Well here we are, almost the end, but how will Jake react to Sam lying? Read on to find out. Thanks to those who have reviewed, makes me all happy inside. Hope you enjoy
Chapter 6
Nearly fifteen minutes passed before Sam appeared at the back of the box. The kids had enjoyed watching the floats but Jake's enthusiasm hadn't returned; he was still very unhappy about how his mom had lied. Every so often Grace would point out a float or a band and Jake would look but he wouldn't stand up and he only gave the parade a cursory glance. He was the first to spot Sam through the legs of the other people and the chairs.
"Mommy's here," he said flatly.
The others turned around as Sam walked towards them. She was a little surprised that they hadn't run to greet her but assumed they were engrossed in the parade. Surprise turned to concern when she got to the front row and looked at her family. Dan was in his seat giggling at a toy. Jack looked exasperated already and his tie was definitely not in the position it should have been. Then there were the other two children, neither of whom came to greet her. Grace was standing facing the parade, often taking a quick glance around to see if Sam was there but not smiling when Sam caught her eye. And then there was Jake. He was slumped on the floor looking seriously unhappy. Sam assumed that he'd been on the receiving end of a row.
"Hi there," Sam said as she approached the group.
"Hi, Honey," Jack said, having left a moment for the kids to welcome her - which they hadn't.
"What's wrong? Aren't you enjoying the parade?" Sam asked as she sat down beside Jack and looked from Jake to Grace to try and get a reaction.
Grace took the initiative after looking at her sad little brother.
"Mommy, Jake and me know you lied," she scolded, and then turned back to look at the parade.
"Lied! What are you talking about?" Sam asked, totally floored by the question and mood of her children.
"No crisis, no 'mergency, Uncle T lied, too," Jake said, having again thought through the morning and realised what had happened.
Unfortunately, his sister hadn't been as quick. "No, he'd never lie, not to Grace and Jake!" she exclaimed loudly.
"He did! That's why Mommy left, 'member?"
By now Sam had caught up with what had occurred and tried to placate them. "It was a surprise. We thought you'd be excited to see me marching."
Jake sniffed, close to tears. "You no need to lie," he whispered.
"I'm sorry I lied but that's no reason to miss the parade. Look, all the floats you were waiting to see are coming now," Sam said, pointing down the road.
"No wanna see," Jake said and, before anyone had realised what was happening or could stop him, he shot off his feet and raced up the small aisle, and running straight out the door that the secret service agents had just opened to admit a Rear-Admiral. He got out of the building and looked around quickly; he could see the big pointy stone and aimed for it. He didn't stop until he was a huge distance away from the building and his parents who had lied.
Sam was already up and chasing after Jake, calling his name as she saw him disappear out the door. Dan had started to cry and Grace was desperate to give chase to her brother but Jack had caught hold of her dress.
"C'mon, Grace, help Daddy with Dan and we'll go search for Jake."
As they gathered their things and moved from the front, Grace said with a wisdom beyond her years, "You know, Daddy, maybe Jake needed the talk about not being naughty, not Grace."
Jack knew better than to respond to that. He bustled through the room only to find Sam outside in tears with Jake nowhere in sight.
"I can't see him. The stupid agents wouldn't open the door quickly. There are so many people I can't see him!" she cried with panic rising in her voice.
"It's okay, Sam, we'll find him," Jack said, coming up beside her. "Come on, let's sit over here and call the others. We'll get a search party organised." Jack led Sam to a vacant bench and got out his cell phone. He decided to call Teal'c first, given the problems Daniel and Vala were having. Teal'c answered on the first ring.
"T, it's Jack. Where are you, buddy? We have a bit of a crisis here."
"I am examining the monument to your first leader, O'Neill. What concerns you?"
"Ah, the kids found out that Sam was marching. Um, the surprise didn't go down too well and Jake's run off because he was upset we'd lied to him. Can you come to the Grandstand and help us look?"
"There is no need, O'Neill."
"What do you mean no need? I just told you Jake's missing!" Jack shouted down the phone.
"He may be missing to you, O'Neill, but I have him in my sight. He is at the base of your leader's monument."
"He is? He's at the monument!" Jack shouted to Sam, pointing to the obelisk. Sam ran off up the hill towards where Teal'c had said they'd find Jake. "Sam's coming, Teal'c. Keep an eye on him, T. Thanks." Jack hung up just as Grace shot off after Sam.
"Me come, too, Mommy!" Grace screamed as she flew across the open grass following Sam. Jack had no choice but to grab the diaper bag and carry seat with Dan firmly strapped in and looking excitedly around at all the commotion, and follow the others at a slower pace.
Sam ran in her full dress uniform towards the monument. She could see the figure of Teal'c but no Jake. She jumped up onto the grass around the monument and kept going until she was beside her friend. Her eyes were wild, trying to find Jake and not succeeding.
"Young Jacob is sitting over there." Teal'c pointed to the small figure at the bottom of tall white monument. Sam's heart immediately both danced with relief and broke with sadness at the look of the little boy who was clearly crying and who looked so lost.
"Jake," she whispered as she slowly approached him.
He looked up at her, his face covered with sweat and tears. "Mommy?" he hiccupped and sobbed out the word. "I no know where to go."
"Oh, Baby, it's okay, I've got you." Sam sank down on the paving slabs and pulled Jake onto her lap, embracing him in a fierce hug.
"I'm sorry, Mommy, but you lied to Jake." His little arms were round her neck holding on so tightly.
"Ssshhh, Sweetheart, I know. But running away isn't the answer. I was so scared, Baby. You're never to do that again!" she said vehemently.
"Why did you lie, Mommy?" he whispered into her ear.
"Oh, Baby, Daddy and I thought you'd be excited by the surprise. I wasn't going to march but the President asked me."
Jake sniffed as he began to stop crying. He sat back on Sam's knees and looked his mom in the face. "You look smart, Mommy," he stated, wiping some errant strands of hair away from Sam's face. "Jake very proud of Gen'ral O'Neill number 2," he said very formally. That broke Sam completely and the relief she felt at finding Jake so easily in the huge crowd meant that she could no longer hold in the sobs. She pulled him back to her chest and wiped her eyes.
Jack had caught up with Grace who'd been stopped by Teal'c. All three stood watching Sam hugging Jake, relieved that Jake had been found. However, Grace didn't particularly like to be left out of family embraces, so she wriggled free from her uncle's hold - not an easy thing to do - and ran to Sam, jumping onto Sam's lap behind Jake and hugging her little brother.
"Jake not right to run away," she mumbled, scolding him as only a sister could.
"It's okay, Grace. Jake and I talked and everything's okay now," Sam said through her tears.
Grace sat back and looked at them. "Mommy, why is you and Jake crying if you is okay?"
From behind her Jack said, "Mommy often cries when things are okay. She's just very happy that Jake's safe."
Sam weakly smiled at him, and Grace looked around to see her father. In doing so she caught sight of the parade again - in particular the large floating dog balloon - and squealed. "Jake we is missing all the parade! Come on, we need to see what else is coming." She jumped off Sam and pulled Jake up. "C'mon, Jake." She was half way across the slabs when Jack whistled her to attention. Grace stopped dead. "Oops," she mumbled, turning round sheepishly.
"Daddy, Grace thinks we should all go together and not run away," she said, scuffing her feet then bravely making eye contact with her father.
"You know, I think that is an excellent idea, Grace." He helped Sam to her feet while Teal'c picked Dan up in the carry seat. "What'cha think, Carter?"
"Yes, Sir," she replied cheekily, brushing the dust off her uniform.
"Mommy, we met someone that knows you," Jake said as the adults joined him and Grace to walk towards the parade.
"Yup, he told us all about you climbing big trees. Grace thinks it sounded like lots of fun." She trotted off, leaving Jack to relate the meeting with General Simons and worry about the next time Grace came across a big tree.