-- Chapter Five: Mortality and Heroes

"Jack, I can't believe we're out of Pampers again. They sure do go through those things fast."

Jack chuckled and commented happily, "Our kids are healthy, Daniel."

Both wished they had renewed the diaper service their friends had subscribed them to the previous year, but somehow, it had fallen through the cracks, so now they were making do with lots and lots of Pampers.

"We're out of Froot Loops, too, so ..."

"WHAT? Who ate the rest of the box? There was enough left for breakfast tomorrow. I made sure of that."

"Don't blame me, Love. It was your son."

"Which one?" Daniel glared at Jack. "Oh, David."

"Well, it wasn't Jonny, Little Danny, or Ricky, that's for sure. You've corrupted David. He won't touch any other cereal now."

Jack beamed with pride, smugness evident in his response, "He won't, will he?"

"Oh for crying out loud, don't look so pleased with yourself. Listen, I'm going to run to the store. I'll get the Loops and the Pampers and a few other things we need, okay?"

"Okay, Angel."

Daniel brushed his lips to Jack's and headed for the door.

"Danny?"

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too," Daniel said, grinning.

Daniel went to the store, returning an hour later with a variety of groceries. They spent the rest of the night attending to their children, but at 10:45 p.m., the couple sat down for some quality cuddling time on the sofa before heading for bed.

"Oh, be right back," Daniel said as he got up and went to the kitchen. He returned a minute later, smiling. Sitting down next to his husband, he said, "This is for you."

"A present from the kitchen? Hmm, must be tasty."

"Maybe. Open it," Daniel said about the small box he had handed Jack.

Jack opened the box and pulled out a set of keys.

"Keys? What did you buy?"

"I didn't buy it, but I rented it from of friend of Dale Rancolini's."

"Rented what?"

"A cabin in Lake Tahoe. Jack, take me flying in Jo, and let's take a night for ourselves. We love Jo, but with the children, we just haven't had a chance to go up very much."

"Thank you, Danny," Jack leaned over for a kiss. "We don't really have time, though, with J-O ..."

Daniel put his hand over Jack's mouth.

"We do have time. We always have time to do what we love. We're going flying, and we've never gone to Lake Tahoe before, so I thought it would be something new for us. We need time and new things for us, Jack. You taught me that when the Munchkins were born, remember?"

"I remember, Love."

Daniel saw the smile on Jack's face grow and the sparkle in his eyes. He knew he had done the right thing. They still had their weekly date nights, and they'd managed to squeeze in their share of romance, but the getaways were the toughest. Still, they worked hard to make those times happen, and Daniel was determined that now, just before things got too crazy with the plans for Egypt, would be one of those times.

"We'll have a picnic by the lake and go for a walk, and then we can hang out at the cabin and ... you know." The gleam in Daniel's eyes was undeniable. Jack didn't need convincing, especially when the young man continued, "I already talked with Sam and Sara, and we just need to decide which weekend we want to go."

"Angel, thank you."

Daniel moved his hand to caress Jack's cheek.

"I can't wait for you to take me flying again."

"You don't need me. You can fly yourself now."

"I know, but I like it best when you fly. It's ... part of you, Jack -- being up there among the clouds. Take me flying."

They kissed for quite awhile and then decided to call it a night.

"Bijou, Katie ... you two want to snuggle with us tonight or go outside?" Daniel asked.

The two beagles ran up the stairs to the master bedroom.

"I guess that answers that, Love."

"They love sleeping with us," Daniel commented.

"Quality beagle cuddling time." Jack laughed. "It's been one of our better ideas, to make sure they get their own time with us, too."

They were on the third stair when they heard the doorbell ring. Bijou and Katie came running down in alarm mode. It was late for visitors, but as they sniffed around the door, they relaxed and went to sit in their beanbag.

"Must be friendly," Jack teased as he looked out the window. "Janet," he said, as he moved to open the door.

"Hey, Doc. Come on in," Jack held the front door open for the diminutive redheaded physician.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding, but I thought you'd want to know, and I just couldn't do this over the phone."

Both men heard the tremor in Janet's normally steady voice. Her red eyes also suggested she had been crying for quite some time. The two looked at each other, a sinking feeling growing in their stomachs.

"Janet, what's wrong?" Daniel asked gently.

"There was an accident earlier this evening. There was nothing anyone could do; a drunk driver according to the witnesses."

"We need tougher laws," Jack said. "Doc? Was someone hurt?" He knew, even as he asked the question what her response would be. For Janet to be this upset, someone had to have been very badly hurt. "It's not Cassie, is it?"

Janet shook her head and saw the two relax slightly. Tears began to well in her eyes again. She looked up at Jack, then over at Daniel.

How can I find the words? This is going to be so hard on Jack and Daniel. "I'm so sorry. They say it was instantaneous. The drunk driver was in one of those heavy-duty hummers. His vehicle crossed the line. It was a head-on collision. He died a while ago."

"Janet?" Daniel asked again.

That terrible sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach was growing.

"It's ... Kayla. She never had a chance."

"NO!" Daniel backed away several steps, bumping into the entranceway wall. Jack immediately went to him, pulling Daniel into a warm embrace. "She can't be dead, Jack. She's going to Egypt with us."

Jack had no words to fix this, so he just held Daniel. He didn't mean to, but his back was to Janet as he supported his grief stricken lover who had now collapsed into his arms.

"I just thought you'd want to know. I need to get home. Cassie is there. She was very upset when she heard the news. Fortunately, Dominic was with her."

"Janet," Jack turned to face her, releasing his tight hold on Daniel, "is there anything we can do?"

"No. I'll call you tomorrow about the services."

Jack made sure Daniel was standing on his own, then went to their friend and hugged her. From his spot against the wall, Daniel's breathing hastened. He swallowed hard, and seeing what Jack had done, he, too, went to Janet and hugged her. The diminutive doctor could feel the trembling of the man holding her. With all the losses he had suffered in his life, she knew it would be quite some time before Daniel healed from this tragedy.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel."

Daniel couldn't speak, and when Janet backed away, a tiny smile on her face, he only nodded and backed away, again hitting the wall where he stood silently. He was holding on, but not by much.

Jack hated to leave Daniel, even for a moment, but he felt it was the thing to do, and he also knew it was what Daniel would want him to do, so he walked Janet to her car, again offering his condolences. He watched as she safely drove away, and then he quickly returned to his husband.

Oh, Danny.

Jack wasn't feeling so great himself, but seeing Daniel hurting just tore his heart out. When he returned to their house and closed the door, he saw that Daniel had slid down to the floor. His knees had been half brought up towards his chest, but Katie had somehow managed to squeeze her way onto his lap and was acting as a furry handkerchief, absorbing Daniel's tears. Daniel's left arm was half wrapped around his legs while his right stroked Bijou who was curled up beside him. Jack could see Daniel's head shaking back and forth in denial of the news they'd been told.

When Jack closed the front door, the two beagles gave him a look before disentangling themselves from Daniel and trotting up the stairs. Going to keep an eye on the babies, aren't you, Girls. Geez, I love you two furries.

Jack knelt down and enveloped Daniel with his own body. He felt his lover's arms go around his neck as Daniel moved his face to Jack's shoulder and neck.

"She can't be dead," Daniel repeated in a mournful sob as Jack held him.

"At least it was quick," Jack said, surprised his own voice was barely there.

He didn't realize until that moment that he was crying, too, and he found himself firmly burying his chin in Daniel's shoulder. Jack rocked Daniel back and forth gently in his arms.

He would have said something, but what was there to say? A beautiful young woman, the birth mother of their children, the human being who had generously given of herself to make their dreams come true beyond their wildest imaginations was dead, her spirit snuffed out by someone who thought the bottle was their friend and didn't care squat about themselves or others.

So, in a silence broken only by sobs and sniffles, the two men held each other, each rubbing the other's back in an attempt to soothe and comfort, while rocking gently to try and make the world not seem so bad.

"Can't be ... has to ... be a mistake," Daniel cried out a few minutes later.

Jack shook his head against his aching soulmate's shoulders, and whispered, "I wish it were. Come on, Love. Let's go upstairs."

Gently, Jack nudged his husband into more of a sitting position, and the two pulled each other up in tandem. Clinging to each other, not sure who was holding who up, they went upstairs to their master bedroom.

Hearing Jack and Daniel, the two beagles left the nursery and followed the couple into the bedroom to offer what comfort they could.

The lovers lay down on their bed, Daniel held snugly in Jack's embrace. The younger man needed to be held, and no one knew that more than his husband. At the end of the bed, Bijou and Katie lay quietly, their sorry eyes staring at Daniel. Jack smiled at them, knowing they would be extra watchful over the younger man until they were convinced things were okay again ... or at least as okay as they could be.

Jack continued to hold Daniel, his own tears mixing with his lover's as their faces sought comfort next to the other's.

"I just talked to her this morning," Daniel said. "She was so excited about Egypt. Jack, I think she wanted to spend time with the children, much more than she'd let on. She loves them."

Jack nodded, whispering, "I know," to Daniel.

"She just didn't want to interfere, Jack."

"She never would. Kayla made us a promise."

"But she loved them. Jack, she gave us five beautiful children."

"A quintet of perfection," Jack softly spoke.

"She can't be dead."

"At least she didn't feel it."

It was about the only comforting thought Jack could think of, and in the end, it wasn't really of much comfort at all.

"She's with Charlie now," Daniel sniffled, trying to think of anything that could be positive.

"And your folks."

"Jack, she told me she wanted to be someone's falling star ... because of us. Gawd, Jack ... she was too young to die like this."

"I know," Jack agreed, "but she had a good life, Danny, even though it was way too short. She really lived each day. She wasn't passive. We have to remember that, that she never wasted a moment."

They continued to mourn, tears falling, as they remembered the wonderful young woman who had made their dreams happen. As they talked, Bijou and Katie snuggled up next to Daniel, lying lengthwise against his legs. Both were as close to him as they could be.

Before he finally fell asleep, Daniel said, "Surrounded by love."

"What, Love?"

"Just like before. You, Bij, and Katie ... all surrounding me with your love."

"Forever, Angel."

Jack kissed Daniel on the forehead, and finally, minutes later, both fell into a light sleep, though it wouldn't be long before they'd wake, the tragic death churning within them making a peaceful rest impossible at the moment. Each woke with a nightmare at some point, and neither could truly rest knowing their extended family now had a gaping hole in it that could never be filled.

"What's for breakfast?" Jennifer chirped the next morning as she walked into kitchen where Jack was busy preparing a meal for David and Chenoa.

The two children were quietly huddling together on the sofa reading a book. David kept glancing towards Jack as if trying to work out why the house seemed to be so subdued this morning.

"Whatever you'd like, Princess."

"Anything is fine. I'm starved!"

Jennifer was all smiles, but she couldn't understand why Jack was so sullen, nor why her siblings weren't chattering away at her entrance into the living room.

"How about oatmeal?" Jack asked very calmly.

"Okay," she answered, looking over again at her brother and sister. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes."

"Sure, Honey."

Jennifer went upstairs, wanting to greet the youngest members of the family, but instead of entering the nursery, she stopped at the corner of the doorway, taken aback by the sight she beheld. Daniel was cradling baby Jenny in his arms as he sat in the middle of the three-quarter-size bed that Chenoa slept in. Ricky was at Daniel's side, and the Munchkins were giggling and playing all around the bed.

The scene would have been cute and tender if Daniel hadn't looked so sad. It was his expression and demeanor that kept her keeping the silent doorway vigil as she watched Daniel hold as many of the babies close to him as he could. There was a poignancy to his hold, something that caused the teenager to become alarmed.

Jennifer felt a knot forming in her stomach. Slowly, she went back downstairs. She detoured by her own bedroom to follow through on an idea, and when she returned to the living room, she approached her siblings.

"Hey, David, you know how you're always bugging me to use my computer to play that game you like so much?"

"Yeah, but you hardly ever let me."

"Yeah, well, take Chenoa with you, and you can use it now."

"I can?" David asked as he sat up straight on the edge of the sofa in surprise, the weirdness in the house forgotten.

"Yes; I already turned the computer on and loaded the game for you."

"Thanks, Jen! Come on, Noa."

David led his sister away just as Jack stuck his head over the counter to call the youngest for breakfast.

"Jen, where are the kids?"

"Dad, what's wrong with Daddy?" Jennifer asked, walking towards the kitchen.

Jack put down the food on the counter and walked over to his oldest daughter, meeting her halfway.

"He's okay."

"No, he's not. Please don't treat me like a child."

Jack sighed, nodding his head.

"Jen, there was a car accident last night."

"Someone died, didn't they?" Before Jack could even nod, Jennifer knew. It made perfect sense to her now, why Daniel was clinging to the five babies. "No, not Kayla, Dad. It can't be Kayla." Seeing her father's eyes become misty, Jennifer leaned in for a hug. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"Me, too. The only good news is that the doctors say she never felt a thing; probably never even knew what hit her. Jen, what is Danny doing?"

"He's just ..." Jennifer shrugged, "holding the babies. He's ... crying." Jack looked back towards the kitchen. "I can make my own breakfast, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks."

Jack headed upstairs, but stopped, turning back towards Jennifer. She knew what he needed to know without him asking the question.

"They're in my room on the computer. Should I tell them?"

"No, we'll tell them together in a little while. Thanks, Jen."

"Hey," Jack said softly as he walked into the nursery.

"Hey," Daniel said, not looking up at his spouse and not even trying to suppress the sniffle that accompanied his greeting.

Jack picked up Little Danny, and asked, "How's my boy this morning?"

The baby smiled, but didn't respond verbally.

"He doesn't say much, does he?" Daniel commented, a dread in his voice.

"Daniel, he's fifteen-months-old. Give the kid a break. He's an observer, just like you."

"Just like me," Daniel echoed as he held Jenny, rocking her gently.

Jack saw that Ricky was sleeping so he reached over and took him, whispering, "He's sleeping, Angel. I'm going to put him in the crib."

Daniel nodded, focusing again on Jenny. Slowly, Jack put the triplets in their extra-large crib, too, and then gently, he walked back to the bed and sat on the edge. He reached over and caressed his infant daughter's forehead.

"Why don't we put her down, too?"

Daniel said nothing as Jack took the baby and placed her next to her brother. As he started to return to Daniel, Little Danny started to cry, so Jack picked him up and brought him over to the bed with him. Daniel took the child immediately, holding on to him with a need Jack hadn't seen before.

"Danny ..."

"She had so much to live for. It's not fair, Jack."

Jack was dying inside from his soulmate's torment, and Daniel was in pieces from suffering a loss he didn't quite know how to handle. Losing Kayla was different than the losses of the past. All had been nightmares, and this one was no exception, but this one had its own set of emotional repercussions that Daniel had never anticipated nor prepared for.

So many losses. So ... so many, Daniel cried to himself.

Daniel had only a few really close people in his life. As a very young boy, he'd been loved and adored by his parents. He was a happy little archaeologist-in-training, their little Pharaoh, and then in a flash, Melbourne and Claire Jackson lost their lives, and Daniel lost ... well, almost everything.

He had endured years worth of neglect and abandonment after the coverstone collapsed on his parents in that New York museum. It had begun with his grandfather, who hadn't even cared enough to let Daniel be adopted. In the end, Daniel had been so traumatized that he hadn't spoken much of anything for over a year. He had gone from foster home to foster home, suffering abuse from people who were supposed to love him, but instead cared more about greenbacks and having a slave for a child.

The one solace for the younger man had been Suzanna Simpson, the only foster sibling to truly care about him. She was his only ray of sunshine from a decade of foster homes, and he truly considered her a sister, even though they weren't able to stay in touch as much as they would have liked to.

Having lacked the nurturing that normally comes from a gentle touch or a kind word, Daniel's life became the written word, the ancient artifact, and the life of cultures he thought he'd never really know. The young man had worked hard to learn, to educate himself, and in the end, it had been both a curse and a blessing.

He had developed a theory, but no one wanted to listen, and in a very short span of time, he lost the respect and acclaim that should have come from his peers and colleagues. Daniel was again left with nothing -- no family who cared, no career of note, and no money.

Could there have been more? Oh yes. He had lived a dream, going through the Stargate and finding love and life with the beautiful Sha're, only to have her taken from him by a creature most could only imagine from science fiction books and movies. Then, she had a baby; not his, but that of her abductor. Finally, Sha're died. It didn't matter that by then Daniel had discovered what eternal love really was, thanks to Jack; the point was, Sha're's life had ended early, and Daniel blamed himself.

Why now? Not now. No, it's just another nightmare, Daniel continued to cry, holding his namesake closely as Jack kept a close eye on both.

Finally, at the age of thirty-eight, Daniel had found true joy again. He could say 'I'm happy' and mean it, and mean it for more than mere seconds or minutes. He no longer got up in the morning and dreaded the day, because now, each day had Jack O'Neill in it; he didn't need to self-hug anymore because his husband was more than willing to hug the bejeebies out of him whenever he wanted; and he didn't need to wonder what it would be like to have dreams come true because every minute of every day he saw five precious miracles, babies and toddlers with his DNA and that of his husband's, and they were theirs ... all theirs ... all because of the gift of Kayla Armentrout.

Now, that miracle-giver was gone. Daniel had let her in, grown to love her as a dear friend, and trusted that she'd be there forever. He hadn't expected this, to lose someone now. It was a cruel joke of the Fates, and he wasn't sure how to go on. His heart cried for her in a way that belonged only to Kayla.

She wasn't a friend who was considered family, like Sam and Janet. She wasn't a sister like Suzanna. She wasn't some other extended family member, or even a colleague like Robert Rothman. She was ... the mother of his and Jack's children. There was no word for her.

Yes, there is. Love. Gift. Sacrifice. Miracle ... Kayla!

"I know, Danny. She should have grown old and written a hundred novels."

"She gave us our family, our little miracles. We wouldn't have them without ... with ... without her," Daniel cried some more, but trying to smile at the toddler he held.

"Da-Da-dy," Little Danny said. "Da-dy."

Daniel Michael Jackson-O'Neill had finally spoken his first stuttered words.

"Jack?"

The emotion was almost too much. In the nightmare of life, a new blessing, a new joy to be rejoiced and cherished had just occurred.

Daniel held his son closely in reward.

"See, Love. He was just observing." Way to go, Son. You have the best timing in the entire universe. You wouldn't want to do that again, would you? Come on, Little Danny. Once more.

"He'll never know her," Daniel lamented.

"Danny, she made those tapes, and we'll tell them."

"It's not the same."

"No, it's not, but it's something."

"Not enough."

Little Danny's hands went up to Daniel's reddened face and moved as if to wipe away the tears.

"Da-dy," he said again.

"I love you, Little Danny," the boy's daddy barely managed to get out.

Good job, Son, Jack thought as his hand brushed against the back of the toddler's head. Good job.

The day trudged on, a quiet solemnness in the air as the family went about its daily activities.

Janet called and discussed the arrangements for the services with Jack. They agreed that a memorial would be held in two days, and per Kayla's request, it would be brief and a celebration of her life, not a mourning of her death.

Jennifer watched as Daniel clung to the five babies as much as he could. She watched, too, as Jack tried to comfort the younger man, but he wasn't having much luck. Daniel seemed inconsolable.

Eventually, the couple shared the news of Kayla's death with David and Chenoa, and their usual family time was spent more in hugging and expressing love than with the usual business of the day.

As night fell, the teenager could still see Daniel's pain, and her heart ached for her father. She also realized how hard it was on Jack. She saw him trying to take care of everyone, but no one was taking care of him. Daniel was trying, but he was too much of a mess himself to have much success, especially with all the children around to interfere.

The next morning, when things were the same, Jennifer remembered some of the stories she'd heard since becoming a member of this unique family, stories about Jack dragging Daniel off to eat lunch, about Jack forcing Daniel to go on vacation because he needed time away, about Jack not letting Daniel walk away because he'd always loved him. All these stories had a common theme. Jennifer went to the phone and dialed.

"Sam Carter."

"Hi, Sam, it's Jennifer."

"Hi, Jen. How's it going?"

"Well ... it's been better."

"Yeah, I know. I talked with Janet a little to make sure she was okay. It's really a sad time, but ... What can I do for you?"

"You can come over and help me baby-sit."

"Baby-sit?"

"Sam, isn't it true that whenever something horrible happens that my dad takes my daddy someplace, or they do something, just the two of them to ... well, to sorta get through it?"

Sam tilted her head a little as she thought.

"Yeah, I guess so, though I hadn't really thought about it until now."

"Daddy's not too good ... I mean, well. I thought maybe if you came over, we could convince Dad to ..."

Sam laughed a little, not a boastful laugh, just a knowing one, that Jennifer was right.

"... to kidnap Daniel and ..."

"... and make it all better. I mean, as better as it can be. Please, Sam. I know you're at work, but ... he's ..."

Sam didn't need the teenager to tell her. She knew her friend and how he'd react to such a loss. Kayla had gotten inside Daniel's very tight family circle, and she'd given him something he had never thought he'd have, something he may not have ever had if it weren't for her.

"Jen, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks. I really appreciate it."

Two hours later, Sam arrived. Jennifer let her in, and the two hugged.

"Thank you for coming over, Sam," Jennifer said, her voice shaking just a tad. "Daddy's so upset, and so is Dad. They need each other, Sam."

"I'm glad you called. Where is everyone?"

"Well, the twins and Noa are upstairs. David is playing on my computer, and Daddy is ... holding the Munchkins."

"All three of them?"

Jennifer nodded, and then added, "Daddy's been hovering over all the babies all morning, and Dad is just sort of ... watching. They're outside on the lawn. Daddy likes it out there a lot."

Sam ambled through the living room and looked through the patio door. Just as Jennifer had said, Daniel had the three Munchkins close to him, somehow managing to keep the three contained within his arms, just hugging and cuddling them mostly. They sat on the lawn in the center of the backyard. Jack was seated on the patio steps, watching. Just feet away from Daniel and the Munchkins, Bijou was also watching Daniel closely, and Katie seemed to be focused on the three babies, both dogs ready to react if necessary.

The family Jackson-O'Neill, all watching each other, trying to keep each other safe. Geez, I love them all. Okay, Samantha, you can't be emotional and help them, so toughen up. Sam took a deep breath and walked outside. "General," she said as calmly as she could.

"Carter ..." Jack stopped himself at hearing his greeting. He sighed and shook his head at the formality. This was a family time, and not even years of military regulations and old habits would interfere. "No, today it's Sam. What are you doing here ... Sam?" Jack asked as he got up, then hugged his 2IC.

"Just wanted to express my sympathies ... Jack."

"Thanks. It was quite a shock."

Sam looked at Daniel, who hadn't even registered her presence yet.

"How's he doing?"

"He's mourning, for all of us."

Sam let out a puff of air. It was time to go into action.

"Excuse me," she said, starting to move towards the end of the porch.

"Sam?" Jack asked, still waiting for the answer to his question. Instead, he saw Sam stop and look over at Jennifer who stood near the patio door. Jack stared at the teenager who evaded his glance, folding her arms and looking off to the side. He looked at Sam and asked more sternly, "What's going on?"

Sam returned to a more formal tone as she explained more, then asked, "Sir, don't you think it's time you do what you usually do?"

Not waiting for a response, she walked across the lawn and knelt down in front of Daniel and the triplets. He wasn't forcing them to stay in his grasp exactly, but they weren't being allowed to wander either.

"Hey, Munchkins!" She reached over and touched each of the babies, all smiling when they saw her. "Daniel."

"Hi, Sam."

"You don't mind if I say a proper hello to the Munchkins, do you?" Seeing Daniel shake his head, Sam picked up Jonny. "Goodness, Jonny. You keep growing like this and you'll be taller than your dad."

"Where are you going?" Daniel asked, seeing Sam begin to walk away with Jonny.

"He's tired, Daniel. It's time for a nap," she answered with a warm smile.

Sam took Jonny and handed him to Jennifer who took him upstairs. She glanced at Jack briefly as she walked by, noticing that he wasn't interfering.

You know, don't you, Sir, what needs to happen. Just let me handle this part of it, and then you can do your thing with Daniel.

As she approached Daniel and the toddlers again, she couldn't help but chuckle at the expression on Aislinn's face. The little girl was eager to visit with "Aun-tie Sam."

"Up-py," the little one requested.

"I think I can handle that," Sam said as she picked up the toddler.

"Are you taking her, too?" Daniel asked, not moving, not fighting, but not necessarily happy about it, either.

"For a little while, Daniel. Okay?"

She noticed Daniel's hold on his namesake had tightened, but he didn't say 'no' so she headed back towards the patio. As she passed him on the patio, she again briefly looked at Jack who calmly met her gaze. Just as she walked through the door, Jennifer appeared.

"Did you get David?" Sam asked the teenager as she handed Aislinn to her.

"Yes, he's in the nursery now."

"Okay."

Sam smiled at Jack as she prepared for the hardest maneuver since her arrival. This time, Jack nodded, and Sam clearly saw the approval in his eyes, but before she reached the porch steps, the retired General spoke softly.

"Good luck, Sam. Little Danny finally spoke yesterday morning for the first time. Since then, Daniel hasn't let go of him for very long."

"Sweet," she imitated her former CO.

Sam again knelt down in front of her friend and the child who was so much like him. Early on, Little Danny had been afraid of the dark. He'd grown out of that with nurturing and reassurance from his parents, especially from Daniel who had realized that it was his own silent fears of losing his now near-perfect life that had probably fueled his baby's fears.

The middle of the three triplets, Little Danny had also been the last to start talking. Daniel had worried about that, even though he knew that logically babies start talking anywhere from twelve to seventeen months on the norm. Still, Aislinn had spoken very early, months ago, and Jonny had said his first words at thirteen months.

Finally, Little Danny often had an urgent need to be with the eldest of the triplets, Jonny. Somehow, Daniel's need for Jack seemed to be duplicated in some form with Little Danny displaying a similar desire to be near his big brother.

Sam was glad to know that the baby had finally spoken. She also knew prying him out of his father's hold at the moment might be difficult. She reached out, and Little Danny took her finger.

The blonde Colonel smiled and said, "Hi, Little Danny." Her eyes lifted to look at Daniel. "Let me take him, Daniel. Please."

Daniel turned his namesake around to face him. He gave his son a kiss. Little Danny laughed.

"Da-ddy."

It was his clearest word yet. Daniel smiled and nodded, saying a soft, "Yes, that's who I am." He brought the baby close to him and held him, swaying back and forth lightly. "He's a miracle, Sam. All the Munchkins are ... and the twins. They're all our miracles."

"Precious miracles," Sam agreed, barely able to talk herself. "Let me take him, Daniel. Please."

"He's mine, Sam."

"He sure is."

"He'll never know her. Videos and books ... it's not the same as this," Daniel said pulling his son into a hug. "He'll never know what it was like to touch her or to see her smile when she looked at him. She loved him. She loved them all."

Sam wanted to break into sobs, but if she lost control, her mission would be a failure. Still, tears streamed down her face.

"Daniel, please; let me take him. It's the right thing for right now." Reluctantly, Daniel released his hold. "Thank you," she spoke, on the verge of losing control of all her emotions. "Daniel, we don't say this stuff enough, but you're family to me, and I ... I love you. I'm going to take Little Danny inside now."

She stood, smiling down at the archaeologist, and just as she started to turn, she heard Daniel say in an extremely tiny voice, "I love you, too, Sam. Don't die, okay?"

The vulnerability in Daniel's voice bore into Sam's soul, ripping it apart. She bounced the toddler in her arms and looked away, more tears now running down her face. Her voice cracked, she replied, "I'll do my best not to." Taking a deep breath, necessary before she fell apart completely, Sam then carried the baby towards the house. She stopped by Jack. "I have an overnight bag, Sir."

"What?"

Jack tore his eyes off Daniel, who without the Munchkins near him seemed to have closed in on himself. He was now sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, staring blankly at the ground. At Sam's words, the older man gave her a surprised look. He hadn't realized the plan was that elaborate.

"Dad." Jack turned to look at Jennifer. "I'll be here with Sam all day and night to help."

"Jen, you have that party tonight."

Jennifer shook her head, and replied, "No, I'd rather be home."

"Jen ..."

"Dad, Kayla told me once that the one thing that really amazed her about you and Daddy was how you could get each other through anything. Daddy needs you. This is just one little party; there'll be lots of others."

"I love you, Jen," Jack moved to his daughter and kissed her on the forehead, his hands rubbing up and down her forearms gently. "You sure you don't mind?"

"No, I really don't."

"Okay, because I know just the thing. I need to make a couple of quick phone calls." Jack turned to face Sam and smiled. He'd heard the words she and Daniel had spoken, carrying through the air, and, of course, he could see her tears. He knew she was barely holding it together. Still, he couldn't not say it because if not today, when family was everything, then when? "Sam, we owe you again, and uh, I ... love you, too, but don't get emotional on me," he said as he hurried inside to avoid anything more emotional.

"Gawd, they're incorrigible. How's my mascara?" she asked Jennifer.

"Let's just say you probably shouldn't have put any on before you came over."

"That bad?"

Jennifer nodded and said, "That bad."

"I'm going to take this little guy upstairs, Jen, and make sure everyone is settled. Why don't you go sit with Daniel until the General gets done with his call?"

She nodded and moved to lawn, sitting down in front of her father.

"Daddy, dumb question, but are you okay?"

Daniel shook his head and said softly, "No, not yet."

Jennifer moved closer to sit next to her father. She put her arm around his shoulders and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, too, Jen."

Jennifer leaned her head against Daniel's shoulder, but never removed her arm, doing her best to comfort him. She smiled as she felt Daniel's arm pulling her closer as they offered silent comfort to each other.

When he returned to the backyard, Jack saw Jennifer's protective hold on Daniel and smiled. She saw him on the porch and nodded.

"I'm going inside, Daddy, to help Sam with the kids. I love you," she said again.

A few moments later, Jack reached out and grabbed Jennifer's hand as she walked past him. He smiled at her, but didn't say a word. She smiled back, and then continued on, going into the house.

Jack approached his lover and sat down next to him so that they were side by side. Within seconds, he had pulled his husband close. After a couple of minutes, Jack said, "We're leaving for a little while, Angel."

"We can't leave; we have children."

"Carter's here."

"Oh."

"Come on, Love, let's go."

"Just Sam?"

"Danny, Jen can help, and Sam can call Janet or Teal'c or Mrs. Valissi or Christa and Jacob; she has a lot of people she can call if she needs to."

Jack stood up and pulled Daniel to him. The young man was simply shell shocked, having been totally unprepared to lose someone he had grown to love so much. After decades of tragedy, the last few years had been a virtual cakewalk for him. He had Jack, their children, and their girls. He had a home he loved, and he didn't have to hide anymore. It was paradise, but now, in a blink of an eye, now the reality of death and loss had returned, and Daniel simply hadn't seen it coming.

He didn't argue with Jack because Daniel knew he was lost and that his husband was the only one who could ground him back to their nation of two. Once inside, Jack placed his compliant lover on the sofa.

"Wait here, okay?"

Daniel nodded, and just as Jack was about to call their beloved beagles, Bijou and Katie suddenly appeared, each taking one side.

"Surrounded by love," Daniel echoed his words from two nights before as the beagles snuggled close.

"Thanks, Girls. I'll be right back, Angel." Jack went upstairs and into the nursery. "Okay, I need to do a couple of things. Daniel's downstairs on the sofa with Bij and Katie, so would one of you mind ..."

"I'll go," David said, practically running downstairs.

"He wants to tell Daddy ..."

"Tell him what, Jen?"

"Daddy's worried the babies won't remember her, but they will, because we won't let them forget her, none of us will, just like you and Daddy are helping to keep Mom and Dad alive for David and Noa." Jennifer suddenly choked up. She folded her arms and tears began to fall. "Gawd, Dad, why does life have to have so much pain in it? It's not fair? Mom and Dad were good people. Daddy's parents were good, weren't they?"

"The best," Jack answered softly.

"So was Kayla. Why Dad? Why does Daddy or Janet or any of us have to go through this? Why?" she said as she broke down, sobbing.

Jack rushed to her and took the teenager into his arms.

"I wish I had the answer to that, Jen. Geez, I wish I did." Jack kissed her neck and held her securely. "Jen, when Charlie died, I asked all those questions, and for a long time, I didn't think life mattered. I almost killed myself."

The teenager backed away slightly so she could look at her father's face. Incredulously, she asked, "What?"

"I asked those same questions. Why? I put my heart and soul into loving my son, and I couldn't understand why he was gone. I shut down. I treated Sara like crap."

"I don't understand that."

"I know, but I did. I turned on her and the world. The pain ate away at me until the only thing that existed was my body. There was no heart."

"What ... what happened, Dad?"

"Your daddy -- Daniel happened. He came into my life in a totally unexpected way, and the next thing I knew, I discovered my heart was beating again."

"Is that when you two fell in love?"

"No, yes. You know, we've never quite figured that out, but the point is, that 'why' question will kill you. Jen, if I had gone through with my plan, I never would have met Daniel, we wouldn't have gotten married, we wouldn't have the Munchkins or the twins, and geez, Jen ..."

"And Noa would be adopted, and David would be doing chores, and I'd be ... who knows where. Dad, the last time Kayla took me shopping, we stopped by Janet's for a little while."

"I remember."

"Janet took a picture of the two of us. It's a nice photo. Do you think maybe if we put a copy of it in here, for the babies to see that ..."

"I think that's a great idea. Listen, I need to pack a couple of bags. Are you okay?" Jennifer nodded. "I love you, Jen."

"I love you, too, Dad."

Jack started to exit when he suddenly remembered something. He cocked his head and tightened his face a little as he turned and saw Sam over by the cribs, standing quietly.

"Carter, you ... knew all that, didn't you?"

"Not so much in words, Sir, but ... I, uh, knew."

"Good. Good. Uh ..."

"Already forgotten, Sir."

"Good. Good," Jack repeated as he walked out.

"Sam, why do you keep calling Dad 'Sir'?"

"The same reason he keeps calling me 'Carter'."

"And that is?"

"Beats me if I know," she smiled as she moved to check on Ricky who had just woken from a nap.

Jack packed a small overnight bag for the couple, took it downstairs, and carried it out to the truck. When he returned, he retrieved his husband from the sofa, pulling him into his arms for a minute.

"Time to go, Angel."

"Children?"

"Everything's taken care of. We just need to go and hug them, okay?"

A minute later, Daniel quietly hugged each of his children goodbye and gave them all a kiss. He whispered his love to each and every one, and then walked downstairs to the door.

Jack had followed him in the nursery, also giving hugs and speaking words of love to each of the children. He was about to follow Daniel downstairs when Jennifer called out.

"Dad?"

"He'll be okay," Jack reached out and touched Jennifer's cheek. "You did good. We'll be back sometime tomorrow."

"Where are you going, Sir?" Sam asked, having come upstairs to check on the twins.

"Lake Tahoe. Danny surprised me by renting a cabin there from a friend of Dale's. I just checked, and it's all clear, so we're taking Jo and heading out. Gawd, Carter, he just didn't know at the time he arranged for this weekend just how needed this little trip would be."

"I'm sure he was hoping for something a little more romantic, Sir."

"Yeah. Anyway, I left the itinerary on the desk in the study, and I have my cell, but I'm not letting Danny take his. If you need anything, call me, not Daniel."

Sam nodded, and then Jack went downstairs where Daniel was standing by the door, one hand on the knob, his forehead leaning against the wooden object.

Geez, Danny.

Gently, Jack touched his lover's arm. Daniel turned his head just slightly and gave a small smile. In a second, Jack eased his lover into his arms and held him. Pulling back, he kissed Daniel tenderly.

"It'll be okay. I promise."

"Are you going to fix it, Jack?" an unusually small and vulnerable voice asked, coming from the mouth of Daniel Jackson-O'Neill.

Misty-eyed, Jack smiled and nodded, awed as usual by the complete and utter faith Daniel placed in him. He was Daniel's personal 'Mister Fix-it' and had been from the beginning of their relationship, and no way was Jack going to disappoint his husband now.

"Yes, Angel, I'm going to fix it," Jack said with love as he caressed Daniel's left cheek.

En route to the airport, Jack came to a realization. Lake Tahoe would be good, but there was somewhere else that was more appropriate -- Bryce Canyon. Daniel had surprised Jack with a trip there in a rental plane years ago, and after the Munchkins had been born, they had taken their first overnight trip away from the family there. The Canyon had a special place in their hearts and now, going to Utah seemed the thing to do. They'd save Lake Tahoe for another time.

Yeah, Bryce Canyon. That's where we need to go.

"I like it up here." Daniel's words were soft and quiet as he sat beside Jack in their small plane looking out at the clear blue horizon. "There's nothing here but ... quiet ... peace."

"It's like being one with the universe."

"I zoned out."

"It's only natural, Love."

"You didn't."

"You just beat me to it, that's all."

"I love you, Jack."

"I love you, too, Angel."

"It's so beautiful here."

"The sun will set soon; love watching that here," Daniel responded.

"Me, too. It's going to be heavenly," Jack spoke softly.

He was leaning against a tree, and Daniel was in front of him, leaning against his chest. Jack was rubbing the young man's abdomen in short caresses as he had done for most of the afternoon.

"She was so young, and she gave us so much."

"We'll never forget her, and we'll make sure the kids know her and what she did to make us a family. Angel, she did a great job with those little books she made and that video. It'll help a lot."

"Jack, Kayla's book. We have to make sure it gets published."

"We'll talk to Janet."

Jack knew that would be a priority. It was Kayla's dream, and they had promised to make her dream come true just as she had made theirs a reality. Somehow, they'd make sure the young woman's great American novel found its way to bookstores, even if they had to finance it themselves.

I promise, Kayla. Your book will make it to market, Jack vowed.

Minutes passed, and finally a majestic sunset appeared in front of their eyes with shades of oranges and purples. It was breathtaking. Daniel never looked away from the setting sun and its beauty. And Jack? He never took his eyes off the most beautiful thing ever created -- his Daniel.

He kissed his lover's temple and whispered, "Forever and always, Angel."

"Forever and Always."

The words were spoken in barely a whisper.

As the afternoon had passed, Jack knew Bryce Canyon had been the right place to come. He'd made reservations a little earlier at a hotel, and had called Sam with the change of itinerary, explaining that Lake Tahoe would wait for another day when it would be the romantic rendezvous Daniel had originally intended it to be.

After a few more minutes, Jack said, "It's getting cold, Danny. Why don't we go check in at the hotel?"

"I'm scared, Jack."

Daniel's voice was cracked, his vulnerability obvious.

"Scared of what?"

"The Fates. They'll do it again. They'll start taking everything away."

"No, they won't. I won't let them." Jack's grip on Daniel strengthened. "Nothing will happen. We're safe, and so is our brood."

"Kayla ... she was innocent. She was only there because ..."

"No, Daniel, I won't let you do that. She's Janet's niece. She came and went for years before we even met her. She could have been there at any time and had the same thing happen. There's no blame here, Love ... except for that which belongs to the drunk driver."

"The Fates don't like me very much."

"Sure they do, Angel." Jack snuggled into his lover just as close as he could get. "Think about everything we have. We have each other, and then we got the girls. Danny, look at all the love those two beagles brought into our lives. They were and are such a cherished blessing."

"Training," Daniel tried to tease.

"Probably, and then we got the Munchkins, three perfect, beautiful, healthy babies; and before we knew what hit us, wow, there were the Mouseketeers. Geez, Danny, I never thought we could pull it off, but we found a way; and then came the twins. Eight beautiful, wonderful children, and the girls. Tell me again how the Fates don't like us."

Daniel turned around, sliding out of Jack's hold. His eyes gazed into Jack's, searching for truth. Then the tears fell, not the mournful sobs from earlier, but those of a gentle rain realizing that after the rain, there would be a sunrise with a rainbow. He didn't know how, but Jack had managed to rid him of the paralyzing fear that had consumed him since hearing of Kayla's death.

"I love you, Jack. Thank you for bringing me here, and ... for fixing it ... again." He smiled as Jack took his hand, leaned over, and kissed the wedding band he was wearing. "I guess the Fates haven't been so bad, all things considered."

"All things considered," Jack repeated.

"Make love to me, Jack."

"Let's go to the hotel."

"No, here."

"It's cold out here, Love."

"Please, Jack. I want you to make love to me here."

Jack melted. Daniel's soulful blue eyes were too much too resist. Besides, they'd warm up quickly enough, so, under the clear night sky of Utah, Jack and Daniel made love.

The next morning, they flew home in Jo, their Meyers 200A aircraft, painted blue to show off Daniel's own blue eyes. Daniel stared at Jack as he piloted the plane, reveling in his love for the older man.

No, the Fates haven't been so bad. They gave me you, and that's everything, so all things considered, I wouldn't change a thing.

Daniel took Sam aside and thanked her for taking care of the children, and then he spent time with Jennifer, thanking her for forgoing the party she had been looking forward to.

"I'm just glad you're feeling better, Daddy. You are, aren't you?"

"Yes, much. Jack ... he always knows how to make me feel better."

"Janet called. She wants you to call her about the service."

"Okay," Daniel said and then kissed his teenage daughter before going to the den to place the call.

The service was scheduled for later that afternoon. It would be difficult, but at least now, Daniel could focus again, thanks to his loving husband, his attentive teenage daughter, and one very good friend.

The memorial was short and upbeat, just as Kayla had requested. Sara and Mark were babysitting the babies, but the Mouseketeers insisted on attending.

"You need us to be there with you, and we want to be there with you," Jennifer had told her parents, and it had been the truth.

The three children provided both Jack and Daniel with mounds of strength as they had struggled to get through the service.

Towards the end of the service, the pastor asked if anyone else would care to speak. Jennifer looked at her parents, surprising them by standing up and walking to Kayla's coffin. She didn't look at the mourners, just at the photo of the smiling, energetic, and vivacious woman who lay dead inside the black vessel.

"My brothers and sisters and I were very fortunate to have you in our lives. You were a great friend, and we'll miss you ... a lot." After a moment, the teenager took a rose that the pastor offered her and set it upon Kayla's coffin. Her hand rubbing the coffin as she fought back tears, Jennifer spoke softly, "Mom, this is from all of your children, all eight of us. Be safe. We'll see you again someday."

Gawd, Jack.

That's our daughter.

The two men were full of pride at their daughter's actions, and were surprised and proud again when David and Chenoa each mimicked Jennifer's actions.

David said, "Mom, this is for the Munchkins. Thank you for bringing them into the world. Little Danny is talking now. I wish you could hear him."

He placed his flower on the coffin, next to the one Jennifer had placed there.

Then Chenoa wobbled a little as she stood, but said firmly, "Love you, Mom."

She looked up at Jennifer and tugged on her skirt. Everyone waited as the teenager leaned over and listened for almost a minute to the talking toddler. Then they saw the smile on Jennifer's face as she kissed her sister.

"Noa isn't quite old enough to say all that is in her heart, but what she wants to say is that this flower is for the twins, and ..." Jennifer brushed back another tear, "and Mom, Noa was wondering if you could say 'hi' to our birth mother and father. Let them know we're okay because we have really great fathers who love us. Noa ... well, all of us, miss them."

Jennifer nodded at her younger sister and motioned towards the coffin. The toddler then leaned up on her tip-toes to place her flower next to the one David had just laid down a minute or two earlier.

Jennifer leaned over and hugged her siblings, whispering, "You two did great. Someday, we'll tell our brothers and sisters about how we said goodbye to our mother for them, okay?"

Two nods were her answer, and quickly, the trio returned to their parents and found themselves swallowed up in a large family hug.

"You didn't have to do that," Daniel choked out.

"Yes, we did," Jennifer said, not leaving a speck of doubt in her voice.

Daniel nodded and then leaned into Jack as they listened to a final song as the service ended. Afterwards, there was a short reception, which was almost harder for the couple to get through, but once again, the Mouseketeers provided them with unending strength and courage to persevere. Finally, though, they returned home.

A few days later, Janet phoned and spoke with Jack. She had a favor to ask of him, one she knew might be difficult, but she was in a bind. Jack agreed and went to the den to speak with his husband about the call.

"Cassie has a presentation to make, and she wants Janet with her. She's feeling a little ..."

"Kayla's death hit her hard."

"Yeah, so Janet wants to go and spend time with her and be there for the presentation, but she had been planning to clean out Kayla's apartment this weekend. She wanted to know if we'd do it, take the things to her house, make sure everything was out."

"We could just pay the rent for another month."

"Yes, we could, if that's what you want to do."

"No, I just ... I still keep looking for an email from her talking about some tribal custom somewhere."

"How about if I call Sam or Sara and see if one of them can take the brood?"

"Okay."

"Look, Danny -- her photos from Africa. Look at this one: she's right next to an elephant. It reminds me of the photo of you on the camel," Jack said fondly.

Daniel walked up and smiled at the picture.

"She had such a good time there."

He moved away, studying other things in Kayla's apartment. He stopped at the desk and stared at the package. Kayla had obviously opened it and then loosely re-wrapped it.

"Jack, come here." Jack walked to stand beside Daniel. "This is from the publisher. Look at the date."

"She said she finished the draft. He just wanted it edited."

Daniel pulled out the manuscript and walked over to the sofa, reading as he did so. He turned to the first page and read, getting more and more engrossed in it. He knew he didn't have time to read it in detail, but continued to skim chapter after chapter to get the feel of the novel.

Jack considered bringing Daniel back to reality, but he couldn't. Whatever Daniel was reading had to be powerful. He could see the expression on Daniel's face -- focused, intense, involved.

Jack puttered around the apartment, boxing things quietly and reverently, until an hour later, he heard Daniel exclaim, "Oh gawd."

"Danny?"

Jack rushed to the sofa and sat down next to him, leaning forward and sideways to face Daniel.

"It's us."

"What?"

"Her great American novel ... is about us. Jack, I thought it was just coincidence. I mean, as I've been reading, I kept thinking how much it sounded like us, but I didn't think it could be, but it is. We're her novel, Jack. The story she waited her whole life to write ... and it's us."

Jack leaned over Daniel's shoulder. Daniel had gone back to the first page and together, they spent the next few hours reading Kayla's novel. When they were done, both had tears running down their cheeks. They were touched beyond belief.

Kayla's goal had been to write a great adventure story, like some of the greatest literary talents throughout time had done. She had always anticipated that her journeys around the globe would be the setting for her story. Instead, she had found her story in her dear friends, Jack and Daniel.

Her story had evolved from the tale of a wandering journalist to that of a close-to-retirement-age Air Force General and a brilliant archaeologist who had fallen in love, but had been forced to hide their relationship because of military regulations. The story of the two men hadn't been the major plot, but as the journalist's adventure continued, it was the story of the enormous love and the courage of the two men that took over the book. It was the proverbial sub-plot that ended up being the big story.

The tale told of the hard realities of living a life together when most people, including family and friends, didn't have a clue about the relationship, not because the lovers hadn't wanted to share their love, but because they couldn't risk the careers of those friends if they did find out. The book showed in vivid detail how the misconceptions of a society could inflict so much pain on two people who wanted only to love without being condemned for it.

Through pictures and glimpses of their lives, Kayla's book took the reader on the emotional rollercoaster of a same-sex couple surviving in a world where they were often laughed at, where they were looked at as being deviants, where they couldn't reveal their love for fear of being prosecuted professionally. It was an essay about Americana in a time of change, and of two people, who had never sought this life, but had found it, and wanted only to be together in peace.

"Jack, it's my computer diaries. I showed them to her. I mean ... without the alien stuff. We talked about it, about why people don't understand us. Gawd, Jack, I just want to love you, that's all."

"Angel," Jack kissed his husband on the temple and pulled him close as he spoke. "She did a good job. Geez, I thought she was writing about India."

"Me, too. Jack, everything I was trying to say in those diaries, about our love and having to hide it ... a...about how that felt ... it's all here. She's made it so ... so ..."

"All the pain and all the love ... on a few hundred pages of manuscript."

"She didn't tell us."

"She wanted it to be a surprise, Love."

"It is. I wish we could hug her."

Jack sighed, and then he got a thought. He moved slightly, reaching in his pocket but not finding what he wanted.

"I guess we should pack this place up," Daniel finally said, moving off the sofa, trying not to lose his composure any more than he had.

He went to a shelf and began to take out the books, but when he looked back towards Jack, Daniel saw that his lover was back on the sofa, writing something.

"What are you doing?"

Daniel sat back down, trying to figure out what his husband was doing. A moment later, Jack turned the manuscript so Daniel could see what he had written.

"More poignant like this ..." and then Daniel saw a new sentence in place of an old one, and it was better.

Daniel watched as Jack made a few more notes, correcting some grammar and rewording things. Each correction or each enhancement was an improvement on the overall piece. Jack saw Daniel staring at him.

"Okay," Jack sighed. "Danny, remember once we were having a big fight, and I asked how you would feel if I said that I had a teaching certificate?"

"Oh, gawd."

"I thought it was too much. You were so angry at me for all the degrees. I started to tell you, obviously, but ... it just felt like too much. It's a secondary credential that went hand in hand with my English Lit degree." Jack paused, sighing. "Are we going to fight, Danny?"

"No. I don't think I'll ever know all of you, but that's okay. I'm getting used to being surprised. It ... keeps things exciting."

Jack put the manuscript aside for a moment and twisted his body around to look at Daniel squarely. He cupped his husband's face, his thumbs gently caressing his cheeks. He gazed lovingly, but intensely into Daniel's blue eyes, needing and wanting Daniel to understand something very important.

"Angel, I promise you. You know everything that's really important. These things ... that ridiculous IQ that means squat, these degrees that are basically paper only, my age ... they're ..."

"... small fries," Daniel smiled, using Jack's terminology from a fight years before.

"Yeah. They don't mean anything. There's nothing from Iraq or Special Ops or ... that time. I mean ..."

Daniel put his hand over Jack's mouth.

"I know what you mean. So what if there are a few little facts I don't know. There's probably things about me we've never talked about, too, but it doesn't matter. What does is that we're one heart and one soul ..."

"Forever and always," both said in unison.

Then they kissed. Jack returned to his previous position, picking up the manuscript and reviewing the pages. A minute later, Daniel pulled out his pen and asked, "Jack, what about this?"

He made a few changes and looked at his lover. Jack smiled in response.

"Yeah, that works."

The two kept going, hour after hour, until they had made notes throughout the entire manuscript. They looked at each other, and Jack nodded.

"If Corning doesn't publish it ..."

"Then we will," Daniel stated determinedly.

"Then we will," Jack echoed. "She should have more copies in the desk. Let's make sure, and then we need to make copies of this and go through it again, paragraph by paragraph."

"I'll bet she has this on disk, Jack. I can make the changes easily if she does."

Daniel stood and looked through the desk, coming up with the item he was after.

"How about manuscripts?"

Daniel pulled open the bottom drawer.

"Yes, four copies, and a few of her earlier drafts. And ..."

Jack stood and walked to Daniel. Daniel held a file that had written on it, "No matter what draft we end up with, this is the dedication for it."

They opened it and read the words in Kayla's handwriting:

"For J and D, unknown heroes of the greatest kind, not for their professions, but because they dare to love in a way that risks all, and in doing so, have made my dreams come true. You are truly my heroes, and I love you both!"

Jack took the envelopes and files Daniel had in his hand and put them down. Then he cupped Daniel's face, his thumbs again rubbing lovingly along the skin.

"You're my dream, Angel," Jack said, and then leaned in for a kiss of passion that went on for a few minutes. "I love you, Danny."

"Love you, too," Daniel said before leaning into Jack's hold.

They stood for quite a while until a look at the clock revealed that they needed to head home.

"We didn't get much done here today, apartment-wise, did we?" Jack asked.

"No, but I think we finally found a way to say thank you and ... and to say goodbye."

Jack nodded, and then arm in arm, Kayla's heroes went home to their family, determined to make sure that Kayla's dream would be published.

On to Chapter Six...