Chapter seven
It had been a week since they'd brought the Village People home. The Nox had happily taken them in and the SGC was no longer being hounded by the president. So why do I feel like something's wrong? Jack wondered as he lied in bed listening to Sara and IO argue in the kitchen. Why in hell did she have to visit today? He rolled out of bed and threw on some jeans, raced out the door and found himself in the middle of an all out fight.
"Jack," Sara beckoned. "Tell Ilssya that it is not okay for her to live with a man."
He sighed, "Look Daniel's a great guy."
"That doesn't mean they can live together!"
"If you don't want my opinion, go ask your boyfriend!"
"Mommy, daddy," a voice came from the doorway. They turned to find an apparently distressed Charlie. "I know you guys don't love each other much anymore. I really hate it when you fight. Can you just go 'head and get a divorce now?"
The room stood silent. Sara started hyperventilating; they moved in to assist her. "No," she yelled, "All of you just get out."
They left the room, leaving Sara crying in a corner. "Alright boys," IO spoke with a hint of concern in her voice. "I'm going to head back to Daniel's, I assume you'll be staying with Sam."
"Yeah, but just to be sure is that fear in your voice?"
IO stared at Jack with cold eyes, "This is the second divorce I've had to put up with. So no, I would not classify the slight tremble in my voice as fear. I would say it's more along the lines of disappointment." IO knelt down to Charlie's eye level to give him a hug. "Stay strong," Jack heard her faint whisper.
Jack and Charlie walked with IO to the front porch and after she'd left, Jack spoke. "I'm sorry kideo. You shouldn't have had to listen to us fighting."
"Its fine, I knew you weren't happy."
"The woman we're going to stay with is my girlfriend and I'm very much in love with her. I think we wait a few more minutes then go inside and pack up some clothes. But of course you can stay here if you want."
"No, mom needs time to adjust."
Ding-dong, the door bell rang. Sam put down the broom she held in her hand. It had surprised her when Mark called to say that he was bringing the family for a visit, then her dad had called to say he and her mother were visiting too. Of course she'd told them all about Jack, once they'd officially started dating. Sam wasn't sure why it surprised her that her brother's family truly was "that type" of Catholics. Needles to say once the words 'divorced' left her lips everything went to hell. Luckily her parents were a little more understanding.
Sam opened the door, expecting to find either her brother or father, and found Jack and Charlie with suitcases. "Hey," she spoke nervously, "Come on in."
"Thanks, Charlie there are some guest rooms upstairs why don't you go claim one."
Charlie ran up the stairs, obviously excited. Jack took Sam in his arms, giving her a gentle kiss. "I'm sorry we showed up unexpected. Sara and I got into a fight and Charlie asked us to get a divorce."
"Oh my God, so are you guys going to stay for a while?"
"I know we haven't talked about it but maybe this could just be a permanent move?"
Sam sighed, "I would love to have you both move in. This isn't the best timing though, my family is coming to visit. I told them about you and my brother completely disapproves because of your divorce, my parents seem a little more understanding though."
Jack snickered, "Catholic right."
Sam punched his arm in a joking manner. Jack continued speaking, "When they show up I'll just explain that I love you and that I already know I'm going to hell and I could care less."
She nodded, "What about sleeping arrangements? I don't want to make Charlie uncomfortable."
"I think it'll be better for him to understand where our relationship is now, not later. But we'll take it easy and act like adults, kay?"
"Yeah, now I need you both to go wash up. Dinner with the family's in an hour." All she heard in reply was a grumbled 'yes mam.'
Charlie came into the kitchen half an hour later. "Hey," he tried to get Sam's attention.
Sam spun around, "Hey. Did you find a room you like? We can get paint if you want."
"My bedroom at my mom's is white."
"Ok, are you comfortable with this? I think maybe we should work on having a comfortable relationship if you're ok with that."
Charlie thought about it a moment, "Ok. But I'm not calling you mom."
Sam smiled, "I wasn't expecting you to."
"I don't have grandparents. Can I call you parents grandma and grandpa?"
"That's something you'd have to ask them."
"I've got it, I've got it!" Sam barely heard the doorbell, just Charlie's screaming and yelling.
Sam ran up behind Charlie to find both her brother and his family and her parents waiting at the door. "Hey guys, come in." They followed Sam into the den, "Charlie can you go find your dad please."
"Why the hell do you have a kid running around?" Mark began lecturing as soon as Charlie was out of sight.
"Because I love both him and his father, if you can't accept that then get out."
Jacob put his hand up. "That's it both of you. Sam I'm glad you're happy, let's go meet your boyfriend and his son."
Jacob marched into the kitchen on his own accord to find Jack and Charlie sitting at the bar. He cleared his voice causing Jack and Charlie to look up and everyone else to stop their foreword advance. "Hello, I'm Jacob Carter."
Jack stood and motioned for Charlie to stand. "Jack O'Neill this is my son…"
Jack found himself interrupted as Charlie raced in front of him and offered Jacob his hand, "Hi I'm Charlie."
Jacob chuckled and waved his wife over, "It's nice to meet you Charlie, Jack. This is my wife, Emma."
Jack extended his hand. After Emma shook it Charlie also extended his hand which Emma ignored and instead pulled him into a hug. Upon being released Charlie grinned wide, "Can I call you grandma and grandpa?"
Jacob and Emma looked slightly shocked but it was Mark who spoke. "How dare you!"
Jacob took a step and back handed Mark. "Don't you dare, if you decide to disapprove of Jack then fine. But under no circumstance will you punish the son for the sins of the father."
Jacob turned back around, "Where did he go?"
Jack shrugged, "Charlie left the room. He's probably on the phone with his sister."
Mark once again flared up, "You have another child?"
"No, she's my step daughter. But if you want someone to talk the antics of the Catholic religion with then I'll get Ilssya to come make you look like an idiot."
Mark backed down. Charlie reentered the room. "IO says I overstepped my boundaries."
Sam snorted, "She has no right to talk about overstepping boundaries."
"Damn straight, Charlie get IO back on the phone and invite her for dinner."
IO walked in the door. "If this is you bull-shiting me there's going to be hell to pay."
Mark spoke, "oh yeah. This is going to be fun."
IO came into the kitchen, "Alright Jack what's up? You know how much I love social events."
"Meet Sam's dick head brother. He's Catholic."
"Oh, so you need me to make him pray to God?"
"Nah, just hang out and be you."
"Nice save asshole, don't want to make enemies with the in-laws quite yet, right."
Sam stepped in to break up the bickering, "Dinner's done. Let's all sit down and have a nice quiet meal."
They all sat at the table with plates of food in front of them. "Let's say a prayer." Mark attempted to look cheery.
Jack and IO shrugged, Charlie said nothing since he was not in on the joke. "God is good, God is great. My food is here and I can't wait." Jack and IO spoke in unison as Mark's eyes grew wider and wider.
Jacob chuckled, "This is going to be a long weekend," was all he could manage.