Chapter 8: Changes
Early the next morning, Jack slipped into the bedroom to collect his uniform and gym bag. After he had everything ready to leave, he wrote a not to Sara telling her where he and Charlie were and that she could have anything she wanted from the house. He got Charlie up and ready then left for the base.
Jack dropped Charlie off at the nursery and headed to the gym. He found Sam already warming up.
"Good morning Sam," Jack greeted her.
"Hey Jack!" Sam turned to face him smiling.
Jack was surprised at how easily his mood lifted at her smile.
"You ready to have some fun O'Neill?" Sam teased.
"I can take whatever you can give," Jack eased back. He dropped his bag in the corner and stepped onto the mat.
"Alright, let's go!" Sam said moving into ready position. Jack followed suit. He had decided to let Sam set the pace; he didn't know how much she had learned.
Sam and Jack both started slow. Sam had gotten much more proficient at hand to hand techniques since the last time they had sparred. Eventually Sam realized that Jack wasn't going on the offensive, so she stopped attaching. Jack waited for a few moments before giving up on Sam returning to the offensive and he attacked. Sam and Jack continued to spar for quite some time. They even had an audience. Finally Jack fell for a trick he had taught Sam and she pinned him. He was surprised to say the least; Sam let him get up a moment later.
"Whoa, you could have told me you'd been practicing!" Jack was amazed. Not many people picked up hand to hand as quickly as Sam appeared to be.
"Why would I tell you? If I had, you would have won. Besides, it was fun to see your reaction," Sam teased. She checked her watch. "I have to change. I'm supposed to be in the science building in half an hour."
"Why?" Jack asked.
"I'm taking some equipment with me when I leave, I have to make sure its ready to go," Sam explained. She headed toward the locker room.
"What kind of equipment?" Jack called after her.
"A Strike Eagle," Sam called back as she headed into the locker room.
"She can fight and fly F-15E Strike Eagles?" Charlie Kawalsky exclaimed. He had walked over near Jack after Sam started to leave. "I gotta get to know her better!"
"Charlie, don't scare her," Jack warned as he headed toward the showers.
"Thanks a lot Jack, really boost a guys confidence," Charlie told him.
"Anytime Charlie, anytime," Charlie heard as the door closed.
When Sam came out of the locker room, Charlie was waiting for her.
"Hi, I'm a friend of Jack's," Charlie began to introduce himself.
"Charlie Kawalsky. Jack told me about you," Sam finished.
"He did?" Charlie wondered what Jack had said.
"He said that you and he were on the same team and you like boxing and sparring," Sam told him.
"Weird, normally he makes up stories that are really stupid," Charlie replied.
"And yet, they were probably true," Sam said casually.
"Yikes, you don't beat around the bush do you?" Charlie was surprised at her reply. "Do you want to get together to night?"
"Sorry, I leave for Andrews tonight," Sam declined.
"Maybe next time you're on base then," Charlie offered.
"Sorry Charlie, not later either."
"That's okay, see ya around," Charlie said as he headed back to the gym.
Sam kept walking until she got to the science building. When she got there, she made sure the plane was ready with the equipment she needed. She then changed into a flight suit and went to say goodbye to her father.
"Enter," Jacob called out.
"Hi Dad. I just came to say bye. I take off in about half an hour. The general is sending the second plane in about a month, right?" Sam asked as she stood before her father's desk after coming into the office.
"Hey Sam, I think the plane will get there closer to three weeks from now rather than a month. Whoever flies the plane will be temporarily transferred to be a test pilot for the tests. I still have to figure out who I'm sending. I'll tell you when the plane is coming. You be careful Sam," Jacob looked up at her. He knew she was a capable pilot, but was still nervous when she flew.
"Dad, I'll be fine, don't worry. I'll call you as soon as I get to Andrews. You're still coming to the Memorial Day celebration right?" Sam had invited Jacob to Andrews Air Force Base's celebrations on Memorial Day. There were activities for the families of the service men and women stationed on the base.
"I should be there, barring any unforeseen problems, but I can't guarantee anything," Jacob promised.
"Great, I gotta go, talk to you later!" Sam said as she turned to leave.
"Bye Sam!"
Sam grabbed her flight bag and headed for the plane. On the way, she was intercepted by Jack. He handed her a letter.
"Read it when you get to your new place," he told her.
"Thanks. I'll call you when I get there!" Sam said as they continued toward her plane.
"See you next time we're on the same base," Jack promised.
"You betcha! Bye Jack," Sam climbed into the plane.
"Bye Sam!" Jack called up. He jogged off the tarmac. The plane was quickly ready for its departure and took off.