Family
By Pip
A/N: Like the last chapter, a lot, and i mean a whole crap load was changed from the orginal draft, to here. But, unlike ch.4, i sat down, and read this one to check for spelling errors. Yeah, I noticed, as I read through it today, that ch.4 had many spelling mistakes that aren't going to be picked up by the crappy spell check I use...so, this time, I read through it, and, have fixed all the errors i could find...Hope you enjoy.
Ch.5: Early Morning Flights
The waiting area at Denver International was empty, save for four people. Jack, Daniel, Cassie, and Lea were waiting for Sam and her family to arrive.
The two hour drive to the airport had turned into a 'family' discussion. The three adults went over the plans one last time, for who was staying where during Sam's little visit, while Lea colored in her coloring book.
"I wonder who's bright idea it was to come in on an early morning flight." Jack stated, standing to stretch his legs.
"I can only imagine." Daniel replied. He shifted slightly, trying not to disturb the two most precious girls in his life. Lea had her head resting in his lap, the rest of her body stretched out across the row of seats. Cassie sat in the seat to his left, her head resting on his shoulder. Daniel had his arm on the back of her chair, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"Why do you think she chose now, to come back?" Cassie yawned. She nuzzled closer to Daniel for warmth. He instantly started rubbing her shoulder, sensing what she needed.
"Well, knowing Sam, she has a good reason." Jack said, sitting back down next to Daniel, and stroking his daughter's hair.
"But, do we still know her?" Daniel asked. "I mean, think about it Jack. Its been three YEARS since she left. She hasn't said a single word, no phone calls, emails, nothing. She didn't want anything to do with us, after she left. And, plus, you guys didn't talk to her on the phone. I did. She just seemed...different." Daniel turned his head to look unseeing, out the window.
"Your right, danny-boy." Jack had known the man for eleven years. He could tell that Sam's unexpected leave still effected the archaeologist deeply. And yet, like he had with everything else, Daniel took it in stride.
Daniel smiled, and turned to look at Jack. "And your surprised?"
Cassie snickered from his shoulder, as Jack playfully smacked Daniel in the back of the head. "Hey!"
"Don't flatter yourself, Doctor Jackson." Jack said in a mocking voice.
Daniel was about to fire back, but, was cut off by a voice coming from his lap.
"Daddy?" Lea asked in sleepy voice.
"Hey sweetie." Jack leaned over, so she could see him. "Whatcha need, devil?" he asked.
"I have to go to the bathroom." She answered in an eight year old girl fashion, sitting up, and rubbing her eyes.
"Well, how about we let Aunt Cass take you to the bathroom?" He said, looking up at Cass, who was stretching.
"Yeah, i can do that. I kinda have to go too." She got up, and reached out her hand to Lea "Come on babe, lets go."
"You two stay out of trouble." Daniel said.
"You know us." Cassie replied, starting to walk away with Lea.
"That's my point" he answered back.
"We're just going potty, Uncle Danny. What could happen?" Lea asked as they got farther from the two men.
"With you two...anything." Jack yelled as the girls rounded the corner to the restrooms.
"Was that wise, to let them off on their own?" Daniel asked, turning to his friend.
"Oh, probably not." The two laughed.
'Flight 256, Out of Seattle, Washington has just arrived in terminal 3B...' The announcer yelled throughout the nearly empty waiting area.
"That's Sam's flight." Daniel said, standing.
"Here we go." Jack patted Daniel on the back, as they made their way over to where passengers would soon be exiting.
"Oye, where are they?" Jack asked impatiently, looking both from the crowd of arriving passengers, to the way his girls had gone.
"Sam, or Cass?"Daniel asked with a smile.
"Do i really have to answer that?"
Daniel chuckled, already knowing the answer."No."
"Brace yourself." Jack said, pointing in the direction of the passengers. Both men could now see Pete making his way over to them, that same old cheesy smile on his face, and small boy in his arms.
"You can say that again." Daniel managed to get in, as Pete reached them.
"Hey!" Pete said, ever enthusiastic.
"Hey, Pete." Daniel and Jack replied simultaneously.
"Wow, its been a while, eh?" He said, the cheesy smile never leaving his face.
"Three years? I'd say so." Jack answered. He looked back, to see if his girls were maybe on their way back.
"Jack, relax. They'll be back any second now." Daniel said, noticing Jack was looking for them again.
"I'm not worried about them. I'm worried about the damn airport. You know what they can get into on their own." Jack looked back at Daniel.
"I'm sorry, who are we waiting for?" Pete asked curiously.
Daniel restrained from wincing as Pete said 'we'. "Oh, Cass and ..." he was cut off as a familiar woman made her way to them, a small boy identical to the one Pete was holding in her arms.
"Daniel! Jack!" Sam said excitedly.
"Hey, Sam." Daniel answered. Jack smiled quickly at her, before turning his attention back to looking for the two.
"Wow, you two look great!" She stated. Three years hadn't changed them much. They looked as handsome as she remembered.
"Yeah, Thanks. So do you." Daniel replied. She hadn't just changed, personality wise. Physically, she was different. Though still in great shape, she had gained a few pounds, no doubt do to having kids. Her hair was longer, and, Daniel noticed she was wearing more makeup then he had ever seen on her before.
"Thank You." She answered with a smile. "Did i hear you say something about Cassie being here? I'm so excited to see her."
"Uh, Yeah...she's here." Daniel looked at Jack, who was once again looking for them.
"Probably getting into to trouble with that little devil." Jack finally seemed to acknowledge the group.
"What little devil?" Sam asked, intrigued.
"Oh, ummmmm...so, who are these cute little boys?" Daniel asked, stalling.
The couple picked up on the stall tactic, but, gave in nonetheless.
"This is Adam, and Aidan." Pete answered. At the mention of their names, both boys looked up at the two strange men before them.
"They look just like you guys." Daniel smiled ate Adam, in Pete's arms.
"They're are pride and joy. Come on boys, say hello." Sam nudged Aidan with her finger.
"Hello." they replied at the same time.
"How old?" Jack asked, distracted.
"Three...almost four. They're wonders." Pete smiled, proud of his boys.
"Oh, i bet." Daniel answered, turning his head like Jack, looking for Cassie and Lea.
"Okay, introductions made. Now, why isn't Cassie here?" Sam was getting a little miffed by the two's distractedness.
"Oh, well, you see...she's..." Daniel started to say, but stopped when he heard someone calling for him from a behind. He turned to see Lea running towards them, Cassie desperately trying to keep up. Lea was calling him as she ran.
"Daniel, your being paged." Jack said, obviously relaxing at the site of the girls.
"Yes, excuse me." Daniel excused himself from the group, and started closing in the gap between himself and the girls. He heard Sam ask a question.
"Who's that?" she said curiously.
"Oh, that's Lea." Jack said, smiling. Sam looked curiously at him, and he just shrugged, and turned to watch Daniel confront the girls.
Lea raced towards him, and as they met, Daniel swooped her up in his arms, cradling her like a baby.
She was giggling, and out of breath. Cassie soon caught up to them. She too, was panting, and laughing. He eyed the pair, knowing they had gotten in some kind of mischief. "What'd you two do?" He asked.
"Nothing, Uncle Danny." Lea smiled sweetly.
"No, seriously. What did you do?" He prodded.
"Honestly, Daniel. We didn't do anything." Cassie's voice took on a sweet, innocent tone to it.
"Yeah, okay, right. Tell me." Daniel turned, and started walking back to where Jack and the others were.
"We kinda made a mess in the bathroom." Lea gave in.
"Kinda? Oh, geez." Daniel said, chuckling, shaking his head.
"Well, we decided it was best we race back here, seeing that the flight had come in, soooo, we rushed to finish up, and made a little mess." Cassie said with a sly grin.
"How Little?" Daniel couldn't help but ask.
"Its kinda flooded in the potty right now." Lea said, giggling again.
"You two...your spawns of Sokar, i swear." Daniel said laughing
"What'd they do this time?" Jack asked, overhearing Daniel's last statement, as the three reached them.
"It's classified." Lea answered in her best imitation of her father.
"Oh, classified, huh?" Jack poked his daughter in the stomach, who was still cradled in Daniel's arms.
"Yes sir. And, not even one such as yourself can know what evil plots we have committed today." Cassie replied, with a mock salute.
"Wait til the next time you get smash. I'll get it out of you." Jack looked at her, giving her a mischievous grin.
"Oh, you truly are evil, Jack O'Neill." Daniel laughed, as Cassie stuck her tongue out at the both of them.
"I learned from the best." Cassie grinned.
"Me too!" Lea put in. She started squirming in Daniel's strong hold. "Put me down."
"I don't know. Maybe we can interrogate the prisoner here?" Daniel looked at Jack.
"Well, maybe just a..." Jack began, but, suddenly was reminded of their company by Sam clearing her throat. "No, we have guests, at the moment. But later, my young padwan. You will learn the ways of interrogation." Jack winked at them. "Now, put her down."
Daniel bowed his head in defeat, and put Lea down. She stuck her tongue out at him, which he returned.
"Lea, come here." Jack motioned for his daughter to come to him. Daniel took her hand, and brought the girl the her father. They turned back to the waiting group.
"Well, you know Cassandra Frasier." Daniel said, indicating to the young woman standing next to him.
"Cassie!" Sam stared at the beautiful woman where there had once been a gangly little girl. Cassie looked so much like Janet, despite her not being her blood daughter, it was unreal. She had come into womanhood nicely. Sam couldn't be more surprised.
"Hey Sam." Cassie smiled.
"You look so different...I mean, in a great way." Sam exclaimed.
"Well, Thanks. You look good yourself. I see you have two boys." Cassie seemed to be taking the same tactic Daniel and Jack had.
"Yes well...anyways. You do look amazing. I see these two have been taking fine care of you." She looked and her use to be family.
"Yeah, well...what can i say. Couldn't have been raised any better." Cassie placed her arm on Daniel's shoulder.
"So..." Pete cut in, desperately curious to learn who this little girl was. "Who's this lovely princess?" He bent down to see her eye to eye.
"I'm no Princess." Lea replied all huffy. Cassie turned away to try and hide her laugh. Daniel did his best to hide his smiled. Jack knelt down, and looked at her.
"Oh, i'm sorry. What's your name, hun?" Sam walked up behind Pete, and placed her free hand on his back.
"I'm Lea. Lea O'Neill." She stated proudly
Sam looked up in surprise at Daniel and Cassie, who shrugged. Both were smiling, and she couldn't figure out why. She looked down at Jack. "O'Neill?"
"Yep. Samantha Car..." he caught the look thrown his way by Pete. It wasn't very friendly." Sorry, Shanaghan, I'd like you to meet Lea O'Neill. My daughter."
Coming Soon: Ch.6: A Ride of Information
A/N: I'm very happy with how this one turned out. Revising it as i typed it up really helped, and i didn't even look at my original draft after Jack's line "Three Years. I would say so." Everything after that was its own original work, based on the main points i had in the original draft. Be proud of me...LoL. Okay, I'm still writing ch.6, so, i'm not sure when i'll get it up. Hopefully by Tuesday.