A/N: Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas and Santa brought you everything you wished for!

o-xxx-o

Oblivious to everything else around him Jack sat perfectly still, his eyes never leaving the clock face as it ticked away the seconds and minutes. He had her travel plans meticulously worked out in his head... The time her flight left New York and landed in D.C. How long it would take her to collect her bags and Levi, get through the security checks, grab a cab and come home to him. He'd even allowed for traffic congestion and the odd stop along the way.

Somewhere in his head, the logical part of his brain was telling him that he was being ridiculous but the emotional side was in full charge. He'd considered calling the NY office, the airline... her, but he'd done that in his nightmares and he had no intention of repeating anything that had happened during those. Maybe, if he did things another way, the outcome would be different. It was stupid he knew but it gave him something to hold on to.

The hands continued their journey in never-ending circles... She would be on the plane now, her eyes closing as she made herself comfortable for the flight. With nothing else to occupy her, it was the way she passed the time. The stranger sitting next to her had in all likelihood tried to chat and then turned away, thinking she was rude when she didn't respond. The cabin crew would come by offering drinks and snacks but not receiving an answer, would assume she was asleep. Disturbed by the movement around her, she'd open her eyes and have to call one of them back so she could get her customary hot chocolate, explaining for probably the tenth time that day that she was deaf and hadn't heard them.

The person who had tried to talk to her earlier would pick up on the exchange, tap her on the arm and the inevitable questions would begin with them asking how she knew what people were saying. He knew how it would play out, he'd done it himself the first day they'd met and she'd explain with her usual patience and ready smile. The sign would go on and the helpful passenger would relay to her that they were coming in to land. Her hands would unconsciously tighten on the armrests, not because she was afraid but more a reflex action.

They'd be on the ground now... The seatbelt sign would go off and she'd start to collect up her things, standing to get her bag from the overhead rack. Some man would come over to help her, they always did, whether she needed it or not.

Off the aircraft, she'd collect both Levi and any other baggage she'd brought, making time to fuss over the dog who really didn't like flying very much.

It would have taken forever to get a cab but she would have managed it and she'd be growing impatient as it got stuck in traffic. The driver would start up a conversation to pass the time and Levi would alert her. She'd be able to reply because she could watch his lips in the mirror and, at last, they'd be moving again which meant she should be here in about thirty minutes...

The estimated time had passed more than an hour ago but still his brain insisted on factoring in additional equations, like stops and maybe even shopping, and... Anything really...

Two-and-a-half hours past time and all possible scenarios exhausted, Jack stood and walked to the window as twilight began to close another day, but this was a different darkness, at least for him... It was a bleak and lonely one and he wondered how many others across the city found themselves in the same situation. He'd never even given it a thought before.

The street and shop lights shone out brightly, reflecting in the snow and he noticed more had started to fall, the odd flake glistening briefly on the window before melting away. Down below, people were hurrying by, cutting short their shopping to try to get home before it turned into the inevitable blizzard. There was even a group of carol singers on the corner under one of the street lights. It should have been a beautiful and happy Christmas card scene but it meant nothing. The numbness he'd experienced in his dreams seemed to be spreading through his body, his hands were cold even in the warm room and he thrust them into his pockets... There was a faint sound from behind him and he tensed but when everything fell silent again his shoulders drooped, despair gaining control as he dismissed it as wishful thinking.

It happened again, louder and longer this time and then he heard the unmistakable sound of a key being turned in the lock. Hope flared and he spun round, almost running to the door as it opened and she walked inside. She looked tired but her face broke into a loving, gentle smile when she saw him.

"Hi!"

Unable to speak he gathered her into his arms, holding her tightly and clinging on, not sure he'd ever be able to let her go until the need to kiss her became paramount and he moved her away slightly; the tears on her cheeks telling him all he needed to know for now. He screwed up his eyes, the drops tasting slightly salty as he kissed them away before covering her mouth with his.

"Oh God Sue, I thought... I thought I'd lost you."

This time it was her turn to pull him close, one hand stroking his back soothingly. "No Jack, you saved me."

o-xxx-o