Chapter 5 – It Happened One Christmas
Janet awkwardly maneuvered herself to the end of the couch, legs spread wide in bracing support. Placing one hand on the arm of the sofa, she put the other next to her leg, took a deep breath, and readied herself to stand.
"Stay put!" her husband of one year called to her as he entered the room. Quickly rounding the corner of the sofa, he stood in front of her, placing his hands on his hips and looking down at her. "I told you'd I'd be right back to help you up," he admonished gently, even as he reached forward and grasped her hands in his own and pulled her to her feet.
Janet grunted softly at the shift in position, her hands moving to her lower back where she tried to rub the ache away. "God, I hate this," Janet complained. "I feel like a beached whale."
Daniel chuckled softly and rubbed her distended abdomen with affection. "You look beautiful, Jan. And it's all going to be worth it."
She snorted as she moved out of his reach and began to pace back and forth in front of the sofa. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to pee every 30 minutes, waddles like a penguin, and hasn't seen her feet for several months. I don't know how Sam ever went through this two times. It will be a miracle if I make it through one…and I haven't even gone through labor yet!"
Daniel caught her hand as she tried to move past him in her pacing. He gently pulled her close, dismayed to find tears in her eyes. "Hey," he said softly, cupping her cheek with the other hand. "You are going to be fine, Janet. You're an amazing, strong, beautiful woman. And I am going to be with you every step of the way, OK?"
Janet ducked her head in embarrassment and hid it in his chest as he encircled her with his arms. "Oh, God, Daniel. I'm so sorry I'm acting like this. I want this baby so much, I just don't want to feel like this any more…I can't work like this and I feel…well, useless," she sniffled into his shoulder.
Frowning slightly, he pulled back. "You are never useless, Janet. Don't ever think that. Even though you can't work directly in the infirmary, you have been providing invaluable support to them on some of the tougher cases that have come in. Besides," he continued now with a smile, "You don't have much longer to wait. The doctor said you could go any time now."
"The sooner the better," she said with a slight grimace, before adding thoughtfully, "Though I do hope we make it through the holidays. Jack and Sam have been looking forward to hosting Christmas Eve. Which reminds me, I should probably go and get changed; they want us over there by 4:00."
As Janet began to pull away from his embrace, Daniel let his hands fall to hers, holding her fast. Looking intently into her eyes, he stated, "You know, we don't have to go over there tonight," he said meaningfully, for he knew she didn't feel her best right now. "Jack and Sam will understand."
For the first time since they had begun the conversation, Janet's face broke into a gentle smile, her brown eyes sparkling with anticipation. "But I want to go, Daniel. I want to watch JJ and Grace open their gifts from us. I want to be with our family tonight... all of them." She put her hand up to his cheek and caressed it reassuringly. "I'll be fine. I promise," she whispered.
Bringing her fingers up to his lips, Daniel gave them a gentle kiss. "OK then, my dear. You go get changed…I'll see if Cassie is ready to go. She's been on the phone since she got home from college yesterday– must be missing 'what's his name'." He grinned at the thought of Jack's normal form of address for the young man Cassie was currently seeing.
Janet chuckled as she moved away. "Don't let her hear you say that, Daniel. Your gifts might all end up in the trash."
He shuddered in mock horror and stated firmly, "Not another word." They shared a final smile before Janet moved slowly down the hallway to her room and Daniel headed to Cassie's room. Daniel hummed Christmas carols as he walked; he was looking forward to a nice calm, relaxing holiday spent with his wife, his stepdaughter, and his friends. Of course, one rarely got what one wished for.
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Daniel led Janet up the freshly shoveled walkway, his right arm wrapped firmly around her waist to prevent her from slipping. Even though Jack had recently shoveled the newly fallen snow, it was slippery in spots and Daniel didn't want to take any chances that his wife would fall. Cassie followed behind the pair, carrying a large sack filled with gifts in one hand, a homemade pie in the other.
As they came up the steps, the front door was thrown wide, revealing the smiling face of Jacob Carter. "Merry Christmas!" he greeted all three of them as he held the door open for them. Returning the greeting, Daniel, Janet and Cassie stepped into the hallway and were immediately surrounded by the smells of cooking wafting from the kitchen. Jacob took the pie from Cassie and ushered them all into the living room, where they were welcomed warmly by Teal'c, who stood near the roaring fire.
"Unca Danny!" Daniel heard the little boy's voice a split second before the small bundle of energy catapulted himself off the couch and into Daniel's arms. He had barely set foot into the living room and set down the bag of gifts he had taken from Cassie before being accosted by JJ.
"Ooompf!" Daniel replied as he caught his excited Godson in his arms. "Whoa there, buddy. Where's the fire?" he teased, holding JJ away from him slightly and looking him over. JJ was dressed for the festive occasion in a pair of black pants, a white collared shirt, and a green sweater. His hair was neatly combed to the side, but Daniel knew from experience that it wouldn't last long.
"Mommy not burning anyfing tonight," replied the three and a half year old with all seriousness, causing Daniel and Janet to laugh outright and Sam to call out "Hey!" from where she had just entered from the kitchen. JJ smiled innocently at his mother, then turned his attention back to Daniel and Janet. "You bwing pwesents?" he asked hopefully, looking at the bag on the floor by Daniel's feet.
"JJ," Jack admonished softly as he too came into the room, carrying two year old Grace in his arms. "What have mommy and I told you about manners?"
JJ's smile fell and he looked down at Daniel's shirt. "Sowwy, daddy."
Daniel smiled in amusement over at Jack, who was trying to hide a grin of his own. Glossing over the situation, Daniel let the little boy down as he said, "Why don't you show me where to put the presents, Okay JJ?" At that, the little boy brightened up and dragged his Uncle by one hand over to the tree.
Janet and Cassie had taken off their coats and handed them to Sam, who hung them in the hall closet before directing them further into the living room. Cassie followed Daniel over to the tree, where she made all the appropriate comments about the beautiful decorations, noting with amusement the plethora of ornaments that hung on the lower branches of the tree; undoubtedly placed there by JJ and Grace.
As Janet was about to pass Jack to go admire the tree herself, he called out, "Whoa doc, whatcha hiding under your shirt? JJ doesn't play basketball yet," Jack smirked as he looked pointedly at Janet's rather large stomach.
The good doctor stopped in front of him, narrowed her eyes and glared, causing Jack to lose his smile and cough nervously, looking to Sam for rescue. Sam just raised her eyebrows at him and then turned away, letting him fend for himself. "Uh, Merry Christmas?" he tried lamely, shooting Janet an apologetic smile.
Janet rolled her eyes at him and then turned her attention to the child in Jack's arms. Grace was a beautiful little girl. Contrary to Jack's earlier prediction, her hair had grown quickly once she reached the age of 12 months and it now hung in soft brown waves nearly to her shoulders. Her eyes were the same deep, chocolate brown as her father's and could sparkle with mischief just as much as his. While she preferred to wear pants like her brother, she was now dressed in an adorable green velvet dress with a big bow on the back. Now two, Grace was walking and talking and generally trying to keep up with her older brother. But whereas JJ was outgoing and talkative with everyone, Grace tended to be a bit more shy, and would often hang back for a while before she would join the fray.
The little girl did so now, hugging tightly to her father's neck as Janet stepped closer. Fingering the little girl's dress gently, she said, "Hello sweetheart. Don't you look pretty tonight. Can you come see your Auntie Janet for a while?"
Grace blinked her large brown eyes at Janet, then looked to her father. Jack's face frowned slightly in concern. "She's getting kind of heavy, Janet. Are you sure that's such a good idea?"
Janet smiled back reassuringly. "Just for a few minutes. I haven't gotten to hold Gracie for a while." She looked at the little girl, then held her arms out. Hesitating for just a minute, Grace copied the gesture and leaned forward, letting Janet take her into her arms. It was a bit awkward, with her large stomach and all, but Janet had been looking forward to holding Grace all day and so she shifted the little girl to her hip and hugged her tightly. Jack stood close by, the look of concern still on his face. From across the room, he could see Daniel shooting equal looks of uncertainty their way.
Grace endured the hug for a few moments, then pulled back. Looking down at the mound her leg was resting on, she said loudly, "Big tummy. Wike Tanta." Then her little hands gently patted the round stomach of her auntie. There was an uncomfortable moment of silence throughout the room before it was broken by Janet's delighted peal of laughter. Everyone else followed suit, Grace looking around the room in confusion as she didn't know what had been so funny.
"Yes baby. My tummy is fat like Santa's. But it won't be for long. Soon Uncle Daniel and I will have a sweet baby, just like you." Then she leaned in and gave Grace a kiss on the nose.
Wrinkling her little nose at her aunt, Grace stated adamantly, "Not baby. Me big girl!"
Janet laughed again. "Yes, you're right Gracie. You are a very big girl now."
"Yeah," Jack piped in as he reached over to take Grace from Janet's arms, not wanting the doctor to overdo herself. "Much too big to be held all the time." He blew a raspberry on his daughter's cheek, put her on the floor and softly swatted her well-padded behind. "Go see Uncle Teal'c now, princess. He's got some juice for you." Grace scampered off across the living room to Teal'c, who held a sippy cup in his hands. It was rather comical to watch the large man bend over and hand the cup of juice to the little girl; and equally humorous to hear her, "Fanks, Unca T," from across the room.
Janet stood for a moment, watching the scene before her. Tears formed in her eyes as she took in the sight of Daniel sitting on the ground by the tree, JJ in his lap. They were talking intently about one of the ornaments JJ had made in preschool and hung on the tree. Grace toddled over to them and plunked herself unceremoniously on Daniel's other leg, leaning back against his chest and drinking from her cup as if she belonged there.
"Janet?" Sam asked softly, having come up next to her once Jack had relieved her of Grace. She placed her hand on her friend's arm, a look of concern in her deep blue eyes. Janet turned to look at Sam, then smiled tremulously as she placed her own hand over Sam's.
"I'm fine, Sam. It's just," she turned back to take in the scene before her once more. "I can't wait for that to be Daniel sitting by the tree with our child on his lap. He's going to be such a wonderful father." She sighed, then looked at her two friends with a watery smile. "You are both so fortunate... two beautiful children in the last four years."
Jack snorted with amusement. "Yeah, but you forget that it took us 9 years to get here, doc. Besides, they're not so beautiful at 0500 in the morning when they jump on the bed and demand breakfast. Nor when they have runny noses or Grace has a runny…"
"Jack!" Sam elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to mutter a soft "Oompf!" and back away from her, though he sported a smirk on his face. Ignoring her husband, she turned once more to Janet. "You and Daniel don't have long to wait for your baby to be born, Janet. And you're going to be a wonderful mother…again," she added, looking across at the beautiful young woman that Cassie had become.
Janet's eyes teared again as she whispered, "Thank you Sam." The two women hugged tightly; well, as tightly as they could with Janet's protruding stomach between them.
"Hormones," Jack muttered good-naturedly, pecking his wife on the cheek before he walked away from the women. "Come on everyone, let's get the festivities started!"
JJ looked up at his father's comment. "Pwesents?" he asked eagerly, staring up at Jack with a look of excitement.
Jack bent down and picked JJ up, tossing him lightly into the air as JJ squealed with delight. "Not yet, little man. Time to get dinner on the table." He tossed JJ over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "You come with and help set the table." JJ giggled and waved to the group as his dad carted him off into the dining room.
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The rest of the evening passed in a blur of celebration. They enjoyed a delicious meal of turkey with all the trimmings. Although Janet ate little, she enjoyed the conversation that flowed around her. When Daniel leaned closer to ask why she wasn't eating, Janet whispered back that her stomach was just too full of baby to be able to eat much. Not quite sure he believed her, Daniel kept a close on her throughout the remainder of the meal. Truthfully, Janet had been feeling a bit off all day, but didn't want to spoil the evening and so kept her comments about it to herself.
When dinner was finished, the group moved into the living room for the gift exchange…something JJ had been eagerly awaiting all day! He caught Grace up in his excitement and the two children scampered ahead of the adults into the room and settled into prime spots in front of the Christmas tree.
Jack settled into an easy chair, Sam perched on its arm, with Jack's arm wrapped loosely around her waist. Teal'c took the chair opposite and Grace got up from her spot on the floor to sit on his lap, causing a large smile to crease his face. Daniel and Janet sat on the couch, Daniel making sure to gently ease his wife into position before settling in next to her. Jacob sat on the other end of the couch, watching the proceedings with a smile of reminiscence on his face. Cassie was delegated the role of Mrs. Claus; passing out wrapped gifts one by one.
JJ's face broke into a smile of absolute delight as he saw the pile of gifts in front of him grow. Grace was more interested in the pretty paper and ribbons on her packages than on the prospect of what might be inside the brightly wrapped gifts. When Teal'c placed a small gift on her lap, Grace picked it up and studied it intently, turning it this way and that as she tried to decide how to proceed next.
Noting his children's reactions with amusement, Jack stated, "She's just like her mother. Studying things carefully, trying to figure out what's inside."
Sam chuckled as she looked at JJ. "Instead of tearing into things willy-nilly, like some else I know?" She looked meaningfully at her husband.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Willy-nilly? That some new scientific term you've recently come across?" Sam chuckled and shook her head at him, turning her attention back to her children.
JJ had exclaimed with delight as he opened the package from Cassie containing a preschool styled remote control car. Pulling it from its wrapper, he took it over to his parents and plopped it into Sam's lap. "Make it go, mommy!" he demanded in excitement.
Daniel laughed outright at that comment. "Seems young JJ knows who has the mechanical aptitude in this family."
Jack gave his friend a scowl before turning back to JJ. Trying to redeem himself in his company's eyes, Jack said, "Daddy can make it go, JJ. I've had lots of experience with remote controlled vehicles."
JJ looked doubtfully at his father before shaking his head. "No, mommy not crash. Mommy make it go fast," he insisted, causing more chuckles to ensue…all at Jack's expense of course.
"Fine," Jack stated, getting to his feet and letting Sam settle more comfortably into the chair, JJ at her hip. "I'll help Gracie." He walked over to his daughter and pulled a chair close, helping her and Teal'c open some of her gifts. Sam threw him an apologetic glance, worried that his feelings truly had been hurt. She didn't have to worry however; he threw a glance her way, one filled with both amusement and pride, and resumed his task with Grace.
In the midst of the gifts being opened, Janet felt a sharp pain run through her midsection. She stifled a gasp, instinctively placing her hand on her stomach. Daniel didn't miss the action however and leaned closer to her. "Janet?"
All eyes turned to the couple, for they had not missed the change of tone in Daniel's voice. "Danny? Something wrong?" Jack asked from his spot by the tree.
Daniel didn't respond, however, as he was waiting for Janet to answer him. Taking in a deep breath, Janet met his eyes. "I'm fine, Daniel. Just had a small pain, that's all. It's gone now," she assured him.
"Is the birth of your child imminent, Dr. Frasier?" Teal'c asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"No. No, I don't think so," Janet replied, but there was an edge of uncertainty in her voice.
Sam, who had finished with JJ's remote controlled car, stood up and came over, kneeling in front of Janet as she did so and placing her hand on Janet's leg. "You didn't eat much tonight, Jan. And I noticed you rubbing your back a lot this evening. You know as well as I do that those can be early signs of labor."
"But I'm not due for 2 more weeks," she protested weakly. Even though she was a doctor and had delivered both of Sam's children, right now she was first time expectant mother, and was duly anxious about the prospect.
"The doctor said you could go at any time, honey," Daniel reminded her, pulling her close. "Maybe we should head to the hospital," he offered quietly.
Janet shook her head. "You don't head to the hospital after one pain, Daniel. They should be at least…OH!" she gasped as another pain coursed through her body. Her grip on Daniel's arm tightened considerably as she rode out the wave of pain. Sam shot a look of concern toward Jack, who stood and came over to the couch.
Cassie jumped up, panic evident on her face. The two young children, sensing the change in the atmosphere, looked on with wide eyes, their new toys forgotten. "Auntie Janet sick?" JJ asked, his little voice breaking the silence of the room. Jack sent a pleading look Jacob's way before turning to answer his son.
"No JJ. Auntie Janet is fine. It just might be time for her to go to the hospital. Her baby is ready to be born," he replied carefully.
Jacob walked over to the two small children. "Come into the kitchen with Grandpa kiddos. Let's make some cocoa and eat some of those cookies mommy made yesterday." Leading JJ and Grace by the hand, Jacob guided them into the kitchen, nodding briefly at the look of thanks Jack shot his way. From the living room, they could hear JJ tell Jacob in no uncertain terms that they had to save some of the cookies for Santa.
Standing on either side of her, Jack and Daniel slowly drew Janet to her feet. Sam ran to fetch Janet's coat, putting it around the woman's shoulders and giving her an encouraging hug in the process. "But I'm not ready to have this baby yet," Janet protested, contradicting the words she had spoken earlier in the evening. "I don't even have my bag packed for the hospital!"
Noticing the equally strong look of panic now on Daniel's face at the prospect of impending fatherhood, Jack took over. "Teal'c can drive Cassie home to pack a bag for you, Janet. Sam and I will take both of you to the hospital."
Janet met Sam's eyes, the relief in the suggestion evident in her gaze. Though she was well-prepared for the birth of her child, she wanted not only her husband present, but also her best friend. Decision made, Jack went back to inform Jacob of the plans, then helped bundle the very pregnant doctor into the back of the SUV parked in the driveway.
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It was a long night for the former members of SG-1… most especially for Janet Frasier-Jackson. Though her pains had come sharp and fast, labor itself was a slow process. Jack and Teal'c made themselves comfortable in the waiting room, relying on Sam for frequent updates in Janet's progress…or lack thereof. Jack kept in contact with Jacob, who had managed to get the children to bed and put out the gifts from "Santa" around the tree. They wouldn't open them until Jack and Sam were back, hopefully by morning. Assured that his children were well cared for, Jack leaned back against the cushions of the waiting room couch and settled in for the long wait.
In the wee hours of Christmas morning, when the sun had barely begun to light the sky, Janet gave birth to her second daughter; a tiny little girl with wisps of reddish hair and a full set of lungs. When Sam came out to deliver the good news, her eyes filled with tears of happiness, Jack could hear the child through the opened doors and cracked a wide grin at the sound. "Just like her mother; she'll be ordering people around in no time!"
Teal'c smiled back. "Indeed."
Sam shared a look of amusement with both of them before letting Jack draw her close for a tight hug. It had been an eventful night for all of them and Sam was exhausted, yet elated for her two friends. She let her tears of happiness fall as she snuggled into the warmth of Jack's embrace. Jack kissed her gently on her head, reliving in his own mind the births of his two children.
When Janet and the baby had been cleaned up and the new family time to get acquainted, Jack, Sam, and Teal'c came to visit the newest member of the team. Daniel sat in a rocking chair next to Janet's bed, cuddling the small infant in his arms and gazing lovingly into her face. Cassie leaned over looking at her new sister, her own face alight with joy.
"So Danny, quite a Christmas gift you got there, huh?" Jack teased as he came over to stand by his friend.
Daniel looked up and gave his friend an unabashed grin. "She's amazing, Jack. My daughter…I never imagined…" he couldn't go on, looking over to Janet with the gentlest of smiles and a look full of love, which she returned.
Jack gently clapped his hand on his friend's back. "I know, Danny," he said softly. "I know." They didn't need more words than that as they each looked down on this new child that they would protect with their lives.
"What have you decided to name this offspring of yours, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked as he too gazed down at the small child.
Sharing another smile with Janet, Daniel answered, "Katherine Rose Jackson."
Sam smiled as she came up and quietly requested the chance to hold little Katherine. Daniel relinquished his hold on his daughter, though a bit reluctantly. "That's a beautiful name, Daniel," Sam stated as she softly cooed to the newborn.
"Katie Rose…a good Irish name if ever I heard one," Jack quipped with a grin. "Wonder if Thor will give that next ship in the Fleet of the Samantha Carter the shortened version; I rather like it myself."
"We must inform Thor of this joyous event; he has been waiting for several years to add another moniker to his fleet," Teal'c intoned with all seriousness.
"Oh brother," Janet responded to the quiet laughter that followed Teal'c's pronouncement.
The nurse came in at that moment to shoo the visitors from the room, stating that mother and new baby needed their rest. Sam pressed a gentle kiss to the baby's head before handing her back to Daniel. She then moved to Janet's side and gave her a tight hug. "She's absolutely beautiful, Janet. I am so happy for all of you."
"Thank you, Sam. And thank you for being here with me…it meant the world to me," Janet replied a bit teary-eyed.
Jack came up next to his wife, bending down to give Janet a hug of his own. "You did good, Doc. And you certainly gave us a Christmas to remember!" Janet laughed with him and returned his hug. With promises to return later that day, Jack, Sam and Teal'c took their leave of the Jackson family.
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JJ and Grace gazed into the bassinet by Janet's hospital bed, looks of amazement on their faces. Inside of the bassinet, snuggled into an overlarge Christmas stocking, was a tiny baby with a swatch of red hair peeking out from under an equally tiny red stocking cap.
Jack bent down behind his children, placing one arm around each of them and whispered softly, "JJ, Grace…this is your new baby cousin; Katie Rose. She arrived early this morning."
Grace looked into her father's eyes, the confusion evident in their dark depths. "Tanta bring baby?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing in concentration.
Laughing softly, Jack drew her close and kissed her on the cheek. "Well, not exactly, princess. But she sure is a wonderful Christmas gift for Auntie Janet, Uncle Daniel and Cassie, isn't she?"
Both children looked back at the newborn baby, considering his question, until JJ replied firmly, "Like my 'mote 'trol car better." The adults in the room laughed at his response while JJ walked away from his new cousin and climbed on Teal'c's lap, frowning at the room in genera,l as he wanted to go home so he could play with his new toys.
Grace remained a moment or two longer, puzzling to herself what this new baby might mean, before she too turned and walked to where her mother sat at the end of the bed, talking quietly with her Auntie Janet. Tugging on Sam's skirt, Grace waited until she had her mother's full attention. "What is it sweetie?" Sam asked as she gently picked the little girl up and placed her on her lap.
Looking from her mother, to the bassinet and back, she frowned again, then leaned into her mother. "Gwacie no want baby from Tanta."
Sam turned puzzled eyes to Jack, wondering what was bothering her daughter. Jack came over to them, a soft smile on his face. "I think someone's worried that her position as baby in this family is about to be usurped."
Sam hugged the little girl close, assuring her that she would always be mommy's little girl, no matter what. And that Auntie Janet and Uncle Daniel would love her just as much as ever.
As if to prove the point, Daniel came over and lifted Grace into his own arms, bringing her over to his sleeping daughter. "Auntie Janet and I are going to need your help, Grace. Now that you're such a big girl, maybe you can help Katie grow up to be a big girl like you. Will you do that, sweetheart?"
Grace once again looked into the bassinet at her new cousin before meeting Daniel's eyes. Nodding solemnly, Grace stated, "Me help wif' Katie Wose." Then looking back at her parents, who were gazing at her with a smile, she said sternly, "But Tanta no bwing mommy a baby."
Sam and Jack shared a look of amusement while everyone else burst into laughter once more. It had truly been a most remarkable Christmas, one which they would all treasure for years to come.
Hope you enjoyed this long chapter...I had a hard time ending it but didn't want to make it two chapters as each installment is a story in itself. Hope it didn't get too sappy in the end...I was originally intending this to be mainly a humorous chapter but it ended up a bit different than planned. Thank you for you continued reviews...I really do appreciate hearing from everyone!
