Michael must have dozed off as well because he suddenly woke to Daniel's smile and a touch of his arm.
On the other side of the room Jack was blinking groggily at Sam, "What time is it?"
She looked at her wrist, "About time to get moving."
Jack grumbled as he pushed himself up, "I can't believe I lost another watch."
"Perhaps you should buy them in bulk O'Neill. It may be more effective than avoiding capture." Teal'c deadpanned.
Jack cast him a glare and made a childish face but refrained from responding further as Sam helped him into his coat and steered him out the door.
Michael was surprised when Teal'c pulled the SUV past the terminal and after a quick stop at security drove right on to the tarmac alongside a sleek jet.
There were handshakes and well wishes and promises of visits before Jack jerked his head to the plane stairs, "Mike, I'll meet you inside."
Michael narrowed his eyes, soon he would have to call Jack out on the nicknames but for now he quietly acquiesced and allowed his brother the time for a private goodbye to his former teammates.
He was surprised to find the plane empty and comfortably equipped with a few seats and couches as opposed to the anticipated rows of seats. Unsure of where was permissible to sit he stood awkwardly in the center off the cabin until Jack appeared at the door, an enigmatic smile on his lips.
Michael waited for Jack to sit before lowering himself into a seat across the table Jack had chosen, "Nice ride."
Jack smirked, "This is actually your employer's bird."
"CIA?" Michael asked in surprise.
Jack shrugged, "We're all on the same team. If I don't fly myself I never know what I'm going to get. I've been on everything from private jets, to packed C50s. Once last November I even ended up on a commercial flight." He shuddered. "Horrifying."
Michael smiled, "Yes, I've been on my fair share of commercial flights. This is much better. I hope you get to thank whomever set it up!"
"You can thank him yourself." Jack wormed out of his coat. "You technically don't need to report to work this week but Friday at noon you and I have a meeting with the director."
"What? The Agency Director? Me? Why?" Michael unconsciously mimicked Jack's fastening of his seatbelt as the engines came on.
"Why do you think?" Jack fished around in his bag and produced a file and a key chain. "After what you've been through this past weekend did you really think they'd keep you at CS5? Your clearance is being upgraded and we're going to discuss a more appropriate assignment for you."
Michael shook his head, "Jack, I would love to learn more about what the hell has been going on in that mountain and out there and this may sound crazy to you but I like being a desk jockey working mostly 9-5. I'm not interested in anything that is going to pull me away from my family."
Jack held up a placating hand, "I know. We still need analysts and engineers and all that other stuff. HWS gets just another regional division in the Agency. Just like the Middle East or Eastern Europe."
"HWS?"
Jack nodded and pushed the folder to Michael. The manila folder was marked Eyes Only with a logo which read Homeworld Security.
"My department." Jack was explaining. "The Stargate is just one piece. We have a fleet of ships, several off world bases and research facilities, an international site in Antarctica, and another fully operational international base in a different galaxy. The CIA helps deal with those here and abroad who would attempt to infiltrate or abuse our resources."
Michael was speechless as he looked at the chart of programs that was laid out in front of him.
Jack nudged another piece of paper, "This is the non-disclosure agreement everyone needs to sign. You'll go through your own whatever with the Agency but you will have clearance for all of this by the time we're done on Friday."
Michael nodded and signed the non-disclosure agreement without hesitation or reading it.
Jack then handed him an envelope and a USB drive on a keychain. "In the meantime you will have a lot of reading to catch up on to put everything in context. Use the cash and instructions in the envelope to buy a new computer with the proper protections and specs. Then plug in the thumb drive and it will give you access to the network with all you'll need to know. I'll pick you up Friday morning and we can talk about any questions you have before we meet with Rick."
Michael nodded and mutely accepted the envelope and keychain. Putting both securely in his shirt pocket.
Jack leaned back, "And that's it. Want a beer? I've been promised the fridge would be stocked with Guinness."
"Yes please!" Michael was finally able to speak with confidence.
20 minutes later the men were reclining on the couch with beers in their hands and hockey on the television.
Michael clapped happily when Detroit scored.
"Oh come on." Jack complained, "That's bull and you know it. Open your eyes!" He shouted at the television.
"You're just sore- that was a clean shot!" Michael retorted.
Jack rolled his eyes and tool a sullen sip of his beer.
A moment later he turned to Michael who had been staring with a small smile. "What?"
"I was just thinking."
"About what? How much money the Red Wings had to have paid the refs?"
Michael shook his head, "You know, Friday night I stayed up all night because I was so excited we had found you. Ever since Mum had confirmed Howard's story all I wanted was to find my brother and learn what had become of the boy Howard had known. But I had never thought of what it would be like when we found you. Brothers are supposed to have this bond and you were a stranger I had no idea what we were going to talk about that wouldn't just feel like a bad first date and then we'd go on our way and never see each other again. And now..." He fell silent, picking at the label on the bottle in his hand.
Jack smirked, "Want to go back and thank Ventirii?"
"No. But you know what I mean." Michael protested. "Silver lining. Do you think we could have ever had gotten this comfortable with each other had we not gone through that?"
Jack grimaced, "I dunno." He looked steadily at Michael, "I stayed up Friday night too."
Michael looked up, "Really?"
Jack nodded, "Yeah. But unlike you I had the benefit of looking you up."
"You looked into me?"
"Of course I did." Jack rolled his eyes, "Do you get what my life is? Being cynical is not an act. I had the tools and you have a government file. It wasn't like I hired a PI. I just typed your name in to a search bar."
Michael narrowed his eyes, "So you knew I was CIA before you even asked me?"
Jack smirked behind his bottle. "Yep."
"So why the game?"
Jack shrugged, "To pass the time. See how you'd react. A distraction. I don't know; playing things close to the vest is what I do."
"You mean playing dumb." Countered Michael.
Jack shook his head, "If that's what some people want to believe but you shouldn't listen to Carter and Daniel. They have too much faith in other people."
Michael smirked, "I think just one person."
"Whatever." Jack waved with one hand.
"They all seem like really good people." Michael observed neutrally.
Jack nodded. "They are." His hand paused his bottle midair for a moment before he took a long sip and then a deep breath. "I never had a family growing up. Eventually I had the Air Force and that was good enough for me. Then there was Sara and Charlie. But I blew that epically. I didn't know how to work for it. When I lost that I thought I had lost my last chance at family. Those bonds that everyone else seemed to have. Then I met Daniel and Sam and Teal'c."
Michael listened intently, well aware that this level of candidness was not common. "I'm glad for you Jack. Everyone deserves people who care for them. Family."
Jack nodded, "Yeah."
Michael let out a soft breath, "Think you have room for a little more?"
Jack slowly smiled a small, amused smile and shook his head, "Shut up and drink your beer. The game is back on and if the Black Hawks don't turn this around next time we're out the first round is on me."
A/N - Thank you everyone who has encouraged me to write more! unfortunately there is only the epilogue left here. I am hoping my muse will be hanging around a while so I can finish up some of my other stories I've left undone!
ALSO -The Nox; I knew there was an episode where Jack made a boy and arrow out of sticks and someone commenting on how he would never stop fighting because of his black ops background but I couldn't remember which one it was!