I was listening to A Soldier's Silent Night last night and an idea struck me for this. Hope you like it.
Anything recognizable isn't mine.
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Sam, Jack, Daniel, Teal'c, and Janet sat in O'Malleys, the three Air Force officers in their uniforms. Daniel and Teal'c were also dressed up. They all had a solemn look on their face. Several of the patrons of the restaraunt/bar gave the five faint looks of contempt, but they ignored them.
"I can't believe a single member of the team didn't make it," Daniel murmured softly.
"I can't believe we had to do the memorial service on Christmas Eve," Janet said, wiping her eyes.
"And now, here's A Soldier's Silent Night. God bless our troops," the radio announcer said.
"Aw, change the channel Steve!" a man yelled.
"I can't. Manager's orders. Has to stay the way it is," the bartender returned. The man and his friends sighed and went back to drinking.
Jack and the others turned to the radio, listening to the poem:
'Twas the night before Christmas,
And he lived all alone,
In a one-bedroom house
Made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney
With presents to give,
And to see just who
In this dwelling did live.
I looked all around,
A strange site to see.
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.
No stockings on the mantel,
Just boots filled with sand.
On the walls hung pictures
Of far distant lands.
Metals and badges,
Awards of every kind.
A sobering thought
Came alive in my mind.
This house was different,
It was dark, it was dreary.
I had found the home of a soldier,
I could see that most clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone.
Curled up on the floor
Of this one-bedroom home.
His face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder.
Not at all how I pictured
A United States' Soldier.
Is this the hero of whom
I just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed.
Then I realized the other families
That I saw this night.
Owed their lives to soldiers
Who are willing to fight.
In the morning around the world,
Children would play,
Grown-ups would celebrate
A bright Christmas Day.
But they all enjoy freedom
Each month of the year,
Because of soldiers
Like the one laying here.
I couldn't help but wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve
In lands far from home.
The very thought
Put a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees,
I started to cry.
The soldier awakened,
I heard his rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry,
This life is my choice."
"I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more.
My life is my God,
My Country, my Corp"
The soldier rolled over,
And drifted to sleep.
But I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still.
As both of us shivered
From the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave him
On that cold, dark night.
This guardian of honor,
So willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over,
In a voice soft and pure,
He whispered, "Carry on Santa,
It's Christmas Day, all is secure".
One look at my watch,
And I knew he was right.
Merry Christmas my friend,
May God bless you this night!
Sam looked at her friends and saw that the Colonel and Teal'c's faces had softened, dropping the brave warrior face they always wore. Daniel was holding hands with Janet who had tears in her eyes. Sam realized that she had tears in her eyes as well and wiped them away.
"Shall we go?" Jack asked, picking up a box that he had brought in. Before they could move further, a small girl holding a teddy bear walked up to them. "Can I help you?" Jack asked.
"Are you a soldier mister?" she asked. She wore a green and red dress, her hair in a braid.
"Yes I am," Jack said.
Without warning the small girl hugged him. "Thank you for protecting us," she said.
Jack blinked rapidly, pushing tears back. "You're welcome." She broke away and looked up at him. "That's a pretty bear. What's its name?"
"Julia," the girl answered. "She scares easy though."
"Why's that?" Daniel asked.
"She doesn't have anyone to protect her when I go to school," the girl said.
Jack opened the box he had and pulled out a bear wearing an Air Force uniform. "Well, now Julia does," he said. "This is Colonel Brave. He'll protect her."
"I can't take him. Who will protect you?"
Jack couldn't help but smile at the girl's thoughtfulness. "Don't worry about me. My friends and I are protectors. It's our job to make sure people stay safe."
"Thank you," the girl said, taking the uniformed bear.
"Don't mention it," Jack said. "Be good." The girl nodded and left.
Sam went to put money down on the table to pay for their mostly untouched food when the man who had wanted the radio station changed placed money down on the table first. "I got this," he said softly.
Sam nodded, faintly smiling her thanks. She followed her friends to the door. "That was a nice thing you did Colonel," Janet said. "But who's bear was that going to be?"
"I was going to give it to Cassie, but I can always get another one," Jack said.
"Katherine," they heard a woman's voice say, "Where did you get that bear?"
Jack turned and saw the girl talking with her mother. "That nice soldier gave Colonel Brave to me so he could protect Julia when I'm school."
The woman looked at Jack who nodded that it was true. The woman smiled and mouthed "Thank you". Jack smiled and followed his team outside into the snow. Merry Christmas, Jack thought, looking up at the stars.
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Happy Holidays everyone. Excuse me, I need a tissue...if you want to hear the poem, go to Google, type in A Soldier's Silent Night, and go to the third one from the top that says Mix 94.1-your holiday music station. Once it takes you to the page the poem will begin to play.
I recommend having a tissue when you read it.