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Two days after the reading of the will Sam, Jack and Cleo headed back to
Colorado. Cleo was obviously still sad, but happy to be going with her unkie
Jack. She had grown to like Sam as well.
They were taking the same plane they flew over in. When they got on board
the two pilots were in the back cabin.
"Colonel, Major, and we seem to have another guest onboard" the pilot said;
Cleo stepped behind Sam's leg. The pilot turned back to Jack, "we'll be
taking off in about ten minutes Sir" Jack nodded and thanked the man. "Oh
and there is food in the fridge, courtesy of a General O'Neill" he said
before they both went to do their pre-flight checks.
Less than twenty minutes later they were in the air and on their way back
home. Sam, Jack and Cleo were sitting at the table; Cleo was sitting in the
seat by the window with Sam next to her and Jack across from her. Cleo had a
small teddy bear in her arms; she had told Sam a few days ago that his name
was Ted, and he was just a plain brown bear that Jack had bought her for her
first birthday.
They talked for the first few hours of the flight then had some food
consisting of sandwiches and some cookies that Lea had snuck into their
bags.
Soon after they had finished eating Cleo fell asleep. Jack picked her up and
laid her down on the sofa and pulled the blanket over her. Jack and Sam
talked for a while longer before she began to yawn; Jack suggested that they
should get some sleep. She agreed and went to the bathroom, while Jack moved
up to the cockpit.
"We're going to grab some shut-eye," Jack said to the pilots "How much
longer do you think it will take?" he asked.
"I'd say about seven and a half hours Sir" the pilot said. Jack nodded and
thanked them before heading back to the cabin.
Sam was there waiting for him; she smiled at him as he walked over to her.
He sat in the seat behind the table and pulled Sam down to sit on his lap;
she snuggled down into his chest as he put his feet on the chair across from
him.
They both slept for about six hours before they awoke to a small giggle to
their right. Jack moaned and Sam buried her face further into his chest.
Jack turned to where the giggle came from and saw a little curly haired
brunette, holding Ted in one hand and sucking her thumb. "Yes my angel?"
"Need go bathroom" she said.
"Ok, let's get you sorted then," Sam said, and the little girl shook her
head. Sam rose off Jack and he instantly felt the loss. As Sam picked up
Cleo, Jack just sat there, watching the two most important women in his life
walk toward the bathroom. He couldn't help but notice the way Cleo had let
Sam in; she was usually a little shy like her mother, but when he thought
about it Alex was a great judge of character. She knew who she could trust
and who not to. He sat there musing this until the two came back from the
bathroom.
Sam grabbed three drinks out of the fridge and after setting Cleo down by
the table, she put a carton of milk in front of her. Jack watched Sam again
and all he could think was that Sam would make a great mum someday. She
turned to look at him and handed him a carton of milk, which made him
chuckle. Not to long after that the co-pilot came out.
"Sir, ma'am, you're awake, we will be landing in about and hour" he said.
"Thank you for informing us" Jack said.
"General Hammond asked me to tell you there would be a car waiting to take
both of you to the mountain" he said before returning to the cockpit.
Jack, Sam and Cleo continued talking until the plane landed. Once they had
retrieved their bags they thanked the pilots and made their way over to the
SUV waiting to take them back to the SGC.
Upon arriving at the SGC, Daniel and Teal'c were topside waiting for them.
"Hey Danny, T" Jack said climbing out of the SUV.
"Hey Jack"
"Hello O'Neill"
"Where's Sam?" Daniel asked.
"Here" she said from the other side of the car. Sam walked around the car
and Daniel's mouth dropped open when he saw the little girl in Sam's arms.
"How was the rest of the mission?" she asked, ignoring the look on Daniel's
face.
"It was well Major Carter" Teal'c said, not bothered by the child; he handed
Jack his car keys.
"Thanks T" Jack took all their bags.
Cleo, who was still in Sam's arms, looked at Teal'c, and smiled "Hello" she
said "I'm Cleo."
"Hello Cleo," he replied
"Umm Sam care to share?" Daniel asked
"Jack." was all she said as she moved over to the check point. "T, does
Hammond want to see us?"
"Indeed Major Carter"
Cleo looked at the big man again then turned to Sam "How come Mr. T talks
funny?" she asked.
"It's just how he talks sweetie" Sam replied. She put her hand on the
scanner and signed Cleo in as a guest. Leaving the three men behind, Sam
pressed the button on the elevator. By the time it arrived, Jack, Daniel and
Teal'c had caught up and they all got in.
"Do you want me to take her Sam?" Jack asked. Daniel and Teal'c shared a
look at the first name thing.
"No, she's fine Jack" Sam replied.
When they reached the second sign-in area Jack signed in Cleo again, as well
as himself and Sam. They made their way to change into their BDU's, and then
made their way to find General Hammond. He was in his office; they knocked
and waited for his 'come'. Hammond glanced up and barked "come." The three
of them walked in, with Cleo now standing behind her Uncle Jack's leg. She
peeped out when the man said for them to sit.
Daniel and T had left them after they went to change, something about food
and artifacts to look at.
When Hammond saw the little girl looking at him he smiled, "Hello, you must
be Cleo" he said; she nodded, "Well it's lovely to meet you."
"Cleo, this is General Hammond, our boss."
"Hello" she said quietly, moving over to Sam and holding her arms up to Sam
who automatically picked her up. When Jack and Sam were seated with Cleo on
Sam's lap, Hammond spoke.
"I received a call from your father Jack" Jack nodded. "Sam how are you?"
She tensed a bit; she hadn't really talked much about what had happened to
her, just little bits and pieces to Jack when they were alone. Cleo, who
felt her tense, gave Sam a hug. Sam looked down at Cleo and smiled, the
child was so much like Jack it was amazing. Just when she needed comfort
Cleo gave it.
"I'll be ok sir" she finally said looking up at him, "Good" he said.
There was a knock on the door, "Come." Colonel Ferretti came in. "Sorry Sir,
you asked for these" he said handing five folders to General Hammond who
gave him an annoyed look. "Yes, thank you Colonel"
Ferretti then turned and saw Cleo.
"Hey titch" he said to Cleo.
"Fwettie" she squealed and reached up to him.
Jack smiled "Lou will you take her to the mess and get her a drink?" he
asked; "I'll meet you down there in a minute"
"Sure" he said smiling, when they were just at the door he whispered "and
will get some cake too" then he was gone.
Hammond looked at Jack "How dose the Colonel know about." he trailed off.
"Alex was Kawasaki's wife, and Cleo is their only child" Jack said.
Hammond nodded. "Sir, did you know that you knew my sister?" Jack asked.
Hammond nodded "Yes son, I remembered after you left, but how did you know?"
Jack pulled something out of his pocket "here" was all he said as he handed
the picture to Hammond.
Hammond nodded "Yes, I remember that day; she was behaving so well we
decided to let her off the base. We went to the fair; she was like a child.
She actually reminded me of you Sam, " Sam smiled. Hammond
passed the picture back to Jack.
"You can keep it Sir."
"Don't worry I have one at home as well" Hammond said smiling. "But if
anyone on this base sees that picture you'll be spending time in a holding
cell" he said still smiling. "Now back to business, your father told me that
you gained custody of Cleo" Jack nodded "Ok, well I'll give you a few days
off to organize yourself and her." Hammond stood, as did Sam and Jack "Your
both dismissed."
Jack headed to the door while Sam stood still "Sir, may I speak to you?" she
said to General Hammond. He nodded and she turned to Jack "I'll meet you in
the mess" she said and he nodded. Hammond didn't miss the fact that both his
top officers had fallen out of their CO and 2IC roles; or the looks the two
shared.
When Jack was gone Sam turned to General Hammond "Sir, I would like to
request re-assignment; I would like to be transferred to the labs on
permanent basis" she said before he had a chance to say anything.
Hammond stood stunned for a moment before speaking, "do you have a good
reason Sam?" he asked.
"Yes sir" she said.
"Would you care to share?" he asked.
She hesitated before speaking "personal reasons, Sir."
Then Hammond said "Ok Sam talking to me, not the General, why do you want to
do this?"
Sam hesitated again, then she plunked herself down on the seat she occupied
moments before. "I fell in love with my CO" she said "and I can't keep it in
anymore Uncle George. I can't, I tried to move on and you know what happened
with that."
Hammond nodded "I know Sammy, but are you sure you want to do this?" he
asked.
Sam looked up at him "I miscarried while I was away; the rape, plus the
shock and fear of what Pete did to me. I'm not getting younger Uncle George,
and I want a child of my own."
"And so does Jack?" Hammond asked. Sam looked at him; she knew that he just
wanted what was best for her.
"I think having Cleo around will help him with his fear of having a child. I
have seen her effect on him" she said. "Please Uncle George; I can't go back
to being his 2IC, not now after everything we have both been through."
"Does he feel the same way?" he asked.
"I don't know" she admitted.
Hammond sighed again, "Ok Sam, do me a favour, talk to him about this, see
what he says about it, and then come back to me"
Sam nodded "thank you Uncle George," she went around the table and gave him
a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Then she left his office leaving Hammond to his thoughts. He sighed heavily
and went back to his paper work, though one thought kept popping into his
brain, 'Jake is going to kill me.'
TBC.
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