Chapter 3
Jack stared at Katie in disbelief.
-Jacob? You can't really know he's coming. He doesn't schedule his visits. He just drops in unexpectedly. Can you?
As they approached the gateroom they heard the familiar shifting of the chevrons that indicated someone was coming through gate. A minute later Jacob stepped out on to the ramp.
-Jack! Jonas! How's it going?
Jack inwardly groaned. Jacob had a knack of showing up when Jack least wanted him to.
-This isn't a good time, Jacob.
-It's as good a time as you're gonna get for a while.
Jacob, Jack and Jonas all turned to stare at Katie.
-The next person who comes through the gate is going to desperately need your help.
-I'm sorry. I don't believe we've met.
-Katie O'Neill.
-Jacob Carter.
As they shook hands Jacob was staring at her. Jack broke the silence.
-So what brings you here, Jacob?
-I just thought I'd drop by for a little visit. Where's Sam?
-She's not here right now.
-But she'll be here within the hour.
Jacob smiled as his old friend entered the room.
-It's good to see you George.
-Good to see you too, Jacob.
-So, where's Sam?
-She was visiting your son, when something came up that we needed her here for.
Jacob turned to Katie.
-Let me guess. You're the something that came up.
Katie tilted her head and shrugged her shoulders.
Jacob's eyes widened in shock.
-Uh...Jack, could we talk?
-Sure.
Jack started to walk into the hallway. Jacob came up behind him and practically dragged him out of the room.
-Gosh Jacob. That hurt. Did you have to be so rough? I said we could talk.
Jacob just glared at Jack.
-Jack, back there...Katie did your shrug thing.
-My shrug thing?
-Yeah.
Jacob attempted to imitate it. Jack averted his gaze, refusing to look Jacob in the eye.
-Oh, that.
-And did she say her last name was O'Neill?
-It's possible.
-Jack, is there something you wanna tell me?
-No, not really.
-Jack.
Jack sighed reluctantly.
-What do you wanna know?
-Who is she and why can she do your shrug thing?
-Um, that's kinda hard to explain.
-Try.
-Well, she's kinda, sorta, not really my daughter.
-Your daughter!!
-Yeah, well she's from another universe, and somehow she got here and in that universe I was her father, so she looks like me and has my little quirks.
Jacob's mouth was hanging open.
-Uh, Jack. What are you planning on doing now that she's here?
-I dunno. I'm gonna let Carter figure it out.
-Is that your answer to everything? Let Sam figure it out?
-Pretty much, yeah.
Jacob rolled his eyes. For a few moments there was an awkward silence. Then, before Jacob could pick up the conversation again, Jack thought of a way to end it.
-Hey, you know what Jacob? I just remembered that I got a memo saying there was gonna be a briefing in...
He looked at his watch.
-...two minutes. I better hurry. Don't want to be late.
Before Jacob could say something Jack started walking away. Jacob caught up with him.
-Mind if I sit in on the briefing?
Jack inwardly groaned but just shrugged his shoulders in response.
-Good. And we will finish this conversation later.
They found Katie, Jonas and General Hammond still in the gate room
-General, isn't it about time for that briefing?
-What brief...oh yes, you're right Colonel. It completely slipped my mind.
He started to lead the way to the conference room, all the while trying to think of what to talk about in the "briefing". Jacob glared at Jack.
-Memo on a briefing huh? Since when did you start reading your memos?
-Tomorrow.
Jacob laughed.
-Well, we don't want to be late for the briefing do we?
By the time Jack and Jacob arrived, Jonas, Katie and Dr. Fraser were already seated at the table. General Hammond was on the phone. Jack started tapping an upbeat tempo on the table, until Jacob glared at him. Then he stopped. There are only so many glares one can take in a day. Katie laughed at Jack's obvious agitation at being here and, no wonder. He hated briefings. Katie wondered what he and Jacob had been talking about that left him so desperate that he had made up this briefing. Probably her. General Hammond hung up the phone, walked over to the table and sat down.
-Well, it looks like the briefing will have to be postponed.
Jack looked up, surprised.
-Oh, why it that sir?
-Major Carter just called. Her flight was postponed. She won't be here for another couple of hours.
-Hmm.
Jack looked at Katie questioningly. She had one of "those" looks on her face. One of Carter's looks. The one that said that she knew something he didn't and that he wouldn't understand it. He sighed.
-What's up?
-Well, if I'm right, which of course I am, then Sam won't be back for three days.
-And why's that?
-Well, she isn't supposed to get here until the...uh...person who needs your help comes through the gate.
Jacob looked confused, probably because he was.
-Sam doesn't get back to the SGC until about 5 minutes before the ...uh...visitor.
Jack smiled, obviously still confused
-And you know that how?
-Because that's how it happened in my universe.
-I'll take your word for it.
General Hammond cleared his throat.
-Well, if Katie is right, which we will assume for the moment that she is, then we'll just have to think of something else to do for the next three days. Dr Fraser, do you need anymore tests done?
-Yes, I'd like to do some more blood work and a complete physical.
Katie grimaced.
-Katie, I assume you'll consent to the tests Dr. Fraser needs?
-Yes sir.
-Good. Jonas, I'd like you and Katie to go through all the files on SG-1's missions. I want to know if there are any discrepancies.
-Yes sir.
Katie smiled. It would be fun working with Jonas.
-All right. Dismissed.
Jack cleared his throat.
-What about me, Sir?
-You are on vacation.
-Vacation?
-Yes. It's high time you had one. Don't you think?
-Yes, Sir!
-Dismissed.
General Hammond smiled. It looked like he was going to get to spend some time with his granddaughters after all.
Jack got up from the table, yawned and stretched.
-I believe I feel a nap coming on. See you kids later.
Jack got halfway to the door, paused, turned around and looked at Katie. He smiled a wry smile, turned back to the door and mumbled under his breath.
-I've got to stop saying that.
Then he left, yawning as he went.
Katie sighed.
Jonas turned to Katie.
-You ready to go analyze the mission reports?
-Absolutely.
-No so fast.
Katie groaned and looked at Dr. Fraser.
-What's up Doc?
Dr. Fraser groaned at her bad joke.
-I'd like to do some more tests before you get to work.
-All right. I'll meet you in the infirmary in a few minutes.
-OK. Don't be late.
Then she left. Katie turned to Jonas who was giving her that inquisitive puzzling smile.
-What don't you get?
-What's up Doc?
-Don't tell me you don't know Bugs Bunny!
-Bugs Bunny?
-Looks like we've got more work to do than just going through the reports. I'll explain later.
With that she walked out of the room, leaving Jonas still puzzled about the existence of Bugs Bunny.
Katie walked into Jonas's room tired, hungry, and sore. She really hated physicals. And blood tests. Come to think of it, she hated tests altogether. Maybe she should have objected more when Dr. Fraser requested more tests. She sat down in a chair, kind of in a trance. Jonas looked up from what he was reading and smiled.
-Hi.
She jumped up off her chair.
-Ah!!! Oh...Jonas.
She sat back down, panting for breath.
-Are you all right?
-Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. I guess my mind was somewhere else.
-Where else would your mind be?
She laughed quietly.
-San Diego.
-San Diego? Oh. You were thinking about Major Carter?
Katie nodded.
Jonas picked up a file.
-So, where do you want to start?
She smiled.
-We might as well start at the beginning. The first mission to Abydos.
-All right. Let's get to work.
Katie sighed. She knew Jonas could cheer her up. They started reading the files.
