Stand in the Storm

Authors Introduction:-
I've always been fascinated by the "Real Family" trick for crossovers. It's rich in possibly but everyone keeps to the same handful of ideas. I've been looking at doing one "off the beaten track" as it were but nothing really fit.

Looking to take my mind of the jam I've been having with my other work I tried again and this time it worked. I saw what looked like a perfect window and this is it. More of a Joyce's real family story, but it's ramifications are going to be important.

Disclaimer:-

I do not own Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Stargate SG-1. I'm just borrowing the characters and am not attempting to make profit out of them. If someone out there wants to try and do so:- Please don't. Thanks.

Introduction:-

The car pulled up outside his home and the airman stood up and opened his door. 'Thanks Rick.' George nodded as he got out

'Pleasure sir.' The young man responded. George knew that his diver had wanted more from the airforce than shuttling people back and forth, but while there were many different ways to advance in rank everyone had to start at the bottom. 'Same time tomorrow?' He asked.

'Yes, thank you. Have a good evening.' George stepped out and let him carry on. The General didn't make it two steps before he was intercepted by a pair of children.

'Grandpa!' Tessa shouted throwing her arms wide.

George, laughing, picked her up as Kayla began telling him about her day at about a thousand words a second. He only caught every fourth or fifth one but he still could piece her adventures together.

Every little thing from, crossing the road to getting a high grade on her school work was the single most important thing in the world. He listened to her seriously, telling her how proud he was and how clever she had been.

Tessa agreed, grinning all the time. It felt like it had taken him forever, but eventually the three of them made it to the front door. 'Will you play with us grandpa?' she asked.

'Oh please! Please!' Kayla almost begged, hoping from one foot to the other.

'Alright, let me say hello to your grandmother first and then I'll be right out.' He told them, putting Tessa down he watched the pair run up to the tree at the bottom of the yard.

Shaking his head George went inside and saw his wife laughing as she dried a glass over the sink. 'I don't know how you do it. Five minutes with them and I'm drained.'

'The secret is having to put up with Jack O'Neill for five years.' he told her.

'Oh you.' Joanne threw the dishcloth at him. He'd invited Jack and his team over a few times, they couldn't exactly talk about what happened under the mountain but his wife knew how immature her husband's second in command could be when he set his mind to it. 'Before you go back out, there's a letter for you. Came this morning, after you left.'

'A letter?' George asked. It had been a while since anyone had sent something to his home. Most official communication was handed by Walter back at the SGC.

'There's a return address on it, for California. Might be important.' She pointed to the kitchen table.

George had a quick look at the cover, 'Sunnydale? Sounds like one of those retirement communities.' He shrugged. It was his best guess, but he knew it was wrong. For one it would have been printed, not handwritten.

It wasn't until after dinner and his daughter-in-law had picked up the girls that George's growing curiosity got the better of him and he opened the mysterious letter. Afterwards he didn't know if it was the right thing or not.

Jack ambled into Hammond's office after a quick knock on the door. Inside his CO was signing off on a few orders. 'Come in Jack. One moment.'

The General had a pile of paperwork on his desk, you could practically hear the outbox groaning. 'Budget day again, already? Didn't we just have one of those?' Jack asked.

'I just want to make sure everything's in order.'

That didn't sound good. 'Something going on? I got word from Walter you wanted to see me.'

With a flourish he finished what looked to be the last memo in that pile. 'Yes Jack I did. I'm going to be taking some personal time the next few days, I want you to look after the shop here while I'm away.'

'Personal days sir?' He asked pulling up the chair and siting down. That wasn't like the General. 'Is something wrong at home?'

'Sort of.' He admitted carefully. 'Did I ever tell you about my first family Jack?'

That was something he didn't expect. 'Think you mentioned it once. You were both kids at the time and it didn't work out.' Jack tried to remember more.

'That's more or less it. What I don't think I told you was that we had a child. A daughter named Joyce. When things ended badly I lost touch with both of them. Over the years I've made a few attempts, tried to mend bridges. Never with any luck.'

'Until now.' Jack said hopefully.

Hammond shook his head gently. 'I wouldn't call it luck. Joyce died. Nearly three weeks ago. Complications after surgery to remove a brain tumour.'

Jack bit back a number of choice swear words. 'Whatever you need sir.' he said with respect.

'It's not all bad news, Joyce had two daughters who've found a letter she wrote to me before the operation. They only have each other now. Their father is… Out of the picture.'

Sounded like a bad scenario. 'When you heading out?'

'Late, sometime today.' He waved at the paper work on his desk. 'I've got to finish this off and there's a briefing with Master Bra'tac I have to hear.'

'Aren't SG-1 sitting in on that. Some update about the Gould and recent Jaffa defections?'

Hammond nodded. 'I'll be informing the rest of your team then, I just wanted to give you a heads up.'

Jack thought about it. 'We've got nothing but standard recon missions booked. I'm sure I can arrange for other teams to pull them. Carter's been looking for time to finish some projects for a while now and you know Daniel.'

'Then I best get as much of this done as I can and I'll see you at the briefing.' Hammond picked up his pen. As he got up to leave the General called out. 'Jack. Thank you.'

'You do what you gotta for family sir.' Jack resisted the unfamiliar urge to salute without the sarcasm and left.

End Introduction