Christmas is for Sharing - part four
Lunch was a long and exuberant affair, the food was good and plentiful and the atmosphere cheerful. Although the noise level was nothing compared to what it would be in another school elsewhere, the children's enthusiasm and happiness was readily apparent to even the most casual of observers.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
The rest of the afternoon was spent in a classroom with large circular tables. Each member of the team was dragged off to sit at a separate table. Eventually, Jack asked permission of Arnise to fetch the presents and she readily agreed.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
"Shouldn't the children wait for tomorrow?" asked Jonas as he grabbed some of the bags.
"No way. This is the best part … just watch their faces, Jonas. Then we all get to play too," laughed Jack as he led the way back.
Sam drank in his enthusiasm, feeling the bubble of excitement build up inside. She'd not felt like this about Christmas for a long time. Each child was sitting waiting, their gazes fastened on the team the instant they re-entered the room, and Sam felt that lump coming back as she caught their looks.
They each decided they wanted a turn at handing out the presents, so they all took turns calling out the child's name on the parcels until only two were left. Jack carefully placed them on a table out of the way. The delight and wonder on the children's faces as they received their presents became a memory that would remain engraved in the hearts of them all. Arnise and Sydney had not been left out - there was even something for them.
Jack was right -- the fun began as the wrappings were cast to one side and the children began to show off their toys.
Sam thought her face would collapse from grinning so much. She didn't know how Jonas was coping, but then again, he had much more practice at grinning than the rest of them. But Jack, watching Jack, she saw he was in his element, hugging the children freely and frantically signing with enthusiasm as they showed him how delighted they were.
Sam recognised some of the presents as those the Colonel had bought during their shopping trip together. If only she'd known then. She now realised what the toys and games all had in common. It wasn't noise, although some of them certainly had that, it was that they did things. Every one of them was visual and or tactile, things that vibrated or moved … flashed …
The lump in her throat was getting steadily bigger as she watched even Teal'c openly displaying his pleasure with the children …
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Jack picked up the two presents remaining and grabbed Sam's hand, telling the others that they wouldn't be long. Sam kept pace beside him, telling herself it was the excitement of the day and not the pressure of his hand that was making her heart bump about painfully.
Jack didn't let go of her hand until they'd climbed the flight of stairs and passed several rooms. He peered through the small window of one door before tapping softly and then entering.
A pretty dark-eyed nurse greeted him with enthusiasm, "Come to see your little darling then?" Then as she noticed Sam, she gave her a polite, but more reserved smile.
"You bet. Sam, this is Stephanie. Steph, this is Sam." Then, before either woman could say anything, he was off and over to the cot bed at the far side of the room. "How is she?" he asked as he went.
"She's not doing too badly at all now. Getting over it nicely." She turned to Sam and explained. "Poor little thing had a nasty dose of the flu. We had a few scary moments, I can tell you."
Jack beckoned Sam over to the little bed, placing the two presents on the sheets as he bent over the sides.
Sam moved over quietly and found herself gazing down at the cutest little face she could imagine. The little girl's blue eyes blinked up sleepily at them, her blonde hair framing her perfect little face. The little girl recognised the face nearest to her and promptly put her arms up to be picked up, the peculiar noise emanating from her throat getting louder until Jack swung her up into a loving cuddle.
The small child, no more than two, Sam thought, crooned delightedly into his shoulder, her arms held tightly around his neck.
"Sam, I would like you to meet Bridget. Bridget, this is Sam," whispered Jack.
"Oh." Sam was dumbfounded for a moment. Matching teddy bears -- one for Bridget, one for Stephanie.
"She's missed you, Jack," said Stephanie, as she pulled them a couple of chairs over so they could sit. Jack sat down, Bridget cuddled on his lap, looking like she had no intentions of ever letting go.
"Bridget?" said Sam finding her voice at last.
"I know … it's that Bridget Jones' diary thing …" laughed Stephanie, taking a seat with them. "Just a pity her parents didn't love her as much as they apparently loved the film," continued the young nurse, her anger plain for an instant.
"Bridget was brought in by welfare when they discovered she was profoundly deaf. Her parents didn't want to know and so Bridget is the youngest here. She came a year ago. A year ago today actually. There was nowhere else at the time," said Jack softly.
Sam's eyes prickled with tears. "How could they … I mean …" She sniffed and put a hand out to the little girl, stroking her hair softly.
"It's hard enough raising a totally deaf child with help. Without help … well, that's why we're a necessity, unfortunately …" said Stephanie. "Argh, well, listen to me … Now then, Jack, are those presents I spy?"
Jack grinned. "Yep, one each."
"That's good, I take it it's a furry friend for my collection then?" grinned Steph.
"Yep, all out of moose though. You can open them when we've gone."
"That's good. Might get her to stop flooding the place when you leave. I've a good mind to tie you up here and not let you go, you know," said Steph with a twinkle in her eye.
Jack laughed and Bridget's small hand came up to touch his face and his lips as he talked. He blew kisses into her hand, his dark eyes showing such love and devotion …
Sam found the lump that was never far away today, suddenly doubled in size and tears threatened to spill over. She stood, excusing herself, and asked for the nearest bathroom.
Presently, Sam came back and found Bridget standing on the Colonel's lap. His large hands supported her tiny frame as she danced in delight, her hands taking turns in being clasped over his mouth and against his throat as he made silly noises and rumbles.
Sam stood watching the scene, trying hard to swallow …
"Well, as much as I don't want to … this young lady is getting tired and we need to say bye downstairs," said Jack sadly.
He picked Bridget up and swooped her against his chest as he stood, the little girl cooed with delight.
"Can I …?" asked Sam quietly holding out her hands to demonstrate what she wanted.
"Hey, Bridget … what about it? Wanna cuddle Sam?" crooned Jack and moved close, so close that Sam felt her heart give a flutter.
Jack offered Bridget out slowly in case the little girl didn't want to, but when she didn't protest he put her into Sam's arms. "Hold her close. She likes contact," said Jack.
Sam didn't hesitate and immediately enveloped the child in her arms, holding her close, feeling the child relax against her with a sigh of contentment.
It was Jack's turn to have that lump now. He felt his throat constrict as he gazed at Sam holding the child so lovingly, despite just being introduced. He'd known she'd make a great mom some day, he'd seen her with Cassie enough times, but here, holding the blond-haired, blue-eyed girl, it was easy to imagine… Jack blinked hard and tried to distract himself with conversation with Stephanie, but his eyes kept straying to the heart warming scene before him.
Sam sighed when Stephanie held out her arms to take Bridget from her. The little girl's eyes blinked at her so trustingly, yet she'd gone through so much in her very short life already and there was probably much more stored up for her as well, given her disability.
"Will she learn to speak at all?" she asked suddenly.
"Sure she will," said Jack. "It'll take a while, but she can get there. She can already say my name," he said proudly.
"That's a matter of opinion," said Steph, "You'll have the child performing miracles if you had your way," she snorted.
"She does," said Jack adamantly, and to demonstrate he took one of Bridget's hands and put it to his lips, giving it a kiss, before removing it and saying "Jack."
Bridget squealed with delight and shouted out a noise that could have been something similar … or coincidence.
"See," said Jack, proudly.
Sam laughed and shook her head at the sight of his beaming smile.
Sam smiled at Bridget and gave her a wave of her fingers to say goodbye.
The child's face crumpled a little as she realised her friends were leaving, but when Jack signed goodbye and blew her a kiss, her little face screwed up and her chin trembled, then huge silent tears began to slip down her face. She opened her arms, closing and opening her hands to demonstrate she wanted him, and began to make the same noise again in her throat.
Jack's face showed his distress momentarily before he promptly picked up one of the presents and presented it to the little girl. He stroked her hair quickly before leaning to kiss her goodbye and left without turning back.
Sam watched the little girl turn her attention to the box for a moment before casting a forlorn look to Jack as he quickly left, a little hic-cup racked her tiny frame before she shook the box, her interest taken …
Sam mouthed bye to Stephanie, and hurried out to join the Colonel who was leaning over the stair rail by the time she caught up to him. Whatever emotions he had felt were now firmly under control and he faced her with a bright smile once more.
Wordlessly, Sam held her hand out to him, and together they made their way back down the stairs to join the others.
All too soon the afternoon drew to a close, and the team were as sad as the children when it became time to leave. They now all knew the signing for Merry Christmas …
After much hugging and a few tears, they bid the children goodbye. The promise to come again, soon, was the only way the children would let them out.
Arnise walked with them to the exit, her arm linked with Jack. She turned to face them all, her lovely face brimming with happiness as she spoke.
"Thank you so much for coming. The children andI have enjoyed your visit so much. I hope you will all come back soon. We are very open to visitors. Anyone who can lend a hand or just be here is very welcome."
"Thank you for having us. It's been a lovely day, really …"
"Fabulous," cut in Jonas, his grin threatening to split his face.
"Indeed, and if you will permit, then we would like to visit again," said Teal'c, giving Arnise a slight bow of respect.
"That would be lovely, all of you. Jack has told us so much about you, and I must say how nice it was to meet you all at last."
Arnise gave each of them a hug and bid them to take care, before taking the lanky Colonel into her arms and hugged him tightly. "And you, Colonel, take good care of yourself and your nice friends. Will we see you on Saturday?"
"Yup." He grinned down at the little woman, who seemed reluctant to part with him.
Arnise sighed and let go, and as the Colonel opened the door to leave she tipped Sam a wink. "Ah, if I was just a few years younger I would give you a run for your money, Sam."
Sam gave the woman a flushed 'I don't know what you mean' look and hurried after the Colonel, managing to dig the gaping Kelownan in his ribs yet again.
Teal'c put a hand out to Jonas and quickly ushered him out as he bid Arnise goodbye.
