The Twizzle Arc 2

Twisted Minds (Part 2/2)

by Orrymain

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/aso/orrymain3/twizzl022.php
Summary: Everything isn't ice cream and peaches as the Jackson-O'Neills adapt to the sudden and dramatic changes in their lives brought about by the accident

Later that afternoon, Aislinn was trying to get her father to feel better. He'd seemed so alone to her, and she missed him. Suddenly, she had an idea. Her dad loved pottery, and she did, too.

"Dad, we could make a new vase," Aislinn suggested. "Then we could put some pretty flowers in it."

"Not right now," Jack replied sourly as he played with his hands, wishing he had something to hold.

"I know!" the young girl exclaimed. "We could make Daddy a new picture frame and put a picture of you in it. Jeff could take it. Daddy would love that."

"Sweetheart, not right now," Jack said a bit more forcefully.

"Well, maybe you could show me how to make a cup. I'm not very good at those," Aislinn suggested. Feeling at a loss, the little girl wondered, ~How can I make Dad feel better? He's so sad inside.~

"Ash, I said not now," Jack snapped. "Why don't you go play with Jenny in the game room."

"You don't want to do pottery with me?" the little girl asked. ~Dad's not mad at me. He just wishes he could be in the tree house with David, Jonny, and Ricky right now,~ she told herself, knowing her brothers were having an adventure in the tree house Jack had built years before.

"Not now, Sweetheart," Jack answered as gently as he could.

"Okay, Dad," the sad little girl replied as she sauntered slowly away, her head bowed and her hands clasped behind her back.

"Ash?"

"Yes, Dad?" the hopeful girl asked as she turned around.

"Maybe tomorrow."

"I know! I can read you a story," Aislinn suggested, hurrying over to the bookshelf. ~I knew I could think of something. He'll like this.~

Jack squirmed, but he did his best to cover it up, forcing a smile as one of his princesses read him a story.

====

"Jonny, you awake?" Aislinn whispered late that night. Her parents had already made their rounds and had gone to bed themselves. "Jonny."

"Ash, I'm sleeping."

"No, you're not. You're awake," Aislinn observed. She hurried over to Little Danny's bed and shoved his arms. "Little Danny, wake up." She shook him more, repeating, "Wake up!"

Aislinn returned to Jonny's bed, getting in and scooting the boy over so that he was by the wall.

"Ash, are you okay?" Little Danny asked as he lay down next to his sister, realizing she wanted some Munchkin time.

"Ash, what's wrong?" Jonny asked when his sister began to sniffle.

"He didn't even listen," Aislinn began. "I tried to read Dad a story, something he'd like, but he was just sitting there. He wouldn't do pottery with me, either."

"Dad's still sad, Ash," Little Danny explained softly.

"I'm sad, too, but he doesn't even want to be with us."

"Yes, he does," Jonny insisted.

"Jonny, fix it."

Jonny stared at his sister. He didn't know how to fix things this time. He'd tried to play with his older father, too. Just like with Aislinn, Jack had gone through the motions, but Jonny had known his heart wasn't in it.

"We'll all fix it," Little Danny offered, realizing Jonny didn't have the answer to their sister's request.

"How?"

"Well, Dad and Daddy tell us to never give up," Little Danny said.

"That's right," Jonny affirmed with a nod.

"Especially not on each other," Little Danny added.

"What do we do?" Aislinn asked, using her hands to try and stop her tears.

"Don't cry, Ash," Jonny pleaded, moving a tad closer to his sister.

"I miss Dad sooooo mmmm....much," the youngest triplet cried, causing both of her brothers to put their arms around her.

"It'll be okay, Ash. I promise," Jonny stated firmly.

"Jonny's right, Ash. We just have to have a tough skin. That's what Dad calls it."

"Like when people pick on us because we have two fathers," Jonny added. "We'll get Dad back. You'll see."

"How do you know?" the frightened young girl asked.

"We have Munchkin power," Little Danny answered, putting one hand out in front of him.

Aislinn thought about it a moment and then nodded, putting her hand on Little Danny's. A second later, Jonny's hand topped his sister's.

"On three," the oldest Munchkin called out quietly. "One ... two ..."

"Munchkin power!" the triplets exclaimed quietly before settling under the covers and falling asleep.

====

With his parents and siblings occupied elsewhere, Jonny lined up several of the family pets in the recreation room.

Bijou and Katie were lying down on the floor, their eyes following the boy as he paced back and forth like a general addressing his troops. Mittens was on the top of one of the sofa sectionals, while Calico was staring at Ptolemy, who was secured in her cage.

"Calico, eyes front," the little general ordered, getting a rebellious meow in response. "Eyes front, Callie!"

Reluctantly, the feline got up and meandered her way over to where the beagles were.

"You have a special assignment," Jonny stated to the animal kingdom. He looked over at small animal cages that he'd brought downstairs. "That includes you two, too," he said to the guinea pigs. "And you," he said to the rabbits.

In response, Bagel and Cream Cheese both hopped forward a step.

"Dad needs lots of extra attention. Your assignment is to give Dad as much attention as you can. Don't let his growl stop you. He doesn't mean it when he yells. Sometimes important people say things they don't mean. Dad's just worried. Don't give up. You're Jackson-O'Neills, and we never give up, no matter how loud Dad gets. Operation: Dad Love begins now. Go to it!"

The animal kingdom shared looks and then went on their way. Jonny returned the smaller, caged animals to their homes and then plopped down on his bed, holding his longtime pet, Bogey the lizard, close.

"I know generals aren't supposed to be scared, Bogey, but anyone would be scared if they couldn't walk anymore. Dad's still brave, and he's still the best soldier ever. He doesn't mean it when he yells. He didn't mean it, did he, Bogey?"

====

Later that day, as he wheeled himself through the living room, Jack felt something strange on his shoulder. Stopping, he looked to the side and groaned.

"Mittens, get down."

Jack's request was unheeded, so he just sighed as he wheeled forward to the patio door, with the cat happily hitching a ride on his shoulder. Suddenly, he heard a squawk. He looked over to his right and saw Ptolemy walking towards him.

"Bird, back!"

"Dad love," Ptolemy spoke.

"I don't know where your dad is, but I'm definitely *not* your dad," Jack stated sharply.

"Ordered to love," Ptolemy spoke cryptically.

"What are you talking about?"

"Operation now."

"Mittens, Polly's off her crackers," Jack mused, shaking his head.

"Love Dad," Ptolemy stated before turning around and returning to her cage.

"I'll pass it along," Jack sighed, totally confused by the exchange.

====

"Daniel!"

"What?" Daniel asked as he ran into the living room where Jack was taking a nap on the sofa.

"Get this thing off of me!"

"Bagel is not a thing."

"How'd she get here?" Jack questioned curiously.

"I have no idea," Daniel answered as he picked up the rabbit and began to rub her fur. ~How did you get down here?~

"I swear, Danny, it's a conspiracy. Everywhere I've gone today, I've been attacked by the zoo."

"Maybe they've missed you."

"There's that," Jack agreed hesitantly, reaching up for the rabbit and taking her into his possession, putting her back down on his chest. "Or maybe someone's trying to make me go insane."

"Right," Daniel responded dryly and then turning around to head back to the kitchen to continue making dinner.

"Daniel!"

"What?" the younger man asked, returning to his lover.

"I'm gonna take another nap."

"You just took one."

"Your powers of observation are underwhelming," Jack snapped, patting the rabbit and wishing the motion would soothe him as much as it seemed to be doing to Bagel. With a sigh, he said, "I'm tired. I'm tired all the time."

"I've noticed that," Daniel acknowledged with concern.

"No, we're not going back to the prison, not again, not until I have to for PT," Jack stated sternly as he thought about his next scheduled physical therapy session.

"I called Margo this morning."

"Let me guess. It's normal."

"Yes, it is. She recommended some vitamins and more exercise."

"Exercise?" Jack questioned coldly, grimacing when Bijou jumped up on the end of the sofa and stared at him, almost accusing him of being a pain in the butt. "Okay, okay."

As Bijou relaxed against Jack's feet, Daniel stated, "We need to look at getting some specialized equipment for you."

"Right," Jack sighed unhappily, closing his eyes in the hopes of ending the conversation.

"We'll talk about it later," Daniel stated, fully aware of what his husband was doing and deciding to let the subject go for now. **And we *will* talk about it later.**

**Dictator.**

**Yeahsureyoubetcha!** Daniel replied, lending a moment of normalcy to their brief tiff.

====

"I've been so busy, I haven't seen any of your new dance routines. Show me one," Sara requested, surprised when Chenoa and Lulu simply stared at each other. "What's going on?"

Sara was doing something she'd been doing ever since Jennifer had called her in September about the children's homeschooling. Two or three days a week, she was spending several hours a day at the Jackson-O'Neill home, teaching the children everything from social studies to art appreciation. The kids were on a break now, and she'd been chitchatting with the young dancers when this twist to their conversation had occurred.

"Girls?" Sara asked curiously when nothing but silence had greeted her initial question.

"We're not dancing anymore," Chenoa admitted.

"What? Why not?"

With a glance to her sister, Lulu explained, "We don't want Dad to feel bad."

"Why would he feel bad watching you dance?" Sara questioned quizzically.

"Because he can't dance," Chenoa answered sadly.

"Girls, no. Your dad loves that you dance. He talks about it all the time," Sara refuted.

"Not anymore," Lulu spoke in a near-whisper, her head down. "It makes him sad."

"He hasn't watched us dance in a long time," Chenoa pointed out.

"He looks away when we talk about it," Lulu added.

"So we agreed not to dance anymore, because as much as we love to dance, we love Dad more," Chenoa elaborated as Lulu bobbed her head in agreement.

Sara sighed as she reached out for the hands of the curly-haired girls and pulled them up close to her. She slid her arms around them, so she could comfort them with light touches on their backs while she talked.

"Noa, Lulu, you both have a beautiful gift. When you dance, it takes our breaths away. We go places in our minds that we wouldn't without your feet taking us there. Your dad is so very proud of you. He *beams* when he tells me about your routines."

"Not anymore," Chenoa sniffled, emotion beginning to overtake her.

"Girls, your dad is going through a difficult adjustment. I know it's hard on all of you, but the best way to help him is to keep on doing everything that you did before the accident. It may take him a while, but he'll snap out of this funk he's in one of these days." Sara paused, still seeing sad faces on the sisters. "One day very soon, your dad is going to be his old self again, and how do you think he's going to feel when he finds out that you've stopped dancing because of him?"

Chenoa and Lulu exchanged a look, small gasps coming from them at the same time.

"He's going to be sad and feeling very guilty, don't you think?" Sara prodded, her hands rubbing the girls' backs.

"She's right, Lulu."

"I know. I don't want Dad to feel guilty."

"Be patient with your dad. He'll come around," Sara promised, drawing the girls into a hug. "He loves you so very much, and he wants you to dance."

"Noa, I have an idea!" Lulu exclaimed when the hug ended.

"What?"

"Let's make a dance just for Dad."

"An 'I love you' dance," Chenoa replied enthusiastically.

"Thanks, Aunt Sara," Lulu said as she began to head for the dance studio. Then she stopped and looked back, a startled look on her face as she said, "Oh, we have history next."

Sara smiled and replied, "Not today. Today, you dance."

The two girls grinned and then hurried off to the dance studio, eager to prepare a new routine for their older father.

~Okay, Jack. Enough of this,~ Sara sighed, getting up and heading for the study.

"You want something?" Jack called out a bit sharply from his wheelchair, which was facing the wall.

"Jack, what are you doing in here?"

"The same thing I'd be doing anywhere I was. I'm sitting and staring. I do that a lot these days. It's my new hobby," Jack snarked.

"Having another 'poor me' party?" Sara retorted, walking over to the sofa and sitting down. "Jack, I really don't care if you want to sit in here all day and feel sorry for yourself, but I'm not going to let you hurt Daniel or these children."

"Since when are you so protective of Daniel? Aren't you supposed to hate him or something?"

"Jack, stop!" Sara exclaimed, her head going back against the sofa in frustration. "Were you this stubborn when we were married?"

"Probably," Jack admitted. Somehow, the odd agreement resulted in a small chuckle. It broke the tension and opened the door to the problem of the day. "What is it I'm in trouble for?" he asked calmly.

"Are you aware that Lulu and Noa have stopped dancing?"

"No, they haven't," Jack denied.

"Yes, Jack, they have. They don't want to upset you."

"What are you talking about?" Jack asked sharply, not liking what he was hearing.

"Jack, your legs are paralyzed, not your brain, so pay attention and cut the 'dumb general' bit. Noa and Lulu didn't want you to feel bad, and they think you do because you've ignored their dancing since you've been home."

"No, I ... I have n... I ... crap," Jack sighed. "I have," he admitted sadly. "They talk about dancing and my mind goes to Danny and how we ..."

"Jack?"

"Danny and I, we dance ... danced, a lot," Jack confided. "We'd turn down the lights, put on something soft and sweet, and we'd dance, sometimes for hours. No one else exists when we dance." He sighed as he corrected, "Danced. I can't dance with him anymore, Sara, and I guess I can't deal with that."

Leaning forward, Sara ordered sternly, "Toughen up, Jack. Your kids need you."

"What happened to all that compassion?"

"You get what you need, and right now, you don't need compassion. You need to hear it like it is, and the way it is, your little dancers are hurting. I convinced them they were wrong. I told them that their dad would come around." Standing up, Sara urged, "Make it soon, Jack. They're good, you know."

Jack stared at the wall again. He didn't want to hurt any of his children or interfere with their talents and gifts. As he thought back, he realized he had ignored the girls when it came to their dancing. It just hurt him to know that he'd never be able to dance with his husband again. They fitted together so amazingly well.

~I have to get over this, for Lulu and Noa,~ Jack told himself, determined to find a way to do just that, all the while fearing he wouldn't be able to. ~How do I tell Danny that I screwed up and let down our kids -- again, *especially* when I'm sure it's not for the last time?~

====

Two days later, Little Danny stared at the vacant wheelchair. He knew it was a helpful device. It was something that allowed his older father mobility, but it was also the symbol of how much his family had lost. At the same time that he hated it, he also appreciated its value. His heart was battling with his head.

Yesterday had been the worst day of his life, or second worst if he counted the day he had to 'break up' with Karissa. The big birthday bash for Jack, the Munchkins, the Spitfires, Chenoa, and Lulu had been a disaster. All of their planning and hard work had been for nothing. Jack had either been a mime, rotting away in his wheelchair while saying nothing, or he'd been a sarcastic, uncaring bear, growling at various family and friends for no reason other than to spread his misery.

Little Danny's heart broke upon realizing his older father wasn't even going to acknowledge the joy of the day. He'd cut the cake, while barely looking at it, sending part of it on the floor. He hadn't been interested in their presents, and that had made it difficult for the children to enjoy their own gifts.

The worst moment had come at the end of the so-called party, when Daniel had had enough of Jack's whines and sneers and had actually told his lover off in front of everyone. It had been one of the worst fights the children had ever witnessed between their parents. In the end, Daniel had retreated upstairs to the roof deck, leaving Billy to tend to Jack while Jilly soothed the upset children.

The grieving and confused young genius needed an outlet for his frustration, and the wheelchair had suddenly become that outlet.

"I hate you," the little boy whispered. He turned and looked around the bedroom. There was no one else around. "I hate you," he said more firmly. Suddenly, he broke the rules and ran through the hallway, to his bedroom. He pulled his pillow off his bed and then ran back down the hallway, through the jog that connected the new and old parts of the house, and to his parents bedroom. His chest heaving, he looked around again to make sure he was alone. Not quite a shout, he exclaimed, "I hate you" while swatting the wheelchair with the pillow several times, using every bit of energy and force that he could muster.

Then the child prodigy backed away. He blinked as he stared at the mobile chair and then down at his pillow that was now torn and tattered a bit.

"I hate you, but Dad needs you, and I love Dad, so be a good chair and help him, okay? I'm sorry."

Crying, Little Danny walked slowly to his bedroom, laid down on his bed, and rested his head on the pillow, having turned it slightly to prevent the stuffing from falling out.

"I love you, Dad," the boy whispered as he closed his eyes.

====

Two more tortuous days later, Daniel brought in the mail and headed for the study to begin his usual sorting procedure. He was trying to be upbeat, or at least civil, but that wasn't easy, considering what had happened on big birthday day.

"Mail's in," the archaeologist called out to his lover, who was in the study, behind his desk playing a computer game.

"Anything exciting?"

Sitting down on the old but always comfortable sofa, Daniel shifted through the mail, putting them down into their appropriate piles as he worked his way through the large stack. There was double the amount there normally would be, since the day before had been a holiday -- Columbus Day.

"Utility bill, Mark's bill, Geo subscription, Ma...yo Clinic," Daniel stammered, flipping the official looking envelop over to see the reverse side.

"What?" Jack called out, not stopping his game.

"Jack, this is addressed to 'L. Daniel Jackson-O'Neill'."

"L. Daniel?"

Opening the correspondence, Daniel was stunned to read the letter.

"Stop playing," Daniel requested softly as he read.

"What's in it? A request for a donation?" the older man asked as he continued to play.

Standing, Daniel ordered more forcefully, "Jack, stop playing that freakin' game. This is a letter to Little Danny about a new spinal surgery. It's in the early testing stages. Jack, this is for real. Our son's in contact with this doctor at the Mayo Clinic."

"Let me see that," Jack ordered, snatching the letter from his lover just as soon as Daniel was close enough for him to do so. "Thanks, but no thanks," he snorted, tossing the paper down to the desk and returning to his game.

Leaning forward, Daniel reached out and grabbed Jack's hand, preventing him from continuing with his game.

"What are you doing?" the older man questioned sternly.

"Jack, do you realize what this is?" Daniel questioned strongly. "Our son broke the rules and ... went on the internet to make a connection with the Mayo Clinic. The *Mayo Clinic*, Jack; and he did it convincingly. This doctor doesn't know he's been corresponding with a child." Pulling his hand back, he continued, "Who knows what else he's done, but ... this," he picked up the letter, "is a big deal, Jack. He almost got you in. Read this again. You just missed their qualification layer. Our son did that, for you, because he loves you, and he's worried about you."

"He wants a father who can run and play with him, that's what it means."

"Cut it out with the self-pity, Jack. I'm sick and tired of it. Our children should be focused on our lives as it us." ~Gawd, but I am ready for that defining moment Margo talked about.~ Taking a deep breath, Daniel continued in a lighter tone, "Sled hockey, remember? We should be ... reinventing our world to someplace exciting and possible. Little Danny wants you to walk, yes, but he wouldn't be doing this if you weren't wallowing in that chair every minute of the day."

"I have a game to play," Jack responded. "No TV for a week."

"Excuse me?" Daniel asked incredulously.

"Little Danny broke the rules. No TV for a week. Make that no TV or internet for a week; no, make that for a month!"

"Stuff it!" Daniel exclaimed angrily. "I'm not punishing him for this," he said, returning to the mail. "Little Danny is smart, smart enough to know he was breaking the rules; and he did it anyway."

"Overt disobedience -- one month," Jack insisted.

"No," Daniel argued strongly, his ire stirring as it hadn't done in quite a while. "Our son is willing to endure punishment at your hands, the hands of the dad he loves, to save you from yourself." He paused, shaking his head. "You know, we've never formally said what or who we believe in, spiritually, except that there is definitely a power that touches all of us, but our children believe in God. What Little Danny has done sounds a lot like a man who lived and died over two-thousand years ago, doesn't it, Jack? I mean, sacrificing himself to try and help someone who doesn't even want him, all in the name of love."

Jack flinched, but didn't look up, not wanting to see the fury in his Love's eyes.

"Right now our nine-year-old son is more of a man than you are! Hell, Jack, they all are, including JD."

Jack looked up at Daniel's swear word. Neither were strangers to swearing, especially himself, but since the Munchkins were born, their use of anything even close to profanity had pretty much ceased inside their home. It was a shock to hear the word from his husband now, when the children were nearby, and it was a sign of just how upset Daniel truly was.

Seeing he had his husband's attention, Daniel continued, "Every single one of our children has stepped up to the plate and come through for you, and what do you do? You spit on their love. They wanted the 'King of Birthdays' to have the best birthday of all. They volunteered to have one big party so you would have the most special birthday of anyone, and so I wouldn't have to plan separate parties, so I could focus on being with you. They chose decorations that meant more to you than to them. The foods were your favorites, not theirs. They did everything they could to make that big party special for you. They've been busting their butts for you, and all you do is push them away. I've been disappointed in your actions in the line of duty, Jack, but I have *never* been disappointed in you -- until now, that is. Push me away all you want, Jack, but never, *never,* hurt our children like that again, or you'll regret it."

The older man looked away, not wanting to hear the harsh and all-too-true words Daniel was speaking. It hurt, but he couldn't reply. What could he say? The answer was nothing, so he continued playing his game, hoping Daniel hadn't seen the slight hesitation on his face when the cruel words had rightfully stabbed him through his heart.

"You're pathetic!" Daniel accused angrily. He waited for a response, but there was nothing but the sounds of the game his lover was playing. ~Deal with this fast, Jack. I'm not sure how much more I can take of this.~ Frustrated, he refocused on sorting the mail, surprised when he saw yet another letter addressed to 'L. Daniel Jackson-O'Neill'. ~The Salk Institute,~ he sighed proudly. ~You're amazing, Little Danny. Punish you? I don't think so.~

====

Still distraught two days later, the middle Munchkin stared at the telephone. He knew he wasn't supposed to make phone calls without permission, but he really needed to. His parents had made up, at least for today. That was part of the problem. One day everything was perfect, and the next day it was so far from perfect that it was easy to forget that the day before had been good. Resigning himself to the fact that he was about to consciously break another one of the family rules, he took a breath, picked up the receiver, and dialed the direct line number he had memorized.

--

"Here's the contract, Karissa," Lily Faberge stated as she entered the woman's office with the papers.

"Thanks, Lily. Are you sure it has all the changes?" Karissa asked, quickly adding, "Mister Danton insists on perfection."

"Everything's there. He certainly isn't an easy man to deal with."

"That's why I'm about to get on a plane to Albuquerque," Karissa sighed.

Looking at her watch, Lily replied, "You'd better hurry."

Karissa stood up, taking the papers and putting them into her briefcase. Just as she reached out for her coat, she heard her private phone line ring.

"Karissa, you only have thirty-five minutes," Lily warned.

Concerned something might be wrong with a family member, Karissa picked up the phone and answered with an anxious, "Hello."

"Rissa, are you busy?" Little Danny asked tentatively.

Karissa Lewis knew the tone of her young admirer's voice. Something was wrong. She also knew he wouldn't be calling her if he didn't truly need her.

"No, of course not," Karissa answered, sitting back in her chair. "How are you?"

"Rissa, will you take me out to lunch? Please?"

"Well, sure. Let me talk with one of your fathers." Karissa heard the silence, and that's when she knew for sure that Little Danny was scared about something. Without him telling her, it was clear that he'd made the phone call without permission. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I have a contract that your fathers need to sign. It's really important," Karissa stated, tapping on her briefcase as she thought about the Danton contract. "Why don't I come by in a few minutes and, um, I'll ask your parents about lunch?"

"Thanks, Rissa!"

"I'll see you in a few minutes," Karissa stated, smiling as she hung up the phone.

"Karissa ..." Lily began.

"Call the airline and see if you can get me on the four o'clock flight," Karissa interrupted. "Call Mister Danton and tell him I've had a family emergency. You'd better make me a hotel reservation in case he decides to make this harder than it should be." Standing up, she grabbed her coat and briefcase and headed for the door. "I'll call you later to verify."

Lily nodded, curious who was on the phone that had such power to cause J-O Enterprises to potentially lose an important client.

====

"Hi, David," Karissa greeted when the door opened. "I need to see your parents."

"They're in the study," David answered, letting the woman in.

Just as David and Karissa reached the living room, Daniel walked down the hallway and called out, "Karissa, is there a problem?"

"Problem? Well, I have a contract that you and Jack need to sign," Karissa advised as she pulled out the paper and handed it to him.

With everything under control, David waved goodbye and headed back to the kitchen, where'd he been when he'd heard the knock on the door.

Daniel looked at the paper, his eyebrows arching in surprise. Just as he was about to question the visit, he heard another voice, and it explained the mystery.

"Hi, Karissa!" Little Danny greeted enthusiastically.

"Hi, Little Danny. How have you been?" the woman asked eagerly.

"I'm okay," the woman's admirer answered.

"I was thinking about you earlier," Karissa spoke. "Gee, it's been a long time since we've done anything together. Hey, how about lunch?" She looked up at her employer and asked, "Daniel, would it be all right if I took Little Danny out to lunch?"

Daniel looked at his namesake. He was wearing his best blue shirt and a new blazer. He was obviously expecting Karissa and wanted to look his best. Even though the boy's so-called crush on the woman had been set aside from the reality of their age difference, Little Danny still loved her. Everyone knew it.

"No, uh, I mean, sure. Jack and I will look this over and have it signed by the time you get back."

"Great. Let's go," Karissa said, smiling as she held out her hand, which Little Danny eagerly grasped. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too."

Daniel watched as the chattering pair left the house. Glancing at the contract, he shook his head and then returned to the study.

"Who was at the door?" Jack asked.

The archaeologist sat at the edge of the desk, fumbling with the paper as he answered, "Karissa. She said we need to sign this."

Curious, Jack took the paper and scoffed, "It's a copy!"

"I know," Daniel affirmed, nodding his head.

"Daniel, Karissa doesn't need us to sign this, even if it were the original," Jack pointed out.

"You know that, and I know that, but ..."

"But what?" Jack asked a bit impatiently.

"Little Danny doesn't know that."

Jack frowned a second before inquiring, "What does that mean?"

"Jack, I think he called her and asked her to come over," Daniel answered.

"Isn't she supposed to be in New Mexico this afternoon to talk to this control freak?" Jack questioned, flopping the paper in his hands.

"Yes, but I'm guessing she got an SOS from our son and came right over. He was expecting her."

"How do you know?"

"He was dressed in his best. Karissa asked if they could go to lunch after handing me this. I suspect that was the plan, to use this contract as an excuse for her visit and their lunch date."

"Little Danny lied?"

"No. I didn't ask him anything, or her. I just decided to let them go. Jack, I've been thinking about the brood and the rules about the phone. They're getting older, and, well ..."

"They need some space."

"I think so," Daniel responded as he stood up. "I'm going to check on lunch." Stopping in the doorway, he looked back at his Love and commented, "Karissa has priorities."

"Apparently," Jack acknowledged.

"And we're okay with that."

"Apparently," Jack repeated.

"Even though the Danton project is a million-dollar deal," Daniel pointed out.

Nodding, Jack agreed, "Even though."

"Just checking," the archaeologist replied with a smile. "You know, she did get the Barnes account back."

"There's that," Jack acknowledged about the account that had been temporarily lost earlier in the year due to Karissa's devotion to Little Danny and a decision she'd made to spend time with him instead of adhering to business. It had been an emotional period, a time when the little boy realized that he had to let Karissa go. After all, she was a grown up, and he was a child. "He's a happy camper now."

"So, we're agreed."

Jack looked at the contract and dramatically held it out to the right, easing it down until the buzz of the paper shredder was heard.

"That's what I thought," Daniel said, a pleased expression on his face before he finally went to check on their lunch. As he headed for the kitchen, he continued to smile. ~That felt ... normal.~

Unfortunately, the 'normal' moments were few and far between for the family these days, which was one of the reasons their child prodigy had felt the need to call Karissa.

~We have to figure this out,~ Daniel reminded himself, a sense of urgency in his mind, even though he realized the solution would be a slow moving one and not something immediate. ~Jack just needs more time. We'll be okay.~

====

"Hey, no holding out on me," Karissa encouraged with a smile.

During lunch, Karissa and Little Danny had chitchatted about lighthearted things. He'd politely asked about her boyfriend, Darren St. James, and she'd answered and then quickly changed the subject, knowing that it was still a painful topic for the little boy. After lunch, they'd taken a walk, stopping at the park where they now were. They were sitting on the grass, facing each other. Karissa knew she was ruining her dress, but she didn't care about that, anymore than she did the Danton account. She had lots of dresses, but only one little boy who trusted her to keep his world together.

"I love having lunch with you, but you didn't call me just to have lunch. I'm here, and I'm listening."

"Rissa, I'm scared."

"Okay. What are you scared of?"

"We're all messed up."

"Your parents?" Karissa questioned.

Little Danny nodded, but added, "All of us. Everybody's sad and scared. We don't know what to do."

"Have you talked about it?"

With a shrug, the boy said, "We used to talk about everything. Daddy's taking us to see a counselor, Doctor Rich, but she doesn't understand."

"Well, how many times have you seen her?"

"A few."

"Little Danny, you know you have to give her a chance. I'm sure she wants to help you."

"But she doesn't understand. You don't understand, either," Little Danny sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"It's classified," the boy sighed, leaning forward and putting his chin in his hands. "I want to tell you, but I can't, and we can't tell Doctor Rich for sure. She doesn't really know."

Karissa wasn't sure what to say. She wasn't about to dismiss the comment. She remembered back to another time when Little Danny had said something similar. She had a feeling that it tied in to Cheyenne Mountain, and the work that Jack, Daniel, and even Megan did there, whatever that was.

"Tell you what. Let's not worry about what you can't tell me. Why don't you just tell me what you can," Karissa urged.

"It's the chair, Dad's wheelchair. He doesn't like it, and that makes us not like it. I hate it, and I hate what it means."

"That your dad can't walk anymore," Karissa deduced.

"And that we can't do what we used to do. We don't want to, without Dad."

"Playing games. Things like that?"

"Yes, and what I can't tell you that we used to do. It was special, but we can't do it without Dad."

Karissa reached out and took the boy's hands while responding, "Danny, you're a strong person, just like your brothers and sisters are; and your parents are phenomenally strong. I'll bet, if you try, you'll figure out a way to do this ... thing that you used to do. Are you really sure that your dad being in a wheelchair means you can't ever do it again?"

"We can, but they won't let him."

"The military?" Seeing the boy's sad nod, Karissa sighed for a second. "I'll bet you can find a way," she insisted.

"Dad doesn't want to do anything, though. Rissa, he's so unhappy. He's tries to hide it sometimes, but he can't. Dad's not good at pretending."

Karissa chuckled as she agreed, "No, your dad isn't good at covering it up when he's not happy."

"Jenny and Ricky got into a big fight this morning."

"They've fought before."

Little Danny shook his head, saying, "Not like this. They made up, but it scared me. Dad's party was horrible, too. He was just mad at everybody, and he and Daddy had a big fight. Rissa, I'm just scared."

"Come here," Karissa beckoned, welcoming the boy into a comforting embrace.

"Give your dad some time, okay? He'll find himself again, and when he does, everything will settle down. I know it's hard, and it's scary, but this is a big change for your family. You have to have faith and believe in that J-O magic that your family has. It's special, Little Danny, just like you are. Nothing will defeat it, nothing. You just have to work hard, review your options, and keep on believing. Can you do that?"

"I love you, Rissa."

"I love you, too," Karissa responded, smiling as she enjoyed this special time with the young boy. ~Forget Danton; Little Danny needs reassurance.~ "Hey, let's go to the museum and take in that new exhibit?"

"Can we?"

"We sure can."

====

"Then we went to the museum," Little Danny reported excitedly to his parents later that afternoon.

"I should have called, but we were having such a good time," Karissa stated as she stood in the living room.

"Did you have fun?" Daniel asked his namesake.

"Lots of fun."

"Good," Daniel responded with a smile. "Do you feel better?"

"I wish we could tell her about the ..." Little Danny stopped abruptly and changed the direction of his answer to something more simple and direct. "Yes, I feel better."

"What was that?" Jack asked sharply.

"Jack," Daniel warned, immediately sensing his Love's mood had just done another of its one-eightys.

"I want to know what he just said," Jack insisted.

"It was nothing," Karissa interjected.

"How do you know?"

"Dad, don't yell at Rissa," Little Danny stated strongly.

"Don't use that tone with me. Go to your room" Jack ordered.

"Jack, stop!"

"I'm not allowed to send my own son to his room? Are you telling me I can't even do that?"

"Don't fight! I'll go," Little Danny sniffled. He hugged Karissa, saying, "I'm sorry."

Watching the visibly upset youngster run up the stairs, Karissa turned and looked at Jack with anger as she questioned accusingly, "Why did you do that?"

"I'm his father."

"That's enough, Jack!" Daniel ordered, upset at the situation that was occurring.

"He didn't tell me anything about your secret, whatever it is, so don't look at me like that," Karissa stated in a half-raised voice. "Look, for years, I've known that there's ... something that you two were involved in. I think Megan was as well, but I've never asked, and your children haven't said anything. All Little Danny said is that he wished I knew."

"It's none of your business!" Jack shouted.

"General, that little boy is afraid that your family is falling apart, and he just needed a little encouragement that things would get better. I had him believing that, and you just ... I've had enough, and so has the rest of your family." Karissa straightened, her stance proud and determined. "I quit. I'll leave my letter of resignation on your desk at the office."

"Karissa, wait," Daniel said, reaching out and taking her arm. "Please."

"I love that little boy, Daniel, and if he's going to get in trouble now, just for talking to me, then it's best that I just ... go away."

"Oh, don't make it out to be such a big deal," Jack stated, his tone whiny and accusing as he turned his wheelchair towards the fireplace.

"Jack, apologize to Karissa -- *now*!" Daniel exclaimed, becoming angrier by the minute at the man's childish attitude.

Jack spun the chair back around and was about to argue when he noticed the look of sheer disgust on the woman's face, like she had just stepped into a fresh pile of horse manure up to her ankle in designer shoes. It was like a cold pan of water had just been thrown on him. Calming himself as quickly as possible, he worked to regain control of his emotions. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Jack took another breath, knowing he still wasn't sounding sincere enough. He felt sincere; it just wasn't coming out right. "Look, the truth is, I'm not handling this situation very well, and I took it out on you just now."

"Not me, Jack, your son."

"I'll talk to him," Jack sighed. "Karissa, stay; don't quit because of my growling."

"I don't mean to get into your business," Karissa began as she looked at the two men, "but he told me that the big birthday party was a bust and that you were mad at everyone. They worked hard on that party, Jack, and you ruined it. You may not be handling this well, but neither are your children, especially when their parents fight right in front of them. I won't stand here and watch that, and I won't work for someone who treats a beautiful child so badly."

Jack stared at the woman, acknowledging silently how much confidence she'd gained over the years. Then again, she had been a hard worker even before being hired by J-O Enterprises.

"Karissa, I apologize. J-O needs you, and ... our son needs you." Jack cleared his throat. These moments were always difficult for him. Opening up was something reserved for Daniel and their children. Plus, being vulnerable was an emotion he hated and tried to hide from everyone. Still, he knew he had to be honest now or their valued employee, and friend, would walk out of their lives forever. "I'm trying, and that's all I can say right now, but about that secret, if you'll take a seat and give your crusty employer another chance, we have a tale to tell you," he said, looking at Daniel for a reaction and getting a nod.

"I'm not asking ..."

"Our son has wanted you to know for years," Jack interrupted. "You just said you wanted us to do what's best for him, right? Isn't that what you were saying, even though you might not have spoken those words?"

"Yes, that's what I was saying."

"Sit, but you might not believe what we're about to tell you."

Sitting down, Karissa responded, "Well, I've always assumed it was just something you did, or do, for the government."

"That's true." Jack went over to the intercom and pushed one of the buttons. "Little Danny, please come downstairs."

A minute later, the red-faced, teary-eyed boy appeared.

"Yes, Dad?"

"Come here, Son." Jack waited until the boy was right in front of him. Then he reached out and wiped away the tears. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. It wasn't your fault. I'm having a lot of problems right now, but it's not your fault, and it has nothing to do with whatever you said to Karissa."

"I didn't tell her anything."

"I know that, but I'm going to," Jack stated.

"You are?" the boy asked, an upward lift of hope in his tone.

"I am, or would you like to tell her about our secret?"

His eyes drying, even as they widened, Little Danny asked, "Can I? What about General Hank? He might be mad."

"I'll take care of General Hank. Go on. Tell Karissa about it, and we'll be right here to back you up."

Little Danny looked up at Daniel, who smiled and nodded encouragingly. His tears forgotten, the boy hurried over to the sofa and sat down.

"Rissa, it's the Stargate. It's this big circle that ..."

**Danny?**

**Yes, Babe?**

**The next time I make one of our kids cry, hit me.**

**I was just about to do that.**

**You were not,** Jack responded in disbelief.

**Yes, I was.**

**Not.**

**Was,** Daniel insisted. "It's complicated," he responded to Karissa, who had just asked how the Stargate worked.

"Dad says it's worms," Little Danny chuckled.

"Earthworms," Jack quipped as the discussion went on.

====

"Karissa, where have you been?" Lily asked as the woman entered her office.

"On a magical mystery tour," Karissa answered cryptically. "I suppose we've lost the account," she sighed, sitting down in her chair, her coat still on. "I sure hope I don't run J-O into bankruptcy. What is Daniel thinking?"

"That you're one powerful business woman who can keep J-O going until he and Jack are ready to come back to work."

Karissa looked up, the smile on her face forming slowly, her mouth open in surprise, as she processed what she'd seen and heard.

"*Megan*!" Karissa shouted, getting up and running over to her dear friend and occasional co-worker. Hugging her excitedly, she asked, "What are you doing here?" As she pulled back, she asked almost hysterically, "And please tell me you're coming back. Here, take it," she laughed, looking over at her desk in the office that had once belonged to Megan Williams.

Megan laughed as well, hugging Karissa again as she responded, "I miss it here."

"How's Yazid?" Karissa asked about Megan's husband, Yazid Awad, who was still the assistant to Abayomi Shariff, J-O's biggest and best client.

"He's good."

"Megan?"

"Maybe not so good this second, but he's good," Megan chuckled, knowing Karissa wasn't understanding, but not wanting to talk about it at the office. "What's going on here?"

"Megan, it's awful," Karissa answered, letting her real feelings come up and noticing that Lily had closed the door, discreetly leaving the two women alone. "Daniel's barely been here. He can't even think about business much. He tries, but he basically just told me to handle everything. *Everything*, Megan."

"Want some help?"

"Please!" Karissa exclaimed happily. "We've grown so much. We have clients begging for our services."

"Where do you need me?" Megan asked, her voice steady and confident. "And don't tell me you need me to take over. You know this job as well as I do; I know, because I trained you."

"It's just too much for one person. When Jack and Daniel were here, overseeing everything, it was fine, but I'm making all the decisions. Megan, I'm scared I'm making the wrong ones."

"I seriously doubt you've made a single wrong choice," Megan stated. "When I walked in, everyone was busy, doing their jobs. There's no chaos."

"There is in my head," Karissa laughed nervously. "These are million-dollar deals, Megan. I'm used to handling the how-to, who-to, and when-to. I'm even used to negotiating the 'what we need' aspect, but signing the papers, deciding who to say no to because we just don't have the manpower right now: that's where I hesitate. Whose million is more important?"

"I have a hunch you're doing better than you think. You're just used to Jack or Daniel being here to say 'good choice'."

"Maybe," Karissa admitted. "I've got a stack of reports I haven't been able to go through. Megan, I know what I need. I need three of me, and since I can't do that, I need you."

"Done," Megan laughed. "Where do we start?"

====

"I'm trying, Danny. Be patient with me," Jack pleaded late that night while saying goodnight to his son. "I love you so much."

"It's okay, Dad. I love you, too," Little Danny said as the two hugged.

Although the little boy was still hesitant around his older father, he knew that Jack still loved him, regardless of his attitude.

"It's not okay, Son," Jack refuted strongly. "I was wrong for yelling at you."

"It's okay, Dad," the boy assured for the fifth time since that afternoon.

"I love you," Jack repeated, squeezing the boy tightly. "You know what else? I'm glad we told Karissa about the Stargate."

Little Danny grinned and laughed, "She looked funny when I told her about Thor."

"She's used to seeing little gray butts on television," Jack chuckled in reply.

"Dad, can Rissa meet Lya someday?"

"We'll see," Jack replied. "Get some sleep. I love you."

====

"Jack, I know you've apologized; that's not what I'm talking about. It's like you're that colonel from our first mission to Abydos again," Daniel spoke as he sat on the couple's bed, his legs beneath him as he faced his lover, who was seated up against the headboard.

"What more do you want me to say?"

"Nothing. I don't want you to say anything. All I'm asking is for you to try a little harder not to react first and think later."

"I'm doing the best that I can," Jack replied, his face tight from the frustration he was feeling.

"Are you?"

"What more do you want?" Jack yelled.

"I'd like to be able to have a discussion with my husband that doesn't end up as a shouting match. That's what I want," Daniel explained quietly, getting up and putting on his robe. "I'm getting some coffee. Do you want some?"

"You won't sleep."

"That's nothing new," Daniel retorted, walking out of the bedroom.

====

Daniel couldn't take it anymore. The children needed him to be strong to protect them from their self-doubting father. The first step was insisting on the remodeling. Of course, Jack was refusing to even listen to the options his lover was trying to present.

"No!"

"Jack, we don't have a choice."

"Daniel, we took a long time making sure this house was just the way we wanted it. I don't want to tear it up because of this dang contraption."

"That *wheelchair* is helping you to get around and giving you freedom."

"I don't want to tear up our house."

"Jack," Daniel said, pausing to regain his composure. "We have to change things so that you can get around."

"No!" Jack exclaimed, turning his wheelchair around and rolling toward kitchen to escape the ongoing argument.

"Great!" Daniel exclaimed sarcastically. "Some Mr. Fix-it, you are, Jack. How are you going to be any good to me or our children, if you can't fix this ridiculous attitude of yours? Jack? Jack!"

Daniel's head dropped. His life was falling apart, and he definitely wasn't Super Daniel.

====

As the morning went on, Daniel discovered he couldn't handle anything, not even a request for a snack coming from his daughter that came about an hour after the argument with Jack.

"Later, Lulu."

"I didn't eat very much for breakfast," Lulu admitted. ~Dad was shouting too much.~

"Lulu, Honey, please. Jus...just have an apple and practice your dancing, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," the young girl responded before turning around, grabbing an apple from the bowl on the table, and heading towards the dance studio. ~I'm not really that hungry anyway, I guess.~

Daniel sighed. He was running out of patience for everything, but he knew he needed to do something if his children were going to end up being at the brunt of his bad moods in addition to Jack's grumpiness. They were already paying a high price for their dad's inability to deal with his physical handicap.

Try as he might, Jack was a high maintenance patient, going from dealing with his paralysis rationally to feeling such despair that he wished he could reach the hidden gun cabinet, something that Daniel was happy he couldn't do.

"Daddy," Little Danny called out as he approached his father.

"Sproglet, I don't have ..."

"I really need you do something for me," Little Danny interrupted.

"What is it?" Daniel asked, hoping he was sounding patient instead of as impatient as he felt.

"Will you take me to our special place?"

Daniel stared at his namesake for a moment and then replied, "Little Danny, I'd really like to, but ..."

"It's important, Daddy. Just for a little while. *Please,*" the child implored, his face somber and begging for a 'yes' answer.

Daniel sighed, taking a big breath as he cocked his head and agreed, "Okay."

====

After informing Jack of their plans, the father and son got into the Silver Fox and headed for Pike's Peak, to the place where Jack and Daniel often found peace in their nation of two. It was a place Jack had introduced his lover to early on in their relationship. It was where Sara had first discovered the truth about her ex-husband's romantic relationship with the archaeologist. It was also a place where Jack and Daniel brought their brood to for special times, like their balloon days, when the children sent messages to their deceased loved ones.

When they got out of the car, Daniel watched with curiosity as his son pulled out the large garbage bag that he'd brought with them. It was full of something, but Daniel hadn't a clue what it was.

"Do you want me to carry that?" Daniel asked, not sure how much his son was ready to tell him about their mission there.

"I can carry it," the little boy responded confidently.

The two walked casually, talking about nature and archaeological things until the reached the spot where they sometimes picnicked. It was a secluded area, and it was rare for anyone else to be in the area.

"Here, Daddy," Little Danny said, kneeling down on the ground to open the bag.

The boy pulled out his tattered pillow that he'd kept hidden from his parents since hitting it against the wheelchair days earlier. Then he took out some smaller items, including another pillow that he'd taken from the hall closet.

Daniel watched with curiosity as Little Danny took a large photograph of a wheelchair and bound it to one of the trees.

"Daddy, come here," the child ordered.

Not sure what to expect, Daniel walked over and asked, "What, uh ... what's this?"

"Do this, Daddy," the little boy instructed. He then proceeded to whack the photograph with his pillow, while yelling that he hated it. "It'll help."

Confused, Daniel asked, "Son, I ..."

"Shout, Daddy."

"What?"

"Shouting is good, just like hitting this. I've researched it," the little boy added, as if that would make it sound more acceptable to his father.

"You have?" Daniel asked, raising his eyebrows.

"On the internet, and ..." the young genius looked down, a hint of guilt on his face as he paused.

"Little Danny? What is it?"

The boy looked up, gathering his strength and then explained, "I did it." He held up his pillow so that his father could see how it was torn. "I hit Dad's wheelchair. I yelled at it."

Daniel knelt down so that he could look the boy in the eye and asked, "When?"

"A few days ago," Little Danny answered. "Jenny and Ricky had a big fight, and then Jonny and I argued over the chemistry set. We never argue, not like that. I was angry, Daddy. I ran to tell you and Dad, but you weren't there. Just the wheelchair was there."

Daniel thought back and interjected, "Dad went to therapy, and we were trying out a different chair to see if he liked it better."

The youngster nodded and continued, "When I saw it, I wanted it to go away. Daddy, I hate the chair. I mean, it helps Dad, but I hate it. I felt all bad inside, and it was because of the wheelchair. Then I yelled it, and then I got my pillow and I hit it."

"You must have hit it pretty hard."

"I did," Little Danny admitted quietly. "But then I felt better, a lot better."

"You did?"

Nodding, the boy asserted, "You need to yell at it, too, Daddy, because you hate it as much as I do."

"Son ..."

"Don't you hate it? Hate it more than anything?" Little Danny challenged, his eyes boring into the father he was named after and reminding him of Jack. "Don't you hate it so much that you could scream? Just a little?"

The earnestness in his son's eyes was overwhelming for the archaeologist. A tear emerged, but he wiped it away and looked down.

"Hit it, Daddy. Tell it how you feel," Little Danny ordered, picking up the pillow from the closet and handing it to his father and then walking away, giving Daniel plenty of room.

Daniel gripped the pillow, more tightly than he'd expected to. He looked over at his son, seeing the anticipation in his eyes.

"Do it, Daddy," Little Danny called out. "You have to do it."

Breathing hard, much as his son had done when he'd yelled at the actual wheelchair, Daniel stood up. He really shouldn't do this. It was ridiculous and crazy. What good would it do?

Then, Daniel closed his eyes. He remembered something from his past, from before the children were born, when Jack had set up a board of demons, so to speak. Back then, he'd thought that was ridiculous and silly, too, but destroying those demon representations had helped tremendously. Maybe this would, too.

~I can't, not in front of Little Danny. I have to stay in control. I have ...~

"Daddy, it's okay. I love you, Daddy."

"Gawd!" Daniel gasped, realizing he was going to follow through and do it. In the few seconds that his son had walked away and begun to encourage him, Daniel's frustrations and emotions had surfaced. Every pressure and every conflict was at the forefront of his mind and heart. His fears and doubts about the future, his struggle to maintain a strong and stable presence in his home and business, his desperate desire for his and Jack's nation of two to return to normal -- all of this bubbled and was threatening to erupt. ~What's going on?~

"You'll feel better, Daddy. No one will know. It's okay. I love you, Daddy," Little Danny called out encouragingly.

Suddenly, Daniel hit the picture with the pillow. He stopped, staring at it, wondering why he'd done it. With his son looking on, Daniel did it again, and again, and again until he had no more energy left.

"I hate you!" the anguished archaeologist cried out as he crumpled to the ground, exhausted from his attack.

Little Danny ran over, collapsing over his father, his arms around him as he comforted, "It's okay now. You did good, Daddy. I love you."

With a nervous laugh of disbelief at his actions, Daniel drew his son as close as he could, letting the remnants of the pillow fall to the ground, though there wasn't much left of it. The picture had long ago been torn and swatted away from the tree.

"I love you, too," Daniel cried into the boy's neck.

Minutes passed as the two held onto each other, just letting the day travel on and their reality calm. They moved slightly, the boy settling in on his father's lap as they sat on the grass.

"You and Jonny argued?" Daniel finally asked.

"I apologized later. He did, too. I told him to hit the chair, but he's too stubborn."

"What about the Spitfires?"

"I don't know what they were mad about, but they made up, too," Little Danny reported. "It was just silly stuff, like with Jonny and me."

"Hey, why did you ask me to bring you here? Why not ask me to do this at home?" Daniel queried.

"You wouldn't do it there, not if Dad could see you, or JD," Little Danny answered.

"You're right." Daniel was amazed at his son's perceptiveness, but he was still curious about something. "Son, how did you know I needed this?"

"Because ..." Little Danny paused, trying to decide how to phrase his answer without offending his younger father.

"It's okay. Tell me."

"Because you're trying to be Dad and Daddy, and run J-O, and you almost yelled at Lulu, and you never yell at us, not ever. You're stressed, Daddy. I figured if it made me feel better then it would make you feel better, too."

"You're right again," Daniel sighed, kissing the top of the boy's head as he held him close. "Danny, are all your brothers and sisters angry, too?"

"I think so, but no one says it out loud, except for Noa. She's not afraid to say she's scared, but then we take care of her, and no one else says anything."

Daniel nodded, happy that Chenoa was admitting her feelings and unhappy that the others were probably covering up emotions that needed desperately to be released.

"Do you tell Doctor Rich how you feel?" Daniel questioned, referring to the children's therapist.

"Yes."

"What does she say?"

Little Danny shrugged.

Daniel sensed there was something more to the gesture, and he had a hunch he needed to know what it was.

"Talk to me, Sproglet."

"Well, everyone's trying to be strong, for each other. It's a brood thing."

"Oh," Daniel responded. "So, no one is really telling Doctor Rich the truth?"

"We're not lying, Daddy. It's just ..."

"... You have to be strong," Daniel completed for the youngster, immediately feeling the nod against his chest. "Did you tell Doctor Rich about hitting the wheelchair?"

"Yes, but all she said was that I should talk more and let out my feelings," Little Danny answered. "Daddy, isn't that what I was doing?"

"Yes, it was," Daniel answered. ~Time to talk to the doctor.~

"Daddy, I think we just need each other, like always, but ..."

"... but everyone's trying to protect one another and pretending that our life is like it was before the accident," Daniel surmised softly as he began to realize the family was on a wrong path. "Gawd, I'm sorry," he said, holding the boy close.

"It's not your fault, Daddy. It's not Dad's, either."

"No, it's not, but I've made some mistakes," Daniel responded. "Hey, I have an idea. Let's go shopping."

"Shopping?"

"Yeah, shopping. Come on, Son," Daniel said, gently encouraging the boy to get up.

"Daddy, the picture and pillow stuffings," Little Danny urged, concerned about cleaning up the beautiful environment.

With a smile, Daniel replied, "See if you can find the pieces of paper, while I load up the pillow ... stuffings."

"Okay," the boy agreed happily as he looked around for the photo remnants.

====

Back at the house, Sam had come over with Kevin to visit Jack. Aside from just the pleasure of the visit, it was highly beneficial for the autistic youngster to mix and mingle with the very intelligent and caring brood.

"Look, Carter, now's not the best time," Jack complained from his spot in the recreation room. He hadn't even looked at his friend and her son. Instead, he was tossing seeds inside Ptolemy's cage. ~Dang bird isn't even talking to me anymore.~

"Sir, Kevin's been talking a lot about that trip to Egypt and seeing the pyramids," Sam commented with a smile, her hands on Kevin's shoulders.

Holding a small wooden pyramid in his hands, Kevin interjected, "Pyramids are triangles. We're going to see the pyramids. Uncle Jack, when are we going?"

Sam bit her lip, brushing back her emotions. Though Kevin still responded to her more than anyone else, since Jack's promise of a trip to Egypt, he'd started talking more whenever Jack was around, and it was always about the pyramids. This was the most he'd said this week, and he'd said it with enthusiasm.

"Your parents can take you," Jack groused, still not looking at the boy.

Kevin ran up to the wheelchair, totally undaunted by the response, and asked, "When are we going to see the pyramids? I like pyramids. Can we go soon?"

"No, we can't," Jack barked, throwing an entire handful of seed into Ptolemy's cage with such force that the hyacinth macaw squawked at the action. "There's nothing special about those things. Only geeks care about them, and I'm *not* a geek! They're just mud and bricks."

The boy blinked and became silent and still, the complete anthesis of what he'd just been.

At that moment, Jennifer happened to walk in, saying a casual, "Hi, Aunt Sam."

"Jennifer, would you please take Kevin outside for me?"

"Sure, but ..." Jennifer stopped. She'd never seen the harsh expression that was on her aunt's face. She also took notice of Kevin, who still hadn't moved. Walking over to the boy, she called out, "Kevin?" Smiling, she repeated, "Kevin? Hey, why don't we go outside and play?" Alarmed by the complete silence and non-reaction, she looked over at Sam and realized something was indeed very wrong. "Come on, Kevin," she said, picking up the child and heading outside.

"Carter, get lost," Jack ordered once his daughter had left with the boy.

"You promised Kevin that trip," Sam replied patiently, trying to keep her temper in check.

"What am I going to do on a trip to Egypt?" Jack snapped, turning his wheelchair ninety degrees and wheeling away from Sam.

"This isn't about you, Sir. This is about my son," Sam asserted emotionally.

"*Your* son, and he doesn't need me."

"He's responding to you," Sam argued as she hurried forward, moving so that Jack could see her.

Turning again to not face the blonde, Jack retorted, "Must be the wheelchair. Just take him to Egypt yourself."

Sam stared for a moment. She'd never felt this way before, and she wasn't even sure what it was. Something inside of her was about to boil over.

"Pyramids. What's so great about those things anyway? Ra and Hathor and ..."

"Your husband!" Sam exclaimed, referring to Daniel's love and appreciation for Egyptian pyramids. "I've had it with you."

Stunned by the outburst, Jack watched as Sam walked over to him and leaned forward, physically preventing him from changing the direction of the chair.

"This isn't about you, *Jack*," Sam stated harshly. "You're so full of pity for yourself that you can't see straight. Gawd. You're surrounded by children who love and adore you, and you have a husband who is doing everything he can to make life easier for you, and you're not even noticing how much he's keeping inside, but you know what? I don't care about any of that right now."

"Shut up, Ca..."

"Shut up yourself," Sam countered angrily. "Isn't that what you told Daniel once upon a time? To shut up, because he was aggravating you? He was right, though, wasn't he?" she challenged with a sneer.

Jack tried to look away, but Sam physically shook the wheelchair, prompting him to stare back at her.

Her face tightening, Sam continued, "You're a selfish man, Jack O'Neill. You don't care about anyone but yourself."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Jack shouted back. "You aren't the one confined to a chair pad on wheels and having bowel accidents in front of your children."

Having had enough of Jack's self-pity, the weary woman exploded, letting out the anger and disappointment she felt towards someone she'd loved and respected for years.

"Okay, *Jack*," Sam began. "You're an invalid. Is that what you want to hear?" Raising her voice and her arms up to the ceiling, looking about as if she were addressing the entire world, the angry female shouted, "Alright then. The Great and Fearless Jack O'Neill, Savior of Earth times seven, destroyer of Goa'uld, is an *invalid*! Happy now?"

Totally taken aback by the fury in the woman's tone and demeanor, Jack simply listened. For the first time since he'd heard her rant about hormones during their first meeting, he felt a disconnect and disregard from Sam.

In a voice that was softer, but furiously even, Sam's verbal rampage continued, "But it's *not* that frickin' chair that holds you captive, Jack; it's your own puny, stubborn, *tiny* little mind because you refuse to see how blessed you still are and how rich your life could still be. Look around you, at all the love this house holds and all the material possessions you have that make each day a little easier than at least half the world out there."

For a moment, Jack reflected back on Kayla Armentrout and her deep desire that her children never forget their blessings. One of her last requests had been for Jack and Daniel to take their children to India, for a look at what the joy of living is all about, should they ever take their good fortune for granted. Had he become a victim of the very thing he'd been worried about the kids doing?

"There are thousands of able-bodied people who would trade places with you in a second, if they could have the life you've had and could still have."

Still stunned by the onslaught, Jack pulled back in his chair. The words were hitting too close to home. He needed to retreat and to attack back.

"Promises are broken every day," Jack refuted. "Better that he learn now," he said harshly, turning away and knowing he'd just crossed another line. ~Why? Why am I doing this?~

"You egotistical jerk," Sam retorted. "It's *not* all about you. You're not the center of the universe, and you may wish you were dead, but you're not. Those children love and need you, and they're doing their best to be there for you. You're the one kicking at their emotions. I can't believe how little you're thinking about them, or your promise to Kevin."

"Carter!" Jack exclaimed, trying to back away.

"Shanahan! It's a name I'm proud of, so get it right," Sam ordered, arguing as loudly and boldly as she ever had before.

"I don't care what you call yourself. Get out of my house!"

"Jerk!" Sam exclaimed as she quickly made her way over to Jack's wheelchair again. Staring down at him, she leaned forward, again taking hold of the chair. "You once said you spent your life sticking it to the man and that you didn't think you could be the man. So, what's going on, Jack? You tired of not having anyone to trample on, so you've lowered yourself to the ground so you can break a child's heart? Sticking it to the kids? Is that what being a man means to you now?"

~Stop!~ Jack screamed, though he couldn't open his mouth to scream the command. Desperately, he tried to wheel backwards, but Sam's grip on the chair tightened. "Let go!" he screamed, feeling a desperation and vulnerability he wasn't used to.

With a wicked smile that reminded Jack of Replicator Sam, the furious blonde shook the chair to keep the man's focus on her and the chair from moving.

"You're not going anywhere until *I'm* finished," Sam ordered sternly.

~If she'd had this type of nerve a decade ago, she'd be a general herself by now,~ Jack opined, trying to think about anything other than the truth being spoken.

"My son -- *my son* -- responded to you. You *know* what that means, but what do you do? You turned your back on him and destroyed the one thing he was believing in. How *dare* you do that after all we've been through! With everything that I've done for your family, everything *you* have asked me to do for all of you, you can't even return the favor when it's *my* son that needs something."

~It's not like I didn't send her a fruit basket every secretary's day,~ the general snarked bitterly, still doing anything he could to avoid hearing things he just didn't want to hear.

"Years! For *years*, I've covered for you. I was the front for you and Daniel, purposely letting people gossip about me, saying rude, crude things that most women wouldn't put up with for a week, let alone for almost a decade. I supported you *even* when you ordered me to build a bomb that could have killed Daniel, knowing you were in the wrong. I backed you when ordered Sergeant Davis to shut down the Stargate, knowing full well that Alar was going to follow and be killed. I've repeatedly disobeyed orders for you. Never once have I complained about that, and I'm not now. I don't regret my career or my choices, but I've never been so angry and disappointed in someone in my life, not even my own father, whom I blamed most of my life for not being there for my mother. I've respected you, Jack, unquestioningly, even when you were so wrong that I had to bury the truth deep within me so I wouldn't explode."

"Nice history lesson," Jack whispered, his head bowed.

Sam let out an astonished, emotional laugh as she replied, "I've never asked you for anything; not one thing, and I've been there for you, at a personal cost that I can't calculate, but you've put an end to that. You turned your back on my son." Without warning, the angry blonde pushed the wheelchair backwards. With a hardened heart and a cold fury, she added, "And I'm turning my back on you now." Standing erect, she walked a few steps towards the door and then turned back around. "You're a bitter, spiteful man, Jack O'Neill. Worse, you're that old man you always professed to be, but unlike most old men and women who deserve it, you're hardly someone to be revered. I feel sorry for you."

"At least you can feel something," Jack groused, totally aware his statement was uncalled for and totally out of context. ~Bad, O'Neill. Can't even come up with a decent comeback.~

"I suggest you consider removing the gate in the backyard. They'll be a new owner of our home soon. I don't want my children around you anymore, any more than I want my husband in prison for murder."

~Crap,~ Jack sighed. He'd gone too far, and he knew it. Still, the man was too wrapped up in his own bitterness to respond as he should. ~I can't do it. I can't live like this. She doesn't understand. No one understands this hell I'm in.~

Giving her one-time friend a distasteful glare, Sam added one last parting shot. "You don't need to worry about not being able to use your legs, you're slithering just fine!"

With a last stare, Sam turned and stormed through the kitchen, passing by Billy, who had just entered. She said nothing, not even responding to his polite 'hello'.

"Bro, what happened?" Billy asked as he walked into the recreation room.

"I was insulted," Jack spat, turning away.

"Well deserved, I'm sure," the older O'Neill responded, having a hunch that maybe it was time for Jack to get a grip on reality.

"Billy, don't you have a ranch to run," Jack barked.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. Jilly and I are leaving this weekend," the man informed his younger brother. "We've been here quite a while, Jack, and we haven't done any good for you, much to my disappointment. You don't seem to want us here, either, so it's time for us to go."

Swallowing, Jack nodded and replied with a soft and tentative, "Good. Good."

The general tried to avoid feeling abandoned by his older brother, but knew that he had pushed him away time and again throughout the ordeal.

"But first, Bucko, we're going to have a little talk," Billy stated as he sat down. "Turn that thing around and look at me."

"Why wait until the weekend?" Jack snarked, successfully stuffing his feelings.

"Jack, turn that blasted thing around, or I'll do it for you," Billy ordered sternly. He waited until his brother complied and was facing him. "Good choice."

"Yeah, well, I can't really fight you, can I?"

"Not with that attitude, you can't. I never thought I'd say this to you, but you can't hide from the truth. You're a weakling, Jack, and I'm surprised by that. I thought I taught you better, and I *know* Mom and Dad did."

"Wanna change places?" Jack asked sarcastically.

"Yes."

Jack stared at his brother in shock.

"I'll tell you why, Brother," Billy began. "I'm tougher than you are. I'm not eager to lose my legs. I live on a sprawling cattle ranch that requires a lot of work, mental and physical. A lot of folks rely on me to do my part so they can get paid. Then there's my Jilly." He smiled, thinking about her and their life together. "I wouldn't want to burden her."

"You would."

"No, Jack, that's where you're wrong. Sure, it would be tougher on her, but I'm not a burden. I'm her husband. There's nothing stopping you from being Daniel's husband. What's your problem, Jack? Sex?"

"That's none of your business," Jack answered loudly and angrily.

"You think to make your husband happy you have to be able to stick yourself up his behind?"

"*Stop*!"

Laughing, Billy went on, saying, "Can't perform like you think you should, so you run and hide behind that chair. Coward."

"Shut up, Billy."

"Whining, sniffling, coward -- that's what you are, Bro. You've spun your life into the toilet because you can't get Daniel all orgasmic without a little help. We shared a room growing up, remember? You didn't have any difficulty giving yourself a hand then; I know I sure didn't. What are you -- too proud, too grown up now?"

"I told you to shut up!" Jack shouted, wheeling the chair forward until it bumped into the sofa sectional that Billy was standing by.

"Like I'm scared," Billy laughed, making himself shake in mock fear. "Your marriage is reduced to sex. No depth. Love doesn't matter. Those kids don't matter. They're just kids. What do they know, right?" Letting his head rear back as he laughed dramatically, he then hunched over so Jack could see his mocking expression up close and continued, "Nothing matters if Jackie Boy can't get 'er up on his own."

"Why you ..."

Jack lunged forward, practically falling into his brother's arms. His hands reached out for his brother's neck.

Billy stopped the assault, standing them both up straight and grabbing the hands of his brother, holding them firmly. He shifted slightly, with Jack a bit to his left. It was a good thing the older O'Neill was in excellent shape physically because he had the full weight of his sibling on him.

"Is that who you are, Bro?" Billy asked softly, staring into Jack's brown eyes while the wheels of the chair still spun from the erratic movement of its user. "*Are* you a coward? Are you really nothing more than what's dangling between your legs? Is life a bodily function and nothing more?"

"You don't understand," Jack responded with a cracking voice.

"Jack, I've talked to the docs. Now, I don't know the *ins* and *outs* of exactly what you guys do to make it happen for you, and I don't want to, but from what they tell me, there's a lot you can do to keep that thrill going. They tell me that there are drugs and devices that can help you, so stop pushing Daniel away, and stop lying to yourself and your children. You're hurting, and so are they. *Tell* them, Jack."

"Mind your own business!" Jack spat. "I should have left you on Plantacia," he stated harshly in a desperate attempt to get his brother to leave him alone. "If it's not a problem with crops, you can't handle it or the real world. I'm *not* a man anymore. Don't you know what that means? Maybe you don't! Maybe you lost it on that little asteroid you lived that fantasy world on."

Billy reached over with his right hand, his fist grabbing hold of Jack's gray shirt so that the back of his hand was just under the right side of his brother's chin.

"You're a scared, sorrowful, miserable coward, Jack," Billy stated angrily, hitting Jack with the backside of his hand and essentially sending his brother sprawling onto the sofa. "Up until today, there wasn't anything you could have said or done that'd cause me to lose pride and respect for you. Mom and Dad would be ashamed." Motioning towards the wheelchair, he stated, "I'd help you, but you don't want help. You're a d..." Billy paused, hearing a noise that might mean some of the children were entering the house. Quickly, he altered his words. "You're an idiot, Jack, nothing more than another Richard Cranium."

Billy walked away, going straight for the guestroom and slamming the door behind him, leaving Jack on the sofa, and the wheelchair out of his reach and on its side.

"Billy! Billy, get back here!" Jack yelled to no avail. ~Who the heck is Richard Cranium. Richard. I don't know any Dick Cranium. Dick. Cra...~ He blinked as he made the connection between the two names. ~My brother just called me a ...~

Having heard loud voices, Jennifer had entered the house and walked carefully towards the noise. She'd held back, though, until she'd heard the sound of the guestroom door slam shut. Then she rushed into the recreation room and was surprised at the sight she beheld.

"Dad, are you all right?"

"Peachy," Jack snarked. "Get my chair."

Jennifer began to do as her father had asked, but then she stopped, wondering if it was time to take a stance of her own. She'd witnessed her Aunt Sam, more emotionally distressed than she'd ever seen her before. From the little she'd been able to ascertain, it was all due to her older father's attitude. She'd also heard some of the fight between Jack and Billy, enough to know her father was crossing some lines he shouldn't be. She wasn't a little girl anymore, and if there was one thing she'd learned from her parents, it was to stand up for what she believed, no matter what.

"Jennifer!"

"Dad, I want to say something to you," the young woman began. "I love you, and I've always had so much respect for you and Daddy, but right now, I don't respect you, and I don't want to help you."

"Jennifer, get that chair," Jack ordered.

Shaking her head, Jennifer responded, "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm not sure how you got there, but I heard you and Uncle Billy shouting."

"Heard what?" Jack asked cautiously.

"Well, for one thing, I heard him call you a coward, and I heard why," Jennifer answered truthfully. "You're wrong, Dad."

"Wrong about what?"

"Sex."

"Jennifer, I will *not* have this discussion with you," Jack stated. "*Get* my chair."

"Daddy married you, all of you, not just your penis."

"Jennifer Renee ..." Jack began with widened eyes of shock at his daughter's words and expression.

Calmly, Jennifer went to the shelf and pulled out a DVD. She lowered the big screen and inserted the DVD.

"Maybe you need to remember." Pressing 'play', the young woman began to walk out of the room, leaving Jack to watch the recording of his and Daniel's Canadian wedding. Before disappearing from her father's sight, she added, "And I don't recall one mention of your penis in Daddy's vows. I guess what Aunt Janet told me is true."

"And what might that be?" Jack called out in a slightly raised voice.

"That God gave men penises and brains, but not enough blood to use them both at the same time!" Jennifer called out from the kitchen.

"Stop saying that," Jack growled, realizing his daughter couldn't hear him any longer unless he shouted, which would mean the younger children who were outside could also hear it. ~Dirty pool,~ he whined inwardly as the footage began.

====

"Jack? Daniel?" Sara called out as she poked her way through the Jackson-O'Neill home not long afterwards. "Someone must be here." She entered the rec room, spying her quiet ex-husband. "Jack?" Seeing the wheelchair, she immediately headed over for it, righting it as she asked, "What happened?"

"Carter insulted me, Billy hit me, and my daughter called me out on the subject of my pe..." Jack stopped, staring at the woman he was once married to. He was all out of fight and excuses. "Sara, I've messed it up." He saw her compassionate expression and knew she was about to engage him in conversation, but there was something that had to be done first. "Wait. Sara, I really need to pee, and I can't hold it like I used to. Actually, I can't hold it at all, but I'm on the clock. The clock says it's time to go, and my body's gonna go, up there, or right here on the sofa."

"And?" Sara challenged, suspecting some of what had gone on, even though she hadn't been there.

"I need ... help."

Smiling, Sara responded, "I'd love to help you, Jack."

====

Several minutes later, Sara sat down on the bed in Jack and Daniel's bedroom and smiled sympathetically at the man in the wheelchair. They'd just made it. Of course, the guestroom would have been closer, but Billy was in there, and Jack didn't want to chance another encounter with his brother right now, even if it might have meant having an accident.

"Didn't think you'd get so lucky again, did ya?"

Chuckling, the woman responded, "Just as long as you don't ask me to make comparisons."

"You aren't ... never mind," Jack said, deciding to stop the conversation before it became a little more intimate than he wanted.

Reaching out and taking Jack's hand supportively for a moment, Sara smiled and then sat back up straight while asking, "What's going on, Jack? Why would Sam insult you?"

"Crap, Sara. I hurt her kid. He just stood there, but I couldn't help myself. I was feeding that dang bird." Jack paused, looking over at Sara in amazement. "Ptolemy hasn't spoken to me in days. She says I'm 'bad Jack'."

"Aren't you?" Sara retorted. "What happened with Kevin?"

Sara listened to all the grueling details of Jack's encounter with Sam, Billy, and Jennifer.

"Then Jen took the kids out through the living room. She told me *over the intercom* that they were going to a movie. She left me alone."

"Aren't Billy and Jilly here?"

"That's beside the point."

"Is it, Jack?" Sara asked pointedly. "What was it you asked me for?"

Jack began to respond with a quip, but he stopped himself and sighed, "Help."

"Have you asked Daniel for help? Or your children?"

"We're trying to protect them."

Sara laughed. In fact, she laughed so hard that she began to hold her abdomen and rock back and forth on the bed.

"Sar...Sara! For crying out loud, Sara, stop it!" Jack exclaimed in frustration.

Slowly calming herself, Sara responded, "I'm sorry, Jack. I believe in protecting our children, but the brood ... they're different. You and Daniel have these incredible children who have been to other worlds. They've seen things most children will never see, and they've handled it. Remember when Daniel had amnesia? They rallied around you and each other, just like they did when you were missing that Christmas. Your children are strong, and if they're having problems like you say they are, it's because you and Daniel are trying to shield them. They don't want to be shielded, Jack. They want to be part of the solution to the problem. That's what you and Daniel have taught them. Besides, how much of that desire to shield them is actually Daniel's? Aren't you really the one who wants to shield them?"

"I can't do what I used to do," Jack responded, ignoring the question for the moment.

"And I can't play the guitar."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jack asked snarkily.

"I can't play the guitar, Jack, but I can cook, and I can teach, and I can tune up my car's engine."

"And that means ... what?"

"It means you can't have sex the way you used to, but I happen to know you can still do what you need to do, and I know that there are plenty of other ways that you can satisfy yourself, and Daniel."

"You *know*?" Jack questioned in total disbelief, shaking his head and looking away. "I never knew so many people were interested in my sex life. Maybe we should have made videos," he sneered.

Ignoring her ex-husband's retort, Sara continued, "It's *not* just *your* sex life. It's yours and Daniel's. Jack, I've done some research, and I've actually talked to someone."

Jack looked at his ex-wife, stunned by her revelation. He was even more surprised when she reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card.

"If that's a sex therapist ..."

"No," Sara assured. "His name is Bryan Hamil, and he's a paraplegic. His significant other is a man named Brian Clay. The two B's, they call themselves," she chuckled. "Anyway, they're happy, and they have a fulfilling sex life. They're willing to talk to you and Daniel, if you want," she said, leaning forward and handing the card to Jack.

"You got in touch with these guys off the internet?"

"The internet's the place to go with questions," Sara announced. "Don't worry. I've met them both a couple of times now, and Sam checked them out. They're not NID operatives masquerading as a homosexual couple to lure you and Daniel into some trap."

"Funny, Sara."

"No, it isn't, but I covered my bases."

"Carter checked them out?"

"Yes, Sam did. You know, that woman who drops almost anything at a moment's notice to help you and Daniel out."

"She called me 'Jack' -- more than once."

"You object to that?"

Jack sighed, "When she calls me 'Sir' or 'General', there's respect there. When she called me 'Jack', there wasn't anything there." He let out a breath, gently tossing the card onto the bed. "Sara, I'm stuck."

"You don't have to be, Jack," Sara replied gently.

"I may have set Kevin back a year."

"Fix it."

"What?"

Sara grinned as she got up and approached the man in the wheelchair. She leaned down, placing her face within two inches of Jack's.

"Jack, you're an amazing man. You can do just about anything you put your mind to. You just have to put your mind to it. So, fix it, and while you're at it, let your husband back in, and stop trying to protect your children from this new part of their lives. It's just another phase. I love you," she said, kissing him sweetly. "Do you need anything before I go?"

"Luck -- a lot of luck."

With a smile on her face, Sara walked out of the room to return to her own home.

Jack remained, not moving, until he inched his wheelchair forward and slowly reached forward to pick up the card, staring at it intently as the clock ticked on and the tears started to fall.

====

"Jack? Jack, are you okay?" Daniel asked, rushing into the bedroom and kneeling down by his lover's wheelchair. "What's wrong? Where are the children?"

The tearful man responded, "Your husband is an idiot."

"Yes, well, that's a given, so what's wrong, and where are the children?"

Jack let out a snort, a small smile emerging on his face. Daniel wiped away the tears, his heart aching for whatever had caused Jack to be sitting alone, crying.

"Babe, talk to me."

"I need to talk to everyone," Jack replied.

"Okay. Uh, Little Danny and I just got home. Babe, there are some things about the brood that we need to discuss."

"One crisis at a time. Danny, selfish or not, I really need to do this now, before I chicken out."

"Okay," Daniel agreed, his thumb rubbing against Jack's right cheek. "I love you. You know that, right?"

"Forever and always, Angel."

Daniel nodded, smiling as he gazed at his husband. It was the first real sign of anything positive in weeks, and the first time he had heard their mantra of 'forever and always' since Jack had been home. He moved forward to share a kiss of support and promises of the future with his husband.

"Jack, where are the children?" Daniel asked again.

"Jen took them to a movie."

"All of them?"

"She didn't want to be here, and I don't blame her. I've been a real jerk," Jack confessed. "They've been gone a couple of hours."

"Well, I'll call her and get the status," Daniel stated, still observing his husband and realizing that something very emotional had gone on during his absence. "Jack, we're overprotecting them."

"We gotta stop doing that."

"I'm not sure we can, but when we realize we're doing it, we need to step back."

"Or wheel back," Jack mused. "It's a joke, Angel -- a real joke."

"Okay. I'll call Jen. Let's go downstairs."

"No," Jack refuted, rejecting his husband's offer of help to get to the first level of their home. "I know how to work that thing," he said, referring to the hydraulic lift that was now a part of the stairs, allowing him to go up and down the stairs independently. "It's time I really did it on my own."

"Okay," Daniel replied, standing up slowly and smiling at Jack before he turned around to continue on with the plan.

====

An hour later, the last of the Jackson-O'Neills walked into the recreation room to join the others for the unscheduled family meeting. Jack was in front of the wall that was decorated with the kids' artwork and crafts. He'd been admiring the various drawings and sketches for about fifteen minutes. He'd also reread some of the poems and short stories that had been tacked up on it.

"Jack, everyone is here."

Slowly, Jack turned his wheelchair around. For a second, it felt like he was in a battle, and the enemy was his very own children. There they were, not a smiling face in the bunch, except for Little Danny, who had missed all the turmoil at the house earlier in the day.

"Where are the girls?" Jack called out, looking around. On cue, Bijou and Katie walked in. "Give a guy a break, will ya? I need a little support here."

The two beagles looked at each other, and then they separated. Katie gently jumped up onto Jack's lap, while Bijou did the same for Daniel. It was an interesting arrangement. Traditionally, the mama beagle was the protector, while her baby was the comforter. Here they were, Bijou protecting Daniel and Katie comforting Jack.

"Yeah, well, I'll make this easy on us all," Jack began. "No, wait. Little Danny, get that dang bird."

Obediently, Little Danny released Ptolemy from her roomy cage and led her over to where he was sitting. The regal bird just stared at Jack, as if she were one of the children, waiting for the big revelation of the family gathering.

With a sudden spurt, afraid if he didn't get to it quickly, he'd retreat, Jack confessed, "Your old man is a jerk."

"Jack jerk," Ptolemy echoed.

"I said that," Jack stated sternly as he glared at the majestic creature.

"Jack jerk," the hyacinth macaw repeated.

"We've established that, Bird."

"Ptolemy queen."

"Ptolemy is a ..." Jack chuckled as he paused. "Ptolemy is a queen bird, but Jack is a selfish man who forgot that he had a great family. He got so ... deep into his inability to ... uh, make Daddy happy ..."

"Daddy's happy if you're happy," Chenoa pointed out.

"Yes, but I mean in a ... a different ... way," Jack stammered.

"What's he mean?" Ricky asked, looking over at some of his siblings.

"He means sex," Jenny explained to her twin.

"I don't even want to know how you know that," Jack groused, shaking his head as the children giggled, a happy indication that things were on the mend. "Adults need things, and I thought that because of this," he patted the handles of the wheelchair, "I wouldn't be able to please Daddy anymore, and that one thing, colored everything else I've done since I've been home. I've taken out my frustration and my anger on all of you."

As Jack patted Katie, giving himself strength to continue on, the brood also gained strength. The admission was bringing them the unity that they needed to move forward.

"Dad, we love you," Lulu stated for the brood. "We just don't want you to be so sad and mad all the time."

"It makes us sad," Aislinn admitted.

"And mad," Jonny added truthfully, recalling the incident in the mall parking lot.

"Which is what I don't want," Jack responded. "Kids, I'm doing my best, and I realize that until now, my best hasn't been much, but I'm making you a promise that it's going to be a lot better from now on. It's just ... I miss ... things."

"I miss you carrying me on your shoulders," Jonny uncharacteristically confessed.

"And I miss you playing 'tag' with us," Jenny added.

"We all miss things," David interjected. "We miss the things you miss, Dad."

"I'm a little dense about stuff sometimes," Jack admitted.

"I think we just need to have our family meetings again, like we use to," Brianna stated courageously, bringing up a topic no one else had yet.

"Yeah," Jonny agreed. "Why do we have to talk to that lady? We should talk to each other."

"Like we used to," Aislinn agreed, bobbing her head up and down.

"Don't you tell that shr...Doctor Rich how you feel about things?" Jack questioned, altering his phrasing after getting a glare from his lover.

"Yes, but she's not family," Jenny whined. "She doesn't understand you, so how can she understand us?"

"Wow," Daniel heard himself say as he took in the comment. ~She has a point.~

"I talk to her about being afraid," Chenoa admitted.

"What are you afraid of, Sweetheart?" Jack asked.

"I thought you were going to die, like Daddy and Mommy did. They died in a car accident, and you were in your truck."

"But you saw me," Jack responded as he tried to understand.

"I know, but I was still afraid, and I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't strong, like them."

Suddenly, the rest of the brood surrounded the little girl, and as they did, some of them finally admitted to the same fear.

~I know what Little Danny told me, but why didn't they say anything to one of us in private?~ Daniel wondered. He processed the words he was hearing and then decided to act upon an idea. "Let me ask you something," he began, getting the attention of the children. "How do you feel about Dad's chair?"

"I don't like it," Chenoa admitted bravely, determined not to hold anything back from now on.

"Noa, Dad needs the chair," Jennifer pointed out, not knowing where this was going.

"I know, but I still don't like it," Chenoa maintained. "And I know Dad hates it, too."

Daniel looked at his husband, the two sharing even more understanding now. Perhaps the children did hate the wheelchair, or maybe they were just feeding off of the tremendous amount of hatred that Jack had towards it. To him, it had been a mobile prison, and it was quite possible the children had sensed that, fusing it into their own perceptions.

"Daddy," Little Danny said, looking up at his younger father in anticipation.

"Yeah," Daniel agreed, nodding and smiling at his namesake. "Put Ptolemy back in her home, please," he requested as he gently urged Bijou off of his lap and stood up. "Jen, please put Bij and Katie outside. Sorry, Girls, but it'll just be for a few minutes," he promised with a smile. Then he walked over to his husband, leaning for a kiss. "Babe, we need you out of the chair."

"Why?"

"You'll see," Daniel replied, reaching in as he prepared to help his lover. "Excuse me, Katie," he said, smiling at the canine as she jumped off. "Go with Jen."

"No."

"What?"

"David, Jonny, give your old man a hand," Jack requested. He looked at Daniel and said, "We need to let them help."

"Yeah!" several of the children agreed, causing Daniel to look over at them.

**Overprotecting them.**

**Big time, Angel. My fault. They think this thing is evil because that's how I've thought about it. I've shooed them away from me like they were flies. I was wrong. I need help, their help -- and yours.**

With a loving smile, Daniel backed away, still smiling as the two boys assisted Jack in transitioning from the wheelchair to the sofa. Then he and Little Danny pulled out the first part of their surprise.

"Beaters!" Brianna exclaimed. "I love those things," she said, referring to the lightweight leather punching sticks that were conduits for releasing pent-up emotion and stress.

"There's one for each of you. When you're ready, take a whack," Daniel instructed. "Like this, and don't be afraid to shout when you do it," he said. Hitting the chair vehemently, he called out, "I hate you!"

Seeing their father's strong hit and cry, the brood felt they'd truly been given permission to take out their emotions on the chair, and they did, some slowly, and others immediately getting into the unusual therapy.

**Danny?** Jack asked, feeling the strong emotions that had just come out in the attack on the wheelchair.

**I've kept a lot inside, Jack; some of it came out today, thanks to our son,** Daniel answered, smiling at Little Danny.

**Tell me all about it later?**

Glancing at his husband, Daniel nodded and spoke a soft, "Yes." He refocused on the children and called out, "Don't worry about hurting the chair. If anything breaks, we'll fix it or get a new one."

"Kill the thing," Jack added loudly in agreement, seeing the outpouring of anger and emotion from the children and realizing how much they needed this. ~How could I have missed this? How could I have been so wrapped up in my own misery that I missed the misery of the people I love the most?~

"This is better than kicking that man's shin," Jonny stated after hitting the chair as hard as he could eight times.

"What man?" Daniel questioned curiously.

"Shin?" Jack called out at the same time.

"Oops," Jonny responded, deciding to hit the chair some more.

Jennifer smiled shyly and walked over to her parents, informing them that, "It happened a while ago. We'll tell you about it later."

Soon, the grunts and looks of aggression gave way to laughter and happy expressions, which in turn led to hugs and more giggles.

"Daddy, see?" Little Danny questioned. "We just need our family meetings."

"Dad, I felt bad when you didn't listen to me read my story to you," Aislinn spoke honestly.

"Princess, you're right. I wasn't listening. I was irritated that all I could do was sit. I'm sorry."

"I could tell you didn't want me around."

"No, Honey, I always want you around," Jack corrected. "I just wasn't focused, and that was wrong. You deserve my full attention. That was so sweet of you to want to read to me. Hey! How about reading me a little 'Winnie the Pooh' later? You know how I love Pooh!"

Aislinn's grin could light up the sky, and it warmed her fathers' hearts. They were on the right track, though both knew apologies for bad behavior could only go so far.

"And I haven't been able to talk to K'hang in a really long time," Chenoa added. "I miss him. Daddy, aren't I important, too? I need to talk to him."

Daniel walked over and knelt down in front of the curly-haired girl as he apologized, "You are *very* important. I haven't allocated my time very well recently, and that's something I have to be responsible for. I should have made a point of making sure that I, or Jen, or someone took you to the Mountain. We're going to fix that right away. Tomorrow morning, we'll go see General Hank and ask him if we can't make a ... phone call."

Chenoa was grinning now, too. She'd kept in that complaint for a long time. Her only tie to her Chulakian boyfriend was a single message that Teal'c had delivered for her. In response, the young Jaffa had sent his girlfriend a special necklace, one that symbolized strength. She'd worn it every day since receiving it, but regretted not having been able to even send him a 'thank you' for the gift.

"My turn," David interjected. "What bugged me, Dad, is that you just sat there. We could have played catch, just like you promised we would. You have two hands. That's all you need. It just felt like you did anything you could to avoid me."

"To avoid *all* of us," Brianna corrected.

"You didn't even teach us," Jenny added. "Aunt Sara's been doing it, and Jen, and David, and even Peter, but not you, or Daddy," she elaborated, noting her number one complaint.

"That's my fault, too," Jack responded.

"No, Babe, it's both of our faults," Daniel corrected. "Brood, the truth is that as much as Dad's been wrapped up in his problems, I've been wrapped up in trying to make him feel better. I've let you down."

"Daddy, I'm going to disagree," Jennifer interjected. "You knew the brood was learning. You put me in charge of it, and I handled it from there. Jeff's been in charge of making sure the kids get out and continue doing their events, like Bri's dolphin meetings, Noa's and Lulu's dance classes, Ash's singing lessons, et cetera. Maybe you haven't been as hands on as usual, but we're the brood, and we can handle that, for a while. Can't we, Brood?"

"For a while," Jonny agreed, as did the others.

"No one's at fault, Daddy," Jennifer stated. "None of this is about fault. It's just about us, moving forward, together."

Daniel swallowed and nodded in grateful acknowledgement of his oldest daughter's remarks and the children's agreement. He was being let off the hook, and while part of him wanted to argue, he knew Jennifer was right. Fault and blame needed to be kicked and punted away. It was time to heal.

"Dad!" Jonny called out, moving forward and standing with his hands on his hips. "You yelled too much, for nothing. I didn't like that. You're supposed to yell in fun ways, like when you're a bear. This yelling was mean, and I didn't like it at all."

Jack stared deep into the boy's eyes. For Jonny to say this meant he'd really felt some pain.

"I didn't realize," Jack sighed, bowing his head. "I'm sorry. Crap! I've hurt all of you."

Jonny ran up to his father and reached out, cupping his face as Jack often did to him. He looked intently into the general's eyes.

"Dad, I love you. You aren't supposed to feel sad now. I just don't want you to yell like that, okay?"

"Okay," Jack said, reaching forward to hug the boy. ~I remember. I yelled at you for not picking up your toys fast enough. Geez, you were trying to help JD that day. I'm an idiot: a big time idiot.~ He sighed as he held the boy close. He could easily have gotten lost in despair over his remorse, but he quickly pulled himself together. This moment was for his son, and it was time to move forward, not stagnant in the mistakes of the past, of which he knew there were many. "You're a brave soldier, Jonny. I'm very proud of you."

With a smile, Jonny returned to his spot and then repeated the theme of their family meeting, stating emphatically, "Dad, Daddy, we don't need to see that doctor anymore. We just need our family meetings, like this one. We help each other!"

~He's probably right.~ Daniel looked over at his husband, knowing Jack would be in agreement. With a nod, he asked, "Would anyone still like to see Doctor Rich?"

"I do," Aislinn admitted, unafraid of standing out.

"Me, too," Brianna seconded, wanting to sort out some things about her feelings for the Pflug family, especially Reese, and believing that might be better handled outside of the family meetings, at least for a while.

"Me," Chenoa added, actually raising her hand slowly.

"I do, too," Ricky giggled.

"Why are you giggling?" Jenny queried.

"She's pretty."

Jenny just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Anyone else?" the archaeologist asked, making a note to check with Ricky later and determine whether or not he really needed to see the psychologist, or if he was teasing. ~Or has a crush.~

"Lulu?" Daniel questioned.

"I have my own doctor," Lulu answered with a smile. "I talk to her about Dad, too."

"Jack?" Daniel questioned, wanting verbal verification that he was okay with what was being discussed.

"Whatever they want," the older man responded.

"Okay, here's the deal," Daniel began. "No one gives anyone a hard time about continuing to see Doctor Rich. There's nothing wrong with seeing her, or someone else, like Jeff's doing with Doctor Phillips. It's important that if you continue counseling, that you talk to someone you believe in." He paused, searching the faces of the children for any doubts or questions. "Okay, if anyone changes their mind, let us know."

"But we have to have our family meetings," Jonny asserted again. "I like them."

"They're important," Brianna added. "But we have to trust each other. I hid so much of my anger that I actually got into a fist fight with Reese when I met her. I didn't like that feeling."

"We need to be honest with one another, like we've always been, especially during our family meetings," Jeff asserted. ~Wish I knew what exactly it was that is still bothering me.~

"Daddy and I tried to protect all of you, too much," Jack interjected. "Our lives are different now, and I need some help. I'm asking all of you to be patient and to help me as I learn to adapt."

"Dad, you and Daddy are so silly," Jennifer spoke, wiping away a tear. "We're the Jackson-O'Neills. We do everything together, including helping one another."

"We're starting by changing some rules," Daniel added. Looking at his husband, he communicated, **The phone calls?** Seeing Jack's nod of approval, he continued, "You're all old enough to use good judgment with the phone."

"Except for you, young man," Jack said with a grin as he looked at the giggling JD.

"From now on, you can make phone calls to people on your phone lists without permission," Daniel informed the children.

"Phone lists?" Chenoa asked.

"A list of names -- people you'd like to be able to call anytime you want to," Jack explained.

"Just remember to make smart choices," the younger father encouraged.

"Like Angela and Chloe?" Chenoa inquired hopefully about her friends.

"Exactly. Anyone on your list can be called whenever you want, but if you abuse it, the privilege will be revoked," the archaeologist stated.

Cheers went up, along with some knuckle bumps and high-fives.

"Start working on people you'd like to be on your phone list. There's not a limit, but use common sense," Jack instructed. "Daddy and I will get together with each one of you and review your lists."

"And you'll have more freedom on the internet," Jack added, getting a surprised look from his lover. **We can monitor that, too.**

**You're right,** Daniel agreed with a smile. **Little Danny really needs that permission.**

"We'll get back to you on exactly what that means," Jack stated.

"You mean when you and Daddy figure it out," Jonny laughed.

"Wiseguy," Jack retorted amusingly. Growing serious again, he looked at his loving family, feeling thankful that he'd done something right during his lifetime to have them. "Kids, we need to talk about Aunt Sam."

Serious again, too, Jonny put his hands on his hips and asked sternly, "What did you do to Aunt Sam, Dad?"

"Kevin looked funny when Jen brought him outside," Aislinn commented.

"What happened, Dad?" David inquired.

"I screwed up, and I don't know if I can fix it." Jack sighed and explained what he'd said during the visit. "So, Aunt Sam pretty much hates me right now, and I can't say that I blame her."

"Fix it," JD ordered calmly, looking down at his hands as he twirled a rubber band that he'd found on the floor.

"What?"

"Dad fixes things. Fix it."

Jack cocked his head, wishing the answer was as simple as his youngest son's command.

"Son, I killed his dream of seeing the pyramids."

"Dad, that's it!" Little Danny exclaimed.

"What's it?"

"We show Kevin the pyramids," the child genius responded.

"Sproglet, we can't go to Egypt right now," Jack stated sadly.

"We don't have to, Dad. We just need to show him a pyramid."

"What pyramid?" Aislinn asked.

"The Jackson-O'Neill Pyramid," Little Danny answered, leaving his parents, and Jonny, extremely confused.

"That's a great idea!" Aislinn agreed, picking up on the idea and spinning around the room as she imagined the Egyptian structure.

"She's right, Jack," Daniel stated excitedly. "It's a great idea, and I have a favor I can call in." Moving away, he said, "I'll be right back."

With the room buzzing with ideas, Jack looked over at Ptolemy and asked, "Do you know what they're talking about?"

"House pyramid," Ptolemy squawked from her cage.

"House ... pyramid?" Jack asked as his tone lilted from a statement to a question. ~Smart bird.~ He grinned as he called out, "Hey! I know what we can do, too."

"What, Dad?" Lulu called out anxiously.

"It's perfect, Darlin! I tell ya, Mr. Fix-it is back in business! What I'm thinkin' is that we ..."

The children smiled, feeling their family was truly on the mend. Now they just had to make sure that the Shanahan family was still part of their extended family, and that was something they were all determined to make a reality.

====

"Careful, Love," Jack advised as his husband helped him to sit down on their beloved roof deck.

"We're going to do this, Jack," Daniel stated emphatically. "This is us, and we're going to have it."

"Yes, Sir," Jack quipped.

The lovers sat side by side against the wall. They looked up at the night sky, rejoicing in the brightness of the stars.

"I've missed this," Jack whispered, leaning his head against his lover's.

"Me, too."

For a while, the two men just sat quietly, enjoying the crispness of the air and the tenderness of their hearts. Then they chatted about all sorts of inconsequential things. The unimportance of the topics warmed their hearts. At last, they were free of their concerns, at least for a few minutes.

Slowly, the lovers began to rein themselves in, returning to reality, which was finally a hopeful place to be. In the process, Daniel filled his Love in on some of the things he'd missed.

"What did Mark say?" Jack asked, referring to the letter Maureen Pflug had received, the one that had caused her to believe the Jackson-O'Neills would be suing.

"It was a mistake," Daniel answered. "He'd made some notes, and one of the temporary clerks he'd hired misinterpreted them and fired off the letter."

"Ouch!"

"Yeah, he wasn't too happy about it," Daniel responded.

"Big lecture," Jack surmised.

"Big, big lecture," Daniel affirmed.

--

"Alex and Casey had a fling?" Jack questioned in surprise.

"Apparently," Daniel responded. "I haven't talked to Alex about it, but Casey sounded pretty bitter."

"Alex dumped him?"

"That's what he said. I'm not sure how long they were together, a couple of months maybe. It's just a guess."

"Where were we?" Jack chuckled in disbelief.

"Living our lives," Daniel answered.

The older man shrugged as he contemplated the response, knowing how easy it was to get absorbed in one's own life and therefore not notice important events or changes in other's lives, especially when they weren't in touch with those folks on a daily basis.

"So Alex is bi," Jack stated. ~Sunny seems okay with that.~

"I'm not sure about that."

"Daniel, if he did it with Casey, and he's doing it with Sunny, he's bi," Jack asserted. ~And he's definitely doing it with Sunny. She definitely looked happy when she visited me at the prison.~

"Being bisexual implies being attracted to both men and women."

"I know that," Jack groused.

"My point is that I'm not sure that Alex is attracted to both men and women," Daniel stated.

"Daniel."

"Just hear me out," Daniel requested. "Casey's insisted for years that Alex was on his -- gawd, I hate this term -- gaydar. What if Alex is homosexual, and he and Sunny are like us?"

"What do you mean?"

"We're two men who just happened to fall in love with each other." Leaning his head against Jack's shoulder, Daniel kissed his soulmate's hand as he talked. "Jack, if we weren't here, together, you'd be out chasing Mary Steenburgen and I'd be ignoring some woman while studying Egypt. I honestly don't believe that either of us would be with another man. Do you?"

"Are you kidding me?" Jack chuckled loudly. "I thought I was insane when I first noticed those blue eyes of yours." ~How could I have shut out those beautiful eyes? Not to mention the man that is attached to those eyes. Geez, I love him. I'm so glad I didn't ruin this forever with my stubborn attitude.~

"That's what I mean," Daniel stated. "We're soulmates, Jack, and for whatever reason, our souls aren't what society says is normal."

"Society can hang itself," Jack responded with a sneer.

"Right," Daniel agreed. "So, just to point out the obvious. Just because we both made love with our wives, that doesn't make us bi-sexual, right?"

"Nope, I guess it doesn't."

"Which means that just because Alex and Casey had sex, that doesn't make Alex bi-sexual, either."

"Casey's gaydar must need some fine tuning."

"There's always the possibility that Alex was just experimenting," Daniel suggested lightheartedly. "Maybe I'm thinking too much."

"You? Thinking too much?" Jack teased. ~Geez, this feels so good.~ More seriously, he suggested, "We need to talk to Alex."

"Let's not butt in, Jack."

"Daniel, you butted into Alex's life years ago. We're already in his butt, so to speak," Jack laughed.

"That's bad, Babe, very bad."

--

"The scuttlebutt is that JD took Bogey out of his cage," Daniel stated. "Of course, I didn't find out about that until later."

"Little General Jonny took over, eh?" Jack asked with a bit of pride.

"Wipe that smirk off your face, Jack. According to the brood grapevine, if JD hadn't stolen Bogey, a mutiny would have occurred shortly thereafter."

"Discord among the troops?"

"Oh, yeah," Daniel answered. Then he sighed, a long, sad refrain. "I missed most of this, Jack. Our children have been on their own since the accident."

"Hey, no guilt trips, Danny," Jack stated, kissing the top of his lover's head. "If you go on one, I'll have to follow, and my guilt trip can outdo yours by miles."

"Good point," Daniel agreed firmly.

"You didn't have to agree that fast."

Daniel chuckled, and the two shared a short, but loving kiss.

--

"I've had to stop her from getting on a plane three times," Daniel reported about Mrs. Valissi.

"She's a sweet lass," Jack crooned in his Irish brogue. "When is she coming home?"

"Next week some time, I think," Daniel answered.

"What about Suz?" Jack questioned about Daniel's foster sister.

"She's got Mrs. Valissi beat," Daniel responded lightheartedly.

"Beat?"

"I've had to stop her from getting on a plane five times," Daniel chuckled. "Jack, even Nellie asked if she could come out and help."

"I'm not surprised, Danny. Everyone loves you," Jack stated softly, his hand rubbing his lover's upper arm, providing warmth both physically and emotionally. "How's she doing?"

"Great," Daniel answered about Nellie Montgomery, another foster sister who was but a baby when he'd been staying with her family. "She's getting married soon, and she wants us to come."

"Do you want to go?"

"I'd like to."

"Then we'll go."

Daniel looked up at his husband and smiled before the two paused their conversation for a bit of kissing and very light fondling.

--

"He'll be okay now," Daniel opined about JD.

"He's been real clingy, Daniel. Was he like that the whole time I was in rehab?"

"Pretty much," the younger man affirmed. "Most of the time, as soon as I'd walk in the house, he was in my arms. He didn't necessarily need to be held, but he kept looking at me."

"Making sure you were there," Jack surmised.

"Yeah, I think so," Daniel replied. "It wasn't just me, though. If he wasn't being held by Jen, Jeff, Bri, or David, he was sticking close to one of the other children."

"That's pretty natural, don't ya think?"

"Yes, I do, and he was a lot better tonight, now that you're ... uh ..."

"Not being a prick?"

"Something like that," Daniel mused with a small smirk.

--

"Angel, I know you want me to see firsthand that our life is going forward, and you know me, hockey is my sports life, but let's hold off on the sled hockey for a few weeks. I want to get my bearings. We need to talk about the house, catch up with whatever is going on at J-O, and make sure the kids are settled, not necessarily in that order."

"I tried, Jack, but I didn't do very well." Daniel let out an unhappy snort as he reminded, "Jonny kicked a man in the freakin' parking lot."

"Danny, you were here, and they knew it."

"I don't know," Daniel sighed. "Jack, should we punish Jonny? That was a stranger, and he was the physical aggressor."

"No. He was angry because I was a jerk and not being a dad to him at all for weeks. That's the same reason Bri got into a fight at her seminar -- she was angry and lashed out the first chance she got. Get that, Danny? I wasn't a parent at all to our kids for weeks. You had to do it all, and if the worst that happened was Jonny kicking a bigot who couldn't keep his opinion to himself, then you didn't do bad at all."

"I'm not sure they had either of us for a while. I was here in body, but I've said a lot of ... crazy things lately."

"Stress, and that's my fault," the older man sighed regretfully.

"You're right, Jack. This ... fault thing isn't a good idea."

"We agree on that."

"I still wish our children didn't have so much to deal with recently," Daniel spoke quietly.

"So they were a little angry for a while," Jack responded, dismissing the emotion as it related to the topic at hand. "In the process, they all learned a lot about one another and hopefully about themselves."

"You think?" Daniel asked hopefully.

"Yeah, Jonny learned not to piss off JD," Jack stated in a lighthearted tone, chuckling slightly.

The statement caused both men to laugh loudly. The spontaneous musing was like sunshine penetrating their bodies, filling them with brightness and warmth, something both had been without for way too long. By unspoken agreement, conversation ceased, their hearts saying all that needed to be said.

====

Late the next afternoon, the family's plan was in place. All they had to do now was convince the Shanahans to trust them enough to come over. It was a task Jack knew might be tougher than it sounded. Once Jeff had reported from his recon that Pete had arrived home from work, it was time to take action.

"Hello," Sam answered the phone, bouncing Petey in her arm.

"Shanahan," Jack stated, specifically making sure he used Sam's married name as she'd requested during her verbal lambasting of him the day before.

"Unless Daniel or one of the children is dying, Jack, I really don't want to talk to you."

"I have the reserves standing by."

"Reserves?"

With a nod from their father, Little Danny and Aislinn called out, "Pouty face" and "Tears", respectively.

Annoyed, Sam asked crisply, "What do you want?"

"The Shanahans, the entire family, here in five minutes."

Jack heard grumbling in the background and knew what was happening.

"Jack, you're lucky I didn't come over there and knock your block off," Pete Shanahan said angrily, having taken the phone from his wife.

"Five minutes, Pete. After that, I'll let you knock my block off," Jack offered. "We're in the rec room."

The disarming comment caused Pete to stop and look at his wife, both confused how to respond.

"Five minutes -- please."

The phone disconnected without a response.

"They're coming," Little Danny insisted. "Get ready!"

====

"Okay, we're here," Sam stated dispassionately as the Shanahan family entered the rec room in complete surprise.

"Welcome to the Jackson-O'Neill pyramid," Aislinn greeted while dressed as an ancient water bearer.

Over the past twenty-four hours, the family had completely altered the interior of the recreation room to resemble an Egyptian pyramid. The entire family was dressed in garb of the era, too.

"These are for you," Brianna stated, handing clothing to Sam, while David did the same for Pete.

"Susie, put this on," Lulu signed to the little girl.

"Sammy Jo, come here," Jenny called out, holding up a little outfit for the girl, while Jonny went over and took Petey's hand, leading him over to where his outfit was waiting.

"Kevin, you come with me, okay?" Chenoa asked gently. She sighed, seeing the boy's vacant stare and complete non-response. "I'll take your hand, okay?"

Chenoa took Kevin's hand and led him over to Jack, who leaned forward and picked up the youngster.

"I'm sorry, Kevin. I made a big mistake, and you're paying the price, but I'm going to try and fix that now. We're going to Egypt."

Unresponsive, Kevin just stared.

"This is Egypt," Jennifer announced in her dress that simulated something that an Egyptian goddess would have worn. She turned on the DVD, saying, "These are the sands."

Kevin's eyes were focused on the large screen, which was showing the adventures of the Jackson-O'Neills on their trip there several years before.

The kids chimed in different facts and comments, and Little Danny handed Kevin a small pyramid to hold. When the DVD was done, Daniel walked over and kneeled down in front of Jack's wheelchair.

"Kevin, this is a cup that scientists believe King Tutankhamun actually drank from," Daniel began. "It's fascinating, really, to think that the King of Egypt actually put this cup to his lips."

Kevin's eyes widened as he reacted somewhat.

"Here, you can hold it. Be really careful with it," Daniel urged. "Friends of mine just unearthed this a few months ago. I told them about you, and they sent it to me, just for tonight."

"Kevin," Jack said, taking over. "In Egypt, there are a lot of pyramids. We're going to go see them all. All of us -- your parents, your brother and sisters, the brood. We're all going, in January."

Kevin blinked as he spoke for the first time since Jack's sarcastic comment the day before, saying, "Pyramids are fun."

"Fun is right," Jack agreed cheerfully, grateful that the family was getting through to the autistic youngster. "I won't be able to go inside them with you, but everyone else will. I think we can pull some strings and let you see Egypt's pyramids like very few children ever have."

"That's a neat cup," Little Danny interjected.

"King Tut's cup," Jack sing-songed.

"Dad, it's King Tutankhamun," Little Danny sighed at the all-too-common nickname for the famous ruler.

"King Tut drank from this cup," Kevin stated as he worked his way back.

"King Tut did," Jack affirmed, looking over at Sam, whose hands were covering her face. He saw her turn and nestle into her husband's arms. Focusing on the boy again, Jack promised, "January isn't very far away. Will you go to Egypt with us?"

Kevin didn't respond. He just stared at the cup, holding it gently in his arms.

"We'll tell you all about the pyramids," David stated. "The very first pyramid ..."

====

Two hours later, Jack looked at Kevin and asked again, "Will you go to Egypt with us and see the pyramids?"

"Pyramids are fun," Kevin responded.

"I'll take that as an affirmative," Jack replied. "I'm sorry, Kevin, but I am going to make it up to you. We'll talk some more tomorrow."

"I like pyramids."

"I like pyramids, too," Jack replied with a smile, leaning over and giving the boy a kiss on the cheek.

Pete picked Kevin up as he looked at Jack and nodded. The look that passed between the two men spoke volumes about the love between the two families, an apology from Jack, and an acceptance from Pete.

Taking hold of the twins, Sam called out, "We'll see you tomorrow, Sir."

Jack nodded, swallowing hard as he saw his second-in-command soften, actually giving him a smile. Surprisingly to him, he was overcome with emotion and let out a sniffle.

"Pete, take the kids," Sam requested, while at the same time, the Jackson-O'Neill children began to gather around their dad.

"Sir, thank you."

Shaking his head and looking away, Jack cracked out, "He's not back."

"Time, Sir."

Jack looked up at Sam, his tears unable to be stopped.

Sam knelt down in front of the wheelchair and looked up at her commanding officer and friend.

"I hated you yesterday. In all the years we've worked together, I'd never felt that way. I wasn't very happy with you sometimes, but I've never ... hated you." Sam reached out and took Jack's hand. "Today, I just love you."

"Carter."

"Thank you, Sir," Sam said, starting to stand, but leaning in to give Jack a kiss on the cheek.

Sam smiled and then left to join her family.

"Babe?"

"Huh?"

"I think you're speechless," Daniel observed, causing the children to giggle.

"Danny, how would you feel if we paid for that trip, all of it?"

"We could do that, if they let us."

Jack looked at David and Little Danny and instructed, "You two are in charge of developing a preliminary itinerary."

"*All* the pyramids, Dad?" Little Danny asked. "There's a lot of them."

"We're going to all of them, however long it takes." Jack smiled and added, "We have a lot of living to do, and the living starts now."

"Dad, at our family meetings, will you tell us how you feel, too?" Chenoa asked, her brown eyes challenging her older father.

"Princess, I'll be as honest as I can be, and I'll start now. I thought I hated this chair, but I don't. This chair is going to give your old man the freedom to get around. It isn't confining me like I thought; it's liberating me, allowing me to be a part of your lives." Suddenly, Jack blinked. In weeks, he hadn't thought about it. Maybe because he was too involved with his self-doubt. "Daniel, my truck?"

"Sorry, Babe -- terminal. It took hard hits on both ends."

"I loved that truck," Jack sighed, his sad face prompting some of the children to wonder if their current happy state was only temporary, ending after one short day. All of a sudden, though, Jack asked, "They make all kinds of special cars these days. There's gotta be a truck that can be rigged for Magoo here."

"Magoo?" Brianna asked, chuckling.

"Yeah, this is Magoo," Jack responded, tapping on the sides of the wheelchair.

"Magoo," Daniel echoed sappily.

"Danny, why are you getting all choked up over a wheelchair?"

"Because you named it, Jack. We really are going to be okay now," the archaeologist stated softly, a look of love passing between the two.

"Yeahsureyoubetcha!" Jack exclaimed. "As soon I get a new truck. I'm still not keen on changing the house, but I guess we'll have to make some changes."

"Just some, Jack," Daniel concurred. ~My heart -- it's beating again. Wow!~

====

"They'd sure like to see you, Sir. Don't take this wrong, but I'd like to see you, too. I miss all that snazzy small talk," Jack joked shortly after dinner as he chatted over the phone.

With a chortle, Hammond replied, "Jack, you've never liked small talk. I remember that about you from that first day at SGC."

"We could go fishing," Jack suggested.

"I'd like that. I'll be by for a visit soon," Hammond responded just before ending the phone call.

"Well?" Daniel questioned as he sat down opposite his lover.

"He doesn't sound sick."

"Maybe he had the flu and it's just hung on longer than he thought," the younger man theorized.

"Could be," Jack agreed. "The kids want to drop by."

"Jack, if he's still recovering, he probably doesn't want a house full of children running around and tying him to his bed."

Jack laughed, remembering how Jonny and some of the others had twice tied up Hammond to a chair while playing.

"Okay, tell me what Alex suggested," Jack requested, finally ready to listen to the proposed renovations to make the home handicapped accessible.

"Casey helped, too, and Ricky," Daniel noted with a smile.

====

Late that night, the lovers were in bed, lying in their usual positions. It felt the best it had since the accident, a happy side effect of Jack's emotional breakthrough a couple of days ago.

Daniel placed a kiss on his husband's chest and then settled his head in a comfortable position. He twirled one of Jack's chest hairs around his finger.

"Now seems like a good time," Jack spoke inexplicably, breaking the serene silence of the last five minutes.

"We shouldn't rush it."

"I thought you were the one with the chatty mouth -- talk about this, and talk about that."

Daniel smiled at the playful tone in his lover's voice. Jack had made so much progress in a short period of time.

"You're scared," the archaeologist surmised.

"Darn tootin'," Jack acknowledged. "Aren't you?"

Having thought about the question for all of two seconds, Daniel raised his head and stared at his Love, following up with a tender kiss that promised more than tenderness.

"Remember that while I answer your question," Daniel requested softly.

"Like I could forget," Jack mused happily.

"Jack, remember our first week together?"

"Like I could forget," Jack answered with a smirk at having used the exact same response.

"Right." Shaking off the response, Daniel continued, "Jack, we had no idea what we were doing. We were both ... virgins ..."

"Daniel!"

"Virgins in the sense that we'd never made love with another man before," Daniel expounded. "We made a decision, one that was very important. Do you remember?"

"No research."

"We researched each other. We just ... we used our bodies to learn what worked and what didn't. We let those new sensations fill us up and discover what we liked." Daniel smiled as he leaned in for another kiss, this one a tad more passionate than the last. "We experienced each other, and I think that set the tone for our entire sexual relationship."

"It did?"

"Well, I don't know about you for sure, but I can count the number of times I've ... researched sex techniques and methods on one hand. When I have, it's mostly been by accident -- an article or something or some website on the internet. What about you?" He paused hesitantly, seeing the look on his husband's face. "What?" he asked anxiously.

"Danny! You just used the 'sex' word in casual conversation!" Jack responded, chortling for a moment with Daniel joining in, filling their world with laughter once again.

Once he quieted, Daniel finally responded, "What can I say, Jack? This is important enough to our relationship to use the actual word, rather than a euphemism."

"I prefer to research you, so it's the same," Jack admitted, getting back to the original question.

"It's worked, hasn't it?" Daniel challenged.

"The best."

"Well, all I'm saying is why mess with a system that works?"

"This isn't a normal situation," Jack responded hesitantly.

"No, it isn't," the younger man concurred. After a moment, he queried, "But we're not normal, are we, Jack? We keep saying we want to be, but we aren't. There's never been anything normal about us except for ... us, being together."

"Angel, that sounds really good, but I haven't a clue what you just said," Jack replied, running his right hand alongside his soulmate's cheek and then up to finger the soft strands of Daniel's hair.

"We can do this, Babe -- you and me," Daniel stated with confidence. "Maybe ... maybe this time we will do a little research, but just a little to make sure we don't risk your health, and there might be things we can do to help you. The Reeve Foundation might be able to answer some of our questions, and we could call and talk to the men that Sara talked to."

"But ..." Jack prompted.

"But ... I'm just saying we should stick with what works."

"Research each other."

"Yeah."

"Danny, we don't know what I can do, or not," Jack spoke in a raspy whisper. "And we know I can't do most of what we used to."

"So we learn new things. Jack, we've had a great ..." Daniel paused, seeing his Love's raised eyebrows "... fantastic ..." he saw the glint and slight cocking of Jack's head "... absolutely wonderful, incredible, sensational sex life."

"Better," Jack chuckled.

"My point is that everything changes, and we have to be realistic about that. It won't be how it was, but we can make it something new and exciting for both of us."

"Look at me, Angel," Jack whispered, his hands cupping his husband's face. "I want to see it in your eyes. Do you still want me, like this?"

"I want you, Jack, in any way that I can have you," the archaeologist responded as his heart began to beat faster.

"Show me."

"Jack ..."

"Show me," Jack requested strongly before the two kissed.

"I love you," Daniel promised in between the couple's kisses. His breathing became heavier. It had been so long. He was scared, but anxious and eager. The worst part would be that Jack wouldn't feel the intensity of their lovemaking; at least, not the part that had been the most intense throughout the years. ~New ways; new things,~ he urged himself.

"Danny -- you've got to be about to burst. Worry about me later. I want to see you, your eyes -- do it, Angel, like before."

Daniel wanted his lover desperately, and the more Jack encouraged him, the more he needed it to happen.

"Want you," Daniel stated as he began to place a string of kisses on Jack's chest. He undressed his lover and then himself, doing it slowly at first, but then just throwing their pajamas haphazardly onto the carpet. "Love you so much," he declared in between more kisses.

"Don't worry about me," Jack said, knowing his husband was trying to give him the elation that sexual sensations brought. "You, Angel. Let me see you."

Alternately, Jack's hands caressed the younger's man chest, shoulders, and back, while he encouraged Daniel to make love to him. Daniel obliged, carefully preparing and entering his lover and then working up to a steady, heart-pounding thrust.

Jack felt his lover's hands on his chest, and he could see the passion in Daniel's face as he stared into Jack's eyes.

~Odd,~ Jack thought to himself. ~I ... whoa!~

Daniel struggled a bit. Without Jack being able to maneuver his body, especially his legs and hips, it made this kind of joining more difficult. It was never the easiest for two men to make love like this, facing each other, but these two had learned the secret of it long ago. They preferred it over easier methods. It was their eyes; how they loved seeing the others as they became one in body, just like they always were in spirit and emotion.

"Pillows," Jack suggested.

"Pill...ows," Daniel agreed, grabbing a couple of pillows to better position his Love. He didn't know if it would work or not, but this is exactly what he'd been preaching to Jack earlier: experimentation. It might take some time, but they'd learn how to satisfy each other with their new physical limitations. "Yes!"

Quicker than he would have in the past, Daniel let his release fill his lover. Gasping, he lowered his body to become Jack's blanket once again.

"I love you, Angel," Jack stated emotionally.

"Did you ... see it?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah," Jack confirmed. "I saw it."

There was no question in Jack's mind. Daniel still wanted him. Together, they'd learn. Together, they'd go forward, discovering new ways to excite and pleasure each other.

As they settled, Jack's hands made smooth circles on his lover's back.

"Danny, wanna know something weird?"

"Sure."

"It's weird."

"Tell me."

"A couple of times, it felt like ... like I felt you," Jack confided.

Daniel raised up his head and looked into Jack's eyes. He smiled and then leaned forward for a kiss.

"Daniel, I think maybe there are ways."

"The mind, Jack. Our minds are so powerful."

"You think maybe I could think myself into ..."

"Why not?" Daniel blinked as he thought about the topic some more. Enthusiastically, he put forth, "Babe, visualization works. We've practiced that a little in the past. I *know* it works. Combine that with memories and fantasies."

"You want me to fantasize about getting it up?" Jack asked, half-seriously and half-humorously.

"Yes," Daniel answered simply. "Jack, I want you to feel as much as you can. I felt you reacting when I ..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the master bedroom.

"Crap," Jack responded quietly.

"Oh, gawd," Daniel expressed anxiously as he rolled off Jack and searched for his pajamas, but not able to see them in the dark.

The tapping at the door repeated, prompting the older man to order, "Danny, just get us under the covers."

Nodding, Daniel did just that, pulling the bedding up as far as he could and then called out, "Come in."

JD pushed open the doors and ran in, a smile on his face and his beloved Patch in his arms. He ran up to Jack's side of the bed and was jumping up and down.

"Hey!" Jack greeted.

"Is something wrong, JD?" Daniel asked.

"My head exploded, Daddy!"

"Exploded?" Jack and Daniel questioned in unison.

"It went booooom," the little boy said, spreading out his arms as wide as they would go.

"Does it hurt?" Jack asked, totally confused.

"No, Dad. It's happy. We're okay now," JD reported. "It was a happy explosion."

"Good," Jack echoed. "When did this happen?"

"A couple minutes ago. I was sleeping, and then my head exploded with happy. I'm happy we're happy again. I love you!"

"We love you, too," Daniel replied with a smile.

"Gotta go back to sleep," JD announced, turning around. He giggled, picked up something, and returned to the bed. "Daddy, these yours."

Having tossed Daniel's pajamas onto the bed, JD left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Daniel ..."

"I don't want to think about it," Daniel interrupted as he stared at the closed door.

"His head exploded?"

"With happiness," Daniel added, nodding.

"About the same time we ..."

"Yep," Daniel agreed.

"Danny ..."

"Jack, I really don't want to think about it," Daniel stated, turning his head to gaze at his lover. "He's part of us in a way I don't know that we'll ever be able to understand, and I don't know that I really want to. What we need to focus on is us. Babe, we can do this. Thank you for tonight, for giving me that gift, but next time, we're going to work on you. Maybe it won't be perfect, but we'll get there. I really believe that."

"I love you so friggin' much, Danny."

"I love you, too," Daniel said and then moved in for a kiss.

"Danny, I did talk to the Doc a couple of times about sex."

"Don't tell Teal'c," Daniel teased.

"I don't have a death wish," Jack replied. He sighed, "She said pretty much what you have tonight. She said something else, though, too."

"What?" Daniel inquired curiously.

"You're going to love it."

"Good," the younger man chuckled lightly. "What did she say?"

"That sometimes talking about what we're feeling or what we need can help."

Thoughtfully, the archaeologist replied, "I believe that. It's akin to visualization and fantasizing."

"Can we call that something else?" Jack groaned. "I don't want a fantasy Daniel," he groused a second later.

"Okay, how about ... active recall?" Daniel suggested.

"Very military," Jack mused. "Active recall. I'll just call up Danny memory number twenty-nine."

"Twenty-nine?" Daniel questioned. "Which one is that?"

"That's when ..." Jack began, continuing with the detailed recollection of one of his favorite erotic moments with his husband.

"Oh, gawd," Daniel laughed when his lover was finished with the very seductive memory.

"I love hearing you laugh," Jack commented softly. "I live for that."

"Then you'll have to make sure I have a lot to laugh about," Daniel replied, after which the two men kissed some more and then once again settled into a contented silence.

"Tell me," Daniel requested out of the blue.

"Tell you what?" Jack asked hesitantly.

"What it is you've been wanting to tell me for the last two days, but haven't."

"You're good."

"Thank you, but we're not talking about that right now," Daniel teased, placing another kiss on his Love's chest. "Tell me, Jack."

"You already know," Jack stated, giving Daniel a chill. "It was about a week after I entered the prison."

"Jack!"

"I thought you'd be better off, and the brood, too; even the girls," Jack admitted softly.

"That was a stupid thing to think."

"I know, but I was in a dark place, Angel, and I didn't think I could get out."

"So, what happened?"

"Teal'c showed up."

"Did he know?" Daniel asked curiously.

"I'm not sure," Jack responded, making a face as he thought back to that day. "It was when you brought the kids; they'd gone to the Garden."

"Garden?" Daniel searched his memory and then acknowledged, "Lou, Jeff, and Teal'c took them. They had a great time."

"As great as they told me that day?" Jack felt his lover's head shake. "That's what T was telling me. Gotta give Miss Florida some credit, too."

Daniel looked up in surprise and asked, "Sunny?"

"She reminded me that love was a good thing. She calls it her gift," Jack answered, shrugging at the same time.

"I don't understand."

"Don't worry, Angel, I don't, either, but after she left, I felt better," Jack spoke, looking into the blue eyes he adored. "Until that moment, I felt like a cripple who was nothing but a burden."

"'La Noche Oscura de la Alma'," Daniel spoke in a whisper.

"What?"

"'The Dark Night of the Soul'," the linguist translated. Taking a breath, he explained, "It was written by Saint John of the Cross. It's a ... a metaphor for a spiritual desolation."

"Rotten place to be," Jack recalled.

"To get rid of the darkness, you have to hold back your ego and let yourself transcend to a place that is actually better than where you were before. Some people believe the darkness is a blessing because of this."

"They might be right," the older man agreed quietly.

"Please tell me," Daniel implored, needing affirmation that his husband was beyond the darkness that had gripped his soul for so long.

"I don't feel that way anymore," Jack stated sincerely, knowing exactly what his soulmate needed to hear. "We've turned another page in our book, that's all."

"I love you, Jack."

"I love you, Angel, so friggin' much."

====

The next day, Billy and Jilly left for their home in Australia. They were sad to leave their American family, but both were glad that Jack was back on track. The two brothers found it unusually difficult to say goodbye. They just didn't know for sure when the next visit was going to be, especially since Billy and Jilly had been away from their ranch for so long. It was a tearful, yet joyous parting, one filled with love and the renewed promises to stay in close touch over the phone and computer.

====

Less than twenty-four hours later, Jack and Daniel were in the study, reviewing some of Alex's ideas for the house. At the moment, the conversation was about combining the closet and bathroom.

"He's wanting to knock out the wall that divides the two and make it one big space," Jack observed, staring at the crude drawing Daniel had made to illustrate the changes.

"Right. It would give you the capability of reaching all of your clothes yourself."

"It's a simple ninety-degree turn," Jack noted, about the new placement of the toilet.

"Exactly," Daniel affirmed. "We'd be turning the toilet, exchanging two doors for just this larger one, and moving the sink; oh, and adding this sink for you," he said, pointing at the specific spots on the makeshift diagram. Pausing the man in glasses added, "No, wait. Alex sent me a fax yesterday. He said we didn't have to move the sink or add a new one; something about just removing the shelf under the sink and installing a hydraulic lift so it will raise and lower to the correct height for both of us."

"Sweet," Jack replied cheerfully.

"Apparently, it will save floor space. So, this means that the only fixture we'd have to move would be the toilet, and it's already a handicap-accessible height."

"What about the tile?" the older man queried.

"Well, you know Alex," Daniel replied.

"Let me guess. It's been in storage at Archonics for years."

"Something like that," Daniel affirmed, well aware that the designer always made sure he had plenty of product on hand for his clients. He smiled as he pointed out, "Babe, it's not that much change, and it would give you so much more independence."

Smiling in reply, Jack gazed into his husband's eyes and stated, "And it'd be a lot easier for you."

"Well ..."

"Daniel, honesty is the best policy," Jack sing-songed pleasantly.

"Yes, it would," the younger man admitted.

"It's a great idea. Okay, what's next?"

"That's enough for now, Babe. As long as you can manage the chair lift, we don't need to do the bedroom addition at all, really. Making the living room floor the same height as the rest of the downstairs would eliminate the need for ramps and make the living room accessible for you, but the bath and closet will come first."

"Then we're a go."

"Well, once Alex gets back, unless you ..."

"Danny, I'm okay with doing what we need to do, but I'd rather wait for Alex to oversee the changes. I know it's harder on you until then, but ..."

With a smile, Daniel interrupted his Love with a kiss and then said, "Jack, I have my husband back. Right now, nothing is difficult. We'll wait for Alex."

"I think we should seal the deal," Jack suggested.

"Oh, yeah," the younger man agreed, leaning in for another, deeper kiss, leaving no doubt that the deal was indeed sealed.

====

"Peter, are you sure we did the right thing?" Jennifer asked, glancing down at the item she held securely in her hands.

"Jen, you're the one who said it didn't feel right," Peter responded as he drove the two towards the Jackson-O'Neill home.

"It doesn't," Jennifer sighed. "Peter, Grandpa has never stayed away this long."

"He doesn't sound sick," Peter remarked.

"No, he doesn't," Jennifer agreed. "I just hope we did the right thing."

Peter nodded as he responded, "Your parents will tell us that."

====

"Hey, kids," Jack greeted the couple as they came into the study.

"Hi, Dad," Jennifer responded, smiling at JD who was focused on Mittens.

"We're playing," Jack explained. ~Amazing cat. We were ready for some fun after pouring over those plans all morning.~

"Mittens likes to play with the printer," JD informed his sister.

"So I see," Jennifer chuckled, watching the cat go after a piece of paper as it was ejected from the printer. It was so good to see her dad laughing and playing. ~I'm so happy most of the stress is gone.~

Over the last couple of days, the family had truly begun to heal. Their family meetings were productive and truthful, and decisions were being made about the future. It was good, and everyone was much happier.

"Uh, JD, do you know where Daddy is?"

"He's outside with the Munchkins."

"Will you go and ask him to come in here, please?"

"Okay, Jen," JD agreed, gently removing himself from Jack's lap and leaving the room.

"Something up? You didn't ..."

"No, Sir," Peter assured. "Not yet, anyway."

"Dad!" Jennifer chastised, knowing the proposal question was once again a cause for amusement for her family.

"What's that?" Jack asked about the plastic bag his daughter was holding.

"Do you mind if we wait for Daddy?" the young woman answered.

"Jack, what's ... hi, Jen, Peter," Daniel greeted a minute later. "What's up?"

Jennifer looked at Peter, who nodded as he walked behind the archaeologist and closed the door.

"Very cloak and dagger," Jack commented, laughing at his joke.

"Yes," Jennifer confirmed, causing Jack's smiling face to stiffen. She sighed, "Dad, Daddy, have you talked to Grandpa recently?"

"We called him a couple of days ago," Jack answered.

"Why?" Daniel questioned curiously. "And what's in the bag you're holding onto so tightly?"

"We've barely seen him in weeks. He's called, but he doesn't come over, and he hasn't asked us to come over, either," Jennifer responded. "What bothers me is that when I have seen him, he acts like everything is okay. He keeps referring to the flu, but he doesn't look like he's had the flu, and he sounds great. It's weird."

"Maybe he's just recovering," Daniel put forth warily.

"Daddy, wasn't he 'recovering' when Dad was still in the hospital?"

Folding his arms across his chest, the archaeologist nodded, admitting, "That was weeks ago."

"That's my point. He's been recovering from a simple case of the flu for a very long time. I've been worried, but when I talked to Aunt Janet last night she said something that I couldn't stop thinking about," Jennifer expounded.

"Which was?" Daniel prodded.

"Yesterday afternoon she went by Grandpa's house to check on him, and Mrs. Crenshaw wouldn't even let her in the door."

"That's odd," Daniel replied, becoming more concerned.

"Aunt Janet said Mrs. Crenshaw was very nice, but she couldn't even get her foot inside the foyer. She let it go when Mrs. Crenshaw told her that she was taking Grandpa to the doctor herself."

"What doctor?" Jack questioned curiously, wondering why the retired Stargate commander would visit another physician. ~Isn't the Doc Hammond's doc?~ he asked himself, not really sure of the answer.

"I'm not sure Aunt Janet asked about that," Jennifer answered. "But I couldn't sleep at all last night thinking about this, so today I asked Peter to go with me to Grandpa's, so we could check it out."

"Check it out," Daniel sighed. ~Cloak and dagger is right.~

"Did you see him?" the older man inquired.

"No, we didn't."

"What's that?" Jack asked again, equally curious as his husband was about the unknown object their daughter was holding onto tightly. ~It has to have something to do with this.~

Jennifer put the plastic bag on Jack's desk and then opened it, revealing more smaller bags.

"This is a piece of cake that was on the kitchen counter, and this is a cookie that was on a platter of pastries and treats. Mrs. Crenshaw is always baking things for Grandpa," Jennifer answered. Pointing at another bag, she said, "This is from the coffee bin, and this is a bag of tea. The thing about this is that I don't recall Grandpa being a big tea drinker, but there were a lot of these in the kitchen."

"If you didn't see Grandpa, how did you get these?" Daniel questioned.

Jennifer looked at Peter and then back her parents, answering just a tad nervously, "We parked away from the house and walked there. We decided to go around back to ..."

"Sneak a peek?" Jack asked pointedly, cocking his head slightly at the young couple.

Nodding, Jennifer affirmed, "Yes. The back door was unlocked, so we went inside. It was like it was meant to be, Dad, with the door open like that. We took out the plastic bag and decided what to take with us. Then ..."

"Wait!" Daniel exclaimed, holding up one hand, palm out to stop the progression of the explanation. "Jen, are you telling us that you went to Grandpa's with the specific intention of getting samples of ... food?"

"Daddy ..." Jennifer paused and then smiled lightly. "Yes. We were being covert, as Jonny says."

Daniel stared at his daughter a second before stating, "I just wanted to be clear; that's definitely a family trait. So what happened next?"

"We were going to check out the rest of the house and see if we could talk to Grandpa when we heard Mrs. Crenshaw coming, so we just left as fast as we could."

"She didn't see you?" Jack questioned, full of concern for the food sting and its possible consequences.

"No, she didn't." Jennifer paused, letting her parents consider her actions and words. "Dad, Daddy, I think something might be wrong. We know what people have done in the past to try and get to you, and I'm just wondering if maybe they might be using Grandpa to do it this time."

"Jen, are you sure the stealth was necessary?" Daniel questioned.

"Well ..." Jennifer began, telling her parents about the visit to the Hammond home with the Spitfires. "It just felt so weird. I had chills. I didn't want the twins to be alone with her." She sighed, "I can't explain it, but it's how I felt."

"We thought you could have this analyzed," Peter stated after listening to his Love explain what they had been up to.

"Welcome to the family," Jack told Peter good-naturedly as he reached for the phone. "It's a good thing I'm back in Carter's good graces."

"While Sam's checking that out, I think we should go see General Hammond," Daniel suggested, getting a nod from his husband. He looked at the young couple and stated, "I know I don't need to say this, but don't mention anything about this to the brood."

"We won't, Sir," Peter acknowledged on behalf of himself and his girlfriend.

While the phone was ringing, Jack added, "And we're gonna have a little chat about protecting my daughter."

Peter cleared his throat uncomfortably and became nervous, something that pleased Jack. It was the reaction he was looking for.

"No, you're not," Jennifer stated firmly, staring her father down.

~Not when you're around, but we're gonna have it; oh, yes, we are,~ Jack smirked.

**Don't be a hypocrite, Babe,** Daniel warned.

**What?**

**Like Jen said, we've brought our children into danger simply because of who we are. Peter will take care of Jen.**

**Right,** Jack replied with a mental growl. "Carter, I need a favor."

====

"We need to get working on that specialized truck," Jack stated as he and his lover struggled a bit to get him into the passenger seat of the Silver Fox.

"One of the top priorities," Daniel agreed, grunting a bit from getting his husband situated comfortably and then the wheelchair in place.

Soon the couple was on their way. As Daniel drove down the street, beginning their fifty-minute trek to Hammond's home, Jack began the process of sorting through the current situation.

"What do we know?"

Daniel glanced at his lover and laughed.

"What?" Jack questioned.

"I don't know, Babe, but the assessment question always makes me feel like we're off-world, about to be attacked by the Goa'uld."

"It works," Jack maintained, getting a nod from the younger man.

"Martha Crenshaw," Daniel stated simply.

"Black widow?" Jack queried curiously.

"The general has always talked about her fondly," Daniel responded. "To be honest, Babe, I've half-expected him to marry her."

"She came out of nowhere," Jack commented. "We'd never even heard of her until Ricky came home from his little vacation with Hammond." He sighed, asking, "What do we know about her?"

"She's a good cook," Daniel answered.

"The way to a man's heart?" Jack put forth suspiciously.

"It must have worked," the archaeologist retorted.

"What else?" Jack asked, his military training coming into play.

"She enjoys the outdoors, being in the sun," Daniel began, searching his mind for all the little remarks made about the woman over the years. Actually, though, there weren't that many. It was obvious the couple knew virtually nothing about the widowed companion of the man they thought of as a grandfather to themselves, not to mention their children. Thoughtfully, he continued, "She likes to read and square dance."

"That's it?"

"That's about it," Daniel responded. "Jack, do you realize we've only met Mrs. Crenshaw a few times?" Not waiting for a response, he continued, "Of course, it's not like we socialize with the general's friends. On the other hand, our children have seen her more than we have."

At the same time, Jack and Daniel stared at each other and spoke together, "We've never checked her out."

"That's gonna change," the lieutenant general stated determinedly.

--

"Jen must've really had a case of the creeps to do what she did," Jack stated as the couple approached Hammond's home.

"Especially since she talked Peter into helping her," Daniel replied.

"The kid's been through the Gate," Jack responded. "He can handle a little covert."

"Apparently. Definitely part of this family," Daniel agreed, bringing his car to a stop after turning onto the street where Hammond lived. "That's her car."

"Let's say hello," Jack quipped. ~Geez, this is fun.~

"Wait," Daniel refuted, seeing the woman exit the home with a stranger.

"Who's that?"

"I have no idea," Daniel replied, watching as the man got into the widow's car and started it.

"Duck!" Jack ordered.

The two men leaned over, hitting their heads.

"Ow!" the older man exclaimed grumpily.

"It was your idea," Daniel whispered.

"Ducking isn't easy in this thing."

"Down," Daniel urged, hearing the car approaching. "I don't know if he could see us or not," he commented, slowly straightening and looking out the sports car's back window for any signs that the man in Crenshaw's car had spotted them. "I think we're okay."

"She's gone back inside, but she's left the door open," Jack reported, his focus on Hammond's house.

"Let's see what's going on."

Daniel parked the Silver Fox in the driveway, next to Hammond's car. He'd just gotten out when he heard the front door close.

As he helped his lover out and into his wheelchair, Daniel asked, "Did you hear that?"

"Yep," Jack answered. "I'm gonna go around the back."

"Jack, I ..."

"I can roll this thing on the grass. She may not know we're both here. She can't see this thing behind Hammond's monster."

"That's wishful thinking," Daniel refuted.

"I'll go around the side."

Not thrilled with the plan, but opting to trust his husband and former team leader and go along, the archaeologist headed for the front door. He didn't see Jack pause, staring at Hammond's vehicle.

Jack leaned downward, letting the air out of the rear driver's side tire, stopping to do the same thing for the rear passenger tire before disappearing around the side of the house.

Knocking on the door resulted in no response at all, so Daniel tried ringing the bell several times, though no one inside the home answered the door. Walking a few steps back as he looked around, the archaeologist pulled out his cell phone on a whim and dialed Hammond's private number.

"This is Hammond. I'm away for a few days, getting some much-needed rest, so I know you'll understand why I won't be returning your call anytime soon."

The message ended abruptly.

~Away for a few days? No other number? *Not* returning calls? General Hammond wouldn't do that, and he wouldn't leave without talking to the children,~ Daniel determined. ~He wouldn't even leave that kind of freakin' message on his voicemail.~

Daniel also felt that Hammond's voice wasn't quite as steady as normal. It seemed flat, and a couple of the words were stepped on, almost as if he'd been muttering them instead of leaving a clear message for callers. Deciding to be more forceful, he turned back to face the door.

The archaeologist pounded on the door, calling out, "General Hammond? Sir, it's Daniel. I ... I need to talk with you. General Hammond?"

Deciding it was worth the risk, Daniel used his key to Hammond's house to gain access.

"General Hammond? It's Daniel, Sir." Daniel walked slowly and cautiously into the living room. "Sir?" He looked around the room and called out again. "General Ham..."

Daniel fell to the floor, having not seen the powerful blow that was coming from behind. Before he could respond, two more strong blows to his head and chest caused him to lose consciousness.

--

As it had been when Jennifer and Peter had made their covert visit to the residence, the kitchen door was unlocked. Jack entered just in time to hear his lover's fall to the carpet. Looking around, he grabbed the first things he could that might help.

"Leave him," a voice ordered in the other room.

"He might be hurt," a woman responded.

"I didn't kill him. Just get the general," the male voice instructed.

"George, we're going for a ride," the woman stated in a friendly tone.

"Where?"

"Somewhere special," the woman replied.

"Are we going to be gone long?" Hammond asked.

"For a while. You and I are going to spend some wonderful alone time together."

"I'd like that, Martha, but I need to call my grandchildren. They'll worry," Hammond replied.

"Your grandchildren have gone away, remember, George? I told you. They've gone on a long trip with their fathers," Martha claimed, her voice smooth and steady.

--

Inside the kitchen, Jack bristled from what he was hearing. Not only had his lover been hurt, but these two intruders were telling lies to their surrogate grandfather. Much loved by the entire Jackson-O'Neill clan, Hammond was considered an important member of the family..

--

"Forget the pleasantries," the man barked. "I need to make a call. Bring him out in three minutes."

Jack heard the footsteps moving towards the foyer. He waited, his ears centering in on the man's movement, listening for the slightest sound that would indicate his location. He heard a click -- the man's heel hitting the foyer floor. There was nothing more, not even the opening of the door.

~He's still inside,~ Jack thought. He wheeled himself towards the living room, accidentally hitting the side of the table. ~Crap!~

--

"What was that?" Mrs. Crenshaw asked, having heard the sound. "George, I want you to sit down and stay right here. Don't move."

"Anything you say, Martha."

"It's very important," the woman insisted, watching the man sit down in the chair. "Speak to no one but me, or lives could be at risk. Apache," she stated quietly.

A frown on her face, Crenshaw walked into the kitchen, looking around for something that might be disturbed.

"Looking for me?" Jack asked, catching the woman off-guard. He used a broom to literally sweep the stunned woman off her feet, forcing her to land right on top of him and his wheelchair. "Sorry, I'm married," he quipped, slugging the woman as hard as he could and then tying her hands together behind her with some duct tape that he'd found in the 'secret ops drawer', a place where Jonny kept all kinds of MacGyver-ish type of items for playtime at the general's. He was using a lot of strength he didn't think he had anymore. ~Adrenaline: that's what it is,~ he asserted to himself as he placed another piece of duct tape over the woman's mouth and then slid her down to the cold floor.

The three minutes was about up.

**Daniel? Danny, can you hear me?** Jack sighed. His lover was still unconscious. ~He'd better not be hurt bad,~ he asserted to himself. He wheeled his way into the living room. "General Hammond?" he called out in a whisper.

Not getting a response and seeing only a blank stare from his friend, Jack looked over his husband, sensing that he was waking, but realizing it was still going to be a minute before Daniel regained his senses.

His choices limited, Jack selected the best position for his attack. Hammond was seated like a zombie in his chair, while Daniel was lying face down a few feet to the right of the chair. Quietly, Jack waited.

When the kidnapper reentered the living room, he wouldn't be able to see Jack. It would be the wheelchair-bound man's only time to catch the attacker by surprise.

"Crenshaw, move it!" the man called out.

Jack didn't breathe, not wanting to make any sounds. He needed to listen for the man.

~He's moving.~

"Where's Crenshaw?" the man asked the stoic-looking Hammond.

"Surprise!" Jack called out.

The man turned while reaching for his gun. Unfortunately for him, Jack was well trained in knife throwing, something he proved yet again as the sharp instrument propelled its way into the man's chest. The man shouted out in pain and fell to his knees.

As fast as he could, Jack wheeled his chair forward. He took hold of a book that was on the end table and slammed it down onto the man's head.

~All in,~ Jack urged himself, using all of his might and energy to lunge onto the downed intruder.

Having pulled the knife from his body, the man now held the sharp object in his hands. Jack struggled to get control of it. All he had going for him was his dead body weight. He couldn't maneuver, except to plant himself on the attacker and try to keep from being stabbed himself. Blood from the man's chest seeped out, getting onto Jack.

~Better not have any diseases, Mac,~ Jack thought when a spattering of red hemoglobin landed on his hands.

The contest lasted longer than one might have thought and then the intruder somehow managed to turn himself over, putting Jack on the bottom.

"You're a dead man!" the intruder warned bitterly as he readied the knife to stab his adversary.

"I don't think so," Daniel countered, the click of the gun being readied to fire sounding. He placed it against the man's head and threatened, "Slowly, very slowly, raise your right hand. That's right. Thank you." Daniel eased up just slightly, tossing the knife several yards to his right. "Now, you're going to get off my husband and lie down -- there," he ordered, wanting the man to be at least a few feet away from Jack. "Do it now, and do it slowly."

Having no choice, the captured attacker did as ordered.

"Jack, are you okay?"

"Peachy," Jack answered, using the legs of end table to pull himself up to a sitting position.

Seeing all the blood on his Love's clothing, the archaeologist motioned at the globs of red and questioned, "Are you sure?"

"Huh?" Jack looked down and realized how he looked. "Not mine; not a smidgeon," he assured.

Still keeping the gun pointed at the attacker, Daniel pulled his lover up straighter, making sure that the table and chair were aptly supporting him.

"Here," Daniel said, giving Jack the gun.

"Thank you, Love," Jack responded, watching as Daniel headed for the kitchen. "There's a cabbage in there," he called out.

"Big one," Daniel commented, stepping over the groaning Mrs. Crenshaw to go to Jonny's special drawer.

"I ... wouldn't do that," Jack smirked when the man started to squirm. "I love to pull the trigger; it's such a rush. Hands behind the back. Now -- I won't even count to three."

Something in Jack's voice, perhaps the longing to be active in the military again, made the man believe Jack was serious. He stilled himself, returning his hands to their place behind his back.

Daniel retrieved the rope he'd gone after and returned to the living room, tying up the man's hands securely.

"How's the general?" Daniel asked.

"No friggin' idea. Danny, Crenshaw used a word to silence Hammond," Jack informed, watching as his lover retrieved his wheelchair and then helped him back into it. "Better?"

"You could say that," Jack answered.

"How's your head?"

"Headache," Daniel responded, pulling out his phone and pressing the speed dial number he wanted. "Daniel Jackson-O'Neill for General Landry. It's urgent."

"Better get the Doc in on this," Jack stated, staring at the still-unresponsive Hammond. "Damn, that felt good."

Daniel looked over at his lover and shook his head. He couldn't believe the happy expression he was seeing. Yet, it was true. Perhaps more importantly, Jack had learned something very important. As he waited to be connected to the commander of Stargate Command, he smiled.

"Hey, Babe?"

"What?"

"Thanks for saving my life, again."

Jack grinned, replying, "I guess I can still hold my own."

Daniel looked at the tied-up man and motioned towards the kitchen as he answered, "I think you did a whole lot better than just holding your own."

With a smile, Jack nodded. Life wasn't over; it was just beginning a new phase.

~I get it. I finally really get it,~ Jack told himself, smirking at the clueless attacker. ~Maybe I'll send him a fruit basket once he's behind bars.~

====

"You're telling me that Martha was a spy the whole time?" Hammond questioned as he sat at the long rectangular table in the briefing room, a spot that felt odd, considering he wasn't seated at the head of the table as had been the norm when he'd commanded the SGC.

"Yes, Sir," Sam replied. "She was the perfect sleeper agent. She was close to you and had no ties to the military or the SGC. She didn't draw any undue attention. She led a quiet life and was the epitome of respectability."

"The 'little old lady is harmless' thing," Jack groaned from his usual spot opposite his former 2IC.

"Yes, Sir," Sam affirmed. "It almost worked."

"I'm sorry, Sir," Daniel stated quietly, looking over at Hammond.

"It was all a scam, to get what?" Hammond asked, his hands gesturing outward questioningly. "I'm retired. I have no ties to the SGC."

"But you do to General O'Neill and Daniel," Sam explained. Hesitantly, she added, "And to Jennifer and David."

"What?" both Jack and Daniel questioned curiously.

"The Teen Gaters program is one of the few ways that ..."

"They wanted to infiltrate the Teen Gaters?" Daniel asked incredulously.

"Jennifer's screening program is top notch. She's turned down teens and families that she doesn't believe are suitable," Sam stated. "Apparently, some of our personnel are part of a group of dissidents who want more access to off-world technology."

"Been there, done that," Jack sighed.

"What did they want with me?" Hammond asked. "And what made them think I'd help them?"

Janet spoke up and answered, "General, Mrs. Crenshaw was drugging you. We found traces of a truth-like serum that makes its users susceptible to the influence of others. They had a series of code words they were using to put you under their control."

"Like 'Apache'," Jack stated, getting funny looks from the assembled personnel. "What?" he asked.

"General Hammond's been given an inhibitor that counteracts the serum," Janet stated, thereby calming the concerns of the group.

"So he's okay?" Daniel queried.

Nodding, Janet explained, "He'll have to take the inhibitor for a few more days. Once the drug is completely out of his system, he'll be fine."

"And the code words ..." Daniel prodded.

"They don't work without the serum," Janet assured. "That's why the general didn't respond to what General O'Neill just said."

"This Crenshaw women drugged him?" Landry asked. "For how long?"

"We're not sure," Sam answered. "We removed all the food in the general's kitchen, and just about everything not sealed contained an element of the drug, except for the tea."

"I don't drink tea."

"No, Sir, but Mrs. Crenshaw does," Sam answered, lowering her gaze after communicating her message. "Their plan was to feed you the information on who should be accepted to the Teen Gaters, and to the new young adult program, if that plan becomes a reality. Because of your relationship with Jen and David, you could give recommendations that would seem plausible. They respect you."

"It was a flawed plan," Hammond stated. "I've never involved myself with the Teen Gaters. Jennifer runs that with the help of Colonel Davis."

"Apparently, the people behind this didn't know that, or didn't care," Sam responded.

"Sam, are Jen and David in danger?" Daniel asked, concerned for the welfare of the two Mouseketeers.

"No, I don't think so," Sam answered, smiling with some degree of confidence.

"Carter, you said this was a group of unhappy campers," Jack argued. "If they wanted Hammond to influence our kids, why not go after our kids directly?"

"Because you're you, Sir."

Jack stared at the woman as if he were about to pull out her hair for her.

"Uh, Sir, the interrogation was pretty clear. They don't want to get to you or the brood. They're ... afraid," Sam stated with a cautious smile. "They actually brought up what happened sometime back with the renegade NID unit. They really don't want to mess with you or the brood, but they did believe that General Hammond could be of use in this one situation. Like I said, they mentioned repeatedly that they have no desire to harm the children and gain your ..."

"Wrath?" Jack asked.

"You could say that," Sam acknowledged.

"Colonel Carter, how many people are we talking about?" Landry queried.

"Not many, Sir -- six or seven. Colonel Davis is following up on that, and we should have them contained by the end of the day," Sam reported.

"Okay. Back to work," Landry ordered, standing up. He saw the expressions on the group's faces and added, "Well, I have to go back to work. The President gets sour if I don't earn my paycheck."

As the group began to disperse, Hammond walked over to Jack and Daniel, shaking their hands as he said, "Thank you."

"Thank Jen and Peter," Jack stated, reminding Hammond how it had been the young couple's concern that had actually saved the day.

"I will," Hammond stated, walking out, leaving Jack and Daniel alone.

"It feels good being here, Danny," Jack spoke quietly, wheeling over to the window overlooking the gate room to stare out at the Stargate.

"Yeah, it does."

"They won't let me go through again. You know that," Jack stated.

"It's a good thing."

"What?" Jack asked in disbelief.

"You didn't let me finish. It's a good thing we have friends, like Thor. He doesn't need a Stargate," Daniel pointed out.

"There's that," Jack agreed with a smile.

"We still have a lot of exploring to do, Jack. Our universe is limitless," Daniel pointed out softly and confidently.

With a smile, Jack took a last look and then demanded, "Danny, let's go home. We've got things to do and experiences to ... experience."

"Yes, Sir, General, Sir," Daniel chuckled as the two headed for the exit.

====

"So, everything's okay now, and Grandpa will be here tomorrow so you can all see for yourself," Daniel stated during the family meeting that night.

"Wow, Dad!" Jonny said, a huge grin on his face. "You saved Grandpa!"

"I had a little help, you know," Jack replied, trying to give Daniel some of the credit.

"Don't look at me," the younger man replied. "I was unconscious most of the time."

For the next few minutes, the brood made a huge deal over their older father's actions. Jack was soaking up their encouragement and loving words like a sponge, while Daniel happily sat back and watched. Their family was healing, and it was awesome to watch.

"Dad, I found something for you," Jonny called out excitedly, reaching into his backpack that he'd brought to the meeting. He pulled out a picture he'd printed out while visiting a neighborhood friend earlier in the day. "Look! We can go bike riding, too."

The family responded with happy sounds as they took in the photograph of a specialized bicycle that was operated by a hand cycle.

"I've seen these," Jack spoke. "They're kinda cool."

"You can still lead us on our bike trips," Jenny stated happily. "Way to go, Bro," she praised, smiling brightly at her older brother.

"Great idea, Son," Jack agreed cheerfully. "We'll put it on our shopping list."

"Dad, can you still take us flying in Jo?" Ricky asked curiously.

"Oh, yeah," Jack affirmed. "There's a lot your old man can still do. We need to make a few modifications here and there, but there's nothing wrong with change. Skiing, boating, flying, basketball ... sled hockey," he laughed, smiling happily at Little Danny for the research he'd done on that subject.

"And dolphins!" Brianna interjected. "Dad, you've swum with the dolphins before; it's therapeutic. I think we should all go again."

"Add it to the list," Jack agreed jovially, now not only willing but wanting to challenge himself in all ways possible to live the life of togetherness with his husband and their brood.

The feeling of hope for their future hadn't been so bright in quite a while, and the Jackson-O'Neills were taking it all in. It was giving each of them an inner joy, and it was time to celebrate.

"Lulu?" Chenoa called out excitedly, an idea popping into her head.

"Yeah," Lulu agreed, bobbing her head at Chenoa's call, knowing exactly what her sister was suggesting.

"Dad, we have a special surprise for you," Chenoa called out. "We'll be right back."

A few minutes later, the dancing sisters were in place at the middle of the recreation room. The furniture had been pulled back, and the girls had changed into their costumes, which on the outside consisted of shirts belonging to David, as well as two of his ties.

"This dance is called, 'We love you, Dad'," Lulu stated, cueing David to start the music.

"We'll make a dance for you, too, Daddy," Chenoa added, smiling at the archaeologist.

The dance began as a hip-hop routine, both girls doing movements their parents had never seen coming from them. A third of the way through, David's shirts and ties were tossed onto the floor, revealing the girls more standard leotards. While Chenoa did an edgy tap dance circle around her sister, Lulu made elegant ballet movements that elicited 'ooh's and 'awes' from family members. All of a sudden, the girls joined hands and began a more contemporary dance routine, flowing as one as they completed their dance.

**Danny, they're good,** Jack communicated proudly. **I mean, Aislinn-singing good.**

**Yes, they are,** Daniel responded with an equal amount of pride.

"Come here," Jack beckoned, holding his arms out wide for the two girls, who hurried into his happy embrace. "I love you both so dang much." He laughed, "My two curly tops, such beautiful dancers."

"Noa, that's it!" Lulu exclaimed.

"I love it!" Chenoa agreed.

"Dad, you did it again!" Lulu spoke excitedly.

"Good," Jack answered. "What did I do?"

"Noa and I are dancing together, as a team," Lulu announced.

"We needed a name," Chenoa added.

"We're the Curly Tops!" Lulu proclaimed enthusiastically, grinning and looked around at her smiling siblings.

"Good job, Babe," Daniel praised, patting Jack on the back.

"Yes, well, there's no end to my talents," Jack teased, hugging the girls again. "Thank you for the dance, Curly Tops."

"Now we can enter competitions," Chenoa added.

**We need to hire a chauffeur,** Jack relayed to his husband.

**Nope. We just need to get that new truck and get you trained to drive it.**

**I like that plan,** Jack responded.

**Like you say, Babe, Plan B every time.**

"I have a fabulous idea," Little Danny called out.

"What is it, Little Danny?" Aislinn asked eagerly.

"Tomorrow's Dad's real birthday. Let's have another party!"

Jack and Daniel exchanged a look that slowly transformed into smiles and then laughs. Their family was all about parties, as long as the party had one thing.

"With lots and lots and *lots* of ice cream," Jonny added, to the cheers of his siblings.

With the activities of the last two days, Jack knew for sure that he was capable of helping to protect his family. It was the final piece of the chain. His lovemaking with Daniel was even better the next time they tried. Sara and Janet had both been right, and Jack was eager to explore those new horizons with his husband.

Jack's birthday party would be a celebration of their family's survival and willingness to move forward, having survived another trauma. They'd rejoice at their unity and ability to tackle any foe, including a disability.

Like always, the Jackson-O'Neills were together, which also meant they were unbeatable. Not even the traffic accident that left Jack a paraplegic would get them down. For Jack, Daniel, and their brood, the skies were blue and bright, and the sunshine was out -- today, tomorrow, and every day that would come after that.

~~Finis - Finished - Done - The End - But is it ever Really?~~

Next: Twizzling