CHAPTER 3

Her hands covered in paint, Sam dashed to reach the ringing phone and wipe her hands at the same time. Breathless, she answered, "O'Neill residence."

"Sam, hey. It's Daniel."

"What's up?"

"Sorry I didn't call you back the other day, but there's something strange about this roster. It doesn't say anything about Jack at all. According to this, he should be home with you. There must be some mistake or something."

"No, that is weird-"

"Daddy!" Emily threw down her paint brush much to her mother's chagrin as it landed on the kitchen floor and left a red mark. She jumped into the waiting arms of her father, smearing paint in the shape of small fingers on the back of his BDU's.

"Speak of the devil; he just walked in the door. Listen, I'll talk to you later, Daniel. Thanks."

"Bye, Sam." She hung up the phone and walked toward her family.

"Well hey there, kiddo. I'm happy to see you, too, but you're cutting off my air supply." Emily's arms loosened their hold on Jack's neck, but kept her legs wrapped firmly around his stomach.

She nuzzled her head in his neck and he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"How's my favorite girl doing?"

Jack could see the glee dancing in her eyes as she pulled back from his chest in order to see his reaction to her good news. "Guess what, Daddy? I painted a picture just for you! Come see!"

She was already squirming out of his grasp. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the counter. "See, Daddy, see? It's Homer." Emily was referring to the golden retriever Jack had owned since before he married Sam. The drawing was the kind only a parent could love with the dog's tail purple and the sky red. "I know how much you like him, so I made you something you could keep with you always."

O'Neill smiled at the sweet innocence of his little girl and picked up the fallen paint brush. "You know what? I think there's something missing here." Emily looked at him in confusion as he rinsed out the brush and dipped it in her favorite color- blue. He carefully drew a small stick figure next to the dog, showing his lack of artistic skills.

"Who's that?" Her little head titled ever so slightly and the brows above her brilliant blue eyes gently wrinkled in perplexity while her pink lips pursed in thought.

"That's you, Ems." At this point she shrieked in surprise and delight. "Now you can always be with me, too." Emily clapped her hands and started painting another scene- this one resembling their house.

I wish you could be with me forever, Emily. I can't stand the thought of leaving you, but I won't stay if it will kill you. I can't protect you from everything I've witnessed as much as I'd like to think.

Emily was startled when a 'clank' interrupted her intense thought process while she worked on her picture, but as soon as she realized it was just her mom, she went back to picking out which color would look better for Daddy- baby pink or hot pink.

Jack, too, became aware of his wife's presence. She was apparently putting away dishes from the dishwasher and had dropped a plastic plate. Until then she had been quiet, giving Jack and Emily much needed bonding time, but now it was her turn.

He engulfed her in one of the tightest hugs they'd had in a while. "It's so good to see you."

His statement struck her as odd, because this mission had been pretty short in comparison to others and he wasn't the sentimental type. She let this go, though, happy to see him as well, "You, too. Emily and I have been painting all day."

The embrace ended and Jack continued, "That's fun. Have you guys been working on the invitations yet?"

"Oh, yes. Ems couldn't wait to pass them out at kindergarten."

Jack smiled just thinking about his daughter's excitement. "I bet. That's my girl."

"Do you want to get dinner started?"

He covered his mouth in mock shock, "You mean that after I come home from a hard four days of work, you're going to force me to make dinner?"

"Well, let's put it this way…you can have the left over meatloaf I made, that the dog wouldn't eat, or you can cook."

***

He grinned, "I'll get right on it then."

Later, after tucking Emily in, the O'Neills relaxed by the fire. Two empty glasses of wine were forgotten on the rug. Sam's head rested on Jack's chest as they lay on the couch.

"Hey, Jack?" she began softly.

"Yeah?" he was drifting off.

"Where did you say you went again?"

"With SG-6; terribly boring."

"Oh, and how was Lieutenant Burton? Is Kathy getting along okay with that new guy? There was some conflict in the beginning…"

"Yeah, they're fine. Between you and me…I think an engagement won't be far off for them."

"I'll have to say hello then soon."

"Alright, sweetheart." Those were his last coherent words before she heard his steady snore.

Usually her husband's slow breathing could get her to sleep, but not even that would help Sam tonight. She couldn't stop her brain from turning. Why would he lie? Kathy wasn't on that mission, she was on leave with her family. Jack and I never lie to each other. Never…