Category: Drama

Sequel: Yes. To 'The Simplest of Things' and 'No Kisses' but this story will also stand alone.

Spoilers: Season 8-10

Season: AU from Season 8 ending to present. It is AU b/c Jack and Sam retired, got married and decided to live off a stockpile of money they'd accrued. And the Stargate is public knowledge.

Rating: 11 and up.

Summary: Ficlet more than story. Fulfills the Word of the Week Challenge for SJFic, "Early". Permission to archive given to SJFic Yahoo Group.

Disclaimer: The SG-1 characters do not belong to me and I don't own them, nor do I profit from this story. The characters belong to Gekko and Double Secret Productions.

Author's Notes: Inspiration comes from many sourcesI write for more than one fandom so a similar tale of mine may be found elsewhere. ATST—you've been quiet-ish again!

Out With My Daughter

By: Lynda Mayfield

I live in Minnesota. I always liked it here. Is that surprising, for as many vacations as I've taken to this great state? Oh, yes, did I mention the Stargate project went public last year? That was right before Sam and I married, just a few months after our joint retirements. The next month we married and the month after that our life was a flurry of phone calls, interviews and overall fame for helping save the Earth. A few times. Okay, it was fun while it lasted and everything settled down.

You'd think. I'm out in public with my daughter. She is in my lap, smacking the magazine article I was trying to read. I gave that up and began eating my bagel and taking sips of coffee while at the same time avoiding the flailing little arms of Isabella. Yeah, she's a baby, and those are amazing beings, but do people have to stare at her?

Haven't people seen fathers with their babies in public before? Do they get up early to track my movements and see where I'll be? I mean, my dad used to take me everywhere on Saturdays, and instead of staring, folks said hello.

I must digress. This has nothing to do with my home state. Anywhere I take my family we tend to get stared at. I guess they are thinking, Is that the great general, Jack O'Neill? Or maybe they are thinking, Wow, what a trophy wife. If only I could tell them. Hell, Sam would even tell them, I'm not so great. She IS great. My wife deserves the attention for more than one reason, and she's no trophy but she is a great woman to be with each night.

To these people I want to say, stop. I want to say, look at me, I'm a regular guy in my t-shirt and blue jeans, holding my baby girl. Sure, I am older, grayer than I used to be. Age does that but it doesn't change the fact that I do have a daughter. I love her and I will protect her, no matter the threat.

Instead I say nothing. Sam teases me for being a man of silence. It's my nature. I found along the last few months that being stared at bothers me more, because of Bella. Also, saying nothing gives those who gawk nothing to feed on or throw to the press. No bones. I don't care to shorten my outings because someone can't keep their eyeballs in their head or their mouth shut.

Sometimes, I do speak to people, or pose with them. If I feel they are genuine and not invading, stalking. I don't know what I did to deserve this. I am just another guy with a baby. Maybe that's the more rare thing in the world, the more heroic—to actually stand up and be a father to one's child. If that's the hero they seek, they've found me.

After a while, the flood of passersby to this outdoor café dwindles to a light stream and it's time to go home. Sam should be about done her relaxing mommy-bath and ready to tackle the daddy/daughter team of Isabella and me again. I know that when Sam takes the baby out, I feel the house is too empty, and I cannot wait till they return. I clean up, duck my napkin into the garbage can (3 points!) and head for home with the baby's gurgles to keep me company.

The End