Sam cleared away the chess set feeling slightly guilty that she hadn't sorted out what she was going to tell Jack.

Emma had left about half an hour ago, neither of them willing to start the discussion.

Lifting up the lid, Sam was surprised to find a note underneath, addressed to her in Emma's handwriting.

Hey Sam

Your busy cleaning up after dinner so I thought I should take the time to write this.

I know we're not going t discus it anymore, you probably do too so I'm going to write down what I think, it's probably the easiest way.

You've said that your going to have to tell him something, and lying to him ill only create more problems in the future.

If you do decide to tell him the truth, would you let me know, as I think if we're going to start telling people then I should probably explain it to Cassie.

We could always invite everyone over (by that I mean Cassie, Janet, Jack, Daniel and Murray - what is his real name anyway?)

Sounds like you're coming back so I'll finish it here, contact me when you've decided what to do.

Love

Emma

Sam carefully folded the note up, placing it safely in a drawer, smiling to herself, surprised at how perceptive Emma was and amazed at how perfect her advice seemed to be.

Finishing the tidying up, Sam let her mind wander, considering her options.

She could just tell Jack, trusting him to keep her secret, but she knew that it wouldn't be fair on him, as he'd have no one to talk to about it.

She could let Emma tell Cassie, but she knew that Cassie would never be able to keep it a secret, and then everyone would be annoyed that she hadn't been brave enough to tell them herself.

She could tell no-one, make up something to satisfy Jack, but then she would have two problems, hiding the truth about Emma and the lie.

She could follow Emma's advice and tell all of them, but she knew that she wouldn't have time to explain before they all jumped to conclusions and asked her questions.

She sighed, picking the note back up, turning it over in her hands, waiting for it to hit her.

She looked down at the note, a smile on her face, she could write them letters. Emma had written the note as she knew they'd never discuss it, and it would allow her to explain herself, briefly at least, before questions were asked.

Grabbing a pen and some paper she sat down, knowing that she would have to write individual letters for each person, as they would all need different amounts of information in order to process what they were reading.

-------------------------------

Folding up the last letter she sighed, knowing that nothing was ever going to be the same again, and that she would have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow.

Labelling the letters, she placed them carefully in her bag, ready for her to deliver once she got to the base.

Picking up the phone she dialled Jack's number, knowing that he would be home.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me." She didn't bother with her name, he'd recognise her voice anyway and it made it harder for anyone listening in.

"How are you doing?"

"I've been better." There was silence at the other end of the line, and she knew that he wanted more, but found herself unable to do anything but fiddle with the phone wire.

She heard him sigh. "Your not going to tell me are you?"

"I don't know how to."

"ok, meet me in my office tomorrow and we'll try and sort something out."

"Thank you."

She hung up, slowly putting the phone down, knowing that they would have a lot to sort out once he'd read the letter.

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Jack strolled into his office, purposefully refusing to look at his ever increasing pile of unreda reports and memos.

Moving to sit in his chair he froze as he spotted the piece of paper on it, his name on the front in her handwriting.

Picking up the letter he sat down, turning it over and over in his hands before finally opening it.

Dear Jack

I know I promised that I'd talk to you, explain everything but I know I'd never find the words so I'm trying it this way.

I don't know if you've figured out when all this started but it was at Janet's.

I think a part of you may have figured this out by now, but Emma isn't just a family friend.

I won't go into detail, as that is for another time, so the simplest way of saying it is to just come out and say it I suppose.

Emma's my daughter. I know this is probably a bit of a shock, but I'll try and explain.

I was young, thought I was in love. He of course left as soon as I found out I was pregnant. To be honest the rest is a bit fuzzy, but the basics are I had a baby gir, knew that I couldn't look after her and still have the life I wanted so I went to one of my mum's old friends, a couple that couldn't have children. They took her in, gave her the life I couldn't.

I know you have questions, lots and lots of questions and I will try to answer them, but you need time to sort this out before then, so I'll come by and see you in a bit.

All my love

Sam

He re-read the letter, then read it again, unable to process what his eyes were telling him, that Emma was Sam's daughter.

The more he thought about it the more he understood, why it had been so easy to talk to her at Janet's, why Sam wouldn't stand near her in case anyone spotted the resemblance.

He folded the letter up and he would have collapsed into a chair had he not already have been in one.

Rubbing his hand across his face, his mind raced, questions popping up everywhere. Who else knew? Why wait so long to mention it? What does it mean for us? Who's the father?

He laughed, the last one was none of his business but he was intrigued never the less.

He picked up the phone, dialling her lab, knowing that she'd be in there, pretending to work, wondering how long to wait before trying to see him.

"Hello?"

"Hey Carter."

"Sir?" She sounded apprehensive so he chose his words carefully, enough to tell her how he felt yet confuse anyone listening in.

"I'm ok with it."

"You are." He could feel her relax, even over the phone.

"Yeah, but there is one thing, who else knows?"

She laughed. "Not quite what I was expecting."

"That's not a question for now."

"Well no-one is the simple answer. I'm planning on telling the others the same way I told you, I just wanted to see how you took it first."

"What, so I'm your lab rat?" He tried to sound annoyed but couldn't keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Would I do something like that?" She joked before her voices changed, becoming softer, less sure. "But we're ok?"

"We're ok." He confirmed, smiling at her, knowing that she couldn't see him but knew anyway and was smiling back.