A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all those parents who have had this experience, usually with far more colorful language repeated by their little angels!

HOLY HANNAH!

It started with the escape of the pet turtle.

Jake had pleaded and pleaded with his parents to have a pet. A dog was out of the question as no one was home during the day to train it or let it out and the children certainly weren't old enough to reliably care for it. Sam was allergic to cats. For some reason, baby Jon cried hysterically when they'd gone to look at birds in the pet store and Grace didn't think goldfish were real pets. So, Thor the Turtle got the nod about one month ago and was now housed in luxurious digs in the finished basement.

One morning, as was his new habit, Jake headed down to the basement to feed and visit Thor. For a few moments, he was scared something had happened to his new pet, but soon he saw the telltale moisture trailing into an old cupboard.

Apparently Thor had managed to get out of confinement and crawl into a little used bottom cupboard, where he now sat happily, covered with dust and cobwebs. Jake found him and exclaimed loudly "… for crying out loud! Thor, what are you doing in there?"

By then Jack and Sam were standing at the top of the basement stairs, close enough to hear Jake's rather excited pronouncement. Sam gave her husband a withering look, followed by yet another request. "Jack, I've told you we need to watch how we talk around the twins, they pick up everything. How does that sound coming out of a five-year-old's mouth?"

"Like he's mature for his age?"

"Jack, what if he talks like that at school?"

"It could be a lot worse," Jack ventured, thinking better of his response when he saw the solemn look on Sam's face. "Alright, alright, I get the message. I'll clean up my act, at least around the kids."

"Thanks, Jack. I know you can do it."

Before they could budge from their perch on the stairs, yet another O'Neill joined the fun, surveying the scene in the basement, now including a very dirty turtle and a pretty dusty little boy.

"Holy Hannah!" Grace exclaimed before pushing past her parents to check out what was going on.

"Sam… you were saying?"

OoOoOo

A/N: I'm thrilled by the number of hits that Interludes has continued to get over the past few months. I've had fun with this little series, but am starting to run out of cute ideas.

This is your chance. Any and all suggestions for a chapter are welcome. If I use them, you'll get honorable mention (only if you want it)!

Thanks ahead of time.