Thanks for the reviews guys. Glad you're still with me. Sorry it's a shorter chapter than normal, but the next one will be longer. Fluffy too. Promise!

THIS OLD MAN.

By LetitiaRichards.

Previously:-

Hammond dismissed Janet and sighed long and morosely, leaning back in his chair, his fingers steepled against his lips as he rested his forearms over his ample midriff. What to do for the best uppermost in his mind.

Chapter 14

This old man, he played three.

He played nick-nack on my knee.

With a nick-nack paddy whack,

Give the dog a bone,

This old man came rolling home.

Jack woke with a start and with difficulty, climbed to his feet; bemoaning the fact that he'd been sitting down for far too long in one spot. Biting down the pain, he moved as quickly as his stiff limbs would carry him in order to get to the door before whoever was leaning on the doorbell blew the damn fuse.

Wondering who the hell was calling at this time of the day or should that be night, Jack noted as he glanced at his watch. It couldn't be the guys, they were off-world, and Gene had gone back to his house, albeit rather reluctantly, around an hour ago. Besides, the man had a key so it couldn't be him who was being impatient out there. He yanked the door open with a growl only to find General Hammond standing there looking worried.

Jack scrubbed at his sleepy face and sighed with something between relief and sheepishness.

"Sorry sir, c'mon in."

"Did I wake you Jack? I'm sorry, I saw the light was on and thought you'd still be up. I was starting to get worried when you didn't answer. I was just about to go next door to find Gene."

"It's okay General," Jack swept away the General's excuse. "I hadn't realized I'd actually dozed off for a bit. Guess I was more tired than I thought. Can I get you a beer? Coffee?"

"Nothing thanks Jack; this isn't exactly an unofficial visit."

"Ah. Right." Jack sighed still trying to shake the fog of sleep from his brain. He'd wondered why George was still in uniform. He gestured towards the steps down into his living room for the General to take a seat.

"Make yourself at home sir."

Hammond sat down on the edge of the armchair waiting for Jack to sit himself down too. He watched Jack carefully, noting that the Colonel was still in some considerable pain.

"How're you doing son?" Hammond asked first, the genuine concern for his subordinate showing in his round face.

"A little stiff, a little sore still, but I'm getting there. Doc says another few weeks of physical therapy should be enough to get me back on light duties."

"That's why I'm here Jack. I have something of a proposal to put forward to you while you're recuperating, and until we can find a solution to yours and Major Carter's personal situation."

Jack pursed his lip in thought. He'd guessed that the big guns at the Pentagon were having second thoughts about him and Sam serving on the same team together, despite the President giving them his blessing. He'd trodden on too many toes in the past to earn their approval over anything much. There were a few of the top brass in Washington that were on his side; Generals Jumper and Ryan for a start. It had worked in the past, what difference would it make if they both bore the same name?

"Jack?"

"Uh. Sorry sir." He scrubbed a hand over his face and tried to concentrate on what the General had to say.

"Have you two settled on a date yet?"

"Ah, yes sir. Your attendance is obligatory of course sir." Jack grinned at the older man who nodded back with a chuckle.

"I should think so too. So when is it? I have to make sure I'm available that day."

Jack wasn't sure if the General was serious or not, but Hammond's grey eyes sparkled and Jack relaxed again.

"The twenty-first sir. Just before Christmas. Sam wanted Christmas day but they were already fully booked by the time we got around to asking."

"That soon?"

"We didn't wanna wait," Jack retorted with a shrug and a dismissive wave of his hands. "We've been waiting like forever sir."

Hammond nodded with understanding. He knew exactly what Jack was driving at. They'd both put their lives on hold in order to save the Earth from annihilation on too many occasions now. They deserved this.

"Point taken Jack. I'll make a note of the date and pray that nothing urgent crops up on that day."

"The Goa'uld are so not invited General. They show up on that day, we'll kick their asses."

"I thought that's what you did anyway?" Hammond grinned.

"Too right sir, but they still don't get to come when half the SGC will be otherwise occupied."

"I'll be sure to tell them that when I see one of them next," Hammond added dryly.

Jack snorted his amusement, but then his face grew serious.

"So what was the real reason you came all the way out here at this time of the night sir?"

Laughter aside, General Hammond visibly straightened in his chair.

"Well son, it's like this..."

OoOoOoOoO

Jack sat at the kitchen table, his hands round a hot mug of coffee. He watched the little column of steam spiral into the air while Gene packed away the few groceries he'd brought in.

Putting the last six pack into the bottom of the fridge, Gene straightened, one hand massaging his lower back.

"You okay?" Jack asked noticing the older man's distress for the first time.

"I'm fine. It's nothing being a decade younger wouldn't cure."

"Ha! Don't you believe it," Jack snorted. "Makes no difference whatsoever being ten years younger. Take it from me. I know!"

Gene chuckled looking over at his friend.

"You're just an accident looking for somewhere to happen, except these incidents aren't actually accidents. I'm beginning to think... Well, I don't know what to think but you're in worse shape than I am!"

"Okay," Jack pouted with a frown. "Bad example." Jack sipped at the drink and contemplated his life. It was going to take a dramatic turn soon. He and Sam were getting married and for the time being he would have a new position within the SGC. He really hoped the powers that be got their act together soon so that he knew exactly where he stood.

Gene sat down opposite Jack and picked up his own coffee.

"Penny for them?"

Gene's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Believe me they're not worth it," he replied, shrugging off Gene's concern, but didn't miss the fact that Gene was suffering silently.

"Is that all the groceries?" Jack asked, rising from the chair trying to hide the ache in both his knees. At least now he was able to move around quite reasonably without too much pain. It had been a few weeks since his abduction and beating. He was due at the Academy on Monday; lecturing the cadets on aerial combat techniques. At least he still got to be with Sam when she wasn't going through the gate. He'd missed the adrenalin rush that going off world created; that thrill of the unknown and the unexpected that surged through his veins.

"Not quite. I've got my suit from the cleaners on the back seat. I can get it later. You going?"

He sighed and nodded.

"Sam will be back soon. We still have some last minute planning to do. Thanks for the coffee. Stay there. Where's those keys of yours. I'll get the suit. I want my friend at my wedding, not in bed with a bad back."

"You know if you need anything... I'm always here Jack!"

"Yeah. Thanks." Jack patted Gene on the shoulder, touched by his words. He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat then limped out to the car.

Gene had been good to him over the last six months that they'd been neighbours. He knew he was lucky to have someone like him nearby. Apart from having Sam, and despite all the pain of the past few months, the man had been a godsend. His life had definitely been less lonely since his arrival.

This old man, he played four...

TBC