AN: Sorry this one took so long... I've been crazy busy. Please let me know what you think! I live for reviews!

Chapter Nine

I borrowed a spare blanket and pillow from the infirmary and made myself a bed on the floor. I tucked Carter into the center of the bed; she was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Checking my watch as I settled onto the floor, I realized it was nearly four. I closed my eyes and hoped Carter would be so tired from the excitement that she'd sleep for a while. I was exhausted and I needed rest if I was going to have to keep up with her.

I have to give the Air Force credit - they know how to build rooms that are pretty much soundproof. I'd spent a fair number of nights in my quarters and had never once been woken up by the alarms. Until that day. I stayed where I was with my arm draped across my eyes, wondering why it was so loud. I wondered why I could hear the voices of random people walking by. I wondered why it was so cold since it was normally stifling.

I opened my eyes and found Daniel standing in the doorway. He was grinning; evidently he didn't need much sleep. I scowled. "What?"

"Do you always sleep with the door open?"

I looked around, wondering for a moment why I was sleeping on the floor. Then my eyes fell on the barely disturbed bed. The barely disturbed, very empty bed. "Where's Carter?"

Unfortunately, Daniel chose the same moment to speak. "Where's Sam?"

"Oh, no." Her absence, coupled with the damn alarms, sent a cold shiver down my spine. I ran past Daniel and all the way to the control room. And there, sitting in Walter's chair, playing with the dialing computer, was Carter. Everyone else looked either irritated or scared, mostly depending on whether they were looking at her or me. And of course the personnel who probably should have noticed Carter looked scared as well. Carter kept putting her hand in the scanner, opening and closing the iris repeatedly. Apparently, it matched prints regardless of their size. I made a mental note to mention that to Carter when she grew up.

I tried to fight a smile as I plucked Carter out of her chair. "There's the little trouble maker!"

She squealed, obviously happy that I was awake. "Jack!"

General Hammond didn't look happy when he walked in. "Will it stop doing that?" He was, naturally, referring to the iris, which continued to open and close on its own long after Carter's hand was removed.

"I don't know, sir. I'd say ask Carter-" I glanced at the giggling beauty in my arms. "But somehow I doubt she can help."

"Her father is on the other end of that wormhole. We sent a message through for him to wait for a signal before he came through, but we can't be sure he got it."

"Aw, did you have to go and call him?" I kind of liked breathing, which would probably be difficult after Jacob strangled me.

"I obviously can't count on you to watch her, Jack. How did she manage to lose you?"

"I was sleeping. She must have stolen my card and let herself out." I looked at her and saw my badge peeking out of the pocket on her shirt. "Did we get anywhere with the clothes for her?" I snagged my card while Carter was distracted by Walter who was amusing both of them making fish faces.

"Sergeant Harriman said he couldn't find you so he left them with Dr. Frasier."

"Actually, sirs, I tried knocking." He paused long enough to steal Carter's nose, sending her into another round of delighted squeals. It was refreshing to see Carter so genuinely happy. "There was no answer, so I thought Dr. Frasier might hold them."

"Thank you." My eyes fell on the finally still iris. "Considering that Jacob is on his way, I should probably get her dressed." If there was one thing I dreaded facing more than Carter's father with Carter injured, it was facing Carter's father with Carter half-dressed. Even if it did hang down to her ankles, the t-shirt wasn't exactly ideal - especially with the way she tended to wrap herself around me. Hammond nodded at me, a knowing smile on his face. I figured he wouldn't be surprised if I sent Carter back with Daniel and hid until Jacob was gone.

As I walked to Janet's office, I glared at Carter. "Why'd you sneak out on me? Were you trying to get me in trouble?"

Carter grinned at me. "I had to go."

"Go where."

"Go."

"Oh." Yeah, on second thought, it was just as well that she didn't wake me for that because I was so not helping Carter in the bathroom. She'd never forgive me.

I poked my head in the infirmary. "Doc?"

Janet emerged from her office. "I hear you had an escapee this morning."

I grimaced, wondering how it was that the entire base had to know every time I screwed up yet I got little credit when I didn't. "Jacob's on his way, provided someone's attempt to break the iris didn't work."

"I didn't break it."

I grinned and Janet laughed. "Anyway, I thought she should be dressed for the occasion."

Janet nodded. "Come on, Sam, I've got some stuff for you."

Carter practically jumped into Janet's arms. "Toy stuff?"

"No, sorry. It's clothes." Janet tried to make it sound exciting.

Carter reached out for me. She was pouting, thinking that she'd been had. "Jack!"

"Sam, I'll be right here."

She pouted, but went with Janet anyway. A few minutes later, she reappeared, looking perfectly adorable in jeans that were hopelessly too long, a pink t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers that were obviously too big. Somehow she was just as cute as she'd been in her oversized t-shirt. I was fairly certain it had something to do with those dimples of hers which she displayed much more often at three. Or maybe it was the tiny pigtails Janet had arranged on either side of her head.

"Colonel O'Neill to the gate room." General Hammond's voice sounded through the intercom. I could hear the unspoken warning in his voice - Jacob was there and Hammond wouldn't blame me if I ran.

"Uncle G!" Carter reattached herself to my leg.

I couldn't run away. I was far too infatuated with mini-Carter. And I was thinking maybe Jacob wouldn't kill me if he saw how much Carter liked me. "Want to go see Daddy?" Carter nodded vehemently and reached up for me to carry her. If I got the chance, I intended to ask Jacob what the deal was with Carter constantly wanting to be carried. When Charlie was a baby - from the time he could walk - he preferred to go everywhere by himself and had a fit when Sara or I tried to carry him. I picked Carter up and decided not to question her affectionate nature. "Let's go." I smiled at Janet on my way out.

"Good luck, sir."

"You might be patching me up in a few minutes."

"Probably not, as long as you don't put her down, sir."

"Good idea." The only thing I had going for me was that surely Jacob would be as taken in with Carter as the rest of us were. Still, I tried to walk as slowly as possible without being too obvious.

"Hurry up, Jack! I want to see my daddy!"

I couldn't deny her request. Between the dimples, the pigtails, and the giggling, I was screwed. I had to find a way to put her back to normal before she revealed to everyone that I was completely whipped.

When I turned the corner into the gate room, I stopped short. Jacob was there, chatting amiably with General Hammond. Nervous as I was about facing him, he wasn't the reason I stopped. I knew I could possibly survive Jacob. Unfortunately, Jacob hadn't come alone - no, Anise was with him. I was going to set Carter down and high-tail it in the other direction, but just as Carter's sneakered feet hit the floor, she grabbed my hand.

"Jack, come on!"

Three heads snapped toward me and I knew there was no escape. I let Carter lead me closer while I plastered a brave smile on my face. "Hey, Jake, thanks for dropping by."

Jacob looked at Carter. His eyebrows knitted together and then he raised his eyes to mine. He was not a happy camper. I had started to back up, fearing for my life, when Jacob sat down heavily on the ramp. "Oh my God."

General Hammond stepped forward, putting his hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Jacob-"

Jacob looked back at me and then up at Hammond. His voice was soft, but the sound carried through the unusually silent room. "I had no idea they had a child."