This chapter has actually been written for some months, hence why I've been able to post so quickly. However my work and study commitments over the next couple of months are pretty hefty, so please accept my apologies if the posting intervals increase somewhat.

Extended briefings at Homeworld Command were an occurrence that Young could have done without. It was summer in North America and this briefing at least was sparsely attended, and those who were there were largely scientists, no one he knew well except for O'Neill. The room was stuffy and close despite the air conditioning and Young found it somewhat claustrophobic after the cool slightly metallic tasting air he was used to on Destiny.

Given the subject matter was largely Destiny's functioning and maintenance it would have made more sense for him to send Rush, Eli or Brody although he doubted Rush would even consider it despite the fact that he had largely gone back to normal after Young had climbed into his bed two nights previous and they had woken, once again, curled together in a relaxed tangle of limbs. Young still had no real idea what had got up his ass to make Rush so pissed off. Notwithstanding his improved mood Young knew there was no way he would have induced Rush to be here, science briefing or not.

However that was how these things always went. He gave the initial briefing on the topic and if Homeworld Command thought it was interesting enough they brought in the scientists. He fed back as much information as he could remember about Destiny's current situation, the resupply, the schedule that Destiny had given and the repair work that was being undertaken. The scientists quizzed him at length and he answered as best he could, before agreeing to arrange for one of the Destiny science team to come back and answer their questions more fully.

"Will it be Doctor Rush?" One of the scientists asked him, a skinny younger man who Young had met before and distrusted.

"With the repair schedule we have going I can't make any promises." Young hedged. "But I can assure you that whoever it is who comes back will be fully briefed by all relevant members of the science team."

Young knew it wouldn't be Rush, most likely it would be Eli, or maybe Eli and Brody. He kept his face impassive and helpful and was pleased when General O'Neill spoke up.

"Well, I don't know about everyone else, but it's Friday afternoon and if we're done here, my couch is calling me."

The meeting came to a close. He had two days leave here this time, most of the time the briefings were a short visit but he'd not taken much leave on Earth and it was due. He requested a private room to pick up his emails and any post. The airman who found him a room and an office was kind enough to bring him coffee and a slightly sad looking ham sandwich from the canteen and he chewed on it absently as he logged on to the computer. Most of the emails were routine, bills to pay for his storage facility, emails from extended family and an email from Emily, needing to sort something out about the last of the financial settlement. Damn. He downed the last of his coffee.

In all honesty she'd been pretty reasonable, and sighing across the house to her hadn't hurt her attitude. He tapped in the phone number for her cell phone from memory, but got a message saying it was turned off, meaning she was probably at home. He dialled the house number, waiting as it rang, half expecting it to go through to the answering machine. After almost a dozen rings it was picked up.

"Hello?"

The male voice was unexpected…and familiar. It took Young several seconds to gather himself.

"Sorry, wrong number." He said.

"Oh, did you want Em? She's in the shower."

"Em? No sorry, I wanted Susannah." He plucked a name out of thin air.

"Sorry, yeah, wrong number."

Frozen, he put the phone down, closed the email, turned off the computer and left the room. He found the clerk who he'd spoken to when he'd arrived.

"Look, the friend who I'd arranged to meet tonight has cancelled. I'm going back to Destiny." He lied. "No point in that airman being stuck out there, I'll reschedule."

The clerk gave him a sympathetic grin and nodded.

"Fine sir." He stood. "I'll let the General know and tell Airman Lewis when he comes back."

"Thank you." Young managed to keep his voice steady when he felt anything but. He walked out, back to the stones room, so angry he didn't know what to physically do with himself, and trying to feel like he wasn't running away from Earth again. He yanked the stone off the plate and found himself sitting on the bench in the observation lounge, Eli sitting next to him. Of course, Lewis was one of the regulars. Eli gave him a funny look.

"Colonel?"

"Yes." He stood. "Look Eli, I'm back but I'm gonna take some time okay. Let Scott know, but I'm not to be disturbed till at least tomorrow and I don't want you to tell anyone else I'm back."

He walked out before Eli could say anything. He could feel his hands shaking, muscles tensing in sheer fury. He walked to his room, looking around and wondering what to do. Scott would come looking and here was too easy to find. He grabbed a handful of stuff up and walked out, letting his feet take him off to somewhere safer to hide away until he felt like talking to anyone.

xxxoooxxx

Rush saw Eli walk in and walk over to Scott for a quiet conversation, too low to be hard from where he sat at a secondary console. He was not on a bridge shift, just using one of the spare consoles in there.

"Eli." He said peremptorily as the young man went to leave.

Eli shot him an uncomfortable look before walking over. He had absolutely no ability to cover up stuff sometimes.

"What's going on Eli?"

"Uh, nothing." Eli said evasively. "Just wanted a word with Matt."

Rush fixed him with a look and Eli shifted awkwardly, not meeting his eyes.

"Eli? Need I point out that not only are you a very poor liar, you also report to me."

Eli frowned unhappily.

"Look, I'm not allowed to tell you." He said.

"Which means it's Colonel Young." Rush told him. "He's on leave."

He looked at Eli's face.

"Not on leave any more." Rush said.

"He doesn't want to be disturbed." Eli said, stressed.

"I'm sure he doesn't," Rush replied, "and far be it from me to countermand an order."

Eli gave him a suspicious look, but Rush turned back to the console and continued to work, leaving Eli to wander away after a few seconds.

There was no sign of Young at lunch, and no-one mentioned anything. Rush considered whether to bother looking for him, it was distinctly out of character for Young to act like this and the last time Young had been back to Earth for leave he'd had a bad reaction. However he evidently didn't want to be found and Rush had enough things to deal with this afternoon already. Rush finished the bowl of soup and went back to the bridge to check on the latest updates from the maintenance crews and the manufactory in the seedship. He was so close to being able to control the production controls on the seedship, and then just maybe they would get some dome glass and everyone would get off his damn back about hydroponics. Maybe he'd actually be able to get some of the important work round here done when they had that to occupy them. Young was certainly very much for it.

Young still hadn't appeared at dinner time, which was definitely unusual, the man wasn't given to missing meals. Rush looked over at Scott who appeared a little tense. Scott's bridge shift was over, James had the night shift and Camile was on in the morning. He contemplated his options. Finally, he slipped out quietly and wandered along to Young's quarters which were empty. Leaning against the wall by the door in Young's quarters he tried to think over where the man would hide.

Rush walked into his quarters, immediately noticing they were already occupied. Young was on his bed, sprawled across it asleep and there was a distinct smell of hooch. Well, that explained how Young had managed to hide all day. This was the last place anyone would think to find him. Rush walked over to the bed and looked down at Young. There was a slackness to his face and limbs that suggested he was dead drunk as well as asleep. Rush glowered at the sleeping man spread out over most of his bed.

"I think I actually liked you better as an octopus than a starfish." He muttered.

He walked over to the bed and sat down. There was no reaction from Young, even to a strong shake, although he was still alive and breathing. Rush left and came back with a couple of canteens of water and something to act as a bucket.

"You are a fucking nuisance." He told the unconscious man putting the bucket next to the bed.

He dragged Young's shoes and pants off, rolled him over into something approximating the recovery position and pulled the covers over him. Young finally mumbled something and moved restlessly.

"Fucking shut up." Muttered Rush in irritation.

He pulled his own pants off and slid into bed, next to Young. The bed was warm where Young had been lying on it. Rush opened his laptop, and got back to work. Young started to move about three hours later, restless and groaning. Rush set the laptop aside, closing it and laying it down on his side of the bed. Young mumbled something, and shifted. Rush turned back to him.

"Young?" He poked the man in the ribs.

"Gnnghh."

"Quite." Rush said. Young appeared to be trying to push himself up. "Just hold on."

He rolled Young over bodily, catching his upper arm and hauling him to sitting. Young started retching almost immediately, and Rush grabbed his shoulders and spun him, shoving his face down over the edge of the bed to where the bucket was waiting. There was an organic splattering noise as vomit hit bucket and Rush was glad he'd grabbed one of the crates, larger target, harder to miss. He let Young chuck up the contents of his stomach, reaching out, snagging the canteen and beaker and pouring a cup of water.

Young finally pulled himself back up to sitting. Silently Rush handed him the cup. Young took a mouthful, swilled out his mouth and leaned to spit it in the bucket. Rush watched him as he leaned gingerly back against the pillows and sipped at the water. Young looked extremely embarrassed and Rush let him work his way through half the water before speaking.

"So," he watched as Young flinched a little, "I'm sure you have a good reason for drinking y'self into a stupor in my quarters."

Young cringed slightly, lifting a hand to rub over his brow, sweaty from vomiting, and to push his dark curls back off his face. Rush waited, watching Young.

"I had to phone Emily. She'd left a message, about some policies we'd left to mature. Was no sense cashing them in when we divorced, they were worth much more if we let them mature. We'd agreed."

Rush topped up the beaker from the canteen again. Young sipped at it, retched, but managed to hold it down and then stared across at the window.

"Telford answered." Young said.

"Ahh."

Young retched again, but steadied himself. "Christ, that stuff of Brody's is lethal."

"I don't think ye'll find anyone arguing with you on that count." Rush said, sardonically. "You look like shit, Young."

Young grimaced again. "I feel like it."

"Finish the water and get back to sleep. I'll be awake for a while, make sure you don't chuck up in your sleep." Rush slid out of the bed. "If you can promise not to throw up on my floor, I'll go empty the bucket so we don't have to sleep with the smell."

Young nodded. Rush picked up the crate, taking it to the nearest toilet, practically unused except for by him, emptied it and returned quickly. Young was curled in the centre of the bed, looking ill. He put the makeshift bucket back on Young's side of the bed and walking back round, slid in. Young moved a little, pushing himself up to allow Rush more room Rush sat back, picking up the book looking down as Young shivered.

"You can lean up against me if you're cold." Rush said. "As long as you don't vomit."

He watched as Young leaned up against Rush's leg, then moved in closer. Young shivered again and finally Rush grabbed him and hauled him closer so he lay up against Rush. Young closed his eyes with a look of nausea, then after a moment relaxed and rested his head on Rush's leg.

"What did you drink when you were young?" He asked Rush as Rush looked down, waiting to see if he was going to be sick again.

"Beer, or Bucky."

"Bucky?"

"Buckfast, Buckfast Tonic Wine. Filthy stuff but it'll get you trashed quick and it's cheap."

"Does it taste good?" Young queried.

"Not really, but better than Brody's paint-stripper." He rested his hand on Young's shoulder. "Get some sleep Young."

Young moved, Rush wasn't sure what he was doing, but he settled further into Rush's lap and closed his eyes. Rush leaned his elbow on Young's shoulder and opened the book.

xxxoooxxx

"Have you seen Doctor Rush or the Colonel?"

TJ looked up. Scott and Brody were standing there in the doorway.

"No, I've not seen Rush for a while."

"Ah."

TJ tucked a loose bit of hair behind her ear. "Isn't the Colonel on Earth?"

Scott looked awkward. "He cut his stay short." He shifted awkwardly, looking down at the floor in embarrassment. "He said he was taking the day off though."

"Well he was on leave. Why did you want to know if I'd seen him?"

Scott lifted the radio in his hand.

"Neither of them is answering their radios."

TJ raised an eyebrow.

"And you need them?"

Scott nodded.

"We've got some unusual readings from the planet." Said Brody. "I couldn't raise Rush so we tried the Colonel, see what he wanted us to do but when I couldn't raise either of them I woke up Lieutenant Scott."

"It's late evening." She noted. "Are they asleep as well? Like most people are?"

Brody shrugged.

"Eli checked Rush's quarters. He's not answering his door."

"Nor is the Colonel." Scott asked.

TJ looked at them, frowning.

"Is this a "medical emergency"?" She asked pointedly.

Brody's face was a picture of indecision and Scott's was schooled into the face she knew he reserved for tough questions from senior officers he didn't want to answer.

"It's very out of character." Scott offered. "We genuinely are wondering where they are. Doctor Rush has disappeared before…"

"When he was sneaking around behind the Colonel's back." TJ interjected voicing the obvious implication.

Scott and Brody both looked at her.

"Well, yes." Brody agreed nodding. "But the Colonel is never unavailable."

TJ gave them a long look.

"Which has just made you think you can disturb him at all hours of the day and night. Even when he's on leave."

They at least had the grace to look at least a little shamefaced.

"I'll check." She agreed. "But only because I agree it is out of character for the Colonel."

They both looked relieved. TJ sighed. She grabbed her small first aid bag just in case, stood up and walked out of the infirmary towards Everett's quarters, get the more awkward of the pair done with first. Rush was just going to be verbally aggressive. They followed her down the corridor. She turned to face them.

"Look if I'm doing this you're not going to be following me all the way there. For starters, I have no idea what Doctor Rush wears in bed, and I'm sure he doesn't want you to know either okay?"

They looked at each other and left in the direction of the bridge.

She sighed and walked towards Everett's quarters. Standing outside she sucked in a breath and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked again and waited. Nothing. After a moment she hit the door release. The door slid open and she stood in the doorway, then released the breath she had been holding. The room was empty.

She hit the door release again and the door slid closed.

She passed a couple of people on her way to Rush's quarters, evidently finding their own beds, but the corridor outside his quarters was deserted. She knocked on the door, but again there was no answer. She tried again and after a few moments, hit the door release. She could hear someone further up the corridor and hurriedly stepped through as the door opened hitting the door closure as she stepped through. She stopped dead.

The bed was tenanted.

A pair of dark eyes regarded her through reading glasses. Rush was sitting up in bed, reading a book. Young appeared asleep, curled into Rush's lap, Rush's elbow was propped on his shoulder. He was apparently dressed, as was what she could see of the Colonel although he was mostly covered by the bedclothes.

TJ froze for a moment then spoke.

"Neither of you were answering your radios." She said quietly. "And no-one could find you."

Rush gave her a slow blink.

"It's under the pillows." He said in an equally low voice. "He can't hear it."

TJ paused.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

Rush looked at her with a look that would have frozen the contents of Brody's still.

"Reading," he said, making a slight gesture with the book, "in my quarters, what does it look like?"

Young shifted in his lap. Rush pulled the covers up a little. TJ was completely confused and evidently the confusion was showing on her face.

"Not what you meant Lieutenant, was it." Rush sighed and put the book down gently. "Sit down Lieutenant." He said wearily gesturing at the end of the bed.

She walked over and sat down as gently as possible. Rush looked at her.

"There is absolutely nothing compromising happening here Lieutenant." He said. "Strangely enough, I do have the occasional need for human contact Tamara."

The use of her first name startled her a little.

"As does he." Rush continued quietly. "And it's not like either of us have a great deal of opportunity to relax with our peers given his leadership role and the fact that most of the science team are morons."

TJ said nothing, just looked at Rush then the sleeping man in his lap.

"I just never…"

"Imagined we could be in the same room without wanting to kill each other and without dire necessity forcing our proximity?" Rush asked. "This doesn't change that." He gave a short laugh and Young shifted, his head coming up a little. "Well not much."

"Imagined you in bed together." She said. "I mean, in bed…like this…"

Young looked up blinking, saw TJ and stopped. He looked terrible, eyes reddened and face drawn.

"Hi." She said, embarrassed.

Young pulled himself round and sat up and TJ could see he was still dressed in T-shirt and underpants. Rush pushed his hair off his face. Young scrubbed at his own hair, avoiding her gaze, face reddening.

"So Lieutenant, what was important enough that they sent you to find us?" Rush asked her.

"Brody found some anomalous readings from the planet apparently. They tried you, couldn't raise you on the radio, so tried the Colonel and when they couldn't raise him either and neither of you answered your doors, they came to find me to see if you were okay. I tried the Colonel's quarters and then here."

Rush reached under the pillow and pulled out his radio.

"Brody?"

"Doctor Rush?" Brody's voice was almost a squawk.

"What was so important you had to send Lieutenant Johansen into my quarters to wake me up?" Rush snapped.

"You were asleep?"

"Yes, I was asleep." Rush snapped, the lie falling easily from his lips. "Strangely enough that's why I turned my radio off. Now, tell me what your problem is."

Brody broke into an explanation of the problem and Young and TJ watched him, staying silent as Rush listened then snapped out a response, which was effectively it wasn't a big issue and he'd get Volker to look at it in the morning, now fuck off and let him sleep.

Rush put the radio under the pillow again.

"You put the radio under the pillow." Young said to Rush.

Rush looked at him.

"You needed the sleep." He said scowling.

TJ watched them, watched their interaction as Young berated Rush and Rush snapped back at him. This was new and extremely confusing. They appeared to have forgotten she was there until she shifted slightly, getting ready to make her exit when they both turned and looked at her. She froze again.

"I won't tell anyone." She said.

"Who'd believe you?" asked Young wryly.

"I'm not sure I believe me." She said. "It's…not what I expected."

"I'm sorry TJ." Said Young.

"For what?"

Young paused and it was Rush who cut in. "For finding us in bed together of course."

"Oh." She said, unsure of what to say. "Well, it's none of my business really."

"There's absolutely nothing compromising going on here Tamara." Rush repeated.

She looked from one to the other. "Okay." She stood, then nodded, "It's okay, but I'd better go."

Rush gave her a hard look, but evidently decided not to go any further. Young had a complicated expression on his face.

"If anyone asks, you're both asleep in your rooms." She said.

Young nodded. "Thanks TJ." He said.

She gave him a small smile.

"Everyone's entitled to some company." She said.

Turning on her heel, she left.

"Damn." Said Young, rubbing at his face.

"Someone was guaranteed to find out in the end," Rush pointed, "if we keep doing this."

Young sighed. "I just wish it hadn't been TJ."

Rush frowned. "Lieutenant Johansen is unlikely to be sharing any confidences about this."

"Not what I was thinking." Young scowled. "I must be insane."

Rush stared at him. "Why?" He asked.

Young looked back at him, a frustrated expression creasing his face. "Continuing this…with you…the person with whom I have quite probably the most dysfunctional relationship I've ever had."

"This what? What are you saying it is exactly?"

"This…spending time…this…I don't know what. This time, this contact." Young's voice raised in frustration. He rounded on Rush angrily. "You really want to define this? Does the scientist in you really feel the need to define this?"

"No," Rush said quietly. "I don't think I do."

Young threw himself back down against the pillows. "Turn the light off and come here." He snapped.

"Is that an order?" Rush's voice had not raised, but held a distinct edge.

"If you need it to be." There was no compromise or conciliation in Young's response.

Rush looked down at him, reading his expression. Young looked back at him, challenge apparent in every crease of his face. Finally Rush reached out, put the book on the side table, turned out the light and lay down on his back next to Young. Young rolled towards Rush and wrapped himself round the other man, throwing a knee over Rush's thigh. Rush tensed then slid an arm behind Young's neck, tucking it round his shoulder.

"Go to sleep Colonel, you're thinking too hard." He said quietly.

Young said nothing, just turned his face into Rush, burying his face in Rush's hair.

Rush gave up, relaxed his muscles deliberately and systematically against the tense form next to him and went to sleep.