Thank you to all who reviewed. Glad you're still enjoying this. Sorry, but I couldn't help myself…more angst to come I'm afraid.

Junior

By Lingren

Previously:-

Jack gave in to her wishes easily with a fake sigh of resignation and a frown but Sam knew he was more than okay with it. It was all settled; Teal'c and Daniel would be Groomsmen and Cassie and Elizabeth – Sam's niece - as maids of honour. Jon was gonna look real cute as the page-boy. They didn't want to wait too long, so they set the date for two months time, at the end of January.

Chapter 22

It was at this point that General Hammond had given Jack the go ahead to take Jon Junior back to Edora. It had taken the Joint Chiefs this long to weigh up the costs against the necessity, until Hammond had pointed out that the fact that they were sitting there was largely due to Jack thwarting the Goa'uld's attempt to conquer the world on several occasions so they finally relented and allowed the trip as a concession for his unfailing service to his country and ultimately, the world.

Jack hadn't told Jon where they were going, only that he was going through the Stargate. They were both up bright and early and Jack was about to shut the door behind them when Jon remembered his 'Berra'. Jack was sure that he had grown out of the toy by now, but apparently he hadn't. For the past few weeks the toy had all but been ignored, until today. Jack put it down to the fact that he had been clutching onto it the day he left his home-world and somehow felt he would need it on this journey too.

He grinned down at Jon and ruffled his hair before the boy scrambled up into the truck and fastened himself in. Jack made sure he was secure then steered the truck towards the mountain for one more time. It felt strange to be driving there again after being retired for the past two months, but it also felt good.

When he arrived in the locker room his old set of BDUs was waiting along with a vest and there was a small set of the same gear ready for Jon too. Jack dressed his son in the gear and smiled down at him with pride. The boy was thrilled to be dressed the same as his father, though when Jack fixed his P-90 to his chest, Jon was worried.

"Are we gonna fight the baddies Daddy?" he asked a little awed.

"No way! This just a precaution son. I never go off-world without one of these babies. Ya never know who ya might run into."

Jon nodded and picked up his 'Berra' and stuck his hand into his father's, looking up at him expectantly.

"Ready?"

Jon nodded.

"Okay then. Off we go!"

They walked to the briefing room where they met up with Sam and the rest of SG-1, already dressed for their trip through the Stargate. Jon slipped his hand from Jack's and ran over to greet Sam and the others. Sam crouched down so that she was eye level with her future step-son.

"Hi there. Wow, you look great. Ready for this?"

Jon nodded enthusiastically, but wouldn't look her in the eye. Instead he flung his arms around her neck and told her he loved her.

Sam sniffed back a tear and blinked rapidly; her eyes awash with moisture as she looked up at Jack, catching the sappy expression on his face.

Sam pushed the tears away with a giggle and assured Jon that she loved him too. He took her hand but kept his head lowered.

Jack wondered what to make of it, as Jon had somehow switched his focus onto Sam. Did the boy know something he didn't? Jack shook his thoughts free from suspicions. This was his son; the boy who loved him completely without reserve. Too many years of wariness was ingrained in his suspicious mind. There was no danger where they were going.

He held his hand out to Jon who hesitated for a long moment, then released Sam's hand to take his father's. Jack squatted a little awkwardly and placed his index finger under Jon's chin, bringing it up so that they were eye to eye.

"You okay?"

Jon nodded, but Jack could see tears in his eyes.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to?"

Jon looked up in surprise, and what Jack took to look like panic crossed his face.

"I'm okay. I'm ready Daddy."

But his actions showed his reluctance as he tried to pull Jack away from the stairs, unwilling to leave, but Jack stopped him.

"Jon?"

Jon looked deep into his father's eyes and sniffed. Then he surprised Jack by throwing his arms around him, giving him a tight hug.

"I love you Daddy!" he sobbed.

Jack was puzzled until Daniel suggested that maybe Jon thought that he was being taken back to Edora where they might abandon him again.

Jack's heart ached fit to burst from that idea and hugged Jon back reassuring him that he was home now, and that he would be there for him for always.

Jon sobbed harder and hung on tighter, not wanting Jack to leave him.

Jack managed to extricate himself and straightened up.

"It's okay Jon. I'm not leaving you. We'll be coming home again real soon," he paused, then added. "Both of us."

"Really?" he asked, a hitch in his timid voice.

Jack nodded.

"Oh yeah!"

Jon sniffed and wiped the tears away with his sleeve, holding onto his daddy's hand with a firm grip as they made their way down the steps to the gate-room.

Jack grinned down at the boy happy to see he was smiling. He swung him up until he was sitting on his shoulders, his little legs dangling down Jack's front, where they were held in place by Jack's hands. Tears temporarily forgotten, Junior giggled, loving the time he was spending with his father. He played with Jack's ball-cap, trying to pull it off, but Jack tugged it on tighter, tickling the boy's leg every time and making him giggle and squirm. Jon had his 'Berra' tucked firmly into his vest so he was carried along as well. Jack didn't mind as it was going to be a rather traumatic experience for Jon and he would need all the comfort he could get; and if he drew that from his old favourite toy then Jack wasn't going to deprive him.

Jack pushed his P-90 to one side to make room for Jon's feet and waited for the Stargate to spring into action. He glanced across at Sam, her face serious as she was the person in charge. She had 3 civilians to look out for now; Daniel, Jon Junior and himself. He was not only enjoying his perfect health these days, he was actually taking great pleasure in his retirement but was looking forward to going off-world again.

General Landry ordered the dialling sequence and Jack watched the familiar chevrons lock into place. When the wormhole had established, Sam led the way up the ramp, followed by Jack with Jon, and then Mitchell, Daniel and Teal'c.

OoOoOoOoO

The planet looked even more desolate than Jack recalled just after the 'fire-rain' had devastated it. There was evidence of staff weapon damage on every structure left standing.

Jon shivered and pressed against Jack, his arms clinging even tighter round Jack's neck.

"Daddy? Why are we here?" he asked in a timid, tremulous voice.

Jack lifted him from his shoulders and pulled him closer, but instead of answering him, led him over to a pile of earth. It was all that was left of his civilisation; his home; his friends and his family.

They stopped before it while the others made themselves scarce, looking through the ruins and keeping an eye out for potential danger.

Jack knelt down and turned Jon towards him, holding him gently by the shoulders.

"We're here to say goodbye to your folks Jon. So they can move on into the afterlife. Do you understand? Can you remember what to do?"

Jon sniffed but nodded; a sad smile on his lips.

Jack stood and took his cap off, holding it in his hands, and bowing his head. Jon followed his movements and stood silently while Jack tried his best to recall the words for the rite of passage into the next life.

Jon waited patiently until Jack finished, then stepped forwards, taking a handful of the soil, scattering it to the four corners before letting the rest trickle from his fingers to join the mound again. He then knelt down and kissed the earth while Jack observed him, hoping that he could now forget the traumatic events and move on with his life.

Daniel and Sam watched from a distance. They could see that Jon was playing his part in the ritual which brought tears to Sam's eyes for his heartache.

Their sympathy turned to sudden shock as everyone witnessed the boy suddenly yelling in anger. He'd run back to the spot where he'd left his 'Berra', picked up it up and then tore it to shreds, before tossing it as far as he could. Then he turned back to Jack, grabbing his hand, and tried to pull him back towards the Stargate.

"Please Daddy. We have to go home now!"

"Hey, hold on just a minute. Why'd you do that?" Jack asked looking at the broken pieces of the toy.

"Please Daddy!" Jon begged, pulling hard.

Jack couldn't drag his eyes from the remnants of the toy and from something that glittered in the sunlight amid the exposed stuffing. He pulled back and stepped over to the broken toy, stooped and picked up a metal object that was poking out of the innards of the 'Berra'. He turned it over in his hands several times trying to puzzle over what it could be.

He looked up, catching the fear on Jon's face.

Jon turned tail and fled, Jack pocketed the object and yelled after him, running to catch up with his son.

He'd just caught him when the others closed in on them too. Jack held his son while he handed the device to Sam who examined it in surprise.

"Jack, this is Goa'uld technology," she gasped incredulously, wondering what it was doing inside the toy.

TBC