Title: Getting to Know You: Part 5
Rating: PG
Spoilers: None
Summary: Jack's eating humble pie and Charlie tries to share his secret with Nathan.
Author Notes: Set in Season 1, Humour/Drama, Charlie O'Neill IS alive in this story, and Sam has a son with Jonas Hanson.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognised characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
~ Getting to Know You: Part 5 ~
Copyright (c) 2003, Ruth
**********
Charlie backed away from the open door, a grin spreading slowly across his face.
If this was true, then...this was what his dad was doing every day! With a rush of excitement, he continued on down the corridor and ran straight into Kelly.
"Charles!" she said angrily, grabbing hold of his collar, "You will come with me, now!"
"For crying out loud!" he groaned, shrugging out of her grip.
"You may not speak to me like that - you're getting as bad as Carter's son!"
Kelly said indignantly.
"Let go of my damn collar!" Charlie protested, "And it's Charlie, NOT Charles!"
"I will call you what I like, young man," she said, depositing him in another room and closing the door behind him. He was surprised to see Nathan, and even more surprised to see a tall bloke with him, who looked very pissed off.
"Who are you?" Charlie asked.
"He won't tell you," Nathan said, turning around in his chair, "You just have to call him 'sir.'"
Charlie grunted and sat down next to Nathan. Makepeace was amused to notice that Nathan sat up straight in his chair, whilst Charlie slouched comfortably. They were so like their parents, it was uncanny.
"Now, I've been assigned to guard both you boys, and if you even think about fighting again I'll kick both of your asses around the block, got it?"
"Yes, sir," Nathan and Charlie replied, looking at each other a little nervously.
Makepeace smiled and sat behind his desk, putting his feet up on the top of it.
**********
Jack O'Neill cursed as he half-walked, half-jogged to Carter's office. His knee really wasn't in the best condition to be doing this, and was currently reminding him of the fact.
He knocked on the door, but there was no reply. Biting back a sigh, he knocked again. When there was no reply, he bit his lip and called her name.
"Carter! Carter, it's me. Could ya open the door?"
There was no response. Dammit, Carter, he thought, I'm trying to apologise here!
Then, he reminded himself that this was, ultimately, his fault, and tried again.
"Carter, for crying out loud! My knee's already killing me but if I have to break down this door I will!"
With a sigh, he straightened up and heard his back creaking.
"That wouldn't be a good idea, sir," a dry voice said from behind him.
He jumped, and turned around to see Sam standing behind him, with her arms folded.
"Carter?" he asked, "Ah. Ya see, I thought you were..."
"You might wanna check that I'm actually in there before you stand talking to the door for half an hour," she said, biting her lip as she realised how spiteful she must have sounded.
"Can I come in?" he asked, un-perturbed by her anger.
"Sure," she said, unlocking the door and going inside.
He closed it behind him, taking in the marvel that was his 2IC's lab. There were piles of books everywhere, and every possible surface was covered in an array of scientific instruments.
"Carter, I just..."
He looked up at her, praying that there would be some support in those beautiful eyes of hers. He found none, of course. He didn't deserve any.
"I wanted to apologise for being such an ass today," he said, twisting his hands nervously.
She said nothing, just kept her gaze on his. Angry, hurt and sad.
"I know it must have pissed ya off..." he said, about to continue. She cut him off.
"No, Colonel, I'll tell you what pisses me off," she said, her voice laced with anger as she took a step towards him, "It's when people decide to lay all of the blame on ME!"
"Carter," he began, but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.
"They just assume that it's all my fault!" she continued, her voice raising, "When they have no idea what really goes on! No, that's what pisses me off.
They spread it around - how badly I've raised my son!" Her voice became pained, but Jack didn't interrupt her this time.
"He's my son," she said, swallowing a sob that threatened to break from her throat, "I love him. I did my best for him, but you have no idea WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH!"
With the last sentence, she began to cry. Tears of anger spilled down her cheeks, as she tried to brush them away with her shirtsleeves. Embarrassed, she turned away from him.
Jack watched her sadly, guiltily. Her shoulders were shaking from her tears, and her sleeves were damp from the ones she'd tried to wipe away.
Slowly, he went over to her and pulled her closer into him. He felt her hands clench into fists as he did so, and she fought against him, hitting him in the chest.
She wasn't hurting him, her attack being greatly weakened and sloppy. He let her release her anger and frustration on him, closed his eyes as she slowly broke down and collapsed into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "It's okay, Carter."
**********
Makepeace grunted and brought his feet back down onto the floor.
"I gotta take a leak. Now, do I have to take you boys with me, or will you promise not to fight here on your own?"
Nathan shuddered, and Charlie sat up in his chair.
"Oh, we'll be fine, sir, I promise I won't beat the snot out of my friend," he said sarcastically.
"You are too damned much like your father," Makepeace said, walking out of the room and slamming the door behind him, locking it for safety.
Once he was certain that Makepeace had gone, Charlie turned around in his chair to look at Nathan.
"You're not gonna believe what I found a minute ago," he said excitedly.
"Your dick?" Nathan replied dryly, "Oh, I don't think it could have been, Charlie."
"Would you shut up a minute?" Charlie asked, annoyed that Nathan had managed to get one over on him.
"What?" Nathan asked, looking at his hands.
"I found out something...incredible. Something that is just totally cool! I doubt you'll believe me..."
"Me too."
"Nathan! Shut up! I'm trying to tell you something important here!"
"If there is a point to this, Charlie, please feel free to come to it," Nathan said, shooting Charlie one of his mother's death-glares.
"Okay. I found out what our parents do each day."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "Holy Hannah, Charlie, we know what they do! They analyse deep-space radar telemetry!"
"No, no, no!" Charlie argued, "That's a cover story. C'mon, do you really think my dad would sit there and look at a piece of paper about a group of rocks?"
"If he had the motivation," Nathan said.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Charlie asked, his temper flaring.
"I think he fancies my mom," Nathan said.
"Oh, that is bullshit!" Charlie shouted, "And we've gone totally off-topic here!"
"Come on, then! What do they really do all day? Don't tell me - they're the men in black!" Nathan shot back.
"They have this thing, this alien device," Charlie said. Nathan grunted something, but let him carry on. "It's called a Stargate."
Charlie looked at him excitedly, his chocolate-brown eyes sparkling with excitement.
Nathan looked back at him. "Yeah, you've got a great idea for a story there, Charlie. I think ya should take it further."
"Shut up! You don't believe me? I heard two technicians talking about it!"
"You ever heard of a boring job?" Nathan asked, "Of fantasy and make-believe?"
"Why else do you think they've got us locked up in this crummy room?" Charlie shouted, "For crying out loud, Nathan, it's obvious!"
"Fine," Nathan said, folding his arms. "If there really is a Stargate, you can show it to me."
"Show it t...yeah! Yeah, I will show it to you!" Charlie said, "I'll prove it does exist!"
"Ten bucks says you won't," Nathan said, holding out his hand.
"Deal," Charlie agreed, taking Nathan's hand in his and shaking it.
At that point, Makepeace entered the room and sighed dramatically.
"Sorry, ladies, am I interrupting something?" he asked.
Nathan rolled his eyes, pulling away from Charlie. Charlie groaned, pulling away from Nathan.
"Good. Now, you just sit there and be good," Makepeace said, putting his feet back up on the desk.
**********
Jack held her in his arms for a long time, waiting for her to calm.
Guilt lay on his shoulders like a giant weight, squeezed at his heart like a fist.
He reached into his pocket with one hand and pulled out a large handkerchief, offering it to her.
When she paused and looked at him suspiciously, he added:
"It's clean, I swear."
With a small laugh she took the material from him and attempted to tidy herself.
"Thank you, sir," she said, awkwardly pulling away from him, not wanting to leave his warmth.
"Carter, if you ever need to talk...you know I'm always here."
She looked up at him with a weak smile.
"Thank you, sir, but you'd need a lot of time and patience."
"Try me," he said softly.
**********
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time: Charlie's on a quest to prove Nathan wrong, and Sam opens up to Jack.
Rating: PG
Spoilers: None
Summary: Jack's eating humble pie and Charlie tries to share his secret with Nathan.
Author Notes: Set in Season 1, Humour/Drama, Charlie O'Neill IS alive in this story, and Sam has a son with Jonas Hanson.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognisable characters and places are the property of MGM, World Gekko Corp and Double Secret productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognised characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
~ Getting to Know You: Part 5 ~
Copyright (c) 2003, Ruth
**********
Charlie backed away from the open door, a grin spreading slowly across his face.
If this was true, then...this was what his dad was doing every day! With a rush of excitement, he continued on down the corridor and ran straight into Kelly.
"Charles!" she said angrily, grabbing hold of his collar, "You will come with me, now!"
"For crying out loud!" he groaned, shrugging out of her grip.
"You may not speak to me like that - you're getting as bad as Carter's son!"
Kelly said indignantly.
"Let go of my damn collar!" Charlie protested, "And it's Charlie, NOT Charles!"
"I will call you what I like, young man," she said, depositing him in another room and closing the door behind him. He was surprised to see Nathan, and even more surprised to see a tall bloke with him, who looked very pissed off.
"Who are you?" Charlie asked.
"He won't tell you," Nathan said, turning around in his chair, "You just have to call him 'sir.'"
Charlie grunted and sat down next to Nathan. Makepeace was amused to notice that Nathan sat up straight in his chair, whilst Charlie slouched comfortably. They were so like their parents, it was uncanny.
"Now, I've been assigned to guard both you boys, and if you even think about fighting again I'll kick both of your asses around the block, got it?"
"Yes, sir," Nathan and Charlie replied, looking at each other a little nervously.
Makepeace smiled and sat behind his desk, putting his feet up on the top of it.
**********
Jack O'Neill cursed as he half-walked, half-jogged to Carter's office. His knee really wasn't in the best condition to be doing this, and was currently reminding him of the fact.
He knocked on the door, but there was no reply. Biting back a sigh, he knocked again. When there was no reply, he bit his lip and called her name.
"Carter! Carter, it's me. Could ya open the door?"
There was no response. Dammit, Carter, he thought, I'm trying to apologise here!
Then, he reminded himself that this was, ultimately, his fault, and tried again.
"Carter, for crying out loud! My knee's already killing me but if I have to break down this door I will!"
With a sigh, he straightened up and heard his back creaking.
"That wouldn't be a good idea, sir," a dry voice said from behind him.
He jumped, and turned around to see Sam standing behind him, with her arms folded.
"Carter?" he asked, "Ah. Ya see, I thought you were..."
"You might wanna check that I'm actually in there before you stand talking to the door for half an hour," she said, biting her lip as she realised how spiteful she must have sounded.
"Can I come in?" he asked, un-perturbed by her anger.
"Sure," she said, unlocking the door and going inside.
He closed it behind him, taking in the marvel that was his 2IC's lab. There were piles of books everywhere, and every possible surface was covered in an array of scientific instruments.
"Carter, I just..."
He looked up at her, praying that there would be some support in those beautiful eyes of hers. He found none, of course. He didn't deserve any.
"I wanted to apologise for being such an ass today," he said, twisting his hands nervously.
She said nothing, just kept her gaze on his. Angry, hurt and sad.
"I know it must have pissed ya off..." he said, about to continue. She cut him off.
"No, Colonel, I'll tell you what pisses me off," she said, her voice laced with anger as she took a step towards him, "It's when people decide to lay all of the blame on ME!"
"Carter," he began, but she cut him off with a wave of her hand.
"They just assume that it's all my fault!" she continued, her voice raising, "When they have no idea what really goes on! No, that's what pisses me off.
They spread it around - how badly I've raised my son!" Her voice became pained, but Jack didn't interrupt her this time.
"He's my son," she said, swallowing a sob that threatened to break from her throat, "I love him. I did my best for him, but you have no idea WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH!"
With the last sentence, she began to cry. Tears of anger spilled down her cheeks, as she tried to brush them away with her shirtsleeves. Embarrassed, she turned away from him.
Jack watched her sadly, guiltily. Her shoulders were shaking from her tears, and her sleeves were damp from the ones she'd tried to wipe away.
Slowly, he went over to her and pulled her closer into him. He felt her hands clench into fists as he did so, and she fought against him, hitting him in the chest.
She wasn't hurting him, her attack being greatly weakened and sloppy. He let her release her anger and frustration on him, closed his eyes as she slowly broke down and collapsed into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "It's okay, Carter."
**********
Makepeace grunted and brought his feet back down onto the floor.
"I gotta take a leak. Now, do I have to take you boys with me, or will you promise not to fight here on your own?"
Nathan shuddered, and Charlie sat up in his chair.
"Oh, we'll be fine, sir, I promise I won't beat the snot out of my friend," he said sarcastically.
"You are too damned much like your father," Makepeace said, walking out of the room and slamming the door behind him, locking it for safety.
Once he was certain that Makepeace had gone, Charlie turned around in his chair to look at Nathan.
"You're not gonna believe what I found a minute ago," he said excitedly.
"Your dick?" Nathan replied dryly, "Oh, I don't think it could have been, Charlie."
"Would you shut up a minute?" Charlie asked, annoyed that Nathan had managed to get one over on him.
"What?" Nathan asked, looking at his hands.
"I found out something...incredible. Something that is just totally cool! I doubt you'll believe me..."
"Me too."
"Nathan! Shut up! I'm trying to tell you something important here!"
"If there is a point to this, Charlie, please feel free to come to it," Nathan said, shooting Charlie one of his mother's death-glares.
"Okay. I found out what our parents do each day."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "Holy Hannah, Charlie, we know what they do! They analyse deep-space radar telemetry!"
"No, no, no!" Charlie argued, "That's a cover story. C'mon, do you really think my dad would sit there and look at a piece of paper about a group of rocks?"
"If he had the motivation," Nathan said.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Charlie asked, his temper flaring.
"I think he fancies my mom," Nathan said.
"Oh, that is bullshit!" Charlie shouted, "And we've gone totally off-topic here!"
"Come on, then! What do they really do all day? Don't tell me - they're the men in black!" Nathan shot back.
"They have this thing, this alien device," Charlie said. Nathan grunted something, but let him carry on. "It's called a Stargate."
Charlie looked at him excitedly, his chocolate-brown eyes sparkling with excitement.
Nathan looked back at him. "Yeah, you've got a great idea for a story there, Charlie. I think ya should take it further."
"Shut up! You don't believe me? I heard two technicians talking about it!"
"You ever heard of a boring job?" Nathan asked, "Of fantasy and make-believe?"
"Why else do you think they've got us locked up in this crummy room?" Charlie shouted, "For crying out loud, Nathan, it's obvious!"
"Fine," Nathan said, folding his arms. "If there really is a Stargate, you can show it to me."
"Show it t...yeah! Yeah, I will show it to you!" Charlie said, "I'll prove it does exist!"
"Ten bucks says you won't," Nathan said, holding out his hand.
"Deal," Charlie agreed, taking Nathan's hand in his and shaking it.
At that point, Makepeace entered the room and sighed dramatically.
"Sorry, ladies, am I interrupting something?" he asked.
Nathan rolled his eyes, pulling away from Charlie. Charlie groaned, pulling away from Nathan.
"Good. Now, you just sit there and be good," Makepeace said, putting his feet back up on the desk.
**********
Jack held her in his arms for a long time, waiting for her to calm.
Guilt lay on his shoulders like a giant weight, squeezed at his heart like a fist.
He reached into his pocket with one hand and pulled out a large handkerchief, offering it to her.
When she paused and looked at him suspiciously, he added:
"It's clean, I swear."
With a small laugh she took the material from him and attempted to tidy herself.
"Thank you, sir," she said, awkwardly pulling away from him, not wanting to leave his warmth.
"Carter, if you ever need to talk...you know I'm always here."
She looked up at him with a weak smile.
"Thank you, sir, but you'd need a lot of time and patience."
"Try me," he said softly.
**********
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time: Charlie's on a quest to prove Nathan wrong, and Sam opens up to Jack.