Author's note: thanks to all the fans of this fic and a big high five to all the devoted fans of stargate sg1. Sorry it has taken me so long to update these chapters. I have been out of commission for a while and have been forced to write this fic by hand, only getting encouragement from the few school based fans of this fic who actually believe it or not have even less patience then the people of fanfiction. I'm happy to say that I have finished writing this fic and went through a whole pad of paper doing so (without throwing out screw up pages). I should have it all on computer soon. Patience is a virtue.
Oh and I don't own the characters or the characters of the book mentioned. I make no profit off this fic and am not promoting the book mentioned (or the show). Yes the book is real; I borrowed it at my local library. Enjoy the read.
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Jack took the time that Carter was in the bathroom to grab some snacks from the service station. As he scanned the shelves, he came across a section with books and he thought about getting one just as a pass time for the trip. If this was going to be the extent of conversation for the whole weekend then he may need one. He was intrigued by a book called 'blankets'. The cover had a drawing of two teenagers standing in the snow. He picked up the book, it was relatively thick. 'Blankets, an illustrated novel by Craig Thompson' he read the cover. He opened the book and grinned at the fact that it was a novel sized comic book.
"You're going to read sir?" Carter asked as she approached him
"I read" he mocked a hurt expression as he snapped the book closed "it's not like I can't read Carter"
"Of coarse you can sir; I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't…"
"Relax Carter, I didn't take it personally" he laughed and headed towards the check out. Carter let out her breath relieved and followed him. Carter convinced Jack to let her drive for a while and as they walked towards the car he tossed her the keys. She went to climb in the driver's side but was surprised to find someone sitting below the steering wheel. It was a kid not much older than Cassie. He was trying to pry open the under side of the steering wheel with his pocket knife, obviously intending on hot wiring the car.
"Are you lost?" she grinned as she stood there with the door open. The boy shot upright and pointed the knife at her
"No! I'm taking this beast. Hand me the keys" he put on a poor attempt for a tuff and intimidating voice that Carter almost laughed at.
"Not on my watch you're not" Jack smirked as he aimed his hand gun at the boy from the passenger's side.
"Whoa man, no trouble ok. I wasn't really gonna take it. It was a joke man, a joke" the boy pleaded as he put his hands up.
"Real funny joke" Carter groaned as she took the pocket knife out of his raised hand and pulled him away from the car.
"You aren't gonna call the cops are you? My dad'll kill me" the boy was close to tears "please don't call 'em? My dad'll put lead in my head if I go back to juvee" he begged and Jack grimaced at the annoyance of the boys whine.
"Don't worry, were not going to call the police" Carter reassured him
"You're not?" the boy asked stunned "why not?"
"Yeah Carter, why aren't we again?" Jack asked motioning for her to speak up
"Colonel" she warned rolling her eyes at him
"Colonel? Argh you guys are military aren't you? Don't tell me you work at boot camp" the boy panicked
"Kid! What's you're name?" Jack asked putting his gun away
"Virus" he gulped
"You're real name!" Jack snapped at the boy
"Andy Ross" the boy admitted trembling
"look Andy, I wont turn you over to the 'authority's' as long as you cut the crap and stop stealing car's" Jack offered and the boy nodded enthusiastically "go to school, get a proper education, get a job and stay away from this" Jack ordered "if you want to stay out of Juvee, you have to stop messing up"
The boy was a bit calmer but showed obvious fear
"Go home Andy! And stay out of trouble" he ordered. The boy ran off down the street and through an ally-way "stupid kid" Jack muttered as he climbed in the passenger side.
"Weren't you a bit easy on him?" Carter questioned as she buckled in and Jack shook his head.
"Nah, judging by the shiner that kid had I'd say he gets enough hell" he explained as Carter started the car
"Fair enough" she shrugged as she pulled out of the gas station and back up onto the highway. 'Only 6 more hours to go' Jack thought and Carter pondered him for a moment
'Only 6 more hours to endure' she thought to herself.