Family

Pip

A/N: Okay, are you ready for the biggest twist of all? Well, here it is.

dedicated to the other musketeers...my home skillets!

Ch.3: Angel Heavensent

It had been three days since the unexpected leave of Sam Carter, and the rumors had begun to spread.

Even though Sam had left, the three of them became closer in those three days then they could have imagined.

Jack and Daniel were sitting in Jack's office, quietly enjoying each other's company, when the klaxons started blaring.

"Unscheduled Incoming Traveler!" Walter yelled over the base.

Both men entered the control room at the same time Teal'c did. Walking up behind Walter, Jack asked, "Anything Sergeant?"

"Uh, actually, yes Sir." Walter responded "There is a code being transmitted. It seems to be from the GDO you left behind on Edora."

Daniel and Teal'c'c glanced at each other, as jack ordered the iris open. The three made their way to the gate room. As they came into the view of the Stargate, they saw a young man enter through it, a girl in his arms.

AS he reached the bottom of the ramp, they met up. Immediately, recognition dawned on the three.

"Garan?" Daniel asked.

"Hello, Daniel. Jack. Teal'c." Garan responded to each of them.

"Well, I'll be damned! Garan. You..."Jack paused, thinking for the right word. "Grew."

"Yes, you all seem older as well. In a good way, I mean." Garan said nervously.

"Yeah, well. It happens." Jack said, referring to his hair with a gesture of his hand. Garan smiled.

"What is the reason you are visiting us?" Teal'c asked, eyeing the little girl in his arms.

"Oh, yes, I am here on behave of my mother." Garan said, seeming proud.

"Yeah, how is Laira?" Jack asked. He really had been missing her of late. He just hoped she was happy, and well.

"My mother has recently passed away." Garan replied, a sadness in his voice.

"Oh, God. I'm sorry Garan." Daniel replied first.

"As am I." Teal's answered as well.

Jack was the last to respond, He took a deep breath, and finally answered.

"She was a wonderful woman. I'm sorry for your loss." he said, patting Garan on the shoulder.

"Thanks to you all. She was indeed a wonderful women. I loved her very much. As much as she loved you, and you her." he looked into Jack's eyes.

"I don't doubt it. I loved your mother very much." Jack answered.

"Yes. It is because of this love that I'm here." Garan looked down at eh girl in his arms. She looked back, and smiled. "This is my sister, Lea."

"She's a beautiful child." daniel replied, as he looked at the girl. Her hair was light brown, down to her back. She smiled at him, and her eyes shined bright, they're dark brown deep and moving. This child was strong, he could tell.

"Yes, she is. And, she's as much like her father, as she is her mother." Garan replied with a sad smile.

"Oh, hot so?" Jack asked. He smiled at the child. For some reason, he felt a connection to her.

"Trouble seems to follow her, as it does you." Garan replied, setting her down, and whispered something in her ear, She seemed to brighten as she looked at Jack. "Go say hello." they heard Garan say to her.

"Daddy!" she raced over to Jack, and hugged his legs. Jack looked down at the girl now attached to him in surprise.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." Jack managed to get out before Daniel cut him off.

"Jack's her father?" he asked, stunned.

"Yes. For five years my mother raised Lea. I too, often cared for her, especially in my mother's final days. Her last wish was that Lea come here, to earth, and live among your family, Jack. I waited as long as possible, but, my wife and I are now unable to care for her, seeing as we have children of our own on the way..." Garan seemed nervous as he spoke.

"No, no. Its okay Garan, I understand." Jack cut him off. He reached down, and lifted the girl into his arms. She was so beautiful, and innocent. "Its just..."

"I will understand if you cannot care for her." Garan cut in.

"Its not that. I just..." Jack seemed at a loss for words. He looked to Daniel for help.

"Garan, Jack greatly appreciates you bringing Lea here. he will accept her with open arms." Daniel replied with a smile. He couldn't be happier for his best friend.

"Well, then, i must head back. My wife greatly needs me, and..."

"Wait!" Lea practically jumped from Jack's arms, and embraced Garan in a big five years old hug. "I will miss you Garan." She said with tears in her eyes.

"I too, will miss you. It may be a while until we can visit each other again." Garan replied, sadly. He released her, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I Love You."

"I Love you too!" They hugged one last time, and then Lea ran back over to Jack.

Garan waved, and stepped through the gate. Lea looked at the three men in front of her, taking them in. For five years old, she was exceptionally bright.

"Well, Lea. This is your new home. Your new family." Jack said, indicating to Daniel and Teal'c, who were smiling warmly at her.

Daniel knelt down, and smiled brighter."Hello Lea"

"Who are you?" She asked curiously.

"This, Lea," Jack walked her toward Daniel "is Daniel Jackson. He's my best friend. My family." he placed a hand on the archaeologist's shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.

"Daniel?" she seemed to consider the name, as she stood looking into his eyes.

"Yep. But, you can call me Danny, is you like." Daniel replied with a raise of his eyebrows.

She seemed to like this suggestion. If her daddy, who her mommy had told her was a very great man, held so much respect for this man, she would too. She asked Daniel one last question. "Can you be my 'Uncle' Danny?" She asked, unsure.

Jack smiled. He had just met his daughter, and yet he knew she was heavensent, much like the man kneeling down beside him.

"Sure! If that's what you want." Daniel smiled. Lea practically knocked him over as she embraced him in a hug. "Oof!"

Teal'c walked up beside Daniel, who still had Lea in his arms. Lea looked up at him. "And who are you?" She asked as she unwrapped her arms from around Daniel's neck. She walked right to him, and looked up as he towered above her.

"I am Teal'c. I too am a close friend to O'Neill." he said with a smile.

Lea looked back at Jack and Daniel, who nodded in agreement. They both laughed when she turned to look back up at Teal'c. Most children were scared of him, but she wasn't afraid at all. 'A True O'Neill' Jack thought to himself.

"Teal'c?" she questioned the same way she had Daniel, looking back up at him.

"Yep, but we just call him 'T'." Jack answered.

"'T'? That's cool." She replied. "Can i hug you?" she asked without a second thought.

Daniel and Jack looked at each other, and smiled.

"Indeed, you may." Teal'c replied, kneeling down, and embraced the small girl in a strong hug.

Not for the first time, the three of them were being stared at as they sat in the commissary. And, like always, they ignored them.

They sat at their usual table, Jack and Daniel drinking coffee. Lea was asleep in Daniel's lap, her head resting against his chest, her thumb in her mouth. The three men were still taking it all in.

"She really is beautiful, Jack." Daniel said, taking a sip.

"Just like her mother." Jack replied with a sad smile.

"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.

"I'm still in shock." Jack said with a shake of his head.

"It is, infact, not that surprising, O'Neill." Teal'c answered with a smile.

"No, I guess not." he smiled back. He looked at her sitting in Daniel's lap. His family had just gotten bigger.

Coming Soon...Ch.3: Unexpected Calls

A/N: Oye, yeah, i know...this was the hardest chapter for me to write. Hell, i even skipped doing it until 4 and 5 were done...the only thing that seems to irk me about it, is the way they accepted Lea too quickly...other than that, I'm good. LoL.