Jon knelt down beside the Explorer and looked under at the Major.

"How's it goin'?"

"Whadya want kid?" the sweating man snarled.

"Colonel O'Neill asked me here. I have some experience OK?" His mind suddenly went back to the nuke on that stupid artificial asteroid and how the idiots had wired it with all the same color of wires. He bit back the urge to laugh hysterically.

Sam heard the second voice, "What's going on?"

"Some kid says that the Colonel asked him here."

"Let me talk to him." Sam replied.

"Here." The Major handed Jon the phone and took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty face.

"Carter?" Jon asked.

"Hi Jon, how does it look?"

"Like it could blow up two city blocks. The guy way overdid it."

"Yeah, yeah. Listen, I want you to take over now, let the Major walk."

"Oh, thank you sooo much." Jon said sarcastically.

Sam snorted, "Please, just do it Sir."

Jon quieted, "Still just plain old Jon, Major." He looked down at the man, "I'm taking over now."

"Thank Christ, I'm about to have a frickin' heart attack." The Major crawled out from the undercarriage with a heartfelt sigh of relief. "You people are nuts, give me a demon any day of the week." He bent over for a moment then straightened, "How about I hand you what you need?" He said to the younger man.

Jon smiled, "It's a deal. Here you take the phone while I get situated. Talk to Carter for a minute."

Major Dixon took the phone, "So Major, I'm out of your hair now."

Sam grinned, "You did great, thanks for your help."

A snort was her reply, "I was scared shitless but thanks for being kind to this freaked out old Major."

Jon got situated and said, "Flashlight." It was given to him and illuminating the bomb made him whistle long and low. "Geez louise, what a fuckin' mess." He really missed Teal'c just about now.

The Major grunted, "Tell me."

Sam said, "Huh?"

"Nothing, the kid just had his first good look."

Jon sighed, "Ok, hand me the phone and the wire snips."

"Major I'm handing you off now, good night." Dixon said.

Jon took the phone and snuggled it to his ear so he could have his hands free, "I'm here Carter, what next." Sam carefully led him through the next few steps.

"Wait a sec." He said, flipping the light slowly over the exposed wires that he had already snipped.

"What?" Sam asked, afraid of more bad news.

"Call the Cleveland bomb squad, I can't imagine Giles wanting this much C-4 in the house and I can't dispose of this much without arousing suspicion."

"They'll ask too many questions."

Jon thought for a moment, "How about the Feebs?" (a/n FBI)

Sam sighed, leaning back against the Colonel's desk, "Waaay too many questions."

They both were silent for a minute, "Well Carter? Pull any ideas out of your butt?" He heard a strangled snort from her side and smiled.

Sam struggled not to laugh, "Stop it, now you're just being creepy. How about a couple of padded gym bags and we'll send a C141 out for you and you can bring it back here. We can always use it."

"Practical and smart. I always did like that about you Carter." Jon commented.

"How are you?" she quietly asked the clone of the man she loved.

Jon smiled, shifted to get the rock out of the small of his back, "I think I fell in love." He said cheerfully.

"Oh. Wow!"

"Yeah, she's great. Listen, let's get this fucker done so I can have a nervous breakdown, ok?"

They finished and held their breath but between them it had been done right. No booms, no big holes in the neighborhood beside the obligatory dog swallowing potholes. By this time Xander had pulled up into the driveway and Jay had carried the exhausted Buffy inside and was now kneeling beside the car with an open gym bag filled with newspapers while Jon gingerly transferred the C-4 to it.

When it was finished Jon sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Oh yeah, NOW I remember why I wanted to get away from the SGC." He said into the phone. "Ok Carter, it's done. When do we expect the C141. I don't want to keep this in the house for too long."

"Tomorrow night at 1700, Cleveland Hopkins airport. Keep it somewhere cool and dry. We'll get you cleared to carry the stuff to the aircraft, and I'll call you tomorrow with more details. Oh, and tell Colonel Coburn that Colonel O'Neill wants him and Cassie on the plane as well. Is Cassie Ok?" Sam asked a little anxiously.

"Just peachy. She's met that Xander guy and they've hit it off."

Sam sucked in a breath, "Janet is going to kill Jay."

Jon laughed, "It's only a little tonsil hockey, they're not ripping off each other's clothes Carter."

"Please, no more visuals." She begged with a groan.

"Ok, see you tomorrow." And he closed the cell phone with a smile.

Jay grimaced, "I guess we're leaving tomorrow?"

"Yep, sorry man."

"That's ok. Janet's going to kill me though, getting her precious Cassie in danger." Jay said.

"Oh, I'd worry more about Cassie telling Doctor Evil about Xander's kissing technique."

Jay yelped, "What?"

At that moment Major Dixon came up and shook the men's hands, "I'm glad it ended Ok. Hope we don't see each other again." Jon and Jay laughed, they could tell that the Major meant it. They watched the dark van drive away, leaving them standing in the cold in companionable silence. Looking up and down the street they saw nothing more unusual than the flickering of Christmas lights.

"So, what are you gonna do after you graduate?" Jay asked suddenly.

Jon rocked on his heels, "Academy. I have a guaranteed placement." Translation: Duh!

"I'll bet." Silence. "You gonna fly?"

A shrug, "Oh, probably." Translation: Duh!

The door opened and they turned to see Giles silhouetted against the light.

"Would you two please come in before you turn into popsicles?" With identical grins the men went inside.

Jay had finally assembled his team The new SG-2 consisted of the returned and thoroughly head shrinked Major Hayden, Lt. Haley and Sgt. Jason Ballard out of the Special Forces Detachment on the Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland. Their first mission was pure vanilla, a trip to the alpha-site with Christmas stuff for the personnel there. It went very smooth and it went along way to reassuring Jay and Hayden that they would be ok again. Jay ignored the nightmares that were plaguing him, he knew that they would go away. Eventually.

Christmas arrived and it was bittersweet for Jay and Buffy since they were apart.

In Cleveland Christmas morning was a quiet affair. Everyone got up late, Buffy making a basic coffee cake from a recipe Jon had e-mailed her. It had turned out perfect and Buffy was delighted. Gifts were exchanged and they all watched Buffy open her package from Jay. It turned out to be a butter soft leather jacket, the color of old gold.

"Oooh." Buffy sighed, rubbing her cheek against it.

"Wow B, he really knows you." Faith commented as Buffy handed the jacket to her to look at. There was a knock at the door and Giles got up to let Robin in.

"Hey Boss." Buffy smiled at the handsome black man she had come to value as a friend. Faith handed back the jacket and jumped up to give the man a noisy kiss.

"Hello everyone." He said, he lifted the bag he had and Faith passed out the small gifts that he had gotten for everyone. The rest of the afternoon was spent in lazy abandon, talking about Colorado Springs and what there was to do there, when the phone rang.

Buffy answered it quickly, thinking it was Jay. "Hello."

"How's my girl?" came a strange voice.

Puzzled now Buffy asked, "Um, who is this?"

"It's your Dad honey."

Buffy mouthed, 'it's Dad' to a shocked Dawn.

"Um, Hi Dad. Merry Christmas."

"So, how are you girls doing?" Hank asked jovially, his arm around his latest honey.

"Good, we're good."

"Good. Can I talk to Dawn? What is she now, 16?"

"Almost 19 Dad."

"Really, how time flies." Hank said with satisfaction, he wouldn't have to pay child support after all.

Buffy's face was expressionless, "He want's to talk to you Dawn."

Dawn made a face and took the phone and Buffy went straight into Giles arms for a hug, practically crawling on his lap.

Eyeing her sister worriedly Dawn spoke, "Hi Dad?"

"How's my little girl?"

"Good, I'm graduating this year."

"How are your grades pumpkin?"

"All A's."

"Good, good. Well sweetie, I have to go now. Have a great Christmas." And the phone went dead.

"Hello?" Dawn asked tentatively, then hung up. "That was weird."

Xander frowned, "How long has it been?" he asked.

Giles looked up, not knowing that he was unconsciously rocking Buffy, "At least 5 years." He looked over at Dawn who was being hugged by Willow, "Are you ok dear?"

Dawn nodded, "I don't feel anything. I mean, you've been my Dad, more than he ever was."

Buffy's head came up, "She's right." She looked over at Faith, Willow and Xander. "This is my family in this room, more than he ever was."

Giles held out his hand and gestured to them all, "You are all mine as well." Dawn came over to leaned against him and Xander, Faith and Willow came over and there was a great big, teary eyed group hug. It cemented the love that they had, and showed that they were a real family.

In Colorado Springs Jay woke up to the loud sounds of Bon Jovi being blasted in the kitchen, making the windows of his house vibrate.

"Blech." He flopped back down and dragged the pillow over his face.

"Come on sleepy head, it's Christmas! Rise and shine." Came Jon's annoyingly cheerful voice.

"Go away kid before I chuck you through the Stargate without a gdo." Jay grumbled.

Jon laughed and headed back to the kitchen to check on the bacon.

Jay sat up, idly scratching his chest before staggering into the connecting bathroom to the shower.

The house was clean, the small tree covered in cranberry and popcorn strings, with old military patches like ornaments hanging from the branches. As he came out to the kitchen Jon looked over at him, "Weird tree Coburn." He dished out the mushroom and onion omelet, bacon and biscuits and set it before Jay, along with a cup of coffee.

"You'll make a good wife." Jay commented before sipping his coffee.

Jon snorted, "Fuck you."

Jay rolled his eyes, "Please, you are so not my type." He continued to eat, his eyebrows raising in surprise, "This is actually good Jon."

"Thanks, being married did teach me a thing or three." He looked at Jay, "I appreciate the invitation Jay."

"Well, since we're practically family I didn't like the thought of you being alone for Christmas."

Jon looked at him, "Speaking of related, did you call your Dad yet?"

"Nope."

"Are you gonna?"

Jay sighed, "I'll call today, ok Mom?"

Jon snickered, "Since Buffy isn't here to nag I'm taking it upon myself."

Laughing outright Jay balled up his napkin and tossed it at Jon's head, "Don't help or you won't get your present."

A look of utter surprise crossed Jon's face, "You got me a present?"

"Uh huh."

"Well let's go!!"