Chapter 6
The Springs' High School, Colorado
"I'm so getting that lying, conniving little bitch." The group of eleventh graders sat on the steps of the school.
"Calm down Kathy, we'll get her back. Team work remember, we're getting so that bitch." Jon wrapped his arms loosely around the shoulders of the short brunette girl in front of him.
"Yeah. All for one, Kath." Said Gavin, a tall and gangly youth that had been Jon's friend even in the wilderness year of last year, where Jon had been going through the trauma of being a teen again.
The war between them and "that Simms," as she was called had entered a heated running battle. With the two sides evenly matched in smarts and cunning. This week there had been a spattering of practical jokes and a fast rumour mungering element that currently had Sasha Collins, Lisa's best friend, a low class hooker for the football team and that Jon's group were all members in some sort of weird religious cult.
Since he'd allowed himself to morn the past and thrown himself into High School, he'd been living the pointless teen life to the full. He treated the political ebb and flow of High School in the same way as he did the times that he had been in hostile territory, only without the C4. Knowing that this really was the only time that he would probably be this carefree, instead of playing the waiting game he'd been doing for the first 6 months since he'd been created, he was living it in full technicolour.
"I know just how to show her not to mess with us." Said one of the Colonel Reynold's twins, Jennifer and Kerry. He'd nicknamed them Tweedle and evil Dee soon after meeting them because of their ability to create organised mayhem at the drop of a hat.
"You always have a plan that's why you're evil Dee," said Gavin.
"Of course that's all the two of them do, plan mayhem. While we innocents are asleep in our beds those two are plotting." Jon always loved ragging the Reynold's they had a great sense of humour.
"You, innocent, my cute hiney." Tweedle giggled, "I remember the inching powder."
"Shh, if anyone found out who that was I'd be strung up."
"And the dye," Calvin added,
"Fifth amendment."
"Pictures of Tom the quarterback, on his back."
"No comment. But in answer to your case against me I will just say two words. Operation Slug." The six youngsters looked at each other and continued to laugh. "It's the quiet one's you have to watch." Gavin blushed as the others gave him a knowing look, he'd surprised all of them not least himself with that stunt.
"Anyway as I was saying before mouthy interrupted me." She leaned over and slapped Jon on the back of the head lightly. "I think I have a plan that will get them back for this mornings prank on our dear Kathy."
Even though they were a year younger than their peers and had only been moved-up a grade at the start of this academic period, Jennifer and Kerry fit in perfectly. They were the 15 year old daughters of Jack's second in command at the mountain. At first he'd avoided mingling with them and others anxious to avoid contact with reminders of his past life. When he had planned to return to school with General Hammond and the then Colonel O'Neill, he had mentally been aware that he would be going to school with the children of the people he knew from Cheyenne Mountain but the experience had still been startling. However the new Jon, although keeping away from their parents with careful manoeuvring, he had made friends with some of them. It was better than he had expected, he found that by not visiting certain homes, but frequenting others that even though it brushed with Jack's life, being friends with the twins and other military children didn't bring him into awkward meetings with people who'd left him behind.
Jon listened with one ear as they laid down the strategy and planned the twelfth graders' payback. As he sat with his arms still around the fuming Kathy, he nudged her to the side so that she was now leaning against her African American boyfriend Calvin. Juvenile though it maybe, this was the life, this was his life.
.............
Later that day
"Hey, Simms." Jon called and then was quick to look down when the target looked his way. Splat, someone sitting over by the wall had let fly with the universal fling friendly food, mash potatoes. It landed squarely on the back of her head. As the rest of her twelfth grader group were slow to react to the situation more food joined the first volley. Then in a co-ordinated effort more food came flying from around the room aimed at her and the group around her. It wasn't long before there was some retaliation and many innocent bystanders were brought into the fray. It was at this point that the second part of the plan was executed and ducking out of the medley of food, the instigators left the scene of the crime. Quickly they swapped their lunch covered clothes with clean ones that they had prepared in their bags. The best part of any plan was the retreat strategy. And there right on time Principal Young, stormed into the high school cafeteria to restore order.
"It's an oldie but goodie," quipped Evil Dee, as they stood casually against the lockers as the unfortunate group were marched through the hall way to the detention hall.
"Oh, Tom what have you done now?" whispered Calvin, as the big football captain was led away.
"Hey Conner, maybe you should try a bib next time," was Jon's shot.
"Lisa, that ensemble is so not you," Tweedle's smirk was dripping with evil glee.
"You'll get yours," whispered one of the Principal's captives as they swept past. The eleventh graders laughed, it wouldn't have been fun if it was any other way.
"We so rock."
"Totally," agreed Jon,"this is the most fun I've had since err... yesterday." As payback went today's adventure, had been simple quick and effective.
"And the day's not over yet."
"Don't remind me, I've still got Cummings," moaned Jon, "that guy seriously creeps me out."
"Only because he's big with the back-seat mothering now he knows that you're like parent less. His hearts in the right place though, not like Bailey who watches you like a hawk. I mean your way less deviant than most of the flakes around here."
"Yeah I know, it's just if I hear one more time, 'If there's anything I can help you with, Jon.' 'I'm always here to listen, Jon.' 'I want us to be friends, Jon.' I'm gonna heave big time. And what's it with the hands, he's always with the touching. I so not big on the hugging."
There were various shrugs around the group, Jon's emancipated minor status sometimes brought out the mothering instinct in the female teachers. But daily exposure to his snarky witt and confident demeanour tended to deflect the mothering aspect, as the boy came across as too independent and maverick for it. But Mr Cummings was hanging in there, and although Jon found it annoying it was better than the other people who assumed that he was on his way to Juvie Hall.
Amid chatter and giggles the group moved onto the History classroom and selecting their usual seats at the back and to the side of the room, the other seats were soon taken up with their classmates.
"Afternoon class." Came the bright tenor of Mr Cummings. There was various replies from the group as they settled down. "There's been a change in plans for this weekends class camping trip. Due to the food fight in the cafeteria this afternoon, we will no longer be accompanied by the twelfth graders. It will be a smaller group of just those 15 of you, whose parents have given permission, and therefore the number of teachers will be reduced. You maybe pleased to note that Miss Taylor, Mr Davidson and I will be your chaperones. I'm sure that you'll all be sad to know that Principal Young is now too busy with the weekend detention she requires the miscreants of the lunch time fiasco to attend." With this Cummings shot a surprisingly knowing look at the pupils in Jon's corner. It was met with blank innocent faces that butter wouldn't melt in. "The school bus will be picking us up at 8.30 sharp, if you are not there at this time you will not get another chance to work for the extra credit. Now turn in your text books to page 103, Native American customs and beliefs...."
With the sound of turning pages The Springs' High School, history class turned to the task of reading and learning.
....
Jon's Apartment Colorado Springs
Jon stood at the window watching the light rain fall against the pane. It was a peaceful accompaniment to his wandering thoughts, he'd spent the last quarter of an hour throwing a bag together for tomorrows class trip. It was after school and as usual the gang had all congregated at his place for some study time and to generally hang out.
"Hey we're out of potato chips," came a voice from the living area. Throwing on a jumper against the cool fall air. Jon joined the rest.
"How about something proper to eat?" Jon crossed over to the kitchen area and started rummaging around in the cupboards. "We got enough for a risotto, an early dinner."
"Cool." Calvin was going through another growth spurt and was always hungry.
"Ok. But if you want dessert you're going to have to pick something up, we've got nothing now." Evil Dee gave the group a stare, the others had a habit of eating and not replacing.
"Ice cream." Tweedle jumped up and began herding Calvin and Gavin to the door while grabbing Jon's car keys off their hook.
"Pecan pie." Kathy followed them out the door glad for the study break. In five seconds the only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of gentle rain and the music from the CD player in the background.
"Would you like some help?"
"Sure another pair of hands wont go amiss."
After Kerry had started washing the rice while Jon began preparing the vegetables. "So anything new?"
"Huh?"
"Anything new? You know a girlfriend...or boyfriend?"
"No. Err why do you ask?"
"Some thing's different Jon, we've all noticed."
Looking around Jon caught the clue bus. "Oh so that's why ice cream takes four people."
"Well duh, so you might as well spill they've got orders not to come back until I send a text."
"Evil Dee strikes again."
"Another perfect scheme so you stop stalling, I've got all evening."
"I don't know what to say I haven't got a girl friend and you know I don't swing the other way, it's just I've got a pen friend." Jon tried to contain his laugh at Kerry's nonplussed expression. "Well not so much as pen, but email and telephone friend."
"A pen friend? You're trying to convince me that you've been happier for the last two months because of a pen friend. I'm not buying it." Jon sighed the older twin was always hard to put off the scent. Secretly he hoped that she would follow her father into the military she was smart, sharp and had a bark to rival any officers.
"It's probably a little more involved than a simple pen friend but that's all it is at the moment. It's just that it's nice you know." Looking at Kerry as she put the rice on to boil Jon decided to open the door a little more. "Kes, alright you want the 411? There are possibly six people in this world that would give a shit if I died tomorrow." Kerry made to interrupt. "Ahh, let's not mess with bull shit," he shushed her. "I'm an emancipated minor with no living family apart from a second cousin whom I have not had any contact with since he dropped me off to school a year ago. You five are the closest I've got to family and I'm not sure what's going to happen when we all go off to college."
"Then we'll go to the same college." Kerry snapped.
"You can't know that."
"Yes Jon yes I can. I can make up my own mind and of this minute it's made up."
"Don't you wanna talk it though with the others with Tweedle?"
"She'll understand and they will agree with me if they know what's good for them. I'm their best friend I should know and we've getting off topic." There was a pause, "the others will be getting wet out there..."
"We'll talk about college again it is not sorted," but privately he knew when the Reynold's girls had decided on something they were rarely dissuaded. "Alright two months ago I was contacted by this guy who had been prompted to contact me though his local Shaman." Jon twisted certain facts to make them more believable. "I know I had him pegged for a nut job too, but I've gotten to know him and you know how you get me? Well he gets me too." Turning around he was not quite prepared for the amount of anger in his friends face.
"Jonathan O'Neill you have lost your f-ing little mind. Let me get this straight some guy contacts you out of the blue, because his weed high pimp tells him to get cosy with a minor. By your own admission children like you have few connections that would kick up a stink if they went missing." Kerry grabbed her phone and began dialling.
"Hey, who are you calling?"
"My dad he knows people and we'll get this creep before he gets any more gullible ..."
"No stop." Jon snatched the phone and snapped it shut. This was getting out of hand. "I'll tell you more but it's just between the two of us no one else." Jon watched as a fuming Kerry stood with her arms folded tight but she did give him a tight nod to continue. The link between Xander and himself wasn't classified he could tell her and no body at the Mountain need know this was a Jon thing not a Jack thing. And anyway he rationalised it's not as if Jack had told anyone about Joe Spencer. "He didn't contact me via the internet he does now but at first we just talked in our dreams."
"Jon I'm not..."
"It's true and it's not the first time this sort of thing has happened to me but no one must know not even the others it's just between the two of us. We're kinda like linked and after a while he gave me his details and I asked Jack to check him out. We exchanged phone numbers and it's been building like that slowly. I'm not an idiot you know."
"Three of us."
"What?"
"Jenny, I'll tell my sister." Yes Jon thought the military wouldn't know what hit it if the Reynold sisters answered Uncle Sam's call.
"Alright. Let's get the others back and in from the rain. When the rest of them have gone home I'll tell you about Xander. As I said I've already asked Jack to run a security check on him."
"Your cousin?" Kerry didn't hide the fact that she thought that her dad's boss was negligent in his care for Jon, disdain dripped from her lips any time his name cropped up. "What did he come up with?"
"Well if there was anything urgent he would have contacted me by now."
"I'll get dad to do it," she sighed exasperated.
"Kes..."
"It's non-negotiable." General Reynolds the youngest general in the service, Jon thought. "I'll cook up some story like the one you gave me without the whole dream link.
"I don't know it didn't work too well with you."
"Oh Jon boy, Jon boy I'm much better at spinning tales than you are it'll be fine and it's going to happen anyway so you might as well stop whining and give in gracefully."
"Send the text B atch," laughing she called the wet teens back.
After dinner they finished of their study session. Well they tended to study Jon often just briefly re-read the material and completed his assignments within a few hours of them being given out. He remembered enough from his previous reincarnation and writing the detailed military reports as Jack had helped him more than he'd been aware. The offshoot of it was that his school work took no time at all. In truth he could easily have been advanced a year or two when he had first started but at first it was the physiological shock of coming back to his former self's teenage place of hell, that kept him from getting through high school at the accelerated pace. Then it was because he had become friends with the group that he was with, what would be the point hurrying through academia just to be alone in college or wherever he ended.
It was with two of his good friends that after dropping the others back home, he sat down with Tweedle and Evil Dee and told them all about Scarecrow aka Xander Harris and the weirdness that this link between them had started.
Xxx
Still Jon's Apartment
Friday night Jonathan was awoken out of a deep sleep with the ringing of his cell phone. Picking it up without opening his eyes he groaned before flipping the damn thing open. "O'Neill," he groaned sleepily. It took a moment for him to realise that he had an agitated Scarecrow on the phone line.
They had exchanged contact numbers and email addresses when the dream space they both shared had become a regular occurrence. Even though the second dream had not contained the older know-it all soldier but Xander the dreams had continued. The big black jungle cat, which he had found out was a panther was always there when Jon slept and sometimes the white tiger cub made an appearance but it was always fleeting.
"Hang on, I'm not getting this, what snake?" Jon was a little more awake now that the panic from the other guy was more evident. He listened again to the dream that the Sentinel had experienced. "OK, OK so because of this dream you believe that I'm in danger somehow. But you don't know when or how?"
"Just stay in your flat. I'll be there in the afternoon tomorrow and I can..."
"Whoo, there, Scarecrow. Let's think this through logically. First of all you don't know that I really am in danger, it could be some bad cheese. Secondly even if you are right, you don't know what the danger is. And thirdly you don't know whether staying puts me in more danger not less."
"Listen to me Dorothy, I..."
"And we've never met, so although you and I have this weird mind meld connection, I'm not going to let a man I've never met run my life. The jury's still out on the fact that you may just be crazy."
"It's my job to protect you."
"Yeah, again with the crazy talk. We've had this discussion before Xander, I can look after myself. Have been for years and will continue to do so."
"I'm leaving now, just stay in the flat until I can get to you."
"Not the boss of me Xan. Now I'll take precautions, I'll be armed, but until you can give me more details, I'll live my life as I choose. It's only a camping trip for all you know I'm in danger from Lisa Simms gang on Monday when they blame me for today's payback and string me up by my unmentionables."
"Jon..."
"Night Xan keep off the cheese if it's blue don't listen to anyone it's still mould, get some sleep and go sand some wood in the morning." With that Jon snapped the phone closed and pulled the duvet back over his head, at least the Indiana barber had never phoned him. He swore a few minutes later as he turned on the light and checked the flat to make sure it was secure and retrieved his knife from it's place in the drawer and placed it under his pillow. Flippant he maybe, but stupid he wasn't.
A/N In season 8 of Stargate it is discovered that Jack has been sharing his thoughts with Joe Spencer a barber from Indiana, for the last 8 years.