Hey y'all!
Thanks for reviewing for the last chapter- it's really encouraging. And to all of you who LIKED it, many hugs!
Hope you like this one!
Carter pushed open the door; surprised her CO hadn't met her at the door. She found her way into the living room and saw her commanding officer apparently arguing with a young woman.
"Sir?"
He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the girl:
"Hi, I'm Melanie, Jack's sister," she said smoothly, holding out her hand. "I take it you are Carter?"
Carter gave an involuntary glance at Jack, before turning her attention back to the woman and shaking her hand. "Um, yeah, I-"
"What's your first name?" Melanie asked curiously. "Jack has mentioned you to my older sister- Anna- but never your first name… just Carter."
Carter smiled. "My friends call me Samantha- Sam."
"Sam," Melanie cocked her head. "I like it."
A faint cry coming from the couch made Melanie look down. "Hey Nick," she whispered, smoothing his hair. "How's it goin'?"
Carter stepped closer and smiled involuntarily. "Oh, wow," she said softly, "he's beautiful."
Melanie gave her a grateful glance. "Thank you," she said picking him up. "Wanna hold him?"
"Uh, Mel, we are heading out-" he began, but too late. The baby was already in Sam's arms.
Carter looked at the tiny infant in her arms, "How old is he?"
"A month," his mother said proudly. "He's a healthy little boy."
"Where's Nicole?" Jack asked, suddenly remembering his little niece. Melanie had been staying at the cabin last time he had been there, seven months ago; he hadn't asked questions, merely enjoyed seeing the charming little girl.
Melanie flushed, "She's staying with Jennifer and Ken," she answered, almost daring him to question that.
Carter handed little Nicholas back to his mother and looked at her CO. "We better get going, sir- it was nice meeting you, Melanie."
Å
Jack started the engine. Looking over, he saw his second-in-command looking straight ahead. "Lots of questions, Carter?"
"Yes, sir."
He looked over his shoulder and backed out of his driveway. "Okay, shoot."
"How old is Melanie? She looks young."
"Twenty-five."
Carter blinked. "Oh." She had thought her to be about twenty.
Jack nodded. "Yep. Next one?"
She hesitated before asking, "Is she married?"
Jack shrugged. "As far as I can figure out, she had Nicole, dumped her with Jennifer and Ken and then promptly got married. She said she divorced him four months ago."
"You didn't know?"
Jack gave a humorless chuckle. "Mel and I... we don't exactly see eye to eye on anything. We haven't talked since our big fight six months ago. I was surprised when she showed up."
She stared at her fingers, "Why did you never tell us about them?"
"About my family?"
She nodded. "Sir, we've known you for a long time. I… we never saw a hint of the fact that you had any family… and you never told us."
He sighed, "I... I don't know. I connect them with Charlie and Sara. After Sara divorced me, we all drifted apart. Well, sort of. Anna calls me every six months and fills me in on the family. I talk to each of the families once a year… I get pictures and stuff. "
She stared out the window. "I see," she said softly.
He pulled up in front of a mall and parked. "Carter, I just never thought it important to tell anyone."
"I understand, sir."
He pocketed his keys. "So… Carter..."
"Yeah?" she asked looking up.
"What do you want for Christmas?"
Å
Carter stared at the list he had made, her eyes widening as she read.
Zack & Leslie.1 g. Ariel (7). 3 b. Corin (3) Tyler,(3) Cody. (5)
Jennifer & Ken. 3 b. Joseph (8), Max,(6) Connor. (4)
Eleanor/Ellie & Wilhem1 g. Emma. (7)
Maya & Dayvid. 3 g. Italia,(9) Wylie (5), Tabitha.(7 months?) 2 b. Harry, (11) Miguel. (13)
Anna & Dan.2 g. Gabrielle (12), Sharesse, (5) 1 b. Alexander. (7)
Melanie m.? 1 g. Nichole. (2)1 b. Nicholas. (Infant, 1 month)
"Wow."
He rolled his eyes, "You try remembering them- I can normally get the boys but..."
"And all of them will be at your house?" she questioned.
He nodded and looked around the crowded mall. Shopping for a family of his size wasn't easy.
"Where are you going to fit them all?" was her next question.
"The basement."
Carter stopped in front of a toy store, and stared at him. "You have a-"
"Sam!"
She looked up, searching for the familiar voices.
"Behind you," Jack said into her ear.
Sam turned around to see her two friends, standing there with equally surprised looks on their faces. "Daniel? Teal'c? What are you guys doing here?"
Daniel and Teal'c exchanged glances. "I could ask you the same thing," Daniel said, "However, we are buying gifts." Daniel gestured to Jack and gave her a questioning look.
"I'm helping the Colonel shop," she explained.
"Ahh..." Daniel said, "Cassie is a little old for Barbie's, Jack," he looked into the cart. "And that Care Bear better not be for me."
Jack looked at his cart, filled with toys. " They aren't for Cassie."
"Are we not observing the Christmas ritual at your house this year O'Neill?" Teal'c asked calmly.
Daniel suddenly looked downcast, "About that," he muttered, not looking at his friend. "I kind of... well, volunteered to go for Dr. Willis on SG-8. It… well, it seems he hasn't seen his three boys in over two weeks so I thought I'd take over for him. It'll be fun." He took a deep breath and looked up. "But the rest of you… have fun."
Jack sighed. "I'm not so sure I will- it looks like my family is rolling in."
Daniel stared for a moment. "Excuse me, but did you say your family?"
"Yes."
Daniel looked at Sam. "He doesn't have a family. Does he?"
"Apparently he does," she said wryly. "I met his sister."
"O'Neill," Teal'c began, "then would you object if I went off world and spent my time with Rya'c? Bra'tac says he is growing in formidable warrior."
"No, sure," Jack assured him. "Knock yourself out."
"Looks like you are going to be by yourself," Daniel said turning to Sam, "Do you want me to-"
"Carter is coming over to my house this Christmas," Jack interjected.
Daniel stared at her, "Really..." he muttered. A suspicious gleam appeared in his eyes. Sam glared at him.
"Sir, we best be going," she said nudging her CO, "I'll see you later," she said giving Teal'c a small smile.
Daniel and Teal'c both nodded and let them pass. Once they were out of earshot, Daniel looked at Teal'c and grinned, "So, what do you think?"
"What is it you wish to know my opinion of?"
"No, I mean, what do you think of them?"
"About whom, Daniel Jackson?"
Daniel glanced over his shoulder to make they weren't within range. "Jack and Sam."
Teal'c lifted an eyebrow, "I believe it would be unwise to tell you."
Daniel looked rather hurt. "Why?" he demanded.
"Because, Daniel Jackson, if you consume more then half a alcoholic beverage, one can easily extract secrets from you. If the Goa'uld were to use such beverages, Earth would be in grave danger."
He frowned, "Nuh uh..."
Teal'c pushed his cart forward, "I will not argue but I speak only the truth."
Å
Melanie placed her baby on the couch. After a furtive glance around, she hurried to the phone. Please answer... she whispered as the phone rang. It did.
"Hello?" a voice asked, "Hello?"
"Pete?" she breathed.
"Melanie?"
"Yeah."
"What are you doing?"
"Talking to you," she said with a little laugh. "Is that so bad?"
He was silent. "Mel, I... I met someone."
It took all of her willpower not to cry, "You did?"
He sighed, "We weren't compatible, Mel, and don't blame me for this- you broke it off, not me. I'm sorry; I'm a cop through and through. My new girl understands that. You couldn't accept me for who I was, Mel."
She clutched the phone. "Don't call me that! I'm Melanie!"
"Your whole family calls you Mel," he shot back.
"I-I-"
"Mel, it's over."There was a brief pause. "Don't call me again."
"But what about Nick?" she was clutching the phone so tightly, her fingers were white.
"I send child support every month, Melanie. You wanted to take him with you, so be it. He's yours now. Good-bye."
Melanie set the phone down slowly. "Oh, Pete," she whispered. Moments later, she sank onto the couch and began sobbing uncontrollably.
I didn't send this to WarmTea to beta as she is rather busy and out of power. But, of course, (hug), she would have done it so thanks to her anyways.
I hope you like it...
Please review!