Chapter 4
Sam had been chatting quietly with Janet while Jack read the letters. Now that he was gone she walked over to Brady and smiled.
-I'm Sam.
-Brady.
Sam stared into Brady's coffee brown eyes and instantly fell in love. Those brown eyes, they were the same eyes she had fallen in love with six years earlier. And his hair...it was the same nut-brown color Jack's had been when she first met him.
-Hey, Brady, are you hungry?
The little boy nodded his head vigorously.
-Do you want to go get something to eat?
Another nod. Sam turned to Janet.
-Would it be ok if I took him down to the mess to get a bite to eat?
-Sure.
Sam smiled at Brady.
-You ready to go?
He hopped down off the table in response. They walked out into the hallway. Brady stared up at the high ceiling and looked around at the people walking by, more than a little afraid. Sam noticed his nervousness and smiled.
-Hey, Brady, do you want me to carry you?
He looked up at her and nodded gratefully. She reached down and picked him up.
-Ok. Now, we're just gonna go to the lift, go down one floor and we'll be there.
Brady smiled again, albeit a little fearfully. Sam frowned.
-What's wrong?
-Nothin'...well...it's just that...all the people walking by are staring at me.
Sam grinned. Little boys were so precocious, especially this one.
-That's just because they've never seen a little boy as cute as you.
-Really?
-Yup.
They reached the lift. Sam pressed the button for Level 22. A moment later they arrived. A short walk down the hallway and they were in the commissary. More prying eyes followed them over to the dessert table. Sam stood staring at the array before her.
-Well, what do you want, Brady?
-What are you going to get?
-I think I'm gonna have some blue Jell-O.
-Me too.
-Do you even know what Jell-O is?
He shook his head.
-Well, then it's about time you had some.
Sam grabbed two cups of blue Jell-O and walked over to a table. As they started eating Brady looked over at Sam and sighed.
-Sam, why doesn't daddy like me?
Sam stopped eating mid bite.
-What makes you think he doesn't like you?
-I ... I just know. I get these feelings about people. I can tell how they're feeling.
He doesn't like me.
Sam took a deep breath and had to fight to keep herself from crying. How on earth was she supposed to explain the complexities of Jack O'Neill's emotions, which she didn't fully understand herself, to a 5 year old? The truth is, Brady was probably right. But she couldn't tell him that.
-Well...it's not that he doesn't like you. It's just that...well, he's very surprised that you're here...and...he doesn't know what to do. Just give him time.
Brady nodded.
-Ok. This Jell-O sure is good. Thank you, Sam.
-You're welcome, Brady.