Author's Note: Hello again. Thank you all for returning to my story again. I hope you enjoy this chapter, the wedding is coming but I had somethings that I needed to deal with first. Like Sam's Dad ;0). So ready and away and enjoy.
To my anonymous reviewers: SGAussie (); I came very close when I read it over again before I posted it. It was a gut wencher.
Early the next morning, the rearrangement of the furniture began. As soon as the extra furniture was moved out to the garage, Jack gathered everyone up and they headed out shopping. It took a while, but just before lunch, they had it all arranged to the children's liking.
Once that was done, they headed up the mountain to meet Jake. Most of the day, Jack and Sam waffled on whether or not he and or the kids should be there when Jacob was told about the kids. He was a little bit afraid of the General's reaction to the fact that his daughter and her CO had a child together. In the end, he decided that having the kids there might just save his life.
They quickly passed through security, and arrived in the briefing room, leaving Charlie and Morgan in Jack's new office. Sam and Jack entered to find Jacob, host to Selmak, pacing.
Seeing Sam safe and sound, he ran over hugging her tightly, "When I got that message, I assumed the worst. George said that you needed me here, but he wouldn't explain anything until you got here. He said I needed to hear it from you. So spill Sam, what's up?"
Sam looked behind her at Jack who nodded. Jacob's eyes fell on Jack standing close, almost too close. What was going on here? His brows creased with confusion. His gaze passed over the new stars on Jack's collar and he held out his hand, "Congratulations on the promotion. I didn't know."
Was this what this was all about, Jack's promotion? He studied the two of them. Jake shook his head, something was going on here, and it had to do with their relationship. Something had changed since he was here the last time; it had been frosty between them at best since they lost Daniel.
Opening her mouth, Sam tried to say the words, but nothing came out. She tried to stop herself, but she looked over at Jack, pleading with him to say it. And he did, "Sam and I are getting married." Jack threw it out before he lost his nerve, too.
"What-" was the only thing that came out of Jake's mouth before Charlie burst into the room.
"Mom, Dad someone just grabbed Morgan. A couple of men were walking down the hallway and we were just standing in the doorway watching them. When they passed by us, Morgan pointed to one of them and said, 'That is a bad man. He shot Mommy.' I told her to stop being silly and went back into the office, leaving her by the door. When I turned around she was gone. We have to find her."
Jake looked from Jack to Sam. This boy had just called them Mom and Dad. What on earth was going on? ~ Calm down Jacob, there must be some explanation for this. Look at the boy, there is no way that Sam could be this boy's mother in that way. They didn't even know each other back then. Breathe deeply before you speak. ~ Selmak said.
Heading her advice, Jake took a deep breath and said, "Who is this boy and why is he calling you Mom and Dad?" Jake couldn't hide the confusion in his voice.
The boy turned towards him, Jacob was the only grandfather he had known. Holding out his hand to Jake, he said, "I'm Charlie O'Neill."
Sam broke in then, "Not now Dad." Turning to Charlie she asked, "What do you mean she's gone? Where did she go?
Charlie looked at all the adults in the room, "I didn't think he heard her. I mean how could I have known that he would be a Goa'uld here as well. He never stopped or even broke stride. I know that I'm making assumptions, but he was the only person we had seen in the corridor that would have a reason to take her."
Jack touched Charlie's shoulder, "Did you get a good enough look at him to tell us what he looks like?"
Charlie nodded, "I didn't need to, I know the man. Morgan was right, in our universe, he killed our Mom and Dad. It was Sergeant Miller."
Jack looked at Sam, "We'll find her. They can't have gone far." he crossed the room and grabbed the red phone. "I want this base on lock down. I want Sergeant Miller found. He may have a little girl with him, so I advise caution. He may also be armed."
Jacob was left staring at Jack's dead son, who was now very much alive. He had never actually seen pictures of the boy, but he'd heard about his death from Sam. Looking at this boy though, there could be no question that he was Jack O'Neill's son, the man's features showed in his face and the way the boy stood screamed Jack as well. Rubbing the back of his neck he asked, but not sure he wanted to know, "Ah, who is Morgan?"
Charlie looked over at Sam and Jack, wondering if he should wait for them to tell Jake, but they were busy, "She's my sister. Sam and Jack's daughter, she's five. We're from-"
"What?!" Jake knew that he should really form longer sentences, but he couldn't seem to put the words together. Anger rushed over him. How could this have happened? If the girl was five, that would mean that she was born sometime during the first year of the Stargate program. Why didn't he know about it? He and Sam had not been close at the time, but this was something you should share with even an estranged father.
Again Selmak stepped in before Jacob could do something stupid. ~Jacob I see that I must remind you again. Look at that boy. He is not Jack's son, at least not our Jack's son. Something has happened here and you need to wait and listen to their explanation. If that boy is not Jack's, it stands to reason that the girl will not be theirs as well, but some other Sam and Jack's. Now shut up and let someone explain it to you.~
Charlie watched his grandfather, or the man who looked just like him, and he knew just what he was thinking. He knew Jacob well enough to know that Jack was going to get punched if he didn't do something quickly. After all, he had not explained it very well, "No grandpa, it's not like that. Morgan and I come from another universe. Your daughter and Jack have chosen to give Morgan and me a home. Our Earth was over run by the Goa'uld. I saw-" his voice broke as he tried to gain control of his emotions and failed, as tears leaked out of his closed eyes.
Jacob felt all the anger drain away as he saw the boy's sorrow at losing not only his home, but his parents as well. This boy and his sister had been through hell. Like Sam and Jack, he felt a rush of love for this Charlie and his unseen sister. They may not have been his Sam's children, but he loved them as though they were. Reaching out, he pulled the boy into his arms, giving him comfort. "It's all right son. They'll find her. No one's going to hurt her or you."
He felt Charlie relax at his promise and only hoped that it would turn out like they all wanted. Looking over at Sam and Jack, he saw that they were done rousing the base to look for the girl. Now they were standing close together talking about what needed to be done. Jack reached out and wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulder and she leaned into him taking comfort in being close to Jack.
Jake turned away to give them a moment of privacy as he thought about the two of them. He'd known how they felt about each other for a long time. He was never sure that Jack was what he wanted for his daughter, but seeing the two of them together, at last, he could not dispute that Jack loved her and she loved him. As long as Jack made her happy, he would not stand in their way.
Having started the search for Morgan, Jack came over to stand beside Sam, "We'll find her. There's nowhere that he can go now. This base is all locked down and everyone is looking for him." as he spoke, he wrapped his arm around her, and she melted into him.
Turning her face into his neck, she said, "We have to find her. I can't let her go, not this way. I may not have given birth to her, but I love her and Charlie. She's our child as much as the other me's."
His arms tightened around her, "We won't have to. We'll' find her." He kissed her forehead and said, "We should join the search. When she's found, she'll be scared and she'll want us." Although Jack wanted to stay where he was, standing close to Sam, he knew he couldn't. Sighing heavily, he turned to Jake, "Can you stay here with Charlie while we join the search?"
Her father! Sam had forgotten all about his being in the room. What must he think of her? She pulled herself out of Jack' s arms so quickly that she almost fell over. "Dad, I need to explain-"
Jacob could see the look of horror pass over Sam's face, and shook his head, "It's alright, Sam. Charlie explained everything. I understand what happened. It's alright for you to be happy Sam, you deserve it. I'll be here when you find her."
Hugging her father, she turned to Charlie, "We'll get her back, Charlie." she squeezed his arm and followed Jack out of the room.
Morgan struggled against the man who had grabbed her. In her mind, she saw him raise the gun to her mother and shoot, as Charlie and her Dad pulled her toward the mirror. She couldn't remember what happened after that, it was all fuzzy, but she knew this man had hurt her Mom. It was his fault she had to leave her home.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, she had to get away and make sure that her Mom and Dad knew about the bad man. He would hurt them again if she didn't warn them. She liked it here, and she didn't want to have to leave again.
Shifting, so that she was able to dig her teeth into Miller's arm, she bit down hard. The Goa'uld screamed and dropped her. Morgan was immediately running down the hallway.
Behind her she could hear the Goa'uld shouting at her, but she just kept running. As long as she ran fast he would not get her. She knew the SGC like the back of her hand. She had lived here, and it was her home. Three more turns and then she would be safe. Her little bolt hole was nearby and the bad man would not be able to find her again.
She looked back and saw that she'd gotten far enough ahead of him that he would not see where she went. Opening the door to a storage closet, Morgan ducked inside closing the door behind her.
It was dark inside the closet, but Morgan didn't move, he was coming and even the smallest sound might give her away. Outside, she could hear the Goa'uld's footsteps pass by, but they did not stop or hesitate. She waited a little while longer to make sure that he didn't come back again before she reached up and turned on the light.
It took a few seconds for the light to blink on, and when it did, the room was different than she expected. All of her special things were gone. Not wanting to think about what this meant, she grabbed some towels from the shelf and made herself a nest, hoping that Mommy and Daddy would be able to find her.
Sliding her thumb into her mouth, she went to sleep.
My first cliffhanger of this story. It took me to chapter seven this time. More on Friday. Let me know your thoughts I'd love to hear them. ~Kelleth~