The road goes on forever and the party never ends

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0715
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbuck Coffee

Theo’s life had been…as it always had. Playing with dead alien parts, and often making obscene and mildly sexual gestures to whoever happens to walk by. That was life. Now it was taking another turn. He was going to be Professor Doctor Bernard. Frightening. For them. Those poor, poor children. He’d probably scare half of them away with the bone saw. Maybe. Or maybe the small adults would come back for more – actually forcing him to teach.

Damn.

Or yay?

He wasn’t sure yet.

Another change in his life was sitting at a table a few feet away, as Theo placed his order. No, it was not some sultry model from Brazil, nor ‘the one that got away’ – but rather someone who had broken his nose at their last meeting. And given him a black eye. Normally, with a description like that – the person would be an enemy. Considering that the two had survived getting a Ph.D together, though – plus several years in the SGC…well, that almost made the broken nose okay. Well – not okay. His beautiful snout was forever slightly tilted. It simply made the wound easier to heal. Sort of. Well he was back – that was the main good thing. They were both going to teach now – at the Stargate Academy.

Not only were the dynamic duo back together yet again, but they were both going to teach Raph’s spawn, Seph. He had known her since she was a bump in her mother’s tummy. He even had managed to get the title of ‘uncle’ by the kid. Epic on several levels.

Taking a deep breath, Theo smiled at the barista, before making eye contact and rattling off his order, ”Umm…. Yeah… I’d like to have a Venti, sugar-free, non-fat, vanilla soy, double shot, decaf, no foam, extra hot, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with light whip and extra syrup… Please.”

A look of hatred filled her features, before she barked the order word-for-word over her shoulder.

The girl was pro.

Theo didn’t exactly love whatever the hell he just ordered…nor did he have any idea what it tasted like. It was just oddly complicated and made him feel important. That’s all that mattered, really.

Soon enough, he was sitting across from his old college buddy, drinking some sort of odd mix of everything, as Raph waited for his kid to go through testing to see if she was SGA material.

They both knew she was.

“Long time no see,” Theo stated, taking an oddly long sip of his horrible mix.
He nearly gagged.
But held it in.
He still had his pride, dammit.

<Tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0715
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

To be perfectly honest, Dr. Raphael Meyers was approaching the line of excitement labeled "kid in a candy store". No, not about the coffee. Though, as was known in the world of professors, it was indeed the nectar of the gods. In fact, if he wanted to, he could rattle off several different cultures that actually did see coffee beans and their products as heavenly gifts. But, not was this not the time or place for such a feat, he was too thoroughly engrossed in the crossword on page six of the Springs Herald to even think about his usual thoughts.

A ten letter word for persnickety? Hmmm...

However, his mental thesaurus almost couldn't control the giddiness that came along with the past week's events. Yes, he had known for a while that his daughter was interested in the US Air Force Academy, and yes, this trip had indeed been planned. But, no, he was not expecting the phone call two days before their flight left out of Augusta, from someone who might as well have been the Ghost of Christmas Past: Dr. Daniel Jackson.

Nearly spilling coffee over the thesis papers he had been grading for his Grad Students, he listened carefully. Apparently, the oddness of his daughter's first name and the registration of his own last name in the system caught the attention of a particular, top-secret military institution known as Stargate Command. Prepared to have to fight the archaeologist off, verbally of course, unlike a rather unlucky xenobiologist and best friend he had to physically a few years back, he listened as Daniel offered him something he couldn't refuse. Replaying the phone conversation over once again in his head, he was brought back to reality by someone all too familiar standing at his side.

"Long time no see." Well, speaking of unlucky xenobiologists...

"Theo, long time indeed," Raph smirked, removing his reading glasses and tucking them into his blazer pocket. Suddenly appearing pensive, scrunching his brow and raising his finger and thumb to his chin, he continued. "I feel as though I was supposed to tell you something, but, ya know? I forget what it was. Oh well, must not have been too important. Sit." The mischievous smirk was beginning to crawl across his face as he took in his friend's appearance. No black eye. Nose, a little off skilter, but...meh. A song lyric from his daughter's iPod scampered through his mind for a split second.

How do I say I'm sorry, cause the word is never gonna come out..

[/i][/b]

Ahh, those kids and their little bands with their threes and ohs in them. Alas, another digression. What thoroughly amused him though was that, after taking that theatrical swig of his drink, his dear friend had yet to swallow. Theo had always been one for theatrics. It was too much to resist.

"What have you got there? Smells delicious."

The face was priceless.

<Tag THEO>
[/blockquote]

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0716
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

"Theo, long time indeed," Raph smiled, sliding his nerd glasses back into his fancy-jacket-pouch. Theo eyed him carefully, as if the man was about to pull a knife out of nowhere…or beat him up again. Inside himself, he felt something flinch. Maybe it was his ego.
“Quite,” he replied, putting on a British accent, as he swirled his coffee…ish…thing.
"I feel as though I was supposed to tell you something, but, ya know? I forget what it was. Oh well, must not have been too important. Sit."
A grin spread across Raph’s face, as Theo froze for a quarter of a second, before sitting down. Jerk. If he were British the term ‘wank’ came to mind. He was called that term a lot when he explored Europe on his year off. It was tempting to call Raph that now, but he bit his tongue. Literally. Pearly whites sunk into pinky flesh.
“Something important you say? Huh…it’s probably something that’ll hit you right in the face, when you finally think of it,” he laughed in a very fake, very ‘sophistitcated’ tone, with a slight flick-back of his head.

Damn he really did miss Raph.

WAY TO BE A GIRL THEO.

Cough…

Cue the coffee from the black lagoon. He held it in his mouth, not wishing to force it down his throat, when Raph said the words which basically made him consume it.

"What have you got there? Smells delicious."

Raph grinned. Like =D
Evil, evil man.

Theo swallowed, causing his eyes to water ever-so-slightly, as the foul mixture hit his stomach. Gag reflex activate! He resisted. Smiled, and slid the cup towards Raph.

“It’s an amazing mixture of well blended spices, herbs, and possibly a roasted midget. Please do give it a try,” he insisted, interlocking his fingers upon the table, as he shot back the =D face.

They were evil.

Now they were going to teach together.

Frightening.

<tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0716
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

“Something important you say? Huh…it’s probably something that’ll hit you right in the face, when you finally think of it."

Oh, this was TOO much fun! The grin continued to beam wildly off the Linguistic Anthropologist's face. See, the thing was, he actually did feel really bad about punching his friend in the face. Granted, at the time, he thoroughly deserved it in Raph's opinion. It was all just a big misunderstanding, really. Raph couldn't think of leaving Seph and risk having her lose both her parents and never know why. Thinking about it, even so briefly as that, touched a sore spot in his heart.

He still missed McKenzie. Every day.

His mood was lightened incredibly at the change in color in Theo's face as he swallowed what had to be possibly the worst concoction ever created. His dear friend had a tendency to do these things. Always had. From the looks of it, it probably tasted like a monkey peed in battery acid. But, would his friend actually admit it. Not on his life. “It’s an amazing mixture of well blended spices, herbs, and possibly a roasted midget. Please do give it a try.”

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass on growing a third arm," Raph said, pushing the cup back to the xenobiologist. In a smooth motion, he closed the newspaper and sat back in the chair. The mischievous grin turned into a sly smirk as he took a sip of his own black coffee with three sugars. Creamer was for sissies.

"So, you got me. Here I am." Yes, even after a broken nose and a bruised pride, Theo actually managed to drag Raph back to Colorado. But, wait, you may say. Didn't the SGC contact the professor about the position. Ah, only half true, really. Why all of a sudden? Well, a little application with a little unique name like Persephone and a last name like Meyers might have sparked a little attention. At least, it would in someone who was looking for it.

"I'm curious, though. Who did you have to sleep with in order to get Jackson to call me? He's harder to reach than the President."And, Raph knew that the evil genius across the table from him was the only one who knew that Dr. Daniel Jackson was the only one who he could never say no to. Blast him. Wanker.

<Tag THEO>

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0716
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

The puns. They actually were beginning to hurt. It was very common of them to beat something over the head until it was dead. Aha – another Raph beating up Theo pun. It was starting to come too naturally. How do they say it? Clip it in the bud? Excellent idea, cliché inner voice! The two settled upon chuckling as a distant look washed over Raph’s eyes. Damn. He must have thought of McKenzie.

Was Theo psychic you may ask? To Raph, quite possibly. After knowing someone after a certain number of years, it was pretty much an open invitation to their brain. No words needed. A prick of guilt washed up and down Theo’s spine, realizing that speaking of the ‘beating’ led to thoughts of McKenzie. If she hadn’t died, they wouldn’t have moved, meaning that bloody [haha British] encounter would have never happened.

Whoops.

The “coffee” was going to be his undoing in this world. It tasted like a mixture of feet, pure sugar, and extract of whale sperm. Why the barista allowed him to mix these things was beyond him. Maybe some sick freak decided that they tasted good together. Maybe some pedo thought this tasted like some holiday. Maybe. Or maybe the fact that he struggled slightly to say it on one breath pissed the chick off enough to add something extra. Maybe this was an amazing drink that the beotch decided to soil with her unholy mouth-water.

Wank.

After offering Raph a sip of the potion of nausea, the man refused, "Thanks, but I think I'll pass on growing a third arm," he pushed the cup back, folded the newspaper and leaned back in his chair in one motion. Damn that was slick. Theo lifted the cup, watching as some wanna-be-gangsta child walked by, and carefully slid the soiled brew into their oversized back pocket. He extended the motion to leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head. They may be getting older, but they still had it, dammit.

"So, you got me. Here I am." Raph stated, causing a smirk to spread across Theo’s features. Hells-to-the-yeah he got Raph here. Maniacal laughter danced upon his tongue as he smiled, forcing him to bite it back into a slight chuckle.
“Why yes, yes you are.”

"I'm curious, though. Who did you have to sleep with in order to get Jackson to call me? He's harder to reach than the President,” Raph accused, causing Theo’s smile to crack slightly.

Blast him. He was onto Theo.

Adjusting his sitting position slightly, Theo smirked, thinking back to that time in his life – as if it were a million years ago, rather then less then a month.
“Well,” he smirked, now appearing proud of himself, “The better question is ‘do you really want to know?’” he laughed, shaking his head slightly. The list was quite extensive. No one could stand in his path to getting Raph back. Especially when little Sephy was on the line as well.

Theo regrets nothing.

<Tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0717
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

“Well, the better question is ‘do you really want to know?’”

Raph scrunched his face at this answer. Yes, he knew they ways of his friend all too well. Perhaps there was some sort of mental link here? Nah, its a little thing called Cornell. Those were the days. Of course, back then Raph could almost keep up with Theo. Well, almost. None the less, it did not surprise him that his little joke turned out to be a reality. Was it really a tease to begin with? Hmmm...

"If you do end up telling me who, remind me to send them a sympathy card," Raph replied, raising his eyebrows dirtily. A laugh escaped his lips. At least someone was having fun behind closed doors. Thinking about it, he did a bit of mental math. Seven years. Damn. But, none of that thought process made it to the surface, luckily. Last thing he needed was his friend to know exactly how long it had been since he had been laid. That was just begging for trouble. Lots of trouble. Raph knew if Theo even got a whiff of his current situation, he'd probably call every escort in Colorado. No, no...none of that.

"So, how did they manage to drag you away from Cheyenne Mountain? I never pegged you as the guy who would rather grade papers than play surgeon." Raph had drained his coffee before asking the question. Now, he rolled the bottom of the paper cup in circles on the table top, using only one finger on the lid. It had been a while since he had time like this with a friend. Years. In fact, years since he had a friend. There were his collegues back at the university, but none of them knew him nearly as well as Theo. Well, he never actually let them know him well at all. Ah well. Shappens.

<Tag THEO>

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0717
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

Raph’s reaction to Theo’s question to Raph’s question (wow that’s complicated) caused the man to beam with pride. Ah – they knew each other far too well. The full story was pretty accurate to the picture that was being painted with Raph’s mind. Sort of. It was the original tactic that Theo had taken anyway. And hell – here Raph was, sitting across from him in Colorado with his kid undergoing training.

Success I say!
SUCCESS!!
!!!

"If you do end up telling me who, remind me to send them a sympathy card," Raph shot back with a kink of a brow and a laugh, causing Theo to shake his head.
“Oh – burn,” he hissed, “Even though I was doing them so they would do something for me – they all attempted to pay me afterwards,” almost a lie. Almost, “But me, being the gentleman I am, refused. How could I take so much from one person? I am not the greedy elohssa that everyone supposes I am,” he pulled his chin up in pride, using the backwards version of the word that was often used to describe him. Backwards words just sounded so pretty.
Elohssa.
E-Low-Suh.
Sounded Hawaiian.

If anyone asked – that was what he’d tell them.
Ha.

“Plus – it worked, so none of it really matters now,” he let out a heavy and very relaxed sigh, managing to recline further into the uncomfortable Starbucks chairs, watching as the guy who he had slid his horrid “coffee” into the pants of, finally discovered his present. By sitting down.

Score.

"So, how did they manage to drag you away from Cheyenne Mountain? I never pegged you as the guy who would rather grade papers than play surgeon." Raph asked, as he played with his paper-cup upon the table, causing Theo’s blue eyes to follow the object like a feline ready to pounce.

Forcing his eyes to Raph’s face, he shrugged slightly, “I still get to hack apart aliens for the hell of it – but I also get to educate and potentially harm children on a psychological level. And get paid to do it. I declare that as a win. Up-top!” he threw his arm into the air ready for a high-five.

High-fives were his drug…when drugs weren’t available.

<Tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0717
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

Raph couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's response. He knew it. What a man-whore. Those were the best varieties, especially during those fun, fresh college years. Having Theo as a wingman was probably the best thing that had ever happened to Raph. During their years in grad school, the budding linguist got laid far more often than anyone would have expected of him, and it was all because of that blonde little imp across the table. Thank god for man-whores. And, according to this story, almost literally.

His use of the word elohssa nearly sent him into a laughing fit. Yet another college thing, flipping words around was their form of code talk. A quick vocabulary lesson ran through his head: eittoh, daehtihs, llac eitoob, and of course...bom chicka wah wah. It was a linguist thing. Better than deciding on their secret, man-code language to be Ancient Phonecian. That was Raph's first pick. Obviously, Theo's choice reigned supreme. Raph shook his head with a laugh and a grin.

"No, no, you just don't want everyone to suppose you are the greedy elohssa that I know you are," Raph replied, reaching in his pocket and and pulling out a pack of gum. Coffee breath. Ew. In fact, he pulled out two pieces from the packet and flicked one through the air at Theo. He needed it, so his breath didn't smell like armpits. True friendship there. Nodding at the response to his question, Raph returned the high five, feeling about 20 years younger for approximately 0.4 seconds.

"I'll be sure to keep you as far away from Seph as possible," he joked, shoving the gum back into his blazer pocket. "Well, at least now she'll understand why we're all so screwed up in the head. The aliens did it. Literally." Pulling out his cell phone to check the time, even though had a perfectly good wristwatch on (a bad habit picked up from watching Seph repeat the action over and over again), he saw that testing wasn't even going to start for another 40 minutes or so. Then, it was about 5 or 6 hours after that. Poor girl. Slipping the phone back in his pocket, he looked up at his friend, his expression light. It could easily be described as that dad-beaming-with-pride face.

"She's so much like Mac, Theo. It's scary," he said, letting his pride over his daughter rise over the loss of his wife. They had a lot of the same facial expressions and did some of the same things. It was mind-boggling. "I don't know what I'm going to do when she puts on that uniform for the first time. Or when she comes back after they tell her about the Gate and what exactly it is that we're teaching them to do."

When this offer had been made for her to come back for "secondary testing" he was hesitant. Extremely hesitant. Yes, he had always urged her to do what she wanted to do. She had decided right after her mother's death to go into the Air Force. That was fine with Raph. No problemo. Then, this call came in, bringing back a flood of memories. Both of adventures and unheard of wonders out in the galaxy...and of the extreme danger that the universe held. He couldn't pretend like it didn't bother him deep down, but he knew that he had no say in it. She had grown to become a beautiful, strong, smart, young woman.

She was meant to do this. He knew it.

"It's crazy how these things come around full circle."

<Tag THEO>

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0719
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

Theo smirked as Raph cracked up, before replying, "No, no, you just don't want everyone to suppose you are the greedy elohssa that I know you are.”
Theo laughed as Raph magically conjured a piece of gum. Theo whined like a puppy, cupping both hands forward as if he were an orphan child asking for ‘some more’. In response, Raph flicked a piece of gum at Theo – the man not even sure if his whining fit had been seen – or rather his friend just knew. Either way. He got gum. Omnomnom.

Popping the piece into his mouth, he winked at a random person walking by, before rolling the wrapping into a small ball, as Raph continued speaking, "I'll be sure to keep you as far away from Seph as possible,” he warned, as Theo dropped the wrappings onto the table – with both brows all the way up.
“You can’t keep Sephy away from Uncy Theo!” he whined, “She’ll find me. And I’ll be sure to go tell her to sleep with everyone and do drugs, and drink. Just like daddy and Uncy Theo did in college,” he smirked, somewhat miming taking a hit.
"Well, at least now she'll understand why we're all so screwed up in the head. The aliens did it. Literally."
Theo snorted, “The aliens. Ah – those beautiful forms that I chop up like sushi every day. One time I found this sack and I didn’t know what it did. So I took it out and of course…started poking it. It poked back,” he rolled his lips in, “It turned out to be its stomach. The damned thing didn’t chew first.”

Raph checked the time as Theo spoke, distracting the man slightly.

“It’s still early for the testing, isn’t it?” he asked, positioning himself to shoot the ball of gum-wrapper across the table.

"She's so much like Mac, Theo. It's scary," Raph’s face glowed slightly, causing Theo to smile as well, "I don't know what I'm going to do when she puts on that uniform for the first time. Or when she comes back after they tell her about the Gate and what exactly it is that we're teaching them to do."

Theo smiled, shaking his head. He could see the resemblance within the girl from the moment she was born. Same eyes. Same face-shape. Same nose. Hair was all Raph. As was the smile and laugh. But she still was a little Mac. Scary. And haunting for all who knew her.

“Does she know yet?” Theo asked, his expression becoming a bit more serious, “About how Mac…” he trailed, wincing slightly. A morbid curiosity had gotten the best of him. Tongue-biting fail.

"It's crazy how these things come around full circle." Raph sighed, as a phone number was slid into Theo’s hand by the person he had winked at ealier. Theo smirked, before re-concentrating upon his friend, “Crazy…AWESOME!” Theo corrected him, with a finger in the air, "It'll be legen - wait for it...DARY!" he took a deep breath of air, as if he were about to rant...which he was, “We’re BACK IN BUSINESS. And will now be brainwashing small children to do our bidding,” Theo straightened his back slightly, “Child – get me coffee. Child – get me a new pen. Child – steal their panties for me.” he paused, “Talking about a colleague of course. I’m not a pedo.” he made a disgusted face.

<Tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0719
Colorado Spring, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

Raph had opened the topic, so he was prepared to talk about it. That was the way these things worked. It only bothered him to talk about his wife when it came up out of the blue. But, when he brought up the subject, it was like handing over security clearance to know about the Stargate. It was cool beans.

“Does she know yet?” Theo had asked, extremely cautiously, "About how Mac…”

Raph shook his head and glanced out the window at the mountains peaking over the tops of the buildings at the blue-grey mountains, their peaks just starting to see the slightest tinge of white snowcaps. "No, not yet. I want the shock of everything else she's about to learn pass." He could remember his expression when he was told about the program. Utter shock. In fact, he was so much in shock that when asking questions about it, he was so jittery and nervous that he kept slipping in and out of different languages, modern and dead. Somehow, though, he felt that Seph would handle it better than he did. She had that part of her mother with her. It took a lot to phase that girl, and perhaps that would be one of her shining features among the new cadets.

"Then again, she's a smart girl," he continued slowly, turning back to face Theo with a smile that was a tad bit less bright and shiny than before. "Something tells me that I won't be the first person to bring it up." With that, he shifted his weight to stand, picked up his cup and silently offered to take it to the trash can. As he stood and began walking over, he heard Theo's all of a sudden overly chipper and charismatic tone. He knew how to flip a mood around, which was good. It was one of those things that Raph had missed about the guy. Maybe...maybe he shouldn't have punched him in the face?...Hmm...

"It'll be legen - wait for it...DARY!" Raph's smile returned at the trademark word of the alien butcher, even allowing a laugh. Theo was getting giddy. He didn't drink that much caffiene, did he?? “We’re BACK IN BUSINESS. And will now be brainwashing small children to do our bidding. Child – get me coffee. Child – get me a new pen. Child – steal their panties for me.”

Raph's eyebrows raised. Quickly, the man backtracked. “Talking about a colleague of course. I’m not a pedo.”

"Sure, sure. Anyone I know? Or is it some poor little lab intern that you've managed to drag down to your dark and twisty lair?" With that, he made his spooky fingers, raising his brows and forming his mouth into a small 'O'. He laughed again and sat down, folding up the newspaper again and setting it off to the side, further out of the way. "It wouldn't be the first time."

<Tag Theo>

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0719
Colorado Spring, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

Theo felt guilty for bringing it up. Honestly it was just a slip of the tongue. They were talking about Mac – and Theo knew that the kid had been in the dark about her Mommy’s true way-o-thud, but now she was part of the secret that her parents had hid behind her entire life. Or soon to be such, anyway. Damn tongue for slipping. He’d burn you later! Wait…

Raph shook his cranium and peered out the portal into the real world, staring off at God-knows what, causing Theo to frown, "No, not yet. I want the shock of everything else she's about to learn pass."

Theo laughed without meaning to, quickly turning it into something that sounded similar to clearing his throat, as he forced himself to lean onto the table. Way to be awkward, Theo, “I’m still not over it. There’s FRAKKING ALIENS EVERYWHERE!” he threw both his arms up into the air, before realizing he wasn’t on base. Slowly he turned his neck to see the entire café looking at him, “…is what they said in that awesome Scifi movie that I can’t remember the title of…” he mumbled, lowering his hands, as he slowly turned back to Raph, pretending like it never happened.

“UFO Hunters five!” someone called, causing Theo to glance over his shoulder and wave thanks.

Close call.

"Then again, she's a smart girl. Something tells me that I won't be the first person to bring it up."
And Raph threw away his trash.
“Take mine too,” he smirked, offering his cup as he slowly stood as well. Were they leaving? He didn’t want to leave. It was nice in here. And smelled like cinnamon.
“Maybe just get it out of the way. Maybe. See I’m not sure of the smart way in these sorts of situations,” he shrugged.

And Theo snapped in a psychological sense…just a little.

"Sure, sure. Anyone I know? Or is it some poor little lab intern that you've managed to drag down to your dark and twisty lair?" and his expression was complete with spookey fingers, before he threw his newspaper to the side of the table, "It wouldn't be the first time."

“Pfft…the entire staff, really. I shall command my army of pimply children to fetch me the underpants of every last staff member of the Academy!” he slowly raised both his arms as he spoke, “Including you.”

And he pointed at Raph.

<Tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0720
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

After his friend's little outburst, Raph simply raised a brow. This had happened before, many a time. Usually, there was some buff, military dude to cuff him on the back of the head. However, thank the gods, some little sci-fi buff shouted out the title to a film. Fate was on their side today...for once.

Without skipping a beat, Theo briefly addressed the subject at hand. “Maybe just get it out of the way. Maybe. See I’m not sure of the smart way in these sorts of situations.” Thanks, bud. Glowing advice there. But, hey, there's no such thing as a good deal. Its either sanity or good looks, they say. We can see which straw Theo didn't pull.

"We'll see, I guess. I have several more hours before I even have to worry about that," he grinned, trying to keep the mood light. Leave it to Theo to make it even lighter. As if the rest of the cafe wasn't already intrigued by the blonde guy shouting about aliens (sounding FAR too much like his mother, but Raph was NOT about to mention THAT), his next topic sparked a bit more interest. “Pfft…the entire staff, really. I shall command my army of pimply children to fetch me the underpants of every last staff member of the Academy! Including you.”

Although a normal, heterosexual man would be incredibly embarrassed by the proclamation of another man's desire to obtain a pair of his underwear, Raphael Meyers was used to it. This wasn't the first time for things like this to be said in public at an incredibly audible level. It came along with the package deal that was Theodore Waldo Bernard. It's also one of those things that made him Raph's best friend. However, this opened a roundabout way to get to something he had been meaning to do since running into the guy at the coffee shop.

"Don't make me punch you," Raph teased, raising a brow as he sat back down in the chair. Smirking, he added, "Which I'll apologize for six or so years later. Which reminds me...There's something I want to say." That's right...hold your breath like a soap opera. He's PREGNANT!

WHAT?

...just kidding.

"I'd like to formally express my apology for beating the crap out of you on December 18th, 1998, somewhere in and around 10:37pm." Although the smartassishness of his response may have seemed callous, Theo above all people would know that this was a momentous day in history. You see, Raphael Meyers does not apologize unless he truly means it. And even when he should, he often doesn't. Example A, five minutes ago.

"I was a bit...unstable at the time. You know that." And by unstable, he definitely meant intoxicated and grief-stricken approximately seven months after his wife's passing. Seph was at Naomi's house for the night. So, he opened a bottle of whiskey and let it all out. How was he to know that his friend would come knocking? "But, that doesn't make what I did right, though...at the time I thought it was. My priority was and always will be Seph. You know that. I was using her as a reason to stay away from the program. It was just...too soon. But, it wasn't your fault, and I realize that now. And I'm sorry."

Raph waited. And waited. And raised a brow. And waited a bit more.

"Well? How was that?"

<Tag Theo>

[Theodore Waldo Bernard]

0720
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

"We'll see, I guess. I have several more hours before I even have to worry about that," Raph mused, regarding the news to his daughter – a decision that wasn’t to be made lightly. Or maybe it was. Sometimes the Universe just took things far too seriously for its own good – making things more complicated then they needed to be. Tell her. Or don’t. REGRET NOTHING. Life motto. Right there. Regret nothing. Hell – he was a PROFESSOR with a Ph.D! Obviously he was doing something right. He did have a phone-number in his hand (hadn’t made it to his pocket yet) that he had acquired by winking. True – someone could live without regrets and still fail. You just needed to be Theodore Waldo Bernard.

A DECLARATION was made for Raph’s panties. Why? Because Theo is Theo. Nothing else to it. Sad part is, his declaration was not a lie. At all. He planned on sending out a heard of pimply children to fetch the undies of the entire staff. Automatic A to anyone who can get Daniel Jackson’s. What? He could be around at the time.

With those amazing nerd glasses.

"Don't make me punch you,” Raph threatened, causing Theo to straighten in his seat – his expression jumping to something that resembled worried, "Which I'll apologize for six or so years later. Which reminds me...There's something I want to say."

“You’re gay. You’re pregnant. You have herpes. You somehow gave me herpes. You like artificial grape flavor. You’re really a girl. You’ve been dying your hair since we met. You’re tempted to get a Mohawk. You secretly want me. You want to dance to the next song that comes on. You secretly hate languages. Seph is adopted. You’re tempted to pay me everything in your wallet for no reason. You want to tell me what an amazing friend I am,” he ranted in one breath, causing people to look over at them once again.

"I'd like to formally express my apology for beating the crap out of you on December 18th, 1998, somewhere in and around 10:37pm."

Theo blinked. His expression blank. He carefully pet his beautiful, dented nose.

"I was a bit...unstable at the time. You know that."

The fight replayed in his head.
Theo had come up to visit the Meyers – bringing a toy for Seph and a nice bottle of rum for Raph. They drank while Seph played. Theo tried to begin to convince Raph to come back. He became more and more insistent, eventually stepping over a line that he should have never stepped over - with the words, “Staying home isn’t going to bring her back. She’s dead. Unless you want to frak a zombie.”

And that turned into a fight. Good thing that Seph was out of the room. First it was just a shove, with Theo mumbling things like, “come on man…” and “what…?” Eventually it got far more violent, leaving things broken, and Theo bleeding. Not Raph. Elohssa. He just had a few bruises.

Theo left, swearing and the angriest he had probably ever been in his entire life.
And kinda upset as well.

That was the last time he had seen Raph.

Flash back to the present.

"But, that doesn't make what I did right, though...at the time I thought it was. My priority was and always will be Seph. You know that. I was using her as a reason to stay away from the program. It was just...too soon. But, it wasn't your fault, and I realize that now. And I'm sorry."

Theo remained silent, staring.

"Well? How was that?"

“I reserve the right to punch you back as hard or as soft as I want at any time, whenever I feel like it.”

He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other – staring right at Raph.

<Tag RAPH>

[Raphael "Raph" Meyers]

0720
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Starbucks Coffee

“I reserve the right to punch you back as hard or as soft as I want at any time, whenever I feel like it.” Leave it to Theo to accept an apology via ultimatum. Well, it wasn't as though Raph didn't deserve it. He had, after all, broken the guys nose. At least he didn't press charges, right? Right. Then again, this meant his apology was accepted. Things were back to normal. YAY!

"Alright," Raph said, throwing his hands up slightly in surrender, "But, in keeping with the fairness of the situation, I didn't break your nose in public. So, under that condition, it's a deal." He extended a hand across the table, almost like a buisness man. However, as he did so, he watched Theo very carefully. He knew that making a deal with Theo could be dangerous, even hazardous to health in some situations. But, none the less, they were a team again. A dynamic duo, of sorts. Like old times.

<Tag Theo>

"So, I'm curious, where are you staying these days? I need to find a pad near base, once I sign my life away to the government...again." It was true. In respect for his daughter, he opted to live somewhere other than the professor's quarters on campus. The girl needed her space, and he understood that. He knew that when she wanted to visit him, she probably wanted a change of scenery. Besides, the man needed his own space too. No offense to her, of course, but he'd like to have a place of his own. "Nothing too big or too...college-y. Know of anything?"

<Tag THEO>

(My muse dies when you are not near...lol)