Sam was pushing the fitted sheet over the mattress in the spare bedroom. Jack was standing in the doorway watching as she bent over, his arms crossed over his chest and a slight smile on his face. "We were supposed to have this week to ourselves."

"Well, I'm not sending them away in the middle of a blizzard. We don't even know how far their vehicle is, or if they have a place to stay."

"I can drive them."

His eyes were sparkling at her and Sam shook her head. "None sense," she stated before throwing the blanket over the top sheet and began tucking it in. She wasn't paying attention to where he had gone and assumed he'd left, but when there were hands on her waist and she was flipped around and tossed onto the bed. She giggled lightly and crawled backward as he climbed over her.

"Did you say it was none sense?" He was giving her a quirky grin, the one that always melted any resolve she might have.

"I might have, what's it to you if I did?"

His fingers were trailing up her body without a care in the world, the backs of his nails hitting each of her breasts while she laid back. "Well, then you might… have to do all the laundry this week."

"I already do all the laundry." She gave him a flat look.

"Uhhh… right." He smirked and planted his lips loudly on hers. "But I like it when you do domestic things."

"Domestic things—really, Jack? Are you sure it's just because you don't like to do those domestic things?" She was still under him, raising a long leg up to press against the outside of his thigh, she ran her hands along his sides. "I think it's just because you don't like doing those things."

"Maybe it's because I get to see you bent over, or your face get hot from the water and all flushed, or maybe it's just a turn-on for me that I've been hiding." His lips attached to the side of her neck and she tilted her chin up.

"I don't see how that can be a turn-on, Jack. It's tedious and redundant."

"But hot."

Sam's brows knit together and her nose scrunched. "It's hot?"

"So hot," he answered while scraping his teeth down the line of her neck. Sam blushed furiously, the heat staining her skin on her cheeks, neck and chest. She was hedging to say something to him, but couldn't bring the words to her lips—he was always telling her that she didn't see herself as he saw her, so she decided to let it lie for this one time. Turning her chin, she captured his lips in a soft embrace. She was in no rush; she wanted to take her time.

Jack was just working her shirt up from where it was tucked into her jeans when the room became pitch black. "Damn it!" He rolled over off of Sam and started for the door, his hands in front of his body, feeling his way from the room. He twisted the knob and pulled open the door, feeling down the wall until he found the closet. His eyes were finally starting to adjust to the light and he was able to make out shapes in the pale sliver of moonlight.

Sam followed him, pulling her shirt down and making for the living. They had a generator, which is where she assumed Jack was headed, but it would not keep the heat running. She would need to stoke the fire and make sure there was enough wood for the night. She stopped when she passed the bathroom and heard the retching. Knocking gently, she pressed her ear to the wood. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Helen answered. "This was expected, shouldn't be much longer. Electricity?"

"Unexpected. Probably because of the storm. Jack's gone to check on the generator, but there won't be any heat." She paused and waited for a response, but could only hear Helen softly murmuring. "I made up the guest room, second door on the right, for both of you. You'll have to share, or one of you will have to take the couch.

"That shall work, thank you. I hope not to impose on your hospitality longer than necessary." Helen's eyes ghosted over to Sam's form.

She was nervously standing in the doorway. "Do you need anything else?"

"Some clothes for Will would be welcome."

"I'll be right back."

Helen's hand was running circle's over Will's back where she had thrown the warm cotton towel over his skin. His arms were circling the porcelain bowl and his face was buried. "You'll get to feeling better soon." Her knees were aching from where they were pressed into the cold tile, but she wasn't going to move unless she had to.

"I think I'm done." He pushed away and leaned against tub. His hand found its way to hers and he gripped tightly, his eyes closed as he breathed. Helen carded fingers through his curls and over his cheeks. "I just need a minute."

"Take all the time you need."

The door opened and same came in with a folded shirt and sweats. She handed them off to Helen before leaving again. Will was staring at her, hoping she wouldn't make him move yet knowing that he was going to have to. He pulled on the thin cotton shirt and squinted his eyes when the lights came back on. Groaning, Will found the back of the shirt and pulled it over his head, pushing his arms through the tiny holes. The lights came back on just as Will was shucking his wet boxer shorts and pulling up the loose black sweats. His eyes locked on Helen's and she turned away from him, a slightly blush to her cheeks.

He sat heavily on the toilet, with the lid closed and watched Helen as she stared up at him from her seated position. "How long are we going to be here?"

"I honestly don't know. The storm is supposed to last for a few days. We knew that coming it."

Will closed his eyes, his shoulders drawn and his eyes downcast. He was so tired, but at least he was starting to feel better. The effects from the poison were wearing off, just like she had promised. But the further those effects receded the worse the pounding in the front of his skull became. He had completely forgotten the concussion and being knocked out. "My head hurts."

"I'm sure it does. There will be no sleeping tonight."

His lips pursed into a pout and Helen stood, helping him to his feet. Will's body rocked into hers as they stood and he wrapped his arms around her back to hold upright. His nose buried into her neck and he took a deep breath. "You smell pretty."

"I assume that is the concussion speaking." Helen pulled away and started to lead him out of the room and down the hall. She pressed him into the mattress and covered him with the blanket. "I'll get you some water and a book, if I can find one." Leaving the room, she paused at the door when she heard him speak.

"If you want to think it's the concussion, you can. But it's not."

Without a glance back, she closed the door and made for the kitchen and living area. Jack was coming in from outside, his arms filled with wood. He shook his head, the bits of snow that had clung to his hair flying out around him. Helen watched from the hallway, her feet unmoving, as he moved to set the wood next to the fireplace. He turned and pulled off his gloves, putting them down on the table where the weapons had once been.

"We might have to all sleep in here tonight, if it gets too cold."

Helen didn't respond to his statement and he wasn't looking at her. Her eyes stayed glued to his form as he puttered around the kitchen. "Where are my weapons?"

"In the safe," Jack answered without turning around. "You can take them when you leave, not before."

Helen nodded her head and moved over to stand closer. "Is there anything I can do to help? Will has to stay put, but I am perfectly capable." Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was watching him carefully, gaging all his reactions.

"Sit back and relax. It's going to be awhile."

Sam came back into the room from what Helen assumed was the master bedroom and where she and Jack would be staying. Helen was trying to work off the nervous and excess energy that she always had from a chase, and the fact that she would be stuck there for a few days was not something she was looking forward to. "Don't worry, I don't relax well either." Sam whispered the words into Helen's ear before heading over to stand next to Jack. She leaned into his shoulder and Helen smiled at the comfort the woman obviously received from being that close to him.

"How did you know?"

"You tensed when he said it. It was an easy conclusion. You can help me with dinner if you want."

Helen caught Jack's hand rubbing against Sam's back: circles, she was sure of it. "I can do that, what are we making?" She unzipped her jacket and set it on the back of one of the high schools to the counter. Smoothing her hands over it, she lifted her eyes to look at Sam.

"Ummm…" Sam turned to look at the fridge that was humming quietly. "Chicken?" At Helen's nod, she moved away from Jack and toward the appliance.

"Is there a book that I can bring Will? He'll be up most of the night, and I'd rather not listen to him whining about boredom."

Sam started giggling and moved into the living area, picking up a small and newly bound book. Handing it to Helen, she shook her head. "He's not the only one that likes being confined to a bed."

At her words Jack glared, "Hey now! No one likes to deal the napoleon power mongering, and if they didn't keep me so long, it wouldn't be necessary." Sam shook her head and pushed him back into the kitchen gently with a hand on his abdomen.

"Napoleon power mongering?" Helen asked before reaching for a glass to fill with water.

"One of the physicians at the base was often referred to as a napoleon power monger. Her name was Janet."

"Was?"

"She died during a mission." There was a tear that escaped Sam's eye and trailed down her cheek before she turned to the stove and twisted the knob.

Helen took the dismissal for what it was and slipped out of the room and down the hall to where Will was still in bed. He was curled on his side with his face buried in a pillow. She slipped two fingers through his hair, pushing the curly locks away from his face. She set the glass on the nightstand and turned back to two blue eyes staring at her. "Better?"

"Minus the head."

"That was expected. Chicken for dinner, will you be up for eating some?"

"Yeah, probably a bit." Will twisted until he could sit up and reached for the glass of water taking a slow sip. "Book?"

"Yeah." Helen finally looked over the title of it and winced. He probably wouldn't be reading it, it was something about physics. She handed it over and he groaned when he read the title. "Only if you get really, really bored." She was smirking. "I'm going to help with dinner, if you need anything—"

"I'll yell."

"Good boy," she said and left the room.