The Men From the Gate
Disclaimer: Do I really need to keep saying it, thereby depressing myself? I don't own then - none of them, more's the pity.
A/N: I know it's been a long time, but with the trip to Boston and then Thanksgiving kept pretty occupied. But, here it is at last!! I hope it was worth the wait. There's no BB action in this one per say but rather other character's reactions to The Kiss. Don't worry, next chapter has already been started and there'll be plenty of BB action in that one! I'm even thinking of adding some smut!! Hope you enjoy! Please, please let me know what you think; let's see if we can get at least as many reviews as the last chapter, shall we??
Chapter 21
"Daniel!!" Vala cried out, as she practically danced her way into Daniel's infirmary room. "You won't believe what I just saw!!!" She told him with a huge grin and eyes dancing.
"What?" He asked with a grin of his own. "Siler fell and broke his nose again?"
"No, silly," Vala answered and lightly slapped his arm, as she perched on the edge of his hospital bed. "That wouldn't be exciting; he breaks something every other week."
"That's true," Daniel agreed with a nod. "So, what was it? And who was it that came through the Gate? And did SG2 and 3 leave to go and try to find Mitchell and Booth?" He finally asked what he'd meant to ask from the start, but had been distracted by her question.
"Well," she said coyly, "that's all part of what I just saw!"
"Ok, then," he said, making a 'come on' motion with his hands. "Tell me!!"
"Well" she said again, drawing out the word and making him exclaim, "Vala!"
"Ok, ok," she gave in, laughing. "SG2 and 3 were ready to go out but didn't need to because that unscheduled activation was Mitchell and Booth coming back."
"Good," Daniel said with a sigh of relief; he'd been worried about those two since the moment he'd woke up. He knew the rest of the base was also worried, but it was different for the members of SG1, they simple weren't used to leaving anyone behind. "Are they ok?"
"Yes," Vala said firmly and quickly enough that he knew it was the truth and not something said only for his benefit. "They're fine; well, somewhat disheveled and smelling rank after almost three days off world, but other than that, they're fine. They're going through their post-mission check up right now."
"That's good," he repeated with a nod and then with curious eyes asked, "So, what was it that you saw? Come on, tell me," he added, as he nudged her with his leg.
"Are you sure you want to know?" she asked, her eyes shining.
"Yes, Vala," he answered firmly, knowing how much she liked to tease him. "I'd really like to know."
"Ok, if you're sure," she told him, sounding almost reluctant.
"Vala!!" he cried out, exasperated. No one could get to him faster than her.
"Fine, fine," she laughed and shifted on the bed to begin telling him the really interesting part. "When Walter finally confirmed that it was Mitchell's IDC and Jack opened the Iris, we all turned to see them walk through the Gate. We all cheered and yelled when we saw that they were safe and unharmed. Everyone but Brennan that is," she added with a sly grin.
"Was she in the Gate room when they came through?" he asked, somewhat surprised.
"Oh, yes," Vala answered, nodding her head vigorously. "She and her team were all there; she was in Jack's office and then in the Gate room the minute the forty-eight hours were up."
"Of course, she was," Daniel said with a nod. "Why am I surprised?"
"Don't know," Vala said with a shrug. "She did what anyone of us would."
"Yes, she did," he agreed. "So, was that it? That can't have been what you saw that had you so excited."
"No, that wasn't it," she confirmed. "If you'd be quiet for a while I could tell you what it was!" she admonished him.
"I'm quiet, I'm quiet, see," he said, as he mimicked locking his lips and motioned with his hands for her to continue.
"Well, while Mitchell looked around the room, as he walked down the ramp and made eye contact with almost everyone, Booth just looked around until he found Brennan. When he did and their eyes met, well you could see the sparks flying between them. Then they started walking towards each other and it was as if no one else existed in the room but them, you know?"
"Yeah," Daniel said with a nod. "I know exactly what you mean." They shared a loving look before Vala smiled and went on with the story.
"Before long," Vala said with a grin, "she was running towards him and when she reached him she threw her arms his neck and held on like she wouldn't let go. When she pulled back, she stared into his eyes for few minutes before she pulled his head down to hers and planted one on him."
"Planted one on him?" he asked, with a curious frown.
"Yes, you know," she said, as she leaned closer to him, "like this," and with that she pulled his head closer to hers and kissed him long and hard.
"Oh," he said, when they pulled apart due to lack of oxygen, "like that?" he asked, a bit dazed when he leaned back on his pillows. "Wait," he said a few seconds later, when the fog that kissing Vala always brought, cleared up. He sat up straighter and asked, "Dr. Brennan kissed Booth, in the Gate room, in front of everyone?"
"Yep," Vala said with a grin, as she nodded her head so that her pigtails bounced up and down. "She did. She gave him a big, huge kiss in front of everyone and the cameras too."
"How about that?" he asked with a grin, as she snuggled into his side for a bit of cuddling.
"I told you there was something there," she told him playfully.
"I know you did," he told her in a patient tone – a tone he'd used a lot since he met her. "I know." He then kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to him. They stayed there quietly for a few moments, enjoying just being together.
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"How're you feeling?" Jack asked, as he walked into the cubicle in the infirmary where Booth was buttoning his shirt, after Janet had given him a clean bill of health.
"I'm fine, sir," Booth said, standing at attention and saluting. "Thank you."
"At ease," Jack said, as he stopped by the foot of the bed. "For God's sake, there's no need for salutes in here."
"Yes, sir," Booth agreed, with a sharp nod, as he stood at ease.
Jack sighed and gave up trying to get the younger man to relax.
"So," he said, as he leaned his hip on the bed's footboard, "that was some kiss in the Gate room, wasn't it?"
"Ah, sir," Booth said, as lost his rigid stance and rubbed the back of his neck, "about that. I know it was a break of protocol and I'm sorry . . ."
"Don't worry about it," Jack said, making a 'doesn't matter' gesture. "It's not the first time someone's kissed in the Gate room and things being what they are on this base, it probably won't be the last."
"No, probably not," Booth murmured and then, because he couldn't help himself, he asked, "Who else kissed in the Gate room?"
"That's not important," Jack said, with a wave of his hand. "Besides, I'm sure you'll hear all about it soon enough. The whole mountain loves to gossip."
"That's true," Booth said with a nod.
"Plus," Jack added, as he pinched his nose, as if to push out some not so pleasant memories. "Everything that happens in that darn room is recorded." He added with a grimace.
"Yes, it is," Booth agreed, with a wince of his own, as he realized how those few minutes on tape could be use to tease him later on.
"But that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about," Jack said, with a shake of his head, as if he was shaking off some good and some not very good memories.
"Sir," Booth said, once again straightening to attention. "About the mission . . ."
"No," Jack said, putting his hand up and stopping Booth's attempt at giving a report. "That's not what I want to talk to you about either. But first, did Doc Frazier clear you?"
"Yes, sir," Booth answered, doing his best to disguise his curiosity but not doing a very good job. "She did."
"Good," Jack said, nodding. "That's good."
"Yes, sir," Booth agreed, still not knowing where the conversation was going. "About the mission," he began again, falling back on military procedure in the unfamiliar situation, but was interrupted once more.
"We'll talk about the mission during the debrief tomorrow morning," Jack told him.
"Tomorrow morning?" Booth asked, now even more confused. "I thought all the debriefing happened right after the medical checkups?"
"Yes, it usually works that way," Jack agreed, as he shuffled his feet and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "But you guys have been missing for over forty-eight hours. I thought you deserved a few hours to relax and rest."
"That's nice," Booth said, tilting his head in thanks. "Thank you, sir."
"Yes, well," Jack said, as he shifted and straightened from the bed, "you have a conversation to get to, don't you?"
"Ah," Booth said, as his eyes widened in surprised. This was not what he was expecting at all. "Well, I . . ."
"I know I don't know you very well," Jack began, when Booth trailed off, evidently not knowing what to say. "And that I'm probably not the best person to give relationship advice, but I'm still going to do it."
Booth was nodding and mouthing the words along with Jack. Somehow, he wasn't that surprised anymore since that was practically the same thing Cameron had told him.
"I read your service file," Jack said and once again surprised Booth, but this surprise was more unnerving than the one before.
"You read . . .?" Booth repeated, sounding dazed, "most of it is classified."
"Yes," Jack agreed, "but I'm a Major General and part of the Joint Chiefs. Do you really think that I was going to have someone on my base and not know everything there was to know about them?"
"No, of course not," Booth said with a sigh as he realized how true that was. "Do the others . . .?"
"No," Jack said, shaking his head. "Danny-boy is a civilian and as he just found out that means there are some things he's not cleared to know. And Sam and Mitchell know the non-classified version. Though, I'm sure they probably have a very good idea about the rest."
"Ok," Booth said, nodding. There was nothing he could do about that. "Bones and the squints don't really know and . . ."
"No one will hear anything about this from me," Jack assured him. "I don't talk about classified information."
"Of course you don't," Booth said hastily, as it seemed to him, Jack sounded a bit insulted. "It's just that . . ."
"It's just that I'm talking about it now," Jack finished the sentence and Booth nodded. "I don't really know why I'm here." And that was the God's honest truth. He had already had a heartfelt conversation with Dr. Brennan, what the hell was he doing now, initiating another one with Booth? "Except for the fact that reading your file was almost like reading my own."
"Sir?" Booth asked.
"A few years later and with different names and places," Jack explained, as he shifted and leaned on the footboard again. He crossed his feet and looked at the wall, as he got lost in memories. "But underneath, it's all the same." With a shrug and a shake of his head, Jack turned back to look at Booth.
"I may have just met you, but in some ways, I know you better than anyone could," Jack told him, in a serious tone he rarely used. "I know you in a way no one that hasn't lived through the same experiences can. I know the kind of nightmares you get, the faces that pop up in your mind when you least expect them or want them, and I know the guilt, and the fear and the sadness that you feel. I know because I've gone through and felt the same things.
"And because I do know all those things, I'm not here to tell you that you should let all that go; that you were just following orders, that you were doing your job or even that because you did what you did, hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of lives were saved. I know you know all that; hell, you even believe all that – otherwise you wouldn't have done it. And it's really annoying to hear time and time again, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir," Booth answered, quietly but firmly. This was the first time he'd talked about this with someone who actually understood what he'd done.
"So, I'm not going to tell you any of that. What I am going to tell you is that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed; and that love is the greatest gift you can receive in this life. And if God saw fit to put love in your path, who are you to say no to it? Only a fool returns an exceptional gift when it's freely given. And you don't strike me as a fool, are you?" Jack asked, looking at Booth intently.
"No, I'm not, sir," Booth answered just as firmly as before.
"Good, I didn't think you were," Jack said, nodding. He then once again looked at the wall and seemed to lose himself in his thoughts and Booth knew better than to interrupt. Finally, he gave a heavy sigh and started talking, "We've done some horrible things that no one should be called to do. But they needed to be done and we were the ones that had to do it. And whether our actions saved hundreds or millions of lives, it doesn't change the facts. We have blood on our hands," he looked down as he turned his hands in front of him. "It might not be the blood of innocents but it's still human blood. And that should never be taken lightly; it should never be easy. It should always come at a steep price and it should always haunt us." He paused for a minute before turning back to look Booth in the eyes, and Booth could see the same pain and anguish that he saw in his mirror, reflected in the general's eyes.
"I used to pray that the nightmares go away until I realized that the minute they do, I become like the people we were sent to stop," Jack said and Booth found that he was almost holding his breath; he realized that somehow this might be one of the most important conversations he'd ever have. "We are not God, but we played God, and that can't and shouldn't be ignored or forgotten. I'm not saying that we should live our lives tormented; what I'm saying is that the nightmares and the guilt have a time, place and purpose and we need to recognize that and accept it. But most importantly, we need to confine them to that time, place and purpose. We can't let them rule our lives.
"You and I have found different ways to deal with our demons and that's as it should be since we're different people," Jack added with a shrug. "And yet, somehow we're both still trying to protect the innocent; Sam would say it's because we are good men. I don't know if I'd go that far; but I do think that we deserve to be happy and we deserve to love and be loved. And if we find love, then we'd be idiots to turn our backs on it, wouldn't we?"
"Yes, sir," Booth answered when he saw Jack's expectant face.
"Yes," Jack repeated, nodding. "I don't know about you, but I'm not an idiot. Of course, I had to be hit in the head and kicked in the ass before I realized I wasn't an idiot. I'm hoping that since you're younger than I am, you won't need that much hitting before you realize the same thing."
"No, sir," Booth answered, solemnly, though he was fighting a grin and wondering just what kind of hit in the head and kick in the ass Sam had given the cantankerous general before this one woke up to the fact he wasn't an idiot.
"Good, good," Jack said, rubbing his hands together. And with his good deed for the year – no, make that decade, he had after all already talked to Brennan too, Jack decided that it was time to go. If the younger man still messed up, it wasn't for lack of good advice. "Ok, then. That's all I wanted to say. You're off duty until tomorrow at 0900 hours. I'll see you then," Jack said, as he started to walk towards the curtains.
"Yes, sir," Booth said. "Thank you, sir," he called out just as Jack reached the curtains. Jack paused and turned his head. When their eyes met, a multitude of thoughts and feelings were shared and a bond that would last a lifetime was forged. Jack nodded his head and left, leaving behind a very thoughtful Army Ranger.
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"I can't believe it!!" Angela said for the hundredth time, still in shock. "She kissed him!!" It ended on an almost squeal and she was practically bouncing on her seat. "She walked right up to him and she kissed him!"
"Yes, Ange," Hodgins said as he took a bite of his sandwich. "We know; we were all there." The whole team had been stunned into silence by the actions of the anthropologist. They had been so surprised that Brennan had been able to go with Booth to the infirmary without being stopped by Angela for a complete and throughout discussion of said kiss.
When Angela had finally reacted, she had wanted to go after the two partners but Hodgins had managed to hold her back until she'd come to her senses. For lack of anything better to do, they had decided to go to the infirmary for an early dinner. That had been forty minutes ago and Angela was still not over her shock.
"But she kissed him," Angela exclaimed again. "In front of everyone and with the cameras running, she walked up and kissed him!!"
"We know," Hodgins said, patiently, as he took a sip of his drink. Camille hid a smirk, while Zack tilted his head and studied Angela as if she were a bone malformation. He had been surprised by Dr. Brennan's actions but was fascinated by Angela's reactions to it.
"Why do you keep repeating that Dr. Brennan kissed Agent Booth?" Zack finally asked what he'd been wondering. "We were all there; we all saw it. How can repeating it make it more real than actual seeing it? And why are you so surprised? Wasn't this what you were always waiting for?"
"Yes, it was, Zack," Angela answered with a frown. "I just always thought that it would be Booth that made the first move."
"Really?" Hodgins asked, as he leaned back on his chair, with his drink in his hand, "I thought it was pretty much in character for both of them, actually."
"You did?" Angela asked, taken aback, while Camille and Zack looked interested in Hodgins' opinions.
"Sure," Hodgins answered with a shrug. "That's how their whole relationship's been."
"What are you talking about?" Angela asked, with a confused frown. "Booth's the one that's always pushed the boundaries in their relationship."
"Yes," Hodgins agreed, "he might be the one that pushed the boundaries, but she's the one that makes the move for more intimacy. He might be the one that opened the door, but it's always been her that takes that final step."
"I don't know, Jack," Angela told him, dubiously. "Give me an example of what you mean."
"Ummm," Jack said, as he shifted in his seat and took another sip of his drink. "Ok, let's see. You guys remember that time Kenton kidnapped Brennan?"
"Of course," Angela said with a nod. "And Booth rescued her; he broke out of the hospital to do it."
"Yep," Hodgins agreed, as he leaned forward and put down his cup. "He did. And when he got there, he put her arms around his neck. But that was to get her out of the hook. It was Brennan that collapsed and clung to him. And remember at our first wedding? It was Brennan that hugged him, when he told her about her dad and how he had let himself be arrested instead of leaving her again."
"Ok," Angela said slowly, as she leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. "You might have a point . . ."
"Of course I do," Hodgins said simply. "And who does she go to whenever she has a problem or whenever she feels down? It's always Booth," he turned to Angela and with a shrug, he added, "sorry, babe, but he's the one she goes to when she needs someone."
"I know," Angela said with a small smile. "I've been replaced as best friend and that's as it should be."
"Yes," Hodgins agreed. "Booth may have created the circumstances but it's always been her that has taken that step. Knowing her and her past, it was the only thing that he could do. That final step had to be taken by her and he knew that. It all seems very in character to me."
"You know," Angela said, after thinking for a few moments, "you're right. I guess it is in character after all. And she did tell me a few days ago that he told her she would have to let him know when she was ready for the next stage in their relationship."
"See," Hodgins told her with a grin. "He's always known that he had to let her make that move."
"But," Angela said, as she thought through everything he had said in the last few minutes, "I thought you said Brennan was responsible . . ."
"No," Hodgins said, shaking his head and interrupting her. "I said that she was the one that had to take this step, not that she was responsible for it." When he saw that she looked somewhat confused, he added, "Babe, for an artist that's trained to look beneath the surface, you are sure missing the point here."
"Then what is the point, Jack?" she asked, getting exasperated, while Zack and even Camille looked on with confusion.
"The point is," Hodgins explained, "that while Brennan was the one that kissed him, how do you think she got to that point? The Brennan we knew three years ago, even a year and a half ago, wouldn't have even thought of doing something like that."
"No, she wouldn't," Angela agreed, "but she's grown, expanded her horizons, and opened herself up to new situations."
"Yes," Hodgins nodded, "and who's responsible for that? I know you tried, Ange, but it was Booth that really got to her; it was him that got him to see there was more to life than the lab and science. It was Booth that has been gently, subtly and inexorably guiding her, nudging her to where he wanted her."
"You make that sound," Angela said, in a bemused voice, as Zack and Camille exchanged glances, "like a chess strategy or a military campaign."
"Well," Hodgins said with a chuckle, "maybe because it's kind of one. I mean, if we've learned anything this week, it's that Booth still thinks, and probably always will think like a military man. He's not only a Ranger but a sniper – a hunter; he knows that sometimes you can't go after your prey; you have to make the prey come to you."
"I don't think," Zack said with a frown, "Dr. Brennan would appreciate knowing you're referring to her as 'prey'. In fact, she'd probably beat you to the ground if she found out."
"But she's not going to find out, is she?" Hodgins asked, glaring at each one in turn. Zack shifted his eyes and murmured a 'no'; Camille shook her head with a small smile and Angela was too busy thinking to pay attention to Hodgins' attempt at intimidation.
"You think she knows?" Angela asked.
"Brennan? That Booth maneuvered her?" Hodgins asked, as he shifted in his chair. "No, I don't think so," he said, shaking his head, "after all, you didn't."
"Yeah," Angela agreed with a nod, "you're right. She won't have a clue."
"I don't think," Camille spoke up for the first time, as she pushed her tray away and leaned back in her chair, "you guys are giving Dr. Brennan enough credit. She knows Booth better than any of us do and she's more perceptive than you think. I wouldn't be surprised if she has a very good idea of what's gone on – even if it's deep down and she never admits it out loud."
"You think?" Angela asked, thoughtfully and Camille just shrugged and nodded.
"To be fair," Hodgins added, "I don't think Booth actually planned anything. I think most of it was him acting on his instincts, which have been honed by those years in the military."
"Either way," Angela pointed out, "he's good. To get Brennan to this point, he has to be very good."
"Yes," Hodgins said with a smirk, "he's very good," he said in a tone of voice that said he was just as good too.
Angela noted how he was gloating but decided he had the right. He had noticed something that had completely escaped her notice. But he was a man and had become very close to Booth lately, she supposed it was only natural that he had been able to perceive an angle that she'd missed. Still, it wasn't good to let him get too big a head.
"I told you they'd be a real couple soon, didn't I?" she asked, just to remind him that she too could read people.
"Yes, you did," Hodgins agree, but Angela could tell he was still proud of himself. With a small smile, she decided to let him gloat a bit longer. She'll make sure it doesn't get out of hand.
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"Hey, what're you doing?" Jack asked, as he walked into Sam's lab.
"Hey," Sam answered, smiling the smile she reserved for him. "I'm going over the information we got from Ba'al's computer," she told him, as she turned from her computer and looked at him. "I thought it would be a good idea to start studying it. We might find something useful buried in it."
"Yes," Jack nodded. "That's probably a good idea." He started to walk and pick up the different instruments that she had around the lab. "Never know what you might find," he said, in such an absentminded manner that she knew he had something else on his mind.
"Ok, Jack," she said, as she stood up and took away the doohickey he was playing with. "What is it? What have you done now?" She asked, as she leaned back on her work table, crossed her ankles and searched his eyes.
"What?" He asked, surprised, as his eyes jumped from where he was studying his fingers tapping on the table, to her eyes. "I haven't done anything!! Why would you assume I have?"
"Oh, I don't know," Sam said with a smirk. "Maybe because you're here, without a reason, and aren't really interested in what I might have found in Ba'al's computer."
"Have you found anything?" he asked, for the first time sounding interested.
"No, not really," Sam admitted with a sigh. "Not yet, but I'm sure I'll find something."
"I'm sure you will too," he said, as he started pacing again.
"Ok, Jack," Sam said, seriously. "What is going on? And don't tell me nothing because I know you and I know something's up."
"It's nothing," Jack started to deny, but when he saw Sam's face, he added, "much. I just had a heart-to-heart," he said with a grimace, "with Booth. And I guess I'm just . . ."
"You talked to Booth?" Sam asked when he trailed off, "about the kiss?"
"Yes," Jack answered with a nod, "and a few other things," he added simply and Sam nodded. She might not have had access to Booth's classified file but she knew enough to know that the two men had a lot in common.
"It brought back some memories, huh?" she asked, as she walked up to where he was standing by the other bench and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Yes," Jack said quietly. "I . . . I told him that those memories serve a purpose and we need to accept that," he told her with a snort. "It's a lot easier said than done, believe me."
"I know, Jack, I know," she told him gently, as she squeezed his shoulder, before wrapping her arm around his waist and resting her chin on his shoulder. "But you're both strong men and neither of you is a stranger to doing that which is hard. You both do what needs to be because that's what you do."
"I guess," Jack answered with a shrug. "I just hope he heard me and that he won't need eight years to figure it out."
"I'm sure he won't," Sam said, as she squeezed his waist and gave him a kiss on the neck. "He has your experience to learn from, after all. I'm sure he'll figure it out and if he doesn't, well, you did the best you could. That's all anyone can ask and I'm very proud of you for making the intent."
"Yeah?" Jack asked, with a naughty grin, shaking off the old memories and turning to hug his wife, "you're proud of me, huh? Does that mean you'll leave early and come home with me and show me how much you're proud of me?"
"Ummm," Sam said, as she turned her head to look at her computer, before turning back to Jack's hopeful face. "Sure, why not? Let's go home early have a nice dinner and then I'll show you just how proud I am of you." She then leaned in and kissed him long and hard. "That's just a sample," she whispered against his lips before she kissed him again. "Now, hold that thought while I put my stuff away and we'll get out of here."
Jack nodded as he tried to catch his breath, while she turned off her equipment and put everything away. Less than five minutes later, a very happy General O'Neill left Colonel Carter's lab hand in hand with said colonel, who was wearing a naughty smile that matched the general's.
A/N2: So, there's a bit more of SG1 in this chapter but I think it works and it's dedicated to all those of you that are fan of both shows and for blodwin who asked for more Jack and Sam. I know it's not a lot but I hope you like it!!