Downtime Mystery

All Aboard!


"Good morning sirs, madam." Spoke an attendant in a cheap suit.

Jack never seen the point of these guys existing, they don't really do much. It seemed to Jack that all their job entailed was guiding people to their rooms (as if they couldn't find them on their own) where they would proceed to throw your luggage into the room where it would crack open and spill out onto the floor, hit on anything thing that looked remotely female and then once these 'arduous' tasks had been completed you could find them in the bar getting more intoxicated than you'd think possible, preparing their cheesy chat up line for the nights hunt, where the previous feminine targets would be subjected to an onslaught of drunken men one after the other.

"You room's are this way." He said with a scanning look in Sam's direction, needless to say Jack wasn't happy, grumbling slightly he followed the group keeping a clear eye on Sam's progress. Upon reaching the half way point of a corridor the length of the boat the suit stopped abruptly and turned to his followers smiling a toothy grin, taking in Sam's appearance once more, drinking in the sight of her body heavily, before addressing them all.

Instinctively, as the group congregated into a half circle in the four foot wide corridor, Jack stepped forward, still laden with luggage, placing himself protectively at Sam's side, a barrier between the sleazy attendant and his Sam.

"Here are your rooms." He said in his Arabic accent, oblivious to the almost murderous glint in one of his charges eyes, "Number 16 and 17, dinner is at 6, the bar opens at 7." his eyes constantly flashing in Sam's direction as he leered forward ever so slightly. Moments later his gaze was drawn almost magnetically to an anger ridden glare.

"The ...em."

His words faltered as fear took hold of him.

If looks could kill he would have been dead and buried before he even considered 'work' this morning.

He quivered and shook in front of the group, thrusting the keys in Ren's hand he took a few unsteady paces backward before thudding gently against the wall, the contact almost making him jump, tearing his eyes from the group he muttered a "Good Day." before turning to go half running half walking to sanctuary from those crazed eyes and their beholder.

"Did you have to do that?" asked Sam.

Glancing round he seen her standing hands on hips, he stiffened at her stance, but relaxed a little seeing a familiar glint in her shinning blue eyes.

"Well..." he started but stopped suddenly as she grinned and took her suitcase from him, her fingers momentarily brushing against his own.

He smiled sheepishly in return.

"Right, so I take it you guys are sharing?" said Marcus.

The grins faltered slightly as the Jack and Sam grew nervous.

"Um..."

"Ehh..."

They said with identical expressions on their faces.

" 'K," said Ren grinning, "let's go and let these guys git settle't in thur room." Throwing a key at Jack before using is own, opening the door to reveal a 8x8 room with bunk beds and a door no doubt leading to an en-suite. "Ah call top!" he said running in and throwing the bag on said bunk bed. Marcus following him with a look that clearly said 'I've got to share a room with him?'

A momentary silence filled the hallway.

"I call bottom." Said Sam, quickly recovering from the idea of sharing a room with Jack before taking the key from him and opening the door numbered 17.

"Hey no fair." He protested.

"Jack?" said Ren, his head appearing from the door opposite.

"Yeah?"

"How'd ye dae tha'?" he asked.

"What?" Jack replied, though he was thinking about how best to steal the bottom bunk from Sam.

"Freak tha' guy oot like tha'."

"Years of training, yeah, years of training."

Ren looked dejected for a moment, as though he had missed out on some great secret.

On seeing this look Jack added grinning, "But I can teach you in it in days. Get you back out on the deck in fifteen?"

"Yeah." Replied the younger man, almost bouncing back into his room shutting the door not-so-quietly behind him.


"Sam!" Jack wined, watching her get comfy on the bottom bunk.

"What?" she said far too innocently.

"I want the bottom bunk!" he said walking over to the small desk and chair, the only other furniture besides the beds, setting his back on the desk and slumping into the chair, watching her carefully, just waiting.

Both Jack and Sam were glad that they now had something to diffuse the slightly awkward situation of sharing a room, easily slipping into a light and almost flirtatious conversation.

"Jack I called it, it's mine and you can't have it!" she said.

"Why not? Why do you really want the bottom bunk that much?" he said slightly over-dramatically.

"Cos." Sam replied simply, the corners of her mouth turning upwards.

"That's you reason? Just 'cos'?"

"Yup." Now fully grinning.

"You know," his voice rumbled, deep and serious, "I broke my leg once falling off the top bunk."

"Oh Jack..." she said sympathetically swinging her legs over the side of the bed, as if about ready to make her way over to him. But milliseconds before Jack would have had his opening she stopped moving,

"Your lying." She said simply.

"No I'm not." He protested, his eyes wide.

But something else about his eyes reassured her beliefs.

"Uh huh." She replied unconvinced.

"Ok, ok." He admitted, giving up on that idea turning to plan B. Begging. "Please."

"No." she said setting her head back on the mountain of pillows, her bare feet dangling off the side.

"Pretty please?" He said his voice an octave higher, moving closer to her.

"Nope."

"Purdy purdy please with a cherry on top." He said now batting his eyelids.

She laughed for a few seconds, stopped suddenly and said seriously in a flat tone "No."

"Right then." He said giving up on yet another plan. "Plan C."

"And that would be?" she challenged, smiling.

"I take it by force." He said seriously, though his eyes shined.

Jack O'Neill was now a predator in search of the one thing every man needs, the bottom bunk. He stalked forward until he was barely a foot from the bed.

Sam giggled at the sight.

"I'd like to see you try!" she said between her giggles.

"Fine then!" at this he made a dive for the small bed, landing heavily in the space between Sam and the wall it was propped against.

Sam squealed as he took hold of her pushing gently, until she was leaning precariously on her side at the edge of the bed, the arms wrapped around her waist being the only thing preventing her from falling to the floor. And still she giggled, her back shaking against his chest, and though she tried to wriggle from his grasp she couldn't, his leg covered hers preventing any big movements, he now had control of the her and the bed.

He held her until her wriggling and shaking stopped, and then leaning his head forward so he could whisper in her ear.

"Do you surrender?"

"Never." She replied.

"Well I think we have a problem then."

"Yeah." she said as her hands covered his.

"What about a compromise?" he said mischievously.

"What kind of compromise?" she said almost sceptically.

"Well, you want the bottom bunk and I want the bottom bunk, and neither of us is going in the top no matter what, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Wanna share?" he suggested his voice rumbling deep and serious once more.

She seemed to think about it for a moment, whither truly or to let him sweat a little in anticipation he didn't know, and neither did her care when he heard the word "Sure" utter from her mouth.

Sliding back to the far edge of the bed, he held her safe until she had room to roll on to her back once more.

The sincere smile on her face stilled his mind and made his heart race, his hand, now resting on her stomach, was met with one of her own, their fingers lacing together. With little thought he brought his lips to hers for a brief moment.

Realizing what he'd done he pulled back, but his hand was still held and her smile had grown and spread lighting the whole of her face.

Leaning in once again their lips met but now more passionate than before.

Upon parting they grinned once again, Sam rolling towards him and on to her side.

"When do we need to meet Marcus and Ren?" she asked catching her breath.

He glanced at the hand that now rested on her hip.

"Five minutes ago."

"Oh." She said almost dejected at the idea of getting up.

"We're already late, sure they won't miss us for a few more minutes." He smiled.

"No?" she said her eyes shining in hope.

"Definite no." he said smiling and capturing her lips again.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Oh no not him again." mumbled Jack against her lips. "What?" he said with urgency in his voice.

"Jack," replied the familiar voice of Marcus, "There are some guys on the boat asking around about you, both of you."

Outside the door Marcus and Ren waited patiently hearing mumbles from behind the door, the undeniable squeak of bed springs (x2) and fumbling around for shoes. Seconds later a slightly dishevelled Jack was at the door, but his eyes alert and watchful.

"Where?" he said, opening the door wider, allowing Sam to stand at the door with him.

"Upstairs on the deck." Replied Ren, slightly too enthusiastic, almost buzzing at the thought that he might get to see Jack (who was growing into a hero in his eyes) fight.

"What did they look like?"

"Official government types; Americans, two of them." Said Marcus quietly.

"They mentioned the air force." Piped Ren.

Sam and Jack shared a foreboding look before heading out into the corridor. Several paces later Jack disappeared back in the direction of them room, going in then emerging a few seconds later.

There was only on difference.

The Hat.

"Can't forget the Hat." He said, smiling at Sam as he hurried to meet them, taking Sam's hand in his own they headed for the upper deck.