Hello!
Thanks to everyone who read/ and or/ reviewed the last chapter! It was very encouraging.
Musings-of-Apathy: You're right. Thanks. After this chapter, Jack shall be his true self.
Well, I hope you like it!
Dori groaned. "Where can he BE?"
"He is at work."
"But why did he have to go NOW? I just got here!"
"O'Neill's work is important."
"Yeah, Deep Space Radar Telemetry, SO important!" she muttered.
"Believe when I say his work is the most important type of work on Earth."
"Well, they don't exactly have buildings on Mars," she said with a roll of her eyes.
Teal'c stared at her.
"You said on Earth? Like you know no life on other planets?" she said gesturing wildly with her hands. "Well, you do know that... right?"
"I see," he said a moment later.
The door opened and SG-1 piled through the door.
"No biggie Teal'c. Just old Melosha wanting us to visit her wedding," Jack began when he saw the girl. "Hey, sorry 'bout running away Dori."
She shrugged. "No problem, so what's happening with me?"
"My friends and I are heading down to my cabin for the holidays. Want to join us?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Nope," He said giving her an affectionate grin.
"Then I'm going."
Å
They were flying down there, there WERE perks to being a General. (Carter thought the real reason they were flying down there was because Daniel refused to be in the car with Jack for more then 3 hours.) So that also meant they had to be at the Air Port at 6:00 in the morning on a very cold day...
"I'm going to that Starbucks. Anyone wants anything?"
"Acappuccino," Carter and Dori said simultaneously.
"No coffee Dori," Jack added. "You know your mom didn't approve of it for teens. Get her a hot chocolate, me a black coffee and Teal'c… what do you want?"
"A pastry and a chicory coffee."
"Do they have those?" Jack asked.
"I much enjoyed it during the time Urgo resided within us."
"What the heck are you talking about?" Dori demanded. Daniel was making an elaborate story when Jack cut in with:
"Just see if they have any," He said, shooing Daniel towards the Starbucks.
Dori shivered and shoved her hands deeper into her pockets.
"You ok Dori?" Jack asked.
"Peachy," she muttered.
Jack winked at her. "What's taking Daniel so long?"
"I shall go assist Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said heading over to the little store to help the struggling Daniel.
Carter fought a shiver and paced up and down. "I thought that plane was leaving at 5:40," she said.
"Delay. It's leaving at 6:00."
She nodded. "God it's cold," she whispered.
"Ya think?" Dori said rudely brushing past Carter.
"Dorothy!"
"Will you stop calling me that?" she asked.
"Here you go... " Daniel said placing the large hot chocolate in her hand. "Sam."
"Thanks Daniel," Sam said sipping her eagerly.
"Teal'c, they didn't have chicory so I got cinnamon." He said taking his own coffee from Teal'c
"Very well Daniel Jackson," Teal'c saidaccepting his pastry.
"Thanks Spacemonkey."
Daniel grimaced at the nickname.
"Space monkey?" Dori asked curiously.
"Nickname."
"I knew THAT, why'd you get it?"
"Long story."
"Try me."
Daniel paused. "I really can't remember, Jack?"
Jack shrugged. "You know how the memory goes when you get old."
"You're not old!" Dori protested.
Jack rolled his eyes.
"General O'Neill? Your flight is departing," a middle aged woman announced.
"Thank you ma'am. Dori, Carter, let's go."
Dori rolled her eyes and slipped on her backpack.
Carter grabbed her own bag and suitcase. Daniel and Teal'c were already boarding the plane.
"After you," Carter said allowing the girl to pass.
The girl sighed and muttered a "Thank you," before hurrying up the steps.
"You're welcome," Carter mumbled following her into the plane.
Å
Dori clutched the seat rests, her face pale.
"Are you alright Dorothy?" Teal'c asked kindly.
"I've never been on a plane before," she whispered.
"It'll be ok Dor..." Jack began when the girl interrupted.
"Keith died in a plane crash," she whispered looking out the window.
Carter vaguely remembered Keith was her biological father...
Jack gave her a pitying look. "Oh kid, I'm sorry." He would have hugged her but he was strapped into his seat across from her.
Dori clenched her teeth as the plane began its ascent.
Daniel reached for something in his pocket. "Dori..." He began pulling it out. "Catch!"
Dori automatically reached for it and opened it. Inside was a large chocolate cookie. "What's this for?"
Daniel gestured to the window. She looked out and gasped. A second later she turned and smiled. "Thanks Daniel," she said quietly then turned back. "I did it!" she whispered.
They were talking, when a phone rang. Everyone reached for his or hers. "Mine," Carter said with a small smile that faded as she read the caller id. She reluctantly answered it "Hello?" She paused then unbuckled herself and headed for the back of the plane.
"On a plane headed for Minnesota."
Everyone strained to hear her.
"We talked about this. I had plans already, I'm sorry."
She sighed. "I'll ask," she looked up. "Sir? What's your address?"
Jack rattled off an address and aPO box. She quickly repeated it.
"Yes, Yeah, I'll see you soon, ok, bye."
She hung up then hurried back to her seat.
"Who uh was that?" Daniel asked trying to sound casual.
Carter refused to meet anyone's eyes. "Pete"
Jack stiffened.
Dori noticed how everyone had quieted at the name 'Pete'. "Who's Pete?" she asked curiously.
At that, Jack and Daniel stared at Carter.
"He's uh... just a friend," she said twisting her fingers.
"Must be a pretty good friend."
"Why do you say that?"
"Address? Why would he need it unless he is planning on visit?"
Jack let out a strangled cough.
"NO! He wants to send me a present!" Carter explained.
Dori nodded. "Are you two engaged?"
"Uhh, no."
"Going to be?"
"Dorothy Anne Morgan!" Jack's sharp voice cut in.
"Jack, I'm asking a perfect acceptable question... unless of course Sam- Miss Carter-would rather me not?" she said turning a challenging look to the woman.
Sam stiffened. "I... doubt it"
"So it's just a fling," Dori stated.
Carter flinched.
"Umm... Dori, what grade are you in?" Daniel tried.
"10th"
Daniel stared at her. "How old are you?"
"14 and a half on Christmas."
"What school do you go to?"
"I'm home school..." she stopped, "Well, I was home schooled, well Independent Study. Now... I guess it's up to Jack"
Daniel turned a questioning glance to Jack only to see him staring at Sam. "Hello, Jack to Earth," he said snapping his fingers.
Jack turned to him. "What?" he growled.
"Where is Dori going to go to school?"
He shrugged helplessly, "Can't you still do that... Independent thing?" he asked looking at 'his' daughter.
Dori nodded, "But I'll need help" she said darting a quick look at Jack. "I mean you work at NORAD. I mean, I know you have to have clearance to get in there but I'm not a terrorist, you can vouch for that. I could go with you, it'd be really cool...So, what do you think?"
"I uh..."
"Jack, you look at a telescope all day. Not a very difficult job."
"It's more complicated then that."
"Jack! You KNOW how Mom felt about Public Schools! "
"I know."
"C'mon! You owe me one!"
"Dori..."
"Jack..."
They both glared at each other. "Surely there's a Private School somewhere in Colorado Springs," he tried.
"Jack!" Dori protested. "You know how..."
"Yes, Dorothy, I do know how your mom felt about it, but this happens to one of the most important job on Earth and..."
"Why do you guys keep saying EARTH? It's driving me BONKERS!"
"Huh?" Daniel mumbled.
"You don't say it's the most important job in this world, you say on Earth."
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Jack, you SURE she isn't your daughter? The whole contant...arguing or whatever... thing..."
"Positive," he mumbled.
Dori glared at him then glanced out the window.
Carter leaned back in her seat thinking.
"Are you two engaged?"
"Uhh, no."
"Going to be?"
"I doubt it."
"So it's just a fling..."
She fidgeted. This was something she did NOT want to think about.
Silence reigned in the cabin until the plane landed. Silently everyone straggled out, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
"Jack?" Dori whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Can we get pizza for lunch?"
He smiled. "Yes Dori, we can get pizza."
Ahoy mates! We reach the evil cabin whose lake contains no fish next!
(clears throat)
Ok, hoped you liked it. Please review!
Oh, don't worry... Jack's paternal side WILL immerge...
Oh, and another thing. I wasn't exactly sure how Jack and the Air Force planes would work out so... yes, my way is probably TERRIBLY inaccurate so if that bothered you, apologies.
