Chapter 12: Lunch
When they got to the hotel, Sam knocked on the door to Jacob's room. "Dad, you in there?"
"Come on in Sam," Jacob called out.
Sam and Jack walked into the hotel room to see Jacob sitting on the floor playing with Charlie. Charlie had stayed with Jacob since there wasn't much room in Jack's quarters for a one-year-old.
"Dada!" Charlie exclaimed and toddled over to his father.
"Hey Charlie! How's my little camper?" Jack swung Charlie up into his arms. "You being good for Uncle Jacob?"
Charlie replied with an over exaggerated nod of his head.
"He's been great Jack. No trouble at all. What are you here for?" Jacob asked. Besides seeing Charlie that is."
"Actually, we wondered if you would like to join us for lunch," Sam told her father.
"I'm sorry Sam, an old teammate of mine is in town and we're having lunch with some other friends. I wish I could join you though," Jacob put an arm around his daughter. Jack was standing with Charlie, who was playing with his collar.
"Don't worry Dad, its okay. I see you more than your friends do. Have fun," Sam smiled at her father. "But, we get Charlie."
"Man, I wanted to teach him how to play darts!" Jacob teased.
"Maybe in a few years Jacob," Jack replied. He and Jacob had decided to leave ranks at home for the weekend.
"I'll hold you too that Jack. You guys go have fun at lunch. I'll see you when we're all back later. Go!" Jacob ushered Sam, Jack, and Charlie out of his room.
"Is it me, or did Jacob just kick us out?" Jack asked Sam as they headed to the parking lot.
"I think you're right Jack. I don't think I'll ever understand my father. Let's just forget about it and have a fun afternoon, what do ya say?" Sam suggested.
"I agree completely with your decision Dr. Carter," Jack teased her.
"Funny. Good thing Dad didn't rent a car. Charlie's car seat is still in mine," Sam commented as they reached her car.
"A good thing indeed. Where shall we go?" Jack asked.
"There's a little place in town that's fun. I'll drive, it's fairly direct," Sam decided.
"Sounds good to me. You eat there often?"
"Not recently, but I have eaten there several times."
"Let's move out campers," Jack said as Sam unlocked her car. Jack secured Charlie into the car seat, the got in. Sam started the car and drove to the small café. After getting a table on the patio and ordering, Sam and Jack talked about a variety of things.
Their food arrived, and Sam was enjoying her salad, while Jack ate his sandwich and fed Charlie. They were eating quietly when a man walked up to Sam, grabbed her arm and puller to her feet.
"Samantha, you must come with me. You're in danger," the man said, glaring at Jack.
"Jonas! Let go," Sam said as she pulled her arm out of his grip. "What are you talking about? In danger from whom?"
"Him now let's go!" Jonas growled as he pointed at Jack and reached for Sam's arm again.
"Wait a minute. Who the hell are you?" Jack asked, his voice deadly calm, hiding his confusion well.
"Jonas Hanson, Samantha's husband. Now let's go Samantha," Jonas made a third attempt to grab Sam's arm and failed again.
"Sam, what is he talking about?" Jack now looked at Sam, his features still collected.
Before Sam could respond, Jonas spoke up. "Samantha, darling, you forgot to take your medicine this morning, you're imagining things. Let's get you home where you're safe," Jonas said quietly. He extended his hand toward Sam.
"Ok buddy, why don't you leave before I call the police?" Jack told Jonas.
"I need to get my wife her medicine."
"Excuse me sir, is there a problem?" a waitress asked.
"Yes, would you please call the police and tell them we are being harassed?" Jack asked her.
"I'll call right now," she promised.
"Thanks." The waitress walked quickly into the café and called the police.
Sam tried talking Jonas out of his little world while Jack watched for the police. They finally arrived. After arresting Jonas, they agreed to meet Sam and Jack at the police station for their statements. Jack paid for lunch as the police left.
"Come on Sam, we'd better get to the station," Jack said, picking up Charlie.
"Sorry to ruin the day Jack," Sam apologized.
"You didn't Sam, Jonas did, don't worry about it," Jack assured her as they headed toward Sam's car.
At the police station, Jack heard the story behind Jonas' strange behavior. Jonas and Sam had dated through their junior and senior years of college before Jonas proposed after graduation. Sam had then called of the engagement around a year later because Jonas had become violent and emotionally abusive. He had not been happy about the breakup and had continually harassed Sam since she gave back the ring. Jonas had apparently gotten lost in his own little universe where he and Sam had gotten married and she was the one with some mental difficulties. The detectives collected all the information they could and arranged with Sam to contact her if they needed any more information. Sam and Jack left the police station to spend the rest of their afternoon with Charlie.
"What do you want to do Sam? If you want, we can go back to the base," Jack offered.
"No, that's okay, why don't we take a walk in the park? It's a nice day, we might as well stay outside," Sam told him.
"All right, the park it is then! Charlie, I bet we can find a swing set somewhere," Jack told his son.
"Weeee!" Charlie clapped his hands.
"Let's go, the park is over about a block, we can just walk," Sam said.
"Right," Jack swung Charlie onto his shoulders and they headed to the park. Charlie spotted the swings immediately.
Sam and Jack took turns pushing Charlie and swinging on their own for the rest of the afternoon.