"This place is great…"
Sam smiled as she and Sirius walked through the door Jack had held open for them.
"We like it."
"You come here a lot?"
"Some times."
The place wasn't filled by any means, but there were several people there; in groups for the main part, sitting at tables and enjoying dinner while chatting or sharing a pitcher of beer or a couple of cocktails. Some were at the bar, where they were watching one of three different TVs, each set to a different game and a different sport. Sam led the others to one of the tables in the corner, where they normally sat when they were going to eat.
Several men in the room followed her progress as she moved across the place, but a cold look from Jack was all it took to get them to mind their own business, and Daniel had to hide an amused smile as he sat down beside Sirius, who had seated himself across from Sam.
"Hi, guys."
A waitress had approached them even before Jack had managed to sit down beside Sam. She'd helped these people before – well, not the cute dark-haired guy, but the other three – and she knew that they would want to order their drinks quickly, even though they sometimes took forever to order their food.
"Hi," Daniel said, returning her smile.
"Are you eating tonight?"
She held menus in her hand, a questioning expression on her face.
There were nods all around, and she handed the menus out.
"Something to drink while you're waiting?"
Sirius looked at Jack, waiting to see what he ordered so he'd know what his choices were.
"I'll have a beer," Jack told her without even looking at the menu. He already knew what he wanted for dinner, too, but he'd wait to order when everyone else did – otherwise he'd be done eating before they even got their food.
"Me, too," Sirius said. He wasn't really a drinker, but he wasn't above having a couple here and there.
"I'll have tea," Sam said. She was driving.
"Coffee, please," Daniel ordered.
"I'll be right back."
"Thank you."
Sirius looked around himself with interest. He wasn't really all that hungry – it wasn't like he'd put in a really tough day or anything, after all – and all the Muggles around him were fascinating. They were dressed in all sorts of outfits – things he'd never seen in all his years – and he couldn't help but look at them, although he did try to avoid staring, knowing that he wouldn't like to be watched any more than someone else would.
"Do other people from the… place you work… come here, too?" Sirius asked, looking for other military haircuts. Since none of them were in uniform – and Jack wasn't either – it was the only thing he could think of.
"Sometimes," Sam said.
"But we don't talk about work here," Daniel was quick to remind him – even though Sirius had already caught himself before mentioning the SGC in public.
"Sorry about that." The wizard smiled. "It's amazing how you guys can-"
A beeping sound interrupted him, and Daniel, Jack and Sam all looked down.
"It's me," Jack said, taking his pager from his belt.
"Hammond?" Sam asked.
Jack shook his head.
"I don't recognize the number." He stood up. "I'll be right back."
"What was that?" Sirius asked.
"A pager," Sam explained, taking hers out and showing it to him. "If someone needs to get a hold of me, they call my pager and leave their phone number on this display so I know they want me to call them."
Sirius took the pager from her, and looked at it, interested.
"That's pretty clever."
"We also have cell phones," Daniel said, holding his up and handing it over. "People can call me on it when they want to talk to me directly. Or I can call them."
Sirius took the phone from him and was still looking at it when the waitress brought their drinks.
"So someone wanted Jack to call them?" He asked.
Sam nodded.
"Then why didn't they call his… cell phone?"
Daniel smiled.
"Because Jack never carries his cell phone. He doesn't like being so accessible."
"Oh."
It was clear that Sirius didn't really understand what he meant, but the wizard handed the archeologist back his phone, distracted by the arrival of their drinks.
"Thank you."
The waitress smiled.
"I'll be back in a few minutes to see if you're ready to order."
OOOOOOO
Looking at the number on his pager, Jack walked to the bar.
"Can I use your phone?"
"Soon as that guy's done with it," the bartender told him apologetically, gesturing towards the end of the bar where a guy was already using the phone.
Jack nodded, and looked around. He didn't want to sit around waiting for the phone all night. Not when he knew there was a handy payphone just outside the front door. He could have used Daniel's cell, of course – Daniel always had his phone on him – but with a number he didn't recognize, he didn't want Daniel's name coming up on the caller ID of the person he was calling.
He walked outside, noticing that it was already getting dark out, and went over to the payphone. Even as he was putting the quarters in the machine, however, he heard a loud crack, and suddenly out of nowhere there was a… thing… standing in front of him. A short weird looking thing that was looking up at him with huge eyes and big ole bat-like ears. It was wearing an odd sweater, and a hat, but before Jack could even really register what it was he was looking at, the thing actually spoke!
"Is you Jack O'Neill, sir?"
Jack stared at it, and then looked around hoping someone could tell him what was going on. The only problem was, there wasn't anyone else around. And the… thing… was still looking at him, obviously waiting for a response.
"Um… yeah."
The little thing's eyes lit up and it took a step forward, catching hold of Jack's pant leg.
"Wonderful! Dobby promised Harry Potter he would find you, and he did!"
"What?"
"You must come with Dobby, Jack O'Neill!"
The little… thing's… grip tightened, and Jack winced at how tightly it was now holding his leg.
"Hey! I-"
He didn't even finish the sentence. There was another cracking noise, and Jack felt himself suddenly evaporating.