Bing Crosby drifted out of the radio and Jack hummed along as he worked. The warm desert air beat against his shelter, but he ignored it, stitching up his shirt and thinking about a world light years away. This particular planet hadn\u2019t seen snow in millennia, but there was work here to be done, holidays or no. A little boy ran giggling in and climbed under his table, folding himself in the folds of Jack\u2019s coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cHiding from your sissy again?\u201d asked Jack, not pausing in his work.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wants me to clean my room,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeaven forbid,\u201d smiled Jack. <\/p>\n
And children listen, to hear, sleighbells in the snow<\/i>, crooned Bing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s sleighbells?\u201d asked the boy. \u201cAnd snow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you know how the colony is surrounded by sand?<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSnow is kinda like that, only it\u2019s white and cold and falls from the sky. Like the rain we get in the spring.\u201d Jack hummed along with the next lines.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d said the boy, peeking out and making sure his sister wasn\u2019t around before climbing out and sitting next to Jack, watching him work. \u201cYou\u2019ve been here a long time,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have,\u201d said Jack. \u201cAnd it\u2019s the holidays. So you should be nice to your sister and listen to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss our Mom and Dad,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n
Jack reached over and tousled his hair. \u201cI\u2019m sure she does too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you miss anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLots of people,\u201d admitted Jack, ignoring his feelings. He tied off his thread and looked at his handiwork. \u201cCome on, I\u2019ll walk you home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d The boy took his hand as Jack stepped out of his shelter and into the colony proper. The place had grown a lot in the years since he\u2019d been here, and he knew from experience they had a good foothold. He\u2019d probably move on before too long, leaving himself as only a memory and snatches of old songs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSing me that song you were listening to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack smiled and sang it for him, a song about a world he\u2019d never know.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty song,\u201d he said, stifling a yawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes it is. There\u2019s your sister, she\u2019s looking for you.\u201d He let go of the boy\u2019s hand and he went to his sister, letting her hug him.<\/p>\n
Jack went back to his own place and put away his work, still humming.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always did have a way with children,\u201d said a familiar voice behind him.<\/p>\n
Jack turned and smiled at Castiel. \u201cWell, he seems to have taken a liking to me. It\u2019s been hard for him, just him and his sister now.\u201d Perils of colony life, he knew that.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, you always do make time for him.\u201d Castiel stepped to shelter entrance and looked out at the sleeping colony. <\/p>\n
Jack put an arm around Castiel\u2019s waist and leaned against him. \u201cI\u2019m leaving here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d Castiel kissed his forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think you could make it snow? Just long enough for him to see it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Castiel, thinking about it. \u201cHe\u2019d go with you if you asked, and his sister would let him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t need a kid hanging around. You know how dangerous it is. And besides, they need each other, even if they don\u2019t realize it.\u201d His thoughts drifted to his own long lost brother, until Castiel kissed him and brought him back to the present.<\/p>\n
Jack ran a hand through Castiel\u2019s hair, loving the way the starlight shone in his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should rest, Jack. I\u2019ll be here in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nodding, Jack took himself to his cot and closed his eyes, not really sleeping, just resting, knowing Castiel would keep watch over the colony for him.<\/p>\n
The morning came sooner than he expected and Jack was awakened by a shout of happy surprise. The boy came barrelling into his shelter at top speed. \u201cCaptain Jack, I think it snowed!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d Jack tucked him under one arm and carried him outside. The whole colony seemed to be outside, touching and tossing the thin layer of snow that was already melting as the sun rose.<\/p>\n
Jack met Castiel\u2019s gaze as he set the boy down and mouthed a \u2018thank you.\u2019<\/p>\n
Castiel gave him a nod and disappeared, leaving him to the colonies celebrations.<\/p>\n