Chapter four

AGE SIX

Why did I let Cam talk me into coming back? Sam was pulled out of her thought's by General Landry's voice. "Yes sir,"

"Please pay attention Colonel."

"Yes sir."

The briefing ended quickly as it was just a debriefing. Sam stayed seated after the briefing was called to an end. "Sam," Daniel leaned across the table. "What's up?"

"Today was Jake's first day of school. He begged me the whole way there not to make him go."

"He'll be fine."

"Yeah, I guess. I probably ought to go pick him up though."

They nodded as she walked out the door. Sam didn't bother changing before leaving the mountain. She arrived at the school just as the bell rang. Jake came running to the car and hopped in. "Let's go."

"Are you okay?"

"I hate school!"

"Were the kids mean to you?"

"They told me I'm a loser."

"You're not a loser. You are a great kid."

Jake nodded.

Jake sat playing on the computer in Sam's lab. He looked up as Daniel came in. "Hey Sam, Jake, we've been called off world on an emergency mission."

Sam nodded, "Jake, I'll arrange for you to stay with someone for a couple days."

"Do I have to go to school?"

"Yes."

Walter walked into Sam's lab promptly at five o'clock. "Alright Jake, it looks like you're staying with me for a couple days."

Jake picked up his backpack and walked past Walter, "Thanks."

Jake awoke to Walter's voice. "Time for you to get up."

"Fine,"

"Maybe after school today we can stop by your mom's place and grab something to play with. Like a baseball and a bat and glove."

"Why, it's not like you're going to play with me."

"Sure I'll play with you."

"Whatever."

Half an hour later, Jake walked into the kitchen with his backpack slung over his shoulder. "I'm ready."

"What, no breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Me neither, but I'm smart enough to drink coffee."

"Can I try some?"

Walter shrugged, "I don't think your mom will mind."

Walter pored Jake a shot of coffee and handed it to him. "Thanks Sergeant."

"You can call me Walter."

Jake shrugged then sipped the coffee. His face puckered, "This needs sugar."

Walter laughed, "Yeah I should have known you'd say that. Let's get you to school."

Jake walked into his classroom. "Hey loser, over here." Bobby Huggins called from the far side of the room.

Jake ignored him and took his seat. The bell rang and Ms. Myers started talking. "Good morning class,"

"Good morning," they replied.

"Next week we are going to have a career day. It's a day for you to bring your mommies and daddies so they can tell us what they do. Then, we are all going to do research on the career we think sounds the coolest."

Some of the boys and girls cheered, Jake sat still. Bobby came and sat next to him, he whispered, "I bet your daddy isn't coming."

"No."

"So why not?"

"Because."

"I'm sorry I called you a loser."

"Does that mean you want to be friends?"

"Yes."

Sam walked down the Stargate's ramp. Five days, we were gone a whole five days. The team was close behind her. "Sergeant," Sam spoke looking at Walter. "Do you have a moment?"

Walter nodded and met Sam in the hallway outside the gate room. "Colonel."

"Sergeant, thank you for watching Jake. Did he give you any problems?"

"No mam, he seemed distant though."

"I suppose that was to be expected. Jake doesn't do well with male role models."

"Do you mind me asking?"

"No, the general doesn't visit much now that he's in Washington."

Walter nodded, "If you need a babysitter again."

"Thank you Walter."

Sam jogged down the corridors, stopped by the infirmary for her post mission check up, and then went to pick up Jake. She watched as Jake walked to the car, talking with a friend. A friend, finally.

"Hey Jake," she said as he got into the backseat.

"Why were you gone so long? I got worried."

"I know, I didn't mean for you to get scared. We were taken captive."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I saw you made a friend."

"Yeah, that's Bobby. He's really cool."

"That's great. Is there anything new going on?"

"Career day is next week."

"That sounds like fun. What day is it?"

"Tuesday."

"I'll be there."

Jake took a deep breath, "Have you heard from dad lately?"

"No."

"Okay."

"Is there something important you need to talk to him about?"

"No, I was wondering if he was coming for my birthday."

Sam swallowed hard; of course he wants to see Jack. "We'll see."

Sam peeked around the entry of the kitchen into the den. Jake was watching hockey. She stepped back into the kitchen and picked up the phone.

"O'Neill residence." Said an all to chipper voice.

"Hello Mrs. O'Neill, this is Colonel Carter, is the general there?"

"Just a moment."

"What," Jack's voice was crisp.

"Good evening general, I'm sorry for calling so late."

"Cut the crap Sam, it's only seven your time. What do you need?"

"Jake's birthday is this week."

"Has his present not gotten there yet?"

"No it has,"

"Then what?"

"Jake wants you to visit. I know you're busy but it would mean a lot."

"I can't make it right now."

"Okay. Something else, you don't need to send big, expensive presents."

Jack cleared his voice, "I have to go."

Sam felt her stomach tighten as the line went dead. He was pretty damn clear, just let go. She peeked back around the corner to find Jake standing there.

"I suppose you heard the whole conversation?"

Jake nodded, "I don't want you to call him anymore. I don't want the present he sent me either."

Jake stomped out of the room, but stopped when the phone rang. "Hello," Sam spoke in an obviously irritated tone.

"Hey, I know we just talked. I'm sorry to bother you."

"What sir."

"When's a good time for me to visit?"

"I thought you said you were busy."

"I am, I also don't want Jake to hate me."

Sam moved the phone away from her ear. "Jake come here, your dad's on the phone."

Jake shuffled over to where Sam was standing. He took the phone, "What?"

"Hey Jake, what's up?"

"Nothing, why are you calling?"

"Your birthday's this week."

"So you never call."

"Right. I was thinking maybe I could visit."

"Why, you have a family?"

Jake handed the phone back to Sam and went to watch baseball.

"Hello,"

"Sorry sir, Jake seems upset. What did you say to him?"

"That I was thinking of visiting."

"Career day is next Tuesday; Jake's birthday is on Wednesday so you won't have to stay long."

"So I'll come in Monday night?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

Monday night came quickly. Jack watched as Sam pulled up along the curb. He got in. "Thanks for the ride. Where's Jake?"

"The boys are playing baseball over at the high school's field. We can drive by if you want."

Twenty minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of Fountain/Fort Carson High. Jack followed Sam over to the field and frowned when he saw the field was empty.

"God damn it. If they broke into the ice rink again…"

"Calm down, we'll check there ok."

They walked over to the ice rink to find the doors were wide open. They walked inside, before them was an all out hockey match.

Sam cringed as a boy, wearing no pads, was hit into the ice. "Jake," she yelled. They watched as all movement on the ice came to a stop.

Bobby skated over to Jake, who was recovering from the last hit. "Who's that guy with your mom?"

"My dad."

Sam made sure all the boys were picked up by parents then got into the car. "What the hell were you thinking?" She yelled at Jake.

"We were having fun."

"Well now you and your dad get to have fun."

Jake moaned, "Why did he come?"

"To see you," Jack answered quickly.

"Liar, mom made you come."

"Maybe she did. But that doesn't change that I'm here."

Jake shifted his body so that he was looking out the window. "Go to hell." His comment went unpunished and unanswered.