Happy Wednesday, shippers! Got your daily dose of Jack and Sam for you. Enjoy!

Pretty pretty pretty please review!

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Jack O'Neill was in a bad mood. This was hardly an uncommon occurrence, but he had been even more irritable than usual since he'd left General Hammond's office earlier that morning, when the General had explained to him the President's thoughts on Jade.

The President had agreed that the girl's claims should be taken seriously, and that they should attempt to contact the Asgard to verify her story. He also felt that, while Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter had obviously done nothing to merit any kind of disciplinary action, SG-1's next mission should be postponed for the time being, at least until General Hammond was satisfied that they were still able to work together without any…issues.

Which, apparently, he wasn't.

Jack hated being idle, and it drove him crazy to sit around and wait. Even more infuriating was the thought that the General didn't trust him and Carter to be professionals, after everything they'd been through. Jack had been a bit too outspoken with Hammond about his opinion on being taken off duty, and the General had been less patient than usual. It seemed they were all a bit on edge.

The worst part to Jack was that the President was right. Something about Jade's presence had turned him upside down, and things between him and Carter were even more awkward than ever. Just when he thought they'd reached a level of understanding, some kind of emotional truce, everything was shot to hell with the knowledge that they were supposed to be man and wife one day. It wasn't that he minded the idea, but he couldn't predict how it would affect his judgment, or hers. If only things had been left alone, they could have continued on the way they were, one day finding their way and having Jade on their own…without being shoved headfirst into this mess. He found the entire situation incredibly unfair.

Carter and Jade hadn't emerged from the gym for hours, and Jack was oddly grateful. At least they were keeping each other occupied, and he could have his space. He found his way into the mess hall, sitting down alone with a cup of pudding and giving surly looks to anyone who dared to glance his way.

Things were going to get sticky, he knew. Even if the mission with the Asgard went exactly to plan, it wouldn't change things for him and Sam.

Even worse, maybe it would.

The combination of all his fear and anger and frustration was enough to make him want to punch something, and he stared hard at the door, hoping the next person who walked through would be willing to pick a fight.

Unfortunately for him, it was Jade who stepped through the door, arm-in-arm with Carter and laughing loudly, wiping her eyes as they made their way to Jack's table. He could see that they had both been crying, and he rose to leave, most definitely not in the mood for the cloud of female emotions that settled over the table.

"Oh, don't go, Dad," Jade pleaded with a smile. "We were coming to find you."

Great.

He slowly slid back into his chair, groaning audibly.

"Is something wrong, sir?" Sam asked with concern. Jack gave her an irritated look.

"Yes, Carter, something is wrong. Something is clearly wrong. This is wrong." He pointed his finger angrily at the girl across the table, and Sam blinked in surprise.

"It's not her fault, sir. She didn't ask for-"

"No!" Jack cut her off sharply. "We didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for this!" He knew he was being selfish, but he didn't care. He almost hoped that Sam would lash out, strike back and fuel his temper, but she seemed more concerned with the girl next to her, who leaned back in her seat and frowned.

"Calm down, Dad. You don't have to yell."

"Jack," he hissed at her. "My name is Jack! Enough with this 'Dad' crap. I am not your father, got it?"

Jade jumped up, her chair almost toppling over as she stood. There was a familiar look of fury in her eyes, and Jack wondered if maybe he'd pushed the wrong button.

"Look, I'm sorry this is awkward for you, I really am, but as weird as it is for you, I guarantee it's ten times worse for me." She spat out the words, clenching her fists at her sides. "Do you think I want to be here? My mother, my father, my friends…" Her voice broke, and her next words came out in something close to a sob. "I will never see them again, ever. I am stuck in this place, with these ghosts of my parents, who don't even love each other, much less me." She glared down at Jack, who was staring back at her and wishing that he'd kept his mouth shut. "Try to put yourself in my shoes, Jack." The word came out sounding bitter, and angry tears spilled down her cheeks. "And if you can't do that, then you're right." She shoved the chair back against the table and turned to leave. "You're not my father."

Carter sat in silence as the girl stormed out of the room, raising her eyes to Jack cautiously. He sighed and felt the anger drain out of him.

"Bit dramatic, don't you think?"

She turned her head sideways at him. "Sir…"

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, standing and pushing his chair back under the table. "I'll go talk to her."

He stepped out into the corridor, wandering down it until he spotted Jade sitting down at the far end, her knees up to her chin and her back against the wall. He silently slid down to sit beside her, resting his elbows on his bent knees. Jade sniffed loudly, wiping her eyes, and she turned to Jack, looking ashamed.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know what got into me."

Laughing quietly, Jack draped an arm over her shoulders, and she leaned against him with a sigh.

"Don't worry about it," he said warmly. "I had it coming."

Jade shook her head from her place against his chest.

"I should have never said that about you not loving Mom. I know it's not true."

Jack flinched and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Listen, Jade-"

"It's okay," she interrupted. "I wouldn't say it to anybody but you." She sighed again and pulled away from him, wrapping her arms around her knees. Jack smiled at seeing her in the position he'd seen Carter in so many times, and he propped his head up with one hand, waiting for her to continue.

"My dad used to tell me stories," she said quietly, a hint of sorrow in her voice. "Stories about his glory days, saving the world with SG-1…Mom always had to fill in the parts where he was the hero. He didn't like to brag on himself, really." She leaned her head against the wall, her eyes getting a far off look as she continued. "He loved telling me about his adventures…the close shaves and near misses, all the different people they met, the planets they visited…I could tell he really loved being a part of SG-1." Jack felt oddly uneasy at the way she suddenly referred to her father as someone separate from him. He tried not to frown as Jade stopped and turned to look up at him, smiling slightly. "But he also told me how hard it was, seeing her day after day, having her there all the time, but never really having her in his life." Jack felt a sting at hearing the words. They hit too close to home, and she could tell.

"Sorry, I just wanted you to know that I get it."

Jack picked at the seam on his pants, not looking up as he spoke.

"Was she happy?"

"Mom?" Jade asked. Jack nodded, and the girl smiled brightly.

"Oh, yeah. Very. You know, when she would get time off from work, she and Dad would go on these trips, just the two of them. They'd go off-world and visit old friends. Teal'c or Daniel or…well, people you haven't met yet." She closed her eyes, returning to another time in her mind. "They'd sit at the kitchen table sometimes, sharing a beer and just talking. They never ran out of things to talk about, after all those years…"

Trailing off, Jade opened her eyes and looked up at Jack.

"They were both happy."

He nodded, but said nothing. After a few moments of silence, Jade stood and brushed off the seat of her pants. She reached a hand down to help Jack up off the floor, but he just laughed.

"I'm not that old yet."

Jade blushed and pulled her hand back, and he stood up easily on his own.

"Sorry, Jack," she mumbled.

As they walked slowly back to the mess hall, Jack draped his arm back around the girl's shoulders, and he glanced down to give her a sideways grin.

"You know what? I think I'd rather you call me 'Dad' after all."