Nostalgia and Sweet Potatoes

By Sarah

“Come on Jackson, it’s Christmas, you can’t tell me you don’t have at least one obsolete, completely cheesy, historically based, holiday tradition that your family practices?” Mitchell protested, working his way through the off-world terrain, which despite its alien origin looked suspiciously like Colorado Springs.
“Nope-I really don’t.” Daniel replied, in a good mood despite having A. trekked for several miles back towards the Stargate away from artifacts that turned out to be a dead end. 2. Spending that trek in squishy boots due to a minor mishap with bad directions and a sink-hole, and 3. Mitchell was edging perilously close to the touchy and painful subject of Daniel’s non-existent family life. Of course Mitchell really had no idea-at least, not a well-rounded idea. If Mitchell had a fault, it was that he was a bit gung-ho, and thorough. He’d read all of the Mission report files as soon as he’d had the clearance to-upon becoming the leader of Sg-1. And while he’d understood (and though he’d never personally discussed) the loss of Daniel’s wife Sha’re (and consequently his whole adopted family on Abydos), he had glossed over the section concerning Daniel’s earlier life-the part about his parents’ tragic death in a New York Museum and Daniel’s long history of foster homes and estranged relatives.
But on this particular day, the wounds were faded scars and Daniel was upbeat-squelching boots and all. The world didn’t currently seem to be under attack from any sort of “Supreme Evil Being” over-dressed or otherwise, his team-his family was around him, healthy and in good spirits, and for once in a very long time, he’d developed some semblance of a social life. Not that Daniel necessarily found this a vital part of his life-instead it’d sorta crept up on him as a welcome surprise.
Cameron, for his part, was already enthused about Christmas, and it was only late November. In fact he’d been majorly “bummed” about missing the Mitchell family Thanksgiving due to something-er-other on P2X446 (probably saving the world-again.) And his Mom had given him the enth degree about it.
“I don’t see why they can’t just reschedule, if it’s just a diplomatic mission?” His mother, Majorie Mitchell had complained over the phone-it’s not like you’re going to-Iraq-thank God!”
“Yeah, I know Mom-but I just can’t tell the General I’m skipping class-you know.”
“I know dear-I was going to make your favorite dish this year-“
“Well how ‘bout you just mail it here.”
“Cameron-I am not going to put five pounds of sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping in an Fed-EX box.”
“I was kidding Mom.”
“Oh, well just come home safe, you hear-and we’ll expect you in Chicago for Christmas!”
“I promise Mom.” Cam grinned to himself at the memory-and Sam Carter gave him a funny look.
“Oh, there’s this old joke my mom and I have-about mailing sweet potatoes.”
“What?” The rest of SG-1 stopped in their tracks.
“What would be the purpose of such an action be?” Teal’c asked.
“You’re asking him that?” Vala asked in disbelief, “Who can account for strange earth traditions?”
“Hey! Don’t knock my momma’s sweet potatoes!”
“I am so not going to touch that with a ten-foot pole.” Daniel threw up his hands, shared a smile with Sam and promptly fell in another sinkhole.
“Don’t look at me!” Mitchell said, looking down at him, “You said it.”