Thanksgiving

Title: Thanksgiving.
Author: Tels
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Characters: Mark/Mark's family/Jacob
Rating: PG13
Word count: 992
Prompt: #93 Thanksgiving
Summary:Notes: Its pick your own football teams because I'm British and don't want to get it wrong.

It was Thanksgiving in the Carter household and for the first time in many years they were going to celebrate it in Colorado Springs . Mark had driven his family up for the long weekend and taken over Sam's house completely.

Sam had to go into work that morning which she was not happy about, but apparently it constituted an emergency so she went. Jacob said he would pick her up on his way over for dinner. Sam and Laura had done most of the food preparation the previous evening and Laura had offered to cook while Sam was at work.

Mark looked up as he heard a car outside. “Is that them?” he called from where he was setting the table.

Laura glanced out of the kitchen window. “No,” she replied. She finished basting the turkey and put it back in the oven. “Dad did say it'd be getting on for one before they got here.”

Mark came into the kitchen for more cutlery. “I know,” he said pulling open the drawer. “But I was kinda hoping they'd get here before the game started at one.”

Laura shook her head. “They'll be here.”

Mark snorted. “You know Dad… since when has he ever been on time? He was late picking up Mom that time, late for few games I was in at school that he bothered to come to. You know once he even sent an airman with a camera to tape the game for him!” Mark slammed the drawer shut. “Should have got Sam to pick him up not the other way round.”

The front door opened and then shut. “Mom Dad guess what?” Ryan called. Having discovered the hoop on the side of Sam's house, he'd been playing outside for the past hour. “It's snowing!”

Now that the Macys parade had finished, Jen ran to the window. “Yay!” she cried. “Mom can I go play outside in the yard? Can I, can I, please?”

Laura nodded. “Sure honey. Wrap up though.”

Mark looked at her. “It hasn't snowed on Thanksgiving in years.”

Ryan laughed. “That's because we live in San Diego Dad.”

Mark looked at him. “Ha ha ha.”

Jen came back in with her jacket on. “Can we put Auntie Sam's Christmas tree up this afternoon?” she asked.

Laura shook her head. “Maybe later,” she said.

Jen nodded and ran to the door. She opened it and snow whirled in round her feet. “Wow!” she cried excitedly running outside letting the door blow shut behind her.

Mark looked at the clock.

Laura sighed. “Will you stop fussing?! They'll be here.” She threw the oven gloves at him. “Now turn the potatoes for me please.”

Mark did so, still complaining.

Laura tuned him out with the practise that comes with several years. She made the appropriate noises in the right places and started preparing the dessert. All the vegetables were in water ready to put on apart from the corn which sat on the side waiting to be done.

Mark put the oven gloves down and moved over to Laura. “I'm sorry hon; I don't mean to take it out on you.”

She leaned into him. “Then don't. They will be here. Now do the corn.”

He gave her a mock salute. “Yes ma'am.”

One o'clock came and went and there was no sign of Jacob or Sam. Mark sat with a beer in one hand and the TV remote in the other. “Where is he?” he muttered.

Laura looked at him. “He'll be here. Sam's with him remember?”

Mark humphed and turned back to the game.

By half time the [insert team of your choice] were beating the [insert another team of your choice] by [insert score of your choice] to [insert another score of your choice]. Mark shook his head and grabbed the phone. He dialled Sam's cell phone but there was no answer. It was now almost three-thirty and dinner was done. He got up and went to the window. The snow was starting to lay heavily now. As he watched a cab drew up outside and a figure got out and paid the driver. Then the cab drove off.

Recognising the figure moving up the path as his father, Mark got to the door just as Jacob was about to open it. He took in the state his father was in, the cut to his head and blood on his coat and his arm in a sling. “Dad… what happened? Where's Sam?”

Laura came into the hall. “Mark… let Dad sit down.” She took his arm and led him into the kitchen, sitting him down at the table.

Jacob sat slowly. He took the water that Mark offered him in trembling hands. He managed to swallow some then put it down.

Mark looked at him. “Dad… what happened?” he asked worried now. “Where's Sam? She was supposed to be with you.”

Jacob looked at him. “There was an accident… a car ran the light, broadsided us…”

Mark slumped down in the chair next to him, feeling sick. “Noooooo,” he managed memories of losing his mother filling his mind.

Laura moved to his side, putting her arms round him.

Jacob looked at Mark, suddenly realising what he was thinking. “No… no… Sam's okay… but they wanted to keep her in overnight. She hit her head pretty hard.”

Mark nodded. “But she's okay?”

Jacob nodded. “Yeah she's okay. We can go and see her.”

Laura looked at him. “Yeah, we'll do that. Dinner can wait.” She moved over to the stove and turned it off.

Jacob looked at her. “Thank you.” Then he looked at Mark. “Sam says it'll take more than a bang on the head to keep her down.”

Mark smiled slightly. “She always was thick headed.” He paused. “What about you?”

Jacob shrugged. “My arm's broken, bit bashed but glad to be alive.”

Mark nodded slowly. “Yeah that is a lot to be thankful for.”