AN: I do appreciate comments, but seriously, if you don't have anything nice to say at all, just keep it to yourself. Silence says it all!

Chapter Ten

Siler reports back to me ten minutes later with the all-clear. With that news, I'm able to restore the system rather quickly. I do have to mention using back-ups to Hammond, but since the alien invasion, attempted invasion, attack, what have you, already occurred, he isn't upset. He's just happy that mostly everything is repairable and, although four of us will be spending the night in the infirmary, the injuries were relatively minor.

Jack only naps for an hour and I realize belatedly that his crankiness might well have been an overwhelming need for a nap. Even so, he quickly shows signs of utter boredom with what I'm doing, but he seems relatively content with just watching me. I smile at him. At least I know his preoccupation with me is real and completely natural. I guess Daniel was right about us being soul mates, not that I would ever repeat such an unscientific theory to Jack myself.

"Are you bored, John?"

He nods solemnly.

"I still have more work to do. Do you want to go play while I work?" I'm hoping he'll go with Teal'c willingly.

He shakes his head just as solemnly.

"Then you'll just have to be bored until I'm done."

He pouts. It's adorable. Not necessarily more so than when he's fully grown and pouting, but just as much in an entire different way. "I want to play with you."

I turn to Teal'c who is sitting quietly beside me, somehow fascinated by an outdated Air Force manual he found. "Hey, Teal'c?"

Teal'c looks up slowly, as though what he's reading is the most engrossing novel ever. He can barely pull his eyes away long enough to answer me. "Yes, Major Carter?"

"Daniel has some markers in his lab. Can you get them and a notebook for the colonel to play with?" Maybe a Jack isn't as much trouble at 3 as I was, but a bored kid is a bored kid. It's best to amuse them.

Teal'c nods at me, reluctantly laying aside the manual he was reading. When I turn back to Jack, he's staring after Teal'c, trying to imitate Teal'c infamous raised eyebrow. I giggle at him just because I can. He looks back at me, his face breaking into a grin.

I've never been big on kids, really. Kids have wild imaginations, and not quite useful wild imaginations as opposed to my own wild imagination, and I never can quite understand what they ramble on about. I've always been a very efficient, productive member of society, at least since I hit the age of reason, and I only ever imagined that having a child would slow me down. But the adoration in Jack's eyes right now, the way he feels all snuggled up in my arms, well, it makes me want to have a baby of my own. I hug Jack tightly, loving the way his arms squeeze me back.

Teal'c returns, offering the markers and some loose paper to me. "I was unable to locate any bound sources of paper free of Daniel Jackson's notations. I felt it wise to find another source."

"Good idea." Cause Daniel wouldn't have been too upset about Jack drawing all over his irreplaceable notes. Right. And Walter wasn't kidding about the zebras in hula skirts, either.

I settle Jack in another chair, letting him amuse himself while I start running the diagnostics, verifying that everything is functional once again. He draws a series of airplanes, or what he claims are airplanes, and announces that he's going to be a pilot someday. And here I thought I was the only one who knew what I wanted to do for a living when I was three and actually wound up doing it.

"Ok, John, I'm almost done here. We can go play in a minute."

Jack jumps up on his chair. "Yay!"

Daniel's voice sounds behind me. "How did you get permission to leave? Janet's insisting that I stay here for tonight."

I turn to face him, quite amused that he didn't escape the white burn cream, since it's smeared liberally across his face. "I didn't so much get permission as I didn't request it. If I don't come back to sleep in the infirmary tonight Janet will have the whole mountain out looking for me." I watch Daniel's brow furrow and realize he's not listening.

"Are those my markers?" He picks up one of the ones Jack knocked on the floor and pulls off the cap to reveal the smushed in tip. "Sam?"

I glance at Teal'c. He looks at me for a millisecond and then immediately returns to his manual. I shrug. "I don't know where there came from." Cause I'm technically not sure where they were in his office so it's not exactly a lie. Unfortunately, I'm not so good at intentionally misleading people.

"I use them to accurately depict artifacts and structures that we can't move or that don't photograph well. It's an important part of my reference material."

"Danny, you're whining."

"I have a head injury."

"So do I. I'll buy you new markers. Have a seat." He's starting to look a little unsteady on his feet, but I figure it has a lot to do with the way he keeps bending down to pick up the abandoned markers one at a time.

He does a quick survey. "Where?"

Sure enough, there are no available seats. I'm about to suggest that he take mine since I'm planning on leaving, but Jack jumps down from his chair and looks at Daniel.

"Sit here." We're all dumbfounded as Jack scampers up onto my lap once again. He shoves his latest scribble at me. "I made this for you!"

I can't even ooh and ahh over the artistic masterpiece. I'm too impressed by his recent foray into selflessness. "John, that was very nice of you to give Daniel your chair."

Jack surprises me once again by turning and reaching out for Daniel. Also stunned, Daniel lets a suddenly affectionate Jack hug him. "Thank you, Danny."

Daniel looks up at me. I shrug. Must be the head injury. He looks back at Jack. "For what?"

"You saved Sam." Jack reaches for me again and I'm glad for it. I don't like the jealousy that flared up at the thought of being replaced.

Daniel looks as confused as I feel and we both silently turn to Teal'c. Teal'c doesn't even have to look up to know we're expecting an answer from him. "Daniel Jackson pushed Major Carter and young O'Neill out of the way during the attack."

I check with Jack who nods emphatically. "Then by all means, thank you, Daniel." That goes a long way toward explaining why Jack and I weren't hurt as badly. I glance at the computer screen, which is reporting the success of the last test I ran. "With that said, boys, Jack and I are leaving."

Jack slides to the ground while I collect my papers and his drawings. He's already at the door to the hallway, chomping at the bit to have some fun. I'm eager myself, but the massive headache keeps me from bouncing the way Jack is.

"Not so fast, Major." Hammond's voice wafts down the stairs in advance of his body.

I grimace at Jack whose sad face is watching his now least-favorite person on Earth approach us. I think I could cry.

"I'd like to have the members of SG-1 upstairs for a short debriefing relating to today's events."

I really want to say something smart and rude and sarcastic, but nothing comes to mind. I simply smile. "Yes, sir."

Jack stomps his foot, plants his hands on his hips, and stares at the general. "Oh for crying out loud!"