Thanks for reviewing! It's great to get feedback.
So, so, SO sorry for the long delay- the chapter got lost between my beta and I... I'm posting this now and once the chapter is beta'd, I'll upload the correct one. I think the next one will be out in two or three days.
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Dori opened her eyes.
"Mom?" She whispered involuntarily. Cassie, asleep next to her, rolled over.
Dori carefully slid off the bed. Giving a quick look at the sleeping girl, she opened the door leading to the hallway and slipped out of the room. She headed to the bathroom and shut the door. Once in there, she sank on to the floor and buried her head in her arms.
"Oh Mom," She whispered. "Why can't you be here?"
A sob forced itself out of her.
Å
Jack punched his pillow and sat up. He was sure he heard crying. Kicking the blankets off, he stood up and looked around. The living room was empty. As he passed the bathroom, he heard the sound again. He cautiously opened the door and there sat his 'daughter', head buried in her arms, shoulders shaking as she cried semi-noiselessly.
"Oh Dorothy," He muttered sitting next to you. "What a way to start your Christmas."
She clung to him. "I miss her so much!" She sobbed. "And she's gone... and she'll never come back... and I'll never see her again!"
Jack hesitated. "In this life Dori... you'll see her again up there." He said pointing to the ceiling.
She sniffed. "Really?"
"Yeah... you've got a Bible, dontcha?"
"Yeah."
"Well, read it later. Maybe it'll help."
She nodded, trying to choke back her sobs. "She... she always made pancakes- remember? In the shape of Mickey Mouse..."
"Yeah," He whispered. "I remember."
"Can... Can we make them?"
He pulled her closer. "Sure baby... sure."
Å
Carter rolled over and, with a squeak, ended upon the floor. A spontaneous burst of laughter came from the doorway. She looked up and saw Dori standing there, grinning.
"Merry Christmas," She called. "Jack said it's time for breakfast sleepy head!"
Carter groaned and stood up. "I so want my bed back."
Dori laughed again. "Hungry? We made pancakes!"
She checked her watch and gaped. "It's 0900!"
"Yeah... Jack said you must have been tired to sleep in so late so he couldn't let anyone wake you up- not even your fiancée!"
A small smile crept across her face. "That's General O'Neill for ya, huh?"
Dori nodded. "Dad's awesome- when he came to talk to my class, all the grades beg to listen in. It's cool." She stopped. "Of course, after Charlie, I was homeschooled."
Sam paused. "Oh."
Dori stared at the floor. "Yeah."
Sam reached for her suitcase and rummaged through it. "That's weird," She muttered. "I was sure I had some more jeans in here."
Dori opened her mouth the closed it. She and Cassie knew exactly where those had gone.
Sam continued to mutter as she tossed through her clothes. "I thought I had..."
The teenager moved closer. "What's wrong with this?" pulling out a blue sweater/skirt set. "It's pretty!"
Carter shook her head. "I'd freeze to death in that skirt- it barely comes past my knees."
"Oh come on... it's warm inside!"
"Well..."
Dori smiled. "It's Christmas! We should all look our best!"
She looked thoughtfully at her CO's 'daughter'. She was wearing a dark green blouse and an ankle length black skirt. "It's not very Christmas-y." She said dubiously referring to her own outfit.
"Cassie's all in purple."
Sam finally nodded. "Okay... tell General O'Neill I'll be there in 10 minutes."
Dori nodded back and slipped out of the room. Cassie waited in the hallway. "So?"
Dori gave her a thumbs up sign then slipped into the kitchen to deliver Sam's message.
Å
"Cassie- no that is a silly tradition-"
"You always did it!" Dori protested sticking up for her friend. "Every year, when Keith objected to us having mistletoe in our house, you always said it was a tradition and that it was for fun... it didn't mean anything."
Jack hesitated, looked at Carter, then back at his daughter.
Earlier...
Carter had taken a quick shower then dressed herself with record speed. Not finding any of her tennis shoes, she resigned herself to wearing thick, fluffy white socks. She shyly entered the kitchen and stood in the doorway.
Pete whistled and came closer. "Morning Sam... Nice outfit."
"Dori picked it out," She said quickly. "I was going for warmer."
Jack found it very unfair that she had had to pick such a distracting outfit. The skirt was a modest length but it showed off her long and curvy legs. The shirt set off her blue eyes...
For a second he had the ridiculous that like Cassie, Dori might be trying to get him and his 2IC together. He shook his head. Dori didn't like Sam... She had told Daniel that...
Right?
"Jack, the pancakes are burning," Dori said quietly. Jack quickly flipped over Mickey's head and gestured for Sam to sit. She did and he slid the head onto a plate and placed it in front of her. Across from Sam, Cassie was eating with her eyes closed (she couldn't bear to watch them eat her childhood idol) while Janet discussed something with Daniel. Teal'c was staring approvingly at Dorothy... something Jack noticed. Cassie, Dorothy, Daniel, and Teal'c kept smirking at each other...
What was going on?
"Sam, your tennis shoes are in the living room." Janet called noticing her bare feet. "You left them there last night."
"I'll get them!" Jack announced heading towards the doorway. Carter shook her head and slid out of her seat.
"I'll get them sir," She said cheerfully.
And somehow they found themselves under the doorway, a little spring of mistletoe hanging innocently above them.
Present time…
Jack looked at his 2IC who was red but didn't seem to object.
"General, it's tradition!" Janet called. Pete said nothing but glowered at Sam. That firmed her resolve and she looked at her CO with a slight smile.
Slowly they leaned closer to each other, their lips touched... and something happened.
Dori and Cassie stared wide-eyed as the two, a second ago had just chastely touched lips, suddenly began kissing... really kissing.
Pete half rose to his feet, his hands clenched. Daniel and Janet stared and Teal'c leaned back in his chair with a slight smirk on his face.
Suddenly they pulled away, releasing each other like they were burning up or something.
"Carter-" Jack began. "I'm-"
"Don't." She whispered. "Don't."
'"Sam, can I speak to you?" Pete gritted out.
She hesitated for a second then nodded.
He stalked past Jack and down the hallway and into the guest bedroom. Once Carter shut the door, he exploded.
"What was that?"
"We were... just..." She trailed off.
"You were-"
"I know what I was doing!" Carter snapped.
"Oh, so do you generally go around snogging your CO when you're engage-"
"Pete, that was out of line!" She said firmly.
"You're my fiancée and-"
"You don't own me!"
"Did I say I did?"
As the fighting got louder, Jack stood up. "Daniel, Teal'c, Janet... fancy a walk?"
They all agreed and pulled on their coats. Cassie and Dori hesitated until Jack gave them a meaningful look. Cassie sighed and got up. Dori didn't move.
"Dori, c'mon."
She lifted beseeching eyes up. "Let me stay Jack. Please."
"If she stays, I stay." Cassie insisted.
"Both of you, come on!" ordered Janet. "Now!"
Dori scowled at Cassie but obeyed.
Unaware that their audience had left, the two continued to shout at each other.
"-Turning up at my CO's house without an invitation-"
"You gave me his address!"
"You said for a package!"
His shoulders slumped. "I wanted to see you."
Sam's eyes softened. "Oh Pete-"
"Plus, I was going to keep an eye on your CO which, apparently, was a good idea." He added angrily.
She stared at him then spun around. To his surprise, she marched away and headed towards the coat rack. She slipped on a pair of sandals and pulled on her ankle length coat, opened the door and slammed it closed. The cop stood there for a second then chased after her.
"Sam!"
The Colonel stopped but didn't look at him.
"What'd I say?"
At that she turned around. "How can we have a relationship if you don't trust me?"
He opened his mouth then closed it. "Sam-"
"I don't think it's going to work between us Pete," She said softly. "I'm sorry."
Anger blazed in his eyes as she turned to go back to the house. He grabbed her shoulder. "Sam, that-"
"Let go of me!" She hissed.
"Sam-"
"Pete, I'm warning you."
He stared at her. "Fine!" He said with a sneer. "Go run to your precious 'O'Neil;'"
And he pushed her from him. Carter, not expecting it, slipped on the snow. An involuntary cry escaped her lips.
Å
Jack and the group had found out it had been pointless to come outdoors. Only out there moments and then the two had stormed out. Jack had been about to go inside when he saw Pete grab her. Carter tensed up and said something he couldn't here. He started walking towards them. As he got closer, he saw Pete push her away and she slipped. He broke into a run.
Å
Pete stared at Sam, horrified. "God Sam-"
He didn't have a chance to finish his sentence. He was out cold, Jack now nursing his hand.
"Why do I do that?" He muttered.
Janet and Teal'c came running- Daniel taking the girls inside.
"Sam, are you hurt?" Janet demanded.
"I'm fine," She insisted getting to her feet with a wince. "I-"
She took a step forward then would have fallen if Teal'c had not grabbed her arm. "Thanks," She gasped.
"Your ankle?" Janet said shrewdly. Carter nodded. "Teal'c, would you carry her inside?"
Teal'c scooped her up, ignoring her protests. "But what of Pete Shanahan?"
Jack looked at Carter. "I guess it's up to you."
She stared at the cop who was already regaining consciousness. "I..."
Pete opened his eyes and sat up slowly. "What on earth did you do that for O'Neill?"
Jack ignored him. "Want me to send him packing?"
"Sam," Pete protested. "It was an accident!"
She nodded. "It was. But Pete... like I said... we can't have a relationship unless you trust me... and I don't think that's something you can do..."
"Sa-"
Teal'c took a step forward, still holding the Colonel. "Leave this land and do not return."
Pete eyed him then Jack. "S-"
"The lady said it was over," Jack put in stepping closer. "Clear out."
He stood there for a minute then stormed away. Moments later, his car raced by.
Carter let her head drop on Teal'c's shoulder. "And there ends that."
Å
"Sam!" Cassie cried as Teal'c entered the house. "Are you okay?"
"Just twisted my ankle," She assured the teenager. "Your mom can look at it."
"It's just a sprain," Janet said looking up. "General, do you have any Ace bandages?"
He nodded and disappeared. He reappeared with several unopened ones in his hands. She thanked him and opened one. Minutes later, she leaned back, satisfied.
"I recommend you stay off of that until we leave."
The Colonel nodded. "Of course."
Dori handed her a bag of frozen corn. Sam thanked her and placed it on her ankle. Jack smiled approvingly at his daughter before swooping up his second-in-command (and the corn) and disposing of her on the sofa. Cassie slipped a pillow underneath her foot and Daniel flipped through the channels to find the History Channel.
"I'm not an invalid," She couldn't help but point out.
Teal'c at that moment showed up with a blanket and a glass of water. She stared at him for a moment then laughed. "Janet, will you get the girls presents please?"
Both teens perked up at the mention of such delightful things. Janet obliged and soon the room was strewn with paper. Cassie was pleased with the butterfly necklace Sam had given her (gold, with purple stones set in it) and Dori received a silver locket. She pried it open and found a picture of her dad inside. The teen paused for a moment then looked up and mouthed her thanks.
"What about us?" Jack complained. "Don't we get anything?"
She laughed. "If you remember sir, I gave you a Simpson's chess set."
"But I have one for you Jack!" Dori said suddenly. "I just remembered…"
She raced out of the room. A minute later, she returned with a small, red foiled wrapped gift. Jack pulled off the paper… then laughed ruefully.
"What is it?" Daniel asked.
He held it up. Inside the small box was a red Swiss army knife."
"Just like MacGyver," Dori said cheerfully.
Just like good ol' Mac. The guy who kissed every girl between here and Asia but still never got the girl he wanted.
Just like MacGyver.
He plastered a smile on his face. "What's up for lunch?"
I finally have a clear picture of what's going to happen in the future. To all you angst haters, I have to warn you that mid-fic, this will become angsty… for a while.
I really hope you guys still like this. It wasn't the best chapter but…
(Thor eyes)
PLEASE review!
