Wow! I can't thank you all enough for the amazing reviews to my last two chapters. I'm so glad you're all enjoying it. I didn't really have time to write today (I'm away and have to prepare a speech for tomorrow) but because of all the numerous and wonderful reviews, I'm getting out a really short chapter tonight. I will definitely get one to you (longer) tomorrow night.
Thank you all again!
"So Jack, what was so important you wanted us all to come over -"
"Shhh!" Jack interrupted Daniel, who was standing at his front door, Teal'c in tow. "Come on in", he whispered, "but be quiet."
"Okay", Daniel whispered back, a puzzled frown on his face. "Uh Jack?" he asked as they got to the living room. "Why do we have to be quiet?"
"I'll explain in a minute, after Carter gets here. You guys want a drink?"
A few minutes later the doorbell rang again and Jack hurried to answer it. As soon as the door opened he put his finger to his mouth. "Shhh Carter, be real quiet okay?"
"Okay Sir", she said softly, as puzzled as Daniel had been.
He waived her in and suddenly felt much better now that his team was here. He'd thought about calling Janet but decided that could wait. He owed these three an explanation first, then he'd talk to the Doc.
Once everyone had been served a drink he sat down and thought about how to explain everything. He sat in the chair and leaned forward, hands on his knees, facing Daniel and Teal'c, who were on the couch. Carter was seated in the chair beside his.
"I asked you here tonight -" Suddenly there was a noise, and a small, teary-eyed little boy was standing in the entrance to the living room. "Matt!" Jack stood up and walked over to the boy and squatted down. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
The little boy sniffed and slowly shook his head. He was clutching his dinosaur but looked so lost and frightened that it broke Jack's heart. "Here", he held out his arms and they were immediately full of small boy. He stood up stiffly, holding on to Matt, wishing there was something he could do for him.
The others in the room looked on in surprise, and soon in shock. Daniel had taken one look at Matt and his eyes grew big. They swiveled over to the picture on the wall of Jack, Sara and Charlie. He saw that Teal'c was looking at it as well, and then back to Jack and the little boy he held.
Teal'c and Daniel slowly looked at one another and then at Sam. If anything, her expression was even more surprised than theirs. She kept looking between the little boy and the Colonel. The similarity was obvious.
Jack finally was able to move over to the chair and sit down with Matt, who was still crying. He held him and rocked him almost as if he was a baby. The poor child needed comfort, needed someone to hold him and love him. He'd lost almost everything and Jack would have sold his soul to be able to give this child back what he'd lost. Instead, all he could do was love him.
It took a few minutes, but finally Matt fell asleep, exhausted by the changes and experiences of the day. Jack stood up slowly and made his way to the bedroom and gently laid him down. He waited to make sure he was sound asleep before returning to his teammates and friends.
As soon as he'd left the three remaining members of SG1 looked at each other.
"I did not know O'Neill had a child", Teal'c said, the first to speak.
"Uh, I didn't either Teal'c." Daniel was desperately trying to figure out how this could have happened without any of them knowing. Hell, maybe Jack hadn't even known. It could be that the mother – whoever she was – had simply shown up and told him he was a father. By the kids age it would have happened right around the time Jack lost his son though, which seemed strange.
"We don't know that that is the Colonel's son", Sam said softly. "We're jumping to conclusions."
"Sam, you saw him as clearly as I did. That kid was the spittin' image of Jack. And look at that picture of Charlie – he looks like him as well."
"Okay but maybe it's his nephew or something." She was hoping to find some explanation, although even if it was his son it really didn't matter. It's not like – they couldn't – hell, so what if he had a son? She refused to pay any attention to tightness in her chest.
"Jack was an only child", Daniel answered her.
"Sorry guys", the man in question said softly as he walked in the room. His hair was messy as if he'd been running his hands through it, which was probably the case. "I asked you all to come here so I could explain about Matt and his sisters. I thought he'd stay asleep but I guess it was too much for him today."
Sisters? Teal'c and Daniel looked at each other. Sam kept her eyes on Jack.
"Jack, what's going on? Is that your son?" Daniel wanted to know
"My son? Where'd you get that idea Daniel?" Jack asked, almost angrily. "Of course he's not my son. My son – I don't have a son, not anymore."
"I'm sorry Jack", Daniel immediately felt badly. "It's just – he looks so much like you."
"No he doesn't", the Colonel answered.
"Yes he does O'Neill", Teal'c said.
"Yes Sir, he looks just like you. We all noticed it." Sam wasn't about to point out how much he looked like Charlie, not after his comment.
"Oh." He stared at them for a moment as if he thought they were crazy. "Well, he's not. He's actually my cousin's son. His name is Matt and he's seven."
"I didn't know you had a cousin Jack." Daniel was trying to remember anything he could about Jack's family. He didn't remember his friend ever speaking about a cousin.
"Well I don't", he said heavily, "not now at any rate. She was a lot younger than me and I only saw her a few times in my life. Her name was Terry-Lyn – Terry-Lyn Benton. She and her husband were killed in a car accident last week."
"Killed? Oh Sir, I'm so sorry. So that's why that poor little boy was crying?" Sam looked at him compassionately.
"Yes", he answered softly, looking at Sam whose eyes had filled with tears. "That's the first time I've seen him cry. He's tried to be so strong for his sisters."
"I'm sorry too Jack – for you but especially for the kid." Daniel stopped a moment, his eyes remembering his own loss of so long ago. The pain never went completely away. "So, you're looking after him?" Daniel interjected.
"Them", O'Neill answered.
"Oh yeah", Daniel replied. "You said he had sisters?"
"Yes. He has two, Chloe, who's five and Ali, who's two. They're both asleep right now in my guest room."
"Oh wow Sir", Sam looked at him with respect. "That's good of you. How long will you have them?"
"For ever Carter."
There was silence in the room as his teammates absorbed what he had said. At first they were all blank-faced, but soon each wore a different expression.
Teal'c looked his usual calm self, although the brow always gave away any inner turmoil. In this instance, based on the twitching in that brow, Jack figured he was either upset, or worried.
"Jack – how – you mean you're going to keep the kids and look after them?" Daniel looked like he didn't know what to make of this whole thing. Well, thought Jack, neither did he.
"Yes Daniel, that's what I mean. Look guys", he turned to face all three of them, "I'm the only relative they have and if I don't take them they'll end up in foster homes, most likely split up. I just – I couldn't do that to them."
"No, of course you couldn't Sir", Sam said, giving him a soft smile.
Daniel was silent but then looked up, his eyes hitting O'Neill's. "No Jack – you couldn't. You did the right thing and I'll support you in any way I can."
"I will as well O'Neill. I would be proud to help you with the children."
"Thanks Danny, T – I knew I could count on you guys."
"And me Colonel", Sam said. "You know I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Thanks Carter – I had no doubt that you would. In fact, I'm going to ask you to give me a hand sooner rather than later if you don't mind."
"Of course not Sir. What would you like me to do?"
"Well, the middle child – Chloe – seems frightened of me – or at least uncomfortable around me. I thought she might find it easier to have a woman nearby. If you didn't mind, I was wondering if you could come over tomorrow and spend some time with her."
"Of course Sir, I'd be happy to." Sam smiled gently at her commanding officer, both touched and flattered that he'd ask her.
"Jack?" Daniel suddenly sat up straight and looked at the Colonel. "What about SG1? What are you going to do about gate travel and going on missions?"
Jack sighed again, knowing that this had to come up. "I don't know guys. I haven't really had time to even think about it. I just found out about the kids a few days ago and had to go to Michigan to pick them up. I'll be speaking with Hammond in a couple of days. In the meantime I'm still on downtime, and I asked Hammond for a few extra days. I'll let you know as soon as I know."
His team was quiet, each of them contemplating what it would mean if Jack weren't to return to SG1. At the same time, all of them understood the importance of what he was doing. They just really didn't want to break up the team.
They spent a while discussing the kids and what was needed to make their transition into life with Jack easier. They all offered to help, for which he was grateful, although he figured he'd keep Teal'c away for a little while. It wasn't that he was worried his friend would hurt them – no, he knew Teal'c would guard them with his life. What he was afraid of was scaring them to death. Teal'c looked pretty ferocious, even though around kids he was a pussy cat.
No, for now he'd have Carter over and then maybe Daniel. He was pretty sure they'd like Carter – he really hoped Chloe took to her.
It was almost midnight by the time the team was ready to leave. Carter said goodbye first, and told him she'd be back the next day by nine. Next Teal'c said his 'goodnights' and headed to the car. Daniel stayed back a minute to talk to Jack.
What now, sighed Jack, as he looked at his friend? He really didn't think he could take any of Danny's 'advice'.
"You did good Jack", Daniel said quietly. "Real good. Foster care is no place for children, especially when they're still grieving."
"Yeah, I know", he answered the younger man. He was so glad he'd made the decision he had.
"And Jack – they couldn't have a better guardian than you. They're lucky kids." With that Daniel turned and headed to the car.
Jack cleared his throat, unable to speak in time to say anything to Daniel. Of course, he didn't know quite what he'd say to that. Compliments made him feel uncomfortable but he knew to have answered sarcastically – always his first choice – would have been unfair to his friend. In the end he simply smiled and waved once at Daniel as he pulled out of the driveway. From his grin, he knew exactly what Jack was saying.
"I just hope you're not going to end up getting hurt Jack", Daniel said to himself as he drove away. Teal'c turned and looked at him but didn't speak. He too prayed that this would be a good decision for O'Neill.
Teal'c smiled and looked straight ahead again. Yes, O'Neill would be good for the children. Even more than that, they'd be good for O'Neill.
