A/N: Apologies for the long delay! Everything seems to have happened over the last month, and no time to write an update. I finished the chapter tonight and rather than make all of you wait while I heard from my betas, (sorry guys) I'm going ahead and posting it. Hopefully the length makes up for the wait. So without further ado…
Chapter 61: Snow DayJack groaned as the alarm went off, quickly slapping a hand down on the snooze button. Time to get the kids up, but he really didn't want to get up himself. The weekend had been a long one, and while it had been quite nice, it had been far from relaxing. With Jacob there a second adult, one might have thought that order would prevail, but it had been anything but. In fact, Jacob seemed to encourage the kids to new levels of childish excitement.
He really couldn't hold it against the man though, who was reveling not just in his chance at a second fatherhood with his own daughter, but almost as a pseudo grandfather of sorts with Danny and Teal'c. Jack knew his own feelings of wonder over the three young marvels, and couldn't begrudge Jacob his chance to bask in their light, even if had meant a rather more active than usual weekend. But today would take Jacob back to the stargate and away for an untold length of time, as well as bringing a return to normalcy with the kids back to school after the four-day weekend.
The night before had been a bit subdued, the kids reluctant to go to bed as though they realized Jacob would likely depart and the fun and frolicking of the weekend was past. They'd stayed up late and neither man had had the heart to send the kids to bed until they'd all but needed to be carried.
So it was no little surprise when his bedroom door burst open and a skinny brown haired, blue-eyed nine-year-old bundle of energy launched himself into his bed. Jack groaned, wondering how children could be raring to go on just about any amount of sleep.
Daniel bounced once or twice, his eyes bright, cheeks rosy from sleep or excitement, and his short hair mussed and sticking up in places. "We don't have to go to school today, and Sam's dad can stay another day, they called!" the young boy announced cheerily, squirming with excitement, and a smile splitting his face from ear to ear.
Jack blinked sleepily, unsuccessfully trying to process the information, his brow furrowed in confusion. After all, Monday was a school day. He'd checked the night before. "Uh, what?"
Daniel's smile grew wider, and he bounced himself off the bed. "It's a snow day!" With that, he ran out of the room, leaving the door open. Through the open door, Jack could make out the faint sound of voices from the kitchen. Sam's high pitched one and Teal'c's lower one, interspersed with the deeper adult voice Jack recognized as Jacob. The babble of what sounded like the radio played in the background. He also heard the sounds of things being rattled in the cupboards and the welcoming smell of bacon and other things wafted in the air. Even more welcoming was the smell of coffee. It seemed Jacob had taken him quite to heart when he'd told the man to make himself at home and was indulging his culinary skills in preparing breakfast.
With a groan, Jack hauled himself out of bed and over to the window. Pulling back the blinds he blinked in dazed amazement at the transformation the world had gone under overnight. Everything was coated in a thick blanket of white, and the sky was thick with heavy gray clouds, more snow falling as he watched. The street didn't look as if a plow had come anywhere near it yet. The little flurries and scattered flakes from last night that didn't seem they would amount to much must have called in reinforcements. He should have checked the weather report.
Letting go of the blinds, Jack glanced down at his wrinkled t-shirt and boxers. With a groan, he located the jeans he'd tossed over the back of a chair last night and pulled them on. Running a hand through his rumpled hair in a weak attempt to tame it he padded barefoot down the stairs toward the kitchen.
Making a direct for the coffee pot and the liquid gold it contained, he barely grunted a hello to the occupants of the kitchen. Jacob gave him a cheerful grin in reply, somehow managing to look like he'd been up for hours. Hands wrapped around the warm mug and inhaling the aroma of the fresh hot beverage, Jack took a moment to survey the bustle in the kitchen.
It was the radio he'd heard, repeating long lists of closings, cancellations, and delays. Everything seemed to be closed, including the base except to essential personnel, of which Jack was not currently. At the stove, Teal'c stood carefully stirring the eggs with a determined and serious expression on his face. Nearby, Jacob stood keeping an eye on the boy and the bacon while also assisting his daughter, who was standing in front of him and spreading butter on toast with a concentration not too dissimilar to what he remembered from the adult version while she worked on something explosive.
Unaware of the goofy look he now wore on his face, Jack was slightly startled when Daniel squeezed by with a stack of plates for the table. Moving out of the way, Jack caught Jacob looking at him with a shared look of understanding. Acknowledging the look, Jack held up the coffee and inclined his head in thanks before setting the cup down and getting out the juice and milk from the fridge to add to the table. The eggs were nearly done.
Before long, everyone was settled around the table making their way through full plates of food. Although today, even Teal'c needed the occasional reminder to stop looking out the window at the snow and to eat. It took quite a bit to divert the youngster away from eating so Jack figured that snow was likely a rarity to the boy. Still, he managed to pack away at least two helpings of everything, though where it all went Jack had no idea seeing as Teal'c didn't seem to have a spare pound anywhere on his frame even with the slight hardness of barely developing muscle. It was hard to believe the wiry preteen would one day grow into the hulk of a man he had come to know.
It was inevitable that as soon as the adult's forks left their hands that three more forks clattered to more or less empty plates and three sets of eager eyes wavered between the two grown men. Exchanging a wry grin with Jacob over three small heads, Jack made his way to the closet and started digging out the boots, hats, gloves, snow pants and jackets that had been donated or purchased over the past two months for the children. Behind him he could hear laughter as the kids dragged Jacob into the living room. Luckily, Jack had enough winter weather gear to outfit the other man as well, because somehow he doubted the kids would allow him to be left behind whether or not he was clothed appropriately for the outdoor excursion.
Once outside, Jack felt the cold impact of something semi solid and frozen against the back of his head as he wandered toward the street to check the road conditions. Whipping around, he found the kids all with various looks of amusement on their faces. Jacob however wore an all too innocent expression, and Jack narrowed his eyes at the man. Stooping, he gathered his own handful of snow, his intentions clear. Jacob's eyes widened with mock horror, and with no scruples at all he gathered a giggling little girl into his arms and unashamedly used her as a shield. Making a show of looking for a target, Jack danced around with his snowball. Meanwhile, Daniel tugged on Teal'c's sleeve to catch the other boy's attention and Jack grinned as their plan became clear, keeping up his antics to hide their activity. However, he couldn't hide his grin and seeing it, Jacob turned to follow Jack's gaze only to whirl about again as Jack's projectile caught him off guard, nearly making him drop Sam into the snow. In the next moment, he did drop her into a soft drift as two more missiles collided with him from either side. Daniel crowed in delight and waved enthusiastically at Teal'c who grinned back. While Jacob had been distracted, the two boys had flanked the older man.
The impromptu snowball fight quickly became serious, as the two military men ordered their small troops they way they had a few days before, setting them to work building barriers for snow forts and stockpiling snowballs. Of course, with the two boys on his team, Jacob and little Sam were outnumbered, but Jack would swear later that Selmak was doing all the aiming as snowball after snowball softly pegged the two boys and somewhat less softly seemed to find their way down his collar from just about any direction. For every throw of Sam's that fell short, two more of Jacob/Selmak's found a mark. Of course, Teal'c quickly warmed to the whole snowball thing, and the boy proved to have just as devious a mind at strategy as the two men. Quite a few of their successful sneak attacks were devised and implemented by Teal'c, much to Daniel's growing delight.
Despite the opposing force's accurate aim, Jacob and Sam lost to greater numbers when the two boys led an all out assault, outfitted with a snow saucer retrieved from the garage and converted to a makeshift shield. Their success was aided by a sneak attack on the opposing force's rear by Jack as a distraction, who had slipped past the other side unnoticed while the two boys drew attention to themselves. With one boy holding the shield while the other made and launched snowballs, they were nearly unstoppable, and Jacob and Sam had to defend against two directions. The snow constructed walls of the fort caved in as they were overwhelmed by the two-pronged attack and the two defenders were forced to admit defeat or risk being buried alive in the snow. Sam was helpless with giggles and joined in on her brother's jubilation not seeming to have minded being on the losing side. Jacob accepted Jack's hand up from the ground.
While they'd played, the light snowfall that had been falling lazily as they'd tumbled outside had grown heavier, joined by a slight chill wind. Frowning, Jack started to herd the kids inside despite pleas to continue playing. Jacob backed him up though, and they were all soon inside. As layers were shed, Jack was glad of his decision as Daniel was shivering slightly though he tried to hide it and Sam had somehow managed to get as much if not more snow inside her boots and clothing as on the outside and was soaking wet. Jacob hustled the little girl upstairs for a quick warm bath and change of clothes while Jack settled on draping blankets around each of the boys.
By the time Jacob headed downstairs with Sam, all the gloves and boots and things had found places to dry and get warm and Jack had put the boys to work preparing snacks while he fixed up a pot of hot chocolate on the stove. Everyone equipped with a steaming mug and choice of snack, they all trooped into the living room. Jack found something on TV, looking innocent as the opening credits to Frosty the Snowman scrolled across the screen. Jacob only rolled his eyes as small bodies settled down, molding around the two adults.
When the movie ended, the kids blinked sleepily, stretching lazily until they remembered it was a snow day and not even half the day ended. Checking the storm, Jack saw that the snow had nearly stopped falling, but he didn't think it would hurt to stoke the kids' furnaces a little before letting them back into the snow. Jacob heartily agreed with the idea of lunch, so before long, some tomato soup bubbled on the stove and each kid had a grilled cheese sandwich to go along with the soup. It was only early afternoon by the time all the food was consumed.
Now warm with bellies full, the kids couldn't be kept inside and the two men somehow managed to sort out all the winter layers for each child until they all looked like overstuffed Eskimos. The kids put up with anything that would let them go back into the cold white world. Jack and Jacob followed a bit more slowly, Jack detouring by the garage to pick up the rest of the sleds and snow tubes. The same things that made the back yard a challenge to mow would serve as the perfect slope to provide enough speed to be satisfying but not too much to be unsafe. It also helped that his yard had few trees and other obstacles, and flattened out at the bottom to provide stopping room.
It didn't take much to organize the kids into a few sledding races, even managing to get Jacob to take Selmak for a spin or two down the hill. Jacob also rode down a time or two with Sam, but the little girl seemed to have been born for speed and soon insisted on riding and steering by herself. She gave all the males a run for their money.
While still keeping an eye on the sledders, Jack started to roll what looked like a massive snowball at first. Quickly realizing what Jack was up to, Jacob joined in with a wink and a wide grin. Soon the kids spotted what they were building and the two men quickly found themselves with three assistants after Daniel and Sam had explained to Teal'c what was being done.
And of course they couldn't stop at just one. By the time they were finished, the yard held two tall snowmen wearing spare military gear, and three smaller ones of varying height. A sixth lump, smaller than all the rest, was a representation of Billie according to Sam and Daniel. All the snow people sported extra hats, gloves and scarves. Well, perhaps not all extra, Jack thought with a frown as he noticed Teal'c was missing his hat, Sam her mittens, and he was sure they'd wrapped a scarf around Daniel's neck before letting the children back outside. None of them seemed to notice how cold they were either.
The shadows lengthening in the late afternoon sun, it was quickly growing cold despite the fact the snow had stopped falling. The now clearing sky hinted at even lower temperatures that night. The kids protested tiredly that there was still light to play by, but the protests were token ones at best. Trudging inside, coats and boots were shed wherever. Jacob led Sam back upstairs since she was the most wet again, despite protests she'd already had a bath. He didn't take long though, since this time the two boys also needed the assistance of a bath to warm up. Jack settled on merely changing into dry clothes knowing there wouldn't be much hot water left after the kids had used it all. He saw that Jacob had made the same choice as he led a tired little girl back downstairs. By the time the two boys were back downstairs, Jack had found a Chinese place that was still open and placed an order for a variety of foods, not quite sure which things would be preferred by the kids. Jacob merely raised his eyes when the mountain of cartons and containers arrived, but said nothing as he handed out plates and dug in.
Despite the quantity of food, very little was leftover, as everyone had worked up big appetites that day. Stuffed and sleepy, the kids drifted off during the evening movie selection. For a change, the kids didn't protest going to bed as Jacob carried Sam upstairs and Jack herded the boys. As Jack tucked Daniel into the bottom bunk, the boy smiled sleepily.
"I hope we have a snow day tomorrow too," he told him. Jack only laughed softly and tussled the boy's hair. Daniel's eyes drifted closed, but the smile stayed on his face. Teal'c was already asleep.
Downstairs, Jack found Jacob putting the foyer to rights, and Jack simply slipped in, picking up discarded socks and mittens and wiping up melted snow. They ended up in the kitchen, one washing dishes while the other dried them. As the last dish went into the cabinet, Jacob dried off his hands and turned to Jack.
"Thanks Jack," Jacob said, "For this, for everything," he said, gesturing around him vaguely as if to indicate the room and Jack knew he meant for more than just the day.
Nodding in reply, Jack gave Jacob half a grin as he trudged towards the stairs. "Anytime Jacob, anytime."
It had been a good day.
A/N2: I just want to say a quick thank you to everyone that has reviewed so far, as well as a welcome to some new readers who have just found the story. I'd also like to welcome my goddaughter, Alaina Lorraine to the world. Born Feb 8th at 5 lbs, 11 oz and so eager to be born she came six weeks early. She's absolutely beautiful and doing well, and I'm privileged to have been able to spend some time visiting with her and her parents and older brother.
Mom got to kitty sit, and for a change the boys were well behaved. Poor Dragon has developed allergies it seems though at this time we don't know to what. He started with little red bumps appearing on his face, that multiplied and grew larger, aggravated by his scratching. It took some benadryl and steroids to finally send the bumps away. Apparently the fact he responded to steroids indicates the allergy is environmental rather than a food allergy, at least that's what the vet had said. I hope the bumps stay away a long time. One morning found poor Dragon turning in circles and falling over himself trying to bite and scratch at his itchy skin. Unfortunately, the steroids made him hungrier and I swear he got bigger in the week I was away!
Anyway, promise to try and not take so long with the next update, but I only managed to get a few paragraphs of the next chapter written so far. I also have a chapter for The Arrow of Eros for those of you following that story, but just have to decide on a few technical things before I can post it. So keep an eye out for that one!