Part 9
Much later that evening…….
It took some time for Philip to recover after his outburst in his office. Todd remained with him the whole time, wordlessly holding him until he was ready to let go. Not ready to elaborate on the situation any further though, Philip had asked that they drop the subject and was glad that Todd readily agreed. The older librarian replaced the cold cup of tea with a fresh one then said, “Well, those children’s fictions aren’t going to shelf themselves.” With that, he left Philip to his privacy. That was a few hours ago. The others were long gone, off to dinner together then off home after a day of work while Philip remained in one of the places he truly felt at ‘home’ in – his library.
Now he was up a ladder, trying to locate the ‘Ancient Gods’ book that was meant to be in its place – according to the cataloguing system – but wasn’t. He sighed as he scratched the back of his head, wondering when his Reference Section got to be so unorganized. He knew the book had to be here somewhere, he could even recall putting it there a few months ago, and in Colorado Springs, there wasn’t a huge demand for Ancient Gods books – except for Daniel, who borrowed it with regularity.
With renewed tenacity he stepped up one more rung on the ladder, balancing precariously on the ball of one foot as he strained, from his hips, to read the titles on the books. Shaking his head in puzzlement he consulted the scrap piece of paper in his hand once more, checking to see if any of the titles on there were misfiled in this section. He was out of luck, however.
A title, just out of arms length to his right, caught his eye and he stepped up to the next step, using his knee to brace himself against the top rung as he perilously reached for the book he wanted. So single-minded was he in his goal that he didn’t give thought to the fact that the ladder he was on was ancient and the floor was unevenly tiled in that section of the old library. Subsequently, his weight was enough to cause the rickety, wooden ladder to wobble, making him topple forward. As he doubled over the top of the frame he frantically grabbed anything he could to stop himself from plummeting to the ground. Holding tight he rode out the shakes then he carefully straightened himself up as he stepped backwards down the ladder one more rung, to give himself more leverage. He waited until his thudding heart slowed before deciding to try again for the book.
With his hand firmly gripping the top rung of the ladder he carefully eased his leg across the top, holding on tightly as the unbalanced ladder shuddered once more. Quickly he settled himself onto the top rung, sitting astride the ladder now for more safety.
He blew out his breath in one loud huff before returning his attention to the task at hand. According to Sylvia there had been growing complaints from library users that books were misfiled or that they were showing up on the computer system as being in and available but were not locatable within the library. He looked down the long list in his hand, wondering what might have happened to cause so many to be misplaced. Tilting his head he read the colorful spines in front of him once more then frowned.
“Well, you don’t even belong in here,” he muttered to himself as he tugged a book from the over crammed shelf then dropped it to the ground without looking. The loud thump ricocheted in the quiet library, but he paid it no mind. It was after hours now and he was the only one still there. Todd and Sylvia both had left about an hour ago inviting him to join them for dinner but he politely declined. After his outburst in his office earlier, he wanted some time alone, just him and his library – giving him the opportunity to touch base to who he once was.
His cough, thick and constant, echoed through the hallowed halls as he continued his work. He frequently checked the cell phone on his hip, to make sure it was still on and that he was able to get Jack's call when he came back home. The plan was, once he got home Jack would phone him to let him know he was back and to let Philip know when was a good time to call around.
After a few more long moments up the ladder Phil gripped the back of his neck and rolled his head back; groaning loudly as his tired muscles protested even that gentle move. He put the slip of paper between his lips as he reached both hands forward to ease a book from the tight shelf again. Shaking his head and wondering how a child’s storybook managed to find its way into the Mythology section he dropped it to the ground - the loud slap ringing in his ears.
Deciding that the task was greater than his attention span tonight, he carefully crawled down the ladder and scooped up the dropped books, dropping them into a ‘RETURNS’ trolley before heading towards his office, checking the cell phone once more.
He rounded his desk and discovered that the top drawer of his desk was slightly open. Wondering when he’d forgotten to close and lock it, he pulled it open and checked the contents - miscellaneous stationery items and a few personal things like cough lozenges and his spare medical inhaler. He pulled the drawer out fully and checked the items hidden at the back – a pack of condoms and two tubes of lube – one partially used the other still in its box. He frowned then bit his bottom lip. Out of interest he checked the contents of the condom box and saw that there were less in there then he remembered there being – not that he’d used them lately. A little perplexed by the unusual discovery he slid the drawer closed and locked it, removing the gold-tasseled key from the lock and dropping it into his pocket. He tugged his bag from the bottom drawer, not bothering to lock that one as it was now empty, and then he left the office, shutting off the lights behind him.
*
As he wandered down the dark streets he thought about the unlocked drawer. He recalled that his diary was kept in that drawer most of the time and his heart stopped briefly. Dropping his bag to the ground, he knelt and rifled through its contents, checking to see if the diary was in his bag. He quickly unzipped the last pocket and saw it in there. Sighing with relief because ‘this’ diary recorded all his medical appointments with Dr Fraiser and other Hospital appointments, as well as all his test results. He remembered taking the diary to his last appointment to record his T-Cell count - not that he figured there was going to be any point, it was bound to be down, and it was.
As he continued down the street, reading the diary just out of interest he heard a loud banging on glass. He looked up and saw Sylvia and Todd in the restaurant he was passing by. Todd waved his hand, indicating for Phil to join them but the younger man shook his head and pointed to his hip, where his cell phone was. Todd screwed up his face and pointed to his watch. Phil looked at the time and realized that Jack wasn’t expecting to be back for another hour. With a shrug, which made those on the other side of the glass cheer loudly, he went into the restaurant.
Todd shifted along in his seat in the booth, giving Philip room to sit beside him. The younger man -far younger than the two co-workers but boss of them both - settled into the red leather seat of the booth. He placed his bag between him and Todd and put his diary on the checkered tablecloth.
Sylvia’s eyes shifted onto the narrow leather-bound diary under her boss’ hand then she looked up at him before returning her attention to her mirror in her hand. “We’ve already eaten,” she told him as she applied the bright red lipstick to her mouth once more.
“That’s okay, I’m not hungry,” he said, twisting to put the diary in the front pocket of his bag. When he looked up he saw that she was watching him. Her eyes lifted to meet his briefly before she folded a tissue, biting down onto it to set her lipstick then she dropped the lot back into her handbag.
“Cappuccino?” Todd suggested. Phil’s eyes widened with desire at the mere thought so Todd laughed and caught the waiter’s attention, ordering another round of cappuccinos for the table.
“You look tired, Philip,” Sylvia said, lacing her long, red tipped fingers together and laid them on the table top.
Philip and Sylvia were not friends, per se. He was her boss but one she had a good working relationship with. For the first few weeks when she came to work for him she insisted on calling him Mr. Simmons, which he felt very uncomfortable with - mostly because she was at least twenty years his senior - so he constantly nagged her to call him Phil. She relented enough to call him Philip, but she never shortened the term. Phil liked Sylvia, she was sort of unusual in a good way, and she was a very good worker. However, under her careful scrutiny at the moment, the unlocked drawer sprung forth in his mind and clouded his thoughts.
“Yes,” he finally answered her question as the waiter placed his cup before him.
“You should go to bed early tonight then,” Todd teased him lightly. Phil slotted his eyes at his friend then smiled.
“I guess so,” was all he said.
Sylvia had one of those unsure smiles on her face again as she raised her cup to her lips. Todd had noticed that she often looked between the two of them like she was aware that she wasn’t quite ‘in’ on a joke, but that she almost wished she could be.
It must have stung a little, he realized, that when he arrived instead of her being the knowledgeable one who got to teach him, he came in with a sort of home ground advantage – having a history with the boss. His rapport with Philip instantly superseded the one she’d spent the past year working on also. It was partly because of this that Todd sought to form a friendship with the mature woman, even to the point that he’d already become well acquainted with her school-aged children as well as her husband. He knew, for a fact, that Phil had no idea, nor interest, in her private life, but as they were co-workers on a ‘sub’ level, it was good for Todd to get to know her better.
*
An hour later the three co-workers stood on the pavement outside the restaurant and waited until the taxicab pulled up. Todd reached down and opened the door and Sylvia stepped up to the side of the vehicle.
“Night gentlemen. I’ll see you in the morning!” She waved and got in. Todd raised his hand over his head as the car pulled away. He turned towards Phil and frowned at the look on his friend’s face.
“What’s up?”
Philip shook his head and instinctually looked down at his hip, checking that he hadn’t bumped his phone off at some point in the evening.
Shoving his hands deep into his beige pants pockets, Todd sighed and said, “You know, if you look at that thing once more, I swear, I’m going to have to hit you!”
Phil laughed, sweeping his long fringe from his eyes and shrugging. “He should have called by now.”
“Maybe he got held up?” Todd said as they ambled along the pavement together, side-by-side.
“Well, that’s the only logical answer, but-” Phil tugged at the jacket as he blew a quick breath out. “Is it me? Or is it hot tonight?”
With perfect deadpan, Todd remarked, “Are you asking me if I think you’re *hot*? Please, Philip! I think we both know the answer to that question then!”
Phil bowed his head and laughed. “I meant the atmosphere, you dope!”
Tilting his head so that he could whisper into the shorter man’s ear, Todd said, “Whenever you’re around the atmosphere is always electric, sparks fly and heat rises..”
With a full on laugh, Philip nudged his eccentric friend with his shoulder. “God! It’s a damn good thing I know you’re only joking! I swear though, never let Jack hear you talk like that!”
“I don’t think Jack exist!” Todd announced abruptly with a flamboyant wave of his hand.
Phil laughed throatily. “Oh, you don’t, huh?”
Playfully Todd went on, “No. I think he’s a figment of your imagination, created by you to dash my dreams and desires!”
“Yeah, right!” Phil scorned with a laugh and nudged his friend with his shoulder once more, knocking the taller man off his feet slightly.
“Strong little minx!” Todd whispered from the corner of his mouth.
“No, you’re just unsteady on your feet. Probably because you’re so willowy-”
“Or drunk!” Todd laughed, breaking the act and returning to himself again.
“Oh? You got a little more with your cappuccino than I did then obviously!”
Todd smiled. “Wouldn’t have minded having that waiter with my cappuccino. Wasn’t he tasty!”
“Todd! You’re incorrigible!”
“No-” He sighed heavily as he dug his hands deeper into his pant pockets. “Just hopeful!”
They reached the doors to his apartment building and stopped. After briefly looking up, Todd asked, “You interested in a nightcap?”
Philip frowned, then went to check his phone but stopped himself. He looked up into Todd’s eyes and saw that his friend had witnessed his restraint. “What do you have?”
“We could go around the corner and pick up a bottle of something, if you’d like?”
Biting his bottom lip, Phil began to shake his head but Todd interrupted him. “And I promise not to object if you leave the door open as you sprint from the loft the very second that damn cell phone rings!”
The young friend smiled. “Sure, why not!”
“Good!” Todd smiled brightly then started to walk down the road towards the closest Liquor Store. “Oh, we should stop at the convenience store, too…”
“For glasses?” Phil asked, already laughing because he knew the answer. Todd gave him a sheepish grin, which told him he was right.
*
Hammond waited at the end of the ramp for SG-1 to return from their three-day mission. The exhausted team headed down the ramp and stood before him. A grin crept across the older man’s face as he looked at the four of them.
“Have fun, Colonel?”
“Oh, you know, a good time was had by all, Sir,” Jack said dryly then yawned loudly.
“I know it’s late. Do you want to debrief in the morning?” Hammond asked, looking from one tired face to the other.
“Yes!” Three voices sighed as one.
“No!” Jack was the only voice to stand alone. He turned and looked at the others and frowned at them. “If we do this now we don’t have to come back in the morning…” He said, his eyes showing his desperation for having a few days away from the base. Sam spoke up, addressing the General.
“Actually, if we ‘could’ do this now, Sir..”
“I’m here until the morning, Major. I was presenting the offer to you,” Hammond said. Sam looked at Daniel and the young man sighed and shifted his stance to rest on his back foot.
“Whatever,” he said, holding his hand up as he shrugged.
“I concur,” Teal’c said, lifting his chin slightly as he looked at the General.
With a casual shrug the commanding officer jutted his thumb towards the door and said, “Okay, go to the infirmary then meet me in the briefing room in 30 minutes.”
“Thank you Sir,” Jack said then waited for the bald man to go. He turned towards his team and clasped his hands together as he said, “and Thank you!”
Sam smiled at him. “No problem Sir. Janet’s on nights this week, so I’m in no hurry to get home,” she said as she passed by him, eager to get to the infirmary. He watched her go then turned to Daniel and Teal’c.
“Well, I’ve got no one waiting at home for me, and I can sure use a sleep in tomorrow,” Daniel said simply as he moved to leave the room. Jack looked at Teal’c.
He lifted his chin and quirked a brow as he said, “I am in no hurry to go to my quarters.”
Jack nodded and patted his friend’s beefy arm. “Thanks, Teal’c. I appreciate it.” The two friends headed towards the Infirmary together.
Stories on this page are the property of Nessessitee and Slida. Please do not copy these without the written permission of the Author. All Rights are acknowledged for MGM, Gekko and Stargate Productions as to the Copyrights of the characters within this story and no infringement on the copyrights are intended. For the Bombshells Series the character of Philip Simmons is entirely the creation and intellectual property of Nessessitee and Slida.
While the performances given by RDA and MS help to fuel the author's desire to write for their characters in a niche that she feels is present on the actual show, the portrayal of their characters in loving relationships in no way reflects the Author's opinion of the men's private life, nor should it be construed in that manner.