In the afternoon Jack, Daniel and Teal'c showed up, bearing beer, snacks and 2 bottles of Glenfiddich. Jay showed off his gift from Buffy, an antique dagger from some Croatian manor that had gone under years ago. Jack and Teal'c liked it for it's usefulness, and of course Daniel liked it for it's historical significance.
The men sat around and watched the various games, eating snacks and yelling insults at the TV. Teal'c and Daniel played chess at the game table that Jay had set in front of the fireplace, and everyone was having a good time.
At halftime Jay stood, "I have to call my Dad and Buffy."
"Let me talk to Dawn before you hang up." Jon ordered absently, his eyes going to the framed photo of Dawn that Jay had given him for Christmas.
"Sir, yes, Sir." Jay replied dryly, making Jack roll his eyes in amusement. He headed down to his office.
Jack leaned back and regarded his younger self curiously, "So, Carter said you've fallen for Buffy's little sister."
"Oh yeah, like a ton of bricks." Jon sighed, picking up the picture and handing it to Jack.
"Pretty, what does she see in you?"
Daniel snorted and snatched the picture out of his hand, "She is really pretty Jon. I can't wait to meet her."
Teal'c took the picture carefully, regarding the smiling young woman. "She is a lovely young woman Jon O'Neill. I too would like to meet her." He handed the picture back to Jon who smiled, "Thanks big guy. Hopefully soon."
Jack looked around to make sure Jay was out of the room, "Well, I really like Buffy. If I was younger I 'd arm wrestle Jay for her."
Daniel piped up, "You'd still be too old. I'd seduce her with chocolate."
Teal'c turned halfway in his chair, "Indeed O'Neill. I would woo Buffy Summers with soft words and my prowess in battle."
Jon was laughing hysterically by this time, Daniel joining him at the pout on Jack's face. Teal'c's face showed a small smile which for him was laughing.
"Of course Jay and Carter would kick your ass." Jon said with a wink.
"Shut up!" Jack hissed.
"Please, " Daniel waved a hand, "Like we don't know about you and Sam anyway."
Teal'c gave Jack a sharp look, "Indeed O'Neill."
"Shit. Don't tell Carter."
Jay sat on his desk as he dialed his phone and listened to it ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dad , Merry Christmas."
"James, how are you son?" There was more warmth in his Dad's voice that he had heard in years.
"I'm doing great. We have a foot and half of fresh snow."
Charles laughed, "We have a bunch of fresh sunshine, do you need some?"
"No, I'm enjoying the snow." He paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to say it.
"So how is Buffy?" His father asked.
"We're engaged." Jay blurted.
"Congratulation Son! When is the wedding?" there was real pleasure in his father's voice and Jay sagged in relief.
"We're waiting for Buffy's sister to graduate from High school in June, so sometime after that. We'll let you know as soon the plans are finalized."
"You could marry here on the reservation."
Jay thought for a moment, "I'll mention it to Buffy. Listen Dad, I still have to call her."
"Tell her hello for me James."
"Bye Dad."
Jay sighed and dialed Buffy's number, being surprised when Xander answered.
"Hello."
"Xander?"
"Hey JayJay, Merry Christmas."
Jay winced, "You too, um, can I talk to Buffy? Not that it's not nice talking to you. Oh, and do me a favor, don't ever call me Jay Jay."
Xander laughed, "Okeedokee. So, what if Buffy called you that?"
"No."
More laughter from Xander. "Let me see if she's come back in yet."
Jay heard the faint alarm bells sound in his head. Something was wrong with Buffy. "What's the matter?"
A long sigh, "Let me get Giles."
"Merry Christmas Colonel." Came Giles voice.
"Giles, since I'm going to be your son in law, shouldn't you call me by my first name?"
Silence.
"Ok, Giles, what in the hell is going on?"
"Buffy's real father called today. It was the first time in five years. She took is rather hard."
Jay closed his eyes, "Giles, the first time Buffy ever talked about you to me was as her father. Real father. As far as I'm concerned that other guy blew it. You didn't."
Giles smiled as Buffy came in from outside, "Thank you for that."
"It's the truth."
Buffy came over, her eyes lit up, "Is that Jay?"
"Yes. Jay, here's Buffy. Have a merry Christmas."
"You too."
He heard a voice murmur and then Buffy, "Hi Jay, I love you."
"Oh Babe." He positively melted. "I miss you so much."
Buffy had a silly smile on her face, "I miss you way more. Oh, thanks for the beautiful jacket."
"I know how much you like leather." His voice deepened and Buffy tingled from reaction to it.
"Stop that." She whispered into the phone and he laughed. "Get Will to take a picture of you in it and e-mail it to me."
"I will. How's the crowd at your house?"
"Good. Telling dirty jokes, burping and scratching themselves. Man things." His face smiled as he listened to Buffy's hysterical laughter.
"Please, I refuse to believe that Teal'c or Daniel would do stuff like that."
"Oh. Oh! But you'd believe it of me?"
Buffy snickered, "You're friends with Jack aren't you?" she teased.
Jon stuck his head into the office and Jay stuck his tongue out. "Listen babe, Jon want's to talk to Dawnie. I love you, remember that." His voice was serious.
"Always." And Buffy let Dawn talk to Jon, a smile on her face.
It had taken Nirrti months to infiltrate the SGC but she had finally done it. Her operative had been there for a considerable length of time and given her good intelligence on the two women she was seeking.
January flew by and SG-2 had been on several missions and acquitted themselves well. The team was starting to gel and Jay found he really liked his new people. Haley had a wicked sense of humor, and Ballard was as much a prankster as Jack. The high spot bluing on Jack's door knob had been Ballard's idea. Jack's palm was still blue.
February came in like a lion, several severe blizzards had closed Colorado springs and shut down the mountain with a skeleton crew. Only SG-1 who had arrived back through the Stargate, Jay who had been trying to catch up on paperwork, Sgt. Siler and a couple of his men and the normal compliment of security people.
Jay was thinking hard about what to get Buffy for Valentine's Day. He didn't want to be boring but he didn't have any ideas yet. He pushed open the door to his office when he felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. There was definitely something or someone in his office. He continued in without pause, ruthlessly suppressing any reaction as he dug through the files on his desk, picked two and walked out without a backward glance.
Now it had been attributed to the SGC pranksters, but the cooks were complaining about food missing. Various officers had also mentioned that their offices had been rifled through. Separately these incidents didn't mean a thing but Jay's alarm bells were ringing as he connected the dots.
Arriving at the nearest weapons locker Jay pulled the security card from around his neck and swiped, opened the locked and pulled out two TER's (transphase eradication rods -capable of illuminating cloaking technology) before walking on.
With one hard knock Jay strode into Jack's office without waiting for an invitation, shutting the door behind him and tossing his friend a TER. Jay activated his and searched Jack's office thoroughly. Satisfied he looked at Jack, "We have a problem."
Jack looked at the weapon he had automatically caught, "Ya think?"
"I think it's in my office. I want to go to security and check the cameras." Jay tossed back sarcastically.
Both men were grim as the left Jack's office and strode to security, surprising the Sergeant running the security cameras.
"Bring up Colonel Coburn's office." Jack barked.
"Yes Sir." The Sgt. typed frantically on his keyboard for a moment and the view changed to the office just in time for them to see the door opened and close by itself.
"Back up the footage by 5 minute increments."
"Yes Sir."
They watched as an invisible presence riffled through Jay's office, then picked up and put down all of Jay's pictures of Buffy.
"That motherf.." Jack had slapped a hand over Jay's mouth, "Language Colonel, the Sergeant has delicate ears." Jay glared and Jack removed his hand.
The Sergeant in question hunched his shoulders in order not to be noticed.
Jack leaned over and smacked the security alarm while Jay got on the phone and shut down the mountain, and let security know to get TER's.
Turning around Jack pinned the Sergeant with a glare, "You are not to be relieved until myself, Colonel Coburn or Major Ferretti relieve you. And keep the door secured, understood?"
"Yes Sir." The man quaked in his boots.
"Relax son, it's not your fault." Jack said kindly, then he and Jay slipped into the corridor, hearing the door lock behind them.
"Good boy." Jack whispered, shooting Jay a grin.