Disclaimer: I don't own SG-1 or any of that. I just use them for my own amusements and that of others.
Author's Note: This is NOT a Campers! story
OOOOOOOOO
"Come on, Jack, it's for a good cause…"
"Daniel. No."
"It's important."
"No."
"Come on… We'll find you a great suit... no one will even know…"
"What's going on?"
"Daniel wants me to dress up as Santa Clause."
Sam hid her smile at that particular image.
"What on Earth for?"
"An orphanage Christmas party." Daniel told her.
She looked at O'Neill, surprised.
"You're not willing to dress up like Santa for orphans?"
Jack scowled. It sure sounded a lot worse when she put it like that.
"It's not that I don't want to, Carter… it's just that…"
"You don't want to."
"Yeah."
"Beneath your dignity?" She asked with an arched brow.
He sighed, and shook his head.
"Of course not. I just don't… like being around kids at Christmas, okay? It brings back a lot of memories…"
Sam and Daniel both knew what he meant immediately, and Daniel had to admit he hadn't even considered that Jack might not want to do it because of memories of the Christmas holidays spent with his son.
"I'm sorry, Jack," he said, instantly contrite. "I didn't even think about it bringing back bad memories of-"
"Not bad memories, Daniel," O'Neill corrected. "Great memories. Some of the best I ever had…" His eyes grew slightly distant for a moment, and then incredibly sad. "But it reminds me that I won't have…" he cut himself off, and shook his head, realizing he was giving away far more of his feelings than he was intending to. His eyes lost their distant look – although a bit of the sadness remained, Sam saw. "I just don't…"
"Some of these kids don't have any good memories, Jack…" Daniel said, softly. "I know what that can be like… This is important…"
Which was a reminder to Jack of just how rough Daniel had had it as a child, too.
O'Neill sighed, but knew that he was going to say yes. Because Daniel was right. It was for a good cause. And he couldn't live with himself for turning down a chance to make some kid happy for a little while. Even if it meant dressing up like Santa and facing his own demons for an evening.
"If I'm going to do this, I'm not going to go alone."
"No, I'll go with you."
"You and Carter and Teal'c."
"What?" Sam frowned.
O'Neill looked over at her.
"You're not willing to give some of your free time for orphans?" He asked, shooting her words right back at her.
"Well… I didn't say that… I was just caught off guard. I mean… of course I'll come."
"You can be my elves."
Daniel frowned.
"I was thinking I could be the candy passer person."
"You can be," Jack assured him. "Only you can be the candy passer person who passes out candy dressed in tights."
"How tight of tights are we talking about?" Carter asked, skeptically. She'd seen some of those women elf costumes, and even if she had that much cleavage, she wasn't willing to show all that much of it.
"They're kids, Carter." Jack reminded her. "They're not going to be looking at you; they're going to be looking for candy and presents."
Now that he'd decided to do it, he was going to do it right. Which meant a ton of candy, and lots of toys.
"Christmas Eve, Daniel?" He asked.
Daniel nodded. What other day would it be?
"Then we have a week to gather up as many toys and candy as we can find," Jack told them.
"There's a lot of people on base," Sam said, shrugging. "We can make it a project."
"We can order them to give us toys," Jack said, steepling his fingers and leaning back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling.
Probably figuring out how to word the order, Sam thought to herself, shaking her head.
"I think if we ask, they'll be willing to give, Colonel."
"But if we order, then we-"
"Sir."
Jack looked over at her. And scowled.
"Fine. We'll ask."
"Speaking of asking…" Daniel said, catching both their attentions. "We need to let Teal'c know Jack here has just volunteered him to be an elf."
"Teal'c's a good guy," Jack said, shrugging. "He won't mind."
"So you're going to talk to him?"
"It's your project, Daniel. You go talk to him. I have to go find a Santa suit."
Daniel frowned.
"But-"
He looked at Sam, who shook her head.
"Nope. I'm going to go write out a memo asking for donations. You're on your own."
"What ever happened to team unity?" Daniel asked, scowling. "Whatever happened to all for one, and one for all…?"
"I'm all for you being the one who talks to Teal'c," Jack said.
"Me, too," Sam agreed.
"That's not the same thing."
"It's close enough."
Jack stood up. He had a mission, and with only a week before Christmas, he knew he'd better get to it, or he wasn't going to find a decent Santa suit.