Title: All the Branches
Author: Ami Ven
Prompt:
sj_everyday challenge 48 ‘family’
Word Count: 554
Rating: G
Fandom: Stargate SG-1
Pairing(s): Sam Carter/Jack O’Neill, background Daniel/Vala
Setting: part of my
Future VerseSummary: “Our family is a lot bigger than this.”
All the Branches
“There you go,” said Jack, setting a plate of apple slices in the middle of the table. “Now, where do we stand on homework?”
“Spelling,” said seven-year-old A.J., who already had a mouthful of apple. “Easy.”
“Okay. Jake, how about you?”
“A project for history,” her nine-year-old brother said. “I’ll need your help.”
“Yeah?” Jack asked, surprised. Jake was absolutely his mother’s son and hadn’t needed help with his homework for ages.
“It’s a family tree,” Jake said, pulling a large roll of paper from his backpack. “I already started it, look.”
He’d gotten pretty far, actually - Jake , his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were already there.
“Looks good, kiddo,” said Jack. “Not sure what you need my help with.”
“This part was easy,” he said. “Mr. Diaz gave us a chart to help. But our family is a lot bigger than this.”
“Most families are,” Jack agreed. “I can give you all of your great-great-grandparents on my side, but I’d have to look some stuff up for your mom’s.”
The boy shook his head. “We only have to go back as far as great-grandparents. But I need to know if Uncle Daniel should go on the chart on your side, or on Mom’s.”
“Well…” said Jack. “Uncle Daniel’s not actually related to either of us. Maybe he doesn’t need to go on there.”
“Of course he does,” Jake said, indignant. “He’s Uncle Daniel.”
“Fair enough,” said Jack. “Okay, put him on my side. Mom’s already got Uncle Mark.”
“Okay,” his son agreed. He leaned over the paper to add it, then looked back up. “What about Uncle Teal’c?”
“Um…”
“And Auntie Vala and Uncle Cam,” added A.J.
“Ah,” said Jack. “Well, Aunt Vala is married to Daniel, so she should go over by him, with their kids. Then you can put Uncle T over on my side and Uncle Cam on Mom’s.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t forget your sister.”
“Oh, yeah,” said Jake. He drew a box beside his own and carefully labeled it Amanda Janet O’Neill, then added another on the other side. “Hey, Dad, what was Charlie’s mom’s unmarried name?”
“Uh…” said Jack. “You’re putting Charlie on there?”
“It’s a family tree,” said Jake. “And Charlie’s my brother.” He frowned. “What about Uncle Daniel’s parents?”
“Claire and Melbourne,” said Jack, because he did listen to Daniel, when it was important.
“And their parents?”
His father glanced at the clock. “Everyone should still be at the SGC,” he said. “Let’s call and ask them.”
Sam was worried at first to get a call at four in the afternoon, but she quickly warmed up to Jake’s project.
Jack handed over the phone and watched as Jake added to his family tree. The phone was clearly being passed around on the other end - Jake listened intently to Daniel, giggled at Vala, nodded solemnly even though Teal’c couldn’t see him, and smiled at Mitchell, before talking to his mother again.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, “Love you.”
“Got everything?” Jack asked, hanging the wireless phone back in its charger.
The tree looked pretty full. Jake had added Daniel’s parents and grandparents; Sha’re, Skaara and Kasuf; Vala’s parents and stepmother; Adria and Shifu; Teal’c’s parents, Rya’c and Bra’tac; Janet and Cassandra; Cam’s parents and Hammond’s family…
“It’s a little squished,” said Jake.
Jack smiled. “Looks perfect to me.”
THE END
Current Mood:
tired