CHAPTER 6

The next morning, Jack rose to the smell of pancakes and a cold spot next to him in bed. He pulled on a T-shirt and followed his nose to the kitchen.

"Good morning sleepy head." Jack looked over the table and found the source of the muffled voice. His daughter was sitting in a wooden chair with a mouthful of syrupy pancakes, the sticky liquid dripping down her chin.

"Good morning, beautiful. But, it'd be a lot easier to hear your gorgeous voice if you'd chew before you talk." He picked up a napkin and wiped the offending syrup.

"We thought you'd sleep forever." Sam was at the skillet finishing up the pancakes and moving on to bacon. She was the most stunning thing he'd ever seen, standing there in only an old shirt of his with the early sun shining in through the window and reflecting off her long blonde hair.

Guilt washed over him as he remembered why he hadn't been in bed making love to that spectacular woman last night. There was too much on the line, more resting on his shoulders than ever before. He needed an outlet; needed someone to understand and share his pain. His wife had always been that person. She couldn't be this time.

Jack swallowed down his thoughts and cleared his throat, taking a seat next to Emily. "Late night last night, that's all."

"Oh, really?" Sam asked innocently, knowing full well just how late he'd gotten in.

"There was a situation at the Mountain."

"Daddy, when do I get to go back to work with you?" Emily had finished all her pancakes and was waiting as patiently as any six-year-old could for the rest of her breakfast. Her bottom lip stuck out and quivered while her crystal blue eyes went wide as she turned the pleading face on Jack.

"I'm so whipped…" Jack said under his breath. To his daughter he said, "Mom's here at home with you now, and pretty soon you'll be going to first grade, sweet pea. You don't need to come sit in that boring old place anymore."

He knew Emily liked the Mountain, because it provided adventure for her, and she had every officer on base wrapped around her little finger. Her every wish was their command, and there was always someone for her to play with.

Emily maintained her precious pose and said in her most exaggerated voice, "But Daddy, I love the Mountain. And I can see Mommy any time. I never get to see Uncle Teal'c and Danny anymore. Doesn't Aunt Janet need to give me a check-up soon? Cassie gets to go to the Mountain. I miss seeing you at work, Daddy. And I learn SOOO much there, too. Last time Siler taught me how to make announcements on the speaker thingy and pretend to sound important, remember?"

Sam cringed, "I think we all remember that." She had spent several hours after that explaining to various people that no, she was not agoraphobic, she just didn't want her daughter playing with frogs and in the mud in her good clothes.

Jack recollected the situation clearly as well, but his memory was fonder as he was going through the 'Gate when Emily's sweet voice filled his ears and he only caught the beginning of her speech.

She must really want to go if she mentioned getting a check-up. Emily was much like her dad in that respect. She wouldn't go near a needle or stethoscope unless there was a serious reward or punishment threatened.

While Jack was delighted at his little girl's attentions, Sam was trying to be understanding. She knew that Emily was desperate for some time with her dad with his visits being so infrequent as of late, but that comment 'I can see Mommy anytime' really got to her. Just a few weeks ago, Emily would run into Sam's open arms any chance she could with the biggest smile, excited to see her mother after a long mission. She supposed now she knew what it was like for housewives all over America. The wife stays home and does all the work and gets no appreciation while the husband comes home and gets all the attention. She decided it really sucked.

Mustering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Sam said, "I suppose a little visit wouldn't be out of the question. We do need to get those yearly check-ups done."

Emily beamed while Jack shot his wife a loving smile. "Yay!" She clapped her hands like only a six-year-old could do. "I'm going to the Mountain!"