Author's note: I've never been to Salt Lake City or Farmington bay so forgive me if I get any of the descriptions wrong. I picked a random place they could drive off to and I'm guessing wildly like I always do so please don't hold it against me.

Oh thanks to all the people who reviewed, it's great to know some of those hits have something to say. Please review as they are always welcomed.

Enjoy reading. Oh and bugs are a real food, I've tried them and they taste great.

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Getting to Farmington bay was hell with the rush hour traffic but they soon reached their destination. Jack un-packed the things while Carter admired the boat. When he said house boat, she had pictured a hut on raft but the real thing looked much better. It wasn't a huge boat but it certainly didn't look small. The house boat seemed somewhat similar to a small yacht but the inside looked like a normal house. There were two bedrooms, each on opposite ends of the boat. In-between there was a lounge room, kitchen/dinning room and a bathroom. The outside of the boat actually had a veranda and a ladder led up to an above ground spa, built above the house itself.

"You've out-done yourself" she commented as she grabbed a bag from him "why here?" she asked

"Accommodation Carter" he mocked "I don't exactly want to sleep in the snow"

"No, why Salt Lake City rather than the cabin in Minnesota like usual?"

"Because Minnesota is usual, a little variety never hurts" he shrugged

"I've never been to the cabin in Minnesota"

"And?" he asked mockingly

"Fair enough" she exhaled as she took her bag into one of the bedrooms

"So Carter" he said wondering into her bedroom with his hands shoved in his pockets "dinner?" he asked innocently and she smiled. She paused to think then turned to him with a grin

"Let's eat in" she suggested sounding like a teen, sneaking around behind her parents back

"Pizza or Chinese?" he asked joining in on her enthusiasm and picking up the phone

"Seafood" she grinned as she took the phone out of his hand

"I thought you didn't want to go fishing?"

"I'm sure there's a fish market near by" she shrugged

"Everything's raw at fish markets Carter"

"As opposed to the freshly cooked fish in the ocean" she mocked and he glared at her "don't worry sir, I'll cook"

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Jack sat on the house boat veranda and stared up at the stars above him. They weren't as clear here as they usually were. The smog and lights from Salt Lake City blocked most of the sky and he only saw a few stars which were probably planets. The moon was full and shone brightly through the clouds that were trying to hide it. The alluring smell of the lobster dish Carter was making sat under his nose and made his stomach dance. He couldn't bare this torment any longer; he had to see how the meal was coming along.

"How's it coming?" Jack asked as he walked up behind Carter and took a peak at the various pots and pans that were arranged on the stove. Carter slapped down a lid on one of the pots, stopping Jack from stealing a taste. She scowled and gave her a sad puppy dog look.

"It's not ready yet sir" she smiled and took a sip from a wine glass. Jack sighed then took the glass from her and had a mouthful of it

"What's this?" he grimaced at the drink

"Oh, this is just sherry. We didn't get anything to drink while we were out" she explained

"Is it wise to be drinking while you're on antibiotics Carter?"

"The antibiotics I'm on don't react with alcohol" she assured him and he nodded wondering over to the pantry. He opened it and pulled out a few bottles from the bottom shelf.

"These have been left behind" he grinned as he placed the three bottles down on the bench. He read the labels and scowled at the first, Sherry. The other two were both Irish whiskey. Jack poured two glasses of the whisky and took a mouth full.

"Wow, that's got bite to it" Jack said after swallowing and letting the liquor's warm sensation slide down his throat. Carter smiled.

"Well compared to the 4.5 Alcohol in beer, this would be strong" she grinned and showed him the label.

"40! Nice" he nodded smiling and put the sherry away "so how far off is this lovely smelling meal going to be?" he asked smoothly

"Not too long, but you can read some more of that book if you want sir" she grinned as she stirred the sauce.

Jack ran out to the car and picked up the comic book off the passenger side seat. As he closed the door he heard a faint click behind him and he turned towards the shadows where the sound had come from. All he could see amongst the darkness was a faint red light from the burning ambers of a cigarette.

"Can I help you?" Jack smirked at the red dot. He heard a wheezy exhale of breath and then a cough before the red dot sailed forwards and the cigarette landed just inside the light. The tapping of high heels followed, coming closer to him. A surge of panic came over him as he remembered he wasn't armed and had no way of knowing if this mysterious person was or not. The tapping stopped suddenly and an elegant heeled shoe stepped into the light and put out the ambers of the cigarette. Then the heel retreated back into the darkness and the tapping headed away from him, rushing away. Jack foolishly followed the rushing feet until out of the darkness, a light came. The light from the inside of a convertible as the mysterious woman climbed inside. He saw the light hit her long red hair before the door closed, killing the light. The convertibles engine started and the bright light of the high beams blinded him just before the convertible turned and sped off. He never saw her face but a light over the license plate at the back of the convertible revealed all he needed to know if he was ever going to find out who was watching him. He memorized the plate number and hurried back to the house boat. When he returned, Carter was pouring the sauce over the readily served meal.

"Carter! I thought you said I had time to read" he grinned as he sat down on the stool.

"I lied" she smiled and put the empty sauce pan in the sink. Jack observed the meal and frowned

"That's lobster, but what are these?" he asked pocking the meal

"Bugs" she grinned and heard him think of cockroaches. She laughed "bugs is just the nickname sir, they're a type of crustacean. They taste similar to mud crabs, just a little sweeter" she explained as she ate one of the bug tails.

"Sounds like an acquired taste" Jack gulped before trying one cautiously "not bad, Carter" he grinned and continued munching away at the meal.