Reversal of Fortune: Part 6
By Gemsong
General Hammond put SG-1 on stand down for the next couple weeks, giving the team the time to work on getting Jack settled outside the complex. Keeping him cooped up in the VIP lounge really wasn't working, and the environment just wasn't the place for a young boy to stay. It had only been two days since Jack's transformation, and he was already complaining in the manner of a child, which is to say he was being a whiny brat. There had to take be another option, and he had tasked SG-1 to find it.
Daniel had thought first about his two-bedroom apartment, but quickly decided that wasn't a viable option. The second bedroom had long ago been converted into his office, and there just wasn't an easy way to change it back into a bedroom. Besides, Jack's house simply had more room. There were two bedrooms, as well as a den that could be converted into an office quite easily. Daniel had spent so much time living with Jack on and off over the years, he was equally comfortable there as his was in his own place. Plus, he hoped that the familiarity of the home house would help Jack adjust.
Daniel took over the master bedroom, while Sam and Janet re-did the Jack's guest room spare into something more child-friendly. Based on his recent behavior Jack was a child in many ways. Occasionally though Daniel would catch an expression on Jack's face that was anything like a child's. It was enough to keep him from fully accepting that the situation was what it appeared to be. He was sure there was more going on with Jack than what Jack let others see. He just hadn't caught Jack out yet.
The next few days were a whirl of activity. Teal'c helped Daniel move his possessions into Jack's house, along with most of his library. Doing so would allow him to continue to work on the ongoing projects he had that wouldn't just wait for Jack's situation to resolve itself. Luckily there was more than enough room in Jack's larger home to accommodate his things without having it seeming crowded.
To keep Jack out from underfoot while Teal'c and Daniel were working Sam and Janet took Jack on a shopping trip for new clothing, along with other essentials. The two sets of clothes that Janet had given him desperately needed to be replaced.
Surprisingly it didn't go as smoothly as either woman would have hoped. In the clothing department, Jack was very firm about what he would or would not wear. Jack's English had improved, but his use of the word 'no' and the phrase 'not want' came out repeatedly. Jeans and khakis were accepted without protest, but shirts, sweaters and jackets that even remotely fit the word 'cute' were immediately rejected without a second thought.
There were exceptions, of course. His preferences hinted back to things that had been his tastes and favorite pastimes as an adult. While the 'Simpsons' shirts were quickly rejected, the 'Simpsons' pajamas were a must have. Just like the kid-sized hockey and baseball shirts. He had to have those too. Jack also shamelessly used the big-eyed puppy dog expression he was quickly becoming adept with to get the flannel shirts that had caught his eye.
Once the bulk of the shopping was completed Jack willingly let the two women select other essential things for him, from underwear to a kid-sized toothbrush and comb. Autumn was approaching, so they also stocked him up on winter wear.
By the end of the day all three were exhausted. They made their way to the parking lot, Sam maneuvered their purchases to Jack's SUV while Janet settled Jack into the car seat. Jack apparently had decided to trust Janet enough to put his arms around her neck and put his head on her shoulder and had fallen asleep. He barely awoke as he was transferred to the back seat, falling immediately back to asleep once he was buckled in.
Once When the SUV was loaded Sam slid behind the wheel as Janet joined her on the passenger side, securing her seat belt as she settled in.
"When we find a way to return the colonel to normal there is going to be some serious payback," Sam said, starting the vehicle and pulling out of the parking lot.
Janet chuckled. "Thank god for a Target close by," she said. "Imagine if we took him to the mall."
"I would rather not think about that, thank you very much," Sam said. "I think Daniel and Teal'c can have that pleasure." Janet laughed again, glancing at the boy asleep in the back seat.
"Cassie wasn't this difficult the first time we took her shopping," Janet said as Sam pulled out of the parking lot.
"Cassie was older and a girl," Sam said. "She didn't start out opinionated about what she wore. She just evolved that way later."
Janet chuckled again. Apparently even at age five, Jack O'Neill was already opinionated. If he had been like this the first time around, it was Janet's opinion that his parents had been saints in allowing him to reach adulthood. In the back seat the object of their attentions slept on, his two fingers stuck in his mouth, making him look innocent and adorable. Just like any child his age who was sleeping. , Thus thus bringing to mind the old adage "Looks can be deceiving."
By the time they had returned to Jack's house, Daniel had finished moving in into the house, as well as dealing with nosey neighbors the had shown up to see what was going on. So far the cover story they had concocted was holding up. Daniel had told them that Colonel O'Neill was away on a long-term mission, and Daniel and his son were house- sitting while he was gone. Some of the neighbors recognized him from one of the numerous times he had stayed over, which explained his presence. Explaining Jack brought the cover story for his dark haired son now came into play. His obvious discomfort in telling the story was attributed to grief over the loss of his wife. Grief that, in truth, was only partially an act. Daniel couldn't help but think that if he and Share had a child together, that child would be about Jack's age.
Daniel heard the SUV pull into the driveway, so he and went out to meet them. Seeing Jack asleep in the back brought a grin to his face. He opened the door and began to lift Jack from the seat. As he did the little boy woke up and wound his arms around his neck, letting Daniel carry him inside.
As they were bringing in the packages Teal'c returned. He had left to do some grocery shopping, since the contents of Jack's cupboards were pretty much non-existent, with Janet referring to the fridge as a penicillin factory gone mad before she'd attacked it with cleansers. You could eat off its surface now. Apparently, from the contents of the trash they'd taken out when they first got there, Jack ate a lot of take-out when he wasn't on base, even though they all knew he could cook, and cook well.
Teal'c brought in the first load of groceries, making several trips before he'd brought them all in. Daniel, meanwhile, began the task of putting everything away. As most of the shelves and cupboards were empty he found it simple to use the same system here as he did at home. Immediately it made him feel more at homecomfortable as the groceries were put away.
Meanwhile Janet and Sam were finishing finished setting up the spare room, putting away clothing and hanging the posters that Jack had begged for up on the walls. Hockey, Star Wars and the Simpsons were the subjects of the posters that soon adorned all four walls.
Jack had awakened when he was brought inside, and had initially been watching the ladies set up his room. He'd grown tired of that quickly, and went looking for Daniel. Once he found him in the kitchen, he moved to his side, wrapping his arms around Daniel's right leg, almost tripping the man in the process. After spending the afternoon with Sam and Janet he wanted Daniel now, and became very clingy.
"I will complete this task, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c offered. M moving into the kitchen. "I believe O'Neill requires your attention."
"Thanks Teal'c," Daniel said. He took Jack by the hand and led him to the living room. Sitting Jack on the couch, he kneeled down until they were eye to eye.
"Jack, what's wrong?" he asked, reaching out to pull the boy's fingers from his mouth. As he did he noticed that Jack had sucked on them so much during the course of the day they were starting to look a little bit water logged.
Jack's eyes dropped down. "This… my house when big?" he asked slowly.
Daniel nodded. "That's right. This is your house," he said. "I will be staying with you so you won't be alone."
"Sam and Teal'c?"
"They'll come and visit, I promise," Daniel said keeping a positive note in his tone.
"Janet?"
"I'm sure she'll come to visit to and to check on you," Daniel said with a slight smile. A scowl crossed Jack's face.
"No needles," the child said firmly.
Daniel couldn't help but smile. "I'll make sure to tell her that," he said. "Do you want to see your room now? I'm sure Sam and Janet are almost done."
Jack nodded his head and let Daniel take him by the hand. He followed him up the stairs to the spare room, which was across from the master bedroom. All of his clothes had been folded and put in the drawers of the bureau. The posters had been pinned to the wall, but the room still looked a little plain. It was obvious that, while set up for a child, no child actually lived here yet. Daniel made a mental note to see what he could do about that when time permitted. Provided of course they don't find a cure for Jack's condition first.
Jack released his hand and ran to Sam and Janet, throwing his arms around first Janet's waist and then Sam's in a tight hug.
"Thank you, Janet!" he crowed. "Thank you Sam!" He then ran to the single bed and jumped up on it, then began bouncing up and down.
"Jack, don't jump on the bed," Daniel said automatically, stepping forward and snatching him up literally out of the air.
Jack giggled and threw his arms around his neck. "Love Daniel!" he crowed.
Daniel blinked, startled. He saw the same expression mirrored on Janet and Sam's face. His arms tightened slightly around the small body that was wrapped around him. Jack had never said those words to Daniel aloud, but he had shown him in so many small ways, Daniel always knew without being told.
But hearing those words in the childish voice was like a kick in the stomach he hadn't expected. "I love you too Jack," he said softly, resting his cheek against the soft hair.
TBC