One thing about being friends with David Sheppard that is greatly beneficial to those around him is his ability to anticipate the needs of those around him. By the time I arrived back in Colorado Spring with Abbi, he had already set up a room for her at his house, and had collected information about the schools in the area, something I hadn't even thought of. David and James, my brother-in-law, met us at the front door. James scooped Abbi up, the latter obviously pleased to see the former as he has been away on a business trip for a while now. They walk into the house chattering about school and other activities that Abbi's been involved in. David puts his hand on my shoulder and guides me into his office. Once there he pours me a glass of some type of alcohol, and pushes me into the closest chair. I slump down, the events of the past day enough to strip away the years of military training. I close my eyes and tilt my head back, resting it on the back of the chair. I take a sip of the drink before pulling a face at it. I don't often drink alcohol, off world ceremonies not included, because I tend to answer, truthfully, any question that is put to me.
I lower the glass to David's desk and push it away. I hear a knock on the door, and then muted whisper when David opens it. The door shuts again, but this time, David's partner in conversation is with him. It's the Colonel; I know the sound of his footsteps up the same way McKay's science team know the sound of his voice. He walks over, dragging another chair with him. He sits down and starts watching me. The door opens again, and this time David walks out, leaving me alone with his meddlesome brother.
We sit like this for about half an hour before Sheppard gets fidgety. He gets up and starts pacing the length of the room. I open my eyes, roll my head to the side and watch him. He's muttering under his breath about fathers and how some people (namely my father) don't deserve the title. I sit up properly, causing Sheppard turn abruptly. He grins at me and then pulls me up from my chair.
"Come on, you're going to introduce me to your daughter properly."
I roll my eyes at him, he's known Abbi longer than I have; she was at his wedding for crying out loud. He responds with an even wider grin, and pushes me out of the room.
We keep up a good natured conversation, namely the last football game between the Air Force and the Marine Corp. James and David all roll their eyes at us when we walk in. Neither is a big fan of sport unless it involves horses. Abbi is lying on her back, on the couch, with her feet going up the back, and her head hanging off the seat. She just grins at us before launching herself at us. I pick her up and she then proceeds to squirm around until she is on my back. She starts whispering in my ear about what she's going to do when she gets on base. Before I can make any suggests of my own, both mine and Sheppard's pagers started bleeping at us. Abbi quickly slid down my back to the floor, gave me one last hug, and told me to "get to work and stop being lazy." I thought Sheppard was going to suffocate then and there from trying to hold his laughter in. We say good bye to David and James, and head out the door.