-- Chapter Three: Shedding the Cocoon
"Danny, I could stay home."
"No, Jack, Molly is expecting you. You promised her."
"Yeah, I know, but ..."
"Jack, we agreed that we need to start getting back to a life that extends beyond our house. Like you said, we have friends, and there's a world out there. We don't want our children brought up in a cocoon. We made a good start when we went to Bryce Canyon, but now, we have to make sure that our daily life is ... well, as normal as we can make it."
"Have I mentioned lately that I love you?"
"Hmm, about five minutes ago," Daniel smiled as he answered his soulmate.
"Okay, I'm just going to do an hour at the shelter today, just to get back into the swing of it. I'll have the cell on, so you can call me if ... well, anything ..."
"Jack, it's not like we haven't each been alone with our children before."
Jack laughed in acknowledgement.
"Yeah, but you know, this is the first time one of us has just gone off to ... do something that wasn't essentially an errand."
"It's time then, isn't it?"
"When did you get so smart?"
"Truthfully?" Daniel looked lovingly at his husband, "I think it was that night when you made me leave the Munchkins and drove us to the club in Denver. Gawd, Jack, if you hadn't done that, I don't know what would have happened. You were right. We have to take care of ourselves, or it's all for nothing."
"We'd be happy as hermits."
"We would, but what about our children? I think that's why the trip to the Canyon was important, showing us that we could leave the Munchkins without some disaster happening. You were right again ... my genius."
"It was hard though."
"Gawd, how many times did we pick up the cell?"
"I stopped counting, but we got through it, and we had a great time ... didn't we?"
"Yes, the best time, Jack, and we'll have more. We'll always worry about our children, but we can't keep them in a plastic bubble. People need people, and it wouldn't be fair to starve them of something so natural."
"I love you, Danny," Jack whispered into his lover's mouth before capturing it completely. "I'll be back soon."
Jack left the house, leaving Daniel to care for their babies as he ventured to the small children's shelter run by his friend, Molly O'Hanlon. Molly was born in Ireland, but had come to America with her husband in the 1960's. When her husband died in 1985, Molly felt a need to find something worthwhile to devote the rest of her life to, and she found it in the form of a small children's shelter that she had opened in 1988.
Jack had met Molly in 1997, after the first mission to Abydos. He had decided to live again, and just as Molly had searched, Jack had also been looking for something to do with his time, now that he had retired from the Air Force yet again. Molly had taken some of the children to the Air Force Academy as a treat on a day Jack had been there to attend a memorial service for a colleague who had died.
He hadn't been able to resist the small group of children who had seemed to be in awe of the Colonel dressed in his Air Force uniform. From that moment on, Jack had devoted both time and money to Molly's shelter. There were other children's homes he had also visited and helped out after that, but Molly's Irish brogue and her dedication had made her privately-run shelter his favorite.
After Jack and Daniel had become lovers, Jack had continued to spend time at the various children's homes, especially Molly's. Daniel had helped out occasionally, but not often, although he had taken a special liking to the kids at Molly's shelter a couple years back when Jack had conned him into dressing up as an elf and acting as Santa's helper at the Christmas party.
He liked Molly, and he loved the children, but it was often difficult for Daniel to keep his emotions in check, so while he didn't often go to the shelter himself, he wholly supported Jack's participation in every way. In fact, it had been Daniel's suggestion that they donate part of their settlement with the clinic for the sperm donor error to Molly's shelter to help with expenses there.
Jack spent the afternoon playing baseball with a group of fifteen children, his single hour turning into three, after he had called to make sure Daniel was okay with it. He had expected to see one of Molly's staff, Barbara Colligen, tending to another group of ten. Barb usually taught crafts on Saturday afternoons, though her normal role was academic teaching.
As he was getting ready to leave, Jack decided to go by Molly's office to let her know he'd be back the next week if he could swing it. He tapped on the door and walked in.
"Hey, Gorgeous!"
"Jack, me boy, you've been kissing the blarney stone again, and boy, are you full of it," Molly laughed, a sparkle in her caring eyes.
"Just wanted you to know I'll try and come by next week. It's not easy with the Munchkins."
"I'd love to see them sometime."
"They're my pride and joy," Jack beamed. "Hey, where's Barb?"
Molly sighed, and Jack could see the look of worry on the Irish woman's face.
"Molly? Did something happen to Barb?"
"I had to let her go, Jack."
"Let her go. Why?"
Molly put the pen she had been holding down on her desk and sat back in her chair.
"We've lost our funding, Jack. When I opened this place, it was with the commitment of a wonderful, very generous man, but he died last year, and his family has opted not to continue the donations to the shelter."
"He died last year?"
"Cancer. He was a sweet man. He helped so many children."
"There must be other sources of funding."
"I've tried everything. I've had to let three of my staff go already, and," Molly leaned forward, picking up a file, "I'm just finalizing two more I'll have to let go by the end of this month. I'm afraid if I don't get help soon, the shelter will be closed by the end of the year."
"Molly, there must be something ..."
Molly smiled sweetly as she spoke, "I've used as much of my savings as I can. If I use any more, I won't have a home to live in. It's breaking me heart. These wee ones need so much love, and especially the older children who feel so alone and abandoned. Jack, it tugs at me so, the way people bypass them. Everyone wants babies."
Jack stood motionless, not knowing what to say, but then Molly stood, walked to him, and reached out, taking his hand.
"You've been a good friend to the shelter, and it's the money that you and your sweet Daniel, provided that kept us going this long. I thank you, but this is my problem. I hope you'll come back next week."
Jack and Daniel had never formally told her about their relationship, but they weren't really hiding it, either. In a crazy sense, it was a bit like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in that they didn't specifically tell her, and she had never asked them.
At first, Molly knew only Jack. He was a divorced, military man whose son had died tragically. As the years passed, she had come to hear a lot about a younger man named Daniel. Jack's eyes had always shined extra brightly whenever he had talked about this man, and finally, at the aforementioned Christmas party, Molly had met this mysterious Daniel. She immediately adored him, and quickly grew to love him.
After that, Jack had said only that he and Daniel shared a house together, and when Jack suddenly began talking about triplets, Molly never flinched. She had asked once if he had remarried, and he had replied with a quiet but happy 'yes' and then had quickly changed the subject. She noticed over the months that the apparently newly remarried Colonel still never seemed to talk about anyone but Daniel, and more recently, his Munchkins.
Still, she had never asked, not even after they had jointly made the donation to the shelter. She had no idea the funds had been part of a settlement, believing it only to be a generous donation from two very caring men.
As she stood with her friend, Jack, Molly felt blessed to having such wonderful people in her life.
"I'll be here next week, Molly. I promise," Jack said reassuringly, and even placing a kiss on her cheek that made her blush.
Jack and Molly talked for quite a while more before Jack returned home to his happy kingdom of Daniel and the Munchkins. Over dinner, he gave Daniel the news about the shelter, explaining the staff reductions and that the only reason Molly hadn't closed the shelter was because she loved the children so much and knew they all needed that love.
After dinner, Jack and Daniel, the Munchkins, and the two beagles spent a cozy evening playing, reading and just relaxing outside on the lawn where Little Danny suddenly showed an interest in helping Katie go on a "dig" in her play yard. Of all the children, he seemed to have the deepest relationship with the two beagles. He and Katie often looked like they were talking to each other. When the sun vanished, they all moved into the warmth of their living room.
All in all, it had been a lovely day for the family.
"WAH! WAH!"
Daniel yawned, hesitantly scratching out an "I got it." He picked up the phone. "H'lo? Um, hello?"
"Danny, Love, it's not the phone."
Daniel's eyes opened a little wider, and suddenly, he realized the only sound coming over the phone was a dial tone. Then he heard another cry and realized the sound that had awakened him was one of his children. Laughing at his actions, he said, "Sorry."
"I'll do it."
"No, it's my turn," the younger man said, now more awake. Daniel kissed Jack's hairy chest and then got up, slipping on his blue velvet robe over his pajamas. He walked into the nursery and picked up the "WAH"er in question, Aislinn, who immediately quieted. "Oh, just wanted to be held? Okay, I can do that," and for quite a while, Daniel roamed the room with his baby daughter in his arms.
After a while, he put her back in the crib, and for a few moments, he marveled at the blessings that were his children. He returned to the master bedroom, but didn't get back into bed. Instead, he watched Jack for a few minutes, just enjoying the view of the man he loved, and then he went out onto the roof deck and walked over to the railing, his arms crossed as he looked out at the sky.
After a few minutes, Daniel felt the strong hands he loved so much on his sides, and then the warm, protective arms of his husband pulling him close as they enveloped him.
"Gawd, I love you," Daniel said as he leaned back into the hold.
"I missed you, Angel." Jack kissed Daniel's nape. "It was so cold in bed without you."
"I just needed to come out here for a while."
"The Munchkins okay?"
"It was Ash. She needed to be held for a little while ... like me, right now."
"I aim to please."
Jack smiled as the two stood peacefully under the night sky.
"Jack, I know we're pressed for time, but we did it with our date night, and I bet if we put our minds to it, we could set up something where we could help Molly."
"I thought maybe that's what you were thinking about out here. It would be a big commitment."
"But we're getting better with our routine, and didn't we just decide that it's time to start shedding our cocoon? I mean, we're doing it with J-O, and ... can't we do it for Molly, too?"
"We can do anything, Love. We're together, and together we're ..."
"Unbeatable," both laughed and smiled.
"What do you have in mind, Danny?"
"Well, Barb's specialty was classroom-type stuff, right? Like a teacher? I could tutor or something ... maybe a couple of hours a few times a week."
"My genius! With Bob gone, the athletic program went, too. I can do that, on a part time basis. Danny, maybe we could alternate our days, so one of us is home with the kids and the other can go to Molly's for a couple of hours. What do you think?"
"I think you're my genius ... and someday, Jack, I just MIGHT forgive you for that! My genius, gawd!" Daniel laughed referring to Jack's failure to admit that his IQ qualified him for a membership in Mensa, something Daniel hadn't discovered until the day they packed up Jack's office at the SGC.
"Sorry, Love. I swear. I never intentionally hid that little fact. It just ... never came up."
"Right, Jack."
Daniel shook his head against Jack's shoulder.
"Hey, I bet we can rope Carter into this."
"Oh gawd. Just tell her to call you 'Jack', and she'll run. She panics as it is anytime we walk into a room with a new plan."
"I'm not sure I can blame her. First, we plan to have four kids, then the Munchkins made it five, and now, hopefully with Jennifer's arrival, we'll have six beautiful, wonderful children. We've turned Carter's life upside down, too. Maybe we ..."
"No, Jack. She wants it. We can't second guess her, and I trust her enough to know that she wouldn't have said yes if she didn't really want to take care of our children should something unforeseen happen to us both .... even if it does scare her."
"This could be good practice for her, if you think about it. She could tutor, too. Homemaking 101."
"She'll kill you, Babe, just for thinking that."
"Hi, guys." Kayla walked into the house. "The babies asleep?"
"Do you believe it?" Jack laughed. "Actually, they've adopted a really nice schedule lately. It's been," Jack looked at his husband, "amazing."
Ignoring the lust in Jack's eyes for the moment, but only for the moment, Daniel commented, "I think they like being together. The three of them are so bonded."
"We need to watch that," Jack said, just a bit of concern in his voice. "I've been reading about the bonds between triplets, especially since we've chosen to keep them together in the crib. Most of the time, it works out great, but we need to be cognizant of it and look for any warning signs."
"I've read some of those warnings, too, Love, and you're right. We do need to make sure they don't get overly attached to the point where it's detrimental for them to be separated for a while. I mean ... just for normal activities."
"It's great how connected they are, though, Danny. They'll always have each other."
"Just like we have each other, no matter what."
"Hi, guys!"
Kayla noticed they had forgotten she was in the house. She loved that, though, that they were so devoted to their children.
"Oh, sorry, Kayla," Daniel apologized shyly.
"I have news," Kayla sat on the sofa, "and I thought you'd want to know."
Both Jack and Daniel looked at the young woman with broad smiles of hope and expectation. She laughed and nodded, affirming their suspicions.
"Congratulations! We're pregnant ... again!"
It was mid-afternoon, and snow was falling lightly outside. Aislinn was still asleep, having not awakened yet from her latest nap. Jack was lying on the sofa, his head propped up slightly so that he could see the drizzling snow as it hit the backyard. Jonny was sitting on his chest. The older man was having a good time playing with the infant's hands and feet and making him laugh and smile.
Daniel was on the floor, facing the opposite direction. He was lying close to Jack's favorite chair and could easily make eye contact with his husband. Standing on his abdomen was Little Danny, freely laughing at his daddy's funny faces. Suddenly, the baby made a noise. It sounded like "Boo...bu...boo."
Daniel laughed and immediately replied, "And a Boobuboo bugly boo a boo bop to you, too!"
Little Danny giggled as Daniel continued to stand him up on his chest. Then Daniel panicked.
"Oh, gawd."
"What?"
Jack was about to jump up, certain something horrible was wrong with Daniel or Little Danny.
"Jack, I'm a freakin' linguist, but most of my conversation lately has been ... boobuboo bopawop. I'm speaking freakin' baby! It's all your fault, Jack!"
"Mine?" Jack asked defensively.
"They're your babies."
The two looked at each other, and then broke out into hysterical laughter for several minutes, both Jonny and Little Danny joining in. Finally, as Daniel calmed, he looked lovingly over at his husband and said, "Jack?"
"What, Love?"
"I'd rather speak baby than any language on Earth ... or anywhere in the universe. It's the most beautiful language I've ever learned."
"You got that right. I love you."
"Me, too."
"Boobuboo," Little Danny added.
"And we both love you, too, you ... boobuboobopity bop," Daniel said, a big grin on his face, as he talked to his namesake.
"Come on, you rascal. Settle down."
Jack paced the living room with Jonny in his arms.
It was 11:20 p.m., and Jonny had awakened, crying ninety minutes earlier. Jack had brought him downstairs so that the infant's cries wouldn't disturb the others. Daniel was asleep, as were Little Danny and Aislinn.
Jack had tried everything. The diapers were dry, Jonny wasn't hungry, he didn't have a fever or seem sick, but he was crying restlessly. Jack hummed, whistled, and sang. He tried playing. He even got Bijou and Katie to try and help, but nothing worked. Finally, out of desperation, Jack grabbed the keys to the truck and walked out.
He put his crying child into the baby seat in the back seat, the one closest to the passenger side so he could watch Jonny more easily, and then started to drive.
--
Daniel yawned as he walked downstairs, assuming he'd find his missing husband and child. He was surprised not to see them there. He checked the backyard, kitchen, study, roof deck, and every inch of the house. He was beginning to panic, when he glanced over at Bijou and Katie resting peacefully.
Bijou looked up at him and wagged her tail.
"Bijou, you wouldn't be resting if something was wrong, right?"
The mama beagle got up and went to Daniel. She sat up and assumed a begging stance. Daniel leaned down and picked her up.
"Where'd my husband go, and where'd he take our son? And why?" Daniel snuggled into the beagle, petting her as he slumped down onto the couch. "I may just kill him, after I hug him," Daniel sighed, holding in his panic on the assumption Jack would have a logical explanation.
--
"That's my boy."
Jack smiled as he carried Jonny upstairs and put him down in the crib. He took a moment to make sure Little Danny and Aislinn were secure, and then went back downstairs to his lover. Daniel was asleep on the sofa, Bijou warming his feet.
"Am I in trouble, Bij?"
Bijou stood and walked over to the door. Jack sighed in response.
"Thanks. Um, do you really want to go out, or were you just answering my question?"
Bijou wagged her tail, went to her beanbag, and rolled over next to her puppy. Jack chuckled at the communication between the beagles and he and his soulmate.
Geez, I love those girls.
Jack knelt down in front of Daniel and just looked for a while, studying the face he loved with all his heart.
"Danny, you are my love, only you. I hope I didn't scare you, Angel. I should have left a note, but ... I love you, Danny. Look at you, so beautiful. You're a work of art, and whoever would have thought you'd be mine for all of eternity. Geez."
Jack turned around, sitting with his back to the sofa, bringing his legs up to bend slightly at the knee, his arms reaching out and dangling loosely over his knees.
"I still don't believe it sometimes. It seemed like no matter what we did, someone, or something, would try and keep us apart. Sometimes, it was ourselves. Crap, Danny, how many times did we almost push each other away because we were ..." Jack shook his head in disbelief, "scared?"
Jack let out a haunting laugh.
"And what were we scared of? This? This is everything. You and me, this house, Bij and Katie and that play yard, the Munchkins, and oh geez, little Jennifer, too. J-O with its boonie bear." Jack shook his head again in disbelief at all their fights over the years. "Why'd we ever fight?"
He paused as he pondered the question, tracing his wedding ring for a moment.
"Let's face it, Angel. I loved you the moment I saw you. It just ... petrified me. I wasn't prepared for you, or for these feelings. We don't have a perfect life, and yet we do, because it is perfect. That doesn't make sense, does it?"
"Yes, it does," Daniel answered, yawning.
Jack leaned his head backwards against the sofa, his eyes moving over to Daniel.
"I'm sorry. I was going to let you sleep, and here I'm ... prattling on like Carter during one of those day-long briefings."
"The man with no words, but not with me."
"You make it easy."
Daniel turned a bit so that he was lying on his right side, reaching over with his left hand to walk his fingers through Jack's hair.
"Where'd you go, Jack?"
"I'm sorry, Love. Jonny was fussing. I tried everything, but nothing quieted him, and then I remembered something Mom said she used to do with me."
"What was that?"
"She said sometimes I'd get restless, almost for no reason, and the only thing she could do was put me in the car and take me for a drive, so I tried it out on Jonny."
"It worked?"
"Yeah. He quieted down right away, but it was such a nice night, I just ... kept driving. I should have left you a note. I'm so sorry, Danny. You must have been out of your mind with worry. I know I would have been."
"I was ... until Bijou reassured me."
"Our genius girls. Danny, I ..."
"Jack, shut up, and kiss me."
"Geez, what you do to me," Jack said as he moved onto the sofa and began a long, warm and tender make-out session with his husband.
"It went great, Sir," Sam said to her former CO who had dropped by the SGC while out running errands, "and I had a fantastic time. Those kids are smart."
"I'm glad it went well. So, you'll be going back?"
"Definitely. I set up a schedule with Molly, though I explained that it was subject to ... well, you know."
"Yeah. Everything okay around here?"
"It's the usual."
"How about being in command? I mean in command of a full team, one that actually obeys orders."
Jack smiled at his question. Sam had technically been in charge of SG-1 when he had been promoted to General and replaced Hammond as the leader of the SGC for a while. Yet, Jack had often gone on missions with them anyway, unable to sever that tie or the desire to be in the field.
Because of that bond, Jack had never given SG-1 a new fourth member.
Can't replace me, he had thought smugly, knowing the thought was more sentimental than anything else, but the result was that SG-1 had been the only three-person team in the SGC.
Being in command of SG-1 or SG-1A, as the team was now called, was a challenge as well. The new team designation had kicked in once Jack and Daniel had retired. It was a tribute to their contribution to the SGC, and the world, to semi-retire the designation of the flagship team of the SGC. As long as Sam and/or Teal'c remained on the team, it would be called SG-1A. Once those two moved on, SG-1 (and its SG-1A off-shoot) would officially be retired for all time.
Of course, when the team was still SG-1, Sam had never really commanded Daniel. Then again, Jack had never managed that either. As for Teal'c, the Jaffa had always followed his own drummer, though loyal to the SGC and especially to Jack. The end result of that meant Teal'c more or less just went along with the others, except on a couple of memorable occasions.
That Tanith episode scarred me for life, Jack thought wryly. I still can't believe the way he ignored orders, putting my life at stake, and went after that snake for killing that temple priestess. Of course, they did have some serious sparkage. Dang Jaffa revenge thing. On second thought, maybe I can. I'd do the same if someone hurt Danny. Maybe it's not Jaffa revenge; maybe it's just ... loving.
Now, the blonde Colonel had a legitimate command. SG-1A was truly her own team to lead. Teal'c was still a part of it, the other two team members currently being Lieutenant Grace Satterfield and Doctor Keith Davidson.
"Gawd, Sir, sometimes I wonder how you put up with all the different team dynamics over the years. My admiration has grown by leaps and bounds over the past year."
Jack chuckled, silently thinking that no one could really understand how complicated it was to lead a team well until they actually did it.
"O'Neill! It is good to see you."
"Teal'c, old buddy." Jack gave the smiling Jaffa a hug. "How ya doing?"
"I am well."
"General, I told Teal'c about the shelter, and ..."
"I would like to assist."
"You would? Um, how?"
"I could teach American history."
"American ... history," Jack repeated skeptically as he glanced at Sam.
"Sir, if you think about it, I'll bet Teal'c knows more about America than both of us put together."
Jack bobbed his head lightly, admitting, "You're probably right."
"Sir, there are several other members of the SGC who have expressed an interest. I don't know if it will be enough to save the shelter, but I think we could help."
"Tell me more."
"There you go, Little Danny. You like that green spinach goo?"
Jack had just finished feeding the infant. In response to his question, the baby made a nasty scrunching face, causing Jack to laugh.
"Yeah, I don't much like it either, but we have to keep you nice and healthy, and that means, it's time for a clothing change. I think you have more spinach on your shirt than we managed to get in you."
Jack could have sworn the infant winked and cooed at him.
That's my boy!
He took Little Danny upstairs where Daniel was playing with Jonny and Aislinn, both of whom had already had their breakfast.
"How'd it go?" Daniel asked.
"Look at him."
"Oh," Daniel said, chuckling. "Jack, I never liked spinach either."
As Jack put the baby on the changing tower, he suggested, "Danny, let's toss the spinach stuff. None of them like it. We don't like even like it. Why are we forcing our babies to eat something they hate?"
"The books say ..."
"Screw the books. C'mon, Angel. They're our babies. We know what's best for them."
Daniel smiled and nodded, and finally said, "Okay. Let's toss what we have, and scratch it off the shopping list. They do like green beans and ..."
"And lots of other stuff. They've just inherited our dislike of spinach. I don't know why we've bought it for ourselves over the years."
"Recipes. Health charts." Jack started to open his mouth to protest, but Daniel cut him off. "I know ... screw 'em."
Both laughed, and then Daniel noticed something.
"Jack, why is it when you dress Little Danny, you always make sure he's wearing blue?"
Jack grinned, answering, "Matches his blue eyes ... just like you, My Love."
"Oh gawd. Jack, our son is allowed to wear colors other than blue."
"Right."
"Jaaaaack!"
"I didn't argue."
"Jack!"
"What?"
"Clothes other than blue."
"I heard you, Love."
"Say 'it'."
"It."
"Jack!"
"Fine. Our son will ..."
"No!"
"No what?"
"Be specific -- use his name."
Daniel could swear he heard Jack curse under his breath, but then he heard the words, "Little Danny will wear clothing other than blue." Like underwear.
"I heard that."
"Dang this ... no, scratch that. Love that connection," Jack smiled, earning him a smile from his husband, too. He'll wear blue when I dress him. You can dress him in other colors. Of course, I'll make sure I dress him as much as possible.
Jack picked up Little Danny, now cooing, and gave him a kiss. He looked over a Daniel and smiled. The young man was shaking his head.
"What?" Jack asked.
"I heard that, too," Daniel said in disbelief. "Sorry, Little Danny. I'll do my best, but your dad has this thing for blue. If I were you, I'd just learn to live with it. I have."
Jack laughed, walked to Daniel, and kissed him.
"I love you, Angel."
"Heaven help me, Jack, but I love you so freakin' much, and I swear, it's as much for this ridiculous blue obsession as anything else. Gawd, makes me feel ..."
"Special ... and you are. Your eyes are so blue, crystal blue like the purity of the ocean water or the skies when we're in Jo, flying high. I love your eyes. They're your soul, and when you're surrounded by blue, they stand out. Love you," Jack said, leaning forward for another kiss.
"Oh boo ... bop ... boo," Little Danny said.
"I think he approves," Jack said.
"Me, too, but it's only a theory, and we should ..."
"Test it again," Jack said as he grinned.
Daniel nodded, and the two kissed again, their tongues mingling this time.
"Booogliooooo ... ohoo ... boobop ..." Little Danny said.
"He approves," both the lovers said together, and then they began their day, enjoying life in Colorado Springs with their three precious babies.
On to Chapter Four ...
