Previously:

"Morning mommy," Caity repeated her earlier statement before shocking both adults with her next question.

"Is Uncle Jack going to live with us now?"

Chapter 38

While Jack was trying hard to not choke on his own saliva, Sam got away with just blushing furiously. Of course, as Jack was in no condition to answer that oh so innocent question and Caity was her daughter after all, Sam replied, "Uhm... why?"

Oy. That was lame. Very lame. Still, it was the only thing Sam could come up with – and it was still better than Jack's coughing.

"D'oh! Cause that's what grown-ups do!" Caity answered in a 'that's a stupid question'-voice, rolling her eyes for effect.

"Oookay," Sam replied rather astonished by her daughters musings. Just how did she come up with this one in the first place? "I know a lot of ... grown-ups ... live together. But what makes you think Jack is going to live with us?" Sam continued curiously.

"Cause he calls grandpa 'dad' even though he isn't really his dad so Uncle Jack is going to marry you and people live together when they are married," Caity replied, rolling her eyes once again. Though she couldn't really understand why her mommy asked all these funny questions today. Maybe she was still tired?

Blushing once again – and remembering that faithful conversation when her dad visited them last time – Sam replied, "Remember, Jack already told you it's just like a nickname he gave your grandpa."

"But don't you like mommy a lot?" Caity asked Jack, sounding a little disappointed.

"Hey, of course I do," Jack reassured her.

"See? So what's the problem?" Caity asked, grinning mischievously at both her mommy and Uncle Jack.

Busted!

Both Sam and Jack were stunned. Looking at each other in astonishment they could read in each others eyes what both of them thought. They've just been outsmarted by a 7 year old girl.

"Okay, you got me there," Jack finally answered. "But just because two people like each other doesn't mean they start to live together," Jack added. "There are a lot of different kinds of liking each other, you know."

"But you are here often anyway," Caity answered defensively. "And when mommy doesn't look you look at her in the same weird way Uncle Jake does at Auntie Jocy and Dad did at Mom. And Uncle Jake says its a way of showing Auntie Jocy just how much he loves her."

Once again, the two seasoned soldiers that had faced so many atrocious things in their career were left speechless by the logics of a little girl. Not to mention both were blushing furiously again.

And yet, Caity was far from finished with them. Not that she was aware of what she was doing, but that just made it so much more effective!

"And you've been kissing an awful lot like Uncle Jake and Auntie Jocy since yesterday too!" Caity continued enthusiastically.

"Hey! It was to get your mom better faster, remember!" Jack argued. With a kid. Damn, he was really in trouble.

"Oh! Right," Caity answered. How could she have forgotten her mommy was hurt? But she looked much better now, so hopefully it had worked. But she had to be sure, so she turned to her mommy, asking her concerned, "Do you still hurt, mommy?"

"Nope. I'm much better," Sam replied smiling, glad to have escaped her daughters inquisitiveness.

"Sweet! But Uncle Jack can keep kissing you 'cause he really likes you and though it's yuckie grown-ups do that all the time!"

Or not. Oh boy, was she ever going to stop blushing today? Luckily Jack was just as red as her.

"Does he?" Sam couldn't help herself but ask. True, Jack just said so yesterday, but she really liked to know what made her daughter think so too.

"Uh huh. Grandpa Jacob told me. But he said it's a secret," Caity whispered conspiratorially before realising she just spilled that secret. "Ops?"

"Grandpa Jacob, huh?" Jack asked amused. Maybe he was going to survive his next meeting with Jacob then!

"Yep," Caity nodded. "So, are you going to live with us now? 'Cause I'd really like that and you can sleep in mommy's bed and we can play lots and lots and you can tuck me in too and you can make us pancakes cause they are really yummie!" Caity added enthusiastically once again.

"It's not that easy, Caity," Sam finally replied, tucking an unruly strand of hair behind her daughter's ear.

"Why?" Caity asked somewhat disappointed. She really like Uncle Jack and maybe he could become her new daddy? Hm, she would really have to work on that. Maybe Tammie had some ideas and could help her out? Her parents were living together after all!

"We have to see if we really like each other that way first," Jack explained carefully.

"Oh," Caity said disappointed. Grown-ups could be really complicated! Maybe she should not only ask Tammie for help but Keenan too? He was always looking out for her after all – and he was almost a grown-up too, so he'd be able to help!

"But in order to do so, I have to be here quite often," Jack added, grinning impishly at her.

"Sweet!" Caity exclaimed. "Can we have breakfast now? Cause I'm really hungry!" And she truly was. All that thinking took a lot of energy that need to be refilled. Now. How else was she going to cause mischief throughout the day?

"Sure," Sam replied, relieved her daughter's curiosity seemed to be satisfied for now.

"Yay! Fruit loops!" Caity called out before scrambling out of bed and down towards the kitchen. It was Sunday after all.

xoxoxoxoxo

After the fairly interesting morning in bed the three of them shared a rather relaxed Sunday.

Caity – knowing how to wrap her Uncle Jack around her little finger and shamelessly using this knowledge - insisted on Jack staying throughout the day. So the only time Jack wasn't with them was when he went home to get changed and put a fresh change of clothes in his trunk – just out of habit, you know.

During that time he also called Janet, reassuring her Sam was fine – relatively – and Janet didn't need to worry. Caity had everything under control, after all. Though he wasn't sure Janet was completely convinced after this last statement.

In the afternoon they went to the park to let Caity burn off some – well, a lot – of her excess energy while Sam and Jack enjoyed their newfound closeness, or rather their newfound ease in sharing and enjoying every bit of body contact they could justify. Including sharing lots of little kisses – only to help healing both Sam's physical and psychological wounds - of course.

Dinner was once again interesting, especially as Caity showed her rather impressive talent of eating heartily while still keeping on constantly talking. Jack couldn't help himself but smile at that, especially as Caity's gestures were so similar to her mom's – and she didn't mind using her food to emphasise some of the things she was talking about either.

After dinner they played a couple of board games for which Jack just had to stay as well because you absolutely needed three people to play properly. According to Caity anyway. Later on, while Sam was getting Caity ready for bed, Jack could hardly leave either – it would have been rather rude to leave without saying goodbye.

Also, according to Caity's logic her Uncle Jack – as he was there anyway - could just as well take her to bed after her mommy read the goodnight story in both their favourite rocking chair in the living room. It was just so comfortable to cuddle close to your mommy while slowly falling asleep and not having to worry about how you'd end up in bed! And that way her Uncle Jack could get some practice in tucking her in. Not that she would say that out loud, but that didn't mean she didn't thought so!

With Caity finally in bed Sam didn't know what to do next with Jack still around. But the more she thought about it the more she realised that Jack wouldn't push her in any direction and just accept whatever her decision would be. So in the end the decision wasn't that hard to make. Knowing -and more importantly - accepting that she hadn't completely dealt with her last mission, she looked up at Jack who was patiently waiting at a point where he could either move on to the front door or the living room, a smile finally forming on her face and taking his hand she lead him into her living room.

They spent the rest of the evening watching some TV and much to Jack's delight Sam had decided early on that the most comfortable place to do that was cuddled close to him. This, of course, also made it much easier for him to steal the one or other kiss from her. Knowing she needed to be in control of that part of their slowly changing relationship, he didn't press on and was happy with just holding her. He had waited so long that giving Sam all the time she needed wasn't going to hurt him.

This time when it was time for them to go to bed there was no talk of Jack sleeping on the couch. And once in bed, both were asleep within minutes. Even though Sam was once again haunted by nightmares, Jack's presence – and a little peek in Caity's room – was enough to let Sam fall back in a fitful sleep.

xoxoxoxoxo

Monday morning came bright and early – and with the rather annoying sound of Sam's alarm clock. A weird sounding talking alarm clock.

"What the hell was that?" Jack groaned without showing any signs of loosening his hold on Sam anytime soon once she switched it off.

"My alarm," Sam answered rather amused by his reaction, not at all minding his arm around her waist and settling her head back on his chest.

"Nope. I might be half-asleep, but I know what an alarm clock is supposed to sound. And it's nothing like that ... that thing," Jack replied, rubbing his face with his hand.

"Caity chose it for me," Sam explained, enjoying the feel of Jack's heartbeat under her cheek.

"Caity, huh?"

"Yep."

"Good taste!" Jack replied seriously.

"Uh huh," Sam answered chuckling, turning around and resting her chin on her hands on Jack's chest. "Morning."

"You sure about that?" Jack all but whined.

"Yes. And we have to get up or we'll be late for work," Sam answered smiling before leaning forward and kissing Jack on the lips.

"Mmh. I like that," Jack replied, grabbing Sam as she was about to get up and kissing her again.

"I gathered that," Sam said smiling, "But I really have to get up and wake Caity."

"Spoilsport," Jack mumbled in reply, closing his eyes again.

Chuckling, Sam gave him another quick kiss before getting out of bed. Just as she reached the door she turned and said, "The coffee machine is on a timer and coffee should be finished right about now."

Jack muttered an incomprehensive reply but didn't show any signs of getting up. Shaking her head, Sam went to wake Caity – and only minutes later came back carrying a rather sleepy Caity in her arms. But as soon as she saw Jack her face lit up and she silently asked to be let down. Grinning mischievously at her mommy Caity, giggling softly, scrambled over to her apparently sleeping Uncle Jack – and went straight for his nose, using her fingers to squeeze it shut.

Expecting something or rather anything after hearing Caity's soft giggles, Jack grabbed her as soon as her fingers touched his nose and lifted her up above him, causing her to erupt in full laughter.

"Morning sunshine," Jack said, grinning up at her.

"Morning Uncle Jack!" Caity replied between laughs. "Kiss!"

Giving in to Caity's demand, Jack let her down again and gave her a morning kiss before shooing her out of bed and into the bathroom where Sam was already waiting for her. Sighing deeply, he finally got up as well even though he'd rather stay in bed all day – preferably with a certain blonde right beside him. But he just knew that wouldn't go down well with General Hammond – or with Sam for that matter. At least when they were supposed to work.

In any case, he couldn't complain about the way his day started – and he wouldn't mind for this to become a constant in his life. With that great thought Jack got his clothes together and went to the bathroom – the one for guests, mind you - too.

xoxoxoxoxo

Sam, Jack and Caity managed to have breakfast without having to hurry too much and Jack left Sam to take Caity to her brother's house while he was driving directly to work. With a big grin on his face. And who could blame him? He had just spent the possibly best weekend in probably years!

Meanwhile Sam wasn't as happy as Jack, though it had nothing to do with the last weekend. She was rather dreading the talk she'd have to have with Janet and the possibility of facing a visit to the base shrink. Urgh. Also, she'd have to talk to Jake about the incident. To be fair, she knew this would help her cope further she just didn't feel like explaining everything over and over again. Maybe she could? Before even finishing that thought Sam pushed the appropriate buttons on her phone to call her brother.

As soon as she arrived on base Sam went straight to the infirmary, knowing anything else would just delay the inevitable – and wouldn't exactly bring Janet on her side. Taking another deep breath in front of the infirmary, Sam put on a – somewhat fake – cheerful face and entered, only to almost directly run into Janet.

"Morning," Sam greeted cheerfully. Sort of.

"Sam," Janet answered, carefully looking her over, "I was just about to call your lab."

"Yeah, sorry. Caity demanded some extra-time before I left at Jake's this morning," Sam explained.

Well, it was true, she spent some extra time Caity-cuddling at her brother's house, only it was her who had trouble to let go. And Caity, somehow sensing her mommy's need to hold on a bit longer hadn't minded at all and simply enjoyed the extra-attention.

"Uh huh," Janet replied suspiciously, not really buying Sam's cheerfulness but deciding to let it slide for now. "Okay, let's get you checked out then."

"Uhm – could we do the office-thing first?" Sam asked quietly.

"The office-thing?" Janet asked surprised.

"Oh, you know the thing were you ask question, I answer them, you scold me for not telling everything in the first place... " Sam replied somewhat flippantly.

"Spending much time with O'Neill lately?" Janet asked, raising her eyebrows – that went up even higher when Sam started to blush furiously.

Interesting. Janet knew the colonel was keeping an eye on Sam, he had even updated her once or twice, yet that blushing looked like a way more interesting story! But whatever it was, it had done Sam a hell of a lot of good as she looked way better than on Friday and definitely better than Janet had expected – and maybe feared.

Luckily Sam was spared to answer this particular question as at that point Jake arrived in the infirmary, moving straight towards Sam and engulfing her in a fierce hug, whispering, "You okay, kid?".

Who none of them saw was nurse Jenkins, who after watching them sleep on the same bed on Friday once again saw two people in an apparent loving relationship. Not wanting to be seen, she turned and retraced her steps, deciding it was time for some new input into the grapevine.

A/N: Well, the chapter wasn't meant to end at this point, but it would just have been too long. Good news is that there should be another one before Christmas now! Anyway, thanks for the continuing great reviews – they help more than you can imagine. In fact, they are rather addicting so I have to keep writing to get more and more. LOL. I suppose you don't mind that particular addiction of mine though.