The Perk Monday after school

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

She stopped in for a latte and sat down to wait for Jack. His message was weird...like he had to tell her something he didn't really want to. What in the world happened at that naked slumber party?


[[CJ's meeting with time_agent, but feel free to use this for your own Perk patronage.]]

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack walked into the Perk. He saw CJ in the corner and waved, stopping at the counter to get a drink to fortify himself first. "Hey, Mom. How was the first day of classes?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Good, sweetie. How about yours?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Pretty good. Or at least I assume so since the post for my second class hasn't gone up yet. There's only three of us in the Doctor's Quantum Physics class, so it's going to be kind of hard to fade into the back. Like I ever kept my big mouth shut, anyway." He fiddled and sipped his drink. "Anyone interesting in your classes?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

"Um. A kid named Shep that I seem to get along with. And O'Neill. A boy from Santa Clara...and E. Of course. She's my TA. I roped O'Neill into TAing for 301."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"O'Neill, as in one of the other myriad Jacks. Could be worse. You could have both of us in your class again." Jack glanced around. Maybe he should have asked to do this in the TARDIS, but maybe being in public would make this easier. Less throwing of things around. "Look, Mom... I have to fess up to something. It's not really so much a lie --" really, really it's not "-- it's that when you made a mistake... an assumption, I didn't correct you, and sorta lied by omission." He took a deep drink, a deep breath, and blurted, "You adopted Shane and I." He squinched his eyes shut and waited.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

She sighs. "Oh good. I've been thinking I was such a horrible mother to not remember being pregnant at all. Plus, I thought it was weird my hips would be this size carrying twins." She smiles softly. "I still raised you and love you, Jack. I chose you...that makes it more special almost, doesn't it?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack lets his breath out in relief. "It makes it way more special. It means so much to me that you picked me. I know it means the same to Shane."

Wait... she said "raised"... ohshit...

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

"I don't know why you got so worked up. God, it's like you don't know me at all." She laughs softly and picks up her coffee, taking a sip.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You don't like lies," Jack said, a touch hollowly. "And you can get scary when you're mad. Scary in a good way," he hastened to add. "Scary in a mama lion, grrr, these are my cubs, don't mess with 'em, kind of way."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

"Ok, well, you've got me pegged there. But you know, it was just a little white lie. Not really anything. I'm sure I've let you off from those before."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Usually you get me for being a smartass at you. Like the mug you got me for Christmas." Jack laughed.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I don't know when I bought that for you. Seems like...at the start of school."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack shrugged. "Probably after I cranked at you for the electro-shock collar experiment, and you tsked at me for zapping Rory. I spent the best part of a week pouting at you."

Before Tactics...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker left the Library still out of sorts, and decided to go in search of coffee, and maybe stop by Sanctity, to get in a better mood. She took a seat at a corner table after she got a frappachino, and settled in to study her textbook.

She wasn't avoiding anyone. Really.

Re: Before Tactics...

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots was actually looking for an internet cafe and somewhere he could buy coffee. Which is why he almost didn't notice Miss Parker. Almost. "Parker."

Re: Before Tactics...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Broots." She eyed him warily, wondering how much he remembered. "You're back to normal."

Re: Before Tactics...

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. So are you." Broots was wondering the exact same thing and absentmindedly scratched at the gremlin bite with the toe of his shoe. "Where's JC?"

Re: Before Tactics...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"In your room. Where I slept last night." Parker would so like to tease him, but some part of her mind was remembering how worried she'd been when she thought she J.C. was hers. "Your roommate was kind enough to share a breath mint when I woke up. I didn't kill him."

Re: Before Tactics...

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"I'll be sure to point out your kindness to him." His tone is very, very carefully controlled. "Especially since he didn't even do anything wrong."

Re: Before Tactics...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"He annoyed me this morning. I wouldn't kill him for anything from last night," Parker said in response, keeping her voice even. She shrugged uncomfortably, knowing what she wanted to say, but not knowing how to start.

Might as well address the simple things.

"For what it's worth, I won't call you 'minion' any more." She took a sip of her drink and looked away.

Re: Before Tactics...

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"It's worth a lot." Broots said quietly and sat down on an empty chair next to her. "Did we make the radio?" He mustered up a half-smile.

Re: Before Tactics...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"No, thankfully. Although I am now considering going to Blank's therapy group for gremlin victims. Nasty little suckers." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "God, that was weird. Did you sleep in the common room all night?"

Re: Before Tactics...

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

"Small miracle. And yeah, nasty doesn't begin to describe them. Dr. Grimsom did tell me that he managed to bribe a few with old junk-food. And yeah, I did. Thanks." Broots is carefully studying his shoes.

Re: Before Tactics...

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

This is so awkward that if she ever flailed, now would be the time.

"So." She takes a deep breath. "Yeah. Are you amenable to remaining staff? Or are you tendering your resignation? No penalties, either way."

Re: Before Tactics...

[dorky-broots.livejournal.com]

Broots's head nearly snapped up. "What? Why? You know actually like doing the hacking with a purpose better than just sitting there hoping I find something cool. Yeah, last night was uber-awkward. Yeah, I'm kinda angry at you. But you're still the nicest bully I know."