Are We There Yet?
The wind was howling across the airstrip. Hunching my shoulders, I tugged up my jacket collar in an attempt to stop the cold from getting any further into my rather elderly bones than it already had. Garmr pressed closer into me, and although I knew he was doing it for his own comfort, I didn't mind the feeling of his rough, thick, coat warming my leg. I'd grabbed a set of BDUs from the SGC, but now I wished I'd taken something a little warmer to put over the top – like an Arctic weight parka.
I was halfway to the C-17 when a shout roared from out of the shadows.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!"
It had been too good to last. I'd gotten from the SGC to Peterson and almost to the plane without an eyebrow being raised – probably more to do with the time of night and the weather than my ability at looking inconspicuous.
I had barely made the flight as it was, after working out all the little details like actually eating a sandwich and changing into something suitable to fly in on a military transport. Then there had been the issue of a uniform to wear to the meeting with the President. Fortunately Walter had come up with a spare set of my dress blues from some place he had secreted them away for just such an occasion. I let Garmr lick him again in thanks. Now, here was this guy with a couple of captain's bars on his shoulders trying to stop me from getting the last few steps I needed to go to reach a seat and a place to rest my head, if not to sleep.
"You can't take that thing on board." He was gesturing at Garmr, not that I needed him pointing at the werga to work out what the problem was as he raised his voice to be heard above the shrieking engines. Another two men who I took to be members of his crew were flanking him in an obvious display of support.
It wasn't like I blamed the captain for his attitude. Animals weren't normally allowed on military transports and there was no doubt in my mind the pilot was determined to stop me from boarding.
I took a step nearer and shouted back. "It's okay, Captain, I've got approval…"
He interrupted before I could finish. "I don't care who you've got approval from…"
"…the President."
We both stopped bellowing at each other. In the pause that followed I reached up and folded my collar back down. The men around me stiffened.
"Animals are a danger on board, General." It was said firmly, if loudly, and I privately commended the captain for his bravery in the face of three stars.
"I do understand that, Captain, and I take full responsibility…"
Again I was interrupted. "No, sir, I'm the pilot. I take full responsibility."
I could only nod. "I apologize. You're right. But I can assure you that this is a very well trained animal. There won't be any problem."
There really wasn't much he could say after that, especially as any answer sounded like he was shouting at a superior officer, even if it was just to be heard, so he gave me a very proper salute, which I returned, and I continued into the plane.
To my surprise Garmr entered the large screaming monster as if it was something he did every day, without even hesitating. All eyes were fixed on us as we walked down the narrow aisle between the interior wall and the rows of seats. Thankfully the aircraft was only about three-quarters full and there was a row toward the back with several empty seats, including an aisle one. Pushing Garmr so that he stayed in the aisle, I dropped into it and looked up at him to whisper in his ear.
"Don't make a liar out of me. Pretend to be trained. Stay quiet."
I knew he heard me because he gave a low growl, opened his mouth, dropped drool on the hand holding the totally useless leash and sat.
Then he yawned, mouth open wide, lips back and fangs showing.
There was a chorus of gasps from around me.
"What sort of dog is he, sir?"
"A big one!" The shouted answer came from the big, beefy army sergeant sitting next to the questioner.
Fortunately I was spared having to answer as the engines shrieked even louder and I hastily grabbed for my earplugs. It wasn't the first time I'd flown military – not by a long way. Having come prepared, I opened up my duffle and took a set of headphones out, stuck them on Garmr's ears, and plugged them into my iPod. The playlist was already set so I pressed the center and left him to enjoy Peer Gynt. It somehow seemed appropriate. He flopped fully onto the floor and sprawled, taking up all the aisle.
It was good to be able to sit for a while. Even the loud sound of the engines was somehow soothing and I began to drift off into a light doze, barely aware of the rattling as the large plane took off.
"Excuse me, General?" The words weren't so much whispered as bellowed. "Could you…?"
The problem was obvious as soon as I looked. Garmr was sound asleep, blocking the route to the toilet. I didn't bother apologizing to the young airman trying to pass, just gave the werga a push with my foot to clear his front legs enough for the man to step over them.
He didn't. He just stood there, looking down.
I was going to say 'Go on, he won't bite.' but I couldn't in all conscience do that, so instead I gave Garmr another shove. Lifting his head, he blinked blearily.
"Move." The word was accompanied by my pointing emphatically at the floor closer to my seat. Then I just waited, praying it would work, because otherwise there were going to be a lot of wet patches on the seats further back in the cabin by the end of the flight.
Garmr stood, shook himself, stepped sideways and flopped back down – on my foot. Barely restraining an anguished yelp, I smiled grimly at the airman as he sidled nervously past. Fortunately Garmr waited until he had gone by before he gave a low growl and a shake of his massive head.
The headphones needed readjusting. With a sigh I repositioned them and checked the playlist I had chosen still had a way to go, then, while my foot slowly turned into a solid mass of numbness, I shut my eyes again and finally slept.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Sir!" I sat up, almost hitting the speaker in the nose. One of the men I had seen before I boarded the aircraft was bending over me. "We have a problem."
Oh crap, what now? My internal question was answered by a sudden jolt, causing my backside to leave the seat cushion.
"We've hit some unexpected turbulence and the captain is worried about your dog."
The captain may have been worried, but Garmr certainly wasn't. He was lying on the floor, all four legs in the air, headphones still firmly attached. I took a quick look at the iPod screen and saw that he was now being serenaded by Wagner – not my choice of music to sleep by, but I wasn't arguing. I gave him a nudge and got nothing but a twitch of the left front foot in return.
Great bodyguard he turned out to be.
Another shudder ripped through the plane, making the exposed equipment and wires on the walls swing wildly. The whole craft tipped to the right and I grabbed the armrests. After a breath-taking and very long few seconds it came back to an even keel.
The crewman was clutching the back of my seat, trying to keep his feet. "I'll watch the dog," I told him. "You better see to the other passengers." He gave a grateful nod and turned to leave. I reached out and snagged his sleeve, pulling him in closer so that I didn't have to shout as loudly. "Tell the captain if he needs an extra pair of hands up there I'm available."
His reply was another nod, then he continued toward a group of civilians nearer the front. There was another upward lurch and even I had to gulp down my rising stomach.
I took a look around at the others on board and turned off the iPod. Garmr immediately rolled and stood, giving me a reproachful snarl.
"Come on, it's time you did something useful instead of acting like a very annoying rug." Leaving the now unplugged headphones perched on his head, I stood and started up the cabin, with the werga following.
It took more than bit of tossing around to knock me over, especially after years of flying on alien craft. Apart from the odd snap of claws on floor, Garmr didn't seem to have any problem moving around either.
About three rows up from me there was a family group – mother, teenage daughter, and young son and it was pretty obvious the children were getting more and more frightened as the turbulence increased in intensity. They occupied part of the row, leaving one seat on the same side I was. My drop into it coincided with another rock to the side so my arrival had more in common with a controlled fall than a graceful sit.
"Hey there. Mind if we join you?" The boy on the end of the row was about seven or eight, his light brown hair falling untidily across his forehead and into his eyes – eyes that were fixed firmly on Garmr. I looked across him to his mother. "We were getting lonely back there."
She nodded at my words and I wondered just how much she could hear over the racket the engines were making.
"I'm Jack." I pointed at my chest, just to be sure she understood.
"Jane, Ruby, and Matthew Ness." The woman pointed to herself, her daughter and her son in turn.
There was a tug on my sleeve and I lowered my head until my ear was almost touching the boy's mouth.
"What's his name?"
"Garmr."
"That's a funny name."
"Well, yeah, but he's pretty funny, so it suits him."
We both looked at the werga. Matthew sniggered, his hand up to his mouth. With the headphones still perched on his ears and the cord dangling down over his neck Garmr did look pretty funny.
"He's got funny eyes."
That was definitely right – and at the moment they were staring straight at the kid as if sizing him up for a snack. I quickly changed the subject before the funny doggy got really insulted.
"Where are you folk from?"
"Denver. My husband's coming back from Iraq tomorrow." There was another jolt and the mother's hands grabbed out to hold her children's arms, but she released them just as quickly as she continued speaking. "He's been gone almost a year."
Both the kids smiled at that, their fright momentarily forgotten.
"Dad's a captain, just like the pilot," Matthew stated proudly. "Except he's in the Army. Captain's very important. He tells people what to do."
The girl rolled her eyes. "Not as important as him." She pointed at my collar. "He's a general."
"Ruby! Don't point. It's rude."
"Well, he is." With a look of disgust, Ruby sat back in her seat, her arms crossed.
"Is general higher than captain?"
"Oh course it is, you dumbass."
"Mom, Ruby called me a dumbass!"
I stifled my laugh and put a suitably chiding expression on my face.
"I'm really sorry, General, I don't know what's gotten into them."
They were brother and sister – that was enough, especially when one was a teenager. Plus it took their mind off the rough flight. Speaking of which – the plane had settled down.
"It's okay, and it's Jack."
A sharp pain suddenly flared in my left knee and I jerked around to find Garmr's paw hooked into a rent in my trouser leg. He shook his head, making the headphone cord whip dangerously close to me.
"I think he wants his music back." Matthew's eyes were huge in surprise. "He's a very funny dog."
Before we could get into the funny dog stuff again I grabbed the cord and plugged it back in to the iPod, then pulled the headphones back into position. This time I chose something at random and set it to play. Garmr took up his usual position across the aisle, looking around as if daring anyone to pass him, before closing his eyes. It was a good thing the flight was almost over.
It was only about ten minutes later that we landed, the pilot setting the big C-17 down with barely a bump. After saying my goodbyes to Mrs. Ness and her children I grabbed my luggage from where I'd left it and headed out the door, at the rear of the small group of passengers.
The night in Maryland was a little warmer than in Colorado Springs, if just as dark. Shouldering my duffle, I slung my suit bag over my arm and gave a tug on the leash, before we set off following the main group toward the nearby buildings. I was almost there before a man came hurrying towards me. I was fairly sure it would be the Duty Officer and I was right.
"General O'Neill, I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier. The flight arrived sooner than expected."
"Thanks all right, Major, we had a little help from a rather strong tail wind."
"So I heard, sir. Yours wasn't the first plane to land early tonight, so things are a little off schedule." He gestured toward a waiting car. "We have a billet arranged for you. Can I take your bags?"
I handed them to him, knowing it was easier than arguing and was about to turn to the car when I heard the sound of happy voices behind me. The Ness family were clustered around a tall man in Army uniform, their excitement obvious even in the dim light. As I watched, he reached down and effortlessly picked up young Matthew, hugging him tight against him in one arm, while the other pulled Ruby to him.
My smile was brief, the memory of the joy of returning to a loving family burning bitterly in me.
"Let's go, Major. I hope there's plenty of hot water left. I need a shower."
"The price of flying military, sir," the officer agreed, as we drove away from the happy reunion. "There will be a car waiting to take you to your meeting in the morning."
I thanked him absently, just hoping I could get a bit of sleep. It seemed I was living in a constant state of sleep deprivation lately.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I would have left my shower to the morning and fallen straight into bed, but I wasn't the only one that needed a wash and Garmr couldn't go visiting the President all soggy. So instead of sleeping, I reluctantly stripped off my borrowed BDUs and pulled an equally reluctant werga under the shower spray. By this time I knew better than to wash myself first. After a quick scrub Garmr gave his usual vigorous shake, coating the whole interior of the tiny bathroom and me in water, and huffed. Wiping my eyes so I could see, I finished him off with a rough towelling and ushered him out of the room so I could get clean.
I should have known better. When I walked back into the bedroom a few minutes later I found a very large, still extremely damp, mound of grey hair and teeth sleeping right in the middle of the bed.
Too tired to argue, I gave in and pulled back the covers to slip into the small space that remained. The smell of wet fur is the same, whether it's alien or not and I just hoped it I wouldn't stink too obviously of it in the morning.
"You did good tonight," I muttered in his ear. "But tomorrow's the big one. Don't mess up."
I went to sleep with the uneasy feeling I shouldn't have tempted fate by saying anything.
TBC
