CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: TYPICAL MONDAY
Vicky opened her door to see Jack standing there with his hand raised ready to knock on it. They were both caught by surprise; though Jack was the first to recover, "breakfast?" He smiled down at her; it seemed to him that it had been longer than a day and a half since he had seen her. "Also I brought you this," he handed her a picture frame in which he had put the picture of her with Jessica and Elizabeth.
"This is so sweet! I'll but it on my desk," she smiled back, "and great minds think alike. That's just where I was headed."
"I wouldn't exactly call My mind great," he answered as they started to walk in that direction.
"Jack, I don't know why you insist on playing dumb, we both know that you aren't."
"I've found that you find out a lot if people underestimate your intelligence. Besides, it's kind of fun!"
Vicky rolled her eyes at him, "I understand about getting people to underestimate, but only you would think to entertain yourself that way."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After having breakfast where the rest of SG-1 had joined them, Jack walked her to Alex's office, "after you've finished come and find me, the General gave us both a couple of hours off so that we can go to my...our back to get you added to my accounts. Then we have to call the credit card companies to get you added to those accounts."
"Wouldn't it be better to just add me to one credit card? That way later..."
Jack frowned at her, "you'll probably need several, it's no problem. Well, Ill see you later." With that he turned and left.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Alex greeted her as he let her into the office, good morning. How was your weekend?"
"It was great," she answered as they sat down.
"So, tell me about it."
Vicky smiled at him, "very clever, Alex. Well, Saturday morning Jack came by early because he had brought me some civilian clothes and a cell phone. The clothes were very nice, jeans and a couple of tops. Can you believe he spent two hundred dollars on a pair of SNEAKERS?"
"I certainly believe it, I've seen them go up to close to a thousand dollars, though they now call them "athletic shoes" to justify the prices. There are also many categories of shoes such as, walking, jogging, running, training, hiking, cross-trainers."
"Don't walking and hiking mean the same thing? And jogging and running are just different speeds."
"Apparently not, or maybe it's just a marketing ploy to get you to by more kinds of shoes. Why did Jack buy you a cell phone?"
She took it out to show Alex the cool features, "he said that he wanted me to feel secure. He programmed in his numbers into the speed dial, as well as Uncle George's and the base, that way if I felt the need I could call someone anytime."
"That was very thoughtful of him."
"He was always very thoughtful and caring. He never really talked about his childhood, but I get the impression that it wasn't the nicest family. I think that he treats the people he cares about so well because he wants to treat them better than he was treated as a child. It does take him quite a while for him to open up and let someone get close, but once you do, he does his best to take care of you."
"Thanks, by the way, for the insight into how to get him to co-operate in the sessions."
She smiled at that, "Sure, anytime you need another lesion in Jack 101 just let me know."
He laughed then asked, "Where did you go for lunch?"
"It was great, a little Italian place, it took a little while to get there. I think he took back streets because we didn't use any major roads. I think that he wanted everything to be less overwhelming for me. It was early for lunch on Saturday so that the place was empty when we got there. Apparently he goes there regularly because they knew him and they called him "Colonel Jack", it was very cute.
"They were very excited that he had a wife and made up a special meal. I forget what it was called but it was wonderful. WE ate, drank a little wine, and talked for a long time. I couldn't believe it when he finally looked at his watch and said that we had been there for four hours! He didn't mean to keep me out that long, really."
"That's alright, Vicky. As long as you didn't feel overwhelmed. It was also very important that the two of you talked outside of a session and that you are comfortable with one another."
They continued to discuss elements of her adjusting to life back on Earth as well as cover some issues of the time she was gone for another couple of hours.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After leaving Alex's office Vicky tried Jack's office then Sam's lab where Sam suggested she try Daniel's office. The door was open so she walked in to find Daniel standing with a book in his and staring at Jack with a very annoyed look on his face, "Jack would you PLEASE put that DOWN?"
Jack turned around with an innocent look on his face, "What?"
Vicky spoke up, "because if you break that you can't just use superglue to fix it. Now put that down, carefully. Daniel I am here to take Jack off your hands."
Jack put the relic down with a mock hurt look on his face and Daniel put his book down and grabbed Vicky into a big hug, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Jack looked offended and said, "well, fine I'll just leave then!"
"Thank you, Jack, and have a nice day!" Daniel turned and winked at Vicky as she turned to hustle Jack out before he could do any damage.
"Come on Jack, let's go get me come credit cards so I can go shopping!"
"I think maybe I changed my mind about you having credit cards," he teased her.
"To late for that!"
Daniel smiled behind there back before he shut the door to return to his work.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Sam was in the middle of taking apart a piece of equipment when her phone rang. "Umm...Carter," she answered distractedly.
"Major, this is Colonel Schmidt, you were supposed to be here for a session fifteen minutes ago."
//oh, shit! I so don't want to do this\\ "Sir, I'm sorry, but right now I'm in the middle of something..."
"That's not a request, Major, it's an order. I expect you here in five minutes." With that he hung up before she would try to make any more excuses.
//crap, crap, crap, maybe if I can manage to trip and break my arm? No the Colonel would be pissed and a cast would drive her crazy. I REALLY don't want to do this\\
Sam was out of breath by the time she had jogged to Schmidt's office so he stopped outside for a minute to catch her breath before knocking.
"Glad to see you," he said with obvious sarcasm when he opened the door. "Have a seat. I want you to call me Alex."
"Sir, I really don't think..."
"That's also an order. You're not very co-operative without being ordered are you? Must drive Colonel O'Neill crazy."
Sam turned red and squirmed in her seat.
"Now, can I call you Samantha?"
"It's Sam, actually, but yes you can."
"Good, Sam, now let's get started. Vicky O'Neill wasn't exactly discreet when she said that you and Colonel O'Neill had feeling for each other..."
//Holy Hannah! Nothing like starting easy, is there\\ Sam looked indignant as she interrupted him, "Sir! The Colonel and I would never..."
"It's Alex, remember? And I didn't say that you had ever done any thing inappropriate, I said you had feelings for him, don't you?"
//I can't do this. Where are the Asguard to beam you up when you really need them\\ She glanced up at him then stared back at the floor and squirmed in her seat some more. "OK, so I care about him, happy?'' //oh, yeah, that's really a military attitude\\
Alex had his finger on his lip as he stared at her for a couple of minutes then said, "care?"
Sam got up and started pacing and wringing her hands.
//talk about repressed emotions\\
Finally she stopped and glared at him, "I love him, are you happy?"
"The question should be, are YOU happy.?"
Sam sat back down and thought for a moment before answering, "I guess I'm happy."
//I wonder if she's deliberately missing\\ but are you happy in your relationship with the Colonel?"
"As happy as I can be with the things are. We're good friends. It's all that's allowed."
"Is that why you started going out with someone else?"
She thought about it for a minute. //is that I started going out with Pete\\ "Well, maybe initially, but Pete's great. It's also nice that I don't have to lie to him about what I do."
"Does he work here at the base?"
"No, he's a cop in Denver." Seeing that Alex had raised his eyebrows she continued, "Because he had been injured by a Go'ould here on Earth I was given permission to brief him on the stargate."
"So, do you see yourself in a possible long term relationship?" When Sam nodded he asked, "What do you think of Vicky O'Neill?"
"She's very smart and has given me a lot of help with some of the equipment I was having trouble with. She has given us a lot of technical and strategic information that will be very useful."
"I should have asked, how do you feel about her?"
"Well, she's a very strong woman to have been through everything that she has with no family or friends to help her out."
//nice dance Major\\ "Are you jealous of her? Do you resent the relationship she had with the Colonel, or possible will continue to have in the future?"
She looked very uncomfortable and continued to stare at a spot on the floor.
"Sam," he said softly. When she looked up at him he spoke again, "remember unless I feel you are a danger to yourself, others or it is a matter of National Security, ANTTHING you say here is completely confidential."
She gave out a big sigh before she spoke, "yes, I'm jealous of her. I resent the time the Colonel spends with her. I've noticed that when we work together and the Colonel comes by it's to see her, talk to HER! He used to come be just to spend time with me. Even when she's not there he doesn't watch me like he used to."
"And this makes you angry, hurt."
"Yes, I know I don't have the right to be angry."
"Sam, you do have the right to your feelings."
"I just wonder if she's right for him. I mean, it's been a long time and they both have changed, I just don't want him to get hurt."
Alex just continued to stare at her and raised his eyebrows again.
"Alright, I hate the bitch! I should have the Colonel all to myself." //oh, yeah, I'm a horrible person and I'm going to burn in hell\\
Alex smiled at her admission, "when you admit these feelings, it is the first step to dealing with them. You have moved on to a relationship, doesn't he have a right to be happy?"
She nodded but looked miserable.
"Just because you would both be in relationships doesn't mean you don't' still love one another. You can still love him and he you and you both be in love with other people. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy. The anger that you feel is the first stage of grief." Seeing her confusion, "you are morning the death of a relationship. It's a relationship that never reached fruition, and that makes it that much harder."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Vicky was coming back from lunch when she met Tech SGT Chang on her way to their meeting. Chang snapped to attention and saluted. "As you were, Chang," Vicky said after returning her salute. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"M'am, yes, M'am."
"OK, first order of business, I order you to cut the M'ams down to no more to one a sentence."
"M'am, yes..." She stopped as Vicky glared at her.
"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" They smiled at each other as they turned the corner to find Jack coming out of Vicky's lab.
He smiled at Vicky and looked down, WAY down, at Chang, "Well, aren't you just adorable?" Vicky gaped at him and Chang managed to look both embarrassed and hostile at the same time. "Did I just say that out loud?"
"Yes, Jack you did!" He managed to look contrite, so that Chang was inclined to forgive him. "Jack, this is Marine Technical Sergeant Lisa Chang. She's going to get me up to speed on Earth computer technology." Vicky gave a wicked smile and said, "She is also going to be the model for a new action figure called "Marine Lisa".
Chang gaped at her as she continued, "Chang, this is my husband, Colonel Jack O'Neill."
Chang again snapped to attention and saluted which Jack returned with the usual, "As you were." He smiled, "good idea, that. Teach little girls who really saves the world." Lisa looked at him suspiciously and saw that he was actually sincere. "We guys are the "let's go shoot something" type. Women have the real brains, Figure that's what they are hear for." He beamed down at her has he bounced on the balls of his feet with his hands in his pockets.
Just then Daniel came around the corner, stopped and blinked a couple of times before looking down at Chang, "Umm."
"Danny! Meet Tech Sgt Chang, gonna to be the Marines model for their new action figure "Marine Lisa". Teach young girls, they, too, can save the world."
"Daniel looked at Lisa for a minute before looking up at Jack kind of confused, "Actually, that's a good idea, Jack."
Jack beamed at him and bounced harder, "Thought so, too. Dja need something Danny?"
Daniel looked more confused. HE knew he wanted something, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what.
"Tell you what, Daniel, let's go get some coffee. I'm sure you'll remember."
Daniel brightened considerable at the mention of coffee. Jack turned to his wife and gestured with moving his in circles, "Go, learn." HE beamed at them again before turning, clapping Daniel on the back, "Let's get that coffee, Danny."
Captain and Tech CGT turned and entered the lab. "M'am?"
Vicky looked quizzically at her and she asked, "Is the Colonel always so...bouncy?"
Vicky giggled, "pretty much. If he isn't bouncy, run and hide. Make no mistake, Jack, is as sweet as can be, but he was also in black ops for years. You NEVER want him pissed at you."
This was much more the Colonel O'Neill hat she had heard of.
"AAAWWWW, isn't he cute," Vicky squealed as she picked up and hugged a little teddy bear. She held it up and showed Lisa. "So, that's what Jack was doing here! He used to always hide things around for me to find. Sometimes it would be a candy bar, sometimes it would be a single flower. Isn't he sweet?"
Lisa grinned at her. //so much for the big bad Colonel. As long as I don't' piss him off he's a real sweetheart\\
Vicky opened her door to see Jack standing there with his hand raised ready to knock on it. They were both caught by surprise; though Jack was the first to recover, "breakfast?" He smiled down at her; it seemed to him that it had been longer than a day and a half since he had seen her. "Also I brought you this," he handed her a picture frame in which he had put the picture of her with Jessica and Elizabeth.
"This is so sweet! I'll but it on my desk," she smiled back, "and great minds think alike. That's just where I was headed."
"I wouldn't exactly call My mind great," he answered as they started to walk in that direction.
"Jack, I don't know why you insist on playing dumb, we both know that you aren't."
"I've found that you find out a lot if people underestimate your intelligence. Besides, it's kind of fun!"
Vicky rolled her eyes at him, "I understand about getting people to underestimate, but only you would think to entertain yourself that way."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After having breakfast where the rest of SG-1 had joined them, Jack walked her to Alex's office, "after you've finished come and find me, the General gave us both a couple of hours off so that we can go to my...our back to get you added to my accounts. Then we have to call the credit card companies to get you added to those accounts."
"Wouldn't it be better to just add me to one credit card? That way later..."
Jack frowned at her, "you'll probably need several, it's no problem. Well, Ill see you later." With that he turned and left.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Alex greeted her as he let her into the office, good morning. How was your weekend?"
"It was great," she answered as they sat down.
"So, tell me about it."
Vicky smiled at him, "very clever, Alex. Well, Saturday morning Jack came by early because he had brought me some civilian clothes and a cell phone. The clothes were very nice, jeans and a couple of tops. Can you believe he spent two hundred dollars on a pair of SNEAKERS?"
"I certainly believe it, I've seen them go up to close to a thousand dollars, though they now call them "athletic shoes" to justify the prices. There are also many categories of shoes such as, walking, jogging, running, training, hiking, cross-trainers."
"Don't walking and hiking mean the same thing? And jogging and running are just different speeds."
"Apparently not, or maybe it's just a marketing ploy to get you to by more kinds of shoes. Why did Jack buy you a cell phone?"
She took it out to show Alex the cool features, "he said that he wanted me to feel secure. He programmed in his numbers into the speed dial, as well as Uncle George's and the base, that way if I felt the need I could call someone anytime."
"That was very thoughtful of him."
"He was always very thoughtful and caring. He never really talked about his childhood, but I get the impression that it wasn't the nicest family. I think that he treats the people he cares about so well because he wants to treat them better than he was treated as a child. It does take him quite a while for him to open up and let someone get close, but once you do, he does his best to take care of you."
"Thanks, by the way, for the insight into how to get him to co-operate in the sessions."
She smiled at that, "Sure, anytime you need another lesion in Jack 101 just let me know."
He laughed then asked, "Where did you go for lunch?"
"It was great, a little Italian place, it took a little while to get there. I think he took back streets because we didn't use any major roads. I think that he wanted everything to be less overwhelming for me. It was early for lunch on Saturday so that the place was empty when we got there. Apparently he goes there regularly because they knew him and they called him "Colonel Jack", it was very cute.
"They were very excited that he had a wife and made up a special meal. I forget what it was called but it was wonderful. WE ate, drank a little wine, and talked for a long time. I couldn't believe it when he finally looked at his watch and said that we had been there for four hours! He didn't mean to keep me out that long, really."
"That's alright, Vicky. As long as you didn't feel overwhelmed. It was also very important that the two of you talked outside of a session and that you are comfortable with one another."
They continued to discuss elements of her adjusting to life back on Earth as well as cover some issues of the time she was gone for another couple of hours.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
After leaving Alex's office Vicky tried Jack's office then Sam's lab where Sam suggested she try Daniel's office. The door was open so she walked in to find Daniel standing with a book in his and staring at Jack with a very annoyed look on his face, "Jack would you PLEASE put that DOWN?"
Jack turned around with an innocent look on his face, "What?"
Vicky spoke up, "because if you break that you can't just use superglue to fix it. Now put that down, carefully. Daniel I am here to take Jack off your hands."
Jack put the relic down with a mock hurt look on his face and Daniel put his book down and grabbed Vicky into a big hug, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Jack looked offended and said, "well, fine I'll just leave then!"
"Thank you, Jack, and have a nice day!" Daniel turned and winked at Vicky as she turned to hustle Jack out before he could do any damage.
"Come on Jack, let's go get me come credit cards so I can go shopping!"
"I think maybe I changed my mind about you having credit cards," he teased her.
"To late for that!"
Daniel smiled behind there back before he shut the door to return to his work.
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Sam was in the middle of taking apart a piece of equipment when her phone rang. "Umm...Carter," she answered distractedly.
"Major, this is Colonel Schmidt, you were supposed to be here for a session fifteen minutes ago."
//oh, shit! I so don't want to do this\\ "Sir, I'm sorry, but right now I'm in the middle of something..."
"That's not a request, Major, it's an order. I expect you here in five minutes." With that he hung up before she would try to make any more excuses.
//crap, crap, crap, maybe if I can manage to trip and break my arm? No the Colonel would be pissed and a cast would drive her crazy. I REALLY don't want to do this\\
Sam was out of breath by the time she had jogged to Schmidt's office so he stopped outside for a minute to catch her breath before knocking.
"Glad to see you," he said with obvious sarcasm when he opened the door. "Have a seat. I want you to call me Alex."
"Sir, I really don't think..."
"That's also an order. You're not very co-operative without being ordered are you? Must drive Colonel O'Neill crazy."
Sam turned red and squirmed in her seat.
"Now, can I call you Samantha?"
"It's Sam, actually, but yes you can."
"Good, Sam, now let's get started. Vicky O'Neill wasn't exactly discreet when she said that you and Colonel O'Neill had feeling for each other..."
//Holy Hannah! Nothing like starting easy, is there\\ Sam looked indignant as she interrupted him, "Sir! The Colonel and I would never..."
"It's Alex, remember? And I didn't say that you had ever done any thing inappropriate, I said you had feelings for him, don't you?"
//I can't do this. Where are the Asguard to beam you up when you really need them\\ She glanced up at him then stared back at the floor and squirmed in her seat some more. "OK, so I care about him, happy?'' //oh, yeah, that's really a military attitude\\
Alex had his finger on his lip as he stared at her for a couple of minutes then said, "care?"
Sam got up and started pacing and wringing her hands.
//talk about repressed emotions\\
Finally she stopped and glared at him, "I love him, are you happy?"
"The question should be, are YOU happy.?"
Sam sat back down and thought for a moment before answering, "I guess I'm happy."
//I wonder if she's deliberately missing\\ but are you happy in your relationship with the Colonel?"
"As happy as I can be with the things are. We're good friends. It's all that's allowed."
"Is that why you started going out with someone else?"
She thought about it for a minute. //is that I started going out with Pete\\ "Well, maybe initially, but Pete's great. It's also nice that I don't have to lie to him about what I do."
"Does he work here at the base?"
"No, he's a cop in Denver." Seeing that Alex had raised his eyebrows she continued, "Because he had been injured by a Go'ould here on Earth I was given permission to brief him on the stargate."
"So, do you see yourself in a possible long term relationship?" When Sam nodded he asked, "What do you think of Vicky O'Neill?"
"She's very smart and has given me a lot of help with some of the equipment I was having trouble with. She has given us a lot of technical and strategic information that will be very useful."
"I should have asked, how do you feel about her?"
"Well, she's a very strong woman to have been through everything that she has with no family or friends to help her out."
//nice dance Major\\ "Are you jealous of her? Do you resent the relationship she had with the Colonel, or possible will continue to have in the future?"
She looked very uncomfortable and continued to stare at a spot on the floor.
"Sam," he said softly. When she looked up at him he spoke again, "remember unless I feel you are a danger to yourself, others or it is a matter of National Security, ANTTHING you say here is completely confidential."
She gave out a big sigh before she spoke, "yes, I'm jealous of her. I resent the time the Colonel spends with her. I've noticed that when we work together and the Colonel comes by it's to see her, talk to HER! He used to come be just to spend time with me. Even when she's not there he doesn't watch me like he used to."
"And this makes you angry, hurt."
"Yes, I know I don't have the right to be angry."
"Sam, you do have the right to your feelings."
"I just wonder if she's right for him. I mean, it's been a long time and they both have changed, I just don't want him to get hurt."
Alex just continued to stare at her and raised his eyebrows again.
"Alright, I hate the bitch! I should have the Colonel all to myself." //oh, yeah, I'm a horrible person and I'm going to burn in hell\\
Alex smiled at her admission, "when you admit these feelings, it is the first step to dealing with them. You have moved on to a relationship, doesn't he have a right to be happy?"
She nodded but looked miserable.
"Just because you would both be in relationships doesn't mean you don't' still love one another. You can still love him and he you and you both be in love with other people. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy. The anger that you feel is the first stage of grief." Seeing her confusion, "you are morning the death of a relationship. It's a relationship that never reached fruition, and that makes it that much harder."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
Vicky was coming back from lunch when she met Tech SGT Chang on her way to their meeting. Chang snapped to attention and saluted. "As you were, Chang," Vicky said after returning her salute. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"M'am, yes, M'am."
"OK, first order of business, I order you to cut the M'ams down to no more to one a sentence."
"M'am, yes..." She stopped as Vicky glared at her.
"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" They smiled at each other as they turned the corner to find Jack coming out of Vicky's lab.
He smiled at Vicky and looked down, WAY down, at Chang, "Well, aren't you just adorable?" Vicky gaped at him and Chang managed to look both embarrassed and hostile at the same time. "Did I just say that out loud?"
"Yes, Jack you did!" He managed to look contrite, so that Chang was inclined to forgive him. "Jack, this is Marine Technical Sergeant Lisa Chang. She's going to get me up to speed on Earth computer technology." Vicky gave a wicked smile and said, "She is also going to be the model for a new action figure called "Marine Lisa".
Chang gaped at her as she continued, "Chang, this is my husband, Colonel Jack O'Neill."
Chang again snapped to attention and saluted which Jack returned with the usual, "As you were." He smiled, "good idea, that. Teach little girls who really saves the world." Lisa looked at him suspiciously and saw that he was actually sincere. "We guys are the "let's go shoot something" type. Women have the real brains, Figure that's what they are hear for." He beamed down at her has he bounced on the balls of his feet with his hands in his pockets.
Just then Daniel came around the corner, stopped and blinked a couple of times before looking down at Chang, "Umm."
"Danny! Meet Tech Sgt Chang, gonna to be the Marines model for their new action figure "Marine Lisa". Teach young girls, they, too, can save the world."
"Daniel looked at Lisa for a minute before looking up at Jack kind of confused, "Actually, that's a good idea, Jack."
Jack beamed at him and bounced harder, "Thought so, too. Dja need something Danny?"
Daniel looked more confused. HE knew he wanted something, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what.
"Tell you what, Daniel, let's go get some coffee. I'm sure you'll remember."
Daniel brightened considerable at the mention of coffee. Jack turned to his wife and gestured with moving his in circles, "Go, learn." HE beamed at them again before turning, clapping Daniel on the back, "Let's get that coffee, Danny."
Captain and Tech CGT turned and entered the lab. "M'am?"
Vicky looked quizzically at her and she asked, "Is the Colonel always so...bouncy?"
Vicky giggled, "pretty much. If he isn't bouncy, run and hide. Make no mistake, Jack, is as sweet as can be, but he was also in black ops for years. You NEVER want him pissed at you."
This was much more the Colonel O'Neill hat she had heard of.
"AAAWWWW, isn't he cute," Vicky squealed as she picked up and hugged a little teddy bear. She held it up and showed Lisa. "So, that's what Jack was doing here! He used to always hide things around for me to find. Sometimes it would be a candy bar, sometimes it would be a single flower. Isn't he sweet?"
Lisa grinned at her. //so much for the big bad Colonel. As long as I don't' piss him off he's a real sweetheart\\