Chapter 6:

A/N: What am I doing? I'm trying to get to the end and instead I keep introducing new people! Oh well, doesn't matter. As long as it makes sense, I enjoy writing it and you people enjoy reading it.

Thanks for the reviews! It is not customary for me, but today I'm going to thank everyone personally who reviewed the last chapter:

Killhill2003 – Do your siblings read fanfiction as well? If not, you're safe… unless they think of it by themselves… ;) And yes, stones are fun… but what do they have? Blood system or caffeine system? Thanks for the review!

Whiterose01 – guess what. I updated again! And I very much enjoyed writing the last part. I hope you'll enjoy this part as well, since I enjoyed writing it. Have fun! Thanks for the review!

Gismo – I'm glad it made you laugh! I enjoyed writing it as well. I think it is indeed a nice change from all the sadness in "Unwanted Sacrifice" and I needed a break from the 'heavy' stuff. I hope you'll enjoy this part as well! Thanks for the review!

Moonlightbear – Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like it. Here is yet another chapter with some happy stuff.

Darkhelmetj – No, I can't believe you haven't reviewed before either. OK, seriously, thank you for the review. I hope you'll like this chapter as well.

Math girl – Thanks for the review! John's my favourite… as if you hadn't guessed yet… (although maybe you wouldn't think that reading my other story). Here is another revelation of one of John's 'secrets'. Enjoy!

Sorry if I missed anyone. Thank you anyway! Also for the ones who are just reading. I hope you'll all enjoy this chapter. Read and review please!

The next day John got up early and went for a morning run. He took his 'usual' route. Some things hadn't changed, others had.

When he had almost reached the end of his track he heard someone call him.

"Uncle John!!"

John stopped, turned around and was almost thrown off his feet as a young girl flung her body into his arms.

John laughed, hugging the girl tightly.

"Hey there! Now, let me see who this hurricane is."

He put the girl down, held her at arm's length and looked puzzled.

"I don't think we've met before, dear lady. Surely I would have remembered such a lovely looking girl!"

The girl giggled. "Uncle Johnny, it's me!!"

"Let me look at you closely."

He took her head between his hands and looked at it as if it was an object he had never seen before. Then he exclaimed: "My, it's Phoebe! I didn't recognise you at first. You have grown into a beautiful young lady!"

The eight-year-old giggled again and threw herself back into his arms.

"You knew that, Uncle John." She said with a satisfied smile.

"Of course I knew. How could I ever forget you." John smiled, holding the girl closely. It felt great to hold her again. It had been more than two years since he had last seen her. International Rescue had already been operational, but he had come to Nicole's birthday. He had somehow been able to avoid the topic 'work'.

"I've missed you, Uncle John." Phoebe said, hugging his waist whilst trying to look at his face.

"I've missed you too Phoebe. Did you receive your birthday cards?"

The girl nodded excitedly. "And the presents as well!! Thank you for the book! I love the book! It's got so many nice pictures in it and nice stories!" The girls face had lit up the moment she started talking about the book John sent her. "Do you want to come and read one of them?" She tried to drag him in the direction of her house which was about fifty metres away from where they were standing. But John wouldn't budge.

He grinned amused. "Didn't you read them all already?"

Blushing slightly Phoebe pulled at his hand harder, concentrating at her front garden. "Yes, but you can tell them really good. Daddy can too, but you're not here very often. Please come."

John sighed. "I'd love to come, but isn't it a bit early for you to have visitors?" He raised an eyebrow. "Besides, since you're still in your pyjama I would assume that your parents are still in bed, not knowing that their daughter has just run out of her house because she saw someone that looked familiar."

Phoebe had stopped pulling and looked at her attire. The moment she had seen the blond man whom she had come to think of as an uncle, running past her house, she hadn't spent another second thinking of how she was dressed. Not that she really cared either. She had simply put her shoes on, rushed downstairs, opened the door and run after the blond astronaut.

She was so glad to see him. But now that he had noticed that she was still wearing her pyjama, he had turned into babysitter-mode immediately.

"Come on, I'll bring you home. Have you had breakfast yet?" Taking her hand, John and Phoebe walked back along the road they had just come from.

"No, I was awake and I was playing with the Playmobil® and then I saw you running past."

John shook his head imperceptibly. He remembered one of the times when he was babysitting her. He had stayed at the house at night because Phoebe's parents had called at around 10.00pm, telling him they wouldn't make it back in time. It had started snowing, it was hard to drive, especially since you couldn't see much further than your windshield, so they had decided to stop at a motel and stay there until the storm had calmed down. John had settled on the couch that night and the next morning he had woken up, finding a four-year-old already awake, playing with some stuffed animals.

"I suppose that hasn't changed then."

"What?" Phoebe asked.

"You're still a morning person."

Phoebe happily nodded while she pushed the door further open. She had left it ajar when she ran out of the house. They stood still, listening whether Phoebe's parents had woken up. They didn't hear anything.

For a moment John hesitated. What would Mr and Mrs O'Neill think if they walked into the room and found him talking with their daughter? On the other hand, he had been here often enough, and it wasn't like he could just leave Phoebe to herself. Not now that she had been running outside and was full of energy.

"Go to your parents' room and see if they're awake."

Phoebe obeyed. While John closed the door behind him and stood at the door mat, Phoebe walked upstairs and went into her parents' bedroom with a soft knock.

She peeked around the door and then went inside. Carefully she walked to the bed and looked at her father whose mouth was hanging half open. Then she looked at her mother who'd turned around in her sleep the moment Phoebe entered.

For a moment Phoebe stood there, contemplating what to do.

Then her eyes lit up. If her parents had been awake to see her expression they would have known she was up to something. Unfortunately for them, they were still in dreamland. But not for long…

Phoebe kicked her shoes off, jumped on the bed and crawled in between her parents, making sure she was waking them up. Both her parents groaned.

"Phoebe, what're you doing?" Her father asked sleepily, looking at his clock only to find out it was just about 6.15. On his day off. "Why are you up so early?"

Phoebe went to sit on his chest and gave him a wet kiss. "I was awake and then I saw Uncle John and now he's here. And I'm hungry. Can Uncle John come in and make me breakfast? You can stay in bed."

She had talked so rapidly that half of what she was saying didn't get through to her father. What he did understand was that if he said 'yes' he could go back to sleep. He had heard 'Uncle John' as well. He didn't make the connection that John usually wasn't coming over at 6am, but he did know that if John was there, it would be all right.

"Yeah, sure honey." He answered, falling back asleep already.

"Thank you Daddy!" she cried out. She slipped from her dad's chest onto the floor and ran back downstairs. "It's ok! Daddy said you could come in."

John had heard some mumbling coming from upstairs and had cringed when he had heard Phoebe shout "Thank you Daddy!". So much for not disturbing them.

"OK, let's get you something to eat then. You hungry?" He asked.

"Yes. Could you make me breakfast?"

"All right, what do you usually get for breakfast?" John asked as they walked towards the kitchen.

"Cereals." She clambered onto one of the chairs that were standing around the kitchen table.

"Cereals it is then." John searched the kitchen till he found what he needed. He figured Mr and Mrs O'Neill wouldn't mind if he grabbed a cup of coffee for himself. Not much later both John and Phoebe were sitting at the table; Phoebe eating her cereals, John enjoying his coffee.

"So, do you have to go to school today?" John asked, taking a sip of the black liquid.

Phoebe made a face. "Yeah."

"Your enthusiasm is touching.

As a reward for his comment the girl opposite him stuck out her tongue, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes and she couldn't quite keep the edges of her mouth from curling up.

John grinned.

"So, what is so bad about school then?" He asked.

"Nothing really, but that means that I can't stay with you!"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll be here for at least another 4 days."

"Really?! Can we go somewhere together? Can we? Please?"

John held up his hand and the excited girl sat down again. "We'll see. Your parents have to agree as well." There was some commotion upstairs. "Speaking of which, I think someone has woken up."

Phoebe continued eating while John took another sip of his coffee. Footsteps were heard coming down the stairs and a few moments after that the door to the kitchen opened.

And there was Mrs O'Neill, wearing a blue morning gown and white slippers. Her dark blonde hair was ruffled which was quite a contrast to the alert blue eyes that took in the scene before her.

"Good morning Mrs O'Neill. How are you doing?" John asked politely, moving to stand up. She motioned for him to stay put however and a warm smile covered her face.

"Well, hello John! I'm fine. How are you?"

"Just fine as well. Would you like some coffee? I just made some. I hope you don't mind me going through your stuff."

"No, of course I don't mind. You've been here often enough, even though it has been a while. And I would like some coffee, thank you."

John stood up and moved to take out another cup. "Would you like something to eat as well?"

"No thank you, coffee is my fuel in the morning." She smiled as John put the filled cup in front of her. Turning to her daughter who was still eating her cereals sitting in her pyjama, she asked: "So, which teacher do you have today?"

"Mrs Caldry."

"Ah, your favourite teacher."

"Mum?"

"Yes dear?"

"Why is daddy still asleep? Doesn't he have to go to his work?" Phoebe looked puzzled.

"No, it's your daddy's day off." Phoebe considered this for a while, whilst munching on the last of her cereals.

"Mum?"

"Yes dear?"

"Can I take a day off as well?"

Both John and Mrs O'Neill had to refrain from chuckling. "No honey, you can't take a day off from school."

"Why not?"

"Well, you see, daddy has worked really hard and his boss said that he has earned it so daddy can have a day off to relax."

"But I have worked hard as well!"

"Yes, but daddy couldn't take a day off when he was in school either. That's something you can do when you have a job."

Again Phoebe was contemplating and with a deep sigh she then said: "Oh well. I'll just find a job really soon then." And with that the topic was closed as far as she was concerned.

For a while they just chatted until Mrs O'Neill looked at the clock. "Oh dear, you have to hurry up Phoebe. We still have to dress, and if we don't hurry you're going to be late for school!"

Phoebe slipped off the chair and ran upstairs. "Don't forget to take your bag with you!" Mrs O'Neill called after her.

"I won't!" she yelled back.

Mrs O'Neill looked at John who had finished his second cup of coffee by now. "I'm sorry, usually it's my husband who brings her to school, but today he's going to sleep in… if that's possible with that little whirlwind blowing through the house."

John chuckled. "A whirlwind she is." He took the empty cereal bowl and the two coffee cups to the sink.

"Oh, you can leave those. You prepared breakfast, I'll do the dishes." Mrs O'Neill exclaimed.

"Ok, how about this. You do the dishes and I'll drop Phoebe off at school."

"That's really not necessa-" Mrs O'Neill started to object.

"I know it's not necessary, but I'm going that way anyway, and this way you won't have to hurry. Besides, I enjoy spending some time with your 'whirlwind'. It has been way too long already."

Mrs O'Neill laughed and held up her hands in defeat. "OK, OK, I know when I'm defeated."

"Mummy! I'm ready!" The girl rushed downstairs, bag on her back already.

"Honey, Uncle John will bring you to school. Is that ok?"

"Yes!!"

Both adults laughed as they heard the 8-year-old's reaction.

"OK, have a nice day then. I'll pick you up from school this afternoon." Mrs O'Neill bent forward to hug her daughter and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Bye Mummy, see you!" And the girl ran out of the front door, waiting at the pavement.

"Thank you John. Will we see you again this week?"

"Probably… I'll be running my track in the mornings and if your daughter is awake this early every morning she'll no doubt wait for me to show up."

Mrs O'Neill chuckled. "In that case, see you tomorrow."

John smiled and nodded. "See you tomorrow."

Then he turned around and ran to the waiting girl, scooped her up and circled her around him for a moment. Then he put her down and they started walking in the general direction of the school, turning around once to wave at Mrs O'Neill who had watched the interaction in amusement.

A/N: That's it for now folks, but don't despair, there's more to come. Please review! Thanks!