NOT AFRAID
Friends
Chapter 10: Friends
Season/episode: season 4 - episode 19 - "Prodigy"
References to 'Letters and Care Packages" (Chapter 8) and 'Reunion' (chapter 9)
I walked into the mess hall intending to have lunch before leaving to M4C-862 with Teal'c to babysit some scientists.
Dr. Hamilton and his team were studying the moon and conducting numerous experiments in the facilities built there. Major Griff and SG2 were on babysitting duty right now, but my presence was required because the SGC was considering creating a permanent research facility on the moon. We need a permanent and secure research facility out of reach of the NID and their corrupted fingers. This particular moon seems like a good place on paper, but off-world bases must have my approval and are part of my responsibilities as second in command of the SGC, and I won't give the go-ahead before I've seen it with my own eyes.
However, it's a task that I'm not enthusiastic to do… not at all! Hamilton is one of the most arrogant, annoying, and idiotic eggheads of the program!
Carter and Daniel were lucky; they get to skip this boring mission. Daniel was with SG11 investigating some weird ruins and artifacts they'd found, and Carter was giving a lecture about physics at the Academy. Thank God at least T was coming with me! Without my Jaffa friend, I don't think I could go through the mission without killing Hamilton before he gets himself killed doing something stupid that I probably told him not to do. I hate the guy!
Anyway, I needed to have lunch before leaving for what was going to be a boring and annoying mission. When I got to the mess, I saw Ferretti having his lunch so, after getting my food, I joined him.
"So how are things at home, Jack? How's Loran? Is he adjusting to us crazy Tau'ri?"
"Loran is adjusting just fine. He and Cassie have become friends; they're constantly hanging around together with Cass and her friends… Of course, I taught him how to play street hockey. The three of us play as often as their vital commitments with their teenage friends allows," I explained with no small amount of sarcasm.
"And Sara? How's she handling the hormonal alien?"
"Surprisingly well. She went back to the role of mom like a pro. She's doing a great job. It's done a lot of good for her too; she's smiling a lot more."
I knew it was true. I've seen her often since Loran came to live on Earth and I've seen how happy she is being a mother again. Caring for Loran is helping her more than I can explain with words.
"Good, that's good. I'm glad you two are happy," Lou said sincerely. I could see that he was really pleased for Sara and me.
After a small pause, Ferretti spoke again, "So the alien teens are getting close, eh? Not enough to get you worried, right?" He looked a little worried about it. "Because if you think Loran needs to talk with Uncle Ferretti about being a good boy to my honorary niece…" he added somewhat menacingly.
I had to laugh hearing my friend say that. Poor Cass, she had a base full of Special Ops 'uncles' ready to threaten any possible suitor who wasn't up to the standards of these people or Janet and I. And of course, a very scary Jaffa auto-proclaimed godfather, and me. I almost felt sorry for her future boyfriends… almost.
"They're friends, kind of like cousins… they've both lost their world and they like talking about things. Sara told me the other day that Loran is dating a cute blonde called Miranda, in fact. She's one of Cass' friends."
"Good. Cass is not dating anyone, right?" Again it was 'Uncle Ferretti' talking.
"Nope, thank god! But there's a guy in her group of friends that I think is just trying to muster enough courage to ask her out… Dominic something or other."
"Well, if he ever musters enough courage, you know where to find me!"
I smirked and nodded at him. I have to admit I was pleased to know that I could get a small army to scare any boyfriend Cass gets.
"So… How's Janet, Jack? I saw Sara and Janet having coffee together the other day… exchanging tips about how to control you?" Lou teased me now that he was satisfied knowing that everything was well in the O'Neill-Fraiser household.
"Funny, Lou, very funny," I answered sarcastically.
"Oh, c'mon Jack… you got to admit that it's one very especial situation you have there."
"Tell me about it! Sara told Janet about the little gifts I would hide in the house when I was gone, and now Janet wants me to do romantic things for her. Apparently that was very romantic of me," I complained. "I was in my twenties when I did that, I would have thought that at forty-four a nice dinner and dancing in a romantic restaurant was more appropriate."
Ferretti chuckled and I glared at him trying to get him to stop. "I don't think age is a factor for Janet here," he said trying his best to control his laugher. "Maybe you should do something romantic for her when you finish your babysitting duties."
Again his mocking was obvious and I glared at him harder than before to no avail. "Okay, what would have me do, Don Juan?"
"I don't know, Jack, you're the romantic one."
"Oh, that was helpful, Lou, very helpful of you," I answered sarcastically and glaring at him trying to convey that if he didn't stop mocking me there would be consequences.
"Okay, don't shoot me, Jack," he said raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. It would have been easier to believe if he wasn't smirking unrepentantly.
"You could always propose this summer, you know take her to some beautiful place, and…"
"Oh, for crying out loud! You have a bet on that too!"
"Don't look at me like that, Jack. Even the general has money on it."
I groaned in embarrassment at the idea that everyone in the damn base, including the general were betting on my love life. I'm going to kill Daniel, T and maybe even Jacob, for starting the bet.
"Because you're going to propose, right Jack? You two are happy; you're already living together and everything…"
"Yes, I will propose when I'm ready to do so," I answered firmly. I refuse to let anyone bully us into it just because there's a bet to pay.
"Hey! Don't get me wrong, I'm just joking, not gonna bully you into it… But I know you well enough, Jack, to know that you want rings and the whole nine yards. I'm not saying it has to be tomorrow, I'm only saying that as long as it's on the cards I'm happy for you," Lou said honestly.
I nodded accepting his words at face value and muttered a 'thanks'.
"And now, Lou, I must go and babysit some scientists on M4C-yada yada…"
"Hamilton, right?" Lou asked and I gave him an affirmative nod. "My condolences… that guy is the most annoying egghead in the galaxy!"
I left the commissary more relaxed than I entered it after my friendly talk with Ferretti. He is a good friend, and his concern for me is always appreciated. He's also one of the few men in the base capable of teasing me because we had been friends for years now, and that was always quite refreshing.
Sadly my stress-free feeling was immediately lost the moment I came face to face with Hamilton. From then on, everything went south. The mission just went from annoying to dangerous, to deathly dangerous. Thankfully, Carter came up with a way of getting off that damned moon alive, and we all survived.
Hamilton was quite contrite upon our return to the SGC, grateful, respectful… he almost looked like a different man. He also seemed afraid of Janet. He turned white the moment she asked what happened to me in a voice that clearly showed her annoyance and anger at seeing that someone got injured while on a regular babysitting mission.
I found it very amusing how he ran away from the infirmary yet tried to make it look like he wasn't running. I made a conscious effort not to laugh at the guy, and I swear I saw the general trying to hide a smirk. No one really likes Hamilton except for Hamilton.
Thanks for reading. Please tell me what you think :-)
A/N: This was a fun, sweet chapter, but next one will be darker. We'll deal with Jack's feelings after the events of "Entity".
A/N 2: To everyone who put this story/me in their alert/favorite lists, and to everyone who reviewed: THANKS :)