Downtime Mysteries
Campbell's, Jardin's and Scots in General.
Out on to the bustling hot street walked Jack and Sam; their hotel was in the centre of the capital city, and from it you could see the split of the Nile and the bridges that spanned it's massive breadth. But they were walking in the opposite direction, out towards the suburbs of the great city, in the distance the peaks of the three great pyramids could be seen, the highest that of King Cheops, a reminder to Sam that they where not here just for the awe inspiring views.
Beside her strode, newly clad in his leather jacket, Jack, his face soft but eyes glinting with a steely determination as he marched purposefully round a corner, almost leaving Sam to wander on her own heading straight for the geometric towers of history in the distance.
"Jack!" she exclaimed after searching wildly for a few moments only to see him striding 10 feet away in a completely new direction.
Confused at the sound of his name he turned to see a disgruntled Sam making his position, closing his eyes in admonishment of himself for a moment he opened them to say,
"Sorry Sam, it's kinda a thing I've got going with Jeff. See, he's knows what time the plane lands at, and how long it takes me to get to his house; thing is he's such a pain in the ass if I'm late and then I end up having to stay for dinner if I want any information!"
"Uh huh." She muttered, clearly unimpressed with his excuse.
They started walking again this time at a much slower pace.
"Really!" he said trying to prove his innocence for almost letting her loose in the large bustling city of Cairo, "And trust me you don't want to stay for dinner." Sam was intrigued with this statement but was unable to ask any questions as Jack spoke once again. 2So what are we going to tell Jeff about you?" looking ahead, before turning yet another corner, this time making sure Sam followed.
"I don't know."
"Well, we better be prepared for twenty questions, Jeff likes to know everything, or likes to think that he knows everything," He said rolling his eyes, "So Sam what do you do for a living?" he spoke, now grinning.
"Teach physics at Springs High, what do you do Jack?" she said smiling herself and playing the game that would ultimately turn into their cover story, not to mention give them a little more practice at using each others first names.
"Good thinking." He said proud of her before answering her question. "I instruct pilot training at our local airstrip. How did we meet?"
Now there was a tough one, both Sam and Jack where stumped at that one. How where you supposed to conceal seven years of friendship and what would be more if not for circumstances?
"We met a year ago." Offered Sam, her answer bold as it would explain why she had never came with him on a 'mission' before, but it followed that because of this the relationship between fictional Sam and Jack would be ... tricky for real Sam and Jack to define and uphold. (As if their current relationship isn't!)
"Where?" He asked, his eyes pleading her to come up with equally as brilliant idea as one of her plans to save the world.
Sam slipped into deep thought for a moment, brows furrowing in contemplation of her fictitious life.
"My class came to the airstrip on a field trip?" she said hesitantly.
"That sounds perfect." He admitted grinning, crossing the road, with Sam closely in tow.
"Yeah, so what happened next?" Sam thought is was only fair that he come up with something to do with their cover story, since he had had so much practice at it of course.
"Hmm, well we stayed in touch, became very good friends, exchanged techno-babble concerning Bernoulli's Principle over dinner and lived happily ever after."
Sam nodded and smiled, thinking that sounded good considering they had taken two minutes to come up with their alter egos.
The rest of the short walk was spent in silence between the two as Sam took in the changing scene around her.
Outside the hotel you could have believed yourself to be in any major city in the world, but in the few minutes walk, the roads had changed; once a busy concrete grey roads, where now sand strewn. The new ancient 'roads' seemed to merge with the side walk, no clear markings where a walker would be safe; having to make a decision between walking the road or taking the treacherous path between busy stalls of a makeshift marketplace.
Jack went first, disappearing into the throng of people, Sam stood a little apprehensive before diving into the ever-fluid motion of bodies in search of Jack. Finding the familiar curve of shoulders, she walked relatively comfortable in their wake staying as close as she could, not wanting to get lost.
"Jeff!" Jack exclaimed moving forward to embrace an as yet unseen gentleman.
Still unseen, therefore Jeff was fairly short compared with the tall lean frame of all Sam could currently see, around which could be seen arms that welcomed an old friend.
"Jack! Great to see you, pal." replied a voice, of which the most surprising thing was the broad Scottish accent in which it was spoken.
Moments later the owner of the voice was finally visible, a 5ft 6 red headed, spectacled 40 year old man, talking like a man possessed. Barely making a word of what the he said, she stepped forward making her presence known.
"Yeah Jeff, I know I'm late but I'd like you to meet someone," he said smiling and looking proudly in her direction, "This is Sam."
"Hiya lass." Spoke the small man smiling, "I'm Jeff Campbell." Then glancing back at Jack he added jokingly, "So you're the reason why Jack here is late."
Sam smiling knowing instantly that despite the communication barrier they'd get along fine, replied; "Yeah you could say that."
"Right you two, we're already 'late' so why don't we get a move on." Jack's usual impatience sped along the already quick introduction.
Jeff took point, followed by Sam and Jack walking almost side by side, once a few paces behind Jeff, he muttered "Thanks, you just got us out of dinner at 'Chez Cam'bell'." He said.
"What do you mean?" Said Sam intrigued as ever at the mention of 'dinner' at Jeff's house.
"You'll find out so enough."
"Izzie, wit's fur tea?" Shouted Jeff as soon as they entered his house, finding themselves in a small hallway.
"Mince and tatties." Answered a disembodied female voice.
Tatties? thought Sam.
"Potatoes." Spoke Jack answering her unsaid question.
"You staying Jack?" asked Jeff.
Any answer was cut short as a mixed cry of 'Jack!' came from another room. From a door in the hallway ran three blurs of red hair, crashing into Jacks legs simultaneously, cheering and chanting.
Jeff looked on as his offspring huddled round their honorary uncle, smiling as he disappeared into another room leaving, Sam and Jack in capable hands.
"Oopphff" Jack joked, "What is your mother feeding you guys, you're all getting so big!"
"I'm three feets now!" piped the smallest of the three, a little girl no older than 2.
"You sure you look more like four?"
"Jack, look, I broke my arm last week." Spoke the oldest a boy of about 8, the double of his father, brandishing a graffitti covered cast, like a trophy, stealing the lime light from his little sister.
"So you have. Want me to sign it too?"
'Yeah!'
Jack nodded then looked at the middle child, another boy, around 3 years old, completely adorable, his dazzling blue orbs shining brightly in curiosity, and by the looks of it he was a little shy too; after bouncing off Jack's legs he stood back and eyed Sam cautiously while his kin talked to Jack, eventually he stepped forward, grabbed Sam's hand and pulled her into the room from where he came.
The others only just noticing the presence of another, ran unceremoniously after their brother and the person who Jack brought with him, shouting and screaming questions of who she was, would she sign their cast, your pretty, did she like green fire trucks, what ice cream she liked, your eyes are blue and was she Jack's girlfriend.
Jack looked in on the scene. Sam was sitting on the floor next to a play-mat covered in a mountain of toys, with the kids clambering around her. He smiled and took in the sight for a moment before coming to her rescue.
"Oy," everyone fell still, as Jack called from the doorway, "Leave Sam alone."
"Sam?"
"That's pretty."
"That's a boy's name!"
"It's Samantha actually, and what's your name?" She asked the middle child who had managed to find his way into her lap and entwined in her arms.
"Toby" he whispered smiling shyly.
Sam smiled encouragingly then looked to the others.
"Andrew."
"I'm Islay , are you Jack's girlfriend?"
At this she giggled slightly, then looked at Jack, seeing a humorous lustre in his eyes.
"Ehh...well…"
"Right kids, tea." Called Jeff from what seemed the kitchen, than walking into the room he added seeing them around Sam, "Awa' you go and let me, Jack and Sam talk."
Andrew and Islay ran through instantly but Toby was a little more reluctant.
"Go on." Muttered Sam. Climbing from her lap, he grabbed a huge worn teddy from the toy mountain hugging it close as he stumbled, after his brother and sister.
Jack smiled at Sam as she stood and then took a seat on the worn and comfy sofa next to him while Jeff took the armchair, becoming dwarfed within its depths.
"Right, doon tae business, I did'nae find much at Cheops' pyramid, an' ah' could'nae get any pictures a the glyphs at Dahshur so yur gonna be takin' a boat trip tomorra, Thing is I cannae go wi cos the wife's got a bairn on the way, due las' week so she wis. Ren'll go wi ye insteed a me, awf'y quiet lad, bit glae'kit at times but aw'right."
Carter sat dumbstruck as the flow of words ever continued from the man's mouth Jack however nodded and smiled on occasion but never getting a word in edge ways, not for at least five solid minutes until the appearance of a new face.
This one younger, around twenty, short black hair framing his lean tanned face, eyes a lustrous green. From his appearance it was quite clear that he was not a Campbell.
"Hiya, the weans ' ur jist finishin' thur tea." He spoke, his accent also Scottish but somehow different from the others more...sing-song and yet monotonous at the same time.
"This is Renick, he'll bi go'in wi ye eh'morra. Ren, this is Jack and Sam." Said Jeff introducing them.
Jack and Sam stood greeting the new person properly, after a round of handshakes they found themselves seated once again, Ren on a stool opposite them, who was currently chatting away.
"Yeah, the name's Renick Jardin, bu' caw mi Ren. Ma uncle wis caw'd Renick an' ah di'nae like him much, ye ken. Aye so Jeff tel't mi that wur goin' tae Dahshur ..."
As if it were possible it was even harder to understand Ren than Jeff. Even Jack had a look of serious contemplation as he tried to decipher the young man's words. After telling what must have been his life story, in minutes, he stopped talking and Jeff turned to Jack and said.
"So you want any tea or somethin'?"
"No thanks." Answered Jack, and then looking at Sam he added, "We've got plans for dinner."
Mentally Sam started compiling a Scottish to English dictionary.
Tea Dinner, Tatties Potatoes...
"So Sam," Said Jeff interrupting her thoughts, "hows'it you know Jack?"
After a few seconds delay for the translation she answered;
"Well, we met about a year ago when my class was on a field trip to our local airstrip, Jack gave them all a ride in a plane, we talked, got along, and have been friends ever since."
"You're a teacher? Thought you might be"' He said knowingly. "It ain't often that Toby trust so willingly, must be somethin' about ye, just good wi kids, maternal instinct an aw tha'. You too Jack.2 He smiled. "So just friends? Ye sure ye ain't got any kids back hame?" Now having a full blown grin, but eyeing them curiously as they blushed before his eyes.
"Nah, just...just…"
"Friends." Sam finished for him.
Though this was true the slightly goofy grin each took for a second and the look they gave each other spoke volumes to the observing Scots.
Silence descended on the room, something you could tell rarely happened in the house because as soon as it had been held for a few seconds, the room had fell into chaos once again as the three little ginger blurs entered the room in a frenzy. Andrew was on pulling Toby's bear from him; David against a one handed Goliath in a teddy bear tug of war.
"I want it!"
"It's mine!"
"No it's mine!"
"Gonnae no dae that!" cried Jeff in both anger and amusement. At this the room took on a new level of chaos as everyone began having a fit of giggles, Toby relinquished the teddy bear and clambered into Sam's lab once again, shaking with laughter.
"I don't get it." She admitted to Jack who was smiling at the scene before him.
"Neither do I," he whispered, "It's some kinda' Scottish thing."
Another entered the crowded room, a heavily pregnant woman, and no doubt in the fact that she was the mother of the child in Sam's arms. They had identical sparkling blue eyes, warm and welcoming. She was laden with three plates that had what looked like brown and white sludge that was extremely close to dripping from the sides.
"Hiya Jack, who's this ye brought with ye?" she said handing a plate each to Jeff and Ren who began devouring the sludge with abandon.
"This is Sam, mummy." Toby uttered, being the only child interested in the conversation as Islay and Andrew were engrossed in the television across the room.
"Well nice tae meet ye, hen, s'about time you got yoursel someone Jack," she admonished looking at him, "I'm Isobel," she introduced herself shaking hands around Toby before taking a seat in the remaining armchair.
"Eh we're not... um..." stuttered Sam.
Isobel looked confused.
"We're not … we're just friends." Clarified Jack.
Without speaking, she managed to tell them that she didn't believe them; a marvellous power that all mothers posses. And even trickier she managed to do it while eating the brown sludge.
"What is that?" asked Sam diverting from the topic of the day.
"Minsh' and Tatti'sh." Jeff answered his mouth half full.
"Jeffrey William Campbell!" scorned Isobel, "Where are your manners? Tha's no example tae be settin' the weans." Then turning to answer Sam's original question, "It's a traditional Scottish meal, ma granny's old recipe so it is, ya wanta try some?"
"Emm..." she looked to Jack for a sign... anything! There was a mischievous glint in his eyes that distinctly said 'you asked for it.'
"Sam?2 Toby muttered. Then having her attention he continued, "It's really nice, ye should try it, so should you uncle Jack."
That was it; Sam wanted to take Toby home with her.
She could hear Jack gulping loudly next to her.
"Oh tha's right," Said Isobel, "Las' time wi hud mince and tatties, ye show'd up too late. I just go an get ye a wee plate tae share." The woman disappeared, and reappeared in a flash now with a small plate of the sludge, two forks sticking up, unmoving, in the viscous concoction, noticed Sam as the plate was handed to Jack.
Smiling at them Isobel sat down and began eating once again eagerly awaiting their reactions to traditional Scottish food.
Jack held the plate as far in Sam's direction as he could, "Ladies first." He grinned
"Age before beauty." Her smile outshining his.
Face falling he sat and stared and the mixture, noticing that there appeared to be orange bits resembling carrots, and green/white stringy stuff that looked like cabbage.
"How about we go at the same time?" he issued a challenge, taking a fork and filling it with a bit of everything as he had watched Jeff do moments ago.
Picking up the remaining fork she did the same.
"Okay," she answered. "On three?"
They had the attention of the entire room; even the other kids had stopped paying attention to the television to watch the stand off on the sofa.
"On three." Jack agreed.
They faced each other and prepared for the countdown, with a slight nod, they began.
"One, Two, Three..."
They watched each other as the contents of the forks disappeared into their mouths, their eyes locked as they began chewing, not straying until they each had swallowed.
They were both surprised to find that they actually liked the mince and 'tatties', despite its appearance; it tasted fantastic.
"Wow." Said Sam.
"Hmm." Said Jack taking another fork full.
"Glad ye like it, tha's the last aw it though." she said placing her fork down on her empty plate.
At this Sam and Jack's eyes locked once again. Now the real challenge was on.
"Jack, can I get some more?" she asked sweetly noticing that there was less half of it left after three forks had their fill.
Reluctantly he held the plate out towards her.
In one swift movement she had most of what was left in her mouth, her fork heading back for the rest.
"Hey!" Jack cried pulling the plate back towards him, shielding it from Sam's fork.
"Jack..." she warned as he took what was left in his fork, inching towards his mouth.
"Sam..." he said, just before taking the mixture into his mouth, smiling triumphantly.
Placing her fork on the plate Sam shot him a disapproving look.
"Ye sure you two ain't married?" Asked Jeff; his plate also clean.
"Damn sure." Answered Sam.
"We better get going actually," Said Jack trying to ease the tension. "So what time at the dock tomorrow?2
"Half eight." answered Jeff with a smile.
"See you both there then. Thanks Izzie"' Then he stood and looked expectantly at Sam.
She scowled at him before turning to Isobel.
"Thank you, hopefully I see you soon." She said smiling sincerely then wrapping her arms around Toby she hugged him then let him slither off the edge of the couch, "You too."
The five adults traipsed to the door to wave two of them off with calls of goodbye as they disappeared down the street. Hearing teddy bear tug of war going into the second round Isobel went to deal with the situation while Ren muttered;
"Someone's no getting' any the night."
Only to have Jeff nod his head in agreement.
