-- Chapter Five: Moving Forward
"Here they are, Jack." Megan laughed as she handed the retired Air Force General a pile of papers. "You know, I'm still having a hard time getting used to addressing you by your first name."
"And you weren't even military," Jack grinned as he shuffled through the stack of applications and walked towards the study.
Megan Williams, lured away from the SGC, was J-O Enterprises new Director of Operations. Essentially, she would be handling the day to day tasks of the business and overseeing the personnel. She would be at the home office every day, conferring daily or as needed with Jack and Daniel, both of whom would be making frequent trips to the office, otherwise known as J-O Enterprises or "that place Daniel bought for investment purposes that actually turned out to be useful."
The "office" as it turned out was the house Daniel had purchased in 2004. It was a small place, and once Jack had retired, the two had slowly converted it from a home to an office. The artifacts that were already there made for great decor. One of the bedrooms was turned into an office shared by Jack and Daniel, whichever one happened to be there and needed it. Another bedroom had been transformed into an office for Megan.
The rest of the house was divided into space for the employees. They even set up a couple of work stations where people could work outside when the weather allowed. Also part of the new office was a play area for the children, both inside and outside, with plenty of toys and equipment for them whenever they accompanied their parents to the office.
Since the new office was only twelve minutes away from the country-style home where the lovers lived, Jack and Daniel could easily go there when necessary. The convenience factor had been one of the main "selling" points in convincing Jack to hold onto the house after his retirement from the military.
The female scientist was excited by her new position and the thought of working closely with Daniel whom she had respected and admired for a long time. The fact that he trusted her in such an important role meant a lot to her. She also loved the fact that she'd be doing a lot of traveling.
Since the Jackson-O'Neills had become the parents of triplets, they knew they were going to have to delegate more responsibility and duties to Megan than they had originally planned. Three babies were definitely more time consuming than one.
Megan followed Jack down the hallway and into the study. She sat in the seat Jack waved her towards while he sat down on the chair behind the desk.
"So what exactly have you done with these so far?"
"I reviewed all the applications to make sure they were completed in full, paying special attention to the final question, as Daniel requested. I've arranged them by potential position within the company, and have attached a rating based solely on their listed qualifications and skills."
"Great! There look to be about thirty-five or forty here," Jack noted, still thumbing through the applications, glancing at names and personal information.
"Thirty-eight. Daniel told me to set up interviews with each candidate for next week, so on each application, I've included the day and time for their scheduled appointment. Sir, I mean, Jack, are you sure you don't want me to weed these down a bit?"
"Nope. The most important question is the last one. We'll see how they do with that, and then it'll be back to you for the next phase."
Megan smiled, shaking her head slightly as she sat back in her chair.
"It certainly is an unusual way to hire."
"J-O is an unusual company, Megan. We don't want normal because, well, as you know, our lives have been anything but normal. We're counting on you, too, to help set the tone and the example."
"I'll do my best. I really appreciate the trust and faith both you and Daniel have placed in me."
"We feel lucky to have you, Megan. These look great. Thank you."
"You're welcome ... Jack."
After Megan left Jack and Daniel's house, Jack more closely perused the resumes, and then began to read the answers to the most important question on the application -- the last one:
"The following is an abbreviated version of a theory first presented in early 1996. Read it carefully, and then share your thoughts about the idea presented. Is this theory plausible?"
Jack stormed into the kitchen and grabbed a beer. He was mumbling under his breath.
"Idiots. I'll teach them to badmouth my ..."
"Jack," Daniel called out as he walked into the kitchen, Aislinn in his arms. "I'm guessing you've been reading the applications."
"What makes you think that?" Jack asked a bit flippantly which earned him a stern stare from his husband. The older man sighed in frustration. "All right, yes, but I swear, Danny, some of those ..."
"Jack, our daughter," Daniel warned.
The younger man had made it clear that while they were by no means saints, in their household, language would be both age-appropriate and respectful of others, and that meant no swearing or badmouthing of other people in front of the children, even if they didn't know how to talk yet.
"Sorry. It's just ... it's hard to read some of those comments."
"This was your idea, Jack, and I agreed to it only because you promised me you wouldn't go ballistic."
"I'm not going ballistic," Jack sulked as he sipped his beer. Then, he looked at Aislinn, and then his watch. It was still the afternoon, and he'd made himself a personal promise not to drink during the day in front of the triplets. "Ah, crap." Jack poured the remainder of the drink down the kitchen drain and walked to Daniel. "May I ... please?"
Daniel smiled and handed Aislinn to Jack who grinned as he kissed her cheek and held her closely, bouncing her lightly for just a moment. She grinned in response, then raised her two chubby hands up to pull on his hair.
"Olympic hair-puller! She scores," Jack said excitedly, eliciting laughter from both Aislinn and Daniel.
Jack carried his daughter into the living room, keeping his face next to hers. Then he took a deep breath.
"Danny, I love you," Jack said as he turned around to face his husband. "I know what I said, and I still believe this was a good idea, but when some idiot makes it personal, I get upset."
"Yes, I know, and I love you for caring about what people say, but this is an application process. We created the situation. You have to behave, Jack."
"Behave?"
"Yes," Daniel answered, nodding his head for emphasis and folding his arms in case they were in for a minor skirmish over the issue.
"Define behave."
"No sneers, threats, or looks of murder, and definitely no physical or mental harm to the applicants, not before, during, or after the interviews."
"But, Danny ..."
"No, Jack."
"You're no fun," Jack whined as he glanced at his baby daughter. "You're daddy is a genius. I don't like it when people make fun of him."
"Jaaaack!"
"How about if I have Teal'c standing at the door?" Daniel tilted his head slightly, a look of Jack's death in his eyes. Jack coughed lightly. "Can I have my P-90 out?" Daniel didn't move, but his eyes turned colder. Jack envisioned sleeping on the sofa. "How about I just glare at them the way you are at me right now?"
Daniel looked down and smiled, and then he walked to Jack and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"Do not harm the applicants. Promise me, Jack ... and no hedging. You know exactly what I mean. Promise me."
"Oh ... okay."
Jack handed Aislinn back to Daniel and walked out of the living room towards the study, muttering under his breath, "I'll sic Jonny on 'em."
"I heard that, and where are you going?"
"I have to contact Thor and cancel some ..." Jack cleared his throat and smiled sheepishly before disappearing from Daniel's sight.
Daniel sighed, but then laughed. Jack O'Neill loved him, and that was all Daniel needed in his life. What others thought or said meant nothing. He'd remind his husband of that later in the night when they were alone.
"Okay ... Brian," Jack said, settling back into the chair. "You read the theory, right?"
"Every word, Mister O'Neill."
Jack made a note, and then corrected, "That's General. My dad was a mister, but that was a long time ago. Actually, the title isn't important; what I mean is, I'm used to it. No one's called me 'mister' in decades." I sound like an idiot. Bad start, O'Neill. On the other hand, when you apply for a job these days, you'd better know the company you're going to work for. This kid did not do his homework.
"Yes, M...General."
"So, give me the short version. What did you think?"
"It's ludicrous. The author obviously isn't an archaeologist -- was probably on drugs when he wrote it. No one would take this seriously, not even for a minute."
"You don't see anything to it at all? No redeeming features whatsoever?"
"No, Sir. Not a thing. It flies in the face of everything we know about ancient civilizations."
"Isn't there room for ... new ideas?"
"Of course, but this is a bit too far out. We know the facts. This is pure fantasy."
--
"Kelly, you said you thought this theory was," Jack put his glasses on to read, "the most insane thing I've ever read in my life, but I sure wish it were true. Two questions. First, why is it insane, and second, why do you wish it was true?"
"It's a bit over the top, don't you think? Pyramids as landing strips? Where's the evidence? There isn't any. There hasn't been one single discovery that backs up this idea. I also have a difficult time imagining how a ... ship ... could land on a pyramid. That said, wouldn't it be wonderful if it was true? Think of the possibilities it would open up! There are so many things that are unexplained about Ancient Egypt, and this could answer so many questions about those cultures and how things were done. It's a magical dream. Still, considering what we do know about Ancient Egypt, the theory seems ridiculous."
"What's your opinion of the person who wrote the theory?"
Kelly took a breath and thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'd love to ask them why and how they made their conclusions. They are either horribly misguided or they need to be locked away in a think tank to solve the wonders of the universe because he or she is either insane or a genius. I really don't know which."
--
"Be...Beb," Jack stuttered. "I'm sorry, I don't know how to pronounce your name."
"It is Bibreanay. It is pronounced Bee-bra-nay."
"Interesting name."
"It is. My parents had a lot of siblings. I am named after all of them."
"Like Rosebud?"
The young woman smiled and nodded.
"Yes, General. Just like Richie Petrie on the old 'Dick Van Dyke Show'."
"Aren't you a little young for black and white TV?"
"Not for classic shows like that one."
"That's a point in your favor," Jack chuckled and then continued with the interview. "Bibreanay, you said you thought the idea of pyramids being landing pads for alien ships was probable. What makes you think that?"
"Because it makes sense. Ever since I first saw 'The Ten Commandments' when I was a little girl, I've been fascinated by Ancient Egypt and the pyramids. The more I learned, the more questions I had. There are wonders there; mysteries crying out to be solved. The questions can't be answered in terms of what we know, so instead, we need to look at what might be."
"Yes, but you said 'probable' not just possible."
The woman sat back and nodded her head.
"Yes, I did, and perhaps that's partly because I'm an optimist at heart, but when I look at the big picture and wonder how all the little pieces of the puzzle might fit together, the idea of an alien race using Earth as their playground so to speak seems logical. I realize Doctor Jackson's views haven't been well received, but personally, I think he may be right."
"What makes you think these are Doctor Jackson's views?"
"They are. Look," the woman leaned forward. "I do my homework. I checked him out and you, too ... as the owners of the company. That's the smart thing to do; but, General, I don't change or color my opinions for anyone. I heard about Doctor Jackson's theory years ago. I never once thought it was crazy. In fact, I wrote an essay on it when I was getting my degree."
"An essay?"
"I evaluated it based on the evidence known as of that point in time."
"What grade did you get?"
"C minus. My professor said I needed to spend more time with Budge."
"He told you that?"
"Yes, he did. Academics can be remarkably closed-minded."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him I'd rather spend my time with my boyfriend than with a bore."
"Not a fan of Budge then?"
She laughed, then answered, "Not really."
--
"Carl, straight scoop - no holding back. What do you think of the theory?"
With a sneer, the man answered, "Of course, the Egyptians built the pyramids. Everything we've read says that. There's not a shred of proof anywhere to say anything different. The theory is an idiotic adventure into Kiddie Land."
"And what about the person who offered the opinion?"
Carl laughed.
"I'm not the least bit surprised he was laughed out of Academia. I don't remember his name, but I've heard about him. The guy needs a reality check."
"What about the idea of cross-pollination of ancient cultures?"
"Sure, there was some transfer between cultures, probably because of trade. You don't need to create some fairytale about aliens to explain that away."
--
"Nicole, you wrote that the whole concept of aliens ever being on Earth was preposterous. Why?"
"It's the most far-fetched thing I've ever read, and I've read some pretty crazy things. Honestly, who wrote this thing anyway? Whomever it was needs to spend some quality time reviewing the bible."
"The bible?"
"Budge. It's essentially the bible of archaeology, wouldn't you agree?"
"It's ... something anyway. So what do you think of the person who wrote this theory?"
"In all honesty, I don't think they belong in the field. They haven't a clue how to interpret even the basics. I wouldn't go near them."
--
"All right. Karissa, tell me what you think. What's your opinion of the ideas presented in this last question on the application?"
The blonde chuckled lightly and then smiled as she spoke.
"If the pyramids were built by aliens, where are those aliens now? Why would they just abandon the planet?"
"Whose to say that they did? Maybe they're still here."
"I think we would have noticed little green men running around the planet."
"Maybe they aren't green. Maybe they're orange, or maybe they look human, just like us."
The woman's smile was gone. She was serious as she responded, "Don't you think that's a little unlikely? What are the chances of more species evolving on other planets that look exactly like us? Less than one in a billion! It seems like a stretch."
"Maybe they evolved here and had a reason for abandoning the planet. Maybe they can change their appearance. Isn't it possible?"
"Yes, there are always possibilities. That's what archaeology is all about." "Let me ask you about the section that discussed cross-pollination. Any thoughts on that?"
"Trade always results in some merging of technology, language and culture. I think that's a more likely explanation of things, don't you?"
"So you believe in a world of black and white? A world where you have proof and nothing else?"
"No, I believe in possibilities. From what I know, I don't see this theory as being a likely possibility. Still, I guess you could say I'm open to it, should I be presented with some kind of proof for it; but I haven't been, and so using the knowledge I do have, I think we have explanations for the pyramids pretty well in hand without adding science fiction to the mix."
--
"Have a seat, Ty," Jack said to the latest applicant. "I'd like to start with the last."
"The last?"
"The pyramids of Egypt."
"It's an intriguing idea. I've always wondered why more questions haven't been asked about how the ancient Egyptians could build such perfect pyramids with their limited technology. The theory makes sense."
"There's no proof. Doesn't that bother you?"
The thirty-two-year-old male leaned forward. He looked Jack directly in the eye as he spoke.
"Proof of the theory would be nice, but the lack of evidence doesn't mean it isn't true. For hundreds of years there was no proof that the Earth revolved around the sun. Besides, there does seem to be some evidence for it. The problem is that apart from Doctor Jackson, people just haven't looked for it or don't want to accept it."
"So you've read this theory before?"
"Yes, I have. It was actually discussed in one of my classes a few years back. My professor said it was the biggest piece of garbage he'd ever come across."
"Someone brought it up in class?"
"The professor. He's a great guy. He said it was garbage, but he also said that it took a courageous person to put his entire career on the line for such a crazy belief. He said that is what the archaeology field was about ... reaching out with our minds, asking questions and contemplating answers that may be outside the proverbial box."
"And what did you think when your professor said that?"
"I hoped that I could be like that. General, no one accepted Galileo's theories at first either; it didn't make them any less true. I know Doctor Jackson is co-owner of J-O Enterprises. I hope to meet him. His theories may be outside that box, but they deserve to be heard and considered."
"This has been one of the longest weeks in my life," Jack complained as he sat down on the sofa.
Daniel walked behind the furniture and rubbed his spouse's neck and shoulders.
"Not used to this hard work, are you? Asking questions can be so tiring," Daniel spoke with a laugh.
"It's just the idea of paperwork."
"This isn't paperwork."
"It feels like it, and I gave that up when I handed command of the SGC back over to Hammond, but I have to admit, there are some interesting people out there."
"Any good prospects?"
"Some. Of course, half of the good ones think you're looney tunes, Love."
"Oh, isn't that nice? I hope they all left their interviews in one piece, Jack."
Daniel continued his massage.
"Let's just say that some of them had a very narrow escape."
Daniel laughed, loving Jack's protectiveness.
"So did you make the first cut?"
"Right on schedule. Gave the A-list to Megan to do the initial verifications on, to make sure everyone is legit and doing what they claim. Then she'll make the appointments for your interview with them."
Jack suddenly laughed.
"What?"
"Then it'll be me giving you the sympathy treatment!"
"Probably."
"How many made the cut, Jack?"
"Out of thirty-eight, I picked twenty."
"That's not too bad."
"I had to remember that it wasn't necessary at this point that they all agree with you; just that they were open and willing to consider new ideas."
"That was the whole point of the last question."
"Yep, but it still wasn't easy to listen to some of them."
"Jack."
"I'm overprotective. I know. This was still the best way to go. J-O will benefit, even if does make my blood pressure go up."
"Daniel, I highlighted certain things that you might want to ask about, things that need some clarification."
"Thanks, Megan. Did anyone not make the verification check?"
"Yes. We lost four, two apparent lies about where they worked now and two about where they went to college."
"I appreciate all your hard work. Hopefully, we'll be able to find some good possibilities here. There's sixteen left, right?"
"Yes, and I have my favorites. I think you and Jack should be able to find what you're looking for."
"I hope so. You realize you'll be the cornerstone. I'm sorry we're having to put so much more on you than we originally planned, but ..."
"Don't apologize, Daniel. I love this job. I feel like I'm in on the ground floor of something wonderful."
"We'll never be a huge company, Megan."
"Wonderful doesn't mean big, Daniel. I like what you and Jack are trying to create. I want to be a part of that; it's what makes this a career, not just a job."
Megan smiled, then waved goodbye as she left the house.
Daniel spent the next few days reviewing the applications and making notes, and then he interviewed the sixteen candidates. His part of the interview process would be to determine which of the applicants had the technical expertise and desire to grow with J-O Enterprises. He discussed their past jobs, what they liked or didn't like about their past positions; and he asked about their education and why they chose to study archaeology in the first place.
He tested their knowledge, both on theories and techniques, and also inquired into their feeling's about working in a company where perhaps a job wasn't so black and white, where everyone was expected to do whatever was necessary to complete a project.
Daniel did not bring up the question about his theory, but he thought it was interesting when a few of the potential employees did. A couple seemed to want only to acknowledge his bravery at being willing to take a stand on something that was so on the fringe of the field, while one or two others seemed to be trying to impress Daniel, even expressing a false belief in his theory.
Those were the first applicants that Daniel mentally crossed off the list. He had much more respect for the applicant who had said, "I commend your courage, Doctor Jackson. I think you're crazy, but I respect you for taking a stand and sticking with it for all these years." The words had been spoken with a sincerity and an honest smile.
Remember this one ... Karissa.
Even the one who had said, "You know, Doc, you're out of your gourd to have gone public with this, but I like that. Yep, you're the kind of guy I want to work for. Not sure I agree with that theory; I mean, aliens responsible for the Great Pyramid, and it's true purpose is that they can land some gigantic spaceship on it? I don't know, but hey, there's a lot to be learned in this crazy world."
Daniel laughed silently. This guy was bold, brazen even, and he wasn't sure it's what they wanted for J-O.
Still, he answered the question. We're not looking for 'yes' people; we're looking for ones who can do their jobs and answer truthfully. Okay ... let's see ... James ... a potential maybe at this point.
The day after the last interview, Jack and Daniel discussed the applicants.
"Jack, stop kissing me. We have to talk about this."
"But I like kissing you."
"Jack."
"Okay. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we get back to kissing."
"That's my genius," Daniel snickered. "All right ..." Daniel sat forward on the sofa with Jack to his left. The applicant files were in front of them on the coffee table. "Any definites in your opinion?"
"Without a doubt, three. Rosebud, Ty, and that McClellan guy."
"Rosebud?" Daniel asked, having no clue who his husband was talking about.
"Bibreanay. Long story," Jack explained with a smile. "Do you agree?"
Daniel smiled at Jack's choices.
"Yes, completely. Those were my top three, too."
The two exchanged a look. They loved it when they were on the same page as they were now, especially on something so important.
"We have three more to choose, though. What about ..." Daniel pulled out a file, "Anne Hampton?"
"I thought she was a bit close-minded."
"Maybe, but I think she was open to learning."
"I don't think so, Love. Look at her history, her courses of study. From what you've explained to me, she's been playing it safe for years. I'm not sure she's open to anything if it means taking a risk."
"You might be right. How about Karissa?"
"I have to admit I liked her. Her resume seemed thin, though."
"But she sounded eager, and I agree with you, Love, she seems really nice. She's done some unusual jobs in between the ones in her field, and it made me curious. I asked her about her employment history. She's had some pretty hard times, Jack -- had to quit a couple of promising positions to take care of her family. I jumped the gun a little and asked Sam to check it out, and she verified everything. I don't think we should just consider her resume, but her capabilities as well. I like the fact that she put her family ahead of her career. It shows loyalty."
Jack nodded his agreement, and added, "I liked how she handled my questions about your theory. She didn't agree with it, but spoke intelligently when I gave her new ideas to consider. She was flexible."
"Let's put her in the 'yes' pile."
"Okay, what about Marcus Mitchell? He wasn't keen on your ideas either, but he wasn't married to Budge either."
"I don't know, Jack. I had a funny vibe with him."
"A vibe? You vibed with someone other than me?"
Jack acted shocked and angry which prompted Daniel to roll his eyes.
"Will you be serious, please?"
"Sorry. Bad vibe?"
"Not bad as in scary, but he seemed too pat. Look at his work history. There's no permanence. He's job hopping, and there's nothing wrong with that, but ..."
"But that's not what we want."
"I don't want to hire someone every week. I want people who care about J-O, who want to watch it build and grow; people who want to work for a company that is like a family. That might take a while, but it doesn't have to. I think we need to treat our employees like we'd want to be treated if the situations were reversed. I'd like people who see a future in growing along with us, but are happy with the work and the satisfaction it gives, not the job title or salary. We'll never be that big."
"And we don't want to be ... right?"
Jack reached over and touched Daniel's cheek. Jack's head was tilted forward. It was very important to the older man that the two were in agreement on this point. They'd discussed it before, but it never hurt to reaffirm their positions, to ensure nothing had changed.
"Right." Daniel smiled and leaned over to share a kiss with his husband. "It's not about being one of the Fortune 500. It's about the work."
"Who's your next pick?"
Daniel shuffled through the folders, his nose scrunching as he silently reviewed the notes Jack had made and his own impressions from the interviews.
"Kelly?"
"Tatem or Landers?"
"Oh, let me make sure I'm looking at the right one. Yeah, Kelly Tatem. I liked that she believes in asking questions."
Jack laughed.
"Yeah, after she told me she would be curious to know why you came to the conclusions you did, she rambled off about ten questions she'd ask. She seemed firm in her opinions, though."
"But anyone who asks questions is looking for answers. She just needs to ask the right questions. Did she?"
"I have to admit she did. I almost wanted to give her the answers just to see what she'd say. Okay. Kelly Tatem."
The two continued their discussion. They still had one more person to agree on, but they were having a difficult time deciding between three people. They'd been debating the three for over an hour.
"Danny, you know what the problem is with these three?"
"What?" Daniel asked sharply.
He was getting a little impatient, not at Jack, but at their indecision about this last person.
"All three are interchangeable. Their education and job histories are similar, their responses in the interviews were status quo, and frankly, nothing stands out about any of them."
"So ... that means what?"
"James Zeller."
"Zaller."
"Whatever. Let's hire him."
"Why? He seems like a loose cannon to me," Daniel stated as he reached for the file.
"Exactly. Danny, we need a pot stirrer. Every good company has one. This guy is a bit over the top, but Carter will check him out and make sure he's not on the lunatic fringe of things. My hunch is that he's just a man who speaks his mind and isn't afraid to say outlandish things that he believes in just because it goes against the norm. Remind you of any one?"
Jack smiled at his lover.
"I'm not over the top ... except about you, of course ... sometimes ... soon, even ... like when we finish this."
Jack smiled. Actually, he leered. Suddenly, Daniel didn't care about their sixth employee.
"James Zaller it is," he said, putting the file in with the other five yeses, and then leading Jack upstairs to follow through on the question of ... topping.
The next morning, Jack and Daniel reviewed their choices as they fed the triplets and reaffirmed their decisions. Their six employees of choice -- Kelly Tatem, Bibreanay Appleton, Karissa Lewis, Ty Harper, John McClellan, and James Zaller -- would move on to the next stage of their hiring procedure.
They called Sam who took down the information on the six people. She would be doing detailed background checks on any prospective employee for J-O Enterprises. Jack and Daniel had a lot of friends, but they also had a lot of enemies, so anyone going to work for them would be checked out thoroughly.
"Okay, business done for the day," Jack chirped.
"We still have a lot to do."
"I know, but I'm glad the hiring part is almost over."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was their neighbor, Mrs. Valissi, just coming to say 'hello' and check on the babies.
"They are such darlings," she said as she looked at the slumbering triplets in the nursery.
"We think so," Jack answered with pride.
The three went downstairs and as he moved to sit in his chair, Jack saw Bijou and Katie sitting on the lawn. A thought occurred to him.
"Mrs. Valissi, are you free for about a half hour?"
"Yes. Why?"
Daniel had no clue what Jack was thinking, so he stared at his husband with the same question mark expression as their neighbor had.
"Would you mind babysitting?"
"Oh, I'd love to!"
"Jack?"
"Danny, I thought we'd take the girls to the park. It's been a while since we've been able to go and let them run around with both of us there." They forgave us for ignoring them when the Munchkins were born. I think we need to take advantage of the opportunity for some quality beagle time.
"Could you, Mrs. Valissi? We'll have the cell phone with us, and we'll just be at the park."
"It would be a hoot. I'll go sit with them."
"Thanks. You're a peach," Jack said, giving her a kiss on the cheek as he placed his hands on her shoulder.
"Don't go far," Daniel instructed as he turned the beagles loose to run free in the park. He smiled, noticing they weren't straying far, and in fact, both Bijou and Katie looked back at Jack and Daniel frequently, checking to make sure the two were not only still there, but watching them. "Look at that, Jack. They want us to watch."
"Which is why we are," Jack replied with a smile on his face and his arm around his spouse's shoulder.
"This was a good idea. Our family time every day is great, and we do play with the girls, but we don't get to do this very much."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It's usually one or the other of us taking them for their walks, or we've got the Munchkins with us."
"Bij and Katie need their own special time with both of us, too. No matter what, we have to make sure they get it." Daniel paused, treasuring this time with his husband and their beloved dogs. "Thank you, Jack, for thinking of this."
"I love those mutts, Danny. They're special."
"Hey, girl," Jack chimed when Bijou came running back. She woofed a couple of times playfully. "Oh, you want to wrestle? You're on! Come on, Danny. Katie, get over here," Jack called out.
For the next ten minutes, Jack, Daniel, Bijou, and Katie wrestled playfully on the grass of the park, and when they were through, Bijou and Katie were victorious, both seated atop their captives.
"We surrender," Jack said, his two hands raised above his hand on the ground.
"Yeah, you got us," Daniel said, sitting up and holding Bijou in his arms. "You have fun, Bij?"
"Wooooooof!"
"I think that's a 'yes', Angel. How about you, Katie? Should we do this again?" Jack asked the youngest dog.
"Woooof! Woooof!"
"It's unanimous, Jack."
"Time to go home, girls," Jack said as he and Daniel reattached the leashes to the beagle's harnesses.
The four headed for home, all happy with their spontaneous playtime in the park.
Two days later, Sam reported back on the potential employees. Fortunately, all six employees passed the extensive verification process, so the next step was to decide on the actual job offer for each. Two of the six would be hired as Research Archaeologists, and the other four would be Field Archaeologists, though all six would be given the opportunity to perform all functions.
Megan arranged for a final appointment for each of the six prospective employees. During this final meeting, which included Jack and Daniel, they reviewed the specific job being offered to the applicant, answering any questions the worker may have and making sure they were clear on what was expected of them. Daniel focused on the technical details while Jack centered on the family appeal and long-term future of a position with J-O Enterprises. Megan then presented the administrative details, including salary and benefits.
The individual offers of employment were then made, and five of the six accepted. One, John McClellan, had received an offer to work for another new company, SRI, which was located in Chicago, and he decided to go to work for them.
After reviewing the applications again, Jack and Daniel made an alternative selection, and after another interview and background check, hired their sixth employee, Jeff Leonard.
They also settled on the first two interns from the University who would be working at J-O while gaining credit for their college courses. Mostly, they'd be doing research at first ... and, of course, being gophers for Megan and her new staff.
Things were shaping up nicely for the new company, and finally, J-O Enterprises was ready to open its door for business.
On to Chapter Six ...
