Chapter 1
Little Samantha Carter couldn't wait for Santa Clause to come and bring her that Major Matt Mason doll she desperately wanted. She wrote many, many letters to Santa highlighting how good she had been and how she even tolerated her brother when he was mean to her. Christmas Eve was upon her and she lay in bed unable to sleep as she was bound to prove to her older brother Mark that Santa Clause did exits and was real. Mark told her that Santa was a fairytale and she was getting too old to still believe. She was going to see for herself. She watched the clock and listened for any noise coming from the living room.
She suddenly heard a thud on the roof. It could be Santa or just ice falling. She wasn't sure. Though she was a child prodigy genius, she was still a child and wanted more than anything for Santa to be real. She climbed out of bed and made her way out her bedroom and into the hallway. It was dark and everyone was asleep. She could not wake her parents. For she would be sent back to bed and that would impede her mission to see Santa. She crept down the hallway to the living room. She hid behind the corner and peeked in.
There by the tall well decorated Christmas tree stood a man in a red suit. It was him. It was Santa! She was sure of it. Her bright blue eyes then landed on what she assumed must be an elf. A small girl about Sam's age stood by holding the bag. The girl also wore a red suit with trousers and black boots and a hat over her dark hair. It was most confusing for Samantha. Why would Santa have an elf with him? She watched as a package was placed beneath the tree. She could hear the conversation.
The small girl asked, "Why does she get a doll?"
Santa replied. "Simple, my little one. The girl who lives here is very gifted in math and science. She has great potential and the doll will help her imagine her dreams and achieve those dreams when she grows up."
"Oh!" she nodded. "I see. Like a reminder?"
"More like planting a seed in a garden." he stated. "Who is the next child on our list?"
The child replied. "Daniel Jackson but he's older. He's twelve. Why are we giving him a gift?"
Santa stated. "He lost both his parents right before him. Compassion is for any age."
She stated. "A leather bound notebook?" She knew what the gift would be.
"He will use it wisely." he assured. He held out a hand. "Ready."
She grasped his hand still holding the red silk bag.
Samantha watched as he gave a title of the head, touched the side of his nose and in the blink of an eye he and the child assistant were gone. She walked over to the tree. She looked about but found no trace of the pair. She found the present and knew it had to be her doll. She then placed the present back and quietly walked back to bed wondering if she really did see Santa or if it was nothing more than a dream for the child was not expected at all.
Years Later
Samantha "Sam" Carter loved her doll and treasured it. Over time she forgot about seeing Santa and the girl and assumed it was just a dream. At seventeen Sam had entered the Air Force Academy. Her mother had passed, her brother was in college and her father was still flying fighter planes. Sam was now alone.
Dressed as a cadet she unpacked her bag in her dorm room. The door of the room opened in walked her roommate. Sam looked up to see a familiar face that she could not place. The young woman had dark brown hair and brown eyes and sported the cadet uniform as well. She noted the name badge. "Klaus" she read in her mind.
The new cadet looked upon Sam and for a moment seemed to stare off as if reading something invisible to the naked eye. She then gave a warm smile. "Hi! I'm Nikki Klaus." She offered a hand.
Sam shook her hand and replied. "Sam Carter. Cadet Samantha Carter." she then gave a salute.
"Cadet Nikki Klaus." she saluted back. "Spelled N-I-K-K-I."
Sam asked. "Not Nicole?"
"My cousin is Nicole." she mentioned. "And I have heard all the Santa Clause jokes."
"I bet." Sam laughed. "I guess we are roommates."
"We are." Nikki agreed. "I think we will work well together." she assessed.
"Hope so." Sam agreed. She went back to unpacking.
Nikki notice Sam removed her prized Major Matt Mason doll and place it on a shelf. She then recalled the delivery. She smiled to herself as she knew it was a true gift from the legend. "Matt Mason. That doll is in mint condition."
Sam recalled it was her gift from "Santa" as a child. She asked. "You know the doll?"
"My family is in the toy business." she nodded. "That is a collector's item." she stated.
"It got for Christmas when I was a little kid." she recalled. "I dreamed I actually saw Santa. It was so stupid." she chuckled.
"What was your dream?' Nikki asked.
"I dreamed I saw Santa and an elf delivering my doll. The elf asked why I was getting the doll and Santa told her it was because I needed a reminder of my goals. I guess that doll is that reminder." she sat on the bed. "Then they talked about some older boy who was next on the stop and he was getting a notebook. His mom died."
Nikki paused and smirked. "You sure it was an elf?" She then indulged. "Elves are not little. They are actually rather tall. About six foot with blonde hair and blue eyes. Like in Lord of the Rings. Those are elves. Not the tiny ones in the story."
Sam started to laugh. "Right! Elves are tall." She then continued on her work.
Later - Christmas
Sam's first Christmas at the Academy was upon her. With her father on duty, her brother living in another state and her mother gone, Sam was alone again. She assumed Nikki would go home for Christmas. Much to her surprise, she opted to stay with Sam and the handful of other cadets who would ride the holiday out.
Nikki asked Sam. "How about we volunteer for that new Santa Tracker program? That sounds like fun."
"We could do that." Sam agreed as she lay on her cot studying. She then mentioned. "You know…you don't have to stay. You said your family business is toys and this is the busiest time of the year."
"My dad has a handle on it. And my brother is helping him this year." she waved it off. "Nick can do it."
"Your brother's name is Nick too?"
"Saint Nicolas Klaus the Tenth." she nodded. "First born male is always Saint Nicolas." she informed.
"Your family must really get into Christmas." Sam assumed.
She gave a sigh. "Seems the meaning is being lost." She noticed Sam's confused expression. "It's not about the toys. It's about the spirit."
"Ah." she nodded not really understanding.
Nikki looked about the plain dorm room. "Let's get a tree and put up some decorations." she cheered.
"Okay." she agreed. "I'll look up the regulations." She went for her handbook.
Nikki chuckled a bit. "Bookworm."
Sam rolled her eyes. "I like to do my research."
"Isn't research experimenting and finding results?" she teased.
"We have to follow regulations." she countered.
Nikki laughed.
Sam became defensive. "I don't want to get kicked out or have a mark on my record."
She smirked. "Then how will you ever be a great explorer like Matt Mason?" she motioned towards the doll.
"By studying." Sam insisted.
"You can't fly unless you take a leap." Nikki rebutted. She then suggested. "Let's do Christmas Carols."
"You can do that in the cathedral." Sam reminded her.
"Let's get Cam and few of the guys and do our own carols." she insisted.
She gave a heavy sigh. "I'm really not in the mood for Christmas." she confessed. "Mom is gone. Dad is on duty…again. Mark is doing his own thing."
Nikki stared to sing. "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. Just like the ones we used to have…"
"Stop." Sam pleaded.
"Santa baby just slip a sable under the tree for me." She sang. "I've been an awful good girl. Santa baby so hurry down the chimney tonight."
She gave in. "Alright. We can put up a little desk top tree and decorate."
Nikki teased. "Let's go sing that song to the guys."
Sam paused for a moment. "Cam?" she laughed.
"Especially him." she grinned.
Sam concluded. "Maybe this Christmas will be fun after all."
"I guarantee you will have a good Christmas." Nikki promised.
Years Later - SGC
Major Samantha Carter did indeed have a great Christmas when she was a cadet in the Academy. Her roommate seemed to have a way to bring joy to a holiday she dreaded after losing her mother. She kept in touch with Nikki and now saw an opportunity to give back by requesting Major Nikki Klaus be brought into her department to work in Star Gate Command. Christmas was only weeks away and Sam had decorated her lab with a desk top tree sitting on her workspace. It was the same little tree that Nikki had given Sam during their time as cadets and would decorate the dorm each season. The little fake tree was one of the best looking artificial trees Sam ever found. It looked real but was not. She had no idea where Nikki got the artificial tree from but adored it just the same.
Colonel Jack O'Neill walked through the door after getting kicked out of Daniel's office. He cheered. "Morning."
She glanced up. "Morning sir." She gave a warm smile.
Jack wandered over to her. He noticed the very real looking Christmas tree sitting on her desk. "Nice little tree. Is that real?" he wondered.
"It's artificial." she stated. "I got it when I was a cadet in the academy. My roommate gave it to me. I think her family makes them. I never been able to find one like it thought. Looks real doesn't it?"
"Dang." he nodded. "I thought you went and cut down a baby a tree."
She laughed. "No sir."
He touched the tree. "What is that made out of?" he wondered to himself.
"Very high quality wood and plastics." she informed. "Nikki's family is in the toy business. They made some high quality stuff. They are noted for Christmas toys and decorations."
"Nikki?" he asked.
"My old roommate from the academy. Nikki Klaus. She's a Major now and General Hammond just approved her transfer. She's coming to work in my department." she beamed. "And just in time too! I swear I was going to kill Felger. Nikki has a way with dealing with difficult people."
"Nikki Klaus?" he asked. "Nick Klaus." he cocked an eyebrow.
"That's her dad and brother." she mentioned. "She has a large family. I never met her dad in person but I spoke to him on the phone a few times. I guess he lives way up north. Sweet man. Very caring. He and his wife sends me the best hot cocoa every year." she motioned towards the tin can of cocoa mix sitting by her coffee mug.
Jack lifted the tin. "Hot cocoa." he determined. "Nice little tin." He looked at the stamp. "Klaus Company. Located at the North Pole." he chuckled. "Up north, huh?" He placed the tin back. He then wondered. "What's your plans for Christmas this year, Carter?"
"I signed up for NORAD Tracks Santa." she beamed. "Me and Nikki did that every year when we were cadets. She still does it. I thought it would be fun to do it again. Want to volunteer?" she asked assuming her would decline as he normally went to his cabin for Christmas and would be alone.
Jack was going to ask her to come to the cabin fully expecting her to say she was too busy. Instead, she asked if he would work the Santa tracking program that Air Force would do for the kids. It was a throw back to the cold war and a morale booster. He agreed. "Why not? What do you do?"
"Answer phones and make sure the computer program doesn't freeze." she stated. "Kids call in asking where Santa is. You speak to the kids and tell them were Santa is. Ask if they are good and what they want for Christmas. Some are normal request like toys but you do get a few kids asking for dinner or new shoes, that kind of thing. Sometimes you get military kids asking if Santa can bring mom or dad home for Christmas."
"I think I can handle talking to kids." he assured. Jack was always good with kids and though he lost his own son, he still loved kids and could communicate well.
"Great." she cheered. "Now if I can get Daniel and Teal'c to volunteer."
Jack paused. "You sure you want Teal'c on the phone talking to kids?"
"Why not?" she replied.
"Can you imagine Teal'c telling kids where Santa is?" he pressed.
She paused. A slight smile crept across her face. "I got to get Teal'c to volunteer."