Title: The Ties That Bind

Author: Winger-Hawk

Pairing: Jack/Sam (eventually, I think- YEAH!), Jack/other (beginning only)

Status: Complete

Archive: Um…wherever I want. Just ask, though, if you want it. I always say yes.

Disclaimer: Familiar characters aren't mine. Unfamiliar characters are. Songs and poems aren't. Google them. Plot is. And…yeah. I think that about covers it.

Author's Note: MUST READ THIS FIRST!! This is a response to Heliopolis challenge #393 where Daniel figures out he's Jack's son. I've had this idea in my head for a while, but haven't had the time to actually put it on paper. In this story I sort of manipulated the ages of the characters to match the age of their actors. For example, Richard Dean Anderson was born in 1950, therefore Jack was born in 1950, and Michael Shanks was born in 1970, therefore Daniel was born in 1970. It makes sense! Again, nothing 'bout Stargate's mine, blah, blah, blah…some of the ideas I've "borrowed" from other authors, so if you recognize it as yours, pat yourself on the back, it's brilliant! So…yeah…without further ado…

The Ties That Bind

New York City, October 1969

Jack O'Neill had absolutely no idea what compelled him to do this! This was by far the stupidest thing he had ever been talked into doing. Damn Tommy! That kid was becoming more and more of a bad influence on him. He should start hanging out with more positive influencing people...but then they were always so boring. So yeah...here he was smack dab in the middle of the Big Apple with a couple of friends, a pocket full of cash, and a camera. Oy! How'd he manage to get himself into these sorts of situations? He should be at home- working to earn his keep for his temporary apartment and trying to decide whether he wanted to go to college or join the military. But no! He let Tommy talk him into taking a "vacation" to New York City! Damn that man!

'You need it!' he says. 'It's good for you!' he says. Well he's not the one making his own damn money! I'd like to see him get a job. Then we'll see if he's willing to spend money so readily. Jack stuck his left hand in his jacket pocket while his right hand lifted his duffle bag over his shoulder.

"Jack! Hurry up, man!"

"Tommy, shut up! I never wanted to go on this stupid trip in the first place. You're the one who dragged me over here, so you'll be the one to suffer if I want to go as slow as I damn well please! And believe me, right now, because I'm in a bad mood and I'm freezing my ass off, I am really inclined to go as slow as humanly possible!" While he was talking his anger propelled him to a point where he was actually walking faster than Tommy was. Of course, being the way he was, Tommy didn't do a thing to mention that to Jack. Instead he chuckled softly and tried to keep pace with his best friend.

They met up with the others at another train station about an hour later. There were six of them altogether- Jack, Chris Braston, Rick Moran, Michael Denbar, JJ McKay, and, of course, the ringleader, Tommy Anderson.

"So, Tommy, you were the one who dragged us into this, what're we gonna do?" JJ asked him.

With that, Tommy smiled and turned around to face his five friends. "We, my friends, are going to have the time of our lives right here!" He opened his arms as they reached the exit doors of the train station, an incredible ground view of New York City before them. The morning sunshine shone off of windows in the business buildings of the city and the site was temporarily blinding.

"Wow...dramatic." Jack commented under his breath, receiving a smirk from the rest of the guys. "Now please answer the damn question!" He said out loud.

"Alright, alright, for cryin' out loud! My girlfriend and I are going to this big party somewhere 'round here and she's bringing her five lady friends with her. They all needed dates and she wouldn't come with me if they didn't have anyone to go with, so I brought you guys." Tommy shrugged.

"That is why you dragged the five of us down here?!" Chris spoke up.

"So you can set us all up on blind dates?!" Rick added.

"So your own girl would go with you to a party?!" Michael chimed in.

"Somewhere 'round here?" JJ finished for them.

"Yep, that about sums it up!" Tommy answered with a weak smile. There was an angry silence for about a few seconds until Jack broke it.

"Well! I'm catching the next train home!" He turned around and strolled back into the train station, four other guys in tow, all muttering their agreement.

"No! Guys, wait! It'll be fun, I promise!" He chased them into the station and went straight for Jack. Tommy knew if he stayed, then the other guys would soon agree to stay as well. "Jack! Come on. It's just, what? Three days! Three days and four nights, that's a Las Vegas trip."

"Yeah, well, this ain't Las Vegas!" Jack said without stopping.

"Jack," He thought a second," They're all virgins! Every single one of them!"

Jack stopped abruptly and grabbed Tommy by the hem of his shirt, "Tommy! I swear to god, if you think I'm that perverted, and that rowdy to jump into bed, then you don't know me at all!" He let go and continued his fast pace.

"I didn't mean to say that!" Tommy chased, "I didn't mean to suggest that at all! Jack, just do this, please? Do this for me? My girl and I haven't been able to get any alone time since we met. And her father won't allow her to go if her friends won't go, and her friends won't go if they don't have any dates. There! That's the whole story." Jack stopped ten feet from the ticket window and spun around to face Tommy, dropping his duffle bag on the floor with a loud bang.

"Which brings us to our first point of you using us!" He yelled.

"Ah…but I'm also presenting all of you with an opportunity!" He raised a finger and plastered a salesman's smile on his face.

"An opportunity?" JJ asked dully.

"Now, don't take this the wrong way...but what do you guys think you're gonna get back there in small town Minnesota? Huh? It's the same girls you've known since kindergarten. There's no thrill there, there's no surprise, there's no...puh-chang!" He ad-libbed, raising his hand in a melodramatic manner.

"Puh-chang?!" The five of them repeated

"You guys get my point!" He looked around. "You ever experienced a one-night stand? After a blind date? There's thrill in it! There's..." He stopped, searching for the right word.

"Puh-chang?" The five of them finished for him.

"Yeah!" He said, waving to them. "Come on, all I need you guys to do is go out with these girls for a couple of days. If you want, you can make it days and nights, or you can just make it days, it doesn't matter! I just need time alone with my girl. She and I have been goin' out for 'round five years now and we never had an opportunity like this to actually be alone. Come on, please! I'd do this for you!" He looked around at the five other faces.

Jack sighed and looked at his four other friends, getting each of their silent approval. "Fine!' He picked up his duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder again, "But you owe us."

"Cash!" JJ added.

"We want a refund of every dime we spend, rich boy!" Rick spoke up.

"As long as you guys don't cheat me on the bill." Tommy smiled.

They soon found the hotel Tommy arranged everyone to meet at, and settled in. Each of them rented their own room- a strategy devised by Jack in order to get as much money out of Tommy as "humanly possible". Within an hour, they were all settled and meeting up in the lobby. "Alright!" Tommy cried, "I told Amy to meet us here. I just called her right now, so they should be down in, like, ten, twenty minutes?"

"Who's Amy?" Michael asked.

"That's her name."

"Who? Your girl?"

"Yeah."

"Nice name." Jack commented, running a hand through his hair.

"Hey, Jack," Tommy pulled him aside, "Sorry about that thing earlier, about mentioning they were all virgins, um...it just slipped."

"No, it's fine. I understand." Jack insisted, nodding quickly. He wanted to drop the subject as soon as possible.

"No, I'm sorry, 'cause I know you get nervous talking about, you know, sex and -"

"Can we drop it?" He asked, trying to let any of the nervousness slip through his voice. He scratched the back of his neck and began looking around. Tommy, being his best friend for years, recognized the move: the man was uncomfortable.

"Yeah...sorry." He sighed and tried to redeem himself, "You'll like 'em, Jack, I swear! There's a pretty blonde one with blue eyes, who's exactly your type. You two'll get along great!" He smiled and looked towards the elevator as he heard a 'Ding!' "Look! There they are now." Jack turned around and held his breath.