January 2011
Christmas was a small family affair, Daniel sat on The Hammond's mess hall, as he flipped through the pictures on his iPad. Vala had gotten him it for Christmas, and before he left, she had loaded it up with all the pictures she could find of Lukas and family pictures.
"Hi Dr. Jackson," Sierra Laventure, Daniel's assistant smiled, as she sat down at the table.
"Sierra," Daniel smiled putting down his iPad and looking at the young woman.
"I just want to say thank you, for bringing me. It really means a lot," she smiled softly as Daniel nodded.
"You're my assistant," Daniel shrugged.
"I have my masters in Anthropology, this is an opportunity of a lifetime," Sierra smiled. "I never thought I'd ever get to leave the base, I was content organizing and cataloging for you."
"Well, that's what you'll be doing here," Daniel replied with a smile.
"Is that your son?" Sierra asked noticing the slideshow on Daniel's iPad.
"Lukas," Daniel smiled picking it up and turning the tablet around. "He's 11 months."
"He's precious," Sierra smiled brightly. "He looks like you."
"Yeah, he's got Vala's laugh though, the kid thinks he's hilarious," Daniel beamed, flipping through the album.
"You're missing his birthday being here?" Sierra asked, as Daniel nodded.
"Yeah, but the alternative is going later and missing the birth of my second."
"Dr. Jackson, I can always hold down this down, if you want to go home," Sierra offered as Daniel smiled in response.
"Thank you," Daniel replied. "But we've worked it out." It wasn't like he didn't trust Sierra, but this was something that was worked out, and he knew that if he went home, he'd never come back, and he'd regret it.
"Okay Dr. Jackson, we're ready for you," Captain Dunst said as he tapped he door frame. "Dr. Laventure."
"Let's do this," Daniel smiled, as he closed his photo album, and left the iPad on the table.