Hey people! Thanks for all the lovely feed back! It always makes me that much more inspired to write when people are encouraging you. Thankfully I've gotten out of my slump/two month breakand am quite close to finishing this fic! Yeah! Cheers! Anyways! I'm back on track so expect the next chap to be coming quite soon and in the mean time, enjoy this one.

Chapter 9: Bath Book Blues

"Wow guys! That was so much fun! I don't think I've ever seen that many bath books in my life. We really need to do that again sometime!"

"Sure thing Bridge," Z replied half heartedly.

"You got it buddy," Jack replied just as flatly.

"Ok then, see ya later!" Bridge replied cheerily as he headed off down the hallway to his room. As soon as Bridge was out of sight Jack and Z collapsed to the ground.

"Jack," Z said turning to Jack, "next time you decide to go shopping for bath books with Bridge, don't invite me."

"Well fine Z," Jack replied, "next time you need bailing out I'll just stand there and let Syd interrogate you in front of Sky. Besides, how was I supposed to know there was a specialty store that just opened in that district?"

"It's called a map Jack. But whatever, personally, I think dealing with Sky might have been preferable to four hours of that."

Jack gave Z a questioning look. "You honestly believe that?"

Z paused, thinking it over. "No. But still, that was a LOT of bath books."

Jack chuckled. "Yeah, it certainly was."

"So…"

"So…"

"You think he knows?"

"Bridge?"

"No! Sky! I mean, I saw the look on his face when Syd brought up the shirt. Not to mention I wasn't exactly very inconspicuous."

"Yeah, you're a real James Bond," Jack chuckled, "But … I don't know. We could just be paranoid. He could just think we're planning another prank."

Z snickered. "Yeah, remember last time? He was SOO mad at us! I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel."

"Hey, what can you do? It's not our fault blue is such flattering colour on him."

"Yeah, it really brings out his eyes."

"Oh, definitely!"

Jack and Z just looked at each other and immediately burst out in laughter. It was several minutes before they could finally regain their composure. But as they did, the seriousness of their future began to sink in.

"What are we going to do if he finds out Jack?" Z asked. She was beginning to grow very concerned. "I mean, we'd never tell anyone. Not if he didn't want us to. We're not that mean."

"True, but do you think we could actually convince Sky of that? I mean, he doesn't exactly have the highest respect for either us."

"Especially for you."

"You're telling me." Jack sighed. "I think we should just wait. If we confront him and he didn't know then he's going to be mad."

"Yeah, but if he figures it out and realizes we lied to him them he's going to be even more mad. You know what he's like when he lets his emotions build up."

"Yeah, he can get pretty angry."

"Yeah, not to mention we'll have lost any of the remaining trust he had in us."

"Still, I don't think it's a good idea."

"I think you're just scared Jack."

"Aren't you?"

"Well, no duh! This IS Sky we're talking about. But that doesn't change the fact that this whole thing was your idea and thus, your problem to fix."

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'?"

"Have you ever heard the saying, 'what goes around comes around'?"

"Hey, I have nothing to hide!"

"Ugh! That's besides the point Jack! I'm saying that sooner or later we're going to get caught. And it'll be that much worse then than if we tell him now."

"You don't know that."

"I know Sky. And tell me, when has he ever been known to be spontaneous?"

Jack sighed. "Okay, okay, how about this? I'm too tired to think right now, so I'll sleep on it tonight and tomorrow morning we can figure out what we're going to do."

"Don't you mean what we're going to say?"

"Z!"

"Fine! Okay, sleep on it. But tomorrow we're going to say something to Sky."

"Tomorrow."

"Alright then, see ya later," Z said standing up. "Dinner at six?"

"On the dot," Jack replied, standing up as well.

"Bye."

"Later."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Jack shuffled down the hallway sleepily. Never in his time at the base had his lumpy SPD regulation mattress looked so inviting, but then again, he couldn't remember ever going on such an exhausting shopping trip, and he had gone shopping with Syd before. Not many could people could say they had accomplished that. Jack had almost made it to his room when he suddenly he heard a voice call out his name.

"Jack!"

Jack turned and went wide eyed as he saw Sky jogging up to him in the hallway.

"Wait up a second," he called, walking up beside him. It was a terrifying sight seeing Sky there; particularly because of the un-Sky-like smile he was wearing on his face.

"Uh, hey Sky," Jack said cautiously, "You going somewhere?"

"Actually, I was looking for you."

"Really? Why was that?"

"Well, I been doing some thinking and I think I've figured out what the problem between you and me is."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, it's that we don't trust each other. I mean, one day they have me arresting you, the next day we're on the same team and they just expect us to get along."

"Not exactly a reasonable request."

"Especially considering we hardly even know anything about each other. I mean, I don't know what you like, what you don't like, your favourite musician, where you were born, what your childhood was like etc etc. Hell! I don't even know your middle name."

"It's Robert, and I guess those are just things you learn over time."

"Still, neither of us has been making much of an effort and I think we need to start."

"You mean right now?"

"Yeah!"

"Um, how exactly?"

"You want to play a game?" Sky asked, smirking devilishly.

"What did you have in mind?"

To be continued…

Cue cliffy music! muhhahaha! I hope you liked this chap as much as I like writing it! I can tell you right now that Jack has every reason to be afraid. Who wouldn't be with Sky on the loose.

Anyways, please review as always! Whether good bad, fab or flaming! All critisism is good in my eyes!

Thanks!