Chapter 17: Friday afternoon

A/N: heya! How're you guys doing? Been a long time. I have pretty much the whole story written now. The only thing that has to happen is that I have to put it on the computer. Oh well, at least the story is complete. ;)

Thanks to white rose01 who was so bored she actually beta-d this chapter. ;)

Storm05 – Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad you liked it. Especially glad that the romance isn't overdone or anything. Anyway, thanks again. Enjoy this chapter!

SaucerEyes - /blushes/ wow, thanks! Also thank you for the review! I hope you'll like this chapter too.

Moonlightbear – sorry, update wasn't very soon, though the next one won't be long in coming. I'm in my final year of school now, so I don't have much time. I'll try and update sooner, but I can't promise. But rest assured, the story is complete. Thanks for the review!

Rachie Loves Donald Duck – Yup, they got together alright. And there will definitely be more of Ben. Not so much in this chapter, as in the next though, but he'll be there. ;) I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the review!

White rose01 – glad you like it. And as I said, I've got everything on paper, I just need to type it… yup. 'just'. Nothing changes, everything will stay the way I have it on paper, no worries. ;) Thanks for the review, and thanks for beta-ing!

Gismo – Hey, thanks for the reviews! Yes, the swimming scene was nice to write, but I especially enjoyed writing the crossings. That has been an idea that has been in my mind for a while, so to reach the point of actually writing it was great. ;) I actually had something similar happen with my cousin when we were in France. She got wet socks… ;) Though I have to admit, her shoes were watertight, just not high enough. /evil grin/ I hope you'll enjoy this chapter! Thanks again.

The sun had disappeared behind the horizon. There were some clouds, but you could still see some stars if you looked hard enough. John was clearing the dishes as Nicole called her brother. She sat down in one of the chairs and pulled her sock-clad feet under her. The shoes from her car back under the passenger seat. After all, you never knew when you would need them again.

"Hey, brother-dear!" John heard Nicole say from the living room.

"No, nothing happened." Nicole gave John a warning look at which he chuckled. "I just called because you promised to call, but you didn't."

(---)

"Yes, you did promise you'd call to let us know when you'd be here."

(---)

"You said, 'as soon as I know, I'll call you'."

(---)

"You really did. Never mind."

(---)

"So, what's it going to be? You going to join us tonight, or tomorrow?"

(---)

"Aha. Hm-hm. OK. See you then. Bye!"

John put the last dish into the cupboard. "And?"

"He's coming tomorrow, but he isn't sure about the time exactly."

"OK. Did you tell him we were planning to take Phoebe to the lake tomorrow?"

"Oh, no, I completely forgot!"

"That's fine. Let's first make sure Phoebe wants to and her parents agree, because otherwise you'll just keep on calling Ben."

"I'll call them right away. Or shall we walk by and ask in person?"

"I thought you would have walked enough for at least one day." John said, not half as surprised as he sounded.

"The O'Neill house isn't all that far. Besides, here I have dry shoes." Nicole smiled. "Of course, if you don't think you're up to it…" She let the sentence hang in the air. John glared at her.

"OK, OK, I guess we'll be taking the walk then. You know what; we'll just walk very slowly, so you won't get too tired." Nicole added with a twinkle in her eyes. John playfully swatted her with the tea towel.

"Will you hurry up and get your shoes," he said with a smile as Nicole jumped out of reach with a giggle. "I'll still have to call in to base to tell them I'm still alive, though, so you can take your time as usual."

Nicole stuck out her tongue, and turned around, in search of shoes that actually went with the outfit she was wearing. Somehow she just wasn't comfortable wearing bright blue shoes with army-green trousers.

John sat down in one of the chairs and called in to the island. He was surprised when he actually got to talk to Brains, even though he was calling Virgil.

"Hey Brains."

"H-h-hey John. H-h-how are you d-d-doing?"

"I'm fine. Just wondering why I get you, instead of Virgil."

"O-o-oh that. W-w-well, Virgil said something wasn't quite r-r-correct with his wristwatch. I had just finished l-l-looking at it, when you called."

"Ah, that explains it then." John said. "Would you mind telling my father and brothers I'm fine, and that I'm still planning on arriving Sunday afternoon?"

"N-n-no problem John. Anything else?" The scientist looked at his friend through his thick glasses. Nicole entered the room, which Brains couldn't see, but John could.

"No, oh, actually, yes." John turned slightly pink, which caused Brains to raise one eyebrow. "Tell them I'm bringing a visitor."

Now Brains' other eyebrow joined the other.

"A-a-anyone we eh, know?"

John almost laughed at the not-so-hidden curiosity. "No, I don't think you know this person."

"C-could you give me a hint?" Brains asked slyly.

"You'll find out Sunday. How are you doing?"

Brains momentarily kept quiet, glaring at John for not letting him in on the 'secret'. Then he sighed, not able to keep up his glare for long. "I-I-I'm doing fine. There have been n-n-no problems so f-far. Not any m-more, at least."

John nodded. "That's good to hear. If there's anything, you know where to find me." John winked. Brains grinned.

"I-I-I do. A-A-Almost better than you yourself."

John smiled. "Almost, Brains, almost."

They said their goodbyes and turned off the wristcoms.

Brains took off as soon as the connection was broken. First he went to Jeff's study to pass on the message.

The Tracy patriarch didn't react as Brains expected him to. The scientist had thought Jeff would explode and call John immediately, to tell him he could leave his companion behind, and come back straight away. None of this happened.

Jeff just nodded, thanking Brains for telling him, and then went on with his work. Brains left the study more confused than when he had entered it. He was in deep thought when he bumped into Virgil, who was accompanied by Scott; both looked ready to go to the pool.

"Oh, eh, hi guys. Ehm, Virgil, I h-have fixed your w-w-comlink." He held the object out to the artistic Tracy.

"Thank you, Brains."

"I didn't h-h-have to test it. John c-c-called you."

"He did? What's the matter?"

"N-n-nothing. He was just calling in. He's c-c-coming home Sunday, and he's bringing s-s-someone with him."

Virgil's mouth hung agape. "What! Is he nuts! Dad will have his hide for that!" Then the curiosity got the better of him. "Who is he?"

"I don't kn-kn-know. John wouldn't tell me." Brains said, a little perturbed. Virgil looked at him questioningly. Then he seemed to notice Scott's silence.

"You know more about this, don't you?" he accused his older brother. Scott allowed a small smile to play around his mouth, then shrugged.

"Now why would I?"

"'Cause you're the one with the smug grin on his face?" Virgil answered. "Come on Scott, fess up!"

Scott remained quiet, smiling mysteriously, as he continued his way to the pool. Before long everyone knew John was taking someone with him to the island, and once Gordon and Alan learnt that Scott knew this person's identity, said brother did not have a moment of rest.

Virgil, Gordon, Alan and even Brains kept asking Scott, trying to trick him into telling them. Scott was surprised they had not figured it out yet. After all, John had gone to the mainland for a reason. What surprised him even more was that Gordon didn't come to speak with him separately, as he would usually do when he wanted to con someone into talking. However, this was explained when Scott looked Gordon in the eye, and caught the wink. Gordon had figured it out too. He just didn't feel like sharing that knowledge.

'Little bastard' Scott thought affectionately. 'Leaving me to fend off the questions alone. I wonder how the others will react when they find out who is coming along.'

A/N: OK, I know, it's a short chapter. But the next chapter will be out soon. They were first one chapter together, but for the sake of the timeline I separated the two. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.