Part 83 – for Flatkatsi – this is what she wanted ... well a particular scene – you may not need three guesses to decide what exactly!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The music was quite loud, but the songs were good and surprisingly enough Jack actually recognized some of them.
Despite wishing desperately for the first hour that he had never come, he was beginning to relax and enjoy himself – not that it would have anything to do with downing four beers ... nosireee!
Daniel tapped him on the shoulder. "I have just remembered something."
Taking a slug from his bottle, Jack waited... "Well?" he demanded when Daniel didn't continue.
"Uh, yes ..."
"Daniel, you are drunk."
"No. No I am not. I've only had the same as you."
"Guess again, you've had another three on top of mine."
"Really? Now then, where were we? Ah, yes... I figure you owe me and Teal'c ... sorry, Teal'c and I ... an apology."
Jack cocked his head, along with an eyebrow. "An apology? For what?"
"For not inviting us to the wedding."
"Can we discuss this tomorrow?"
"I might forget by then."
"I can remind you," pointed out Jack hopefully.
"Remind me of what?"
Jack laughed and shook his head. "Okay, then I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Jack backed his chair off, struggling to get his wallet from his trouser pocket. "Daniel, it's my turn for a round, but you'll have to go to the bar for me ..."
Daniel obliged and didn't even ask for the money. Jack laughed again and replaced his wallet as he watched him disappear into the crowd.
Reynolds sat down, puffing a little. "I'm too old for this," he sighed.
"It's not that you're too old, it's the girl..." advised Jack in a serious tone "... that's too young." He watched the woman rejoin her friends across the room ... she couldn't be older than her early twenties.
Dick Reynolds gripped Jack on the shoulder. "Thanks buddy, I never thought of it that way. Jeez, Jack, where the hell are you getting that muscle from?"
"Therapy works you harder than the Air Force. Maybe I should suggest that all the Colonels have a more thorough physical huh?"
"Argh, come on ..."
They were interrupted by the return of Teal'c who was supporting a rather drunken Walter. "He is beyond my control O'Neill."
Jack couldn't help the snort of laughter that escaped him. He had to admit that the sight of the drunken sergeant clinging oddly to the massive bulk of Teal'c, half asleep with a beaming smile on his face, was funny. "Time to put him in a cab I think."
"Indeed."
Teal'c looked less than amused at the situation and was trying to shrug the hapless drunk off into a chair ... and only partially succeeding until Mitchell helped apply a little more force. Walter found himself firmly connecting with the chair before sinking his head over his arms and slumping forward onto the table, almost upsetting the drinks that remained there.
Looking quite pleased with himself, Teal'c took a long drink from the glass he had retrieved in the nick of time from the table.
Dave Dixon clapped Jack on the shoulder from behind and leaned down, his voice quite loud, despite the intention of whispering.
"He's really knocking it back."
"Walter?" asked Jack puzzled.
"Nah, T man. I put four vodkas in that on the last round."
Jack regarded Teal'c curiously. He had never seen the Jaffa drunk - in fact before losing his symbiote it was an impossibility ... however, things could get preeeetty interesting... He grinned and held up his bottle. "Go help Daniel at the bar Dave, and make mine a double!"
Dixon straightened up, nodding. "No problemo ..."
The next couple of hours became fuzzier for Jack. It seemed the doubles kept coming and some kind person had gotten Walter into a cab ... seemed Cam wasn't as drunk as the rest of them – perhaps – possibly ... oh well, who actually cared?
He couldn't remember leaving the last place and this new place was kinda ... interesting ... along with Teal'c's smile that was growing wider by the moment as the rather athletic dancer was presenting her almost naked rear, a rather nice rear, Jack thought, for closer inspection.
As Teal'c leaned forward, his large hands outstretched to cup the buttocks presented to him, the dancer laughed and moved away with a shimmy, bringing herself in line with Jack.
The guys were whistling and calling out to her and she played up to her admirers with even more erotic moves.
She turned around and Jack found himself with a lapful of an almost naked woman, which for some reason he found hilarious.
"Yo, handsome," she drawled, her hands running along his shoulders and down his arms, squeezing his biceps, the glint in her eyes unmistakable as she moved her hips, circling them enticingly.
"Jeez, he's married honey, give us other guys a break," called Mitchell as he leaned over with a twenty and tucked it into the waistband of her panties.
The girl leaned forward to kiss Jack full on the mouth, a kiss that Jack returned willingly, before giving him a broad wink and moving on. The guys erupted, whistling and shouting ... wanting some of the same... "Hey, it was my twenty," complained Mitchell.
Teal'c leaned toward Jack, regarding him with a somewhat bleary expression. "Should I have given her money as well, O'Neill?"
Jack couldn't answer for laughing. Teal'c pulled at Daniel's jacket, obviously meaning to ask the same question, however he caught the man somewhat off balance and Daniel found himself on the floor, wondering what hit him...
The drunken indignant expression on Daniel's face set Jack off laughing even harder and Teal'c's own deep laugh joined in as they watched poor Daniel make a couple of attempts to rise, with no help at all from his so-called friends. He finally managed to bring himself upright by using Jack's chair for support.
The next club on someone's 'gotta go there' list and Jack found the getting there and into it, a blur. Dixon had vanished by this time and Reynolds was getting to the 'I'm going home in a minute stage'.
Teal'c also suddenly found he could not replace his glass on the table ... and he was greatly puzzled why he seemed to be hitting mid air ... and further puzzled by Daniel's drunken explanation as to why ... which seemed to amuse Mitchell greatly.
"They make a great double act," slurred Mitchell.
"Hell yeah," agreed Jack. He was past the merry stage himself, in fact he was past the anything stage and he had great doubts he would be able to wheel himself anywhere at the moment. He just hoped T could still see enough to steer later ... maybe it wasn't such a great idea letting his 'designated driver' get so wasted...
He used his right leg to kick up at the Jaffa. "Hey T, lay off the booze."
Teal'c raised one eyebrow. "I have not laid anything on the booze O'Neill."
Jack shook his head. "Just remember, we got Sam to answer to later."
Teal'c grinned. "Samantha is not my wife O'Neill."
"You think that'll save you?"
The Jaffa's expression faltered and everyone burst into laughter...
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam couldn't help keep checking the time again. She was tired, but didn't want to go to bed until Jack was home safe. She'd half expected a call much earlier in the evening to go and extract him after the fuss he had put up about going in the first place. She knew he'd only actually considered it because it was 'the guys'.
She hoped against hope that he'd have a good time, he deserved a break. He'd been putting in more hours than ever lately, getting busier and busier. Twice in as many weeks she'd come home to find the house almost surrounded by security and one or another of the Chiefs of Staff that had been there for the day.
All work and no play ... oh, well, at least no play outside of the house that was. Sam sighed and sank back into the couch with her hot chocolate, peering at the clock again over the rim of the mug as she inhaled the aroma ... oh, that reminded her of Jack so much - warmth and chocolate - the unique aroma of his body, the delicious essence of him that matched his eyes... Sam shivered lightly and pulled herself together – and peered at the clock again. Where the heck were they, for crying out loud?
Pacing was ... not good. Not at two am. Nope. Someone would have called if there had been an accident – wasn't as if half a dozen air force people would remain anonymous very long. She eyed her cell phone and checked for the fifth time that the battery was okay and then checked the house phone line again. All working.
Oh God, what if he'd gotten into a fight? She knew how some things upset him, and although he'd shown remarkable restraint lately when someone insulted him, although usually without meaning to ... if he had a beer or two...
She picked her cell phone up and punched the speed dial for Daniel's number and then sighed and shut it off. If she caved now and called Jack wouldn't be pleased ... the wife checking up on him...
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
It was past three am when they finally wandered out of the club. Jack wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the driver that caused the weaving – in the end he thought it was both... Teal'c had almost run him into a nonexistent doorway twice.
After bidding the others a good night, Teal'c, Daniel and Jack grabbed the first cab after Jack gleefully pulled rank on their demands to keep partying – or perhaps it was the 'think of Sam' comment that did it?
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sam sat up blinking rapidly in the dim light, trying to focus on the lounge room clock, wondering what had woken her, until the distant sounds of disharmonious discord reached her brain.
"At
'em boys, give 'er the gun.
Down we dive, spouting our flame from
under,
Off with one hell-uv-a roar!
We live in fame or go down
in flame,
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force."
She half debated scooting to the bedroom to feign sleep, but in the end the volume of the discord and concern for their neighbors won – not to mention curiosity. Although she did actually recognize the words to a degree, the tune wasn't quite as it should be.
Sam opened the front door to see Jack swerving to one side in his chair and Teal'c half falling over the back of it as it left the path. Daniel was swinging precariously on the gate.
"Here's
a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky.
To
a friend we send a message,
Of his brother men who fly."
"Sssssshush," hissed Sam furiously.
Jack broke off from his singing.
"We drink to those who gave ..." Teal'c's voice boomed on...
"Heeeeeey honey ... I'm hoooooome – back up, T."
Teal'c quieted immediately and heaved the chair back for all he was worth, Jack hanging on for dear life, and swung it around to directly face Sam where she was now standing at the bottom of the ramp.
Sam folded her arms and glared.
"Uh, back up, T," slurred Jack again as he caught sight of her.
"I am backed up, O'Neill."
"No I mean, um, never mind. Why didn't you remind me to put my Kevlar vest on T? Hi hon." He gave her a beaming smile.
"Daniel," called out Sam.
Daniel stopped swinging and lurched off the gate, staggering up the path to join them.
"Hey, Saaaammmm," he sing-songed.
"For goodness sake, you'll wake the neighborhood. Get inside, all of you."
"You heard the lady, have at em boys!" yelled Jack.
Sam had to step aside quickly to avoid being mown down in the rush. She sighed and moved up the ramp last, grimacing as Daniel tripped over the non-existent step.
"Oh, god, three drunks? Teal'c is actually ... no, he couldn't be ... could he?" She raised her eyes heavenwards and walked in, closing the door behind her.
"You talkin' to yourself, Sam?" asked Daniel. He had the foolish 'I'm drunk' grin plastered to his face.
"What the ... what were you thinking of, letting ..."
Jack wheeled himself forward. Teal'c staggered and then recovered as his leaning post moved unexpectedly.
"Sammmm." Jack caught hold of her hand, trying to pull her closer. "Miss m ..." He hiccoughed and grinned at her foolishly.
"God, Jack, how many have you had? What if ..."
"O'Neill has been enjoying himself, as have we."
"Uh, need the bathroom." Swinging his chair around, Jack hesitated for a moment, before wheeling himself with determination in roughly the right direction, albeit in a weaving pattern.
Sam winced as the chair hit the wall, gouging some of the plaster as he passed it and the loud bang of the bathroom door as he plowed into it made her cringe.
Daniel slumped down on the couch, giving a little laugh, followed by a hiccough.
As soon as Jack was out of sight, Sam furiously turned on her team-mates. "I don't believe you guys, a quiet drink you said? What the hell were you thinking of letting him get in that state? Suppose something happened? And you two ... what if something had happened to him, what if he needed help ... and ..."
Teal'c moved closer. "The intention was for O'Neill to enjoy himself with friends. I believe the intention has been accomplished. His friends also enjoyed the evening and his company." The large man swayed a little as he spoke. "Indeed, I have enjoyed myself immensely."
"Me too," Daniel muttered quietly from his position on the couch.
Sam felt the anger draining out of her, and although it wasn't completely dispersed, she felt a little ashamed of rounding on them like that. It was as Teal'c had said - she'd been so worried that ... but she couldn't protect Jack from the world, much as she wanted to. She couldn't wrap him in cotton wool... "The spare bed is made up, you guys had better crash."
"You will require some assistance with O'Neill?"
Sam shook her head. "If I need you, I'll shout, okay?"
"Indeed."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
It seemed an age before Sam managed to get Jack settled into bed and quietened down.
He hugged her tightly to him, kissing the top of her head.
"Love you." His words were slurred, but none the less genuine for it.
She raised her head to smile up at him. His eyes were almost closed, but he still had the half assed grin on his face.
"Backatya flyboy," she whispered.
"Don't be mad."
"I'm not mad at you."
The lids closed. "At Danny and T."
"It's okay, I'll even cook them breakfast later to make up for it."
"Revenge huh?"
Sam swiped at his shoulder and his eyes flickered open, revealing just a slit of brown.
"Owwww," yelped Sam suddenly, rising up.
Jack's eyes opened fully in alarm. "Sam?"
"Jeez, Jack ..." Sam scrunched up, rubbing at her ankle furiously.
"What?" Jack was struggling to rise now, trying to roll himself a little toward her.
"You kicked me."
"Didn't."
"Did. That wasn't funny, it hurt."
Jack looked at her wide eyed in innocence. "Honey I didn't. Maybe its cramp?"
"Jack I know the difference between ..." Sam broke off, stilling herself as she regarded her husband with a wide-eyed stare.
"What?"
Sam shook her head slowly, her eyes traveled down the bed, searching the rumpled sheets.
She didn't miss the second movement... "Oh Jack," she said breathily.
Jack was staring at her as though she'd lost her mind. "What? I'm too tired for that ... not that ..."
"Ass," she hissed and grabbed his left leg. This time they both saw the flick of the sheets as it bucked.
"Must have been the Guinness ... I didn't drink any of that other stuff ..." whispered Jack.
"What stuff?" asked Sam, puzzled.
"You know – the one that reaches the parts that others can't reach ..."
Sam was staring at him as if he'd truly lost the last of his marbles. "What?"
"You know Heineken ... refreshes the parts ... it was ... well a few years back ..."
Sam shook her head. She couldn't believe it was almost dawn and he was discussing old beer ads when his leg had just...
"A few years back?"
"Well, a lot of years back ... when I was stationed in ..." his voice died and he looked down at his leg again. "Did that really just happen or am I really that wasted?"
"Yes, Jack, yes to both."
He lay back down, a huge shit eating grin on his face. "Well, waddayaknow hon ... waddayaknow."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
TBC
Off
We Go
Into the Wild Blue Yonder
(The Air Force Song, Robert Crawford)
Words and Music by Captain Robert Crawford, ©1939 as the "Army Air Corps Song." reportedly renewed 1977 by the USAF
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Heineken refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Author's note: in response to Patti's review, which we're unable to reply to privately -
We certainly intended to be thought provoking and thank you for your kind words and taking the time to review – we really do appreciate it. We have a few answers to some of the points you raised.
Accessibility - Yes, we do have such laws in England and Australia as far as wheelchair accessibility etc goes, however it is sometimes lip service that is paid to them ... just because a place has ramps, doesn't mean it is disability friendly inside and problems can always ensue. Like you say ... wheelchairs and the disabled become invisible people. The restaurant Jack and Sam went to was accessible, it was just the placing of the table that was inconvenient.
Jack driving an adapted vehicle – Jack probably did have lessons in driving an adapted vehicle at the rehab center. I didn't go into all the details of his rehab - you wouldn't want the details of everything, toilet training for example, and you would have had 200 parts by next Christmas if I had – lol – I'm sure everyone would have been sick of the story if I did that! He didn't buy such a vehicle because he is convinced that he isn't going to need it. In DC he wouldn't be driving ... as a 2 star General he would have a car and driver.
Reaction to Jack in uniform – When Jack went through the hotel lobby this was his first time back in uniform (he was in civvies all the other times) and a brisk roll out to a waiting car didn't give folk much chance to come up and speak to him. When he returned to the hotel ... well, I guess the President overshadowed that. What Flatkatsi was trying to convey was how Jack felt, not necessarily how the public saw him. No one insulted or was disrespectful to him – just curious. He would be a pretty impressive sight – wheelchair or not. As far as saluting goes – surely that is something only servicemen in uniform would do (or very young children)?
I agree, people ignore wheelchairs the world over ... I have had doors shut in my face when on two walking sticks...
Thanks again for your review. An insight from someone with personal experience is particularly valuable.
Jackie (and Flatkatsi)
