A/N: Sorry, it's been so long since I've updated. Also, there's a little flaw in the years... for example, she's a captain and she's only eighteen! What's up with that! ... ok, again— SORRY! Heh… Oh and I may not update for another little while because I'm working on a Christmas fic (L.O.V.E. those! If you have any let me know!) Much love, EllA

Chapter 3: Making Connections

It was early- the clock on the night stand read 04:38am when Aisling woke. She took a shower and at 05:20 she was at the cafeteria eating her Fruit Loops. Then Jack came striding over— it was funny, he was her father, but yet not... well, not yet.

"Hey, kiddo," he greeted her.

"Hi...Dad...?"

He nodded. He still wasn't sure whether he liked to be called "Dad" again or not, but he was willing to give it a try. "Look, " he started, "I know there are certain things that you can't tell me…but I was wondering— since, well, you know… maybe you could tell me a few things…?"

Aisling nodded (since there were about eleven Fruit Loops in her mouth).

"Okay, well, uh… I was wondering... when were you born? How old are you?"

"Well, I can't tell you the exact date, but I was born in 2006- I'm eighteen"

"Okay, now this is kinda awkward, but, uh, what was your mother like?"

Just then Sam walked towards their table.

Aisling looked up, "Oh, hi Sam!"

"Mornin' Carter!" came Jack's cheerful greeting.

Sam took a seat as Aisling continued, "Well, she's funny, beautiful, smart, and loving, to name a few of her many wonderful traits."

Sam didn't have to ask.

"How did I meet her" Jack was beginning to feel a little bit uncomfortable asking Aisling these questions in front of Carter—especially considering those… feelings he had for her.

Aisling thought for a minute, "can't tell you that one, sorry."

"Oh, right then. But, can you tell me," he thought for a moment. "What did you love best about her?"

"Well she was an incredible a person, I can't even begin to describe her... her kindness, gentleness… But I'd have to say, since I was a little girl, I always loved…" she looked into her bowl of colorful cereal, "her eyes."

Colonel O'Neill just, sort of, sat there…blankly. Well, more blankly than usual.

Even though she was listening, Sam pretended to be absorbed in a physics book she had in front of her.

"Hey," they heard Daniel say, "my turn!" Apparently none of them had taken notice that he had been sitting there.

"Does the rest of SG1 get as lucky as Jack here?" Daniel asked, grinning his trademark "just curious" grin. "I mean—" he made a trademark flustered hand gesture.

Aisling laughed "I don't know, Daniel. I think that's playing the rules a little. But… I will say that you all have nothing to worry about."

Colonel O'Neill was too lost in thought. He thought about something he hadn't really thought about until… about 19 seconds ago. Who is her mother? He thought. Someone… loving, funny, smart, and beautiful... and who has lovely eyes…

…Lovely eyes. He looked at Aisling. Her eyes were a deep, mezmerizing blue. They reminded him of… Woah, wait a second—

- Loving: check,

- Funny: check,

- Smart: definitely a check,

- Beautiful: double check.

This is crazy! It's…Crap, no! It couldn't be… and yet...

"Hey Aisling," he asked, interrupting a conversation. "Do I know..." he stopped and looked at the other people at the table. "Never mind."

Later on, Jack took a walk with Aisling on the surface.

"I was wondering," he asked her, " I feel really…"

"No, go on."

"Well- If I guess correctly who your mother is, will you tell me?"

Aisling nodded her agreement.

"Okay," he looked nervously at the ground. "I already know her, right?"

She nodded.

"She's really smart… and I mean, like, really smart…?"

"Yeah," Aisling giggled, "you could say that."

"And," he stopped walking and looked down into her eyes. "You... You have her eyes."

Aisling self- consciously closed her eyes for a brief second, "yes."

He turned away. "It's Carter, isn't it?"

His daughter was quiet, "You'll find a way."

Jack winced at the bright noon sun. "Does she know it yet?" he asked her.

"I don't think so." She blinked, "Though I almost called her 'Mom' yesterday." She laughed, "Good thing her rank starts with an m!"

A few minutes later, Aisling and her father turned to see Sam walking over to them. "Hey! I thought maybe you guys might want to go out to get some lunch," she said.

"Yes! Please?" said Aisling enthusiastically.

Jack found it some how difficult to even look at Sam, "I guess if General Hammond says it's okay…?"

Sam smiled, "yessir." She reached into the pocket of her BDUs. "He even gave me this," she smiled, holding up a credit card, "and a matching order to buy you some new clothes!"

"Ah, " started Jack, "about that… do I have to come?"

Aisling smiled, "well, COLONEL, an order is an order!"

"D'oh…"

A few hours later, after they had had lunch and had all gotten to know each other a bit better, the women were shopping, and Jack found himself near sleeping in a chair in the Citadel Crossing Mall.

Sam tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Hey Sir," she greeted him.

Jack got up and took his sunglasses off, "hey Carter"

"Aisling's trying on some clothes. She's torn between the white and the blue," she smiled good-naturedly.

Jack looked at her seriously.

"What's wrong" she asked, the smile fading from her face.

He summoned all his nerve and swallowed his pride, "Look. S-Sam." he started, almost choking on the name. "Aisling is…" he struggled to find the words, when in fact there were only two: our and daughter. "Er…I think that you need to know that—" he was cut off by Sam's cell phone ringing.

She looked deep into his eyes and then answered her phone, not breaking their eye contact. "Carter... Yeah, be right there," she hung up.

"Tell her to get the blue." said Jack, "It matches her eyes."