Strangers and Stranger Things

by Alienorx

Rating:Gen, G, Not even a bad word.
Fandom:Stargate/SGA
Characters:Elizabeth Weir and Jack O'Neill
Summary:A diplomat, a general, and a bad day walk into a bar.
Notes:Written for the lyric wheel. The chosen lyrics were "Some Enchanted Evening" by Perry Como and this was written for StargateBabe.

"What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"

Elizabeth turned at the sound of the familiar face, and worse, the corny line.

"General O'Neill. I might ask you the same thing." She offered him a tight smile and turned her attention back to her beer.

"Sure. Except I'm not a girl. Do you mind?" He gestured at the bar stool next to hers as he sat down, not waiting for her agreement. Elizabeth gritted her teeth. She didn't dislike Jack O'Neill, but she'd also gone out of her way to choose a bar not popular with the people from Cheyenne Mountain. And Jack was supposed to be at the mountain, physically restraining Dr. Jackson from hiding in some Atlantis bound luggage. The General ordered a beer of his own but didn't say anything else for a moment.

"I don't usually see SGC folk around this joint, it's a little too far a field. But maybe that's why you're here." Jack was evidently a lot smarter than some people thought. Including Elizabeth, though she admittedly bounced back and form between "Dumb as a Post" and "Secret Evil Mastermind."

"I... A friend lives nearby. I went to visit and I wasn't ready to go back to the base after I left." Simon's home wasn't her home anymore and she hadn't been ready to deal with John or Rodney or personnel issues.

"Ah. Me, I needed a beer. Daniel's pretty fixated on joining you folks in Atlantis. Man just won't take no for an answer."

"No, but I understand that's part of his charm." Elizabeth felt her face, so tight from her conversation with Simon and the stresses the Atlantis expedition had undergone since their return, relax as she spoke.

"Charm is one word for it. At least I don't have McKay to deal with anymore." Jack sipped his beer and gave Elizabeth a look as he did so.

She met his gaze. "McKay has his own charms. And you know, I've read some of SG-1's early mission reports. You had just as many problems with Dr. Jackson in the early days as some SGC personnel have had with Rodney. They both have positive personality traits to offer."

"Like what, being obnoxiously smart? Having a talent for throwing around big words?"

Elizabeth spoke softly. "For saving lives. For throwing themselves into their task wholeheartedly. I don't know about Dr. Jackson, but I've learned a lot from Rodney in the time that I've known him." She's a little startled to realize how true that is. How much she doesn't regret leaving Simon in the first place, because it brought her to this place in her life where she's defending a grumpy genius to a General in a bar.

Even if it did sound like the beginning to a really bad joke.

"Now that's better." Startled, Elizabeth looked at Jack, who was smiling at her.

"What's better?"

"You. See, I walked in here and saw some stranger sitting at the bar. She looked kind of like this woman I know, Elizabeth Weir, but her shoulders were bent and she was fading into the edges of the room, trying to hide. And that wasn't like the woman I know. But now," Jack got up, tossed a few bills on the bar, "I can see that you are the woman I know, all sparkle and sass. So my job here is done."

She raised her eyebrows at his mini-speech. "Sass."

Jack nodded as he turned to go. "Yup. Sass. Don't be too long. You know how the kids get when the adults are gone." And then he left.

Elizabeth sipped the rest of her beer slowly before putting some money on the bar. On her way out into the cool Colorado night, she checked her cell for messages.

12 messages from Rodney. 2 from John. Zero from Simon.

She dialed Rodney's number.

"Elizabeth!!?? Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea what's been going on here? For the love of..." And he was off. And so was Elizabeth, smiling as she slipped her car into drive, phone smashed between ear and shoulder, headed for the mountain.

She'd be home soon.


Some Enchanted Evening

Perry Como

      Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger
      You may see a stranger across a crowded room,
      An' somehow you know, you know even then,
      That somewhere you'll see her again and again!
      Some enchanted evening, someone may be laughing
      You may hear her laughing across a crowded room,
      An' night after night as strange as it seems
      The sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams!
      Who can explain it, who can tell you why,
      Fools give you reasons, wise men never try!
      Some enchanted evening, when you find your true love
      When you hear her call you across a crowded room,
      Then fly to her side and make her your own
      Or all thru your life you may dream all alone!
      Once you have found her,
      Never let her go!
      Once you have found her,
      Never let her go!