THROUGH THE YEARS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a/n: Okay, I guess it was really unfair to have you people guess who figures out Grace's dad since the person wasn't even in the last chapter. Sorry! Anyways, here is a little Christmas chapter. I hope everyone likes it and I will get another chapter up, hopefully, next week sometime.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 22: Christmas Surprises and Epiphanies
December 1993 Washington DC
Sam was late getting out of work and rushed through the Christmas traffic to the day care to pick up Grace. Her father was flying in to spend the holidays with them and Sam had a ton of things to do before he arrived.
Once Grace was picked up, Sam and Grace hurried through a few stores, trying to get their Christmas shopping done. Sam had no idea what to buy Jonas. Last Christmas she had bought him a new razor and a sweater, but he really wasn't very impressed. She had no idea what he might want this year. Deciding to shop for him later, Sam picked up her dad's favorite cologne and a few other things for him and soon left the mall. She hated shopping during Christmas. The mass of people reminded her of public airports, and she had always despised public airports.
Sam was surprised when she found her front door unlocked and Jonas in her apartment when they arrived home. "Jonas, what are you doing here?" she asked, after setting down her purse and keys.
"I wanted to surprise you," he said, lighting the candles he had set out on the table.
It was then that Sam noticed the table for two setting and wondered what Jonas was doing. "Two place settings, Jonas? Are you not planning on eating?" she asked, sarcastically. She hated it when Jonas didn't include Grace in his plans, especially for something like dinner at home.
"I stopped at McDonald's and picked her up a happy meal. I figured she could eat it in the living room," Jonas replied.
"Why?" Sam asked, quite frustrated at the moment.
"Samantha, I want to have a romantic dinner with you, isn't that reason enough?"
"Jonas, you should have called, I really don't have time for this right now. My dad will be here tomorrow and I still have a ton of things to do before Christmas…"
"I know, that is why I am here tonight."
Sam looked at Jonas with a confused expression. "Jonas, you don't know my dad. I'm sorry we can't spend Christmas together, but my dad just won't understand. He still thinks of me as his little girl and my boyfriend spending Christmas with us will not make him happy," Sam told the man, assuming he was trying to talk her into letting him come over and meet her dad. The truth was, she just wasn't ready for that yet.
"That's not why I'm here, Sam. I love you and I understand that you don't want your dad to meet me yet. But, I've been thinking a lot about this whole boyfriend thing and I think it's time to change that."
"Jonas, what are you talking about?" Sam asked.
Jonas looked around and lightly pounded his fists into his thighs. "Hmph, I really wanted to wait until after dinner, but what the heck. Samantha, I love you. You are the most beautiful woman in the world and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
Sam was floored! She was soooo not expecting this. In fact, she had no idea their relationship was even close to this level of commitment. For crying out loud, she didn't even want to introduce him to her dad yet. "Jonas," Sam started, looking down at the ground. "I-I.."
"Sam," Jonas cut in. "This isn't just about me and you. Grace needs a stable family home. I love you and I love her. Please."
Sam looked up at Jonas. 'No, no, no!' a voice was shouting in her head. Sam nodded her head. "Okay," she croaked out.
"Great!" Jonas exclaimed and slipped the ring on Sam's finger.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado Springs
"Hey, Charlie-boy! How's it going?" Jack asked, picking his son up from pre-school.
"Okay," Charlie answered. "No more school 'til after Christmas."
"I know!" Jack exclaimed. "We have the rest of the day to spend together. What do you want to do?"
"Uhm, go see Santa?" Charlie suggested.
Jack laughed. "We've seen Santa four times already this year. Wouldn't you rather do something else?"
"No."
"Well, okay then, off to see St. Nick!" Jack exclaimed and picked Charlie up, throwing him over his shoulder.
After a quick trip to the mall to see Santa again, Jack picked up a few things and the two boys went home to start dinner. Jack put together a chicken dinner and after watching a couple reruns of the Simpsons, the two pigged out.
Jack cleaned the kitchen and sent Charlie up to clean out the tub for his bath when the phone rang. Jack walked over and picked up the phone. "O'Neill."
"Jack. I need your help," Sara's voice came over the line.
"Sara, I've already told you, I'm not giving you the gifts I bought Charlie for Christmas…"
"It's not that! Look, Randy got into some trouble with some bad men. I don't know what to do. They're threatening to kill him if he doesn't pay them back the money he borrowed."
"And this effects me how?" Jack asked, sarcastically.
"What? You don't think they'll kill me, too? What if they come when I have Charlie? Do you really want to risk your son's life?"
"Sara! Kick him out! He's a loser. I have no idea why you're still with him. He doesn't have a job, he spends all your money and now he's got people after him. Get rid of him!"
"It's not that easy, Jack!" Sara squawked into the phone. "I've tried. It's like he's dense or something and just won't leave."
"Seriously Sara, are you just figuring this out? It was pretty obvious the first time I met him that he was a few fries short of a happy meal."
"Jack, please help me!" she pleaded.
"Alright, look, I'll call Kowalsky to come over and keep an eye on Charlie and I'll be there."
"Thank you, Jack."
"Don't thank me, if it wasn't for Charlie I wouldn't give a shit what happens to you."
Sara gulped down the lump in her throat and hung up the phone. They had finally signed their divorce papers a week ago. The judge had granted equal custody and Sara was actually starting to regret her actions towards Jack. She thought he wrecked her life, but she had really done that herself. And now, she wrecked it even more by falling into bed with a junkie. She was a nurse, she should have known better. She went to the bathroom to fix her hair while she waited for Jack to show up.
An hour later, Jack was at Sara's house. He walked in with several bags and went to work packing up all of Randy's things. When he was done, he walked over to Randy, asleep on the couch and kicked him in the leg. "Randy, get up!" he roared.
Sara just stood in the kitchen and watched.
"Yo, dude, what's up?" Randy greeted in his normal way.
"This is what's up, Randy, Sara doesn't want you here anymore. I packed all your things, now leave," Jack replied in the simplest terms he could.
"Yo, Sara, is that true, baby?" Randy asked, turning to Sara in the kitchen.
"Yes, yes it is, Randy," she answered.
"Okay, dude, cool." Randy stood up, grabbed his things and walked towards the door. Once he opened the door, he turned back around towards Sara. "Yo, babe, if you ever wanna hook back up, you know how to reach me…"
Jack shoved the man back around and pushed him out the door. "She won't," he replied and shut the door behind him.
"Oh, Jack, thank you so much," Sara said, approaching Jack and reaching out for him. "I'm so sorry, for everything. I-I don't know what to say."
"Don't, Sara. Just….don't. Okay? I have to get back to Charlie," he said, backing out of he reach.
"Jack, please… We can work things out…"
"No, Sara, we can't. Our divorce is final. We are sharing custody of Charlie and that is the only relationship we have," Jack snapped.
"Jack…"
"Good-bye, Sara," Jack cut her off and walked out the door. His life married to Sara was a mistake that he wasn't going to make again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One week later….
"I fold."
"Eck, Kowalsky, you wuss!" Jack complained.
"I'm in," Ferretti announced.
RING RING
"Hold on a sec, guys," Jack said, standing up to answer his phone. "O'Neill," he answered after picking up the receiver.
"Jack, I need your help," Sara's voice came over the line.
"Damn it, Sara. Now what?"
"Those men showed up looking for Randy. Jack, please, I know you're not supposed to pick Charlie up until tomorrow, but he's scared and wants you. They broke the front window after I told them Randy wasn't living here anymore and I didn't know where he was."
"Jesus, Sara!" Jack yelled over the line.
"I'm sorry! What do you think? That I wanted to get involved in all this? Are you going to come and get Charlie or not?"
"Yeah, I'll be there shortly. You're not going to stay there tonight, are you?"
"No, I'm going to my dad's for the next few nights."
"Good. Have Charlie ready to go, I'll be there in about half an hour."
"Thank you, Jack," Sara said before hanging up the phone.
"Sorry, guys," Jack announced, walking back to the card table. "I have to go get my kid, we're going to have to call the poker game."
"Damn, I was winning," Kowalsky complained.
"Kowalsky, you have four chips left," Jack exasperated.
"I was on a comeback!" Kowalsky exclaimed, gathering up the cards and putting them back in the box.
"Uh huh, sure you were, Major," Jack teased. A few minutes later, the men were all packed up and heading out the door.
"Same time next week," Ferretti asked.
"Nope, not next week, I have Charlie through Christmas, but the week after is good."
"Cool," the boys replied and then headed to their cars.
Jack closed the door and went to his bedroom. He threw a sweater over his t-shirt and then pulled a lock box off the top shelf in his closet. Entering the combination, Jack opened the box and took out the small handgun inside. He checked to see if there were bullets inside and then made sure the safety was on before inserting it in the back of his pants. Grabbing his wallet and keys, Jack headed out to his truck.
It took him about ten minutes to get to Sara's house. He pulled up in the drive way and shut off the truck. Before reaching the front door, Charlie came running out. "Daddy, Daddy, I want to stay with you!" he cried.
"I know, slugger. You are. Why don't you go throw your bag in the truck and get yourself buckled in. I'm going to talk to your mom for a few minutes, okay?"
"Okay," Charlie replied and rushed off to his dad's truck, finally feeling safe again since the earlier incident.
"Thank you, Jack," Sara said at the door. "Those men really scared him. Sorry I interrupted your poker night, I'll try and make it up to you."
"Let me take Charlie to Ohio for Christmas," Jack answered.
"No, not that! I've already told you. You get him Christmas Eve and I get him Christmas day, the judge ordered it, Jack. If you want to take him to Ohio, then you have to be back on Christmas Eve."
"Damn it, Sara, you know that's not possible!" Jack argued.
"Well then, I guess you're staying in Colorado. I will not give up my holiday with Charlie!"
Jack shook his head in disappointment. His whole family was getting together this year for Christmas and he really wanted to go home with Charlie. Giving up trying to convince his ex-wife, he decided to finish what he came here for and leave. "Do you think those men will come back?" he asked.
"Yes, I do, and it scares the hell out of me," Sara replied.
Jack pulled the gun out of his pants. "Here, take this. It's not much, but it can protect you and Charlie."
"Jack, I don't want a gun. I don't even know how to use one," Sara announced.
"This gun is easy. Just point and shoot. Here, this is the safety, turn it this way to shut it off, this way to turn it on. There are already bullets in the chamber. Put it up somewhere so you can get to it quickly if you need to."
Sara nodded her head and took the gun. "Thank you, Jack. I really hope I don't ever have to use this."
"Me too," he replied and then headed to his truck to take his son home.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ohio
Mike and Kelly walked in the front door of the O'Neill home. "We're here!" she yelled into the house. A second later, everyone in the house came rushing into the front room.
"Kelly, Mike, you're early!" Maggie announced, hugging her youngest daughter.
"Yes, well, Mike got out early so we decided to try and avoid the holiday traffic," Kelly explained.
"Hey, sis, Merry Christmas," Rob greeted, holding his baby in his arms.
"You too," Kelly replied, walking over and taking the baby out of his arms. "Hey, there, little Sean, your favorite Aunt is back."
"Hey, I resent that! What about me?" Liz barked in amusement.
Kelly lightly shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I'm sure we can both be his favorites," she reasoned.
Liz smiled at her sister and then hugged her while tickling the one year old in her arms.
Sean squealed in delight at being tickled.
Mike and Mr. O'Neill brought in their bags and set them down in the hallway while Kelly joined the rest of her family in the kitchen.
"Sweetie, would you like some hot cocoa?" Maggie asked her daughter.
"Yes, please. That sounds great!" Kelly exclaimed, rubbing her hands together to try and warm them up.
"So, how's DC?" Valerie asked.
"Oh, it's great! Oh yeah, I have a Christmas card from Sam for everyone. It's in my bag."
"I still can't believe you just ran into Sam after no one knew where she was for years," Liz exclaimed.
"I know. It still surprises me sometimes. I don't get to spend a lot of time with her, though. We were getting together like once a month, but then she started working longer hours and all her spare time went to Grace and her boyfriend, Jonas."
"I can't believe Sam had a kid and didn't tell any of us," Rob put in, walking over and pouring himself some coffee.
"Sam said she would like to come for a visit soon. She misses everyone," Kelly added.
"So, how long has Sam been dating this Jonas guy?" Liz asked.
"Uhm, uh, well they were dating when I first ran into Sam back in March and she said they had been dating for awhile. I don't know really."
"Is it serious?" Liz asked.
"I hope not! I really don't like the guy. He always wants to know where Sam is at all times. He's a little creepy, if you ask me."
"That's a shame, Sam deserves some happiness," Rob put in.
"If your stubborn brother would get off his lazy butt and go get her back, she would be happy," Mrs. O'Neill chimed in, surprising most of the occupants in the room. It wasn't like Mrs. O'Neill to talk bad about any of her kids.
"So, does Sam look the same?" Liz asked, trying to get the subject off of Jack.
"Yeah, pretty much, ooh, wait, I brought pictures. Hang on a sec," Kelly announced and rushed out of the room to her bags. She shuffled around in one of the larger ones and pulled out an envelope addressed to the O'Neill's and a sleeve of pictures.
"Here, this is the card from Sam and here are some pictures I took over the summer," Kelly told the room of people while handing her mom the card and setting the pictures on the counter for anyone to pick up and look through.
Liz picked up a few of the pictures. The first one was a picture of Sam alone. "She looks a little older, but still our Sam," Liz announced.
"She's still gorgeous," Rob said and received a punch in the arm from his wife. "What she is?" he exclaimed and rubbed his now-tender arm.
Liz flipped to the next picture. It was a picture of Grace sitting on Sam's lap, both smiling at the camera. "Oh my God!" Liz exclaimed. "This is Grace?" she asked Kelly, flipping the picture around to show Kelly.
Kelly looked up. "Yeah, why?" Kelly asked, confused over her sister's outburst.
Maggie picked up a picture of Grace off the counter. "Oh my!" she exclaimed and cupped her mouth with her hand.
"What?" Kelly barked.
"How old is Grace?" Liz questioned.
"Uh, she turned four in May. Why?" Kelly replied.
"She's only two months younger than Charlie," Liz announced.
"So?" Kelly was all sorts of confused.
Rob, who hadn't seen the picture of the girl yet, walked up behind Liz to get a look. "Holy shit! She's Jack's!"
"What?" Kelly asked in shock.
"Kelly, have you never noticed that Grace looks exactly like you at that age?" Liz questioned her little sister, getting quite frustrated at her denseness.
Kelly snatched up one of the pictures and looked at it. "Well, I noticed, shoot, even other people noticed, but Sam never said anything. I didn't even think that she could be Jack's."
Liz set the pictures down and looked at her mom. "You know what this means? She was pregnant when Jack married Sara. When she came here after finding out Jack got married, she was pregnant. Why didn't she tell us?"
"She was very distraught at the time, hon. You can't hold that against her," Maggie told her daughter.
"Still," Rob cut in. "Doesn't it kind of tick you off that you have a four-year old granddaughter that you didn't even know about. We never did anything to Sam. She had no reason to keep Grace from us."
Everyone turned their attention to Mrs. O'Neill. "Well, it looks like I'll be making a little trip to DC after the holidays to meet my granddaughter," she announced to the room full of family.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a/n: Okay, first person to figure it out was Liz and then Mrs. O'Neill, but Rob was the first to voice it.
I realized that I wrote the wrong name down for Rob's wife in the last chapter. It should have been Valerie and I wrote Veronica. Sorry! I'll try and go back to fix it, some time.