Buffy Carter - Part 2

Chapter Summary: It was easy to hide when the people you lived with didn't pay attention.

Challenge: livejournal 2017 August Fic-a-Day Challenge/a.

Timeline: gonna have to slide the dates of the shows to match since Buffy will only be 3 years younger than Sam (to match Mark's age)

Disclaimer: BtVS/AtS characters belong to Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy, et al. Stargate SG-characters belong to Brad Wright, Jonathan Glassner, et al. I claim no rights to any copyrighted material. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.

Carter household

"Where's your sister?" Jacob Carter asked his other children. Well, he was really asking Mark since Sam was busy with Jr. ROTC work and hadn't noticed her sister's absence.

As proof of that, Sam looked up in surprise and asked, "She didn't make dinner?"

Mark bit his tongue. It was just assumed that Buffy would always make dinner because Jacob worked and Sam's time was too flipping important to bother with menial things like that. "We made it after school because she had a pep group thing to do tonight for homecoming," he said instead of what he wanted to say. Buffy begged him not to make waves so she could do her Slaying without interference.

"Pep group?" Jacob said with distaste. "Couldn't she pick something more meaningful?"

Counting to ten, Mark pulled the food out of the oven and set it on the table. "She enjoys it, Dad," he couldn't help but say. Never mind that wasn't where she actually was tonight; when she did cheerleading stuff, she did like it.

But Jacob just wouldn't let up. "How will any college take her seriously if she only does fluff activities?" he demanded.

"Their cheer squad won regionals and came in second at state last year. They have a good chance of winning before Buffy graduates…especially if she becomes captain next year," Mark replied shortly, but with a hint of pride.

Before Jacob could escalate things more, Sam interjected, "She might make captain? When she's only a sophomore? That's great! Isn't that impressive, Dad?" she asked pointedly. If Mark was making an effort to be civil, their Dad could try, too.

Jacob sighed, "Sure, Sammy. Pass the bread, please."

Apparently, that was as far as fatherly pride could stretch when it wasn't science or military-related.

When dinner was finished and the table was cleared, Jacob said his good nights. "I have an early flight to DC in the morning. Remind Buffy not to stay out so late in the future."

Mark fought the urge to snort. Only his father would consider 8:30 pm late. If he only knew…

He wondered if he would have to fake a phone call from Buffy to throw Sam off, but he needn't have worried. She got a letter from a science teacher from the local university about a paper she submitted, and rushed to her room to read it.

The house was dark when Buffy came in several hours later. Mark had left a window open in the basement for her to sneak in, as well as a plate in the fridge so she could eat before going to sleep for a couple hours. He also left a note to tell her what happened during dinner; that way she was up-to-date on family news, just in case.

She changed into her pajamas and loaded the washer before heading upstairs, taking the time to wash her make-up off and tousle her hair to look like she'd been sleeping. It was just a precaution Mark thought up in case she ran into their Dad or Sam in the hallway on her way to bed.

Good thing he suggested it because just as she reached into the fridge for her food, she heard somebody behind her.

"Why are you up so early, Buffy?" Jacob demanded suspiciously, studying her face for any indication that she was just getting in.

She just turned and smiled at him. "Mark said you had to get up early today for a trip, so I thought I'd surprise you with breakfast. I just didn't realize how early 'early' was going to be," she explained.

"That's nice," Jacob allowed. "Just a couple eggs and some toast, please. I'll get the coffee started."

While she was cooking, he asked about her cheerleading, trying to figure out why she did it instead of a real sport.

"It's considered a real sport by the athletic department, Daddy. Some of my squad mates have gotten scholarships to college for it," Buffy told him.

"And you really have a chance at being the captain?" he asked a little more kindly.

"As long as nothing dramatic happens. The coach likes me and the captain who's graduating next spring thinks I'd be a good leader. They said I'm inventive and charismatic, which are two really important traits for a captain," she said as she put his plate on the table.

"Good. Thanks for breakfast. You'd better go back to sleep and get a couple more hours so you don't fall asleep at school," Jacob said in dismissal.

Buffy sighed, realizing that she'd have to make do with the snack bars in her room since she couldn't heat up the plate now. She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek and said, "Have a safe trip, Daddy."

A/N: Still not feeling 100% after yesterday, but I've missed two days of work and it's either the doctor or work, and work seems like the lesser of the two.