What If's, Maybe So's, and Could've Been's
The following story is under the sole ownership and copyright of J.L. Scott. Unauthorized copying and/or use is actionable in a court of law.
To borrow a phrase: SG-1 and Star Gate no mine, no permission, no money, no sue...please?
Jack glanced at the clock again and flicked the TV off. It was 3 o'clock, so at least Cass would be home soon. He felt like going on a run and he was sure she'd go with him. He left the remote on the table and walked to the kitchen, but he'd already cleaned up, and they'd starve if he started cooking dinner. There was nothing left to unpack, and he'd just mowed the lawn two days ago. He was bored and he knew it. Sam and Cass both had warned him that he would get bored without three movies to work on at once. He was used to having something to do from sun up to sun down, most of it physical considering he hadn't done a non-action movie since his early days. But, they had all been lulled by the paparazzi free lifestyle, the chance to be "normal". For the first time in her life, her parents were okay with letting Cass go out without a body guard, security and thorough background checks. They were perfectly safe, and they didn't have to worry about a thing.
It was all becoming imensely boring.
Jack headed for the garage. He could wash the SUV. That ought to keep him busy for a while. He hit the open button and backed the Jummy out. The sunlight was bright, and the air was warm, a perfect day to wash the car. He was hooking the hose up when he thought he saw something in the bushes. His entire body went taught, battle ready. The idea was odd, but the feeling was right. He moved toward the bushes, surprised at how quiet he was. They shook again, very lightly. He crept closer. He though he saw cloth between the branches, but he was still too far to be sure. He moved in even closer. Closer....closer..........
And a cat jumped at him.
"For cryin' out loud!" he cried and jumped back, "Dumb cat!" He shook himself, feeling the adrenaline in his system. He wondered why, and how, he'd become so alert when he'd perceived "danger". A foggy memory of jumping out of planes, running from gunfire in heavy foilage, and attacking a man in some sort of costume rushed through his head like a swiftly moving river, carrying the images away. Jack spun around, sure he would be somewhere else. But only the Jimmy and the hose awaited him in the driveway.
"Sorry" Jack spun back around, his hands up and ready to lash out. A somewhat rotund middle aged man was standing on the other side of the bushes.
"Did my cat scare you?" he asked, a quiver of startlement in his own voice.
"Oh." Jack replied, "Oh, yeah, sorta. I'm more of a dog person myself."
"Yeah, well, old Blush won't hurt you" the man replied.
"Bulsh?"
"The cat" the man pointed to the animal who was now stalking the other end of the bushes. Jack chuckled and forced a smile.
"Right"
"My name's Dan. Dan Bardenoff" He extended his hand over the chest high bushes.
"Jack O'Neill"
"Nice to finally meet ya. You've been livin' here for a while, but we've never met. Hardly ever even see ya! Job of yours must keep you pretty busy!"
"Yeah, it does" Jack answered ruefully, "Usually"
"Whatddya do?" Dan asked genially.
"Uh, actor. Action flicks mostly" Jack answered.
"Really? Never heard of ya. But, my wife, she doesn't let me watch a lot of the good stuff, ya know?" Jack just nodded. This seemed like a perfectly normal conversation to be having with a new neighbor.
"Explains why you're so edgy" the man contined, "Big movie hot shot, probably gotta watch your back, right?" That was it. Jack completely forgot about his earlier concerns.
"Hey, Dad!" Cass called as she strolled up the drive. He waved and she trotted over.
"What's up?" she asked.
"This is Mr. Bardenoff, Cass. Dan, this is my daughter, Cass." Jack introduced them.
"Eh, call me Dan. Never heard no one call me Mr. Bardenoff before. It's nice to meet you, Cass"
"You too. You didn't start dinner, did you? Oh, thank god!" Cass laughed when Jack said no, "I better go start somethin'. Mom said she'd be home around five." She smiled at Dan and trudged into the house.
"Nice kid" Dan commented, "Well, I gotta go. You let me know if Blush bothers you"
"Right. See ya" Jack waved and followed his daughter into the house.
The following story is under the sole ownership and copyright of J.L. Scott. Unauthorized copying and/or use is actionable in a court of law.
To borrow a phrase: SG-1 and Star Gate no mine, no permission, no money, no sue...please?
Jack glanced at the clock again and flicked the TV off. It was 3 o'clock, so at least Cass would be home soon. He felt like going on a run and he was sure she'd go with him. He left the remote on the table and walked to the kitchen, but he'd already cleaned up, and they'd starve if he started cooking dinner. There was nothing left to unpack, and he'd just mowed the lawn two days ago. He was bored and he knew it. Sam and Cass both had warned him that he would get bored without three movies to work on at once. He was used to having something to do from sun up to sun down, most of it physical considering he hadn't done a non-action movie since his early days. But, they had all been lulled by the paparazzi free lifestyle, the chance to be "normal". For the first time in her life, her parents were okay with letting Cass go out without a body guard, security and thorough background checks. They were perfectly safe, and they didn't have to worry about a thing.
It was all becoming imensely boring.
Jack headed for the garage. He could wash the SUV. That ought to keep him busy for a while. He hit the open button and backed the Jummy out. The sunlight was bright, and the air was warm, a perfect day to wash the car. He was hooking the hose up when he thought he saw something in the bushes. His entire body went taught, battle ready. The idea was odd, but the feeling was right. He moved toward the bushes, surprised at how quiet he was. They shook again, very lightly. He crept closer. He though he saw cloth between the branches, but he was still too far to be sure. He moved in even closer. Closer....closer..........
And a cat jumped at him.
"For cryin' out loud!" he cried and jumped back, "Dumb cat!" He shook himself, feeling the adrenaline in his system. He wondered why, and how, he'd become so alert when he'd perceived "danger". A foggy memory of jumping out of planes, running from gunfire in heavy foilage, and attacking a man in some sort of costume rushed through his head like a swiftly moving river, carrying the images away. Jack spun around, sure he would be somewhere else. But only the Jimmy and the hose awaited him in the driveway.
"Sorry" Jack spun back around, his hands up and ready to lash out. A somewhat rotund middle aged man was standing on the other side of the bushes.
"Did my cat scare you?" he asked, a quiver of startlement in his own voice.
"Oh." Jack replied, "Oh, yeah, sorta. I'm more of a dog person myself."
"Yeah, well, old Blush won't hurt you" the man replied.
"Bulsh?"
"The cat" the man pointed to the animal who was now stalking the other end of the bushes. Jack chuckled and forced a smile.
"Right"
"My name's Dan. Dan Bardenoff" He extended his hand over the chest high bushes.
"Jack O'Neill"
"Nice to finally meet ya. You've been livin' here for a while, but we've never met. Hardly ever even see ya! Job of yours must keep you pretty busy!"
"Yeah, it does" Jack answered ruefully, "Usually"
"Whatddya do?" Dan asked genially.
"Uh, actor. Action flicks mostly" Jack answered.
"Really? Never heard of ya. But, my wife, she doesn't let me watch a lot of the good stuff, ya know?" Jack just nodded. This seemed like a perfectly normal conversation to be having with a new neighbor.
"Explains why you're so edgy" the man contined, "Big movie hot shot, probably gotta watch your back, right?" That was it. Jack completely forgot about his earlier concerns.
"Hey, Dad!" Cass called as she strolled up the drive. He waved and she trotted over.
"What's up?" she asked.
"This is Mr. Bardenoff, Cass. Dan, this is my daughter, Cass." Jack introduced them.
"Eh, call me Dan. Never heard no one call me Mr. Bardenoff before. It's nice to meet you, Cass"
"You too. You didn't start dinner, did you? Oh, thank god!" Cass laughed when Jack said no, "I better go start somethin'. Mom said she'd be home around five." She smiled at Dan and trudged into the house.
"Nice kid" Dan commented, "Well, I gotta go. You let me know if Blush bothers you"
"Right. See ya" Jack waved and followed his daughter into the house.