Author's Note: Sorry about the wait...school's been really busy. Also, thank you to my beta reader Karen, you're a huge help!

Thor's Hammer: Life

"I'm heading home."

Jack looked up to see Daniel in civilian clothes, the younger man was visibly, if not mentally exhausted. Dark circles were clear under his eyes, his usually bright blue eyes were dulled with the stress of what he'd been through.

"But Daniel, it's only six," the Colonel teased, trying to keep the mood light and up beat, but quickly saw it wasn't going to be that way, the look on Daniel's face was wrought with the emotions he was feeling. "Are you okay?" He asked seriously.

"Yeah, I'm just going to take Ryan home, the little guy hasn't slept in his own crib for a while," he said, the baby had snuggled into the crock of his shoulder, gnawing on one of his knuckles as his father held him against his body one handed, Daniel on the other hand fiddled nervously at the zipper of his jacket nervously with his free hand, his eyes fixed on his shoes.

Jack turned with his chair to face Daniel, seeing the archaeologist needed to unload. "Do you want to talk about… the mission?"

"It's just weird," he muttered, glancing down at his son, Ryan gave a yawn, his little hand still half in his mouth. "His mother is out there," he looked back to Jack. "I don't want him to grow up with out her. I want her back so much," his voice faded, as he choked back his emotions. "I destroyed the only chance we may have had to save her, to get her back. I have to live with that, Jack."

"Danny, you saved Teal'c's life. You overcame your own wants and needs to save his life." Jack told him with conviction. "There are other ways to get Sha're back, I just know it. We're going to find them and we're going to save her. Then you two are going to sit back and watch Ryan and any other little Jackson's that come along grow up. You're a great father, Daniel and Ryan's a great kid. You both deserve to be happy with Sha're."

"Never knew you were so poetic." Daniel said chuckling softly.

"Um, what can I say? I spend my nights sitting in front of the fire, writing poetry or watching Titanic over and over again," he remarked with not even a hit of sarcasm that one would expect from Jack O'Neill. But after seeing the gullible look on the archaeologist's face, he let him off the hook. "I'm joking, Daniel."

"I knew that," the younger man said with an embarrassed smile, feeling a little uncomfortable. He felt Ryan grab at his shirt and glanced at his son, who needed him to be strong, who gave him strength to continue on every morning and not fall apart. He looked back up and saw Jack was waiting patiently. "I seemed to be always doing this."

"What?" His friend asked him, feeling a little guilty; he'd ordered Daniel to fire the staff weapon.

"Fall apart and spill my guts to you," he said with a halfhearted laugh. "Sometimes I just expect you to tell me to suck it up and get over it, go on with my life."

"S'okay," Jack said shrugging it off, but added. "We do seem to have a lot of 'soap opera' talks though," he grinned and stood, tonight Dr. Jackson needed his friend and they did need to talk. "I'm gonna head home too. How about I pick up some Chinese and head over to your place?"

"So, a beer-poker night?" Daniel raised his eyebrows slightly. Knowing what Jack had planed. It was obvious the Colonel was feeling a little guilty about what had happened. They both had some healing to do after this one.

"Of course my dear Dr. Jackson." Jack said as he walked over to Daniel, clapping a hand on the younger man's shoulder, leading him out the door, being careful of the baby in his arms.

"Thanks Jack." The archaeologist said softy.

"For what?" He asked as they headed for the nearest elevator.

"For not telling me to suck it up and get over it."

"Now that, Daniel, would be very soap operaish." Jack said grinning. He ruffled Daniel's hair, which was still too long. Hearing Daniel chuckle softly, he knew they were going to be all right.