Disclaimer: Not mine. This one I thought of the other morning at work. I wondered to myself exactly how Bridge would go about asking Z out, and I realised that Bridge would be the type of person to ask permission to date Z from her family, so since she hasn't got any, Jack would be the next best thing. So, here's my take on that bit. Angel Mouse, October 2005.

Ars Amatoria Challenge: Reaction

By Angel Mouse

Couple: Bridge/Z

Set: After Sam part 2

Bridge looked around the training ground, finally spotting Jack by the obstacle course. He began to walk over there slowly trying to get the words right in his mind. What he was going to attempt was something he had never done before. He was going to ask Jack's permission to ask Z out on a date.

Jack saw Bridge approaching him out of the corner of his eye and he studied him a long moment as he finished doing his crunches. Bridge looked determined but scared, something unusual for the normally easy going Ranger. He finished his last one and bounded to his feet, reaching for a towel to wipe his face on.

"Hey Bridge, what's up?"

"Hey Jack." Bridge looked nervous for some reason. "Um, I was wondering, um, could we talk for a minute?" Jack was surprised slightly. Normally if Bridge had a problem he'd see Sky or Syd. Jack tossed the towel onto the bench and sat down, picking up a bottle of water.

"Sure Bridge, take a seat."

Bridge didn't sit down though; he began pacing back in forth in front of Jack. Jack watched him for a few minutes, sipping his water absently. Jack was amused in spite of himself and finally Bridge stopped pacing and looked straight at Jack.

"Um, there's no easy way to ask the difficult questions, then there would be no hard questions left to answer right? There would only be easy questions left." Jack hid a smile behind the water bottled and held up a hand.

"Bridge, just ask me the question man, I don't bite." Bridge looked at him a moment, blinking like a deer caught in headlights. He took a deep breath and looked Jack in the eyes.

"I'd like your permission, as Z's older brother per se, to ask her on a date." Only Jack's iron will prevented him from laughing out loud at Bridge. Bridge was looking at him in all seriousness and Jack realised that it had taken Bridge a lot of guts to come and see him like this. Jack stood up and held out his hand.

"I'd be honoured for you to ask Z out on a date. You have my blessing." Bridge shook his hand, the smile on his face a mile wide.

"Thank you Jack. This means a lot."

"Just look after her, okay?" Bridge let go of his hand and began to walk away. He turned back a moment and smiled at Jack.

"I will Jack, don't you worry about that. Thanks Jack, I mean that." He walked away, humming to himself and Jack grinned at his departing figure. Bridge had obviously been expecting a different reaction. Sometimes it was nice to surprise people.