A/N: thank you to all of you for your reviews! I'm truly overwhelmed. I hope you all enjoy this chapter just as much. All reviews are welcome and if anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to share. I may need them later on in the story. It's taken on a life of its own!
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"I don't deserve him?" he asked shocked and in pain. The thought of Charlie crossing his mind. How he missed his son.
"You said that yourself years ago," she replied.
"I know. I may not deserve my son, but he's here, he knows who I am now, you can't stop him from seeing me if he wants to," he said, defending himself. He was not going to give up his son easily.
"I know that Colonel, I'm not going to. The only thing I want is for my son to be happy, and if that involves him seeing you, then I guess I'm just going to have to live with that."
"Yes. Yes you will. I should go," he said as he turned around and started walking towards the door.
"Don't forget to take my son to the park tomorrow," she said as she followed him out into the hall.
"Our son Sam. Our son. And no, I wont forget him," his voice laced with venom.
Sam watched as he opened the door and walked out, leaving her to close it behind him.
She quietly closed the door and backed up against it. Sliding down the wood, she found herself sitting on the floor, her knees to her chest. She laid her head on her knees as she started to cry.
Jack stood at the other side of the door. He could hear her crying. He knew he had caused her to cry. He felt his heart sink, he knew things between them would be strained, but that was before he knew they had a child together. That just made things harder. Sighing, he turned back towards his truck. His jacket could wait until tomorrow; he would be back then anyway.
--
The 'Gate activated early the next day. Once the iris code had been received it twirled open and a lone figure stepped through. Jacob Carter.
General Hammond walked from the control room down into the 'Gate room to greet his friend.
"Jacob, what a pleasant surprise!" Hammond said as he embraced his friend in a hug. "What brings you here?"
"Good to see you too George. I'm actually here on a social call. Dying to see that young grandson of mine again. Can you believe he's nearly three?" he asked as they made their way to the briefing room.
"How the time fly's," Hammond replied. "Jacob, you should probably know, Sam's back in the Springs. She's told Jack all he needs to know."
"Really?" he asked, getting a nod in reply. "It's about time. I can kick his ass from here to next week now."
--
"JACK O'NEILL!" Jacob bellowed down the halls of the SGC.
Jack froze on the spot when he heard who was calling his name. 'Crap,' he thought. 'I'm in trouble, why did I have to come here today? I'm meant to be on leave.'
"Jacob! Good to see you again! Gotta go!" he managed to get out as he turned round to face the elder Carter.
"HOLD IT! I want a word with you!" Jacob's eyes flashed gold as he looked at Jack with hatred.
"Office?" he sounded like a strangled cat.
Jacob then marched the Colonel down towards his office and slammed the door behind them.
"Now Colonel, I understand – from what George has told me – that my DAUGHTER is back in the Springs," Jack nodded, scared to say anything. "And I also understand that she's told you about her SON, and the involvement YOU had." Once again Jack nodded. "I've waited a long time for this conversation Jack, believe me. You have NO IDEA how many times I've wanted to kick your ass for what you've done to her."
"Jacob, you have no idea how bad and sorry I feel about this whole thing. You know that I had no idea what I was doing! I only found out yesterday," Jack found his voice and defended himself.
"And that's the only reason you're not dead!" Jacob shouted back.
"I know. Jacob, you have to know that I want to do what's right for them. I want to help my son. I want to help your daughter. I want to be involved. But I don't think she wants me to. We had a … slight … disagreement last night before I left. But I'm to go back today, I promised the kid I'd take him to the park."
"He's a great little guy isn't he?" Jacob asked, his attitude changing entirely.
"Yeah he's something else. Whole lot of energy," Jack agreed.
"He can count to ten you know, recognizes the numbers when they're written down, and knows animal sounds," Jacob said as a very proud Grandpa.
"Really? Smart kid," Jack asked. "But that's a given. Look at who his mother is!"
"So when are you heading over?"
"Don't know yet. I just know I have to. She doesn't want me upsetting her child with promises I can't keep," he sighed in reply.
"She said that?"
"Yup. We kinda fell out about that. She also said I had replaced her in less than a day."
"She's just insecure Jack."
"Yeah."
--
"GRANDPA!" Jake yelled as soon as Sam opened the door to her guest.
The small child ran past his mother and into the waiting arms of his grandfather. The little boy held on with all his might, not fully believing his grandpa was actually there.
"DADDY!" he yelled when he caught the sight of the man standing behind them.
"Hey there squirt," Jack said.
"Park today daddy!" he exclaimed.
"You'll need shoes on then sport!" Jacob replied before anyone else could say anything.
"And a jacket," Sam said softly. "Come on kiddo; let's get you ready to head out."
Jacob handed Sam her son, who went more than willingly. He snaked his arms around his mother's neck and planted a wet kiss on her cheek.
"Thanks for that Jay," she said before kissing him back the same way.
She carried him over to the stairs and placed him on the second stair up. Reaching over she grabbed his shoes from the corner and began to put them on.
"Jake goes to park mummy," he said while putting his arms in his jacket.
"I know you're going to the park baby. Grandpa and I will see you when you get back. Be good, and try to stay out of trouble," she said as she zipped up his jacket and ruffled his hair.
"Relax Sam, he's gonna be with me!"
"Exactly, that's why I said TRY to stay out of trouble," Sam retorted.
"Okay, you ready to go squirt?" he asked his son, clapping his hands together, and trying to change the subject.
"Ready daddy!" he said clapping his hands together, copying his father, and then holding out his hand for him to hold. "Bye mummy! Bye grandpa! Jake goes play in park!"
"Bye baby, behave."
"Yes mummy," he waved his family goodbye.
Sam closed the door behind them and rested her head against it, letting out a long sigh.
"Sam, you okay?" her father asked, concerned.
"Yeah, it's just… it's hard," her voice was shaky.
"I know kiddo, but you knew this would probably happen. It's best for Jake to know his father," he said soothingly while he rubbed her shoulders. "Come on, let's make coffee and have a chat."
"Okay," she agreed.
After making the coffee, Sam led the way to the sofa. She made herself comfortable and tried to think of a way to avoid the upcoming conversation. Ideas eluded her.
"Sam, I know this is hard for you, but Jake needs him, you know he does. Otherwise you wouldn't have come back," Jacob started.
"I know. I need to do what's best for my son, but dad, I've done this – mainly – on my own for nearly three years. I feel as though I've been replaced. All he talks about now is 'daddy'. Why do I feel this way?" she cried.
"Sam, what you're feeling is probably normal, like you said – you've done this on your own so far. And you've done a wonderful job with him. I don't think I've met a happier little boy," he tried to reason.
"At least he's happy, that's all I want."
"Sammie, honey, are you happy?"
"Only when Jake's around. When he isn't… things are different entirely," she reluctantly confessed.
"Still on the anti-depressants?" Jacob softly asked his only daughter.
"Yeah," she nodded; a few tears fell down her face.
Jacob placed his empty coffee mug on the coffee table in front of them, then took his daughter into his arms where she wept freely, knowing she was safe with her father.
"Oh baby girl, this will get easier, I promise you," he soothed, running his hand up and down her back.
