"Jack!"

"What?"

"We have to go! It's Saturday!"

"I'm well aware of the day Xanthie!" He shot back, as he walked down the stairs to see her waiting impatiently, at the bottom. Smiling at her he shook his head. Carter had slipped down the scale and was put into a medical induced coma, and today was the day he knew Xanthie has been waiting for.

"Well come on!" She huffed throwing his jacket at him. "We can get something on the way!"

"What's the rush? You've been waiting four months, three weeks, eight days, and oh twelve hours and thirty eight minutes, what's another half an hour?"

"JACK!"

"Ok, ok fine lets go!" He smirked as she ran out of the house.

As Jack was sitting on the bench watching the game, Xan looked up at him, knowing exactly where he was seated, when she ran out and took her position in the out field. Winking at her he nodded slightly, and turned to watch the first batter of the opposing team step up. Raising his eye brows Jack suddenly realised why the coach was so reluctant to have a girl in the team, no matter how good she was!

It wasn't just the fact that she needed the whole change room to her self which ticked off the other team members, especially when she confronted the coach in front of the whole team saying she was ok, with sharing the change room with the boys, as long as showers could be done in either underwear or swimmers. And as she had the last small row of lockers to herself she was free to change into her swimmers as were the boys without either gender watching the other.

So now here he was watching as the ball was pitched to the batter that was a good half a body taller then the young girl he was caring for. Watching as the ball was hit directly to her. Moving back several metres Xan kept her eyes on the ball, and therefore didn't see the batter running straight towards her. No sooner had the ball hit her glove did the batters body impact hers. As they both fell to the ground the umpire ran over to see if the ball was still in her glove or not.

As he got there, he watched as she kept the glove against her chest until the last moment when she slipped into unconsciousness, and the glove hit the ground by her side. As the whole team gasped they watched and waited. Once her hand was still the umpire declared the batter out. Jumping up Jack pushed his way onto the field, and ran across the field. Falling to his knees by her side he ran his hand down her cheek, before he carefully picked her up.

"Come on Xan, wake up for me," he whispered as the team moved back and let him stand. As the parents of her team members were all on their feet applauding her as Jack took her to the teams nets. Laying her on the bench he took her glove off and brushed some water across her face, which stirred her.

"Daddy?" She whispered.

"Sh, Xan, you got hit pretty hard."

"Jack?"

"Yeah angel," he said gently watching her. Groaning slightly she sighed and rolled her head to the side to look at him. Opening her eyes she stared right through him for a few seconds before she managed to focus on him.

"What happened?"

"You got bowled over," he smiled gently.

"Can I still play?" She asked which got the coach laughing.

"I knew you were tough when you never took no for an answer Xanthie, but there is no way I'm putting you back out there after that hit!"

"Ooh coach, I'm ok!" She protested and started to sit up, which Jack stopped.

"No you stay lying there for a little bit longer."

"Jack I'm..." as she stopped he managed to just move out the way as she rolled on her side and vomited.

"Concussion," the coach stated to which Jack nodded.

"Yeah, look I'm gonna take her to be checked out,"

"That's a good idea Jack! I need my star player for the next game!" Smiling at the coach Jack nodded, and cleaned her up a little bit and then picked her up, leaving the grounds.

Waking Xanthie looked around and frowned. Pushing her self up she sighed and got out of bed. Opening the door she looked out and frowned. Moving out into the room full of beds, some with people some without she sighed and rubbed her head.

"What are you doing out of bed?" A voice stated which caused her to jump and look up, wincing in pain at the bright light in her eyes.

"Where am I?"

"The infirmary,"

"What's that?"

"It's the base hospital,"

"Oo, where's Jack?"

"I sent him to rest and eat something, he hasn't left your side since he brought you in two days ago."

"Two days ago?" She squeaked. Before a sob escaped.

"Hey," she whispered crouching in front of her. Sniffling Xan looked at her.

"Are you my doctor?"

"Yes,"

"Can you call Jack back please?"

"Sweetie he needs his rest,"

"I want Jack!" She whispered.

"I know you do but he needs to rest and so do you,"

"I've been sleeping for two days! I want Jack and I want him NOW!" She huffed glaring at the doctor.

"That behaviour won't get you anywhere young lady!"

"I WANT MY JACK! I WANT MY DAD! JACK!" She screamed before falling to her knees sobbing. "I want to go home!" She cried.

"Hey shh, when Jack's rested he'll come back I promise you,"

"Colonel a word first," she stated two hours later as he was about to head into Xanthie's room. Frowning he nodded at her.

"Sure doc," he stated following her into her office where he closed the door.

"Jack, what does she call you?"

"What? Janet!"

"Please just answer the question,"

"She calls me Jack why?"

"She was calling out for you, when I said you were resting she started screaming. She said and I quote! 'I want my Jack, I want my dad, Jack," as his eyes widened he shook his head and sat.

"She's never called me dad before! It's always been Jack,"

"I think she's been spending too much time with you for something that might not be forever. Jack you need to talk to her. Sam's condition is starting to improve again, but I don't know if she'll take another turn for the worst. And if she does, I'm going to have to get a blood sample and do a DNA test to find her father. Now that can be the easiest or hardest thing for the both of you. I don't want to rip you apart from each other colonel,. But I might have to! She needs to know this, and I think it'll be better coming from you," sighing he nodded.

"Yeah sure doc, when I get her home I'll talk to her."

"Very well colonel, you may see her now, but she might be sleeping."

"Ok, thanks," he whispered and left, feeling utterly dejected. Especially when he was going to have that conversation with her, once he got her HOME! He was taking her Home and then ripping her world apart! How was it better coming from him he had no idea! Sighing he pushed the door open and smiled at Xanthie as she sat up slightly and grinned at him.

"Jack you came back!" She grinned at him. Smiling he nodded closing the door.

"Of course I came back!"

"Good!" She stated as he sat on the edge of her bed. "I don't like my doctor Jack, she's mean!" She huffed crawling out of bed and into his lap, cuddling into him.

"Janet's nice, she just cares about people more then other doctors,"

"She sent you away from me though!"

"She had to Xan, I was tired and hungry,"

"But..."

"Hey I need to talk to you about your mum," he stated changing to topic. Pulling back she looked at him, and sighed.

"Way to change the subject Jack!" She huffed. "Can we talk about mum at home? I don't want to stay here! Can I go home Jack? Can you take me home?"

"Sweetie, Janet told me something just before!"

"About me?"

"Of course about you," he smiled kissing her forehead as she looked up at him.

"What did she say?"

"When she told you I was sleeping, you starting yelling out." Nodding she rested her head against his chest, waiting for what she knew was coming.

"What did she say?"

"She said you wanted me, and then you said you wanted your dad, and..."

"Can I call you dad?" She whispered hugging him tightly, as tears stung her eyes. Closing his eyes he sighed inwardly.

"We need to talk about that at home ok? Because it goes with what I need to tell you about your mum,"

"Ok, so can we go home?" Smiling he shook his head.

"I'll have to talk to Janet, I'm not sure."

"Can you go ask then?"

"Not with you in my lap I can't," he smirked watching her blush slightly and climb off him and back under the covers.

No sooner had they gotten inside, did Xanthie jump on him in the lounge room, laughing.

"Oh no you don't!" He laughed dropping her on the lounge and started tickling her. Screaming and laughing she struggled against him.

"GIVE!" She yelled, and he grinned at her, kissing her forehead he stopped his attack and let her sit up.

"You want to talk now? Or get some lunch?"

"Talk, I'm not really hungry. So what is it about mum? Is she getting better?"

"She is a little bit yes. But Xan, if your mum doesn't start getting better, doctor Fraiser is going to have to do a DNA test to find out who your dad is. Which means you will have to go and live with him."

"But I want to stay with you!"

"I know angel, but if we know who your dad is then..."

"I want you to be my dad!"

"Xanthie!"

"No Jack! I want YOU to be my dad! Why can't you adopt me?"

"Its not that easy honey!"

"Why not?"

"Because if your dad finds out, he's going to be really angry!"

"But I want you to be my dad Jack! Please don't send me away!"

"I'm never going to send you away Xan! I'm just getting you pre pared for what will happen if your mum doesn't pull through this."

"And if she does then what? Do I leave you and live with her? Jack this is my home! It's been my home for over four months! I don't want to move! It's closer to school, and I have friends down the street! We always walk home together, and..." As she was getting upset Jack pulled her into a hug.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to Xan! Yes this is your home, but your mum's home is also your home!"

"But I want to stay with you!" She sobbed gripping his shirt.

"What about your mum?"

"Can't she move in here? In my friends room?" She sniffled looking at him. "They won't mind! She can have their room!"

"Honey you can't think like that! Your mum is going to want to go back to her home."

"Then I'll stay with you and she can come visit!"

"Xan, I have no hold over you! You know that you have to go back to your mum!"

"I know but I still want to stay here with you! This IS my home Jack!" She sniffled resting her head back on his chest.

"I know angel. It'll always be your home! And I'm just sorry you waited four months, three weeks, eight days, twelve hours and thirty-eight minutes to get that position on the baseball team! Only to have it taken away. But we'll work that out on Monday!" Grinning up at him she nodded.

"Monday," she whispered.