Irresponsible
John opened the door to his quarters to find a smiling Helena standing there, bouncing on the balls of her feet with her hands behind her back. He knew by the smile that she was up to something and sighed. He moved to the side and welcomed her into his quarters.
"Hello, John."
"'Lena," he said cautiously.
"Rodney and Carson told me about your latest adventure."
He frowned. "What did they say?" He asked, though part of him didn't want to know.
She pulled a large, straw cowboy hat out from behind her back. Her smile was wide and her eyes were dancing. "There's a new sheriff in town!"
He groaned and ducked his head. When his head came up, he was smiling. "Where did you get that thing?"
She laughed out loud. "Chili Cook-off 2000. I brought it with me this trip for when I'm feeling ornery and for the next time we have ribs." She held it out to him. "But after hearing about the quick-draw, I thought it only right that you should have it."
He shook his head, laughing. "Remind me to kick Rodney's ass." He took it from her and put it on. She laughed again and reached up to adjust its fit.
"It was Carson who was telling the story. You know that Rodney is not going to give anyone but himself full credit: 'It was a team effort'. You need a haircut." She drew back and smiled widely at him.
He walked away and looked at himself in the mirror. He laughed because the hat was too small and sat awkwardly on his head. "I think I need a smaller head."
"Nah. I think you just need a bigger hat." She smiled. "I'll remember to put on my list of things to get the next time I have the opportunity to go shopping."
He took it off and reached over to put it on her head. "Looks right, now."
She swallowed her smile and sat on the dresser next to his bed. "So, how are you?"
He shrugged. "Good."
"Relieved that Kolya won't be bothering you anymore, at least?"
He sat on his bed and looked down at his hands. "There is that, at least."
She leaned down to catch his eye and he looked up at her. "I know it's not the kind of outcome you would have gone looking for, but you knew that eventually it was going to come down to him or you."
He frowned and leaned back. "Oh, yeah, of course. I knew. I was just kinda hoping he'd get himself blown up somewhere and it'd be over that way." He shrugged. "But it didn't work out that way."
Helena nodded. "I would have warned Kolya. It's crazy to try to go up against a red-blooded American boy in a quick draw."
John frowned at her. "What?"
She pursed her lips. "Don't tell me that you didn't practice the quick draw when you were a kid."
He grinned. "Well, sure, didn't everyone?"
"Somehow, I don't see Rodney doing that."
John shrugged. "Well, he's Canadian." At her laugh, he continued. "I'll bet Lorne did."
She nodded. "Wouldn't surprise me."
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. Finally, she spoke up. "I can't believe you didn't shoot Lucius, though. Or at least punch him real hard in the mouth."
"I was tempted, but it wouldn't do any good."
She sighed. "It would have made me feel better. Trust me that man is going to be like a bad penny."
"Rodney called him 'Harcourt Fenton Mudd'."
She laughed. "Oh, you gotta love Rodney's Star Trek references."
John frowned. "Not when he's calling me 'Kirk', I don't."
This produced another gale of laughter from Helena. At John's look, she tried to stop, but it made her laugh even harder. Finally, he joined her, chuckling, good-naturedly.
He stood. "What's for dinner?" He offered a hand to her.
She took it and stood. "Lasagna."
He smiled as they headed to the door. "I love lasagna."
She beamed up at him and took off the hat. "We'll have to stop at my quarters on the way, so I can put this away. Don't want everyone knowing exactly how country I am."
He stuck out his bottom lip. "I was going to wear it during dinner."
As they walked out of the door, she laughed. "I wouldn't want you to lose all your cool points by showing up in a hat that's too small…"
