Note: This chapter kind of took on a life of its own. I hope you enjoy it. As per several requests, more JJ in this one!

Chapter 29 – Payback

Although JJ was almost a year old, he still required two naps each day. His late morning nap tended to be rather short; thirty to forty-five minutes tops. Which was just about the amount of time Sam and Jacob had been gone.

Jack flipped idly through the channels of the television in front of him, his mind not really focusing on anything he saw. For the last 20 minutes, while JJ slept in the crib in Sam's room, he had been going over the conversation in the briefing room with Jacob Carter. And as unusual as it was for Jack O'Neill, he was feeling a bit guilty about his actions. Granted, he had greatly enjoyed yanking one General Carter's chain; but he also was realizing that he had put his 2IC in an awkward position, especially with that last comment about sharing a room. Now Jack was more than a bit worried that his parting shot was going to come back and bite him in the butt.

Hearing a rustling from the crib in the next room, Jack walked over to the doorway and peeked in. JJ was sitting up in the crib, rubbing his hand across his face and looking around in confusion as if he couldn't understand why the people he loved had left him all alone. He moved over to the side of the crib and pulled himself up, Bart clutched tightly in one hand. He spit his pacifier onto the floor and then started to push and pull against the top of the crib, letting it be known that he wanted out and he wanted out right now!

Jack smiled to himself as he entered the room. He knew how the little guy felt. All those times spent in prison cells made a person appreciate their freedom a lot more. Jack was greeted with a happy declaration of "Dada!" as he bent to pick up the little boy.

"Hey there little man. Did you have a good nap? Whew, you sure need a change!" Jack held the little boy away from him. "Too bad mommy's not back yet. Although, if you ask me, I think she may have planned this!" Jack laid JJ on Sam's bed and proceeded to change the little boy's rather full diaper. "Man! What did you eat for breakfast, buddy?" he asked as he scrunched his face up against the smell assaulting his nostrils. "I think we're going to cut down on the bananas tomorrow morning." JJ gurgled with delight and kicked his legs as Jack continued to talk to him. After wiping him down good, Jack turned to reach for the powder. JJ quickly rolled over and began to crawl across the bed, intent on reaching the teddy bear he had spied out of the corner of his eye.

Jack made a lurching grab as JJ came too near the edge of the bed. "Hold on there, little man, where do you think you're going? O'Neill's do not crawl around leaving their hind ends exposed to the world!"

"Well, I should certainly hope not," came a rather amused voice from the doorway of the bedroom.

Jack swung around, his face showing complete surprise at the man who stood in the doorway. "Jacob! What are you doing here?" He looked around the older man. "Where's Sam?"

Jacob lifted an eyebrow as he came into the room. "So she's Sam now, is she? When did that start?"

"UH, it just seems rather awkward to call her Carter in your presence," Jack thought quickly and then turned back to the baby, who was still waiting for his clean diaper to be put on. Although, to look at him, he didn't seem to mind waiting. JJ was happily chewing on one of the teddy's ears as he watched Jack. When Jacob came closer, JJ greeted him with a welcome of "Papa!"

Despite himself, Jacob smiled at the greeting. He had intended to come in here, guns blazing and threatening Jack within an inch of his life. Though he had promised Sam he would be gentle, she hadn't believed him and had insisted on talking to Selmac before lending him her room key. And she had told him in no uncertain terms that she would be back in 10 minutes and had better find her commanding officer in one piece.

Now though, looking at the smiling face of the baby on the bed, who unfortunately had the same grin as one Jack O'Neill, he found that he couldn't be quite so harsh. Not that Jack didn't deserve it, of course; but he didn't want to this little guy to go back to his real parents and remember that Papa had been scary in the other place.

Jacob stepped up to the bed, edged Jack away with his hip and gruffly stated, "You're doing this all wrong, you know. A little powder goes a long way. You don't want it to get stuck in the creases of his skin. It can cause an irritation."

Jack looked on in surprise as the General turned Tok'ra proceeded to finish powdering and diapering the baby. When he picked the baby up and turned to face Jack, he had an unreadable expression on his face. The two men stared at each for several moments, each trying to read the other's thoughts. Jack was certain that Jacob was carrying on a private conversation with Selmac and waited for him to speak aloud. From the expressions moving across his face, Jack wasn't sure the conversation was going too well.

Jacob took his gaze from Jack to look once more at the baby. He gave JJ a small smile as the little boy patted his cheeks. Though Selmac was telling him that his plan just might backfire, he was going to try it and see what would happen.

"I need you to pack up JJ's things, Jack. We need to get going."

Jack's eyebrows raised high on his forehead as he said with confusion, "Excuse me?"

"I'm taking JJ and Sam back with me to the Tok'ra home world. I've talked it over with George and he agrees with me."

Jack stepped forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Like hell you are! They're not going anywhere. What does Sam have to say about this?"

"She has nothing to say in the matter. It's been decided. Now please get JJ's things together as I am expected back within the half hour." Jacob made toward the door of the bedroom, carrying his masquerade a bit further. He wasn't surprised to find the way blocked by one very irate Colonel.

"First of all, Jacob, you are not taking this child away from here to some godforsaken planet that may or may not be safe. Secondly, I can't believe that General Hammond would ever approve of this idea. And thirdly, there is no way in hell that Sam would agree to this either, much less allow you to make that decision for her," Jack finished, his eyes shooting daggers at Jacob.

Jacob eyes narrowed as well as the two men took part in a silent contest of wills. JJ, sensing the tension, began to squirm and whimper in Jacob's arms. He held his arms out and called "Dada," as he leaned his body forward. Jacob turned to the side as if he wasn't going to relinquish his hold on the boy.

"Jacob, give me my child," Jack fairly growled out, trying his best to keep his voice under control.

Jacob handed the baby over, not willing to upset the little boy. But he gave Jack a speculative look as he quietly stated, "He's not your child, Jack, not really. I think you and Sam are playing a dangerous game here," he continued quietly as he took in the barely controlled fury on Jack's face.

Jack brushed past him and went into the living room, taking the bottle off the end table and settling down on the couch with JJ. When the little boy was finally drinking from it contently, Jack looked up at Jacob. "I know he's not mine, Jacob. But for the time that he's here, he is mine and nothing or nobody is going to take him away. Your daughter and I have been through quite a lot trying to keep him safe and I'll be damned if you're going to take him away where I can't watch over him! And whatever you might think, this is not a game; to either one of us."

"You could have fooled me by the way you were acting in the briefing room earlier," Jacob stated with quiet anger.

Jack gave him a glance, his face holding a brief apology, before he returned his gaze to JJ.

Jacob settled down into the chair and watched Jack with the baby. He had to admit, the other man was remarkably good with the little guy. Sighing, Jacob leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. "Look Jack, I'm not blind. I've seen how you look at Sam, especially when she's holding JJ. This…situation, has the potential to create quite a mess. I happen to think that removing both Sam and JJ from this…set-up – might be in everyone's best interest."

"Everyone's, or just yours, Jacob?" Jack asked the older man, not taking his gaze off of JJ.

"Everyone's. I don't want to see Sam destroy her career or get hurt just because the two of you decide to play house for a week," he said with a bite to his voice.

Jack's eyes flashed to the older man's. If he hadn't been holding JJ, he would have probably struck the older man. "Look, I realize I was being a jerk earlier, especially with that parting comment about staying in the same quarters. But Sam and I are not playing at anything. We both truly care about this little boy and are working together in his best interest. I have nothing but pride and respect for you daughter, Jacob. Nothing has happened or will happen, not while she's under my command."

"What about when she's no longer under your command, Jack?" The question hung in the air like a lead weight, neither man willing to be the next one to speak. Jack tried to calm his breathing and think. Where the hell did that just come from? He wondered to himself.

Jacob was saying much the same to himself, wondering why he had asked Jack that question. He grimaced as Selmac answered him, "Because you are trying to anger him and see just how far you can go. And maybe find out his intentions toward your daughter." Yeah, you're probably right. But this isn't the time or the place for that, Jacob silently answered Selmac.

Jacob stood up and walked around the small room, rubbing his hand through his almost non-existent hair. Finally, he turned and looked at Jack. "Look, forget what I just said. I know I have to let Sam make her own decisions and I can't be worrying about the future when the present is so uncertain."

"And yet you want to take her and JJ back with you? Excuse me, but that doesn't sound like letting her make her own decisions," Jack stated, his tone not softening at all. Even if Hammond approved it, Jack wouldn't let them go; not without him coming along. They didn't exactly have a great safety record when it came to their associations with the Tok'ra.

"Yeah, about that. I wasn't really planning on taking them with me." At Jack's look of disbelief, he continued, "Not that I hadn't thought about it, mind you, but you're right about one thing. Sam would never allow me to make that decision for her. I just wanted to…well, you know," he finished uncomfortably.

"Pay me back? Make me squirm? Rile me up like I did to you?" Jack asked, his eyes losing their hard edge from moments earlier.

Jacob gave him a slight smile. "Something like that. Although part of me thinks they might be safer with me, I can see you do have their best interest at heart. And JJ seems to have taken a shine to you," he smiled at the little boy who was pulling on the buttons of Jack's shirt as he finished his bottle.

"Well, what can I say? He's a Carter."

"And that means what, exactly? That I've taken a shine to you?" Jacob asked with a snort.

"Ah, Jake, I may be a pain in the ass, but you know you love me. Deep down, you really do," Jack insisted, his good humor restored now that Jacob had come clean and he knew Sam and JJ weren't going anyplace.

And I think Sam does too, Jacob thought to himself. Selmac had the good sense not to comment. Growing serious, Jacob sat back down. "I just want you to think about one thing Jack. Sam has been and always will be my little girl. Just like you would do anything to protect JJ, I would do the same for Sam. If I ever hear about anything inappropriate taking place…"

"You won't Jacob. You have my word on that," Jack answered with due sincerity. They looked at each other, the older man sizing up the younger, before he finally nodded his head in acceptance. Jacob stood up and came over to the couch.

"Now, can I hold this little guy once more before I leave?" At Jack's hesitation, he smiled, "I promise to give him back." Jack took the now empty bottle from JJ before passing him up to Jacob. JJ let out a loud belch during the transfer, causing both men to smile.

Sam opened the door of the suite at just that point in time, surprised to find her father and her CO smiling at the baby. Truth be told, she was surprised not to find any bloodshed! "Uh, everything OK in here?" she asked tentatively as she came further into the room.

The two men shared a look, giving silent communication that they wouldn't tell Sam what had transpired between them. "Everything's fine, honey," Jacob answered, giving her a wink.

Sam looked skeptically at her father before turning her gaze to Jack. "Sir?" she questioned.

"Just peachy, Carter. Dad and I were just discussing the best way to help a baby get rid of gas, weren't we Jacob?" he asked with an innocent expression.

"That's right, Sam. That and baby powder. You know, Jack has a tendency to use way too much baby powder. You might want to keep an eye on that."

Sam rolled her eyes at the two of them. Whatever they had been discussing, it most certainly was not gas and baby powder. Oh well, as long as they were both in one piece, and JJ was happy, she wasn't going to push it.

"Well kids, I'd better be going. I have a few scientists to pick up on my way back." Jacob came over and placed JJ in Sam's arms, giving him a kiss on the head as he did so. "He's a special little guy, Sam. You take care of him, OK?" he said as he gave her a kiss as well.

"I will Dad," she assured him, switching JJ to her other arm so she could give her dad a hug.

Jacob looked over at Jack. "You take care of both of them, you hear me?"

Jack gave him a lop-sided grin. "Yes, Sir."

Jacob nodded his head, his gaze encompassing the three of them. He had a strange feeling in his gut as he looked at them, that he would be witnessing a scene similar to this in the not too distant future. Shaking his head at the thought, he put his arm around Sam and walked to the door. "Walk with your old dad to the gate room?"

"Of course dad, we all will," she looked over her shoulder at Jack with a question in her eyes.

Jack nodded back at her. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Jacob."

JJ let go a string of babbles, as if agreeing with them. They all laughed and headed out together, Jacob taking JJ once more for the walk down to the gate room. It's funny, he said to Selmac, only 15 minutes with this little guy and he's got me wrapped around his little finger.

"What did you expect? He is a Carter after all," Selmac responded dryly.