Vid. Z won't forgive me if I put Chimera in here so I'll have to forego it. (Sigh) No, I wasn't going to do it anyways.
Um, sorry about forgetting to put the Spoiler warning in the last chapter.
Celtic Cross (muhahaha, are you sure) and Haley (thanks! I'm blushing...)
And well... I hope you like this chapter! It's great to know people are still reading this!
Oh, in case anyone forgot, the next MAJOR thing in Sam/Jack's life wasJackgetting frozen in Antarctica. (-:
Thanks to Sara Loughlin for beta'ing this! (And her roommate as it turns out that she was the German expert.)
Grace... was panicking. She had nine days left. Nine whole days.
She needed more time.
Å
"Sir..."
"Carter..."
She smiled, even though part of her mind was reproaching for smiling so soon after the death of her friend. She didn't know how much emotion showed on her face until Jack said:
"She'd want you to be happy. Smile. Laugh. Enjoy your jello; dance around in your underwear. Don't feel guilty... Janet would be unhappy if she knew you were intentionally depriving yourself of happiness."
That brought a small smile to her face. "Going to the commissary will make you happy?"
He looked pointedly at her desk. Empty jello goblets littered it. "You can't live on jello alone."
"I can try..."
"Carter!"
She smiled again. "Joking sir."
Jack nodded. "Of course you were. Come on... let's go."
Å
The entire SGC now knew that Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill had been married for 7 years and were concealing it. The few sceptics were won over by the security tape from the infirmary clearly showing the two 'embracing passionately'.
They continued to watch closely...
Å
"Sam, c'mon!"
Carter shook her head and plopped the file onto the desk. "Grace, I'd love to but I am so busy."
The little girl plopped down on the ground dejectedly. "Okay..."
Carter bit her lip. "O'Malley's is a little grownup for you."
Grace shook her head. "It isn't. I've been there thou-" She stopped and smiled. "Wanna color?"
"You've been to O'Malley's before?"
She nodded. "Loads of times."
Sam studied her. Grace had now 'been' with them for 4 weeks and still she was as much of a mystery as the day she had seen her on the Prometheus.
"What?" Grace asked as she abandoned her crayons for her bubbles. "You are staring at me."
Sam smiled. "Sorry."
Grace giggled as the shimmering bubbles danced around her. "Whatcha doin'?" She asked gesturing to the laptop Sam was typing away on.
She shrugged. "Work."
"Do you ever play?"
Carter thought that that was a bit unfair. "I played Tag, and Hide and Seek with you yesterday."
"No Sam... PLAY!"
Carter's hand dropped off the keyboard. "What do you mean?" She said finally.
"You love your motorcycle but you never ride it, you like basketball but you never play, you like dancing in the rain but you never dance-"
"It hasn't rained in months," Carter mumbled.
Grace continued as if she hadn't been interrupted. "You love to dance but you don't, you love your CO but you deny yourself-"
"Stop."
The little girl stared at Sam.
"How... do you know this?"
Grace slowly got off her chair and walked towards the doorway. She paused. "I am Grace," and then she was gone.
Carter buried her face into her hands. "What do I do?" She whispered.
Å
The rumor mill was full blast. Jack had started bringing coffee to her lab every morning automatically and she always saved him a piece of pie.
The few souls who didn't get the significance of this were quickly enlightened. (The few idiots that had resisted the logic above.)
Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill were in love. Apparently they hadn't been married before... just having an affair.
Bets on when Jack would retire were placed.
Å
Jack slumped against his second-in-command's desk. "I'm done."
She raised an eyebrow. "With what sir?"
"The visits. Mackenzie can't find anything wrong with me."
Carter nodded. "Me too."
"He really grilled Jack about you," Grace announced climbing onto one of Carter's stools. "I mean really."
Jack scowled at the little girl. "Grace-"
She offered him the bubble container. "Wanna try?"
He was about to refuse when she smiled. A smile so much like Carter's, he always had to double check. "Ok." He agreed straightening up.
As the two blew bubbles, Carter thought back to her own interview with the most cordially despised doctor in the SGC.
"This will be our last visit Major Carter."
She wondered briefly if she was supposed to cry. Instead she intertwined her fingers. "Oh."
He nodded and sat his notepad down. "Just a few questions, then you can go.'
"Ok." She agreed. Anything to leave.
"What are your feelings for your CO?"
She stared. "What?"
"Rumor has it that you two have a very special bond. I was also allowed access to certain security footage... from 3 years ago."
Puzzlement was written across her face.
"You may not remember Major but... the Zay'tarc testing?"
Understanding flashed across her face and her fingers tightened. "What about it?"
"I was listening to it."
Carter's eyes widened. This could be bad.
"Now-"
She stood up. "I thought I was sent here to talk about my supposed hallucination."
"You were but-"
She ran from the room.
"What did Dr. Mackenzie ask you?" She asked curiously.
"Whether he loved you or not," piped Grace.
"Grace!" Jack growled.
"Well it's true. He said it was none of the doctor's damn business whether he loved you or not."
"Gra-"
"And whether he thought you were pretty..."
Jack moaned.
Grace's eyes were full of mischief. "He said you were the most beautiful woman in the whole world, nay, the whole universe and-"
Jack clapped his hand over her mouth. "I think it's time WE had a chat."
"Sir..." Carter began. Jack stiffened but looked at her.
"Me... Over Mary Steenburgen?"
Grace giggled.
"Well this sounds cheerful," Daniel said appearing in the doorway followed by Teal'c. The Jaffa stopped short at seeing the little girl.
"So you spoke the truth Daniel Jackson." He said finally.
Daniel smiled. "Yep."
"Wait, wait, wait…" Jack began. "You can… see her?"
Carter suddenly realized she had never told him about Daniel's visit. Daniel and Jack were both giving her puzzled glances. She cleared her throat. "Oh yeah... didn't I... tell... you sir?"
He shook his head.
"Oh. Sir... did you know Daniel could see her?"
He frowned at her, which she ignored. Teal'c had moved closer and carefully placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"I am Teal'c."
She nodded. "I know."
The Jaffa knelt. "Who are you?"'
The little girl gave the answer she so faithfully said to Sam. "I am Grace."
Teal'c nodded. "I am pleased to meet you."
"Likewise."
Teal'c smiled then departed. Daniel waved a good bye and followed his friend out.
Grace shrugged. "Anyone want to play a game?' She asked hopefully.
Å
The rumors had become 'news' and the General had heard. Though he hated to, he thought he needed to have a talk with the military members of SG-1. Consequently, they were summoned to his office where he had a serious, fatherly like chat with them while Grace scowled fiercely at him. Once dismissed, they both went to their own rooms and spent the whole night thinking. The next two days were rather awkward but by the third day, things were back to normal.
Well. Whatever NORMAL was for SG-1.
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Grace stood back from a distance and watched as Jack and Sam, without thinking, ate off each others plate, shared a cup, laughed at the same things...She gave a small sigh. Out of thirty-seven days, only one was left. She had almost given up hope this would happen.
"Grace?" Jack called from Sam's desk. "You ok?"
The little girl nodded. "I... have to go. I'll be back later."
They both nodded, satisfied.
I do have to go. It's time.
Well...
One chapter left!
A ZILLION thanks to Sara for beta'ing this for me... (hug)
You all rock.
PLEASE review