Daniel returned home after the weekend and after a week or so things started to smooth out. While Jack and Haley weren't exactly on the best of terms they were civil to one another, and Haley didn't fight her punishment of spending every moment outside of school wherever Jack was- the base or at home. There was no life outside of school for her. Things never felt bleaker.

Thanksgiving was coming soon, and the end of Haley's punishment came with it. Her first night out with Tommy in ages was coming, and she was pretty excited. If it meant being nice to her stone cold father then that was what she would do.

xxxxx

Sam hobbled around her room on one heel, searching for its partner. "Sammy, almost ready to go?" Jacob called from downstairs. Sam let out a giant sigh; her father was always on her back when it came to getting places on time. She always had trouble figuring out what to wear when pretending that she actually had a life outside of the SGC. Janet and Cassie were hosting Thanksgiving, and Cassie demanded Sam dress up. After trying on most of her closet… twice, Sam had finally decided on a simple plain black dress with a square neck and round spaghetti straps. With a simple black sweater on top it seemed passable. Now if she could only find her black shoe- "Sam?"

She spun around to see her father in the doorway holding up the missing shoe. "Where was-"

"Right at my feet," Jacob smiled as Sam's cheeks flushed up. "NOW are you ready to go?"

"Yes Dad, all set."

xxxxx

"I'll get it!" Cassie yelled as she ran to open the door. A grin spread across her face when she saw Jack holding out an apple pie. She placed the pie on the mail table and threw her arms around Jack. She then grabbed Haley's arm and pulled her inside. "Come on Hay you HAVE to see the new dress I got!" the two barreled up the stairs and Jack could still hear Cassie chattering away. "… I like your nail polish! Very cute!"

Jack carried the pie into the dining room and realized he was the last one to arrive. "Sir, we thought you weren't coming!" Sam smiled, causing a slight smile to tug at the corners of Jack's mouth.

"And miss a free home-cooked meal? I don't think so!" Janet emerged from the kitchen with a bottle of wine.

"Is that all I'm good for Jack?" she asked.

"You're pretty good with the needles!"

"And if you don't shape up I may find some reasons to use them more," she winked, pinching his arm. Jack threw his hands up in the air in an "I surrender" motion. Everyone chuckled and even Teal'c let out a slight smile.

Janet finally brought out the turkey, which Sam volunteered Jacob to cut. Sam went in search of the girls so they could all start eating.

xxxxx

Daniel watched everybody polishing off their plates. Cassie and Haley were at the end of the table excitedly discussing the latest Brad Pitt movie. Sam meanwhile was talking about her latest science project. Janet would nod every now and then, probably understanding some of what Sam was talking about. Jacob kept his eyes fixed on his daughter, dropping in the occasional "of course," "great idea," and "that sounds good!" Jack looked like he was desperately trying to pay attention, but his eyes kept glazing over. Teal'c excused himself to help clear the table. Daniel quickly volunteered as well, and before Sam knew it she had lost half her audience.

"Carter, I'm sorry, I just don't get it."

"Well, sir, it's really quite simple. All you have to really underst-"

"Don't waste your breath kiddo," Jacob interrupted.

"Dad," Sam shot him a disgruntled teenager look that Jack recognized from his own disgruntled teen all too well.

"No Sam, he's right. There's no hope for this hollow head," Jack knocked on his temple, making a blank face. Jacob and Sam shared a simultaneous eye roll.

Teal'c walked around the table collecting empty plates, but stopped at Haley's. "Did you not like your meal Haley? Your plate appears to be hardly touched."

"No, it was good. Those, uh, were my seconds. I couldn't eat that much!"

Haley let out a nervous giggle as she handed Teal'c her plate. He raised an eyebrow, but continued to make his way around the table.

"Girls, why don't you get the desserts ready?" Janet suggested. When they were both gone, Janet lowered her voice and leaned closer to Jack. "How's she doing?"

"Eh, not too bad. Kinda moody…" Jack twiddled his thumbs and whispered, "still having the nightmares."

"Have you thought about seeking professional help for that?" Daniel wondered, garnering nods from a few of the adults.

"There is no way I'm sending her to a shrink! She just has a lot on her plate to deal with right now, you would too if you found out…" Jack trailed off but shrugged his shoulders.

"Teenage daughters are hard to raise without otherworldly issues getting in the way," Jacob pointed out, getting a twisted face back from Sam. "Not that you weren't always a pleasure Sammy."

"Thanks Jacob for pointing out just how screwed- This planet is!" Jack quickly changed the subject when he saw Cassie and Haley emerging from the kitchen with fresh plates and the deserts.

"Are you saving the world again Jack?" Cassie asked, a slight grin fixed on her face.

"Am I ever not saving the world Cass?"

"Not right now," Haley replied.

"Even superheroes need breaks," Daniel pointed out before Jack could let out a more biting response. The tension had appeared to be gradually building throughout the night, with somebody constantly changing the subject or inserting a witty remark to break it up. Just a few more hours till the punishment is over, Jack happily thought. Maybe then she'll cheer up and the moodiness and nightmares will be a thing of the past.

Jack's theories were interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone. Everybody reached into their pants or bags, expecting it to be theirs. It was Jacob's. He mouthed SGC before excusing himself from the room. Sam desperately wanted to follow him. If it was something interplanetary related shouldn't she know about it as well? Everybody was quiet as they strained to hear what Jacob was yelling about. "You've got to be kidding me! ... Fine! ... Yes, I'm coming… I'm sorry too… Bye." Jacob sulkily reentered the room to find every eye on him. The only one that really bore through him was Sam's.

"What's going on Dad?"

"I have to get back to the SGC, the Tok'ra are insistent on my immediate arrival…" Jacob had the guiltiest look on his face Daniel decided.

"Alright, well I'll drive you over," Sam said.

"Sammy, I don't want to you to miss the rest of your Thanksgiving. I'll take your car; you meet up with me tomorrow."

"If you have my car how will I get to work Dad?" Sam's voice was as calm as possible, but it was very obvious that she was about to break. "And don't even suggest having somebody pick me up because I am not making them go out of their way because of the Tok'ra." She practically spit out the word. "I'm coming with you, and that's that."

Jacob lowered his head and it was clear that she was now talking to Selmac. "Samantha, your father does not wish for your holiday to be ruined. Please let him go, he will not go anywhere without contacting you first. Your father does not want you wasting your night at the military base."

"Fine, go." Sam crossed her arms and turned away from her father.

"Sammy I'm sor-"

"Dad, the sooner you get there the sooner this can be resolved." Jacob tried to give Sam a kiss on the cheek, but she continued staring coolly away from him. He sighed, thanked Janet for the wonderful meal and said his goodbyes.

When he reached Haley he whispered in her ear, "Try not to give your dad too much hell," and left. She absently nodded as she picked apart the piece of pie in front of her.

xxxxx

It took Sam a little while, but she seemed to have calmed down. Either that or she had a killer poker face, Jack mused. "Sam," he came up behind her in the kitchen, placing his hand on her shoulder and she jumped a little.

"Sir, Jack, um sorry. I'm just a little…"

"On edge?"

"Pretty much. Are you taking Teal'c back to the base now?"

"Janet's invited him to stay in the guest room so he can 'have a healthy home cooked breakfast'" he smiled, imitating his friend.

"Well, I guess my room is taken. I guess I can borrow Daniel's car…"

"Oh Sam, just let me give you a ride home."

"I really don't want you going out of your way."

"A whole ten minutes… WOW such an inconvenience. How will you ever make it up to me?" Sam gave a slight smile and a wicked grin spread across his face. "I'm sure I'll find a way eventually," he gave her a playful nudge and her cheeks started to flush.

xxxxx

"I wish they would just get together already," Haley sighed, as she took a sip of coffee. "It's like they're my age sometimes… but even I'm not that lame!"

Janet and Daniel suppressed laughs and Cassie nodded along in agreement.

"Things are complicated. There are many rules that must be followed," Teal'c suggested, even though he didn't truly believe in his own words.

"Rules," Haley stated, "were meant to be broken."

"You sound just like your father," Daniel chuckled.

"There are worse people to sound like," Jack chimed in as he and Sam entered the room.

"Janet thank you for a delightful dinner," Jack gave her and then Cassie a hug. T, Danny Boy, cya tomorrow." Haley and Sam also said their goodbyes, and soon the party was over.

xxxxx

Haley was suspiciously quiet in the car ride home, constantly looking out the back window. Jack figured she was just anxiously awaiting tomorrow. Jack turned the corner to Sam's house and Haley seemed to relax again. Something was definitely off with that girl. "I'm going to walk Sam to the door, don't steal the car or anything while I'm gone." She has that eye roll perfected, Jack thought.

Sam gave Haley a hug goodnight, and proceeded to head to the door. Jack quickly caught up to her, and gave her a bit of a goofy smile. "You know, if you stayed over at my place I wouldn't have to pick you up in the morning…"

Sam opened the door and took a step away. "Goodnight sir."

"Sir? We're still off duty you know…" Jack took a step in as well. "Technically I'm just Jack and you're just Sam."

"You'll never be Just Jack."

"And you'll never be Just Sam." A smile crept onto both their lips and Jack took a step closer. "Daniel and Teal'c both got big hugs goodbye." Sam bit her lip in contemplation and threw her arms around Jack. He didn't feel like ever letting this hug end. Sam reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then motioned towards the door.

"Happy?" she questioned. He just nodded. "Goodnight Jack, I'll see you nice and early tomorrow morning."

xxxxx

As Jack pulled out of Sam's neighborhood Haley glanced outside the window again. She temporarily relaxed, until it appeared something caught her eye. She gave a slight gasp, causing Jack to hit the brakes. "What is it?" Haley just shook her head, but kept her eyes glued outside the window. "So there isn't a Bugs under my car or anything, right?" Haley shook her head again. Jack continued to drive, but he could see Haley shaking out of the corner of his eye. "What are you so freaked out about?"

"You'll just think I'm crazy," Haley whispered, continuing her vigilance.

"I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong," he insisted.

"Daddy…"

"Hale…"

"Fine," she looked both ways before speaking, "I think we're being followed." Jack glanced out his rearview mirror, but saw no cars behind him.

"I don't see anything."

"They keep reappearing. Every now and then they're gone, but then they're back!"

"Well, what kind of car is it?"

"Umm… it's black, I know that."

"A lot of people have black cars, are you sure it's the same person?"

"YES, I know it. I just do. I knew you wouldn't believe me…"

"I do, but I also think maybe you're just a little confused."

"Daddy, I know what I saw… Let's just forget about it." Haley crossed her arms and returned to watching out the window. That night she had another nightmare. Jack had stopped going in to check on her the past few weeks, letting it pass on its own. She seemed particularly spooked tonight, regardless of whether or not they were really being followed. Jack felt somewhat guilty when her screaming went on for a few more minutes. Finally he entered her room to see her crouching on the floor with her blanket wrapped around her. She was peering through a tiny hole, and facing the window. Jack crouched down next to her, looking in the same direction, trying to see what she was staring at. He slowly pulled the blanket off, and lifted her back onto the bed. She was curled up in a fetal position, her eyes somewhat glazed.

"I had another bad dream," she cried.

"I figured that, but what's with the blanket?"

"I was hiding," she seemed so matter-of-fact.

"From? …"

"When I woke up from my dream something was in my window!" she squeaked out. Jack raised his eyebrow, unsure of how to react. "Daddy, I'm telling you the truth." Haley's eyes widened, "I swear."

"Alright, tell me what you saw exactly," Jack was beginning to feel uneasy. There was no official report on the truth about Haley. Well, whatever truths they knew at least. Or was it lies? Whatever the hell it was only five other people knew- General Hammond, Carter, Daniel, Teal'c, and Frasier. None of them would ever give that information away. So it couldn't be the NID. Even they weren't that good, right?

"All I saw were eyes. And just the feeling of being watched. That's what made me look out the window. Somebody is watching me! Why? Do they know who I am? What if they want to run all kinds of tests on me?" Haley started crying, and Jack pulled her into his arms. He could feel how frail she had become and cursed himself for letting things get this far.

"I will never let anything like that happen to you. I promise. You know I love you, right?"

"You… sniff> do? sniff sniff>" Haley's dark eyes looked like saucers, pouring out tears.

Jack wiped some of the tears off her face, "Of course I do."

"But I'm not yours."

"Listen, there is some confusing stuff going on right now, but you've still got my blood flowing through your veins, and you're my legal responsibility, so like it or not kid, you're mine." It was the first time Jack realized the truth in his words. All this time he had been fighting what Daniel, and pretty much everybody else, had been trying to tell him. The thought of being that vulnerable left him scared shitless. Haley curled up next to him and quickly fell asleep, exhausted from crying. Jack eventually nodded off as well, only to be woken up by the phone ringing.

"Yeah?" he grumbled into the phone.

"Sir, is everything alright?"

"Carter? Everything's fine…" why was she calling him in the middle of the night? Slowly he lets his eyes adjust and realized that it was already morning. "Dammit, I slept in. I'm on my way over now. I'll be fast."

"Oh good, for a moment I thought you forgot about me," Carter nervously giggled.

"Who could ever forget about You?"

"Thanks Sir. I'll see you soon."

"Bye." Jack nudged Haley. "I have to go work now. Do you want to come or wait for your friends to wake up?" Haley opened her eyes and groaned. "You're a free kid now. Remember?" She suddenly bolted up, and a grin spread across her face. "But it's a holiday, why do you have work?"

"The SGC doesn't work around the high school schedule." Jack pushed her back into her bed and left her to sleep. "Call me if you're going out. Leave a message or something if I'm not around."

"Thanks," Haley let out a slight smile. "I love you Daddy."

"Love you too."