Chapter 15: Getting Out
The debriefing was classic, it never seemed to change. All members of SG-1 sat around the table, while General Hammond sat at the head, facing them. He watched the team anxiously; not quite sure where to begin, and hoping that Colonel would say something to break the silence that hung over the room like a thick cloud.
Ten minutes into the briefing, General Hammond was still trying to find a way to start the meeting, by this point the attention spans of his flag team had pretty much dwindled away to nothing. Colonel O'Neill was rubbing absently at a spot on the table, as though to clean it, while the others seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.
Finally, unable to take the silence any longer Hammond said the first thing that came to his mind.
"I understand you ran into some difficulties on the mission, Colonel?" Hammond asked, Jack started, his chair grinding against the floor with his movement.
"Difficulties, yes. That is if you want to call being stalked by a murderous shadow, difficulties." Jack said loudly.
"About that, why don't you tell me how you came to find out about this shadow." Hammond said.
"The locals told us. Something about people being afraid to go out after dark, and a bunch of murders. Then we found out the town legend, wasn't a legend at all. It had truth to it." Jack explained, his gaze wandering to where Jonas sat, seemingly deep in thought.
"You saw this creature take a hostage?" Hammond questioned.
"Sure did, and it wasn't pretty. Jonas saw the after effects." Jack answered.
Jonas didn't even look up at his name; he looked as though he hadn't been hearing a word of what had just been said. His gaze was locked on an empty spot in the room, and the look on his face showed that a deep thought process was taking place.
"Jonas?" Jack inquired.
There was no response.
"Jonas? Are you with us?" Jack called, his voice louder.
Nothing.
Jack crumpled a piece of paper and expertly tossed it, the paper glanced off of Jonas's left cheek and the young man snapped out of his reverie with a short yelp. His eyes searched the room and locked on Colonel O'Neill's innocently smiling face.
"You must've been thinking some hard." Jack replied in amazement.
Jonas's face screwed into an expression of confusion and puzzlement.
"What?" He asked simply.
"You've been thinking again, Jonas. How many times have I warned you about that? You think and you just zone out. I've been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes." O'Neill said accusingly.
"Sorry, Colonel. I didn't hear you." Jonas replied.
"Yeah, we noticed that."
Jonas firmly placed his elbow on the table, and leaned his head forward to show he was listening.
"Good, now how about you tell General Hammond your account of that planet." O'Neill said.
"Of course." Jonas stated and went on to explain his thoughts precisely as he recalled them. At the end of his story, all eyes were turned to him and Jack was blinking rapidly.
"Colonel?" Jonas asked.
"You left out the part where I saved you from that nasty detective." O'Neill said, a look of mock hurt on his face.
"No sir, I explained it." Jonas confirmed.
"Ah, then I must not have been listening." Jack said simply. Jonas cast him a disbelieving glance and O'Neill shrugged.
Across the table, Jonas winced as though he'd just experienced a shock of pain. Jack tilted his head to the side, a puzzled glance pasted on his face.
"Jonas? You okay?" Sam asked, also catching the wince.
Jonas nodded quickly, he'd felt a momentary jolt of pain through both of his wounds, but the discomfort had quickly passed, and he was feeling now as though nothing had happened.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He stated.
"You sure? You don't look fine." Jack said.
"Really, Colonel, I'm fine." Jonas assured him and shifted uncomfortably in his chair, all eyes were focused on him, and it made him slightly uncomfortable.
"I think that's enough for now, SG-1. I'll let you know what your next assignment will be. Until then, go on home and get some rest. Dismissed." Hammond said and got up from the table. This was ultimately the cue for all others attending the debriefing to get up as well.
"Yes! Home sweet home!" Jack exclaimed, earning amused glances from all others present. O'Neill shrugged again and pushed away from the table, a smile planted firmly on his face.
Chairs scraped across the floor as the remainder of SG-1 got up and exited.
Jonas lingered behind, and filed out after the rest of his team had gone on ahead of him. Up the hall a little way, Colonel O'Neill and the others were awaiting his arrival. All seemed to be in good spirits and Jonas couldn't help, but smile.
"We're going out for dinner, Jonas. Wanna come? I'll drive." O'Neill replied.
"That sounds good. Just let me change first." Jonas replied, motioning to his uniform.
"Yeah, no problem, we've gotta change too. Plus I gotta tell Hammond that I'm taking you aliens off base." Jack smirked, his gaze passing between Teal'c and Jonas. "Meet us at the elevator in a half hour, okay?" Jack finished.
"I'll be there." Jonas smiled and hurried off in the direction of his quarters.
Exactly a half-hour later, all members of SG-1 were on their way to the surface, and they got off of the elevator laughing at a joke that only they would understand. An airman bade them farewell and signed them out.
They stepped out into the late afternoon sun and breathed in the fresh air deeply.
"Where are we going?" Jonas asked, clearly interested.
"A little place on the outskirts of town, Mary's Bake Shop. She makes the best lemon tarts, and her food tastes just like a home-cooked meal." Jack replied with an easy-going smile.
Ten minutes later, all had piled into Jack's truck and were on their way to the outskirts of town. Jonas looked out the window curiously. He didn't get out nearly enough, so whenever the opportunity presented itself, he seized the moment.
Mary's bakeshop was a little café in an older part of town, and it stood right between a movie rental store and a gift shop. As they got out of the truck and walked across the street, the warm smell of freshly baked bread greeted them merrily.
When the door was opened, a bell sounded throughout the café, catching the attention of all those present. There were about ten others milling about, chatting and eating happily.
The team went in and chose a table near the front, where they had a nice view of the street outside. An older woman with greying, brown hair came quickly to their table, and handed each of them a menu with a cheery smile. She had to have been a few years older than Jack was, maybe more, from the way she looked.
"Thank you." Jonas said.
"Of course! My goodness it's good to see a young man like yourself with such manners, there aren't nearly enough of your type around here." The woman said happily.
"Oh, he's very rare indeed, Mary." Jack said with a smile.
"Jack O'Neill, I haven't seen you around these parts in a few weeks. Where in the world have you been hiding yourself?" Mary questioned Colonel O'Neill.
"In a dungeon." Jack replied shortly.
"Well, it wouldn't surprise me a bit."
"Oh, I think it might." Jack murmured out of the corner of his mouth to Sam, who smiled knowingly.
Mary laughed. Her laughter was hearty and pleasant, and her smile lit up her soft, grey eyes.
"I'll be back in a minute to take your orders." She replied and went off to the next table, where she engaged in a friendly conversation with and older man, who was drinking a cup of coffee.
"Friendly." Jonas mused quietly.
"She sure is." Jack said with a grin.
"You've been here before, Colonel, what would you suggest?" Jonas asked O'Neill who had shoved his menu aside without even opening it.
"Whatever she's making for the special, it's always great."
"Okay."
Mary came back over; still laughing from whatever the man with the coffee had just been talking to her about.
"You folks all ready to order?" She asked happily.
"I think so." Sam said with a soft smile.
"Well then, what'll it be?"
"Colonel O'Neill tells me your specials are usually good, what is it today?" Jonas asked.
"He did, did he?"
Jonas nodded; Mary shook her head in amusement.
"Today's special happens to be roasted chicken with a baked potato and corn." Mary told Jonas.
"Okay, I'll have that, and a white milk, please." Jonas replied.
"Me too, but not milk. I'll have a soda." Jack said, Mary took down the orders and turned to Teal'c and Sam.
"I haven't seen you two around these parts before. You friends of Jack's?" Mary asked.
"Indeed." Teal'c said.
"I'm Samantha Carter." Sam said and held out her hand. Mary took it and shook it in greeting.
"That's Murray." Jack said motioning to Teal'c who nodded in greeting.
"Ah well, pleased to meet ya both, what can I do yas for?"
"I'll just have the special, and a bottle of water, please." Sam replied.
"I as well will have the special and water." Teal'c stated matter-of-factly.
"Okay, it'll just be a few minutes." Mary said and gathered the menus to take them to another table.
"You're gonna love her cooking." Jack assured them with a genuine smile.