Chapter 2 - Small Things
As they had come together in the conference room, everybody was eyeing Serena with curiosity.
Out of reflex Daniel took off his glasses and rubbed them with the sleeve of his jacket. "So this is...?" he began his question.
"...Serena", Jack ended for him.
(AN: Just thinking of this certain gesture he sometimes makes in such moments....)
"The one who helped you to return to us from coma?" he kept on asking.
"Yep", Jack confirmed.
"Well", Daniel raised his eyebrows, "she's so ... small."
"That's the price I had to pay to get here", Serena folded her arms in front of her chest and pulled an insulted face.
"Otherwise we might have had a little twin-problem", Sam stated with a sigh.
"Anyway, now we know how Carter looked when she was at the age", Jack retorted with a little smirk.
"Cute, no?" Serena added with a little giggle.
"Can we go on now?" Sam was obviously disturbed by the whole affair.
"Ah right", Jack turned to General Hammond, "Sir?"
The general looked at the little girl for quite awhile before he continued. "Tell me, what's the purpose of your visit here?"
"I wanted to see Jack again", Serena replied right away.
"And how long are you going to stay?"
"Not forever", she answered with a grin, "I'm going to leave when I'll find that I've seen enough of your beautiful world."
"Oh, it ain't that beautiful compared to yours", Jack said.
"You mean that boring forest? Oh, please...", Serena sighed, "You think you could grant me that wish?"
General Hammond frowned for a moment, "Well, if you go to infirmary and Dr. Fraiser gives you a clear, I don't think there'd would be a problem with that."
"Thank you", she made a joyful little hop and gave the general the brightest smile she had to offer.
Hammond rose from his chair, "Dismissed, people." And the talk was over.
"Okay, let's go and pay ol' Janet a visit", Jack took Serena's hand and they left closely followed by Sam.
On the corridor the three of them had another bit of conversation.
"Jack?"
"Yeah, Serena?" he responded.
"Now that I'm that little", she made a short pause, "would you let me ride on your shoulders?"
"Well", he furrowed his brow, "if ye're not too heavy..."
"I'm not."
"Fine", he sighed a bit, but then he lifted her up and let her climb onto his shoulders.
Sam let out a short cackle, "My god, sir. That's too funny. I've never seen you playing horse for anyone before, not even for Cassie when she was younger,"
"Well, Carter. One day it's always the first time."
After a short moment Serena turned to him again, "You, Jack?"
"Yeah, Serena?"
"Let's assume I can leave here? What would we do tomorrow?"
"Yesterday I've decided to go fishing this weekend", Jack replied.
"Isn't that boring?"
"Boring??"
"It is", Sam confirmed.
"So, why can't we do something funny altogether?", Serena questioned, "I mean, you, Sam and me?"
"Why not?", Sam inquired, "I haven't got much to do, either."
"Well, that's new", Jack joked.
"There's a fair in town", Sam proposed overhearing his statement.
"Haven't been to a fair for long", Jack pondered, "maybe we could take Teal'C with us. He's crazy for all the candy stuff they have there..."
"I don't think he'll come", Sam stated, "he has promised Ri'ac to visit him and Bra'tac on Alpha Site."
"Nice, so it'd be the three of us", he concluded.
"Great", Serena was happy about the whole idea.
"But let's see first what Janet has to say", Sam said, "if she gives her thumbs-up, maybe she and Cas would join us..."
"Ain't Cassie too old for fairs already?"
"Well, could be", Sam shrugged, "and maybe she's got a date again."
"Yeah, maybe", Jack sat Serena down and they entered infirmary.