He wasn't used to feeling this uptight. Yeah, he lived on the edge a lot when he was out in the field – or off-world on a mission – but that was different. That was life or death, where his senses had to be on edge or he and those that he loved could die. This was a different sort of being on edge. A kind he wasn't really all that familiar with, especially in the last couple of years, since he and Sam had finally managed to become an item, and he'd received Jaffer as what was probably the greatest present he'd ever get in his life. His life was settling a little – not a lot, but enough to make him more comfortable. And suddenly it was all changed by one simple statement uttered to him the evening Sam had went off-world to spend time with her father.

'I'm going to tell him, Jack.'

Oh, God.

There were a million things that could happen. And over the last couple of days Jack had considered all of them. All the bad ones, anyways. Shawn was twelve. He was a brilliant twelve, yes, but he was still a boy becoming a man, and that was a rough age on its own. Add to it the fact that he was going to find out some very difficult things about himself and the people around him, and Jack knew it had the potential to be a rough day. For Shawn, and those around him.

Dotty knew Shawn better than anyone, Jack knew that. He knew that she'd chosen this week for a reason, although he hadn't asked what it was. All Jack had asked was if she wanted him to be there or not, and she'd told him no, because she said she wasn't sure exactly when it was going to happen. She would look for the perfect opening. School had just finished for the summer, which meant no Asgard lessons, either, and she'd have plenty of time to spend with her boy to wait for the moment to come. And until that happened, Jack would have to just wait to hear how things had gone.

God, he wished Sam was there. She'd give him her perfect smile and tell him that everything was going to be all right. She'd start on about how much Shawn loved him, and how level-headed he was, and then she'd start in on the more complicated stuff, and he'd listen to it, because he loved her voice, and eventually she'd make him believe – at least for a minute – that everything was going to be okay.

He sighed and looked up from the picture he'd been staring at. He couldn't stay in his office anymore that day. The walls were beginning to close in on him, and he needed to get some fresh air. And he needed Jaffer. The black lab was up in the kennels since Jack couldn't keep him with him every minute just so he'd have someone to cuddle with while he brooded over something he had no control over. Bad enough he'd been doing that constantly at home. Once Fraiser had caught him doing it at work, he'd forced himself to part with Jaffer's comfort at work so he wouldn't have to worry about her cornering him and asking – again – if something was wrong.

He set the picture of Charlie back in his desk after a last, long look. Charlie. His perfect son who'd been so full of life and love. Jack had never had to worry if Charlie loved him. He didn't doubt that Shawn loved him at that very moment, but that could change once Dotty told him that everyone around him had been keeping secrets from him. Not little secrets, like the birds and the bees, or where his Christmas presents were hidden. These secrets were pretty big. Hey kid, you're half alien, half human. Mom's an alien. Dad's not the dad you think he is; your dad's the guy whose DNA was stolen by the aliens only a couple years ago and sent back in time with your mother to engineer your birth at the perfect time so you could meet the guy so he could advance your life in directions the aliens wanted it to go. Yeah, that would be a tough one to swallow, even with Shawn knowing what he knew.

Who knew how the boy would react? If Dotty didn't, then Jack sure as hell didn't.

He sighed again, and stood up. He'd go home, and wait until he heard something. Like he'd been waiting the last few days. Sitting by the phone, alone with Jaffer and his gloomy thoughts and scenarios.

He turned off the lights and left his office, and headed down the hall for the elevator. And almost made it.

"Colonel!"

He sighed again, but this time it was silent, and he stopped in the corridor, waiting for Janet Fraiser to catch up to him.

"Hi, Doc. What's up?" He put on the best face he could, but he knew she wasn't fooled for a minute. Her dark eyes looked carefully at his face, as though she were trying to get the answers she wanted directly from his mind – which would save them both a lot of trouble, but wasn't going to happen.

"Colonel? Is everything all right?"

He nodded, not meeting her eyes.

"Everything's fine, Doc. Peachy."

"Uh huh."

She reached up and touched the back of her hand to his cheek and then forehead, checking for a fever. If he were sick, then she could at least confine him to her infirmary until she could wrangle the answers out of him. But his skin was cool to the touch. He moved his head slightly, away from her touch. He knew what she was doing, and while he appreciated that she was concerned, there was no way he was going to share what was going on with her, or anyone else.

"I'm fine, Doc."

"Is everything okay between you and Sam?"

"Unless you've heard something I haven't." His lame joke fizzled. She didn't even crack a smile. Of course, he didn't, either.

"No... Is she still off-world?"

Now she was just digging. Jack wondered if she thought he missed Sam and was moping because of it. God, he wished that was all it was!

"She will be until Sunday."

"Why don't you come over, Colonel? Cassie and I can make you dinner."

Jack shook his head.

"Another time, Doc. Thanks."

"You sure? We'd love to have you."

He managed a smile this time, and it was a real one. He did appreciate the effort, but he couldn't be good company just then, and Cassie deserved better than a night of watching him be moody.

"Nah. I'm going to go collect my walking disaster area and take him home. There's a game on."

There wasn't a game on, and she knew it. Knew it because when he was lying about personal stuff, he was a terrible liar. Great in the field, bad in life. She gave up, though, knowing that he wasn't going to accept her offer of company, and he wasn't going to tell her what was wrong.

"Maybe another time, Colonel..."

Jack nodded, and the elevator door swooshed open.

"Tell Cassie hi for me, Doc."

He got in the elevator and avoided her gaze while waiting for the door to close. Which it finally did. Then he sighed again.

Janet did, too. Stupid, stubborn man. What was going on with him?