Thanks to everyone who reviewed again. As I warned, a little bit of angst first, but the fluff is coming, please be patient. My fics are never straight-forward, so be prepared, there's always some danger lurking nearby, so expect the worst later and then lots of fluff!

Junior

By Lingren

Previously:-

"Thanks Walter." He said, shutting down the phone, leaving the Master Sergeant on the other end looking at the phone thoroughly bewildered and not a little frustrated too at being cut off every time he'd wanted to add something. He sighed and shrugged...it was General O'Neill after all; what did he expect?

Chapter 9

Jack sat for a few minutes wondering who it was that had called at the house, and how did they know he was there? Making a snap decision, he decided that he should perhaps try to fly home the next day. He phoned the airline but was disappointed when he couldn't get a flight until the day after tomorrow which was when he was booked to return anyway, so he cancelled those bookings and made one more phone call before joining his family downstairs.

"Everything all right son?" John asked as Jack arrived at the bottom of the stairs with a frown clouding his face.

"Ah, Not sure Dad."

"What's wrong?" Melissa asked growing worried.

"Does that mean a sudden change of plans Jonathon?"

"Yeah. Sorry. Look, ah, something's come up and I need my team round me. I can't tell you what it is Dad. It's classified, I'm sorry."

John clapped Jack on the shoulder, pushing him into the seat at the table.

"Does it have anything to do with our visitor?"

"Visitor?" Melissa enquired, not having heard that someone had called.

John sighed, he might have known Melissa would pick him up on the fact that he'd kept it quiet.

Jack ignored the interruption and answered his father.

"Yeah. Dad, no-one and I mean no-one knew off our visit here. I arranged this break right at the last minute, and besides nobody but SG-1, Jacob Carter, Walter and General Hammond; well, okay maybe a coupla others too, knew that Jon was my son. The rumour at the SGC had it that he was just a relative's kid I was looking after."

"You believe someone has come looking for the boy?" Melissa gasped, her eyes wide with horror at the thought of losing him. "Why?" She unconsciously tightened her arms around her grandson.

"I don't know Mom, but I think we ought to leave; we'll go to the cabin. You two should come too. He, whoever he is, knows who and where you are now and if he's determined enough to get to Jon Junior or me, for whatever he has in mind, he won't let you stand in his way." He didn't let on that this might be Ba'al's doing and that he was afraid of what might happen to them and more especially to Junior. He couldn't face losing another son; if anything happened to Junior he knew it would finish him.

"You think they would harm us just to get hold of Jonathon Junior?"

"It's a possibility Dad. And it's a risk I'm not willing to take. You have to leave here for a while, until we can find out who he is and deal with him. Come up to my place, we can keep an eye on things there."

"Jonathon..."

"No Dad," Jack interrupted. "I need for you to be safe. Please. Do it for Jon's sake if you won't do it for mine. Don't put him through another trauma of seeing his family hurt or by losing it. He loves you both already."

Jon sensed that the grown-ups were discussing something very important and he could feel the anxiety coming off his father in waves. He slipped from Melissa's grasp and climbed onto his father's knee, hugging him, bringing the conversation to a temporary halt.

"Don't be afraid Daddy. I'll look after you! And Grandma and Grandpa too. I love you Daddy!" Jon whispered into Jack's ear.

Jack's smile was decidedly wonky as his eyes were suddenly awash with unshed tears.

"Backatcha!" was all his treacherous throat could reply to the confession, as he held him close.

Surely, he thought, he didn't deserve this child's unconditional love, not after losing Charlie. He cradled the boy closer to him, kissing his unruly hair while Jon returned the hug with every ounce of strength he possessed. Jack could feel his heart ache with love for this precious gift of a son.

Melissa's eyes met those of her husband's and they exchanged a silent communiqué of understanding. Jack needed to protect them and the boy. Giving John an infinitesimal nod which made him sigh, he acquiesced, giving in to the pressure, knowing Melissa would do anything to keep them all safe.

"Okay son. We'll pack a few things. When are you planning on leaving?"

"As soon as we can Dad," Jack said, swallowing his emotions before they overwhelmed him. "We have to make a move before this guy comes looking for us again."

"Oh Jonathon, isn't that a little bit too cloak and dagger? He's probably just a harmless visitor. We could leave here in the morning. It'll be dark soon."

"Mom!" Jack cried, impatiently, waiving away her denial. "Please, just do it!"

Melissa sighed with resignation. This was a part of her son that proved he had every right to be called General if this was how he was at work. He rarely used that tone with her, and it sobered her immediately. Something more was definitely bothering him.

"I'm sorry Mom. I don't mean to upset you, but this is really important, okay? Humour me? Please!"

John and Melissa looked at each other and both stayed sitting down at the table, hoping Jack would explain further. He did. It took a few minutes to gather his thoughts together before he launched into his reasons for showing concern.

"This guy that called here today. He shouldn't have known we were here. I didn't tell anyone except Walter and Daniel that we were coming. I asked Daniel to let Sam and Teal'c know and Walter informed General Hammond, that's all. This trip wasn't common knowledge. It sounds as if someone has been snooping, maybe listening in on the phone lines or something, I don't know, and I don't want this should scare ya, but I really think we have to leave..."

"But all of us? Jonathon, I don't think he'll bother us..."

"Dad. I've never been more serious in my life!" Jack cried in frustration. What would it take to convince them? "We could all be in danger here. They know where we are, they know where you live, they could take either you or Junior as hostages to get to me or whatever, and I won't risk your lives because you think it all sounds a little too far fetched. As of yet we don't know what or who we're dealing with. Now, I got a covert team on their way to keep an eye out for this guy. It may just turn out to be an old friend, but I'm not about to put you in any danger by not acting quickly enough. Now please, go pack. We'll go up to the cabin as soon as we're ready. Whoever this is, he won't know where to look. We'll be safe there until my team can report back to me."

"Alright dear, but we'll need supplies, because I doubt you'll have enough with all of us there," Melissa said, thinking ahead about meals.

"That's okay Mom, we can stop on the way and grab some groceries. I won't let you starve," he grinned suddenly to try and ease the tension. "Just think of it as an impromptu vacation." Jack reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "Trust me okay?"

Melissa nodded and offered him a small smile before she hurried off, taking Junior with her whilst muttering to herself about the sudden unnecessary upheaval, and to gather everything they might need for their stay. John hung back a while, gazing at his son.

"You really think this person could pose a threat to us? Who do you think it could be?"

"I'm thinking possible assassin Dad."

"Really? Who for? Jon Junior? Or you?"

"I don't know!" Jack sighed with frustration. "It just...it's too much of a coincidence. Too soon after Jon arrived here. I've asked Carter, Daniel and Teal'c to meet us up at the cabin too. I'll feel a hell of a lot safer with them around to watch our sixes."

"I thought you said it would be safer up there?"

"It will be, but as I said, I'm not taking any chances. We could be followed." Jack sighed, brushing a hand through his short grey hair. He was beginning to wish that he'd stayed in Colorado Springs therefore not exposing his parents to any danger. If the truth were known he was frightened more for the boy than himself. It crossed his mind that maybe Ba'al had sent someone to kill the boy for some reason. Why? What could he possibly gain by killing the child? Did the damn snakehead know the boy was his son? So could it be a revenge thing against him? Was Ba'al trying to get his own back for his recent humiliating defeat? There were just so many questions with so few answers running through his mind. The Goa'uld System Lord had taken on most of the technology that Anubis had created and left behind; his Kull warriors and holograms were two instances. Were there other advances that they didn't know about lurking there, ready to be used against them? Jack didn't know and the weight of unknown possibilities was heavy on his mind.

"Jonathon?"

"Huh? Oh. Sorry Dad, I was just thinking, that's all. We'd better get a move on before he comes back."

With that Jack hurried up the stairs to pack all their things together. Most of the new stuff they had bought in town, would have to be left behind, he wouldn't need that much yet, they could fetch it when the present danger had passed. He'd left his father still puzzling over things knowing that he wouldn't get anything further from him, but hating himself for having to keep them in the dark most of the time. Of course, hindsight is a wondrous thing and if he'd known that his and the boy's presence would pose a threat, then he would have stayed in Colorado and not exposed his parents to danger.

He pulled himself up sharply. It was too late now, and he needed all his concentration on the job at hand. It was no use crying over spilt milk; that was a luxury he didn't have time for, nor was it of any use to anyone.

"Daddy?"

Jack halted in his feverish packing when the child's plaintive voice arrested his movements.

He turned and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the boy to stand between his knees, and smiled, holding him by his shoulders.

"Why are we going? Don't you like staying with Grandma and Grandpa any more? Is the bad man coming to hurt everyone? I don't want him to make you and Grandma and Grandpa go to sleep like Mommy did!" Jon started to cry and Jack wrapped him in his arms, gently shushing him.

Jack shook his head at such innocence.

"It's not gonna be like that kid. We're all going away, and Grandma and Grandpa are coming too. We're just gonna go up to the cabin in the woods for a while, it'll be great, and there's a big pond too. The nasty man won't find us out there so we'll all be safe. Sam, and Daniel and Teal'c will be coming as well, so we're all gonna have lots of fun and plenty of things to do. Fishin' an' hikin', an' boatin'; you're gonna love it up there Junior."

"Really?" Jon's eyes were as big as saucers at this, and the threatened tears were forgotten in his excitement.

"Oh yeah! So off you go to the bathroom and get ready, huh?"

Jack sat for a moment to drink in his son's exuberance for the trip as he hurried away down the hallway to get ready, and smiled to himself before returning once more to his task.

Soon the car was loaded, the house secured and then they all piled into the car. John drove to start with, and once they were on the highway heading north, Jack breathed a sigh of relief, especially when it was apparent that nobody was following them. The journey was a lengthy one and before long Jon Junior grew tired of watching the sun set over endless green fields, trees and lakes that flew past the window now they were in open country and he drifted off to sleep.

TBC