Thank-you for reading/reviewing!
Thanks to WarmTea for beta'ing!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND HAPPY HANUKAH!
I love y'all!
Daniel was curious. His friend was staring at the box like it contained something surprising.
"Sam?"
She swallowed hard and tilted the contents on the box onto her lap. Daniel saw a flash of silver.
"Sir?" she whispered. "You... not... serious."
"Sam?" Daniel repeated. "What is it?"
Carter touched the silver 'thing'. "Why?"
A small sound made everyone look up. In the door way stood Cassie with a-
"Dog," Carter said dully.
In her arms.
----
Jack gave Sam a smile. "A Cairn terrier."
Sam continued to stare at the small creature.
"Just like Toto."
Carter closed her eyes. "You got me a dog… because it looked like Toto?"
He nodded and gestured to Cassie who brought it to her. Carter gingerly touched the small creature. It barked and licked her.
"Her name is Toto," Jack said proudly.
"Toto was a boy," Daniel objected.
"So?"
"So... it should be a boy."
"No it shouldn't."
"Yes it should."
"Why?"
Daniel stared at him. "Toto was a boy."
"You said."
"And the dog is a girl..."
Jack shrugged. "So what? The dog was really a girl anyways."
Toto whimpered and burrowed her head under Sam's arm. She hesitated then stroked it. Toto responded enthusiastically. Her face softened and she placed the little dog on her lap.
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief and began opening her own presents. Janet, who had known all along about the dog, looked rather disappointed by the 'tame' conclusion. She had expected something more... Jacob, who had been on the point of rising, settled back down.
Carter placed the items in the box and handed it to Daniel. The archeologist looked inside. A silver dog leash, a towel, a few doggy treats and a few other items filled the box.
"That's it?" he asked surprised. Jack shook his head and shot a questioning look at the teen. Cassie gave a loud whistle and Bert appeared.
"Ma'am?"
"Bring in Major Carter's box please," she said sweetly.
The man departed and returned with Ernie a minute later, a HUGE box in between them.
Carter stared at it. "Sir?"
Cassie pulled open the lid and bent it down. Carter gasped.
A dog's paradise of items filled the box. Carter swallowed hard.
"Sir... a dog..."
"Isn't it great?"
Carter bit her lip.
Jack remembered something. "The kid next door to you offered to care of her when you are off world."
Her cheeks puffed out.
"She'll feed her, water her, play with it..."
Carter hands clenched.
"Carter?" He asked uncertainly.
She lost it and began laughing.
---
It had taken her a while, but she had finally calmed down enough to thank her CO prettily.
The afternoon passed swiftly, despite Jack and Daniel incessant arguing. Dinner came and passed and it was bedtime.
"Sir?"
Jack looked up. "Yeah?"
Carter looked at Toto who was peacefully sleeping on the end of her bed. 'Thank you."
'Even if you DIDN'T get me a ring' she added silently.
"You're welcome."
Carter smiled and turned off her light. "Good night."
Jack didn't comment on the lack of 'sir'. "Night Samantha. Sleep well."
And his last coherent thought before falling asleep, "Only six days to go..."
It was short but I HAD to post it before Christmas.
Again, thank-you to all for reading this, to WarmTea for beta'ing my stories and... for reviewing... (hint, hint...)
Happy Holidays!