I looked out the window and watched the ground below me dropping away, speeding me away from the place where I had grown up. I suppose some people would have felt a twinge of sadness at the sight, but for me it was accompanied by nothing more than an overwhelming sense of relief. I was finally escaping from the backward little town I had been trapped in for most of my life. I had finally gotten a job in my chosen field, anthropology, and was going to a place where I could study ancient civilizations, and how they had changed over the centuries. Cheyenne Mountain. The very name seemed somehow thrilling. I glanced up at the man across from me, and found myself staring into an incredible pair of bright blue eyes. I slowly took in the rest of his appearance; a muscular frame was concealed under relatively casual clothes, and longish, dark blond hair gave him a boyish appearance. He cleared his throat quietly, and I blushed an unusual shade of crimson as I realized that I had been staring.

"Hi," I said, with what I hoped was a knockout smile, "I'm Tessa, Tessa J'nan Bruce-Brown."

He smiled back with an innocent sweetness that made my heart melt.

"Daniel Jackson," he replied, leaning forward to shake my extended hand.

I relaxed, his friendly manner swiftly putting me at ease. I searched my mind for something, anything to keep my conversation with this sweet, handsome man going.

"Ummmm.....So where are you headed?" I finally blurted out. Then I winced.

Geez, Tessa, I thought, Why didn't you just ask him his sign, fer crying out loud.

But he smiled seemingly relieved that he hadn't had to make the first conversational move.

"Cheyenne Mountain," he said with a grin.

"You're joking!" I exclaimed. "That's where I'm headed!!!"

"Honest!" he replied, with a laugh, "I've been on leave, but I'm going back now."

"I'm just starting," I said. "I'm an anthropologist."

It was his turn to be surprised. "That's what I am!" he cried, his jaw dropping.

We both laughed, shocked by this incredible series of coincidences.

"So, can you give me any pointers?" I asked shyly. "To be honest, I'm really nervous. I only just moved away from home."

"And you already got a job working in the mountain? You must have done very well."

I nodded. "Graduated top of my class. I got a letter offering me this position just last week."

We were both enjoying our conversation so much that we didn't even notice that we were about to land until the pilot's voice came over the intercom with instructions for landing.

As we left the plane, he gallantly offered me a ride to the base, and one look at his boyish countenance convinced me that the cab I had called for before the plane left could easily find a new passenger. As we approached Cheyenne Mountain I stared up at it, and as I glanced over at Daniel's face, something told me that I was going to have a very good day.

The End

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