Junior - part 1

by Lingren

Title: Junior - part 1 Author: Lingren. e-mail: Dalintel@aol.com Status: Story in two parts. Content Level: 15 + Category: Angst, AU, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Romance. Pairings: Jack/Sam. Warnings: Alternate Universe with no Pete, and Jacob is just fine: Implied sex, nothing specific. Season: Mid 8 Sequel: Sort of a sequel to `Hello Jonathon' but set a few years later when Sam and Jack have stepped over that line. Spoilers: Singularity, Show & Tell, A Hundred Days, Abyss. Summary: Selmak rescues an abandoned child and hands him over to the SGC where he becomes attached to Jack. But, is he all that he seems? Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG-1. No copyright infringements are intended. Just borrowing the characters for a little fun and imagination. Author's notes: You will need to have read `Hello Jonathon' to appreciate the characters in this story but it can also be read as a stand alone story. File size: 91K

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JUNIOR.

by Lingren.

"We should have done this earlier."

The statement came as no surprise, and Sam met it with a wide smile.

"Hmmm. I know, but it doesn't matter now, does it?" she sighed contentedly. "We got here in the end."

Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter was snuggled against her lover, his strong arms wrapped round her shapely body as they lay beneath the covers of his bed. After years of trials and tribulations regarding Earth's safety, they had finally taken that leap of faith and decided that the time was right. Togetherness took on a new meaning for them. They had spent the last eight years together as members of the same team, yet nothing could have been further from the truth. Regulations had forbidden them to be more than team-mates, and now the rules had changed. Their rules that is. He was thinking of retiring soon, so it no longer bothered them that they were breaking those regulations; jumping the gun; shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted. He just hadn't decided when exactly he would take that step. Soon she hoped.

Too many near misses had taught them to expect the unexpected, to take what you could while you could and enjoy it before it disappeared. That's why they had given in. With everything that had happened to him so recently, Sam was afraid she would lose him without being able to show him how much she loved him, and that worked for him too. He'd nearly lost her too, with that replicator freak, Fifth; him and his warped idea of love, revenge or whatever had caused him to kidnap her. There were too many things to put behind them and not be able to act on their innermost feelings. Love won out in the end and their relationship blossomed, albeit in secret. Only Daniel and Teal'c were in on their happiness and until he retired, they hoped that was how it would stay.

Not that it wasn't a well known fact among the SGC betting circles, that the moment he retired, Sam would most likely add `Mrs' to the impressive array of titles that she already laid claim to. People had wagered good money on that eventual outcome, and it was a dead cert.

"Sure we did. It was fated. Our love was written in the stars..." he murmured into her ear, following his words with a kiss on a particularly sensitive spot on her neck which tickled her senses.

Sam snorted, shivered and pushed herself back further into his embrace, eliciting a low guttural groan of rising need from within him.

"Wow! That was almost poetic Jack. Who'da thought Jack O'Neill was actually a romantic at heart?"

He pressed another warm kiss to her neck with greater passion.

"I don't hear you complaining!" he whispered softly.

She squirmed round to face him, kissing the end of his nose when she'd settled back into his embrace.

"That's one thing I'll never do Jack," she said, smiling that brilliant smile of hers that lit up his day whenever he saw it.

"That's good," he replied with a cheeky smile. "But, ya know...I have one!" he said slyly hoping to catch her out.

It worked. She recoiled in response to look at his face, trying to see if he was joking or serious.

"What? You have a complaint about me?" she gasped, worry making her forehead wrinkle into a frown.

"Oh yeah...one huge honking criticism," he ground out trying not to show his amusement that he could wind her up so easily.

Sam propped herself up on one elbow to look down on him, doubt marring her near perfect features.

Jack studied her face, looking for that tell tale sign of `you are joking, right?' but all he could see was genuine concern. He slid his hand to the back of her neck, gently dragging her down towards him, but she resisted so he quirked a lopsided smile.

"Tell me!" she demanded, wanting to know what he had meant, her ire growing with impatience. There was a note of warning in her voice, which made Jack's smile widen.

"My one complaint about you Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter is that you're too damn delectable for me to stop doing this." With that he felt her relax and quickly pulled her down for a kiss. His hands holding her tightly against his warm body.

Sam was mad but couldn't hold back her amusement at his facetiousness, and tried to push herself free of his hold to exact revenge, but he held her fast to his chest. Instead of fighting him off, she deepened the kiss, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, her hands roaming free over him, sending shivers and excitement shuddering through the naked body beneath her. She could feel his immediate response pressing against her thigh, and when he released her to draw breath she had her ultimate revenge. Scooting backwards, she turned and climbed from the bed, leaving him desperately needing her to quench the fire racing through his veins that she'd started.

"Sam?" Came the bleating whine to which she just smiled evilly and headed for the bathroom. "Hey!" he called after her in shock. She wouldn't leave him like this! Could she? Would she? He pondered miserably.

She poked her head round the door with a sly grin.

"Serves you right Jack O'Neill! I have to get to work and so do you. We have a briefing in a couple of hours. Wouldn't look good if the General was to arrive late now, would it?"

"It wouldn't look good if the General arrived barely able to walk or keep his mind on the briefing either!" he retorted with a scowl.

Sam snickered, and with a slow sexy drawl, she shrugged and laughed at his situation. She shut the door behind her to the frustrated growl from her lover.

Moments later when he'd groaned even louder at her underhanded treatment of him, she relented and opened the bathroom door a little way.

"You could always join me in the shower?" she soothed seductively with a coy smile.

Enough said, he was out of the bed with a whoop of delight and closing the bathroom door behind him in no time.

**********

"Okay kids, we'll call it a day on this and..."

Brigadier General Jack O'Neill was interrupted before he could get any further by the klaxons blaring throughout the base. He looked up at the others and they shrugged. It was an unscheduled activation and this was confirmed in the next minute by Walter's voice ringing in their ears.

"Unknown Off-world Activation!" he yelled through the PA system.

Jack leapt to his feet and hurried down the metal steps leading to the control room. He came to a stop just behind Walter's chair.

"Whatcha got?"

"It's the Tok'ra IDC Sir."

"Open the door Walter. Mustn't keep Earth's favourite allies a waitin' now, must we?" Jack ordered, his voice dripping heavily with sarcasm before turning to Lt. Colonel Sam Carter behind him. "Could be Dad?" he speculated with a smile for the love of his life. He hoped it would be, he was none too fond of any of the other Tok'ra.

Sam readily responded with a smile of her own before they all hurried down the steps to the gate-room to meet their unexpected guest, hoping that it was indeed her father.

The wormhole fluctuated and rippled when a tall figure stepped through. It was Jacob Carter, alias the Tok'ra, Selmak. He was smiling widely at them and in his arms he carried what looked like a small child, as he made his way down the ramp towards the waiting group.

Jack and Sam glanced at each other in puzzlement but smiled easily towards their guest when Jacob approached.

Jacob placed the child back on his feet and pulled the hood from the little boy's head. He squatted down beside him reaching out to place a hand on the boy's cheek, he smiled reassuringly and asked if he was okay. The boy nodded his head and sniffed back the tears that had been falling since before they'd entered the wormhole.

Jacob straightened up and the child stood as close to Jacob as he could possibly get, clinging to his leg seeking comfort from the older man. He never attempted to move from his side, but his sad dark eyes for some reason were glued onto Jack of all people.

Jack smiled back quickly but turned his attention back to Jacob.

"Dad!" Sam greeted her father and stepped forward to welcome him with a hug and a deep smile. It had simply been an age since they had last seen each other.

"Sam! How ya doin? I've missed you," Jacob said, hugging her back.

"So Jacob," Jack's voice pulled them from their happy reunion and Jacob grinned.

"Hello to you too Jack. I hear congratulations are in order, for both of you if my sources are correct?"

Jack smirked at Sam and shrugged, shuffling his feet a little, uncomfortable at Jacob's approval of his achievement. He still didn't understand the President's insistence in promoting him though.

"It happens," he replied wryly.

"I'm so proud of you Sam!" Jacob told her, giving her another squeeze. He turned and greeted Daniel and Teal'c, then Jack got straight to the point.

"Ah...You got something to share with us Jacob?" Jack asked, indicating the child still clinging to Jacob's leg.

Jacob laid a hand on the boy's head and smiled again.

"As much as I know you would be amused by it Jack, I have to tell you he's not mine."

Sam giggled, and Jack shrugged.

"Okay, so what's with the boy then? It is a `he' isn't it?" Jack asked, taking in the longish hair.

"Yes, he's a boy. Could we take this up to the briefing room Jack?" Jacob pleaded. "It's a little too public down here in the gate-room." His cool grey eyes flickered towards the security guards dotted around the room.

Jack turned round to look about the room and saw the SF's watching them curiously.

"Dismissed!" he ordered, waving them away with a scowl, then ignored them as they reluctantly vacated the area.

"Sure Jake. Right this way folks," Jack said, but he was looking at the boy with a deep curiosity. The young lad's face looked oddly familiar. It was pale, and now that he looked closer he could see it was thin, and maybe a little haggard too, framed with light brown hair that was dirty and unkempt. The boy seemed frail and weak, and Jacob had to carry him up the stairs. The child had refused Teal'c's offer to carry him, clinging to Jacob tighter as if afraid of them, Teal'c especially.

Once there, they were all shocked by his appearance when Jacob removed the too big a cloak that had been wrapped around him to keep him warm on his journey through the chilly wormhole. His whole body was thin, dangerously thin for a child of about 4 years old; his simple but ragged and dirty homespun clothes hung on his tiny frame. The boy refused to leave Jacob and sat curled up on his lap clutching an equally grubby toy while they talked, though once again his eyes were locked onto Jack sitting at the head of the table as if no-one else existed in that room.

"Okay Jacob, so spill. What's with the boy?" Jack asked once more.

"I and several other Tok'ra discovered him on a planet which had been attacked and then was later abandoned by the Goa'uld. We had a tip-off that there was to be a battle. Well, you couldn't really call it a battle; those people weren't a fighting race at all. They lived simple lives, so we gathered together a few troops and went along to offer help, but our intelligence was way off..."

"Really?" Jack asked. "How unusual!" he added sarcastically, making Jacob scowl at him, but the Tok'ra continued without comment. Jack shrugged and listened to the rest of the report.

"We arrived far too late and all we found was this child. He was the only survivor of those people Jack. He's only spoken two words since we picked him up."

Jack's heart went out to the child who by the look of him had seen far too much harrowing death and destruction for his young years. It reminded him of Cassie again, when they had found her all alone among the dead of her world.

"Do we know which Goa'uld we are talking about here?" Jack asked, needing to know who was to blame for such unwarranted annihilation of a peaceful race of people. He vaguely wondered if the boy really understood much about what had happened and whether he'd seen his parents; his family killed.

"It sounds pretty much like Ba'al was responsible, he's been on the rampage ever since you guys took out Anubis, though I couldn't swear by it. He's trying to conquer as many worlds as possible. If he does, then he would almost be invincible Jack," Jacob sighed. He'd seen some sights in his time as a member of the armed forces and even more atrocities since he became a Tok'ra; but the senseless killing of these simple `peasants' had sickened him. "We screwed up and got there too late by a long shot. All we could do was gather up the remains and burn the bodies. That's when we came across this lucky little chap."

Jack shuddered at his own memories of Ba'al's cruelty and offered a sympathetic smile to the boy, who tentatively responded with a shy grin of his own.

"We found him wandering through the desolation. We can't tell how long he'd been there on his own, but the smell was pretty appalling. It had been at least a week by my guess. As you can see he's rather emaciated, poor kid."

"He was there all by himself?" Sam gasped incredulously, her heart going out to the boy, whoever he was. "With all that death and devastation round him?" she shuddered at the thought of this poor child among the decaying bodies.

The child craned his head round to face Sam when she'd spoken and there was something in his eyes that stirred a memory deep inside, though Sam couldn't think what it was right now. She smiled at him but he shied away, turning back to watch Jack.

"Is he...um...?" Jack asked, wondering if perhaps he might pose a danger to them, just as Cassie had done when they discovered that she was carrying an explosive device that would detonate when it came into contact with the Stargate.

Jacob shook his head in denial.

"He's clean Jack. We checked him out, and he is human, that's just one of the reasons why I brought him here."

"And the Goa'uld just left him behind alive?" Daniel asked with a deep frown furrowing his brow. "Isn't that a little odd?"

"Indeed," agreed Teal'c. "It is most unusual."

"We have no idea why he was left alive, Daniel. Maybe his parents hid him away somewhere. The village wasn't very large. There couldn't have been more than a few hundred people living there at most."

"And they're all dead?"

"As far as we could tell, yeah. There a possibility that some could have escaped, but we saw no sign of anyone else there."

"What planet are we talking about Dad?" Sam demanded without taking her eyes off the boy. Those eyes of his haunted her mind, and she was wracking her brains trying to place them.

"It's only a small, insignificant planet really. There's nothing there to speak of. No Naquadah, Trinium or anything of value to anyone. I honestly have no idea why Ba'al decided to raid it." He paused for a moment to swallow a mouthful of water from the glass in front of him, thoughtfully put there by Sam. "It's tucked away on the far side of the Galaxy, the local's called it Edora. The people there..."

"What?" Jack cried in disbelief. "Edora? You're sure?" His eyes flicked across the table to meet with Sam's; shock and guilt flooded him. She'd worked so hard to get him home back then and he'd all but ignored her efforts afterwards. He still felt like a heel for his ignorance of what she'd gone through to get him home. Once more he berated himself and he could see there was a glimmer of the hurt he'd caused in her eyes, as well as what looked to be sympathy for the fate of those people mixed in as she returned his shocked look. He dropped his gaze with difficulty and turned back to study the boy.

"Positive. Why?" Jacob asked with a frown.

"Because that's where Jack was stranded for three months, what...five years ago now?" Daniel stated.

Jack merely nodded, too shocked to speak yet. Laira. The memories of her came thick and fast.

Jacob sighed, letting out a long low whistle.

"You were? Geez, I'm sorry Jack. I had no idea. I mean we knew that you' must have visited the planet, but I hadn't realised..."

Jack nodded again, holding up a hand to stop Jacob from continuing but he still couldn't utter a word just yet. His thoughts of the happier times they had spent there before the `fire rain' and the disaster that followed. Feelings of grief swept over him and he found it hard to believe she was dead. Ba'al had for some reason wiped out the whole community; his friends; those who had made him feel welcome and even Paynan who had spurned him to begin with and then had finally accepted him as one of their own after all the work he'd put in to help them get the harvest ready, and their houses repaired.

And here was but one survivor of this latest holocaust; this small child, now an orphan. No wonder the boy and his clothes had looked familiar. He wondered just to which of the many families he'd met did this boy belong. Maybe Garan and Naytha had gotten married after all; perhaps this child was theirs? There were other young couples too but he couldn't recall their names anymore.

"Jack?" Jacob called. "You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry Jacob, you were saying?" he said recovering, and mentally shaking off the dust of his visit there from his feet.

"I guessed you had been there at some stage because that's all the boy says."

"Whoa...back up there Jacob. What is all he says?"

"Your name Jack. That's all he's uttered since we found him. `Jack O'Neill'. That's the reason I brought him here. I was kinda hoping you could explain? Maybe his parents told him to seek you out or something."

"It was a long time ago Jacob. It was over four years ago, the boy's far too young to know me," Jack frowned. "I can't say I recall anyone who was pregnant or had just given birth."

"Did he not have any form of identification on him Jacob Carter?" Teal'c asked, intrigued by the turn of events.

"Just this toy..." Jacob sighed pointing to a battered woollen Teddy Bear-like toy being held onto like grim death in the small hand. "It's all he has by way of possessions," Jacob confirmed, "So no, he had nothing by which we could identify him."

Before Jacob could add anything further to his statement; the boy slipped off his lap and tentatively approached Jack. Everyone focused on the boy instead of the retired ex-General.

He looked back at Jacob for guidance.

"Yeah, go ahead kid, that's Jack O'Neill," Jacob confirmed with a nod.

The child tentatively laid his small hand on Jack's arm and looked up into the dark eyes. For a minute he searched for something in those depths, then leant forward to whisper in his ear.

"You're my Daddy!" he said smiling up at him and begging for some sort of warm reaction rather than rejection.

Jack nearly fell off the chair in shock on hearing the statement.

Jack grimaced sadly and shook his head in disagreement.

"I'm not your father kid," he sighed, feeling himself flush under the almost silent gasps that emanated from his team, but the boy kept looking at him with something akin to hero-worship and hope; something he hadn't had much of until now and it made Jack squirm uncomfortably.

The boy merely nodded and repeated the words, gently prodding Jack's chest with a small thin finger.

"You're my Daddy!" he said again with utter confidence. "Mommy told me you comed from Earf. She said that `Jack O'Neill who comed from the stars through the big round ring was my Daddy'!"

"Me?" Jack gasped in surprise. "Yeah, I mean, that's my name? But I don't..." he shot Sam an apologetic look then closed his eyes as he suddenly remembered Laira saying that she'd wanted a child. Had he succeeded in impregnating her that night? God it was just the one night for cryin' out loud! He gasped inwardly.

"So, who was your mommy kid?" Jack asked waiting anxiously for the boy to respond. He already pretty sure he knew the right answer, but just didn't want to hear his suspicions confirmed.

"Laira," the boy whispered shyly, with a tear in his eye and a quaver in his voice.

"And who was Garan?" Jack asked, wondering if he really knew the family.

"Garan was my big bruver. He and Naytha had lickle Calia," he confirmed in all seriousness, but Jack could see more tears beginning to gather force behind the boy's eyes as he remembered his loss.

Oh God...Jack couldn't breathe. How was this possible? There had to be a reasonable explanation for this. He did a quick calculation in his head coming to realise that this child must be his son. He was about the right age and now Jack looked closer, he saw his own dark eyes looking up at him for reassurance. The boy's tears flowed freely this time, though waiting silently for his reaction.

Jacob couldn't help smiling at the myriad of emotions playing across the General's face.

"Something you wanna share with us Jack?" Jacob grinned.

"Ah...It looks like I might have a son!" Jack stated with a strangled voice, still bewildered by the turn of events.

"Well, it kinda brings a whole new meaning to the term `distant relative' now, don't it?! Jacob snorted in amusement, though the room remained unnaturally silent.

Daniel and Sam tried to hide their embarrassment, but something sad lurked at the back of their minds when they looked at the utter pain on the face of their Commanding Officer. Sam knew he must be having a hard time dealing with this. To suddenly discover that Laira had died an horrific death; and then to realise he had fathered her child and that now said child was his sole responsibility which must be hard for him to come to terms with.

The child continued to look up into Jack's dark eyes with longing, looking for comfort from his once alienated father and with perhaps a hint of adoration; something which Jack had all but forgotten could come from an innocent child, especially when that child was a stranger. Laira must have told the kid all about him. To Jack it was looking in the mirror; those deep hazel eyes were like a reflection of himself. Charlie had been the only one with those eyes. Now here was another he could see, and so like Charlie too in that respect. He was looking to Jack for some comfort and a return of that unadulterated affection hidden in the depth of that look. Proof positive in those dark haunted eyes, said that this child was indeed his, though the doubts still assailed his logic mind.

Jack found he couldn't deny the child anything and if this young boy was indeed his, then he had been given, by some unimaginable and horrific tragedy, a second chance to redeem himself. He placed his palm against the child's face, using his thumb to wipe away the moisture and the next thing he knew the boy had climbed up onto his lap and was hugging him fiercely, the threadbare toy wedged between their chests. As if drawn by something inexplicable between them, Jack found his arms responding, moving of their own volition to enfold him and return the hug; his hand brushing the back of the child's head while his heart melted at the sheer innocent trust of this, his impossible, yet seemingly probable offspring that he never knew existed. Moisture gathered at the corners of his own eyes, but he swallowed harshly, blinking them away rapidly.

"What's your name son?" he asked a few minutes later with just a slight tremor in his voice that spoke of his emotions running nearer to the surface than any of those seated round the table had ever witnessed before.

"Jack," the boy smiled shyly again. "Like yours."

Jack winced and bit his bottom lip but smiled back. He guessed it was only natural that Laira would name the kid after him. He half wished that he should have been told sooner and at the same time he resented the fact that she'd kept him in the dark. She'd had the opportunity several times over the past few years. Why hadn't she told him? Sent him a message or something?

"Okay..." he sighed resignedly, "...but we're gonna have to call you Junior for now so we don't get mixed up!"

The boy nodded and grinned approvingly then hugged him with all his might, releasing all Jack's doubts.

While Jack and Junior hugged each other, Jacob and the others spoke softly of the disaster among themselves giving them some space allowing Jack time to compose his thoughts and corral his feelings back into something resembling the personification of `Hard-assed General O'Neill' who seemed to have gone missing only a few moments before.

"Right now," Jack interrupted their conversation, his voice stronger and more determined, "I think we'd better get Doc. Brightman to give him a thorough check up. He looks as if he could do with a good meal too," he sighed.

He stood, keeping the boy wrapped in his arms, and ignored the twinges of pain in his worn out knees as he bore the extra weight, not that the child weighed much at all. No, Not the child, he reminded himself, not the little boy; his child; HIS Son!

The child responded by hugging him tighter, not wanting to be given over to anyone else, now that he had found his father and hopefully a new home.

Jack brushed off any offers of help to carry the boy, marching towards the elevator, happier than he had been these past ten years despite the circumstances; knowing the others members of his `family' were following behind in silence.

**********

Jack placed Junior onto the bed and waited for Doc Brightman to appear.

She was curious as well as surprised when Jack ordered her to give him a thorough going over including a DNA test. Her surprise was even greater when the child showed his reluctance to be handled by anyone other than the General and in a tremulous voice called out for his Daddy.

She looked up at Jack and he shrugged, a wry smile gracing his lips.

"It was a long time ago," he said defensively to her unspoken question.

She coughed and tucked that little gem of information away, becoming all professional. Her usual casualties were tough soldiers who'd been wounded in battle but now she turned on all her charm and within a few moments, she had gained Jack Junior's confidence enough for him to allow her to examine him.

Except for when she took a blood sample when he'd whimpered and climbed like a monkey into Jack's arms afterwards. Jack had refused to leave his son's side during the examination, mainly because the boy had wanted him there.

Jack sat on the edge of the bed and cradled him in his arms, softly shushing the boy.

"Hey! It's over now. No more needles," he promised.

Doctor Brightman shot him a look that belied that statement, but at his regal glare and an infinitesimal shake of his head, she backed down, saying she'd have to make do with what she'd managed to take so far.

She disappeared for a few moments, then returned all smiles.

"Well?" Jack demanded. He was sitting on the bed with the boy next to him, having managed to disentangle himself from Junior's arms at last. Jack looked down at his son and was happy to see him hugging his toy with one arm whilst sucking the thumb on the other hand. He guessed thumb sucking was a universal comfort to kids the galaxy over.

"All his scans proved fine General. Apart from being a little undernourished which is easily remedied, there's nothing wrong with him. I suggest some light meals to start with, broth, chicken, boiled rice..."

Jack waved a hand to stop her flow.

"Ack! Yeah, I get it. So he's fine? There's no reason to keep him in here then?"

"No Sir."

"Good. Thanks Doc."

"I'll let you know the results of the DNA testing as soon as they're ready General." She called to his retreating back.

"Bye Junior," she called and found herself giving him a little wave. She dropped her hand quickly from embarrassment when a passing nurse smirked at her child-like behaviour.

The nurse disappeared with a smile, speculating that perhaps Doctor Brightman was human and that maybe there maybe hope for her after all.

"Byeee," Junior called over Jack's shoulder and gave her a wave back, before his thumb found his mouth again, and he laid his head into the crook of his father's neck.

By the time they reached the briefing room again Junior was fast asleep.

**********

"What are you going to do with him Jack?" Daniel asked, being braver than the others or it might have been the fact that Jack was his best friend and they didn't hold back any pertinent questions from each other. So Daniel went ahead and asked the question that was on all their minds.

Sam wanted to know too; wanted to know that their close illicit relationship wouldn't change under these strange new circumstances. That's if Jack still wanted to be with her, now he had a son.

Jack looked down at the sleeping figure. Junior had indeed proved to be his son. The test confirmed without a doubt that Jack Junior was the child that Laira had given birth to nine months after Jack had abandoned her, knowing nothing of her condition. He was trying to put that painful episode of his life away. Just as he had with everything else that hurt too much; his Charlie; the divorce; Reetou Charlie; Iraq; Ba'al. It always came back to Ba'al and his chamber of horrors. Ba'al who was now responsible for the deaths of everyone, bar Junior, on Edora.

The boy was curled up asleep on a small cot in the General's office, the ubiquitous thumb in his mouth and his `Teddy' snuggled within his fragile arms. Only his head and that of the toy was showing over the top of the blanket. Jack smiled inwardly at the sight and would be quite content to sit there watching him all day, not quite sure he wasn't just dreaming. It was so unreal, yet oh so very true.

Jack took his time answering, thanking god for giving him another child, though that in itself posed a new headache; he wasn't getting any younger. He weighed up the pros and cons in his mind. What did he want most? It was a difficult decision to make. He wanted to be with Sam but he also needed to be with his son; his own flesh and blood, honest to goodness son and to be able to indulge this passion he held for the unexpected gift of another son? The biggest problem was whether Sam could now accept his son as part of him.

There was no contest as far as Jack was concerned. He had a responsibility now. The boy had never asked to be born and neither did he have a say in losing his mother or family. It was clear that Laira had told him all about his father. He wouldn't, couldn't renege on his duty as a parent.

"I'm keeping him Daniel. He's my son for cryin' out loud. What did you expect me to do? Throw him back? Abandon him? I'm all he has now and I intend to look after him to the best of my ability." Better than I did Charlie, he thought angrily.

"And the SGC?" Daniel probed deeper.

"I'm thinking of retiring sooner rather than later Daniel," Jack sighed. "It was on the cards anyway." There was so much to arrange first though; he was going to have to take some time off to just organise his home and get the boy acquainted with life on Earth and himself to get used to the feeling of being a Dad once again. "I have some phone calls to make, so go Daniel. Do whatever it is you do."

He shooed his closest friend from the room then picked up the phone, pressing the very familiar digits.

It rang several times before the gruff but recognizable voice answered.

"Hi George, it's me, Jack."

"Jack," Hammond greeted him with a certain amount of reservation, and yet with obvious pleasure. A phone call usually meant there were problems at the SGC but George always welcomed those times when they just conversed for old times sake. "What can I do for you son?"

"I wanna take a few weeks off George. Something's come up."

"Oh? Nothing serious I hope?" George worried that there was something bugging Jack as he'd hinted to in the last few conversations they'd had. He knew Jack wasn't happy with all the paperwork involved with running the SGC. He'd even tried to resign but George had so far managed to persuade him to stay on. His skills were sorely needed, and contrary to what Jack believed; he was actually well suited to be the man in charge of the SGC.

"No...well, as a matter of fact it is. Serious that is. I...er...I need to sort out a few personal things," he hesitated a little before adding with a darker note. "Edora was `devastated' George."

Hammond gasped in shock and picked up Jack's wearisome tone.

"Badly?" He didn't need to ask how or by whom.

"Only one person survived."

"I'm sorry Jack. Laira?"

"No Sir. Just her son George," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose against the burgeoning tension headache. After a seemingly endless pause, he dropped the bombshell. "My son!" he emphasized.

There was the sound of someone sucking in a startled breath, and a few moments of silence before George answered.

"I see," came the ultra calm reply.

"I swear to God George, I didn't know. Not until a couple of days ago."

"It's okay Jack." Hammond could tell by Jack's admission that it was the truth. "You weren't to know we'd eventually come for you son. Hell, we weren't even sure you were still alive. Are you okay with this...the idea of having a son?"

"I'm fine. In fact I'm more than fine. He's cute George really cute. He's so like his mother."

"What is he? He must be about four by now?"

"I guess. I haven't really thought about it that much yet. I need to arrange a carer etc., for now, but ultimately I'm gonna retire George. I want to be with him. I missed out on Charlie growing up; I won't do the same this time round. I'm gonna be there for him," he said, his mind awhirl with all the things he'd need to do.

"Take all the time you want for now Jack. Get Reynolds to take over until I can arrange a temporary replacement. We need to talk about this before you make any big decisions. You know my number if you need anything, anything at all; don't hesitate to ask Jack! I'm sure we'll sort something out between us."

"Thank you Sir. What I really need is all the official paperwork George. Birth certificate etc..."

"Does he have a name?"

Jack snorted.

"Oh yeah. Not very original but it's Jack. I was thinking of changing it, though he's happy with being called Junior at the moment. But, I guess I ought to give him a proper name so you'd better put him down as Jonathon Charles O'Neill."

Hammond chuckled, genuinely pleased for his former 2IC. It could be just what Jack needed, he mused.

"Jonathon Charles?" Hammond was confused. Why would Jack want to give this child the same name as his dead son?

"It's not what you think George, he was just plain Charlie. Laira named this one after me, so I'm just adding the Charles bit, besides, my dad's John Charles; so it's sort of a family tradition. And boy, is he and Mom gonna be surprised," he added wryly.

He could hear Hammond chuckling again at that.

"I'm sure they'd be more than pleased for you Jack, after the initial shock has worn off that is. And leave it to me Jack, I'm on it. I'll have everything ready as soon as I can and I'll have it delivered direct to you by personal courier by the end of the week. I can't wait to meet the little fella."

"Well, maybe one day soon we'll take a trip into Washington to meet Grandpa George," Jack chuckled.

George laughed at that too, flattered to be included in the boy's instant family.

"I'd like that son."

"Sure you will. And thank you Sir."

"You're welcome Jack."

Jack replaced the phone and sat for several minutes, with his hands steepled against his lips, just watching the boy sleep.

He rose from his chair and sauntered out into the corridor looking for Walter. He found him sooner than he thought when the man in question practically collided with him coming from the outer office.

"Ah Walter just the person I wanted to see," Jack said with a grin.

"Yes Sir?"

"I'm taking some time off..." he began and gathered by the look on Walter's face that the Sergeant had expected as much. "Yes, well, it's hardly surprising, given the boy. General Hammond will be sending someone along to stand in while I'm gone. In the mean time I want you to get hold of Colonel Reynolds. He'll be holding the fort until the new man arrives."

"Yes Sir. How long do you think you'll be away for Sir?"

"I have no idea yet. As long as it takes I guess."

Walter grimaced. The General might be a terror to work with but at least he got the job done and he knew everything that went on in the mountain despite his feigned ignorance. Having worked so closely with him since his promotion, Walter now knew it was all a front and that the man was as sharp as a pin when it came down to it. He wasn't looking forward to `educating' the new man at all, he just finished training the General.

"I see Sir. I'll have to bring the Colonel in Sir, he's at home."

"See to it. I have to go shopping!"

Jack cast a look back at the boy as he slept and smiled, and Walter could see his Commander's icy exterior cracking, revealing his softer nature. He'd seen it before of course, but never this deep. The General was well and truly smitten and he silently agreed that so it should be. This was his son after all. He smiled too.

Jack roused, and frowned down on the Sergeant who was still gazing at the boy with a knowing smile.

"Something else Walter?"

"Ah, no Sir," he replied, hurrying away to carry out his orders.

Jack walked towards the cot and sighed, marshalling his thoughts before making a decision.

**********

Several minutes later, Jack picked up the phone again.

"Carter?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Can you spare a few minutes? I have something of a favour to ask you."

"I'll be there in 5 Sir."

"Thanks!"

Jack dropped the phone back onto its cradle and waited. The boy stirred and Jack rose from his chair and stepped across to the cot, gingerly lowering himself onto it, grimacing when his knees twinged with age old familiar pain.

"Hey!" he said softly, carding his hand through the soft hair when the boy opened his eyes.

At first Junior wondered where he was but as the smiling face hovering over him registered, he grinned and reached out to him.

"Daddy!"

"Hey!" Jack greeted him softly. "We need to talk young man."

Junior didn't reply but merely nodded and eyed him with curiosity. He rose and clambered over to insinuate himself onto Jack's lap for a hug. How Jack had missed this. All the memories of Charlie came rushing in when those tiny arms wrapped round him and he couldn't help but gulp back a few tears at the painful loss of his past. It wasn't until a little hand wormed its way loose from his hold to wipe the moisture from his cheek did Jack realised exactly where he was and that he'd actually shed a few tears. He sniffed back the moisture and smiled down at the boy, vowing that he would never allow anything to happen to this child. Guns were to be strictly forbidden in his house from now on. He smiled at his son in response to the unbridled trust showing in Junior's face and hugged him tighter.

Jack waited until his son pulled back before he spoke.

"I've been talking to my boss and we're gonna have to change your name to a proper one okay? From now on - just so's we don't get mixed up - your proper name will be Jonathon; but we'll call you Jon or Junior, okay?"

He nodded again and hugged his father once more.

They were still like that when Sam appeared a moment later.

"Sir?"

Jack jerked his head up and grinned.

"Carter! Great."

He struggled to rise but had to get Jon to relinquish his hold first.

"Stay there kiddo. I need to talk to Colonel Carter for a minute. Okay? I'm not going anywhere."

The child nodded and curled up again to watch them chat, hugging his toy and unerringly seeking his thumb with his mouth.

"He's a cute kid Sir."

Jack looked at her, studying her azure eyes and sighed with regret.

"I'm sorry Sam. I had no idea," he sighed apologetically, still feeling guilty. "If it's any consolation, it was a once only deal. You guys arrived the next day and that put an end to it. I'd never...well, all that is irrelevant now. However...I kinda need your help."

"He needs some clothes," she stated blandly, knowing where he was going with his request.

"Yeah. That's where you come in."

"Me Sir?"

"Sam. I'm taking some time off. As from now on, it's Jack okay?"

"Yes Sir," she responded automatically then shrugged at the incongruity of the situation.

"I've been making a list but It's been a long time since..." he started to explain but couldn't finish.

"Er...I hate to remind you Jack, but I've never...um...you know." She'd bought the occasional things for her nephew and niece but she had no idea what to get really, other than clothes. Just what did kids need?

"Ah. Sorry. I just thought... I don't trust anyone else Sam."

There was a knock on the door, and both Sam and Jack looked round to see Dave Dixon there with a plastic carrier in his arms.

"Colonel?" Jack asked, wondering at the intrusion.

"Sorry Sir. I heard about the...er boy...and well, Sheila and I thought until you could go shopping, you might be able to make use of these. "

He rather self-consciously placed the bag of clothes onto the desk and made a hasty retreat but Jack stopped him in his tracks.

"Dave!" Jack called out to him.

Colonel Dixon hesitated, turning back with trepidation, wondering if he may have overstepped the bounds of their friendship.

"Sir?"

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome Sir. They're too small for my youngest one now anyway."

Jack smiled warmly and nodded a dismissal before emptying the clothes out onto the desk. Jeans, T-shirt, underwear, sweater, jacket, socks and sneakers; and to top it all, a small sized baseball cap with the `Avalanche' motif on it. Jack grinned, happier now than he was before at the prospect of taking him out dressed in those rags. At least they could take the boy outside now without embarrassment.

"Okay. We're gonna go shopping. Sam consider yourself our escort."

"Yes Sir...em...Jack."

Between them they washed and dressed Jon in the clothes provided by Dixon. They were a little on the large size but that didn't matter. They both held a tiny hand in theirs and Jack smiled at the thought that despite their circumstances, they actually looked and felt like a normal family, out shopping together.

There were only two more things he had in mind that would make his life complete, but that would have to wait for a while. For now he had more pressing things to worry about.

They received all manner of looks on the way to and from the elevators, ranging from downright curiosity, to some overstepping their positions with sniggers, and the occasional little wave and a smile for the kid. Jack felt sure they weren't for his benefit, and one look from him had them poker faced and business like once more.

He knew the fact that he had `inherited' a son would be all over the base in no time at all, and really when it came down to it, he was inordinately proud of that fact; he just wished he'd known about it before. Despite the fact that teams had visited Edora on a regular basis, Laira had hidden the child from them. He couldn't fathom out why she'd not said anything, unless it was to stop him feeling any pangs of guilt and responsibility for her condition. He would never have left her if he'd known. He would have stayed if she'd told him. He glanced down at the boy who looked up at him and grinned, tightening his hold on Jack's hand just a little bit more.

Jack's eyes skipped across to meet with Sam's and he knew her thoughts were in a turmoil. His dropped his gaze guiltily, feeling he'd let her down, now she knew what he'd done back then. He did love Laira in his own way, she'd gone out of her way to help him over his depression at being stranded, he just wasn't `in' love with her. She'd asked for a child and he'd believed that if he was going to be staying there, like it appeared he would have been, then he had nothing to lose, only something precious to gain. But fate had other ideas in mind, and he had returned to his real home in ignorance of her condition.

He did believe that Sam would feel strange doing this because it was Laira's child and maybe she would rather back off from their relationship now that he had his son to look after. He wouldn't even consider any other solution to the boy's future. The boy had every right to be with his actual father now that his mother was dead, even if that meant retiring from the Air Force earlier than planned. He would do it without a second glance. He began to feel uncomfortable making Sam go with him, but she was better suited to pick out things like clothes than he would be. He'd always left that side of things to Sara.

"Sam. Look, I...it's not an order. You don't have to come. I just thought, well...I thought you'd..." he floundered, not finding the right words he wanted to say.

"It's okay Jack. I'm happy to help you out," she replied, knowing what he really meant. She was a little uncomfortable with the idea of this being his child with Laira, but she knew he was aware of her discomfort which made all the difference. If he had been so totally unaware of her feelings then she wouldn't hesitate or feel so bad about calling a halt to their undisclosed connection. All those whirling emotions that his absence had caused at that time only to find he'd been with Laira, had stirred up, had been swept aside in their passion for each other, and now it seemed like it had come back to bite her in the ass. She was wondering if this would be the one thing that drove them apart.

Jack strapped Jon into the back seat of the truck and Sam sat next to him while Jack drove very carefully. One of the first things he was going to buy would be a special car seat for the boy to keep him safe. Jon's face was full of open curiosity, and Jack could see his eyes wide with wonder at the everyday things they took for granted, and Jack realised he would have his hands full explaining how they lived here on Earth, to his son who had only known carts and horses as the only means of transportation. He didn't know about the TV, Videos, CD's, Computers or Game-boys; Cars, Trucks, Motor-bikes, Planes, Trains, Skates, or Cycles; Houses, Stores, or even running water. By Earth's standards, Edora was stuck in the 17th or 18th Century. So shopping was bound to be an eye opener for the boy, let alone doing something as simple as eating lunch in the restaurant. He was beginning to wonder if Jonathon Junior would be able to cope with it all, or whether it would literally blow his young mind. Maybe he should just take him home and let Sam do the shopping.

"All set little man?" Jack asked him via the rear-view mirror with a worried frown.

Bright eyes alight with interest beamed back at him and Jack knew then that the boy would be able to cope with everything. Kids were very accepting of new ways, certainly they were more resilient and adept at coping with change than adults were.

Half way there though, a keening wail from the back seat had Jack almost careening off the road in shock. The boy had been so quiet up until now.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Sam soothed, when Jon released another sob.

Jon hiccupped and looked so forlorn that Jack pulled over and stopped. He turned in his seat and reached out to take the boy's hand in a calming gesture.

"I lef' my Berra!" he wailed again.

Jack looked blankly at Sam who shrugged, then her eyes widened as she connected the dots.

"His `Teddy Bear' Sir. Or rather the equivalent. His toy!"

Jack sighed. He'd forgotten all about the damn toy and Jon was obviously very attached to it, and who could blame him; it was all he had of his former home to keep.

"Hey. We'll get you some more toys at the store. And where we're going, `Berra' might get lost. He's a whole lot safer where he is believe me. I promise we'll go get him later. Okay?" Jack said, trying to placate his son.

There was a sniff and a hitch in the boy's breath, and then a solemn nod that said he would be okay with that, though he would miss his precious Berra dreadfully until he got back.

Sam picked up on the theme of new toys and once Jack was assured that they wouldn't have to turn round and drive back to the mountain to collect the toy, he started up the truck again. As they drove he could hear Sam telling him all about the toy store where he could pick out any other toys he wanted. He smiled to himself and she caught sight of it's reflection in the rear-view mirror. Their eyes locked onto each other for a few seconds but a wealth of understanding passed between them. She was good with the boy, just as he'd known that underneath that tough military shell she would make a good mother, despite her protestations to the contrary in the past.

**********

Jonathon junior clung to his father's neck for most of the time they were making the rounds of the shops in the Mall. Sam had collected several large carriers, overflowing with essential items. Jack felt guilty about her having to carry them all, but with Jon hanging onto him as he was, he couldn't do much else.

Everywhere they went, the boy's eyes were agog with things they took for granted. His face lit up with joy when they entered the toy store. It was the only time that Jack was able to put him down other than when he was trying on clothes for size.

Jack held onto his hand as Jon led him along the aisles. Of course the boy had no idea what half the toys were, but he recognised the stuffed toys and chose a large super-soft yellow toy dog because he said it reminded him of his friend Micah's dog.

Jack felt him tremble and saw the first tears fall as the boy recalled what had happened. He picked him up in his arms again and held him close then moved on to find some drawing paper and coloured crayons, finger paints, and lots of building bricks, then a few books for reading at quiet times, anything to take the boy's mind off his tragic past.

By the time they reached the checkout, the cart was almost full and the middle-aged woman at the till smiled at them indulgently, passing a comment or two to Jon still curled up in Jack's arms, sucking on his thumb.

"Wow. You're such a lucky little guy aren't you!" she cooed softly as she worked. "I can see your grandpa spoils you."

Sam sniggered softly and Jack stiffened at the woman's assumption and pulled himself upright to his full height, staring down at her with a formidable scowl.

The female assistant was completely oblivious to the look or to the inner thoughts cascading through Jack's mind as she carried on chattering inanely to the boy.

"I can see you're gonna have so much fun with these," she said, placing the last item in the bag and handing the full to bursting carriers over to Sam. "There we are Mommy. All done!"

Now Jack didn't know whether to laugh at Sam's shocked face for being referred to as Jon's `Mommy', or be insulted by the insinuation that he was Sam's father. Instead, he handed over his credit card to the woman with a thunderous scowl which would normally have even seasoned Colonels quaking in their boots, but the assistant was impervious to such a look and even before he'd put his wallet away, she was already smiling sweetly at the next customer in line.

Jack snorted with disgust and followed a few metres behind a red-faced Sam, out towards the truck. When he arrived, she had her back to him, leaning against the truck with her shoulders shaking. He approached her with trepidation, wondering why she was crying. He reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. Damn sales assistant, upsetting her like that, he cursed.

"Sam?"

When she swung round to face him, he was taken aback slightly because she wasn't crying, she was having hysterics. She was laughing so much, she had tears sliding down her cheeks which she ineffectually tried wiping away.

"What was so funny?" he demanded grumpily, though he knew full well what she was laughing at. So help her if she was laughing at him.

"Y...your face was a picture!" she giggled helplessly.

Jack's scowl deepened with exasperation but he kept his tongue firmly in place when Jon decided that whatever it was that had Sam in stitches, was funny too and giggled with pleasure. Jack's lips twitched, it was good to see them both laughing, but he hid his own amusement behind another frown. Handing the guffawing child over to Sam.

"Here you are `Mommy'!" he glowered as Jon easily transferred to her arms. The laughter died in her throat as she found herself with an armful of curious Jon.

Jon looked at Sam and smiled shyly.

"Are you gonna be my new Mommy?" he asked in all innocence and both adults stood stock still as the words penetrated their minds. Thoughts full of possibilities.

Sam prevaricated on answering the question, finding something else to amuse him with, while Jack wordlessly grabbed the bags and slung them in the back of the truck, his black mood back again. It seemed obvious now that Sam was avoiding the question, probably because she didn't want to become involved any more.

He unlocked the front passenger door, letting the boy sit there with Sam who sniggered once more when she looked up to see Jack's scowl still written plain across his face. Jack set to on sorting out the new car-seat, trying not to listen to the two of them still snickering. He couldn't deny that hearing Jonathon Junior laugh did sound good to his ears. Goodness only knew when the boy had last been able to have fun, even if it was at his expense, but of course Jon didn't understand that minor detail. He hoped.

After several minutes and softly muttered curses, he'd managed to get the seat organised and then fastened his son securely into it; the new toy dog clutched firmly in his hands.

"Ready to go kid?" Jack asked when he'd finished.

Sam slid into the seat beside the boy and fastened her seat-belt too, feeling like an unwelcome guest.

Junior nodded and yawned round a sleepy smile, worn out and happy with his adventure. He was tired and had eaten well considering, enjoying the food he'd managed to eat, although Jack was careful at what he gave the boy. The last thing he wanted was to have to child throwing up all the way home because he couldn't digest the strange food, and besides, Doc Brightman had warned him to go easy at first.

There was one advantage of his time spent with Laira, at least where food was concerned; he'd lived on Edora for three months so he knew what they ate and had stuck to the most palatable similarities that Earth had to offer. He had yet to go grocery shopping, but that could wait until tomorrow, he still had plenty of food in the fridge at home. That was at least one benefit of not going off-world anymore; that he could now stock his fridge and larder without it going to waste.

"Great," he confirmed, ruffling the boy's hair gently with affection. "Let's go home."

Sam and Jack exchanged glances, knowing that before they had gotten too far, the youngster would be asleep and it would be time to talk. Jack climbed into the truck and pulled away, neither of them saying anything until Jack noted the boy had finally drifted off. He wanted to ask her to if she'd spend the rest of her days with him. To marry him, because the question of `when' he would retire was no longer valid, it was a case of effective almost immediately. He couldn't ask her like this, he wanted to do it properly, at the right time, without extenuating circumstances.

"Will you drop me back at the mountain Sir?" Sam asked, feeling awkward for the first time.

Her words left him cold as if someone had walked over his grave.

"You don't wanna come back to the house?" he asked incredulously.

"No Sir. I can't, I have work to do."

`Sir' That word drove a wedge between them leaving a tense atmosphere inside the vehicle which put a strain on their normal easy relationship. The brief moment of hilarity back at the parking lot had passed leaving a hollowness that he found hard to fill.

"Ah...we need to talk Sam. I thought...with Junior asleep, we could..." he stumbled through the words unsure of how she would react.

"I need some time to think about this first Sir. Please..." Sam begged, she really needed to get her head round recent events and developments.

"Uh...okay. How about dinner next Saturday?"

There was a tense moment when he thought she would refuse outright, but when she did reply it was almost as bad as he feared.

"I'm not sure. I'll let you know Sir."

Damnit, he could see it in her eyes; she was having doubts about all this. Sooo not good, Jack taunted himself.

He felt like he was on a `merry-go-round' and he just wanted it to stop so he could get off. His life had been turned upside down within 24 hours. Was he destined to lose Sam because he had gained a son? He couldn't lose her now; he needed her in his life, and he couldn't not keep his child. Those eight years of waiting for the right time to be with her meant a lot to him and he wasn't about to let her go; not now, not ever. Not if he could help it.

"Sam...nothing's changed between us. I still love you, ya know!"

He watched her in the rear-view mirror; watched as her face took on a strangled, anguished look and she turned her head away to gaze unseeingly out of the window at the passing scenery.

She didn't reply. She couldn't not yet. She needed to sort herself and her conflicting emotions out before she could answer him in all certainty. She did love him, but where exactly did she stand now? He had new responsibilities and a small child was a heavy burden not to be taken lightly, especially at his age. He wasn't young any more, though he was young at heart. She snorted inwardly knowing that despite that hard-ass military front there still lurked a child like quality hidden within him. It's what makes him the way he is. It defined his soul and made him all the more endearing. He was human after all and not just a mindless military machine.

Jack watched her fighting with her inner demons and quietly sighed with disappointment.

"Okay," he relented sadly. "I'll drop you off at the gate. Give me a ring later in the week to let me know if you're coming okay?"

Sam could tell by his gruff voice that he was upset now. That her unwillingness to respond to his declaration had caused him grief.

"Sure. I'll give you a buzz on Friday night."

He nodded as their eyes met in the mirror before he turned away to concentrate on his driving.

She gave him a tight smile as he pulled away from the gate, but he didn't respond, merely setting his face into neutral and then drove off, retreating down the mountain again. Sam's heart sank into the depths of misery. It would take a lot of serious thinking to discover exactly where their relationship was heading. After spending time with his son he may not want her around. The boy may resent her intrusion into his life after having just discovered his father and losing his mother like that. She felt she was adrift in a mine field and didn't know which way to turn.

**********

The doorbell rang and Jack moved the pan onto the back of the cooker and turned it off. Ordering Jon not to touch, he walked into the hall to see who was at the door.

Daniel beat him to it, opening it cautiously.

"Jack?" he called, poking his head round the door just as Jack entered the hall.

"Daniel."

"Yeah, Hi!"

Jack stopped and Jon jumped down from the chair to hide behind Jack's long jean clad legs.

"Hello there," Daniel gave the boy a little wave as he shut the door behind him, one arm surreptitiously hidden behind his back.

"I'm taking some time off," Jack grumbled. This had better not be work related.

"I know. I got your message," he said smoothly, ignoring the hint of a warning in Jack's tone. "I just dropped by to see how things were."

"So what are you hiding behind your back?" Jack asked suspiciously, flicking a fore-finger at Daniel's hidden arm.

"Well, actually," he paused to catch Junior's eye, "this!" He brought the teddy-like toy `Berra' out from behind him and Jon ran to retrieve his beloved toy with a shout of glee.

Daniel watched with a big grin as the child hugged it fiercely.

Jack slapped his head with his palm. He'd forgotten all about the toy they'd left behind. No doubt the kid would have reminded him, probably in the middle of the night.

"Thanks Daniel. I'd forgotten. I was gonna go back and pick it up but things...well, ya know."

"Yeah. So, how's it going?" Daniel asked with a smile, seeing Jon happy now he had his `Berra' back.

"Phew!" Jack blew out a huge sigh. "Okay. I think. We're about to eat, wanna join us?"

"What're you having?"

"Just some soup and crackers. Not much. He's eaten quite well today, I don't wanna overload him just before bedtime."

This was a whole new angle on his friend that Daniel was seeing and he marvelled at how easily Jack had slipped back into the role of father once more. It sure was an eye opener to see the real Jack O'Neill and not the hard-assed soldier. Of course he'd seen that softer side once before. Jack's parents had come to Colorado when Jack's life was in danger a few years ago, but as soon as he'd returned from his healing vacation, he'd reverted to kind. It wouldn't hurt to enjoy the company of Jack and his son for a short while, if only to satisfy his curiosity.

"Sure. Why not!"

Jack reheated the soup and all three of them sat round the kitchen table to eat. Jonathon Junior played with his, and Jack wasn't going to push him. It had been a busy day for the kid, full of excitement on top of his despair, and he was bound to be a little listless now he was tired. It wasn't all that late, but Jack decided that he would run the bath and put the boy to bed, then he and Daniel would be free to chat or watch a game on the TV.

**********

"MOMMA!"

The shrill scream brought Jack tumbling from his bed in the early hours of the morning. He all but ran to the spare bedroom where Jon was meant to be sleeping.

He paused at the door, leaning breathlessly against the jamb. He saw the child sitting up in bed crying huge tears which ran down his face, captured plainly in the night-light he'd left on for his son's benefit. The boy's short breaths were hitched and he hiccupped in misery as he sobbed.

A couple of long strides and Jack was sitting on the edge of the bed taking the trembling child into his arms. The terrified boy clung to him as if his life depended on it. Pulling him onto his lap, Jack held him close as he gently rocked him back and forth, soothing him with soft murmurs, telling him it was okay, because Daddy was here now.

After several minutes, the sobs quietened, and Jack looked down into wide brown eyes. He smiled reassuringly and stroked his hand over Jon Junior's hair.

"Hey there," he said softly.

Jon's smile was wobbly but it was there.

"I had a nasty dream," he said with a quiver of his bottom lip.

"It's okay now. It's over. All gone."

"Mommy falled down, and she wouldn't wake up."

The bald statement told Jack more than he'd hoped the kid would remember.

"God, I'm sorry you had to see that kiddo. You should never have had to see that," Jack sighed, gently kissing the top of his son's head. "I can't make it go away, but I can make it better for you."

"You won't fall down and go to sleep like Mommy, will you?"

Jack pulled back to look his son in the eye.

"Hell, I sure hope not, but in all honesty I can't promise you that kids. Nobody knows what's gonna happen to them in the future, but, I promise I'll do my best to look after you for as long as I'm able. How's that?" he asked, cupping the boy's cheek in his palm.

Jon shrugged and sniffed but seemed to accept it for now. Jack couldn't help but smile as the boy snuggled closer again and he sat rocking him patiently, waiting until he'd dozed off again.

It didn't take long and Jack laid him back in the bed, covering his fragile form up against the chill of the night. Leaning over the slumbering figure, Jack smiled and kissed the tousled head softly before straightening up.

He stood for a long moment at the door just looking back at the sleeping child, his jumbling thoughts crowding out the idea of returning to his bed to sleep. Instead he headed for the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee. He had some serious thinking to do and in the morning, a phone call to his parents was the first priority.

**********

"Daddy. Wake up! Please Daddy!"

The shrill urgency of the words at last penetrated his brain, and he jerked awake, swinging his legs from the couch as he sat up, rubbing his face.

"Jon?" he gasped as the boy flung himself into his lap and gave him a huge bear hug. He noticed the tears sliding down his face before he hid it against Jack's chest. "What's up? Did you have another bad dream?"

There was a shake of the head; so, no nightmare, but what had brought on the tears? Jack wondered.

"Hey! C'mon, tell me - what's the matter!"

Jon sniffed, wiping his face over Jack's crumpled T-shirt and looked up at Jack with dark eyes haunted by sadness.

"You didn't wake up when I called you and...and I..."

"No! It's okay kid. I was just asleep. It's alright. I'm fine," he explained with a sudden realisation that Jon had thought he'd died just like his Mom had. "Hey," he soothed. "It's okay. I won't leave you!"

He waited for the sniffling to stop before he pulled the boy from his lap and stood up stiffly, muttering a few groans at his aching limbs. Serves him right for falling asleep on the settee instead of going back to bed, he grumbled to himself.

"So now we're up, how about some breakfast?"

Jon Junior grinned up at him.

"I'm hungry! My tummy's making noises at me."

Jack laughed.

"Yeah, mine too. Let's see if you like pancakes okay?" he said, setting the boy on one of the chairs then he was dragging the ingredients from the fridge.

Junior perched himself on his knees on the chair and leaned over the table, watching as Jack whisked up the batter, then cooked the mixture. His stomach grumbled loudly, making Jack laugh.

"Hey! I'm going as quick as I can!" he snorted. "There, grab a plate!" he ordered.

Jon jumped down from his chair and took the plate from the counter-top and held it up to Jack who scooped the pile of pancakes onto it and then set it at the centre of the table. Then taking the maple syrup and a couple of pancakes from the heap he dribbled a little of the syrup over them setting the plate in front of the boy.

"There. See if you like those. There's plenty more if you want them. Or I've got some cereal. There's toast, milk, and orange juice. Tuck in!"

He sat and watched as his son tentatively tasted the mixture, the tip of his tongue reaching out to dab at the syrup. His eyes widened in surprise and then he was munching on them hungrily.

Jack nursed his cup of coffee while sporting a big grin as he watched the pile of pancakes slowly diminish. He'd eaten a few, but the boy was still tucking in.

"I take it you like them, huh?"

Mouth too full to reply, Jon nodded vigorously.

They cleaned up the kitchen together and Jack brought out some of the toys they had bought yesterday and Jon made himself comfortable on the floor in the lounge and decided on some crayoning.

Jack left him to it while he picked up the phone and went out onto the deck where he could watch the boy but still have a private conversation with his parents. He wished he'd had the sense to pull on a sweater though, the stiff September breeze was chilly out there despite the sunshine.

The phone picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hi Mom!"

"Jonathon!" came the surprised response. "How are you dear?"

"I'm fine Mom. You and Dad?"

"Oh, you know, mustn't grumble. Age gets to us all in the end," she sighed.

"Yeah, tell me about it," he agreed wholeheartedly.

"Is Dad there?"

"He's gone over to see Patrick this morning. One of the boy's wrecked the car the other night and he wanted to make sure he was okay."

"That had to be Ronnie, right?"

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess! When did he ever have a car for more than a few months without colliding with something or other? His car has more dents in it than a golf ball," Jack snorted, not at all surprised by his cousin's mishap.

"He hasn't improved with age at all."

There was a momentary pause while he built up the courage to tell them that he had a son when she beat him to it.

"What is it dear?"

"What?" he gasped, knowing already that she picked up his nervousness right away, she was always so perceptive and knew him so well.

"Something's bothering you. I can tell."

"Ah, well, it's a long story Mom. One I can't tell you a lot about over the phone," he said hesitating a little. "It's too complicated."

"And? So... But...?" she persisted.

"I er...I have a son Mom."

There was silence on the end of the phone and he hoped to god that she hadn't fainted or worse, had a heart attack.

"Mom? Mom? Are you okay?"

"You know, for a minute there Jonathon I could have sworn you said you had a son?"

"I did Mom. I didn't know about him myself until a couple of days ago," he declared defensively.

There was an awkward silence before her voice came over somewhat hesitantly.

"Is Sam the mother?"

"What? No. And it's not like that Mom. Sam and I, well...like I said it wasn't. I didn't know about this one until recently, and he's not a baby. Well not exactly." He knew precisely what his mother would think after that statement.

Another pregnant pause ensued before he felt compelled to make things a little clearer.

"It happened a long time ago Mom. Before Sam and I actually got together."

"I see. What happened to his mother?" she asked carefully, she didn't want to push him away by being prudish about it, not when he had kept his word to them and phoned them on a regular basis now.

"She died. And before you say anything, she never told me. Not a word!"

"Are you okay with him?"

"Yeah Mom, he's a great kid. Mind, I've only had him a couple a days so far."

"How old is he? What's his name?" Jack could hear she was happier now she knew something of the truth about him.

"He's four, coming up for five I guess, and she named him after me; poor kid."

More silence followed, but after a while of waiting, he apologised.

"Sorry," he sighed when he realised how that sounded.

"Are you gonna bring him up to meet us?"

"If you want me to," he replied casually. He didn't want to push it, but they were the kid's natural grandparents, even if he was half alien.

"Jonathon, he's our grandson. Why wouldn't we want to meet him?"

Jack smiled. He should have known better.

And she knew better than to question him over the phone. She could wait until they arrived there.

"So when do you want us there?" he asked, happier now that she seemed to be taking to the idea quite well. He'd need her advice on what to do with him. It had been a long time since Charlie was a small child and a lot of things had changed over the years. She would know what to buy for the best what with all her grandchildren and all. He certainly didn't want to ask Sara, that would be like rubbing salt into the wound; adding insult to injury. He couldn't do that to her.

"When can you leave?"

"I'll see if we can get a flight for tomorrow okay? But it'll only be for a couple of days this time. Maybe Christmas we can come up for a few weeks."

"What about your work Jonathon?"

"I'm gonna retire Mom. I've been thinking about it for a while now, and now I have someone who needs me..."

"And Sam?" she interrupted, wanting to know where she came into his plans.

"I'm not sure she wants this. I'd like for `us' to be together but I don't know any more. She seems kinda cool about the whole thing. I'm gotta give her time to think about it."

"I'm sorry dear," she sighed, knowing what they had meant to each other, and how hard he would be taking her apparent withdrawal.

"It's okay Mom. I have Junior to think about now." He hoped to god that Sam would come to realise that he still loved her and wanted to be with her too. He wasn't going to shut her out, just because he'd gained a son; how could she think that?

"Wanna say `Hi' to him?" Jack asked when the boy sidled up to him and hugged his leg.

He crouched down and held the phone to Jon's ear, the other arm holding him close.

"Say `Hi' to your grandma! That's it," he encouraged, as Jon held the phone up as Jack had shown him. "Just say `Hello Grandma', into that, and listen here."

Jon Junior did as he was told and dutifully said `Hello Grandma'.

The voice from the other end of the line made him pull the phone away from his ear; his eyes wide open with wonder as was his mouth.

Jack laughed and took the phone back, hugging the boy close, but letting him listen in to the conversation.

"Jonathon? You there?"

"We're here Mom. Junior's just a little shy of the phone."

"Ahh...!" she began but was interrupted by Jon's voice could be heard wafting down the line to her.

"What's a Grandma?" he asked in all innocence, and Jack recalled that Laira had no family other than Garan, and that `grandparents' were referred to by another name on Edora. He smiled at his son and rubbed a hand through the boy's hair.

"Grandma is my Mom," he explained patiently.

"Oh? You have a Mommy too?"

Jack grinned and he could practically hear his Mom grinning as well; he could certainly imagine her smiling at the boy's innocence.

"Uh huh! And a Daddy too. Hopefully we're gonna go visit them tomorrow. Okay?"

"We are?"

"Yep. On an airplane. You remember from the TV?"

Jon Junior nodded enthusiastically again. He was learning so many new things. This Earth was so much more exciting than his old home had been.

"We'll see you soon Mom," he said resuming his conversation with her while Junior went back to his drawing. Love to everyone. Say `Hi' to Dad for me."

"Of course I will. Goodbye dear. Take care; both of you."

"We will. Love you Mom. Bye!"

He clicked the off button and delved in the drawer for the phone number of the travel company so that he could book a flight to Minneapolis.

**********

They were lucky. There were only two seats left available on the flight to Minneapolis, leaving first thing in the morning, so Jack packed a few things ready. He phoned Walter to let the SGC know where he was going in case of any dire emergency, then he rang Daniel to let him know and asked him to tell Sam that they would be back by Friday night.

Jonathon Junior was full of curiosity normal for a young child but he was doubly so as nearly everything was new to him. By the end of the day Jack was worn out. Not so much because he'd had to keep up with his son, but because his patience was worn thin with all the questions he was being asked.

Making sure that Jon was tucked up in bed fast asleep, Jack staggered to bed, telling himself that he was retiring to bed early purely because they had an early flight instead of his sheer fatigue that told him in no uncertain terms that his body definitely wasn't up to having a lively four year old running around. A vague idea that perhaps he should put the boy up for adoption before he became too attached to him and vice-versa came to him, but he dismissed the idea without a second thought; there was no way he could do that. The boy was his and he was already `attached' to him.

There were no nightmares during the night for which Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

They had a quick breakfast of toast and juice; coffee for him, and then finally after locking up the house, they left for the airport in time to book in for their flight.

Jon Junior sat in the window seat, with his new toy dog and `Berra' firmly clutched in his hands. Jack sat beside him, smiling at the nervous excitement on the boy's face. For a moment the boy looked scared during the take off when the engines roared and the plane tilted, so Jack held his free hand firmly, offering comfort and reassurance; but as soon as they levelled off and Jack released his seat belt, Jon was kneeling up and ogling the view below; hardly able to believe they were flying high above the ground. For all his tiredness last night and his nagging headache from all those questions, Jack couldn't help feel that it was worth every minute, and every headache, just to be here right now with his son. Tamping down his emotions, he began to answer even more "What's this/that Daddy?" questions from his inquisitive offspring. After all Jack could hardly blame him for wanting to know.

They were met at the airport by John and Melissa who couldn't wait to see their new grandson. Jack was carrying Jon Junior in his arms as well as the holdall he'd packed. They weren't staying long so he didn't think they'd need that much. Besides, if he knew his mother as well as he did, she would be off on a shopping spree as soon as she'd measured Jon's size.

"Jonathon!" the cry came from his mother when she spotted them. She was waving to them as they approached.

Jack greeted them warmly but they only had eyes for his young son.

"Jon, this is your Grandma and Grandpa," Jack said gently, introducing them all. "Mom, Dad, this is my son, Jonathon Charles; or Jon or Junior, whatever."

"Oh Jonathon he's a little darling," Melissa cooed making Jack's eyes roll, but the action hid the tell-tale moisture behind them that meant he was pleased they appeared to like him. He was sure the questions would come later when the boy was asleep.

Jonathon O'Neill Junior was shy at first, but when he'd realised they were Jack's family he smiled and stuck his hand out towards his Grandpa who looked startled by the gesture but took it anyway.

"Fair Day Grandpa!" he said earnestly, making Jack smirk at his father's shocked reaction.

John looked at the boy in amazement then at Jack, who gently reminded his son of the proper way to greet his folks.

"We say `Hi Grandpa' or `Hello Grandpa'. People around here don't say `Fair Day' like they did back home."

"Hush! Leave the boy alone Jonathon," Melissa chided with a playful tap on Jack's arm. "I think it sounds wonderful!" she crooned gently, leaning over to place a soft kiss on Jon Junior's cheek, and then on Jack's. "He's just being a proper little gentleman aren't you sweetie."

Jon Junior grinned then kissed her back, feeling quite at home with his beaming Grandma, although he was still a little chary of his Grandpa.

John took the bag and led the way to the car. Jack was pleased to see that they had borrowed his sister's old car-seat for the ride, and strapped his son into it, in the back, then settled himself into the seat alongside him.

Jon was agog as the sprawling metropolis that was Minneapolis as they approached the downtown area. His eyes were wide and glued to the towering buildings that lined the main route and cast long shadows over the people rushing about the streets in their everyday activities.

Jack couldn't help but smile as Junior's eyes widened further when they crossed over the mighty Mississippi river on the Hennepin Avenue Suspension bridge to head north. His gaze lighting up at the sight of the barges and boats plying the waters below. Jack noticed that his mother kept giving the boy strange looks in the mirror, as was his father. They couldn't believe that he was so nave as to the nature of the big city.

It was obvious to them the boy had seen nothing in his short life so far that were like the wonders he was witnessing on this journey. It didn't unduly worry Jack as both his parents knew better than to ask too many questions and understood he might not be able to tell them anything anyway.

Before long they were pulling up at the house and Jack carefully lifted the now sleepy boy out of his seat. The house looked just the same; like any other along the quiet street, but it was home. Jack hadn't been here since he'd brought Sam up to meet the family nearly three years ago. They'd frequented the cabin, but hadn't stopped off to see anyone; time being limited, and every available spare moment he'd spent with Sam had been sacrosanct.

Jack waited for his Mom to unlock the door and entered the house after her, leaving his Dad to bring in the bag.

"I've put a cot for him in your old room Jonathon. I thought he'd be more comfortable in with you, it being a strange house and all."

"That's fine Mom. I think I'll put him down on the bed for a while, he's been awake a long time, and it's been a pretty hectic day for him." And the rest, Jack thought as he mounted the stairs; Junior growing heavy in his arms as he gave into sleep.

"Bless him. I'll put the coffee on. Are you hungry?"

"Whadda you think Mom?"

"I'll take that as a `yes' then. Good, because I've got your favourite steaks in the fridge. Baked potato of fries?"

"Baked, for me and Junior." Jack's soft voice trailed off as he entered the bedroom, bland now of all his hard won trophies from when he was a child, it appeared just as any other non-descript room. There were still a few photos of him on the walls, mostly from school. There was the one of him with his hockey team, the day they won the PeeWee State Tournament; another of him with a couple of friends after a Little League baseball practice.

Jack carefully laid his burden down and sat on the edge of his old bed, waiting to see if the boy settled after taking his jacket and shoes off. He then covered him up with the brightly coloured throw and settled the toys by his side, tucking Berra under his arm. Jack reached out and smoothed the hair from his face, keeping his hand there for a moment as once again the full realisation that this was his son began to sink in. Back home in Colorado, it didn't feel real, but this, here in his old room where Charlie had stayed, it did.

"You've taken to the boy already I see," his father stated softly from the doorway with a smile, making Jack start.

Jack almost jerked his hand away, but stopped himself through sheer willpower. This was his son; so what if he showed a little affection to him. It was the most natural thing in the world. He could do that. He already knew that he loved the boy, and was pretty sure the kid loved him back in his own way. It was just gonna take time in getting used to the change in his life from now on.

"Yeah, I guess I have," he answered smiling indulgently at the sleeping figure.

John dumped the bag onto the floor and stood next to Jack, his hand resting on his shoulder.

"He's a fine looking boy Jonathon."

"Takes after his mother," Jack sighed, scrubbing a hand through his unruly hair.

John patted the sagging shoulder and turned back towards the door.

"Come down when you're ready son. We'll keep the coffee hot."

"Yeah sure. Be down in a minute. I just want to make sure he's settled."

Jack sat and watched for another few minutes, then slipped his own Jacket off his shoulders and laid it across the bed before going downstairs to join his parents and to face the inquisition that he knew would be waiting for him.

He slipped into the chair at the kitchen table and accepted the cup of coffee gratefully. The coffee at the airport had tasted like aviator fuel and worse than even the commissary could dish up, so a decent cup was to be relished. Maybe he should bring Daniel up here; he was sure the man would enjoy his Mom's brew. He picked up one of the home-made chocolate chip cookies from the plate in the middle of the table and munched happily on it, but he could almost feel the questioning vibes coming from his folks, though they at least seemed to be waiting until he'd finished his drink.

"Mmmmm! I'd forgotten how good these tasted Mom," he said through the crumbs filling his mouth.

"I thought young Jonathon might like them."

Jack shrugged though it puzzled him mother. He looked up and caught the frown. The time had come, and he swallowed the last of his coffee, washing away the remaining fragments from his mouth.

"He's never had them before?" she asked incredulously.

"I doubt it very much. He's...er...been used to a different diet, mostly veggies and cereals."

Melissa gasped with surprise and anticipating the long awaited information, she pulled out a chair and sat down ready to hear Jacks' explanation.

"I can't tell you much about him; that's all classified information."

"Did you love her?"

Jack sighed, he knew they'd ask that but he was unable to say exactly how he had really felt at the time. He stared unseeing into his empty cup as he pondered his thoughts. Maybe if he'd stayed on Edora he might have loved her in the end. It was hard to say because he was still missing home and Sam in particular. He wanted to settle there, but a huge part of him still believed he would go home; that she would find a way to come for him. In the end he was torn in two. Laira's kind of love was tangible whereas Sam's was hidden beneath the regulations. He had to settle for one or the other. When his team found him he'd asked her to come to Earth with him but Laira wouldn't leave, and he couldn't stay. End of story. Now perhaps, because of the boy, he had lost Sam too.

"In a way I guess I did," he answered finally.

"But not enough to..."

"It wasn't by my choice Dad," he snapped almost angrily. "Sorry," he apologised, realising he'd been too terse with him. "I was...stranded there for just over three months. I didn't expect to come home. I liked her a lot. I guess if I'd stayed, then..."

"And he'd definitely yours?"

"Yeah," he said with a tight smile. "He's mine alright. That was one of the first tests that we carried out."

"And his mother? Why didn't she come home with you?"

Again they had to wait for Jack to control his chaotic thoughts before they received an answer.

"She didn't want to leave, and now...? Now she's dead. All because some really nasty guys came along one day and wiped the whole village out. All for nothing. And by some cosmic intervention or miracle if that's what you wanna call it, Junior was the only survivor, and now he's mine."

"Fate has a funny way of dealing with us sometimes Jonathon. Maybe this is God's will for you; to make up for losing Charlie. God works in a mysterious way son," John reminded him of his Catholic upbringing.

"Yeah maybe. But I've been given another chance, and I'm not about to blow it this time. When I get back I'm gonna hand in my notice. I intend to retire."

"So he's not American by birth?"

Jack swallowed, but kept his eyes on the plate of cookies, although he wasn't seeing them. He shook his head. It couldn't be any further from the truth.

"No, but I can't tell you any more than that," he sighed regretfully, he just wished he could, but they didn't have the full clearance. "Suffice it to say he knows nothing about the way we live. He'd never seen a TV before he arrived, let alone a car or anything," he stated, hoping that they would get the gist of his past without asking any more.

His mother's hand reached across the table and clasped his restive fingers, giving them a squeeze. She understood...bless her.

"I'm sure you'll do just fine by the boy Jonathon. He already thinks the world of you by the look of it."

Jack closed his other hand over hers and smiled.

"That's all I want Mom. Well, that and..." he paused, waving a vague hand in the air whilst sucking in a huge breath. Pulling out of her grip he slumping against the back of the chair, but he didn't have to finish his sentence because his Mother understood.

"I'm sure Sam will come round soon dear. This is a big thing for her to discover that you have a child by another woman. Just give her time Jonathon. If she truly loves you she'll overlook the past and concentrate on the future."

Jack finally looked up and smiled, comforted by her words. He could always rely on her to boost his flagging spirits. He just wished he'd had the common sense to talk to her after Charlie died; maybe it would have saved a whole heap of heartache all round.

"Thanks Mom."

"So you didn't know about him, all this time?" John asked, wondering how the boy's mother could have kept such a thing from him; but then if she wasn't living in this country, then Jack couldn't possibly have known about him.

"Nope!" he replied succinctly.

"MOMMA!"

The scream startled them all from their seats and Jack took the stairs two at a time. He took hold of Jon and sat on the edge of his bed hugging and rocking the distressed boy.

Melissa entered too and sat down beside her son, her fingers gently brushing away her grandson's tears.

Jonathon Junior gulped and sniffed back the glut of mucus then hiccupped.

"Shhh!" Jack lulled the boy whilst stroking his hair back. "I'm here."

"Does he often cry out for her in his sleep?"

"Sometimes, mostly when he remembers the horrors of that day."

"It must have been awful for him."

"Yeah. We reckon he saw everything. He hasn't spoken about it though. That'll come later I guess."

"He saw her killed?"

Jack nodded, kissing the top of Junior's head.

Melissa held her arms out to him and after a little encouragement from Jack, he moved across and curled up on her lap, her arms wrapping snugly round him, while she cooed and rocked soothingly.

Jack smiled, knowing that the boy was accepting his family as well as him as his father. Jack picked up the discarded Berra and managed to get a small smile from his son who immediately took the toy in a hug at the same time his thumb found its way into his mouth.

"Hungry?" Jack asked, receiving a wider grin round the digit as well as a nod. "Then let's go get something to eat. Is that dinner ready yet Mom?"

Melissa laughed and handed the boy back before disappearing out of the door. "Oh saints preserve us! I almost forgot. It should be about ready," she called back over her shoulder as she descended the stairs.

Jack took Jon to the bathroom and washed his hands and face before flicking the wayward hairs back into some semblance of order, making his father laugh.

"What?" Jack asked perplexed.

"He gets that from you!"

"What?"

"The hair. Your mother tried all sorts of things to get your hair to lay flat and nothing ever worked."

Jack shrugged, but secretly he was pleased the boy had inherited something other than his eyes from him.

"Yeah, poor kid. Seeing as I got it from you in the first place," he grinned.

John laughed.

"You're right there son. My mother tried her best too, but failed. Of course I didn't go grey `til I was much older..." he grinned cheekily, causing Jack to deny it vehemently.

"Hey, you always said it us kids that turned you grey."

"That's my excuse. What's yours?"

"Daniel!" he snapped off quickly. "The man doesn't know the meaning of following orders and he's a linguist for cryin' out loud. You'd think he'd know better than anyone."

"So we're even then?"

Jack grinned and sniffed the air appreciatively.

"Yep! Come on kid, I think dinner will be ready in a minute, and we do not keep your Grandma waiting while she's serving up. She's one mean lady with the frying pan."

"Jonathon! You'll frighten the boy!"

Jack laughed and helped his son negotiate the stairs.

For once Berra sat discarded on the bed while its owner ate a hearty dinner.

TBC

Jackfic Fiction Archive Story

Junior - part 1

by Lingren