Chapter 2
Ginny,
I don't think I like Muggle school. It's interesting enough, I suppose, but the other children are obviously in need of a good exorcism. The infestation of Adhjisods is out of control.
I do like science, though. Biology is so interesting. You should ask your mother if you could go to Muggle school as well. I'm sure you'd love the math classes. They're far beyond anything your mother taught us, and I'm not even in an advanced class. Father has been helping me with science and math. He's been teaching me beyond the Fourth Grade level.
For all that Father plays the part of the fool, he's really much more intelligent than he lets on. Not only does he have a doctorate in Chemistry (that's like Potions), but he also has a masters in Mathematics and Observational Astronomy. When I asked, he said he had nothing better to do when stuck in the infirmary, so he studied.
Anyway, Father is working on his doctorate in Astronomy as well, but I'm not supposed to know that. Personally, I find Theoretical Astrophysics to be much more interesting than Observational Astronomy (not that I don't like it). I don't understand most of it yet, but Father is helping me with the math.
I rather liked our trip up to Minnesota. Father thinks I imagined it, but I'm sure that I saw a Sasquatch while we were out hiking.
How are things in Devon? Is Ronald still being a git? Have the twins caused mass chaos? Does Percy still have a Heionvouh following him? We should really do something about that before Percy becomes a Ministry stooge-or worse, an accountant. Does Charlie still want to marry a dragon?
How are you? You know, there are lots of other children in Muggle school, so long as one doesn't mind being around Muggles.
Mars has been unusually bright. I think something's going to happen soon.
LunaP.S. If you want, I can send you some books on the subjects.
Ginny read the letter for what must have been the twelfth time. Luna had been the only witch her age within far too many kilometers and Ginny had to admit that, without Luna around to play with, she was lonely. Maybe a Muggle school wasn't such a bad idea.
"Please."
"Don't you think it's a little advanced?"
"Father," said Luna. "Have you read any of her papers?"
"You read the papers she published?" said Jack. "I didn't know you understood that much."
"Well, not all of it," said Luna. "But her theories about wormholes and time travel are intriguing."
"Oh, fine."
Luna gave him a smile, hugged him, then wandered out of the house. Sometimes he wondered about that girl.
She was turning out to be a real bookworm. For some reason, Jack still wasn't sure why, Luna seemed to soak up anything and everything he could teach her about math and science, astronomy in particular. The rate at which she learned was rather frightening, actually. Two and a half months of living with him, and she was already on college level calculus.
Although, Kingsley had mentioned that her mother had been a scientist. Maybe it was genetic.
If Luna really wanted to go see some sort of presentation thingie at the Air Force Academy, he saw no reason to refuse her. He could get her in, thanks to being a former Colonel, and though it wasn't his particular field, he did find astrophysics interesting.
Capt. Dr. Samantha Carter. The name was familiar, but he didn't remember where he'd heard it before.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Molly.
"Yes Mum."
Steeling herself, Molly walked into the Muggle school. Why her daughter wanted to go to one, Molly wasn't sure, but she had a feeling that it was all thanks to Luna. Reminding herself, that it was a school, and not something worse, Molly went to register her daughter.
Luna,
Ron thinks I'm insane, but you're right, Muggle school is interesting. Math and science are fun, but history is so much better. Why didn't you tell me how interesting their novels are? I just started the Hobbit, by Tolkien. He's wrong about magical creatures, but the book is way better than that stupid comic book about Muggles that Ron reads.
Everybody's off at Hogwarts, so it's only Ron and I at home. At least I have something to do. Ron just lays about reading and flying and playing chess against himself. It's rather pathetic. I can't wait until he goes off to Hogwarts next year.
Mum thinks I've gone nutters because of how much I like school. Did you know that there's a library in town? It's not that big, but I can take out Muggle books for free.
Oh, I have to go. I need to finish my homework.
Ginny
P.S. What do you mean about Mars being bright?
"Any questions?"
Sam Carter looked at the audience, happy that it had gone so well. Her eyes fell on two people near the center of the room. A man and a girl who couldn't have been more then ten. She hadn't expected somebody so young to attend. How did she even get in?
Realizing that the girl was the only person with her hand up, Sam gave a mental sigh, then pointed to her, saying, "Yes?"
"How can one be sure that a solar flare would work?" she asked. "It's just, considering the odds of a wormhole passing through a star at exactly the right moment, such an event couldn't happen more than once a century. Not to mention that this is all useless unless one finds a way to harness a wormhole, and time it perfectly. At the moment we don't even find out about solar flares until after they happen.
"Which is why one must wonder if such a thing is even feasible. There are so many variables that could effect it, that it would be nigh on impossible to successfully use a wormhole for time travel. Also, the possibilities of creating a paradox in time would make time travel inadvisable. Or the traveler could accidentally create an alternate dimension." The girl paused, obviously thinking. "Quite honestly, I think it would be much safer to try to find a way to use a wormhole to travel to another planet or galaxy than even consider time travel."
She put her hand on the podium for support as the girl sat back down. The man next to the girl had obviously paled. Did she know about the Stargate? Did that man know about the Stargate?
Sam closed her eyes for a moment, then began to answer the girl.
Jack's mind raced. Now he knew where he'd seen Capt. Carter before. She had been the main scientist on the Stargate Program. Originally, she'd been meant to go with them to Abydos, but General West had vetoed the idea.
He'd never met Carter, but he'd seen her personnel file. She'd been transferred to the Pentagon right after Daniel had figured out how to get the Stargate to work.
How Luna had come up with that question, Jack didn't know, but obviously Carter had thought of the Stargate as well. He hadn't known that the military had considered using the gate for time travel. It was possible, but Luna had a point about the improbability of such an event.
After a couple more questions, Carter concluded the presentation. As people got up to leave, Jack motioned for Luna to stay in her seat. He had to talk to Carter, explain that he hadn't told the girl anything about the program.
Once the room had cleared and people had stopped swarming Carter, Jack stood.
"Luna, wait here, for a moment," said Jack. "I need to speak to Capt. Carter."
"Yes Father."
Sam's eyes narrowed as she realized the man who'd been with the little girl was approaching her. She continued to pack up, waiting patiently.
"Capt. Carter?"
She looked up at the man. "Yes?"
"Jack O'Neill, formerly Colonel," he said. "I retired six months ago."
"And?"
"We were stationed together," he said, voice low. "At Cheyenne Mountain. Deep space radar telemetry."
Her eyes widened. He'd been at the Stargate program. "When General Ryan finds out you told a child classified material-"
He cut her off. "I didn't tell Luna anything. I don't even know how she understood anything you were saying. Astrophysics is a bit advanced for a nine year old."
Sam gave him a hard look. "I don't remember seeing you on base."
"I was brought in right before you were reassigned."
She glared at him. "Then you-"
"With Dr. Jackson, yes," he said. "Before you ask, I had nothing to do with your reassignment. And all things considered, it was probably for the best that it happened this way."
"I heard that only three came back," she said, careful to keep her voice down.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that only three people, including myself returned from that training exercise," he said.
"Of course," said Sam. "So Luna is…"
"My daughter."
"Ah. Why did you bring her to this?"
Jack shrugged. "She begged. There were puppy dog faces involved."
She laughed. "Do you mind if I speak to her?"
"Go for it," he said. "I'm sure she'll love talking to you. I've heard nothing but Capt. Dr. Carter this, Capt. Dr. Carter that for the past two weeks."
Sam nodded, then walked over to the girl, who was waiting patiently. Luna looked over at Sam, her eyes momentarily focusing on her.
"You're Capt. Dr. Samantha Carter," said Luna.
"You can call me Sam," she said. "So I hear that you've read some of my papers. What do you think?"
"They make sense-I think," she said. "I still don't understand most of the math and physics. Father has only just started teaching me calculus. I like your theories, though."
"Really?" said Sam, noting the unfocused, thousand-yard stare. Why would a child have a look like that?
"Uh huh," said Luna.
"So your father is teaching you calculus."
"Math at school is boring," said Luna, as her stomach growled.
"I didn't realize it was so late," said Jack. "Come on, let's go scrounge up some lunch."
As Luna bit her lip, Sam said, "I'm sure the three of us could find something to eat in Mitchell Hall, if you're interested.
Jack looked at Luna, then back at Sam. "How long are you here for?"
"The rest of the week. I've been asked to be a guest speaker in several classes."
"Do you have anything else to do today?"
"No. Why?"
"Why don't you come out to eat with us," said Jack. "O'Malley's has great food."
Sam looked down at Luna. "Oh, fine."
Ginny,
Father went out on three dates last week. I rather like the woman Father is courting. She's a scientist and soldier. The only problem is, she lives in Washington D.C. But she comes out to Colorado a lot to help teach at the Air Force Academy, so that's not too bad.
She's a theoretical astrophysicist (that's a Muggle science that combines Arithmancy and Astronomy) and she studies the most interesting things.
How is Muggle school working out for you? Does Ronald still think it a waste of time?Have you discovered anymore books?
Luna
P.S. I doubt it matters anymore. Mars is back to normal.
Sam let out a laugh. "I don't think there was really a Sasquatch." Noticing Luna's pout, Sam added, "He probably lives up in Canada."
Luna nodded. "There's probably lots more snow and trees and place for him to hide."
"Mmmhmm," agreed Sam.
Having no desire to deal with either her father or brother (for some reason, their arguing had gotten even worse this year), Sam had quickly agreed to go up to Minnesota with Jack and Luna for Christmas.
She still wasn't sure why, but Sam had agreed to go out on a date Jack after that first meeting with him three and a half months earlier. And Sam had to admit that she was grateful that she'd accepted. Jack was, by far, the best man she'd dated in… ever.
Although, with the exception of Jonas Hansen, Jack was the only man she'd ever gone on more than three dates with. To compare Jonas to Jack was insulting. While they'd both been heavily involved with Black Ops (for all that Jack refused to explain most of what he'd done for the Air Force, claiming it was classified, Sam knew what "classified" meant), Jack had proved he was strong enough to handle it while Jonas had… broken.
One only had to spend some time with Luna to realize how good a man Jack was. Jack doted on that girl. Jack was an amazing father. Sure, he wasn't particularly strict, but a girl like Luna didn't need a strict father. All things considered, Luna was amazingly well adjusted.
Sam wasn't sure exactly what happened, but from what she'd gathered, Luna had witnessed the deaths of her mother and stepfather nearly six months earlier. Admittedly, when she wasn't paying attention to anything in particular, the girl tended to have a thousand-yard stare, but so far she didn't seem to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or any other psychological problems.
No matter what Luna's teacher said, Sam had to agree with Jack, Luna's imagination was just Luna being Luna. According to Jack, who had learned it from the Weasleys, Luna had always been more than a bit imaginative.
Sam was still a bit surprised that Luna had managed to keep her friendship with Ginny Weasley going. The two girls lived on completely different continents, but still managed to send regular letters to each other.
With Jack in town running some last minute errands (something about Luna's gift), Sam had been left to watch Luna. They'd made Christmas cookies that morning, something Luna had obviously enjoyed.
"Do you want to go build a snowman?"
Luna nodded. "Can we?"
"I suggested it, didn't I?" said Sam. "Why don't you go change into jeans and put on your jacket?"
Luna bit her lip. "I don't have any jeans."
She'd noticed that Luna always seemed to wear brightly colored shirts and tops, but she hadn't been expecting anything like that. "Why not?"
"I dunno," shrugged Luna. "Mummy never wore trousers and she only ever bought or made skirts and dresses. Father tried to get me to buy trousers a couple months ago, but I don't like wearing them, so I didn't get any."
"Oh." Sam gave a mental shrug. "Why don't you put on an extra wool skirt and a second pair of stockings, then."
"Okay."
Jack grinned at the sight outside his cabin. Luna and Sam were holding up two scarfs as if trying to decide which would look best on the snowman they'd made.
Making sure the box next to him was covered with a blanket, Jack picked it up and got out of the pickup. He walked toward the cabin, not wanting Luna to get too close to the box until the next morning.
"I'd go with the plaid," he said by way of greeting.
Luna nodded and took the plaid scarf from Sam. Sam whispered something to Luna then walked over to Jack. She gave him a hug, followed closely by a kiss, careful not to disturb the box.
"Is that Luna's gift?" Sam asked, carefully keeping her voice low.
Jack nodded. "Yup."
By the time Luna woke up, Jack had already prepared breakfast. After a quick meal, the three of them went to open presents. Luna was happily settled on the couch, next to Sam when Jack put a box in her lap.
"Here, this is yours."
Luna's eyes widened as the box rocked from side to side. She carefully took the blanket off the box. In it was a small, white, brown and black puppy. Lifting the dog from the box, Luna cuddled it to her body, happiness quite clear on her face.
A rare giggle escaped as the puppy began to lick her face. She pet it, letting the box fall to the floor. Not letting go of the puppy, Luna hugged Jack, then Sam.
"What breed is it? Is it a girl or a boy?" asked Luna, excitedly. "Do I get to name it?"
"Beagle, girl, and of course you get to name her," said Jack.
"Hypatia," said Luna.
"After the Greek mathematician, astronomer, and astrologist," said Sam.
Luna nodded, giggling once more as Hypatia tried to clean her ear.
Sam watched Luna run around the yard, playing with Hypatia. The puppy still hadn't figured out where the snowballs went when they hit the ground. She had to say that this was the happiest she'd seen Luna in the entire time she'd known the girl.
Feeling two arms wrap around her waist, Sam leaned back. A contented sigh escaped her as she was surrounded by his musky scent.
"Sam, can we talk?"
She felt the blood drain from her face. Those words were rarely, if ever, good.
"Y-yes?"
"I love you," he said. "You're beautiful, the smartest person I've ever met, you're amazing with Luna, and you're far too good for me. And I don't even want to think about a life without you in it. I'm just a broken down old warhorse past his prime and I'd understand if you said no. I just-will you marry me?"
Sam was silent for a long moment that seemed to stretch out forever. They lived on opposite sides of the country, both her father and brother would hate him, she loved him. She knew exactly what life would be like without Jack. And she didn't want that life.
"Yes. Yes, I will marry you."