Summery: A routine trip off-world has long-lasting effects for SG-1. Meanwhile, Jack has terrestrial trouble too, when his half-sister is recruited to the SGC and his worlds threaten to collide and all his secrets are in danger of being exposed.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Stargate SG-1" the series. I believe it is owned by MGM. No copyright infringement is intended. No disrespect is intended. I am merely intrigued by the possibilities.
A Matter of Degrees
by: Visions2share a.k.a. Vi
Jack let himself into his dark house, dropping his keys on the table by the door, just in time to hear his answering machine's automated voice announce, "message saved." Odd – he normally received very few phone calls. And it was unlikely to be his team – they'd just parted ways after dinner at O'Malley's – although Carter hadn't been able to make it. If one of them had called so soon – something was wrong.
Jack had kicked off his shoes in the garage like always, so was careful not to slip as he jogged across the hardwood floors of his dining room and kitchen in his sock feet. The answering machine lived in the little laundry room off the kitchen breakfast nook – so as not to take up valuable countertop real estate. He was already pressing the play button as he skidded to a stop.
"Jack, it's Susan, are you there?" a pause. "Guess not. Henry and I need to talk to you. Don't worry, the girls are okay – but we do need a big favor. Please call us back, stat."
Since she'd said the kids were okay, Jack took the time to set some water to boil and make a cup of tea for himself to choke down while on the phone.
With his green tea in the green mug he'd bought specifically so as not to contaminate his others, Jack settled in at his breakfast table to return his sister's call.
"Mallory residence."
"Hey, Suz – it's Jack."
"Oh hey – that was fast – were you screening your calls?"
"No, I just got home from dinner out with friends. Are your girls still up?"
"No. We put them down before I called. Henry and I wanted to talk to you without little ears."
"Oh, okay – so what do you need?"
"Let me ask Henry to pick up the extension," a muffled voice was followed by clicking.
"Evening, Jack."
"Hey, Henry, how's it goin'?"
"Things are definitely interesting here, Jack."
"So, I gather … what's up?"
"I've accepted a new job." Jack hoped it was the President's offer she'd accepted, or he saw an awkward conversation, or six, in his future. "I was personally recruited by the President!"
Now, how dumb should he play this? "Of the university?"
"No, silly, of the USA! Can you even imagine?"
Of course, he could – he'd been recruited by several for dozens of missions over the years – but Susan had no way of knowing that.
"Wow! Cool!" was that the appropriate level of surprise and awe? It was a very hard thing for him to judge.
"Isn't it?! My wife is a rock star!"
"Sure – I hear Rhodes is constantly signing new artists to his record label." Was it weird Jack could feel their eyes roll in tandem?
"Jack! Come on!" funny how similar a younger sister could sound to a frustrated archeologist he knew.
"No – Suz – it is cool. Really. What's the new job?" Don't say anything that's classified – hopefully she hadn't been read in far enough for Jack to worry about that yet.
"My research study is being added to ongoing research already underway by the military. No. I don't know yet which branch – but it is based out of the Air Force Academy Hospital in Colorado Springs."
"Where you live, Jack." Really? Like Jack didn't know where the Academy was? Or he didn't know where he lived?
"Really, Henry? Ya don't say?"
"Sorry, Jack," at least Henry sounded like he realized it was a stupid thing to say.
"I need a favor. … A big one," ah, down to the meat of it.
"Which would be…?"
"I start in a week – or well, my 'intake interview', whatever that is, is a week from tomorrow in Colorado Springs. Henry and the girls are going to follow within a week or so."
"Okay?"
"Jack, we are going to have to sell the house here and buy one there," Henry put in, "and we're not sure how quickly we can get that done."
"We've had to refinance a couple of times since I started this research two years ago – and the extra mortgage and everything make it … complex."
"Even if we get lucky and this place sells right away, we might not have the capital for a down payment immediately."
Was it a loan they were after as the big favor? Jack wanted to help, but knew it would be better to let them ask. Offering – especially if his guess was wrong – might be taken the wrong way.
"Well," Jack put in, knowing he needed to say something, "the cost of living is much lower here than in Chicago – that should work in your favor."
"Really? I hadn't thought of that." Susan was such a typical scientist – so busy fussing over the details she couldn't see the nose on her own face.
"That will likely help a lot," Henry agreed, "but won't eliminate the issue entirely."
"Right," Susan responded, "Jack, we intend to buy a place there as quickly as we can manage. But – and here comes me begging for a favor, could we stay with you until we do?"
Oh, so … not money.
"It would be just me the first week or two, but then it would be all four of us."
"We were thinking that we could buy groceries and I could keep the house tidy – or do some home improvement projects for you while the girls are in school."
"And Henry is getting to be a really good cook!"
"Yes! I could make sure dinner was on the table when you both got in."
They were rambling – talking over each other – like if they filled all the spaces, he wouldn't have room to say 'no'.
"I think you'd probably still need to rent some storage, or one of those new-fangled pod things – there is no room to store your furniture and stuff here."
"We're thinking we will sell a LOT of stuff before; so the move itself doesn't cost an arm and a leg."
"We may end up having indoor picnics and relaxing on beanbag chairs for the first few months in the new place – but we'll manage."
"Okay, as long as you're aware, I'm sorry, but I don't want my garage turned into a moving depot."
"No. No. Of course not," Henry reassured, "no boxes. Just a couple of suitcases each. Clothes and some personal items – cause the girls will need their stuffed animals and some toys."
"Of course they will. Are they excited about moving?"
"We haven't told them yet. We wanted to have a better idea of our plans – and where we'd be staying before getting their hopes up."
"Well, there is space enough they could each have their own room here – but since it is an unfamiliar place, and they're used to sharing, perhaps you'd rather keep them together?"
"Oh yes, they can certainly share – we don't want to take up too much of your space."
"And they are likely to continue sharing in whatever new house we get – so it'll be better to keep them in the habit."
"Is Amy sleeping in a toddler bed still?"
"No. We switched her to a twin a few months back when she turned four."
"Okay – good. One of the guest rooms is already set up with a couple of twin beds, so they can use that room."
"Thank you, Jack! I know this is a huge imposition and I'm very grateful you are willing to help us out like this."
Jack was tempted to tease and say that the kids were welcome but the adults would have to camp in the yard but restrained himself.
"When should I expect you, Susan?"
"I'm going to drive – so we can get both cars there. I'll leave on Saturday. We figure I can do it in two long days, so look for me late Sunday night or early Monday morning."
"Sunday will be fine but if you're not going to make it until Monday I'll need you to call so, one, I don't worry, and, two, I can make arrangements to be here to let you in. Okay?"
"Absolutely!"
Jack continued to chat with Susan and Henry for only a couple more minutes before they said their goodbyes. When Jack hung up, he felt like he had a to-do list a million miles long. First thing on the list? Get back into the habit of locking his doors all the time.
Things were going to be different with children in the house – but they'd be easier than the extra adults. From now until Susan, Henry, Leah, and Amy moved into a new place of their own life was going to be complicated for Jack. So, what else was new? Even the regular ordinary, non-combat, non-Stargate, non-alien parts of his life seemingly had to be complicated. Nothing was ever simple. The only easy day was so long ago he'd forgotten it entirely. And now, the next few weeks, or, maybe, months, weren't just going to be hard – they were going to be a bitch-and-a-half.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! ~ Vi