SERIES/UNIVERSE: SG-7
DISCLAIMERS: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al, SG-1 characters belong to Gekko, MGM, and the Sci-Fi Channel. Original characters (by now, y'all know which ones they are) are all mine ... don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give them back intact and give credit where credit is due. Mindy belongs to herself and my neighbors, though she still thinks my family and I belong to her.
SPOILERS: For Mag7, all twenty-one episodes are fair game, along with my previous stories, More than Friends, A Light in the Distance, Under the Sun, Days of Yearning, Sun, Fun, and Ezra on the Run, Full Circle, Open House, Return to Innocence and Karaoke Night; also all five seasons of Stargate SG-1.
WARNING: Mainly language. If need be, I'll be writing two versions of this story... the PG-13 version and the steamier version. If a steamier version becomes necessary, you can email me privately to read it. More on that as the story develops.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just as an fyi ... this series, this universe, ignores the events of the later fifth season of Stargate SG-1. Specifically, Meridian and Revelation. Which also gets rid of Jonas Quinn in sixth season.
Josiah Sanchez knew that look. It meant Vin was planning something. And Josiah knew what the boy was planning, but he also knew what Adriana was up to. Fortunately, at least for him, the young archaeologist hadn't shared the graphic details with him ... but she did ask a lot of questions. Then again, with her curiosity, he supposed he was lucky her questions weren't more in-depth. How exactly did you answer those sorts of questions?
Answering the questions she had asked was hard enough. Josiah appreciated that she was staying general ... like, what was too much when planning a romantic evening? What would tip her hand, what would give away what she was planning to do? She had listened carefully to his answers, her dark brows knit and a thoughtful frown appeared, as if she was studying for a very important exam.
And, in a way, he supposed she was doing just that. Still, the less he knew, the easier it was for him to keep things from Vin. He wasn't comfortable keeping secrets from his friend, even as good a reason as this, and he hoped JD was able to keep his mouth shut. He had this terrible image in his head, of Casey telling JD whatever she knew, and then JD leaking it to Vin. Josiah could appreciate that JD wanted to make things right with Vin ... but if the young cartographer told Vin about Adriana's plans, he wouldn't have to worry about making things right with Vin. Because Adriana would kill him herself.
And Josiah couldn't say he would have blamed her ... because he knew, if he was making special plans for a special night with his special lady, and someone leaked those plans to Josie, he'd want to kill whoever spilled the beans. Josiah was big, but Adriana was just plain sneaky. That, and she had learned a few things about causing pain from her historical studies.
He remembered a few conversations he had with her on the wagon train from hell, once they knew Vin would be all right. Things she could have done to the now-late Dr. O'Shea, to make him talk. What she didn't learn from her studies, she could just as easily make up. She had a truly inventive mind, which could be a good thing or a bad thing. Depending on whether or not she was in a good mood or bad.
He figured if JD did say anything to Vin, he could let JD have about a three day start. Just to be fair. After that, he was fair game. But judging from Vin's demeanor, he thought it was a good bet JD hadn't said ' boo,' if he did know anything. And besides, Carly Tanner was far more likely to risk her college roommate's wrath than JD was. Carly knew where Adriana's buttons were, after all, and she knew how to calm her down. Information which JD didn't have.
Turning his attention to other matters, Josiah thought about his conversation with Nettie just now. It was no secret that she had soft spots for each of the Seven. It was also no secret that her biggest soft spot of all had Vin Tanner's name on it ... in neon lights. However, until now, he had never really accepted that he was regarded as one of her 'boys.' He was approaching fifty, after all ... he hadn't been a boy in a long, long time.
But, that didn't stop Nettie Welles from giving Josie the 'talk.' She gave Adriana the 'talk' months earlier, when she and Vin admitted how they truly felt about each other (while Vin was still recovering). She gave Mary the same 'talk' when the first in a series of commitments was made between the captain and Chris Larabee (and because Nettie was equal opportunity, each of the men got a variation on that talk, if Nettie approved of their lady). Rain got the 'talk,' and Josiah was sure both Casey and JD got the 'talk.' Maybe even at the same time.
Now, it was Josie's turn, and Josiah knew that when Ezra and Buck each found someone, their ladies would get the 'talk' as well. That was all it was called. Just the 'talk.' No other name was needed, because at the end of it, each lady understood what she could look forward to if she hurt one of Nettie's boys. It was really no different from the 'talk' which fathers had with the suitors of their daughters. Except in this case, the 'girl' was in her middle forties.
But Josie hadn't argued with Nettie ... which, Josiah was sure, had endeared her to the old lady. Understanding what the Seven meant to Nettie, and to her niece, was the first step in winning Nettie's approval. Understanding that to her, they were all barely more than children was often the next step. The younger ladies had an easier time with this concept. And yet, Nettie told Josiah that Josie explained to her that her own mother had died years earlier ... Nettie's 'talk' made her feel better, in a way.
Josiah wouldn't even think about going there. He was still reeling from his 'talk' with Josie's daughter. One thing he learned after that conversation ... protectiveness was part and parcel of all of the Tanners, not just Vin. Lacey was exceedingly protective of her older brothers, her older sister, and her mother. Further, she informed him of exactly what she would do to him if he ever hurt her mother, in any way, shape, or form. Actually, if Josiah's recollection was correct, the youngest Tanner had informed him that if he ever hurt her mother, he could 'kiss his balls good-bye.' A physical impossibility, but he took her meaning.
He had been surprised, after that conversation, to learn that Chris and Billy had a similar conversation regarding Mary, after Chris asked the captain and her son to move in with him. It wasn't that Billy thought Chris would hurt Mary ... but the eight year old wanted to protect his mother, and make sure Chris understood the consequences of what would happen if he did. Josiah thought Orrin Travis had a conversation with his grandson prior to the talk with Chris. And the colonel admitted that conversation had been a trifle surreal.
Actually, the term Chris had used was 'freaky.' Ezra would have said ' surreal.' Josiah had thought briefly about asking Ezra if he ever had that conversation with any of Maude's suitors or husbands before the marriage, then decided against it. His own past attraction to Maude aside, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. As Josiah drove down the road toward the ranch, he looked into the backseat.
Vin still had that strange look on his face ... half-anxious, half-anticipatory. He caught the guide's eye in the rearview mirror, and winked at him. His reward was a lazy grin, and Josiah almost laughed. Well, whatever he was planning for Adriana, it would seem it was on the same level as what she was planning for him. It would be fun, watching those two plans intersect ... or was it collide? Josiah wasn't sure yet.
And really, it didn't matter. Sure, it was fun to speculate about what would happen when Vin and Adriana's plans collided (without going graphic ... there were some images which Josiah just did not need in his brain), but that wasn't the important thing. The important thing ... the most important thing ... to Josiah was Vin's happiness. And if he hadn't thought this would make Vin happy, he would have tried to change Adriana's mind.
Yeah ... right. Vin's a young man, and I'm betting he's not particularly experienced. You add that to eight years of loving someone, without an outlet, and there ain't no way he ain't gonna be happy tomorrow morning, Josiah thought. It was a blunt ... even vulgar ... way to put it, but it was honest. Maybe a better way of putting it would have been to say, if he didn't think Adriana could make him happy, or wasn't committed to him in her heart and soul, he would have done something about the plans.
Erm, nope, that didn't work, either. Perhaps the best way to say it, then, was Adriana could take care of Vin, the way he deserved ... she loved him, as he deserved. Besides, she had already passed the tests of both Josie Tanner and Nettie Welles. And those two ladies, combined or separate, were among those ladies who scared Chris Larabee. For that matter, they could scare Josiah. And he knew Adriana wasn't an idiot. Inexperienced, definitely. Stubborn, sure. But stupid? Not as a general rule.
Actually, now that he thought about it, her surrogate brother had been known to describe her as 'mule stubborn.' 'Stubborn as a mule, but a whole lot prettier,' Chris usually said, often winking at Mary as he did ... herself just as stubborn. Mary always responded with an impish grin all her own, because she knew that description was for her, as well as for her best friend. On the other hand, Buck preferred the term 'ornery,' but then, he was her brother. And Vin, loving her as he did, preferred 'determined' or ' tenacious.' Far be it from Josiah to disagree, much less with those three stubborn men.
He was being just plain stupid, and he knew it. But Vin was one of his boys ... never mind that he was almost twenty-eight years old. That wasn't the point. Ever since it had been revealed that Chris and Vin were brothers ... and what a rat bastard their father was ... Josiah had appointed himself as Vin's father. True enough, he had several in the base ... both of the generals, in addition to Josiah himself.
But neither of the generals were dating Vin's aunt. Which, to Josiah's way of thinking, gave him a little more of a claim to the young man. And it was natural for any father to worry about his son, especially in a situation like this. What happened tonight would likely impact the rest of Vin's life. And ... like any decent, self-respecting father, he wanted to make sure the woman chosen by his son was good enough for him.
But when he thought over the last few years, ever since Adriana's arrival at the SGC, he realized he couldn't doubt her. Not after all the times she stood beside him, even when her own demons appeared. She loved his boy ... Josiah knew that. She loved him, and would stand by him. Just as Josie would stand by Josiah, Casey by JD, and on and on. Giving his two 'sons' one last glance in the rearview mirror, Josiah drove toward the Larabee home.
There were only two reasons he hadn't killed that little brat yet ... one, Buck would kill him. Two, his brother would kill him. Still, as the van driven by Josie Tanner rattled away, carrying Chris Larabee's lady and surrogate little sister, Chris couldn't help the smile which he felt tugging at the corners of his mouth. Besides, when he thought about it, with her latest prank, Adriana was systematically eliminating any doubt that she belonged with his mischievous younger brother. He just wished she'd do it somewhere else, to someone else ... like, maybe, to her own brother?
He could almost hear her reaction to that ... and see her expression in his mind's eye. But where, she would ask, raising an eyebrow with a patented innocent look, would be the fun in that, Chris? She had him there, he had to admit. For some reason, in that twisted little mind of hers, it was more fun to play practical jokes and pranks on him than it was on Buck. He didn't want to know how she came to that conclusion, although he had the uneasy feeling that Billy told her about a prank which the little boy played on him, with help from Kevin.
But this ... this was down right low! During the last few months, Mary had started drinking specialty sodas. Not just birch beer or grape soda, which Chris remembered from his own childhood in Indiana, but more exotic flavors like 'cherries and cream.' The bottle in which this particular soda (really, all of them) came looked like a beer bottle.
So, the previous night, his enterprising little sister got it into her head to switch one of Mary's soda bottles with a beer bottle, removing the soda label from the glass and replacing it with a beer label. Chris wasn't even sure he wanted to know how she had done that. Or where she found the beer label. She topped things off by adding a touch of food coloring to the soda. This morning, they were still teasing him about his facial expression when he took a sip of his beer, and it was a toss up who was worse about it ... Mary or Adriana. Mary, of course, thought it was absolutely hysterical.
Then again, she would. Funny thing was, he couldn't remember her having such a ... bizarre ... sense of humor when he first met her. On the other hand, he wasn't even sure she had a sense of humor in the beginning. Not that he had much room to talk, since there were still rumors floating about the SGC that he was a grim, humorless bastard who routinely beat up Ezra for the hell of it.
Ezra, for his own part, took wicked glee in not only verifying these stories, but actually embellishing them. And as was the case in every small, enclosed community like the SGC, stories often were further embellished by the people whom Ezra were told. Chris was often amused by the tall tales Ezra came up with. In fact, Chris usually helped Ezra to make up a new one. And then, when Ezra heard the latest version, he would tell Chris. The stories themselves were good for a laugh, and when Chris and Ezra heard a really good one, they often shared it with Vin.
And Ezra would have loved Adriana's prank the previous night ... in fact, Chris had to wonder if the negotiator gave his 'little sister' the idea for it. That sounded like something he would do, come to think of it. The man was sneaky. Just sneaky enough to thinking of something like that. Buck said, coming in from the kitchen where he had been cleaning up the last of breakfast, "Damn, stud ... still can't believe she done that to you last night."
Chris turned and glared at his old friend, without any real heat. In part because of the little boy maintaining his own vigil at the front door. Buck shook his head, continuing, "Now, Chris, I ain't the one who gave her the idea. I imagine Mary done that, when she tol' DeeDee that her bottles looked a lot like beer bottles." Buck snickered, adding, "But your expression was still funny! Damn, I thought you was gonna spew all over the rug. Mary woulda killed you for that, you know."
Chris muttered under his breath and went back to looking out the window. More to the point, he was looking for a specific van which was carrying his younger brother. Where the hell was Josiah? Chris wished his brother had taken him up on the offer to stay at the house, even though he understood why Vin turned him down. That didn't keep him from worrying about Vin, when things with JD were still so unsteady. It wasn't that he didn't trust Vin ... but JD often tried too hard, pushed too hard, and Vin could only take so much before the backlash finally began.
Had this schism happened three years ago, Chris had no doubts it would have ended up destroying SG-7 before it had a chance to become a team. Buck would have automatically taken JD's side, and things would have gone downhill from there. The major, however, was still in the process of rebuilding his own relationship with JD. Buck said softly, "Josiah can keep them two under control, Chris. And Vin ain't about to commit murder."
"That ain't who he is," Chris acknowledged as Billy ran back into his bedroom once more, "but even Vin has limits, Buck." There was silence from the other man, but a quick glance over his shoulder told Chris that the major understood what he was saying. For his own part, the colonel understood that JD was trying to make amends. So did Vin. But JD didn't always know how to keep his mouth shut, and Vin was still working through a few things on his own.
"I know," Buck replied, "but Josiah ain't about to let things get outta hand." Chris grinned. Now that was the truth! Buck continued, shaking his head, "Hell, when your old man was here, it was a toss up who was gonna tear his throat out first ... Vin's grandpa, Josiah, or the ladies." Chris laughed this time, remembering how the ladies had reacted when Evan Larabee showed up during the Open House.
And Nathan had been overheard, muttering about how he wasn't about to put Evan Larabee back together, if Josiah decided to take him apart. Nathan Jackson was one of the most compassionate, kindest people Chris had ever met ... which told the world just how little he thought of Evan Larabee. In the three years he had known Nathan, Chris had never known the medic to turn away anyone ... not even Ezra, even when they weren't getting along at all.
Buck said softly, "Look, I know you worry about Vin somethin' fierce ... you're still gettin' used to being a big brother. It takes time ... trying to walk that line between being a protective big brother and a smothering ass. Trust me, I'm still learning the boundaries there." Chris responded with a smirk and a 'ya think' look. Buck gave him his own version of the Glare, and continued, "But I can tell ya this ... Vin is fine. Josiah would die before he allowed anything else to happen to Vin. And JD has been real good these last few weeks."
Yes, Chris knew that. But he couldn't help worrying. He was on the point of answering his old friend, when the van he had been watching for pulled up in front of his house. Buck clapped him on the back, picked up the costumes which Daniel loaned them, and said, "Let's get goin,' pard. Just in case." Just in case? Oh ... never mind. He didn't think he wanted to know. Instead, Chris moved out of the way as Billy hurtled from his room and after Buck. The colonel checked the door, made sure he had the house keys, then followed Buck out to the van. Josiah had the door open, and Chris shivered.
As he approached the van, Chris saw JD swinging into the very back, leaving Vin in the middle bench. Buck swung in beside JD, pushing the bill of the cartographer's baseball cap low over his eyes. Typical big brother type of thing to do, and a typical Buck thing to do. Smiling, Chris got into the van beside his own brother, with Billy on his other side. Vin was slouched low in his seat, shins resting against the back of the driver's seat, arms folded over his chest to conserve heat. But then, that was the purpose of the entire posture ... to maintain and conserve heat. Maybe that wasn't how Vin explained it to himself, but it was how Chris learned about it in the Academy.
The younger Larabee brother murmured as Chris slid in beside him and buckled up (Chris knowing the rules of riding with Josiah), "Hey cowboy ... didja get the stuff?" He yelped as Chris poked him in the ribs, and now Chris was on the receiving end of a bright blue glare. The older brother just grinned at his younger counterpart, the glare going up several notches when Chris patted the top of his head ... after knocking off Vin's baseball cap.
"Thought I told you not to call me cowboy, runt ... and 'course I got the stuff," Chris retorted, thoroughly enjoying this return to childhood. While he got a glimpse into what Vin was like as a child, he still missed out on much of Vin's childhood and early youth. He never got to be a kid with his brother, and ever since Vin returned from his time as a child, Chris took more and more opportunities to get that back ... including calling his five foot eleven inch brother 'runt.'
"Now, now, boys ... behave. Or I'll tell your ladies on you," Josiah said from the front seat. Chris smirked, exchanging a look with Vin. It wasn't an idle threat, and they knew it. They just didn't know what their ladies would do to them. On the other hand ... it couldn't really be all that bad, could it? Uhm ... maybe it would be wise not to find out. Mary and Adriana were both on the unpredictable side. The two brothers exchanged another look, silently agreeing that they would behave ... at least for now. Chris felt Billy burrow against his side, and looked down at the boy with a smile. Yes ... he would behave. For now.
Renaissance Faires. Medieval Times. The Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. A feast for all the senses. At least until you realized that some of the smells were totally out of place with the desired atmosphere. Adriana loved hot dogs, hamburgers and such as much as the next girl, but it just didn't fit in. For her twentieth birthday, Charlotte, Dawn, and Carly had taken her to Las Vegas and the Excalibur. They took in one of the jousts and ate chicken with their fingers.
So, no. Hot dogs just didn't go with the general atmosphere of the Renaissance or the Middle Ages. Which didn't prevent the archaeologist from munching on a hot dog as she and the other ladies wandered about the fairgrounds. Lacey was unusually quiet, and Josie explained that she received a phone call the previous night, which rattled her. Josie didn't explain further, and Adriana didn't ask. When Lacey was ready, she would tell her.
And in the meantime, Mindy kept gravitating toward the now-quiet girl. The border collie sensed something was terribly wrong with the blonde teen. Just as she sensed when Charlotte, or Adriana, Mary or Carly was troubled. Adriana didn't stop Mindy, and instead, focused on making sure Charlotte didn't overdo it. That, by itself, was a full time job. Charlotte was reverting to her old habits ... drawing in on herself, depending on herself, rather than anyone else. Not that Adriana or the other ladies would allow her to do that. She was glad the mother and daughter had joined them today, especially after she saw her friend's face when the van arrived.
Charlotte refused to talk about whatever made her cry. Likely, she didn't want to upset Tansy, who was just as quiet as Lacey. However, Adriana could make an educated guess, and she silently blessed her older brother for swooping down and scooping Tansy into an immense Buck bear hug when they met up with the boys. Adriana had laughed as Buck nuzzled Tansy's neck with his mustache, making her giggle. Brought back memories.
Good memories, for a change. Her smile broadened as she remembered herself at seven, seated on her brother's lap as they went round and round on the Sit-n-Spin. And didn't Buck buy one of those for Kevin? Yes, he did ... she would ask Vin if he had a problem with her going for a spin on it sometime. It was good to revisit good memories once in a while, and remind yourself that not all of your childhood was bad.
And another memory pushed free ... she was about Tansy's age, probably a little younger. Bundled up in blankets and coats, sitting on her mother's lap. Katrien was laughing in response to something said ... by whom? Didn't matter. Her mother was laughing and holding her. If Adriana concentrated, she could almost smell the hot chocolate. They were at a football game. Yes. A football game, on a cold day. Like today. And Adriana remembered feeling safe and warm. A feeling she wouldn't have after her mother's death, after her brother disappeared from her life ... a feeling she wouldn't have again until she met Vin Tanner.
She was brought back to the present when she almost tripped over her skirt. Damn. She should have gone ahead and worn jeans, instead of the peasant outfit. This made the third time she almost tripped over the hem of her dress. The next time, she would probably end up taking Charlotte with her, and that would not be a good thing. At least Tansy had remained with Buck, JD, and Casey. The last time Adriana saw her honorary niece, the little girl was perched atop Buck's shoulders, much to her glee.
And the archaeologist had noticed Tansy spending more and more time with Buck recently. Will continued to be an asshole, and Adriana knew it was only a matter of time before he hit rock bottom. The question became what happened once he did, indeed, hit rock bottom. Would he make things right with Charlotte and Tansy, or would he just be content to whine and complain about how he had been abandoned and deserted?
What especially bothered Adriana was the way she felt about the whole mess. Things had reached the point where she no longer cared anything about Will Richmond. Her only concern was for Charlotte and Tansy. There was a time, not so long ago, when Will had been her friend, almost like an older brother to her. He and Charlotte watched out for her before she left for Germany, after Vin's disappearance.
But Adriana's patience with him had dried up. Just as her patience with her brother dried up after the rescue of General Travis. But unlike Buck, Adriana sensed Will wouldn't rate any more second chances. Then again, her relationship with Will had never been as complex as her relationship with her brother. Adriana knew herself well enough to know that her own screwed up self-esteem tied into her troubled relationship with Buck. There were none of those complications involved with Will.
"Quit thinking about him, Drina ... concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. Maybe you won't trip over the hem of your skirt ... ow! Are you sure you're not Larabee's sister, instead of Buck's?" Charlotte asked, reaching behind to rub the back of her head. She glared at Adriana as she limped along, and the younger archaeologist gave her a wide-eyed look which had often been compared to Ezra's 'what just happened there' look.
"No, but the question has been raised from time to time. And I'm not worrying about your husband, I'm considering how strange it is that I no longer care. Besides, I have a perfectly good man of my own, why would I want to think about that ... person you married?" Adriana asked, raising her eyebrows. She had lost her respect for Will, but she had to be very careful with the way she talked about him with his wife.
"Oh honey, don't worry about offending me. The way Will has been acting lately ... " Charlotte began, then shook her head. She was silent for several moments, then said softly, "I keep hoping and believing that he'll come back to us. My husband ... Tansy and Allison's father. I don't understand why he changed the way he did while we were planetside. And I don't know how much longer I can hold onto the hope that he will come back."
Adriana didn't ask the obvious question ... why. She had asked that question once, a long time ago. Back in Texas, and she knew the answer still held true. She understood that, too, because she loved Vin. Part of it was the fact that Charlotte still loved Will ... or at least, loved the man she thought he could be, because the jury was still out on whether he was actually that man. And the other part ... the other part was simply Charlotte's wish to hold onto Allison. If she left Will, if she gave up on their marriage, it was like giving up on Allison.
The trouble was, and Adriana knew that Charlotte knew this, they were fast reaching a point where Charlotte would have to make a choice, a choice between her daughters. At least, that was how she would see it. Adriana suspected that Allison would tell her mother to protect her living child, that there wasn't a choice to be made, but she couldn't talk to the dead. The only thing she could do was support the living and take care of them.
Charlotte added a moment later, "And we shouldn't be talking about this, not when you have plans to make." Adriana raised her brows at Charlotte questioningly. Uhm, wasn't this the woman who told Adriana that she didn't want to know? Right along with Mary, Josie, Lacey? Knowing Carly, she would want to know. Charlotte glared at her, continuing, "I mean, what are you planning to do about Mindy? Sheesh, girl, I think your reality check bounced. I wasn't asking for a blow by blow account of what you plan to do to Vin tonight!"
"My reality check couldn't bounce, because I never cashed it," Adriana retorted, and was rewarded by another glare from her friend. She laughed, adding, "Hey, you walked right into that one, darlin,' and don't even try to tell me that you didn't." Charlotte began muttering under her breath about smart-ass archaeologists, and Adriana briefly considered telling her that she sounded just like Chris right then. But she didn't. Instead, she opted for another smart-ass answer, telling her friend, "Besides. I got no plans to hit Vin tonight."
The two women were interrupted by a low laugh, coming from Charlotte's other side, as Mary said, "Not in the traditional sense of punching him, no. But maybe a different sort of hit." Both Charlotte and Adriana gaped at Mary in astonishment ... not exactly something they expected to hear Mary Travis say. In this lifetime or the next. The blonde captain asked with a laugh, drawing the word out, "Whaaaaaaat? It's true ... there are many, many ways to hit a man. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about here."
This was said with a waggle of her eyebrows which would have made Buck proud. Damn. The woman could be downright dangerous when she wanted to be! Mary must have seen her reaction in her eyes, for she added with a smug smile, "Dangerous? Of course I am! And don't you ever forget it!" Adriana and Charlotte looked at each other, and unfortunately for her, Mary immediately figured out what both were thinking, for she added, "I wouldn't advise it."
"We can get her back later, Drina ... don't think it would be a good idea if the ladies of the SGC were seen rolling around on the ground in a brawl. Much less dressed in peasant skirts. Sets a real bad example," Charlotte observed. Bad example, ha! Charlotte added, "Besides, think of tonight ... you get into it now, it'll take you twice as long to clean up tonight when you get home. And you still didn't answer my question. What about Mindy?"
"I thought it was 'What about Bob?' Or was that something else entirely?" Mary asked, never once missing a beat. Lord and Lady, she really was in rare form today! Then again, with the way she and Adriana had been teasing Chris before Josie picked them up, maybe it shouldn't have been such a surprise. On the other hand ... Adriana's prank on Chris the night before had been one of her better ones.
In college, Adriana usually left the pranks and such to Carly and Dawn. They had better imaginations for it, often creating elaborate jokes to play on Will or anyone else who had incurred their wrath. Adriana saved her imagination to try to figure out the possibilities in her field. When she first heard the theory that the Sphinx was much older than anyone previous thought, she reacted first with skepticism ... then her 'what if' streak kicked in.
So, she really didn't have the imagination to spare on practical jokes ... or, for that matter, cooking. However, Mary's off-the-cuff remark that one of her soda bottles kind of looked like a beer bottle got Adriana's 'what if' streak going once more. She knew from the last two years of observation that Chris rarely looked at the beer bottle when it was handed to him. She couldn't have fooled him with a water bottle. But a glass soda bottle?
It would be, as Buck put it, like taking candy from a baby. However, to be on the safe side, she decided to use a beer bottle, instead of a soda bottle. There were times when Chris surprised her, and she didn't want this prank to blow up in her face. It had taken very little prompting to get Mary to help her, while Billy kept a lookout. Using a siphon in the kitchen, the soda was transferred from its own bottle to an empty beer bottle which Chris had rinsed out and was getting ready to put in the recycling bin.
It was necessary to divide the plan into two parts ... one part, which was done while Chris was home, and another part, which was done while he was out getting supplies. He took Billy with him, which left the two women alone to finish their plot. Buck was on the couch, and a quick glance into the living room just before they got started told the pair that he had fallen asleep watching the Discovery Channel. Adriana made a mental note to take a picture later, just to prove her brother did watch mainstream programming, and not the Playboy Channel. Some of the gals out at the SGC didn't believe her, insisting that someone like Buck Wilmington would only watch ESPN, Playboy, and anything else which had nude women. Showed how little they knew!
Then she got back to work. Inside the kitchen, Mary had found the label, which had been removed, and soaked it in water before replacing it on the bottle. It would dry on the bottle, and then they would make sure it stayed put with Scotch tape. While she was soaking the label, Adriana experimented with food coloring and the soda, until she got the right shade of amber. She promised to buy Mary two more bottles of soda when they finished, a promise Adriana would keep by the end of the week.
And the time Adriana had taken ended up being worth it, in the end. Just to see the look on her dear brother's face when he got a mouth full of cherries and cream soda. Even better, Orrin and Evie Travis had been over at the time. Adriana grinned to herself, picturing in her mind's eye the expression on the general's face when he reached over and took a swig, trying to figure out why Chris had such a strange expression. Maybe she should buy Mary three bottles, instead of just two.
"Earth to Drina, anyone in there?" Charlotte said, startling Adriana out of her memories. She realized she had been staring at the same thing for the last few minutes. That wouldn't have been so bad, but that 'thing' happened to be a manure pile left by one of the elephants. Adriana blinked and shook her head. Charlotte continued with a sigh of relief, "Had me worried. You had this ... well ... shit-eating grin on your face, and staring at that shitpile, and I thought you were gonna pull a Laura Dern."
A what? Then she remembered. Jurassic Park. She glared at her friend, who threw up her hands in mock surrender, saying, "Hey, can I help it if that was one of the most memorable scenes in the entire movie?" Adriana and Mary grabbed for her at the same time as Charlotte swayed on her crutches. Mary, however, was shaking from head to toe with suppressed laughter. Trust Mary. Her sense of humor was about like Vin's.
"You've got a dirty mind ... literally," Adriana grumbled, righting her friend, "and for your information, I was thinking about the prank Mary and I pulled on Chris last night." Charlotte's eyes lit up, and Adriana nodded to Mary, saying, "You tell her ... I can tell you're just bursting at the seams to share your part in our ... now how did Chris put it, after your parents left last night?" Like most of the SGC, Adriana had gotten into the habit of calling Orrin and Evie Travis Mary's parents. For one thing, it was easier, and for another, it was true.
"Prank, Adriana ... he called it a prank. Ezra's the one who's the walking, talking thesaurus," Mary reminded her. Oh, that's right. Maybe Adriana had been laughing so hard, she heard things ... or maybe her brother's voice blended in with Chris muttering. Talk about getting your wires crossed. Mary continued, "Are you guys wondering what the boys are up to?" Adriana smirked and shook her head.
"Nah ... they're doing the exact same thing we are. Playing word games with each other and wondering what we're doing. You know how men are. That song by ... one of the few country singers I don't listen to. 'Bout how old men sitting around talking about old women, and old women sitting around and talking about old men. Damn, I can actually hear it in my head, but ... " she replied, shaking her head.
"Randy Travis, "Forever and Ever, Amen." At least, that's what I call it. And wasn't a thesaurus a type of dinosaur?" Charlotte asked. Now it wasn't just Mary and Adriana looking at her, but those two, plus the rest of their little party. Including Maude. All of them gawping at Charlotte. She continued, shrugging her shoulders about as well as she could on a pair of crutches, "Well, we were talking about Jurassic Park, etc ... "
There was a collective groan from the other women, and Josie changed the subject quickly, asking, "So, Adriana, do you have everything ready for tonight?" Adriana noticed the sudden gleam of interest in Maude's eyes, and Josie just looked at the senator. The archaeologist wondered at those two. Wondered why Maude always desisted whatever she was doing ... why she listened to Josie. What had Josie done to earn that? Not that she doubted her aunt, but it made her curious.
However, she answered Josie's question, replying, "Pretty much. I decided to take a break while I was here, before I gave myself a headache. The only thing I have left to do is figure out what to do about Mindy. Josie ... how would you feel about taking her for tonight? Lacey seems kind of down, and I didn't want to ask before ... but do you think Mindy would be able to help her with whatever she's dealing with?"
Josie released a deep exhalation. She sounded almost ... relieved. The former sergeant looked ahead to where her daughter was standing with Casey Welles, and replied, "I was hoping you'd ask that. I was trying to find the words to ask. She got a call last night from one of her roommates. A mutual friend killed herself, and Lacey's not coping with it very well. I didn't want to leave her alone today, and figured she would be better off in our group."
Adriana agreed ... it wasn't a matter of being cheered up. That would only give the girl more reason to feel guilty, and Adriana was betting Lacey was feeling guilty. No ... no, she needed to be with people whom she loved, and who loved her. The archaeologist was grateful to Josie ... she just wished the answer to her hopes hadn't been under these circumstances. And she wondered if Vin knew about his younger sister's hurt.
Vin did know. Josiah had quietly filled him in on the ride to the ranch. Told him everything, then left it to Vin to explain to Chris that their little sister felt like her life had just shattered. This girl, Nerys, hadn't been her best friend or her roommate, but she had been her roommate's best friend. She was the last person anyone had ever suspected would take her own life. But, wasn't that often the way? Vin found his attention now divided between his lady and his baby sister. He had to be there for Lacey.
Never mind that he hadn't been given a choice while they were growing up. Lacey was his baby sister, and it was Vin's duty and privilege, as her older brother, to do whatever he could to help her. He couldn't make this situation right for her. No one could do that. But he needed to make sure she understood that she wasn't alone, that he would do whatever he could to help her. Even if it was to just leave her alone.
She did know that. He had talked to her briefly, while Josiah, Aunt Jo, and Chris were paying for the tickets. Only for about ten minutes, but long enough to know that she knew he would be there for her. She smiled then, the barest hint of her usual thousand-watt smile, and added that she hadn't told Drina yet. She didn't want Vin telling her, either, because then she would feel guilty about not asking directly.
Lacey had seen the worry in her eyes when Drina looked at her, and held back. Held back, because she didn't want to pressure Lacey. It helped, when you were hurting, to worry about someone else. That was exactly what she was doing, and she freely admitted it. She would tell them more later. Right now ... she just didn't want to talk about it. And she didn't want him worrying about her, she would be fine.
Didn't want him worryin' about her. Ha! Didn't she know that it was the job of a big brother to worry about his little sister? Along with takin' care of her, teasin' her, and defendin' her against any bullies who tried to hurt her? Until he met up with Chris and the others, that was somethin' he hadn't ever known about. And if he was really honest with himself, he would admit that ever since he found out he had a younger sister, he had been watching Bucklin and Adriana real close, to see how he was supposed to act.
Bucklin's example, and Lacey's response to it, reassured him that he was doing it right. Chris said softly, "Lacey will be fine ... you're thinking so hard, I think they can smell the wood burning clear over on the other side of the fairgrounds. They'll get a fire truck out here." Vin shoved his older brother, who immediately grabbed Vin in a head lock, whispering, "Don't you know you ain't supposed to mess with the Black Knight, little brother?"
Vin squirmed out of the headlock, coming out behind Chris to shove his brother forward. He was very aware that he had to be careful with these clothes, since they were borrowed, but he wouldn't let that stop him from having some fun. He could get them dirty, Daniel had told him ... but he would appreciate it if the clothes were returned intact. Vin had no intention of doing anything that would rip the borrowed costume. Instead, he drew the plastic sword which was part of his costume ... one of the plastic swords which Josiah and Nathan had bought at Busch Gardens only months earlier ... and brandished it high in the air.
Chris drew his own plastic sword, his green eyes dancing with laughter, though his mouth was a grim line. Ha. Larabee knew Vin could read him better than that! Buck hooted, Tansy high on his shoulders, "I got twenty on Chris!" Tansy gave a little bounce, and Buck secured her ankles. Josiah (who was currently carrying Billy on his own shoulders ... something which Vin remembered well) and Nathan both put in their bids, while Billy called out that he would put a dollar on Chris. JD decided to stay out of it.
And then the battle was joined as the two brothers launched forwarded, their plastic swords clashing. Not with the mighty clang of steel swords, but with the dull thud of plastic, but that made no difference to the two combatants, or to the onlookers. Billy cheered his hero, and Tansy cheered her own, while the other members of the Seven called out encouragement to both brothers. The brothers exchanged no quips or banter while they ' fought,' that wasn't their way.
But every time their swords would clash, and the brothers would come face to face, Chris would wink at Vin, and the younger brother would respond with his own grin, before they broke free and spun apart. This dance was repeated several times, until the brothers were both sweating and breathing hard. As Vin arched his sword one last time to block his brother's thrust, Chris kicked Vin's legs out from under him, and the younger brother landed solidly on his butt.
But the move ended up costing Chris, because when Vin went down, his arms compensated for the change in his balance ... and Chris found the point of Vin's sword solidly against his chest. Both brothers knew that if they had been fighting with real swords, Chris would have impaled himself on his brother's sword. Vin could see that understanding in his brother's eyes with the sudden lack of laughter there.
But Chris helped Vin to his feet, and the crowd they had attracted with their swordplay erupted into applause. The sharpshooter blushed, but nodded his acknowledgment. Chris, perhaps seeing the same avid interest in the eyes of a few ladies, pulled him into a brief, fierce embrace, and the rest of the team crowded around the brothers, effectively blocking them from the view of the audience.
"That was so cool ... almost as cool as Josiah and Nathan at Busch Gardens! You shoulda seen them, Tansy!" Billy said, almost bouncing on Josiah's shoulders. The big man winced and clamped his hands over the little boy's legs. Billy added apologetically, "Sorry 'bout that, Josiah. That's why Chris can't give me piggyback rides anymore, either. I'm gettin' too heavy to bounce. I just forget sometimes."
"That's all right, son, just ... careful with the bouncing. I'm older than Chris, remember, old and decrepit," Josiah answered in a creaky voice. He leaned forward, as if Billy's weight was too much for him to bear, and the little boy giggled. Vin rolled his eyes. Old and decrepit, his ass! Josiah just glared at him, growling, "You just wait, Kevin Tanner, you wait until we meet up with the ladies again!"
"Promises, promises ... old man," Vin retorted, his eyes sparkling with laughter. Josiah growled and bent a little further at the waist, now reminding Vin of a charging bull. A charging bull. Hmmm. He looked over at Nathan, who had come alone. Rain was sleeping in and vegging, as she put it ... besides, Janet Frasier would be heading over to the Jackson home later with Cassie. Rain had decided her husband needed time to himself.
At his wife's insistence, Nathan was dressed as a toreador, and Vin motioned for his friend to hand him his cape. Obviously, Nathan was thinking the same thing he was! He was used to Chris knowin' what he was thinkin,' maybe that was just the way it was with brothers. All of 'em.
The big man grinned impishly and undid the clasp of his cloak, then handed it to Vin. Meanwhile, Josiah was snorting and pawing at the ground with his foot. As soon as Vin snapped the cape, Josiah charged, with a giggling Billy on his shoulders. Vin swept the cape up over both, mussing up Billy's dark blond hair. He twirled and snapped the cape up again as Josiah made a second charge. By this time, Billy was in danger of falling off Josiah's shoulders from laughing so hard, and as Josiah made his second pass, Chris swept the little boy from the big man.
Which freed Josiah to charge Vin ... not as a bull, but as a man. He snapped the cape away, tossing it back to Nathan, before crushing the laughing sharpshooter in a mighty bear hug, one which easily rivaled a Buck bear hug. He had heard about those from Drina ... quite a lot, actually. And it was Buck who put a stop to Josiah crushing Vin's ribs, saying, "Now, ' nough of that, Josiah ... we got drinkin' and wenchin' to do!"
"Making merry," Chris corrected, "Billy's not quite old enough for anything else yet." Josiah released Vin, and the seven continued on their way. Vin's eye was caught by a booth nearby. Chris saw it, too, saying, "Hey, Buck, I thought I saw a weapons demonstration on ahead ... why don't you take JD with you? We'll catch up later." When the major assented, Chris wrapped his hand around the back of Vin's neck and murmured, "Now. Let's go take a look at those water globes for your lady!"
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