Here is a new fic from Jackie. Seeing Christmas decorations etc are already appearing in the shops we thought it wasn't too early for a Christmas themed fic - plus it is her only story where she doesn't hurt Jack. It's shortish and after this one we will get back to posting nice long Jack hurt/comfort fics.
Flatkatsi
xoxoxoxoxo
Christmas is for Sharing - part one
"Hey, Colonel … what are you getting me for Christmas?" asked Jonas as the man in question appeared.
Jack pushed his tray onto the table and sat down, throwing a look to his 2IC who was sitting frowning at the beaming Kelownan.
"Jonas," she exclaimed. "It's not polite to ask … not everyone gets everyone a gift."
Jonas's face fell a little, and he risked a glance back at the Colonel who began to attack his meal with a vicious fork. Jonas's face fell even further as he witnessed the ferocity with which Jack attacked his food. "Erm, sorry, I err," he apologised, his half eaten apple being returned to his tray.
Jack stopped the stuttering alien with a single long look. Even Sam began to feel sorry for Jonas under the Colonel's heated glare.
"I err," Jonas stuttered again, his face going redder as he stood and promptly left the table, almost backing away before abruptly leaving the food hall.
"Colonel, there was no need to make him feel that bad." chastised Sam. "He misunderstood what I was trying to explain about Christmas, that's all."
"What … you told him Christmas was all about getting presents?" questioned Jack. His fork had just speared an unfortunate vegetable and he eyed it in distaste. Those damn reports had been multiplying, and he wanted them cleared up before Hammond took his Christmas leave - there was no way he wanted to spend his Christmas doing it. He would be first on call, but hopefully there would be no emergency to drag him in. Being stuck on base did not appeal to him in the least.
"Not exactly," hedged Sam, "But I did tell him it was tradition that friends and family bought something for each other."
Jack stopped eyeing the vegetable and instead turned his gaze onto Sam's face. His dark eyes regarded hers for a steady beat. "Presents really don't make things okay. They just help the giver to feel better," he said suddenly.
"It matters to some people. I bet you used to buy Charlie anything he wanted." Sam bit her lip as she said it, expecting him to chew her out and leave.
Instead, he took her completely by surprise. A smile lit his face. "Yeahsureyoubetchya!" he exclaimed happily.
Sam looked at his happy face. To say she was stunned he hadn't stormed out or gone quiet even, was an understatement. The way his handsome face lit up warmed her heart and she gave him a beaming smile of her own, hoping he wouldn't now clam up on her.
"We had great fun choosing his presents and playing with them on the big day of course," he grinned, his eyes taking on a far away look.
Sam laughed. "I can believe that."
"Yeah, we used to fight over who got to play with the good stuff."
"I was trying to explain to Jonas about the giving … and how much pleasure it is, too," she explained, "He just sort of …"
Jack groaned. "I know Jonas, gee bet he won't stop smiling for a week … first Christmas."
Sam laughed again. "Also his first Christmas away from home … well, I know they don't celebrate it … but there's nothing worse than feeling … well, left out at Christmas." Her eyes took on a peculiar, slightly sad, expression.
Jack shoved his plate away. "Okaaay … so we shouldn't let him feel left out then, should we?" he asked, his face breaking into a grin.
Sam gave him a puzzled smile, her eyes questioning him.
"What are your plans for Christmas?" he asked.
"Me? I don't exactly have plans … Mark and the family are away, Dad won't be able to make it. Janet gave me a standing invitation of course … but I …"
"You are so not going to spend it in the lab …" As he spoke he watched her expression "You were going to!" he exclaimed as he read her features, watching the guilty flush spread up her neck.
Jack stood abruptly and grabbed her arm, forcing her to stand as well. "Right, Major, you are now on a mission … SCFJ."
"SCFJ?" she echoed, as she stood abruptly at his rather physical request.
"Save Christmas for Jonas … and yourself," he added with an afterthought.
She stuttered. "But …"
"No buts," he ordered, and began to march out with her arm.
Sam thought she had better accompany her arm, seeing as he wasn't inclined to let go just yet, and she was rather attached to it. Not to mention the reaction his touch was having on her.
"Sir, where are you going?"
Jack kept marching down towards the lockers. "We are going shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Christmas shopping."
"I've done all my Christmas shopping," she retorted, wondering at his manner.
"Well, I haven't and you can damn well help … it was your idea. Now, get changed, you've got five minutes," he ordered, shoving her into the locker room.
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"Why me?" she asked, pouting a little as she swept back into the hallway in under four minutes, to find him changed already and lounging against the wall, looking rather attractive in the chunky woodsman jacket he wore.
"Yep, you said Jonas should have a good Christmas … so …"
"Oh. You want me to help you choose a present for him?" she asked as he proceeded to lead the way to the elevators.
Jack stopped, swiped his card and began tapping impatiently on the security scanner. The elevator doors opened. He bundled the hapless Major inside, and allowed the doors to close before answering.
"Well… not just a present … his first Christmas should be … well an experience and he won't get that stuck here at the SGC."
"Oh."
"Carter, will you stop saying that."
Sam opened her mouth and then shut it abruptly, biting on her lower lip.
"So …"
Jack laughed then. "So … it was your idea, and you don't think I can cope having him at my place all Christmas, do you?"
Sam frowned. "Err, he can't stay at mine … I mean …"
"Good, that's settled then … you and Teal'c get to stay at mine."
At Sam's face he laughed again. "Major, there is no way I am going to suffer alone on this."
Sam eyed him suspiciously. Had he planned this, to get her to his home? No, there was no way he could have known what she was saying to Jonas. But the Colonel was an extremely clever tactician, very quick to adapt things to suit him.
"Relax, Sam. I don't bite."
She looked up into his eyes then, and saw the merriment lurking there, mixed with sincerity. She took a deep breath and laughed. "Okay, operation SCFJAS is now underway."
"Atta girl," laughed Jack.
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By the time Sam had been dragged around a crowded mall -- and I mean crowded, just two weeks before Christmas and the whole world was shopping -- she was beginning to wonder why on earth she had opened her mouth. Jack's energy was boundless. He was like a big kid in a sweet shop, and she shuddered at the way he just blindly threw things that took his fancy into the basket.
Sam eyed up the little teddies he added. "Um, aren't they a bit young for…"
Jack laughed. "Nope, they're for Bridget and Stephanie."
"Bri ... who?"
"You'll see. You can meet them if you like, when you come over."
Sam's mouth opened, then closed as he gave her a look. She replaced the speech with a smile, just a little one. She sure hoped the Colonel was going to surprise her into meeting a couple of girlfriends of his or something - not. Those little teddies were cute for babies … and also for lovers.
Jack's continuing enthusiasm was beginning to make Sam regret ever mentioning Christmas. "You think the whole store coming home is going to fit in the truck?" she enquired sarcastically.
Jack put his head back and laughed, much to her amazement. "For cryin' out loud, Carter, you are learning way too much from what is obviously a bad influence."
Sam joined in the laughter. She rarely saw her CO laugh like that. She felt a tingle that crept through her as she watched his eyes open and dancing with such life in them.
Jack eventually took pity on her and deposited Sam in a coffee shop. He hurriedly downed a quick cup before promising to come back and get her in a little while.
Sam sighed and lounged back with the cream cake and coffee. Part of her was sad he'd left her, but the other part was greatly relieved for the reprieve.
It was almost an hour and she was on her third coffee and had finished the newspaper she was reading, before he joined her.
She looked at his oddly empty arms with a smile. "Lose everything?" she teased.
"Nope, all loaded. Just a couple more things to pick up," he replied. "Good to go?"
Sam nodded. She rose as Jack grabbed the check and paid. "Only one cake?" he teased, eyeing it.
Sam laughed and punched his arm playfully, earning her a smirk.
"Come, dear, let's go home," he announced loudly, earning another smack from Sam, who had hurriedly repositioned her arm so that she did not smack her CO on the butt as he left.
'Whew … close that … um … God, eyes up girl!' She tore her eyes away from his butt and hurried after him.
He drove back to his house and Sam helped him to unload. She noticed most of the presents had already been wrapped. "Efficient or what?" she queried.
"There's a stall that does it for a donation and all the proceeds go to a local charity," he replied, neglecting to mention the very large donation he always made each year, knowing the good cause it supported.
Sam groaned under one of the bags and staggered into the house. "Where to?"
"Back small room, I've got an empty closet in there."
Sam put the bag down on the bed and returned to the truck for more. As she placed the last things in the room, a thought suddenly occurred to her. "What about permission for Jonas to stay off base?" she asked, thinking that might be awkward.
"No problem. I'll sort that."
"You'll see General Hammond before he goes on leave?"
"Nope, the on-call CO will sign the necessary paperwork."
Sam thought for a moment … "Oh … you?" she asked.
Jack nodded and tipped the packages from the bags. He began to rummage through and stack them into the closet.
"Is that entirely appropriate, Sir?" she asked as she examined some of the names on the tags, realising she didn't know or could place any of them.
"Nothing to say that the person signing the release can't have him at their place," replied Jack with a grin.
Sam grinned in return and passed him more of the packages.
"Who on Earth are all of these for?" she asked. He never mentioned family, but she was damned sure he couldn't possibly have this many relatives … could he?
"You'll see," he responded, with an annoying smirk.
"Family?" she asked - it was worth trying …
"Family already underway, done and duly posted."
"Oh."
Jack picked one bag up, and without emptying it out, placed it in the closet, which was now getting extremely full.
"Want any help with more wrapping?" she asked, hoping to spot something he might have gotten her. His presents in the past were always good, and rather thoughtful, which surprised her, but nothing that could be considered inappropriate.
She always struggled over what to get for him and usually ended up buying him the latest 'big boy toy' on the market, which seemed to delight him anyway. He'd had a lot of fun with the mini racers last year and the helicopter thingy. Daniel had usually ended up with clothes or something like … it had been awkward to buy for him as he hadn't delighted in the same things as the 'big kids' did.
Surprisingly, Teal'c was the easiest. The simplest of gifts delighted the Jaffa, and Jonas's had been quite easy … considering. She realised she hadn't seen what the Colonel had bought Jonas or Teal'c. She'd seen Cassie's … well several of Cassie's, and even one for Janet and Hammond …
"Okay, time to get you back. I said I wouldn't be long."
Sam glanced at her watch. "Yeah, four hours isn't long … really. You did tell the General I was with you?" she asked as the thought occurred. Her CO had the considerable habit of leaving certain details out at times.
"Relax, you're not AWOL."
The journey back to the mountain was taken with a comfortable silence between them, the radio set to a local station, playing softly in the background.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
The days flew quickly now, with everyone in good humor, but very busy preparing everything for the base's stand-down. Only bare-essential personnel would be there just to keep the cogs ticking, and a small guard force, naturally. Jack was only a twenty-five minute drive up the mountain if he was needed.
Jack had asked Sam to tell Jonas that he would be spending Christmas off base and who with … just in case Jonas had objections and didn't feel able to object if it was he himself that told him.
A faint tap on his door brought the man in question into his office. Jack leaned back in his chair, carelessly throwing the pen across his paperwork before lounging back
"Jonas?" he asked, seeing the man hesitate at the door.
"Erm, Colonel … err, Sam … well, Sam said we were all going to spend Christmas at your house."
"Yes, that's if you want to, that is?" replied Jack carefully. He still wasn't sure if Jonas even wanted to spend time with him, after all the ups and downs -make that mostly downs – that their relationship went through … continuously, and he had arranged a back up plan. Just in case.
"Are … well … thank you for the invitation … err…"
"Just spit it out, Jonas," said Jack, grinning.
Jonas screwed his eyes together for a moment then the light dawned as the words penetrated his memory. He blinked softly and took a breath. "Are you sure you want me there? I mean you don't have to be polite, Sam explained Christmas is a time for family and friends and …"
Jack frowned, 'Sheesh, was he really that threatening to the Kelownan?'
"Jonas, you are invited and, yes, I want you there. Friends and family … remember?" he said gruffly.
The alien's face lit with a huge smile. If he had a tail it would certainly have been wagging like crazy.
"Thank you, that … that's, err, yes, I'll be there," he beamed and almost shot out of the office.
"Crap!" The thought of seeing that grin all Christmas was almost too much. Well, if you can't beat them … join them.
Jack was still whistling merrily as he made his way home, much to the amusement of the guards.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
He'd arranged to make a long weekend of it, and duly took Jonas and Teal'c home with him the day before Christmas Eve. Both men had put lots of packages into the Colonel's truck, making him wonder where the heck he was going to put the men in the house. He had his pager and his cell on him and had dealt with all the last minute things he could before leaving the base.
Sam was going to join them later, along with more groceries she'd promised to pick up. Janet and Cassie would be joining them Christmas afternoon -- if the two aliens left them any food that was. His fridge and freezer were filled to capacity, but despite that he had a suspicion he wouldn't have to clear any out-of-date stuff after Christmas.
Jonas kept an excited monologue going all the way to the Colonel's house. The snow was already falling, giving the world a beautiful glow. The lights were twinkling in the houses they drove past and Jonas kept giving the Teal'c an excited slap on the arm. Jack watched the Jaffa's pained expression at each slap.
He smothered the laugh he felt breaking out, earning a Jaffa frown, which changed to an honest-to-god smirk when Jonas slapped Jack on the back, excitedly. Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head, inwardly chanting peace and goodwill to all men … and aliens.
xoxoxoxoxoxo