Cassie smiled, and took the salad bowl from the counter to take it into the dining room.

"What color is your dress, Cass?" Sam asked when she came into the dining room.

"Red."

"You'll have to drop by here on your way to the dance tomorrow so we can get some pictures."

Cassie smiled, pleased, and nodded.

"I'll tell Ian you want us to."

Which, of course, meant they'd stop by, because Ian would do pretty much anything Sam wanted him to. Cassie wondered when the day would come that she could know for sure that he'd do whatever she asked him to. If it ever did.

"You do that," Jack said, coming into the room behind her. "I'd like a chance to talk to him."

"After I do," Janet said, sitting down at the table.

Sam sighed, inwardly. Poor Ian. She'd have to give him a heads-up in the morning.

OOOOOOOOO

"Here it is…"

It was only an hour or so later, and Ian looked up from the shoes he'd been shining to look at Daniel.

"What's that?"

"Lao," Daniel said, looking up from his book. "You were right. It's not exactly the same, but it's really close."

He gestured for Ian to come over, and the Cadet did, sitting down on the sofa – which was littered with Daniel's notes.

"Take a look."

Daniel handed him one of the papers that he'd scribbled on, and then one of the papers he'd copied on.

"See? Those two symbols are the same."

Ian looked and saw that he was right.

"What does the symbol mean?"

"It's water… or something like that. Maybe drink. Or river."

"How many of the others do you know?"

Daniel frowned.

"It's an ancient language, Ian… the translations aren't very precise."

"Meaning you don't know many?"

"Not all that many, no. And not all the symbols are the same – but the people that lived on P99-801 are obviously related to those that lived in Asia, or someplace in that area – and that might explain why the Chinese were using gunpowder and other inventions long before the rest of the world."

Ian thought that over, and nodded.

"You could be right."

"I'll get the rest of the symbols off the wall tomorrow when we go back, while you and the others look for more buildings…" he trailed off, thinking to himself. "I just can't believe there's only one structure there. There has to be more."

"Maybe they've crumbled," Ian suggested. "Who knows how old those buildings are? They could be-"

"Maybe." Daniel shuffled his papers restlessly. He liked puzzles, just not those that he couldn't solve immediately. "We'll have to see what happens tomorrow, I suppose. There were symbols on the back of the building, too?"

Ian shook his head.

"On the side of the building. But they were really worn down. Even worse than the ones on the front."

"Do you remember what they looked like?"

Ian snorted. Of course he did.

"I know what they looked like, but no promises that I can draw them out for you."

"Will you try?"

"Sure."

Ian took a couple pieces of the paper Daniel had brought over to the table and started writing, while Daniel watched him, hovering over his shoulder. He was only able to be quiet for a few minutes, though.

"So… why are they having that dance of yours on a school night?"

Ian looked up from his paper.

"It's Valentines' Day."

"Yeah, but no one can stay up late, because they have school the next day – right? They should have had it on Friday, instead of a Thursday. Even if it's a day late." That would have made more sense, right?

"There's a teacher's meeting thing on Friday," Ian told him. "No school. And it's not my dance, it's Cassie's."

"How many times has Janet scowled at you or given you warning looks?"

"More than I can count."

"And Jack?"

"I think he's saving up for later…"

Daniel smiled. That was likely.