Thank you guys for being so patient and understanding with the slow updates *ahem*. Specially to the folks below who took the time to tell me their thoughts and ideas...
fnfnztri: Teal'c is around, but is not a significant character in this fic, unfortunately. But it's only partially written, so that may change!
PatriciaS: I definitely hope I can juggle both stories too. My priority at the moment is to finish PD. I kinda like the Sam in that story better than this 'Season 7/8 Canon!Sam' I think it shows? LOL
Tigerlillyth: I'm not brave enough to kill the Doc. Which begs the question, WHY DID TPTB DO IT?!
Kahuna: As always, you've read my mind. Maybe you should take up writing? Maybe you already have! ;-)
Guest: Thanks for all your ideas. I never thought of a BB game. That might get interesting. As for Sam's reaction, well you'll just have to wait and see… hehe.
Cyced: I love Daniel. I love his friendship with Jack. I really think their connection is even deeper than that between S/J. A brother from another mother… He's the only one who could get away with what he does with Jack. Sam's definitely gonna be in Angst mode for foreseeable future *veg*
erinn80: Jack is gonna be a rock for his little Girl. He won't make the same mistakes from the past. Perhaps different mistakes, but not the same ones. Unfortunately, Pete is in the picture, and Sam hurt Jack very deeply. That's not something he'll easily forgive or forget. Yes, Cassie will have to be told!
vcm: Sam has no leg to stand on. It's not her kid as far as Jack is concerned.
dpdp: Here you go!
I deeply apologize in advance for the following shmaltze and somewhat short chapter. There will be more angst coming, I promise!
Chapter 8: Graceful Entrance
Their first visit was to the infirmary to get Grace checked out. While waiting for Dr Brightman, Jack went through Grace's medical records with Janet.
As the Doc had said, there wasn't much to be concerned about.
Daniel went through the list of things they needed to get for Grace and Jack decided not to recall SG-1. It didn't really matter when he told the rest of the team, but the comfort of his daughter mattered quite a lot.
His house wasn't exactly suited for a child and Jack needed to make big changes in his life style in just a few hours. With Daniel's help, they needed to do the groceries to get more than just beer in his fridge.
Janet listed a few things that Grace liked and he couldn't thank the woman enough for her thoughtfulness.
Aside from clothing and a few books and toys, Grace had nothing else. Jack was determined to make her as comfortable and at home as possible, that meant he needed to sort out her room fast.
Again, Janet listed the things that Grace had in her room and what Samantha had allowed her to play with. Jack chuckled at the list, seeing a computer on the list of things. She was definitely her mother's daughter.
Dr Brightman did some tests and had to draw some blood. Grace had made a scrunched up face when the needle had pierced her skin, but hadn't cried. She then silently whispered to Jack, "I'm gonna be a doctor like Auntie Janet when I'm a big girl."
All the adults laughed quietly at the very serious expression that only a four year old could muster.
They were told that the results should come through in a couple of hours, so Daniel decided that they probably should get something to eat at the commissary and discuss what to do next.
Jack had a fairly good idea what he wanted to do and that involved heading over to his house and converting his spare bedroom into Grace's room. Then a massive shopping trip that would make any girl envious. He had four years to make up for after all.
Charlie and Janet had to stay on the base until they could sort out a cover story as to why the two of them were back from the dead. Cassie would need to be told.
They had some sandwiches and Jack discovered that Grace was quite partial to chocolate cake. He'd managed to get a few more giggles from her as he pretended to steal some of her desert.
Once lunch was done, The Kawalskys retired to the guest quarters and the three of them headed over to Daniel's office. Like her father, Grace touched everything, but Uncle Daniel was so charmed by her that he didn't even flinch when she dropped one of his rocks.
Jack left them briefly to tell Walter that he was going to be taking a few days off and to recall Colonel Reynolds from Petersen who was doing some lectures on the X-302s.
Once Brightman gave them the all clear Daniel closed off his office and took Grace to find Jack.
They found him in the control room typing something into one of the dialing computers.
"Doc says we can take Grace home, Jack." He frowned at the General's rapid typing. "Whatcha doing?"
"Just checking an error in the dialing code's diagnostic program. It's all good. Let's go."
The three of them managed to haul all off Grace's stuff into Jack's truck and first stop before heading home was to do some groceries. Grace had quite an appetite according to Janet and Daniel surmised that she would be hungry again by the time they got to Jack's house.
"So, Gracie, what sort of stuff do you like to eat?" Daniel asked from the passenger side of truck.
Grace was sitting on the middle of the bench seat of Jack's truck where they were surprised to learn, had a pull down booster seat. Daniel glanced down beside him and saw her thinking hard about it before raising her right hand.
He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing. "Um... Grace?"
With his permission to speak, the little girl started listing off her preferred foods. "Hot dogs with lotsa ketchup. S'ghetti with meatballs. Lettuce with salad sauce. Pizza!"
Daniel saw Jack's face break into a grin. Gracie definitely had the O'Neill appetite.
They got all of the things that were on Janet's list of 'essentials' and most of the things that Grace liked to eat. Jack decided he needed a bigger fridge and put it on his mental list of things to order.
Furniture and appliances shopping wasn't his favorite thing to do, so he figured it could wait a few days. The only things they really needed quickly were things for Gracie's room and some more toys.
By the middle of the next day, most of the shyness had gone from Grace and she was bossing around her father and honorary uncle to no end. They'd gone shopping again that morning, this time at the mall, and Grace had been thoroughly spoilt.
Daniel was dragging around a large bag with a video game console that Jack had insisted they buy for Gracie. Daniel had been doubtful, so he'd scrutinized the specs in store, and found that it was suitable from three years old and up, as evidence when he'd tried the game in the store with Gracie, and the girl had beaten him at a racing game.
"Come on, Danny. We're off to the fruit store!"
Daniel gave him a puzzled look. "What?"
Jack shook his head. "Never mind. You'll see what I mean."
Grace giggled at her father's joke. "Daddy! It's not a fruity store, it's a 'puter store!"
"I stand corrected, Princess Grace."
Daniel also insisted on adding to the books that Grace brought from her old home, and promised to read them to her whenever he was around to put her to bed.
The moment they got home, Grace was in a state of frenzy and wanted to play with her toys all at once. Jack realizing that he had to be a parent, decided that he had to set some boundaries early on.
"Sorry Gracie C, but we gotta make some lunch. How about you pick one toy that you really want to play with and open that one up first. Then you help your old man with the sandwiches."
Jack was expecting some protests, but was surprised when Gracie just said, "Okie dokie, Daddy."
She picked up a box with a doll inside labeled 'Ariel' and followed him into the kitchen.
"Hey, Jack."
"What's up, Daniel?"
Daniel had been on his cell phone and Jack figured he was probably talking to someone at the base.
"I asked Nyan to call me when SG-1 came through. I assumed you asked Walter the same thing?"
"Nope," Jack replied. He was stacking up the bread that Gracie was busy buttering for their sandwiches. "I told Walter not to call unless it was an absolute emergency. I'm on vacation for a few days. Reynolds is in charge."
Daniel leaned back on the kitchen counter and crossed his arms in front of him. "You have to tell her personally, Jack. She's not gonna take it well if she hears about it from anyone else."
"Daniel, I doubt she's going to take this well no matter how she finds out." Jack was careful not to say anything around Grace. Charlie and Janet had tried to explain as much as possible about alternate universes, but despite Grace being more than intelligent, she was still four years old and the concept of another woman who was in every way like her mother not really being her mother would confuse anyone.
Jack was determined to take things slow and introduce Carter once Grace was a lot more settled in her new environment. He needed time to explain how things were in their world, and which things were different and which were the same.
He definitely wasn't looking forward to explaining Carter's imminent marriage to the cop. He couldn't really understand it himself. He figured he might get Carter to explain that one.
"Then what do you want to tell them in the mean time? It's not gonna take long for the news to spread. Walter's not exactly discreet."
Jack shrugged. "You tell them."
Daniel looked incredulous. "Excuse me? I'm going to tell them?"
"Yep. You've led briefings before. I'm sure everyone can understand why I can't be there at the moment. Reynolds already knows, so he's one less person you have to explain things to."
"Jack! This really should be coming from you."
"Sorry, Daniel. They either have to wait for me to come back to work or you tell them today at the debrief. Me and Gracie C here have a picnic planned outside."
Grace smiled at the prospect of an impromptu picnic. She and her mom used to have picnics when she wasn't busy at her lab. "Can my dollies come to the picnic too?"
"You can invite as many dolls as you like, baby. Why don't you grab the folded red checkered tablecloth on the dining table and lay it out on the table out back."
Gracie hopped down the stool she was standing on and ran out into the dining room.
With Grace out of the kitchen, Jack put down the knife he was using to cut the finished sandwiches into small triangles and faced Daniel.
"Gracie is my main concern right now. This is not the first time weird shit like this has happened. Carter will just have to deal until I can talk to her. Just remind her that Gracie has just lost her mother and that things are a bit confusing for her right now. I need time to explain some very complicated things to a four year old in a way that she'll understand."
Daniel had to concede that Jack was entirely right. He didn't know what Charlie and Janet or even Samantha had explained to the little girl, but it couldn't have been easy. Grace seemed to be accepting Jack as her father - something Daniel attributed to her age - kids that young tended to adapt to new things better than their older counterparts.
Sam on the other hand was a different kettle of fish. Grace would see the face of her dead mother and they had no idea what it would do to her. Jack couldn't risk traumatizing the little girl and with Sam getting married, Jack also couldn't risk getting Grace attached to Sam; For Grace to see her as her mother then be brutally pulled away as Sam started a new life without them...
There were so many complications. So many ways for Grace to get hurt. Jack had realized this early on and was making sure that it didn't happen. The man was an amazing father and Daniel couldn't help but feel heartbreak for his best friend for all the pain Jack had gone through in the past, as well as the present.
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