Family

By Pip

A/N: Wow...most of this, when i typed it up, was completely changed from the orginal written draft, to here. I mean, its still the basic concept all the way through, but, I got major inspiration while typing, and decided to change some things, for the better. Hope you enjoy...all thats been building up is starting to come loose.

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

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Ch.4: Unexpected Calls

Three Years Later

Daniel sat at his desk, trying to focus on his work, but his attention kept being drawn back to the girl sitting quietly at the table. Unable to stand it any longer, he made his way over to her.

He wrapped his arms around her small waist, and rested his head gently on her shoulder, looking at what she was doing. She giggled.

"Uncle Danny, what are you doing?" the now eight year old Lea asked.

"I should ask you the same thing. Your sittin over here all quiet. I was getting scared." Daniel replied, mock terror in his voice.

"I'm drawing you a picture Uncle Danny." Lea answered, reaching up, and grabbing his glasses, putting them on her head.

"You are? Well, how can i see it, if you take my glasses?" he asked playfully.

"I don't you to see it yet!" She replied, trying to cover her drawing.

Daniel smiled, She was so much like Cassie had been, it made him laugh.

"Fine, don't let me see it." he replied, sounding hurt. Releasing her, he walked around to the other side of the table, and sat down, just as Jack walked in.

"Hey, what's my devil doing?" Jack asked as he kissed his daughter on the cheek.

"Stealing my glasses, that's what." Daniel replied, stating the obvious.

"That's my girl." Jack looked at Daniel, who was shaking his head.

"I'm surrounded," He threw his hands up, and slammed them back down on the table.

"Uncle Danny, your funny." Lea giggled, as Jack started drawing stuff on her picture. "DADDY!" she yelled trying to push his hand away.

"What? You were missing some stuff." he doodled some more on the paper.

Daniel sat and watched the two, laughing, as Jack easily took orders from the little girl.

At that moment, the papers on Daniel's desk started ringing. Daniel walked over, and started hunting through the chaos to find the phone.

"Maybe if you did some work..." Jack said mischievously to his friend.

"Bite me." Daniel replied, pulling the phone from the mess. "Daniel Jackson."

"Daniel?" the voice on the other end caught Daniel by surprise. His smile immediately faded, and his eyes grew serious.

"Uh...Sam?" Daniel tried to hold the shock his reply. Jack stopped doodling, and looked up.

"Yeah, Hey." Sam seemed nervous. Daniel could remember a time when she had never been nervous around him.

"Ummm, hi." Daniel replied, unable to think of anything else to say. Jack forced his attention back to Lea, but continued to listen to Daniel.

"How...how have you been. How are you?" Sam seemed to be regaining some confidence, almost as if nothing had happened at all.

"At the moment, a little shocked. I mean...why after three years, would someone who doesn't seem to want to associate with me...us, for that matter, be calling my office?" Daniel said, feeling no shame in how harsh the words had been. He could see Jack smiling.

"Yeah, about that. I'm sorry. But, I though, and still think it was the best..."

"Okay, whatever. Why are you calling? I'm surprised you still know this number." Daniel asked, getting annoyed. He caught Jack shoot a quick glance at him. 'okay, Daniel...relax, calm down' he thought to himself. He'd hate to loose his temper in front of Lea.

"Oh, yeah...Uh..." Sam was hesitating now.

"Sam?" Daniel prodded like he use to with her for answers.

"We're, ummm, that is, me and Pete, and the kids, are uh...coming for a visit." she had lost the confidence again. She had though Daniel would be more happy by her call.

"A visit?" Daniel replied, shocked. He watched as Jack got up, and made his way over to him, shaking his head no. "I don't think that's such a good idea...i mean...with the kids and all, it might be.." he could see Jack giving him the thumbs up.

"Well, yeah, we thought about it. We thought it would be nice for them to meet you. And, anyways, we've already bought the tickets. Non-refundable, and all that." She seemed to be pleading.

Daniel seemed to sink farther into his chair. He mouthed to Jack 'she's good' , and rolled his eyes. 'Now is not a good time to have a damn conscious.' he thought. "Non-refundable?" he repeated.

"Yeah..that's right." Sam brightened. she knew that would get him.

Daniel watched as Jack sank into the chair opposite his desk. He was now still shaking his head, but, motioned for Daniel to continue with his hand.

"Okay, well, if that's the case, i guess the visit is a must." Daniel answered finally, putting his head in his free hand.

"Great!" Sam started talking about all they had planned, and stuff. Daniel rolled his eyes, as she jabbered on. He could never remember her being this talkative. That was his thing, not hers. He looked over at Lea, who was making her way to him.

"Okay, uh, Sam. I gotta go now...alright?" Daniel said quickly, something coming to mind.

"Awww, okay, if you have to. I understand." Sam answered.

"So, saturday morning, your arriving?" Daniel asked.

"Yep...bright and early."

"See ya then." With that, Daniel hung up the phone, just as Lea reached him. She hopped up into his lap, and showed her picture to him.

"Well?" she asked

"Its beautiful, munchkin." He said, taking it. it was obvious the things Jack had added. Daniel found a pushpin, and pinned it to his wall. He looked at Jack, who was looking right back. They looked at Lea, who was playing with her hair. Both men had come to the same realization. Sam didn't know about Lea.

Coming Soon...Ch.5: Early Morning Flights

A/N: Soooo, it just got good, eh? Originally, Daniel wasn't sosarcastic, but, i think it good that he be very upset by her feeling she can just call up out of the blue, so, he got a little snippy. Thats how i like him, anyway.Well, ihave 5 written, and will probably have it up by tomorrow...i'm working on 6, and have 7(which was my fav ch. to write) done...and, the ideas just keep coming for what can happen after that. If you have any suggestions, complaints, things you'd like to see happen, please let me know.