Jacob ignored all the attention he and Milou got as he carried her inside the commissary.
"Sir," one of the kitchen staff called him, showing him the food they had all left behind when Milou had to go to the infirmary and the rest to Landry.
"Thank you," Jacob nodded, clearing some of Jack's things so he could place his own leftovers on the same tray. "Did you by any chance see this lady's little backpack?"
"Still at the table, Sir," the man pointed.
"Okay," Jacob saw the pack and turned to Milou. "Are you hungry?" He asked Milou as he appraised the food in front of him.
"Nah-uh," she shook her head, still sucking on the cloth.
As he picked everything out, Jacob grabbed the tray and they went back to the table. He carefully placed the food on the table, before lowering Milou on the seat. Taking a seat across from her, he pushed the milk carton in front of her. "You'll have to drink something after your mouth stops hurting," he prompted her.
Squirming a bit in her seat, Milou ducked her head. "Okay," she mumbled shyly, not looking up at him.
Taking a bit of his food, Jacob studied her. She definitely had Jack's eyes, he'd realized that the moment he laid eyes on her. Long lashes too, even if they were very light of color like her eyebrows. It was obvious she'd been spending a lot of time in the sun lately, her hair was almost platinum colored and her skin was tanned, which reinforced that effect. He couldn't clearly remember Ilse's features, but Milou certainly was a pretty girl. Even now, with a washcloth hanging out of her mouth, he thought grinning to himself. As he finished his meal, she was rummaging in her pack and eventually pulled out a stuffed animal and a doll, holding them up triumphantly. "Who are they?"
"Poesje," Milou held up her stuffed kitten and replaced it at the table, before grabbing her doll. "Dolly."
"Poesje," Jacob repeated, frowning.
She nodded, shoving it towards him. "See, it's a cat."
"Yes," he mumbled, still wondering what that had anything to do with it. "How did you think of its name?"
"Grandma gave it to me," she shrugged, reaching her hand out to get it back. "Said it's a baby 'poes', so I named it 'Poesje'," Milou explained.
"Ah, I see," Jacob smiled as he gave it back. "How is your lip?"
"Better," she mumbled, touching it with her fingers.
Jacob walked around the table and gingerly took the cloth from her. "Let me see," he prompted her and to his surprise, she immediately did as he told her. Certainly not a quality she got from Jack, he mused. Besides her cracked lip, it didn't look like there was any damage and the bleeding had stopped, so he figured it was time for her to drink something. "Drink your milk," he pushed a straw through the lid and handed it to her.
Milou carefully took the straw in her mouth, before taking a sip. After swallowing, she smiled up at Jacob.
"You okay?" He asked, giving her a scrutinizing look.
She just nodded, continuing to drink, while her legs were dangling from the seat. Putting away the milk, she yawned loudly, immediately cringing as her lip stung.
Jacob himself grimaced as he saw her face contort and he gently stroked her hair, trying to comfort her. "Do you want to play with your doll?"
Her interest peaked; Milou looked at him and bobbed her head. "Yes," she replied, pushing the milk away from her.
"Come on," Jacob motioned with his hand and she got off her chair as he stuffed her toys back in her pack and grabbed the tray. Looking over his shoulder, he saw she was right behind him, catching everyone's attention. He smiled as he waited for her at the exit, before taking her down to the guest quarters.
"Sorry, I'm late," Jack apologized as he entered the briefing room and took a seat next Hank, who was at the head of the table, and Carter. Almost like the old days, only then it was Hammond, Jack thought smirking as his mind was already comparing the two men.
"That's okay, I heard what happened. How is she?"
"Peachy, Hank," Jack grinned, nodding his head. "Carolyn said it would heal on its own and gave her a cloth to hold against it, there wasn't any other damage. It almost looked as if Milou had already forgotten about it, thankfully."
"Good to hear."
Looking around, Daniel frowned. "Where is she now, Jack?"
"What?" Jack asked looking up from the file he'd just opened.
Sam rolled her eyes, reminded of all those briefings years ago, when they were still SG-1 and Hammond the base commander. "Where's Milou, Sir?"
"Oh, she's with Dad," he winked at her.
Swallowing, Sam reminded herself to breathe and tried to ignore what his wink had done to her heartbeat. "My Dad?"
"Yes, he offered to watch her, saying he didn't have anything else to do," Jack shrugged, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Still frowning, Sam cast her eyes downwards. "Oh," somehow, she felt uncomfortable about it. Her father was good with little kids, she knew that, but it was the idea that he was watching Jack O'Neill's daughter that spooked her. He wasn't supposed to do that, he was supposed to babysit her children – preferably a child from her and her General. Shaking her head, she tried to get rid of her thoughts but the man sitting next to her wasn't helping.
"Oh and Cassie called me when I was on my way down, she's coming over and is staying with me, but also wanted to see you and asked if you had time," Jack turned towards Carter as he was talking.
"Um… of course, Sir, she's always welcome," Sam hastily responded. Perhaps that was what she needed; some girl time with Cassie. Lord knew she had to tell Cassie about her and Pete's divorce, which probably also meant she had to inform the General… she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, but his focus was on the file in front of him as he fidgeted with his pen. Then again, Cassandra had never told her that he had a daughter, so perhaps she didn't have to tell him right away. She needed to plan this, win him over as a friend…
"Well, perhaps now we could continue?" Hank asked, only slightly amused by the change of subject.
"Sure Hank," Jack smirked.
"Indeed."
"Yes, Sir," Sam and Daniel said simultaneously.
"So," Jacob started as he was watching Milou, who was playing on the carpet with her doll in his VIP quarters. "What do you like to do, Milou?"
Milou, however, was absorbed in her own imaginary world together with her doll.
"Milou?"
"Huh," she looked up with big eyes, forgotten he was there. "What, Jac-Jacob," she stammered a bit, having trouble with his unfamiliar name.
"What do you do?"
"I'm playing," she frowned.
Shaking his head, he chuckled. "No, what do you like to do with your family?" He cautiously asked.
"The park," Milou smiled, "and my twycycle."
"You have a tricycle?"
Bobbing her head with enthusiasm, Milou placed the doll on the floor. "It's wed."
"Well, it's been raining for two days now," Jacob offered, shrugging.
"Nooo," she giggled. "Wed, the color."
"Ooh, it's red," he emphasized the color, making her smile. "Well, that's a pretty color. Is it the same as your tights?"
Looking down at her legs clad in red, Milou thought about this. "It's more shiny," she decided.
"Shinier," he corrected her. "You like riding your tricycle, what else?"
"Swimming."
"Really, you're going swimming already?"
"Daddy takes us."
His curiosity piqued; Jacob decided to prod a bit more. "Where does he take you?"
She shrugged her tiny shoulders, before answering. "Sometimes the cabin, when it's summer… or Holland when the Pwesident lets him."
Smirking, Jacob could imagine Jack complaining about his workload, while he had such a cute kid to play with. "Not the pool?"
"Yes," she nodded, her attention starting to drift.
"Jack's taking you to the pool in the winter- Um… Daddy," he corrected himself as she creased her brow.
"U-huh. Sometimes the cabin."
"Isn't that cold," Jacob muttered, more to himself than as a reply. "You mean the cabin in Minnesota, right honey?"
"Yes, we all go there sometimes."
"To swim? In the winter?"
"No silly," Milou almost shrieked. "Daddy's going to teach me to skate," she beamed proudly.
"Already?" Jacob asked, slightly stunned. "Milou, how old are you?"
'Finally Jacob, I was ready to step in,' Selmak sighed.
Jacob could swear she was rolling her eyes, but had to admit he'd been dying to know as well. Milou was intelligent, tall, and already used to a tricycle and learning to skate and swim, apparently… At first, he'd promised himself not to interrogate the girl, she was an innocent child after all, but his curiosity was winning now that she was handing him this perfect opening.
Milou glanced up at him and slowly raised her hand. Smiling broadly, she stuck up two fingers.
"Two years old?" Well, it certainly fit the timeline, he mused, not able to contain himself, he continued. "When's your birthday?"
"Soon," she replied. "When's yours?"
"It was my birthday a few months ago," Jacob absentmindedly replied. "How soon?"
Shrugging, her hands were fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Daddy says it's a lot of nights."
"Do you know the date?"
Thinking for a moment, she cocked her head to the side. "Daddy lets me cross off the days on his calendar," she replied.
Knowing he couldn't get any more out of her, he went back to the skating. "Aren't you a bit young to skate, honey?"
"No," Milou spoke with a raised voice. "Mommy could skate when she was thwee," she petulantly stated, holding up three fingers.
"I don't think you can fit into skates," Jacob pondered aloud, wondering why Jack would let her get excited about it.
"Daddy got me thingies for my boots," she beamed again, eyes shining with excitement. "They're Mommy's."
Jacob arched an eyebrow. "Really?"
'Must be safety speed-skates,' he explained to Selmak, who was wondering about why and how someone would cross frozen water.
Yawning, Milou stretched and almost lost her balance. She reached out for her stuffed kitten and hugged it close. "Jacob?"
As she looked up at him, Jacob could see the glazing of her eyes and sighed inwardly. Serves me right for questioning her, he thought. Her pronunciation was getting better, though. "You're tired, aren't you?"
"Nah-uh," she shook her head, but the way her upper body swayed with the movement belied her words.
"Bedtime," he grinned, getting up from his chair. "Did your father bring you clothing?" He grabbed her – mostly - pink and white backpack and looked at the contents. He found a hairbrush and some PJs, along with some other things. He was a bit hesitant to comb her hair, remembering the way his Sammie used to whine every time he'd tried to use a brush on hers. "Daddy can comb your hair after you wake up," he decided with a small grin. "Come on, let's get changed." Jacob quickly helped her change outfits and helped her – and her stuffed animal – in the large bed.
"Stowy," she protested as he told her to go to sleep.
"What?"
Milou pointed at the book that had fallen out of her bag. "Have to wead a stowy," she tried again.
"Fine," Jacob relented, settling down on the bed with the book.
"Perhaps a short recess would be preferable," Teal'c stated.
Nodding, Daniel agreed. "Yeah, I could cerainly use a cup of coffee; we've been at it for almost two hours."
"Very well," Hank replied, after glancing at Jack. "Thirty minutes until we'll continue, I guess this would also be a good moment for Dr. Lee to join us?" He asked Colonel Carter.
"Yes Sir, I'll make sure to tell him," Sam stood and, after his dismissal, turned to Daniel and Teal'c. "Want to join me for jello in the commissary?"
"I just want some coffee and a cookie, but sure," Daniel agreed and glancing sideways, he caught Teal'c inclining his head in approval.
Jack gave them a small smile as they left the briefing room and turned to Hank. "I'll just go check to see if my daughter isn't harassing Jacob," he smirked, pointing at the door.
"Oh, I doubt that, Jack, she's a peach," Hank chuckled.
"Only when she wants to impress others, believe me," he joked as he stalked off. The VIP quarters were his first stop, assuming that's where Jacob was staying. Colonel Dixon was kind enough to hold the elevator for him and he quickly jumped in, pressing the elevator button. "Thanks, Dixon."
"Anytime, General," David Dixon smiled. "Sir… I was wondering about some of the, eh… rumors going around," he stammered a bit, slightly uncomfortable to ask the question, but figuring he and Jack O'Neill had known each other for over a decade and had always gotten along, he tried anyway. "The girl in the commissary, Sir?"
"My daughter, Dave," Jack explained, patting the other man's shoulders as the elevator stopped. "Have to go check on her," he made a vague gesture with his hand, got out of the car, and walked down the corridor, leaving a stunned colonel standing in the elevator.
"Do you have any pets?" Jacob asked pointing at the stuffed animal the girl was playing with.
"No," Milou shook her head. "Daddy says maybe later."
"What kind of pet do you want, a dog?"
Hugging her kitten, Milou turned to him. "Cat."
"You don't like dogs?"
She shrugged. "Boomer is cool," she smiled.
"Ah, Cassie's dog, huh. He comes over a lot?"
"Nah-uh. Daddy likes him. Wants a dog, too" she explained.
Nodding, Jacob got up as someone knocked on the door. "Yeah, your father is a real dog person." Opening the door, he was surprised to see Jack standing there. "Well, speaking of the devil," he smirked.
"Jake," Jack grinned, "how is she?"
"Daddy!" Milou got up and ran to him, hugging him.
"Hey you," Jack lifted her and stroked her hair back. "How's your lip?"
"Better," she opened her mouth slightly, so her father could see.
"Sweet," he smirked. "Did you have a nap?" He asked, tugging at the hem of her pink pajama shirt and seeing her tangled hair.
Milou bobbed her head and snuggled up to his chest.
"I even read her a story," Jacob stated, stepping aside so Jack could enter the room. "She loves her stories, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, she does," he shrugged and eventually sat down at the already-made bed. "She hasn't been giving you a hard time, has she?"
"Nah, she's a sweetheart, unlike you, she actually listens when I tell her to do something," Jacob joked. "She just got up; I figured she probably slept enough since I wasn't sure of how long you usually let her nap. Is the meeting already over?"
"No, a short break was in order, especially after Daniel's briefing," Jack rolled his eyes, clearly still annoyed. Raking his hand through his daughter's hair, he frowned. "Where's your brush?"
"My bag," she mumbled in his neck.
Jack set her on the bed and walked over to the table, where her Hello Kitty-pack was lying. Rummaging through all the crap, he finally found it and sat back next to her. "C'mere."
Milou dutifully turned her back towards him and scooted up the bed, so he could comb her hair.
"I, ah… didn't want to try, since Sammie hated it whenever I brushed her hair when she was younger," Jacob apologized, cringing as he saw the girl's face scrunch up every now and then.
"Yeah, well, it has to get done," Jack mumbled, not enjoying it himself. Especially now that her hair was getting longer, it tangled more and more. "Maybe we should get you a haircut," he offered.
"Nooo!" Milou protested, turning to look at him, placing her hands protectively on her hair. "Not a boy!"
"Fine," Jack relented, pushing her hands away to keep brushing her hair. "Stop that," he said, as Milou kept moving her head. "It's only going to hurt more."
"So Jack, when's your break over?"
"A little under twenty minutes," he replied, glancing at the clock. "I can understand if you've had enough for one day, I'm sure Hank won't mind if I take her down to the briefing room–"
"No, it's okay, we were just getting to know each other, right Milou?"
Milou threw him a smile and quickly scooted away from her father and his brush. "Yes, I talked about Boomer," she told her father.
"Well, Cassie won't be bringing him along this time."
"Milou told me you want a dog?"
Surprised, Jack turned to Jacob. "Yeah, well, I've been saying that for years, ask Carter or the guys. Unfortunately, I still don't have the time for that. For now, we'll have to do with Boomer staying over every now and then," he smirked. Jack pulled the loose strands of hair from the brush and threw them away, before placing it back into the bag. Peeking inside, he found her other things and grabbed them. "Come on, let's go to the bathroom," he beckoned Milou over.
Sam was waiting for the elevator after making sure her experiment was still running. As the doors opened, she looked up to see General O'Neill looking back at her. Swallowing, she gave him a small smile. "Sir," she said, stepping inside.
"Carter," Jack stepped a bit to the side to give her room. "Where are the guys?"
"They went straight downstairs, I just had to–"
"Check your lab?" He asked, smirking.
"Yes Sir," she ducked her head, smiling.
"Was it still there?"
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Yes Sir," she relaxed as he grinned back at her. For a moment, Sam just enjoyed standing there with him in the car – this time no awkwardness. During the meeting she'd realized how much she missed being around him, bad jokes and all and she found herself biting back smiles for almost the entire duration. Thinking about it, she smiled again.
Jack was looking at her from the corner of his eye and could tell she was deep in thought, so he shamelessly took in her features. Seeing the corners of her mouth quirk up, he felt his own lips curl up; her smile had always been infectious and he'd been enjoying making her smile or outright laugh at his jokes during the meeting, like he had done for so many years. That was before she'd gotten married to that cop, though, and he'd stopped trying. Clearing his throat, he fully turned towards her. "What?"
"Sir?" She questioned him, surprise evident in her tone of voice and eyes.
"You were smiling."
"I was?"
"You were," he nodded.
Sam shrugged, as if she hadn't realized. "I was just thinking, Sir."
"I'd be shocked if you ever stopped, Carter," he retorted, smiling smugly as it, once again, elicited a smile from his Colonel. No, not my Colonel, he reminded himself.
"Sir," Sam started, a bit hesitant. "The other day…"
Hearing her voice trail off, his eyes found hers. "Yeah?"
"When I-I ran into you and Milou at the elevators," she elaborated, feeling the awkwardness rise.
Jack sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, Carter… trust me when I say that was not how I wanted you to find out about–"
She gulped and held up her hand. "That's okay, Sir. I just wanted to tell you that I was actually looking for you, that day–"
"You were?" He frowned, not able to remember what had been so special for her to come looking for him.
"I was," she confirmed, a bit nervous. "I- ah… I just wanted to thank you, for getting me the crystals."
"Oh," Jack waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Don't mention it."
"Sir," Sam said, exasperated because he always did – used to do, she corrected herself – that. The elevator stopped and they got off, proceeding towards the briefing room. "Colonel Reynolds told me you were the one that assigned them to me, therefore, I wanted to thank you. You have no idea about the information that is stored on it, Sir. Well, obviously, you have some idea, but the readings and data I've been able to uncover so far is really–"
"Ack! Carter, I'm glad you like it," Jack smiled, interrupting her before she got to the techno-babble. "Let's just keep it at that, okay?"
Ducking her head, Sam felt a blush creep up her neck. "Yes Sir," she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.
Jack chuckled at her embarrassment, glad to see she was acting like her old self again, even if that only made it more difficult for him…
"Sir," Sam almost whispered, gently grabbing his arm as they rounded the corner.
He froze as her fingers clasped around his arm and turned to her, eyebrows raised in an unspoken question.
Sam had glanced around the corridor and seeing there wasn't anyone else, she'd automatically reached for his arm to stop him. Only now, looking at his expression and casting her eyes down to her hand around his arm, she immediately let go as if burned. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to–"
"Carter," Jack interrupted her, rolling his eyes. "What is it?" There had to be something, he mused, as she was blushing and biting her lip. "Carter? There's got to be a reason you grabbed my arm, just spill."
"Never mind, Sir," Sam hastily said, feeling stupid and passed him to walk over to the briefing room… only now, he grabbed her by the arm. Surprised, she looked up to see him grin slightly.
"Now we're even, so spill," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Gnawing her lower lip, Sam tried to think of how to say this. For someone as smart as her, she could easily be at a loss for words, especially when it came to Jack O'Neill. "It's just that I… I was wondering if we could be friends again, Sir." She swallowed hard, unable to look at him and instead staring at her boots. However, as he didn't respond and yet was still standing in front of her – she could see his boots, they were nose to nose with hers – she carefully glanced up from under her lashes. There was something in his eyes she didn't recognize and she let out a shaky breath, getting more nervous by the minute because of his intense gaze. "I mean, I'd understand if you don't want to… but I was hoping we could at least try?" She asked, almost shyly. "Sir," she added belatedly.
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes Jack was close to give her whatever she wanted. After all, he'd always been a sucker for those big, baby blues, especially if she was pleading with him. Hell, she'd even convinced him to get Tok'ra-ed a few years ago, with the same pleading look in those expressive eyes. Yet, now he found himself hesitating. If he were honest with himself, he wanted nothing more – well, maybe more – than being friends with her again, but he was afraid to get hurt again. She'd hurt him with her rejections and her offer – suggestion? – to end their friendship before her wedding, had been more painful than getting zatted or even a staff blast to the leg.
Of course, he'd known they'd eventually lose touch, most likely even on purpose – if not from him, then by her doing – but to state it so bluntly… he hadn't expected that to hurt as much as it did. On the other hand, hadn't he enjoyed hanging around her these past few days? Hell, he always enjoyed hanging around her, he almost snorted at his own thoughts. But, there was still that husband of hers… Then again, he hadn't seen him since he got back to Colorado Springs and Carter hardly mentioned him, he guessed he should be glad she wasn't rubbing it in. No, Carter would never do that; rub his face into it. At least, not the Carter he loved.
His eyes shifted lower and he could see her swallow hard, probably afraid he might say 'no'. He didn't realize, up until now, that she was putting herself out there as well. Perhaps not in the way he'd done a few years ago, but still… she was trying, even if she was afraid he might let her down. Moving back up, his gaze lingered on her lips for a moment, remembering that kiss the night they'd effectively ended their friendship. Locking gazes with her again, he gave her an almost imperceptible nod and clearing his throat, responded.
"Sure, we can try," he gave her a small smile. After all, he'd seen how she'd been affected by meeting Milou, that must've hurt her in some way – even if she didn't love him – not being in the loop and all.
"I'm glad to hear that, Sir," Sam smiled, feeling as if the weight of the world fell off her shoulders after making this first step in repairing their friendship.
