I hope everyone had / is having a great Christmas. I was going to post this this morning but I just didn't get round to it before everything got a little mad.

Anyway, this is going to be a follow on piece to the story I wrote two Christmas' ago called 12 Days of Christmas. I'll be trying to post a chapter a day for the next twelve days, like I did with the last one.

I hope that you enjoy it.

Happy holidays.

Christmas Day

SG1, Janet and Cassie were all gathered around a roaring fire, enjoying the end of their long, and very fun, day.

It had been two years since their run in with Ba'al over Christmas and thankfully, even though it had been a pretty rough few days, none of them had any residual feelings of fear, or hatred, towards the Christmas period.

The Christmas after had been a little difficult but everyone had managed it fine. They'd all taken time off over Christmas, meaning there was no chance of anything like Ba'al happening again.

Sam had gone to her brother's; spending what had been a slightly awkward Christmas holiday with Mark and his family. She had however enjoyed it and had come back feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work.

Daniel had spent it with Janet and Cassie. After the kiss the year before the two adults had gotten closer, so close in fact that Janet had had to change is so that she was no longer Daniel's primary doctor. The two of them, and Cassie, had had a great few weeks, Sam joining them for New Year's.

Teal'c had gone to visit his son and Drey'auc. While the Jaffa didn't celebrate Christmas it had been a good opportunity for Teal'c to visit them.

Jack had gone to his cabin in Minnesota. He had invited the others but they'd already finalised their plans by that point.

This year they'd decided to spend it together again. After a large and filling lunch, which everyone had enjoyed immensely, Sam had chosen Daniel to open his presents first. After Daniel had finished, and had said his thank yous, everyone else had taken their turn.

By the time they were all done there was a large pile of wrapping paper just off to one side which Toby was finding fun to play with. Everyone was watching the dog and laughing as he pounced on it over and over again.

Once the dog had gotten bored Sam went into the kitchen and grabbed a plastic bag so that she could start clearing up. Jack gave her a smile and got up from his seat to give her a hand.

"Are you sure that you want to be going off world tomorrow?" Janet asked the room from where she was sat up against Daniel's side, "I mean after what happened last time?"

The four members of SG1 all shared a look before Sam answered. "We have to do it Janet," she explained, "We of all people can't live in the past; we have to face this now. Besides," she continued with a smile, "What are the chances of it happening again."

"Carteeeer," Jack whined, "Now you've gone and jinxed it."

Sam smiled at him while Daniel shook his head. "Really Jack," he said, "She's jinxed it?"

Jack shrugged. "Just you wait and see."

Everyone shook their heads and then Jack turned to Cassie. "SO my little sugar plumb," he began with a smile, "Have you enjoyed your Christmas Day?"

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Aren't I a little old for you to call me that Jack?"

Jack pouted. "You didn't call me Uncle Jack," he moaned.

Sam, Janet and Daniel all started smirking. Jack ignored them and then stood and walked over to Cassie. He pulled her into a bear hug, causing her to squeal, and said, "You're always going to be my little sugar plumb."

Sam, Janet, Daniel and Teal'c started to laugh as Cassie struggled to get out from Jack's hug. Jack however kept hugging her and then began to tickle Cassie.

Cassie started calling out for help, and for mercy, but none of the other adults, except perhaps Teal'c, were in any state to help, they were all too busy laughing.

It was Toby the dog who put a stop to it in the end. Even though his age was beginning to tell and he'd slowed down a little, he launched himself up onto the chair where Jack and Cassie were and tried to get in between them. When that didn't work he began to growl, and then to bark.

This made Jack stop and it gave Cassie a chance to escape, but it made Jack, Sam and Daniel all laugh harder.

Once they'd all calmed down, Jack giving the three of them a look that said it wasn't that funny, the whole time, they started to get ready to leave.

Janet, Daniel, Cassie and Teal'c all moved to the door to put their shoes and coats on. Jack and Sam followed them but Sam didn't start to get herself ready to leave.

Jack gave her a questioning look. "I thought I'd stay and help you clean up sir," she explained.

"You know you don't have to do that Carter," Jack told her.

Sam shrugged. "I want to sir."

There was something in her voice that told Jack just to leave it. It was subtle though so no one else really noticed.

"We would stay," Janet said, "But we're meant to be calling my parents before it gets any later, and we're giving Teal'c a lift back to the base."

"It's fine," Jack assured them, "I'm sure Carter and I can manage."

Everyone then exchanged hugs before the four headed out of the door and towards Janet's car, taking most of the leftover food with them and with Toby trotting along behind.

Jack waited until they'd all gotten into the car and driven away before he shut the door and turned to Sam. "Shall we get started?"

Sam nodded and the pair began to sort out what was still left from their day.

Jack tidied the sitting room while Sam loaded the dish washer and turned it on. The pair then started on the dishes that there hadn't been room for in the dish washer, Jack washing while Sam dried. Once all the dishes had been put away Sam headed towards the door. Jack followed her and then watched as she started to lace up her boots.

"Sir," she said, breaking the silence, "Are you sure that we're all ready for this?"

Jack nodded. "I do Carter," he said, "Unless you're unsure about it."

Sam was quick to shake her head. "No, no," she said, "I mean there's that tiny voice in the back of my head saying that this is a bad idea, but I know that it's stupid. This is our job and it's what we do."

"I'm sure we'll be fine Carter," Jack reassured her, "But I'd be lying if I said my voice wasn't saying the same thing."

Sam sighed and stood. "We'll we've got to go don't we."

"We do," Jack agreed, "So we'll just have to be extra alert."

"Thanks sir," Sam said as she moved for the door, "I suddenly feel just that little but less worried about tomorrow."

"No worries Carter," Jack said with a smile as she opened the door for her, "I'll see you in the morning."

"See you in the morning sir," Sam replied before heading for her car.

She waved to Jack just as she got in and Jack waved back before he shut the door and headed into the sitting room. He poked at the fire a bit before flopping down on the sofa and turning on the TV.

As he watched a Christmas episode of The Simpsons he hoped that the next few days would indeed go to plan.

Hope that you enjoyed it and if anyone has any cures for a stomach ache from eating way too much food I'm all ears.