Someone I've Dreamed About

Summary: Zane never really knew his birth father. His mother did an okay job of raising him, but Zane always craved to know what having a father felt like. The feelings intensified after sticking around Eureka and almost daily interaction with the Carter family. Zane viewed Jack Carter as a father that anyone could want, but he knew his own history and was not at all proud of the things he has done. Who would be proud to call him 'son' and teach him things that he never knew about?

Disclaimer: I don't own Eureka or any of the characters involved.

AN: I am really trying to keep up with my crossover fic and all my other ones, but I am drawing a bit of a blank concerning my Stargate stories. So, I've decided to stray for the time being…

I've always thought that Zane and Jack had great character interaction, and I always wanted to do a sort of father/son type thing. I don't know for sure, but this will end up having, at least, five chapters. Of course, it's going to set up for another story featuring Zane and Jack, but let us not get ahead of ourselves here. "Odd Pair Out" will see the next chapter by the end of the week.

I don't quite know where this story takes place, but let's say that, since I'm gonna need Nathan Stark, Nathan and Allison never got back together and Nathan didn't die. So, I suppose it would be Alternate Universe.

I suppose there should be a warning, so…

WARNING: Since I am sort of a Jack/Nathan fan, I suppose this story would be extreme pre-slash. As in that there may be musings about a possible pairing between them, but nothing except some barely there feelings. As it is, I suppose this would be seen as a general story, because I don't know about Jo. I really have to think about it…

But, I suppose J/N wouldn't be considered possible for quite awhile…

***

Prologue

Zane Donovan lay stretched out on the couch in his office.

Sighing, he stared at the ceiling in a depressing manner. Now, usually, Zane would be out in the small town of Eureka and possible flirting with his on/off girlfriend, Jo Lupo. Jo was out of town on a visit to her father and grandfather, both of whom needed some female influence since both Jo's mother and grandmother were out of the country for some vacation time. This left Zane feeling a little bored and jealous in turn. Not to mention guilty for feeling jealous in the first place. Why would he be jealous, you ask? Zane never knew his father. The father in question disappeared on a business trip before his mom knew she was going to be a mom. Zane always dreamed about having a father, but that always seemed to be tempered by the fact that Zane was certain that no one would see him as a son because of what he did in the past. Never mind the fact that he never seemed to fit in, not having a father to help him brush it off made it hurt worse than anyone could have thought.

"Well, there's nothing to be done," he consoled himself as he pushed himself upright. Deciding that he wanted to not be alone at the moment, Zane readied himself for the 'public' and slipped out of his office.

Walking down the hall, he also decided that he was hungry and made plans to drop by Café Diem before doing anything else. He signed out of Global Dynamics and drove to Eureka proper and finding a spot for his car.

"Hey, Zane," Zoë Carter called out as he entered the cool café. "I'll be right there."

"Take your time," he called back as he claimed a booth for himself. He leaned his head back against the wall of the booth and looked around, seeing Dr. Allison Blake talking with Dr. Douglass Fargo about something that only they could follow. Zane could also see many of Zoë's friends gathered around Dr. Henry Deacon for apparent homework help and even managed to spot Dr. Nathan Stark lurking in the far corner, who was apparently happy with his chocolate milkshake and some reports that needed his attention. The café's owner, Vincent, was mingling with a few regulars near the bar.

Zoë bounced up to him and waited for his order. Having a request for a cheeseburger with most of the works, fries, soda, and a slice of raspberry pie, the blonde moved off to put it in and Zane studied her as she went back out to talk with some of the other customers. Zoë was cute and all, but she seemed to have a more 'little sister' air than a potential love interest, never mind that Zane was already seeing Jo. Breaking off of his thoughts, he watched as Zoe greeted her father and town sheriff, Jack Carter. Yes, most of the town thought he was an average kind of guy in the American sense, but the ones that really counted thought of him as an invaluable part of the town (Allison, Fargo, Vince, a number of others), a very good boss (Jo), an awesome father (Zoe), a bit scary (Lucas, who was Zoe's boyfriend, Fargo), a loyal friend (Taggart, Henry), and a-pain-in-the-neck-who-was-always-up-for-a-good-argument-even-though-everyone-is-clearly-delusional-about-recent-fighting-turning-to-playful-flirting (Stark).

"Hey, Zane," Jack broke through Zane's playful yet thoughtful musings of the interaction between Stark and Jack. "Mind if I sit down?"

"Oh, sure."

The blond slid in and ordered his own lunch while Zane studied him. As Henry ambled over for a few minutes, the youngest male at the table thought that Jack was a very good father. 'Look at Zoe,' he thought. 'She is turning into quite the young lady and that says a bit about Jack raising her. I've often wondered if dad was like him,' he concluded morosely. Zane knew that he craved a father figure in his life, but his status as a bit of an outcast tempered his search for one in the town. He honestly didn't think that Nathan Stark was a good candidate, but Sheriff Carter was too outgoing and Zane didn't want the other man to think badly of him no matter what the feelings were like at the beginning.

"Zane?"

He looked up to see Henry and Jack staring at him. "Sorry. What was the question?"

Henry exchanged a glance with Jack, "We were wondering if you would like to go fishing with us next month?"

Zane stared at them wide eyed. "I don't know how to swim," he blurted out, but oh, how he would have loved to go!

Jack shrugged. "I could teach you before we leave."

Henry nodded. "Sure. And while you do that, I can pick some right materials for you."

"If you really don't mind," Zane stuttered. "I would have to see if I have anything to do, but I really would like to…"

"Great!" Jack clapped his hands excitedly. "Um, how about I see what's on the schedule for me and we'll start swimming lessons as soon as possible?"

"I've never… fished before… I mean, yes! Will I need to bring anything?" Zane was quite sure that he would have kicked himself if he could for sounding so childishly delighted at the thought that two of the people that he could freely admit to looking up to was asking him to accompany them in an activity that Zane never would have thought of doing. Ever.

Henry grinned, "Some swimming trunks and a towel if you like."

"Yeah, and maybe I could scare up some toys," Jack blinked thoughtfully as Henry nodded.

"You just leave everything to me," Henry clapped them both on the shoulder. Looking over his own, he noticed that his 'study group' needed his attention again. "Well, looks like I'm needed to save the day, again."

"See you, Henry," Jack bid him well and Zane echoed him with a slightly dazed smile. "So, Zane," Jack turned his attention back to the younger man. "When do you think you'd be able to start?"

"Off the top of my head?" Zane struggled to think clearly. "Next weekend?"

"Great, I'll let you know."

Zane watched Jack get up and take his leave with a jaunty wave and a happy bounce. 'What just happened here?' He wondered.

What Zane and Jack didn't know was that Nathan Stark had overheard about the plans Zane made with Henry and their erstwhile Sheriff.

"Hmm," Nathan tilted his head as Zane kept a goofy smile on his face. "Looks to me like Donovan has a bit of hero-worship for Carter." His green eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Actually, it reminds me of some of the school kids that go to school with Kevin. The ones that adore their fathers…"

Nathan had a bit of that while married to Allison. Though it was true that Nathan had once believed that they could rekindle their marriage, lately, however, he began to realize that the love they did have for each other was now that of a brother-sister kind.

He sighed and shook his head as his thoughts sidetracked into his non-existent love life. Yes, Allison wanted her ex to be happy, but Nathan wasn't really that interested in dating right now. In fact, as he watched Zane all but float out of Café Diem, he decided that what he was interested in right now was giving the social outcast a bit of a normal life. Even if that did mean interacting with Carter.

Nathan finished off his milkshake thoughtfully. "I know Zane doesn't have a father," he blinked. "But it looks like he's decided to adopt Carter. Now, how does he feel about that?" Scraping his glass as clean as possible, Nathan continued, "I hope Carter figures it out before I have to resort to desperate measures. Like turning one of them invisible or something… Well, I'll help where I can."

Even hours later, he still kept trying to convince himself that a happy scientist was one less that he had to worry about blowing something up and not that he was starting to look fondly on the scruffy scientist. Much like one would a nephew. Or something…

***

AN: Okay, I am trying to keep my notes short and to the point, but I will probably end up finishing this story first before anything else.

Hyper

August 24, 2009- Monday

Next chapter: Swimming Lessons

Review, please. I would point out the button, but, my luck, the color and position would have already changed…hmmm…