Fourth Floor Common Room, after classes

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Finishing dinner preparations had allowed Isabel a little time to process everything she'd learned during the day. Hopefully with the information she and Parker had given Professor Phale to be played out in a bit, he'd be able to stop Lana, Phoebe and Marie before they messed with anyone else's head.

But for now Isabel focused on dinner with friends and that meant cooking rice and setting out toppings to go with the huge pot of chili on the stove.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

It made sense and it didn't. If it had been magic, there was no reason for Lana to let him go. But Sam could be very scary. "I was just wondering, is all. It was," a hell of a coincidence, "very impressive."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"It was very lucky for her. I would have had no problems knocking her unconscious for what she did to you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack leaned on her, using the contact to fight his doubts. "You're always looking out for me," he said, setting down the knife. "And you kept me from hurting her like I wanted to."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"No," she corrected, "I kept you from killing her. Hurting I have no problem with."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I was after something a lot more permanent," he acknowledged with a small smile. Jack almost told her what River had planned, then stopped. If he was wrong, Sam would just warn her. The thought made his head hurt more, and he lay it on her shoulder, sighing a little.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam kissed the top of his head and slung an arm around his waist. "I could tell. And, well, I guess you would have regretted it later."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," he said quietly. "Maybe." Jack leaned into her, deciding he didn't care whether she'd stopped him for his sake or for Lana's. This felt good.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"You sure you're all right?" She asked, not moving away from him.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"No," he said honestly. "But I will be. Just, hang in there with me, okay?" He slipped his fingers through hers.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm not going anywhere, Jack," Sam promised, tightening her grip. "Anything I can help with?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Stay with me tonight," he said, fighting the tension the idea caused. "You and Cedric, and we can both watch him." And he could watch both of them, satisfying both his suspicions and his desire to know they were safe.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam decided that was a sound plan. Plus, only one door to defend, if it came to that. "Absolutely."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Thank you." He tilted his head and kissed her cheek. "You are incredible." Which was true no matter what was going on.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"And you're obviously still suffering a head injury," she hugged him.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He hesitated only a minute before hugging her in return, and once he started, he couldn't stop clinging to her tightly. "Nope, my head's all in one piece." At lest on the outside.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"It's a good head. Sturdy." Stubborn.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You forgot pretty," he said with a weak laugh, loosening his hold.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"That was a given," she let go, still wary about his will.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"A guy still likes to hear it now and then," he teased, easing away from her to lean on the counter, torn between wanting to get further away, just in case, and wanting her to hold him again. At this rate, he was going to end up schizophrenic.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Anything else you want to hear now and then?" She asked, getting some bowls to set the table.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack just watched for a minute, then dug some cutlery out of a drawer and followed her, setting it next to the bowls. "Nothing I can think of right now."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"You'll tell me if you think of anything?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Tell me everything is going to work out, tell me you didn't do what I think you did, tell me I wasn't wrong to trust you. "If I think of anything you'll be the first to know."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Great."