Can I Have A Refund On This Body, Please? 8

Mirror. Mirror, On The Wall...

by Belladonna

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asb/belladonna/refund08.php
Summary: An AU of an au-Mick's world changed one disastrous afternoon, and nothing was the same. Then he falls through a mirror and finds he can help this new universe, if a certain goa'ud stays out of the way. At home, his dad's are desperate to find him-can they? Or is Mick lost forever?
Info: Thanks for Ankhmutes for betaing!

The sound of claxons and the radio call, "All security forces to the gateroom!" made the Marine guard curse and he jerked his head to the four men who were carrying the crated mirror.

"Put it in here," the Sergeant ordered. "We'll augment the security teams then come back and get this fucking thing moved."

The Private nodded. "Get the damn door, Sarge," he advised and the older man moved with a quick laugh. The other private grunted as he bumped his hip into the doorway and through. They sat the crate down a little hard and the front of it fell off with a crash.

"Leave it. Just remember to bring a hammer to fasten it back on," Sergeant Moore ordered and the three men shut the door on the dully glowing quantum mirror.

**

The sound of a loud explosion, then the wail of emergency claxons made both men look up in alarm.

"SG-9 was supposed to be back right about now," Daniel said as he quickly checked his watch. He gripped the younger man's elbow and opened the door of the storage room they'd been working in, peering quickly out to make sure the passageway was safe.

"Sounds like they came back with company," Mickey quipped nervously. He hated feeling helpless and getting dragged along like a little kid.

"I'm going to take you to where Sam was working. I know that she had Marines working in there," Daniel said, then winced.

"Dad," Mickey sighed. "It's fine. I'm fine," he said. Yes, he'd wanted to be a Marine, no he wasn't because of his blindness and he'd already gotten over it for cryin'outloud.

"I know," Daniel said softly. Gunfire moving closer made him curse and he opened a random storage room door, "Here, I'll come back for you. Do not go anywhere, understood?"

"Yes, Dad," Mickey said, subdued by the sound of weapons fire. He stumbled in at his father's insistent push, the door closing behind him before he could get his footing. "Shit," he said as he tripped over some wood some idiot left on the floor and fell to his knees. His one hand touched something smooth and his other hand got something sharp imbedded in it the palm. "Goddamnit! Can this day get any better?" he complained.

He knelt back and gently touched his injured hand, feeling the large splinter of wood imbedded in it. Yanking it out, Mickey hissed another curse and pulled a piece of Kleenex out of his pocket to staunch the blood he could feel dripping. Not wanting his back to the door he carefully got to his feet and tried to get his bearings, but without his cane he didn't feel the larger obstacle of the crate and could feel himself fall into something and then through, his head banging on the floor causing him to black out.

Daniel opened a weapons locker and grabbed a radio. "Jack, what's going on?"

"Hey, Danny. SG-9 brought hostiles back. They can split off from each other to create more and I've shut down the mountain. Be careful!"

"Understood, Jackson out," Daniel said and grabbed a P-90 before shutting the locker. A couple of Marines came up and the three of them headed down the passageway and into battle.

~*~

Mickey winced as he opened his eyes. "Shit," he said with feeling. He'd been unconscious for who knew how long and his Dad hadn't come back for him. Patting around carefully for his glasses he placed them on his face and rolled to his feet. Head aching and a little disoriented he held out his arms to find the wall, then the door. He opened the door and listened carefully, then stepped out. He was as familiar with the SGC as he was with his house and he wanted to head to his Dad's office and find out what was going on.

He found the elevator and got on, carefully feeling for the correct button to take him from sublevel 17 to 18. He pushed the button and felt the elevator going down, stopping with its usual loud clunk. The doors opened and he listened carefully before stepping out and turning right.

"Freeze! Who in the hell are you?"

"Uncle Lou?" Mickey asked in confusion.

Lou Ferretti looked at the obviously blind young man in askance, then at the Marine beside him. "I'll ask you again, who are you?"

Shaken, Mickey went to attention. "Sean Jackson-Neal, sir!"

Confused, and concerned by the blood he could see on the kid's head, Ferretti pressed the button to his radio. "Dr. Weir, we have an unknown on sublevel 18. He's injured and looks to be human."

Mickey was all sorts of scared and pissed off. Something had happened between his Dad pushing him into the storage room and the time he woke up, and he had an uneasy feeling he knew what it was.

"C'mon, kid. We're taking you to the infirmary."

"Yes, sir," Mickey said agreeably. If he couldn't trust his best friend's dad then who could he trust, right?

Inside of the infirmary there was another familiar voice, his other best friend Kyle's grandfather. It was possible that the two universes were similar but with no one recognizing him, he wasn't betting on it. He was thoroughly checked over and as Dr. Warner finished up Mickey heard a beloved voice in the passageway outside.

"He said his name was what?"

"Sean Jackson Neal."

"I don't understand..."

"I don't know, Dr. J, but that's what he said."

"Where did he come from?"

Mickey was feeling a little like a pin-cushion and a lot harassed and sighed gustily. "You could ask me!"

~*

Back in Mickey's universe the battle against the aliens from P3197-X was finally won and Jack was directing the cleanup when Sam called on the radio.

"Jack, Daniel's been hurt," she said.

"How bad?" Jack asked apprehensively.

"He was knocked out by falling debris. The Marines got him to the infirmary and Dr. Warner is checking him over."

"Okay, if you see him before I do then let him know I'll be there as soon as possible."

"I will," Sam agreed. "Where's Mickey?"

Jack made a face. "He was supposed to be with Daniel. Did the Marines see him?"

"I'll check," Sam said.

No one was worried. Yet.

Sergeant Moore rounded up his troops and they went back to the storeroom, picked up the round device on the floor and popped it back inside, hammered the crate back together and loaded it onto the freight elevator to take it up to the surface for transport to Area 51.

~*

Dr. Warner looked at Dr. Weir and shrugged. "He's human, and blind. It looks like acid burns, not congenital. He said he's just about to turn 22 and he acted like we should know him." He handed a security badge to Dr. Weir. "He was wearing this."

Dr. Weir frowned down at the picture i.d. "It's very similar to ours," she said and handed it to Jack's temporary second in command, Colonel Dixon, who just arrived.

He turned it over. "It's almost identical to ours, except the coding. If I didn't know better I'd think the kid came through a mirror," Dixon said archly and smirked when Sam winced.

"Wait a second, I thought General Hammond destroyed the quantum mirror?" Daniel asked.

Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "I too, believe that it was destroyed after Major Kowalski and Dr. Carter came through." He turned to Sam who made a face.

"Quantum mirror?" Dr. Elizabeth Weir asked with confusion. She'd been in charge of the SGC for all of about a month and between their goa'uld visitors and the threat of Anubis and Ba'al, she had her hands full.

"It's a device that the Ancient's made to travel from our universe to an alternate one, or vice versa," Daniel explained.

"How is that possible?" Dr. Weir asked in bewilderment. She apparently hadn't reached that part of the SGC files.

"Well, it's based on the Einstein Rosem Bridge theory of parallel universes," Sam began but when Daniel cleared his throat, she trailed off. "Which isn't important."

The new head of the SGC sighed. "How did a mirror get here?"

"I found out that the NID had found, or stolen one and it was being stored at Area 51," she said sheepishly. "I thought it might help us if we'd run out of ideas to fight Anubis. I going to have to assume that Colonel Dixon is right and that's how our guest arrived."

"Let's have Colonel Ferretti bring him in," Elizabeth ordered.

Mickey was using his enhanced hearing to help him figure out where he was in the SGC. He recognized the passageway and knew that Uncle Lou was bringing him to the conference room and he swallowed nervously.

"You'll be fine, kid. They're not gonna eat you," Lou said good-naturedly.

"I'm okay," he lied.

~*

Daniel groaned and opened his eyes. "Ouch. What happened?"

"You got knocked on the head," Jack told his lover, his eyes anxious.

"What's the matter?" Daniel asked, his eyes going from Jack to the head of SGC security, Colonel Mark Jeffers.

Jack rubbed a hand through his hair. "We can't find Mickey."

"What?" Daniel sat up too fast and clutched his head. "Ohgod. What do you mean you can't find Mickey?"

Jeffers rubbed his chin, trying to project calm but Daniel isn't buying it. "Where did you see him last?"

"When SG-9 arrived. I was going to put him in Sam's lab because I knew there would be Marines," Daniel said. He caught Jeffers and Jack's wince. "I know, but I knew he'd be safe but then we heard gunfire much closer so I put him in a room down the passageway from mine."

"Which one?" Jeffers asked. They'd been checking room by room already but maybe they'd missed one.

"I think it was 6 Delta," Daniel said thoughtfully. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Two hours," Jack said. "No concussion for a change." He looked at Jeffers who walked back over after checking. "He's not there, is he..." he said flatly.

"I'm sorry, Jack," Jeffers said. "They've searched everywhere. Mickey is not on base."

~*

Teal'c eyed the young man who carefully slid into a chair. He cut his eyes to Ferretti's and raised an eyebrow and both silently agreed, the young man had some kind of military training in his past -- it was in the way he held himself, his whole body alert and threat assessing despite his blindness.

"Thanks," the kid said and Lou patted him on the shoulder and left the room.

"So," Elizabeth began. "Can you tell us how you arrived here?"

The young man sighed. "I think I accidentally fell through a quantum mirror."

"What do you know about the mirror?" Sam asked.

"Hey, Aunt Sam." Mickey grinned. "You, or ~my~ universe's you anyway, taught me everything about it, parallel universes and Einstein and everything."

Sam was taken aback by the obvious affection. "Good. If you call me Aunt Sam then who are your parents?"

"Um, wow. That's a complicated story," Mickey said.

"You said Jackson Neal," Daniel pointed out. "I assume I'm the Jackson?"

Mickey nodded slowly. "You and my dad are married, and he's the head of the SGC now."

'Married?' Sam mouthed to Daniel incredulously. Daniel shrugged.

"Who is this Neal?" Teal'c asked.

"Grandpa Jack's clone," Mickey answered.

"Wait, what?" Sam exclaimed. "The Colonel's clone and ~Daniel~ are married?"

"O'Neill's clone is the head of the SGC?" Teal'c asked.

"I married a kid?" Daniel asked with surprise.

Mickey had to laugh. "I guess it's not like that here, huh?"

Elizabeth sighed, wanting to press her fingertips to her temples. "Give us the short version of the story, okay?"

Fingers knotting a piece of kleenex showed them how nervous he was. "Grandpa, I mean, Jack O'Neill faked his own death because Kinsey was after SG-1," he began, hearing but not seeing everyone's shocked reaction. "My dad, Jack Neal was aged almost right away by Thor because he didn't like being a teenager. He went to the University of Colorado then arranged to go into the Marines as an officer and he finished his degree while serving. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan then he went to MIT and got his doctorates and came back to the SGC. He and Dad, ~Daniel~ fell in love, and then Dad, ~Jack Neal~, adopted me when my mom died of AIDS." Mickey stopped as he thought about what he'd said, then swallowed hard as he contemplated never seeing his Dad's again, never seeing Shawna or his friends.

"Would you like some water, Sean Jackson Neal?" Teal'c asked.

"Please," Mickey said hoarsely. His head followed the noise of the carafe of water being poured and the glass being handed to him. He found it unerringly and took a long drink.

"You mentioned that Jack faked his own death. What happened?" Daniel asked, a little surprised at how envious he was of his counterpart's life.

"Oh," Mickey shrugged. "He came back after Kinsey died."

"How did Kinsey die?" Daniel asked, not sure if he was going to like the answer.

Mickey's face went still. "It doesn't matter now, does it?" he swallowed some more water and lifted his head. "Where is your Jack?"

"Um," Daniel begins, not sure what to say.

"O'Neill is currently frozen in Antarctica," Teal'c filled in, much to Dr. Weir's displeasure. "We are attempting to contact Thor."

Mickey paled and Daniel reached across to touch his hand, making the younger man jerk in surprise. "Sean, are you okay?" he asked, looking at Sam in concern.

Sam understood his concern and shook her head. "It's too early for Entropic Cascade failure."

"I forgot about the shakes," Mickey murmured. "Keep calling Thor, but I think he's on his way. Unfortunately, even though you beat Anubis? The Replicators are on their way and Thor's gonna ask you for help."

Dr. Weir sucked in a sharp breath. "Are you sure?"

"No," Mickey said with a fatalistic shrug, "but it happened in my universe. When Thor gets Jack I need to talk to him."

"Jack?" Daniel asked.

"Thor," Mickey answered.

There was a knock at the door and Walter stuck his head in. "Dr. Weir? The System Lords have sent a message."

Elizabeth nodded and stood. "Dr. Jackson, I'd like you to take charge of Mr. Jackson- Neal. Teal'c, you and Major Carter keep trying to get a hold of Thor," she ordered and left the room.

"I'm going to see if Sean is in danger of entropic cascade failure," Sam said stiffly as she and Teal'c stood. "And keep calling Thor."

"I need everyone to call me Mickey," he plaintively asked. "Only my grandparents call me Sean."

~*

Daniel was impressed at how well the Sean, ~Mickey~- he needed to remember that, navigated the SGC. They were heading to the mess hall and he hadn't missed a turn. After they'd gotten their food and gotten themselves seated, Daniel looked at the young man. "Can you tell me how you became blind?" he blurted suddenly and cursed at himself when the younger man stiffened. "Never mind, I..."

"It's okay," Mickey cut him off. "You and Grandpa Jack made a lot of enemies. I was at Annapolis as a third year cadet when a rogue NID agent infiltrated the campus as a substitute instructor. He deliberately threw a beaker full of acid onto my face." He stopped and took a bite of his food while Daniel stared at him in horror.

"Ohgod," Daniel said faintly. "Was he caught?"

Mickey smirked humorlessly. "My class beat the crap out of him. The last I heard he was going to be a vegetable for the rest of his natural life," he said, then shrugged. "I suppose I'm lucky, I'm alive. He could've just killed me instead."

His mind involuntarily went back to that day as if it were a series of snapshots. His disbelief at the liquid heading towards him, the unbelievable pain and wanting to claw his own eyes out to make it stop. One of his classmates' quick thinking in getting people's bottled water and flushing the acid off of his face while the rest beat the man until the Marine guards and the Navy corpsman arrived to break up the melee.

The realization that his dream of becoming a Marine and go to other planets for the SGC like his parents, gone in the blink of revenge. The rage he'd thrown at his parents, their relationship bent almost 'til breaking for the longest time.

"Thor or the Tok'ra couldn't help?"

Mickey realized that Daniel had asked him a question, snapping him out of his reverie. "Uncle Jacob did his best, took a lot of the damage away and there's not very much scarring but my eyeballs were destroyed and they just couldn't make something out of nothing. Thor's medical people took a look but most of their medical equipment was destroyed by the Replicators and they're still rebuilding, so it will take time."

"So there's hope!" Daniel said, relief in his voice.

Appetite abruptly gone, Mickey shrugged. "That's what Dad keeps saying."

"Dr. Jackson to the gateroom," the 1MC squawked.

Daniel stumbled to his feet. "Oh, can you stay here until I send someone for you?" he asked, torn by his duty and not leaving the young man by himself after their disastrous conversation.

"Go Dad," Mickey said, then sighed. "Sorry, ~Dr. Jackson~. I'll be fine. Someone will get me to where I need to be. And I really need to speak to Thor, it's important. "

"I'll make sure you see him when he gets here, and get you assigned to some quarters," Daniel assured him. After one more look back, he hustled off but his mind back on the young man, his ~son~ if he'd lived in another universe, who'd lost so much.

Sam caught up with Daniel as he headed back to Dr. Weir's office. "So, Sean Brody died at age 6 when a drunk driver hit his mother's car," she said.

"That's both good and bad," Daniel replied, disturbed by Sam's demeanor and the news. "Sam, what's the matter?"

Stepping into the elevator, Sam looked at Daniel seriously. "Are you and the Colonel involved?" she asked stiffly.

"What?" Daniel asked incredulously. "Not that I'm saying yes, but I thought you weren't allowed to ask?" The doors opened and he headed off towards Dr. Weir's office with Sam on his heels.

The head of the SGC wasn't in her office but Walter waved them in without comment, the looks on their faces probably making him decide that he really didn't want to know what half of the SGC's premier team was fighting about.

"That's what's going on, isn't it?" she pursued. "The Colonel said 'Aveo Amacuse' but he wasn't speaking to Teal'c or I, he was speaking to you!"

Daniel huffed an irritated sigh. "Sam, I'm straight. And he said "Goodbye, or farewell friends"."

"Teal'c said that it meant 'Good-bye Beloved'," Sam riposted sharply.

"Forcryingoutloud!" Daniel shouted, throwing up his hands. "Why are we arguing about this?"

"Because you're going to take him from me!" she shouted back.

Daniel's lips thinned and he narrowed his eyes. "You don't have him, Sam," he said quietly. "Who takes care of him when he's injured? Where does he stay? Who does he call when he needs to speak about Charlie?" He saw that each sentence was a punch to his friend but he was tired of the subject and it was going to end now before he admitted any secrets that he didn't want to. "Just drop it."

The door opened again and Dr. Weir walked in, her eyebrows raised. "Is everything okay in here?"

Sam spun to look at her, mouth trembling and eyes burning but her voice steady. "Fine. I think we should take the Prometheus to Othalla to contact Thor. If our guest is right then we need the Colonel's expertise."

"Isn't that in another galaxy?"

"The goa'uld vessel that the Colonel modified is capable of getting there," Sam said firmly.

Dr. Weir looked at Daniel who was standing beside Major Carter, arms across his chest. He didn't back up his team-mate and she was generally more inclined to trust the highest ranking civilian. "I'm going to deny your request," she said and when the Major opened her mouth, held up her hand. "For now. We'll revisit the issue later if we get more solid facts. Dr. Jackson, are you prepared to receive our guests?"

"Yes, I have quarters for Lord Yu, Ameratsu and Camulus, and quarters if needed for their people. I also have guards for all of them, ready to go," Daniel reported.

"The President has authorized me to begin negotiations when they arrive," Dr. Weir said, her eyes on Daniel.

"Okay," he said blandly.

Sending him a sharp look, she looked at Sam. "You are dismissed, Major. Keep trying to contact Thor."

"Yes, ma'am," Sam said and pivoted on her heel and marched out, the door closing behind her only marginally not considered a slam.

"You don't think I can handle it?" Elizabeth asked, returning her attention to Daniel.

"I didn't say that," Daniel replied. "But if I may say, you don't sound all that confident."

"I've brokered my share of international negotiations; this will be my first interplanetary one," she replied a bit defensively. Realistically Elizabeth knew she needed Daniel's help, and hoped he would be gracious about it.

"The System Lords can't be trusted, either as a group or individuals. They're posturing egomaniacs driven by an insatiable lust for power, each one capable of unimaginable evil," Daniel bluntly told her.

"See?" Dr. Weir said. "Why should I be nervous? Sounds like an average day at the United Nations to me. Look, I'm not afraid to ask for help. So what can you tell me?"

"The High Council of the System Lords is a rather flimsy coalition of the most powerful Goa'uld's in the galaxy who only co-operate when it suits them. Their numbers vary from time to time -- new ones rise up, old ones get knocked off. We think there's about a dozen right now. I've put together a summary of what we know."

"Alright. I assume I can't just open the iris and let the representatives just walk through," she said.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "No, that would probably be a bad idea. We should get them to meet us in a neutral location, preferably a planet of our choosing. Send a team, make sure they're unarmed and then escort them back."

"Sounds like a plan. Send the message. Now, how is Mr. Jackson-Neal?"

"Sam found that his counterpart here was killed by a drunk driver when he was six," Daniel said quietly. "Right now I've got Colonel Ferretti assigned to him."

Elizabeth made a face at the news. "Keep me informed," she said.

~*

"What happened?" Jack asked in frustration. "It's like he just disappeared!"

Sam opened her mouth, then paled. "Ohmygod, I just remembered something," she said and dashed out of the room, a bewildered Daniel, Jack and Jeffers on her heels.

Bill Lee was humming happily to himself when suddenly his lab was filled with people he'd neither called nor wanted in his lab. Well, except for the scrumptious Colonel Carter who, and he agreed with Rodney, was wasted on the military.

"Dr. Lee, what have you been working on?" Sam asked breathlessly.

He eyed the crowd. "I have been working on a steady power source to renew empty ZPM's for Rodney. Why?"

"And what have you been studying?" she asked.

"What's going on?" he demanded. "I haven't done anything wrong!"

"We're not saying that, Bill," Daniel said soothingly. "Mickey has disappeared into thin air and Sam thought you might know something about it."

Bill was about to shake his head when he went white as milk. "I had a quantum mirror!"

"Had?" Jack pounced on the word, his heart sinking.

"I was studying it for ideas for power since the Ancient's built both the ZPM and the mirror and the mirror has a steady stream of power and..."

"Where. Is. It?" Daniel enunciated.

"I sent it back to Area 51," he squeaked.

Jack and Daniel spun and Sam held up her hands. "I'm on it."

~*

Ferretti was giving instructions to his Marines when the lights blinked and Jack, then Thor appeared in the gateroom.

"Jack, you're lookin' good," Lou said mildly.

Jack grinned. "I'm feeling good. What's up?" he gestured to the team who was about to leave.

"We're having guests," Lou said and rolled his eyes to tell his friend that it was gonna be a pain in their collective asses.

"Jack! Thor!" Daniel's voice came from the control room and Jack looked up, smiling widely at his best friend.

"Hey, Danny! Did you miss me?" Jack asked.

Thor watched O'Neill and Dr. Jackson's interaction and was enlightened.

"Yeah," Daniel said. "We all missed you. Like a hole in the head," he teased as he leaned forward to speak into the mike to make sure he was heard. And grinned at the laughter.

Jack smiled fondly, then turned to his Asgard sidekick. "So, you wanted to talk to General Hammond?"

"Indeed," Thor said with a small bow.

Lou winced. "A lot has happened since you took your nap. C'mon up to the conference room and meet the new head of the SGC."

Jack looked at him, stunned. "New head? I turned into a popsicle and everything went to hell in a hand-basket, didn't it?"

"Was General Hammond injured?" Thor asked, ignoring Jack's theatrics as they headed to the conference room.

"No," Lou answered. "He was kinda offered a better job."

Daniel met them and went to Jack, pulling him into a bear-hug. "Next time let me put my life in danger and give yourself a break," he said as he pulled back to smile at his friend.

Jack chuckled. "Next time I'll let you put your head in the Ancient knowledge thingy. I promise."

"Sure," Daniel said with a smirk. "So, Thor. I understand that you need help with the Replicators."

Thor blinked and even Jack looked surprised. "We do, but I would ask how you came to that knowledge, Dr. Jackson?" the small alien asked.

"We have a visitor from an Alternate Universe who wants to speak to you," Daniel said. He led them into the conference room where Mickey was seated. "Thor, Jack, I want you to meet Sean Jackson-Neal."

The young man stood, a smile on his face. "Please, call me Mickey."

Jack couldn't help stare at the blind young man that was his son in an alternate universe. "Um, hey, Mickey."

"I am pleased to meet you, Mickey," Thor said politely. "I understand that you wanted to speak to me?"

"In my universe Thor and the Asgard battled the Replicators and won, but at a heavy cost. I can help you win sooner, and maybe without losing your home world in the process," Mickey said.

The door to the conference room banged open and first Teal'c, then Sam stepped inside.

"Colonel!" she gushed and went over to hug him, causing him to jerk back in surprised defense.

"Good to see you too, Carter," he said formally, but his eyes were asking her 'what in the hell?' He shook his head and greeted the Teal'c. "Hey, big guy," he said.

"It is good to have you back and whole, O'Neill," Teal'c said with a small nod.

Sam's face became pinched and Daniel winced. "So, how can you help Thor, Mickey?" he asked hastily.

Mickey was very aware of the undercurrents in the room and felt bad for this Sam, who still had a major crush on Jack, despite the fact that he was sure this Jack totally had the hots for Daniel.

"Dad had the knowledge in his head," he turned his head unerringly towards Daniel, "and the Replicators killed him for it."

"Dad?" Jack parroted.

"Me," Daniel said with a crooked smile.

Jack blinked. "Then who is his mom?"

"He has two dads," Sam put in harshly. Teal'c sent her a surprised glance.

Thor tilted his head curiously. "I was unaware that human biology had progressed so far."

Mickey chuckled. "My ~dad~, Jack, was cloned by Loki, and then you aged him when he asked, Thor. His name is John, or Jack Neal. And he and Daniel married and adopted me."

Jack's mouth dropped open, "My clone is ~gay~?"

Daniel snickered and nudged Mickey. "He looks like one of his trout."

Mickey had to suppress his own snickers. "Anyway, SG-1 needs to go to Dakara."

"Dakara?" Teal'c asked in surprise. "That is the Jaffa's holy city. And it is under Ba'al's control."

"Ba'al is no threat to the Asgard," Thor said. "However, what is at Dakara, Mickey?"

"The weapon to defeat the Replicators is there and they're looking for it too. It reduces all matter to its basic molecular level. I'll need to tell Dad..." Mickey winced. "Sorry. I'll need to tell Daniel all I remember from the reports. That should speed up everything, then of course you'll need to lure the Replicators there. And you need to hurry, they have the ability to mimic anyone's appearance and build their own ships."

"We were afraid of that," Thor said. He turned to Jack. "I would speak to the new leader of the SGC."

"Yeah, me too," Jack said, mildly stunned by the turn of events.

~*

In the passageway Jack gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. "What happened to him, Danny?"

Thor and the rest of the team watched with concern as Daniel turned green. "Daniel?" Sam asked, her voice hushed as if she knew he was going to tell her something terrible.

Daniel swallowed hard. "A rogue NID agent went into the academy as a substitute teacher. He threw a beaker of acid into Mickey's face as revenge against us for stopping them."

"Crap," Jack breathed.

Sam put a shaky hand to her mouth. "Ohmigod."

Teal'c didn't say anything but Jack caught the grim look on his old friend's face and agreed.

"That is indeed an unfortunate occurrence," Thor commented gravely.

"We've made a lot of enemies," Daniel said bleakly.

"But also many allies," Thor pointed out, and Daniel smiled down wryly at the diminutive Asgard.

"I can't believe an NID agent got into the Air Force Academy," Jack said suddenly as they got onto the elevator to head to what used to be the General's office.

"Navy," Daniel corrected absently.

Jack blinked. "I'm sorry, did you say ~Navy~?"

Daniel had to smirk at Jack's dismay. "He wanted to be a Marine."

"Ohforcryin'outloud!" Jack said as they arrived, the elevator doors opening.

Teal'c raised an eyebrow at Jack's theatrics, Daniel and Sam exchanged an eyeroll while Thor merely looked confused.

*~~~*

Elizabeth was frustrated with her Goa'uld guests. They were everything that Dr. Jackson had warned her about and more.

At the moment they were on break from negotiations, with the System Lords having nothing to offer and Camulus's attitude getting on her nerves. She was more than relieved when the sergeant announced that SG-1 and Thor would like to see her. What she learned next made her wonder if she'd really understood what she had gotten herself into.

Mickey was walking down the busy passageway with a Marine escort when a scent memory, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Camulus?" he called, stunned.

Camulus broke off the hushed conversation with his Lotar and his head went up to see who had called his name.

"It was the defective human, My Lord," his second in command said, pointing to the young man.

The man's eyes were covered with dark lenses and it was obvious to all that he was blind, but defective wasn't what Camulus thought when he saw him. He saw a beautiful face with strong cheekbones and a lush mouth. The younger man was well built, taller than himself with hair the varied colors of the leaves in autumn, well remembered from his younger years on Earth.

"Do I know you?" Camulus asked courteously. He watched as the young man came towards him, unerringly moving around people in his path until he was close. A hand raised, and was gripped by Camulus's Lotar.

"Release him," he ordered his Lotar quietly. "He will not harm me."

"My Lord," his Lotar apologized before bowing his head and stepping back.

Fingers touch his face and Camulus found himself inexplicably moved by the gentleness, and the intenseness of the younger man's face. "Who are you?"

"My name is Mickey," the young man said. "Ah, you are Marcus too," he added with satisfaction.

Camulus was stunned and he stiffened with surprise. "How..."

"Mickey, let's not hang around with the riff raff," Jack's cheerful voice, edged with danger echoed in the room.

Mickey blindly turned his head to the familiar voice. "Grandad?"

"Sorta." Hands gripped his shoulders and pulled him away from Camulus. Disoriented, Mickey was about to struggle but he felt Camulus place a hand on his chest.

"We'll speak again, Mickey," Mickey heard Camulus say.

"Don't bet your snaky butt on it," Jack replied. "What in the hell are you thinking?" he said sharply as he somewhat abruptly led Mickey off.

"I know him, ~knew~ him," Mickey said apologetically. "We were close, in my universe," he amended. He felt Jack jerk in surprise.

"Way too much information, kiddo," was all that Jack said.

Mickey realized that he was being propelled to the conference room. "What's up?"

"We're getting geared up and ready to go but you've gotta tell Daniel and Sam everything you know."

He nodded, then grinned. "It's too bad, really. In my universe Ba'al actually came to the SGC to beg for help because he couldn't beat the Replicators."

Jack chuckled. "Now that I woulda paid to see."

"Shit," Mickey stopped in his tracks, then shook his head. His memories were going to get him into trouble.

"What?" Jack asked, eyeing the young man curiously.

"I don't know. Let me talk to Daniel and Sam and we'll see."

~*

"It is unacceptable!" Yu roared at Camulus. "A defective human touched you. He should die!" They managed to ignore their guards who were blandly watching them.

Camulus rolled his eyes, feeling very human frustration as he leaned close to his enraged comrade. "He knew who I was, Yu. Rather than have him killed I think we should find out how he knew me, and my host. The Taur'i should not have that information," he said quietly.

Grannus, Camulus' second in command nodded at the implicit command. Yu settled down slightly, abruptly agreeing with Camulus then said something sharp and quick to his Lotar and left for his quarters. Amaterasu merely disappeared in the direction of her rooms, her handmaiden and Lotar on her heels.

*~

After Mickey had told them everything he knew, or remembered hearing, Elizabeth huffed out a sigh. "It's probably not a good idea to be around any of the System Lords or their servants, Mickey. Dr. Jackson has pointed out..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. They're the bad guys," Mickey said with his own sigh and since he didn't have eyes, a verbal eyeroll. "Look, it was a mistake and it won't happen again. This whole place has been one frickin' surprise after another."

"How did you know Camulus?" Daniel asked, ignoring Jack's frantic headshake.

"I don't think you want to know," Mickey said with a slight blush.

Daniel's eyes widened and his head snapped around to stare at Jack, who nodded and shrugged.

Sam's eyes went wide and her face was pink when it dawned on her what they meant. She sent a glance to Teal'c who was eyeing Mickey interestedly.

"So," Elizabeth said in the uncomfortable silence. "Thor is waiting. Good-luck SG-1."

"Thanks," Mickey heard Jack say a split second before the Asgard beam took SG-1.

"How about some coffee?" Elizabeth asked.

"Is it Daniel's?" he blurted and Elizabeth laughed.

"No, but I buy the good stuff too," she said with a smile in her voice. "I've had enough bad coffee from all over the world to not appreciate the good kind. Apparently that is something that Dr. Jackson and I have in common?"

Mickey snickered. "It is in my universe."

*~

It took awhile for the Sergeant and his men to stammer explanations and apologies and to finally figure out where the mirror was. The tractor trailer had a tracer on it, but it still took time to get into contact with the driver to have him turn around.

Jack had to compose himself in his office, which is where Daniel found him. Both men still blamed themselves for what had happened to Mickey, the loss of his dreams and now this. Daniel held Jack, comforting his younger lover as best as he could, both men hoping that their son was okay, wherever he was.

*~

Graccus checked both directions before he slipped into the space where he could observe some of the people who worked in the SGC.

"So, the kid is from another universe?" one of the soldiers asked and his companion nodded.

"Yeah, apparently he's the son of Dr. Jackson and Colonel O'Neill's clone."

"How did he become blind?"

"No idea, though Marjorie in the geeks office said that Dr. Jackson knew and he'd been sick in the closest bathroom. Something bad happened, apparently."

"Huh. Well, I heard..." and the conversation faded as the men disappeared around the far corner, giving Graccus a lot of information for Camulus.

Camulus frowned thoughtfully. He'd never heard of alternate universes, but he intently listened as his Second told him everything he'd learned about it. "Interesting," he said finally. "Keep this to yourself, Graccus, under the pain of death."

Blanching, Graccus nodded emphatically. "Yes, My Lord." He understood the need for secrecy, because if any of the other System Lords knew of this...

*~

Daniel groaned. It had to be snow. "Okay, tell me again?"

"Freak snowstorm, Daniel. It's no one's fault," Jack said wearily. The truck with the mirror was stuck on the other side of the Great Divide, west of the 'Springs in Montrose, Colorado, waiting out the season's worst freak snowstorm. This meant that there was nothing for them to do but wait. And hope.

*~

Graccus made sure that the distraction of Yu yelling at his Marine guards covered Camulus' exit from their quarters.

Mickey was listening to music and doing push-ups when there was a knock at his door. He frowned but he got to his feet and opened the door, "Yes?"

"I am not supposed to be here, but may I enter?"

Quickly, Mickey reached out and dragged the System Lord into his room. "Are you crazy? What if someone sees you?"

"My Lotar disabled the cameras temporarily," Camulus said a bit breathlessly. The younger man was clad in a pair of loose pants and nothing else, muscular chest bared and gleaming with a healthy sweat. Even the scarring that replaced the eyes did nothing to cover the beauty, and he had never been one to ignore beauty.

Mickey made his hands let loose of the goa'uld's clothing and moved to the other side of the room, cheeks flushed. "What do you want Camulus? Or is it Marcus?"

"Both," Camulus said, his voice soft as he carefully moved to stand in front of Mickey. He didn't want to spook him. "Tell me about us."

Relentless. Mickey remembered that about Camulus. "There is no us. You just reminded me of someone," he lied, badly.

Camulus stepped closer and cupped Mickey's face, unexplained waves of tenderness flooding him. There was just something about this Taur'i that both he and his host found very appealing. "Mickey, I know that you're not from this universe. I won't tell anyone. I ~can't~ tell anyone because if the System Lord's ever found out..."

Mickey's breath hitched in at the scent, the familiar scent that always got him hard in seconds in his dreams. He'd fibbed before, with the doppelgangers of his reality. He and Camulus had never progressed beyond heavy petting and kissing, but he'd wanted to.

"I can't do this, Camulus. I know why you're here, to get our help in dealing with Ba'al, but there are worse things than Ba'al out there. You have no idea," Mickey said, stepping back and almost falling when he forgot the small dining table was behind him but stopped by Camulus's big hands on his arms.

"Tell me," Camulus demanded.

"Replicators," Mickey said. "And if you think they're bad, then you need to meet the Wraith. They can suck your life force, painfully, from you until you're so old that you die. And they can read your mind while they do it."

Camulus sucked in a breath. He'd heard about something similar in stolen information that had filtered down through the numerous conquered worlds. "I've heard rumors," he said after a minute.

"Believe them," Mickey said quietly.

Unable to help himself, Camulus leaned forward pressed his mouth to Mickey's. He groaned when the younger man's mouth opened, welcoming him in, the sensations that Marcus felt reverberating through him.

Mickey tore his mouth away, panting loudly. "Camulus, we can't do this."

Camulus was dizzy with conflicting feeling and emotions. He'd ~never~ felt like this, and wasn't sure whether to blame his host or wonder if he'd been drugged by the SGC, which was ridiculous. "I'm sorry," he said and reluctantly moved back though the goa'uld part of him wanted to bed the younger man thoroughly, and repeatedly.

"It's okay," Mickey lied, sliding around and heading to one of the chair, dropping gracelessly into it, then wincing and adjusting himself.

The move made Camulus chuckle wryly. He was in much the same situation.

"The thing is, Camulus," Mickey said conversationally. "Ba'al is like a cockroach. Nothing you do is gonna get rid of him. He's got access to Anubis's Kull warriors and is gonna kick your asses."

"If he defeats us, then what planet do you think he's going to go try and conquer next?" Camulus asked reasonably.

"Ah, but we have the weapon that defeated Anubis. He can't get past that."

Camulus tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. "Be that as it may. What if Ba'al tries to conquer the Asgard since they're so weakened by the Replicators?"

Mickey smiled. "Not going to happen. SG-1 is helping the Asgard even as we speak."

The goa'uld huffed a sigh. "So I can assume that our offer of hyper-drive will not sway you?"

"Nope. We'll get that from the Asgard."

There was a pensive silence. "I cannot go back," Camulus said. "My forces were decimated in the battle with Anubis and then Ba'al. I have nothing to go back to."

"Yu is old and senile. Take him out and keep his army," Mickey said.

Camulus found himself gaping with surprise, then he chuckled wryly. "You never cease to surprise me. And I suppose it is an option."

"Or," Mickey drawled, leaning back seductively in his chair, running his fingers over his stomach above his sweatpants.

"Or?" Camulus swallowed hard, manfully trying to resist the temptation.

"You can give us the Ancient device."

"How did you..." Camulus choked, then sighed, "of course," when a beep at his waist made him sigh. "I have to return to my quarters or be discovered."

"Well, thanks for stopping by," Mickey smirked.

Camulus walked over and took Mickey's hands, yanking him up out of the chair and against his body. He pressed his lips against Mickey's ear. "Next time I may not be so patient."

Mickey sucked in a shaky breath. "Next time I might not fight you," he said, accepting the fiery kiss from Camulus before the man swept out of his room.

"God, I am in so over my head," he said to the empty room. But maybe he'd started in motion a new line of thinking for Camulus.

~*

Thor almost smiled as the weapon destroyed the Replicator threat. "Most impressive. We are in young Mickey Jackson-Neal's debt."

Teal'c looked over at Jack and Daniel. "Mickey Jackson-Neal has been helpful to all of us. The Jaffa are in his debt as well since Dakara is now ours once again."

Jack nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "I think what he wants most is to go home."

"Thor," Daniel asked suddenly. "Can you help Mickey with his eyesight?"

The small alien pondered the request. "It is probable, but much of our healing technology has been destroyed in the war with the Replicators. It would take time."

"That's what happened in his own universe," Daniel said with a sigh. He smiled when Jack placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We need to get him home, Jack. Can you imagine what his parent's are going through?"

Jack nodded, his eyes dark. "Only too well, Dannyboy. Only too well."

Thor observed the two men, the obvious affection and closeness, and a glimmer of an idea began to form. "I will return you to Earth, with the gratitude of the Asgard race."

Sam could see it too, and realized that she'd never had a chance at all.

~*~

Daniel practically vibrated as the mirror was set up and Sam checked it over. They were pretty sure that the control was set on the same universe that Mickey had entered, and hoped that it would be simply stepping through and retrieving their son.

After a minute she straightened up and nodded. "Okay, everything is ready to go, sir."

Jack sighed, running a hand through his gray hair. "You boys be careful and remember that cascade thing."

The younger Jack and Daniel both checked their weapons, and Jack shot his older self a look. "You guys are in charge. Make sure everything is the way we left it."

"You just bring Mickey back," Jack ordered gruffly. He still felt responsible for the attempt on Mickey's life, and tried to be there for his grandson as much as he'd let him. They'd just gotten back on an even keel after almost a year of icy uncomfortable distance.

Alex, older now and a splitting image of Daniel, (which confused a lot of the new people), came in and handed Daniel an envelope. "For their Daniel, if there is one."

Daniel nodded and tucked it into his tac-vest. "We're ready."

"You have a go," the older Jack smirked.

Sam snickered as she activated the mirror. "Bring him home, guys."

"I can still go with you," Ferretti said anxiously.

"Tell Kyle that we're gonna bring him back," Jack said and stepped into the mirror. Daniel took a deep breath and followed.

Lou sighed. "Kyle understands. He tried to get back here but I told him to stay put on P-9726." He both hated and loved the fact that he had the chance to work with his son at the SGC. He still had nightmares about what had happened to Mickey, and the chance that Kyle would be next.

"Ah, planet of the dog -eared people. How's that going?" Jack asked, settling in a chair and getting comfortable. Alex rolled his eyes and left the room to handle the administrivia of the SGC.

And grateful for the reprieve from his own memories, Lou began to regale Jack about the dog-eared people of P-9726.

*

Mickey was walking down the passageway without a guard. Someone had decided that he didn't need one since he obviously knew the SGC like the back of his hand, despite being blind.

He could hear people in the passageway and for the most part could maneuver around them, but the sudden sound of claxons, gunfire and shouting made him disoriented. Then a strong familiar arm wrapped around his waist and jerked him into a room.

"Camulus?"

"Yes, be still."

"What's going on?" Mickey whispered, ears straining for clues to the battle.

"We're going on a trip," Camulus replied and began to steer Mickey down a familiar passageway.

"What?" Mickey asked incredulously as he realized that they were headed for the gateroom. He heard the blast doors shut behind them, and he felt the other man pull something out of a pocket and then the 'gate began to dial. Distantly he realized it must be a remote dialing device of some kind, and thought about how his Aunt Sam would kill to have a look at it

"I don't think..." Mickey began but Camulus shook him gently.

"I need you to trust me, Mickey," Camulus spoke softly. "It's important."

Mickey dug in his heels, jerking out of Camulus's grasp. "I ~can't~, I..." and the whine of the zat was all of the warning he had when everything, ironically, went dark.

~*

Elizabeth Weir couldn't help staring at their visitors. It had been more than unusual to ~hear~ about Mickey's parents, definitely weirder to meet them in person. The newly arrived and freshly victorious SG-1, thanks to Mickey's help, apparently agreed.

Colonel O'Neill broke off his own staring with a snort. "Well, it's kind of a good news, bad news scenario," he told them wryly.

The visiting Daniel narrowed his eyes, and it was strange to see 'Daniel' without glasses. "What's the bad news?"

Carter, who'd been painfully polite to their unexpected guests, spoke first. "Mickey was physically fine, up until he was apparently abducted through the gate by the goa'uld Camulus."

The younger Jack cursed. "Damn it. You couldn't keep track of your snakes?"

"C'mon, Jack," his Daniel said quietly, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder.

Jack made a face at his lover, but looked back at their hosts. "Do you know where they went?"

The older Jack looked in askance at Carter, who shook her head. "I'm sorry, the address was scrambled and Camulus's Lotar is not talking."

"Let me have a crack at him," the younger Jack snarled. "I can make him talk," he promised vengefully.

"As appealing as that sounds, we actually have more pressing..." Elizabeth began when the warning claxons began blaring.

~*

Mickey gasped for air as something over him slid noisily away, and his memories rushed back. "Camulus, you son of a bitch!" he began furiously, clumsily fumbling as he tried to sit up. "You ~shot~ me!"

He felt hands take his and heard Camulus's rich chuckle. "So I did. Open your eyes."

Startled, Mickey did as commanded and blinked as colors and light assaulted his eyes, causing them tears to well up. "Holy...shit, ohmigod! I can ~see~!"

Camulus used his thumbs to wipe away the tears. "I brought you to a secret base that I have and placed you in my sarcophagus."

Eyes adjusting slowly, Mickey let them roam over the handsome, familiar yet not, face of the goa'uld(capitalize) he'd built up in his memories.

"I don't know what to say."

The goa'uld smiled slyly. "Then you will be quite speechless when you see what I am going to send home with you."

"Wait a second," Mickey said, struck by the turn of phrase. "With me? How long have I been gone? Oh ~shit~! They're gonna be freaking out!"

Camulus made a face. "Which is why you're going to take it with you. I can't go back."

"Shit," Mickey said again with feeling. "I don't suppose you have a gdo, 'cause I'm not looking forward to ending up smeared onto the iris." He realized he was freaking and took a deep breath to calm down, then he looked at Camulus. "Um, what am I supposed to take with me anyway?"

"This," Camulus said with a smirk, handing over a case that Mickey hadn't noticed sitting on a low table, hell, because he hadn't ~seen~ it before. The goa'uld opened it and inside was a glowing 'thing'."

Mickey blinked. And since the sensation was so cool (he could ~see~), did it again before he asked his question. "And? So? Therefore?"

Camulus gave him an exasperated look. "~You~ were the one to suggest it!"

Mickey frowned, then grinned. "Oh yeah, the Ancient's device!" He gave the other man a wry look. "I never actually ~saw~ it before."

Understanding and humor lit Camulus's eyes. "Ah, you have a point."

"Okay," Mickey drawled thoughtfully. "I'll need to go to a planet with an SGC team, then gate back home."

"Or you could stay here," Camulus said quietly. "There is no assurance that you'll get back to your own universe."

Mickey wasn't startled to realize that he was strongly tempted, but reality was a bitch. "No, but I have to keep trying. I know my parent's (no apostrophe) are freaked out and that they'll try and find me, and I need to be there, just in case."

Camulus sighed. "I understand. Marcus will miss you as much as I will. He thinks that you're good for me."

"You're a good person," Mickey said, stepping forward. He smiled as the other man met him, and the kiss that followed was almost incendiary.

Both men were panting as they pulled back and Camulus shook his head. "No more or I'll keep you here."

Mickey stepped back regretfully. "Maybe in another universe. Thanks for everything, Camulus."

Camulus brought his fisted hand against his heart, a move he learned from the ancient Gaelic peoples on Earth. "Blessings go with you."

~*'

"Who is it?" Dr. Weir asked as she entered the control room.

"It's the team we left on P3X-595," the sergeant replied. "They're sending through their IDC now, ma'am."

"Open the iris," she ordered.

"Stargate Command, this is SG-23. We have a visitor who says it's imperative he sees you," Colonel Clarkson said, his static filled voice coming through in fits and starts and obscured what he said next.

"There's some kind of interference," Dr. Weir replied. "Can you repeat your last?"

There was a pause, and then a younger voice. "Mickey Jackson-O'Neill, ma'am."

As their AU counterparts hugged emotionally, Jack and Daniel watched with varying degrees of confused interest.

Dr. Weir smiled. "It's alright, Colonel Clarkson, let him through."

"Roger that, Dr. Weir," he said.

The visiting Jack and Daniel scrambled to the gateroom, the rest of the original universe's SG-1 and Dr. Weir on their heels. There was an interminable wait, then their touseled haired beloved son stepped out of the wormhole, familiar blue eyes blazing with happiness. "Hey, you found me!"

Jack and Daniel rushed up the ramp, neither noticing the black case thumping to the ground at their feet as they threw their arms around their missing son.

After a couple of minutes Jack pulled back and cupped Mickey's face in one hand. "If you ~ever~, ~ever~ scare us like that again..." he threatened.

Mickey rolled his eyes. "Like I meant to, geez, Dad!"

A chuckle came from Daniel then abruptly died as he pulled back to stare at his son. "Mick, your eyes!"

Now Jack blinked and he stared as well. "Well fuck me sideways, you've got your eyes back!"

"Cursing like a Marine, dad," Mickey pointed out with a wide grin.

"I ~was~ a Marine," Jack said, pulling his son in for another fierce hug, and a smack on the back of the head.

"Hey! Ow!"

"A sarcophagus," Daniel abruptly said. "Camulus took you to his sarcophagus."

"Yeah," Mickey agreed, the soft smile on his face making his parent's roll their own eyes. He suddenly stepped back and picked up the case that he'd brought through the gate.

"Hey, I got you a new ZPM," he said to that universe's SG-1. "Now you can go to Atlantis!"

Daniel blinked, and looked at his team and Dr. Weir before looking back at their visitors. "You know where Atlantis is?" he asked incredulously.

Mickey and his parents exchanged their own surprised glances before looking at their hosts. "You don't?"

*

It was cutting it close to entropic cascade failure as their guests stood in front of the mirror.

Jack held out his hand. "It was interesting to meet you, Mickey."

Mickey grinned. "I'm one of a kind, Gran..I mean, sir," he said, shaking the offered hand.

Daniel grabbed his son and manhandled him in front of the mirror, "Stop gabbing, touch it and go."

"Sir, yes sir," Mickey quipped as he obeyed and reached out his hand, before appearing on the other side of the mirror to be engulfed in hugs there.

"I see he takes after you," Jack said in aside to his visiting clone, who just smiled back.

"We do appreciate everything your son has done for us," Elizabeth stepped in with a smile.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on him," Daniel said sincerely.

"You might want to talk to him about his choice of friends," Jack said wryly.

The visiting Jack shrugged. "Mick's got his eyes back , complaining about it is just gonna be inspecting the gift horse's teeth."

Both Daniel's and Elizabeth looked puzzled, but Jack nodded. "Gotcha."

Teal'c leaned towards Sam. "Is this a variation on the domesticated equines?" he asked, sotto voce.

"I'll explain later," she whispered back. They watched the men step through to their own universe, wave, and then the mirror went dark.

"Well, it's been an interesting week," Jack said after a moment, his hands tucked in his pockets as he rocked on his heels.

Teal'c raised his eyebrows. "As usual, O'Neill, you are the master of the understatement."

Daniel blinked then began to laugh, while Carter and Elizabeth dissolved into giggles.

"Oy," Jack said.

~*

Mickey was staring up into the evening sky when Daniel found him. "I'd forgotten how blue it was."

Daniel settled beside him, not looking at the sky but letting his eyes roam over his happy son. "How are you?"

His son cocked his head slightly as he considered the question but didn't take his eyes off of the slowly darkening skies. "I'm not really sure. Well, no," he amended. "I'm thrilled beyond all reason that I'm in my own universe."

"Us too," Daniel replied dryly. He caught his son's smirk and gently tapped him on the back of the head. "Are you okay?"

Mickey let out a slow sigh. "I knew that it was a possibility, that Thor would visit with one of his machines and my eyes would get fixed. Some day. It's just I never realized how much hope I'd lost. That one day I'd stopped believing."

Daniel's heart hurt. He hadn't realized that their son had given up, not only on them, but on himself. "I'm sorry."

"Shut up," Mick said scornfully. "It worked out, right? I fell through a mirror, got to save the day even if I was blind, got hit on by a goa'uld who kidnapped me and took me to his lair and fixed me. Heck, I couldn't have written a better ending if I'd been a romance writer!"

"Geez, Mick," Daniel laughed aloud. He wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders and gazed up into the sky with him. Not more than five minutes later Jack came up to sit on Mickey's other side and started pointing out constellations. And Daniel's world was back to normal.

~*

In the universe that they'd left not everything was so serene.

Everything was fucked, Jack thought as he took a long drink of his beer and stared up at the sky. Okay, maybe not, 'cause they'd helped the Asgard, kicked Ba'al's ass, gotten the kid home to his own universe and gotten rid of their sneaky snaky guests, but things between him and Carter, and him and Daniel...Oy.

And what's more? He was damned confused. He'd been pulled aside by the clone and told to get his head out of his ass and fight for Daniel. Who he hadn't even known that he wanted. He loved Daniel, of course. With as much history that they had how could he not, but they were straight and it was a buddy love, right?

Bullshit.

Hell, he'd fucked and been fucked, in war you took your comfort where you could because you were pretty sure you were gonna get your ticket punched the next day. And it didn't mean anything.

"Dannyboy," he sighed. Because ~Daniel~ meant something, had for years and Jack had worked damn hard to ignore it. Not that he hadn't wanted it, he hadn't thought it would ever realistically work out even in his wildest dreams. But their other selves had effortlessly shown how much better it could be, and he wanted it, oh he wanted it, to grip it greedily with both hands and just hang on.

To be happy. Because, he realized with a start, he was happiest with Daniel.

"Fuck."

"Language, Jack."

Jack wasn't sure that he hadn't just levitated in his seat and he whipped his head around to stare at Daniel in shock. "Where the hell did you come from?"

Daniel's lips quirked as he took the seat beside Jack. "Well, my mum and my dad..."

"Ha ha, funny guy," Jack said with exasperation.

"Thanks, I'll be here all week," Daniel replied, straight faced. After a couple of minutes of tense silence he yawned and settled into the chair more comfortably. "So, thinking deep thoughts, huh? I called your name when I came into the house, you must not have heard me."

"I heard you," Jack lied. He risked looking at Daniel, who smirked.

"Riiight."

Jack sulked into his beer. "Bite me."

"We can't, you know. The military would really kind of frown if we decided to become lovers, or more," Daniel said gently, bringing out into the open all of the secrets and emotions that had been swirling around, and ignored, for years.

Swallowing the last of his beer, Jack set the bottle on the ground and turned his chair to face Daniel, eyes warm as he made the split second decision to go with his gut, to change their lives, to grab the brass ring. "Not if I'm a civilian."

Daniel leaned forward. "Jack?"

Holding out his hand, Jack got to his feet. "Take the chance with me, Dannyboy."

Daniel blinked. Somehow he'd forgotten that every time Jack had made a life changing decision, it had been because of him. And those half forgotten memories were what had him standing and taking Jack's hand.

"Okay."

*~