Again, I have to thank every1 for their reviews!!

Aria-wolfstar - Yep, ur right, i did mean prologue. Silly me!!

Bookworm37 - Have changed that, thanks!

ccdsah - Hopefully, we will see T and Kerry in the near future (this chapter in fact), and maybe even Pete. Not thinking of bringing Sara in tho. Thought that wud make a simple story way too complicated.

Here's the next chapter. I'm putting two up today, since I'm not gonna be able to write for a bit. So here goes.

Chapter 3: A welcome home.

Well, that date had been a bust.

She'd been so hot as well. Jack nodded at the doorman as he headed into his apartment building. Kerry Johnson had gorgeous copper curls past her shoulders and amazing green eyes. As opposite as he could possibly find to a certain blonde. Unfortunately for him, she had caught on today that serious wasn't what he was looking for.

"Yo, O'Neill. Who's the hot date?" T, as subtle as ever.

"This is Kerry Johnson. Kerry, this is T, our first aider. Also owner of the local sports centre. You should check out his Tai Chi classes. You'd love them."

Kerry nodded at T, who gave her a 'subtle' once over. She grinned back at him and then turned her grin onto Jack, before saying to T:

"It's great to finally meet a friend of Jack's. You're the first."

"Really, O'Neill, that's awful, even for you. How long you been seeing each other?" Jack took a breath to answer, but she did it for him.

"Almost two months now."

"Two months? Geez, Jack, you know that's a miracle. Never thought you were the serial dating type." She was still smiling, though a little ridge had formed on her forehead; a sign that she was puzzled. Jack swallowed.

"Yeah, well..."

"You know why he doesn't introduce you right?" Whispered T conspiratorially, leaning slightly towards Kerry. She looked curious now, shaking her head in reply.

"It's 'cause he's afraid us guys will take you away from him, and that the women - hot women- that he's friendly with, will try and chase you off," he laughed at his own joke. Kerry was laughing too, obviously comfortable in the company of the boulder-like black man. Even if he did look kinda scary, T was a big softie, and an even bigger flirt.

It was then that T made the usual foot in mouth comment.

"And then there's Sam of course."

"Sam? Is he on the same faculty as Jack then?" Jack could feel the conservation heading downhill quickly.

"Yep. The science geek. Physics teacher. Though a she rather than a he." Even quicker.

"Haven't heard of her yet." Her curious gaze was now on him.

"His best friend." T sounded surprised. "She practically lives at Jack's." Now he was freefalling, and he squeezed his eyelids together, trying to think of something to say.

"They're close then?"

"When I first met 'em, I thought they were married!" T laughed loudly, but this time Kerry didn't.

From then on, the conversation had petered out. When T left, heading for the hut where the team stood, anxiously waiting for the first whistle, Kerry turned on him. Why hadn't he mentioned this Sam? How close exactly were they? How often did she come over? How often did she sleep over?

His stuttering answers hadn't seemed to be convincing enough, and a few minutes later she was gone. A fantastic ending to a fantastic date...not.

The game, on the other hand, had been great. His team had won by so many points that he could see the other coach losing track of the score. Rummaging through his pockets for his keys, Jack wondered what he had in the fridge for an early dinner. Maybe he'd call for some Chinese.

When he opened his door, the sight that greeted him was a surprising but not an unwelcome one. In fact, it was such a good feeling to see her there waiting for him, he decided it would be a good idea to stop that train of thought as fast as humanely possible.

She was lying on the couch, feet up on the arm rest. Her shoulder length hair was spread behind her on the cushion, eyes closed in a peaceful slumber. Dropping his rucksack and removing the cap from his unruly hair, he quietly made his way towards her. Sitting slowly on the edge of the couch, he saw her eyes flutter slowly open. Their eyes met.

A slow smile made its way to his face and he let a finger trail down her soft cheek,

"Hey," his voice seemed deeper than usual, and he cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Hey back," she was still smiling.

"You know, I was sure this was apartment 67, not 98 that I walked into." She gave a small laugh and, hands above her head, she stretched like a cat. As if out of their own accord, his eyes trailed down over her body to the pale skin of her stomach that the action exposed. Swallowing, he dragged his eyes back up to her face, only to find her watching him curiously. Damn, caught red handed.

"I…" He found that his throat was too dry to speak. He coughed and tried again. "How did the date go?"

"Well, if you must know, the last date was also awful." She was still looking at him strangely.

"Really? What happened?" He mentally slapped himself for letting his eyes wander.

"It was nice."

"How is nice awful?"

"Well, we walked in the park for a bit, getting to know one another. Then we had lunch by the pond before watching a midday film. It was all quite romantic actually."

"Aaaand?"

"And he was shorter than me."

His eyebrows rose dramatically. Then he started laughing. And laughing. Until his stomach hurt. When he finally seemed to come to his senses, he saw that she had been laughing with him.

"God Sam, if you really liked the guy, does it matter?"

"Yes!! I have no idea why, but it just put me right off him. I know I'm tall, but both you and Daniel are taller than me, and it was just plain weird."

He snorted then shook his head.

"You know what you need? Get a really hot date. Have lots of steamy sex and then make sure Malcolm hears of it. Might make him come back."

"But it won't make him love me."

"No. Probably not. But the date might make you feel better about yourself."

"Yeah."

They fell into a comfortable silence, hands tangled on her stomach.

It was in that silence, that Sam had the idea. One that couldn't possibly fail.

"You know, Jack. Malcolm has always been jealous of one other man."

"Yeah? It'd be great if you could date him then."

"Mhm. Then I could make him incredibly jealous, with a man I'm already comfortable with."

"You already dated him before?"

"No. He's my best friend."

"Daniel? But he's married. Mal would never fall for that."

"I meant you."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"But…"

"But what? It's the perfect plan and you know it. Besides, all we'd have to do is let him see us once on a 'hot' date."

"Well, I guess, but…."

"But?"

"All right, fine. I'll try to find out where he is next weekend."

"Thank you! I knew there was a reason I kept you around." She gave him her trademark cheeky grin, and Jack knew at once that this was probably the stupidest thing he could ever have possibly agreed to do.

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Ok, next chapter up ina second...