A/N: I had a real trouble writing this and still don't like the way it turned out so don't be surprised if it's not very good. The next chapter will be better. Thanks for all your great reviews they've been real helpful so please keep em coming.
Charlie knew it would take time for his dad to work through all of the stuff that had happened and had been said he just didn't know how long it would take. It had been 3 days since Charlie had seen his father, nobody was sure where he'd gone after his talk with Charlie only that he'd left the base soon after and had yet to return. Jack had rang Hammond asking for some personal time off which Hammond had granted along with the rest of SG-1.
Charlie didn't mind being on the base, as there was often a lot to do and see. Before the invasion Charlie had hardly been on the base and didn't know what his parents really did, they'd always told his brother and sister stories about other worlds but he'd always assumed they were made up. When they were waiting for the invasion he's had a chance to read their mission reports and saw what they were really up to.
They had been staying in the infirmary whilst it was decided what was going to happen to them. Sean had soon got bored (he had the attention span of his father) and tried as many ways as he could to escape. It became a new game for him, one he called getting past the nurses. He annoyed the nurses no end with his rigorous whining about being bored and asking when they could go home.
Jo also took to trying to escape from the infirmary, often hiding under beds and then crawling out when no one was looking. Sam tried to keep them occupied with toys and games, also taking them up to the surface so Sean could use up some of his energy playing ball or catch. The day after they had arrived Janet and Sam had taken the children to the mall to buy the necessities for them and a few extra clothes. Sam had hardly left the children's sides; obviously smitten with them already.
Charlie was sure that if asked Sam would take on the two children readily but he wasn't sure how she'd cope on her own. She had after all no experience with raising children and would probably have to give up her position on SG-1 to do so. However much she loved the children Charlie could not see her doing that, the SGC was her life just as it had been his mother's life. His mom had had help from his dad, they had shared responsibility of all aspects of their children, when Sean had been born it was Jack who showed Sam how to care for him they had been a team. But the Sam in this reality had no such help unless of course Jack came back and was willing to give them all a chance. Only then did things have a chance of turning out ok.
Jack wasn't the only one who was having a hard time working out what they were going to do; Sam had also had parenthood thrust upon her. Until a few days ago she had never seriously thought of herself as mother material. She could be a good aunty to Mark's kids (when she saw them) and Cassie but if anything went wrong she could always give them back to their parents.
When she'd heard she'd been more worried about what Jack's reaction to seeing Charlie would be than her own problems. It must have been so hard to see his son and know that another Jack out there had had a chance to see him grow up whereas her Jack had not. She didn't know when she'd started thinking about the Colonel as Jack or even 'her' Jack but it seemed to be happening more and more frequently.
When Sean had dragged her into the infirmary when they had first arrived Sam had been very reluctant and scared and a million 'what ifs' flooded her mind. "What if she didn't know what to do? What if they realised she wasn't who they thought she was. What if they started crying? What if she didn't like them? What if they didn't like her?" The list continued. But as soon as she saw the sleeping form of Jo she knew that everything would be all right, she looked so innocent, her little form curled up in the big military bed. She was so perfect; they both were. She could already see the O'Neillisms as she liked to call them shining out of Sean. The way he couldn't sit still for long spaces of time, the expressions he made and the way he spoke all reminded her of Jack.
When she had tucked Sean in and said goodnight he grinned at her, a cheeky grin she knew so very well before falling asleep after telling her he was glad the mean people had gone away and she was back home. They had all been through so much in their short lives, Charlie included. Sam knew that Charlie saw himself as the other two's protector and that he would gladly give up his own happiness for their own but no matter how grown up and mature he acted Sam could tell that he really needed someone to love and care for him as well.
Out of the three of them it would be Charlie that would have the hardest time adjusting to this reality after all he was dead in this one. All the friends that he'd had wouldn't know him or thought him to be dead and then there was his real mother. If she found out about Charlie there was no telling what would happen.
Sam knew if she or Jack didn't take on Jo or Sean then a loving home would be found for them and although they would be devastated to lose their parents when they got older they probably wouldn't even remember them, but Charlie would and have to cope with losing everything he ever knew and starting over in some place new. Sam hoped this would never happen, if Jack wouldn't help then maybe with Charlie's help she could take care of the children, maybe even resign if she had too.
Sam was only away from the infirmary now because it was the middle of the night and they were both asleep and Teal'c was watching over them. Sean was very attached to Teal'c; he would follow him around copying him and seemed to be the only one who thought his jokes were funny. Although Teal'c didn't say much Sam could tell he enjoyed having Sean around and already felt he was part of his 'Earth family' as Teal'c would put it.
Teal'c was doing Kelno'reem whilst the three O'Neill children slept. Although he sensed someone entering the infirmary he did not stir, as he knew instantly that it was O'Neill. Teal'c was glad to see his friend had returned as his children had been missing him deeply and perhaps now he was ready to face up to his responsibilities.
Jack entered the room tentatively, all he had been able to think about for the past three days were the three people in this room but now that he was so close to them he didn't know if he could find the courage to actually see them; he had abandoned them after all. He slowly walked up to the first bed and looked over the railings. Lay in the middle asleep on her back was Jo. It was then that he realised that he had not even seen her before.
She was beautiful he golden hair fell in loose ringlets and her eyes closed in a peaceful slumber. Jack brought his thumb down to lightly brush her cheek and push a strand of hair out of her eyes. She looked like Carter did when she was asleep on missions not that he watched her or anything Jack reminded himself. "Sleep well Joey" he whispered as he tore himself away from the first marvel to the next one.
Sean was lay on his side curled up in a ball sucking his thumb. It was hard to see how this angelic looking boy could cause any kind of mischief. He could see Carter in Sean, he had the same nose and his eyebrows were furrowed in his sleep just as Carters were when she was working out a problem. Sean had kicked his covers off in his sleep and was now shivering slightly. Jack picked up the covers and drew them around his chin, tucking him in. he then gently stroked his hair as the shivering subsided. "N'night Seany"
He then moved onto the last bed in it was the person Jack had been dreading and looking forward to seeing in equal measure, but instead of seeing a sleeping boy a pair of brown eyes were watching him. "Hey dad" Charlie said sleepily, "So you're back then?"
"Yeah, I'm back but we can talk tomorrow, now you should go to sleep." He said pulling Charlie's covers up around him as he'd done with his younger son and then watched as he fell asleep. Jack watched them all, trying to memorise all of their features and then locking them away for future reference. He eventually left them, it was finally clear in his mind what he had to do.
Most of the base was asleep so the corridors were almost deserted as Jack walked down them heading in the direction of the living quarters. He stopped at a door and knocked on it, when there was no response from inside he opened the door quietly knowing that it wouldn't be locked. She was asleep on her bed in the corner, Jack didn't have the heart to wake her as she looked so tired so he sat down in a chair and waited.
When Sam awoke some hours later she could feel another presence in her room as she scanned the room her gaze fell upon Col. O'Neill asleep in a nearby chair, his arms folded and his head drooped down, she knew from experience that when he awoke he'd have a hell of a neck ache. She tried to wake him gently by shaking his shoulders a little but it didn't work. Considering he was an Air Force officer it was nearly impossible to wake him up. After a few minutes of trying she had to resort to desperate measures, Sam took a deep breath and then raised her right foot bringing it down on the Colonels right one. She then moved away as quickly as she could falling onto the bed.
Jack gave a yelp and opened his eyes moving his neck too quickly, the pain in his neck forced yet another yelp from his body, he then glared at Carter, "Jesus Carter what was that for?"
"Sorry sir but I had to wake you up, and what are you doing in my room at 0500 sir?"
"Well Carter," Jack said rubbing his neck trying to get the kinks out, "I wanted to come and speak to you about or little visitors seeing as we haven't had a chance yet but when I got here you were asleep and I must have dozed off."
"I you don't mind me asking sir, where have you been?"
"Well after I saw Charlie and he explained all he did I needed some time to think. I couldn't be happy to see this other Charlie coz it showed that I was a bad father. The other Jack had stopped his Charlie from shooting himself but I hadn't and all I could think was what if I did it again and this Charlie died because of me or his brother or his sister?" His voice was hoarse with the emotion of trying not to break down. Sam instinctively put her hand on his own and gave it a squeeze
Jack clasped his hand in her own and was absent mindly stroking and playing with her fingers. Sam waited for him to continue, she knew it was very rare for Jack to show his emotions and if he stopped now he may never speak of them again. "When Charlie died it almost killed me, Daniel's probably told you all about it and well I couldn't go through it again. In answer to your earlier question most of the time I was at Charlie's grave talking to him. I felt that if this other Charlie stayed it'd be like my Charlie never existed and none of that pain ever happened."
Jack had been staring at the floor the whole time he'd been speaking but then suddenly his head went up and he stared directly into Sam's eyes, his usually guarded eyes conveyed all the emotion he was feeling. Her heart broke at what she was seeing he was in so much pain and she had no idea how to make it stop. She did the only thing she could think of and bring him into a hug. As she brought her arms around him she felt him tense and slowly relax, returning her hug and then she spoke:
"This Charlie won't make your Charlie any less real, they have both had different experiences which make them the people they are." She gently rubbed his neck to try and soothe him, "And don't think even for a second that you killed your son, it was just a terrible, tragic accident you did all you could. You should take solace in the fact that the time you had with him was happy and filled with love." She paused.
"Don't forget that however brave this Charlie's being he hasn't just lost one mother he's lost two; and a father. He needs you as much, if not more than you need him and so do the other two." She felt Jack nod into her shoulder and then pull back slightly to look at her.
"I kinda figured that out but I think I just needed to hear it out loud. Thanks." He gave a slight grin.
"You're welcome." She said smiling back. She didn't know how long they stayed like that or who made the fist move but suddenly they were kissing. The kiss was so gentle yet powerful Sam had never had such an intense kiss. Then suddenly there was a knock at the door and Daniel burst in. Jack and Sam sprang away like guilty children but it was too late Daniel had seen them.
He stuttered something that sounded like 'sorry' and then practically ran from the room, red faced. Jack got up and before reopening the door that had been hastily slammed just seconds before turned and gave Sam a smile before saying "Thanks Carter." Then he was gone and it was as if nothing had happened, Sam and Jack had gone and were replaced once again with Colonel and Major. Well for now anyway.
So next chapter should be up soon, early next week. In the mean time please review, I'd be very interested in where you think this story should go.
Charlie knew it would take time for his dad to work through all of the stuff that had happened and had been said he just didn't know how long it would take. It had been 3 days since Charlie had seen his father, nobody was sure where he'd gone after his talk with Charlie only that he'd left the base soon after and had yet to return. Jack had rang Hammond asking for some personal time off which Hammond had granted along with the rest of SG-1.
Charlie didn't mind being on the base, as there was often a lot to do and see. Before the invasion Charlie had hardly been on the base and didn't know what his parents really did, they'd always told his brother and sister stories about other worlds but he'd always assumed they were made up. When they were waiting for the invasion he's had a chance to read their mission reports and saw what they were really up to.
They had been staying in the infirmary whilst it was decided what was going to happen to them. Sean had soon got bored (he had the attention span of his father) and tried as many ways as he could to escape. It became a new game for him, one he called getting past the nurses. He annoyed the nurses no end with his rigorous whining about being bored and asking when they could go home.
Jo also took to trying to escape from the infirmary, often hiding under beds and then crawling out when no one was looking. Sam tried to keep them occupied with toys and games, also taking them up to the surface so Sean could use up some of his energy playing ball or catch. The day after they had arrived Janet and Sam had taken the children to the mall to buy the necessities for them and a few extra clothes. Sam had hardly left the children's sides; obviously smitten with them already.
Charlie was sure that if asked Sam would take on the two children readily but he wasn't sure how she'd cope on her own. She had after all no experience with raising children and would probably have to give up her position on SG-1 to do so. However much she loved the children Charlie could not see her doing that, the SGC was her life just as it had been his mother's life. His mom had had help from his dad, they had shared responsibility of all aspects of their children, when Sean had been born it was Jack who showed Sam how to care for him they had been a team. But the Sam in this reality had no such help unless of course Jack came back and was willing to give them all a chance. Only then did things have a chance of turning out ok.
Jack wasn't the only one who was having a hard time working out what they were going to do; Sam had also had parenthood thrust upon her. Until a few days ago she had never seriously thought of herself as mother material. She could be a good aunty to Mark's kids (when she saw them) and Cassie but if anything went wrong she could always give them back to their parents.
When she'd heard she'd been more worried about what Jack's reaction to seeing Charlie would be than her own problems. It must have been so hard to see his son and know that another Jack out there had had a chance to see him grow up whereas her Jack had not. She didn't know when she'd started thinking about the Colonel as Jack or even 'her' Jack but it seemed to be happening more and more frequently.
When Sean had dragged her into the infirmary when they had first arrived Sam had been very reluctant and scared and a million 'what ifs' flooded her mind. "What if she didn't know what to do? What if they realised she wasn't who they thought she was. What if they started crying? What if she didn't like them? What if they didn't like her?" The list continued. But as soon as she saw the sleeping form of Jo she knew that everything would be all right, she looked so innocent, her little form curled up in the big military bed. She was so perfect; they both were. She could already see the O'Neillisms as she liked to call them shining out of Sean. The way he couldn't sit still for long spaces of time, the expressions he made and the way he spoke all reminded her of Jack.
When she had tucked Sean in and said goodnight he grinned at her, a cheeky grin she knew so very well before falling asleep after telling her he was glad the mean people had gone away and she was back home. They had all been through so much in their short lives, Charlie included. Sam knew that Charlie saw himself as the other two's protector and that he would gladly give up his own happiness for their own but no matter how grown up and mature he acted Sam could tell that he really needed someone to love and care for him as well.
Out of the three of them it would be Charlie that would have the hardest time adjusting to this reality after all he was dead in this one. All the friends that he'd had wouldn't know him or thought him to be dead and then there was his real mother. If she found out about Charlie there was no telling what would happen.
Sam knew if she or Jack didn't take on Jo or Sean then a loving home would be found for them and although they would be devastated to lose their parents when they got older they probably wouldn't even remember them, but Charlie would and have to cope with losing everything he ever knew and starting over in some place new. Sam hoped this would never happen, if Jack wouldn't help then maybe with Charlie's help she could take care of the children, maybe even resign if she had too.
Sam was only away from the infirmary now because it was the middle of the night and they were both asleep and Teal'c was watching over them. Sean was very attached to Teal'c; he would follow him around copying him and seemed to be the only one who thought his jokes were funny. Although Teal'c didn't say much Sam could tell he enjoyed having Sean around and already felt he was part of his 'Earth family' as Teal'c would put it.
Teal'c was doing Kelno'reem whilst the three O'Neill children slept. Although he sensed someone entering the infirmary he did not stir, as he knew instantly that it was O'Neill. Teal'c was glad to see his friend had returned as his children had been missing him deeply and perhaps now he was ready to face up to his responsibilities.
Jack entered the room tentatively, all he had been able to think about for the past three days were the three people in this room but now that he was so close to them he didn't know if he could find the courage to actually see them; he had abandoned them after all. He slowly walked up to the first bed and looked over the railings. Lay in the middle asleep on her back was Jo. It was then that he realised that he had not even seen her before.
She was beautiful he golden hair fell in loose ringlets and her eyes closed in a peaceful slumber. Jack brought his thumb down to lightly brush her cheek and push a strand of hair out of her eyes. She looked like Carter did when she was asleep on missions not that he watched her or anything Jack reminded himself. "Sleep well Joey" he whispered as he tore himself away from the first marvel to the next one.
Sean was lay on his side curled up in a ball sucking his thumb. It was hard to see how this angelic looking boy could cause any kind of mischief. He could see Carter in Sean, he had the same nose and his eyebrows were furrowed in his sleep just as Carters were when she was working out a problem. Sean had kicked his covers off in his sleep and was now shivering slightly. Jack picked up the covers and drew them around his chin, tucking him in. he then gently stroked his hair as the shivering subsided. "N'night Seany"
He then moved onto the last bed in it was the person Jack had been dreading and looking forward to seeing in equal measure, but instead of seeing a sleeping boy a pair of brown eyes were watching him. "Hey dad" Charlie said sleepily, "So you're back then?"
"Yeah, I'm back but we can talk tomorrow, now you should go to sleep." He said pulling Charlie's covers up around him as he'd done with his younger son and then watched as he fell asleep. Jack watched them all, trying to memorise all of their features and then locking them away for future reference. He eventually left them, it was finally clear in his mind what he had to do.
Most of the base was asleep so the corridors were almost deserted as Jack walked down them heading in the direction of the living quarters. He stopped at a door and knocked on it, when there was no response from inside he opened the door quietly knowing that it wouldn't be locked. She was asleep on her bed in the corner, Jack didn't have the heart to wake her as she looked so tired so he sat down in a chair and waited.
When Sam awoke some hours later she could feel another presence in her room as she scanned the room her gaze fell upon Col. O'Neill asleep in a nearby chair, his arms folded and his head drooped down, she knew from experience that when he awoke he'd have a hell of a neck ache. She tried to wake him gently by shaking his shoulders a little but it didn't work. Considering he was an Air Force officer it was nearly impossible to wake him up. After a few minutes of trying she had to resort to desperate measures, Sam took a deep breath and then raised her right foot bringing it down on the Colonels right one. She then moved away as quickly as she could falling onto the bed.
Jack gave a yelp and opened his eyes moving his neck too quickly, the pain in his neck forced yet another yelp from his body, he then glared at Carter, "Jesus Carter what was that for?"
"Sorry sir but I had to wake you up, and what are you doing in my room at 0500 sir?"
"Well Carter," Jack said rubbing his neck trying to get the kinks out, "I wanted to come and speak to you about or little visitors seeing as we haven't had a chance yet but when I got here you were asleep and I must have dozed off."
"I you don't mind me asking sir, where have you been?"
"Well after I saw Charlie and he explained all he did I needed some time to think. I couldn't be happy to see this other Charlie coz it showed that I was a bad father. The other Jack had stopped his Charlie from shooting himself but I hadn't and all I could think was what if I did it again and this Charlie died because of me or his brother or his sister?" His voice was hoarse with the emotion of trying not to break down. Sam instinctively put her hand on his own and gave it a squeeze
Jack clasped his hand in her own and was absent mindly stroking and playing with her fingers. Sam waited for him to continue, she knew it was very rare for Jack to show his emotions and if he stopped now he may never speak of them again. "When Charlie died it almost killed me, Daniel's probably told you all about it and well I couldn't go through it again. In answer to your earlier question most of the time I was at Charlie's grave talking to him. I felt that if this other Charlie stayed it'd be like my Charlie never existed and none of that pain ever happened."
Jack had been staring at the floor the whole time he'd been speaking but then suddenly his head went up and he stared directly into Sam's eyes, his usually guarded eyes conveyed all the emotion he was feeling. Her heart broke at what she was seeing he was in so much pain and she had no idea how to make it stop. She did the only thing she could think of and bring him into a hug. As she brought her arms around him she felt him tense and slowly relax, returning her hug and then she spoke:
"This Charlie won't make your Charlie any less real, they have both had different experiences which make them the people they are." She gently rubbed his neck to try and soothe him, "And don't think even for a second that you killed your son, it was just a terrible, tragic accident you did all you could. You should take solace in the fact that the time you had with him was happy and filled with love." She paused.
"Don't forget that however brave this Charlie's being he hasn't just lost one mother he's lost two; and a father. He needs you as much, if not more than you need him and so do the other two." She felt Jack nod into her shoulder and then pull back slightly to look at her.
"I kinda figured that out but I think I just needed to hear it out loud. Thanks." He gave a slight grin.
"You're welcome." She said smiling back. She didn't know how long they stayed like that or who made the fist move but suddenly they were kissing. The kiss was so gentle yet powerful Sam had never had such an intense kiss. Then suddenly there was a knock at the door and Daniel burst in. Jack and Sam sprang away like guilty children but it was too late Daniel had seen them.
He stuttered something that sounded like 'sorry' and then practically ran from the room, red faced. Jack got up and before reopening the door that had been hastily slammed just seconds before turned and gave Sam a smile before saying "Thanks Carter." Then he was gone and it was as if nothing had happened, Sam and Jack had gone and were replaced once again with Colonel and Major. Well for now anyway.
So next chapter should be up soon, early next week. In the mean time please review, I'd be very interested in where you think this story should go.