"Can I have a cookie?" Noah asked.
"No, you just brushed your teeth, you can't have a cookie," Jack told him.
"I'm hungry," Noah complained.
"You just had your supper, you can't hungry," Jack replied.
"I'm hungry," Noah repeated. He saw that this was getting no response and tried a different tact. "Can I have some juice?"
"No, you just brushed your teeth," Jack reminded.
"Can I have some water?" Noah asked.
"Noah, come on, it's time to go to sleep now," Jack told him.
"Tomorrow Miss Croft said she's going to teach us some songs," Noah said.
"Yeah?" Jack asked. "Well don't you want to be well rested for that?"
"She said there's one about a fish," Noah said. "Can I have a fish?"
"You want a fish now?" Jack asked him.
"A goldfish," Noah said.
"You want a goldfish?"
"I'd call it Fred."
"Fred?"
"Can I have a goldfish?"
"We'll talk about it later with Boone," Jack told him.
"I want a goldfish," Noah said again.
"Okay, we'll talk about it tomorrow, we'll see, okay?" Jack attempted.
"Can I listen to some music now?" Noah asked.
"Noah, I've told you, it's time for bed," Jack stated. "It's late, you have to go to sleep."
"I'm not tired," Noah complained.
"Why don't you just try closing your eyes and seeing if you can fall asleep?" Jack suggested.
"I won't," Noah insisted. "I'm not tired."
"I'm going to go now, okay? You try and go to sleep," Jack said.
"Can I go see Zara and Snoop tomorrow?" Noah asked.
"You'll have to ask Boone in the morning, I'm sure he'll take you so long as Aunt Shannon isn't busy," Jack told her.
"Can I have a dog like Snoop?" Noah asked.
"We've told you, you have to wait until you're older," Jack replied.
"But I want a dog," Noah moaned.
"When you're older you might be able to have one."
"What kind of dog is Snoop?" Noah asked.
"Snoop is a golden Labrador," Jack replied.
"What other types of dogs are there?" Noah asked.
Jack was starting to get the impression that Noah was far smarter than he was. He was also wondering how the hell he was ever going to leave this room.
"There are lots of different types of dogs, Noah," Jack told him. "Now I'm going to go and you're going to go to sleep." Jack stood up.
"Why aren't there different types of people like there's different types of dogs?" Noah asked.
"There are different types of people, Noah. People from different countries look different to each other," Jack told him.
"Like Uncle Sayid," Noah said.
"Right," Jack replied.
"Uncle Sayid talks funny," Noah observed.
"He has an accent, Noah," Jack told him.
"Why don't I have an accent?" Noah asked.
"You do have an accent, you just don't notice it," Jack replied. "If you went to Iraq then the people there would think you spoke funny."
"Is that where Uncle Sayid is from?" Noah asked.
"Yes, it is," Jack replied. "Now, I'm going to go, you sleep well." He leant down and gave Noah a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight."
"I'm not tired," Noah complained.
"Just try for me, okay?" Jack requested.
"I won't fall asleep," Noah insisted.
"Just rest for a while then," Jack instructed. "I'll come check on you in a little bit."
Noah pouted a bit but seemed to settle down. Jack gave him a smile and left the room, leaving the door slightly open how Noah liked it. He headed downstairs and found Boone on the sofa. He went over and sat down next to him.
"Is he that difficult with you?" Jack asked.
"Was he being difficult?" Boone asked.
"Just asking me constant questions so I wouldn't leave," Jack replied.
Boone smiled. "That just means he likes you," he told him. "He wants to spend time with you."
"Yeah, I know," Jack replied. "He's good at stalling, I'll give him that."
"He's just inquisitive," Boone replied. "Which, don't get me wrong, can drive you crazy, right?" Jack nodded. Boone shrugged. "He's learning."
"I know," Jack agreed. "But I swear he's better behaved for you."
Boone shrugged. "We have a routine," he said. "You tend to come and go independently to our routine so I guess he thinks he can take liberties with you."
Jack nodded. "I guess," he conceded. "He's smart."
"He's five," Boone stated. "Five-year-olds are good manipulators. Especially when it comes to bedtime. He's asserting his independence."
"You've been reading books on it, haven't you?" Jack guessed.
Boone shrugged. "Internet articles."
Jack smiled. "God, you're amazing."
"Well, I have to do something while I'm at home all day, may as well be something useful," Boone replied.
"No, you're totally amazing," Jack told him.
Boone smiled. "Fine," he said, mock begrudgingly. "You want a coffee? I was gonna make one."
"Well, my plan was to put you to bed next but I have a feeling he's gonna be up again so we might want to wait a while," Jack replied. "So, yeah, coffee for now I guess." Boone smiled at him. "What?"
Boone shook his head. "Nothing," he replied, getting to his feet.
"Why are you smiling?" Jack asked, following him to the kitchen.
"Can't I smile?" Boone asked, putting the kettle on.
"You're laughing at me," Jack observed.
"I'm not laughing at you," Boone replied.
"That's it, you've blown it, I'm not having sex with you now," Jack told him.
Boone did laugh then. "Oh, you're not having sex with me now?"
"Nope," Jack replied.
Boone laughed again. "Shut up."
"Why is it funny?" Jack asked.
"Why are you being such a loser?" Boone countered.
"Why were you laughing at me in the first place?" Jack persisted.
"Because you just, you're so cute," Boone replied.
"You're laughing at me cos I'm cute?" Jack asked.
"I'm laughing at you cos you're so dorky," Boone explained. "And you can't do sex talk so don't try."
"What are you talking about now?" Jack asked. "And I'm not dorky, I'm the chief of surgery."
"Those two things can't go hand in hand?" Boone asked. "And it's just funny when you're suggestive."
"If you think having sex with me is funny then maybe we're doing it wrong," Jack suggested.
"I didn't say the sex was funny," Boone told him. "The sex is good. You talking about the sex is funny."
"I can talk about sex," Jack insisted.
"Yeah, I heard you this morning," Boone pointed out.
"I don't mean like that," Jack said. "You know, I'm starting to see where Noah gets it from."
Boone smiled at him. "I'm sorry, I'll be good." Jack rolled his eyes. "You know I wasn't even really laughing at you. You're the one that made a big deal out of it."
"You laughed."
"I smiled."
"You have a cute smile so I'm gonna let you off," Jack told him.
Boone smiled again and Jack couldn't help but smile back. Okay so Boone had him wrapped around his finger just as much as Noah did but he was okay with that, even though he was always on the losing end of a 2:1 ratio. Boone made the coffees and they sat down at the table.
"By the way," Boone said. "I wasn't just smiling cos you're funny, I was smiling cos the thought of having sex with you makes me smile."
Jack smiled at him. "Good to know."
"Yeah, it totally breaks up the day too," Boone added. "I don't have a whole lot else to think about."
Jack sipped his coffee and tried to hide another smile. The thought of Boone sitting at home and having sexual fantasies about him was actually quite a nice one. They finished their coffee and headed upstairs. Jack checked in on Noah, who was fast asleep, and then followed Boone into the bedroom.