It took me soo long to finish this section as well! I was so close to being finished and the last tiny little bit too sooo long. Thanks for all your kind words. I'm trying to keep all my current stories updated fairly regularly but sometimes real life intervenes. Stupid real life. Btw, I think they should have revisited the mini-Jack storyline too – they could have even brought back that actor to make up the four person team when Jack was General. Or to replace him when he left altogether. I mean… what a waste of all that frontline experience! I'd have loved to have seen even an episode where they dealt with a young O'Neill trying to find his NEW place at the SGC on a new team or whatever. Imagine his new team trying to reconcile him being Jack but not Jack. Fascinating.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I miss being taken seriously."
"Since when have I – uh, we – been taken seriously?" Jack grinned.
John shrugged. "It could be worse. I've played the parents and teachers so that they almost treat me like an adult. Almost."
"S'pose the hard-ass colonel act is hard to keep up when it's mistaken for snarky, moody teenager."
"Exactly." John sighed. "I miss standing up in front of an elite group of airmen and having them hang on my every word. I miss my opinion counting when it really matters. I mean I realise that technically that was never me but it feels like it. It's hard to go from someone that is owed a couple of favours by the President to someone who is trying desperately not to become class president."
"It might not be much consolation now but at least you know in a few years all that will be easier. Even the whole dating thing. Either you'll get lost in your cover and your headspace will change or maybe when you're like in your twenties or something you can start dating older women."
"Maybe."
"So, you gonna rejoin the Air Force eventually?"
"Probably. I was thinking about going to college first though."
"College!"
"Yep. I like the sound of Dr O'Neill."
"What type of doctor?"
"Don't know yet. I know what types of degrees would be useful but I'm not sure yet which field interests me the most. I suppose it might come down to what I get for my SATs. Daniel is going to help me study for them."
"That's so crazy!" Jack wondered. A nerdy O'Neill. Who would've thunk it?
"I might go for more than one degree. Maybe more than one PhD. Give Daniel a run for his money." John grinned. "I don't want to be stuck in the lab though – like Lee or…god, forbid, Felger." He shuddered. "So I gotta make sure whatever I study helps me on the front lines. Like Carter and Daniel. Or maybe even like the guys on SG-9."
"You want to be a diplomat!" Jack was practically horrified.
"Why not?" John grinned. "I'm getting very good at manipulating groups of people with very differing points of views. Let's just say that negotiating a trade agreement or mediating between warring clans doesn't seem like such a big deal these days."
Jack made a defeated 'it's your life' type of gesture with his hands and then took another swig of Guinness. The kid was obviously nuts – in a Daniel-type of way. So, not so bad, after all.
"Why don't you grab some plates and a knife – you'll know where to look – and serve us up some of that cake while I go check on Ally." John suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." Jack replied, cheerfully. Cake was good.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
John was half-hoping to catch Ally leaping onto the bed after she'd been busting listening at the door. He was, however, still glad to discover that she was in fact fast asleep and couldn't have heard anything.
He pulled the covers up further over her shoulders. Damn, she was so cute. His mind and body warred over what type of cute. She really did look like a pixie with her red feathery hair and her turned up nose with its pale smattering of freckles. Like a female Peter Pan. Peta Pan. He grinned to himself. She'd kill him if he started calling her that. Besides she was more like Tinkerbell. That fairy had attitude.
She murmured in her sleep, sighing peacefully. At least there didn't seem to be nightmares for her at the moment. His pixie-girl was tough but she needed her rest. Carefully pushing some flame-coloured strands back from her face, he smiled softly. So cute.
Stealthily making his way back to the lounge room so as to not disturb her, John came across the sight of Jack O'Neill with a huge chunk of cake halfway into his gaping mouth. Jack saw him and froze. He practically dropped the cake on his plate.
"I was waiting for you." He insisted.
"So, I see." John grinned.
They ate in companionable silence and John couldn't believe how normal it felt sitting here with… well… himself. The Real O'Neill sort of felt like an old friend.
"Jack…" He spoke between mouthfuls of cake.
"Yeah?"
"Could I maybe use the cabin sometime?"
"Sure. I'll get you a key. Just let me know when you're going so I don't… interrupt any shenanigans." Jack grinned.
"As if." John rolled his eyes.
Some more cake was consumed. They were careful to leave some aside for Ally.
"Jack…" John had another thought.
"Yeah?"
"You know how sometimes after a tough mission you can't really talk to your team mates about it – cos they were there and whatever. And anyone else wouldn't get it?"
"I think I get what you mean."
"Well, sometimes, Daniel finds it good to talk to me about that stuff. Objective but not."
"And?"
"And… you could too if you wanted." John shrugged, his voice quiet. "I'm just saying."
"I'll keep it in mind." Jack responded. "Thanks… John." It took a conscious effort not to call him 'kid'.
More cake. More Guinness.
"And uh… John… same here, if you wanted." Jack said awkwardly. "I mean you've got Daniel but I guess I sort of might understand on a different level about some things. You know?"
"Yeah, I know." John smiled. "Thanks."
"It's less weird now." Jack said. "You and me. Hanging out."
"Yep."
"Not like we could do it all the time or anything but a little bit is okay."
"Yep."
"Would it be bad idea if I bought you alcohol?"
"Daniel would be mad."
"Yeah, but he's funny when he's mad."
"Sometimes."
"Well, the offer is there. And like if you need me to get you into an R-rated movie or something."
"Cool."
"Uh, John…" Jack ran his hand over the back of his neck. "There's actually something I have to talk to you about. I'm pretty sure Daniel and Teal'c are coming over later but I thought I'd get in before them because I felt like… maybe… I don't know… that it would be better coming from me… somehow…"
"Out with it already, Jack."
"The thing is…" Jack sighed heavily. "Frankston's dead."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cliffhanger, much? evil grin