John Doe

Chapter Nineteen

Disclaimer: Um ... see chapter one, two, three, four, five, six, seven ... and so on and so forth.

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Four days later they were back at work, with much thanks from Siler for returning the most important person when dealing with the 'gate. From one look at the control room Jack saw that it was going to be a long day for her, then when he peeked inside his office he realized that his day was going to be much, much longer. His incoming paperwork stack had been moved from the top of his desk to two larger piles on the floor by the side of it, couldn't George have tackled some of this for him?

Glancing at his watch he worked out his schedule, see Jacob off at 0900, debrief with SG-2 and SG-5 and 0930, brief with SG-12 at 1000 hours, then see them off at 1100 hours, lunch at noon, and then SG-7 would return at 1400 hours and he had a debriefing with them at 1500 hours. In-between all of that he would begin with the paperwork, as the stack grew in size. Why had he taken this position?

Oh, yeah. He could do anything he wanted. Damn Carter for suggesting that, paperwork wasn't exactly something that he wanted to do.

So he began. At fifteen after oh-nine hundred Jacob appeared in the doorway of his office, knocking as he did so. Jack told him to come in and set down his pencil, welcoming the break. "What can I do for you, Jake?" He asked, resting his arms on his desk.

"Just thought that I would come by, I leave soon."

"I know," Jack replied. "I'll be there to see you off. So ... what can I do for you, Jake?" He repeated his former question, for the sake of not recieving what he felt was the truth from the major general.

The Tok'ra smiled. "I just wanted to talk."

"Ah," Jack sighed, "talk. Right, I get'cha. Listen, Jacob ... there is nothing to worry about. I would never, and I mean never, hurt your daughter, I love her." He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "You've just gotta trust me on this one, Jake."

He sighed, "I'd like to Jack, but the dad part in me begs to differ. Just ... let me threaten you, alright? It'll make me feel better."

Jack tried not to laugh, "Go ahead, sir. Threaten away."

"All that I have to say is that if you hurt my daughter there will be hell to pay. I, by myself, know various methods of torture, and along with Sel'mac's input I can make you wish that you were never born. Understand?"

He nodded furiously, "Sir, yes, sir!"

"No joking, Jack." Jacob said, his expression stern. "I'm being serious."

"Completely understood."

Jacob stood, "Good. Now, if you don't mind I'm going to tear Sam away from Siler and the computers for a while and say goodbye."

"By all means, I'm sure she would welcome the break." He smiled, "Again, you don't have to worry about me hurting her. I would never even dream of it."

The older man nodded, turned, and left the room, closing the door behind him. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, he had been waiting for Jacob to do that ever since Sam and he informed him that they were a couple, it certainly did take him awhile to finally do so. Glancing down at the paperwork that was still piled on his floor he groaned, deciding that he was never going to take another two-week long vacation again. Well, that probably wasn't true. He would never get amnesia again. There, that was a better goal.

A little over half an hour later Jack stood idly in the control room, looking out upon the 'Gate. Jacob hadn't arrived yet, but he still had at least ten minutes until he was scheduled to leave for the Tok'ra home world. Sam was nowhere to be found and Siler was on the verge of hyperventilating ... or maybe passing out, Jack wasn't sure, but from where he was standing it didn't look good. He had assured the sergeant that as soon as Jake left Sam would be returned to him for the remainder of the day, but it hadn't seemed to help any. The man was completely paranoid or ... something. He kept mumbling to himself about 'gate diagnostics and screwey computer programming, if you asked Jack he needed a visit with McKenzie in a bad way, but Jack wouldn't wish that on his worst enemy. Maybe a day off....

"Siler," Jack called out, searching the room for where the man had run off to.

"Sir?" He answered, poking his head out from under a computer desk. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"Well, for starters you can climb out from under that thing." He suggested, glancing at his watch. "And, you can also go home."

"Sir?" Siler asked, a worried tone in his voice.

"Don't worry, Siler. I'm not firing you or anything. I'm giving you the rest of the day off ... tomorrow as well. I don't want to see you on base until Thursday."

"That's not necessary, sir." Siler argued, "I am per--"

"When was the last time you had downtime?" Jack asked, an eyebrow climbing up his forehead. "And keep in mind my memories have returned, I'll know if you're lying."

Siler coughed and ran the figures in his mind. "Uh ... two years and three months ago, sir."

"O .... k. Make that no returning until Friday. We'll be fine here, Siler. You need a break."

"Yes, sir." He said with a nod, "But if I'm needed--"

"Ah ... no ... don't even think about leaving a contact number. We'll make due without you. Now ... you go get started on your downtime. That's an order."

"Yes, sir." Siler said as he turned and walked out of the room, he passed Daniel and Teal'c on his way out. The two watched him leave, a confused look appearing on Daniel's face. "Where's he going?" He asked, looking over his shoulder.

Jack shrugged. "Home I would guess. I gave him a few days downtime ... he was starting to talk to himself, it wasn't very encouraging, to say the least. He'll be ok though, he just needs a break."

"Right," Daniel replied. "Sam and Jacob haven't found their way here yet?"

"Not yet," he said looking at his watch. "They've still got a couple of minutes. I'd imagine that they've got a lot to talk about ... so, yeah." He shrugged, "We can wait."

A few minutes later the objects of their discussion showed up. Jack had Davis dial the 'gate and made his way down to the 'gate room to say goodbye. Daniel and Teal'c, having already said their good-byes, opted to stay in the control room. He walked into the room just as Sam was hugging her father goodbye and went up to the two so he could tell Jacob goodbye.

"Jake," he greeted with a smile. "You planning on returning any time soon?"

The older man nodded, "I'll be back for a few days in about two months." He glanced over at Sam then back at Jack, "I trust you will keep our conversation in mind."

"You trust correctly. I won't forget it."

Sam's eyes narrowed on her father. "What conversation?" she demanded, folding her arms across her chest.

"We talked about hockey," Jack said nonchalantly. "What's it to ya?"

"Uh-huh," Sam replied incredulously. "Hockey."

"Yeah," Jack told her, a brilliant idea popping into his head. "Jake volunteered to go to a game with me next time he's on earth." He looked at the man with a sly smile, "Didn't you, Jake?"

"I did, indeed." Jacob said with a less enthusiastic smile. "You want to come with us, Sammie?"

The incredulous look had yet to leave her eyes, "Sure. It sounds fun." She looked over her shoulder as the 'gate swooshed forward. "Well, Dad. I guess you should be heading out. Don't want the Tok'ra to worry about you, now do we?"

"Right," Jack said. "That would be tragic."

Jacob sighed, his eyes rolling slightly. "Goodbye, Jack." He looked at his daughter, "Sam ... you two take care." With that he turned and headed up the ramp, towards the simmering blue puddle. Before walking through he glanced behind himself, smiling at the two. His eyes flashed and Sel'mac winked, then stepped through. Sam and Jack laughed as they walked out of the 'gate room, Sam's hand slipping into Jacks.

"So," she inquired. "What did you and dad really talk about?"

"Oh, you know," he said with a shrug. "The usual. He said hello, I said hello, he threatened to torture me if I ever hurt you, I assured him that wasn't possible ... nothing different."

"He what?!" She exclaimed, shock registering on her face. "I can't believe him! I told him, under no circumstances necessary, give you a speech!"

"Calm down," he said with a laugh. "I'm never going to hurt you so you don't have to worry about your father ever hurting me. See, it's a cycle." He smiled, "I'll be ok, don't worry."

"I know," she said with a sigh. "But, he still threatened you."

"Yeah," he agreed. "That he did. Can you blame him, though? I know that if it had been me in his situation I probably would have said at lot worse to ... me." His brow furrowed, "Does that make any sense?"

"It makes perfect sense," she assured him as they turned a corner and began walking down a different corridor, still hand in hand. They ignored the whispering as they passed each person or group, it was something that both had prepared themselves for. It amazed Jack, how obsessed with gossip the SGC's personnel were, how high school some adults still acted. It bothered him, being the leader of the base, that the people who were expected to save the world (in one way or another) on a regular basis could be so juvenile. Not that he was always professional, he was known to be immature from time to time, but that was just his personality. These people were behaving as if teenagers for one reason, the act of gossiping.

In fact, just the pervious day he had been in the conversation when he overheard a conversation between Major Davis (who had been at the SGC on official Pentagon business ... he had just gotten out of a briefing with Jack that had been boring and overall confusing) and Daniel. Davis was accusing Daniel of having a part in the fixed outcome of the SGC's betting pool, which had been about the basics of Jack and Sam's relationship. Apparently, there was more than one going on, but the one that Davis was upset about was the one that specified when they would become a couple, it was even down to the date. How did anybody know when he and Sam finally told each other how they felt? He hadn't said anything to anyone, and neither had Sam, or so he thought. Later that day he had inquired of Sam if she had told anybody the specifics of the night they had confessed their feelings to each other, she assured him that she hadn't. He was still baffled by it.

That conversation was probably just one of many. It was funny, in a way, to Jack. All of these people were so focused on his and Sam's life that they had none of their own. As they walked down yet another hallway he glared at two of the nurses who suddenly had found something very important to whisper and giggle about. The two ignored him, grinning at Sam, still whispering to each other. He heard her sigh as they passed the two and he looked over at her with a smile and a shrug, "What can you do about it?" He asked, though it really wasn't a question directed at her, but more of a statement that was intended for her. "Free speech and all."

She rolled her eyes, "It's so damn annoying, though."

A devious thought passed through his mind and he all of a sudden quit walking. Sam continued for a second before realizing that he was no longer beside her, she then stopped too.

"Jack?" She asked as he pulled her closer to him.

"Let's really give them something to talk about," he suggested, capturing her lips with his own. He had caught her off guard and she stiffened at first, not wanting to have an audience. He broke the kiss, smiled at her, and all of her apprehensions melted away, she leaned forward, this time being the one to catch him off guard. The hallway was silent as stood there, Sam's arms wrapped around Jack's neck and his resting on her hips, essentially making out.

They broke apart both grinning like idiots and started back down the hallway like nothing had ever happened. Both trying to keep from cracking up in front of those who were staring at them, their jaws dropped. Walking at a slow pace Sam's hand once again slipped into Jack's as she looked up at him with a sly smile, shaking her head with silent laughter. They continued walking, hand in hand, not making eye contact with anyone they passed. When they turned to corner onto another hallway they stopped and waited.

The whispering started again.

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A/N: Anyway, sorry that it took forever for this chapter. It's been one hectic week with Thanksgiving and all, then everything with the ff.n being messed up for a couple of days. It would have been out sooner, if not for that. I'll try to get the next one out quicker, but no promises. I'm getting into the last couple weeks of the semester and with all the tests that I'm going to have to take plus the disections in Bio, I just don't know. Anyway ... let me know what'cha think.