[for Dale]

Sunday morning dawned clear and hot. The temperature crept higher and finally Jack made his way to the beach. Everyone was so concerned, but he couldn't assure them he was okay, or that he'd be okay. He just knew Ace had helped, as had the Doctor and House, and now it was in his hands. He just had to come to terms with who he was and would be, and who he is here and now.

He sat on his favorite rock tossing pebbles and watching the ripples in the water be swallowed by the waves and thinking, although his thoughts were scattered and jumped from one problem to another at random. For every problem, he tossed another pebble.

He was pretty sure he'd run out of those before he ran out of problems.