A/N: The "action" in this chapter takes place about 6 months after the twins' birth.

SISKO

Luke Sisko turned the key in the lock of his front door and swung the door open with a deep sigh. It had been another long day at the lab. Part of him was exhilarated at the thought of the cutting edge work he was doing. Being assigned to Sam Carter's research team had been the best career break anyone could hope for and the challenge of a lifetime. In any other circumstance he would consider himself the luckiest man on earth. But right about now he wasn't so sure.

It was ten o'clock at night as Luke made his way into a dark, empty apartment in an up- and-coming section of Washington. It was a happening place to be for an unattached man who wanted to enjoy the night life and meet women. So why was he feeling so miserable?

Everything had seemed so clear cut just a few months back. An old friend of his uncle's had called to tell him the research position was available and he'd jumped at the chance. It meant relocating but that hardly mattered at the time, coming as it did shortly after his divorce. There were no ties to be cut; any that had mattered had been damaged beyond repair. Luke saw himself as an isolated man, adrift in a rather hostile world.

It hadn't always been that way. At thirty-two years old, the young man had seen many changes in his life. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Luke Sisko lived in the Carolinas until he was ten years old. He was a happy child, active in pee-wee softball and soccer leagues and the pride and joy of his middle aged parents. Early on, he was fascinated by science and trying to discover how things worked, taking apart just about every appliance in his home in an attempt to rebuild it successfully.

Luke's life changed forever on a Friday evening while he was fast asleep. Less than one hundred miles away, a small plane went down on its way back from a business trip. That plane carried both of his parents and there were no survivors. At two o'clock on Saturday morning, Luke was awoken by the quiet voice of his favorite uncle, then Congressman Robert Kinsey. As an adult he recalled in vivid detail how Uncle Bob told him about his parents' deaths and comforted him through the days ahead. Within a week, Robert Kinsey had brought his nephew with him to his Washington, D.C. home and literally adopted him into his family.

In Luke, Kinsey saw the son he'd never had and treated him accordingly. For Luke, the consummate politician became a hero and father figure, someone to whom he owed allegiance. He admired Uncle Bob, his accomplishments and rapid riseto political power.Young Luke was duly impressed by his uncle's electoral victories and the powerful company that he kept. He was proud to be part of the Kinsey family.

In the years Luke lived with the Kinsey family, he grew to be a self-confident, highly intelligent and attractive young man. He decided to enter medical school and was accepted with ease given his outstanding college grades. Halfway through his basic medical education, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda. They planned to have a large family. Luke had always regretted not having brothers and sisters, especially after his parents' deaths.

Professionally, Luke chose to specialize in pediatrics. Not the most lucrative specialty, especially for someone of his intellectual talents, but one he was strongly drawn to given his love of children. Along the way he was introduced to research projects focusing on cures for obscure childhood illnesses. His life was full by the time he embarked on post-doctoral studies and joined his first practice at the age of twenty-nine.

Slightly disappointed that he still had no children of his own, Luke was thrilled when Linda announced one Christmas Eve that she was pregnant with their first child. Excitement soon turned to despair as Linda miscarried at eight weeks. The marriage was never the same after that loss. Luke and Linda pulled away from each other and divorce ensued.

Soon after the marital estrangement, Robert Kinsey's political fortunes plummeted. Three months after his election as vice president of the United States, everything he had worked for came tumbling down. Luke was shocked to learn that his Uncle Bob had been accused of treason and forced to resign his elected position. Within two more months, Luke received even worse news. His hero, the man who had rescued him when everything was darkest, had disappeared under questionable circumstances and was presumed dead.

Shortly after Kinsey's disappearance, Luke was contacted by old friends of his uncle. They told him that although they had no idea what had actually become of his uncle, they did know who was responsible. According to Luke's sources General Jack O'Neill had single handedly destroyed Robert Kinsey because of his uncle's opposition to the Stargate program. When offered a chance to advance his career and avenge his uncle the position at the NID lab had been irresistible.

Initially, Luke's assignment was to gather information about Colonel Carter and the Stargate program and sabotage any positive communications between the NID and the military. Within a few months, the assignment had morphed into a more personal form of espionage. With the birth of the twins, a unique opportunity presented itself. Luke was to gather medical information and samples from both the twins and their mother. In his role as pediatrician he would be in the perfect position to recognize the onset of any extraordinary abilities. When the time was right, he was prepared to deliver one or both of the children to his handlers.

The initial blood sampleswere delivered after the twins initial two week well baby exam. They'd confirmed the presence of the Ancient gene and a marker similar to that found in Samantha's Carter O'Neill's blood shortly after her recovery from the Ori. From there, Luke adopted a wait and see position, turning his attention to his research and observing his very special patients whenever the opportunity presented itself.

One of those perfect opportunities would be tomorrow afternoon. He was invited to accompany the O'Neills' on a trip to the local zoo. Seems Jack O'Neill thought his six month old twins would just love seeing some of the animals at the zoo. The more Luke got to know the man, he thought Jack would enjoy it as much as the kids. Just a big kid, Luke found himself thinking, more than once. But this big kid destroyed Uncle Bob; he couldn't let himself have less than hostile thoughts about this man. Even if he was likeable, even if the O'Neills had reached out to him as friends on many occasions, Luke couldn't afford to weaken in his resolve.

OoOoOo

George Hammond picked him up early the next morning to go to the O'Neills. Luke couldn't get over how Uncle George genuinely seemed to like and respect the O'Neills. Didn't he know?

After a pleasant forty-five minute drive, the two men arrived at the O'Neill home and were welcomed by Sam, who looked more than a little harried, a baby in each arm.

"Luke, George, am I glad you're here!" she exclaimed. "Luke, would you hold Grace, just a minute? I've really got my hands full, trying to pack their things for our outing," she said handing Grace to the doctor without a second thought. "And George, if you wouldn't mind," she asked tentatively, "Jacob really needs to be changed."

"No problem, Sam. I remember how to do that. Where's Daddy Jack?" General Hammond asked with a smile.

"Jack's in the kitchen cleaning up breakfast. Jake wasn't too happy with his oatmeal today and Jack ended up wearing it. That is whatever cereal didn't make it to the floor. He'll be out in a minute; he's getting really good at clean-up."

Luke and George moved into the house and executed their assigned duties with the children. As George went to change his honorary grandson, Luke played with Grace. He couldn't help it, he always smiled when he was with the twins. He found himself acting like a kid himself, smiling, laughing, letting go. Within minutes, Grace was babbling and laughing at his antics. In the midst of his comedy performance for Grace, Jack made his appearance.

"Luke, good job! If I don't watch out you might become my daughter's favorite stand up comic. Can't be having that!" he said, coming over to clap Luke on the back before he picked up his daughter. "Hey, seriously, thank you for helping Sam with the babies. Sometimes we wish we had an extra set of hands. By the way, George, great diaper change. Didn't know you had it in you."

"Okay, are you gentlemen ready?" Sam asked, returning to the room pushing a double wide stroller filled with two overstuffed diaper bags.

"Do you think you have enough supplies for the afternoon, Sam?" Luke asked teasingly. "Don't you think we might need more provisions? It's a long journey."

Jack was bursting trying not to laugh. And he thought he was the smart aleck. He was learning that Luke could give him a run for his money.

"No Doctor Sisko, I think we have enough thank you. Very cute. Let's go before Mom changes her mind and you guys have to carry more bags." Sam quipped.

With lots of smiles, good humor and two babbling six month olds in tow, the group packed themselved into the SUV and headed off for the day.

In spite of himself, Luke enjoyed the day. He was growing to like these people and he was without a doubt becoming very attached to these darling babies. He was a physician, sworn to do no harm. He was a man who loved children. He wasn't sure he could do what his handlers were asking. He knew there would be a struggle ahead. He needed to talk with Uncle George.

A/N: Work has been more stressful than usual, so I'm doing more writing and gardening when I get home for my own therapy. That means more chapters, more quickly. Hope they're good and you like. Would love to have you review.

(Just a clarifying comment to a reviewer who asked: Jack and Sam in the Alone story have 4 children, twins, Grace and Jacob who are 12 years old at the time of Alone, Jon who is eight years old and Beth who is three. In Backstory and this story, Jack and Sam are just beginning their family. You'll have to wait a bit to see Jon and Beth! Remember this is a prequel for Alone.)