Author's note: I'm really sorry about the lack of chapters the last couple (few?) days. The problem with working with children is that you tend to get whatever they get, and there's a nasty bug going around that has simply flattened me. Since my laptop is being a pain, that means I can't take it to bed with me, and since I don't feel well enough to spend any amount of time in front of the PC… well, the chapters haven't been coming. I'll try to do a little better soon. I'm on some potent antibiotics now.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

It really couldn't have been a more beautiful night. The sky was clear and the moon was almost completely full, shining its refection onto the water of the lake, the lights of the distant camp far too dim to compete. It was quiet and still, and a painter couldn't have dreamed up a better backdrop. But the scene was completely lost on the two people sitting on the ski boat dock, barely visible in the night, their conversation indistinctive to anyone more than a few feet away from them, and their attention captured by the other person.

"Are you sure about this?"

A tightening of the hand that was holding the other, and a flash of white as a smile was captured in the moonlight.

"Definitely. You?"

"Oh, yeah."

The hand moved, sliding along bare flesh, and there was a slight gasping intake of breath.

"Don't panic."

Another flash of a smile.

"I'm fine."

Another smile, and a shared kiss.

"Right here?"

"In the boat?"

"What if someone comes?"

"They're all going to bed." There was a pause, and another brush of a hand against skin. "We can wait if you want…"

"No. Now."

Another smile, and the two leaned forward for a kiss – one that was far more serious than those that had preceded it. There were gentle moans of pleasure, and the two were suddenly lost in a world that held only the two of them.

"If I might interrupt – preferably before the porno music starts in the background…?"

The silence of the night shattered with that drawl, and the two forms broke apart with startled – guilty – gasps, their heads whipping around to see who had spoken. River, of course, recognized the voice immediately.

Sure enough, standing there on the sand right at the start of the dock, framed in the dim lights from the main building behind him and the moon in front of him was Ian Brooks, watching them with his arms crossed over his chest. Standing at his side was Jaffer, who looked even bigger when you couldn't see him all that well in the darkness.

Sierra spoke first, scrambling to her feet.

"I had something in my eye."

Ian snorted.

River stood as well.

"What are you doing out here?"

His voice was more annoyed than guilty now that he was over his initial surprise.

"I was sent to find you. Apparently the kids are convinced you're both Wraith food."

Sierra groaned, and headed off the dock, towards Ian.

"I need to get back to my cabin." She turned and flashed a guilty smile at River. "I'll see you in the morning. Okay?"

The Californian nodded.

"Good night."

"Night." Sierra looked at Ian, started to say something, and then visibly – even in the near dark – changed her mind. "Good night."

Ian nodded.

"Night."

River came off the dock while Sierra vanished into the dark, heading up towards the main building.

"Has anyone ever told you that you have the shittiest timing?"

"Sorry to ruin your evening."

River scowled at the obvious insincerity in Ian's voice.

"Don't make me kick your ass, Brooks."

Ian flashed a slight smile now.

"The problem with that threat being that you can't…"

"Fuck you, Ian."

River wasn't quite as annoyed as he was trying to sound. True, his evening hadn't finished up the way he'd hoped it would – and he really hadn't expected it to go as far as Ian undoubtedly thought they'd planned on going – but he could see the humor in the situation as well. And was definitely relieved that it had been Ian – and not someone else – that had been sent.

Ian's amused snort was all the answer he got, and when River reached the sand, he jumped off the dock and headed for the path that lead up to the main building, with Ian and Jaffer stepping up to join him in the walk.

"Don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Why would I tell anyone?"

"To be a prick."

"If you'd keep your-"

"We weren't really going to do anything," River said, interrupting before Ian could finish that particular sentence.

"No, I could see that."

"We weren't."

"I believe you."

Of course, his voice plainly said he didn't, but it was also amused, and River knew that he'd probably never hear the end of this – but that Brooks wasn't going to embarrass Sierra (or him) by mentioning what he'd seen on the dock.

"This is all your fault."

Since he was pretty sure he'd had nothing to do with River trying to get into Sierra's pants, Ian scowled.

"How do you figure that?"

"Your freaking Wraith story… that's the reason they sent you to find us, right?"

"Yup."

"There you go, then. All your fault."

"I just saved you the trouble of hiding from an angry father – or worse, an angry mother."

River sighed.

"Maybe. But it would have been worth it."

"Take a cold shower, and then decide," Ian suggested, a smirk on his face that River could clearly see now that they had reached the lights of the main building.

"Screw you, Brooks."

He was grinning, though, when they reached the cabin only a few minutes later, and amazingly enough, Ian was too.