LIGHT UP

CHAPTER 1

"Honey, please stop kicking the seat?" Jack O'Neill asked, and certainly not for the first time in his life – not for the first time today even.

Jack felt her respond immediately, the pressure on his back easing as she retracted her tiny legs. He twisted in his seat to peer around at the five year old sitting in the car seat behind him.

"I was just stretching my legs." The little girl proclaimed innocently, but with a slight smile that told her father she knew exactly what she was doing.

That was Sara in a nut shell… Most of the time she was quiet and reserved… some might even say stoic.

Well, as stoic as someone of such small stature could get.

But when she did choose to open her mouth, you never could be sure what she was going to say. She also had an impeccable sense of humour for a child her age.

Quite the attitude as well.

A lot of people said that she was just like her father.

He had no idea what they were talking about.

"You can do that once we get out of the car."

"I'm sorry, Daddy." Sara said sweetly, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

She tilted her head to the side slightly, and squeezed one of the woollen braids that hung from her laplander hat in her fist. Jack could tell from that action that she truly felt remorse. Sara always clenched her fists when she was feeling anxious, just like he did. He wondered for a moment if it was a habit she'd picked up from seeing him stressed.

"It's okay, Honey." Jack said softly.

Sara's little face immediately lit up. That kid had a smile that could light up an entire town.

God help the young men that cross her path when she became a teenager. Goners for sure…

Not that that would ever happen because he certainly wouldn't be letting her date until she was thirty. At least.

"Can we get some candies in there?" Sara asked hopefully.

"We'll see." Jack said as he unclipped his seat belt. "Button up your coat. It's chilly out there; we may just turn into snowmen."

"But, I'm a girl!" Sara protested, as she began fastening the buttons on her purple coat.

"Okay, snowman and snowgirl."

"No!"

Jack grinned to himself as he jumped out of the car and made his way to her door. He swung it open before he continued.

"We'll have to get some carrots in case we need noses on our faces."

"People don't turn to snow Daddy!"

"There's a first time for everything."

He took hold of the little girl and lifted her out of the seat and onto the ground beside him.

"Ah! It's really wet!" Sara said, staring at the half inch of water that surrounded her boots.

"Looks like we won't be turning into snowmen today – clearly Frosty didn't make it." Jack said as he locked the car door.

He glanced up at the sky for a moment. It actually was quite a nice day out today. It wasn't warm by any stretch of the imagination, but you could venture out in a jacket or coat without the need to pile on the layers.

There had been very little snow in over a week, so wherever puddles had the chance to form they had, and wherever there was dirt there was mushy ground.

Indeed this probably wasn't the best place to park, but at a reasonably small grocery store there weren't a lot of options.

"I hope my socks don't get wet!" Sara said as Jack took her hand.

"I don't think they will – that's what rain boots are for."

"I really like them Daddy – do you know why?"

"Hmm… let me guess… they're purple?"

As far as Jack knew it was typical for little girls had an obsession with pink – well not Sara.

Anything she wanted or needed she had to have the colour purple. She'd probably bathe in the colour if she could.

Jack had even painted her bedroom a nice shade of lavender in hopes Sara would want to start sleeping in there again.

After the walls had dried and the objectionable smell of fresh paint had abated, he'd taken her shopping for a new comforter. He let her choose it entirely on her own, in hopes of sealing the deal.

Of course she'd chosen the only quilt that had purple on it - with hearts and flowers to boot. In seeing her eyes light up at the sight of it, and her excitement as she carried it into the house, Jack felt confident that she'd now be sleeping in her own room.

He read her a book and put her to bed that night, and stayed with her until she fell asleep.

Much to his dismay, when he woke up in the morning he found her back in Charlie's room, sleeping amongst the memoires of the brother she'd lost but couldn't let go.

It had been almost two years now, and to this day she was adamant that no one touch his belongings.

Jack never questioned her on the matter. He felt sure that Sara knew Charlie would never return. But holding onto his belongings was her way of coping – it's probably what her mother would have done if she'd been alive.

Jack on the other hand could barely stand to look at his name plaque on his bedroom door.

He had entered that room the night of his son's funeral, with the revolver that had taken his son from him… his revolver.

If the pitter-patter of little three year old feet hadn't interrupted him that night he didn't like to think what he might have done.

He still avoided that room as much as possible. The emptiness of it was too much to bear. The noise and laughter… the love that once filled it… was gone, and the void seemed to eat away at him whenever he was forced to set foot through the doorway.

He let Sara's grandfather, Mike, put her to bed every night and he did Jack the service of never questioning why.

He knew why, as he had lost a child himself.

"And they have sparkly bits in them too, Daddy. But mainly because they're purple."

"Well that's shocking." Jack feigned surprise causing Sara to giggle.

They were nearing the entrance to the store.

Jack liked this supermarket as it was rarely crowded. He didn't do the 'people' thing - at least not if he could avoid it.

In the front entrance, out the back… nice and quick. Fifteen minutes, tops.

Who was he kidding? Nothing was ever quick with a five year old in tow.

They'd probably spend fifteen minutes just choosing an ice-cream flavour.

The automatic door slid open as they walked into the store. It was a little more busy than usual, which explained the lack of parking spots in the lot outside.

"Do you want to ride in the cart?"

"No way! I'm too old for that!"

"Right. How old are you again… twenty one?"

"No. I'm five!"

"Oh right… five. Then how about you go pick up a bottle of scotch for your grandpa and I'll meet you back at the car when I'm done."

"I can't so that!"

"Then you can drive us home!"

"No I can't!"

"Why not?"

"Because, I'm too little!"

"That's right… and what do little girls do?"

"I don't know."

"They ride in the cart!" Jack said, tickling her and lifting a giggling Sara into the shopping cart.

"Now… what's first on the agenda?" Jack asked, glancing around.

"What's on the list?" Asked Sara, who was stretching her arms to grasp on to both sides of the cart.

"Oh… darn it - the dog must have eaten it."

"But we don't have a dog." Sara chimed.

"Well then I guess I forgot to write one." Jack admitted, while grabbing a bunch of bananas and placing them in the cart beside Sara.

"Grandpa always has a list when I go shopping with him."

"Yeah, but Daddy's a rebel."

"What's a rebel?"

"It means I'm too cool for any lists… Dad plays by his own rules."

"But Grandpa says it costs less money like that." Sara said, taking the large bag of oranges Jack handed her that was very cutely too big for her to handle.

"Well, I'm sure he's right."

Mike was usually right.

Jack was forever indebted to the man, whom done more for him than he could ever repay.

When Jack had lost his wife Sara, Mike had also lost his daughter. Yet the man carried on with a strength that Jack could only aspire to.

She'd only gotten to hold their daughter for a moment before her blood pressure dropped. She'd been rushed to emergency, and when the doctors returned an hour later she was already gone.

Jack left the hospital immediately to begin arranging the funeral and drink himself into a coma.

In the weeks and months following Mike had been the one that carried both him and his children.

He was the one who held the baby, and fed her, and clothed her, who played with Charlie, and took Charlie to preschool so he could retain some sense of normalcy.

The baby had been due to come home on the day of his Sara's funeral.

Mike had come to him, telling him that the baby needed to be named before she left the hospital.

"You name her." Was all he had said.

If Jack had been anything resembling a functional human being at the time he probably would have chosen that name himself.

"Oh, look Daddy! Can we get some of that?" Sara squealed, pointing at a log of cookie dough.

"I'm pretty sure your Grandpa would kill me."

"No he won't! He likes cookies!" She insisted.

"It's not good for your teeth." Jack tried to reason, although he knew there was excuse on Earth he could come up with that would appease the little girl.

"Pleeeeaaseee?" Sara looked up at him with those sad, imploring eyes.

It really was amazing.

Here was a man who had spent the past two and a half decades in service of the military. He'd seen things that no man should ever see. He'd done things that no man should ever be forced to do. He'd been on the front line of wars in foreign countries.

Hell… even foreign planets on one occasion.

Jack had commanded some of the most dangerous and covert missions ever undertaken by the US government. Yet somehow those pleading eyes and that sweet little face had the power to completely disarm him.

"Aw, how can you say no to that?" A ladies voice interjected. Jack turned to see a tall woman, with short blonde hair and blue eyes standing beside him.

She was beautiful by and standards, and as far as Jack could tell he had never seen her before.

"I can't - that's the problem."

"I have a niece and nephew that have me wrapped around their little fingers. It's the cute face – that's how they get you."

"Not fair is it?" Jack said casually.

"Hardly surprising though, she must get her good looks from her Dad."

Jack was a little taken aback. This wasn't the first time he had been hit on in recent years, but rarely did anyone approach him when he was with his daughter. She seemed a clear cut signal that he was taken. It surprised him enough when woman came onto him while he was wearing a wedding band – which hadn't left his finger a day since his wife had died, or even since the day he had gotten married.

Jack also couldn't figure out what a woman probably yet to hit 30 wanted with an old man like him. Sure he was in good shape for his age, but he was far from the days of hitting the town on Friday night and had been for quite some time.

There was no one else for him.

When his wife had died, she had taken half his heart with her. He was sure the only reason it was still beating was the little girl standing in front of him.

Sara hadn't just saved him the night she wandered into Charlie's room and saw the gun in his hands. She'd saved him everyday since, in so many ways he couldn't count. And just like her mother Jack couldn't quite figure out what he'd done to deserve her.

"She's all her mother." Jack smiled at Sara lovingly. He took a log of chocolate chip cookie dough and handed it to the little girl.

"Thank you Daddy!" Sara cried, sitting down in the cart and beholding her newly acquired prize.

Jack smiled briefly at the woman before pushing the shopping cart onwards and not looking back until he'd completely left the isle and was out of the woman's sight.

Jack peered into the half full cart. Well actually it was completely full. Half with groceries and half with little girl.

"I think you're going to have to jump out now Sara. That is if we want to get any more shopping done. It's pretty crowded in there."

"Okay Daddy. My legs need more stretches anyway." Jack picked the little girl up and placed her on the supermarket floor. "There… plenty of room."

"Can I help get something?" Sara asked staring up at her father as they continued walking along.

"Like what?"

"Some candies?"

"Uh uh. Nice try young lady." Jack said, shaking his head at her. "I think that log of dough has enough sugar to last you a week."

"Can I get the cereal then?" Sara pleaded.

"I don't think so Sweetie."

"But Grandpa lets me help him."

"Do you know where they are?" Jack asked, sure the answer would be 'maybe'.

"Yes, Daddy, isle 6."

"Impressive. I didn't even know that." The little girl beamed at him, pleased she could impress her father. "Do you know what kind to get?"

"Froot Loops and All Bran."

"Are you sure you're not sick of All Bran?" Jack questioned, not quite sure how his daughter could stand the stuff.

"No Daddy. I like it."

"Alright, Froot Loops and All Bran it is. I want you to go grab them and come straight back okay? I'll stay here and find a new shampoo and conditioner – my hair seems to be getting grayer by the day and I'm pretty sure it's the stuff we're using. I should really call that number on the bottle and complain." Jack said in mock seriousness.

Sara giggled and ran off down the isle to find the breakfast cereal.

Her grandfather always noted what items were in which isle to save time, and she always held the list when they went shopping. She knew exactly where to go, and she knew her Daddy would smile because she helped him.

She found the sign that said isle six and hurried down it, but when she reached the cereal she faced quite the dilemma.

There was a shopping cart blocking her way…

Standing next to it was a pretty woman with long blonde hair. She was holding a box of Frootees and seemed to be checking out the box.

Sara could only deduce that the lady must be checking what kind of toys were inside. Sara knew the answer - none!

And they tasted terrible! Being the sweet girl she was, Sara felt inclined to speak up and stop the pretty lady with glasses from making a terrible mistake!

But she knew the rules… she wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. She wanted her father to be happy with her for getting him the cereal, not cross with her for breaking the rules.

Sara stood by timidly and watched as the woman continued to stare at the box.

She looks like a princess with glasses.

Sara felt sure this lady was nice and kind, and probably smart too… that must be why she wore glasses. She wasn't a scary person – she could feel it in her gut. Besides, she had to ask the lady to move or she would take too long getting back to her father and that might also make her Dad mad.

"Those ones don't have any toys." Sara said meekly.

The woman looked up from the box she was holding.

"Excuse me?"

"Them ones don't have any toys… and they taste really yuck. You should get the kind that we get, they have toys right now."

The lady just stood there and smiled at her for a moment before she replied.

"Well, thank you for telling me… that was a close one! I was actually just checking the ingredients, but if they don't have any toys then I definitely don't want them." She said, placing them back on the shelf with the other boxes.

"Why were you checking the ingredients?" Sara asked curiously.

"I was just seeing what kind of bad chemicals might be in them." The pretty lady with glasses explained.

"My Daddy says it's the bad stuff that tastes the best."

The woman smiled to herself, wondering what kind of man would tell their child something like that.

Although with a quick glimpse into her cart, and seeing the box of donuts that had inexplicably made their way into it against her better judgement she knew the girls father was absolutely right.

"I guess that's true." The woman smiled at the little girl before looking up and down the isle to see if she could locate a parent. "Are you here with your Mom?"

"No. My Daddy. He sent me to get the cereal, but I can't get it."

"Why not?" Asked the woman.

Sara stared pointedly at the shopping cart blocking the Froot Loops.

"Oh, I'm sorry Sweetie." The woman dragged the cart backwards to reveal the boxes of cereal hidden behind.

"That's okay, Mam."

The woman was impressed. Whoever this child's parents were they had certainly done a great job of teaching her manners.

Sara grabbed the big box of cereal with two hands, and for the first time questioned whether or not she could actually carry two of them by herself.

"You should get this kind too. You see, they have really cool toys." Sara said holding up the box for the lady to see.

"You're right! I have been wanting a little helicopter for a while now." The lady smiled at her as the little girl placed the box on the floor. She appeared to be worried about something, glancing up at the shelf above her.

"Something wrong?"

"I was supposed to get cereal for me and Daddy, but I can't reach it." She said, pointing up at the cereal on the top shelf. Even on her tippy toes she'd have to grow a couple of feet to be able to reach it. "Can you help me?"

"Of course." The woman reached up to grab a box of All Bran.

"No! I told Daddy I would get it. Can you please lift me up?" Said the little girl, clearly stretching with all her might.

The woman looked unsure for a moment. It didn't seem wise to engage with an unknown and unsupervised child in the middle of a grocery store. She may be a woman, but social convention said that was something that adults shouldn't do. She looked down at the little girl beside her… she had the sweetest little face… one that was near impossible to say no to.

"Sure." Said the woman, moving behind her. She wrapped her arms around the little girls waist. "Are you ready?"

Sara nodded.

"Okay… 1, 2, 3!" The woman lifted the girl up off the ground and her little hands flew around the cereal box.

"Got it!" Sara said triumphantly.

Once she was placed back down on the ground, she placed the box of All Bran on top of the Froot Loops.

"Thank you, Mam." The little girl said gratefully.

Then Sara did something that surprised the woman greatly. She stood up as straight as she could and brought her hand up to her forehead in a military-like salute.

It was bizarre and spectacularly adorable to see someone so tiny show such respect.

"You're very welcome." The woman said, not quite believing any child could be so adorable. Then the little girl did something that surprised her even more. Sara ran towards her and flung her arms around her waist in one swift motion.

She wasn't sure how she's gone from grocery shopping to having a little girl with a vice-like grip attached to her hip, but this was far from an unpleasant turn of events. She had the feeling in the coming weeks she'd be flooded with the yearning for a child of her own. It was almost guaranteed by the way the small girl stared up at her.

She had the most remarkable eyes she'd ever seen on a child. They were dark, and soulful, and expressed much more than her gentle voice.

Sara reluctantly let go of pretty blonde woman and returned to collect her cereal boxes. She struggled to get a grasp on them, but eventually managed to hold them steady in a bear hug against her chest. Her hands barely met and if the boxes had been even slightly larger, it would have been near impossible for her to carry them alone. She spun around to say goodbye, although she truly wished she could stay. If she didn't get back very soon her father would be cross.

"I have to go now." She said sadly.

"It was really nice to meet you…" The woman paused, realising she hadn't asked the girls name. "What's your name?"

"I'm Sara. What's your name?"

"Sam."

"That's a boy's name!"

"Yes, I suppose it is." Sam laughed at the little girls look of loathing.

"It was really nice to meet you too Sam. I have to go before Daddy gets mad I was gone too long."

"You better hurry then." Said the woman giving her a slight wave.

"Okay." And with that the little girl spun around and trotted awkwardly up the isle as fast as the cereal boxes would allow. She didn't stop until she had her father back in her sights, which didn't take very long because he was just around the corner.

"Sara! I told you to come right back! I was worried about you."

"I'm sorry Daddy."

Jack knelt down and took the two large boxes from his daughter.

"It's alright, looks like you did a good job here. Why were you gone so long?"

"I couldn't get the cereal because it was too high."

"Then how did you get it?" Jack asked.

"Sam picked me up." Sara said plainly.

Jack's heart fell from his chest down to his shoes. Immediately his mind was racing with thoughts of a strange man approaching his daughter and making his way out of the store with her.

Damn it! What kind of a father was he?! He should never have let her out of his sight! It would have been all his fault if anything happened!

"What!? What do you mean?"

"She lifted me off the ground so I could grab it. I wanted to get it myself."

She? Jack's heart started beating again. "I know I'm not supposed to talk to strangers Daddy. But you do tell me to ask for help if I need it."

Jack took a steadying breath and climbed to his feet.

"I do say that don't I?" He forced himself to smile, although the fear hadn't completely left him.

"And she was really nice Daddy. She had glasses and everything!" Sara said as they continued walking to the next isle.

"She must be smart." Jack mused.

"She was…" Sara insisted. "Really smart."

"Maybe she's a scientist?"

"Well, she was looking at chemicals on the box."

"Yup. Sounds like a scientist to me. Daddy's not really a fan of scientists."

"Why not?"

"From my experience they sneeze a lot. Especially this one guy I know."

"Oh, but you would like Sam Daddy. She's like a princess with glasses."

"A princess with glasses?"

"Yep!" Sara nodded enthusiastically.

"Hmm. Well in that case it's a shame I didn't get to meet her." Jack was humouring his daughter, but her obvious enthusiasm did peak his interest. Sara was usually quite shy, and she tended to withdraw around strangers. He had to wonder what it was about this woman that made her feel comfortable enough to speak.

"We could go find her?!" Sara suggested, almost with a hint of desperation in her voice.

"I don't think so sweetie."

"Why not?" Sara asked, sounding more than a little disappointed.

"Because the princess is supposed to get into trouble and then someone is supposed to rescue her. We don't want to make her late for that."

"You could rescue her!" Sara said hopefully.

"Nah. I already have a princess."

"You mean me, don't you Daddy?"

"Who else?" Jack smiled, pressing his finger to the tip of her little nose. "Besides, if anyone needs the saving it's me." Jack shrugged. "Especially when it comes to barbecues."

Sara nodded in agreement.

LIGHT UP

Jack secured Sara in her seat before returning to the back of the car to unload the shopping into the trunk.

He was grateful for having worn his leather flight-gloves. The cold afternoon air seemed to have taken on a sudden bite during their 52 minute shopping trip.

As he placed the last of the bags in the car, he felt further gratitude towards his father-in-law, who took up the shopping responsibilities. He could certainly think of better ways to spend his Saturday. Rarely a day went by when he didn't have to report to the base, and he didn't like to waste his time off.

But he was spending some quality time with Sara, so that was the silver lining of an otherwise very boring cloud.

Jack quickly returned the cart to the island. Leaving Sara alone in the car for even a minute made his stomach tense, so he moved as swiftly as possible, without resorting to running like some overly-paranoid parent.

On his way back however, he heard something that forced him to slow his pace.

"I can't believe you had the audacity to follow me here! How did you even know where I was?"

It was a woman. Jack could tell the voice came from nearby, but he couldn't see anyone in his direct line of vision.

"I know people around these parts." A voice – distinctly male – replied. Given how muffled the voices sounded, Jack presumed they must be coming from the inside of a vehicle.

"I bet you do." The woman said angrily.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Jack tried to act casual while trying to pin point the people's location. The parking lot was reasonably small, but it was also cramped, and completely packed with vehicles. His gut was telling him that he was needed here. The argument seemed to be nothing more than a lover's quarrel, but something about the woman's voice compelled Jack's feet to remain glued where they were.

"It doesn't matter. I told you it's over. I want nothing more to do with you! Stay away from me!"

"Come on Babe, you know you don't mean that. You love me! We're meant to be together. We're gonna work this whole thing out."

"Do not call me that! I don't love you. How could I love someone who lies, cheats and steals for a living? Get out now or I'm calling the police!"

"Come on, Babe."

Jack heard the sound of a car door opening, and saw a swash of blonde hair rising from the vehicle about eight spaces up ahead. He didn't get a chance to get a good look at the woman, as his attention was immediately drawn towards the passenger door flying open and smashing into the car next to it.

A short, stocky man jumped out of the vehicle and bolted around the other side towards his apparent estranged girlfriend.

Jack started towards the vehicle, not yet sure his intervention was required, but awaiting any sign this woman was in trouble.

"Get away from me Pete!" The woman shouted.

"Come on Babe, you know you'll miss me."

Now that Jack could hear their voices clearly he realized the man was either inebriated or under the influence. His speech was slightly slurred.

"Get off me!"

That was the final straw for Jack - he closed the rest of the distance as fast as his feet would carry him.

As he passed the rear of the woman's car, his eyes landed upon the couple. What Jack saw made his blood boil, and he had to remind himself that he could be reprimanded for using physical force in a civilian setting.

The shabby looking man had the woman pinned up against the vehicle, her wrists restrained by his hands at her side. His body was pushed up against her, forcing himself on her and overpowering her obvious resistance. He had his face buried into her neck, and appeared to be kissing it.

Jack caught sight of the woman's face – and to his surprise she looked neither frightened nor worried.

Instead of fear and doubt, he glimpsed fury and resolve. There was a glint in her eye that said she wouldn't be bettered, no matter how it may appear.

"Hey! I suggest you step away from the lady before I have something to say about it!" Jack barked.

His sudden arrival caught Pete by surprise and he loosened his grip slightly around the woman's wrists.

"This doesn't concern y-."

The mans sentence was cut short by his being thrown back into the car behind him - the woman having kneed him in the groin before her fist flew square into his jaw.

Jack watched in awe as he crumpled to the ground beside the parked car.

Having spent his lifetime serving in the military he had seen women do some remarkable things. But in witnessing a woman overthrow someone with such finesse is such an every day setting, he couldn't help but be impressed.

She hovered above the man, seemingly unfearful and with a steely resilience.

"Get out of here Pete, before I really lose my temper." She said calmly.

The man crawled on his hands and knees towards the front of the car before stumbling to his feet and slinking off towards the parking lot exit.

"Do you want me to call the police?" Jack asked.

"No. Let him sink back into the hole he came from – that's where he belongs."

The woman was yet to look at Jack, her eyes fixed squarely on the man as he stumbled away. Her eyes wouldn't leave him until he was completely out of sight, and she was sure she could allow herself the luxury of distraction.

Jack found himself strangely mesmerized by the woman standing but a few feet in front of him.

He was captivated not just by her actions, but by the aura of astonishing grace that surrounded her. She had just been assaulted and belittled by a man she presumably once cared for, yet she somehow retained an unwavering image of dignity and decorum.

Lost in her concentration, Jack had a chance to assess the woman without worry of her noticing.

She was well dressed, with a gray t-shirt, darkwash denim jeans, and a black trench coat which hung undone on her slender body. She looked elegant and sophisticated, and had a sense of delicate femininity which was not undone by her obvious strength and self-sufficiency.

Her long golden hair was perfectly groomed, and her side-swept fringe framed her delicate features, only adding to her remarkable beauty.

The rectangular styled spectacles she wore only added to Jack's bewilderment.

She certainly didn't appear to be type of person who would associate herself with drug users or criminals.

Jack felt himself being tugged toward her by some unbeknown force.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked softly, not wishing to startle the woman who seemed preoccupied with her attacker's whereabouts.

The woman turned to look at him for the first time.

Jack felt himself being washed away in a sea of sparkling deep blue eyes.

It seemed as if everything surrounding him faded for a moment and the only thing that existed was the colour blue.

"I'm fine. Thank you, sir." The woman said after a moment, pulling Jack out of his haze.

"Sir?" Was all Jack could think to say.

"Force of habit. Military father." The woman smiled at him.

Jack had never seen anything quite as beautiful as that smile.

"That explains the killer moves." Jack tried to say casually, but his heart was beating unusually fast and he didn't quite understand why.

"I think he always wanted me to join the Air Force, but not for me." The woman said, leaning her back against the car.

"Looks like we could have used you."

"We?"

"Air Force man myself." Jack admitted.

"And here I thought I was going to like you." The woman said in mock disappointment.

"I can retire if you like? Have done so before."

"Couldn't keep away?"

"Something like that." There was a moment of silence as they exchanged meaningful glances, and Jack wondered if she was feeling the same odd sense of familiarity that he was.

Jack mentally shook himself, and forced himself to say something. "Are you sure you don't want me to call the authorities? Aren't you worried he'll come back?"

"Do I look worried?" The woman said intrepidly.

"Well that makes one of us." Jack said trying to sound laid-back. But unwittingly, every drop of sincerity shone through.

"You're worried about me?" She smiled - almost as if she knew he was already in love with her.

"I… uh…" Jack stumbled, not quite sure what to say.

The woman grinned victoriously.

"Thank you, but believe me, I can handle myself." She said with confidence but without sounding prideful.

"Yeah… Saw that."

"Thank you though – for trying to help me." The woman turned her eyes onto him again and Jack wondered if he might stop breathing.

"How could I not?" He managed to croak out.

"Not everybody would." She said softly.

"Well than everybody needs their asses kicked."

The woman giggled at him, and all of a sudden Jack O'Neill's world felt whole again.

Who was this woman? And who was she that she dared make half a man feel complete?

"Daddy?" A small voice echoed.

Jack spun around to see his five year old standing less than two feet behind him.

"Sara?!" For the first time in minutes Jack had his feet firmly planted back in reality.

Sara leaned to the side to look behind her father.

"Hi Sam!" Sara chimed, while giving the woman one of the most enthusiastic waves Jack had ever witnessed.

Jack glanced from his daughter up to Sam, who looked slightly bewildered - by what he wasn't sure.

"Did you save the princess Daddy?" Sara stared up at him, gazing at him questioningly.

Jack reached down and pulled her up into his arms, before turning around to smile at Sam.

"Nope." Said Jack. "Turns out the princess can save herself."

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Author's note: So I got to thinking about how Pete might have been if he had never met the cop that supposedly turned his life around and made him one of the good guys.

Good guys stalk their new girlfriends, right? :D

This FYI, is my project for Ship Day. I will be writing this story during the month and posting the final chapter on July 28th.