Christmas is for Sharing - part three

The next day dawned bright and cold … the snow deep enough for Christmas, but not deep enough to cause any major problems. Sam and Jonas roused themselves eventually, to find signs that Teal'c and Jack had been up for a while.

Jonas eagerly inspected the tree and found that a large number of presents had somehow found their way under it, and he began to curiously pick up and shake each one gently, frowning at the labels as he examined them. He found more than one addressed to himself and excitedly put them back under the tree in a small pile, slightly separate from the others.

Sam was sipping her coffee watching Jonas's actions with amusement, before idly beginning to repeat the Kelownan's actions by picking through some of the labels. She put her coffee down to examine them more closely and was in the middle of shaking one when the sound of the Colonel and Teal'c coming in had her scuttling the presents back under the tree.

Jonas watched her actions and did the same with a guilty flush. Obviously, that was a no no …

"Truck's all loaded. Ready for breakfast, kids?" asked a grinning Jack, rubbing his hands together to get them warm again.

"Oh, boy, yes, please." said Jonas, following Jack into the kitchen like a lost puppy, much to Teal'c and Sam's amusement and to Jack's annoyance.

In the end he found it better to give Jonas some simple tasks to do while he got on with the breakfast. Setting the table kept Jonas out of his hair while he cooked and soon they were sitting down to an excellent meal.

They all ate heartily before they donned their outdoor clothing at Jack's urging, and trooped their way out to the truck.

Jack was pretty quiet on the journey into town, but Jonas made up for that in volume all by himself, his excited chatter never ending. Eventually, Jack pulled the truck up to a school gate, making his way slowly down the narrow drive before pulling up outside the main doors.

"Isn't the school closed?" asked Sam in surprise as she noticed a few other vehicles parked close by.

"Nope … it's a sort of, well, boarding school," said Jack, his face clouding for a moment as he urged them out of the vehicle.

Sam frowned at the school's name. It seemed familiar somehow, but schools in the district, or any district for that matter, apart from the Academy, were not something she actually had an interest in.

By the time Jack had gone around to open the tailgate his face was sporting a grin and he urged them to grab some of the bags of presents before leading them into the entrance.

Jack had them wait in the corridor and left his bags with them before making his way down the hallway, disappearing through the double doors at the end.

Standing there in the quiet hallway they looked at each other, wondering what was going on? Obviously, the presents were for here, but …

xoxoxoxoxo

It didn't take long for Jack to return. Beside him, keeping pace nicely with his long legs, was a pretty young woman. She was laughing up at Jack and as they neared his team-mates she fixed them all with a beaming smile.

Despite the faint stirrings of jealousy, Sam couldn't but help warm to this woman. She just hoped this wasn't Bridget or Stephanie …

Jack's smile encompassed everyone. Sam noticed that he touched the woman on her arm lightly. She resolutely fixed a brighter smile on her face as she looked at her.

"Hey, kids, this is Sydney." He touched Sydney lightly on her arm. "Sydney, I would like you to meet my very good friends …"

Sam watched as Sydney turned and gazed at Jack as he spoke, acknowledging them one by one with a polite shake of her hand and a beaming smile. Each time Jack spoke he touched her on the arm and Sydney turned her attention to him.

'Obviously besotted,' snorted Sam to herself. 'Way too young … what on Earth?' Sam berated him silently, refusing to acknowledge the jealousy that reared up … 'and him … touching her like that … humph!'

Sam found herself smiling back at the woman, shoving the jealousy down.

Jonas grinned at Sydney, quite taken with her and Sam gave him a polite nudge to try and make him realize he was staring. Jonas gave a small jump and frowned over at her while rubbing at his ribs.

Sydney laughed as she watched the interaction. She touched Jack on the arm and gave him a tug.

Teal'c gave both Sam and Jonas a questioning look, but they were too busy casting daggers at each other to take much notice.

Sydney still hadn't actually spoken to any of them, nor to Jack, and this caused Teal'c to be curious. Also he was puzzle edthat O'Neill had not introduced him by his nickname – Murray. He had actually used Teal'c's given name. No doubt, O'Neill had his reasons. Teal'c picked up the bags of presents to follow the others, while Jonas Quinn continued to give Sam the evil eye.

Jack opened a storeroom door as Sydney continued on without them and had them place their bags in it, before leading the way up the hallway in the same direction Sydney had taken, to another room.

Jack opened the door and beckoned them in. They found themselves standing in a large hall, behind a large group of children sitting on the floor facing the front. Sydney stood at the back with them and smiled, but didn't speak. At the front of the hall a woman stood, not particularly tall, in fact a little on the short side, but elegant and with a kind smile as she regarded the children.

What amazed Sam was how quiet the room was … and that not one of the children had turned around when they had entered.

"What's she doing?" whispered Jonas, which came out rather loud in the quiet room. Sam dug him again in the ribs, much to his dismay, but Jack grinned and answered in a normal speaking voice.

"That's Arnise, and she's signing."

"Huh? Err, Colonel, she doesn't have a pen … what is she signing?"

Jack snorted with laughter and then smothered it as he watched the team take in what was going on.

"Oh, the children are deaf?" asked Sam suddenly, flushing a little for not realizing sooner.

Arnise continued to sign to the children and then broke into speech as she signed.

"I am sorry, we don't get many visitors …" The children all spun around at that and their faces broke into smiles as they saw who was standing there. "I was rude not to speak. The children have been looking forward to seeing you, Jack, and these must be the friends you have spoken of."

Arnise laughed as none of the children were looking at her, they were all gazing at the new faces in the hall. Arnise walked forward to join the visitors. She approached them smiling, her eyes twinkling and the team warmed to her immediately.

As Jack opened his mouth to speak, she touched him on the arm and shushed him. "No don't … we know who they are, don't we children?" She signed as she spoke and the children all seemed to be creeping closer, doing bottom shuffles as they gazed up to the visitors.

Arnise turned to Sam and warmly shook her hand. "You are Sam." She then turned to Teal'c and named him and then Jonas. "We feel we know you all so well."

Sam gave the Colonel a questioning look, obviously very curious as to just what the Colonel had said about them.

Jack flushed a little, and gave them a wry smile with a shrug.

"And I think it is safe to say that Jack has not told you all anything, has he?"

"Uh, I wanted it … well, to be a surprise, no preparation …" he responded with yet another shrug.

"Surprise … well, yes, that would about cover it," said Sam dryly, then seeing Arnise's questioning look she smiled and added, "Such a nice one. Jack, here didn't tell us who the presents were for, or anything."

"The children don't get many visitors, except for Jack here. There are very few who come and see us on a regular basis."

Each of the team noticed she didn't sign that little speech.

Jack watched the bottom shuffle that was going on down on the floor and gave Arnise a puppy smile. She laughed and gave a sign to the children. Within seconds the children were surrounding the team. None of them seemed in awe of Teal'c at all and he soon found a little hand worming its way into his. Jack had knelt down, surrounded by most of the children, who all seemed to want a hug or just to touch. They were of various ages -- ranging from around five or six upwards. The noise grew in the room, but not with speech, just a variety of excited noises as the children all vied in their efforts to be noticed.

"Okay, okay," said Jack as he stood, and Sam watched in fascination as he signed with his hands. His movements were not as deft as Arnise's, but the children quietened down and watched.

"Introductions, then," he said with a smile and turned to his team. "You know who these folk are, but they don't know you." Jack put a hand on the head of the little girl who stared up at Teal'c, her small hand still enveloped in his.

"T, this little cutie is Charlie, watch out -- she's a heart stealer," he advised the Jaffa with a grin. Jack placed a hand on another child and continued to introduce them one by one … adding something about each child and continually signing as he spoke.

"…Annie, a little devil, watch out … Claire … Jackie … she'll make a general one day … Ruth … Jay … Susan … Chez … Adele … Kylie … Kasi. Oh, yeah, this is Tricia, little madam ..." whereupon Tricia fixed him with her baleful eyes and he amended it hurriedly to, "ahem I mean … little princess. Lynette … keep an eye on her too, she bites." He pantomimed getting his fingers bitten and Lynette gave him a cheeky grin. "… Jean … Karrie … Lorrie…Rod … Emma …Peter… Teressa … Kelly … Corine … Denise … Dee … Bev … Wendy … Sam, too clever by far that one … Vicky. Oh, yeah, and this is DJ, little monkey …and Gem … David … Paul, Lindsay … and we even have a Daniel … Judy … Karen … Eleri … Jessica … Elizabeth … Shelley … Amanda … Sue … Michael … Philip … um even little Jack here." He patted the boy on his dark head, giving the kid a thumbs up after he finished signing.

A few of the children were able to speak their own names at Jack's prompting and their words were perfectly understandable.

Each child laughed, silently in some cases. Some had a laugh all of their own, but each held delight as Jack introduced them and gave the team a beaming smile of pride.

Sam gazed at each child's face as Jack carried on naming them, as did Jonas and Teal'c, and smiled warmly at them. A little lump in her throat stopped her from saying hi.

Charlie tugged on Teal'c's hand to attract his attention and began to sign to him. He watched her carefully and Arnise translated for her.

"Charlie wants to hear more of your homeland. She loves the stories from your tribe in Africa. She's heard about how your father and forefathers fought to protect their village and families."

Teal'c raised an eyebrow and gave O'Neill a questioning look.

"I didn't give them any gory stuff … just some of the tales you told me of growing up," said Jack, a little sheepishly.

Teal'c smiled. "I should be honoured to talk further then," he said, gazing down at the little girl who was watching Arnise's hands, and broke into a smile as the words became real to her.

The children gyrated between the team and Sam watched as Jack signed and hugged with the children. One little girl didn't seem to want to let go of him, and a lump formed in her throat as she watched him returning the child's hug with relish. Sam felt a little tug at her jacket and she found one little boy gazing at her shyly. Sam was ashamed she couldn't remember his name … she knew it wasn't Daniel … that little face had stuck with her.

"He's Paul," said Jack helpfully. "Say hello to Sam," he signed to the boy as he spoke. Paul smiled shyly and moved his fingers.

Jack's grin became wider as he watched the signing.

"Well, that was a long hello," said Sam.

"Paul says you are a very pretty lady," said Jack, his eyes firmly on Sam as he spoke, watching her blush faintly.

Sam watched as Jack knelt to the boy and signed to him, but Jack didn't speak as he did so. Paul giggled in delight at whatever Jack was signing, and reached up a hand to Sam again, beaming.

"Jack O'Neill, don't go encouraging the boy, and that isn't the correct sign for beautiful," said Arnise, coming closer. "You know it's rude not to speak to the hearing when you sign," she chastised him.

Now, it was Jack's turn to blush a little and he got up with a groan, his knees giving little clicks as he stood.

"That was a private conversation," he berated the teacher.

Sam laughed and wondered exactly what the Colonel had been saying about her.

Jonas was in his element. He found the children fascinating. They were very tactile with him and curious, and their smiling faces a delight.

"Colonel, I wish you'd told us about this place earlier," he said.

"Uh, I, err … well, I wasn't sure you'd be interested … any of you, and then I thought it was a nice way to see … and, err … well …" He dried up looking a little embarrassed.

"If we had known sooner you could have taught us some signatures," said Teal'c.

"Ah, that's … okay, T … good one … yeah, I get the point. Maybe if you're interested enough later we can do some of that."

"Me too, I'd like to learn," said Sam.

Sydney still hadn't spoken and Jonas had smiled at her broadly, liking the young woman more and more, but finding the inability to communicate with much more than a smile a little frustrating.

"Yes … when can we start?" he asked impatiently.

Arnise showed him a simple sign for hello and Jonas repeated it smiling broadly.

The children kept them all busy with Arnise and Jack translating what they could, trying to make sure that each child had a turn speaking.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

"You are all staying for lunch with us, aren't you?" asked Arnise as she dispersed the children to go to wash up.

"Try and stop us," said Jack, grinning like a mad man, then remembering his team he looked to them with a raised brow.

"Indeed that would be most acceptable," said Teal'c.

"He's thrilled," translated Jack, "Believe me, that is thrilled." He laughed, still signing for Sydney's benefit.

"Me too," said Jonas and signed hello again to Sydney, who returned it with a beaming smile.

"That's settled then," said Jack.

"Are you sure you don't mind I mean four extra adults that can really eat …" began Sam, thinking of the schools funding. There was nothing that shrieked luxury here.

"I'm sure, Sam. We have friends who provide very well for us at this time of the year and enough friends that provide for us all the year and not just at Christmas," said Arnise as she linked Jack's arm to show them the way.

Jonas held his arm out to Sydney, who took it shyly and walked with him. Teal'c cast a look to Sam and then did the same with his arm to her and Sam smiled broadly and took it.

"We're not a large school and the children are here for most of their young lives. A lot of the children don't have parents, a few do, but their parents can't cope. Most of the children were born deaf, four are mute too and they all came to us with problems. With the right environment and kindness they learn quickly though and become as some would say 'socially acceptable'," though Arnise's expression as she spoke showed that she didn't agree with that particular expression. "The lucky ones end up here, but we need to be bigger. There needs to be more establishments like this," she continued. She paused and laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm getting on my soapbox. Please forgive me. Jack here doesn't need any of my lectures, he knows them only too well already, and you are our guests."

"That's okay, Arnise, you know it's something that I've never even thought much of before. You read and you see the odd articles but …" Sam broke off shaking her head, for a world with no sound and no comprehension of sounds was something she just couldn't comprehend. The difficulties they faced she could only just begin to imagine. Sam suddenly remembered something. "Ah, Colonel, that fund raiser you did last year … this was the school wasn't it?"

Jack gave her a grin … "Yes, it was. I had to twist a few arms on that one if I remember."

Sam winced. "Well, a hockey challenge wasn't my idea of fun. If we'd known a bit more about the cause it might have helped."

Arnise laughed. "Ah, now your secrets are nearly out, Jack … what's this 'Colonel'?"

Jack threw Sam a wry grin. "Okay, I admit it. We're Air Force. We work together, we're a team," he said proudly.

"Work colleagues and friends … such a rare thing these days …" said Arnise and opened the door to the dining room.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

TBC