Haircut
By Mickey

Status: Completed 3/17/2009

Season: Pre-series

Categories: Challenge, Fluff, Humor, Series

Pairings: Jack/Sara

Content Level: G

Archive Permission: Ask first. I'll probably say yes.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue.

Word Count: 1631

Author's Notes: Written for the stargatekiddrabbles list's March 7th challenge " Write about your little character's haircut." This is part of what will become a series (yes, yet another series!) about Charlie's firsts. Although this story was written first, chronologically it will not be the first in the series. Many thanks to Lisa and Annie for the beta!!


"Come on, kid, let's go get our ears lowered," Jack said as he picked up his eighteen month-old son.

The boy just looked at him quizzically.

Jack laughed at the look on his boy's face. "A hair cut, little man, we both need a haircut," he clarified, running his fingers through the boy's long dirty-blond locks. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud, but Jack thought his kid looked kinda cute with long hair. After all, being one of those people who firmly believed that boys did NOT have long hair, it wouldn't do to let people know he thought his kid pulled the look off pretty damn well. It surprised him, in a way, that Charlie's hair was so long. After all, he'd seen other kids his son's age, even girls, that still had hardly any hair. Then again, the kid had been born with a very full head of hair, so he guessed he shouldn't really be too surprised.

"Air tut?" the boy repeated.

Jack ruffled his son's hair. "That's right, kiddo, hair cut."

Grabbing the nearby diaper bag, Jack checked it quickly. Knowing that one pull-up would not be enough, he set Charlie back down into his high chair.

"Up, Dada," the boy said, large brown eyes pleading with him.

"In a minute buddy. Mommy hasn't had a chance to check your bag since the last time we went out and we need to restock it. Okay?"

Charlie seemed to consider his father's words carefully then finally nodded.

Jack chuckled at the serious look on his little boy's face then went about his task. Six pull-ups (and he was soooo happy the kid was starting potty training), a travel pack of wipes, two sippie cups and a few snacks later, the bag was sufficiently stocked. Almost as an after-thought, he ran upstairs to Charlie's room and grabbed his son's favorite little stuffed dog then ran back downstairs. Throwing the cherished toy into the diaper bag, he zippered it up and turned towards his son.

Charlie was sitting quietly, watching his father. He smiled when Jack looked at him and raised his arms up high, his little fingers opening and closing. "Up, Dada."

When Jack didn't move immediately, Charlie demanded, "Up, up, up!"

"Okay." Jack laughed as he picked his son up, "alright. Ya know, little man, for one so small you can be pretty dang demanding sometimes," he said as he tickled his son and the boy laughed loudly. That was probably the thing he loved most about Charlie, the kid had a great laugh and a killer smile.

Sara would be royally ticked, but she'd get over it. Really, it was time, Jack decided. The kid had more hair than half of the girls in his daycare class! He wasn't sure why, but every time he'd mentioned getting Charlie's hair cut for the past two months, she'd insisted that they wait until he was two. He just didn't get why that was the magic number. What was the big deal? He made a mental note to ask the barber to save some of the hair. Knowing she'd have something to put into his baby book should appease her. He also decided he'd better take some pictures too and grabbed the camera off the counter.

Reaching down he picked up his kid, grabbed the diaper bag and made his way out to the car. Tossing the diaper bag on the backseat, he settled Charlie into his car seat the climbed into the front. As he adjusted the seat and mirrors, he really wished he had his truck. Sara was right though; Charlie was still too young for the type of car seat that would be okay in the front seat of a truck.

Less than twenty minutes later, Jack pulled into the parking lot for Benny's, the only real barbershop around for more than seventy miles. He grabbed the diaper bag then unbuckled Charlie and picked him up.

"'Alk," Charlie said as Jack started to walk towards the shop.

"Yeah, little man, we're walking."

"No, no cawwy. 'Alk," Charlie stated as he began to wiggle.

Chuckling, Jack said, "Okay, ya little wiggle worm, I get it. Stop that before you make me drop ya."

Charlie stopped wiggling and Jack set him down on his feet then grabbed his hand before the kid could take off. Hand in hand, they walked into the barbershop. Jack was relieved to see that there was no one else there. Patience was not a virtue his hyper-active son generally possessed.

As always, Benny, the storeowner, greeted him enthusiastically.

"Jack! Good to see you again." Seeing Charlie, who was trying to remove his hand from his father's grip, Benny knelt next to the boy. "And this must be Charlie!" he exclaimed as he reached out and tickled the boy.

Jack laughed as Charlie giggled. " Hiya, Benny. Yup, this is my kid." He looked at his son and said, "Say hi to Benny, son."

Charlie smiled as he said, "Hi! Me get 'air tut!"

"Wow. This is your first hair cut, huh, buddy?" Benny asked, obviously noting the length of the boy's hair and knowing Jack would not take his son anywhere else.

"Yes!" the child replied.

"The usual for me." He considered telling Benny to give Charlie a crew cut too then reconsidered. Sara would be mad enough about the haircut as it was; he figured he'd better at least leave enough for her to brush. "Just a regular cut for Charlie."

Jack tossed the diaper bag onto one of the chairs by the window then bent down and picked up his son. "Okay, kiddo, which chair do you want, the car or the boat?" he asked as he pointed to the two kiddie chairs.

Jack smiled as Charlie tapped his finger on his chin, looking like he was making the most important decision of his young life as he glanced back and forth between the two chairs. Damn, the kid was just too cute!

"Boat," Charlie finally decided as he pointed to the boat chair.

"Okie dokie, buddy." Jack put his son in the chair and strapped him in then sat in the adult chair next to him.

Benny cut Jack's hair first and was done in just a few minutes. Once he was done, Jack stood and walked over to the diaper back as Benny went to his son. He opened the bag and took out Charlie's stuffed dog. Knowing the first hair cut could be scary for a small child, especially one as young as his son, Jack guessed the boy might want his beloved toy.

He was surprised to see that Charlie looked more fascinated than frightened as Benny set the scissors on the table in front of his boy. Jack laughed as Charlie giggled loudly and scrunched up his shoulders when Benny used a small spray bottle to spritz water onto his boy's hair. When his hair was wet enough, Benny put the bottle down and picked up a comb. When he got to the nape of the boy's neck, Charlie laughed and scrunched up his shoulders again.

"Tiggles!"

Jack laughed with him. "Did that tickle?"

Charlie nodded, "Uh huh. Tiggled!"

"Sorry 'bout that, buddy," Benny began, "but you have to sit still, okay?"

"O'tay," Charlie promised with a nod, giving the barber another big smile.

True to his word, Charlie stayed still -or at least as still as any eighteen month-old boy could sit- until the barber had finished. Jack made sure to take a lot of pictures.

Jack watched as Benny finished brushing his kid's hair then turned the chair around and took a step back. "Well, Jack," he asked, "What do you think?"

"Looks great, Benny, thanks," Jack replied as he pulled out his wallet. "How much?" he asked. He knew how much his cut cost, but not how much it would be for Charlie's.

"The usual, eight bucks," the barber replied.

"Yeah, that'll cover mine, but what about my kid's?"

"On the house." Holding up a hand to forestall Jack's argument, he added, "I've never seen a kid sit and behave that well, especially during their first haircut. It was my pleasure."

"Thanks, Benny, see ya in a few weeks."

Jack paid Benny then picked up the diaper bag and took Charlie's hand into his own. "Say goodbye, son."

"Bye, bye!" Charlie waved.

They had just reached the door when Benny called out for them to wait. Jack and Charlie turned to see the other man approaching them. He knelt next to Charlie and extended his hand, holding out a lollypop to the child.

Charlie accepted it with a big smile and said, "Tank oou!"

"You're welcome."

As they walked out to the car, Jack asked, "You hungry, kiddo?"

"Yes! Hungwy, Dada."

Jack got his son situated in the car then headed towards he closest restaurant. Father and son enjoyed a laughter-filled lunch then headed for home.

Seeing his truck in the driveway as he backed in, he realized Sara was home.

A little early.

Dang.

He put the car in park and turned it off then retrieved Charlie and the diaper bag from the back seat. Once he'd released the restraints, he set Charlie on the ground.

"I show Mama!" Charlie said happily as he ran for the front door. He reached the door before Jack and yelled impatiently, "Open, open."

Laughing and shaking his head at his son's antics, Jack did as Charlie asked. Charlie ran into the house ahead of Jack. "Mama, Mama," he called out as he ran. "Me and Dada gotted 'air tuts!"

Jack smiled at his son's enthusiasm.

The grin faded and he cringed as his wife obviously saw their little boy's new hairstyle and hollered, "JAAACK!"

THE END