I'd like to thank everyone for their patience. RL has gone crazy at the moment. My daughter's sick and I'm doing this half-asleep – several disturbed nights, tend to make me a little dozy, so I apologise for keeping you all waiting. Thanks to all who sent in reviews as usual. Hugs guys. Luv them!

Junior

By Lingren

Previously:-

Hammond took his leave and Sam stealthily entered Jack's room again so as not to disturb him.

Chapter 16

Jack had been sedated for the journey back to Cheyenne Mountain, so he really didn't recall much about it which was a good thing as far as he was concerned. Over the last few days in the hospital in Bemidji he had improved, better than anyone had thought possible. If the truth were known it was the thought of being needed both by Sam and Jon Junior that gave him the strength and the determination to recover as best he could by complying with the Doctor's wishes and taking his medication without complaint.

He knew full well the consequences if he should leave the Mexiletine off. The Doctor was clear on that; saying that it could have tragic consequences if his heart were to speed up again; it could just as easily stop working altogether and he sooo didn't want any more problems where his heart was concerned. He'd had a couple of scares already when his heart had inexplicably sped up again. It had left him feeling very vulnerable and was more alarmed by it than anything he'd ever faced in the past. It was a sure reminder that he was only mortal after all and still at risk of dying.

The boy had been in to see him daily and each visit brought about forth deeper feelings in him towards the child. Jack had a reason for living now, and he wasn't going to let the boy down after he'd more or less promised him that he would be there for him. Plus he had Sam too and she'd vowed to become his wife, so he had double the reasons to want to live.

Junior was thriving under Melissa's care and was filling out into a healthy young child. She was teaching him the basics of reading and writing. Jack fought back the threatening tears as he read the short note that Junior had so proudly delivered to him after his first attempt at putting a few words together on paper. It was a simple message, and some of the lettering was back to front, but still it had reduced Jack to unaccustomed emotions.

'Love you Daddy. Get well soon. I miss you!'

Maybe it wouldn't seem like much to anyone else, but it meant a whole heap of things to Jack. It was like he was home at last from wandering the dusty desert of an emotional free world after Charlie. The rains had come and now the desert was abloom with love. After Charlie had died, he felt he would never find that much love within himself again, and yet here he was, basking in the devotion of his family once more and now with Junior's unconditional love as well as Sam's, his cup was full. All he had to do was continue to take his medication and hope to god he could carry out his promises to be there for them.

The move had gone well, better than anyone had expected and to make it easier on Jack, Melissa and John had decided to take up residence in Jack's house where Junior would be able to settle into his own room once more and could also visit Jack every day, until he came home and could manage on his own again.

It was arranged that Sam would collect the boy and take him to the SGC for a visit on a daily basis - if she was still on Earth - and then Daniel or someone whom Jack trusted would take him home again.

Of course it wasn't always a bed of roses. Jack's recovery was still tempered by the occasional set back and he was frustrated by his lack of strength and real progress. He'd always been a difficult patient at the best of times and now was no exception. Days sped by into a week, then two with great improvement in his strength, though he still had a long way to go, but he'd never be really fit again, not like before and not without medical intervention.

OoOoOoOoO

"Daddy!"

Jack looked up from where he was lazily watching the TV that Siler had rigged up in his room when the door opened, so far today he was having a bad time of it. A blur of movement and the next thing he knew Jon Junior was sitting on the side of the bed with his arms round him. He returned the hug and the enthusiastic kiss from his son.

"Grandma and Grandpa are gonna take me to the Zoo tomorrow!" Jon said excitedly.

"Hey, that's cool!" Jack said, a little breathlessly. He looked up at Sam as she entered behind the boy, sending her a huge smile. "You're gonna love it there," he added, turning his attention back to Jon.

"An' nex' week I gotta go t' school."

"You do?" Jack asked, eyebrow raised, looking up at Sam for confirmation.

Sam nodded, giving Jack a small hesitant smile.

"Your Mom enrolled him in the local Kindergarten. He's a very bright kid Jack. He needs to catch up with the other kids if he's gonna fit in. We, that is Melissa and I...em... we felt he was ready. He's been doing really well with his reading and writing and math," she said, hoping that he wouldn't take offence at their taking charge of Jon Junior's education while he was ill.

"And what? You agreed to this?" Jack asked, sounding a little exasperated.

Sam bit her lip and cast puppy-dog eyes in his direction before they dropped to study the floor guiltily.

"I did," she sighed eventually, accepting her accountability.

"Okay," he shrugged happily.

"What? Okay? Is that it?" She couldn't help but feel she was missing something; like the inevitable explosion for poking her nose in where it wasn't wanted. Jack could be very possessive at times and Jonathon Junior was his sole responsibility; so he'd said when the boy had first arrived. She didn't expect him to accept her interference so readily.

"Yeah. Why was there something else I should say?" he asked, "Like Mind your own damn business for example?" he puffed, breathing heavily.

Her head shot up again and he could see a spark of anger in her eyes as well as doubt behind those blue orbs.

He broke the tense moment with a huge smile and a shake of his head, because he couldn't hold it back any longer. He loved to wind her up so.

"I trust you Sam. I trust his future 'mother' to know what's best for him too. He'll be growing up with both of us. That is, if you're still up for the job?"

Sam snorted, coming nearer to the bed.

"Jack O'Neill, I swear you are the most...!"

"Ack!" he interrupted quickly, waving his index finger at her. "Not in front of Jon Junior. You know how quick he is at picking things up!"

Sam growled instead, but leaned over and kissed him anyway before finishing her sentence.

"...wonderful, amazing, terrific and 'evil' guy I've ever known; and heaven help me, I love you!"

Jack agreed with a smug grin, and wound his arms around her, kissing her back.

Jon Junior giggled and joined in the hug making it a family affair.

Sam pulled out of the embrace when she noticed Jack getting more breathless and uncomfortable.

"You need to calm down again. Think of Maybourne or Colonel Simmons or Kinsey even! You're not supposed to get excited."

"Hey, whose excited?" Jack growled breathlessly. But thinking of those unsavoury characters would only guarantee to make him feel worse.

Jack had paled, and laid back against the pillows, closing his eyes. It had been one of those days when the medication wasn't helping.

"Daddy?" Jon's plaintive voice warbled miserably, bringing Jack eyes open and a smile to his lips.

"Hey, it's okay kid. I'm fine!"

"You sure?" Sam asked worriedly. He didn't sound it, or look it. "I can get Dr. Brightman?"

"See what you do to me?" he asked of Sam. He calmed himself as best he could, trying to stop the rising worry inside, pushing the uncomfortable feeling of panic away. He uttered a muted 'Crap' as he grew more frustrated with his body.

"Jack?"

He reached out to take her hand in order to reassure her he was...would be okay. All he needed was a minute to control his breathing then his heart rate might settle. He hoped.

Jon pushed himself into Sam's warm body, his terrified eyes never leaving his ailing father.

Sam's free hand slid round the boy, pulling him closer. She was about to press the call button, when Jack stopped her with a hand over hers.

"It's okay. Really. It's nothing unusual."

She looked doubtful, but took his word for it, when his colour returned slightly and he was smiling again. He gave a tiny shrug.

"It happens every once in a while. Doc's talking about surgery next week to fit the ICD."

"They've decided?"

He nodded. The news that the drugs weren't working as well as expected was a bitter blow, but it did give him a legitimate excuse to retire. He and George had had a long talk soon after he'd arrived back at the base, and the General had no choice but to accept the retirement request that he'd wanted to hand in several weeks ago. Jack would rather retire, than resign from the service on medical grounds.

They were interrupted by the klaxons and Sam had to rush off. She didn't really want to leave him just then but she was on duty and would most likely be needed in the control room.

Jack had recommended that General Hank Landry take his place as Commander of the SGC and Hammond had agreed it was a good choice. The new General was still learning his way round, and Jack was glad that Sam would be there to help the man settle in.

Jack turned his attention back to his son, trying not to worry about what was going on in the gate-room which was no longer his concern, and trying to ignore his racing heart.

TBC