Some time after Suzanna and Elizabeth arrived at Jack's, his phone rang. The two women had been doing their own things. Suzanna sat and read while Elizabeth milled around the house doing this and that. Suzanna let her be knowing she wanted to be left alone. She would watch over her and be there should Elizabeth need her. Slowly, she stood and answered the phone, as she did all phones, in a very professional manner. "Hello. O'Neill residence."
Jack's voice sounded in her ear playfully. "I have your daughter. If you ever wish to see her again, you will have dinner on the table in half an hour. Enough for six."
"Six?" She questioned. Who was he bringing with him besides Harper?
"Dannyboy and Teal'c are coming, too. Told 'em what a good cook you are." His grin was evident in his voice.
"Alright. Anything specific you want?" Her mind went over what was available in the kitchen as she had given the entire house a once over.
Half serious, he answered, "You and a can of chocolate."
Suzanna sighed silently. "Jonathan..." She started but knew it was futile to argue with him when he was wanting to play. "I meant for dinner," she clarified for her own peace of mind.
"I was talking dinner." His grin was still in his voice. She could picture the face splitting smile, the devilish glint in his eyes.
"And for the others?" She inquired smugly. "You aren't one to share." Far from it. When they had been together, any man that even thought about giving her a once over ended up chewed out or injured.
"They can fend for themselves. I know Liz got your knack in the kitchen. Do you still have that black lacy thing..." He trailed off. He himself did not know how much of this was play and how much would be followed through. However, he knew how much he wanted followed through, all of it.
Suzanna cleared her throat in that way she did when she thought that was enough. "Yes." Her voice was pinched either from irritation or desire. Jack knew it was likely both. Suzanna knew it was more the latter. "I'll, uh, see you when you get here. Italian alright with you?"
"Long as you're desert." He had been thinking. He wanted her back. She was going to be his if he had to walk through hell to get her, and knowing her he would have to fight every step of the way. Unless he got lucky.
"Alright," she said, ignoring the dessert comment. "See you in a bit." Suzanna hung up the phone a bit flushed. She made her way to the kitchen and pulled out all of the things she would need to cook a meal for six. Elizabeth soon showed up to help her.
By the time Jack, Harper, Daniel, and Teal'c arrived, the meal was done and on the table. A few Italian dishes and a green salad awaited the hungry. Jack leaned over and kissed Elizabeth's cheek as he walked by her and the others took their seats. While everyone was preoccupied, Jack snuck his mouth to Suzanna's neck, kissing her lightly. The small action produced a small moan that only reached his and her ears. "Like that sound," he whispered in her ear.
"Eat." She turned him to the head of the table and the food.
"Bed and I will." He turned back around to look at her. He was dead serious.
"Jonathan..." She sighed again.
"My name." He grinned at her broadly. She was not putting up much of a fight. Things were looking up for him. He would have her back in no time flat.
Suzanna shook her head and sat down. She looked around. Teal'c ate silently. Daniel and Harper were talking animatedly about this and that to do with the Celts. Daniel, at least, was shoveling food into his mouth. Harper ignored her empty plate. Elizabeth took it upon herself to fill the girl's plate. "Harper, eat."
Jack watched as well as he sat at the head of the table and quickly dug in. His eyes, however, stayed on Suzanna. She was eating neatly but quickly. Her mannerisms those of someone who had spent years in the military. Otherwise, she watched those around her except for Jack.
"Thought maybe we could go to the movies tomorrow," Elizabeth spoke up after many minutes of just Daniel and Harper's discussion to listen to.
At about the same time, Suzanna had enough of watching Harper ignore her food for the most part. "Harper, eat your food and stop bugging the poor man."
Jack gave Elizabeth a sad smile. "Sorry, Kiddo. Don't want you out." He smirked inwardly as Harper, properly chastised by her mother, began to eat.
"We would be with her," Suzanna commented feeling sorry for Elizabeth for being cooped up for so long so far with lots of time to be cooped up in her future.
"Don't want to risk it until I find out more about what's going on." Jack shook his head. His decision was final. He was not going to put Elizabeth in danger or allow the others to be in danger by being out with her. They were staying at the base or home.
"What's going on?" Daniel asked. He had picked up that something was up but he had no idea what. He looked from Suzanna to Jack and back again.
Suzanna sighed yet again, ignoring Daniel's question as it was not her place to answer it. "Well, we can watch something here, together." All she got from Elizabeth was a minute nod of the head.
"Elizabeth saw something she shouldn't. Now we have to make sure she's safe." Jack, like Suzanna, was not going to give the major detail as it was Elizabeth's story to tell. When she was ready, she could tell others.
Elizabeth, finished eating though there was still food on her plate, stood and started clearing the table. Everyone was pretty much finished with the meal. Suzanna stood and helped her as Daniel set about finishing the food on his plate.
"What's for dessert?" Jack followed Elizabeth and Suzanna into the kitchen, a glint in his eye.
"Dad, why don't you just take her up to your room and do what you want to do?" She looked at him then to Suzanna. "What you both want to do."
Suzanna looked to say something then thought better of it. "Liz, why don't you lay down?" She could see the fatigue, had watched the girl not sleep night after night. Elizabeth needed to rest more than anything.
"Not tired, but I'll leave you to talk." She left them alone in the kitchen, going outside to look at the stars that twinkled in the darkening sky.
Suzanna's eyes followed Elizabeth out the door, staying there once the door was closed. Jack could see the concern in her eyes. "What's the matter?" He asked softly, stepping closer to her.
"I wish there was something we could do." She sighed, as was becoming a repetition for her it seemed. "I hate this feeling helpless, not able to make it go away."
"I know. We'll do the only thing we can do, protect her." He rubbed at her shoulders soothingly. She was so tense. He hated seeing her like this. He was reminded of things in her past he liked to keep there.
"She's shutting me out," she spoke softly, sounding lost.
"What? How?" He looked into her eyes. She and Elizabeth had always been close, very close. They shared everything. He knew it was serious when Suzanna just shook her head. "Talk to me, Sue."
"I don't know what to say."
"Tell me why you think she's shutting you out?" He pressed.
"I watch her. It's like she's running on automatic. There's no life to her now. She use to tell me every time something happened. We talked every night before bed. Now... nothing." She leaned into the hands on her shoulders.
"She feels as helpless as you do. I'm sure things will turn around. We'll get the old Liz back."
She nodded. "I hope so," she spoke real softly.
Jack pulled her tight into his arms, kissing the top of her head. She was such a strong woman. To see her like this broke his heart. "Sleep with me tonight," he said after she laid her head on his shoulder. "Doesn't have to be anything more." He just wanted to comfort her, hold her.
Suzanna looked up and seemed to read his face. "Alright." Jack smiled down at her and kissed her lips lightly. "Jon..." She looked into his eyes. "So much time has passed..." She put her hand on his face.
"Time you should have been here," he told her quietly, earnestly.
"We were going different places. You met Sarah and..." She shook her head again. "It's in the past now."
He nodded. "We have another chance." He held her tighter as she nodded back and leaned into him, her hands on his chest.
About then Daniel walked in, talking as he entered. "We were just wondering about des..." He trailed off as he spotted them.
Suzanna started to pull away from him. Jack pulled her back in and laid a passionate, possessive kiss on her right in front of Daniel. She gasped into the kiss, letting his tongue in her mouth as his eyes slid closed. She kissed back. Eventually, he pulled away when he needed air. "Better go get that dessert." He smiled at Daniel as he walked by him back to the dining room.
Daniel pinked slightly. Suzanna rolled her eyes. "Ignore his possessiveness." She smirked as she got the dirt cake from the fridge.
"Hey, if it works for you who am I to judge." He held his hands up defensively smiling.
"Truth be told, we haven't seen each other in a few years," she admitted to him as she busied herself with the cake.
"Couldn't tell." He grinned at her. Jack acted like she was his lost high school sweetheart or something.
She nodded before walking back to the dining room and setting a plate of dessert before everyone's seat. She then headed for the door. "I'll get Liz." She made her way to the back door and outside. "Liz, dessert's on the table, hon." She watched as Elizabeth stood and dusted herself off. "You okay?"
"Good as it gets." She smiled at her aunt but the smile did not reach her eyes. She felt lost and helpless.
"If you want to talk..."
"You're there. I know," she cut her aunt off. "Not much to talk about." She put her arm around Suzanna as they walked back inside, taking their seats.
"Harper, eat." Elizabeth spoke to her sister, who was chatting with Daniel animatedly yet again.
Harper hummed. "I will." She returned to her conversation. She could eat later, but she wanted to talk to Daniel as much as she could.
"Now, Harper," Suzanna intoned, eyeing her daughter.
"Mr. Teal'c, would you like some more?" Elizabeth asked Teal'c, who had finished what Suzanna had sat before him.
Teal'c shook his head. "No, thank you, ElizabethO'Neill."
"Liz," she corrected him.
"No mister, Kiddo. Just Teal'c," Jack corrected Elizabeth.
Suzanna finished her small piece of dirt cake just before Elizabeth finished her own. "Harper, food," Elizabeth reminded again. Harper had yet to touch her dessert.
"Liz, dear, take this into the kitchen." Suzanna handed her a few of the dirty dishes. Elizabeth took them and left the room, starting to wash them. "Harper, eat your dessert."
"I will."
"Now, Harper." Suzanna used her forceful officer/mother voice.
Harper sighed. "Alright already." She quickly scarfed the food down, swallowing each bite without chewing. Luckily for her it was dirt cake.
"Harper Charlotte O'Neill..." Jack started only stopping as Suzanna raised a hand for him to. He did not look happy about doing so but he quieted. Harper was way out of line.
Harper started chattering again at Daniel as soon as her food was gone. Suzanna watched her a moment. "Help your sister with the dishes."
"But..." Harper started.
"No buts," Suzanna gave her mother glower. At the same time, Jack warned, "Harper."
Harper sighed before taking the rest of the dishes into the kitchen to help Elizabeth. They all watched her go before Daniel spoke, "She's... animated."
"She's a pain in the ass," her mother corrected. "She thinks she knows everything and that running her mouth is more important than anything." Suzanna shook her head. Harper drove her made sometimes. She could not take the constant chatter.
"She's very intelligent," Daniel observed.
"She is," Suzanna agreed. "She just needs to grow up."
"She's what, twenty? She has time yet." Daniel smiled. He found Harper refreshing.
Suzanna nodded. "Perhaps I grew up too fast to understand." She sighed as she stood. "I'll see the girls are doing alright." She carried anything the other two missed into the kitchen to them.
"I'm sure once she's out in the real world instead of school. She'll learn." Jack assured Suzanna as she left. He had faith that Harper would turn out like her mother with a small bit of him thrown into the mix.