A/N: The next chapter is mostly in Kate's hands, and she writes much faster than I do, so hopefully it won't take as long as this one did.

Ch 3 - Take Your Daughter to Work Day

The next morning each member of the O'Neill household overslept. Technically it was Jack's fault. After an especially long night that had resulted in him actually sleeping until the clock went off in the morning for a change, he swatted the alarm clock a bit too hard, breaking the snooze button rather than just setting it to go off again in five minutes. Five turned into twenty, at which point Sam suddenly leapt out of bed as some wonderfully brilliant part of her brain reminded the rest of her that they actually did have things to do that day besides lie in bed. She ran out of the bedroom to wake up Jordan.

The rest of the morning was incredibly hurried, as Jack and Sam quickly took their showers, and everyone dressed and gathered the various things they needed for the day. Jordan dressed herself in her green cargo pants and black tee-shirt so she would fit in at the SGC and packed her backpack full of things to play with all day. She tried to pour her own juice and spilled it all over the kitchen. While Jack mopped it up with his sock, Sam hurriedly pulled Jordan's hair up into a ponytail while Jordan ate her breakfast.

Finally, they were all dressed and had what they needed. They hurried out to the truck and Sam opened the passenger door, lifting Jordan up by the underarms to help her into the four wheel drive truck. The sudden motion and added weight of Jordan and her backpack made her dizzy.

Jordan squeezed into the back, a tight fit with her backpack, and turned back around. "Mommy?"

"I'm fine," Sam said quickly, climbing into the truck and shutting the door.

Jack reached over the back to help buckle Jordan in, looking at Sam carefully. "Feel okay, hon? You're really pale."

"I'm fine," Sam repeated, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "We've just been running around all morning is all. I just need another cup of coffee."

"Okay," he said uncertainly, starting the truck.

Jordan rummaged around in her bag and pulled out a cereal bar. "Here, Mommy, eat this."

"Aw, thank you sweetie. But then you won't have a snack for later."

"I'll get something in Uncle Danny's lab. Or from Uncle Teal'c, they always have snacks."

"She has a point," Jack said with a chuckle.

"Please Mommy you didn't eat breakfast."

"All right. Thanks, Jordan." She took the cereal bar and opened it somewhat reluctantly, noticing that this was the third or fourth time this week her daughter had been concerned about her health. While Jordan was a very sweet child, she was still five years old, and as such was properly concerned more with herself than anybody else most of the time. It was unusual for her to be so worried about her mom… especially for no particular reason. "Why are you so concerned with me eating breakfast all of a sudden anyway? You're the pickiest eater on the planet."

"No I'm not. I just don't like food with bones in it or anything squishy or…"

"Okay, one more time," Jack interrupted impatiently, and both of the other people in the truck knew what the sudden and insistent change of topic was about.

"Daaaaaaaaad," Jordan whined.

"One more time," Jack repeated firmly. "What's the rule at work?"

"No touching any guns," Jordan said in a bored voice.

"And?"

"And those alien ones... even though they look like squirt guns."

"Right."

Sam cleared her throat and added, "And the red phone in Daddy's office?"

"Aw, Mommy, come on!"

"Jordan."

"But the President likes talking to me, Mom!"

"The President is a busy man."

"Yeah, and besides, he knows it's a school day, Jo. Do you think the President would be very impressed to hear that you got suspended for fighting at school?" Jack added.

Jordan kicked her legs at the back of her mom's seat but admitted, "No, sir."

xxxxx

After making it through security on the base, Jack, Sam, and Jordan headed for his office, which was across the hall from Hammond's office. Since they had a big meeting scheduled for later that morning between several leaders from other planets, both Hammond and Jack were on duty at the same time to attend the meeting.

Just as Jack opened the door to his own office, Hammond came out of his, completely ignoring Jack and Sam as he turned all of his attention to Jordan.

"I thought I heard a little girl out here," he said, smiling down at her.

Jordan slid her pack off her shoulders, stood up straight, and saluted him. He saluted her back (being overly formal to keep up the little game), and then smiled. "At ease, Airman."

She giggled and said, "Hi GG!" as she jumped up to hug General Hammond.

Jack, as always, had to swallow a smile at that, as Hammond lifted her up into a big bear hug. Hammond had always treated Jordan like his own grandchildren, and as Jacob wasn't around too much, he took his role as honorary grandfather seriously. Sam always referred to him as "Grandpa George" to Jordan, and, when the little girl had been a baby, she had shortened it to "GG," of course not understanding that it sounded like a very feminine name for the three star General.

Hammond didn't mind, but it always struck Jack as funny every time he heard it. Even now that Jordan was perfectly capable of saying "Grandpa George" or some other version, she still always called him by the name she had given him as a baby. "Did you know I was coming here today, GG? All day long!"

"Yes, according to Sergeant Harriman you were suspended from school." He set her back down on the ground and looked down at her seriously. "I understand that you assaulted a civilian. Is that true?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"Do you know what I'd do to your mom or dad if they did that?"

"What?" she asked, looking slightly scared.

"I'd have them court-martialled and thrown in the brig!"

Jordan thought about that for a few moments and then grinned at him slyly as though she had figured out something clever. "But what about the time Mommy and Daddy and Uncle Danny got superpowers and they snuck out to go eat dinner and..."

"Jack!" Sam exclaimed involuntarily, before she remembered they were on base and in uniform. Things were going to be weird today, trying to keep up the professionalism with their child there.

Jack shrugged and grinned apologetically, then glanced at Hammond, who looked a lot less amused than Sam did. "It's a good story," he said evasively.

Hammond shook his head and looked down at Jordan. "Well, your father's disciplinary record is really not something you should be trying to copy, young lady. It's nice to have you here today, but I don't want to hear about any more fighting at school. I know your Grandpa Jacob would be very disappointed to hear about this too."

"Yes, sir," Jordan said, sounding very sorry.

Jack and Sam looked at each other quickly. Jack mouthed, 'see?' and Sam smiled and nodded slightly.

"Well, I have to get back to work before this meeting," Hammond said, smiling at Jack and Sam and patting Jordan on the head. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay, good luck with your meeting GG," she said, flashing a quick smile at him.

"I've got to get down to the lab too," Sam said, kneeling down beside Jordan. "You stay here for a while, and I'll come get you before Daddy's meeting, okay?"

"Here? In your office?" Jordan asked, wrinkling her nose and looking up at Jack.

"Yeah... what's wrong with my office?"

"But I... can't I go stay with Auntie for a little while?" Jordan asked. Hammond leaned in his doorway, wondered who would win this unfolding battle.

"Auntie?" Sam asked, surprised. Jordan hated the infirmary almost as much as her father did; although she loved Janet dearly, she preferred to see her outside of the infirmary whenever possible.

"Yes... please? I want to go see her."

"She's busy this morning, passing out shots and other horrible things," Jack said, picking up Jordan's bag and slinging it over one shoulder. "You're going to see her after lunch."

"But I really need to see her now."

"Why?" Sam asked suspiciously.

"Because... I just do. I won't get in the way. I'll even help hand out the lollipops after she gives the shots!"

"You're the only one who gets the lollipops, pal," Sam said, touching the tip of her nose. "She doesn't give them to the rest of us."

"Not even to me," Jack grumbled. "Come on. Say bye to Mommy."

"No! I really need to go see Aunt Janet NOW!" she threw her arms around Sam's neck to prevent her from getting to her feet.

"You're not sick, are you honey?" Sam asked suddenly, feeling Jordan's forehead.

"No, I'm fine I just want to go see Auntie!"

"Jordan," Sam said quietly. "You'll see her later today. She's busy right now. Now, are you going to go play in Daddy's office or do you need to sit in the Uncooperative Chair?"

At the mention of The Chair (the perfect punishment for their stubborn and squirmy daughter), Jordan stiffened and let go of Sam, wiping her eyes and looking down at the ground for several moments.

Sam watched her daughter thinking about it, weighing her choices. Jordan finally said hesitantly, "That's at home..."

"Nah, we've got one here," Jack said. "I can have Siler bring it up from storage to my office. Should I go call him?"

"No!" Jordan said quickly. "I don't need it!"

"Good," Sam said. "You going to tell me bye then?"

"Bye Mommy." Jordan, all friendly smiles once again, hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.

Sam got to her feet and said, "Bye. I'll see you in a little while." Jordan took her bag from her dad and walked into his office calmly.

Jack shook his head. "What the hell was that about?"

"I have no idea..."

Hammond cleared his throat and said, "Colonel?"

"Yes, sir?" Sam asked, turning to him quickly. She had thought he'd already gone back inside his office.

"These 'Uncooperative Chairs?' Do you think they make them big enough for him?" Hammond gestured to Jack with his thumb.

"Hey!" Jack objected, as Sam laughed.

"I doubt it, sir."

"Hmm... still, it's a good idea... next time I'm waiting for a report..." Hammond disappeared back into his office half-talking to himself.

Jack rolled his eyes at the closed door. "Very funny GEE-GEE," he said in an exaggerated whisper.

Sam laughed and hugged him. "Good luck. I'll come get her in a little while."

"Don't forget," he warned, fully aware of her tendency to lose track of time.

"I'll set the alarm on my watch as soon as I'm in the elevator," she promised.

"Okay. See you later then." Since she had already risked an illegal hallway hug, he figured he was entitled to a quick illegal hallway kiss. Hey, today was far from normal already.

He grinned at the surprised look on her face and said, "Bye, Carter."

"Bye, General."

xxxxx

"How come everybody's so busy today, Daddy?" Jordan asked. She and Jack were in his office. He divided his time between answering his ringing-off-the-hook phone, answering the queries of the various officers who came hurrying into his office to ask him something, and admiring the pictures Jordan was drawing.

"Well, there's a bunch of ambassadors from some other planets coming to have a meeting, and a fancy lunch, and a tour of the base. So it's very important that everything goes smoothly, you know? We've got to be all formal and everything…"

"Is that why your blue suits were hanging in the back of the truck?"

"Yup. I've got to go change as soon as Mommy comes to get you. And… some of these people, they're really into rules and being formal, you know… so that's why we've got to keep handing you off today."

"Oh… you mean they won't like me?"

He smiled and said, "How could anyone not like you, you're adorable! But… they might not like that you're here today. On a military base."

"Oh." She nodded and tried not to look like her feelings were hurt at the idea that these important aliens wouldn't want to meet her. "But Daddy, can I come to lunch with you?"

Jack sighed. "Buddy, you know if it was up to me we'd be having lunch alone, and I wouldn't have to put on my dress blues and wear a tie and the shoes that pinch all day. I'll talk to Hammond about it, see what he thinks. But I promise you, lunch is going to be very boring today. Hey, what are you drawing now?"

"It's Quidditch. You know, in Harry Potter?"

"Oh, right."

"It's for Uncle Daniel. He does all the voices so good. He sounds just like the people on the movies when he reads."

"Yeah, he's a man of many talents."

xxxxx

When Sam popped back into Jack's office, Jordan was sitting behind his desk, playing on his computer. She smiled fondly at the sight of her tiny daughter sitting in the large chair behind the even larger desk, looking perfectly at home behind the Brigadier General nameplate.

"Hi, sweetie, ready to go?"

Tearing her eyes away from whatever game she was playing on the computer, Jordan smiled and said, "Almost, just a second."

"Where's your dad?"

She shrugged, already more interested in her game again. Jack answered the question himself by arriving. "Hey, I was just about to bring her to you."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, so far so good. Mostly. I was talking to Hammond…" He lowered his voice so Jordan wouldn't overhear. "She was asking about lunch but Hammond doesn't think it would go over well with some of our visitors. Siler's going to take her up to the surface for a picnic instead."

"Good idea," Sam agreed.

"All right, outta my chair, squirt," Jack said loudly, going over to his desk. He spun the chair around in circles a few times, which Jordan always liked.

Then he picked her up by the waist, turning her upside down. She laughed hysterically as he walked her over to Sam like that, then let her flip over onto her feet. "Be good, kid."

"Daddy, I'm always good," she said innocently, hugging him quickly before taking Sam's hand.

"Of course you are, what was I thinking?"

Jack watched them head down the hall to the elevator, Jordan swinging their joined hands. "Hey, Jo! Try not to blow up Mommy's lab, okay?" he called down the hall.

His loud yelling caused Hammond to poke his head out of his own office. He scanned Jack quickly and said sharply, "You're still not dressed."

"Going right now, sir," Jack promised.

As Jordan got on the elevator and the doors started to slide closed, she called sarcastically, "Be good, Daddy!"

Hammond chuckled. Jack said affectionately, "Ah, she's such a smartass."

xxxxx

"Did you have fun?" Sam asked Jordan as they headed down to her lab.

"Yeah, but Daddy was on the phone a lot. How many people are coming today?"

"About twenty."

"Wow. Is Thor coming?" she asked hopefully.

"No, sorry, sweetie. He's not." Sam really thought her daughter had something of a crush on Thor. He was right up there with Yoda and Harry Potter in her book. She saw him at least once a year - her annual 'checkups.' About two seconds after their daughter was born, Jack had become Thor's second favorite human.

As they got into the lab, Jordan looked around hopefully, clearly hoping her mom was in the middle of something cool. Her lab was much less cluttered than it usually was, however. "What were you doing this morning, Mommy?"

"Just finding stopping places in a few projects. I have to give a bunch of… well, they're kind of like lessons, I guess, to the people visiting later."

"Cool."

"Yeah. Unfortunately I'll be busy all afternoon. You're going to go with Uncle Teal'c next, then Sergeant Siler is going to take you on a picnic for lunch, so that will be fun, huh?"

"Yeah," she said, still looking disappointed at the news that she wouldn't be able to eat with them.

"Hey, it's not like we knew you'd be here you know?" Sam said lightly, climbing up on a chair and reaching up for a box on top of one of her shelves. "If I were you I'd be pretty happy about my 'punishment.'"

"I am," Jordan said. "Then after lunch am I going to Auntie?"

"Why are you so desperate to go hang out in the infirmary all of a sudden?"

She shrugged and looked away. "No reason," she insisted. "I just want to see her, and if the rest of you are busy…"

"Yes, you're going to be with her for most of the afternoon. Uncle Danny is going to be busier than any of us today, so you probably won't get to see him at all. But for now… I have something for you." She set the box on her lab table and climbed down from her chair, then set the box on the floor by her desk.

"Wow, cool! What is this?"

"These are spare bits from scrapped MALPs and other things. I thought you might like to tinker with them. Make a little mini-MALP or something."

"Thanks, Mommy!" Jordan cried, already rummaging through the box to take a little inventory. Sam smiled down at her, knowing that she would now be happily occupied while Sam finished up her own work.

Sam made sure all of her visual aids for her presentations were in order, and was working on a report from Area 51, frequently interrupting her own work to see what her daughter was creating. She had a couple of wrenches and had already built a little metal skeletal frame about the size of a shoebox and put it on wheels, but she was having trouble getting the little battery to work and make the whole thing move.

"Dammit, work!" Jordan exclaimed in frustration, hitting her little contraption with the wrench in her hand.

"Jordan!"

She cringed and looked up at Sam with a sheepish smile. "Oops. Sorry, Mom."

"It's okay," Sam said with a sigh. It was hard to get too upset when she was fairly certain she was the one responsible for that particular type of frustrated outburst in the first place. "What's the matter?" Sam asked, crowding down on the floor next to her, tucking her legs to the side and looking at the mini-MALP more closely.

"I can't get the battery to stay connected to this part here, that connects to the wheels…"

"I think it's a little too heavy for the frame. Try dropping the center of gravity to…"

"What does that mean?"

"Make the bottom way heavier than the top. Make your platform here stronger at the bottom… you might even want to put two more wheels, like the big MALPs. Then…"

"Okay, wait, let me do that part first."

"Want me to help?"

"No I want to do it by myself."

"Smart girl." Sam got to her feet, smoothing her skirt down, as she was already in her dress uniform, and ruffled Jordan's hair on her way back to her desk.

xxxxx