Notes: Here you go, part two! Thanks for all those kind reviews!! You make my day!

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24th of December

Sam still had to think of their latest mission while she was sitting in her lab checking some soil samples. Jack had dubbed the planet 'Winter Wonderland' and Sam thought that name fitted it well. They hadn't had any problems, but lots of fun. Sam sighed. Why had these days always to be over so soon?

Today was Christmas and still she didn't know what she should do. Nobody, except the emergency personnel and herself, was at the base anymore. Even Jonas had been allowed to go out, but Sam couldn't bring herself to get home. She didn't even set up a Christmas tree. She tried to make her work and her lack of time responsible for this but she knew it was just because of the fact that she didn't want to have Christmas tree. On the other hand… Why did she notice then, that she didn't have one? Sam sighed again and pushed these thoughts away as far as possible.

Finally Sam got up and strolled through the isolated corridors to the canteen. A coffee would be what she needed right now, at least that was what she told herself. As she took the plastic cup from the machine and took a sip she had to think of this delicious grog again. Suddenly she didn't like the taste of the coffee anymore.

She put her cup aside and eventually decided to drive home. To sit here at the base while all the others were celebrating couldn't be the point of Christmas. Slowly she made her way back to her lab to get her jacket and her car keys.

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Wow, this time she had really outdone herself. This was her first thought when she got out of the car and looked at her house which was the only one with no lights whatsoever. Somehow it seemed lost and lonely in the midst of light around them.

The last years she at least had some lights behind her windows, but this year everything was dark. She fished for her key and opened the door. Inside it was cold and dark, too. Apparently she had forgotten to turn on her heater this morning. Excellent prerequisite for an evening in front of the TV!

Sam walked into her kitchen, put on a coffee and threw her jacket over the next chair. Then she went to turn the heater to the highest level and switched on the TV. One look into her TV magazine told her that she would need an extra box of handkerchiefs, since there were only films in the program which had a guaranty for crying. What would suit her depressive mood any better?

It was already dark outside when her coffee finally was ready and Sam made herself comfortable in her wide armchair. It was only seven o'clock in the evening, lots of time to kill until she could tick off Christmas for this year…

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The ringing of the phone yanked her out of her light slumber. Startled Sam opened her eyes and looked around in her living room somewhat disoriented. The TV was still on and the clock told her that is was some minutes after ten o'clock. Who should call her at this time? Her brother Mark didn't know that she was at home and she had no other relatives who would call her at Christmas.

At the third ring she eventually got up and picked up the phone. "Hello?", she asked slightly confused. General Hammond's voice came through the phone. "Good evening, Major Carter, and Merry Christmas!", he told her cheerfully. Sam stammered a "Merry Christmas…Sir" as well and couldn't think of the reason for this call.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything?", Hammond explored eventually. "No, not at all." In the background Sam could hear children's voices. Hammond's grandchildren were probably visiting him. But why would he call her of all people? Surely not only to wish her a nice festival.

"Is there something I can do for you?", Sam enquired confused. "How should I put it… it's very embarrassing, you know…especially since today is Christmas…" "What is it, Sir?", Sam cut him off as she couldn't wait any longer. "These soil samples you brought from PX358Y" – 'Winter Wonderland' Sam thought and smiled – "…unfortunately I already need the results tomorrow morning…"

Wonderful, Sam thought. At Christmas of all days… why did this bother her at all? She had been asleep in front of the TV anyway. "I wanted to ask you if you could do this today, maybe? I know it's late and I…" "No, it's all right. I'll take care of it.", Sam quickly reassured him. Another Christmas at the lab. This was gradually becoming a habit!

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The Stargate-Center was just as empty and dreary as she had left it. The emergency lighting only provided sparse reddish light as she went down the corridors. She went around a corner and suddenly bumped into an obstacle. As she looked up she glanced straight into Jack O'Neill's hazel eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir.", she said surprised and took a step back. "What are you doing here?", was her first thought which she also articulated. "I could ask you the same, Carter.", O'Neill said, grinning. "General Hammond asked me to check the soil samples…", she began but was cut off by Jack who took her hand and pulled her with him. "Oh, forget about these samples. That was just a trick to get you here. The General owed me a favour.", Jack said and laughed.

Sam allowed him to pull her away and didn't even think of freeing herself off his grip. "A trick? But why…?" Again she was confused. What was all this about now? "Don't worry. You'll see for yourself in no time.", Jack reassured her. Sam noticed that they were on their way to the canteen and decided to wait for the surprise.

When they finally arrived at their destination Jack pushed the winged door open and lead Sam into the room. Sam froze and couldn't believe her eyes.

In the middle of the room there stood a small Christmas tree, festively decorated with red an silver ornaments. The lights on the tree were turned on and the small tree shone brightly. On the tables candles flickered, and all the other lights were turned off.

Teal'c and Jonas sat at a table, which was covered with glasses, bottles, bowls and other things, and watched the tree in awe. Jonas greeted Sam with a broad smile as Jack lead her to the table. Bemused she sat down and Jack handed her a glass of red wine.

"What…", she began, but was cut off again by Jack. "Do you like it?", he asked and smiled his famous smile. "It is…wonderful." Sam's voice was a mere whisper. She still was dazed and couldn't stop staring at the twinkling and glowing tree. Teal'c and Jonas seemed very pleased, too.

"That's great." Jack answered and Sam knew even without looking at him that he was smiling contently. "You know… since no one of us can really enjoy Christmas I thought it would be quite nice if you could celebrate this day together.", he finally explained. Sam wondered why she hadn't had the same idea.

Indeed it was the most obvious thing to do. For Jack and herself there was no reason to be cheerful at Christmas, Teal'c didn't even know what Christmas was and Jonas was cut off from his home planet, too, and Sam didn't even know whether his people knew of a holiday like Christmas. Every one of them was lonely and lost at Christmas despite the fact that they were their only family they had. And still they did never celebrate together. At least now they had the opportunity to do so.

With a twinkle in her eyes Sam turned to the other, smiled broadly at everyone of them and then raised her glass. "To our family!", she said and glasses clinked.

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Jack had brought them warm food, cake and cookies. And even though Chinese food didn't fit with Christmas no one cared. Everyone had fun, they laughed and talked about almost everything. Jonas told them of a holiday on his home planet, which was almost like Christmas and Teal'c told them stories about Chulak they never before had heard from him.

Sam told them of her mother and even if it hurt at first she felt better knowing that her friends understood. Maybe Christmas would never be as lonely for her as it had been for the last years. Jack told stories of his son Charlie, who had loved Christmas above everything else. Everyone opened up the one way or the other. And finally they all sat around the Christmas tree in comfortable silence, enjoying the company.

After a while Jack stood up and returned with three little parcels which he distributed to Sam, Teal'c and Jonas. Sam observed the little square present, wrapped in red paper. Teal'c stared at his uncomprehending and Jonas, too, seemed not to know what to do with it. Jack rolled his eyes heavenwards. "Now c'mon, open it already!", he finally exclaimed.

Jonas opened the paper and within there was a small book. "1001 Stories for Christmas", he read to them and smiled. "Thanks Jack.", he said and opened the first page. After some seconds he already studied the first story.

Teal'c followed his example and looked at the small Santa Claus, which he pulled out of the packing. One eyebrow climbed upwards while he was turning the object to and fro. Before he could as Jack bend over and pressed a hidden button. The Santa Claus immediately started to moving and singing 'Jingle Bells'. Sam had to laugh at Teal'c's shocked face. He watched the electronic miracle in awe and finally nodded gratefully in Jack's direction.

Jack was more than content with this reaction and turned to Sam. "What is it, do you not want to open it?" Sam hesitated but then started to unwrap the small package. Inside was a carton with a card dangling from its side. It said in Jack's typical handwriting: "For remembrance, Jack"

Sam opened the carton and pulled out a object wrapped into white tissue paper. Therein was an orb of glass in which Sam could see a small campfire with four tiny figures seated around it in the white glittering snow. Sam carefully turned the orb and fine white snowflakes trickled down on the four figures.

"Jack, that's just…I don't have anything for you!", she suddenly cut off herself. Jack just smiled at her. "That's okay. It's enough to see you happy.", he finally said. Sam could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks. She was so overwhelmed she didn't know what to say.

Eventually she wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and embraced him. "Thank you, Jack…", she whispered softly while her tears still soaked his shirt. Suddenly she had to smile as she thought about the shooting star she had seen in their 'Winter Wonderland'.

Christmas wishes became true.

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A/N: Hope you liked it! My friend just told me that is absolute kitsch! Exactly what you like, isn't it? Please leave me a review so that my Christmas wishes come true, too. *g*