As Jack took Xan into the briefing room, she was struck with what could be simply explained as sadness. When she was about to open her mouth and run into the man that was standing there waiting for them, Jack spoke to him.

"General this is Xantheia Carter," nodding he looked at her, with a small smile.

"Xantheia," he stated to which she nodded once at. She didn't want him to be a general, she wanted him to be her uncle George! She wanted her mum, but she couldn't see her yet, and now he was being all general to her. Something was wrong, something was very wrong.

"Come sit here," she heard Jack say, after noticing the general had motioned for her to take a seat. Moving over she was helped onto the slightly higher then what she considered normal height seat, and realised she was sitting next to Jack.

"Right, Xantheia. There is some things we need to talk to you about, but first."

"Can I see my mum?"

"We need to talk a little bit first ok?" Nodding she looked at the table before back at him.

"About what?"

"What your mum does,"

"Oh," she muttered and frowned at him.

"I need you to read this," he said gently, and slid a plain manilla folder to her, which she stopped with her hand and noticed the air force logo on the front, before opening it. Swallowing she raised her eye brows and looked at him.

"Deceleration of security?" She questioned.

"Just read it and write you name on the bottom," sighing she nodded once more and started to read the two page document. Once she was finished she carefully, and in her most neatest writing she wrote 'Xantheia Mae Carter', closed the folder and handed it to Jack who handed it to the general. Before another folder was passed to her. Eyes widening she looked at it, as Jack sat it in front of her.

"What's all this?"

"A bit more in depth of what you just read," Jack stated, watching her in utter amazement, as she opened the folder and started reading the pages in front of her.

"Why?" She questioned half way through the first page.

"Can you understand all that?" Jack asked with a small frown as she looked at him. Shrugging she nodded back at the page and stared at it.

"Most of it," she whispered, before once more writing her name at the bottom and flicking to the next page. As both men waited over the next two hours, she had read everything 'signed' her name on every document, and then passed it back to the general via Jack.

"Right!" The general started but was cut off as the door opened.

"Sorry to interrupt general, but..." Stopping her self as she saw Xantheia sitting there, she swallowed looking at the girl.

"What is it doctor?"

"It's about captain Carter sir," with that his head snapped up.

"Doctor?"

"Ah," wincing she looked at Xantheia before the general, who nodded and got up.

"Dismissed colonel, I suggest you take her to get something to eat."

"Yes sir!" He stated standing also. Once they were left alone Jack sighed and helped her off the seat. "Come on, I hear there's chocolate cake today!" He smiled, which she mimicked.

"All right doctor what is it?"

"I'm not really sure general, I'm having tests run now, but I think just after Sam woke up just after the colonel left to get Xantheia, she either lost her hearing, or she is experiencing something I have never ever seen before."

"So she's deaf?"

"At the moment sir, I have to presume so. Nothing so far has caused any reaction. I've had everything short of the band playing in her ears and she doesn't seam to react to anything."

"Thank you doctor, keep me posted."

"Yes sir," she stated and quickly left.

"What else is going to happen?" He muttered, rubbing his eyes. "First I pull her into this, send her father off, and now leave her daughter an orphan! Great one George really bloody great!" He chided himself bitterly, before heading for the mess hall.

Sitting there picking at her slice of cake Jack frowned. He watched her playing while he was slowly eating his slice.

"You wanna talk about something?" He asked, which got her to drop her fork and sob. Jumping up he rounded the table and pulled her into a hug.

"I just want to see her! Why can't I see her? She is MY mum Jack!" She sobbed pulling back and staring at him.

"I know Xan, but there isn't anything I can do right now. If the doc was talking to Hammond then maybe just maybe something is..."

"Really bad or really good! But still I don't care! If she can't see, if she can't talk, I don't care if she can't hear me telling her I love her Jack I just want to see her!" Xan sobbed as Hammond stopped just inside the door, hearing her declaration.

"Colonel," looking up Jack gave a slight lopsided smile, indicating he'd move if he could, to which Hammond nodded at.

"Sir,"

"I have word from doctor Fraiser, that Captain Carter awoke shortly after you left base." Sniffling Xan spun around looking at him.

"Can I see her?"

"There are some complications at the moment, but when everything starts to sort its self out I don't see why not." Nodding she knew she had to accept that.

"So now what?"

"With what?"

"Where do I go? Do I still go to school? Who is going to look after me?"

"Well we have a few people who would be happy to look after you until your mums up and around. But I was thinking that as Colonel O'Neill here is her commanding officer and with two of his team members now out of action, I have to make sure he stays here. So how would you like it if he looks after you?" Turning to the man in question she simply looked at him, through those beautiful blue orbs and he was lost.

"It'll be an honour to watch over her general." Smiling gently, Xan nodded, before hugging him tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered as he held her tightly. Nodding Hammond smiled at them before leaving the mess hall.