A/N: Sorry its been so long. I know i said i'd post another one soon but life happened. I actually have several half-written stories of which this is one. In fact this chapter has been sitting around for some time. I quite like it and wasn't sure where to go with it - its completely different from my first story, so i'm hoping for some feedback from you guys and you never know, maybe if you like it i'll write more. Let me know. Also its not beta'd so any mistakes/typos are mine.
Disclaimer: I promise i'll have them back by midnight.
"Sure Teal'c, blue is fine. You want me to call Daniel? …. Oh, ok. I'll see you later."
Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter hung up her phone and put on some much needed coffee. After dressing in slacks and savouring a cup of rich caffine, she was literally walking out the door to her car when the phone started ringing. For a moment she paused – it was probably the base. No one else called her at this time in the morning, except sometimes one of the guys to discuss what uniform to wear. However, Teal'c had already called and she was heading straight to the base anyway. Then again, it was probably better to check. Sighing, she turned back round, pushed the front door closed and picked up the phone.
"Carter."
"Sam?"
"Mark! What are you doing up at this time?" Sam asked, astounded. It was early here and San Diego was a couple of hour behind Colorado!
"I need a favour."
"I've told you Mark, I'm not going out with that cop friend of yours! I have to get to work."
"No, Sam. Jane's father is ill. He's on his deathbed actually." Sam stopped. "Her sister called a couple of hours ago. Jane is flying up to Seattle as soon as possible. She's packing now."
"But don't you have that conference?"
"Yeah, I do. Its on all week starting today. I have to be there Sam."
"What about friends?"
"Mke and Tina are on vacation, so are Paul and Rachael. Mrs Hutton is visiting her son in San Francisco and Jim and Barbara have enough trouble with the divorce, I can't expect either of them to take our two as well."
"Mark, don't ask me to do this. You know important my work is."
"Please, Sam! I wouldn't ask if there was anybody else but I'm already at the airport. My flight to New York takes off at 8:30. I've talked to the airline and they said they'd have someone meet them and accompany them on the flights."
"You've already booked their tickets haven't you!" Sam accused.
"Actually...they're already in the air."
"Fine, I'll um…talk to General O'Neill."
"They made him a General? Like Dad? That guy!"
"Mark, you've never even met him."
"Sorry. So you'll do it?"
"I'll take them, but you owe me Mark. Big Time!"
"I'll be there on Saturday to pick them up. You've saved my ass, Sam. Again." Sam just laughed. Mark had harboured dillusions as a child that as the older sibling, he'd be saving his younger sister from sticky situations for all time. He couldn't have been more wrong. "I love you Sam."
"I love you too, Mark. Say 'Hi' to Jane for me. Tell her to call me sometime."
"Sure thing. Bye Sam."
"Bye Mark."
Sam put down the phone and took a moment just to breathe. Then she picked up the phone to call O'Neill…and promptly put it back down. This conversation was probably best done in person. Abandoning any ideas of leaving immediately she left the front hall to wander round her house and see what she needed to do to get organised for her niece and nephew coming. By the time she got round the house to the kitchen, she realised there was a reason she'd never had Mark's family over. For a start there was the small kitchen, there was no driveway, the house was a open plan and although it was big enough for herself, and possibly another person, it was entirely unsuitable for two children, especially for a week. She was going to need help.
"Carter, I thought we were doing blue today." Jack teased, gesticulating towards her obvious lack of Air Force uniform. At least, last time he'd checked white denim jeans didn't conform but he'd have to check that one. A fleeting thought passed through his head that he wouldn't mind that being so if he got to see Samantha Carter looking like that everyday!
"Yes, sir. We are, but I haven't had time to change. I need a few hours off."
"Carter, Siler's having a nervous breakdown and his friend can't find that ginormous wrench thing they're always wandering around with and Dad's probably about to land right on top of us caused we missed our last meeting all cause that stupid computer- what?" Jack stopped, suddenly concerned as he noticed how nervous his favourite Lieutenant-Colonel was acting.
"Sit down." Jack commanded, getting up to close the door. "Talk to me."
"Sir-"
"No 'sir'. I'm talking to you as a friend, now what's wrong?"
"Jane's father's ill."
"Jane?"
"Mark's wife."
"Oh…were you two…?"
"Hmm? No. I've only ever met the guy once. Its just that, well…Mark's supposed to be going to a conference this week its really important for him, but with Jane going up to Seattle there's no one to look after the kids."
"Ah. You need to go out to San Diego for the week." Jack misunderstood.
"No. Mark's booked them a flight, the airline's looking after them…their plane lands in a couple of hours."
"They're coming here? And then what?"
"Sir?"
"Carter last time I checked, your house was barely big enough for you nevermind two kids. There's no way anyone can sleep on that sofa for a week - ah! Daniel told me! - and besides, what are you going to do with them? I can give you a couple of days, or even half days, but we need you here Colonel."
"I know sir, and to answer your question...I haven't worked out what I'm going to do with them - yet."
"Doesn't matter. We'll discuss it on the way."
"The way where, sir?"
"The a i r p o r t." Jack explained very slowly, as if he was talking to a foreigner.
"Don't you need to stay here and…" Sam tailed off; Jack raised an eyebrow, Teal'c-style. "Right, stupid question." Sam muttered, trying not to smile. With the gate closed to outward travel and all SGC teams onworld, there was little else to do but paperwork, and Jack O'Neill would use every excuse he could to get out of it. Jack stood and walked round the woman to open the door.
"DAVIS!" O'Neill yelled out into the grey beyond.
"I'll see you topside in ten, Carter." He said softly while waiting for the tech to arrive. Sam dragged an eye down his body and back up. Jack tried and failed not to smirk when he saw her checking him out, before he realised what she was getting at and looked down at his shiny military-issue boots. "Better make that twenty, sir." They were interrupted by Davis and Sam took the opportunity to make a quick escape. She managed to get round the corner before a smile split her face in two.
"So, airport?" Jack asked as they came to the bottom of the mountain.
"Yeah."
"Hey Carter, you had breakfast?"
"I had a cup of coffee before I left."
Jack checked his watched and spontaneously made a wrong turning, apparently deliberately.
"General."
"Colonel."
"What're we doing?"
"Getting breakfast." McDonald's should be open, just about." Sam opened her mouth to protest but got no further. "Ah! You're going to eat some breakfast, Carter. That's final." Sam sighed and sat back in her seat. Fifteen minutes later and they were sailing down the highway.
"Want some, sir?" Sam held out her bacon bagal.
"Nah. Had some pie when the mess opened."
"Sir, pie does not constitute a proper breakfast."
"And you know, while we're on the subject of food, we'll have to get some groceries on the way back."
"You're changing the subject, General."
"So?"
Sam sighed.
"Nevermind, sir."
Carter and O'Neill managed to negotiate the complexities of airport parking; navigate the airport and reach the right gate in record time, with minutes to spare. Neither of them wanted to start off on the wrong foot by not being there to meet them off the plane. They'd probably had a traumatic enough morning as it was. Both officers stood waiting anxiously for the flight to start to appear. When after several minutes it didn't, Jack could clearly see Sam was getting worried. After only a few minutes more though, the first few passengers started to trickle through. Standing slightly behind and to Sam's right, Jack reached out and placed a hand on Sam's back as a show of support. The unexpected contact made Sam stiffen. He had taken her by surprise – which in itself showed how distracted she was – but now knowing how close Jack was only served to make concentrating more difficult. She didn't dare look in his direction but instead tried to stay focused on the wide doorway ahead. With perfect timing, a stewardess appeared with a child at either side. As soon as the pair saw Sam, they rushed forward yelling:
"Aunt Sam!" and with a slight shove from the General she walked forward and bend down to meet them as they came flying towards her. While the Carter's had an emotional reunion, Jack took the time to study the group. Carter was, well, Carter – only she was smiling and seemed happy to see them. The kids seemed pleasant enough. The boy was obviously a young teenager and looked rather like his grandfather, Jacob Carter. The baggy clothes and hooded top indicated he was into rock music, probably just getting into the whole teenage rebellion thing. The girl was younger, still a girl, a Samantha Carter clone as far as he could see, except for a few features in the face which probably came from her mother's side. She was dressed in pink and white compared to her brother's dark jeans and sweater, apparently a real little princess.
The emotional reunion was over, Sam pulled out of the hugs and stood up.
"Guys, I'd like you to meet someone. This is General Jack O'Neill. He's my boss and a good friend so I expect you to be nice to him, ok?" The pair nodded and Sam continued. "General, meet my nephew Matthew Carter and my niece Rachael Carter." Jack waved and smiled.
"Hey guys. Call me Jack."
Matthew, as his father had taught him to do, stepped forwards and formally offered his hand.
"Its nice to meet you sir." Jack raised his eyebrows involuntarily, slightly shocked at the young teenager's formality. He took the kid's hand and shook it firmly.
"You too, Mr Carter." Matt smiled and moved towards the conveyer where the bags were starting to appear. He'd give it a bit more time before he decided whether to trust this man or not, although Aunt Sam apparently did and she was a pretty good judge. Rachael at this point still hadn't said anything but Matt could tell his sister didn't dislike the guy.
"So, Rachael. You looking forward to staying with Carter for a few days?" Jack said attempting to start a conversation.
"We're all Carters. You mean Aunt Sam."
"Yeah, I guess I do." Jack watched as the girl ran off to follow her aunt who had started to wander towards baggage reclaim. Sam turned round and smiled at him. Jack smiled back. Matt watched the exchange with interest.
When their bags emerged on the conveyer bed Rachael and Matt both waited impatiently for the bags to get round and then made to pull off their bags. Sam stepped in to get Rachael's and Jack stepped in to grab Matthew's. He didn't realise it was a lot heavier than it looked until he picked it up and his knee made a painful grinding sound causing Jack to drop the bag and reach for the nearest support – Sam's shoulder.
"Argh! What the hell's in that thing!" He exclaimed, balancing on one foot with a steadying hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Some stuff for a science project." Matt replied cryptically.
"Right." Jack muttered, not really caring. He nursed his knee for a moment until he thought it was safe for him to stand on it again.
"Sorry, sir." Matt mumbled, embarrassed. Jack stared threateningly at the boy.
"Its Jack."
"Jack" Matt amended.
"Good. Now…what's with the whole 'sir' thing anyway? Carter, tell your brother that his kids have been spending way too much time around their grandfather."
"We don't see our grandfather much." Rachael informed him, but Mark picked up another thing from Jack's comment.
"You know Grandpa Jacob?" Matt asked curiously.
"Sure - we work together sometimes."
"I thought Grandpa worked abroad." Rachael stated.
"He does, sweetheart." Sam informed her, but said no more.
Both bags now on the trolly due to the help of Carter and Matt, they started to make their way out to Jack's truck. Sam and Jack up front, with Matthew and Rachael walking behind.
"Matt." Rachael whispered so quietly to Jack and Sam were both able to hear her. "Jack knows grandpa. He's that Jack." Having heard his name, the man in question turned round to find two innocent faces smiling up at him.
"Carter, I swear they're up to something." He confided to her, loud enough for the pair behind them to hear. Sam just laughed and smiled. Jack frowned.
So, how old are you guys anyway?"
The four of them were now in O'Neill's truck, Carter up front beside the General, her niece and nephew in the back.
"Nine!" Rachael replied enthusiastically.
"Thirteen." Matt said.
"Please tell me you guys like something other than science."
"I don't like science." Rachael informed them. "Science is boring."
"Hey! It is not!"
"Is too!"
"Guys!" Carter warned.
"Sorry Aunt Sam." They replied in unison.
"Better." Jack's cell chose that moment to ring. "O'Neill." He answered. The kids listened intently, as did Carter, but heard nothing of what was said on the other end.
"Sir?"
"We're needed on base." Jack rubbed a hand over his face.
"We could have Daniel meet them at home. I'm sure he wouldn't mind babysitting, General."
"No, its urgent. We'll have to drop them in a VIP room."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"No, but right now its all I've got."
AN: Ok, what do you think? (Be Honest!) Want more? Please let me know.
Constructive criticism, compliments, comments, opinions, useful tips, pointing out all my mistakes, potential plot ideas and anything else you can think of is very helpful and much appreciated.
Thankyou.