Lately I've Been Thinking…
Spacegypsy1
Chapter Four: Thin Ice
Six weeks after SG-1 went missing. The O'Neill's residence.
Jack signed the last of the fifteen long and boring reports he'd been doing as consulting work for the president over the last few days. Setting them aside, he once again looked out the window at the falling snow. The kids were playing in the back yard. Ava, strong and resilient, watched over Jacob, dusting off his bottom every time he slipped and landing on his little rump. Such a trooper, so like her mother with long blond hair and startling blue eyes. Sam's mini me, while Jacob was brown-eyed and mischievous. Jack's other 'clone', he laughed. Jacob was having trouble coping. Hell, Jack was having trouble coping.
Ava looked up, spotted him through the window, and waved her snow-dusted mitten, grinning. Jacob slipped again, and started to cry; Ava rolled her eyes. Laughing, Jack re-laced his boots, grabbed his jacket, and headed out the patio door.
"What's all the ruckus, big guy?"
"Well, daddy, he's having some balancing issues, what with the ice crystals forming under the wet snow, he doesn't quite have the capacity to think it through."
Jack stood there caught between heartache and laughter. She even sounded like Sam. "Okay, that's enough. Neither one of you finished your toast this morning before you high tailed it out into the snow. Come on inside, I'll make hot chocolate and some other something or the other."
"I don like somethin' or that other." Jacob's feet kept going sideways in different directions.
"There's cake." Jack bribed, grabbing the wobbling four-year-old under the arms.
"Tsk. Daddy, that's not a hearty breakfast. And it's old anyways. I'll make pancakes, mom taught me. I can do it." Ava marched ahead leaving Jacob and Jack grinning at each other with the prospect of pancakes.
--
"Yeah, well, they might be a bit thin but they taste good." Looking up, Jack smiled at Ava then Jacob, who ate with gusto.
"They're atrocious." Ava frowned at the half cooked thin lump on her plate.
"Atrocious? Nice word. But, still, they taste just fine."
"We're gonna starve to death, dad."
"We're having dinner at Carolyn's tonigh. Daniel's bringing Greek."
"I don't like Geek."
Jack turned with a serious expression. "Jacob, are you referring to the food or Daniel?"
They all laughed. Jack's gaze shifted from Jacob back to Ava, and his laughter died. She looked so much like her mother laughing like that, he turned away to get a grip on the fellings running rampant through him.
Seven years ago – O'Malley's
Sam's eyes twinkled and her head went back, exposing her neck as she laughed. While the others joined in, Jack stared at her throat. She was a beautiful women and he still wanted her after all these years.
When the group, Sam, Daniel, Vala, Mitchell and Teal'c, all settled down, Jack raised a hand for the waitress.
"Ah, no sir, I'm buyin'. I'm celebrating a three week leave, hell we're all celebrating it, but I'm buyin'. I haven't had two minutes in the last year to spend a dime." Cam was still grinning from the very risqué story Vala had blundered into telling.
Nodding, Jack agreed and turned to find Sam's eyes soft and caring on him. His smile grew. "So, Carter, gonna work on your fizzy, electromagnetic doohickey, your latest wacked out techno-mumbo-jumbo paper, or are you actually going to just rest?"
"All of them. Three weeks, and nothing dark and sinister nipping at our heels. This may be the very first time since I joined SGC that I actually think we'll get through three weeks without a shot fired."
Without responding, Jack raised his beer bottle in salute. She nodded and turned to listen as Vala tried to retract part of her story. Everyone started laughing again. His gaze studied the group of friends. There was Mitchell who he'd come to like for his bravado, and his impeccable command. Teal'c whom he loved like a brother. Daniel, the best friend he'd ever had - though he'd never admit it - and Daniel's ever present shadow, Vala, both of whom didn't have a clue that they were in love. And Carter. He missed being around them all. But mostly he missed being with her.
As Mitchell paid the entire bill, Vala wound an arm around Daniel's and for just a moment he looked down at her with a loving smile. Teal'c, Jack observed, was watching them with more interest than usual. Jack glanced back and found Carter watching him with head tilted.
"What?" He asked.
"You miss this, don't you?" The others had moved ahead as Sam moved closer to Jack.
"You know what I miss, Carter? I miss you. I miss you so much that I've been thinking all night that maybe you could just pack up and come back to Washington with me." It was out of his mouth so fast he was as astounded as she looked.
She recovered quickly. "Drive me home, and I'll pack. When do we leave?"
"You're serious?"
"Weren't you?"
"Hell, yes."
They didn't make it out of her house. Not for another day.
By the time they reached Washington, he'd proposed, she'd accepted and the rest of the gang was scheduled to arrive for the ceremony. A small civil affair, with Daniel as Jack's best man and Vala as Sam's maid of honor. It was done, just that quick. Sam never looked so happy. Jack never felt so happy.
Seven years later – the O'Neill residence – 1400 hours
While the kids napped, Jack turned on the Weather Channel. Sleet had mixed with the snow earlier today; he called Daniel with the news.
"Jack. It's supposed to clear up in an hour or so. Did you actually check the forecast? The plows have already been out, the streets are clear, we can't let Carolyn down. She's expecting us. If it's not safe, we'll stay in, but I'm planning to go."
"Yeah, you're right. Besides the kids are looking forward to Geek and Greek."
"Bye, Jack."
"I'm not doing so well today."
Daniel paused. "Me neither. So, let's assume she's also not doing so well today. It will do us good. The kids can play. We can talk. We all need to talk."
"You need to talk. That's what you do. I don't know how you two ever have a moment's peace, what with her constant chatter…oh, God, sorry."
"They're not dead, Jack, they're missing. We don't have to act like they're dead."
"Bye, Daniel."
"I don't know how you two manage to communicate at all. She speaks science-ese and you don't speak, you grumble and bitch, then close up like a clam. I'll pick you guys up at five. Please comb their hair and dress them nice."
"Yes, mother."
"Bye, Jack."
"Oh, no you don't, I got something to say, now. Make sure you remember to actually bring the diaper bag after you pack it this time! Bye, Daniel."
"They're coming home, Jack. We've got thousands of personnel and allies out there. They are coming home, and soon, I just know it."
"Right. And neither you nor I can go. That's just not right. Bye."
"Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I know that one or the other of us might find them? And if something happened to us who'd be here for our kids? Goodbye."
"What time again?"
Click.
Jack dialed the number.
"What!?"
"I asked what time?"
"I told you."
"Ah, Daniel, no you didn't."
"I hear Jacob crying."
"He misses his goddamned mother! That's why he's crying."
"Jack."
"Shit. Sorry. Six weeks today. I'm losing it."
"I'll pick you up about five. We'll talk."
"Yeah. Okay. Right, Mr. I'm-so-calm. Your voice sounds like crap! Don't be late…Daniel? You okay?"
"Fine." Was all Daniel could say.
Jack tossed the phone on the couch. "I'm coming, Jacob."
Thirty minutes later, Jack dialed Sara's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Sara, so how's John and baby Grace and Little John?"
"Great. And she's not a baby anymore, Jack, Gracie is eight. And 'little' John is twelve and not so little anymore. But how are you holding up?"
"I'm … holding up. I have a question."
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure how to…well, how to tell Ava the truth. She's suspicious. She knows something's wrong."
"Tell her the truth as best you can. Communication is not your strong suit, but Jack, you need to tell her as much as you know, leaving out, of course, your own worries. She's six. She'll understand. Just tell her there's a problem. Jack. If…if something goes wrong. She needs to be prepared."
"Thanks."
"Sure. You want me and Gracie to come over, to be there?"
"No. But thanks. I'll get Carolyn and Daniel."
"Carolyn?"
"Oh, ah, Dr. Lam, Mitchell's wife."
"Call me if you need me."
"I will."