O O O O

Jack, Sam, Daniel and Sarah sat at a corner booth at O'Malley's having dinner.

"So what do you want to do in our down time?" asked Jack.

"I guess we could just hang around at home, work on my bike," said Sam

Daniel piped in, "Why don't you go fishing?"

"What a great idea Danny!" exclaimed Jack. "Why don't we all go, it'll be a family outing."

"I didn't mean us" stammered Daniel trying to get out of the dreaded fishing trip. He almost got roped into it the first time, he wasn't that foolish as to get snagged into again. He had been to Jack's little cabin before. Fun was not what he would use to describe it.

"That sounds smashing!" squealed Sarah in delight.

"But, but…" interjected Daniel who was quickly shushed by Sarah. He knew he would not be getting out of it now. All he could think of were his allergies and the mosquitoes.

"Ok, ok" sighed Sam. Surprisingly, she had not yet been to Jack's cabin. This could be fun, though from the way Teal'c and Daniel described it, it could be hit or miss.

"Cool," said Jack. "After dinner let's all go home and pack a few days worth of stuff for a fun filled weekend of fishing. We can all meet at the airport tomorrow at 0700 sharp.

Sarah was all a flutter on what she was going to pack. She loved to fish and hike and couldn't wait to do all these things with Daniel.

Everyone headed back to their respective homes that evening. Sam needed some things from her house so she left Jack at the restaurant and headed home.

Reluctantly she packed for the weekend. She knew she couldn't get out of going.

The next morning Jack knocked on her door and let himself in at around 0600. Sam was still on her first cup of coffee.

"Good morning sunshine," he said in a bright and cheery tone.

"You ready for your trip to Oz?"

Sam just glared at him over her coffee cup. No one should be that cheerful this early, she thought.

"Where's your gear?" he asked.

Sam pointed to the bags on the floor. He picked them up noticing that one held her laptop. "This stays here." He said as he went and stashed the bag in Sam's office. He picked up the other gear and brought it to the truck. Back inside Sam was making sure everything was turned off and her alarm was set.

Jack walked up to her and very gently took her into his arms and gave her a hug and kiss on the forehead. "I am very excited that you are finally making it up to the lake. I want you to love it there."

"I am sure I will," she said with a smile.

She had been so busy for the past week or so that this was really the first time that she and Jack had shared an intimate moment in a long while. She realized just how much she missed him. She had to learn to prioritize her work and love life. That was something new to her. With Pete work still held top priority, now she could feel it taking a definite second.

"Now let's get going, we don't want to miss our flight," said Jack as he took her hand and ushered her out the door.

The flight was very uneventful. Jack kept a second truck in Minnesota And it was conveniently left at the airport for when he flew back and forth. This made life much less of a hassle.

When they arrived everyone was in for a big shock. Instead of taking them to Jack's little fishing cabin on the South end of the lake, Jack drove them straight to a beautiful historic lodge at the North end.

Sam was pleasantly surprised. The lodge was on the edge of the lake and was pretty much on its own. On one side it overlooked the serene lake which had only three other little cabins at the South end. The other had a majestic view of the mountainside.

"It's so peaceful," said Sarah.

"Yah, it would even be better if my grandfather hadn't sold those few acres back in the depression, but he had no choice. It helped us keep the house," said Jack with a far away look.

"You own the lake?" asked Sarah.

"Actually, the mountain," sighed Jack. "Most of it we lease out to the Park Service. They watch over it for us. I was practically raised here. I spent every summer of my life on this mountain."

The lodge was actually a three story log cabin with hunter green trim and river stone chimneys. You could see that it had been expanded upon over the years. It was absolutely breathtaking.

"You could turn this into a hotel," joked Sarah.

"It became a Bed and Breakfast back in the 20's," continued Jack. "That's how my family kept it going. The main part of the house is over there, it was built in the early 1800's. Then they turned it into this at the turn of the century. It has 10 bedrooms, 8 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, and a main dining room with a stage for a band and dancing. All connect into the main atrium. You'll see when we get inside."

"You come up here all alone?" asked Sarah.

"Not alone," said Jack as he pointed to the main approaching them.

"Well here he is. Everyone I'd like you to meet Hank."

"Hank, this is Daniel, Sarah and Samantha," said Jack as he introduced his friends to an elderly man wearing worn denim overalls and fishing boots.

"Hello all, pleased to meet you," said the elderly man. "So this is the enchanting Samantha," he continued. "I have heard so much about you over the years," he said as he bent over and kissed her hand.

"Hank, you old charmer," said Jack as he took Sam's hand from him and led them all into the lodge. "Hank has been here taking care of the place for as long as I can remember."

"Yep, I watched little Jackie here grow up. Boy, I could tell you all some stories. I remember when he and his brothers got themselves into their Daddy's strawberry cordial. They all turned as green as spring toads." laughed Hank.

Sarah was already smitten. She hooked her arm through Hank's and walked with him up to the lodge.

"Oh Jack," said Daniel sounding annoyed. "This is NOT the place you've dragged me to over the years.

"Oh, yah," laughed Jack. "That was just my little fishing cabin on the south side of the lake. Yah, that is where I usually hang out if this place is being used, which is actually most of the time. We just got lucky this time."

"You mean I froze my ass off and ate lousy meals when we could have stayed here and eaten in a dining room each night!" huffed Daniel.

"Oh, yah, did I mention that we have a hot spring out back. It feeds into this great natural river stone spa," grinned Jack.

"SPA!" yelled Daniel.

They made their way inside and everyone stopped in their tracks at what they saw. It revealed a massive stone circular hearth in the center of a huge atrium. There was an interior hallway and railing which wound around the perimeter revealing the door to each of the bedrooms. There were five on each floor. The giant hearth was surrounded by comfortable living room furniture. To the left was a beautiful den/library and to the right was the massive dining room with seating for about 20 people. Just as Jack had mentioned, it even had a dance floor and staging area for entertainment.

"This is magnificent," said Sam. They were the first words she had really spoken since their arrival.

"Why thank you." said Jack. "I'm glad you like it. Maybe when we retire we can run this place ourselves. Well, at least we can make our kids do all the work" he whispered to her.

Jack was proud of his family's lodge. It was over 200 years old and just as warm and inviting as when the entire O'Neill clan was around. The place always brought back memories of his parents. He missed this father and brothers. His father had been gone around 10 years now and he had lost his brothers in the Vietnam War. All three of the O'Neill boys had become pilots, now only one remained.

Jack saw his mother at least once per month when he could. She was a tough cookie with a great sense of humor. Jack took after his mother. His father was an architect, mild mannered and loved to fish. Jack's mom was military, a nurse during WWII.

His parents had met while his Dad was in the engineer corps during the war. They were in London together and came back to the states as man and wife.

Now his mom mostly lived in their house in Chicago. She visited a lot but not as much as she used to. She found it difficult with Jack's Dad gone.

The place was now Jack's, the last of the O'Neill's. His mom couldn't make it this visit. She was volunteering at the children's hospital.

"Hank, why don't we put Daniel and Sarah in the 2nd floor summer room and Samantha and I in the 2nd floor spring room," said Jack as he pointed to each of the rooms. "I won't torture her by making her stay in my room this time around, though I would like to show it to her. Why don't you take Daniel and Sarah to their room and I'll take care of Samantha and me."

"Sure thing Jackie," said Hank as he started toward the staircase.

"Jackie?" asked Daniel trying to contain his laugh.

"Watch it Danny boy," kidded Jack.

Jack and Sam's room was gorgeous. It looked like it should be in a magazine. It had a massive canopy bed with a quilted bedspread embroidered with daisies. The stone fireplace also had daisies carved into it to look like a garland running throughout it. The wallpaper even had small daisies in it. To top it off there was a vase full of daisies on a table in front of the French doors that led outside. Their room looked out onto the lake.

Sam walked out onto the deck. It was so peaceful. Like a world away from her insane everyday life. She took a deep breath.

"Why don't you get settled, take a nap or a long bath," said Jack as he put their bags near the armoire. "I want to go down and meet Hank for a bit. It's been a while and I want to give the place a good once over. See what needs to be done around here. Hank has never been shy dishing out chores for me to do."

"Sure thing," said Sam as she went over the armoire to unpack their bags. Jack gave her a quick kiss and headed downstairs to find Hank.

Later, after she had unpacked, she stood out on the deck admiring the view. She looked down to see Jack and Hank out on the lawn pointing at some trees and then the lake. He noticed her watching them and waved.

When she went back inside she went straight to the bathroom. There was a massive claw foot tub supplied with a giant fluffy bathrobe, towels and bubble bath. She had to love the way Jack thought. She loved long hot bubble baths.

As she sunk her shoulders she felt the stress of the past week start to melt away. She closed her eyes. Suddenly she heard music…Pucini. She knew Jack loved opera and Turendo was one of their favorites. The lavender scent of the bath and the music lulled her into a state of total relaxation.

After about an hour she climbed out and into the bathrobe. She lay down on the bed and was asleep within seconds.

She awoke about 2 hours later to the sound of tinkling china and the smell of something delicious. She slowly opened her eyes.

Someone had delivered a tray to the room and placed it on the table by the French doors. She shuffled over, still clad only in the warm bathrobe. She lifted the silver dome plate cover to reveal a mushroom and spinach quiche with fresh cut fruit on the side. A small bud vase held some wild flowers.

She sat at the table with the doors open. Everything was scrumptious. She wondered who made it.

She heard laughing and looked out to see Daniel and Sarah in a row boat on the lake. Daniel had lost an oar and was trying desperately to retrieve it. Sarah was in hysterics. She lost it completely when Daniel finally lost his footing all together and went head first into the lake. Jack then started yelling at Daniel to stop making waves because he was going to scare the fish.

Sam finished her lunch and got dressed. She noticed something she hadn't before. There were pictures scattered about the room. On the desk was one of three little boys, a set of twins and a younger one, which had to be Jack. Who were the other boys she wondered?

Another picture was of a young couple both in uniform, an officer and a nurse. She thought that they must be Jack's parents, he looked very much like his father, but he definitely had his mother's smile.

The last picture was of Jack and Charlie. They looked so happy standing on the dock holding up their fish.

Sam headed downstairs. Hank was in the den reading a book. "Well if it isn't the beautiful Samantha," he said with a smile.

"Hello Hank," she said smiling back. "You can call me Sam," she said.

"Wouldn't hear of it," he replied. "Jackie has always called you Samantha and so that is what I know you to be."

Sam just smiled. Jack hardly ever called her Sam, it was usually Samantha. Though every now and then he would slip and call her Carter.

"This place is like a dream world," she said looking up at the atrium.

"It is a beauty all right," said Hank.

"You don't get lonely?" asked Sam.

"Naw," he said. "Jackie visits all the time and Josephene is up every other week."

"Who's Josephene?" she asked curious if it was his wife or daughter.

"Jackie's mother," said Hank surprised that Samantha didn't know her name. He was starting to feel a bit awkward.

"Boy, I've never seen him pine after a girl so," said Hank trying to change the subject. That boy is crazy in love with you."

Sam began to blush.

"OH, don't be embarrassed" he laughed "I am far too old to be minding my tongue. Tell it like it is. So don't you be minding half the things that I say."

"I'm not embarrassed. I am just scared to death." She said with a bit of a nervous laugh. "I've just never had any luck in love. I'm afraid if I realize this is all real it'll disappear."

"Don't worry your pretty head about that another minute." He said with a big smile. "Jackie is not going anywhere, and he's as good a man as they get. Just like his Dad he is."

"I know," she said as she reached over and gave Hank a kiss on the cheek and a big hug.