Wives and Other Follies – the Fluffy Version Part 4B

"There he is." Beatrice Ritson grabbed her friend's arm, heedless of the slight tear she made in the delicate fabric of the other's dress.

Angela Greenburgh opened her mouth to complain at the other woman's actions but shut it almost immediately. Beatrice's husband had given them the nod when General O'Neill arrived at the function, but they had lost track of him when he disappeared into the mass of bodies at the bar. Now she stared in amazement as she looked to where the other woman was pointing.

O'Neill was in that same group they had been watching all night, standing next to that woman. Annoyance flashed through Angela's mind as she saw him take the hand that was held out to him and kiss it.

Then she felt all the air leave her body as she gasped loudly, stunned as the General plastered himself onto the blonde's chest and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

"Well, really!" Beatrice's indignant exclamation summed up Angela's feeling to a tee.

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The main thing Jason Vesland felt as he watched the Air Force general grab Doctor Carter and kiss her, was panic. Sam had said her husband was delayed, but what if he had arrived and was watching? There could be a scene. This was all his fault. He'd been the one to introduce this obviously crazed soldier into their circle. He would be the one to take the blame for it – asked to explain just what he had been thinking when he practically dragged the man over. He might even lose his job over this. Then what would his wife say?

He was a dead man.

He winced and waited for the expected reaction from his female colleague. A slap perhaps? A shove away?

Then he realised that not only was Sam not retaliating, she seemed to be a willing participant.

Jason's worry turned to awe as the two finally unlocked their lips. Carter was grinning at the general as if he was the best thing since sliced bread.

Boy, but the man was good. If that was the reaction a chest full of medals and a uniform could get, Jason concluded, then he was joining up tomorrow.

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Sam leaned into her husband as he put an arm across her shoulders, knowing they were the centre of attention. She hadn't really expected Jack to be quite so willing to play along with her little game, and was just a tiny bit worried about the reaction of the other senior officers around the room to his show of very obvious affection. Then she spotted General Vidrine standing with a group of fellow generals and saw him raise a glass in salute. She felt Jack nod and knew he was returning the gesture.

Hell, she thought – after so many years of sticking to the regulations they were entitled to let their hair down sometimes. She relaxed for a moment, savouring the strength she felt as Jack's arm tightened around her, then straightened, smiling.

She turned her head slightly and whispered into Jack's ear, enjoying the smell of his familiar aftershave. "Should we put them out of their misery? Doctor Vesland looks like he's going to faint."

"Um. . . " There was a pause while one of Jack's fingers stroked down her neck. "Then we go home?"

Sam smiled at the tone of anticipation, but didn't reply, stepping away from her husband instead.

"Thanks for finding Jack for me, Jason."

"Jack?" Doctor Vesland frowned. "You two know each other?"

"You could say that." Jack interrupted. "I'm her husband."

"Husband?" Jason seemed to be becoming increasingly bewildered, a state that appeared to be catching by the looks on the faces around them.

"I don't use my married name at work," Sam explained, taking pity on the man standing in front of her, "but yes, Jack's my husband."

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The image of a short, fat, balding office worker crashed into pieces in the face of the tall, distinguished Air Force general, taking its place on the floor with that of the dumpy, mousey librarian.

In their place, General and Doctor O'Neill smiled at each other, and began mingling, finally together and intending to stay that way for the rest of the evening. They headed for the buffet table first - after all Jack had just travelled millions of miles without even being given a packet of peanuts.

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