i was feeling kind of sniffly one day, so i wrote this story... and Nightpheonix, no hints to my reviewers!

Tears and a Friend

Daniel flipped through the channels of the quantum mirror languidly for the last time before they took it away. He wanted to see what else was out there in those alternate reality worlds. Maybe a Jack who understood everything Sam said or a Jack and Sam role-reversal world. He shuddered. Gods…

The stone started showing people in their houses partying, dancing, drinking, sighing, and crying. He stopped on one of the scenes and peered through the rock-like mirror to see a computer with typing up on the screen. In front of it was a teenage girl with her head down. Her red hair was bobbing up and down suggesting that she was crying. On each renewed breath, her body rocked a bit.

Daniel felt sad with her. He looked around the room and saw that no one else was there. He grappled with going to comfort her or not because teens could be touchy. Her gray hoodie made it seem like her house was a bit colder than the SGC. Sighing he put his hand to the mirror and stepped through.

Slowly he walked up behind her and put a comforting hand over her shoulder. She startled and took a deep breath. The girl spun to see who it was that had done that. Behind Daniel, she could see the mirror on.

"Did you come through that?" she asked with a small shake in her voice. He nodded and answered her softly with a small smile.

"Yeah. What's wrong?"

"Nothing… something stupid," she replied as equally soft. Daniel walked to her left and stopped at a computer chair that had a bag on it and a bag beside it.

"May I sit?"

"Yeah whatever." Daniel skillfully pulled the wheeled chair across the rug to sit beside the red-haired girl. He looked at her head, not many people in the SGC had red hair. Actually, none did.

"Tell me anyways."

She shrugged. "Okay. See, I have this project in my history class – big project, and my teacher gives a LOT of homework. So we have no lives. And I need some books on the Boston Massacre so I can turn forty note cards in on Monday." She wiped her eyes, took in a wheasy breath and continued on. "My dad was giving me a hard time about how I should have done it earlier, when I didn't have a schedule or anything, and how he warned me about this kind of mess. He ALWAYS has to be right, doesn't he?" she said harder and to herself more than anyone.

"Parents," he said smiling a bit.

"Yeah I know. Anyway, that's what all this," she spread her arms out to show him the books, folders, and notecards on the desk. "Is for. Well, and that," she added pointing to a works cited page on her computer.

"Anyone else home?" Daniel asked as he heard something creak. She looked over from where the sound came from.

"Nah, just me and dad. My mom lives elsewhere."

"Good… no one to discover me," Daniel replied.

"Yeah… I figure you're gonna rape me or anything, right?" He chuckled.

"Of course not! Why would I ever think of that?" Daniel visibly shuddered. She'd hit a topic he was disturbed about, not a good way to make friends.

"Sorry I asked. Just had to make sure." She glanced back at the mirror. "Looks very military."

He shrugged. "Yeah. I work for the Air Force."

"Cool! Gotta rank?"

"Nope, I'm an archeologist." Her eyes widened.

"You're kidding!"

"Nope."

"Sweet," she responded.

Daniel cocked his head. "You like history much?"

"Yeah… just despise American history. It's SO boring," she argued. "Especially after having it for three and a half years straight, excepting last year where I got World History. Yes!" she added. Daniel smiled again.

"That's good. I'd be insulted if you didn't like history. Lots of fun… rocks to play with." He had winced playfully at the word 'rocks.'

The girl coughed again. It wasn't a cough that said 'I'm-sick' it was more of a 'there's-something-in-my-working-conditions' cough. It was deep in the throat.

"Sorry. Just caught it after babysitting at a house under construction." Daniel looked as if he understood. "See, my school's under construction," she rolled her eyes, "but I never coughed then, but there's something at my friend's house – the one I babysat- that made me cough and I guess the school has just been irritating it."

"Huh… that's not cool."

"Not at all."

"I never asked you your name, did I?" The girl smiled.

"No…. you just came on through without ringing the doorbell," she smiled with him. Daniel liked this young woman; she was sarcastic – like Jack. That could mean trouble, but she was nice.

"Soy Jess," she said holding out her left hand because she hadn't coughed on it.

"Encantado. Soy Daniel." He took her hand and shook it.

"Great, you know Spanish! Maybe you could help me with my honors Spanish homework!" she joked. He shrugged making her laugh.

"So, where'd your dad?" Daniel ventured. Jess' face fell and he knew she was still upset about the whole book thing.

"At the bloody mall getting a shirt. He said he'd take me and then said I couldn't go. I hate shopping, but we were gonna have dinner." As if on cue her stomach growled. "Sorry, it's hungry." She slouched down in her chair and put a leg out onto the drawer next to her and winced.

"What's wrong?" Daniel asked concerned.

"Nothing, it's my leg." At his curious, but guarded look she smiled and said "A band-aid I have on it for a rash or whatever."

"Ah." There was a brief, but comfortable silence between them as they looked at each other and at the surrounding areas.

"Hey, why'd you come here?" She didn't ask how, but why he'd stopped here. Interesting.

"You looked like you needed a hug." Jess dropped her head and turned away from him a bit.

"I guess…" she answered sadly. Daniel stood leaned over and hugged his new friend. She turned around and hugged him with her head buried in his shoulder. "Yeah, I needed a hug," came her muffled voice and Daniel smiled.

One good deed a day, keeps the bad people away.