Chapter Text
Title: The Off-World Job
Author: Trowa B
Notes: Not sure *where* this one came from. Anyone missing a bunny?
Summary: Jack offers an old friend a job.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
*****
He doesn't know why he came; why he's here.
Well, no, he knows why he's here. He's here because his friend, Jack
O'Neill asked him. What he doesn't know is why, in the final few weeks
of his terminal leave, he is here in Colorado Springs, waiting to talk
to Jack O'Neill about a new job.
He wishes he had thought to tell Jack that no, what worked for him
wasn't going to work for Nathan, but in the end he had decided that he
wasn't going to turn down a chance to see his old friend, no matter
what Jack may be trying to get him to do. He could still turn whatever
it was down, after all. Jack may have been 'saved' by getting sucked
into this special ops black hole, but Nate really didn't think it was
his bag.
He sighed and presented his ID to the gate guard, who took it, looked
it over, checked the list and then handed it back, barely hiding his
smirk. "First right, sir," he said, "Then left. The parking lot is to
the right and someone will be waiting for you at the main entrance.
It's a joint command, sir, so it may be one of the marines."
Arriving in the lot, he found the designated visitor parking and, as
he was trying to make sure the visitor's pass stayed attached to his
rear view mirror, there was a rap on his window. He jumped, jerking
round to glare at the marine.
It had no effect on the man, who looked at him impassively until he
got out of his car.
"Major Ford," said the man, offering a salute as Nate jammed his cover
onto his head. "Lieutenant De Lint. If you'll follow me please?"
With a final glare, Nate gave a sharp nod. The man did an equally
sharp about face and headed smartly for the check-point, leaving Nate
a little in his wake. He was having a quiet conversation with the
guard as Nate caught up, something to do with "seeing the boss". The
guard shot Nate an almost pitying look, but waved them on through.
A guard post near a bank of elevators waved them through with barely a
second glance, but snapped off a parade ground salute, as if this
weren't some kind of back-woods NATO research post. And how the hell
had a research post pulled Jack out of his depression anyway?
He was jerked out of his reverie by a shout of warning sounded from
the elevator and a dark haired man in an eye patch hurtled past with a
tall, blonde woman in hot pursuit. His escort watched them go, a
thoughtful expression on his face.
As the pair disappeared into sunlight, the phone at the desk started
to ring.
The guard glanced at it, then back at the Lieutenant. "Please tell me
you'll find out the story, sir?" he asked before answering it.
De Lint grinned and nodded, before gesturing to Nathan to board the
elevator. He joined him after a moment, punching a code into a keypad
before pressing the button for the 27th floor.