Chapter 9: Waiting Life

At the end of the hour, the guys started to walk back to the Infirmary. With the sparing match between Hicks and Jake having taken up most of the hour, and Hudson eventually becoming spectator to a very pitched battle, the trio honestly could say they had a good time.

Making it back to the Infirmary, they seemed to have a surprise waiting for them there.

Real, honest to goodness food. Bishop was there, taking pride in the achievement.

It was macaroni and cheese. The food actually smelled and looked like the real thing.

"While the whole trapping ordeal was going on, I had taken the liberty of repairing the food processors so that everyone could enjoy a nice decent meal." He explained, serving the guys some of it from a very large pot.

Jake gladly accepted it, yet wouldn't stop until everyone was served. Then, he started to dig in with everyone else.

The meal was incredible, and most of all, it was the very thing they said it was. No different texture to go with the familiar taste, no squishy goo, no need to substitute anything with a ration bar.

They ate, enjoying each other's company. When they were all done and the pot had been emptied, then it seemed that the good mood continued.

Jake looked at the time. Roughly 1:30 in the morning local time. This night had been eventful. Trapping the creature, finding out Ripley was a cocoon, finding out they can cut it out of her.

Everyone also seemed to start getting tired. So they all went to sleep, surrendering to the void.

A good nine hours later, they all woke up to the alarm on Jake's cellular. It seemed that it was still on Archeron Time with the alarm. Jake shut it off, and looked around.

Things still looked the same in the Infirmary. Everyone else it seemed, was woken up from the alarm.

Jake felt awful. He'd woken everybody up. He honestly would have preferred to sleep in too.

Hudson was the first to speak in the group. "Man, I was having this awesome dream where I had gotten laid." He said, walking up to Jake and slapping him upside the head. He then grumbled "Wish I'd never freed him."

Jake laughed. Things were starting to look up for once. There was a knock on the infirmary door.

Vasquez answered. It was Aaron. "Just thought I could bring you breakfast." He explained, carrying 6 trays full of scrambled eggs.

After they started to eat, Jake started to get a rather weird feeling. He was thinking that when this is all said and done, and when they finally get to Earth, that things will probably not work out for him. He'd probably become a ward of the state, seeing as no one would want to adopt a teenager a year away from 18. Things may work out better with Newt, Ripley probably will adopt her.

Jake thought that just thinking to himself while he ate was a bit much, so he started to listen to music. However, the music wouldn't take his mind off the facts. He was still eating when he felt someone tap on his shoulder.

He turned around. It was Ripley. "Everything alright there?" She asked "You've been really quiet."

Jake took the headphones off his head and sighed. "Just thinking about how things will turn out when everything is all done." He answered

"What do you mean?" Ripley inquired

"Well," Jake went on to admit "I personally doubt that you'd want to adopt both of us. You're probably going to adopt Newt, while I get left as a ward of the state, and spend a full year not being adopted at whatever foster home they dump me at."

Ripley looked shocked "Why would you say that? I know you're almost a grown man and all, but you still do the craziest stuff. You took over the APC back on Archeron, completely ignoring Gorman's objections. And then you try the craziest thing and run distraction for me back on the Sulaco. Don't get me wrong, you did a great job, but you act upon the craziest impulses. I personally want to adopt the both of you. You just don't realize that." She explained.

Jake felt so relieved, that instead of saying something, he wrapped Ripley in a big hug. He also started to cry, yet this time, they were tears of joy.

"I love you too Jake." Ripley said, completely surprised by the move. Jake let go, and went back to eating his food, a big grin on his face all morning long.

All day things were rather light in mood for everyone. At lunchtime that day however, Hudson made a bet with Vasquez that Hicks could beat Jake one on one, using the pipe-staff against the Katana.

That evening, it seemed that entertainment would be provided to everyone, seeing how word of the bet leaked from Bishop to Aaron, who decided to give the cons something to watch that night.

At 5 local time, there would be a match worth watching in the Cafeteria. The contestants, Hicks and Jake.