Kiryk woke the following morning with his arms wrapped round Jennifer. For awhile he lay unmoving savouring the intimate contact that he had missed for so long. When he felt Jennifer start to stir he backed away, giving her space, unsure of how she'd react to his presence. When he felt her tense he tried to back further away worrying that she'd feel he'd taken advantage of her. Finally Jennifer rolled over and looked at Kiryk, revealing eyes full of sorrow and remorse. A look he hoped he'd not been responsible for.

"Kiryk." Jennifer started nervously. Noticing Kiryk was about to speak she quickly added "Please let me finish." When he nodded his agreement she went on. "I'm sorry for last night. I'd thought I'd never see anyone I knew again. I thought I'd never escape the Wraith. I'd been so lonely knowing that all my friends are dead. Dead because of me. Then you rescued me and everything seemed so unreal. Last night I needed to feel like I wasn't alone, like it was real, like you were real. I nee-"

"You needed last night." Kiryk finished for her.

"Yes, but I'm sorry. You saved me and I ….I used you."

"Used me?" Kiryk asked surprised. "Dr Keller I have been alone for years. I needed and wanted last night as much as you did. You did not use me." He said before adding. "But it shouldn't happen again."

"Okay." Jennifer agreed. "But Kiryk…seeing what we shared last night, do you think you could call me Jennifer?"

"Jennifer?" Kiryk asked, unused to the name. "Okay. I should go and find some food." With that he rolled off the makeshift bed and attempted to find his clothes. As he did so Jennifer rolled over and tried to figure out what to do.

-00-

Kiryk spent as long as possible out of the cave wanting to give Jennifer time and space. As clam and in control as Jennifer had seemed that morning he was still annoyed at himself for taking advantage. For taking advantage of the woman who had freed him from a life of running. The woman who had given back his life and to whom he owed everything. He was determined to repay that debt, although he did not know how. What she needed the most, her friends, he could not provide. All he could offer was his protection and company. But after the previous night he was unsure as to whether or not the latter was wanted.

Finally deciding to return to the cave, Kiryk carried his catch and the fresh water back up the incline towards the cave. As he entered he saw that Jennifer was not where he'd left her. Putting down the food he looked round, worried that Jennifer had run off.

"Dr Keller?" Kiryk called. Were it not for a strange noise from a darkened part of the cave his worry would have increased. Instead he walked towards the sound and saw Jennifer huddled against a wall. Crouching down in front of her he asked as gently as possible.

"Jennifer?"

"Kiryk?" Jennifer asked looking up, revealing eyes wild with fear. "You came back?"

"Of course." Kiryk said, hating himself for choosing to stay away so long.

"I thought…I don-" Jennifer started.

"It's okay." Kiryk tried to assure her, feeling increasingly out of his depth. "I'm not leaving you." He added. The words causing Jennifer to spring forward towards his chest. As she clung he tried to comfort all the while hating himself for taking advantage of her, hating himself for leaving her so long, but above all, hating the Wraith for doing this to her.

-00-

Jennifer woke a few hours later to find herself being held by Kiryk who gazed down at her, his eyes full of concern.

"I'm sorry." Jennifer said embarrassed by her break down. She tried to escape only to be held in place by Kiryk.

"It's okay." The former runner assured her. When Jennifer remained silent Kiryk asked. "What happened to you? How did you end up with the Wraith?"

"I don't know how I ended up with them. I woke in a cell with no memory of how I got there."

"After you loss your people?" Kiryk probed.

"No. They were alive when I was taken. They were killed because of what I did when I was a prisoner." Jennifer said, her voice full of anger and bitterness.

Kiryk wanted to ask her more questions, but knew Jennifer wasn't ready so instead let the subject drop and instead said.

"You must be hungry, I brought us back some food, it'll be ready shortly." With that he released Jennifer and wondered over to the fire.

As Kiryk prepared the food he glanced over at Jennifer and saw her once again take a piece of paper out of her shirt. He watched her as she looked at the paper and saw a ghost of a smile on her lips as sorrow and regret filled her eyes.

-00-

"What were you doing on the planet where you found me?" Jennifer asked as she bit into the meat offering.

"Revenge." Kiryk stated simply.

"By yourself?"

"Yes." The former runner confirmed bringing a sad smile to Jennifer's face causing Kiryk to ask. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry. It's just that taking on a Wraith base by yourself out of revenge reminded me of Ronon." Jennifer confessed.

"You and Ronon were close?" Kiryk asked.

"I don't think anyone was really close to Ronon and out of those who were the closest I was low down the list. He was a friend. Someone I could depend on but no more."

From the way Ronon had fought him after he had taken Jennifer during their first encounter Kiryk wasn't entirely sure he believed Jennifer's summary, but he knew now was not the time to question it. Instead he asked. "What's that note you keep looking at?"

"I don't have the best of luck when I go off-world. A friend of mine used to slip these corny motivational phrases into my shirt before a mission to cheer me up and give me confidence."

"Did it work?"

"Not really. This one," she said waving the paper, "is one of the worse he gave me, but it reminds me of him."

"He was special to you?"

"He was the brother I never had." Jennifer said, her eyes threatening to spill over as she recalled her fallen comrades. "What about you, did you have anyone special before the Wraith took you?"

"Me? No." Kiryk replied. Noticing the suspicious glance Jennifer was giving her he added. "Many years ago there was a woman who … captured my attention, but she was interested in another."

"I'm sorry." Jennifer said, sensing Kiryk was uneasy talking about his own past.

"Don't be. She was happy with her choice." Kiryk replied before suddenly changing subjects. "I need to check no Wraith have come through. I won't be long and I will be back."

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up on Saturday.