K...this is..ummm...kind of a spin off of 'Spacemonkey'. We where gonna post this as part of it, but after somebody saying about the story following on, this seemed an opportunity to get this up (`cause its been knocking around forever) and see what you peeps think and whether you'd like more. (We always have more, obviously!) and it's kinda left hanging, so we wont leave it there, but see what you think. Enjoy I hope, all feedback appreciated be it good bad or downright ugly!!. Hugs xox
Soon it would be Christmas Eve, so SG-1 was on stand down and everyone was getting ready for the oncoming festivities. Carter was off to her brother's place and Teal'c, although he didn't celebrate the holiday, took the chance to visit his own family in the land of light.
As for Jack, his parents had called, as they always did in this time of the year in the hopes that he would join in the festivities with them and that he wouldn't spend the holidays alone in his house with only his gloomy thoughts and tragic memories to keep him company.
But Jack would always disappoint them, refusing the invitation, claiming there wasn't ,much left to celebrate anymore. Christmas was for children, he'd say, to watch their happy faces aglow as they opened up their presents, for families, a time for coming together and having a wonderful time with each other, and he no longer had a family; his son was dead and his wife, unable to forget the tragedy that had befallen unto their lives, was also lost to him. So Jack hadn't seen the point in celebrating anymore. He'd preferred to numb his mind as much as possible with as much booze as he could swallow here at home and hopefully survive the holidays with as minimum of pain rather than spend it at his parents' who'd probably go out of their way trying to make everything seem as normal and cheerful as possible. And that was the last thing he'd wanted. Until now.
Now things had changed. Jack was aware Daniel wasn't a big Christmas fan himself. He'd been orphaned at a very young age and had spent most of his childhood being tossed from foster home to foster home and Jack would bet dollars to donuts he'd never had a true Christmas in his life. His early childhood had been spent in Egypt and Daniel had once told him although his parents had explained the holiday to him they'd never made such a big fuss about it as they did here in America, so Christmas hadn't meant that much to him at the time either.
Jack felt it was high time Daniel had a real Christmas, with a real tree and a big Christmas table full of all those Yuletide delicacies, but more importantly, full of people who cared about him, and Jack was bound and determined to make that happen. So with these thoughts in mind he'd accepted the invitation this time, much to his parents' delight.
Daniel wasn't Charlie, Jack knew that, no one would ever be able to take his son's place or take away the pain his death had left in its wake. Nothing could ever replace the deep, bottomless void in his heart and although that abyssal emptiness would never be completely filled, it somehow felt smaller now. Daniel had managed to worm his way into his heart and in doing so had taken some of the intense pain away. Charlie's empty place would always be there and the pain would never truly leave, but Jack now realized there was a new special place in his heart, right next to Charlie's. And that place had a name, Daniel's name. The deep, tender feelings of affection he had for his wayward, trouble prone archaeologist were far greater than that of simple friendship.
Jack wouldn't let Daniel spend his first Christmas back on Earth alone with his nose stuck in a book or something equally as depressing. He'd get him to relax and enjoy himself even if it killed him. No more translations or incessant research for at least a few days. That should be another rule; no work on Christmas or days off.
While discussing the stay, Jack's mom had oooo'ed and ahhhh'ed about his up and coming visit that he'd agreed too. Jack cringed a little, he loved his mom with all his heart, but she could be a little overbearing sometimes.
"Jon, honey, I'll make sure I make all your favorite treats. Blueberry pie, chocolate cake and we'll get some fruit loops especially for you," Martha O'Neill gushed.
Jack rolled his eyes.
"Jonathon! I know you're rolling your eyes! I may not have seen you for a good few months, but I know when you're rolling your eyes at me!"
Jack's eyes went wide as he pulled the handset quickly from his ear and stared at it, eyebrows raised and shaking his head. How in God's name did she do that? It surely had to be a mother thing?
Cautiously putting the ear piece back, Jack listened for a second before butting in on another accusation from his beloved parent.
"Moooom," he drawled out, "I was not rolling my eyes!"
"Honey, you can't get a lie past good old mom. Now is there anything else I need to know?" The smile in Martha's voice was clear to hear down the phone line and it made Jack smile too.
"Well," Jack paused and cast a fleeting look at his archaeologist still buried in work from the mountain in the living room, "I have a little surprise for you, but you'll have to wait till I get there…Oh, and make pecan and chocolate cookies too, my surprise loves them."
Jack grinned at the first break in the conversation since he'd taken the call earlier. For once, it appeared his mom was speechless.
"You have a girlfriend, Jon?" she ventured, carefully a few seconds later.
"Nope," Jack shook his head cheerfully, feeling pleased there where some things his mom obviously couldn't sense from hundreds of miles away. "You'll have to wait and see, but we'll need the other spare room too, okay?"
All went quiet before Jack heard a distant whistle from the ear piece and a crackling. His mothers obvious disgust at having the phone removed from her grasp was also clearly audible.
"Oh, John…you always do that…hang on…take the phone then…" The sounds of muffled conversation and creaking plastic greeted Jack's ear. It was good to hear his parents and they're usual banter. It bought back good memories.
"Jack? Are you there? It's your father. How's things, son?" Jack's dads low tones growled over the handset, inducing an involuntary grin in the younger O'Neill.
"Hey, Dad. Yup, every thing's cool. Just making the arrangements with mom for Christmas,are you okay?"
"I'm great son, we're both fine…. Sooo, I hear you're bringing along a surprise for us too?"
Jack couldn't help the laugh that escaped him, "Something like that, yeah," he nodded.
Jack's father was a tall man, like himself, but was much more heavily set around the shoulders and chest. He was actually two inches taller that Jack, something that Jack had remembered had always induced a certain amount of respect towards his father and had the same effect even now.
John had always been an active man, having been in the air force himself, before Jack was born. He'd then continued to do pilot training when he'd taken the option to leave. John O'Neill hadn't wanted to drag a family around when he'd had other options. This had meant Jack had been able to have a steady upbringing in Minnesota and be a regular kid. All the things that Daniel had never been able to be. He was still amazed that Daniel had come out as such a kind individual.
"So your not gonna let your ole` dad in on the secret then, son?"
Jack laughed this time, "Nope, It's a surprise." Jack chirped, hearing his fathers own soft laugh. "Right, I have to go and get thing's packed, else we won't get to you. Tell mom we'll be there tomorrow afternoon, assuming the flights are on time."
"Okay, son. I understand, I'll let her know. Have a safe journey and mom's blowing kisses,see you tomorrow and just for the record, mom can't wait ."
Jack smiled and couldn't help the soft laugh that filtered down the phone. He recieved the same reply from his father as the older man finally made to hang up, "Bye, son."
"Bye, dad."
And with that, Jack returned the phone to the cradle and shook his head. Daniel wouldn't know what had hit him when his mom got hold of him. She was such a worrier. As far as she was concerned, boys never grew up and that in itself had been a hurdle to get over even up to the present day.
Jack had been a very typical all American boy. He loved sports and had played hockey, football, baseball and anything else he could get into. If boys were into it, Jack was along for the ride. The colonel smiled, he'd put his mom and dad through a fair bit of worry over the years. Jack was sure his mom having someone more troublesome than himself to worry over would give Jack a break from her sometimes incessant concern. But he loved her for it all the same.
Drawing himself from his wild remembrances, Jack went into the living room. There was Daniel, completely oblivious to his surroundings, nose buried in a book and laptop opened right in front of him.
"Hey, Danny! Guess what?" He called with all the enthusiasm he could muster, but the kid didn't even acknowledge his presence.
"Oh… Danny?" He sing-songed.
Still nothing.
He frowned and knelt at the other side of the table, in front of the engrossed young man, leaned over and examined the book cover carefully. What could possibly be so captivating?
Jack snorted. "Archaeological systematic's and the study of cultural process." He shuddered and turned his attention back to his friend. "Hey, Danny. Got a minute, have something to tell you." This time he got an absent minded grunt in response. It was like talking to a brick wall here. No, correction, he'd had more successful conversations with walls of any material than with Daniel in one of his overly focused moods. He rolled his eyes and snatched the book from Daniel's hands.
"Hey!" Now he had his linguist's full attention. Jack resisted the urge to laugh at the look of pure outrage on the young man's face and immediately pasted an innocent look on his own weathered features.
"What?"
Daniel paused slightly as his eyes bore into Jack's before he spoke again, slowly, as if he were speaking to a very young child with learning difficulties. "That book there." Daniel pointed at the volume in Jack's hands, "I was reading that book, Jack."
"Oh, but I think you'll find what I have to say far more interesting." Jack smiled beguilingly.
"Oh, I don't think so." Daniel held out his hand and gestured with his fingers towards his hardback.
"Are you implying that reading some old dusty book is more interesting than holding a conversation with your nice, kind-hearted old pal?"
"Well, I really hate to be the one to break this to you, Jack, but your conversations are often dominated by hockey games or beer brands and none of said topics of conversation hold my interest in the slightest way so, yeah. You could say that."
Jack backed away a few paces, eyes wide with dismay and held his right hand flat on his chest. "Daniel, you've hurt my feelings."
Daniel rolled his eyes, "Yeah, right, whatever, Jack."
"But seeing as how apart from being a very kind, nice Colonel I'm also a very forgiving, un-resentful man, I'll tell you the great news anyway," Jack informed him jovially.
Daniel huffed and leaned forward on the couch, resting his right elbow on his knee and propping his head in his hand while gesturing for Jack to go on with his left. "Okay, Jack. Go on, tell me what's so interesting that couldn't wait till I was done." Daniel conceded finally.
"Oh, if you insist," came the bright return.
Daniel closed his eyes and heaved a monumental sigh. "It's not like I have a choice anyway."
Jack ignored him and added. "How about a trip to Minnesota?"
"If you're implying we spend the next two weeks fishing at your cabin then—"
"Not my cabin this time." Jack shook his head, a big smile spreading on his face.
"Oh?" Daniel made a circular motion with his hand, urging Jack to go on.
"My parents just called to invite us over for the Christmas and New Year celebrations." Jack regarded Daniel with a wide smile on his face. "So? What do you think?"
Daniel went quiet for a while, with a pensive look on his face and something else Jack couldn't quite place until he finally said, "That's okay, Jack. I'm sure you must miss your parents terribly so go on, don't worry about me, I have loads of work to do anyway."
Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did the kid truly believe he'd go and leave him alone during Christmas? "Us, Daniel. They invited us. That means you and me. The both of us."
"I know what you said, Jack, but I know you haven't seen your parents for a while and I thought maybe you'd like to spend some time alone with them. I don't mind, really. I've spend Christmas on my own before, it's no big deal. I'm used to it by now. So go ahead, don't worry about me." Daniel nodded his head to emphasize his words.
Jack shook his and frowned. "You're not intruding for crying out loud! Do you truly think I'd leave you here alone, Daniel? That I'd just get up and leave you here so you can bury yourself alive in your translations, books, rocks and who knows what else during our down time? 'Cos that's so not happening, kiddo." Jack wagged a finger under Daniel's nose to make his point. "And especially not during Christmas. I know you, Danny. If left to your own devices you'd probably never leave your office. Sometimes I fear you'll end up merging with those books of yours one of these days." Jack smiled with deep, fatherly affection at the young man who was now gazing up at him with wide, bespectacled eyes.
"And don't try to deny it. I know that's exactly what you were planning to do." Jack smirked at his obviously dumbfounded archaeologist. "You're coming with, Danny. Period." Jack declared as he handed the book back to Daniel and gave a light, gentle squeeze to the back of Daniel's neck in the process, just before plopping down on the couch next to him.
"Unless, of course, you have other plans already?"
"Oh, uh… no, just." Daniel made to gesture to his laptop and books all scattered over the low table before him but then apparently thought better of it, that would've been admitting Jack had actually been right in his assumption that Daniel had been planning to spend the next few weeks working. "Urr… Not really. No." Daniel opted to just shake his head in the end.
Jack smiled knowingly, then clapped him warmly on the back. "Then it's off to casa O'Neill with us."
Getting to his feet, the older man made for the stairs, throwing over his shoulder and grinning as he went. "C'mon, Danny. We better start packing right away, don't wanna keep grandma waiting."
Daniel smiled at Jack's retreating back and proceeded to turn off his laptop.
.
oOo
Daniel tried for the third time now to concentrate on the page before him. He'd been reading and re-reading the same paragraph what seemed like a thousand times already and still couldn't make any sense of it. He couldn't shake the nervous tension that had fallen over him. He'd been truly happy and thrilled when Jack had insisted that he go with him to visit his parents. Jack had never talked about his parents much, only that they lived somewhere in Minnesota and that he hadn't seen them a great deal since Charlie's death. He never said why.
So he'd been more than a little surprised when Jack had said he would be paying them a visit for the duration of the holidays and that he wanted him to come too. But the elation and shock had been subdued by this now intense anxiety and he couldn't understand why. It wasn't like this was any different from what he did on a daily basis. Meeting new people was part of his job and he'd never felt this way before on a mission in which fitting in and making friends with the natives was essential.
He just couldn't help the worry that had settled in his gut. What if Jack's parents didn't like him? He was so scared he wouldn't be able to fit in with the older mans family and end up being the intruder, the unwanted stranger. What if he screwed everything up for Jack? He gazed out the round, thick window at the diminutive buildings below, the clouds and the deep blue surrounding them trying to take his mind off his worrying thoughts.
"Penny for your thoughts."
"What?" Daniel turned to Jack in bewilderment.
"You looked miles away over there."
"Just thinking."
"What about?" Jack asked, but a flight attendant rescued Daniel from having to answer as she offered him something to drink.
"Coffee, tea or water."
Jack shook his head, politely refusing the offer. Daniel on the other hand leaned forward and raised his hand slightly to get her attention and asked for a black coffee. The young woman smiled brightly at him and moved on promising to bring the coffee soon. Daniel for his part; turned back around and pretended to read his book.
He saw Jack regarding him critically for a while, and for a moment feared he would resume his questioning. Daniel could always say he hadn't been thinking about anything in particular. Pretend there was nothing wrong and try to side track Jack's conversation thread to the extent he forgot what they'd been initially talking about, but Jack had a way to drag the truth out of him in ways no one else could, so he decided that silence was maybe the best option right now.
Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw Jack roll his eyes and go back to watching the movie playing on the back of the seat in front of him. He was inwardly relieved, the last thing he wanted was for Jack to find out how terribly nervous he was about meeting his 'Grandparents' as Jack liked to put it. He feigned annoyance when Jack referred to them that way, but the truth was, he was secretly pleased by the idea.
He'd never had grandparents, not really, his own grandfather having refused to have anything to do with him and literally turning his back on him when his parents died. He swallowed the thick lump that instantly formed in his throat at the memory. After all these years, Nick's rejection still hurt. It hurt more than he cared to admit, even to himself. So whenever Jack referred to his parents as his grandparents, even if it was only meant as a joke, Daniel couldn't help the spark of hope that started burning inside him.
But right along with that hope resided a deep-rooted fear, fear that he would somehow mess up and it would all be lost to him. Despite Jack's assurances that he'd never stop caring and that he would always be there for him Daniel's fears would sometimes be back full force when he least expected it.
Years of broken promises and crushed expectations tended to result in serious distrust and years of being bounced back and forth from family to family were hard to forget. Some of those families had actually been good, others not so good, but most of them just couldn't care less and those who did care, although having good intentions, just didn't know how to handle the traumatized, troubled child. And in some of those good homes, he'd often heard such promises and assurances; that he wasn't alone and that they would be there for him, but in the end, they all ended up turning their backs on him. So he was helpless when the old anxiety hit him now.
Jack would probably laugh it off and tell him that was nonsense, that he had nothing to worry about and he would probably be right, but he couldn't help how he felt. Years of torturous rejection had seen to that.
~oOo~
Jack frowned and looked at his quiet friend; he knew there was something wrong; he just hadn't managed to entice it out of him yet.
Flashing a look over his shoulder, Jack spotted Daniel fiddling with the mp3 player he'd purchased a few weeks before. He absently wondered what kind of music his young friend listened to on it and shuddered. Nope it would definitely be something old and meaningful and he so wasn't going to go there.
Sweeping the inane rambling thoughts aside, Jack returned to contemplating his charges current mood, there was definitely a lost concerned look in Daniel's eyes that Jack had come to recognize over the last 5 months. Distance was all relative when you where exploring past regrets in your mind…and Daniel looked a million miles away, having hardly spoke a word for the whole journey.
Turning back to the job in hand, Jack grasped the cases, idly wondering if Daniel had packed some of his beloved rocks in his, it weighed a ton.
"Daniel, case," Jack shouted a little louder than necessary, making Daniel jump a little stumbling forward as he fought to retrieve his hands that where now deeply sunk into his pants pockets.
"Jack?" The archaeologist pulled his earphone out and frowned.
"Your case, Daniel."
"Oh." The younger man took the handle, pulling his luggage up beside him and then moved to put his earphones back in.
Jack batted his hand away and sighed, frowning slightly.
"Hey!" came the complaint, all be it feebly.
"Come on, Danny; talk to me…what's bugging you?"
Daniel's shoulders slumped as they started to make there way to the arrivals hall, "I'm fine, Jack."
The colonel shook his head, "Daniel, how many kinds of stupid do you think I am, exactly?"
Daniel's head popped up and he managed to look affronted by the accusation, " I-I didn't…I don't, I'm fine, honest."
'And hear come's the puppy dog eyes' grumbled Jack internally as he spotted the well practiced wide eyed look being turned upon him full force.
As they passed through the swinging doors to the final exit, Jack placed a hand on his friends arm and fixed him with his 'I'm deadly serious' stare. "Talk to me, Danny."
"Jonathon?"
Jack's head popped up and so did Daniel's as he drew a breath ready to speak.
"Jonathon! It is you! Come `ere son!"
Before either man could collect themselves, Jack was bowled into by a small, dumpy woman, around sixty five years old with almost white hair, the smallest amount of fairer hair still visible near her temples. Her face was lined with laughter, exaggerated around her still vivid blue eyes and soft features. It was clear she would have been a very beautiful woman in her day and she still had a certain elegance about her, even now, with her hair swept back in a curled bun and pierced with dancing, colorful butterfly pins.
Jack grunted, still smiling as his mum squeezed the air out of him.
"You've lost weight honey," Martha fussed, casting an appraising eye up and down her son, smiling before turning to look at a very stunned Daniel.
"Mom, this is Daniel," Announced Jack happily as he attempted to straighten out his jacket.
"Daniel, what a beautiful name and what wonderful eyes", she cooed. Jack felt sure she'd pinch her friend's cheeks at any moment.
Jack spotted Daniel mentally prepare himself for his meet and greet routine before offering his hand and plastering a friendly smile on his face, "Mrs. O'Neill, how nice to meet you."
Jack's mom's eyes twinkled, she was smitten already. Jack mentally tallied up his first adoptive success. His mom always needed someone to fuss over and Daniel was the perfect target.
"Danny, honey, call me Martha. There's no need to be formal." With that, Martha threaded her arms through both men's arms and proudly walked towards the exit. "You two boys need feeding and a nap before this evening, we have company coming over."
Jack's brow crinkled; company? He managed a quick sideways glance at Daniel who was gracing Jack with his patented shoulder shrug and raised eyebrows before being dragged along in the older woman's wake.
~0o0~
At the sliding doors, Daniel spotted a tall well muscled man with brown hair generously peppered with grey throughout. He was taller than Jack and definitely bigger built than him, but there was no mistaking the family resemblance. The handsome features, deep brown eyes and weathered skin. It had to be Jack's dad.
"Jack," the greeting was warm and deep and Daniel noticed the fond smile that crept across Jack's face as he broke away from his mom and and grasped his father in a one armed hug patting his back enthusiatically.
"Dad," he smiled as he placed his face against the older mans shoulder being held close for meaningful seconds before being released and two very similar pairs of brown eyes meeting and conveying fondness.
Daniel watched, feeling a sort of envy for what his friend had here. It was quite unexpected to Daniel, but it was the only way he could describe the resulting in ability to look straight at his friend.
As he turned away, casting a fleeting look at the Starbucks not far from the exit, he was about to turn back and suggest he may just pop over there while they had there family reunion when he felt the arm still linked with his own and remembered he was still firmly attached to Mrs. O'Neill.
"Jack, Mr and Mrs O'Neill, I was just going to go and grab a coffee while you get reaquainted, if thats okay," he offered shyly.
As he made to remove his arm from the older womans grasp, a hand clamped onto his bicep quite firmly making him nearly jump. Daniel looked quickly and noticed all eyes where on him and Jack was half smiling and shaking his head very slightly as he met Daniel's line of vision.
"No Daniel, thats not necerssary. Your more than welcome here and I won't let you spend money on that overpriced rubbish. I have perfectly good coffee at home." Martha admonished, her blue eyes twinkling and making Daniel pull back very slighty.
Daniel managed another quick look at Jack who was now looking distinctly smug. The woman was as fierce as anyone he'd ever met and this was her gentle side?
Martha had obviously taken in Daniel's guilty look and now rapidly flitting eyes as he sought anywhere, but her face to look at.
"Did Jonathon make you think we'd want to be alone?" she accused more gently.
Crap, why would she think that? Daniel tried to form words as he noted Jack's face drop and a small eye roll as he now sort out the floor himself. Before the younger man could get anything out, but stumbled syllables, Martha had turned on her son and was wagging a finger under his nose.
"Jonathon, don't ro;ll your eyes at me and why would Daniel think we wouldn't want him around when we met here?" she scolded in a very motherly tone.
Jack raised his hands in surrender and took a step back, "I didn't, I wouldn't, It's just Danny mom, you'll get used to him, honest."
"Martha, lets go home love, these boys have had a busy day," interveened John, placing a hand on his wifes shoulder and smiling like he hadn't heard any of the strange exchange of words that was going on.
She glanced at her husband and smiled before looking back at Jack, "Okay, but you did roll your eyes. I might be old, but I'm not senile."
With that she turned back to Daniel who was still a little taken a back. Daniel plastered a smile on his face when he sore the older woman greet him in the same way, "Honest, Mrs. O'Neill, I was just trying to be polite."
"Yes, yes," she smiled, "but when Jon's bought friends home before, he's got up to some of the most feindesh of things. We have to look after you my dear," she offered patting hs forearm."
"Mom, is it okay if I introduce Dad to to Daniel, before you demonsrate any other strange O'Neill traits?" Jack reached for Daniel's arm to tug him nearer as Martha cuffed the back of Jack's head.
"Mom!" he hissed rubbing at the spot vigerously.
"I'm still your mother, Jonathon," Martha smiled gleefully.
"And don't I know it," mumbled Jack as he succinctly dodged the next swipe, grinning at his long suffering parent.
"Okay," continued Jack as he straightened out, "This is Dad, Dad this is Daniel."
Daniel reached forward to shake the older O'Neill's hand, but was completely caught off balance when Jack's father tugged him into a stong one armed hug and patted his back vigerousy.
"Nice to meet you, son. Just call me John," he smiled sincerely on releasing the slightly flustered Daniel.
Daniel nodded, "I will, nice to meet you...John."
Daniel smiled, nodded and pulled away. Staraightening his self out he glanced at `everyone as he was hurried through the door with promises of hot lunch in the near future. Jack grabbed the cases seing that his mom had towed Daniel away without his and was expecting her son to be the perfect host.
Daniel was overwhelmed by Jack's parents welcome, making him smile internally. It really had made him feel wanted here...
~0o0~
Sitting in the back of the large old car, seats plush, deep with leather smell of wood, varnish and leather wax was overpowering. Daniel had smiled when he'd seen the maroon station wagon, still looking as good as it must have done, even before he was born.
Everyone had been bunddled in and now Daniel sat looking thoughtfully out of the back window.
Martha O'Neill was a very brash character, just like her son. She obviously cared enough to reassure him that he was very welcome, even in the more intermet family situations. Daniel smiled and flicked to the next song he liked, Johnny Cash...one of his favourites.
##
"Daniel."
He barely heard his name muttered, his mind had switched off and the gentle pitch and roll of the old suspension was starting to lull him to sleep.
Doserly he glanced at Jack, his head having slumped against the window of the old car, "What?"
Jack pointed at the earphones, his brow creasing, in turn making Daniel sigh and pop them out as he rubbed sleep from his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose where his glasses had pressed into his skin.
"Tell me what's up." Jack nearly mouthed, obviously trying not to draw the attention of his parents, who seemed a million miles away in the big old automobile.
"I'm fine," offered Daniel absently, really not wanting to get into this conversation now.
Jack frowned and tapped Daniel's leg when he made to turn away again, "Your sooo not, Danny," Jack warned
Daniel rolled his eyes, "Okay, okay...I'll tell you when we get there, ok? It's nothing really."
Jack frowned and opened his mouth, but Martha was hanging over the seat now, "Is Jack bothering you, honey? He's such a tease, it's a wonder he has as many friends as he does." Martha playfully chastised, her blue eyes twinkling.
"Mom!" whined his friend.
Daniel couldn't help laughing, Jack did the hard-done-by-son routine so well.
~o0o~
The house was beautiful and Daniel looked around with a constant grin on his face. The bags had been bought in by Jack, of course, at Martha's insistence. They'd been given coffee and then shoed from the kitchen so that lunch preperations could be completed. Jack's father had retired to a good book, coffee and the living room while Jack opted to show Daniel around.
"Your'e very luck, Jack. What a lovely place to be bought up in."
Jack smiled and patted Daniel's back. "Yeah, I `spose I am."
As they made there way up the stairs, Daniel looked at the room he was to stay in, it had a tiny flowers on the wallpaper and flowery throws, a whicker chair and matching bedside table with plain white washed pine dresser and matching bed. It was homely, how Daniel expected Grandparents houses to be. Pictures of children, black and white and colored lined the walls and a background scent of aging furniture lingered in the rooms mixed with lavender. Very calming, mused Daniel.
From the window the distant shore of Lake Superior was visible and very few houses where close by, it was so calm. Daniel loved it.
For some reason though, Jack seemed rather ill at ease with showing Daniel his own bedroom, "Come on Jack, whats the matter?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"So why won't you let me see?"
"`Cause it's just a bedroom, Daniel."
"But youv'e seen everything I have to do with what family I had..." Daniel paused as he felt the emptinees in his chest creeping up on him, "...I just want to know about you and your's."
Jack shook his head, he must have known what that had cost Daniel to say out loud, "Oh-for-cryin'-out-loud! Come on then." Jack ushered the younger man into the room.
As the door swung open, Daniel's mouth gapped, "Wow," he muttered.
Jack stood holding the door, watching as his friend looked at all of his old things, "It's a tomb Daniel, mom and dad have never changed anything from when i left to join the academy and I've never had the time to do anything either."
"It's all your old stuff, Jack." Daniel looked around in aw. Posters of aircraft older than himself, banners from school, old football, hockey and baseball helmets on top of the cupboards. Photographs of high school kids, books, loads of comics of all sorts, neatly piled up on the shelves. Models of planes, a childs telescope at the window. It was truelly amazing.
Jack wandered in and sat on the old hockey bedspread, "And mum still insists in putting the same damn sheets on the bed too," he grumbled patting the bed without thinking.
Daniel sat with him and looked at his friend, "I think it's great, I'd loved to have this to go...home too."
Un beknown to Daniel, a tear had started coursing down his cheek and Jack had reached forward and gently swiped it away.
"So what's really up, kiddo?" enquired Jack with a small smile on his face.
Daniel crumpled his face up, he felt stupid, "I feel an idiot for thinking it, Jack."
"What?" the older man encouraged.
"Well, I had a grandfather once...h-he didn't want me." Daniel's gaze dropped away to the floor as he nearly whispered the confession.
Jack looked staggered and grabbed Daniel's chin as gently as he could, tugging the still downcast head in his direction. "Say again, Danny?"
"When my p-parent's died, he wouldn't take me...I-I kind of get it, Jack, he was busy...a kid in tow, too much work..." Daniel trailed off as more tears trickled unchecked down his face.
Jack's face crunched up and he looked at the floor himself now before looking back, "Daniel, this isn't your Grandfather, this is my mom and dad and I know they'll love you as much as I do."
Jack's face was as open and as honest as Daniel had ever seen and in an odd way it comforted him.
"But what if they don't like me, Jack? I-I could'nt...you know...do it again..."
Jack's face was now fixed and he firmly took his friends arm, "Daniel, look at me will ya."
Daniel heard the insistence and managed to lull himself out of his temporary internal hell.
"Danny, they love you already and that love will grow. This is my closest family and they have never rejected any of my friends." Jack squeezed to emphasize his words.
Daniel smiled and nodded, still not meeting Jack's eye.
"And since your more than a friend to me, more like my kid, they'll definately love ya!" Jack assured grinning now.
Daniel's heart melted, he'd never heard Jack say that. Somethings don't always seem real until you hear them said out loud. He couldn't speak. But then he didn't have too.
"Jonathon, Daniel, lunch is ready." The low tones of Jack's mum emited from the doorway.
They both looked up, unsure of whether their conversation had been heard and Daniel quickly swiped any tears away with his sleeve.
"Daniel, dear, you really shouldn't wipe your nose on your sleeve, it's not hygenic..."
Daniel felt his cheeks heating as he gave a rye smile, knowing it would be pointless to argue.
"...It's nice to see you boys in here, it's been a while since Jack had a friend over." Martha made her way over and ruffled Jack's hair.
'Hmmm' thought Daniel, thats where he gets it from.
Jack snorted, "Yeah, mom, only about thirty years."
Martha squinted at her son in a warning fashion that he missed as he grinned at Daniel. She tweeked his ear, "Don't be cheeky Jonathon, come along, you need to eat and rest before we have visitors."
Jack pulled a face, ducking away, but didn't audibly acknowledge his mums action.
Daniel giggled.
##
Lunch was wonderful, Jack could see that Daniel had enjoyed it, although the chocolate mouse appeared to have made it mostly around his mouth.
"Okay Jonathon, must be your turn to do the dishes." Chirpped Martha from the counter.
Jack spotted Daniel grin into his glass of juice.
"Mom?" Jack thought he may at least get one nights reprieve, although this was always his job here.
"Don't give me that wide eyed innoscent look, Jonathon, you know the drill."
Jack sighed, "Come on mom, give a guy a break," Jack almost whinned. He could see Daniel grinning like a loon at the table, not quite catching his eye.
"Jack?" John O'Neill rumbled from his now rustling paper.
"Okay, okay, i'm going," Jack huffed as he got from the table. "Who's coming this afternoon anyway mom?"
"Suprise son," she grinned, making her way to the table.
Jack could see Daniel smile shyly at Martha, he'd been discussing something rather enthusiastically with John for a few minutes. Jack had to wonder what, but he'd ask later.
"Daniel, you should really have a nap honey, we have friends coming later and you and Jack have had a busy day."
Daniel's face was an absolute picture, Jack couldnt help grinning before he went back to washing up.
"But...I.." came the stuttered reply, but Daniel was no match for Mrs O'Neil in parental mode.
"Dear, your tired, go and sleep," she coaxed kindly.
"I-I'm really not tired Martha, honestly," he batted his baby blues and smiled up from the table.
Jack was overtaken with amusement and couldn't help the snort that escaped him.
Oops!
"Jonathon!" scolded Martha and Jack shook his head.
"You both need some rest," she said being a little more animated. "Jack will be following after you, Daniel, now go get some rest."
'Oh, that was pointed,' smirked Jack, not exactly impressed about being told when to have a nap himself either, but knowing his mother better than most.
"Best thing, son," Jack heard his dad speak encouragingly, Jack's dad also knew argueing with his mom was a fools game.
"But..." Jack heard Daniel's final complaint dying on his lips and decided to step in, his mom could just be out and out scarey sometimes.
"Go on Daniel, it'll do you good," he offered
Daniel all but scowled before leaving the table, but smiling at Jack's mom and dad. Jack couldn't help smiling.
"He's a lovely boy," smiled Martha to Jack as Daniel could be heard going up the stairs.
"He is," agreed John.
Jack finished up drying the dishes and nodded, "Yup, he is."
Martha set a hand on her sons back, "So what is he to you, son?" she asked gently. His dad looked on expectantly too. Jack had to answer.
"He's a real good friend," Jack offered, focusing intently on the plate. He wasn't quite ready for this line of questioning yet, even knowing how intuitive both his parents where. He rarely got away with anything.
"Jonathon?" as he put the plate down, his mom steered him towards the wasn't getting away with this one either apparently.
"Really, mom. I should go and have that sleep." Weedled Jack while indicating towards the door with his thumb over his shoulder.
Martha, however, was still making for the table. "Son, talk to us. Daniel's a lovely boy, young too. How old is he?"
Jack sighed, damn it, he should have know better. "Oh, he's nearly thirty, I think next birthday."
Martha pushed her son into the chair and poured him another cup of coffee, "Thirty you, say?"
"I'd have hardly put him at twenty," intervened John from behind his now crumpled paper.
Jack shook his head, smiling warmly as he wrapped both hands around the warm ceramic mug. He remembered thinking exactly the same thing when he'd first met the young man too. "Nope, nearly thirty and a genius too."
Both Jack's parents heads popped up a little more on hearing that small statement.
"A genius, hur?" Jack's dads eyebrows raised slightly.
"You work with him then, Jon?" enquired Martha quietly.
Jack grinned and looked into her sparkling eyes, this woman never did miss a trick, "Yes and he's stayying with for the time being too. It's a long story and life hasn't treated him to good up until now, so he's just with me for a while."
Jack's dad nodded and smiled gently as he took his own coffee, but it appeared that this confession had thrown Martha into full blown nosey parent mode.
"Stayying with you?" she leaned forward and touched Jack's hand reassuringly, her brow wrinkled with concern.
Jack spotted the unspoken words from his mothers looks and started to shake his head and raise his own eyebrows, "Oh-for-cryin'-out-loud, I'm not gay, mom!" he sighed with exasperation.
Martha sat up a little and took air in sharply between her teeth. She didn't get a chance to chastise her son for his language, John had already stepped in.
"Jack!" he admonished firmly, "apologise to your mother."
Jack rasied his hands in defeat, but managed to prevent the eye roll that so wanted to happen, "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, mom, dad, but this is rediculous. Yes Daniel and I are close, but it's not like that..." Jack's eyes returned to the table as he searched his mind for the right words, he didn't want his parents to think that Daniel was some kind of stand in for Charlie. "He's...he's more like family to me, a very, very good friend and family," he offered more quietly.
Much to Jack's suprise, when he glanced up, both his parents were smiling warmly at him, "So we have a new grandson?" Martha asked cautiously.
Jack spotted his dad cast a glance at his wife and offer a supportive nod of his head while he still smiled at both people at the table.
Jack couldn't help the grin that crept across his own face, "I spose, yeah, in a way," he nodded.
Martha seemed to sense his un ease, her face growing more serious as her hand touched his own again, "We both miss Charlie so much my love," she muttered.
Jack was temperarily stunned into silence, they'd never spoken of the lost child. They'd been through the motions, but nobody had ever spoken of him, not to Jack anyway.
Jack felt a barrier that must have been there when the tragedy had happened crumble between him and his parents when his mom uttered those words, but with it Jack's resolve to stay strong seemed to disappear to. He felt hot tears suddenly start to course down his cheeks.
He sensed his mom and dad more than saw them make their way to his side and wrap him in a firm hug. No words were spoken as the two bodies he'd depended on all his life attempted to physically absorb his pain.
"Let it out, son," whispered his father.
As he cried without reserve in a way he hadn't done since he was a child, Jack felt the safest and most loved he had for a long time. He'd needed this, he'd always needed it, but he hadn't realized that it was his parents that could give it to him and them alone.
His body was racked with silent sobs as his mom rubbed his back and his dad just kept holding him. The pose was kept up for long minutes until Jack slowly calmed, moving enough to let his folks know he needed to get up.
They moved away and two blurred, smiling faces greeted him has Jack wiped his eyes with his hands, "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Martha dropped an arm around his neck as Jack's dad sat opposite reassuringly.
"There's nothing to be sorry for, honey. Your here now, we're all together and you have Daniel. It sounds like he needs some O'Neill TLC too, so we're here for you, Jon, okay?"
Jack nodded and brushed his hands through his hair, "Yeah," he managed a smile, "he's a handful, I need the help."
"Good," offered Martha jovially, "We want to help, that's what granny and granpa's do."
Jack couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him, "And he thought you might not like him, typical Danny," Jack shook his head as he met his fathers grinning gaze.
"Well," he rumbled, "We'll just have to convince him otherwise then, won't we dear."
Jack got stiffly to his feet, "Thanks, mom, dad. I think I'll get that rest now, as much as I don't want to admit your right," Jack smiled.
Martha shook her head and placed a hand in the middle of Jack's back, "You should always do as your mother tells you, you should know that by now," she laughed, "Now shoo, I'll call when we're ready."
"Yes, mom," he sighed playfully as he finally climbed the stairs.
~o0o~
Reaching the top of the stairs, Jack placed a hand on his bedroom door before deciding that he might just check on Daniel. He certainly did'nt want the younger man to have overheard the conversation, only to worry about it with out telling him.
Gently palming the door open, Jack noted the half light caused by drawn curtains and what could only be described as Daniel's gentle, allergy induced, snoring. Taking a step closer to the bed, Jack could see the young man tightly curled, the comforter drawn to his ears and his hair partially covering his soft features.
He smiled and was half tempted to stroke the hair back away from his friends brow, but thought better of it. He was sleeping soundly and that was the main thing.
Feeling emotionally spent himself, Jack turned and stealthally left the room returning to his own.
Dropping heavily onto the bed, Jack sighed and rubbed his face again, trying to push away some of the memories this house induced. Charlie had loved his dads old room, much as Daniel had, but for different reasons and the boy had often slept in here when he stayyed on summer holidays and family visits. If anything, this place held more remnants of Jack's old life than anywhere else on earth because his mom didn't do change. She liked to be able to touch and smell things that had been, the happy and the sad. Jack always presumed it gave her tangable proof of what had been instead of just distant reflections when somebody jolted your memory. He kind of understood it now, he'd been happy here as a kid, he'd been happy here with his family, but he'd never shared his grief here.
He sighed and absently picked up a color photograph of him and his dad at little league, smiling. He ran a thumb over the image before setting it back on the night stand. And so all things must come to pass, he thought, he could never cut people out of an equation that had worked for so many years and it was fairly apparent trying to do that had'nt protected them, he knew that now. But at least he had Daniel to help them through, somebody else to focus on, 'yes,' thought Jack, 'bringing him here was a very good thing.'
And with that he swung his legs onto the bed, gently punched the pillow and before closing his eyes and drifting into a restful sleep.
~o0o~
Daniel awoke with a start, two piercing blue eyes were looking at him as he rolled onto his back, forgetting where he was.
"You okay, honey?" came the soothing words.
Daniel's brain struggled for a few seconds as he blinked, trying desperately to recal where he was and why the hell he was in bed?
Ah...Jack's mom.
He smiled, streched and stiffled a yawn, "Yeah, thanks."
"You were sleeping pretty well there. Jack wanted to come and wake you, but knowing my son so well, I decided it would be kinder on you if I had the pleasure." The woman continued to smile as she placed a mug of coffee on the nightstand.
Daniel nodded, rubbed his face and itched back on the bed, "Thank's Martha, that smells good."
She leaned forward and absently brushed Daniels bangs back, "It'll help to wake you. Come down when your ready, we're in the kitchen."
Daniel nodded as he dunked his nose in the steaming cup and watched Jack's mother leave as quietly as she'd apprently entered.
The curtains were open now, the golden haze of the late afternoon sun spilling into the room. Everything looked like it had a halo of warm light around it. Comforting and homely, mused Daniel as he snuggled down a little against the head board and continued to swig the warm liqued.
Placing the mug down moments later, Daniel checked his watch. My god! He'd been asleep for over three hours. He absently wondered if he'd been drugged by the kindly woman as he hunted for a warmer pair of socks and slid his jeans back on.
Checking his t-shirt before reaching the door, Daniel grinned at Star Wars logo emblazened across his chest. Teal'c had bought him the item; apparently the Jaffa had found it highly amusing and appropriate when he'd been out shopping with Sam one day.
Daniel patted the front of it down, trying to irradicate the rogue sleep induced wrinkles before stepping out onto the landing and quickly touching his face to make sure he had actually put his glasses on and not just stuck them on top of his head.
He could hear the background noise of people speaking in the kitchen and made his way there...
Cautiosly pushing the door open, Daniel stuck his head around the side and smiled at the site that greeted him...
TBC