Meerkat Cabin, Isabel's Alcove, afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

After coming back from researching at the library, Isabel returned to her alcove and decided to relax for the rest of the afternoon. Relaxing involved painting her nails and thinking about the night before. Yes, she was still smiling.

[ooc: Locked to someone specific.]

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack had knocked at the cabin door, but no one had answered, so he'd cautiously walked inside, looking for Isabel's alcove.

When he found it, he leaned on the divider, watching her. She looked happy, and he couldn't help but smile in response. "Hey, Isabel. I seem to have invaded your cabin. I hope that's okay."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel looked up and smiled. "Hi Jack! It's fine by me. It's pretty quiet around here right now. What's up? Did you come by for the pirate ninja book?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"No, but I'll grab it if you want to give it to me," he said with a laugh. "I might have promised someone I'd read it and tell them why it was so popular." Jack straightened. "But you look very pleased with yourself. Anything you want to share with me?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Actually I've already loaned out my copy of the first book. And that's the one with the hammock sex." She leaned over, picked up a book off the floor and held it out to him. "This is the second book. It has its own equally implausible parts. You'll probably enjoy it. Either that or die laughing."

Looking down at her still wet nails, she quickly waved her hand over them, using her powers to dry them. "I'm happy?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack walked over and took the book, smirking at the cover. "Yeah, it looks interesting." He looked down at her, smile widening. "You are. I can tell." He paused. "Can I?" he asked, waving at the bed.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Of course," she said as she slid back to give him room. "How can you tell I'm happy?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack curled onto her bed, leaning on his elbow, and looked up at her. "The smile? The fact that you're exuding an air of radiance?" he asked, shrugging one shoulder. "You just feel happy, if that makes any sense." He wrapped one hand around her calf, squeezing gently. "And much as I'd love to think it was due to my presence, I suspect it's not. So what's up?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Your presence always makes me happy. Never doubt that," Isabel said sincerely. Then she looked down, studying the blanket. "I went for a walk last night. With Greg. It was nice."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack ducked his head, bumping it gently against her leg. "Me too," he said quietly, then a huge smile spread across his face. "This is Greg with the magic hair, right? The cute one? Am I going to have to exercise my friend privileges and have a little talk with him?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel reached out and ruffled his hair before tapping him lightly on the nose with her finger. "Yes, yes, and if you do I'll have to beat you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Promises, promises," Jack laughed, grabbing her hand. "And I probably won't have to, he seemed like a nice guy." Studying her closely, he asked, "You like him, don't you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I do," she quietly as she squeezed his hand. "He brought me cookies and Tabasco. And he's not freaked by the whole alien thing. How could I not?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack's eyes softened and he smiled warmly at her. "I'm really happy for you, Isabel. Though I'm not sure cookies and Tabasco are up there with hearts and flowers," he said, looking puzzled.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's an alien thing," she explained with small smile. "In addition to a metabolism that doesn't handle alcohol, I have weird taste buds. One of my favorite food combinations is sweet and spicy. I don't usually eat it too often around here. People tend to get grossed out. But after I told him about it, he brought me cookies and Tabasco." Isabel chuckled, "It's the alien equivalent of hearts and flowers."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Then I'm doubly happy," he said, smiling up at her. "You deserve hearts and flowers, whatever form they happen to take."

Jack looked down, rubbing his thumb in circles on the back of her hand. "On a different subject completely, I'm taking a little trip this evening," he said quietly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. I don't know for sure what's going to happen. But for right now? It's nice."

Isabel bit her lip, concerned. "Really? Where to?" she asked although she had a pretty good idea.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said quietly. "You should be happy." After a brief pause, he answered, "To see CJ."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Are you okay with that?" Isabel asked quietly.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I don't actually know. It would be so easy just to pretend I'd never heard of her. I don't remember her, so I'm not missing anything, right?" He shook his head. "Except I can't do that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, you can't. Because you might not remember it. But she loved you. And you loved her." Isabel smiled, "Obviously you don't remember, but the first week I was here, we wound up having this long conversation in the Perk about being adopted. You were so happy." She pulled his hand towards her, opening it up and beginning to massage his palm with her thumbs. "I didn't know her the way Parker did. But she was always incredibly nice to me in class."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack relaxed when she started rubbing his hand and shifted until his head was resting on her leg. Looking up at her, he said, "That's the problem. Knowing someone loves you when you don't love them back." He smiled slightly. "But she recognised my voice on the phone. I wasn't expecting that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Of course she would. I bet every time she picked up the phone she was hoping to hear your voice." She reached for his other hand and started to repeat the massage. "No one is saying you have to love her. But you are going to like her. I can pretty much guarantee that. Maybe you can build something from there."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right." Jack closed his eyes, feeling the knots of tension starting to unravel. "It's just a strange idea to get used to."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Why? Didn't you ever want someone to love you like that?" she asked, smiling as she felt him relax. "Unconditionally?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It honestly never occurred to me." Laughing softly, he added, "Even if it had, I'm too much of a realist for that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm willing to bet CJ is going to give it to you. So you better be ready for it."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack opened his eyes and grinned at her. "Is there anything I'm not ready for?" He sat up, keeping hold of her hand as he moved. "And I've probably monopolised your time and your bed long enough for one day."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No. probably not," Isabel laughed as she squeezed his hand. "You haven't, not at all."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I'll have to try harder next time," Jack said, as he pulled himself to his feet. "But I do have to go." Still holding her hand, he looked down at her. "Isabel?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yes?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you," he said seriously, then grinned at her. "You tell Greg to watch himself while I'm gone."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Anytime," she said equally serious. Isabel climbed to her feet and caught Jack in a hug. "I mean it."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He wrapped his arms tight around her and held on. "I know you do."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She squeezed one last time and then stepped back. "Good. Because otherwise I'd have to thwap you until you did. Come see me when you get back."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I will," he said with a laugh. "I fear the thwapping I'd get if I didn't."

With a little wave, he headed out of the alcove.