Rating: G

Genre: H/C, Angst, D/J friendship

~~*~~*~~

Dear Santa,

When I was a kid, I wrote to you almost every year. My father told me that I was a bad boy, but my mother said I was good. Obviously, you agreed with my father.

When I was five, I asked for a coloring book and crayons. Instead, I got empty beer cans, a drunk father, and a black eye.

When I was six, I asked for a baby brother. I got a crying mother after father beat her until she miscarried.

When I was seven, I asked for a pair of roller skates. I was called ungrateful and slept outside on Christmas Eve for a punishment.

When I was eight, I asked for my mother to live. The cancer claimed her the day after Christmas.

When I was nine I couldn't write because my father had broken my arm. I didn't write for a few years later either.

When I was fifteen, I wrote one last letter. I asked that my father would die. You finally gave me what I wanted. He was killed in a bar fight with a guy dressed up as Santa.

Now, my son is dead, Sara divorced me, and I have no family. If I could ask for a family for Christmas, I would.

from, Jack

~

Jack stared at the letter he wrote and he crumpled it up and threw it towards the garbage can. He missed the shot by a few inches. Shrugging, he picked up his pen and wrote a new letter.

~

Dear Santa,

I want a new fishing pole.

from, Jack

~

He folded it and sealed it in an envelope addressed to Santa. Rolling his eyes, he got up to take the letter to Janet. She was making everyone on base write letters to Santa... for Cassie's sake.

~

Daniel had just finished his letter to Santa and went to see if Jack had finished his.

"Hey, Jack are you- oh..." Daniel cut himself off when he saw Jack's empty office. He noticed a paper that missed the garbage can and went to pick it up. He caught the words, Dear Santa, and decided to take a peek. What does Jack want for Christmas?

As he read on, his face turned into a frown and he bit his bottom lip. He'd never known about Jack's childhood... which was saying a lot about how private Jack is since he knew more about Jack than anyone on the base. He stuffed the letter into his own pocket when he finished reading it and left to go give his own letter to Janet.

~

The SGC had a Christmas Eve party and Jack got a new fishing pole from "Santa". Cassie was amazed at the similarities between Santa and General Hammond. She was also disappointed that the General had stepped out and missed seeing Santa.

After the party, Jack drove home and went straight to bed. He had no plans for the next morning, so he didn't bother to set his alarm clock. He had no family to have any plans with.

Jack awoke Christmas morning to the smell of coffee and cocoa. He furrowed his brow in confusion and got out of bed. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt and left his bedroom to find the source of the smells.

He almost tripped in surprise when he saw his living room. The room that was bare the day before now had a decorated Christmas tree in the corner.

"What the..." Jack turned to the kitchen and saw Daniel leaning against the counter sipping his coffee with an amused smile.

"Good morning, Jack. Merry Christmas," he said. He grabbed another mug and poured hot cocoa into it. He held a bag of marshmallows. "With or without?"

"Uh... w- with," Jack stuttered. Daniel plopped two marshmallows into the mug and handed it to Jack.

"Thanks..." Jack said as he took the mug. He was about to ask what was going on, but Daniel beat him to it.

"So, you gonna open your presents?"

"My pres- my presents?"

"Those colorful things underneath the tree." Daniel was clearly having fun with this. He sat on Jack's couch and waited for Jack to open the presents.

Still confused, but curious, Jack sat down next to the tree and grabbed the first box. He unwrapped it and was surprised to find a pair of roller blades.

"Wow. Thanks Daniel. These are great," Jack sincerely said. More eager than before, he reached for the next present. It was a box of crayons and several Disney coloring books.

"You... read my letter."

"You're not done. You have another present."

Jack reached for the last present and unwrapped it. It was a photo album. Jack opened it and it was filled with pictures of SG-1, General Hammond, Janet, Cassie, and more of his close friends.... a family.

"Danny....thanks." He reached over to pull his best friend into a hug. "This is the best Christmas ever."

~~~

the end