AN: Alright, obviously, this chapter means a little more to me than the average one. For one, it may be the last chapter you'll see until December, hilarious and heartwarming death threats aside. I don't want to put up any spoilers, so another AN is at the end of the chapter.
"So, how long you think we'll be laid up?" Jack sounded very casual in the bunkroom, despite the fact that Sheila sat on his lap, making gooey eyes at him.
"I'd guess about two weeks," Jorge said, equally casually, with Alice-130 on his lap.
After the confrontation with the captain, it had taken less than a day to get the necessary repairs to the slipspace engine done. The real challenge, in terms of boredom, was the two-week slipspace journey that came afterward. Nevertheless, they'd won that battle. Well, most of them had.
Li was always quiet, but now he seemed perpetually flustered. With Sheila and Jack together, and with Jorge shacking up with Red Team's Alice, Li was the odd man out. No one seemed to have time to hang out with him. He just sat around, complaining.
"We just sat around for two weeks. I think I may go insane," Li said.
"You need… a girlfriend," Jack said as he kissed Sheila's neck. "Worked wonders for me,"
"I second that motion," Jorge grinned to Alice.
Li got up and stormed off, muttering angrily in Japanese.
"We need to help that poor guy out," Sheila said.
"I agree. He's not the easily-pissed type," Alice said.
"So… who likes Li?" Jack looked to Sheila, then Alice.
"What, you think it's one of us?" Alice asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I mean, girls are all… you know, gossipy. If anyone knows, it's you guys," Jack shrugged.
"That's messed up," Sheila said.
"Yeah," Alice muttered.
"True, though, right?" Jack grinned.
"…A little bit," Sheila admitted sheepishly.
"So who likes Li?" Jack asked.
"If we knew, we would've told you," Alice said with a shrug.
"Can you, you know, find out?" Jorge asked. "Help the guy out?"
"What, right now?" Alice grinned.
"Well, I didn't say that…," Jorge kissed her. Jack sighed-he didn't like it, but he knew what he had to do.
"Sweetie, my legs are falling asleep. Can we take five?" He asked Sheila gently.
"Of course. I'll go ask around," Sheila got off, and Jack wished she hadn't. Eh, too late now. He wondered about how dependant he was on her. It probably wouldn't be healthy, if it hadn't been a two-way relationship. She cared just as much-Jack knew that was a fact.
I'm so lucky, he thought.
"Alright. Good luck. I'll talk to Li," Jack kissed her once, then let go. They shared a long look, then went their separate ways.
"Alone at last," Jorge chuckled, and Alice grinned evilly.
"So, how's it going?" Jack sat down next to the broody Spartan. He'd tracked him to the port observation deck-a five meter round window to space. Li was staring into it, cross-legged. He looked thoughtful.
"Not bad," Li said stonily.
"What's bugging you?" Jack asked.
"Nothing," Li said neutrally, not evasively, but with just enough run-around to annoy Jack. Just a little bit.
"Yeah, sure," Jack smiled. "Well, Sheila's looking for solutions,"
Li raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you,"
"No, really. Sheila's asking around to see what girls are secretly panting after you. Once she's done, we'll do what we can to help you out," Jack grinned. "I know, it sucks being the fifth wheel,"
Li laughed suddenly.
"You guys do care," He said sarcastically. "It won't help,"
"Why?" Jack frowned.
Li dipped his head.
"Come on, why not?" Jack asked.
Li was quiet.
"We're a team. We can tell each other anything-I'm here for you, man,"
"You really want to know?" Li looked at him sharply.
"Of course," Jack was a little confused.
"No, you don't," Li looked away bitterly.
Jack stood up. "Ok, man, I'm getting sick of this horseshit. You can tell me, and I'll try to help. Or you can piss and moan. And I'll leave,"
Li smiled wryly. "She's rubbing off on you,"
Jack grinned. "I like to think so. So, yes or no?"
Li's smile locked up. It was more like a grimace. He took a deep breath.
"Well… I don't think finding me a girlfriend would really help. I'm… not really… a fan of that gender," Li said forcefully.
"I don't get it," Jack frowned.
"I don't like women," Li said, staring into space.
"Huh?"
"I'm not attracted to females," Li seemed to be getting a little angry at Jack's stupidity.
"Then what… are you…," Jack unconsciously inched away from his friend-when he noticed it, he almost hated himself for what he saw on Li's face.
"Men," Li whispered.
Jack had to consciously force himself to not back away. He had been raised in a conservative, rural area-not exactly enlightened. Most of his Uncle George's favorite insults and negative comments involved people like Jack's martial artist friend.
"I… don't know what to say," Jack said, but his calm voice was betrayed by the expression on his face.
"I understand. I forgive you. At least you haven't run off swearing or cursed me to Hell," Li said.
"How the hell… why didn't you tell us? I mean, come on, it's 2525. Jesus. If people aren't tolerant now, they'll never be," Jack shook his head.
"You aren't exactly positive about this," Li said sharply.
"Yeah… yeah, I know. I'm sorry. It's just how I was raised… I understand, logically, that this isn't a major deal, it's still you, obviously… But I was brought up differently. I feel like an asshole just saying it, but this is kind of a big deal to me," Jack blinked.
"Do you know why I haven't told anyone?" Li asked.
"No,"
"I was six when ONI took me. Six. Even then I was different. The single memory I have of my parents is their reaction after I told them," Li closed his eyes, and Jack saw a single tear.
"Holy shit… I'm sorry,"
"It wasn't hard to get kidnapped. After they made a scene-they were Fundamentalist Christian-I ran away. ONI didn't even need to flash clone me… I was simply a runaway that met a mystery end, to my family," Li shook his head. "Dr. Halsey said that it would be kinder than letting my parents watch a clone slowly die of neurological disorders. I was simply a missing kid-a runaway that would never be found,"
"Shit," Jack muttered weakly.
"It doesn't matter. I'm here-my parents, bigots that they are, aren't a part of my life. My life is Sheila, Jorge, and now… you," Li said.
"I'm glad to be your friend, Li," Jack got up and clapped him on the back.
"You too, Jack," Li said, then he frowned. "About the others…,"
"Do you want me to tell them?" Jack asked.
"I should do it. It would help the healing process," Li said.
"I could, if you want," Jack said.
"No. This is my fight," Li blinked slowly. Then he got up.
When Jack and Li got back, Jorge and Alice were gone, but Sheila was sitting there, looking vaguely lonely, fidgeting on the bunk. Jack smiled as his little corner of the universe lit up again, after that depressing conversation. He went to her.
"Sheila, you're mission is now moot," Jack said.
"Really? I found like four… potentials," Sheila glanced at Li.
"Really. Could you help is find Jorge? We need a team meeting," Jack said.
"Sure, but it might be difficult to pry him from Alice," Sheila got up.
Jack shot a questioning look at Li.
"I… would prefer it if Alice was not there. Just us," Gold's close-quarters expert said.
Sheila raised an eyebrow, but nodded.
"Alright, Jack, go towards the bow. Li, aft. I'll go up and down the decks," She said. "We meet back here in ten minutes,"
Jack had told Jorge about the unmonitored supply closets-he knew that's where the new couple would be making out, or worse, so that's where they'd need to look. He went from closet to closet, knocking three times, waiting three seconds, then opening the door. He was about five closets in when he heard a muffled sound after the knock, and the sound of brooms and mops cracking the floor.
"Wow, wow, don't open that door!" Jorge's voiced coughed.
"I'll give you two a minute to get your clothes on," Jack laughed. While Sheila was traditional, at least in this arena, Alice and Jorge were very enthusiastic in their physical relationship. At least they were using protection. Jack was just a little jealous- of Alice's openness. But he respected Sheila's belief that strength was in delayed gratification, even if certain parts of him didn't particularly like it.
Jorge and Alice emerged, disheveled and happy. Jorge's shirt was inside out. Alice's hair was wet on one side-did they knock over a bucket? Jack shook the image out of his head.
"We have a… well, I'm not sure if I could call it an emergency, but it's important they you get over here right now," Jack said to Jorge.
"Team meeting?" Gold's heavy weapons specialist asked.
"Team meeting," Jack smiled apologetically at Alice, who sighed.
"Ah, well. Doug and Jerome have been complaining I haven't been hanging out with them," She shrugged.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Let's go, big guy," Jack said. Jorge kissed Alice goodbye and they headed back.
"So what's this about?" Jorge asked. "I was kind of busy,"
Jack laughed. "Such a gentleman! But I don't think it's my place to say. You'll see soon enough,"
Jack hit a light jog, and Jorge kept up.
"By the way, you're shirt's inside out," Jack chuckled.
"Ah, crap," Jorge whipped it off, turned it right side in, then back on. Jack laughed.
"It's still backwards," He said, and Jorge sucked his arms in the shirt, turned it around.
"I'm good?" Jorge asked.
"You're good," Jack said, and then they were there.
Sheila and Li were already there, and by the pseudo-pissed look on Jack's dream girl's eyes, she'd already tried to find out what this was about, and hadn't succeeded.
"Alright," Li started. "Thanks for coming, and please don't overreact," The last part sounded almost like a plea.
"What's this about?" Jorge asked, not unkindly.
"I already talked to Jack, who's been pretty good about this. Take a seat, please," Li said. Jack, Jorge, and Sheila sat.
"I'm gay," Li said.
"Wow, what?" Sheila exclaimed.
"I'm gay," Li said again, apologetically.
"Almost a decade of solid training together and you fail to mention this until right now?" Sheila was pissed.
"Well… what?" Li looked confused.
"We've been best buds since we were six, you bastard!" Sheila shouted and stood up. "And we just learn about this now?"
"Well, it didn't seem to be a big deal until everyone around me started shacking up-"
"Don't make this about us, you jerk!" Sheila grabbed Jack's hand and pulled him up. Jack looked like a guy who'd been sucked into a tornado.
"Sheila, calm down-" Jorge said.
"I will not calm down! This is bullshit!"
Jack swung around and hugged her hard-both an attempt to hose her down with enough affection to settle her down, and a successful effort to pin her arms to her sides and pick her up off of the ground.
"Let me go! I'll kill him!" Sheila shouted, but she was already being settled by the hug.
"No you won't, sweetheart. He's your friend, and he needs some backup, so I'll let you go if you promise to hug him," Jack said gently. He kissed her cheek and looked her in the eye.
"You… bastard…," She said even as he melted her. "Shit… ok,"
"Promise?" Jack kissed her other cheek.
"Yeah. Promise," Sheila sighed, then kissed him back. He set her down.
"I'm still pissed at you," She said to Li, but the fire was out.
"You did promise," He teased. She walked over and they embraced.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sheila asked.
"I was scared. But it's over now," Li said.
"You good, Jorge?" Jack asked.
"Yeah. But I understood what Sheila felt like," He rumbled.
"I'm sorry, Jorge," Li said.
"It's all right, Spartan. I get how you could keep it down all that time-at least until me and Alice and Jack and Sheila started gettin' at it," Jorge shrugged, then smiled.
"So… we agreed? This changed nothing?" Jack smiled.
"Not a thing," Jorge said.
"Yep. What he said," Sheila said.
"….Yes. This changes nothing," Li nodded, and grinned.
AN: Yeah, this is fairly significant to me. My uncle is a generous guy, a certified genius with an IQ, if I remember correctly, like 170. He's also gay. When my fundamentalist granddad found out, he disowned him for it. Which was an insanely cruel and terrible act to do to your own son. So, yeah, it was a major push towards atheism, for me. This one goes out to Uncle Steve-keep being awesome. But enough about my baggage. To you guys-for loving this little writing exercise as much as I do. If NaNoWriMo will be as costly to my time and energy as I think, this may be the last chapter until December. Man, I wish I had the creative stamina to do both! *raises an imaginary glass of Canadian R&R whiskey to you dudes* Keep being awesome. And Happy Halloween!