lol, it seems that I'm finding a lot of time to write lately. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you to you guys for everything, and that if I do go silent for a bit, it's okay – I haven't forgotten this story or Fic100.
Incidentally, The Seven Daughters of Eve, by Bryan Sykes, is a very good book. :o)
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Sam emerged onto the porch of the Carter-Jackson residence, narrowly dodging a charging Francis, who was being chased by Grace and Jake. Balancing Dani and a book in her arms, Sam yelled into the house, "Hey! What have I told you about running in the house? Get out here, right now!"
Seconds later, three panting albeit sheepish young children came stumbling back out of the house. Sam looked at them sternly and said, "I don't want to see that again." She nodded at Francis. "Your Dad's already banned you from having candy... don't make it worse." She then looked at her own children. "As for you two, you are so lucky that your Dad's not home." She glanced out into the front yard where the rest of her children, and Samantha Mitchell were playing. "Go on now, get."
Daniel took that opportunity to say, 'There's a thought... if I wanted to hear my other half talk like Mitchell, I would have married him.'
She smiled slightly as they slowly walked down the steps, before all hell broke loose once again as the Jackson kids chased Francis once again. Sam took a seat on a chair she had left previously, and she gently tilted Dani's sippy cup up.
'Admit it, Danny, you're obsessed with him.' Sam continued to smile as she kissed Dani's head before reading her book.She said silently, 'You have naked moments; he has pants-less moments... a lot in common there.'
'Gee, first trying to sell me to Jack; now Mitchell.' He paused, and then he sounded a touch exasperated. He continued, 'Sam, I wish you wouldn't read that Seven Daughters of Eve book while I'm riding. One: I'm getting real jealous because it's a good book, and two: I can't help imagining what they all look like. It's very distracting for someone who can't naturally multi-task.'
She mentally glared at him, and said, 'Not something you want to be admitting to your wife.'
He smirked. 'Also, your jealousy of hypothetical genetic forebears is very distracting. It's a flattering thought to muse over while I fall off my bike.'
She smiled again when she felt him hug her from within. She then said quietly, 'Eyes on the road, Jackson.'
She glanced up on hearing a bicycle bell ringing and she laughed a little as her children in the front yard instantly got up, eagerly waiting for their father. He scolded the few children who looked ready to run out into the road, and he dismounted from his bike on the pavement. Sam grinned as she watched him slowly wheel his bike along the front path, surrounded by his verbose children and the elder Mitchell children.
Eventually, the children dispersed as Daniel reached the porch. He lifted his bike up the steps and leaned it against a railing. He then leaned down and kissed Sam while Dani dropped her sippy cup and pulled at his shirt. Daniel smiled and retrieved the sippy cup, and he affectionately ruffled his youngest daughter's hair. He then sat down on the top step with a heavy sigh.
Sam looked down at him in concern and then put her book on the floor next to her. As Daniel leaned against her knee, she placed Dani on her other knee, and ran her fingers through his hair. She smiled slightly as she felt a soothing sensation overcome her. She said aloud,
"I liked the talk with Simon about the risks involved."
Daniel rubbed his eye and replied, "It was either that or the 'break her heart, I'll break your legs' talk." He chuckled softly. "If I had gone with that, I wouldn't have been the first... by far." He grimaced a little and continued silently, 'I didn't want to scare him, but he has to be aware of things. Look what happened to House when he first started at the SGC.'
'But the Trust are gone now. Pete and Agent Merek are gone. We all have a chance to get on with our lives... providing another enemy doesn't show up.'
Daniel groaned aloud, and replied, 'Let's hope not. I'm just about tired of all the drama. Most days, it's like we can't do anything remotely normal without work jumping into it.'
'Tell me about it... but it's part and parcel of the job description.'
Sam then said aloud, "Well, speaking of normal... we now have two weddings on our social calendar... again." Still running her fingers through his hair, she continued, "I know it's making you feel old, Daniel... I feel old too. Cassie was so young when we found her. Now look at her."
He nodded and said with another sigh, "Sometimes it feels like no time has passed at all, but then when you think of all the things we've done, both on professional and personal levels... my God, Sam, we've been at Cheyenne for eighteen years."
She raised her eyebrows in surprise, and said, "Holy Hannah..." She suddenly appeared thoughtful. "I know what you mean. It's hard to believe sometimes... hell, most of the time." She then smiled as she looked down at him. She said, "Come on, you can help me get dinner on the table. It's just us and all those kids."
Daniel smiled as he got up, sensing Sam mentally search for painkillers. He took Dani from her and kissed the little girl on the nose. He held Dani to his hip, and said to Sam, "Are Frank and little Sam staying over? Or do you want me to drive them home after dinner?"
Sam picked up her book and the chair. As she carried them indoors, Daniel followed her. She said, "Cam's got it into his head that he's going to pick them up later... but I'm gonna insist they stay the night at least. Those two already have their hands full with two newborns... and plus Cam's coming with us to Hak'tyl tomorrow."
Inside, as Dani toddled out to join her siblings, Sam turned to Daniel and hugged him. She kissed him and rested her head against his chest. He kissed her hair and gently rubbed her back, and she said, smiling eventually,
"I'm glad you're home."
He gazed down at her, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He said quietly, "So am I. Thanks for coming after me."
She smiled as she looked up at him, and said, "You would, and have done the same for me."
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In the gateroom of the SGC, Cam, in dress blues, waited impatiently at the end of the gate ramp. He checked his watch periodically, and glanced around as though expecting his friends to appear out of thin air. He smiled briefly as he considered that coming out of thin air was more or less possible for at least two of his friends. The thought nonetheless did nothing to abate his impatience and frustration at his friends being late. He had made the effort to be early despite being a father again and even more sleep-deprived than he already had been.
After a while, he looked up at the control room where Walter waited patiently. Referring to Walter by a part of his rank insignia, Cam called, "Yo, Diamond! What's the hold up?"
Walter leaned over to his microphone, and politely replied, "With all respect, General, embarkation is not for another fifteen minutes."
Cam began to grumble about lapses in punctuality of his team and former team-mates. He glanced back at the doorway just as Daniel appeared; the archaeologist dressed in a dark suit and tie. Daniel tugged a little at his cuffs as he moved to stand next to Cam. Daniel glanced at him and then up at the Stargate. Cam continued to glare at him, waiting for him to notice.
When Daniel didn't appear to notice, however, Cam's impatience grew. The General said heatedly, "You, uh... you wanna go back and touch up your make-up? Maybe read up on Jaffa mating rituals?"
Daniel looked at Cam and raised his eyebrows a little on seeing the General in such a state. Daniel asked, "Mitchell, what's up?"
Cam retorted, "I'll tell you what's up... I actually came in on time. No, strike that, I came in better than just on time – I was early. Y'all told me we'd be leaving by now."
Daniel sighed, and then he spoke as though he were talking to one of his children. He said, "Mitchell, I don't know what's got into you, but you know we always meet up at Sam's lab."
Cam continued to glare angrily at the Stargate. Daniel nodded and resumed his quiet musings of the device that had brought them all together. Cam glanced at him, the redness of his face fading somewhat. The General said apologetically, "Hey..."
A patient Daniel turned to look at him. He said, "It's fine, Mitchell. After nine years of working with you, there's not much you could do that would shock me." Daniel chuckled briefly. "And, as a father of seven, I'm all too familiar of new Dad fatigue." He then chided the General. "You should have let Frank and little Sam stay over at ours last night. We were set up for it."
Cam scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He said, "My Mom's staying over to help out... and she's crazy about those two. And, you know, we didn't wanna impose on you guys. You may have glowy powers, but looking after all those Carters must be draining enough for you."
Daniel was about to reply when he heard Sam's voice in his head. 'Answer that the wrong way, Daniel, and you're a dead man...'
'Oh, yes, Sam... again? Think it through.'
'What a ham I married...'
Daniel retorted, 'Hey, I know I'm almost fifty, but I don't think you should start the porcine allusions just yet...'
He replied aloud to Cam, "Carters, Mitchells... they're all crazy."
Cam found himself laughing. He said, "You forgot Mal Dorans. They're completely crazy... and not in the 'I like crazy' way."
"Nice. Wait 'til your wife hears that."
Cam replied with a tired smile, "She'd fall asleep before I would." He sighed. "Hey, what's everyone else doing?"
Daniel said, "Oh... Jack's giving Teal'c some last minute advice. Jonas is showing Simon around..."
Cam asked, curious, "We taking Cassie's boy with us?"
Daniel shrugged, and said, "He's Cassie's plus one." He continued, "Uh... not entirely sure what Sam's doing. Some paperwork... I try not to concentrate too much. But she's on her way."
Cam nodded. "Good, about time." He glanced at Daniel. "I don't just mean her... I mean everyone. You know, sometimes I can get a mite impatient..."
Daniel suddenly snickered in amusement. He said, "Only sometimes?"
Cam glared at him, but then his annoyance was forgotten as Jonas and Carolyn entered, shortly followed by Cassie and Simon. Cam and Daniel nodded in greeting at the two couples, before Cam retorted in a hushed voice, "Don't push it, Jackson."
Daniel replied, feigning innocence, "I'm not pushing anything."
Cam took to looking up at the Stargate again as they waited for the rest of their friends. Realising something suddenly, he turned to Daniel. He said, "Wait... O'Neill's giving advice to Teal'c? Isn't T, like, a hundred years older than him?"
Daniel shrugged and said, "He and Jack have always had a unique friendship. Much different from the one I have with Jack... chiefly because Jack knows he can't win an argument with Teal'c."
Cam smirked in amusement. He said, "What, and he can win one with you?"
"He likes to think so." Daniel nudged him. "Anyway, why are you referring to Jack by his last name? You can get away with calling him 'Jack' now. You have been told, haven't you? Not looking good if the token civilian is the first to tell you."
Cam went back to glaring at Daniel before sighing and looking up at the Stargate. Daniel said, "You know, you could have stayed at home and slept. Sam's bringing my video camera... you wouldn't have missed anything."
Cam replied, "To be honest, I'm also here to get away from the circus."
Daniel smiled slightly, and said, "I figured. Our place is always noisy anyway, but it's worse with new babies around. The toddlers cry because the babies are crying... and the older kids cry because they can't sleep or they're not getting as much attention as they'd like." His smile faded. "This is what we signed up for during those nine seconds of unprotected joy."
Neither said anything nor reacted until seconds later, Cam couldn't help himself and started laughing. Daniel soon started laughing quietly too, earning bewildered looks from the others. Cam remarked when he could eventually speak, "Nine seconds? Says you..."
Daniel retorted, "Sam's right... you are one hell of a ham."
"Seriously though, nine seconds? You actually timed it?" Cam then groaned. "God, no, I do not want that mental image."
They started laughing again, Daniel ignoring Sam's chiding remarks in his head. The sound of someone clearing their throat made the two men turn, and they quickly stopped laughing. None other than Generals Landry and Hammond had entered the gateroom and were looked at the two men in slight bemusement.
Daniel smiled at them in greeting but then suddenly looked at Cam in disbelief when the younger General said, "Sirs."
Cam stumbled over his words to correct himself. Landry, having greeted Daniel, went to stand with Carolyn and Jonas. Daniel said with a polite smile to Hammond, "Uncle George." He ignored the pointed look from Cam as he continued, "I didn't know you were coming too."
Hammond replied genially, "I wouldn't miss this for the world, son." He looked a little perplexed. "Sam didn't say anything?"
Daniel blinked and then exchanged a puzzled glance with Cam. The archaeologist asked, "Sam knew?"
"Yes... for some time now." The retired General chuckled. "Guess she got preoccupied. Anyway, how are you doing? How are the kids?"
"I'm good thanks – so are the babies. You've probably already seen Grace around. We're taking her with us to Hak'tyl."
Hammond asked, concerned, "Do you think that's wise?"
Daniel shrugged, and said, "Teal'c wanted us to bring our kids but Sam said we wouldn't get the clearance in time for all of our kids and the Mitchells' and Quinns'. But Grace already has clearance because we took her to Atlantis for all those weddings."
Hammond nodded, and said, "Okay, good enough." He nodded and looked at Cam with a smile. "General Mitchell, congratulations on both counts."
Cam replied, "Thanks, Sir... um..." He paused. "Sorry, I'm not sure what to call you."
Hammond smiled slightly and replied, "'George' is fine, Mitchell. I'm retired."
Daniel asked, "So, how was your cruise? Cammie's got all the postcards we got from you, on her wall."
Hammond laughed, and said, "She's her Daddy's daughter, for sure." He paused as Jack, also in dress blues, casually entered the gateroom. He continued, "The cruise was excellent. Kayla and Tessa joined me for the Mediterranean leg."
Jack approached them and put an arm around Daniel and ruffled the archaeologist's hair. Daniel looked at him pointedly and Jack smirked. The former leader of SG-1 then said, nodding at each man, "George. Mitchell... Space Monkey. Ready to misuse the Stargate?"
Daniel said, "Actually, it's not officially misuse. We've got Mr Woolsey accompanying us so we're officially diplomatic observers."
Jack raised his eyebrows in surprise, and said, "Nice. Who pulled that off?"
Daniel didn't reply, instead tugging at his cuffs again. Hammond smiled a little, and Cam replied, "Uh, it was Sunshine here, Sir..." Cam grimaced. "Ah, I mean, Jack."
Jack smirked in amusement at Cam's discomfort. He then said to Daniel, "Figures. Space Monkey pulls all sorts of things."
As Cam hid a smile, a testy looking Daniel asked, "Uh, where's Teal'c?"
Jack shrugged. "Shaking the dew off the lily..." He paused awkwardly. "... well, the sunflower... apparently." He looked at Hammond a little too quickly and said, "Excited?"
Hammond replied with a smile, "As much as always when I'm here."
Daniel quietly left the group as Sam, in dress blues, entered the gate room. Teal'c followed close behind her, the Jaffa dressed in brown traditional Jaffa robes. Sam looked up at the control room and called,
"Chief! You're coming too."
Walter nervously replied, "But, Ma'am..."
"No buts... we already talked about this. Sergeant Wilson is covering for you."
"I don't have the right outfit..."
Jack turned from talking to Hammond and blinked. He said, "You look fine! Now move it."
Walter grudgingly gave up his seat to another technician, and he left the control room. Daniel then smiled as he approached Sam and kissed her quickly. Sam handed him a small black zipped bag and said, "Got your camera. I'm surprised you didn't take it already."
He replied with a smile, "I already trust you with my life; I think the camera's a given."
He then watched as the others talked to Teal'c. Daniel smiled as he looked down at Grace and he held his daughter's hand as she looked up at the Stargate. He asked the little girl, "You ready to go see Uncle Teal'c getting married?"
He and Sam laughed as Grace continued to look around herself, now looking shy on noticing all of the people. She then flinched when the technician started dialling the 'gate. Walter walked past them into the gateroom, fastening a combat helmet on. Sam asked, puzzled,
"Sergeant, how did you get changed so fast?"
Walter turned to her and said, "Practice, Ma'am..."
He then wandered away to stand with the others as Sam and Daniel exchanged an odd look. Daniel asked her, "Hey, how come you didn't tell me about Uncle George?"
Sam replied with a sheepish smile, "It was a surprise." She sighed and said, "Okay, so I was testing how long I could hide things from you. Looks like I've got a better control of it now."
"Hmm..."
They moved to stand with their friends as Woolsey entered the room. A relieved Sam said, "Well, this is good. No dramas yet."
Daniel replied wearily, "Wait 'til we get to Hak'tyl. Ish'ta could easily give Vala a run for her money."
They all looked up at the Stargate as the wormhole was established, and everyone looked at each other. Jack nudged Teal'c, who then walked to the front of their party. He then carried on walking until he disappeared through the Stargate. Jack remarked,
"Wow, everything changes but T-man." He winked at Sam and gestured to the gate ramp, indicating for her to take the lead. "Ma'am."
Sam, now holding Grace's hand, smiled at Jack and then proceeded to lead the wedding party through the Stargate. As she did so, Daniel silently remarked,
'Everything changes but Teal'c and Jack...'
