Janet Frasier's home:
O'Neill's scowl had not lessened. Janet Frasier lifted her brows, having answered the door bell seconds before. "Who died?"
Jack stared...dumbstruck.
Janet held her smile, just. "It's a facial mask, Col...relieves stress." She explained what the man so obviously did not comprehend.
"...You're..." Jack's eyes narrowed and he still stared at the woman with Daniel Jackson's 'ewwww' face, unaware he emulated the other man. "....Green. Did you KNOW that?"
Janet smiled wistfully and sighed.
"Are you supposed to be...that?" He needed confirmation.
Before she could answer, however...Cassie came through the swinging hallway door. She took one look at O'Neill, turned and fled with a MOST annoyed: "Mother Why didn't you tell me he was here "
Jack had started, for the young teenager had a similar 'face thing' going on except her's was orange...or maybe, tangerine. She had disappeared so fast, the Col. Had not gotten a good look and he was a trained observer.
Janet chuckled. "Sorry, Cassie...get JJ's bag ready, please." She called through the decidedly closed door. She lowered her voice.. "I think she has a little crush on you, Col."
"MOTHER "
The woman made an 'oops' face and grinned again. "JJ has been the perfect little gentleman and he conked out about thirty minutes ago. Should sleep good tonight." She walked with the man to the bedroom where the baby was. "I think we 'played' him out. He's one tired little soldier."
"Airman." O'Neill corrected automatically, looking down to the sleeping baby, mentally checking him out. He looked fine. Not that he did not trust Janet Frasier....he did. Oft times, with his very life. So, he figured he could trust JJ to her.
"Col. Would you mind telling Coletti to stay out of my flower beds? They are a mess."
"He has to watch the house."
"Tell him to do it from the street and why? You have custody of JJ, right? I thought that was all settled."
O'Neill didn't trust anyone as yet...not the ones pulling the strings. He figured everyone was safe until he took care of the mess with Ba'al...he didn't know about...afterwards as yet even though the President, himself, had assured him...the kid was his. He even had papers, all sighed and stamped and everything.
"Here's Cassie's money." He lay a hundred dollar bill on the table.
"Col " Janet's fell slightly agape. "I'm not sure I have change for that. I didn't get to the bank today and..."
"Tell her to keep it. This was 'last minute' and she came through for me."
"Well, that's a lot of 'coming through' there."
"She wants a new dress for that 'pimple guy'—"
"Col He is not—THAT " Cassie had washed her face, banging the door as she swept through it, diaper bag in hand.
O'Neill scowled at her.
"Wow Is that for me?" Her mood altered drastically as she had noted the money.
"Prom dress, wasn't it?" Jack didn't really remember what kind of dress...just that she wanted one.
"Jr. Prom." It was corrected. She impulsively hugged the man, drew back, grinning. "Hey..Col Isn't that Sam's perfume you're wearing?" She grinned impishly up at the man.
O'Neill didn't miss a beat. "If he doesn't have you home by ten...I'm sending Dixon after him."
Cassie's gasp almost woke up the baby. 'MOM .....TEN .....TEN? "
"He's joking, Cassie. Even I agreed to twelve." Janet soothed the girl.
O'Neill looked at the girl, nothing more but certainly...nothing less.
"OH, MY GOD " She was stricken. "He MEANS it " She stomped away absolutely livid "If you embarrass me in front of David...I'LL NEVER SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN NEVER MOM " She swirled, pleading her cause to a more sympathetic person. "DO SOMETHING "
Jack's scowl lessened with the rather dramatic exit Cassie accomplished and he almost, but not quite...smiled.
"I have a very disgruntled teenager on my hands, thanks to you, Col." Janet scolded him with a 'look'. "I hope you are happy now."
"Dixon says 'ten' and he's got an eleven year old girl and thirteen year old boy. He should know." The man pointed out the error of the good doctor's decisions.
"Cassie is very level-headed and I trust her."
"You're the MOM." Jack used Cassie's way of speaking.
Janet chuckled. She watched the man retrieve the little one. "You remembered the car seat?"
"Stays in..." Jack 'quoted' with his fingers. "The Car".
"Sorry...habit." Janet relented graciously. "Did you and Sam have a nice time?" She fished openly.
"Little dinner...little dancing. We played cards. She cheats."
"Um Hum." Janet was not fooled. "You dance, Col?"
"Votes still out on that one, Doc." He hefted the diaper bag. "Pooh?"
"It's in there." The woman motioned. "I hope you remembered flowers?"
"Florists were closed."
"I hope you made up for it?" She was annoyed.
"What are you? The Date Squadron Commander?"
Janet laughed. "Sam's my friend. I want to know if you treated her well. She's had a rough time of it lately." She had...quietened.
"I know that." Jack confirmed that he...'knew that.'
"Enough said." The doctor nodded her satisfaction. "I'm sure you did fine, Col."
"Gonna go now." The 'Col' took solace in the woman's approval, despite his gruff tone. He headed for the door, baby in arms.
"You, eh..." Janet followed him, her curiosity killing her. "Walked her to her front door like the gentleman I know you to be? When you, eh...dropped her off at her place? That's important to a woman, you know."
"No, I drove by and let her roll out. Level Four Commando Training." Jack sensed what was going on. "It's a requirement. Hammonds' getting a little more strict in his standards for SG personnel. I think it will help her to pass the course."
Janet handed him an avocado pack. "You're stressing, Col. Try this...take away that 'bunched-up nerves' syndrome." She stuffed the package in the diaper bag. "Relieves tension too...you apparently need that as well. I'm guessing your evening didn't go as well as it could have." She sighed. "Col...I'm disappointed in you." She closed the door, green face looking a little...disappointed.
There The 'Col' had done his job.
If Samantha Carter wanted to 'share' with the good doctor, that was her decision. Until he was told differently, what happened between the woman and himself...stayed between the woman and himself.
"Come on, kid...waaay past your bedtime." Jack zipped the tiny leather jacket more snugly to the small chin, tucking the blanket about the baby. He checked the strap for the car seat with a tug. He turned, searching the surrounding area. He could see nothing.
Coletti stepped out of the shadows at the corner of Janet's house, waving his arm.
O'Neill nodded back, signifying his 'thanks' as well. SG-13 had really come through for him this time. His estimation of the group as a whole had risen tremendously. Forbes, he had known. The others of the team...he was beginning to.
All he knew, was that he could relax knowing they were around looking out for his kid.
None were married or even attached so they had volunteered when he had hesitated to ask it of other team leaders or their groups. Not that he didn't think the others would respond...he did. It was just such a damned imposition and he simply had not wanted to burden anyone.
He owed Forbes and his people. Jack O'Neill always repaid his debts.
This is one, he did not mind fulfilling. If ever SG-13 needed anything. He would see...somehow...it was given.
He started the truck. He could not wait to get home. And...that little bitch had better not be doing what he feared she might be, was all he knew for sure.
Even though the though alone made him 'hot' as hell. The man...drove a little faster, shifting uncomfortably. He was hard again and it was difficult to drive, let alone concentrate when he was...indisposed, so to speak. She would pay for this. He was looking forward to the fact.
