"It's blue!"

"Blue? No, red is definitely the best."

"Red is icky."

"Icky, huh?" Jack grinned. "You know blue is Carter's favorite too?"

"Yep."

The word was followed by laughter and Jack glanced in the rear-view mirror to find Jo smiling at him as they discussed the finer points of Jell-O. He shook his head in amusement and returned his attention to the road.

He was surprised at the similarities between the little girl and Samantha Carter. Her blonde hair was the first giveaway and it fell to her shoulders in loose ringlets which bounced around wildly whenever she moved. She also had the wide, piercing blue eyes which he had long associated with his Carter. Ben and Beth, meanwhile, had blue eyes too, but had brown hair like their father.

As Jack turned onto the next street, he knew he was still a few minutes out from Carter's house. She had left the base with Mark and Liz almost an hour earlier, while Daniel and Teal'c were close behind as they had offered to visit the store and "acquire further sustenance", according to the Jaffa. Their departure from the base meant Jack had been left in charge of the three Carter kids – which was just fine by him. He had managed to finish his paperwork in record time before he'd stopped off at the base gym to pick up something and then changed into his civvies before he gathered up Jo, Beth and Ben and headed for the surface. Once he made sure the kids were secured in their seats, they'd quickly made their way through the security checkpoints before Jack had decided to start a game of 'Twenty Questions'.

Ben, he'd discovered, was fifteen and a Freshman and into sports as he was on the hockey, football and track teams at school. He also followed the San Francisco Giants and San Jose Sharks religiously, which prompted a detailed discussion between him and Jack as to their favourite team for the MLB title this season and how – if they could go back in time – they'd travel to 1908 to watch the Cubs win the World Series.

Beth was twelve and, for all intents and purposes, was very, very smart for her age. She wasn't into sports or boys – despite her brother's teasing – and when she wasn't studying, she spent her time outdoors reading.

And then there was Jo, the youngest Carter kid at the age of five and who liked to talk for America. She loved kindergarten and enjoyed drawing and playing games. She also liked pizza with tater tots and ketchup, while her favourite dessert – aside from chocolate cake – was blue Jell-O.

The sound of Ben talking pulled Jack from his thoughts and he glanced over to the front passenger seat. "Hmm?"

"I said, why do you call her Carter?"

"Why not?" He answered as he turned onto Carter's street.

"Why don't you call her Sam?"

Jack winced as he thought about how best to answer the question.

"In our jobs, it's easier to refer to each other by our surnames."

"But you call Daniel and Teal'c by their names."

"Ah," Jack said as he brought the truck to a stop outside Sam's house, "but they aren't in the Air Force like your aunt is." He risked a glance at Ben and saw him shrug in response to his answer, so he smiled and hiked a thumb over his shoulder. "We're here."

He watched Ben and Beth as they jumped out of the truck and then he moved to the back to help Jo out of her seat. Before he closed the door, he reached across and grabbed a small duffle bag that he had taken from the SGC's gym earlier.

"Come on, General Jack!"

He locked the truck and turned to see Jo standing at the end of the garden path and bouncing from one foot to another. He took a step forward just as Jo grabbed his hand and tried to pull him towards the house as she started to skip. They reached the front door as Daniel appeared looking smug.

"You should try skipping sometime Jack. I'd think it'd suit you," he smirked.

"Watch it, Danny," he warned as he followed his friend into the house and through to the kitchen where Sam, Mark and Liz were sitting. He set the duffle on the empty chair by the table.

"What's in the bag, sir?"

"Ah, that would be classified, Carter." She eyed him warily for a moment before he shrugged. "Relax, it's just something to keep the kids occupied."

"Yeah," Jo nodded as her mom pulled her onto her knee, "General Jack promised to play with us."

"Did he now?"

"That's great," Liz answered, ignoring Mark's barbed comment, "but if Jack's busy –"

He lifted a hand and waved away her concern. "Nah, it's fine," he smiled. "Just don't tell the doc."

With that, he crossed the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee. Mark watched him go, letting the other adults continue the conversation as he subtly tried to observe the General as he made himself at home in his sister's kitchen.

He then let his gaze switch to Daniel and Teal'c. All four of them were so familiar with each other and Mark felt a pang of jealousy as he watched Sam roll her eyes at something Daniel had said. It made him realize that the archaeologist had, over the years, been the brother Mark had failed to be for so long.

Then there was Teal'c; Mark thought of him as another, much older, brother to Sam but he wasn't jealous. He actually found the comparison more comforting because he knew that whenever Sam was in the Jaffa's company, he would do anything and everything in his power to keep her safe.

And then there was General O'Neill.

Mark bit back a sigh. He couldn't fathom what, exactly, his relationship with Sam entailed. He knew Jack was her commanding officer but he also had his suspicions that there was something more. He'd only saw Sam and Jack together on a couple of occasions but each time he thought he'd noticed something. It was little things really: a look here, a small gesture there – like the General bringing lunch to the lab – but it was enough for Mark to wonder. He did his best to try to push his curiosity aside though, knowing that his sister was engaged to Pete.

A sigh escaped him, drawing everyone's attention and he winced. Before he could say anything, however, Jack reached for the duffle bag.

"Alright," he called as he headed for the back door, "Up and at 'em, soldiers!"

The kids immediately followed while curiosity made the others also head into the yard, while Mark watched from a distance as Jack pulled the contents out of the bag.

"Sir," Sam said as she stepped closer, "is that Whiffle Ball?" He paused in the middle of setting up the game and spun around to face her. "You don't need to look so surprised," she added with amusement.

"I'm just surprised you know what Whiffle Ball is – what with you being a geek and all as a kid."

"Very funny, sir," she muttered. "but believe it or not, I did lift my head from a book every once in a while, and enjoy my childhood. Whiffle Ball was actually one of my favorite past times – and I wasn't a geek."

"Whatever you say, Carter."

"Where'd you get it from?"

He turned his attention back to the game. "I, ah, picked it up from the base gym earlier."

"The base gym?" she repeated disbelievingly. "Since when does the SGC –"

"Ever since I came up with the idea," he interrupted awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

She narrowed her eyes and studied him before she glanced around to see Ben pointing to one of the counters as he spoke to Daniel.

"Please don't tell me you actually play this on the base."

"No," he said defensively, "I play it on the surface."

When Sam continued to stare, he shrugged. "There's a game every Wednesday afternoon. Teal'c, Reynolds, Dixon and Bosworth tend to be regulars – when they're here, that is. A few of the marines also join in. You have to watch those jarheads you know, they're bad losers," he smirked.

"How long has this been going on?"

"Since my promotion."

"I had no idea."

"That's because you decided to finally go and get yourself a life." The moment the words left his mouth, he sighed. "I'm sorry, Carter. I didn't –"

"General Jack!" He tore his gaze away and saw Jo wave at him a few feet away. "Teal'c says it's time to play!"

He glanced back to Sam and knew the moment had passed. Instead, he canted his head and studied her. "You up for a game?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed her face before she shook her head. "Maybe later."

She gave him a small smile before she turned and went back inside the house. Jack sighed heavily as he looked up at the sky.

"Jack?"

"What, Daniel?"

"Is everything okay?"

He lowered his head and met his friend's eye. "Just fine," he muttered. He then gave him a look that said 'not now' before he handed Daniel the bat. "C'mon, let's not keep the kids waiting."

It was over an hour later when Sam had to break up the game to say that dinner was on the way, and by the time the kids had helped to pack up and get rid of the last of their energy reserves, the pizzas had finally arrived. Everyone had crowded into the kitchen; Liz and Mark, Ben and Beth were seated at the table, while Jo balanced precariously on one of the stools situated at the breakfast bar. Sam was on her right and Daniel on her left, while Jack and Teal'c leaned against the kitchen countertops.

Sam placed a hand against Jo's back to make sure she wouldn't fall and with her free hand she grabbed another slice of pizza. She smiled as her niece continued to talk about her favorite cartoons when the sound of a phone ringing cut through the conversation and as everyone looked for the source, Mark got to his feet and pulled his cell from his pocket.

"Sorry Sam, I thought I'd switched it off. Is there –"

"You can use my room."

He nodded before he vanished and Sam returned her attention back to her niece, but it was only when there was a break in the conversation that she glanced at her watch and realized Mark had been gone for almost twenty minutes. She was about to go and check on him when he appeared in the doorway. Sam frowned. Her brother looked like he was trying his best to hide his anger a horrible feeling settled in her stomach.

"Mark, is everything okay?"

Sam glanced at Liz before she looked back at Mark who was staring at her.

"Sam, can I see you for a minute?"

She briefly closed her eyes. "Sure," she mumbled.

"Maybe we should go," Daniel suggested.

"No, you're fine," Sam smiled, her eyes almost pleading with them to stay put as she followed Mark into the living room. He paced up and down and Sam noticed his hands were balled into fists by his sides. He suddenly turned to face her and when he spoke, his voice was low and full of anger.

"Do you feel like telling me what the hell is going on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Sam. You're too smart for that."

She sighed but refused to acknowledge his initial question.

"Do you know who that was on the phone?"

"I have an idea," she mumbled.

"Pete. That's who."

TBC…