CHAPTER SIXTEEN: OUT TO LUNCH
Saturday morning Jack arrived at the Mountain and went to Vicky's VIP quarters. Receiving no answer he tried her new lab. Still nothing so he went to Carter's lab and sure enough they were both there.
"Don't either of you know that the weekend is for not working?"
"Hi, Sir," Sam smiled.
Vicky whipped her head up, "it's Carter's fault!"
Carter looked at Vicky in total shock, her mouth literally hanging open, "WAS NOT!"
Jack looked at Carter in mock concern, "Carter? And really good come back, by the way." His voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You're here really early for lunch, aren't you Jack?"
Jack was bouncing on the balls of his feet as he beamed at her, "I brought you something."
Oh yeah! Surprises!" Vicky jumped up and ran to him, "Whaddya bring me?"
"You'll see. Why don't we go too your quarters so you can get ready. Carter, on our way out we are going to come by here and you had better be gone."
"Yes, Sir!"
Jack and Vicky turned to leave, after a couple of steps Jack turned back. "And I WILL be checking to see if you actually sign out, so don't think you can just hide until we leave."
As he started to walk away Carter stuck her tongue out at his back.
"I saw that, Carter! Very unMajor-like!"
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After Vicky let them into her Quarters and Jack had closed the door she turned and smiled excitedly, "presents, gimme, gimme, gimme!"
Jack smiled at her indulgently and handed her a bag. She stuck her head inside, "OOO! Clothes!"
"I thought you would want to wear some thing not military."
"That is so sweet." She ran to him and gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the lips before she ran into the bathroom. Jack stood there for a moment surprised before sitting on the bed.
Jack, they fit! How did you know my sizes?"
"I had the Quartermaster right them down and when I picked things out I gave the list of sizes to a girl in the store and she got the right sizes."
"OH MY GOD, JACK, YOU SPENT 200 DOLLARS FOR A PAIR OF SNEAKERS!"
"Things cost more since you were last on Earth?"
"But, my God! Two hundred dollars?"
"They're this year's latest style of Nikes. And they were on sale?"
Vicky came out in the shoes, jeans and a soft green top. She turned around so that he could see all sides.
//Damn she still has a great ass. OK, Jackie-boy, you so don't need to go there\\
"Do I look alright? The jeans are kind of tight."
//oh hell yeah\\ "The girl said that they are supposed to be tight at first. The green goes really well with your eyes," he said as he was making little circles with his hand. He patted the bed beside him and said, "I have one more thing for you."
She looked at him a little suspiciously.
"Not that! Though, if you want to..." he looked at her hopefully before smiling.
She smacked him on the arm, "you are suck a guy." And she sat beside him as he handed her something. "What's this?"
"It's a cell phone. I charged last night and I programmed the speed dial with my number, my cell phone, the General's cell phone, and the number to the base. I want you to always have it with you, that way you'll always have some one a call away if you need it."
"Look, it's so cute and it's so tiny!" Jack showed her how to work it as well as sending and receiving pictures and text messages. He gave the case and showed her how to clip it to her waist and showed her how the charger worked. "Jack that is so thoughtful."
"Well, I want you to call me at any time if you need me. I mean it, OK?"
They looked at each other of a moment before he pulled her into a tight embrace.
//Damn you, Jack, please don't do this to me. I really don't need you to be so damn charming. It's bad enough that you're sexier now; I so don't want to fall in love with you again\\
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After having gone by Sam's lab to checking to make sure she wasn't there they went and signed out. Jack made sure to ask that Carter had really signed out. After being so reassured they walked to his truck and he helped her in. After he got in and started the engine Vicky turned to him, "So where are you taking me?"
"To a small Italian place that I know. They are busy for lunch during the week and tonight they will be very busy but at this time of day on Saturday they will be very quiet. Just what the Doctor ordered," he beamed at her.
Jack made sure to take back streets so that she wouldn't feel overwhelmed.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they got to the restaurant an Italian gentleman of about sixty greeted them. "Colonel Jack! It so good to see you! Who is this lovely lady?"
Jack beamed at him, "this is my wife, Vicky."
The man turned to him astonished, "I did not know you were married, and to such a lovely young lady!"
Vicky blushed as the man put his hands on her face and kissed both of her cheeks. He showed them to a quiet booth before running to the back yelling, "Mamma, Momma, come see! Colonel Jack had brought in this wife!"
A very small woman of about the same age came running out wiping her hands on an apron.
"Colonel Jack! You no tell us you getting married!" She ran up to the table and also grabbed Vicky's face and kissed both cheeks, "Bellessima!" She kissed her again before moving and doing the same to Jack. "What you name Senora?"
"Vicky."
Crossing herself, "Vittoria, my sainted mother's name! Giorgio! Bring them a bottle of wine! You no looka the menu, I make something special for you, OK?"
They looked at each other and nodded. The woman left and they were served wine before Vicky spoke, "I'm surprised that they didn't ask about Sam."
Jack looked at her seriously for a moment before speaking, "I've never some here with Carter. The only time I've seen Carter off base were when the whole team did something."
"Jack, I'm sorry..."
"No, that's Ok, Vicky. It is something that we need to talk about. I admit that I care about Carter, way more than I should, but nothing and I mean NOTHING has ever happened between us. We've only talked, and by that I mean really talked around it, a couple of times. Since you've been back, you are the one I have been thinking about."
Vicky stared into her glass of wine, "I'm sorry if I'm such a burden."
Jack sighed and took the glass out of her hans, then took booth of her hands in his. "Vicky, look at me."
She did reluctantly, and held her breath unconsciously.
"Don't you EVER think that you are a burden to me. I love you and I will always be your friend, no matter what. Even if you decide that you don't want to be married to me, I'll be there for you." With that he bent over and pulled her hands jto his mouth and kissed them gently, bring tears to hers to her eyes.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and said softly, "thank you."
After they enjoyed their meal and laughed and talked until Jack looked at his watch, 'oh my God! George is going to kill me!"
"Why?"
"Do you realize we have been here four hours?"
"No way!"
They got up and went to the register so that Jack could pay. Momma and Poppa both came out to hug and kiss them again.
"You no be strangers. You bring her back soon," she said to Jack. He smiled and nodded to her as they said their good-byes.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Back at the base Jack walked Vicky to her room where she invited him for a minute. "Jack I want to thank you. I had a wonderful time today." She yawned and looked sheepish.
"Seems I bored you," he smiled.
"Not at all, I'm just not used to going out and I really did eat WAY to much. I think that I am going to take a nap."
"That's a good idea, maybe then George won't kill me for keeping you out so long!" He stepped forward and pulled her to him where he just held her for a little while before easing back and when she looked up at him he leaned down very slowly, giving her every chance to pull away, and kissed her softly and then holding her again for a minute. "Well, I guess I'll see you on Monday."
She smiled at him, "guess so." He kissed her one more time before he left. She closed and locked her door and leaned against it. //I am in really deep shit\\
Jack was smiling and humming to himself as he passed an astonished SF. //I am in really deep shit\\
Saturday morning Jack arrived at the Mountain and went to Vicky's VIP quarters. Receiving no answer he tried her new lab. Still nothing so he went to Carter's lab and sure enough they were both there.
"Don't either of you know that the weekend is for not working?"
"Hi, Sir," Sam smiled.
Vicky whipped her head up, "it's Carter's fault!"
Carter looked at Vicky in total shock, her mouth literally hanging open, "WAS NOT!"
Jack looked at Carter in mock concern, "Carter? And really good come back, by the way." His voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You're here really early for lunch, aren't you Jack?"
Jack was bouncing on the balls of his feet as he beamed at her, "I brought you something."
Oh yeah! Surprises!" Vicky jumped up and ran to him, "Whaddya bring me?"
"You'll see. Why don't we go too your quarters so you can get ready. Carter, on our way out we are going to come by here and you had better be gone."
"Yes, Sir!"
Jack and Vicky turned to leave, after a couple of steps Jack turned back. "And I WILL be checking to see if you actually sign out, so don't think you can just hide until we leave."
As he started to walk away Carter stuck her tongue out at his back.
"I saw that, Carter! Very unMajor-like!"
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After Vicky let them into her Quarters and Jack had closed the door she turned and smiled excitedly, "presents, gimme, gimme, gimme!"
Jack smiled at her indulgently and handed her a bag. She stuck her head inside, "OOO! Clothes!"
"I thought you would want to wear some thing not military."
"That is so sweet." She ran to him and gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the lips before she ran into the bathroom. Jack stood there for a moment surprised before sitting on the bed.
Jack, they fit! How did you know my sizes?"
"I had the Quartermaster right them down and when I picked things out I gave the list of sizes to a girl in the store and she got the right sizes."
"OH MY GOD, JACK, YOU SPENT 200 DOLLARS FOR A PAIR OF SNEAKERS!"
"Things cost more since you were last on Earth?"
"But, my God! Two hundred dollars?"
"They're this year's latest style of Nikes. And they were on sale?"
Vicky came out in the shoes, jeans and a soft green top. She turned around so that he could see all sides.
//Damn she still has a great ass. OK, Jackie-boy, you so don't need to go there\\
"Do I look alright? The jeans are kind of tight."
//oh hell yeah\\ "The girl said that they are supposed to be tight at first. The green goes really well with your eyes," he said as he was making little circles with his hand. He patted the bed beside him and said, "I have one more thing for you."
She looked at him a little suspiciously.
"Not that! Though, if you want to..." he looked at her hopefully before smiling.
She smacked him on the arm, "you are suck a guy." And she sat beside him as he handed her something. "What's this?"
"It's a cell phone. I charged last night and I programmed the speed dial with my number, my cell phone, the General's cell phone, and the number to the base. I want you to always have it with you, that way you'll always have some one a call away if you need it."
"Look, it's so cute and it's so tiny!" Jack showed her how to work it as well as sending and receiving pictures and text messages. He gave the case and showed her how to clip it to her waist and showed her how the charger worked. "Jack that is so thoughtful."
"Well, I want you to call me at any time if you need me. I mean it, OK?"
They looked at each other of a moment before he pulled her into a tight embrace.
//Damn you, Jack, please don't do this to me. I really don't need you to be so damn charming. It's bad enough that you're sexier now; I so don't want to fall in love with you again\\
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After having gone by Sam's lab to checking to make sure she wasn't there they went and signed out. Jack made sure to ask that Carter had really signed out. After being so reassured they walked to his truck and he helped her in. After he got in and started the engine Vicky turned to him, "So where are you taking me?"
"To a small Italian place that I know. They are busy for lunch during the week and tonight they will be very busy but at this time of day on Saturday they will be very quiet. Just what the Doctor ordered," he beamed at her.
Jack made sure to take back streets so that she wouldn't feel overwhelmed.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
When they got to the restaurant an Italian gentleman of about sixty greeted them. "Colonel Jack! It so good to see you! Who is this lovely lady?"
Jack beamed at him, "this is my wife, Vicky."
The man turned to him astonished, "I did not know you were married, and to such a lovely young lady!"
Vicky blushed as the man put his hands on her face and kissed both of her cheeks. He showed them to a quiet booth before running to the back yelling, "Mamma, Momma, come see! Colonel Jack had brought in this wife!"
A very small woman of about the same age came running out wiping her hands on an apron.
"Colonel Jack! You no tell us you getting married!" She ran up to the table and also grabbed Vicky's face and kissed both cheeks, "Bellessima!" She kissed her again before moving and doing the same to Jack. "What you name Senora?"
"Vicky."
Crossing herself, "Vittoria, my sainted mother's name! Giorgio! Bring them a bottle of wine! You no looka the menu, I make something special for you, OK?"
They looked at each other and nodded. The woman left and they were served wine before Vicky spoke, "I'm surprised that they didn't ask about Sam."
Jack looked at her seriously for a moment before speaking, "I've never some here with Carter. The only time I've seen Carter off base were when the whole team did something."
"Jack, I'm sorry..."
"No, that's Ok, Vicky. It is something that we need to talk about. I admit that I care about Carter, way more than I should, but nothing and I mean NOTHING has ever happened between us. We've only talked, and by that I mean really talked around it, a couple of times. Since you've been back, you are the one I have been thinking about."
Vicky stared into her glass of wine, "I'm sorry if I'm such a burden."
Jack sighed and took the glass out of her hans, then took booth of her hands in his. "Vicky, look at me."
She did reluctantly, and held her breath unconsciously.
"Don't you EVER think that you are a burden to me. I love you and I will always be your friend, no matter what. Even if you decide that you don't want to be married to me, I'll be there for you." With that he bent over and pulled her hands jto his mouth and kissed them gently, bring tears to hers to her eyes.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and said softly, "thank you."
After they enjoyed their meal and laughed and talked until Jack looked at his watch, 'oh my God! George is going to kill me!"
"Why?"
"Do you realize we have been here four hours?"
"No way!"
They got up and went to the register so that Jack could pay. Momma and Poppa both came out to hug and kiss them again.
"You no be strangers. You bring her back soon," she said to Jack. He smiled and nodded to her as they said their good-byes.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Back at the base Jack walked Vicky to her room where she invited him for a minute. "Jack I want to thank you. I had a wonderful time today." She yawned and looked sheepish.
"Seems I bored you," he smiled.
"Not at all, I'm just not used to going out and I really did eat WAY to much. I think that I am going to take a nap."
"That's a good idea, maybe then George won't kill me for keeping you out so long!" He stepped forward and pulled her to him where he just held her for a little while before easing back and when she looked up at him he leaned down very slowly, giving her every chance to pull away, and kissed her softly and then holding her again for a minute. "Well, I guess I'll see you on Monday."
She smiled at him, "guess so." He kissed her one more time before he left. She closed and locked her door and leaned against it. //I am in really deep shit\\
Jack was smiling and humming to himself as he passed an astonished SF. //I am in really deep shit\\