Part 14

The next morning Jack woke up with a small blonde head just under his chin. Daniel had come through to his room during the night. His cast was lying on Jack's chest. Jack managed to get up without disturbing him. He'd had to give Daniel some more medicine during the night because his arm was sore.

Jack went down to the kitchen where Sean was preparing breakfast. Jack took a cup of coffee. He was just about to drink it when Daniel appeared. "Perfect timing," Sean said.

"Coffee?" Daniel asked hopefully.

"Okay," Jack said, "but with a lot of milk in it."

Daniel pouted, "You sure know how to spoil a good cup of coffee," Daniel replied.

"Won't work buddy."

"Spoilsport."

Jack was glad they were able to banter with each other again.

They all ate breakfast, "Are you sure you'll be alright?" Jack asked. "You didn't sleep very well last night."

"I'm fine Jack. My arm isn't sore this morning."

They set off soon after. Daniel asked questions the whole way. Then as they were pulling up in front of the house he asked in a small voice." Do you think she'll like me?"

"Of course she will. She likes Jack and only a grandmother could like him," Sean joked. He could see how nervous Daniel was.

"Very funny dad," he said. "She's going to love you Danny. She loves all her great grandchildren."

"Are there many of us?" he asked.

"Well," said Sean. "I have seven brothers and sisters."

"That's a lot," Daniel said.

"Mammy always wanted a large family. I'm the oldest boy but I have two older sisters."

"How many grandchildren are there?"

"35," Jack said.

"And they're all related to me?" Daniel looked stunned. In one day he'd gone from finding out he had a great granny to finding out he had loads of relatives.

"There's 60 great grandchildren and even a few great great ones." Sean looked at Daniel. "I know it's a lot to take in but you've got a year to get used to it. We'll make sure you see lots of photographs."

"I don't know what to call her."

"Well I would go with Granny, she was never too happy with me when I tried to call her by her given name," Jack said.

"Jack was going through one of his stages," Sean said winking at Daniel, "Granny soon put him right."

"I'll have you know I'm one of Granny's favourites."

"You and another 34," Sean said. "Be prepared for lots of questions."

"Now I know where you get it from," Jack said to Daniel.

The front door creaked open," Are you all going to sit out there all day? Is that Jack O'Neill I see, can't be can it. Thought you'd disappeared off the face of the earth." Daniel snorted. If she only knew how true that was. "Well bring the boy up here so I can see him."

Jack put his arm on Daniel's shoulder and led him up the steps. "This is Danny," he said.

"Jack's told me all about you. It must be very confusing for you. Bad enough to have Jack as your father when he's barely grown up himself but to have," she turned to Jack," What did you call it?"

"We call it de-aging, Granny."

"De-aging?" She looked carefully at him and drew in a deep breath," Oh my lord," she said.

Sean was up the steps quickly, "Are you alright mammy?"

"I'm fine, I've just got something to show Danny. Come in." She took Daniel's hand and led him into the living room. "Here sit with me." She patted the seat beside her. She picked up a large album.

"Not the family photos Granny," Jack said. "I want to keep some of my dignity."

"You be quiet Jack. You're not too old to get your backside paddled." Daniel giggled. He liked this old lady.

"I've brought a photo for you to put in it," he said. He handed the photo he had of Daniel as a baby. "Carter copied it on her computer."

"We'll make the tea then mammy," Sean said.

"Off you go," she said waving her hand to them.

She opened up the book. There were some very old pictures at the front. "These are my grandparents and these were my husband's grandparents. They were taken in Ireland." She pointed to one picture," That's John O'Neill, he had a farm just outside of Cork. Sean's father was born there. The family still own the farm. Sean's father was a younger brother and he came to America to make his fortune. He settled in New York, that's where I met him. I wasn't long off the boat. We married not long after. He was a handsome man my Daniel."

"Daniel?"

"Yes. He wanted to own a farm so when we had enough money we travelled to the farm Sean now owns. We worked hard and made a good living off it. We had our hardships as well." She picked up a picture of a boy of about 8 and handed it to Daniel.

"He looks like me," he said amazed.

"That's my Danny, my oldest. I saw the resemblance as soon as I saw you."

"But Sean said he was your oldest boy."

"Danny died when he was 8." She looked sad.

"I'm sorry."

"I always blamed myself, I should never have let him go to the river that day but he wanted to go with his friends. He loved swimming. There had been a flash flood further up the river, the water came tearing down carrying all sorts of debris. He and his friends were all lost." She wiped a tear away. "But this is supposed to be a happy occasion, let's not dwell on sad thoughts. I've gained a new grandson and I intend to enjoy getting to know him."

"Can I show Jack the picture?"

"Go on."

Daniel ran through to the kitchen , she could hear him explain all about Daniel. Jack came through to her. "I never knew da had an older brother," he said.

"We never really spoke about it, Sean was just a bairn of 6 months."

"He looks so like Danny."

"Took my breath away when I saw him," she said.

"I can see why."

Daniel came back through carrying a glass of lemonade and a cookie. "Can I see more, Granny? Any pictures of Jack I can take back to show my friends."

"I've got plenty of them."

"Great, we've got a notice board at work I can put them on," Daniel said mischievously.

"Oh no you don't. Granny don't you dare," Jack said.

Both of them laughed. Jack went back into the kitchen. "I get no respect, dad. "

Sean laughed.

"I am so glad that Jack brought you to see me. It's so funny that you look so like my Danny. It's as if I'm being given a second chance and this time I'm going to get it right. I don't pretend to understand what happened to you but I intend to make the most of my new great grandson." She looked over at Jack and said loudly," I shall expect lots of visits, you hear that Jack O'Neill?"

"Yes Granny."

"I mean it. I want to get to know this boy and the man he's going to become."

"You will. I'll bring him to see you Mammy. I plan on moving to Colorado Springs with Jack until Danny grows up. I'm going to look after him while Jack works."

"Good. Now have you got the tea ready?"

"Can I have coffee?" Daniel asked hopefully.

"There's juice or milk," Jack said. Daniel was like a dog with a bone when it came to coffee he thought.

"Why does everyone think I need to drink milk or juice? I've drunk coffee since I was a child."

"In this house children drink milk or juice," his granny said. "And at the moment you're a child." Daniel pouted. "That may work with your father but not me. Milk or juice?"

"Juice."

"Daniel," Jack said in warning.

"Please."

"Good boy," Daniel smiled.

"Now, let me her about all the things you've done. Daniel happily told her about all the work he'd done and how he began working with Jack. He told her about all the languages he could speak.

"My mother and fa..her husband took me to all their digs and wherever we were I picked up the language. It just seems easy to me. I love old things."

"So you'll love talking to your Granny," Jack quipped. Daniel heard a smack. "Ow! Dad that hurt."

"That's for being cheeky and teaching Danny bad habits." Daniel couldn't stop giggling.

They had a lovely lunch, his Gran told him lots of stories about her life in Ireland and things she could remember her mother telling her. While he sat and listened Jack and Sean did some work around the house for her.

Jack kept watching him. "Son, he's alright."

"I know. It's just I haven't seen him this happy since he was married to Sha're."

"Married?" Sean gasped. "When were you going to tell me?"

"He was married for about a year. His wife was taken by people called the Goa'uld. He hopes to get her back."

"I take it these are not good people to know."

"No. They're.. It's difficult to explain."

"JACK!" Daniel shouted.

"He's got a good pair of lungs," Sean said laughing.

"Thing is he's quite quiet as an adult unless he's got a point to get across or he'd talking about his history. Then he could talk the hind legs off a donkey."

"JACK," he shouted more insistently.

"I can hear you Danny as can most of the neighbours. What is it?"

"Can we stay here tonight? Granny's got lots of things still to tell me."

"No Danny we need to go back to Sean's and get ready. We're going home tomorrow."

"But you could pick me up in the morning."

"No!"

"But why?"

"I've told you why."

"You're not being fair."

"Daniel," there was a warning in the way Jack said his full name.

"Danny," his grandmother said. "There will be lots of time for me to tell you all the stories."

"But.."

"Don't argue with your father. I'll tell you what. I'll come down to see you next weekend, if Jack has space."

"We'll make room."

"Good that's settled." She looked at Daniel.

"Sorry Jack."

Jack ruffled his hair, "It's okay. I know how you get when you want something. Just try not to argue about every little thing."

"I'll try but I can't promise."

"We'll see you next weekend Gran. How will you get there?"

"I can still take the bus you know."

"Oh no you won't. I'll collect you," Sean said.

"I can..."

"Does everyone in this family have to argue?" Sean asked. "It must be inherited."

"I don't argue," Jack, Daniel and their Granny said together.

"See what I mean."

They all laughed.

Jack, Daniel and Sean drove home. Jack was going back to look for a house or a flat near to his one so that Sean could have his own place. Jack had wanted him to stay with them but he refused. "We'd drive each other mad if we stayed in the same house. When you're away I'll stay there but I want my own place as well."

"I'll start looking when I get back."

"No need, I've already started. I phoned Sam and got her to check for flats or houses and there's one for rent just down the road from us. She's made an appointment for us to see it."

"You're a quick worker," Sean said. "Thanks Danny."

Danny slept soundly that night. They were up early the next morning as Jack had a meeting at the SGC at nine.

TBC