A/N: Sorry for the repost here, these are the same first two chapters, basically, but chapter breaks have changed (and a few other things here and there). Part three is what you're looking for if you've seen this fic around already. Story is complete and the final chapter will be posted tomorrow.

Acceptance
by Remi Craeg

1. The Quiet Ones

The youngest boy of three, quiet but smart, sat in the middle row of a brightly decorated classroom. The kids teased him because he rarely spoke, and when he did it was because the teacher called on him to answer a question his classmates couldn't answer. He always knew the answers and the other kids recognized that in the first few weeks of school. If their resentment bothered him, it never showed; he remained determined through his quizzes, oblivious to the glares against his back when he turned his paper over first, completed.

This young genius, mature well beyond his years, quiet and teased often for it, made only one friend his first year in his new school. Her name was Anna and her mother was an Air Force Captain, transferred two years ago from the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Their parents knew of each other from their previous billet and chatted politely about the Good Ole Days and their children's new-found friendship, both equally relieved the two had found each other.

The day after Thanksgiving, the family crowded restlessly in their living room to watch their father wrestle a Christmas tree into its stand. The two older boys fought ceaselessly over the only functioning game boy, soon dragging their mother into the ring. The youngest sat completely still between them. His mother plucked him out of the mayhem and sat him on the chair next to his father. The man looked up at his youngest son and gave him an encouraging smile. "Wanna help?"

The boy suddenly smiled so brightly Jack felt a bit guilty for not getting as close to this boy as he had with the other two. For the first boy it had been easy; the second, easier still, but when this little guy came silently speculative into his world, he had the hardest time finding common ground. He was his mother's son, without a doubt.

Before the boy could stand, one of his brothers let out a yelp, startling Jack enough to momentarily release the trunk from his grip.

The tree scraped the wall, narrowly missing the TV hanging there, and came to a bizarrely unsatisfying thump on the carpet. The two misbehaving boys on the sofa were frozen with their mother's hand around each arm. Jack was equally motionless, looking blankly between the three in front of him and the tree that had escaped him. All held their breath, unconsciously waiting for Jack's reaction—the likely scolding tones.

Giggles bubbled from Jack's armchair. It was the youngest, and he looked like he couldn't control the mirth exploding from his belly. His brothers, eyes wide as saucers, could not believe this reaction. Just when they were sure their father would snap, Jack began to laugh, too. The others joined them nervously, but allowed the tension to dissipate.

A phone rang in the distance. Sam released her prisoners and jogged to the kitchen. She heard Jack's voice before snatching the receiver. "You two, I swear, knock it off. That's how the last three were broken."

"Colonel Carter," she answered, assuming a call on her day off would be from work.

"Colonel, it's Tom Beck." Anna's dad.

"Oh, hi, Tom. Happy Thanksgiving."

"Thanks." The voice sounded far away, muffled. "I wish Lindsey could—Sam, I have some really bad news."

And that was the day Sam and Jack's youngest son lost his only friend. She was only eight; it had been her birthday.

A/N: I really really really don't know how I feel about this one. It's frustrating for me, especially since I can't seem to write any more than what I've got. I'd say be patient for this one, lots o' junk I've got to work out. How is it so far?