Gravity of it All by PLS
Summery: Sick of trying to survive as Harry Potter in a post-Voldemort world, a young wizard takes a new path in the past that leads to the stars.
Chapter Three: Twist.
Yuki: It's hard to be truthful sometimes. I respect the way you can always be so honest. I don't know if I can be that way... But I'll try. So, don't ever leave me again. It's inconvenientnot to have a hole to f when I get in the mood.
In the car after picking up Shuichi from the airport after Shuichi turned down a major American label to return to Japan and Yuki. Trust me, it's hilarious in the manga.
(Gravitation Vol. 10 by Maki Murakami)
Harry couldn't stop grinning. It really was expected after five years of nothing then 'talking' Jack into having to do some shopping that took way too long then having to stay the night in Denver. Jack was singing in the shower, well, singing was really a relative term. Harry thought it sounded more like a bellowing bovine, but Jack said it was singing. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that despite age, both stayed active and limber enough to enjoy the night and they had fun.
It was impossible not to when Jack's idea of conversation had always been witty banter and Harry himself learned only one thing from his years with Snape as his potions teacher, whip-like sarcasm. Between their verbal jabs, inside jokes, and the years of memories and secrets shared, love making was never the same twice and it was always easy and more like a game than anything else. Not that they kept score, Jack wouldn't like it as Harry was sure he'd have the highest score.
Harry was sprawled diagonally on the disheveled bed just listening to CNN and Jack vie for his attention, but he was too tired and too happy to properly be irritated by either. He just didn't understand why turning on CNN was always the first thing Jack did before getting into the shower. It wasn't like he could hear the bloody bit of televised propaganda, not with him singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' at the top of his lungs. A bit of technological ringing was going off on the floor. Harry rolled over and reached for the ringing cell phone that was tucked in Jack's jacket pocket. The Caller ID feature wasn't present, so Harry answered.
"This is General Jack O'Neill's cellular, Colonel Paterson of the British Army speaking." Harry said.
"Uh, is General O'Neill there, Colonel?" asked a rather flustered sounding American male. Harry placed his age from twenty-five to thirty-nine.
"The General is being a general pain and bellowing in the shower. Now, soldier, as I am the General's British counterpart and will hear all about the problem as soon as Jack does, care to just save time and tell me and I can fill Jack in on the way to the Mountain?" Harry said. Harry tucked the phone under his chin and grabbed his notepad which was sleeping under the bed. In a second he was looking at the SGC's files as well as a blank word document.
"Uh, sure. The Tok'ra are here and say it's urgent."
"Scale of one to ten, one being the Tok'ra being their typical delegating selves, and ten being imminent Goa'ulds or Replicator invasion, what is it?"
"Eight or Nine, sir. General Carter/Sel'mac is here with Council members and Anise and a few others were just admitted into the infirmary with major battle wounds."
"Shit." Harry covered the receiver with his palm, "JACK!"
"Yeah!"
"Get your ass out here, Tok'ra have been admitted into SGC's infirmary with battle wounds and the council is on base!" The water was off in a second and Jack emerged with just enough towel to cover his nether parts. Harry put the phone on speaker-mode and Sgt. Harriman started to fill them in on every detail since the Tok'ra first started to come at one in the morning. Harry and Jack got dressed and packed up on autopilot as with each statement the outlook became graver and graver. In the end Jack just gave out three orders.
"Send out warnings to the alpha and beta sites then seal off our 'gate. We are on lockdown as far as that 'gate is concerned, have everyone but those who just got on duty get some rest, and chain Carter and Danny to their beds if you have to. Harry an' I'll get back as fast as we can, but it will still take a couple o' hours and I need well rested folks instead of the over-caffinated lot you all typically are." with that Jack hung up and gave Harry a look that just said everything.
"Let's go. I'll drive." Harry said. Jack nodded and as he settled the bill with the front desk of the Holiday Inn, Harry loaded up Jack's truck and started it up. In no time they were on the highway and speeding.
They were about fifteen minutes into the drive when Jack asked, "Harry, if I asked you, would you be willing to do magic again?" Harry frowned and thought about it as he wove past the much slower cars on the road.
"I... Yes. In a heartbeat." Harry sighed, "Hell, I'd cast the Killing Curse for you."
Jack laughed hollowly, "I hope it won't come to that, but thanks. And you know, same here. Except without the magic. Ah, hell you know what I mean, right?"
"Always. Now, why'd you ask?"
"It's just, I know you haven't done any magic for about thirty years. Not since you got situated after your time jump." Jack gave Harry's hand a firm squeeze, "I don't want you to get picked up by that order-thing you ditched, but I know I can fight them. I don't know if the SGC can survive unless we use every scrap of talent available." Jack said. Harry nodded.
"Understood. There are only two things in this universe that could get me to use magic again. One; if you asked, two; if it was for the sake of the continued existence of the Earth as we know it. Lucky me, it looks like I'll get both soon." Harry laughed. Jack grinned.
"Welcome to the SGC family, first lesson- life and death is situation normal."
"They let you cook?" Harry grinned as Jack rolled his eyes.
"I am not a bad cook."
"You mean pea soup is supposed to have foot long tentacles that grab your spoon to beat you with?" Jack punched Harry in the shoulder as they both laughed.
"I am so going to have to let you try Asgard cuisine. Then you'll see that my cooking is nothing to complain about." Jack said.
Conversation trailed off, but it was no longer that hopeless fear filled silence. This time it was permeated with a feel of purpose as Jack tapped at his cell phone and Harry's notepad and Harry focused of getting them to Colorado Springs as fast as they could manage.
End Chapter Three-
(Thanks for the reviews and I'm so very happy that I was sort of rec-ed on Crossgate. I didn't even know it existed until just now. Bellashade- It's only coming out quickly because I'm treating each chapter like a drabble, meaning I sit down, write, spell check, read it over, then post. Sure I have a plot planned sort of but fics get written one chapter at a time. BTW, consider this a rec for Bellashade's story Multisoul. I read it last night and loved it. It's a clever two chapter so far crossover between Harry Potter, Tenchi, Highlander, Ramma 1/2, and a buncha others. It's only got two chapters, but I bet she could split up the first chapter in half and still have super long chapters. Go read it. I command thee. If you are incapable of searching, click on the review link for this story and then click on bellashade's name. It will take you to her profile. You might also want to read her profile, she has a whole list of very funny quotes.)