AN/ None of this mine
Chapter 3- A New day
Despite his long journey Jack woke the next morning to the first few rays of sunlight of the day just creeping into his room through the window. He clambered out of bed, ignoring the rather unhealthy sound that his knees were making, and made his way down to the kitchen, following the scent of bacon and eggs.
"Morning" said Al smirking a little at Jacks dishevelled appearance. "Do you plan on changing your clothes while you're here? Only you are beginning to whiff a bit"
Jack just grunted and turned his attention to his breakfast that Alison had just placed in front of him. She always had been a painfully cheerful morning person.
"Right well now that you are awake I'm gonna go back up, see and see if I can finish the roof for the extension"
"Why are you extending anyway? It's just you that lives here"
"I'm thinking of renting this place too, maybe buying another in Alaska"
"For cryin' out loud Al, how many houses do ya' need?"
"A few more if you can find me this easily, besides I like doing them up"
"I like your one in Colorado best"
"Of course you do, I'll see you later" She sighed as she headed for the door, "Oh and Jack, I wasn't kidding about the clothes and you might want to shower too."
It was a good hour before Al saw Jack emerge from the house looking a little more alive and a lot cleaner. He climbed the ladder and carefully made his way over to her,
"Need any help?"
"Ever tiled a roof before?"
"Nope"
Al smiled "Here I'll show you then you can finish up this section and I'll start over there"
"Ali, have you thought any more about…"
"I'm not going anywhere until this house is completed, I need time to think. When I said the only way I'd come back was aliens invading I meant it!"
"Ya' know I haven't even told you what I do."
"Well it sure as hell isn't Deep space radar telemetry, Look Jack whatever it is, it's got you interested enough that you're trying to sell it to me. That and the fact that you seem a heck of a lot more human than the last time I saw you means it's worth consideration. What's holding me back is how much of the past I'll have to face again and the knowledge that once I'm in the chances of getting back out again are slim to none."
Jack wisely remained silent and watched Al show him how to tile. The silence remained between them, for the next couple of hours while they worked, until the beating sun forced them back in for a drink and lunch.
"You know I never picked you as a Montana kind of girl" Said Jack
"Woman" Al corrected "and I like it here not too hot in summer, great snow in winter"
Jack just nodded he could relate to that, it was part of the reason he loved his cabin up in Minnesota so much, that and it was just so darn peaceful.
"You never said, how long can you stay?"
"Probably another day, then I'll head back down I was only off for a week."
"Another thing I'd miss, unlimited free time"
"It's still worth it"
"Conversation's going round in circles, I'm heading back out"
For the rest of Jacks stay the worked on completing the house, Jack never brought up the offer again and let Alison work it all out on her own. It was a choice that, when he first started, he wished he had been given but now, after all he had seen and experienced he wouldn't trade all the fishing the world for it. However Alison was stubborn perhaps more so than he was, if that were even possible, and would have to make the decision on her own.
It was 2 hours before Jack was about to leave when Alison told him her decision.
"Ya' know, we are ridiculously alike. I mean we have both lost our kids in such a way that can be blamed on our choice of career, we were both amazingly good at what we did, or in your case still do and we both have the rather bad habit of quite literally laughing in the face of our enemies."
"Yeah, but I'm a better sniper"
"And I can take you in hand to hand any day plus I'm awesome with knives"
"True." Jack was wondering where she was going with this. The fact that she had mentioned Rebecca (her daughter) and Charlie's (His Sons) deaths' indicated that conversation was going in a direction he really did not want to take.
"It's actually because of that, that I gave your proposition so much thought. I mean we both retired for similar reasons, our jobs put our families in harm's way something that both of us realised too late. I can never forget the feeling of Becca dying in my arms or the look in her eyes and I will definitely never forgive myself. But perhaps I can do what you have done and move forward with my life. This job, whatever it is you're doing, seems to have helped so I'm prepared to give it a shot."
Jack paused not quite registering the meaning of her words. "Now?"
"Well you see I had this dope of a best friend, he's like a brother to me, and he came over and helped me finish up my house. He also kindly pointed out that I have a rather nice house in the same state as him and it might be an idea to get some use out of it. Course this only works if he's willing to give me a lift."
"Sure thing"
AN/ Okay two chapters in one day I'm sorry if this is dragging on but I promise things will get better once she gets to the SGC. Please R&R
