house building (for Sam)

[has_2ls]

Jack's glad the kids are up at the Children's Office today because while he loves them, he doesn't want them getting hurt while he's building and he thinks Carter's probably got the same idea. Considering he recently broke his thumb right by himself, there's no way he wants to risk hurting one of the kids on sheer accident.

The frame is up and has been for a while but today they're working on walls and Carter's along to figure out how she wants to run power and plumbing (and, let's face it, to also help with walls because she can hold her own and then some.) While Jack thinks he knows a little something about that, he's no engineer, and it's best to just leave it to her and make sure it's Done Right.

They have a pitcher of water they've been sharing, since it's just plain hot out on the island and Jack pauses for a minute to get something to drink, glancing over at Carter once he's slaked his thirst.

"How's it coming so far?"

Comments

[gate_expert]

"We'll find a place, even if the house isn't ready," Sam says. "I just can't believe she's going to be a year old already." And William will be four in September and it really doesn't seem like enough time should have passed for these things to be happening.

[has_2ls]

"And I will be ancient in October," Jack says, grinning at her. She's a little older than he's used to back home since she's from some time later but there's still a decent enough age difference between them.

"Baby girl's getting so big. I hate I missed the first part."

[gate_expert]

"I'm glad you're here for this part," Sam assures him. She thinks about the fiftieth birthday party she threw for the other him, and what happened then, and decides now is not the time to talk about it; she doesn't want to talk about the past in this new place. "You're going to get to see all the big firsts. Walking, saying things." Janet's cruising around so much these days, walking around by holding on to each piece of furniture, that it won't be long until she's walking for real.

[has_2ls]

"Pretty soon she's gonna be terror on two legs," Jack says, face beaming and voice unmistakably proud.

"I never...I never thought I would get to have this again, Carter. You can't imagine how much this means to me."

[gate_expert]

Sam has a little bit of an idea. She knows how happy Jack was about both pregnancies, how torn up he was about losing their first baby, how hopeful he was for their second. And even if she didn't know all that, she has two eyes and can see pretty clearly how his face lights up whenever Janet's around. "I have a good idea," Sam says. "I see you with her, you know."

[has_2ls]

"Being with you guys is my favorite part of the day," Jack admits. He's utterly sincere because the only thing he has ever wanted is to be a part of a family. He loves Carter and their kids so much that he thinks his heart might burst. He lives in perpetual fear that he'll abandon them again.

"Sam?"

[gate_expert]

"Hm?" She's been working all through this conversation (they both have) and she hasn't really been looking at him because she's been concentrating on their work--and she doesn't turn now, but the way he says her name does make her pause.

[has_2ls]

"I love you," Jack says, rubbing just between her shoulder blades. "I want to do everything I can to be a partner you can depend on to help you take care of our family and I want you to know that you don't have to do this alone. You're capable, absolutely, but you're not gonna be alone while you do this."

[gate_expert]

It surprises Sam that Jack's so wordy and forthright, because he usually isn't very open about how he feels. But now and then, he'll have a moment where he gives her more than she expects, and it always catches her off guard. And sometimes, like now, she doesn't know what to say. She completes the run of wire she was making, finishes it off, then when she still doesn't have any appropriate words to respond with she just turns and hugs him, very tightly.

[has_2ls]

Jack kisses the top of her head. He's never been good with words in spite of occasional moments where he can get it together and actually say what he feels in a way that Carter can understand. Right now, he thinks it's probably best if he just kisses her and holds her and doesn't try to say anything else; the last thing he wants is to screw it up.

[gate_expert]

Sam sighs and shifts her face against his shoulder. "We've done a lot today," she says. "I think we should stop here for the evening and go get the kids." She straightens in his arms and looks at him, but doesn't pull away. "Will you stay, tonight?" she asks.

[has_2ls]

"I'd like that." Maybe a few weeks ago he'd have said something more like "if that's okay" or "if you want" but now he feels a little more confident about their relationship and doesn't compare himself as much to his past version.

"Your bed's better anyway. Much more uh...warm?"

[gate_expert]

She laughs softly and punches him lightly in the arm. "Come on," she says. "Let's put these things away and go get the kids." They can have dinner at the compound and then take the kids home for their bedtime routines.

[has_2ls]

"Yeah, I want to get to spend some time with them before we put them to bed. I don't like it when I miss bedtime," Jack admits quietly. Maybe it's a weird thing to admit but he really doesn't like missing that little routine with them because he has to go back to his own place at night.

[gate_expert]

"It won't be long, and you'll be there for all the bedtimes," Sam says, and when they finish putting things away for the day she takes his hand and they start walking up towards the compound. Sometimes she thinks about asking him to move back in with her since he spends so much time there anyway, and then she thinks it might be better if they just make a clean start in their new house that they're building together.

[has_2ls]

"As long as I get my share of dirty diapers and throwing up," Jack says, squeezing her hand a little. It's important to him to be a good father but he thinks that Carter can understand that, especially considering that he'd been here and left again.

"You know if you ever want a break...I'm happy to take them for a little while."

[gate_expert]

"Now what would I possibly do away from you and the kids?" Sam asks. It's only partly joking. Other than teaching, she really doesn't have anything to do that doesn't involve them. Back home, she would have plenty to do; now, not so much.

[has_2ls]

"Nap? Girls day? I don't know," Jack says, shrugging. He hopes that he looks sheepish and charming but he just feels stupid considering they're trapped on a deserted island.

"I just don't mind giving you the time off."

[gate_expert]

Sam squeezes his hand. "You can spend time with them whenever you want," she says. "You don't have a reason other than you just want to." It's probably easier to ask for it under the guise of giving her a break, but she doesn't need it.

[has_2ls]

"Well, I always want to. Just trying to be appropriate," Jack says, shrugging a little. "No pressure, no expectations. All that."

He guesses that someday he might feel comfortable with just sharing all his feelings with Carter but today's not really that day. "I love you. I don't want to screw that up."

[gate_expert]

"You're not," she assures him. "It's good. Really good." So good, she thinks, that something's probably going to go wrong, because nothing can be this good for this long.

When they get to the compound and the Children's Office, Sam goes to collect the kids' things and lets Jack divert them from whatever they are playing with. William comes over to her, because he likes 'helping' get his stuff together, but Janet is on the other side of the room laughing and cruising around holding on to furniture, so Sam lets Jack go get her. "Did you have fun today, kiddo?" she asks William, and he nods as he puts on his backpack.

"Yes," he says. "I'm hungry."

"I know," she says. "Me too. We were working on the house. We'll take you to see it after dinner, if you want."

[has_2ls]

"Who's Daddy's pumpkin? Is it Janet? It's Janet," Jack babytalks, kneeling down and spreading his arms wide for her. She's comfortable enough with holding onto furniture and walking but there's a good little stretch of floor between the furniture and Jack and he doesn't know if she'll risk that.

The first few steps are shaky and Jack thinks she might just sit down but Janet manages to cross over to him. He thinks his heart's gonna give out on him and while he's not the kind of man to cry, his cheeks might be a little damp.

"C'mere, you," he says, scooping her up and kissing her all over. He's never been more proud.

[gate_expert]

Sam's knelt down to tie William's shoes and when she stands up again, she sees Jack with Janet, grinning like a lunatic. "What's up?" she asks. William raises his arms, his way of asking to be picked up, and she scoops him up and balances him on her hip. "You're such a big boy," she says. "Getting heavy!"

[has_2ls]

"Janet walked," Jack says, unable to keep the grin off his face. He feels ridiculous but he doesn't really care.

"She walked right to me without holding on to anything."

[gate_expert]

"What a big girl!" Sam says, and she's disappointed she missed it, but she's glad Jack saw those first steps. "I thought it might be soon. I've never seen her do it without holding on to anything. Can you show Mommy?" She slides William off her hip and kneels down beside him, waiting to see if Janet will walk to them.