Notes: This is an older story I have going on A03. It's not complete as of yet, but since I'm adding stories that I have on AO3 I figured why not? I have to admit that I'm getting bored of putting stories up here though. This site just feels dead. Eh I'm being maudlin now. Ah- I'm on A03 as ToxicAngel13

Disclaimer: I don't own a single character that I'm using. That is all.

Warnings: This is a Slash Story. FixIt!

Pairings: Nathan/Jack, Allison/Tess, Henry/Kim, Jo/Zane

"See you around Jack." He'd never forgotten Stark's last words to him. Or the promise in his green eyes as they looked into his own. Jack didn't deserve that promise, the vow that he would be back, and he certinatly didn't deserve his name being the last thing out of Stark's mouth when the other man had been going to marry Allison that day. It should have been a message to Allison that came out of his mouth, considering it was supposed to be their wedding day. However that last minute? It made Jack make sure that someone was working on studying what had happened that day. Fargo would send him updates once a week and he would go through them, doing his own research in private.

He had to get Stark back, if only to prove himself wrong. To prove to himself that he hadn't seen what he thought in the other man's eyes and that it was only time running out that had made his name the last on Nathan's lips. He wanted to think that the other man had only been playing with him one last time, one last joke to bug the hell out of the pain in his side. Only before he could bring Nathan back to prove all of this reality changed in a big way. Allison was shocked when she was faced with a fully coherent Kevin and the group who knew about the change parted ways, promising to meet up in the morning in an attempt to give her time with her coherent son.

It was only after he had gotten home himself that he realized the change in reality was more than Kevin being coherent. He was listening to his messages, one where Tess was telling him her wife, Allison was acting weird and she was worried that something was going on with her. As he was getting over the shock that his girlfriend was married to Allison someone else came into the bunker. Zoe was supposed to be at school so he was confused until he looked up and saw Nathan watching him closely, a fond look in his eyes. The other man knew something was wrong the moment their eyes connected though and he looked worried.

"What happened?" The scientist that Jack had been in lust with at the worst and in love with at the best for longer than he would ever care to admit demanded sharply. His eyes wandered over Jack over and over again like he expected and feared the other man to be injured and hiding it. In that moment Jack knew he wouldn't be fooled by whatever he could come up with if his mouth could work. He could literally feel the effects of shock coming over him as the seconds dragged on. He didn't know what he was going to do, and it wasn't like running would help in the slightest. Allison had her hands full with her son and wife. He didn't know what Henry had come home too, and Fargo would be of no help at all considering his hero was once again alive. In the end he couldn't bring himself to make up a lie and actually say it, not with Nathan alive in front of him.

"You can't go to the DOD." Jack murmured softly, making his decision to tell the other man everything. If nothing else this involved Allison and what involved her involved their children. He wouldn't do anything to hurt them, or so Jack hoped Nathan made an impatient noise in response to his statement, moving further into the room and sitting on the couch. He was staring at Jack expectantly, his eyes glinting dangerously as Jack collected himself. The Sherriff couldn't tell if the Scientist in front of him was getting angry at him, or if something else was going on with the other man. His reactions so far were more than a little confusing to Jack.

"I wouldn't chance hurting you in that way, you know that Jack, or at least I would hope that you do. Now tell me what the hell has happened so I can help. Obviously it's something potentially dangerous and very illegal, if the first thing out of your mouth is that I can't go to the DOD. Please Jack, I need to know." He replied, his voice even, but filled with worry. Jack looked him in the eyes, wondering just what had happened between them in this timeline, before sighing. Obviously there was something going on here if Nathan was truly worried for him. But that worry could be good. It would make sure that Stark wouldn't betray them, if the Allison angle proved not to be enough to keep the other man from turning them in. God knows that they needed to get their acts together before someone who didn't have a reason to protect them found out what had happened in the last 24 hours.

"Jo, Fargo, Allison, Henry and I are not from this timeline. Something happened at the Founders Day parade that sent us back to when the town was just in it's infancy. We tried to make sure nothing changed, but obviously something did- we don't know what though. We just managed to get back to our own time, but so much has changed, so much is different. For example you've been dead for over a year in our timeline Stark. You died to save this town and telling me that you'd see me around." He replied finally, his voice thickening as he told the other man about his death. Nathan inhaled shakily at that last sentence, his face paling as his words sunk in.

"God. I'm sorry Jack." He whispered brokenly, before seeming to gather himself and looking at Jack with the same look that he remembered the other Stark giving him the day he died. A look full of regrets and promises of things to come. Jack snorted at his apology, confused more than he wanted to admit. He looked away from Nathan suddenly, because he couldn't stand having that look directed at him. Not when he remembered that Allison was here- an Allison who was the one who should be on the receiving end of that look. He could still feel Nathan looking at him, could almost feel the concern that he had glimpsed.

"Don't apologize to me Stark. You were marrying Allison again later that day, we were nothing except tense friends at the best of times. I had been working on getting you home with Fargo, since everyone was convinced you were dead and looking into the accident wasn't' high priority given everything else that was going on, though." He replied, his voice steady even though he was feeling anything but that at the moment. Stark snorted himself, making Jack look at him curiously. This didn't seem like the man that they had lost. There was something softer in the other man's body language. He wasn't as closed off, as self contained as the Stark he knew. Right now he just looked disgusted though.

"Then I was making a damned fool of myself. I've wanted you since I came to town and saw you. It's why I stuck around even though I'd have to work with my ex-wife Jack. Allison and I got divorced for a reason, and nothing can change that, I know that and I can't see subjecting myself to another round of marriage with her. I doubt the other me would have denied wanting you either, before that crosses your mind. He was a coward for not going after you though." He replied harshly, looking furious, but not at Jack. It was like he wanted to throttle his other self for what he had been about to do. Jack crossed his arms, feeling defensive of himself, and strangely enough the other Stark.

"He sure had a funny way of showing it." He replied, trying not to think about the other Stark wanting him. That would only lead to more questions, ones that didn't have an answer now that the timelnes were changed. Or so he hoped, the reminder of Stark and what happened to him made him remember his theory that Stark had been pushed out of time itself in the disaster with the clock. If that was true then he could still be out there and stuck. He pushed that horrifying thought out of his head as Nathan sighed, sounding annoyed, before looking him in the eyes.

"I remember what you were like when I first came into town Jack. He probably made the same observations I did, that you would be hard to approach, if not impossible, and decided that he didn't stand a chance with you as a result. God knows that Allie seemed like a safer route at that point, for about a second before I decided I wanted the challenge mind you. Because I'm not afraid of being shot down. I've never been. I wanted you so I pursued you. We'll take this as slow as you need to Jack, but I'm sure as hell not going to lose my husband or daughters over this." He replied, his eyes glinting as he basically challenges Jack to contradict him. Jack paused, shocked by what he had just heard.

"Husband? Daughters as in plural?" He asked, his voice cracking. He was married to Nathan in this timeline? Suddenly the way that Nathan had reacted to what had happened and his behavior made a hell of a lot of sense. Stark knew something was up because he hadn't acted like the Jack that he was married to. Nathan nodded, his eyes gentling as he took in the Sherriff's reaction to his little speech, before he showed his hand to Jack. A Celtic ring was sitting proudly on his ring finger, glinting in S.A.R.A.H's lights. Their marriage band. He was married and he didn't even get to remember it.

"Husband and Daughters as in two. One of our worst times yet happened when Allie wasn't ready to let me go right after we announced we were getting married. She crashed my bachelors party and I woke up in bed with her. She felt bad after, or so she claimed, considering that Zane admitted that he had gotten me so drunk that there was no way I had agreed to anything. She gave us custody of the result- our daughter Jenna. She still gets visitation rights- you surprisingly enough insisted on it, Jenna is there right now. I think I might have to pick her up early considering what's going on. I don't want Allison thinking she has her full time after all." He responded, his voice comfortingly soft. Jack felt sick to his stomach as he realized what Nathan was saying. He wasn't just married to Nathan in this timeline, but the daughter that Allison adored was his legally because in this world she'd only been born because Allison had seduced his drunk fiancé.

"Allison had Jenna 9 months after you died Nathan. She found out she was pregnant soon after your death. She adores Jenna. You being alive is going to hurt her, and being married to me? She's not going to like that, but finding out that she doesn't have custody of Jenna is going to kill her." He muttered, his voice a mere whisper as he realized just how much Allison had lost when they had stepped into this changed timeline. And everything that she had lost he had gained- her fiancé, her daughter. Nathan grabbed his hand, breaking him out of his dark thoughts and making him look at him. The other man looked worried at his reaction to their youngest daughter.

"I understand it's going to be a huge change for Allison, and I will explain it to her as gently a I can. But it's not just Allison I have to consider here. Jenna is old enough to know that she spends 2 days a week and 2 weekends a month with her Aunt Allison. Too much change will affect her negatively and I have to worry about our daughter's well being in all of this." He tried to sooth. Jack sighed, suddenly tired, he entangled their fingers automatically- not thinking about it. Nathan smiled at the reaction, though his eyes were still shadowed with worry. It took a couple moments for Jack to formulate his response, and push down the automatic demand to let Allison have Jenna to avoid hurting his friend. He understood Nathan's point of view and didn't want to upset Jenna in anyway. He cared for the little girl from his timeline, and she was his daughter here. That meant that no matter what he had to put her first, and Allison would have to understand that.

"We'll talk to Allison together I think, it might make it easier to swallow if she has someone to blame, and that's one job that I'm good at handling. I agree we have to keep Jenna's world as together as we can. I remember what the divorce with Abby did to Zoe, and I don't want to do that to Jenna. She's a sweet little baby girl." He finally replied, his voice showing just how tired he was. Nathan nodded, frowning at what Jack assumed was his easy acceptance of being the scapegoat in this situation. His eyes showed his relief at Jack's acceptance in not changing Jenna's world though.

"I will make sure that I put together packets for your group tonight. So they don't have to stumble around trying to figure out what's different or not and end up drawing more attention to what's happened than we need. While they're adjusting to this timeline I'll try and cover up as much of their behavior that doesn't match as I can, but they need to know that even I can't cover up all of it." Nathan suddenly murmured, his tone taking on a business like hint. Jack's fingers started playing with the ring on Nathan's finger unconsciously, memorizing the feelings of the knotted metal. It was actually soothing to tell the truth.

"Let's start now then, because I have a feeling that my behavior should match up with my doubles as much as possible. We're married and we have a infant daughter. What else do you think may be different in this timeline?" he asked after a couple of minutes. Nathan let him play with his hand, not pulling it away and his eyes caught Jack's. A grin spread across the other man's lips as he realized Jack wasn't going to leave him because of the timeline shift, and Jack had to resist second guessing himself. He didn't want to pretend that this timeline didn't exist, but a part of him was still stuck on Stark- reminding him that he had to be sure that the other man wasn't still stuck out of time. Pretending the accident in the other timeline had never happened wasn't a choice now, anymore than it had been then. He promised himself that once he had a chance he'd start his research back up- this he would have to keep from his... husband. At least initially.

"Well I know that you're not the idiot I accused you of being when I first got into town- from your little comment about having been working with Fargo I have a feeling that my double never found that out. In fact I know that you're far from being a simpleton. It started off when Zoe convinced me to dare you to take an IQ test. Only when I accepted the dare she was the one to convince you to do it. She told you it was a quiz that she'd tricked me into and she knew that you could do better. Imagine my surprise when you scored over 150. That led me to look into your past, and find your degrees. I made sure that the town knows to take your suggestions more seriously and you have access to a lab when you get the urge to tinker. You weren't too happy about being tricked, but Zoe smoothed it over. She defiantly takes more after you in IQ than her mother." He replied, his voice playful, and holding a smug undertone when he mentioned his double. Jack groaned at that, he'd been happy not being Dr. Jack Carter in this little town of scientists and genius', but having access to a lab at GD would be useful in the future. Nathan just looked amused at his reaction.

"I guess I'm lucky I don't have a permanent lab assigned to me, along with research assignments and the like." He murmured, trying to look on the bright side and ignore the urge he felt to get right back to his research. His inner scientist was taking this as a sign that he needed to take notice of the urge though. "I happen to like my job of busting the know it alls of this town when their heads get too big and they mess up. Someone has to keep an eye on them" He added with a half grin. Nathan chuckled as he spoke, bringing his hand up absent mindedly and kissing it. Jack tried not to register the feelings as Nathan froze for a second. When he didn't freak out about the kiss Nathan sighed.

"You said that when you found out what I had done with the information I had. I will admit I thought about putting you in a lab, because you are brilliant, but Zoe was sure that you'd divorce me for trapping you in the duldroms if I did." He replied, the love he felt for Zoe clear in his voice. "I did up your security clearance to the appropriate level so you could fully access GD when you needed to. You saved both mine and Henry's wife's life when it was discovered the experiment we had been running was sabotaged. You over ride the start up program and wouldn't tell us how to undo your work until we ran the appropriate scans. Then you found out who was behind it, but Dr. Barlow was killed before you found out who her bosses were when she tried killing you in retaliation for your interference. It's still an open case." He added, appreciation for the other Jack in his voice. Jack's eyes widened at his words for some reason and Nathan stilled, waiting for his response- wondering what had gone differently in his timeline. And something had gone differently judging by the fact Jack had paled now.

"Kim's alive?" He whispered in shock, his voice faint. Nathan's stomach clenched as he realized just how different Jack's timeline had been. He'd been dead, and so was Kim. Kim's death would have made Henry cold and distant and that would have affected Jack. He could tell Jack had been affected by his death, and if Henry hadn't been there for him Jack had to go through it himself, and had dealt with Allison's reaction to his death alone. Suddenly his willingness to be the scapegoat in their talk with Alison made a sick sort of sense. Whether she knew it or not she had already used Jack as an outlet for her anger, and Jack was used to it. He decided his husband wasn't going to be there for the talk then and there. If Jack wasn't going to protect himself, then he was sure as hell going to do it for him. He had experience with dealing with Allison, and he refused to think this one was much different from her double.

"Henry's going to be ecstatic. In our timeline I tried to tell them something was wrong, but I couldn't get into the lab because I didn't have the clearance and no one listened to me because all they saw was what I wanted them to. It went wrong, terribly wrong and the worst part is we didn't know why it went wrong for a long time. We didn't catch onto Barlow until after she tried something else, and even then she got away to cause more problems. You survived the explosion, but Kim died and Henry was devastated. He almost left Eureka after it and so did I. S.A.R.A.H didn't like that and she locked us all in here after tricking most of us to come. That was a interesting experience I hope not to repeat- Fargo built her on an existing A.I. which has a serious attitude problem. He almost killed us trying to make us resolve our problems." He explained, his voice lowering slightly when he talked about B.R.A.D. Nathan looked up at the ceiling, a calculating glint in his green eyes. He happened to like the A.I., but if she proved a danger to his husband and daughters he would destroy her without a second thought. He would have to look into her base program soon.

"Kim's still at work right now." He responded after a moment, before pulling out his cell phone, since he doubted whatever Jack on him would work in this timeline. He handed it to his husband. "You should call him and warn him about this particular change in the timeline before she comes home. He might have a heart attack when he sees her and I don't want that. I know how much he loves her, and his surprise at seeing her wouldn't be easily explained." He ordered his voice brisk. Henry being prepared and not making a scene when Kim came home would help make sure that their secret stayed that way. There was no way he was going to let his husband and his group go to prison for changing the timeline on accident- or even if it wasn't accidental. To make sure that didn't happen he needed to keep them from making a scene. Jack dialed Henry's number, looking apprehensive. When the other man picked up he grinned at Nathan.

"Henry, it's Jack. I was looking into the history of this timeline because I didn't want any surprises popping up that would knock us off our game. Apparently I was able to stop the artifact experiment here because I had the codes to get into the room and lock the computer down before they could initiate the probe into the artifact. Kim's at work right now, but she'll be home in an hour top. Don't panic or make a scene when she gets home. You two are married, so she'll notice anything like excessive surprise. You know her Henry, she's smart and she'll notice if you're acting off." He spoke rapidly, trying to get everything out before he chickened out. He heard Henry inhale sharply and sit down on something that squeaked.

"She's alive?" He whispered, sounding faint. Jack grinned wider and Nathan suppressed a chuckle- Henry didn't know that he was alive yet and one shock at a time was enough. He loved the man next to him so much. Even this Jack from a timeline that he'd died in wasn't much different from the one who had been here earlier today. He tried not to react to what he knew about Jack's previous timeline, the deaths and the other him. Stark had been a damned idiot for not acting on his feelings, and letting Jack go. Hell he could tell that Jack had feelings for him... or rather the other Stark. He would have to ask exactly how his double died- and just why Jack had been researching it when his double had been declared dead. Jack himself had said he'd been trying to get his double back.

"She is Henry. Why don't you make a special dinner for her or something? Enjoy having her back, I know how much her death hurt you." Henry laughed shakily as he confirmed what he said was true. Jack heard him shift after a moment.

"I'll make sure she knows how much I love her. Are there anymore people who are alive now I should know about, so I can temper my reaction if I happen to see them? I haven't had a chance to check myself." He asked curiously. Jack looked over at Nathan who was still holding his hand, looking like he was enjoying every second of contact he was allowed. He wouldn't have a problem being married to Nathan, at least he didn't think he would. He had loved him before, and with the other man returning his feelings like this… it was almost like a dream come true. A dream that would be a nightmare to Allison. He pushed that thought out of his head, like he had with the thoughts of Stark and his possible continued existence, wanting to enjoy this for a little more before reality set in once again.

"Yes, there's another person that I know if so far. Stark's alive. I haven't told Allison yet before you ask. It's been a little bit of a shock, considering things are different in that aspect too." He replied as calmly as he could. Henry's breathing stopped as soon as he spoke, and Jack resisted wincing. Henry had, however unwillingly, been the victim of his reaction of their Stark's death. He'd helped Jack act like everything was fine while he helped Allison, and Jack assumed that he had thought that Jack had accepted Stark's death. Jack hadn't let him in on the fact he was trying to get the other man back, partially because of the distance that Kim's death had brought between the two of them.

"How are you taking that Jack? And don't tell me that Stark being alive isn't affecting you at all, I know better. Allison has accepted our Stark's death, but I know you better than that. You never were able to because of how you felt and the last minutes you spent together even though you acted like it. You're my best friend, even if at times I didn't live up to my end of it. He was important to you." He finally spoke, his voice stern. Jack was honestly shocked that he had noticed that he hadn't accepted Stark's death. Nathan's hand tightened around his as he heard Henry's response and Jack smiled at him, his eyes shadowed. To have the other man hear what Henry said was a little off putting, he didn't want Nathan to get the wrong idea about Henry. The older man had been grieving, and Jack didn't blame him for putting the distance in between them, he had failed to save Kim after all. He knewAllison really wouldn't like this marriage, but he hoped Henry would be helpful in explaining it to her. No matter how much she had accepted Nathan's death the marriage combined with Nathan and he having custody of Jenna would make her angry beyond belief. Henry cleared his throat as he didn't answer.

"I'm apparently married to him Henry, that's the shocking difference." He responded in an almost whisper, admitting what the other man would be finding out one way or another. Henry chuckled softly in response.

"This timeline is going to be full of surprises isn't it? And if you're married to him then hiding what happened is going to be even harder. That man is very observant, and if he went after you he's going to notice everything about you. Other than that I'm glad for you. You deserve a little happiness after the last couple of years. Don't push him away, even though Allison's not going to be the happiest about the relationship. He wouldn't let you do it anyway." He replied, his voice amused. Jack winced, even Henry knew what was going to happen and he didn't know everything involving this situation yet. Allison was going to kill him over Jenna alone.

"He already knows that there's been a timeline shift. He's not going to go to the DOD though. He came home and I wasn't going to lie to him when he asked what was wrong. He's promised to smooth our transition into the timeline. I assume you'll agree with me when I say I don't want to try and change it back to how it was. He's going to put together packets with information about this timeline and our personal history's tonight to help us blend back in." He responded. Henry chuckled again, and sighed as he moved.

"He's there with you right now isn't he? If he's anything like the man I knew he's going to make sure that you know he's serious about staying with you, even though you don't have the same history with him as he does you. Don't feel guilty about wanting to stay in this timeline though. When Kim gets here, when I see her- the timeline we were in won't matter anymore, not to me. Just like it doesn't matter to Nathan, and even though it will be tough for Allison to accept that she's not Nathan's number one Kevin's more articulate state will help ease her into wanting to stay here." He replied sagely. Jack relaxed a little, and Nathan pulled him closer to his body, wrapping his arms around him. Jack didn't pull away and he heard Nathan sigh in what he assumed was relief and felt him relax. Nathan pulled the phone from his hands before he could respond to his friend's advise.

"Hey Henry. Jack's exhausted. I'm going to get him some food and send him to bed before getting started on those packets. I'll deliver them in the morning, so if you could give Fargo and Jo a heads up. Oh and I don't know if it happened in your timeline, but Jo's married to Zane so if she needs a heads up would you take care of it? Now you have a dinner to make for your lovely wife if I'm not mistaken so I'll let you go." He spoke firmly. Jack heard his friend laugh in response to his… husband's words. If Henry was okay with this he could handle it.

"I'll get on that Nathan. It's good to hear your voice though. Take care of Jack, but if you mess up I'll have to hurt you. He deserves to be happy after all, and if you love him, I'm sure you agree." He responded, his voice taking on a hard note. Nathan laughed at the warning, tightening his arms as Jack blushed brightly- clearly embarrassed by his friend's actions.

"I'm not going to let him go Henry. I love him too damned much to do that. The Stark in your timeline was a fucking idiot for not going after him, and I don't intend on making the same mistake. I won him over once, and I'm sure that I can do it again." He shot back, a cocky tone coloring his voice as he winked at Jack. Henry chuckled and Jack could imagine him shaking his head at Nathan's words. The other man sounded thoroughly amused by what was happening.

"That's good. If you need help with Allison then call me Nathan. I'll talk sense into her, because no matter what Jack thinks she was aware of his feelings for Stark, and Stark's for him. She just ignored them because she had what she wanted. I know that you of all people know she's a possessive woman." He murmured, his tone lowering from the joking height it had reached. Jack felt Nathan tense, and reminded himself of how Jenna was conceived. Nathan knew just how possessive Allison was, but to know that the woman he knew was just as possessive was a little concerning. He might be underestimating how hard this would be once she was aware of Nathan's survival in this timeline.

"Just as long as she reminds herself that Jack isn't at fault here. I won't put up with her giving my husband any problems, and she'll find out pretty quickly that Jack's respected in Eureka and people are protective of him. Particularly when she's involved, because there's a history there that makes everyone a little touchy about their interactions." He replied, his voice harsh. Henry coughed, and the phone shifted.

"I hear a story behind that Nathan." He muttered, sounding apprehensive. "And not one I think I'll like." Nathan sighed, kissing Jack's head, again an absentminded gesture that Jack tried not to react to.

"Let's just say I got a daughter out of my bachelor party while I was unaware of what was going on because Zane got to me with one of his concoctions. It almost split Jack and I up before we managed to get married because I woke up with her in my bed. By the time she announced she was pregnant most of the town wanted her redacted because she tried to get me to divorce Jack and play family with her." He responded tersely. Henry cursed, and Nathan looked amused by his reaction. "And that was your reaction then too. I just hope to god this Allison is not like her double in any way." He added. Henry sighed.

"Alright. I'm going to cook Kim dinner, and once you get Jack to rest we're going over to see Allison together. I'll let her know that you're alive, and then we'll talk to her and let her know about your marriage to Jack and how Jenna was conceived here. I assume you have a custody arrangement that she needs to know about, considering everything. I'll make sure she keeps to it. There is no need for Jenna to have her life turned upside down by the mess we got ourselves into." He assured him. He hung up before Nathan could reply and the Scientist sighed. He looked at Jack gently.

"Are you alright with us taking care of it Jack? It looks like Henry's in papa bear mode, so he's not going to let you near Allison until he knows she won't take it out on you." He asked softly, silently thanking the other man in his mind for being the one to suggest that Jack didn't come to this first meeting. He didn't know if Jack would have listened to him if he had said no, not this soon anyway. Jack turned his head to look at him, examining his face, but Nathan gave nothing away. He knew what the two men were doing, trying make sure Allison didn't cause waves about their marriage and protecting him.

"Do what you need to Nathan. I know Allison isn't going to be happy about this though, so be careful please." He responded tiredly, the events of the past couple of days crashing down on him all at once. He just wanted to go to bed. Only tomorrow morning was going to be hell and he knew it, because everything wasn't just going to go away overnight. Nathan looked at him sympathetically and tightened his arms around him.

"Why don't you eat something, and then go to bed Jack? Henry and I will take care of Allison, then I'll get to work on making up the packets for the others. I'll sleep in the guest room tonight, so you don't have to deal with that too." He assured him, easing out from under him. Jack watched him get up and head into the kitchen. He hid a grin as he heard his husband start cooking instead of asking S.A.R.A.H. to make something for Jack. The man loved him a lot, that much was clear. And he was taking the fact that Jack had taken the place of his husband way to easily. Jack acknowledged the fact that his double was probably gone and that going back to the other timeline wouldn't bring him back but there was still the fact that he was gone because Jack was there. Everyone of the doubles were gone because of his group- that thought brought guilt crashing down onto him.

When Nathan handed him a burger and beer he hid his grin as he ate, pushing the guilt out of his mind. It wasn't like they had a choice in this. And maybe that was why Nathan was embracing him. It didn't change the fact that Jack would try to find out what had changed though. As he finished the last of his meal Nathan's smile gentled. He took his plate and cup to the kitchen before ushering him up the stairs. Jack tried not to note the differences in his room, and the obvious marks that indicated someone else slept in the room with him. He felt bad that Nathan was exiling himself from their room just to make him comfortable, and made himself a promise to try and let Nathan back in as soon as he could. Jenna wasn't the only one who didn't need her life disrupted. And Nathan was letting himself accept Jack without a second thought- or at least one that was visible to him right now.

Nathan was so worried about making everyone happy and keeping him that he wasn't worried about how this was affecting himself. He'd have to keep an eye on that, because he had lost his Jack today. As soon as he hit the bed his eyes started drooping, sleep dragging him under quickly. Nathan bent down and kissed his forehead before leaving the room and Jack to his sleep.