Can I Have A Refund On This Body, Please? 3
Can I Have A Refund On This Body, Please? 3
by Belladonna
URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asb/belladonna/refund03.php
Summary: Jack becomes a big brother when Daniel has to work long hours at the mountain but Daniel thinks he's having an affair. It's vastly more complicated than that
This is about Daniel and the grown up cloned Jack's relationship-if you're confused then read 'Can I have a refund on the body, please?'. It's their introduction..Bella
"Monday and Thursday nights for 6 months?" Jack said with dismay.
Daniel nodded, "I know, it seems like a long time but Dr. Keely asked for a favor and I said that I could do it. Come on Jack, you know that these people need intensive training in the different languages if we're going to send them out with the SG teams."
Jack sighed, "It's a long time without you on our team is all that I'm thinking." He knew that Daniel was right, their linguists were a long way from being proficient in goa'uld or much of anything else.
Daniel leaned forward and kissed Jack lingeringly, sliding his tongue inside of his lover's mouth and fucking him with it, making Jack moan with want. "Prick." He said when he could think straight.
This made Daniel chuckle, "How about we take this to the bedroom, then do dinner." He nuzzled Jack's neck, licking and sucking in all of Jack's most sensitive spots.
Jack reluctantly pulled back and shoved him in the right direction, "I like the way your mind thinks Dr. Jackson."
After an athletic bout of lovemaking, they lay curled around each other, just enjoying each other's company. Jack was abnormally quiet and Daniel turned his head to look at his lover, "Whatcha thinking? I can smell the smoke."
Jack smiled, "Ha ha. Actually, I was wondering, did you ever want kids?"
This odd question made Daniel turn over, "What?"
"I'm serious."
Daniel nodded, "When I was married to Shar'e I suppose I considered it, but we didn't have enough time."
"I'm not sure what I want." Jack said thoughtfully, "I mean, Charlie wasn't mine, but I lived his life with him. I loved having a kid, they're so funny, fascinating, loud. I just plain love them."
"Do you want a kid?" Daniel asked, fascinated by this side of his lover.
Jack frowned thoughtfully, "I don't know. There's just something...." He shook his head.
"You know our jobs are pretty dangerous and after what happened to Janet and Cassie." Daniel left it dangling.
"Yeah, but look at Jack and Charlie. Jack was in dangerous places and situations all over and he got wounded but always came home. It was Charlie who died. I don't know, but I think I could do it."
Daniel sighed and lay on his back, "I don't think I could."
"Oh." Jack was disappointed but he understood.
~~~
It had been a month of Daniel teaching classes, and it had actually expanded to yet another evening class, Monday, now Tuesday, then Thursdays. Those nights they usually finished so late that Daniel slept on base and Jack was alone at the apartment.
It was a Tuesday, and Jack was alone, again. "Ok, this sucks." He clicked the TV on and watched a baseball game until he saw the ad for Big Brothers and Sisters and a light bulb went on, "I could do that!" He checked the time and saw it was too late to do anything that night, but he had the next day off. Jack smiled, 'Finally, something that he could do."
The next day Jack sat in the seat across from the overworked counselor and filled out paperwork while they chatted, "Do you know what type of boy that you're looking for?" she asked as she read over what he'd already completed.
Jack looked at her blankly, "A boy boy?"
This made her laugh, "I mean, someone who's more introverted, extroverted, someone who likes books, someone into sports?"
"Sports." Jack said promptly.
She nodded and put down his paperwork and picked up a fat notebook and began to flip through it. Jack finished the last papers and slid them in front of her and saw that she'd paused on a page, then eyed him carefully.
"What?"
"I'm not sure, you're former military."
"And?"
"He's been hard to place, his mother is a lesbian."
"I'll take him." Jack said promptly.
Her eyebrows rose, "Really?"
He grinned, "Former military but I now live with my partner."
"Ahh." Her face cleared and she smiled. Jack had to smile back, the woman was actually pretty plain but when she smiled, 'wow'.
She opened the binder clip and pulled out the plastic sleeve and handed it to him, "That's Mickey. He's had no father, and his mother's partner died of AID's about 2 years ago. He's very sports oriented, plays softball and hockey, though he's been in his share of fights."
Jack looked up from the picture of the chestnut haired and blue eyed, extremely freckled boy, "Fights?"
"People saying things about his mom."
"Ah." Jack nodded, and looked down and continued to read. "Yeah, I'll take him. He's perfect."
The counselor smiled, "Great, I'll get his address for you."
~~~
Mickey sat on the front stoop of his apartment building, idly tossing a baseball up and catching it with his mitt. He watched curiously as a big red Dodge Ram pick up pulled into a parking spot across the street and a man got out and began to check addresses.
After a minute the man jogged across and checked the building next to his before walking over to stand in front of him, "Huh." He said, his head tilted as he pulled off his sunglasses.
"What?" Mickey asked, attitude leaking out all over.
Jack grinned, he liked this scrappy kid already, "You don't look anything like him."
Mickey frowned, "Who?"
"No big ears," Jack stepped up and looked behind Mickey, "No long tail. Are you sure you're a Mickey?"
This made Mickey roll his eyes and laugh, "Oh like I haven't heard that one a gazillion times."
Jack chuckled and held out his hand, "I'm Jack Neal. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters lady sent me over."
Now Mickey was confused, "You didn't look at my file did ya." He didn't even make this a question.
"Yeah I did." Jack said indignantly.
"Uh huh, and you know that my Mom is a lesbian?" He challenged.
"Yep."
"And you don't care?" Mickey was astonished.
"Nope, and I don't think my partner would either." Jack smiled mischievously.
"You're not gay." This was said decisively.
Jack sat down beside him, "Listen kid, not all gay guys are interior decorators or dress in drag. I was a Marine, now I'm an Engineer."
"Mickey!" a female voice called from an open window upstairs and they both looked up, "I'll be right up Mom!" he hollered.
The woman nodded and eyed Jack curiously, "Bring your friend up too." She said and disappeared.
Jack stood, "Come on, let me meet your mom and we can see if she'll let me take you to the batting cages for awhile."
"Really?"
Jack nodded, "Hey, it says in your file that your name is Sean. Why do you go by Mickey?" He asked as they entered the elevator.
Mickey smiled proudly, "Because I can hit a baseball."
Jack had his hands stuffed in his pockets, "Ah, Mickey Mantle. We'll just have to see."
Inside Mickey's apartment was an eclectic arrangement of older furniture, a kids backpack that looked like it had vomited books and crumpled papers onto the dining room table, a computer desk with an older model computer and the detritus of a mother and her son. Jack smiled at the kid's mom, "Jack Neal."
"Vanessa Brody, but you can call me Van. Elizabeth just called and told me you were coming over. I have to tell you that I just about had given up on them." She said frankly.
Jack eyed the thin but attractive brunette, "Yeah well." He began but Mickey jumped right in, "He doesn't care if you're a lesbian Mom. He's gay!"
Vanessa smothered a smile, "Oh. Do you have a partner?"
"Yeah, he's teaching classes three nights a week which is why I decided to volunteer. I can only watch so much TV before my brains leak out my ears."
"You can never watch too much TV." Mickey said stoutly.
"Spoken like a true kid." Jack said.
"Are you gonna ask her?" Mickey jumped up and down and Jack shook his head, "Ok, rule number one. No caffeine!"
"Ah, mom never let's me have any either." He complained.
Jack nodded, "Good. 9 years olds with caffeine are a tool of Satan." He said seriously, though when his eyes met Vanessa's his lips twitched and she giggled.
"Jaaack." The kid whined.
Jack turned his attention to Vanessa, "Ok, listen, do you need references? I can write down some phone numbers for you."
Vanessa nodded, "That would be great, and what are you supposed to ask me?"
"Oh, I forget." Jack looked at the ceiling.
Mickey flopped back onto the couch and groaned dramatically. "Batting cages?" The kid asked with awful politeness and Jack snapped his fingers, "Oh yeah!"
"That's fine. He had to be home by 5, unless you're going to feed him?" She looked at him hesitantly.
"Sure, I'll feed him, is he allergic to anything?"
"Nope, he's disgustingly healthy." She pulled out a notebook from beside the phone and opened it up to a blank page, "If you could write your numbers here and then I can make my calls."
Jack took the notebook and carefully wrote down his cell and work numbers, Carter's number and Ferretti's number. "These two are my co-workers and they'll lie about me so don't believe a word of it." He grinned.
Vanessa smiled as she took the notebook, "We'll see."
Jack programmed her numbers in his phone and the he and Mickey took off to the batting cages. Vanessa looked at the first number, "Colonel Sam Carter." She said, then dialed.
"Carter." Sam said absently as she typed on her computer.
Vanessa's eyebrows went up, "Sam Carter?"
"Yes." Sam stopped typing.
"Oh, well, Jack Neal listed you as a reference."
Sam laughed, "Did he really. What do you want to know?" Jack had said that she was going to get a call. He talked to her about his project and she'd endorsed it wholeheartedly. When she'd asked about what Daniel had thought, he'd shrugged, "It's on the nights that he works. He won't care."
"You didn't tell him?" She'd asked curiously.
"No, and don't you either ok? This is..." he'd ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "It's something I have to do and I know he wants no part in it."
The voice in her ear brought her back, "Well, is he good with kids?"
Sam smiled, "Very. He's a 12 year old kid in a 29 year old's body. He's very good with kids, and you can trust him completely. He also knows advanced CPR."
Vanessa felt herself relax, "Great, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me." She said goodbye and hung up. She dialed again and had to hold the phone back from her ear, "Hello?" Someone shouted, then they covered the earpiece, "If you guys don't quiet down I'm gonna have-unintelligible name- hang you by your heels!" the noise abated somewhat and a frazzled man asked, "Are you still there? Did we scare you away?"
She laughed, "Is this Lou Ferretti?"
"I dunno, are you offering me protective custody because I think I'm tempted." There was a loud noise and he said, "Excuse me." Then he shouted, "Take it outside!" he came back, "Geez, I'm so sorry."
Vanessa giggled, "I'm calling in reference to Jack Neal. He listed you as a reference?"
"Oh boy, if I get my hands on him! He's the one that started this, his 'special ops encounter', as a new game for the boys. I've been jumped twice and almost had a heart attack, the sneaky little shits."
She could hear the fond exasperation in his tone and she smiled, "So, I should prepare for my son to be corrupted, is that what you're saying?"
"You got it sister." Lou chuckled, "Really, he's a good guy and he's great with kids seeing as he such a big kid himself."
"So I've heard. Thanks for your time Mr. Ferretti."
"Call me Lou, and I expect I'll see your kid around here soon enough, he's the same age as my Jake."
"It sounds like he'll have fun then. Thanks again." And she hung up, a smile on her face.
~~~
Jack and Mickey had a great time and Jack agreed with the kid, "You are definitely good with the bat."
"I know." Mickey said not so modestly. He was finishing up his ice cream cone with relish at the same time that Daniel was wandering the apartment, wondering where Jack was.
Daniel had woken up at the mountain and driven home that morning hoping to get in some quality time with Jack and had arrived to find an empty house. He'd showered, shaved, paid bills and generally puttered around all day and still no Jack. Daniel had gone to the phone a couple of times but hesitated to call, it would seem like he was checking up on Jack and he didn't want to appear paranoid.
It was almost 7 when the key turned in the lock and Jack walked in, "Hey Daniel!"
"Finally!" Daniel said with a smile, walking up to kiss his lover, "I'm starving."
A look of guilty dismay crossed Jack's face, "Oh damn, I'm sorry. I already ate dinner."
Immediately Daniel became alarmed but put it away, "Oh, well that's too bad. I'll make some soup or something."
"No, let me make you something." Jack dropped his keys on the table and headed to the kitchen to find something for Daniel to eat.
Daniel followed him in, "So, what did you do today?"
"Went to the batting cages and whacked at the balls for awhile." Jack said as he pulled a casserole from the freezer.
Daniel felt something that had been tight inside loosen, "Oh, well next time let me know and I'll go with you."
Jack smiled, "I'd like that." And the evening snapped back into its familiar place.
~~~
Unfortunately over the next few months Daniel noticed that Jack was gone from the house a lot. He'd call on his evenings that he'd stay over at the mountain and Jack wouldn't be home. When he'd call the cell Jack would be distracted and Daniel was afraid that it had finally happened. Jack had found someone else, someone younger, and was having an affair.
He began to search for proof and found a phone number that he'd never seen before. He did a reverse directory search on the Internet and found an address and drove over. When he arrived he found Jack's truck there and his heart sank. He rested his head on his arms and wondered what he was going to do. He loved Jack with all of his heart.
Jack watched his lover the next day and wondered what was going on, "Daniel, are you ok?"
Daniel looked up into those beloved brown eyes and forced himself to smile, "Yeah, I'm good Jack. Just preoccupied with the next lesson and whether Aames is going to get his head out of his ass."
A little hesitantly Jack nodded, "Ok, and no, I'm forced to tell you that Aames is not going to get his head out of his ass." He indicated the man who was asleep, drooling on his books at another table and Daniel laughed.
Jack felt like the distance between him and Daniel was getting greater, and he blamed the stupid classes. They never saw each other anymore except the occasional lunch, and they hadn't made love in forever. He tried to talk to Daniel about it but had been brushed off, and now he wasn't sure what to do next.
Daniel was on base when the gate activated late one night. He ignored it as he focused on a translation, trying to ignore that ache in his heart. He still hadn't decided what to do about the situation with Jack, he actually hadn't had the time in between Jack being off planet and he himself teaching classes. He turned a page when he suddenly realized that someone was watching him. He looked up and was surprised to see Jack O'Neill. "Hey Jack!" He said to his best friend, "What are you doing here?"
Jack smiled, his tan dark against the long white hair that he'd pulled back into a ponytail, a not so subtle rebellion against his former military service. "I came to see how you're doing?" he said cheerfully, then was alarmed to see the pain that crossed Daniel's face.
"What? What has he done?" He crossed over smoothly, a reminder to Daniel of the fact that the Tok'ra had fixed Jack's knees.
Daniel sat back and rubbed his eyes, "I think he's having an affair."
Jack snorted, "Not possible."
"Anything's possible."
"Have you asked him?" the older man said reasonably.
"Oh right. 'Jack, you're not home anymore. Are you having an affair?'" Daniel said sarcastically.
The other man leaned forward, "You're doing yourself and him a disservice. I've seen you together, and remember, I know him better than anyone, except maybe you. Do you really think he'd do this behind your back?"
Daniel sat and forced himself to think unemotionally about it. "No, Jack would probably break it off and tell me why before going to someone else."
"Exactly. Go home and ask him what's going on. I'll bet you're gonna be surprised." Jack said wisely and was rewarded by a smile.
"Thanks Jack." Daniel said gratefully.
The next day Jack and Mickey were on the floor of Jack's apartment poring over military aircraft books. Mickey was doing a report and Jack had considerable knowledge of aircraft, especially the Blackhawk helicopters and had kept the kid entranced with his adventures in the Middle East.
Things had been quiet for awhile, the street noises flowing in through the open door and out through the windows. Jack had opened them because the air conditioning was down in the apartment due to maintenance, a fact that had made him grumble mightily.
"Jack?" Mickey asked quietly, neither aware of Daniel who had stopped in shock in the doorway when he heard the young boy's voice.
"Yeah Mick." Jack said, his head coming up to look at the kid.
"How come I haven't met Danny?"
Jack sighed, "Well, it's partly because he's been busy at the classes he's been teaching, and partly for another reason."
"What?" Mickey asked curiously.
Jack closed his book, and eyed the boy who had become such a large part of his life. "Have you ever done something, something that you think is ok, but you're still not sure what your mom is going to say? I mean, she might not say anything, she might go ballistic because of some reason that you don't know, or she might be ok with it?"
"You mean grown ups feel the same way?"
"Oh kid, you have no idea." Jack stood and walked to the kitchen, "Wanna drink?"
"Sure. So, what do you think Danny is going to say? Is he going to like me?"
Jack looked at the kid seriously, "He's going to love you Mick. You're smart, funny, and a nice kid if you ignore the fact that you're short and scrawny."
Mickey giggled, then looked toward the doorway and froze, "Um Jack. Is Danny about as tall as you and has blue eyes like me?"
Jack walked over and had to smile at the man who was leaning in the doorway, the look in his eyes making him raise an eyebrow, "Hey Danny. I have someone I'd like you to meet."
"I see that." He pushed himself off of the doorjamb, his heart feeling so light that he thought he was floating, "Hi, I'm Daniel."
Mickey stood and wiped his hand on his jeans before offering his hand, "Hi, I'm Mickey." The two shook hands and then Daniel looked at Jack, "So, you've been mentoring while I've been teaching."
"Mentoring?" Jack shook his head, "Nah, I've been teaching the kid to swipe a hockey puck, how to cut someone off at the knees with a well placed phrase and he's been teaching me how to hit a baseball."
Daniel laughed, "Sounds like fun. It's a good thing I only have another month of teaching classes. Maybe I can join you guys once or twice."
"Did that Aames guy finally figure out what he was doing?" Mickey's face was curious and Jack laughed, "Yeah, how is the dweeb?" It was obvious to Daniel that Jack had talked to the boy about his job.
"Jaaack." Daniel drawled, "He's not a dweeb and yes, Mickey, he's finally caught on."
"Oh good. Jack said he was giving you gray hair but he said that you deserved it."
Jack rolled his eyes, "Shut up kid."
Mickey's stomach grumbled and Daniel looked at them, "How about I take you guys out for dinner?"
"I have to call Mom." Mickey raced for the phone, then stopped and looked back, "She's been sick. She didn't want me to tell you but maybe if we take her out with us she'll feel better."
Jack moved quickly to kneel in front of the boy, "What? Why didn't she tell me?"
Mickey grimaced, "She's got HIV."
Daniel closed his eyes, "God." He opened them to look at Jack, "Tell her it's ok if she wants to come with us. We're going to O'Malley's steakhouse."
Mickey's face lit up, "Thanks Danny." And he picked up the phone and quickly dialed.
Daniel dragged Jack back to their bedroom, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"About Mickey?" Jack stalled and Daniel's eyes narrowed, "I thought you were cheating on me with someone younger!" He hissed.
Jack's eyes went wide, then he began to smile, "You should know better than that. I love you. And only you, you dumb archeologist." He cupped Daniel's face in his hands and kissed him long and hard. "I'm sorry Danny." He whispered.
Daniel pulled back, "I'm sorry too. It would've been easier if you had told me what you were doing!" He placed a quick kiss on Jack's lips before waiting for his lover's reason.
Jack rubbed a thumb over the graying sideburn, "I didn't know how you would feel and I guess I was afraid of what you might say." He made a face, "I guess it was kinda stupid."
Daniel nodded, "Yeah, you could say that." The two men hugged each other tightly, taking comfort from each other when Mickey came to the doorway, "Oh, bleck. Are we leaving yet?"
Jack snickered and Daniel smiled, "Is your mom coming with?"
"Yeah, she said she'd be ready when we got there."
At O'Malley's the three adults chatted quietly while Mickey shoveled in his hamburger and fries. After he finished Jack fished out some quarters, "Hey kid, you're bugging me with your freckles, go play some video games."
Mickey snickered, gave his mom a peck on the cheek and took off to the game room. Van looked at Jack, "You've done wonders for him."
"Nope, you're the one who's done wonders. I'm only taking advantage of it." Jack said, sipping his beer.
Daniel smiled, "I only found out tonight." He shot a mock glare at Jack.
Van looked at the couple in surprise, "Why?"
Looking shamefaced Jack shrugged, "Because even with two Ph.D.'s, I'm stupid."
"Ah, you're a man." Van said wisely and the two men across from her both yelped, "Hey!"
She took a sip of her coffee and smiled. She really liked them both, and liked the way they were together. A quick check of the time and she took a bottle out of her purse, quickly swallowing a pill. When she looked up she was aware that both men were watching her silently. "What?"
"Is it AIDS's yet?" Jack asked.
"Mickey told you."
"He wanted you to go out with us to cheer you up." Daniel said.
Van sighed heavily and leaned back into the leather of her booth, "I've had HIV for 6 years, but this year it developed into full blown AIDS's."
"How are you doing?" Daniel asked.
A shrug, "Good days and bad days. You know how it is."
"What happens to Mickey?"
"I've written to his grandparents, my parents. They disowned me when they found out I was a lesbian, but I'm sure that they'll overlook that to be with their grandson." She was desperately hoping in fact.
Jack relaxed, "Good. He's a great kid."
"Thanks."
This was the beginning of a great relationship between Daniel, Mickey, Jack and Vanessa. They'd go out to Mickey's baseball games and cheer him on. Daniel and Vanessa would watch them play hockey at the rink, laughing when Mickey would get low and go between Jack's legs to make a goal. Over the summer Van and Mickey were introduced to the SGC through the regular rounds of softball games, picnics and events that took place. Mickey formed fast friendships with Ferretti's son Jason and Doc Warner's grandson Kyle. Unfortunately Vanessa kept getting weaker until she was bedridden, then it was only Jack and Daniel taking Mickey out.
A bad mission sidelined Jack for 2 weeks and Daniel took it upon himself to take Mickey out, but instead of sports and games he took the boy to museums and began to teach him how to speak French and Spanish with a little Latin thrown in for good measure. One day as the two were sitting outside the Denver Museum of Art, Mickey looked up into the sky, "Mom's going to die soon isn't she?"
Daniel leaned back and looked at the boy who suddenly seemed so much older, "Yeah Mick, she is."
"What am I gonna do without her?"
"You're going to go on and live your life in honor of her because that's what she would want." Daniel said firmly.
"It's not fair."
"Nope."
Mickey stood and threw away his ice cream, "What do you know about it?" He snapped and began to angrily walk down the sidewalk. Daniel gracefully got up and threw his own ice cream away and moved to the young boys' side, "I watched my parents get crushed to death by a huge stone when I was 8 years old. I know what you're feeling Mickey."
"Ohmygosh. That's terrible." Mickey's blue eyes were wide at the thought of what Daniel, strong and quiet and funny Daniel, had gone through when he was a kid.
"It was." Daniel agreed solemnly, "And I thought I'd never get over it. But in the end I remembered their love for me and it made me stronger. They were archeologists too and I followed in their footsteps and everytime I work on a dig I remember what they taught me."
Mickey nodded, took a shaky breath and squared his shoulder, "Ok Danny. That's what I'm gonna do." He took Daniel's hand, something he'd never done before and Daniel curled his fingers around the small hand gently. "Will it be ok to cry?"
"Very ok." Daniel said and gently squeezed Mickey's hand.
When Jack finally got out the all clear from Doc Warner he headed to his office and shut the door with a satisfied smile, "Woo hoo!" He whooped and did a little jig. Then he laughed at himself for being silly and started to go through his messages. One half way through made him pause, then he stood and headed for Daniel's office.
"Danny?" he poked his head inside and Daniel looked up, "Hey, you're done?"
"Finally. I thought Doc was going to keep me there forever. But that's not what I wanted to talk about. Becky called and left a message. She said it was urgent."
Becky was the hospice nurse that was staying with Mickey and Vanessa and Daniel reached for the phone and dialed, "Becky? It's Daniel. Jack just got your message. She does? Yeah, tonight is good. Ok, tell Mick we'll see him then. Oh he is? Ok. Bye."
"What?" Jack said.
"I don't know, Becky just said that Van wanted to see us. Mick is at a sleepover with Jason Ferretti tonight, she just wants to see us."
Even though the men had seen her just the week before, the change was heartbreakingly obvious. Vanessa was dying, and it would be soon. Becky smiled gently, then went to the kitchen so that the three of them could talk in private.
"Hey, you look like shit." Jack said and Van laughed.
"Jack!" Daniel said sharply.
"It's ok Daniel. He's right, and he made me laugh which I treasure." She held out a too slender hand and Jack took it between his two large ones, "What's up skinny lady?"
"My parent's let me know through their lawyer that they want nothing to do with me or Mickey."
"You're kidding." Both men were shocked.
Van smiled, "No, though their lawyer had the grace to sound ashamed."
"But what about Mickey?" Daniel asked, the distress in his voice obvious. "He can't go into foster care."
Now Vanessa hesitated, "This is a huge thing to ask..." she began but Daniel smiled, "Yes, we'll take him."
"What?" Jack looked at him in surprise.
"Jack, we have to. We both love him and he's already become part of us. He'll go to school with Jason and Kyle and we'll buy a house. It'll be good."
Jack looked at his lover, pride and love in his eyes, then at Van, "There's your answer."
Vanessa's eyes ran with tears and Jack took out his handkerchief and wiped them gently, "Hey, you've sprung a leak." And she giggled quietly.
"Thanks. I guess I need a lawyer."
Daniel took out his cell, "I know just who to call." He dialed the Air Force JAG lawyer that he and Jack worked with, "Stu, it's Daniel. Can you ask Susie if it's alright if we borrow you for a couple of hours? It's important. Yeah, can you come to 1414 Sunnyside Lane, Apt. 4 B? And we need paperwork for adoption of a minor child and whatever else goes with that. Thanks Stu. See you in a bit."
Jack smiled, "You'll like Stu. He's one of the best."
Becky came back in and smiled, "So they agreed?"
Van smiled, "Yep, you were right Becky."
"Of course I was right. I know how crazy they are over Mickey. I've only been a mother for 30 years." She bustled around and checked Van's vitals, adjusted her pain killers and then looked at her watch, "It's 6:30, did you want to watch the news?"
"No, that's ok Becky." Van sighed and plucked at the book that was resting beside her. She turned it over and the men realized it was a journal. "I'm writing everything I can think of in here for Mickey. What I believe, what I want him to know, all about my parents and my ancestors, about his father and his family." She paused and flipped a couple of pages.
"What about the father. Is he going to cause any trouble?" Jack asked.
"No, he's married and has his own family now. No interest in Mickey whatsoever."
"What if Mickey wants to contact any siblings when he's older?" Daniel asked.
"What ever he wants." Van said firmly.
There was a knock at the door and Becky opened it and smiled, "You don't look like any lawyer that I've ever seen."
Stu stooped to get in the door, "Yeah, being 6'7" is a little inconvenient but it looks great in a courtroom." He shook hands with Jack and Daniel, then smiled as he was introduced to the women. "I guess that this is about Mickey?"
Vanessa nodded, "I want to give permanent guardianship to Jack and Daniel."
"It can only be one or the other. The State of Colorado doesn't recognize gay couples rights in the matter of raising children."
Jack raised his hand, "I'll do it and give Danny power of attorney for everything that we need."
"Good idea." Stu agreed and began to type rapidly on his laptop. He quietly asked questions as he typed, Van getting Jack to retrieve Mickey's birth certificate, shot records, health records, baby book, school records and things like that. Jack piled everything on Daniel's lap, then sat down and took the baby book and began to thumb through it while the lawyer asked questions.
Daniel took Jack's hand and covered it with his, his eyes meeting Jack's in silent question. Jack smiled and nodded, "Look at him as a baby. You can tell he's gonna be a hellraiser."
Van smiled, "He did everything early, talking, walking, his first tooth came in at four months." She blikned away a couple of tears, "I wouldn't trade him for all of the tea in China."
It took an hour and then Stu stood, "Let me get everything printed out and I'll be by in the morning for you to sign it all, then I'll file everything with the courts." He bumped his head on the light fixture then rubbed it, "Owie." Jack put his hand on the man's head and escorted him to the door, "Thanks pal, watch for deer on the way home."
"No problem Jack. Daniel. Good bye ladies." And then he was gone.
"Well, that was harder than I thought." Van said softly.
"It makes it more real." Daniel agreed. He looked down at the picture of their soon to be son and smiled, "Thanks for trusting us Van."
Jack agreed, "Does Mickey know yet?" The phone rang and Becky went to answer it while Van smiled, "I told him that I was going to ask someone important in his life, someone that he already loved."
Becky brought the phone over, "It's Mickey."
"Hey baby, what's up?" She shot a smiled at the men, "Yeah. I don't know, you want to ask them?" She winced and held the phone to Daniel, "It's for you."
Daniel grinned, "Hey Mick."
Mickey suddenly froze, looking at Jake in terror. Lou took pity on the kid and took the phone, "Hey Doc, Mick wanted to know what was decided."
Daniel smiled over at Jack, the love plain on his face, "Hey Lou, tell Mick yes." He grinned as he heard a wild yell in the background, "I think he's ok with it."
Jack laughed, "Me too."
~^~^~^~^~
It was 3 weeks later, Jack, Daniel, Mick, and a lot of friends from Mick and Vanessa's apartment, friends from her work as a building inspector, and friends from the SGC all stood graveside. After the minister had spoken Jack had squeezed Mick's shoulder, his dark eyes asking silently if Mick wanted to speak.
Mick stood quietly for a long moment, looking at the casket, "Mom taught me that when she died she would not be in the body that is in the casket, but in heaven watching over me. She did that a lot, watching over me, making sure I learned to read, learned my multiplication tables, learned to not chew with my mouth open," he paused and there were muted chuckles, "She made sure that I'd have Jack and Danny to watch over me when she was gone. Thanks Mom." He took the red rose and laid it on the casket, then stepped closer to Jack and Daniel who both rested a comforting hand on each shoulder.
After the funeral Jack and Daniel watched Mickey as he stayed to watch the cemetery workers lower the casket into the ground.
"I'm not sure that this is a good idea." Daniel said quietly.
Jack sighed, "He's old enough to know what he wants and he wanted this."
After it was lowered Mickey turned and gave a huge sigh, "Let's get something to eat. I'm starved."
Jack nodded, "Just a minute, there's someone I need to see." He looked over at Daniel who nodded and he headed over to the large pine trees where Charlie was buried. He moved around the large head stone and was surprised to see Sara kneeling in front of the stone.
"Oh." He said and backed up in surprise. Her eyes widened and she slowly stood, "Jack?"
Jack was cursing inside but he smiled, "No, well yes. I'm Jack, Jack Neal." He held out his hand and she took it, her eyes never leaving his face.
"I don't understand, how are you so young?" She asked. Sara was almost 60, her blond hair now maintained by professional color, but she still looked good.
"I'm not your Jack." He said gently and she shook her head, "Another grand military secret, is that it? You're dead, then you're not! Can't tell me what happened, just like Charlie!" she spat.
Jack sighed and let his hand drop to his side where he felt someone else take it, "Jack?"
He looked down at Mickey, "Hey kid."
Sara looked at the young boy, then at the man behind Jack, "Dr. Jackson." She said quietly. Jack turned his head to smile at his lover, "Danny, you remember Sara."
"At least you look the right age." She said as she searched their faces for answers.
"Sara, this is Mickey, our son." Daniel said, smiling at the grin that Mickey flashed, "Mickey, this is Sara. Jack's friend was married to her, you remember the other Jack? "
Mickey smiled, "Yeah, he's cool."
Sara was confused, "Your son. You're gay?" She asked the men and Jack shrugged. Daniel answered Mickey's question, "Sara's son is buried here. His name is Charlie."
Sara remembered that the boy had spoken, "I'm sorry Mickey, I'm just a little surprised."
"That's ok. We just buried my Mom, but she's not in her grave, she's in heaven." He said matter of factly and Jack couldn't have been more proud of the boy.
"I'm sorry to hear about your Mom." She said gently.
Mickey shrugged, the move so much like Jack and Charlie's that she had to sigh. "It's ok, she made sure that Jack and Danny would be my dad's now."
"You're a lucky boy." Sara said, she glanced over her shoulder at the car that was waiting for her, then looked back at Jack. "If you're not Jack, then you have my Jack see me."
Jack nodded, "I will. I'll let him know."
"You do that." She nodded at Daniel, then smiled at Mickey, "Nice to meet you Mickey." And she turned and left.
Mickey let go of Jack's hand and walked to look at the headstone, "I'm almost as old as him. What happened to him?"
This caught Jack at the knees and Daniel wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulder, "Charlie was playing with the other Jack's handgun and it went off, killing him." He could feel Jack jerk and tremble and Daniel whispered, "It's ok babe."
Mickey sighed, "It's not fair that the people we love have to leave us so early." He looked up at the men, "This is one of those things I'm not supposed to ask about, huh?" The look in his eyes was intelligent exasperation and Jack laughed, "Yeah Mick, but when the time is right we'll tell you. Let's go get something to eat."
~~~
Mickey looked up at Sam, "I don't understand this one." He pointed to a math question and she patiently explained it to him, enjoying the light of understanding in his eyes when he got it. "Oh, that's what they meant." And he bent over and scribbled the answer.
Sam sat back and watched Jack and Daniel's son work diligently on his math. He was a good kid. She was taking care of him while they were on a mission and she really enjoyed his company. A knock on the door made her frown in surprise, "Keep working Mick, I need to get that."
Mickey grunted and she grinned, he sounded like Jack. She opened the door and grinned, "Teal'c! Dad! Jack!"
"Samantha Carter, it is good to see you." She hugged him tightly, enjoying the muscles underneath her hands. She ignored her dad's look and hugged him too, then gave Jack a quick hug of hello, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Can we come in?"
She rolled her eyes, "Everybody come in." she waved them in.
Mickey looked up as the men trooped in, "Hey Jack!"
"Hey kid, where's your dad's?" he ruffled the boy's hair and Mickey slapped at his hands, "Hey!"
Sam grinned, "Jack and Daniel are away on a trip."
"A mission." Mickey corrected. "I've seen your picture on the mantle." He pointed and Teal'c nodded, "Indeed. Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter and I once served on the same team."
"Dad said that you guys were the best." Mickey looked at his math, "I miss them."
Sam gave her dad a quick look and he shook his head, "Mickey, this is my dad Jacob Carter. Dad, this is Daniel and Jack's son Mickey.
"Pleased to met you Mickey, I've heard a lot about you." Jacob said with a smile for the boy.
"If you heard it from my Dad's then it was nothing good." Mickey wisecracked, sounding so much like Jack that everybody laughed, and even Teal'c had a smile.
Sam looked at Jack who nodded, "You guys talk amongst yourselves, me and my pal here are gonna go outside and toss a ball." He said.
Mickey whooped and jumped up to get his ball and glove. Sam smiled, "Thanks sir."
Jack shook his head, "Jack, Jaaaaccck. That's my name."
"You stop calling me Carter and I'll stop calling you Sir." She said tartly. Mickey galloped back into the living room, "Come on Jack!"
"Hold your horses kid." Jack called as he followed the excited 5th grader out into Sam's backyard.
Sam smiled affectionately, then turned to look at Teal'c and her father, "Ok, what's up?"
"SG-27 went missing yesterday. A Tok'ra operative just reported seeing them captured so we know where to look."
"So SG-2 is already on it's way?" Sam said without much hope that that was true.
"They are not. Dr. Keely had said that a rescue is not viable at this time." Teal'c said stonily.
"That's bullshit!" Sam exploded.
Jacob grinned, "Which is why we're here."
"Ok, fill me in on the details." Sam gestured to the table, carefully moving the math books and papers.
Jack and Mickey threw the ball back and forth for a few minutes and then Mickey kept the ball, "Something's happened to the dad's hasn't it?"
Jack knew from experience that lying to kids was a bad thing, "Yeah, but that's why were here. We're gonna fix it."
~^~^~^~
Jack groaned and rolled his head, wondering why it was aching so badly. "Jack?"
"D'nny?" He muttered back and felt a gentle hand brush his hair back. He opened his eyes to see Daniel's worried face above him, "Wh't 'appened?"
"We were ambushed, don't you remember?"
"Silva and Leoni?" He sat up woozily with Daniel's help, "Over here Doc." Came Leoni's voice.
"You guys ok?"
"Yeah, Silva's got a broken arm and I'm a little worn around the edges but we're ok."
Jack put a hand to his head and closed his eyes, feeling like he was going to barf at any second. He definitely had a concussion, "Can you give me a report Captain?"
"We came through the gate and did basic recon and it was clear. We got about 1000 yards away and we were ambushed..." he paused and Jack groaned, "Oh yeah. The people with the big clubs."
"Yeah, well they took our weapons and trussed us up and brought us here. You were already unconscious."
Jack rubbed his head again, "Yeah, about that, what hit me?"
Daniel sighed, "One of the people was about to take me and you jumped in front of his club and got bonked but good."
"Bonked? Is that like a technical term?"
"Well you must be feeling better if you can be a pain in the ass." Daniel said, checking Jack's head and making him wince when he touched the lump.
"Yeah, if I don't move." He hissed in a breath and tried to will the nausea away.
"Doc." Leoni said quietly and they looked to see their captors come in to stare at them. One of them spoke and Daniel shook his head and said something back.
"Danny?"
"Just a minute Jack." Daniel snapped and said something more to the people, something passionate by the sound of it that had the people visibly indecisive. The spoke to one another and then left them alone.
"What's up Daniel?"
The other man sighed, "They capture people that come through the Stargate as slaves. Apparently someone comes to buy them every so often."
"Not good. So, what did you tell them?"
This provoked another sigh, "I told them that we have families at home and that if they give us a chance then maybe we can offer them something better that keeping us as slaves."
"Way to go. Like what?"
"How should I know? They left!" Daniel could see that Jack's eyes were unfocused and one pupil was dilated, and he was worried. Unfortunately worry made him cranky. "Jack, maybe you should lie down?"
Leoni heard the tone and moved over to check out what was going on, and saw what Dr. Jackson saw. Jack was sweating and pale, one pupil dilated and looked like he was going to pass out. "Yo Doc, I think that's a good idea."
Jack turned his head to look at his 2IC and moaned, "I'm gonna be sick." Daniel jumped up and helped Jack over to the edge of the cage where there was a hole in the floor and Jack began to heave uncontrollably. Daniel exchanged a worried look with Leoni while rubbing Jack's back soothingly. When Jack was finished he helped him back over and had him lie down with his head in his lap, "Talk to me Jack."
The younger man moaned, "Danny, it hurts."
"I know, try to keep awake. Think about Mickey."
"Worried about Mick. Hope he's ok." Jack whimpered.
Not wanting Jack to be upset, Daniel tried another tack, "Tell me about your time in Afghanistan."
Jack struggled to make sense of what Daniel had asked, "Hot, dusty, dirty. Beautiful children, ugly dogs."
Daniel chuckled, "No silly. Tell me about the helicopter, you said it was a Blackhawk?"
"Um, like the movie. Even crashed." Jack murmured, not feeling his lover stiffen in surprise at these words.
"What happened?"
Jack sighed, "Going towards Pakistan, was in the back with the Marines. Pilot was young, only 6 months of duty and we got hit by something, probably a sidewinder. I headed up front and found the kid unconscious and we were starting to spin so I took the controls and got us down, in sorta one piece." His memories were on the flat terror that he'd felt, the weight of all of those souls on board, and the relief that they were all alive and in one piece when he'd checked after they'd landed hard.
"Jack?"
"Sorry. Pulled the pilot out, he'd caught shrapnel in the belly and I was worried. Rounded up the Marines and I carried the kid as we headed toward the base. Had to guesstimate where it was." Jack suddenly chuckled, "Made camp the first night and went off to go take a piss when suddenly I was on Thor's ship. Had him put me back but only after making sure the pilot was gonna make it. Told Thor to make the wound stable so I could keep him alive until we got to the camp. Had to argue with him but he finally understood."
"You never told me before." Daniel said softly.
"Out of sight, out of mind."
"How long did it take you to get to camp?"
"6 days of hiking though the most miserable rocky terrain, fighting the Taliban and making sure that I didn't lose any of those kids."
Silva and Leoni had been listening quietly when Silva spoke, "Bet you got a medal."
"Um, yeah, but I didn't want it. Felt like I cheated."
"What? Why?" Daniel asked indignantly.
"Thor helped."
"He helped you keep the man alive, not transport you over the mountains to camp. You're such a moron." Daniel said with exasperation, which was belied by the tenderness with which he stroked Jack's hair.
The other team members chuckled at this and Jack sighed, "Nice to know you care Dr. Jackson."
A moment later the sound of someone familiar came to them, "Tell them that I will trade medicines and food for the men." There was the sound of someone translating then a quick answer.
"Jack." Daniel hissed as he helped his lover sit up.
"I heard." He opened his eyes and tried to steady himself as he watched the door. After a minute it opened and Teal'c walked in, imperious in his Jaffa uniform of old. He looked them all over and nodded to the man beside him, "They'll do." The man bowed and gestured for the guards to release the men.
Jack held back a gasp as he was roughly manhandled out of their cell, a worried Daniel almost frantic behind him, "He's injured, for god's sake be careful."
"That was English Danny." Jack said, stifling a moan.
Daniel repeated what he'd said in the correct language and the men eased up a bit. The four men were lead to a pel'tac, with a very familiar pilot and another 'Jaffa' inside. After the requisite items had been traded, the door was closed and they began to move.
"For the love of god, someone give me something for the pain." Jack sniped and the other 'Jaffa' chuckled, "Hold your horses kid." The older Jack replied as he moved forward to help Daniel lie him down. He did a quick check of Jack's wound, peering into his eyes, "He's got a bad concussion but I don't see anything else wrong." He assured Daniel.
"Daniel called me a moron." Jack whined petulantly and the older version of himself chuckled, "As you no doubt deserved. Rest up kid, Mickey wants to see you."
"Bite me." Was the most original response that Jack could come up with as he drifted off.
Jacob looked back as he piloted the pel'tac, "How are they?"
"Sgt. Silva has a broken arm which has been splinted. Jack Neal is suffering from a concussion but it does not appear to be life threatening. Daniel Jackson is uninjured and Capt. Leoni is slightly bruised." Teal'c replied as he came up to what passed for the cockpit.
"If you want to take the controls I'll get the healing device and work on them."
Teal'c bowed his head, "Very well."
Selmak's eyes flashed, "Did we find out who was buying the slaves?"
"They did not reveal the name. However I believe that Ba'al is somehow involved."
This engendered a sharp look, "How do you come to that conclusion?"
"I was told that the people were specifically looking for members of the Taur'i. Only Ba'al has such a vendetta still."
Jacob sighed, "If he wasn't such a back stabbing weasely bastard then we might not have did what had to be done."
"Indeed. Joining with the System Lords was a regrettable necessity."
"Hm." Jacob agreed and headed back to see how he could help the men.
Daniel was seated beside Jack when Jacob walked in, "How come SG-2 didn't come after us?"
"Dr. Keely thought it was unadvisable." Jacob replied dryly.
"Bitch." Daniel said shortly and with feeling. Jack walked in at that moment and his eyes opened wide, "Why Dr. Jackson, you need your mouth washed out!"
Daniel just gave him 'the look', before checking on the younger Jack as he lay silently beside him. Jacob chuckled and slid on the goa'uld healing device, was about to use it when the pel'tac literally jumped all over the place. Daniel threw himself over Jack to protect him from the stuff that wasn't belted down.
"Teal'c?" Jacob called as he got back to his feet.
"Jacob Carter," Teal'c called back patiently, "It seems that a mother ship has just arrived overhead."
"Shit." Jack said succinctly and boogied on up to where Teal'c was piloting, "You cloaked?"
"We are, but we need to leave this system immediately."
"So go man go."
Teal'c shot Jack a look, "I cannot. To jump into hyperdrive would alert them to our presence and put us all in danger."
"Oh."
Jacob activated the healing device and focused the energy on Jack's head, nodding quietly, "Selmak says that he should fully recover." A few more passes and he shut it off.
"Thanks Jacob, Selmak."
"No problem Danny." Jacob headed over to Silvas and began to check him out as well while Daniel tried to wake Jack.
Daniel gently cupped his lover's face, "Jack?" The man moaned then opened his eyes, "Danny?"
"Hey, I was worried." The blue eyes shone with relief.
"What happened?"
"Selmak healed you."
Jack sat up and felt his head, "Much better." He gingerly shook it, then smiled at Daniel, "Oh yeah, much better." He checked on Silvas and Leoni before sitting back beside Daniel.
Jack cocked his head, "We aren't moving. Why aren't we moving?" He got back up to his feet and grabbed Daniel's hand to haul him up before heading up to the cockpit.
Jacob and Teal'c looked over as Jack and Daniel came up, "What's going on?"
"We have a mothership directly over our heads, we don't know..." suddenly there was some kind of beam that flashed to the surface of the planet and caused explosions and destruction.
"Oh shit, they must be who the slaves get sold to." Daniel said in a hushed voice as they watched the systematic destruction of the planet.
The older Jack winced, "Teal'c, anytime buddy."
Teal'c shook his head, "After they destroy the planet they will leave and then it will be our time to depart as well." It was a nerve-wracking 20 minutes before the mothership disappeared and they high-tailed it out of there.
On the way home Jack cocked his head at the older Jack, "We need to talk."
The older man looked surprised but nodded and followed his younger self to one of the storage rooms, "What's up kid?"
Jack ran a hand through his dark hair, "I ran into Sara at the cemetery."
"Oh." Jack's eyes widened, "Oh shit! You look just the way I did when I met her."
"Uh, yee-aah!" Jack drawled.
"Let me guess, she was not a happy camper?" Jack asked.
"Oh, you could say that. She thinks that I'm you and lying to her about some top secret Military thing or other. I told her you would stop by."
The older Jack was silent.
"Please Jack."
A deep sigh, "I guess it wouldn't hurt."
Young Jack nodded, "Um, she knows that I'm gay so she might ask questions."
"Oh joy."
~~~
Mickey was seated on Sam's front porch, his chin on his knees when a red truck roared up the street, "Sam! They're home!" he yelled.
Jack and Daniel jumped out of the truck and met Mickey on the front lawn and were suddenly in a group hug. Daniel and Jack's eye met over their son's head, "How ya doin' Mick?" Jack asked softly.
Mickey grinned up at him, "Better now that I know you guys are ok. Did you see Jack? I met Sam's dad and Murray too. He's way cool and Jack played catch with me for awhile."
Daniel laughed, "I agree that he's way cool. And yes, we saw them. They came to get us."
"That's good." As they walked inside Mickey looked up at Jack, "Can I ask a question?"
Jack shrugged, "As long as I don't have to promise to answer."
Daniel chuckled and Mickey stuck out his tongue, which Jack maturely returned. "Ok, how is Jack related to us?"
Daniel looked surprised and Jack grinned, "You noticed huh?"
"Kinda hard not to, you guys act the same and stuff." Mickey said.
"Well kid, it's like this. Jack is technically my father."
Mickey's face lit up, "You mean he's my grandpa?"
Jack and Daniel looked at each other startled, then Daniel got a mischievous grin, "Yeah, exactly like a grandpa."
"Sweet! Can I call him grandpa?"
With a laugh Jack nodded, "In fact, I insist."
At a house about 8 miles away, the older Jack adjusted his ponytail nervously, then rang the doorbell. He could hear the click of heels on the parquet floor and he swallowed as the door opened and Sara looked at him, "Can I help you?"
Jack rolled his eyes, "Hey Sara."
Suddenly it clicked, this tall white haired man with the scar on his face was Jack. "Jack?"
"He was telling the truth. You look so different." She said softly.
"Yeah, well, some shit happened and I went white. Then I let it grow." He held up the tip of his ponytail and she covered her mouth and laughed, "I never would have believed it! You look like your Uncle Arnold."
This made Jack chuckle, his Uncle Arnold had been a biker in his misspent youth, and continued to ride well into his 80's. "So, can I come in?"
"Oh, I forgot my manners. Please." She stood aside and watched her ex-husband walk in, marvelling at the differences she saw. "Do you want something to drink?"
"Nah, I'm good. I'm headed over to see Danny and Jack in a bit."
"I met Mickey."
Jack flashed her a smile, "He's a great kid."
She nodded and sat down across from him, smoothing her slacks nervously. "Can you tell me about Jack Neal?"
Now Jack fidgeted, "Um, technically I guess, he's my son." His eyes met her startled ones.
"Who is his mother?"
"There's a lot I can't tell you and that's one of them. I never cheated on you, this was done without my knowledge or consent." Jack was firm about this, he didn't want her to think that he'd been in any way unfaithful.
She sat silently for a moment, "You know that he's gay?"
He nodded, "Yeah."
"Are you?"
"I'm bi."
"I don't understand." She said a little hesitantly.
Jack sighed and stood up, walking over to a picture of Charlie, "I'm bi, swing both ways, switch hit, whatever you want to call it. Always have been." He looked over his shoulder to see the familiar anger in her eyes.
"Something else that you kept from me?"
"I was in the Air Force Sara. I couldn't be both, then I met you and it wasn't an issue. Now that I'm retired and doing my own thing it doesn't matter what anyone thinks."
"Is there someone that you love?"
Immediately his thoughts went to Daniel but he squashed them, "I have, someone." He looked at her and shook his head, "No one that you know." The grandfather clock began to announce it's time and Jack sighed with relief, "I have to get going. I just stopped by to see you since Jack had said that you had questions."
Sara nodded and stood, "Take care of yourself Jack. And you might get rid of the headstone."
He grinned, "Nah, It's already there, may as well use it when the time comes." And he laughed when she rolled her eyes. "I'll see you around Sara." He kissed her cheek gently, then left.
He pulled up to Jack and Daniel's and could hear Mickey's excited voice as it floated out of the windows and he smiled. He walked up and was about to knock on the door when it was whipped open and the kid grinned widely, "Hi Grandpa!"
Jack's heart squeezed painfully as he looked at Mickey. His eyes looked up to see the man that he loved, and the man who stood side by side with Charlie in his heart, though he didn't realize it 'til just then. "Did you guys put him up to this?"
The younger Jack looked at him seriously, "It's as true as anything."
Jack looked down at Mickey for a long moment, "So, does your grandpa get a hug or what kid?"
Mickey launched himself into Jack's arms and the man closed his eyes, the feeling of belonging overwhelming him.
Jack and Daniel watched at the older Jack opened his eyes, the emotions that swirled in them making both men swallow hard. "So hey, let's order in a pizza, 'kay?" Daniel asked brightly while his lover turned to pull himself together.
Jack and Mickey let go and grinned at each other, "Pizza's good." They chorused.
Daniel came up and clapped him on the back, "Come on Gramps."
Jack choked, "Watch it Rockboy. I have stories that I can tell your son."
Mickey lit up, "Sweet!"
