Thanks everyone for the reviews! And again, thank you Aria-wolfstar for editing this for me!

Sorry for taking so long to post this!

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Ch 7: Meeting Teal'c...

Sam and Jack found themselves in Sam's lab half an hour later. Empting bags upon bags, and bringing the items into the girl's room. Posters of animals filled the boring gray walls, and colorful bedspread and rugs made the room look a little more human.

Sam was hooking up the lava lamp Jack insisted the girl needed. She had already started a growing pile of unnecessary items that needed to be returned.

Jack stocked the bookcase with children's picture books. "Carter," he said as he placed the last book in its new home. "What was your favorite book as a kid?" he moved over to the bag with coloring books and crayons, and found a place for them in the small desk.

Sam looked over at him, surprised by his question. "I… I don't remember." She said, beginning a pile of clothes that were too large or too small for the small girl.

Jack glanced at her, unconvinced that she had forgotten her favorite book.

"What?" She asked, not liking the look on his face. "That was a long time ago, and there were so many books, I'm not sure I actually had a favorite."

Jack shrugged. That was true, if she read anywhere near the amount of books she read now, she probably had a hundred favorites. "Fine, what was your least favorite book?"

That was an odd question. "Umm… believe it or not, Cat and the Hat. I used to hate that book so much, and my mom never understood why."

Jack looked confused; that had been one of his favorites as a child, and he read it all the time to Charlie when the young boy was smaller. "I don't understand it. What's so wrong with it?"

"Well, it was too stupid. Unrealistic. I liked books that at least seemed real. Not to mention there was no point in reading it." She threw all the returnable clothes into several empty bags.

Jack raised his eyebrows but remained silent. He glanced over at the girl, who sat in the beanbag chair he bought, coloring with her markers in a Barbie coloring book. "I think we should go for lunch." He said. "It's already 1300."

Sam glanced at her watch to double check. "Wow. You two can go, I'm not hungry. I'm going to finish-"

"Carter." Jack interrupted. "I really, really don't want to have to order you to eat, but I will. You didn't eat any breakfast."

"Thank you for your concern, Colonel. But I'm fine. You two go ahead." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"I think you better tag along, Carter. I may need you. What if she picks up another fight with an airman? How will the man be able to defend himself without you?" Jack wasn't sure he should press her anymore then he was doing, but the truth was, he wanted her to come; it was rare when the two of them spent time together alone.

Sam dropped the bags onto the bed and sighed. "I suppose I could take-"

"Good. Let's go."

They both turned to the girl who was grinning down at her artwork. She looked back up at them and her smile quickly faded.

"Come on, kid. We're going to get something to eat. Food." He held his stomach. "We're going to get food."

The girl set her drawing down and took Jack's offered hand.

Sam couldn't help but be surprised that the girl trusted them again so soon after the incident with Janet not to long ago. "At least her hands don't appear to be bothering her, anymore, sir."

"Yeah. That's good." He looked down at the small hand in his, and a smile crept onto his face.

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Once they were in the line, they let the girl pick out her own food, which in this case, was only a hot dog and roll. Jack helped himself to the special of the day, tuna, and Sam grabbed herself a salad and a goblet of blue jello.

The room was soon filled with the whispers of the many people occupying the commissary, and many fingers pointed in the direction of the girl in their company. Sam could only guess it was probably because of the major fights the child had gotten herself into… "Sir? Do you mind if we sit in the corner?" she asked, not wanting the child to be the center of attention today.

Jack had the same thought. They moved into the corner, which was always vacant. He set his tray down and picked up his sandwich as he slid into his seat. "So, what are we going to do today?" Jack asked.

"Well, actually sir. I have a few things I need to get done and-"

"O'Neill, Major Carter." Teal'c acknowledged, interrupting Sam's sentence as he walked over to them with a tray stacked high with all kinds of food.

The threesome turned to the tall Jaffa.

"Teal'c, grab a seat buddy." Jack said.

The girl didn't seem to mind someone else was sitting down at the table, until she caught a glimpse of the symbol branded on Teal'c's forehead. Her eyes widened, and she backed away as far as her chair would allow her to go.

"Is this the child Thor-"

"Yes, the very one herself." Jack turned and looked at her and quickly noticed her fear. What could have changed so quickly to make her scared? "Hey, what's wrong?"

The rest of the group turned to her as well.

"Hey," Sam said, guessing it was Teal'c that made her uncomfortable. "He's not going to hurt you. His name is Teal'c."

Teal'c bowed to the child. "I thought Doctor Fraiser said the child was deaf."

"She is." Both the baby-sitters replied, simultaneously.

The girl's chair bumped into the wall; she couldn't move back any further now. Jack was staring at her confused. When she saw the question in his eyes, she touched her forehead with a shaky finger and drew a circle.

Jack turned to Teal'c. "His symbol? You're scared… oh! You mean he's a Jaffa!" Jack patted his stomach. "A Jaffa?"

The girl hesitated before nodding, she stared at Teal'c, watching his every move, as if he would jump out and attack her.

"He's not bad." Sam said, not sure what else to say. "Teal'c is good." She moved closer to Teal'c and put her arm around him. "We're friends." She gave a huge smile. "Friends."

The girl shook her head, not breaking eye contact with the big man. She pointed to his first-prime symbol, and shook her head again.

"He's good." Jack didn't know how they were going to explain that to this kid. "He's with us. He's not going to hurt you." He copied Sam and put his arm around Teal'c. "You see?" Teal'c even attempted a smile, although, if anything, it looked like a wolf baring it's teeth.

The girl put her hand down and looked down at her food. She was mad that they didn't understand, and also scared, but she didn't show it. She covered it up by shoving food into her mouth, and watched as the others did the same…


Sorry it's short! I'll try and get up another one ASAP!