Can I Have A Refund On This Body, Please? 4
Can I Have A Refund On This Body, Please? 4
by Belladonna
URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asb/belladonna/refund04.php
Summary: Someone for Jack O'Neill to love as requested
Daniel was heavy with grief as he raced for the lab, the sound of Replicators on his heels. He placed the C-4 charge that Jack had given him at the base of the mirror, then pulled out a device and activated it. He had flipped though several realities when a noise behind him galvanized him. He set the timer on the charge for 30 seconds, stepped into a reality with no Replicators, praying all the while that he hadn't stepped somewhere worse, then turned to watch as the C-4 exploded in his reality, turning the mirror to black.
A sound from the doorway made him spin around and his eyes widened, "Sam?"
Sam looked at the man in front of her with a frown, "Daniel? I though you were still offworld with SG-27?"
"Um, I." Daniel stammered, heart pounding as his formerly dead friend stood before him.
Her eyes narrowed as she saw the mirror behind him, and the device in his hand, "Holy Hannah, you're not my Daniel at all!"
The other Daniel hung his head, shoulders slumping with grief, "No, I'm not."
Sam went to the phone, "Um, Dr. Shore please, it's Colonel Carter."
Daniel's head came up at that, his Sam had been a Major. He listened as she talked to the other person, the adrenaline starting to fade, making him feel every injury and heartache ten fold.
"Ok Daniel, I need to take you to the infirmary, then we'll go see Dr. Shore."
"Where's the General?" Daniel asked quietly.
"He retired years ago, they're grooming Dr. Neal for the job now."
Daniel shook his head, "This reality is very different, civilians run the mountain now?"
They got into the elevator and the harsh lighting inside showed Sam that this was indeed another Daniel Jackson. He was thin, had healing bruises on his face and his eyes showed horrors of things unimaginable. "Yeah, a few years ago the President decided that a civilian could make more fair decisions about the resources that we find. It's been ok, we lucked out and had competent people." She made a face and Daniel recognized that it probably been pretty tough at times.
The elevators opened and they were met by two blank faced SP's who followed them to the infirmary. Dr. Warner looked up, "Dr. Jackson, this is a surprise, I didn't know that SG-27 was back already?"
Sam shook her head, "This isn't our Daniel, this one came through the mirror in my lab."
The doctor stood, "Ah." He held his hand out, "I'm Dr. Bill Warner."
Daniel smiled wearily, "Daniel Jackson, but you already know that."
~^~^~
Sam listened silently as Daniel talked, "The Replicators took over my reality and everyone is dead. Everyone." his eyes were stark with remembered horror.
"Did this have to do with Reese?" She asked quietly.
Daniel shook his head, "This was later. We were on Prometheus. We were asked by Thor to go to one of the Asgard planets to fix a time dilation device but that planet had already been over run. Sam was.," he stopped, took a deep breath, "Sam was killed and we barely made it back to the ship. Unfortunately we didn't know that we'd picked up intelligent unwanted guests."
Sam clasped one of his hands, "I'm so sorry Daniel. Can I ask you a question?"
He nodded, "Sure."
"Did you ascend?" she asked.
"Um, no. What do you mean?"
"Did you ever go to Kelowna?"
Daniel shook his head, "We went through once, then when we tried to go back we couldn't."
Sam shook her head, "That's where we diverge. We lost our Daniel when the bomb that they were working on exploded and he jumped through the glass to stop it from getting worse. He was exposed to a lot of radiation and almost died but Oma Desala offered him the opportunity to ascend."
"Oh wow." Daniel looked nonplussed.
"A year later we got him back. It's too long of a story to tell except he broke the rules of the Ascended to help the Abydonians." Sam surreptitiously wiped her eyes. That year had been pure hell on SG-1.
There was silence in the room and Sam turned off the recorder, "I'm going to take you to a VIP room. I want you to rest Daniel."
He nodded wearily, "Ok Sam."
Sam knew Daniel, and didn't think to assign a guard for the VIP quarters. The next morning Daniel woke up disoriented, getting up to shower and change. He looked at himself in the mirror and abruptly remembered everything that had happened with heart breaking clarity. "Oh goddamn." He moaned, tears spilling over his cheek, "Oh Jack." He sobbed helplessly for a long time, then finally it seemed that he'd run out of tears.
He washed his face and almost like a zombie walked out of the room. He passed people he knew, and people he didn't, nodding automatically each time that they said hello. No one questioned him when he left the mountain, the airman calling him a taxi without a second thought. When Sam got to the mountain later that morning and went to his room to check on him, she realized her mistake.
~^~^~
12 year old Mickey Jackson-Neal was on the school bus headed home. He was leaning over the seat, flirting with Marissa Johnson when Jason smacked him on the head, "Yo Mick, there's your Dad."
Mickey shook his head, a little irritated that Jason had interrupted, "Can't be, my Dads are out of country." Meaning of course that they were off world. He'd figured out what they were doing soon after Jack had adopted him, overheard whispered conversations between his dad's filling in the blanks, but realized that it was a secret and kept quiet.
"Mick, I'm serious, look! It's Daniel!" Jason said with a surety that made Mick turn to look out his window. Sure enough, there was his dad Daniel, walking down the street. "Ooookay. That's weird. Mrs. Dawson?" he called the bus driver, "Can I get off at the corner, my Dad's out there."
"You bet Mick, just a moment." She slowed down and started her flashers, then stopped and put out the stop sign on the side of the bus. Mickey gave her a quick thank you and hopped off, crossing in front of the bus to the sidewalk and then jogging down to meet his dad.
As the two got closer Mickey smiled, "Hey Dad!" and was surprised to see no recognition. There was something off but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Daniel focused on the tall boy in front of him. He was about 5'7", a good looking kid with freckles, an unruly mop of chestnut hair in need of a haircut and bright blue eyes. "Do I know you?" he asked a little dazedly, 'he had a ~son~ in this reality?'
"Daa-ad." Mickey said, a little panicked. He looked the man over a little more closely and realized something, this man had no gray hair, and he was wearing glasses. "Um, Come on , uh, Dad, let's sit over here." He pulled the unresisting man over to a park bench and sat him down, aware that the man's eyes had never left him. He took out his cell phone and dialed, "Grandpa?"
Jack looked at the hand of poker he had and sighed, "What is it kid?"
"Gramps, something's happened, can you meet me at home? It's REALLY important." Mickey said.
Now Jack was concerned and put his cards down, indicating he was out to the other guys, "Can you tell me over the phone?"
"Um, no. Just meet me at home, 'kay?"
"Be there in 10." Jack hung up and looked at his poker buddies, "Sorry gentleman, domestic crisis with the grandboy." The other men nodded and laughed, all were former SGC military, retired and Jack had known them all for years. "See you next week Jack?"
"Maybe. I'll call you Dave. Maybe Jake can come along." There were uniform groans at this, Jacob Carter was a card shark.
Mickey closed his phone, "Let's go home Dad." He shook his head and he walked the older man to his house. He watched as the man looked around at the neighborhood, then at the house , "Come on in." he said encouragingly and the man nodded and followed him meekly into the house. Technically he knew he wasn't supposed to have strangers in the house, but this was a different kettle of cookies as his Dad would say.
"What's your name?" Daniel blurted.
"I'm Mickey." The boy said.
"Hi Mickey." Daniel said gravely. He looked around the house, seeing a lot of familiar objects that he himself had collected over the years. There was a picture of his parents, one of Shaur'e, then pictures of himself with a younger, familiar looking man and Mickey. Who was he?
"Dad, do you want a drink?" Mickey asked, cursing to himself for not thinking about the pictures.
"Who is this?" Daniel pointed to young Jack, his face a little pale.
Mickey shook his head, "I don't know if I can tell you." He said, hoping that his grandpa would get home soon. The man crossed to him and took him not so gently by the shoulders, "I need to know." Mickey's eyes widened and a familiar voice came from the door,
"What's up kids?"
Daniel let go of Mickey and spun around, "Jack?" his voice broke.
"Danny?" Jack asked and then his arms were full of a sobbing and desperate archeologist.
"Grandpa, that's not my Dad." Mickey said with certainty.
Gently patting the younger man on the back, Jack nodded, "I think I figured that out Mick." He could see that there was no gray in the temples, and the body was a little harder, the man a little younger, definitely not young Jack's Daniel.
Daniel finally calmed down enough to sit on the couch and take a glass of ice tea from Mickey. He took a sip, then raised a shaky hand to Jack's long white hair pulled back into a ponytail, "This is different."
Jack grinned self consciously, "Um, it's a long story." He looked over at his grandson, "Call Mrs. Ferretti and see if you can stay over there this evening."
"Ah Grandpa." Mick whined.
Daniel's eyebrows went up, "Grandpa?"
"I'll explain later. Mick?"
"Yeah yeah. All the cool stuff happens when I'm not around. " Mickey grumbled and went to the phone.
~^~^~
After Mickey was gone Daniel leaned back with a shaky sigh, "I didn't know what else to do. My reality is gone Jack. The Replicators took over and everyone is dead. Everyone." He finished with a pained whisper.
"Did this have to do with Reese?" Jack asked gently, the timeline between realities was obviously different.
Daniel shook his head, "It was later. We were on Prometheus." he began but Jack held up a hand, "You didn't get the time dilation device fixed."
"Sam was killed, Teal'c injured and we got off the planet, barely. Unfortunately we had intelligent hitchhikers. Then when they entered the mountain we got as many people to the alpha site but they followed, taking it out too. Jack died in my arms." He looked at Jack, "We were together, and he made me promise go through the mirror and live for him."
"Fuck, I'm so sorry Danny." There was silence and Jack touched the younger man's hand, "How did you get here?"
"The mirror in Sam's lab."
"Oh boy, does anyone know that you're gone? I mean, they saw you right, they know you're here?" Jack asked quickly.
"Sam and the base commander know." Daniel replied quietly. "But I didn't tell anyone that I was leaving."
"Oy." Jack said, "Let me call Carter, she's probably sick with worry." He went to the phone and dialed a number, smiling when he heard the frantic, "Daniel that had better be you!"
"Carter, Carter, Carter. Did you lose someone?" He asked mischievously.
"Sir? Is he with you?" Sam slumped back into her seat with relief.
"Yeah, listen, he's ok for now but was about the dishwashing failure thing?"
Sam rolled her eyes, "Entropic cascade failure? He has 12 hours Sir. Um, SG-27 got back about 10 minutes ago."
"Peachy. Ok Carter, see if you can get a hold of Thor, then make sure Daniel and the kid know. I'm going to feed this Daniel, then bring him back."
"Yes Sir." She said and hung up.
~^~^~
Jack gently cupped Daniel's face, "You ok?"
"Why aren't you and the Daniel together here?" he asked, leaning into Jack's hand for comfort.
The older man stiffened, then shook his head, "I fucked up and he found someone else."
Daniel's head came up, "Who, I mean I saw the pictures."
Jack sat down beside Daniel, absently rubbing his back, "You ever heard of Loki?"
Daniel shook his head, "I can make an educated guess, one of the Asgard?"
"Yeah, well Loki was trying to fix some of the cloning problems that they're having and decided that since I'd had the knowledge of the Ancients in my brain then maybe there was something special about me."
The other man snorted, "Thor has a thing for you."
"Eww, thanks for that image! I need a wire brush for my brain now." Jack made a face. "Anyway, Loki beamed me up, sending a clone in my place. Unfortunately he goofed and the clone was only 15 years old."
"What?" Daniel laughed, "Oh my god, what happened?"
Jack grinned, "Kid comes to the mountain in my bdu's which hung on him, acting exactly like me, only shorter. At first they thought he was me. After all, he had all of my memories, so they thought someone had messed with my body."
Daniel's eyes were wide, "Poor kid, sort of like one of Harlan's robots.."
Jack snapped his fingers, "Exactly. Well, Thor came and straightened it all out, I was returned and the kid and I decided it was too weird to be around each other so he decided to go to a high school on the other side of town, be a normal kid." He looked at Daniel to see if he saw where he was going with this. "So, after about 6 months of being 15 Thor visited and asked if he was happy."
"And he wasn't."
"Nope, so Thor asked what age he wanted to be, and the little grey guy made him about 20. He called himself John Neal, went to MIT, joined the Marines and ended up assigned back to the SGC."
"He, I, I mean, Daniel is with him?" Daniel gaped, the pictures and what Mickey had said making more sense once put into context. The handsome man in the pictures was a young Jack O'Neill.
This reaction made Jack laugh heartily, "He was still me Danny. He, we, loved you with everything we had, except he had the guts to go for it."
Daniel rose and walked over to the mantel, "Mickey called you grandpa." He turned to look at Jack, still seeing the devastatingly gorgeous man he'd fallen in love with in his reality, even with the white hair and the fading scar on the side of his face.
A shrug, "Our relationship, and I mean me and Jack 2.0, has sort of evolved into a father son kind of thing. When he and Daniel adopted Mick, it just followed to include him. So for public consumption, and really, for all intents and purposes, I'm Jack's father, Mick's grandpa. Daniel's still my best friend and I'm really happy for them." Even as he said it, Jack realized that it was true. He'd always love Daniel, but now all that he wanted was for him to be happy.
"Amazing." Daniel said quietly, "You are the most amazing man, in whatever reality."
"It works pretty damn well." He got up and smiled, "Let's get some chow and get you back to the mountain. The kid and Daniel are back from their mission."
"Need to figure out what to do with me, huh?"
The pain in this statement made Jack go to the younger man and wrap him in a tight hug, "It'll be ok." He gently nuzzled the other man's temple with his nose and Daniel blindly turned his face and kissed him, not a gentle kiss but one of need and loss and passion.
Jack was momentarily stunned and tried to pull back but Daniel grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer, "Please Jack, please. I need to know I'm alive." He asked hoarsely, his throat clogged with tears.
Cupping his face, Jack sighed, "Oh Danny." He whispered, "I'd feel like I was taking advantage of you." 'Not to mention fulfilling his longest held fantasy.but hey, trying to be noble here.' He thought desperately.
Daniel nuzzled Jack's hand, "I know that you're not my Jack, but you are him in the important ways. You know me and I wouldn't jump into this without my eyes wide open."
"Daniel, you're the guy that got married on his first date." Jack teased quietly.
"I need you Jack, please." Was the reply, then Daniel reached under Jack's t-shirt to feel his skin.
Jack groaned, he'd wanted this for years, to feel Daniel's elegant hands on him, to love him physically. "I'm sorry, I can't Danny." He said regretfully, "I'd be a substitute and that wouldn't be fair to either of us."
Daniel sighed and rested his forehead on Jack's shoulder, "Damn."
The older man chuckled quietly, "It would be too weird to do it here anyhow.." The younger man's head came up and he looked around at the other Jack and Daniel's home, "Oh. Yeah." He made a face and Jack threw his head back and laughed.
At the Chinese restaurant the two men reverted to their familiar habits, finishing each other's sentences and stealing food from each other's plates. Daniel found comfort in it, and from the smile he saw that Jack did as well.
"I wish." Jack began, then paused to stab a piece of broccoli with a chopstick.
"What?" Daniel asked gently. Brown eyes looked up into blue, "I guess I wish I could get to know you better, that you could stay." Jack finished.
Daniel picked up a piece of shrimp and chewed thoughtfully, then took a sip of his green tea, "To tell you the truth, I'm not really looking forward to go somewhere new." He sighed and rested his forearms on the table, "I mean, you guys have things pretty much under control. That's really attractive to me, I'm very tired."
"I'm sorry."
Daniel gave Jack a quick smile, "Don't be."
~*~*~
Jack pulled up in his black Durango, and the men got out and headed to the bank of elevators where Sam was waiting impatiently.
Daniel winced as he saw her, "I'm sorry Sam."
Her face softened at his obvious distress and she wrapped him in a quick hug, "And so you should be." She stepped back and looked at her former CO, "How did you find him?"
Jack placed a hand on the small of Daniel's back and shepherded the younger man into the elevator, "How about we wait until we get to the conference room so I don't have to tell it twice." She nodded and swiped her card and the elevator began to make it's descent.
Sam led them to the conference room and the young airman opened the door and let them in. Inside the older Daniel and the younger Jack looked up curiously, and Daniel stood and said, "Hey. Daniel."
"Hey." The younger Daniel nodded back with a smile. Jack led him to a chair and had him sit, then poured him a cup of coffee. The new Daniel eyed the familiar faces across from him with curiousity. Oh yeah, definitley Jack.
"So old man, how did you find him?" Jack the younger asked cheerfully. He checked the other Daniel out curiously. He was younger, still had his glasses and didn't have gray hair, but otherwise looked completely like his own Daniel.
"I didn't, Mick did." Jack said dryly.
Abruptly Sam, Daniel and Jack's attention was on him, "What?" they chorused. They were all protective of the boy, and Sam was like an honorary aunt.
"Relax, the kid took it in stride. He's the one who told me that this Daniel 'wasn't his dad'."
The new Daniel winced, "I'm sorry. He saw me on the street, called me Dad but then I think he realized I wasn't 'you'. He actually saved me since I was pretty out of it and didn't know where I was headed." He looked a the two men opposite him, "He's beautiful."
The younger Jack smiled, "We know, thanks. I think he knows more about what we're doing here than he lets on."
Daniel looked thoughtfully at his lover, "Really?"
Thor chose that moment to beam down in his chair. "Thor! How are ya?" the two Jack's chorused, then shot grins at each other while both Daniel's rolled their eyes.
"I am well O'Neill and Neal." He blinked his big eyes, "Colonel Carter informed me of the newly arrived Dr. Jackson. An interesting conundrum."
Dr. Shore nodded, "We need to find Dr. Jackson a new home before his time runs out. We're hesitant to just send him through the mirror because we have no way to prove whether it is a hostile reality or not. Can you help him?"
Now Jack O'Neill always knew that Thor was one smart little gray guy, but the next sentence out of his small mouth proved it, "I can fix Dr. Jackson's entropic cascade failure. The question to be answered is does Dr. Jackson wish to stay in this reality?" Thor asked reasonably.
Young Jack and the older Daniel immediately noticed how their friend sat up straighter in his chair, his brown eyes fixed on the younger Daniel, and they noticed how the new Daniel Jackson turned and gave Jack a long, serious look, then nodded, "I'd like that." And they noticed how the older Jack smiled.
Daniel turned to his lover and raised an eyebrow that conveyed his surprise as the interesting turn of events.
"It's not like we couldn't use another Daniel Jackson in this reality, but how are we going to explain him?" Sam asked, the scientist in her being practical.
"He'll be my younger first cousin. His hair is shorter, he's obviously younger, I think that explanation will fly." Daniel replied slowly, "Though we may need to call him something else."
Jack snorted, "Tell me about it. I hear 'Jack' and both of us always answer. The only way I know it's not me is when Carter calls him 'Sir'." There were chuckles at the table.
Thor looked at them, "You may decide this later. Be prepared to be brought to the Biliskner Dr. Jackson." And he disappeared in a flash of light.
The newer Daniel sat back in his chair, a little overwhelmed, "Wow, I." and he disappeared in a flash of light.
"Ohfercryinoutloud!" the older Jack sputtered, "I wanna go to!" he called at the ceiling and he disappeared as well.
Dr. Shore rubbed his hands together gleefully, "Another Dr. Jackson! Can you imagine what the Pentagon is going to say?"
Sam shook her head, " I don't think that's such a good idea Dr. Shore. We should change his particulars and keep the Pentagon out of it, only informing them that we hired Daniel's cousin." She said and Jack nodded agreement.
The head of the SGC eyed his people, "Can I ask why?" He knew he was a civilian and had scant knowledge of the military mind set so he relied on his people heavily.
Daniel answered, "Because sometimes the military gets too touchy feely when they are curious." Their previous experiences with the NID had taught them that much.
"Hey, I resemble that remark." Jack said, winking at Sam who smothered a laugh.
"Do you think that Dr. Jackson would be in any danger?"
Jack and Daniel shrugged while Sam looked pensive, "I don't think we would want to find out."
Dr. Shore nodded, "I bow to your expertise. When they return get together with them and arrange for a new identity and submit it to me and I'll get the ball rolling."
"You bet Doc." Jack said and the three of them began to toss ideas around.
~^~^~^~
On Thor's ship Daniel looked around curiously, "Nice place." He commented.. Suddenly Jack appeared and smiled with relief, "There you are."
"Ja-ack." Daniel drawled, though he was absurdly comforted by the other man's presence there.
Thor walked in a moment later, "O'Neill, Dr. Jackson." He greeted them, then looked at Daniel, "If you will stand still." A bright light enveloped Daniel and Jack watched carefully as a different colored light moved horizontally up from a glowing circle on the floor.
"What's it doing?" Jack asked.
Thor blinked, "It is realigning Dr. Jackson on this reality's molecular level so that he will no longer suffer entropic cascade failure." He gave Jack a sideways glance, "You are emotionally involved with this Daniel Jackson."
Not thinking that Daniel could hear him, Jack crossed his arms and nodded, "Yeah, I am." His brown eyes were warm as he watched the younger man in the light.
Daniel turned his head slowly and his blue eyes met Jack's, and Jack's heart started beating a mile a minute.
~^~^~
Jack was on the phone with Mickey when the other Daniel and Jack were returned, "Here he is Mick." He handed the phone to Jack, "Mickey's worried." The older man strode to the phone and began to talk to his grandson, the affection on his face plain to see.
Daniel gestured for the other to sit, "How do you feel?"
"Um, good. Thor said he realigned my molecular structure and fixed a something in my DNA. He wouldn't be specific on what it was though."
Sam slid a piece of paper over to him, "See what you think."
The name part was blank, but the rest read.
POB- New York, NY
DOB- July 8, 1975
Profession- Archeologist and anthropologist
Parent's- Sydney and Sarah Jackson
It went on to describe a very similar life to what he'd led, just the dates were changed. He raised an eyebrow, "Sydney?"
Jack grinned, "Hey, your dad was Melborne, so your grandparents liked Australia. It's quirky enough to be credible, and Sarah is a familiar name to you, so easier to remember."
Daniel nodded, "Ok, how about making my name Alexander Daniel Jackson?"
The other Daniel smiled, "I like it. Calling you Alex would solve a lot of problems. And if Jack calls you Danny, we can explain that it's your middle name."
Sam handed Daniel a pen and he wrote it down, then Sam stood, "Ok, I have to get to work. I need to check the census and then make up a birth certificate and everything else. Your mother was born in England by the way."
"Ok." Alex, formerly Daniel said.
The older Jack tapped Daniel on the shoulder, "Kid wants to talk to you." And Daniel got up and went to talk to his son. Jack walked around the table, his brown eyes intent on his friend, "So, I gotta call you Alex now?" he asked, sitting down beside him.
"Coulda given him a guitar and called him Alan." Jack quipped and the older Jack groaned, "That was so bad."
"Who's Alan Jackson?" Alex asked curiously.
~^~^~^~
The older Jack marveled at the way Alex seamlessly fit into his new life. Alex and Daniel had their story down pat and everyone believed them. Daniel was remarkably generous with his books and the two men worked well together, Alex soaked up everything like a sponge, especially the information regarding the Ancients and the fact that they were both the gate builders and the Ascended. The SGC was happy and the Pentagon was happy. Jack was unhappy, but that was his own damned fault.
A few months later Alex was frowning thoughtfully at an old picture of SG-1 in Daniel's office. He stood there for so long that his presence finally registered on Daniel's concentration
"Alex?" he asked softly.
The younger man sighed, "Did I do the right thing?"
Daniel was startled and stood up, "What do you mean?"
Alex touched the picture of SG-1 with a gentle finger, "I miss them so much.." He heard Daniel move and then he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
"And you think that maybe you should have died with them?" Daniel asked, understanding his other self perfectly.
Alex nodded.
"Let's take this a step further. What if it had been you dying on the floor, and Jack looking down at you , knowing he'd never see you again, knowing how you felt about each other. Would you have asked him to stay?"
Alex turned to face his doppelganger, "No! I'd want him to try the hardest that he could and live. To be happy." And then he narrowed his eyes at Daniel, "Ok, you got me."
"Yep." Daniel said with satisfaction, "And that's what you're doing. You're living in honor of the team, and the man that you left behind." He moved back and sat down behind his desk, "Why don't you come over tonight? Mick would love to see you."
"Oh, you mean you want to watch me get beaned with some more baseballs?" Alex asked with a grin.
"Well, yeah." Daniel laughed.
There was an exasperated eyeroll, then Alex sighed, "Will Jack be there?"
Daniel couldn't help but notice the hopeful tone in the younger man's voice. "Um, I don't know."
Alex missed the older man acutely. Jack had been there for him constantly in the beginning then he'd stepped back. He just.missed him.
It was later when Daniel saw the older Jack in the passageway and mentally rubbed his hands, "Jack? Can I talk to you?"
Not suspecting a thing, Jack nodded, "Sure Danny." They walked into Daniel's office and Jack was unpleasantly surprised when Daniel locked the door..
"Ok, what in the fuck are you doing?" Daniel demanded.
Jack's eyes widened, "Daniel, you said fuck!" he was frantically trying to deflect the conversation the he just knew was about to become a real pain in the ass.
"Jack O'Neill, what is the matter with you? Why aren't you talking to Alex?" This was said in Daniel's 'no more bullshit tone' and Jack deflated.
Jack looked down at his boots, "I wanted him to finish grieving. I wanted him to get his bearings, and not make the wrong decision just because he was grateful to me."
Enlightenment dawned, "You're falling for him."
There was a headshake from the white head, "I think it's already passed that Danny." He ducked his head, "Are you mad at me?"
"What? No! I know he stayed here for you. Talk to him Jack, make him understand."
"Before I lose him too?" brown eyes met his squarely.
"Jack, you're my best friend, you'll never lose me." Daniel said softly..
Jack smiled slightly, then shook himself, "Ok mighty unascended one, what do I say?"
"He's me Jack. Tell him what's in your heart, he'll understand." Daniel unlocked the door, "Now get out of here, I've actually got work to do."
There was a snort and he heard his best friend leave. Daniel sighed and rested his face in his hands. He didn't realize how hard it was to let Jack go.
~^~^~^~
Alex arrived at Jack and Daniel's house and was immediately ambushed by Mickey, "Hey Alex, come to my room and see what I got!" he was dragged inside where he waved to the men before being dragged upstairs.
On the bed was a tiny Siamese kitten with deep blue eyes. It yawned, its pink tongue sticking out slightly before it minced across the blue bedspread to it owner, demanding to be petted. "What do ya think Alex?"
"It's beautiful! Boy or girl and what's its name?"
Mickey, true son of a linguist, smiled, "I'm calling him Kama." He answered.
Alex smiled approvingly, "Kama, meaning golden one in Sanskrit or Thai, good choice." The kitten dug in its claws and climbed up Alex's thigh and squeaked a demanding meow and he obediently petted him.
"Hey kid!" Called a familiar voice up the stairs, "Wanna toss the ball around?" Alex winced, then straightened his shoulders as Mickey grinned.
"Hey grandpa, come up here and see what Dad got me!" he hollered back. The sound of footsteps on the stairs warned Alex and he watched the door, watching as Jack poked his head in and started in surprise at the sight of him.
"Hey Alex, didn't know that you were here." Jack said. Just the sight of the younger man made him happy.
"Hi Jack, didn't know you were coming over." And then both men rolled their eyes. Daniel.
Jack peered at the bed, "Mick, you have vermin on your bed, want me to squash it?"
"Grandpa!" Mickey giggled and lifted the kitten up for his inspection, "Whadya think?"
A forefinger rubbed the tiny kitten between the ears and was rewarded by a loud purr, "Cute. Pure bred?"
"Yeah, but Dad got him at the pound. Thought that the short hair would be better for Dad's allergies."
Jack raised an eyebrow at Alex, "How about you?"
"Allergy shots, I'm good." The two man looked at each other for a long moment. Then Jack looked at his grandson, "Can you give Alex and me a minute? Then we'll toss the ball around in the backyard."
Mickey nodded, "Ok Grandpa."
In the backyard Alex walked over and leaned against the tree, watching the branches sway in the light breeze that made the hot day a little more bearable. He watched as Jack paced back and forth in the grass and decided to talk first, "Jack, what did I do?"
Jack's head came up, "Do? You didn't do anything. It was me." he heaved a sigh, then walked over to stand beside the younger man, "I stepped back because I didn't want to get in the way of your grieving. I wanted you to get your bearings, and not feel like I was." he waved a frustrated hand, "You know."
Suddenly things got a little clearer, "You mean you stepped back because you didn't want either you or me to just fall into a relationship because of our pasts?" Alex asked, then realized that Jack had been right, and wrong..
"Yeah."
Alex took Jack's arm and turned him around gently, "I'm not your Daniel, I'm me. You're not my Jack, you're you. It's not him that I've come to admire as a wonderful grandfather, as someone who still shares the love in his heart, it's you."
Jack nodded and moved closer to Alex, "It's not Daniel who I'm falling for, it's you. You've lost everything, been uprooted from your old life down to your name, but you've handed it with such grace, and I can't help wanting you so much." He took the younger man's hand and kissed the palm gently.
"Jack, let's get to know each other. Let's find out if whatever we have going now is real, and let's build on that." He leaned forward and brushed his lips against Jack's mouth, and both men moaned. The spark was there and it threatened to ignite them both.
"Not too long." Jack breathed and was about to deepen the kiss when they could hear the whine inside, "All they're doing is kissing! Why can't I go outside?"
Daniel's voice, "Really?"
Jack's voice, "Daa-niel. Mick, get away from the window."
Jack leaned his forehead against Alex's and laughed, "We're going to have a really crowded life you know."
Alex was filled with such joy, "I don't mind crowded, as long as you're by my side."
It was later, Daniel was staring at the ceiling, absently smoothing his hand up and down the curve of Jack's back and ass.
"Daniel?"
"Mm."
"Are you ok with Jack and Alex?" Jack knew his voice wavered slightly.
Daniel's head whipped around, eyes narrowed, "You can't possibly believe that I regret us for a moment!"
Jack sat up slightly to look his lover in the eye, "Jack's been your best friend for years, and he's loved you for that long. Now he's got Alex, who's you, but not." He huffed a sigh, "God, Carter is better at this shit than I am."
With a jerk Daniel pulled Jack onto his chest and lay back on the bed, cupping Jack's face in his large hands, "I had to think about what I felt, and I realized that I am happy for Jack and Alex. Jack's been alone for so long, and I think Alex will make him happy." He gave Jack a gentle kiss, "You make me happy, ever since that first night when you made love to me, and I love you." His blue eyes positively shone with love and Jack's doubts washed away.
"I'll always love you Daniel Jackson." And the two men sealed the words with a passionate kiss.
Epilogue:
Jack was asleep on the dock, the sun shining brightly but the baseball cap kept his face in shadows. 'And oh what a face it was.' Alex gloated. He'd fallen so deeply in love with this amazing man, with his absurd humor, his dedication to Mickey, and his love for Daniel and Jack. Alex knew that Jack would always love Daniel, just as he himself would always love his Jack, but fate had given them to each other and he would be damned if he tossed such a gift away.
"You're doing it again." Came Jack's amused voice, his eyes still shut.
"I love you." Alex said softly and Jack's eyes opened. He turned his head and his brown eyes shone with love, "And don't I know it." He replied just as softly. He smiled when Alex got up and moved over, pressing his lips to his, letting the kiss deepen, mouths opening to tangle tongues together roughly. They pulled back, both panting and grinned at each other.
"How about I put down the fishing pole and cast my line somewhere else?" Jack asked seductively, the moment ruined when Alex began to laugh like a loon.
"What?" Jack asked, not above enjoying his young lover's amusement at his own expense.
"Don't.snort chuckle.don't use the fishing metaphor again.long laugh.please." Alex finally calmed down enough to wipe the tears of laughter from his cheeks.
"What about my long pole?"
"Ohhh gooooddd." Alex groaned. He hauled Jack to his feet, "Come inside and fuck me silly, then we'll talk."
Jack blinked, then grinned, "Sweet."
~*~*~*~
In Colorado Springs, Teal'c, who was visiting, Sam, Lou Ferretti and his wife, Daniel and Jack were at Jason and Mick's baseball game. He was up to bat and Jason was in the hole, swinging his bat.
"Keep it loose kid." Jack called involuntarily and Mick turned to look at his dad and roll his eyes.
"Pipe down Jack, you almost got thrown out last time. Remember what Mickey said." Daniel said, his eyes never leaving his son.
"As I recall, he was quite vehement in his statement." Teal'c agreed.
Sam smirked, "If you ever embarrass me like that again I'm going to bunt for the rest of the season." She quoted and Jack winced, "Ok, ok. I remember."
The pitcher wound it up and let it fly, Mickey ignoring the ball as it whooshed past him.
"Strike one!"
Jack opened his mouth, then snapped it shut as the pitcher wound up again and let loose with his pitch.
"Strike two."
"He punishing me, isn't he?" Jack asked no one in particular and Daniel looked at him with a smile, "Oh yeah."
"Indeed." Teal'c's lips twitched as Jack swung around to glare.
They were all tense as the pitcher wound it up again and let it fly. Mickey swung back, stepped into the pitch and connected. As soon as he hit you could see the outfield scrambling back but it was hopeless, he'd made a home run. The crowd went wild and Jack just gave Mickey a thumbs up when he glanced over with a grin, and started his jog around the bases.
"We did the right thing with him didn't we." He said proudly. Daniel was clapping as his son rounded third, "We're the luckiest family in the world Jack." Daniel agreed.
Sam smiled and leaned over to Jack, "Never thought is would be this way did you?"
The clone of Colonel Jack O'Neill, all grown up, soon to be head of the SGC, lover of Daniel Jackson, looked at the former second in command of SG-1 and then leaned over and kissed her cheek, "Did you?"
She smiled sweetly, "Not a clue in the world." She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled shrilly for Mickey.
Teal'c clapped calmly as Mickey hopped onto the home base, "Nor did I. But it is a good life, make sure you keep it so."
Daniel looked at Jack, who was thoughtfully watching their son, "I am the luckiest son of a bitch in the universe. I'm not gonna screw it up." Jack promised quietly. He looked at his lover, "Love you." He mouthed silently and Daniel nodded, "You too." He replied. Then they all sat down as Jason Ferretti went up to bat, thumping homebase with his bat smartly before resting it on his shoulders.
"Come on Jase, keep it loose!" Jack called and grinned when they heard an exasperated, "Daaaaaadddd!" from the dugout. Jason laughed and as the pitch was loosed, connected and away it went.
