"C'mon Cromie!" Jack shouted over his shoulder, his eyes constantly
scanning the blustery airfield for any signs of his transport.
"I absolutely *cannot* be late!"
Frank Cromwell walked up behind Jack, rolling his eyes at the taller mans impatience.
"Jack, just calm down, you'll be there in time."
For the first time Jack turned to face his fellow soldier and best friend. Jacks eyes were wide, the nervous tension that kept him from standing still evident on his face.
"Frank, I swear. If I'm late she'll kill me. And I am gonna be, I mean, even in a transport its going to be at least four hours till I get there. I can't wait that long!"
Franks face split into a grin, he was so glad he'd been able to get Jack even this far. For a while it had seemed Jack would be stuck in some god forsaken country for the birth of his first child. But some string pulling on his behalf by a benevolent CO, and a few lucky breaks along the way, meant Jack would make it, by the skin of his teeth. but he'd make it to be with Sara.
Especially if the last little part of Franks plan worked. Jack wouldn't be taking a transport home.
Walking beside the agitated Captain, Cromwell placed a hand on his shoulder, barely able to contain his grin; all this would be worth it just to see O'Neill's reaction!
"Major?" Jack turned to face him, eyes still wide, his mind obviously elsewhere.
"What?"
Watching an F16 roll up almost silently several hundred metres behind Jack, Frank couldn't help but grin. Turning the Captains shoulders he pointed him in the direction of his transport.
"Captain, you horse awaits."
For a moment Jack was speechless, the stunned expression he wore something Frank would treasure for a long while, rarely was O'Neill ever silent.
The stunned silence was broken when the soldier leapt in the air, whooping at the top of his voice, a broad grin plastered across his face.
"Well don't just stand there, Airman! Get to it! You've got a baby to deliver!"
For a moment Jack turned to him, a panicked expression replacing the grin.
"You don't think they're gonna make me deliver it do you? I mean I don't know anything, does the head come out first? Or the Feet? What if."
Franks expression must have been something akin to horror, or shock, he thought later, the Captain had taken him seriously.
Jack stopped talking for a moment, his expression resetting to the broad grin he'd worn before.
Frank had been had. And he knew it.
Jogging towards the aircraft, Jack tossed a "Thanks Cromie!" over his shoulder.
About a hundred feet from the plane he stopped and turned, happier than Frank had ever seen him. Raising his hands in the air he called back to the other soldier, the evening sunlight glinting off the cockpit of the plane behind him, surrounding him in a halo of red-gold light. His expression elated.
"I'm gonna be a Dad!"
"I absolutely *cannot* be late!"
Frank Cromwell walked up behind Jack, rolling his eyes at the taller mans impatience.
"Jack, just calm down, you'll be there in time."
For the first time Jack turned to face his fellow soldier and best friend. Jacks eyes were wide, the nervous tension that kept him from standing still evident on his face.
"Frank, I swear. If I'm late she'll kill me. And I am gonna be, I mean, even in a transport its going to be at least four hours till I get there. I can't wait that long!"
Franks face split into a grin, he was so glad he'd been able to get Jack even this far. For a while it had seemed Jack would be stuck in some god forsaken country for the birth of his first child. But some string pulling on his behalf by a benevolent CO, and a few lucky breaks along the way, meant Jack would make it, by the skin of his teeth. but he'd make it to be with Sara.
Especially if the last little part of Franks plan worked. Jack wouldn't be taking a transport home.
Walking beside the agitated Captain, Cromwell placed a hand on his shoulder, barely able to contain his grin; all this would be worth it just to see O'Neill's reaction!
"Major?" Jack turned to face him, eyes still wide, his mind obviously elsewhere.
"What?"
Watching an F16 roll up almost silently several hundred metres behind Jack, Frank couldn't help but grin. Turning the Captains shoulders he pointed him in the direction of his transport.
"Captain, you horse awaits."
For a moment Jack was speechless, the stunned expression he wore something Frank would treasure for a long while, rarely was O'Neill ever silent.
The stunned silence was broken when the soldier leapt in the air, whooping at the top of his voice, a broad grin plastered across his face.
"Well don't just stand there, Airman! Get to it! You've got a baby to deliver!"
For a moment Jack turned to him, a panicked expression replacing the grin.
"You don't think they're gonna make me deliver it do you? I mean I don't know anything, does the head come out first? Or the Feet? What if."
Franks expression must have been something akin to horror, or shock, he thought later, the Captain had taken him seriously.
Jack stopped talking for a moment, his expression resetting to the broad grin he'd worn before.
Frank had been had. And he knew it.
Jogging towards the aircraft, Jack tossed a "Thanks Cromie!" over his shoulder.
About a hundred feet from the plane he stopped and turned, happier than Frank had ever seen him. Raising his hands in the air he called back to the other soldier, the evening sunlight glinting off the cockpit of the plane behind him, surrounding him in a halo of red-gold light. His expression elated.
"I'm gonna be a Dad!"