Title: The
Off-World Job
Author: Trowa B
Notes: Not sure *where* this one
came from. Anyone missing a bunny?
Summary: Jack offers an old
friend a job.
###########
He doesn't know why he came; why he's here.
Well, no, he knows why he's here. He's here because his friend, Jack O'Neill asked him. What he doesn't know is why, in the final few weeks of his terminal leave, he is here in Colorado Springs, waiting to talk to Jack O'Neill about a new job.
He wishes he had thought to tell Jack that no, what worked for him wasn't going to work for Nathan, but in the end he had decided that he wasn't going to turn down a chance to see his old friend, no matter what Jack may be trying to get him to do. He could still turn whatever it was down, after all. Jack may have been 'saved' by getting sucked into this special ops black hole, but Nate really didn't think it was his bag.
He sighed and presented his ID to the gate guard, who took it, looked it over, checked the list and then handed it back, barely hiding his smirk. "First right, sir," he said, "Then left. The parking lot is to the right and someone will be waiting for you at the main entrance. It's a joint command, sir, so it may be one of the marines."
Arriving in the lot, he found the designated visitor parking and, as he was trying to make sure the visitor's pass stayed attached to his rear view mirror, there was a rap on his window. He jumped, jerking round to glare at the marine.
It had no effect on the man, who looked at him impassively until he got out of his car.
"Major Ford," said the man, offering a salute as Nate jammed his cover onto his head. "Lieutenant De Lint. If you'll follow me please?"
With a final glare, Nate gave a sharp nod. The man did an equally sharp about face and headed smartly for the check-point, leaving Nate a little in his wake. He was having a quiet conversation with the guard as Nate caught up, something to do with "seeing the boss". The guard shot Nate an almost pitying look, but waved them on through.
A guard post near a bank of elevators waved them through with barely a second glance, but snapped off a parade ground salute, as if this weren't some kind of back-woods NATO research post. And how the hell had a research post pulled Jack out of his depression anyway?
He was jerked out of his reverie by a shout of warning sounded from the elevator and a dark haired man in an eye patch hurtled past with a tall, blonde woman in hot pursuit. His escort watched them go, a thoughtful expression on his face.
As the pair disappeared into sunlight, the phone at the desk started to ring.
The guard glanced at it, then back at the Lieutenant. "Please tell me you'll find out the story, sir?" he asked before answering it.
De Lint grinned and nodded, before gesturing to Nathan to board the elevator. He joined him after a moment, punching a code into a keypad before pressing the button for the 27th floor.