Author's note: Another aspect of my fun little world. All disclaimers apply and please review!

Chapter Twenty-Six: Visiting God

Daniel watched as the words swam on the page before him and rubbed his eyes. He didn't know if he was even comprehending the sentences and the stories anymore. Daniel knew he should stop trying and just be a father for a little while, worry over his daughter and give his mind a break from trying to find something that was going to change this illness.

Daniel turned from his table, looking at Jack who was laying on the bed and running a hand through Zada's hair slow and sweet. There was such love in that motion, that simple gesture and Daniel wondered what hell was going on in Jack's mind. Jack had lost a son, Daniel couldn't let their daughter die.

"Danny," Jack whispered even as he turned to look back at his notes and the tome from Akina.

"Yeah love?" Daniel asked.

"Can you go check on the other kids? They've been quiet most of the day, hell they've been quiet for most of the week."

Daniel nodded and stood up, wobbling after staying still for too long. He stumbled over to the side of the bed and kissed Zada on the head, loving the feel of her warmth and that silky soft black hair that he brushed out and braided at least once a day so it wouldn't look ratty, Zada was such a girl and she worried about things like that.

Then he shifted and Jack leaned up a little, even as his hand stilled across Zada's head and their lips met in a gentle kiss that Daniel wished could go on forever. Jack's lips were soft and gentle, finding himself focusing on the gentle melding of their mouths before he pulled back, "Thanks Colonel Jack," Daniel whispered.

He nodded, "I know you baby and I know you're fading. Take some time, we have other children that aren't sick and they deserve our attention too. I will come see them when you are done."

Daniel gave Jack another peck of a kiss and wandered into the living room and found Zale reading from a large book of myths Daniel had been working on recreating from memory. Myths and legends had been bedtime stories to his children most of their lives. Claire and Janet were laying on their bellies, listening to their brother. Johnny was sitting next to Zale, pointing at random letters or words and sometimes pictures but not understanding the transition from written language to spoken language. Zale was so loving and patient with his sisters and brother that Daniel just smiled and watched for a few minutes before he joined them. Zale handed him the book and Daniel gladly took over reading the story. Johnny curled into Daniel's lap and Daniel just spoke for a while before they finished the story and he watched them watch him.

"Is Zada okay?" Claire asked quietly.

Daniel nodded, "She's just tired of being sick." He listened to them giggle and smiled gently, leaning down to kiss Johnny on the head. Through the contact Daniel could feel his son's contentment at being held and the low level of fear because they were in the same building as Greer and he knew it. Johnny didn't really understand that Zada was sick enough to be quarantined but he did understand the fear he felt from Greer for whatever reason.

"Is Papa okay?" Janet asked.

"Of course baby, just worried about Zada and she doesn't want to be left alone right now otherwise he'd be here with you too. We don't know what is making Zada sick and we don't want you guys to get sick too."

"What about you and Papa, won't you get sick?" Claire asked, sometimes far to smart for her own good.

"We aren't the same as you guys, you all have magic and we don't. We have no way to contract the sickness, you could."

The twins nodded, understanding as they always did. Daniel was always impressed with the clarity of thought and speed of learning processes in all their children. Johnny stayed curled in his lap for quite some time, Claire and Janet leaned into his sides and Zale curled next to Claire's side and wrapped his arm around his little sister's shoulders. They sat like that for a while; finding comfort in each other but it couldn't last forever.

There was a knock on the door and Daniel detached from the little ones, shifting Johnny close to Zale before he walked over to the door and opened it only to reveal someone he'd never seen before. He wanted to slam the door shut, to protect his children if need be but this was the castle and they were mostly safe under its roof.

"Can I help you?" he asked, giving the almost emaciated looking man a once over. He had tired light blue eyes that were white around the edges and his hair was grey and slicked back from his face.

"I am Zeque, I have come to take the tome of the Magis Gods from you."

Daniel frowned, "Umm no. Why should I trust you with its worth? I have been entrusted with it from the Queen and you are just standing outside my door. Come back with some proof of what you say and I will consider it."

"I am a God, do not question me human!" Zeque returned and Daniel's eyebrow raised in amazement. He often wondered if Akina and William were exaggerating when they said Zara and Zak spoke to them with that haughty arrogance that seemed to come so easily to the Magis but now he didn't have to wonder, there was one in front of him.

So Daniel did what Jack would do, he closed the door in the shocked creatures face then turned the lock so he wouldn't be able to just follow Daniel if he wanted to do so. He turned and smiled at the confused lot of children in the living room before he headed to the bedroom, all of a sudden feeling the exhaustion nipping at his heels. He climbed into the bed in front of Zada and Jack woke quickly.

Daniel smiled, "Wanna go see your babies? They miss you."

"Yeah I do," Jack grinned in return. He shuffled away from Zada and climbed out of the bed, coming around the end to kiss Daniel on the forehead and Daniel just let it all go as Jack walked to the door.

Before Jack left completely he mumbled to his lover, "Don't let the Magis God into the room without some proof of who he is, goes by the name of Zeque."

"Okay," Jack responded sounding completely confused by Daniel's words but the younger man was losing consciousness quickly thanks to one too many days, burning at both ends with little to no sleep.

He faded only hearing Zada say, "I love you Daddy."

"Love you too baby," Daniel responded in a fading whisper.