A/N: Thank you Wheeley, Kahless21, Zeilfanaat, and Kurnal Jack for the reviews! And sorry for the long wait :-P


Jack stared at the man standing beside him, "Charlie? It can't be…" His voice cracked slightly.

Mac sighed heavily flashing him a small smile, "You figured it out finally." As he spoke his body began to glow and morph. His frame shrank and he turned into a small eight-year-old boy. Familiar large blue eyes framed in short dirty blonde hair stared up at him.

"Sorry dad," Charlie said softly scratching the back of his neck as his cheeks flushed a light pink in embarrassment, "I was afraid you'd hurt yourself…" His eyes shimmered in the light, "Guess you can't stop what's already been planned."

Jack could hardly blink, his heart pounded in his chest at the sight, "My God, how… how… Is it really you?" He was starting to think that this was all a dream but was too afraid to pinch himself incase it was.

Charlie nodded, "It's me daddy."

Ignoring his orders to stay in bed, Jack climbed out and knelt down by Charlie pulling him into his arms. He felt so real, he even smelt real and then his little arms wrapped around his neck.

Jack broke down into tears; his little boy was really here, "It really is you… I'm so sorry Charlie, I'm sorry I yelled at you that morning."

"It's okay daddy, I understand. You're not mad at me now, are you?" It was a typical little kid question and it made Jack laugh softly to himself.

"For what?" He was loosing his voice from all the emotions he was experiencing, had experienced in the past few days… hours.

Charlie leaned back a little, just enough to look him in the eye, "For tricking you. For making everyone think you were crazy…"

Jack shook his head, "They already thought I was crazy, Charlie. I'll never be mad at you." He pulled him back to him; he didn't want this moment to end.

"I can't stay much longer daddy," Charlie whispered resting his head on Jack's shoulder, "The agreement was that I could come back until you figured out it was me…"

'What kind of sick agreement was this?' Jack thought but felt himself nod, "I understand," The words spilled from his mouth like he was on autopilot, "Can I ask you something?" He had so many questions but as Charlie pulled back and nodded only one made it passed his lips, "What happens next?"

It felt odd asking his eight-year-old son something like that. But as Charlie stood there looking at him with crystal blue eyes, he looked much wiser than his age.

"You live." Charlie answered simply and Jack chuckled softly wiping at his tears, "And dad," Charlie continued reaching forward to catch a stray tear from his father's cheek, "I don't hate you, really I don't."

"I know you don't Charlie," Jack sniffed hugging his son to him again, "And I'll live, I promise."

Charlie smiled hugging him back, "Bye daddy." He whispered and Jack felt his arms go empty; slowly he dropped them to his sides and breathed in deeply through his nose.

"Jack? What are you doing out of bed?" Doctor Frasier walked in looking a little hesitant, Major Carter and General Hammond followed behind her.

Pulling himself up onto his feet, Jack offered the group a wary smile as he brushed the rest of his tears away, "Lost a contact." He said offhandedly.

Sam gave him a puzzled look, "Sir, I didn't know you wore contacts?"

"He doesn't." Janet frowned giving Jack a similar look, "Are you feeling okay Colonel?"

Nodding Jack sat down on the edge of his bed, "I'm actually…" He looked between the three and smiled lightly, "Feeling a lot better."

"Well now that we got that settled," Hammond cut in glancing about the room for any busted pipes or something that would answer the 'ghost' story; "Major Carter and Doctor Frasier both claim that they heard voices in your room."

Jack's eyebrows raised in surprise, "Voices sir?" He looked to Sam and Janet curiously, "What kind of voices?"

"Well not exactly 'voices' but a voice." Sam said meekly suddenly feeling like maybe she was the one who had suffered a mental breakdown.

Janet nodded, "It was a little boy crying." She added noting the look that quickly passed over the colonel's face before it went blank.

Jack shrugged, "I didn't hear anything." His eyes slid over to Sam who was eyeing him funny, Hammond however ignored the exchanged glances and headed to the door.

"That's all-" He started to say when what sounded like crying echoed throughout the room followed by cracking and then water exploding from the ceiling.

The group all startled turning to the gushing water spilling from a broken pipe, "I'll go call a mechanic." Hammond shouted over the roaring water as he bolted from the room. Sam and Janet both looked at each other then to Jack who was watching the water fall disinterestedly.

Two Weeks Later

Sam stood outside Jack's new office, she had mulled over the possibilities of what she and Janet had heard that day. Nothing logical came to mind, not even when the pipes had busted making a similar sound to the crying had worked out. The door opened and Jack peered out at her with raised eyebrows, "How long were you planning on standing out here, Carter?"

Sam opened and closed her mouth then blinked in confusion, "How did you know I was standing here?" She accused.

Jack opened the door wider for her to enter, "I heard you say 'hi' to someone five minutes ago and your shadow hadn't left the door since."

Blushing in embarrassment, Sam shrugged simply, "Sorry, I was just trying to think of something to say."

"You still stuck on that 'ghost' thing?" Jack grumbled sitting down in his chair and began putting papers away.

Sam shrugged again, "Well… yea," Jack gestured for her to take a seat, obeying she continued, "It just doesn't add up sir."

"Carter," Jack stopped her, "If I tell you something it doesn't leave this room, understand?" She nodded straightening in her seat in interest, "It was just the pipes."

Sam sighed rolling her eyes, "I beg your pardon sir, but pipes don't say they're sorry."

Jack smiled, "When they break they do."

Giving up, Sam stood up, "Okay fine, I'll drop it."

"Thank you." Jack breathed pulling out more paperwork for him to finish.

Sam started for the door then paused looking at Jack over her shoulder, "It was Charlie, wasn't he." The way she said it made Jack pause, slowly he looked up at her.

"Who?"

Sam nodded simply and left the office closing the door behind her. Jack stared at the door, smiled and continued with his paperwork.


The End

A/N: Thank you everyone for reading, I hope you all enjoyed this fic as much I enjoyed writing it!

:D