WOW! Thanks to all of you who reviewed the last chapter. I'm overwhelmed by your generous comments. I'm really glad you're enjoying this story.

Junior

By Lingren

Previously:-

He clicked the off button and delved in the drawer for the phone number of the travel company so that he could book a flight to Minneapolis.

Chapter 7

They were lucky. There were only two seats left available on the flight to Minneapolis, leaving first thing in the morning, so Jack packed a few things ready, then phoned Walter to let the SGC know where he was going in case of any dire emergency, then he rang Daniel to let him know and asked him to tell Sam that they would be back by Friday night.

Jonathon Junior was full of curiosity normal for a young child but he was doubly so as nearly everything was new to him. By the end of the day Jack was worn out. Not so much because he'd had to keep up with his son, but because his patience was worn thin with all the questions he was being asked. He'd been absent for most of this side of things when Charlie was little.

Making sure that Jon was tucked up in bed fast asleep, Jack staggered to bed, telling himself that he was retiring to bed early purely because they had an early flight, instead of his sheer fatigue that told him in no uncertain terms that his body definitely wasn't up to having a lively four year old running around. A vague idea that perhaps he should put the boy up for adoption before he became too attached to him and vice-versa, came to him, but he dismissed that idea without a second thought; there was no way he could do that. The boy was his and besides, he was already 'attached' to him.

There were no nightmares during the night for which Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

They had a quick breakfast of toast and juice; coffee for him, and then finally after locking up the house, they left for the airport in time to book in for their flight.

Jon Junior sat in the window seat, with his new toy dog and 'Berra' firmly clutched in his hands. Jack sat beside him, smiling at the nervous excitement on the boy's face. For a moment the boy looked scared during the take off when the engines roared and the plane tilted, so Jack held his free hand firmly, offering comfort and reassurance; but as soon as they levelled off and Jack released his seat belt, Jon was kneeling up and ogling the view below; hardly able to believe they were flying high above the ground. For all his tiredness last night and his nagging headache from all those questions, Jack couldn't help feel that it was worth every minute, and every headache, just to be here right now with his son. Tamping down his emotions, he began to answer even more "What's this/that Daddy?" questions from his inquisitive offspring. After all, Jack could hardly blame him for wanting to know.

They were met at the airport by John and Melissa O'Neill who couldn't wait to see their new grandson. Jack was carrying Jon Junior in his arms as well as the holdall he'd packed. They weren't staying long so he didn't think they'd need that much. Besides, if he knew his mother as well as he did, she would be off on a shopping spree as soon as she'd measured Jon for size.

"Jonathon!" the cry came from his mother when she spotted them. She was waving to them as they approached.

Jack greeted them warmly but they only had eyes for his young son.

"Jon, this is your Grandma and Grandpa," Jack said gently, introducing them all. "Mom, Dad, this is my son, Jonathon Charles; or Jon or Junior, whatever."

"Oh Jonathon he's a little darling," Melissa cooed making Jack's eyes roll, but the action hid the tell-tale moisture behind them that meant he was pleased they appeared to take to him. He was sure the questions would come later when the boy was asleep.

Jonathon O'Neill Junior was shy at first, but when he'd realised they were Jack's family he smiled and stuck his hand out towards his Grandpa who looked startled by the gesture but took it anyway.

"Fair Day Grandpa!" he said earnestly, making Jack smirk at his father's shocked reaction.

John looked at the boy in amazement then at Jack, who gently reminded his son of the proper way to greet his folks.

"We say 'Hi Grandpa' or 'Hello Grandpa'. People around here don't say 'Fair Day' like they did back home."

"Oh hush now! Leave the boy alone Jonathon," Melissa chided with a playful tap on Jack's arm. "I think it sounds wonderful!" she crooned gently, leaning over to place a soft kiss on Jon Junior's cheek, and then Jack's. "He's just being a proper little gentleman aren't you sweetie."

Jon Junior grinned then kissed her back, feeling quite at home with his beaming Grandma, although he was still a little chary of his Grandpa.

John took the bag and led the way to the car. Jack was pleased to see that they had borrowed his sister's old car-seat for the ride, and strapped his son into it, in the back of the car, then settled himself into the seat alongside him.

Jon was agog as the sprawling metropolis that was Minneapolis as they approached the downtown area. His eyes were wide and glued to the towering buildings that lined the main route and cast long shadows over the people rushing about the streets in their everyday activities.

Jack couldn't help but smile as Junior's eyes widened further when they crossed over the mighty Mississippi river on the Hennepin Avenue Suspension bridge to head north. His gaze lighting up at the sight of the barges and boats plying the waters below. Jack noticed that his mother kept giving the boy strange looks in the mirror, as was his father. They couldn't believe that he was so naïve as to the nature of the big city.

It was obvious to them the boy had seen nothing in his short life so far that were like the wonders he was witnessing on this journey. It didn't unduly worry Jack as both his parents knew better than to ask too many questions and they understood he might not be able to tell them anything anyway.

Before long they were pulling up at the house and Jack carefully lifted the now sleepy boy out of his seat. The house looked just the same; like any other along the quiet street, but it was home. Jack hadn't been here since he'd brought Sam up to meet the family nearly three years ago. They'd frequented the cabin, but hadn't stopped off to see anyone; time being limited, and every available spare moment he'd spent with Sam had been sacrosanct.

Jack waited for his Mom to unlock the door and entered the house after her, leaving his Dad to bring in the bag.

"I've put a cot for him in your old room Jonathon. I thought he'd be more comfortable in with you, it being a strange house and all."

"That's fine Mom. I think I'll put him down on the bed for a while, he's been awake a long time, and it's been a pretty hectic day for him." And the rest, Jack thought as he mounted the stairs; Junior growing heavy in his arms as he gave into sleep again.

"Bless him. I'll put the coffee on. Are you hungry?"

"Whadda you think Mom?"

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then. Good, because I've got your favourite steaks in the fridge. Baked potato of fries?"

"Baked, for me and Junior." Jack's soft voice trailed off as he entered the bedroom, bland now of all his hard won trophies from when he was a child, it appeared just as any other non-descript room. There were still a few photos of him on the walls, mostly from school. There was the one of him with his hockey team, the day they won the PeeWee State Tournament; another of him with a couple of friends after a little league baseball practice.

Jack carefully laid his burden down and sat on the edge of his old bed, waiting to see if the boy settled after taking his jacket and shoes off. He then covered him up with the brightly coloured throw and settled the toys by his side, tucking Berra under his arm. Jack reached out and smoothed the hair from his face, keeping his hand there for a moment as once again the full realisation that this was his son began to sink in. Back home in Colorado, it didn't feel real, but this, here in his old room where Charlie had slept, it did.

"You've taken to the boy already I see," his father stated softly from the doorway with a smile, making Jack start.

Jack almost jerked his hand away, but stopped himself through sheer willpower. This was his son; so what if he showed a little affection to him. It was the most natural thing in the world. He could do that. He already knew that he loved the boy, and was pretty sure the kid loved him back in his own way. It was just gonna take time in getting used to the change in his life from now on.

"Yeah, I guess I have," he answered smiling indulgently at the sleeping figure.

John dumped the bag onto the floor and stood next to Jack, his hand resting on his shoulder.

"He's a fine looking boy Jonathon."

"Takes after his mother," Jack sighed, scrubbing a hand through his unruly hair.

John patted the sagging shoulder and turned back towards the door.

"Come down when you're ready son. We'll keep the coffee hot."

"Yeah sure. Be down in a minute. I just want to make sure he's settled."

Jack sat and watched for another few minutes, then slipped his own Jacket off his shoulders and laid it across the bed before going downstairs to join his parents and to face the inquisition that he knew would be waiting for him.

He slipped into the chair at the kitchen table and accepted the cup of coffee gratefully. The coffee at the airport had tasted like aviator fuel and worse than even the commissary could dish up, so a decent cup was to be relished. Maybe he should bring Daniel up here; he was sure the man would enjoy his Mom's brew. He picked up one of the home-made chocolate chip cookies from the plate in the middle of the table and munched happily on it, but he could almost feel the questioning vibes coming from his folks, though they at least seemed to be waiting until he'd finished his drink.

"Mmmmm! I'd forgotten how good these tasted Mom," he said through the crumbs filling his mouth.

"I thought young Jonathon might like them."

Jack shrugged, though it puzzled his mother. He looked up and caught the frown. The time had come, and he swallowed the last of his coffee, washing away the remaining fragments of the cookie from his mouth.

"He's never had them before?" she asked incredulously.

"I doubt it very much. He's...er...been used to a different diet, mostly veggies and cereals."

Melissa gasped with surprise and anticipating the long awaited information, she pulled out a chair and sat down ready to hear Jacks' explanation.

"I can't tell you much about him; that's all classified information."

"Did you love her?"

Jack sighed, he knew they'd ask that but he was unable to say exactly how he had really felt at the time. He stared unseeing into his empty cup as he pondered his thoughts. Maybe if he'd stayed on Edora he might have loved her in the end. It was hard to say because he was still missing home and Sam in particular. He would have settled there eventually he supposed, but a huge part of him still believed he would go home; that 'she' would find a way to come for him. In the end he was torn in two. Laira's kind of love was tangible whereas Sam's was hidden beneath the regulations. He had to settle for one or the other. When his team found him he'd asked her to come to Earth with him but Laira wouldn't leave, and he couldn't stay. End of story. Now perhaps, because of the boy, he had lost Sam too.

"In a way I guess I must have," he answered finally.

"But not enough to..."

"It wasn't by my choice Dad," he snapped almost angrily. "Sorry," he apologised, realising he'd been too terse with him. "I was...stranded there for just over three months. I didn't expect to come home. I liked her a lot. I guess if I'd stayed, then..."

"And he'd definitely yours?"

"Yeah," he said with a tight smile. "He's mine alright. That was one of the first tests that we carried out."

"And his mother? Why didn't she come home with you?"

Again they had to wait for Jack to control his chaotic thoughts before they received an answer.

"She didn't want to leave, and now...? Now she's dead. All because some really nasty guys came along one day and wiped the whole village out. All for nothing. And by some cosmic intervention or miracle if that's what you wanna call it, Junior was the only survivor, and now he's mine."

"Fate has a funny way of dealing with us sometimes Jonathon. Maybe this is God's will for you; to make up for losing Charlie. God works in a mysterious way son," John said softly, reminding him of his Catholic upbringing.

"Yeah maybe. But I've been given another chance, and I'm not about to blow it this time. When I get back I'm gonna hand in my notice. I intend to retire."

"So, he's not American by birth?"

Jack swallowed, but kept his eyes on the plate of cookies, although he wasn't seeing them. He shook his head. It couldn't be any further from the truth.

"No, but I can't tell you any more than that," he sighed regretfully, he just wished he could, but they didn't have the full clearance. "Suffice it to say he knows nothing about the way we live. He'd never seen a TV before he arrived, let alone a car or anything," he stated, hoping that they would get the gist of his past without asking any more.

His mother's hand reached across the table and clasped his restive fingers, giving them a squeeze. She understood...bless her.

"I'm sure you'll do just fine by the boy Jonathon. He already thinks the world of you by the look of things."

Jack closed his other hand over hers and smiled.

"That's all I want Mom. Well, that and..." he paused, waving a vague hand in the air whilst sucking in a huge breath as he thought of Sam. Pulling out of her grip he slumped against the back of the chair, but he didn't have to finish his sentence because his Mother understood.

"I'm sure Sam will come round soon dear. This is a big thing for her to discover that you have a child by another woman. Just give her time Jonathon. If she truly loves you she'll overlook the past and concentrate on the future."

Jack finally looked up and smiled, comforted by her words. He could always rely on her to boost his flagging spirits. He just wished he'd had the common sense to talk to her after Charlie died; maybe it would have saved a whole heap of heartache all round.

"Thanks Mom."

TBC