Disclaimer: Stargate and SG-1 do not belong to moi.

            C.J. was sitting on the front porch, enjoying the view of the old Virginia farm. A red truck pulled in behind her jeep and stopped. Her Dad got out, still as robust and strong as she remembered from childhood. The tall white haired man came around and saw her. "Chrissy!" he cried, and she flew into her fathers' strong arms. "Hi Daddy." C.J. said, voice muffled against his chest.

            "What are you doing home?" Jason Davis held his daughter out at arms length to study her. He too saw the tiredness in her eyes, and wondered at its cause.

            "I needed a break. I have a week's leave so Mom said I could bum around here." C.J. smiled at her Dad. "Excellent, did you feed the animals?" he asked. With that she knew the inquisition would begin at the dinner table. They both turned at another car pulling into the driveway. C.J. sighed, "Geez, Mum must have gotten on the phone seconds after I arrived to have Paul here already." She waved and shook her head at her brother.

            Paul nodded at his Dad and pulled C.J. into his arms for a tight hug. Jason raised his eyebrows at his children, then looked over at a worried Joanie who was on the porch. There was a reason that both of their children were home together for the first time in 5 years.

            "Let's go in for dinner kids." Jason herded the family inside and watched the age old ballet of family life begin. Paul took off his cover (hat for you non -military types), removed his uniform jacket and hung it up in the hall closet. The briefcase was placed in the closet too. Paul then went into the big farm kitchen and got plates and silverware. C.J. went to get placemats and napkins and went to set the table. In 5 minutes of efficient work everything was ready and the family sat down for grace. After Jason prayed, he started the food around the table and wordlessly communicated with his wife.

            C.J. passed the corn to her Mom and was about to ask for butter when Paul threw a roll at her head. It bounced off and landed on the floor, to be accidentally squished by their Dad's large foot. "Oops." Paul said sheepishly, while C.J. stuck her tongue out at him. Joanie laughed and pointed at Paul, who obediently got up and retrieved the ruined roll and threw it away. Jason chuckled softly, "Boy, some things change and some things stay the same." Paul sat back down when suddenly their parents opened fire.

            "Ok, what the hell is up my bambinos?" Jason asked seriously, causing C.J. and Paul to jump guiltily. Paul shook his head and pointed to C.J. who kicked him under the table.

            "I had a really rough past couple of weeks and I needed a break Dad. Really, I'm ok." C.J. said carefully, but it was ruined by Paul who snorted. "Try a rough several months." He said, ignoring the glare from his sister.

            Joanie looked at her children, "Ok, start from the beginning." C.J. sighed and started with the U.S.S. Teddy Roosevelt in Qatar.

            Jason and his wife listened to the first hand account about the rescue of the Sheik in Qatar and the subsequent attempts on their daughter's life. "The Sheik was here 3 months ago." Their mother said, shocking her children.

            "Here?" C.J. squeaked. "Yes, he was very nice. He said he had gotten permission from the President to reward you with a gift." Jason said smugly.

            "A gift?" Paul and C.J. shared a look, "What was it?" C.J. asked. Joanie smiled, "You are a proud owner of an Arabian stud farm." She replied. C.J. got up and banged her head on the doorframe several times. She turned and glared at her folks, "What am I going to do with a stud farm?" she protested.

            "Raise studs?" Paul asked innocently. C.J. walked over and smacked him on the head with the flat of her hand. "Shut up Paul."

            "Daaad." Paul whined, causing her parents to snort with laughter. C.J. sat down, "No, seriously, I have no way to look after a stud farm while I am active duty, and I know nothing about Arabian horses and stud farms." Her dad shook his head, "There is a manager and I look in from time to time." C.J. sighed in defeat. Joanie looked at her kids, "What happened next?"  C.J. winced, she had hoped to derail the conversation.

            Paul sat up and smiled, "Then Senator Kinsey tried to molest C.J. in the back of his limo and she threatened the poke out his eyes with her heels." Their Dad and Mom sat up and yelled, "What?!"

            C.J. glared at Paul and then looked at her parents, "I didn't call you about it because it was nothing. Uncle Mike handled it. Ok?" Her Dad's eyes flashed dangerously. "Is the man suffering?" Paul laughed, "Oh yeah. Kicked off all of the most powerful committees in congress!" he forked up more of the mashed potatoes. Jason made a silent promise to call his friend at the soonest opportunity.

            Paul sat back and wiped his mouth with his napkin, "Because of that I used some connections and had C.J. moved to NORAD." Jason looked at Paul with approval, "I'd wondered how a sailor had ended up at an Air Force installation." Paul knew that his Dad would grill him for more detailed information later.

            C.J. laughed, "The first 3 days I was painting stripes in the lower level hallways. Colonel O'Neill wondered why a 'squid' was working on an Air Force installation too. The personnel man hadn't received my records, so in lieu of specific orders I was painting stripes." She shook her head in remembrance. Jason laughed, "You did good Chrissy. What do you do now?" Paul gave her a look and she nodded slightly. Of course the parents noticed.

            "I work top secret security for the base. I do basic guard duty and occasionally guard one of the General's." C.J. said casually. She knew neither of her parents were fooled but military training was deeply ingrained in this family and they wouldn't ask questions. She smiled at her Dad, "Really Dad."  Her Dad snorted, "Uh huh."

            Later that evening Paul and C.J. were on the swing under the large maple out front. "Are you ok Chris?" Paul asked quietly. C.J. swung silently for a moment. "I think Daniel was more upset than I was. With Shar'e and everything between us I don't know if we can make it. We've barely begun." C.J. sighed quietly. Paul shifted so that he could look his sister in the face, "Daniel is worth the wait. Give him time to adjust to the fact that he can't wrap you in cotton wool and protect you. I've known him for 5 years and he is one of the best." Paul's eyes were serious on hers, and she nodded. "I wish life wasn't so complicated." She complained. Paul nodded, "If wishes were horses we all could ride." C.J. giggled and leaned against him. They sat silently and watched the stars.

            Jason and Joanie listened from the open window on the porch. Joanie turned to her husband, "A man." He nodded and slid the window quietly shut.

            Paul was in bed, the window open and listening to the crickets when his Dad came in. "Who is the man that C.J. is running from?" he asked without preamble. Paul smiled in the dark and turned to his Dad. "He's a man whom I've known for 5 years. He works in the mountain and would die for his team mates in a hot second. He's a great man Dad, just dealing with some issues about C.J.'s safety." Jason sat quietly, processing this news about his baby. "Is it serious?" Paul nodded, "Oh yeah." Jason patted his son's leg and left.

            Joanie was at the same time in her daughter's room, watching her sleep. C.J. was beginning a nightmare and thrashing around. "No, God No. Don't put that thing in me. God, protect me!" she moaned and Joanie hurried to her side, "It's ok baby. You're safe." She crooned, brushing the sweaty hair off her daughters face. Joanie had tears in her eyes as her daughter settled under her hand. C.J. fell into a deeper sleep and Joanie left the room and went into Paul's room.

            "Paul, what happened to your sister? Was she raped?" She asked, sitting on Paul's' bed, precisely where his Dad had sat. Paul sighed, and raised himself on his elbows and looked into his mom face. "She was attacked, but not raped. She had help and was saved, and then in turn she saved a bunch of people. Don't get me wrong, it was terrible, but she has been talking it out and when Daniel gets his shit together and realizes how important she it to him, I think she'll heal all of the way." Joanie got up and walked to the window. "Is Daniel her boyfriend?" she asked quietly, watching the trees sway in the moonlight. Paul lay back down, "You could say it was more serious than that. He lost his first wife in a similar attack, and is having a hard time being there for C.J. That's why she's here." Joanie nodded, it made sense. Turning, she went over to kiss Paul goodnight. "Goodnight Son of my Heart." She said, and he smiled at the childhood endearment. "Night mom."