Hey, thanks you all for reviewing!
So many people wanted me to whump Pete but we all know my deep love for the man... (gags)
Enjoy... well, try too.
"Mel?"
"Pete?"
The two stood in the hallway, both still with surprise. Jack and Sam appeared in the hallway only seconds later, followed by the rest of the O'Neill's.
"You know this guy?" Jack demanded, looking at his sister, who looked frozen. "You know him?"
Melanie gave Sam and her a frightened glance. "I uh," she stopped, looked at Pete, and cleared her throat. "Yes," she said finally. "I know him."
Pete stared at Sam. "What's going on?" he demanded, "Who are all these people?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Jack said coldly, surveying the detective. "Mel, how do you know Pete?"
Melanie gave Sam, who stood silently off to the side, one last look before answering, "He's my ex-husband.
Å
Carter stared at him. "Pete?" she whispered. "Is that true?"
"You son of a bit-" Jack began when Carter stopped him.
"He told me, sir," she said, "he just didn't tell me she was so young… or that he had a son."
Melanie turned to face her. Anger, jealously, incredulous, and amazement filled her face. "So you're the woman."
Jack stared at Pete. The man he disliked immensely… was his sister's ex-husband and his second-in-command's boyfriend? "You left my sister for Carter?"
"I left, Jack," Melanie said softly, not looking "He was never, ever there. Always gone."
Carter looked at Pete, eyes flashing. "You told me she remarried."
The O'Neill's stepped closer, forming a circle around the four in the middle.
Pete opened his mouth and then closed it several times. He finally managed to squeak out, "But Sam, I had too! You-"
Ding-Dong
Pete scooted out of the way so Jack could open the door. A small crowd of people stood on the doorstep.
"Sorry we are late, hermano, traffic is a bear!" the woman began, ushering her children into the house. "Dayvid, where is the baby?"
The tall man gestured to the bundle in his arms.
"Thank you, miel," the small woman said, stepping in.
"I forgot to tell you Maya is Spanish," Anna whispered audibly.
Maya bounded into the house. "Jack! Long time, no see!" she began, stopping short upon seeing all the faces staring at a man she had never seen before. "What is going on?" she demanded. "Why is everyone here?" she turned around and pointed at Pete. "And who are you?"
"Pete Shanahan," he answered automatically.
She wrinkled her nose. "I strongly dislike the name 'Pete'," Maya informed him decidedly. "Always have. Peter is a good name but Pete-"
"Maya," Jack half heartedly scolded.
Maya turned to her younger sister who was still glancing back and forth between Jack, Sam and Pete. "What's up little hermana?"
Melanie gave a short, bitter laugh. "Maya, meet my ex-husband and his new girlfriend."
Maya gave her brother a quick glance. "Jack?" she began, "Isn't that the same woman in the picture you sent-?"
"Yes," Jack said quickly- and loudly.
"Have you seen your son?" Sam asked abruptly speaking to Pete.
Pete looked at her. "Sammie, I'm really sorry about all this, I-"
"Have you seen him?" she demanded.
He shook his head. "Mel wanted to keep him and I was okay with that. What the hell would I do with a kid? Sell it?"
Leslie hissed.
"Joking," he said quickly.
Dayvid and his children squeezed in.
"Buenas noches Tío Jack!" the children chorused.
Jack shook his head. "Maya, those kids…"
Maya smiled at her brother and turned to face Carter. "I'm Maya and you are Samantha Carter, no?"
"Yes, I'm she."
Maya nodded then spun to face Pete again. "What are you still doing here?" she demanded. "Shoo! Shoo!"
Pete, to his credit or to stupidity, didn't flee. "Sam, you ready to go?"
She stood frozen with incredulity. He actually thought she was still going to go with him?
"Sammie? Baby?"
"Her name is Sam or Samantha," Jack mumbled inaudibly.
Carter gave him a quick glance. "Pete," she said softly, "I think you should go."
"Well, I don't-"
"I do," Jack said stepping forward.
"Why?" Pete demanded childishly.
"First of all: You got my sister pregnant and then refused to take care of her baby… and her. Mel, am I right in assuming that you tried to get back together?"
She nodded. "But Jack… I did leave him."
Jack ignored her. "Second: when did you begin dating my 2IC?"
"I met her at her brother's 40th birthday party," he mumbled.
"Carter? When was that?"
She thought for a moment. "Six months ago yesterday, sir."
Melanie did some mental subtraction. Her eyes widened. "You went out with her three days after we broke up?" she demanded outraged. "We weren't even divorced yet!"
Dayvid and Dan both stepped forward, obviously uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going. Wilhem eyed the man with a very Teal'c like expression.
Pete shifted, "Sam, you coming?" He demanded.
"Go, Pete," she said quietly. "Just go."
"But-"
Jack grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him bodily out the door, with a loud slam, he closed the door.
"There."
Melanie burst into tears. Carter gave her a look filled with pity. "Sir? Could Melanie and I have a minute… alone?"
Everyone nodded and filed out of the room. One of Maya's children stopped and gave her aunt a quick hug before dashing off. Once the room was empty, Sam gestured to the sofa. Melanie shook her head and remained standing. Carter took a deep breath.
"We need to talk."
Melanie avoided meeting her eyes. "About what?"
"Stop it, Melanie," Carter said quietly. "You know about what."
"Have him," Melanie flung at her. "I don't want him! Why I ever thought I loved that bit-" She was interrupted by Sam's quiet question of, "Were you two really married when he…"
"Started dating you?" Mel finished. "Yep."
"Mark didn't know…" she said softly, "He said he broke up with his wife months before that."
Melanie flinched. "Excuse me," she whispered as a small cry was heard. "My son needs me."
Å
"Carter? You okay?"
She looked up. "Sir?"
He sat her side. "Not exactly how I pictured you spending Christmas at my house," he teased. "I was thinking more happiness."
"I know. Me too."
"Want me to go and kick his ass?"
She let out a little laugh, "No, no… I don't think Melanie would appreciate it."
"How are you handling this?"
She rested her chin thoughtfully on her hand. "I don't know," she said softly.
"You going to keep going out with him?" he asked slowly, knowing it was a personal question but wanting, no needing to know the answer.
She shook her head. "I called him. Told him it was off."
"What'd he say?"
"Nothing really," she said softly. "I think he expected it."
Her CO studied her for a moment and then
"Uncle Jack, Uncle Jack!" One of Maya's kids screamed racing into the room. "Snow¡ Nieve!"
"Slow down, Wylie," he said grabbing her arm. "What is it?"
She pointed to the window. "Snow! Can we please go out and play? Please?"
He looked at Carter. "Good ol' fashioned snowball game?"
She nodded. "I'd like that."
Å
Jack's family watched as the two ran around his back yard. Not much snow had fallen but they made do. As they watched, Jack tackled her and began tickling her mercilessly.
"Can we go out, Daddy?" Tyler asked, looking pleadingly at his father.
His father shook his head. "Not now, buddy, not now."
"Bed time," Anna called cheerfully to her children, followed by the other mothers. Brothers and sister's exchanged goodnights and headed for the basement.
Å
Carter and Jack crept into the house, shivering slightly. The night air was cold. Her CO started a pot of coffee. "Want some coffee?" he whispered.
She shivered. "Yes, sir."
He shook his head with mock dismay. "Carter… it's Christmas! Call me Jack."
Her brows rose. He shifted uncomfortably. "We're co-workers… friends if you will…" he said slowly, "I think we can call each other by our names on our time off."
She gave a slight shrug. "I suppose," she said dubiously.
They were quiet until the coffee had finished. "So…" Jack said, handing her a steaming mug, "ladies first."
She rolled her eyes. "So… Jack… what's the plan for tomorrow?"
He shrugged. "I dunno… get the trees, decorate the place a bit… you?"
"If I'm staying here, I have to go get stuff from my house and I still have some work to finish in my lab…"
"So, you goin' in tomorrow?"
She nodded. "I-"
Jack grabbed his cell, which had begun ringing. "Hello?" He was silent. "Actually, yes..." He looked. "Excuse me," he said to Carter before hurrying out of the room and into the living room. "Still there, T?"
"Indeed."
"Do you know where Pete Shanahan is staying?"
"Indeed."
"Okay... listen for a second…"
Å
Pete Shanahan flung the door open, irritated by the constant knocking. "What?" he began when he saw the large man in his doorway. "Oh."
Teal'c stared at him impassively. "May I come in?"
"Uh... you're Sam's alien friend, right?"
Teal'c raised an eyebrow. Pete hastily let him in and nervously closed the door. "What can I do for you?"
"Do not attempt to contact Colonel Carter or O'Neill's sister, Melanie O'Neill. If you do..." Teal'c trailed off and gave the man a nod. "Do not forget, Pete Shanahan."
"I uhh... what?" he demanded after getting his voice bacl, "You can't tell me to-"
"If either Colonel Carter or Melanie O'Neill wish to speak to you, they will contact you. If you contact them, I will find out. Have a pleasant day, Pete Shanahan."
Teal'c let himself out.
Å
Jack hurried back into the kitchen and found his 2IC slumped over the counter, fast asleep.
"Carter?" he whispered. She didn't stir. He tried shaking her gently but she merely sighed softly. With a glance heavenward, he gently picked her up. After waiting a few seconds, he continued to the living room and placed her on the sofa. He removed her shoes and jacket and tucked an afghan around her. He gave a quiet sigh.
"Uncle Jack?"
He looked up and saw his thirteen-year-old nephew standing there. "Miguel? Something wrong?"
The teen boy shuffled closer. "I couldn't sleep. Who's that?" He gestured to Sam. "I never got an introduction, everyone was to busy yelling at that guy."
"Her name is Samantha Carter."
The kid nodded. "She's pretty."
Jack gave him a sharp look. "Yeah. Yeah, she is."
"You like her?"
Jack stiffened slightly. "Miguel-"
Miguel smirked. "You do, huh?"
"Not now," Jack said sharply.
He shrugged. "Whatever, man."
Jack looked after his nephew then looked down at her. "Night, Carter," He whispered.
The fun begins in the next chapter...
(hug)
Oh, WarmTea beta'd this, she is AWESOME!
Hope you liked this chapter and PLEASE review!