Happy New Year everyone! Here's a new update on the O'Neill family for you. It's nice and long as well...hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 19 – The Hero in All of Us

As it does so often for couples with small children, time seemed to pass before their very eyes. One minute, Maddie was barely sitting up by herself, the next, she was walking through the house like she owned the place. There was no place safe from the toddler's insatiable curiosity. By the tender age of eighteen months, she had more than mastered the art of climbing stairs and jiggling door knobs. She had no qualms about climbing on top of chairs or tables to reach things of interest...especially the cookie jar on the kitchen counter.

Grace had taken to closing her door tight each morning before she left for school, going so far as to insist her father install a child resistant door knob. Even though the kindergartner often required assistance to open her own door, at least Maddie couldn't get in and destroy the place.

Jack had been hesitant at first. After all, they had never had to lock Grace or JJ out of rooms and they had been just as inquisitive as Maddie at that age, if not as determined. But one day, when he had found Maddie in the midst of Grace's room, Playdoh spread from one end of the room to the other, not to mention stuck in her hair in great globs, he had quickly changed his mind. He'd also installed the special doorknob on JJ's bedroom door, the laundry room door, and several closets he didn't want the child to get into. Her drive and curiosity were endless; sometimes tiring him out more that the other two had combined.

And that might have been part of the problem. While Grace and JJ had had each other to play with and entertain, Maddie was alone for the long hours both children were at school. Granted, she was at the SGC daycare center at least three full days a week, where she was kept adequately stimulated. But on the days she was home with her daddy, her curiosity often got the best of her.

Now, Maddie didn't mean to get into things; she was just extremely interested in the world around her. That and her desire to do everything her brother and sister did invariably led to the many scraps and scares she found herself in. From wandering to the neighbors and getting herself locked in their fortunately friendly dog's kennel, to sitting on big brother JJ's skateboard and finding herself rolling down the driveway toward the street, the little girl kept the entire family on their toes. Thankfully, thus far all the child had suffered had been small scrapes and bruises.

Maddie's close calls caused Jack endless amounts of worry. Sam was a bit more laid back about it…after all, she had been much like Maddie when she was young. But she still kept a close eye on her youngest, just the same. The thought that Maddie was a lot like Sam didn't alleviate Jack's fears in the least. He had heard some stories from both Mark and Jacob that made him wonder how his wife had ever survived her childhood.

Deciding that he should go directly to the source, he had approached Jacob the next time he was visiting. "God, Jake, she's into everything…all the time! There's just not a moment's rest with her. When she was a baby, she'd sit so quietly, watching Grace and JJ. We thought we were going to have this meek, quiet, third child who might get lost in the shuffle." He chuckled sardonically, "Well, she's going to get lost all right; already has, in fact. At the grocery store, the zoo, the mall…"

Jacob had laughed softly and clapped him on the back. "You always say she's the spitting image of Sam. Well, now I know you're right."

Jack raised a questioning eyebrow to the man. "From the minute she could walk, Sam was into everything. And I mean everything. I found her up in a tree a block away one afternoon when she was about three or four. I ever tell you about that?" At Jack's negative shake of the head, Jacob continued with another chuckle. "She said she only wanted to see the baby birds. Never mind that they were 12 feet off the ground! Suffice it to say, she kept her mother and me on our toes for a long time, much more so than her brother. I think a lot of it was trying to keep up with Mark, but some of it was just plain old curiosity." He turned to look more fully at Jack. "You've got three very smart children, Jack. Sometimes, that intelligence leads them to do things that might get them into some trouble."

Jack nodded solemnly. Grace and JJ seemed to be past the stage where their insatiable curiosity drove them beyond what they knew was safe or acceptable. Oh, they still got into trouble now and again, but were usually quite good about thinking before they acted…especially JJ. At eight years old and almost at the end of second grade, the little boy at times seemed to be mature beyond his years. Oh, he still enjoyed the rough and tumble world of being a little boy; but he also enjoyed quiet endeavors, such as studying the stars at night with his father, taking apart electronic apparatus with Sam, or learning about prehistoric animals from his Uncle Daniel.

Grace was as curious as she had ever been, but she tended to ask questions to fulfill her curiosity instead of investigating or exploring the unknown. And yes, sometimes the questions went beyond embarrassing, Jack thought, but at least they never caused her any injuries.

Jack had been pulled from his musings when Jacob placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Don't worry, Jack. Maddie'll grow out of it. Just keep a close eye on her in the meantime, and try to keep her engaged in…appropriate activities," he offered with a grin.

Taking Jacob's words to heart, Jack had become even more vigilant when he was home alone with Maddie. He began to take her to the daycare center for at least part of each day, even if he was not due at the SGC. Both he and Sam felt she needed the stimulation of being around other children for a certain amount of time each day. In addition, Sam brought home a modified type of "homing device" for Maddie. It was a small bracelet that was interfaced with a larger device that Jack could hook onto his belt loop. If Maddie wandered more than 10 feet away from him, Jack's device would emit a series of warning beeps, causing him to go in search of his adventurous little girl. While it was annoying at times, it saved them from several frightening incidents than they might otherwise have encountered.

So, it came as some relief to Jack when school was let out for the summer, just after Maddie's second birthday. With the other two children around more, Maddie was likely to be more engaged at home and not get into quite so much. In addition, they were going to take a much needed family break up at the cabin at the end of the month. Sam had been working quite a bit lately due to the influx of alien technology from recent missions. That and the discovery of a new race of aliens who harbored ill-will towards the Asgard kept both of them busy. The entire family was long overdue for a vacation.

On a bright clear morning at the end of June, Jack and Sam packed up their SUV and their three children and headed north to Minnesota. The drive took almost three days due to the moderate pace and frequent stops that Jack planned into the trip. Since they had a full two weeks off together, Jack and Sam both felt there was no rush to get to the cabin and made a few unscheduled stops along the way to various tourist draws, like Mount Rushmore and the Mall of America (not Jack's favorite by far!).

By the time they arrived at the cabin, Jack was more than ready to settle in and do, well, absolutely nothing. He was looking forward to taking the older two children fishing, taking Maddie in the water, and spending the evenings on the porch with his arm wrapped around Sam. Of course first, they had to unpack the tons of things loaded into the back and on the roof of the SUV; all necessary items when traveling with three young children and one workaholic wife.

As they exited the vehicle, JJ and Grace took off in the direction of the lake, their voices raised in excitement. They froze in their tracks, however with their father's loud cry. "Freeze!" Turning slowly, they looked at him anxiously and waited. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked more quietly, but still with a firm tone to his voice.

JJ looked at Grace, then back at his father. "To see the lake," he replied quietly.

Jack raised an eyebrow, "And how were you planning on your things getting to your room? Did you and your mother invent something to make them magically move from the car to your rooms?"

JJ shook his head, a slight smile appearing at his father's words. "No sir," he replied. The little boy's eyes met Sam's and shared a look of amusement. They both knew Jack wasn't angry with the children, just trying to prove a point to them.

Grace looked from JJ, to Sam, then finally to Jack. Not being as conscious as JJ as to what was really happening, she decided to plead their case. "Please daddy! We just wants to see if the ducks is back, then we'll come right back and puts our stuff away. Promise!" she pleaded, her brown eyes wide and imploring.

Jack looked down at her earnest expression and smiled. "All right, princess. Just five minutes, then you both come back up and help. But," he raised his hand and his voice just as they were about to scamper off. "Absolutely no going on the dock, you understand?" His eyes locked with Grace's meaningfully. The smile faltered and she lowered her head.

"Yes, Daddy," she whispered. Then she looked up again. "I won't never do that again," she promised fervently, as the reason for his reminder came back full force for all of them.

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The incident in question had occurred last year, near the end of July. Both JJ and Grace had spent most of the day outdoors and in or near the water, Jack or Sam keeping a watchful eye on them both. They knew the rules of the lake and followed them closely; no going on the dock without a life jacket on and a parent nearby, no swimming without a parent, and absolutely no going into the boat on their own.

But, late in the afternoon, Grace had wandered down by the water's edge by herself to watch the minnows that swam close to shore. Spying her blue bucket on the dock, she had instantly gotten the idea to try and catch some minnows if she could. Forgetting the rule for a moment, she had stepped up onto the dock and walked toward its center, where the bucket idly lay. A gust of wind suddenly blew the bucket to the side, where it teetered precariously on the edge of the dock. Not wanting it to fall into the water, Grace had rushed after it, sliding a bit on the wet boards but quickly getting her feet under her. Just as she had been bending forward, reaching for the bucket, she had felt a strong arm around her waist and she was lifted off the ground. Startled, she'd looked back into the angry eyes of her daddy.

Jack had carried her off the dock under his arm like a sack of potatoes, not saying a word as his heart pounded in his chest. The thought of how she might have toppled into the lake had he not seen her scared him to death. He scowled angrily; he had gone over the rules with his children very thoroughly and thought they both understood them. Obviously one of them did not.

Once he stepped onto the shore, Jack gave Grace two quick swats to her bottom before placing her on the ground in front of him. They weren't hard enough to hurt, but just hard enough to get her attention. He hunkered down in front of her and gripped her shoulders. He stared into brown eyes that were wide with shock and more than a little fear, for he had never spanked either of his children in their young lives. "What have you been told about the dock, young lady?" he commanded sternly.

Grace's lower lip had trembled and her eyes filled with tears. "I…I's not 'posed to go on the dock alone," she answered tremulously.

"No, you are not. But you just did, didn't you?"

Grace's eyes fell down to the sand and she didn't reply. She felt her chin tipped up and was forced to meet his gaze. "Didn't you?" he repeated more sternly.

"Yes, sir," she replied before bursting into tears. "I's sorry daddy! I just wanted my bucket!"

Jack shook her slightly to get her attention. "Do you know why we don't want you on the dock by yourself, Grace?"

She rubbed at her eyes before answering, "Cause you and mommy doesn't want us to fall in the lake," she replied tearfully.

"That's right, Grace. We don't want you or JJ to get hurt. But you disobeyed that rule, didn't you, Grace Aeryn?" At her meek nod, he added with a frown, "I'm very disappointed in you."

His words hurt more than any spanking ever could have. Sobbing loudly, she threw her arms around his neck. "I's sorry, daddy! I won't never do it again! Does you still love me?" she wailed into his neck.

Jack closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her tightly, his heart aching at her words. "Oh baby, of course I love you," he said softly as his own eyes filled with tears. He held her for a moment before he slowly got to his feet, Grace still in his arms. "I love you so much, Princess. That's why I was so angry when I saw you on the dock." He pulled back so he could look her in the eyes. "I don't ever want you to get hurt, sweetheart. That's why we have rules about being by the water. It could be dangerous and mommy and I don't want anything to happen to you or your brother or sister." Jack pulled her close once again and rubbed her back slowly, trying to calm them both. After a few moments, he continued, "Because you broke the rule, Grace, you are going to have to be punished. You're going to have to stay in your room until dinnertime and think about what you've done. Do you understand?"

Grace just nodded into his neck as she continued to cling tightly to him and cry quietly. Jack sighed; he hated that he had to punish her…hated even more the fact that he had spanked her. But what she had done had been so dangerous. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to one of them. If he lost another child, he was not certain he would survive this time.

Jack had turned to bring Grace up to the cabin and had been met by Sam's concerned gaze. She and JJ had come out of the cabin when they heard Grace crying. She had made JJ stay up on the porch while she made her way down to the shore. Jack and Sam exchanged a long look, hers filled with concern, his filled with both fear and determination. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it before he walked past her and up to the cabin. Sam had watched him go and sighed. She knew he would be feeling guilty about spanking Grace, no matter how mild it had been, but she also knew that he continued to live in fear that an accident could take another child from him without warning.

They had talked about the incident later, after the children were in bed. Sam had assured him that she wasn't angry about the spanking, and neither should he be. Though they had both agreed when JJ was young that spanking was not an acceptable form of discipline for their family, Sam had told him that she understood why he did it this time. Though her words didn't ease his guilt entirely, Jack knew that she didn't think he had been unduly harsh either. Neither of them wanted anything to happen to their children up here; especially when safely rules had been put in place to avoid just that.

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It only took a minute for all of them to relive the lesson from last summer. Jack looked down at Grace and smiled at her. "I know you will follow the rules, Grace," he confirmed. "Now, go look for the ducks, then come back up here. You're things will be waiting for you."

"Thank you, daddy," Grace raced back to give him a quick hug around the legs, then turned back to skip after JJ down the path to the water's edge.

Jack turned to Sam with a slight quirk to his lips. "Well, Mrs. O'Neill, let's start unpacking. The fish are calling, you know." He gave both her and Maddie a quick kiss before he set to work unloading the car.

Once their five minutes were up, JJ and Grace ran back up to the car, where Jack quickly set them to work lugging in their own small duffle bags and the toys they wanted to keep in their rooms. The cabin had three bedrooms; one for Jack and Sam, one for JJ, and one that Grace and Maddie shared. There was one bathroom, a large living room, and a good sized kitchen with an alcove that housed the table. Though the linoleum was old and worn and the couch was rather frayed in spots, the overall feeling in the cabin was one of warmth and coziness.

Upon entering the door with another load of supplies, Jack stopped for a moment and breathed deeply the familiar smell of the old cabin. He smiled as JJ and Grace pushed past him and ran to their rooms, their arms laden with their belongings as they chattered excitedly about the ducks they had seen down on the lake. He turned when he heard Sam struggling to make it through the door, one hand holding Maddie's, the other grappling with the portable playpen that went everywhere with them.

He dropped the box of groceries he was carrying onto the couch and rushed to her side, taking the playpen from her. "I could have gotten that," he admonished gently. He had told her he would bring things in if she would see to Maddie. Knowing it would be easier to help with Maddie in the playpen, Sam had headed back out to retrieve it.

Sam just shrugged her shoulders at his comment and let go of Maddie, who was off after her big sister in a flash calling loudly, "Gwacie! Wait fow me!"

Sam sighed as she watched her youngest go. "God, Jack. I hope this was a good idea." Last year, Maddie had been content to sit outside in her playpen while watching her older brother and sister play. This year, she was much more mobile, and Sam knew she wouldn't sit still for long…and would most likely get into some sort of mischief.

Jack stopped putting the playpen up and followed her gaze. Then he came over and put his arm around Sam's waist and hugged her reassuringly. "It will be just fine, Sam. One of us will always have Maddie in their sight. Besides, with Grace and JJ to help occupy her, she'll be content to stay around." He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "You did bring the Maddie monitor, didn't you?" he asked with a grin, referring to their homemade baby beacon.

"Won't leave home without it," she grinned as she leaned her head against his shoulder. She too was glad to get away from everything and spend time up her with just the five of them, but she was a little concerned at all the unknown dangers that might await her inquisitive child. Grace and JJ were well versed in knowing what they could and could not do up here. Aside from the rules that Jack had laid down regarding the water, they were both fairly good swimmers, so Sam wasn't too worried about them being near the water. Maddie was an entirely different story, however.

Jack turned Sam into a hug and held her for a few minutes more before he pulled away. He planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry, Sam. Everything will be fine." He stepped away and finished setting up the playpen, then turned back to her. "I'll finish bringing things in, why don't you unpack from here?"

"OK," Sam agreed with a smile. Checking first to make sure the children were all right and asking Grace to keep an eye on Maddie, Sam began to unpack the groceries while Jack returned outside to haul the rest of their things into the cabin.

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The next few days passed by quietly for the family. Along with the requisite fishing, they engaged in a fair amount of hiking (Maddie riding in a pack on Jack's back), a few family forays onto the lake in the boat, several evening bonfires, and, to the children's delight, swimming. Sam had been worried that it would be too cold for that particular activity but fortunately, the days were warm and the sun was high enough to bring the small lake to a comfortable temperature for swimming. Maddie especially enjoyed the opportunity to be in the water with Grace and JJ. Jack held her securely around the tummy and helped her "float" in the water, the little girl laughing loudly as she kicked her legs and splashed her daddy in the face. Sam sat on the dock and watched, her eyes glowing with amusement as she took several pictures of her little family of fish.

An added bonus of all the swimming and fresh air was that Maddie was more than willing to take an afternoon nap each day, which afforded Sam some time to read quietly while Jack either played with the older children or worked on the storage shed he had begun constructing. It was on one such afternoon, half way through their vacation, that brought to the forefront how dangerous an insatiable curiosity could be…and how heroes could come in the smallest of packages.

Sam had laid Maddie in the playpen for an afternoon nap and had settled herself into the corner of the couch to catch up on some reading. She had brought along several back issues of her scientific journals that had been gathering dust in the past months and intended to do some catching up. Jack was out at the side of the cabin, finishing up the frame of the new shed. JJ and Grace were outside as well, both within sight of Jack but playing contentedly on their own.

Sam had been up late the night before, reading through some reports that Dr. Felger had emailed to her. As she tried to focus on her journal, she rubbed absently at her eyes. Before she had gotten half-way through the article, the words began to blur in front of her. She set the journal down, knowing she wasn't getting much out of the current article she was reading, and turned to look at the playpen. Maddie was sleeping peacefully, her legs tucked under her and her rump in the air. Sam smiled to herself; all of her children seemed to prefer to sleep that way, even Jack could be found with his legs tucked under his body every once in a while. Knowing that the toddler would probably sleep for at least another hour, Sam felt no guilt as she lay on her side on the couch and closed her eyes, smiling as the voices of Grace and JJ drifted in through the open window.

Thirty minutes later, Maddie stirred in her playpen. She blinked sleepy eyes, then sat up and looked around the quiet room. She could hear Grace singing from beyond the open window and the rhythmic pounding of the hammer as Jack worked on the shed. Her mother lay on the sofa, her chest rising and falling gently in slumber. Clambering to her feet, Maddie looked around with quiet interest. The playpen stood next to a chair and beneath the open window. Wanting to get out, she uttered a quiet, "Mommy – out." When Sam didn't stir, Maddie frowned and turned back to the chair.

A laundry basket filled with towels sat on the back of the chair, waiting to be folded and put away. One bright beach towel, striped orange and green, caught Maddie's eye and she reached up to grab hold of it. As she pulled on the towel, the basket slowly began to tip sideways, spilling the contents of the basket into the corner of the playpen and narrowly missing the curious child. Maddie blinked as she looked at the pile of towels in the playpen with her. Then, being the climber that she was, she walked to the pile and climbed it…up and over the side of the playpen, onto the chair, and down, until she was standing firmly on the ground.

She spent a brief moment looking at her sleeping mother before her interest was caught by the noises coming from outside. "Me doe out," she told no one in particular as she headed for the screen door.

Grace had come in some time ago to retrieve her toy horses. When she left the cabin, the door had not latched firmly behind her, making it that much easier for Maddie to leave the cabin undetected. Reaching up on tiptoes, the little girl pushed down on the latch and pushed the door open. With one last "Bye- bye, mommy," she was out the door and standing on the front porch.

Maddie looked around with interest. Off to the left side of the porch, she could see Grace playing in the grass with her plastic horses. Though the older girl's back was to the cabin, Maddie could hear her voice clearly as she talked and made clip-clop sounds for the animals. To the right, she could hear her father's hammer pounding out a steady rhythm, even though she couldn't see him. But it was something down by the water that caught her eye. JJ squatted on the shoreline to the right of the dock, building in the sand with a bucket and shovel. Occasionally, he would come across a rock that was much too large for the castle he was building and would toss it into the lake. The ensuing kerplop is what caught Maddie's attention. "Me pway JJ," she declared as she made her way slowly down the steps and onto the path that led to the lake.

Engrossed in her own imaginary play, Grace didn't notice her little sister walk down the path toward the lake. Jack too, didn't notice the toddler. He had stopped moments ago to check on the older children. Seeing that they were safely occupied, he had gone back to his work, intent on getting the framing done that afternoon. He had only a few 2X4's left, then the frame would be complete. JJ also had his back to the path that wound from the cabin down to the lake and was so absorbed in his castle building that he didn't see or hear Maddie coming.

The little girl slowly but surely made her way down to the lake, stopping now and again to examine a bug or a flower as she meandered her way down the path. As she neared the dock, her attention was diverted once again from her brother to something else. Hanging on a post on the dock was the bright pink life jacket that her daddy put on her before they went on the boat or went swimming. Maddie loved its bright colors and the plastic latches that made a fascinating clinking sound when they were fastened. She also knew that when she had the pink vest on, she got to go near the water, and Maddie loved nothing better than being in the water.

"Me sim," she stated decisively as she pulled herself onto the dock and made her way to where the life jacket hung innocently on the post. It was located about a third of the way down the dock. Though the water was not too deep at this spot, it was well over the two year old's head.

Smiling as she came to the place her life jacket sat waiting for her, Maddie reached forward with her small hands and grasped it. Then, she pulled it toward her. As she pulled, the straps became entangled on the post, making the life jacket stay firmly attached to the pole.

Maddie frowned; how could she get her jacket on and swim with daddy if it was stuck to the post? The little girl moved closer to the edge of the dock, a determined scowl on her face. With her back to the cabin and her feet resting right at the edge of the dock, she began to pull harder. "Tome off! Tome off!" she chanted as she pulled. One her third tug, Maddie stepped back just a bit more in order to pull harder. However, the back half of her right foot was hanging just off the edge of the dock, the front resting in a puddle, and as she put her strength into that final tug, her foot slipped forward and she felt herself falling backward.

In the surprise of feeling herself fall, Maddie let go of the life jacket. Her arms flailed wildly to the side but caught nothing. In the blink of an eye, the little girl hit the water with a moderate splash and disappeared beneath its surface.

JJ's head came up like a shot when he heard the nearby splash. He knew there weren't any fish in the lake big enough to make that much noise! He looked back toward the dock, where the sound came from, and his eyes opened wide at the ripples of water that emerged from a spot just to the right of the dock. He got to his feet and took a few tentative steps forward, then glanced up at Grace, who had also abandoned her play at the sound and was looking down toward the lake. JJ felt a rush of relief knowing that it wasn't Grace in the water.

His relief was short lived as he looked back toward the dock and saw the unmistakable blond head of his baby sister break the surface, before it disappeared once more beneath the water. Eyes widening in fear, JJ took off toward the dock at a dead run. He couldn't even think to yell for his father; his only intent was getting into the lake and getting Maddie out of it.

Grace, however, did the first thing that came to her mind when she also saw the blond head briefly appear in the water next to the dock. "Mommy! Daddy! Come quick!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Mommy, daddy!" There was no mistaking the panic and fear in her voice.

Sam bolted off the couch at the first cry from Grace. Without looking toward the playpen, where she assumed Maddie was still sleeping, she was on her feet and out the door before Grace could finish calling for her a second time.

Jack, too, heard her the first time…heard the panic in his daughter's voice and knew something was seriously wrong. He dropped his hammer and the board he had been holding in place and raced to the front of the cabin.

They were both within yards of Grace, whose eyes were wide with fear as she looked toward the lake. Too frightened now for words, she pointed a shaky hand down toward the water. Turning as one, Jack and Sam felt fear clutch at their hearts at what they saw. A small blond head made one more brief appearance before sinking under the cool depths of the lake once more. Sam stood frozen in shock for a moment, her heart beating out a frantic warning, before taking off after Jack's retreating back. As they rushed forward down the path, their eyes caught sight of their son, also making a mad dash toward his flailing sister. Knowing the little boy was much closer than they were, Sam sent up a anxious prayer for help.

JJ had just reached the dock and, still at a dead run, leaped onto the wooden surface and raced down toward where he had seen Maddie go under. Without a second's hesitation, he took a deep breath and jumped feet first into the water. Though the water wasn't too deep here, it was just over JJ's head and the little boy quickly went under. But he was not afraid, for he had been taught to swim very young and had taken to the water like a fish. Keeping his eyes wide open and kicking his legs gently so as not to stir up the water too much, he frantically searched the darkness around him.

He felt something brush against his arm and turned quickly. The soft blond curls of his baby sister flowed out from around her head, tickling his arm. JJ quickly put his arm around the small girl's chest and kicked his way to the surface. He turned on his back, as his father had taught him, and kicked toward shore, making sure to keep Maddie's head above the water. He didn't dare to think about how quiet Maddie was…all he knew was that he had to get her to shore.

JJ had only gone a few feet when he felt himself being lifted out of the water, Maddie still clutched tightly in one arm. Jack had charged in full force when he saw JJ go under, Sam not far behind him. "I've got her, JJ. You can let go." Jack's voice breathed huskily into JJ's ear as he was put on the ground, then Maddie was lifted out of his arms. JJ sank to his knees onto the shore, his heart pounding and his body trembling as he looked on. His little sister lay limp on the shore, her lips an unnatural shade of blue.

JJ watched, and tears began coursing down his cheeks, as his father bent low and began to breathe into Maddie's mouth. Sam knelt on the toddler's other side, tears falling freely down her cheeks as well. JJ could clearly hear her words as she mumbled, "Come on baby, breathe. Please breathe!"

Grace came on wooden legs and fell to the ground next to JJ, her eyes riveted on the limp form of her baby sister. She clutched absently at JJ's arm as she too began to plead quietly, "Breave, Maddie."

After what seemed like hours to all of them, but was merely minutes, the little girl gave one choked gasp, then another. Jack quickly turned her to her side and lightly pounded her back as water spewed forth and Maddie took in huge gulps of air. She coughed for a long minute before opening her eyes and looking directly into the tear-filled eyes of her mother. Maddie began to cry as she remembered the shock of falling into the water. Sam reached forward and picked her up, pulling her close and bending her head to Maddie's as she let her own tears fall freely down her cheeks and onto Maddie's back. "Oh baby. My poor little baby!" she crooned.

Jack sat back on his haunches, his breath coming in labored gasps as he rubbed an unsteady hand through his hair. He reached out shakily and let the other rub gentle circles on Maddie's back. His heart pounded and his throat felt choked with the tears of relief he was trying to hold back.

As he watched the scene unfold before him, JJ began to shake in earnest. Not only was he cold from being submersed in the water, the adrenaline rush was wearing off quickly. The sight of his parent's obvious distress and now their feelings of relief washed over him. Bowing his own head, he took in a deep, shuddering breath that turned into a loud sob.

Jack turned toward his son when he heard the loud sob escape him. The fear and relief in his own eyes turned to concern. Moving forward on his knees, he reached out and lifted JJ from the sand and sat with the boy in his lap. "Shh, little man. Everything's OK now. Shh." He pressed the boy's head to his chest and rocked him slowly back and forth, wrapping his arms around him in order to keep him warm. He pressed a kiss to JJ's head as he felt the little boy's sobs quiet down. "I am so proud of you, JJ. You were so brave. You reacted right away without being afraid." He ducked his head and whispered gently, "You saved your little sister, JJ." Jack kissed him again and looked over at Sam, both of them sharing in that simple glance the pain and fear of what might have been had JJ and Grace not reacted so quickly. Jack reached out a hand and clasped Sam's tightly in his own and tried to give her some reassurance, just as they were both doing with their children. JJ looked up at Jack, then over at his mother.

Sam smiled gently through her tears, even as she continued to sooth Maddie and clutch tightly to Jack's hand. "You were very brave, JJ. I am so proud of you," she stated quietly.

JJ smiled back, then tucked his head once more into his father's chest.

Grace came over and stood next to Sam, her own hand running gently through Maddie's wet curls. "Is Maddie OK, mommy?" she asked in a tremulous voice.

Sam shifted Maddie to one side, let go of Jack's hand, and reached to pull Grace into her lap. "Yes, baby. Maddie's going to be fine." She pressed a kiss to the little girl's brown curls. "I am so proud of you, too, sweetheart. You called for daddy and me right away, and very loudly, just like we've taught you."

Grace looked up and gave her a small smile. "I useded my trouble voice, mommy."

Sam laughed softly. "Yes you did, baby. That's why daddy and I knew that something was really wrong." She pressed another kiss to the little girl's upturned face. "You were very brave."

Grace's smile faltered as she looked at Maddie, then over at JJ. "No mommy, I was really scarded. JJ was brave though." She smiled over at her brother, who smiled back. "You is a hero JJ. A hero is someone who saves someone else, right daddy?" She looked expectantly up at her father.

Jack smiled back and reached out to tug gentle on her long brown hair. "That's right, pumpkin. And your brother is a hero…but so are you," he assured her. He shared a smile with Sam, which turned into a frown of concern as he saw the small shiver issue forth from Maddie. "Come on everyone. Up to the cabin. We need to warm JJ and Maddie up." He lifted JJ to his feet, then followed suit. Grace climbed off Sam's lap and stood to the side while Jack helped Sam up.

His hands lingered on Maddie, stroking the wet curls and her small back. He gave Sam a look, which she correctly interpreted, for she immediately handed the toddler off to her father's waiting arms. Even though he could see that his little girl was going to be just fine, Jack needed the reassurance that holding her would bring. At the transfer, Maddie wound her arms tightly around Jack's neck and buried her face in his familiar warmth. Sam gave him a soft smile, then turned and took Grace and JJ by the hand, leading the way to the cabin. They both intended on getting their children warm, dry, and engaged in some serious cuddle time.

Jack and Sam kept the children close throughout the rest of the day. That evening, after the children had been put to bed, Sam wandered aimlessly into the living room. She felt a pang of guilt when she spied the pile of towels still resting in the playpen. Her guilt was exacerbated when she found the small bracelet containing the tracking device lying on the coffee table, where she had placed it before putting Maddie down for her nap that afternoon. She was holding the bracelet, staring at it while fresh tears raced down her cheeks, when she felt it gently pulled from her grasp.

Sam looked up to find Jack standing next to her. "Don't," was all he said before he pulled her into his arms. Sam laid her head against his chest and let herself be comforted by the strength of his arms.

"I'm so sorry, Jack," she mumbled into his chest. "If I hadn't fallen asleep, or had moved the laundry, or not taken off the bracelet…"

Jack pulled back a bit and looked deeply into her eyes. "I said don't, Sam. Don't let yourself wallow in the what if's. She's fine. JJ got to her in time and so did we." He cupped her cheeks in his hands. "Please don't do this to yourself. I know how badly a person can let the guilt eat away at them." His eyes pleaded with her to listen. "I don't want that to happen to you sweetheart. It's not good for you…or for the kids."

She stared into his eyes for a moment, then finally nodded her head in agreement. Jack pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly for a long time. He too needed the reassurance that all was well, and he got that from holding Sam close.

Before they went to bed that night, they looked in on all three children. All three of them were sleeping soundly, tucked under blankets and holding the animals they liked to sleep with. They stood longer over Maddie's crib, both of them running gentle fingers through her hair or along her back.

"You know," Jack whispered quietly, "If I didn't know better, I'd say someone up there was watching out for this little one extra closely."

Sam smiled tenderly at him. "I think you're right," she agreed quietly. Then they turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind them.

------

Although Maddie's accident was a horrifying experience for all five members of the O'Neill family, several good things came of it. First of all, JJ and Grace became even closer to their sister and were more than willing to help their parents keep an eye on her. Secondly, Maddie herself became a bit more cautious and was less prone to venture off into the unknown. Oh, she still had her moments, but overall, she tended to stay closer to her family. And finally, to the glee of all three children, their mother finally broke down and let Jack buy them a dog. Jack's rationale for pursuing the idea was that the dog could be trained to stick close to Maddie and hopefully prevent any other such occurrences from happening in the future. While Sam knew Jack was using Maddie's accident as a way to sway her, she thought perhaps he might be correct. Even if the dog couldn't prevent Maddie from wandering, she might be more apt to stay around if she had a puppy to play with. And so, shortly after their return from the cabin, a small lively Golden Retriever joined the family, to the immense delight of three children and one middle-aged man.

There was serious debate about what to name this newest family member. Jack tried to convince everyone that Homer was a wonderful name for a dog. Thankfully, their new puppy was a female, so he was vetoed quite quickly. Sam thought something more important sounding would be best…like Einstein or Newton. Jack had pointed out rather arrogantly that those were male names as well, and quickly moved on. In the end, it was Maddie who named the dog. Not able to pronounce puppy very clearly, Maddie kept excitedly called for the "Poppy" every time she saw her, and so Poppy it was.

Several weeks after Poppy joined them, the O'Neill's were hosting an end of summer barbeque for all of their friends. After playing several games, eating food and visiting, Teal'c pulled JJ aside. "Your father has spoken many times of the great act of bravery you engaged in this summer, Jonathon Jacob. I am most pleased with you." He gave a slight bow and a smile to the boy before continuing. "When a young Jaffa warrior completes an act of heroism, he is given a chumak, in remembrance of his great deed. As your Godfather, I would like to bestow upon you this chumak, as a symbol of my great pride in your bravery." Teal'c held up a silver medallion about the size of a half dollar that contained several designs etched around its rim. The medallion hung on a cord of thick leather, several beads adorning the cord.

Lifting the medallion, Teal'c placed it over JJ's head, then gave him a regale bow. "You are most brave, Jonathon Jacob. To save another with no regard for your own safety is one of the most heroic acts a warrior could accomplish. You are truly your parents child. I am proud to call you Godson."

JJ lifted the medallion from his neck and stared at it for a moment, then looked up at Teal'c with a smile and a small flush of pride. "Thank you Uncle Teal'c," he replied softly.

Teal'c bobbed his head once more. "You are most welcome."

JJ turned toward the house, where Jack was watching from the deck. The little boy beamed a proud smile as he lifted the medallion to his father. Jack smiled back, then gave his son a small bow, just as Teal'c had done.

The soft sound of giggling drew JJ's attention away from both his father and Teal'c. He turned to see Maddie tumbling through grass after Grace and Katie, trying to catch up to the romping puppy. Little Nicky toddled along after them, his arms held out wide as he tried to keep his balance.

JJ smiled as they raced past, then looked down once more at his chumak. A smile of pleasure crossed his face as he gazed at his medallion before he let his eyes follow his small sister once more. As much as it meant that his Uncle Teal'c had bestowed this great honor on him, the fact that his sister was safe and healthy meant so much more to JJ Carter-O'Neill.