Chapter 6: Returns
Over the nest ten months, Jack and Sam's lives changed quite a bit. Sam graduated with her doctorate in theoretical astrophysics one paper away and entered Officer Candidate School. She left as a lieutenant 2nd class. Jack celebrated Charlie's first birthday alone with Charlie. Sara had decided to go visit her parents by herself. Sara and Jack had been fighting more and more. Sara had said that she wanted out. Jack had managed to convincer her to stay a little longer, but he was still worried that someday he would receive divorce papers from her. Jack spent as much time as he could with Charlie, but he had had to return to active duty.
One day Jack was sitting in the office he had been moved to since returning to active duty. He heard a knock on the door.
"Enter," he called. He really didn't want to deal with taking to anyone. The night before, he and Sara had had another fight and she had left, leaving him with Charlie who was now in the base nursery.
"You wanted to see me sir," a female voice said professionally.
"I didn't ask to see anyone," Jack said as he looked up. He wasn't expecting what he saw. Samantha Carter stood before him. Her blond hair no longer in a ponytail, but cut short above her ears. Her jeans and t-shirt were gone as well, and in their place was an Air Force uniform. She was trying very hard not to smile, and succeeding more or less.
"Sam! I didn't know you were already out of OCS! Why didn't you tell me?" Jack was almost speechless.
"Well sir, I wanted to surprise you. Dad knew though," Sam still stood at attention.
"At ease Sam, jeese," Jack said as he stood up.
"Permission to hug the major?" Sam asked.
"Granted," Jack told her. Sam stepped around the desk and hugged him. "You don't have to ask Sam."
"Okay, how's Charlie?" Sam asked.
"He's good. Do you want to meet him?" Jack questioned as he released her.
"Yeah, I'd love to, he's one right?" Sam agreed.
"Yep, so, why are you here?"
"I have a few days leave before I have to report to my assignment, so I came here," Sam explained. She was glad Jack was there. She had missed him more than she thought she would.
They walked out of Jack's office and he led the way to the nursery. When they got there, Jack headed straight toward Charlie. He bent over and swung Charlie up and into his arms.
"Her there Charlie, how ya doin?" Jack asked his laughing son while he whirled him around. Sam smiled at their antics.
"Dada!" Charlie squealed. Jack stopped swinging Charlie and settled him onto his hip. Charlie had a huge smile on his face. Sam could see the resemblance between the father and son.
"Mama!" Charlie exclaimed and reached for Sam. She looked at Jack surprised.
"Sara has blond hair too," he explained. "Charlie, this is Sam, Mama isn't here right now," Charlie looked at his father sadly.
"Hi Charlie, How are you?" Sam asked the little boy.
"Up," Charlie commanded. Sam looked at Jack for a translation.
"He wants you to hold him," Jack told her.
"Okay, come here Charlie," Sam said as she reached over to take Charlie from Jack's arms. She held him much as Jack had.
"Excuse me Major O'Neill," the nursery supervisor interrupted, "its time for Charlie's bottle before his nap."
"Could you just bring the bottle please?" Jack asked.
"Sure sir."
Minutes later the supervisor returned with the bottle. She offered it to Jack.
"I'll take it," Sam said as she reached for the bottle and offered it to Charlie. He grabbed it and began to drink.
"Sam, you don't have to do that," Jack protested.
"Its okay Jack, I don't mind," Sam smiled at him. Jack looked at his watch.
"Shoot, I have to go, I have a meeting. Can I meet you in my office in an hour?" Jack asked.
"Sure, I'll be here until Charlie's asleep," Sam promised.
"Thanks, I'll see you later," Jack said as he turned to leave.
"Bye," Sam called after him. She didn't see him stop to talk to the supervisor. She looked down at Charlie who was starting to fall asleep, his bottle almost half empty. She started to hum a lullaby her mother used to sing. Ten minutes later, Charlie was fast asleep. Sam placed in the crib that was labeled 'Charlie O'Neill. She told the supervisor if Charlie woke up to call Jack's office. Sam headed to Jack's office, saluting when necessary. When she got there, she looked at the pictures on his desk. She didn't see any pictures of Sara, just Charlie. Sam sat in Jack's chair and started to doze off. She was awoken by the phone ringing.
"Major O'Neill's office," Sam answered.
"This is the nursery. Charlie woke up and is very upset, is there any way someone could pick him up?" the attendant asked.
"I'll be right there," Sam said before hanging up the phone and heading toward the nursery quickly. When she arrived, she could hear Charlie crying.
"I'm here to pick up Charlie O'Neill, my name is Sam Carter," Sam told the nurse at the desk.
"Just one moment, all right, you are on the list provided by the parents,"
"I am?" Sam interrupted.
"Yes, Major O'Neill added your name before he left when you were here earlier. Would you please sign here and here?" the nurse asked, handing Sam a sign out form and a contact form. Sam signed them quickly. She then walked over to a set of cubbies and grabbed the bag marked O'Neill. The nurse had followed and was collecting what she assumed were Charlie's toys. Sam picked Charlie up out of his crib.
"Hey Charlie, it's me Sam, how ya been?" Sam asked quietly. She held Charlie close and swayed back and forth. He quieted down some, but she decided to take him back to Jack's office with her anyway. After grabbing his bag, Sam and Charlie headed back to the office. When they got there, Charlie had quieted down so Sam put Charlie on the floor and gave him some toys before sitting down with him the best she could in her skirt. They sat playing on the floor for a little while before Jack returned. He opened the door quietly and said nothing. He just watched Sam and Charlie playing together. The first clue Sam got to Jack's presence was when Charlie stood and wobbled toward the door.
"Dada!" Charlie exclaimed.
"Hey there sport! You being a good boy?" Jack asked as he knelt to receive his son's hug.
"Uh huh," Charlie answered nodding his head. Sam got up carefully.
"You didn't have to bring him here Sam," Jack said as he stood to look at her, brining Charlie with him.
"I know. The nursery called and said he woke up and wouldn't calm down. So I went to see how he was and decided to bring him back here," Sam explained.
"Thanks Sam. I appreciate it. Every once and a while he just can't sleep. I generally do the same thing," Jack told her. He didn't mention that normally he was the only one that could calm Charlie down when he woke up. Not even Sara could calm him.
"Any time, oh, by the way, Dad wanted to know if you and Sara wanted to come to his house for dinner tonight, Charlie is welcome too of course," Sam offered.
"Thanks. I don't know if Sara will come, but Charlie and I will definitely be there. Burgers again?" Jack replied good naturedly.
"No, I think it either steaks or brats, I'm not sure. Is Sara okay?" Sam was concerned. Jack hadn't said anything about his wife.
"She's five. She left last night. I'm not entirely sure when she'll be home, so," Jack just let the last work hang.
"Has Dad met Charlie?" Sam asked. She decided not to push about Jack's wife.
"Nope, but the little guy is pretty lovable so I don't think it'll be a problem," Jack was thankful for Sam's change of the subject.
"Well, there are some things Dad wants me to pick up for dinner, so I'd better go. See you around seven? Sam asked.
"Fine, Charlie and I will be there at seven," Jack agreed.
"Great, Dad says it's a 'Jacob' night," Sam told him.
"I'll remember. Bye Sam," Jack replied as Sam headed out the door. Jack looked at the clock, it read 5:00. He decided he would head home with Charlie at about six. Taking a seat at his desk, Jack took out the box of crayons he kept in the drawer for Charlie. He placed the crayons and some paper on the floor in front of Charlie. He began coloring. Jack got out some paperwork he had been putting off and decided it was as good a time as ever to finish it.