I'm Gonna Get You, Get You
A/N: I apologise for taking so long with writing this chapter of the story; my mind has been occupied with school and work at the moment. I hope you enjoy this chapter, let me know either way. And thankyou for the positive reviews, I really appreciate them.
x x x x x x x x x x
The bell rung and she sighed internally as her students packed away their textbooks, the volume of chatter increasing ten fold while she tried vainly to get their attention, "Can I have your homework by Friday?" She shouted over the din, "If not, there'll be detentions..." A collective groan came over the laboratory but she stood firm, "That's all for today." She indicated that she they could leave. Looking towards the door, she smiled as she saw a fellow teacher trying to pass through the impenetrable stream of high school pupils, "Dr Carter..." She greeted her friend formally, aware of the stragglers in her class who were still chattering away. After a fierce glare, they began to move faster, "What can I do for you?"
Sam smiled at the few students she recognised and guided her friend by the elbow to a secluded area of the classroom, "I've got a student in my lab who is continually disrupting the class. I was hoping you might be able to keep him in your class away from his friends..."
Janet backed away with a smile, "Oh, I don't think so."
"What?" Sam protested quietly, following after her, "If he's in this class he might behave. I can give him the work and he can just sit at the back of the classroom. You won't even know he's here."
Her friend raised an eyebrow as she began collecting the lab equipment strewn over the back lab tables, waving a goodbye to the last students, "You don't really think I'm going to fall for that do you?" She paused, "Daniel might be too nice to say no, but I'm not."
"So I've noticed," Sam muttered under her breath before turning back to the conversation, "He doesn't know anyone in your class, and he'll make much more of an effort I'm sure. And this kid has potential..."
"Why aren't you keeping him then?" Janet questioned, wincing at the mess two of her less well behaved students had made, "Unless he's a genius in both physics and human biology, I'm not taking him."
Sam shook her head in resignation, moving from the chair she'd been perching on, "Fine..." She strode towards the door, before turning back, "This year is going to be hell Janet. I can feel it."
"Every year at this school is hell," She replied with a grin, "And we're only...oh..." She checked the watch on her wrist, "...a week and five hours into the start of this one."
"Don't remind me," Sam sighed, opening the door to the biology laboratory out on to the science corridor of the large building.
"Oh Sam?" Janet called, "Who is this kid you want to get rid of?"
"Charlie O'Neill..." She rolled her eyes, "I've had him for the last two years. He's a great kid. Bloody short attention span."
x x x x x x x
Walking the few steps to her own laboratory, complete with replica planetary systems and displays on Newton, she almost collided with Charlie in the doorway. "Where are you going?" She asked him as he slung his bag back over his back, "I said I'd only be a minute..."
He shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm sorry but I had to meet my sister. I'm driving her back home."
Sam sighed, resigning herself to the fact that it evidently was a good time for neither of them to discuss his work, "Come in tomorrow ten minutes before school to talk to me, OK?"
"But-"
"No excuses Charlie. I want you here at ten to nine on the dot," Sam opened the door, spotting a figure at the end of the corridor and presumed it was Charlie's sister, "You can go now."
"Thanks Miss." He said with a small smile before running down the corridor with boundless enthusiasm. If only he paid as much attention to his school work, Sam thought dryly.
Turning back to her classroom, she walked to her desk, tidying up the textbooks that littered the table. Underneath a worksheet on mass and gravity, she found Charlie's physics book, slightly tattered. Opening the heavy lab door, she strode down the corridor, presuming that a technician would keep an eye on the classroom for her. "Charlie?" She called out upon seeing his distinctive bag with its "Go Wild Bulls!" patch on it.
He turned round, as did his younger companion. "Miss? Not going to pester me again are you? I've had enough for one afternoon."
"It may surprise you but you're not my only concern," She replied with a small smile to the girl standing by Charlie's side, "You left this behind...." She handed him the grafitti laden book, "You'll be needing it for your homework." Charlie nodded and she began to back away before speaking again, "Oh, and for tomorrow do you think you could have a list of the colleges you'll be applying for? I'd like to have a look at them."
"I don't exactly have a list..."
"Just some ideas then."
"I don't have any ideas," Charlie shifted awkwardly under her gaze.
"The school has been asking you for months...." She moved to rest her hand on her hip and giving a disappointed sigh, "If you worked hard enough Charlie, you could apply to any college you wanted. Just a little bit more effort goes-"
"Goes a long way, I know!" Charlie pulled his bag onto his back further, "Just leave me alone will you?" He turned to stride away towards the closest exit. Sam exhaled slowly, her eyes tracing over his younger sister still standing awkwardly in front of her.
"I'm sorry about Charlie," She said quietly, "He's like this with every teacher, it's not just you."
"I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse," Sam confided before wincing as the door slammed behind Charlie, "Are you his sister?"
The girl nodded, "I'm Anne. I'm at Junior High," She gestured in the vague direction of the elementary school that was attached to the high school, "By tomorrow he'll have forgotten all about it." Anne smiled encouragingly before turning to catch her brother up..
"I hope so," She whispered under her breath, and then walked back to her lab.
x x x x x x x
"How was school?" Jack asked as he heard the fridge door open and then slam shut again. Receiving a response only of silence, he wheeled his chair to the door of his office, opposite the open plan kitchen and saw Annie and Charlie whispering about something, "You two look like you're up to no good..." He grinned, rising from his office chair and walking towards them, deciding that he needed something to drink, "Got anything to tell me?"
"Don't be silly Dad," Annie shook her head, kissing her father on the cheek, "We were talking about your birthday."
"Ah, well that's completely different. Whisper away..." He walked to the fridge, picking up the mail on the sideboard that he'd forgotten about that morning. Ripping open the envelopes as he gulped down a glass of ice cold orange juice, he rolled his eyes; he'd found out the reason for the kids secrecy; the dreaded Parent-Teacher Evening. The television had already been turned on, and he sighed; rarely could he get a decent conversation from his son or daughter when their favourite program was showing, "Were you going to mention this?" He waved the letter in his hand, standing in front of the television much to their protestations.
Annie was the first to defend herself, "Well, I....I...thought that maybe...."
"We thought you'd be too busy to go," Charlie dived in to help his sister out of trouble, "That's why we didn't show you the letters."
"Annie?" He turned to his daughter for affirmation. She nodded, her eyes wide as though at any moment she'd be caught out. He didn't believe a second of it, but there was no way he could prove anything. That didn't stop him attending though. "Well, I think I should arrange some appointments then don't you?"
Charlie's face fell, "You mean you're not too busy to go?"
"Nope," He announced satisfactorily. He knew he wasn't supposed to get that much pleasure from torturing his kids, but they had a habit of leaving matters like Parents Evening to the very last day when it was too late; they were crafty little things. Much like himself unfortunately. "I'll clear all my meetings for the day."
"Great," Anne replied flatly.
"Yeah, that's really great dad." Charlie responded in the same manner, both sighing as they turned their attention back to the television and whatever dross was showing. Unless it was The Simpsons he just wasn't interested.
x x x x x x x
"All in all Mr O'Neill if Charlie put the same effort into his academic work that he does with sport, we'd have a promising student on our hands." Mr Heath finished, shuffling the papers on his desk, "Here are some leaflets about the special classes we were talking about so he can catch up in time for the exams."
"Thanks," Jack stood up, "Nice to meet you," He added, shaking the History teacher's hand and moving to where his children were sitting with grimaces on their faces, "Well he seemed pretty impressed with you but like the rest of them, he said you'd need to put more effort in and stop being such a distraction."
"Please don't say he offered extra classes too?" Charlie sighed, "I'm going to be the geek of the school at this rate."
"Who said you weren't already?" Annie muttered with a smile, and then scowled after her brother elbowed her sneakily.
"Don't start you two..." Jack warned, his eyes scanning over the crowds of parents and sitting teachers talking to students, "We've got one teacher left....Dr Carter? Where's he then?"
"It's a she Dad..." Anne corrected, "And she's over there." Jack couldn't distinguish between the teachers and the parents and so allowed his daughter to lead the way with Charlie dragging behind.
He saw a desk with "Doctor Carter" pinned to it, and a blonde haired woman with the bluest eyes he'd seen sitting behind it. She was evidently saying goodbye to a set of parents, shaking their hands and attempting to exchange a word with the grungy teenager at the desk who looked distinctly unamused. Jack grinned as he watched her roll her eyes; if he'd had her as his physics teacher in high school, he certainly would have paid far more attention. "You two sit there..." He pointed to a cluster of chairs in the middle of the large gymnasium, "And try not to argue."
"Yes Dad," They chimed flatly, hearing sighs as he left them behind.
"You must be Charlie's father?" She asked before he'd even reached the table. A smile appeared on her face as he nodded in reply. Standing up, she offered her hand, "I'm Doctor Carter, his physics teacher."
He shook her hand, "Jack O'Neill." He sat down on the chair opposite, wondering if her comments would echo Charlie's other teachers. Everyone seemed to see the potential in his son that would emerge when he put more thought into his classes, "So how's he doing?"
She smiled; at least he was straight to the point. "Charlie understands physics, and that's evident in his work. He grasps theories that most of my students couldn't hope to understand, let alone at this stage. The only aspect of his work letting him down is that he doesn't put the time nor effort into it. Let's just say he has a short attention span."
"I've heard that before, and not just with Charlie," Jack smiled, and Sam tried to smother the instict to grin inanely back.
"But when he does put effort into his work, it definitely shows."
"That seems to be the general consensus with most of his teachers." Jack told her, "Now how on Earth do I make him pay attention in class?"
"That's the million dollar question," Sam smiled, blushing slightly under the intense gaze of the man in front of her, "Buf if Charlie wants any specific help for Physics, I'd be glad to start tutoring him."
"You wouldn't mind?"
She shook her head, "Charlie's got a talent and I'd like to try and help him believe it too. And he's a good kid underneath it all."
"I'd like to think so," Jack grinned causing an unnerving feeling of butterflies in Sam's stomach, "Would you be able to come to the house and tutor him? He thinks he spends enough time at school anyway..." And I'd like to have an excuse to see you more often....
"That sounds fine," Sam agreed, "I spend too much time at this place too," She ripped off a small portion of paper, and scrawled down her number, "If I'm not in, just leave me a message on the answerphone."
"Great," Jack smiled, tucking the paper safely into his jacket pocket, "I'll ring you once I've organised a time with Charlie." He moved to stand up as Sam did the same.
"That's great," She leaned forward to shake his hand again, "It was nice to meet you, and I look forward to your call Mr O'Neill."
"Call me Jack,"
"Then call me Sam," She replied almost immediately, just realising that neither had let go of the handshake, coughing awkwardly "Uh, well, I think Anne and Charlie are looking eager to get away so I'll let you go..." She dropped her hand, and Jack smiled.
"Nice to meet you." He bid her a goodbye and turned back to walk towards his kids, "You two still awake?"
"Just about," Charlie quipped, and Anne grinned in response and they walked out of the gymnasium with Sam's eyes on them all the way.
x x x x x x x x x x
Sam strolled into the faculty room, a smile on her face as she walked to the counter, pouring herself a coffee, "You look way too happy for this early in the morning." Janet announced, wincing at the harsh sunlight streaming through the window, "Why are you so enthusiastic?"
She shrugged in response, smiling at fellow teachers who were coming through the door but decided to tone it down slightly upon seeing their shocked faces, "I just am. I had a good day yesterday."
Daniel wandered over to the two women with a mug of coffee in his hands, something which never seemed to leave his possession, "It was Parents Evening last night, the worst day of the school calendar."
"And that's Daniel speaking, the eternal optimist...how can you be happy Little Miss Cynical?" Janet countered.
"It wasn't that bad." Sam dismissed them with a wave of the hand while she sipped the coffee, "All in all I found it rather-"
"Don't say enjoyable," Janet complained with a sigh, "Because last night was anything but enjoyable. Cassie's English teacher pestered me the whole night for an essay from her that I didn't even know was due as though somehow I had an influence on her life..."
"And I had a parent tell me instead of teaching history, I'd be history if I didn't give his son a pass..." Daniel pushed his glasses further up his nose, "Not a good night."
"Exactly. What made you so happy? When I came over, you were as bored as us, and said you had one more-" Janet stopped talking as a smile spread over her face, "Oh."
Sam frowned, "What do you mean "oh"?"
"Charlie O'Neill's dad," Janet whispered to Daniel, turning her attentions back to her friend, "You like him. I can see it on your face."
"Janet!" Sam exclaimed in exasperation, "I haven't said anything about him, and now you think I have some kind of schoolgirl crush on a student's father?"
"I'd be surprised if you didn't" Daniel remarked to the surprise of his two female companions, "Every woman in this place drools over him at parent consultations." He laughed at their still puzzled faces, "I have a PhD yet you think I wouldn't notice the fights of who gets to teach Anne and Charlie so they can talk to their dad?" He took a sip of his coffee, "Carry on..."
"Anyway," Sam gave Daniel a worried look before turning back to Janet, "...Jack O'Neill has nothing to do with my mood. Can't a girl feel happy once in a while?"
Janet nodded, "Of course she can. But not you. And not when you're at work." She sipped her coffee, "It's just plain wrong."
x x x x x x x x x x x
Sam locked the door to her car, her briefcase with the laptop inside gripped firmly in her hand. Turning round to face the house in front of her, she surveyed it quickly; it was a typical American home with a Jeep outside the garage and a basketball hoop affixed to the wall. Starting up the garden path she spotted a dog bowl and several clumps of grass dug up, presumably the dog's work.
Smoothing down her shirt and checking her reflection in the small panel of glass in the front door, she rung the bell and willed the nervousness in her stomach to leave.
The door was opened by Anne who smiled at her, beckoning her indoors, "Come in..." She stood aside and closed the door. Sam glanced at the open plan living space, spotting family pictures adorning the wall and several pieces of Air Force memorabilia that she recognised on the book shelves, "Charlie, Dr Carter's here..." She shouted up the stairs, breaking Sam's semi-daydream. She turned to face her, rolling her eyes slightly, "He's as forgetful as Dad."
"No problem," Sam replied, wandering towards a large table in what seemed to be an area designated for eating, "Is it OK if I use this?"
Anne nodded, grabbing a pink bag slung over the bannister of the stairs, "That'll be fine." She said with a smile, "Dad's been ordering takeout recently so it hasn't been used for eating."
Sam smiled, she knew that feeling. Rarely did she get to do anything but order Chinese when she got home. Not that she'd choose to cook anyway but it'd be nice to have the chance, "Where are you off to?"
"Ballet practice," She grinned, "I've been doing it since I was about three and haven't been able to let go."
Sam smiled, "Oh, you shouldn't. I love to be able to dance, but I'm too old to learn."
"You're never too old...I mean, not that you're old or anything...I just meant that...."Anne said, getting slightly flustered and paused slightly, letting her brain catch up with her mouth, "I mean if you ever want to learn, I can help you. "
"Thanks for the offer," Sam replied as Charlie and Jack made their way down the stairs.
"Hey Dr Carter," Charlie greeted his teacher, walking over to where she'd set out materials for the session. Jack meandered behind his son, smiling warmly at Sam.
"Hope Anne's been keeping you entertained..."He glared towards his daughter good naturedly.
"Definitely. She's offered me dancing lessons actually, so yes, she did keep me very entertained."
"Good, good," Jack smiled, mouthing something unintelligble in Anne's direction who shrugged it off, and dangled her ballet bag in her dad's face.
"Remember about this?" She smiled, "I have a lesson in ten minutes."
Jack shook his head, grabbing his keys from the couch seat, "I'm really sorry to do this to you but do you mind staying here with Charlie on your own?"
Sam nodded, "Its fine, don't worry. I'm sure Charlie will work far better without any distractions."
"I'd like to think so," He looked warningly at his son who seemed to take the hint and began looking through the physics textbook as Anne re-arrived from the cloakroom wearing a jacket that would protect her from the Colorado cold.
"Will you still be here when I get back?"
"Oh, I don't..." Sam and Jack both began in unison, then laughed uncomfortably.
"You could stay...if you liked..." Jack offered, "We're only ordering takeout."
"Thanks," She smiled, "I will."
x x x x x x x x x x x x
"Another year of hell...."Janet flopped onto the nearest cushion in the staff room, "The last year's gone so fast."
"Tell me about it," Daniel winced, "I'm getting older by the second."
"I hate to break it to you but thats been happening since you were born," Janet grinned in his direction.
"Very funny," He turned his attention to Sam, who was already at work, prompt and early, reading The New York Times and sipping hot coffee that was seducing Daniel with its aroma, "Sam?"
"Hmm?" She half-listened to his words.
"If I promised to teach all your classes, could I have that mug of coffee?"
"Not for all the tea in China Daniel." She grinned satisfactorily, sipping at it again and savouring the taste.
"You don't even like strong coffee."
"Yeah, but Jack doesn't have ANY coffee worth drinking in his house so until I persuade him to buy the real stuff, I'll take anything I can get."
"Shouldn't you be using your womanly wiles on him?" Janet asked and Daniel visibly cringed, causing her intenal devil to laugh insanely.
"I have other uses for them," She winked back, also amused at their friend's reaction. Looking at the watch, she handed the mug to Daniel, "Actually, I've gotta go. I've got a meeting with that awful Principal."
"I bet you don't call him that at home."
"I'm not really sure he'd appreciate it," She lifted her messenger bag onto her shoulder, "Seeing as Jack refrains from insulting me, I figure I should do the same for him."
"So this is for a "teacher/boss meeting" is it?" Janet questioned, highly sceptical of her friend.
"Yeah," She grinned, "But its also a husband/wife meeting..."
To be continued...