Jack turns off the truck and as soon as the engine dies the thumping and whining from the backseat start up. "Yeah, yeah. Hang on dog." He grumbles. Merlin ignores him and barks a few times. He still doesn't like the seatbelt, but he insists on leaning halfway out the window.
He rolls his eyes. Jack pockets his keys and grabs the leash. He snaps the leash on Merlin's collar and dodges the attempted licks. Now the whining and wriggling escalate. Merlin can taste freedom. Jack wraps the leash around his hand and unsnaps the seat belt harness.
The dog can't slide around him anymore to get out of the truck. Jack chuckles as Merlin tries to shove past him. "C'mon pup. Let's go." Merlin jumps down when Jack moves out of the way. He gives a happy little bark and off they go to the pet super store. Merlin pulls at the leash as they get closer to the doors. He looks back at Jack and pants happily.
They browse the toy aisle and after several investigatory sniffs Merlin picks a new rope toy. Jack swings down the food aisle for food and some new treats. Jack turns down the leash and collar aisle. Merlin charges ahead of him and barks at the woman halfway down.
Sam Carter looks up to see her CO and Merlin "Hi, sir." She smiles. She reaches down and traces the white strip on his head. She rubs his ears. "Hi pup." The dog wags his tail happily.
"Nice to see you Carter." O'Neill greets her. He eyes the collars she's standing in front of. "Bella likes green."
Sam giggles. The team knows his favorite color is peridot. "Cassie hinted that her dog's birthday is coming up soon."
He nods. After all he's the one who got the dog for Cassie. Sam decides on a collar.
Jack checks his watch. "I have to drop him off to the grooming station." He indicates Carter to go ahead of him.
They walk to the grooming station and Merlin is greeted by the groomers. The dog tosses one look over his shoulder and his tail droops and wags once as the groomers lead him into the back area.
Jack chuckles. "He'll be mad at me."
"Well, he's too big to use the tub." Sam says practically.
O'Neill shakes his head. "He prefers outdoor baths. So he can run around, soak everyone in range and sit in the sun to dry off. This indoor stuff is not him." Jack laughs.
Sam shudders. "Too cold for that." The weather has changed recently.
"No kidding." Jack responds heartily. After all he's the one who gets soaked in the bath time zoomies. "He needs a bath and his nails clipped. I can do the tub, but not the clipping." Jack shudders.
After Sam pays for the collar and the new toy for Jester, she's surprised to see the Colonel waiting for her.
"Join me for coffee?" he asks. "I'm here till Merlin is done."
After a momentary hesitation she agrees. They cross to a local coffee shop.
"Hey Carter, grab that table," Jack points out an empty table at the window. "What do you want?" He nods at the menu board.
"Tea, please. With honey." Sam grabs the table and clears off the debris.
Jack delivers a tea, his own coffee, and two pastries.
Sam sighs at the chocolate croissant he shoves toward her.
"Thanks, sir." She eyes his vanilla doughnut. He pulls the plate closer. "You know I prefer vanilla to chocolate." He reminds her.
She laughs. "I don't even understand that." She stirs her tea and takes a sip. The perfect amount of honey. She sighs happily at the second sip.
Jack keeps an eye on his watch as they chat about her family, motorcycles, the dogs, and in a round about way, work. Soon his watch beeps and it's back to the pet store.
Merlin leans up against Carter. Jack laughs. "Told ya he was mad at me." Merlin has bypassed Jack to give his attention to Carter.
Sam rubs the dog's ears. He grumbles and moves his head for the best scratches. Jack pays the groomer. Shaking his head at the invoice he gathers up the leash. "Too bad the base can't cut his hair. Or clip his nails." He mutters.
Sam laughs. "I'm sure Merlin would prefer going to the base."
"Yeah. He'd have all the attention."
"How's the therapy dog training coming?" The team knows they started that training soon after puppy kindergarten graduation.
"Good. Fun in fact." Jack smiles. "We have a field trip coming up soon. I might actually take him on base, with the General's permission for some more training."
They part at Jack's truck and Sam gives the dog one last ear rub. "See you later, sir."
Merlin gets buckled into his seatbelt with a little more trouble than usual. "Yeah, I know, you don't like me outsourcing your bath. Suck it up, dog. You'd freeze running around in the yard all wet."
Merlin stares out the window all the way home. Once freed from the back seat he waits at the door.
"Bella, we're home!" Jack calls.
A short woof answers him. Bella wags her tail as she appears around the corner. She snuffles around his shoes and pants. "Yes, I saw Carter." He tells her. She wags her tail at the mention of Carter. "And yes, I bought you new treats."
Jack opens the new treat box. Peanut butter flavored. Bella snarfs it up and looks up for another one. "One is all you get right now, beautiful."
Merlin has dashed down the stairs to the office. Jack hears the door close. He chuckles. In about an hour the dog will bark to be let out of 'his' room.
"Teenagers." Jack settles in with his chess board and the newest problem. Bella sits across from him and watches. Jack is pulled out of the chess problem when Bella sits up. Her ears prick forward and she heads downstairs.
Jack hears muffled whines and barking. "Oh, right." He jogs down to his office and opens the door. Merlin barrels out of the office with his new rope toy in his mouth.
"Forgive me yet?" he asks the dog. Merlin charges up the stairs.
The dogs woof at the door. "Okay. Time to go out."