I was rereading Polgara's story "Undertow" on TTH (all her stories are worth reading twice) and came up with a Jack as Buffy's father story. Her story was a Jack/Buffy story, which always makes me slightly uncomfortable even if I am enjoying the story because it is just my least favorite pairing because I just don't see them that way. However, I wanted to credit that story with inspiring me with this tale. It will be VERY different from any story I've written. In it, I will kill off a major Scooby character at some point as to deviate from canon, so prepare yourselves. I am starting it in Season 1 of Buffy, something that I've never done. Just having Jack as Buffy's father will make her slightly different as she will have been raised as an Air Force kid.

Due to the way I will be changing canon events you will see changes in the characters, but they will make sense with the events the characters have experienced. Buffy will not have been raised by Hank Summers, but Jack until Charlie's death, which I have happen at age 12 with him. For a bit, I will branch the events going back and forth between Sunnydale and SGC.

SG-1 will be season 4 as Buffy was 11 when Charlie died.

If you are reading my other stories and are annoyed that I posted a new story because you are waiting for updates on other stories. This story has about 7 chapters already written, and I had been posting it other places and decided now that the site is working to post here.

Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate or any of its characters. Nor do I own BTVS or any of its characters. Only this story is entirely mine.

Chapter 1: The Past

Jack O'Neill liked to think that he was a family man first and then an officer second. He was a proud father of two perfect children. First, Charlie, his son and firstborn, who would make a fine officer someday. Then there was the light of his life, his darling daughter Buffy, who would rule the world. His wife Joyce was the ideal military wife because she had her own career as a professor of art history. Once the kids were in school full time, she went back and got her graduate degree, so that she could pursue a professorship. She didn't need a tenure professorship since she knew that he would be transferred frequently, so she stuck to adjunct jobs, which allowed her to stay involved in the kids' school life. It made her very happy, which kept their marriage strong after fifteen years.

Buffy rushed to hug him when he came home. "Dad, guess what? My coach says that I can try out for the junior Olympics!" she shared.

"Really?" he asked. "That's amazing! I'm so proud of you!" His eleven-year-old daughter was an incredible athlete while his son Charlie was only average, which was perfectly fine with Jack. He had been taking him to the shooting range now that he was twelve, showing him how to shoot, and he was a natural.

"He said that I have to train for a full year before I can try out," she said. "I think I am good enough now. What do you think?" she asked. She had wanted to also pursue figure skating, but Jack had told her to focus on one sport and be exceptional in it. Buffy had chosen gymnastics over figure skating.

"Remember, the motto, 'Excellence in all we do,'" he told her.

"And 'Aim high'," she replied. "I know, Dad. "I'm pretty excellent already."

"That you are, kiddo. That you are," he said, hugging her again. Buffy was the perfect blend of both her parents. She had the eye and excellent taste of her mother but approached life the way that he did. He couldn't ask for a better daughter. Jack dreaded the day that she started dating.

Charlie came into the room and greeted his dad, who gave him a high five and asked him about his day. "Nothing special," he said.

Buffy bragged about her news, and Charlie seemed unimpressed, which annoyed Buffy.

"You must suck if you need a whole year to get ready just to tryout," he teased.

"Whatever. You're just jealous 'cause you can't do a backflip," Buffy scoffed.

"No guy can do that. Dad can't," he argued.

"No, I can't, and my knees would never forgive me if I tried," Jack said, grinning. "There are plenty of guys, though, that do gymnastics. They are incredible athletes. Different strokes for different folks. It's okay that you guys aren't into the same things, but you should be proud of your sister's accomplishments as her greatness reflects on the family just like yours will."

"Like Charlie will ever be great at anything," Buffy said with a snicker.

Charlie shoved her, and she shoved him back. Then he started tickling her, and she cried for help.

"Hey, you were really rude to your brother," Jack said. "I'm not helping you."

"Okay, I'm sorry!" she cried. "You're the best brother ever, Charlie. You know that's the only thing you have to be great at anyway."

Charlie stopped tickling her, looking proud at both her words and winning the battle.

Jack laughed, pleased at his kids. They were the best thing he had ever done.

God, he loved them.

Twenty-nine hours later, his entire world was destroyed.

He was with Buffy at practice while Joyce was at her book club. Charlie had not only broken the rule about having a friend over when no parent was home, but he had gotten into Jack's gun safe. They had arrived moments too late. The gunshot was heard as he walked into the house, laughing at something Buffy said.

"Go to the kitchen and call 9-1-1 and tell them you heard gunshots in your house. Tell them to send an ambulance and the police. Then run to the neighbor's until I come get you," he said. "Go!" She immediately moved to obey, and he was relieved that she was so well trained.

Later, Jack was so grateful he had made Buffy leave. He didn't want her to bear the image he would carry the rest of his life. It was bad enough that Charlie's buddy Luke would carry it with him.

"He wanted to show me your gun. I didn't believe him that he knew how to use it," Luke said, his eyes filled with tears. "It went off when he was about to hand it to me. I'm sorry!"

Jack looked at his son on the ground in his office, the blood pouring out of his chest, and he was frozen for a split second. This was his worst nightmare; it had to be a nightmare. It couldn't possibly be his baby boy bleeding out on his floor with his handgun there next to him, his best friend crying and kneeling next to him.

"What do I do?" Luke wailed.

Jack looked. "Take off your shirt," he ordered.

Luke did so and gave it to Jack, who used it to press against Charlie's stomach.

"I'm sorry, Dad," Charlie said.

"It's okay, Charlie. I'm not mad. I'm here," Jack said. "You're going to be okay."

"Buffy's never going to let me live this down," Charlie said with a smile. Then he passed out.

Those were the last words he ever spoke.

When Buffy saw him being wheeled out on the stretcher, covered in blood, and Jack covered in his blood, she became hysterical. Jack looked at his neighbor. "Can you call Joyce? I have to go with Charlie."

"I will, Jack," his neighbor, Mrs. White said, her eyes already wet with tears as she realized how bad it was. She put her arm around Luke, who was crying, too.

The rest of the next few hours were a blur for Jack. Joyce made it to the hospital while Charlie was in surgery, and she made him go wash off. She had picked up some of his clothes from dry cleaning in the car, so he changed even though he didn't want to.

"I can't have you sitting next to me covered in our son's blood!" she yelled. Then she started sobbing, and he hugged her a long moment before giving in to her wishes.

When the doctor came to speak to him, Joyce was so hopeful, but Jack knew. The doctor was too somber.

"No!" Joyce wailed. "I need to see my son!" She refused to believe it until she saw him. He was in the operating room. There was blood still, but he was at least covered up.

"He's already cold," Jack said as he grabbed his son's hand.

Joyce stared at her son's body in disbelief, unable to comprehend her new reality. Joyce loved both her children equally, but Charlie was her firstborn, her baby. Jack was deployed a lot, and he had always been her little man of the house, taking such pride in that.

"I kept them safe for you, Daddy!" he would say each time Jack returned from deployment.

"This can't be happening," Joyce said, looking down at her too still son. Although he wasn't the restless soul his sister was, he still was a normal boy, full of fun and energy.

"I know," Jack said. "It's my worst nightmare. He told me he was sorry, and I told him he would be okay. I lied to him. The last words I said to my son were a lie."

Joyce looked at him. "He spoke to you? He was conscious?" she asked. While they were waiting for the surgery, she'd been too frozen in fear to ask questions. Jack had simply told her about Luke and what Luke had said to Jack, and what Jack did to stop the bleeding until the ambulance arrived.

Jack nodded. "His last words were 'Buffy's never going to let me live this down,'" he shared. The two siblings had always been very close since they were just a year apart in age.

That was too much for Joyce as it was so Charlie, and she collapsed against her husband, her heart destroyed.

Jack didn't think things could get any worse, but then he forgot that he had to pick up his daughter and tell her that her brother was dead.

Things got worse.

Buffy was inconsolable. For twenty-four hours, she refused to eat or drink. Finally, Jack had to threaten her to get her to take nutrients, and she ate some eggs and drank some orange juice.

The morning of the funeral, however, the tears were all dried up, and she was like a different person to Jack.

"Did he say anything?" she asked her father.

Jack shared his final moments with Buffy, and he was surprised that they didn't bring fresh tears to her eyes. Instead, her hands curled into fists, and anger appeared on her face.

"You did this," she accused. "Charlie is dead because of you. The gun was yours. You taught him how to shoot. You made him think he could get out the gun and show off."

"Buffy, this is not your father's fault!" Joyce exclaimed. "You will not say such things. It was an ugly accident. Your father kept his gun locked up. He had no idea Jack knew where the key was hidden."

"Of course, he did. Even I know where Dad hides the key," she said. "It's under his Bart Simpson figurine."

"He was twelve not five," Joyce said. "Old enough to know better. Not only did he know he shouldn't touch the gun, he was taught to not remove the gun safety, especially when passing it around. Even I know that. He did so, and then didn't put it back on. It was a stupid mistake. One he paid for. Blaming your father in no way helps anyone."

"He killed Charlie, and I don't want to look at him anymore," Buffy said, glaring at Jack with rage.

Jack felt every word like a blow to the gut. Although he loved his wife for taking up for him and not echoing their daughter's sentiment, he agreed with Buffy.

This was his fault. His son was dead, and he would never forgive himself.

*****Six Months Later*****

It was him and not Joyce who filed for divorce. He couldn't bear to look at Buffy anymore and see the accusation in her eyes, and he wanted to walk away. He hated himself more every day. Only the thought of leaving her permanently and the damage it would do to her kept him from eating his service revolver. He stared at it every morning in contemplation.

"This isn't what I want," Joyce said flatly the day he told her filed. "I love you, Jack. I love our life. We need to get through this together. Buffy is young. She will get past this."

"She needs to be away from me to do so," he said. "You both do. Move on. Find another man. Give her a stepfather or something. Build a life away from the military and reminders of Charlie. Move to a new state. Anything to help Buffy. She's going to be a teenager, and if she's going to recover, you have to give her a clean slate."

"So you're just going to abandon your daughter? Pretend we don't exist?" Joyce asked him in dismay.

"Of course, I'm not going to pretend you guys don't exist. I'll call her every Sunday that I'm not on a mission of some kind. I'll email her every week," he said. "It'll be easier this way. Maybe by next Christmas, she'll be ready to see me or on her birthday at least."

Joyce cried in his arms, and he resisted his great desire to make love to her one last time. She deserved better than him. They both did.

They sold the house, and Buffy was relieved.

She thanked him.

"I'm sorry, Buffy," he told her, begging with his eyes for her forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, too," she said, looking sad. At least the anger was gone from her face for once. "I don't hate you."

Jack felt something inside of him finally unclench, and he held out his arms. When she hugged him, he hoped things would finally be okay.

He joined the Stargate program, however, and got caught up in aliens and a literal fight to save the world and missed too many calls. His emails were sporadic at best.

When he was captured the day before her thirteenth birthday, Joyce was already remarried to a nice man named Hank. Hank really doted on Buffy, and Jack, naturally, hated the guy. They were located in Los Angeles by this time, so it wasn't as easy for Jack to see his daughter, but he did manage a few visits.

The stony silence, though, of his daughter was hard to take. She no longer looked at him in accusation or anger. It was the indifference that he couldn't stand.

He missed her Junior Olympics debut, but Hank was there. It was caught on the cable channels, and his new teammate, Dr. Carter recorded it for him. When he called Buffy to congratulate her, she didn't even yell at him for missing it.

"It's okay, Jack," she said. "I know what you do is important. Hank was there, and so was Mom. I like to think Charlie was watching me. I felt like he was there smirking when I missed my first vault attempt."

"Your second one was flawless," he said. He no longer believed in God, so he didn't address her comment about Charlie.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"One of my new teammates recorded it for me. She's smart with the technology," he told her. "I watched every minute of it, sweetheart. If I could've been there, I would have."

"Sure," she said. "Well, I have to go. Hank is taking me shopping to buy some new shoes for the celebration dinner. All the medalists are getting honored at this banquet tomorrow."

"That's wonderful, sweetheart. I'm very proud of you. I love you," Jack said.

"Okay," she said. "Bye."

Jack couldn't believe it. She called him Jack and didn't seem to believe he loved her anymore.

He was losing his daughter.

His team encouraged him to go see, so he did. She was fourteen now and looked so beautiful when he picked her up. So did his mother.

"Hello, Jack," Joyce said, smiling at him.

Jack's heart sped up like it always did when he was near her, and he cursed himself for the fool he was for letting her go.

"Hi," he said. "Is Buffy ready?"

"She is," Joyce said. "How's work in Colorado?"

"Great. I really love my team. Made some great new friends," he said.

"That's good," she said.

"Are you still teaching?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No. Hank likes me to do charity work, which is nice," she said.

"You gave up your career for some guy?" Jack asked in surprise.

"He's not some guy. He's my husband," she said with a glare. "He's amazing with Buffy. I did what you wanted. Found a good stepdad for your daughter. She's finally happy again. Not that you're around to notice." Then she turned and walked away as Buffy appeared.

Buffy, at least, smiled at her dad. "Hey, Jack," she said.

"It's Dad, not Jack," he corrected.

She shrugged. "Dads see their kids more than once or twice a year," she said pointedly.

"You better not be calling your stepdad Dad," he told her.

"I call him Hank," she replied. "Where are we going?"

"Any place you want," he said.

Her eyes lit up, and he knew he was going to regret saying that.

The three hundred dollars it cost him for dinner was worth every penny since she smiled at him for the first time in forever.

Maybe he hadn't lost her after all.

Then he was stuck on Endora for a hundred days, and the Air Force officially listed him as missing in action. Buffy was heartbroken all over again.

When he returned, she insisted that he retire from the military.

"You've served your twenty, Dad," she told him. "I already lost my brother. I shouldn't have to lose my father, too, before I'm even eighteen."

Her words were a knife to his heart, but he could not give her what he wanted even if he hated himself for it.

Jack knew that there was no way he could abandon his work at the SGC, and there was no way he could make her understand because he couldn't read her into the work he was doing.

"Honey, my work is important. It's what I do. It's who I am," he said.

"You're my father. You could move to California and be my dad," she said, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"Colorado Springs has a great gymnastics program at the local high school. You could live with me. You're old enough to stay overnight by yourself a night or two," he said. "You can stay on base, too."

"You want me to live with you?" she said. "I'm not going to leave Mom and Hank."

"Well, then don't ask me to give up my career if you won't even consider spending more time with me," he said flatly. "You could spend the summer at least."

"I'll think about it," she said.

A month later, she came out and saw his cabin. They went shopping and decorated her room. It was much smaller than her room in California, but she really didn't mind. Sometimes, Buffy was tired of playing the spoiled princess Hank wanted her to be. Deep inside she was still Buffy O'Neill, daughter of an Air Force colonel who was taught that service was much more important than self.

He introduced her to his team at a barbeque, and Teal'c tried to get her to watch Star Wars.

"Have you ever seen Top Gun?" Buffy asked him.

"I have not," Teal'c replied.

"Well, Mr. T (Jack didn't want to lie to his daughter, so he introduced him to her as Mr. T), I promise that you will love it," Buffy said, grabbing it.

"It is a great movie," Sam agreed.

"I'm just sick of Star Wars," Daniel said.

"Hey, he's loyal to what he loves. That's why he's my favorite," Jack said, smiling at Teal'c.

His friends laughed as they sat back to enjoy the film. No surprise that Teal'c enjoyed the movie.

"It was a wonderful film, although I wish Goose had not died. It seemed senseless," he said. "He deserved a warrior's death as he was a loyal friend to Maverick."

"Death is often senseless, T," Jack said.

"That's very true," Buffy added. "My brother died playing with Dad's gun when he knew he shouldn't have, and he was trained on how to handle guns. It still accidentally went off."

Why did she bring up Charlie? Now the fun evening felt way too serious, and she wanted to go to her room. Everyone was giving her sympathetic looks. Except for Mr. T. He just nodded. The guy with glasses looked like he wanted to cry with her. What a bleeding heart that guy obviously was. How was he a member of a military team?

"That is very true. You are very wise for one so young," Mr. T. observed.

He was strange, but Buffy kind of liked him. "Thanks," she said. "It's late. I think I want to go to bed. It was nice to meet you all."

"You, too," Dr. Carter said. She was very beautiful. Buffy wondered if she liked her dad. Of course, she knew that fraternizing was strictly forbidden. Although she knew her mom had moved on, she didn't like the idea of her dad doing so.

"I can't believe she brought up Charlie. She never brings him up," Jack remarked after his daughter left the room.

"That's a good sign. It means she's healing," Daniel said.

"Indeed," Teal'c added.

"She seems very mature for her age," Sam said. "Her comment was insightful."

Jack nodded. "I hope she'll be okay," he told his friends.

"I'm sure she will be. Kids are resilient. Her comment proves that she's already processed it in a mature way. Her brother's death was senseless," Sam remarked.

Jack knew that was a good point and felt better. He hoped the visit would continue to go well.

However, Buffy only stayed a week before she wanted to go home. Jack was on leave, focusing on her the entire time. When he mentioned going back on call, however, she insisted on going home. It was so frustrating. Seeing her for a week was not nearly enough time.

She promised to come back for Thanksgiving, and he would make sure that she did.

Work, though, kept him busy. So busy that he forgot it was Thanksgiving until the day arrived.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed in Daniel's office.

"What?" Daniel asked, looking up from his translation.

"It's Thanksgiving," Jack said.

"I know. Sam's cooking dinner at her place. We're supposed to be there by six," Daniel said. "Dr. Frasier is helping."

"I was supposed to bring Buffy to town for Thanksgiving, and I completely forgot to make the arrangements," he told Daniel.

Daniel winced. "That's really bad, Jack," Daniel said.

"You think?" Jack said sarcastically.

He went to his office and called Joyce.

"Hello," she said.

"Joyce, this is Jack," he said.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he said. "Listen, I totally lost track of what day it was. I just realized a minute ago it was Thanksgiving. Can I speak to Buffy?"

"I don't think she wants to talk to you," Joyce said. "She was really upset."

"You know, you could've called me and asked about the arrangements. Reminded me," Jack pointed out.

"I'm raising your daughter. I shouldn't have to remind you to call her, too," Joyce said flatly. "Hold on."

Jack knew she had a point, but he was still pissed. Pissed at her but mostly himself. She was right.

It was several minutes before Joyce came back and said, "I'm sorry, Jack, but she doesn't want to talk to you. She said that since she is so forgettable she is going to work on forgetting all about you. Don't bother calling her at Christmas either she said," Joyce said.

"Joyce, please tell her that I am very sorry and that I love her more than anything or anyone," Jack said.

"Those are just words, Jack. Actions speak louder than words," Joyce said.

"Please tell her," he said.

"I will," Joyce said.

Jack replaced the receiver feeling like the very worst failure of a father. Not since Charlie had died had he felt so bad.

When it came time to go to dinner, Daniel found him sitting in his office staring at nothing.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I've lost her, Danny. This time I think for good," Jack said.

"She's not yet fifteen, Jack," Daniel reminded him. "There's time to make it up to her. You can do better. Show up in California for Christmas. Make her see you. It's a lot harder to reject you to your face."

Jack felt a surge of affection for Daniel. He was very lucky to have him on his team and in his life. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Daniel. Thanks," Jack said.

Daniel didn't like to see his friend so dejected and was glad he could help. "Come on. Let's go get a home cooked meal. They are few and far between," he pointed out.

"So true," Jack said. He got up and followed after his best friend, who was like a younger brother to him now.

How could the best job he had ever had cost him so much?

*****Chapter End*****

I am aware that when SG-1 was on the show the Air Force had a much lamer motto. The newer motto is much better, which is why I used it in this chapter. I see Jack raising his kids with the military philosophy as he was so devoted to his career that he never would allow himself to love Carter. I hope this first chapter has you interested. I have never come across a crossover that showed Charlie's death, so this seemed like an original spin.

The next chapter will focus on Buffy's calling and jump to the present time. It will be different also. Reviews are great!