Chapter 9
The clock showed 1845 an hour later as the doorbell rang. "Does Sam know I'm here, Dad?" I asked.
"No." Jack said, walking to the door.
"Where should I go?" I asked.
"By the sofa or in the guest room, your choice." Jack said.
Hmm, surprise Sam or impress Sam. Tough choice. I parked myself next to the sofa and gave Jack a nod to let him know I was ready for company. Jack acknowledged it and gracefully opened the door.
I had my back to the door, but I could see Jack. His reaction looked more shocked than surprised. At that puzzled look, I turned around. "Hello, Major Carter.", I said, unable to hide my surprised look.
Sam looked at Jack, as if to say, 'hi, Jack, miss me?', and said to me, "Hello, Colonel McFadden."
I turned to Jack, who looked like a fish out of water when Carter addressed me, and asked, "Jack, where are your manners?"
Jack was still doing the fishbowl thing. "We got him good, didn't we, Carter?" I asked Sam.
"I'd say so, sir." Sam said.
"Sam, call me Vern off-duty." I admonished.
"You're just like Jack, Vern." Sam observed.
"What gave me away? I guess when you're related to him, you can't help it. I know that's a cliche, but there it is." I said.
Sam laughed and asked, "Birds of a feather?"
"Flock together." I finished. I looked over at Jack, who was now looking at us strangely. "Oh, snap out of it, Johnny!" I smacked him lightly.
"Uh, do you know each other?" Jack asked.
"Duh, Jack. Sam and I were in the same flight squadron during the later stages of her flight status days before she went to the Pentagon." I explained.
"Jack, Vern and I have known each other for ten years." Sam said. "Although I haven't seen you since I left the squadron. I cried all night the night I left. And when you were shot down in Iraq...", she trailed off.
"How did you know about that?" I asked.
Jack spoke up, "Hammond told me, Vern. I was worried, but I didn't know that Carter served with you. When I told her, it looked like a dam had burst. I couldn't get a straight answer out of her for a month."
"I'm here now, under orders, mind you. And we need to talk, Jack, after dinner. Sam, were you here to pick Jack up for dinner?" I asked.
"Um, yeah I was, Vern." Sam said.
"Were you surprised to see me here, then?" I asked.
"Yes, I was." Sam said.
"You have a dilemma and a choice here, then, don't you?" I asked.
"Yes, I do." Sam said.
"The way I see it, you have four choices, Sam. One, take both of us. Two, take me, and leave Johnny here with pizza and beer. Three, take Jack, and leave me here with pizza and water or soda. Four, turn around and go home, which would leave us fighting and I know you don't want that." I said.
"No, I don't." Sam said emphatically.
"Good, that leaves three choices. Any questions?" I asked.
"Yes. What's with the Johnny bit?" Sam asked.
"Oh, that. Sam, I want you to take a good look at us. Then I want you to tell us what you think. Get technical. I know Jack secretly loves it when you do. Ah!" I put a hand up to Jack, who looked ready to protest. "I know you too well, Jack, so don't say it." I said to Jack.
"Judging by that exchange alone, I'd guess you're related. How you're related, I'm not sure." Sam said.
Crap, we were so busted. I knew she was smart, but that exchange was too obvious. I relented and explained, "I'm Jack's nephew turned son, Sam. I am the child of his older sister, who is fine, by the way." So, we were basically having a mini family reunion here.
"Wow. I didn't know." Sam said.
"Well, we O'Neill's like to keep our secrets close to the vest. Speaking of which, Jack, can I change my name legally?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?" Jack asked.
"I'll tell you tomorrow." I said.
"Oh." Jack said, confused.
"Sam, have you made a decision on who to take?" I asked, adding, "I don't know about you, Jack, but I'm starving."
"Yeah, both of you are going." Sam said.
"Great. How about after dinner?" I asked, adding, "With that dress, you're giving me a hard time concentrating."
"I was going to stay with Jack. But after you showed up, I want to take you home." Sam said.
"Uh-huh. Still have unresolved feelings for me, eh, Carter?" I asked.
"Oh, yeah." Sam said.
"I see. So do I, Falcon, so do I." I said, using my nickname for Carter from our squadron days. "We can have one night tonight. However..." I trailed off.
"What?" Jack and Sam asked.
"It'll have to wait until tomorrow, Colonel." I told Jack. "However, I can tell you later when we get home, Sam. I owe you that much." I added to Carter.
Carter beamed and Jack pouted. "Quit that, Jack. Shall we go? I'm hungry." I said.
We made our way out with Carter pushing me out to the truck. As Jack opened the door, Sam stopped to give me a taste of things to come. All of a sudden, dinner went from a short stop to a king sized meal. Yup, this was going to be a long night.