"Jonas. We don't need to cut open your head", Doctor Fraiser repeated, placing her hands on the boy's shoulders. "I've taken numerous scans and there is nothing there."
He wasn't quite sure whether to believe her. Having his head cut last time hadn't been a piece of cake, and he was worried about it happening again. "Promise?" He asked warily.
"Unless anything changes", she said with a serious look on her face. "No one will cut open your head."
He let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. "Well then", he said, rubbing his hands over his dungarees. "What's wrong with me?"
"As far as I can tell nothing", Janet said, stepping away from the chair to look at the computer monitor. "Every test I've requested on you and Daniel has come back completely normal, better than normal in fact. Your immune systems are in peak condition, Daniel has perfect eyesight like you, both of you have extraordinary muscle tone for your physical ages."
"It doesn't feel like that sometimes", Daniel said from where he was standing by Jonas's chair. "This new body feels a lot clumsier than my other one, and Jonas still falls over if he runs too fast."
"I think that's because its still very new", Janet said. "When comparing your muscle tone to an average five year old, or two year old, the differences are notable. Jonas's is particularly noticable. Most two year olds have a lot more difficulty with fine motor movements like drawing and talking than you do Jonas. Your pronunciation of words is almost perfect, that's practically unheard of in a two year old."
"I'm afraid I don't understand how this helps explain Jonas Quinn's", Teal'c paused, looking down at the sitting child as if searching for the right word. "Visions."
"It wasn't really a vision Teal'c", Jonas said, looking up at the towering man. "I just knew that she was coming. I was so excited, that I didn't even question how I knew."
"I'm afraid that this is all way above my job description", Janet said, looking almost as overwhelmed by it all as Jonas felt. "But if I were to put any kind of guess out there, I would say that if your bodies were brought back super engineered, then it wouldn't be a big leap to suggest something similar might have been done to your minds."
Daniel suddenly tensed, looking up at her warily. "Does that mean that whatever this is might happen to me as well?"
"I don't know", Janet ran a hand through her short hair. "I do know that Jonas's physiology has always been markedly different, so it might not. Your enhancements seem to differ, for instance, Daniel while your eyesight is improved, so is Jonas's even though his was already greater than 20/20."
"So its like we've improved from what were used to be like", Daniel said, he took a couple of steps across the room before looking up, his eyes wide. "Like we've become the best versions of ourselves."
Jonas looked down at his chubby little arms and legs. "My best version would be a bit taller."
"Jonas", Daniel said, placing his hands on the side of the chair, causing it to rock precariously. "Remember those symbols we couldn't work out the meaning of."
"Yeah", Jonas frowned, shifting through his memory. It took less than a second to visualise the ones he knew the doctor meant. "Top and variation". His eyes widened. "Best version."
"We know what the machine does", Daniel said quickly.
"Yeah", Jonas scrambled down from the chair. "We've got to tell Sam."
"Teal'c", Doctor Fraiser said before they left the room. "Keep a close eye on them."
"I shall use both eyes Doctor Fraiser", Teal'c said solemnly before following them out of the room.
Jonas only fell twice on his way to Daniel's office. A new record. With going to the infirmary with Daniel and Teal'c he hadn't had a chance to say hello to Sam yet. He was looking forward to it.
As soon as the door opened, he flew past Colonel O'Neill to the right where he knew Sam would be. She was sitting in the chair behind Daniel's desk, a laptop and piles of files in front of her. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, but she still managed a tired smile as she looked at him.
"Hey Jonas", she said, before looking behind him. "Daniel, Teal'c. What are you up to?"
"We came to help", Daniel said, buzzing with the same kind of energy as he did right before taking things apart. Jonas took a wary step away from him, toward Sam, remembering Janet's scorn last time. "We think we know what the machine was built for."
"Yeah", Jonas nodded, allowing Daniel to take centre stage explaining their theory.
"I am merely here to supervise", Teal'c said curtly from across the room. He was staring at them in a way that made Jonas wonder if he was taking the keeping and eye on thing literally.
"Well come on", Colonel O'Neill said, waving his arms in the air. "Out with it."
"We think it was originally made to help aid ascension." Daniel said, sounding more like the adult Daniel than the child Daniel.
Jack rolled his eyes, perching on the edge of Daniel's desk. "Those ancients again?"
"No", Daniel said.
"The language it was written in wasn't ancient", Jonas added. "But they might have been inspired by them."
"Jonas filled me in about the machine that led to his visions", Daniel said. "It was made to improve a persons DNA, to make it closer to being able to ascend. It's my hypothesis that most of the DNA manipulated had to come from the person themselves, which is why Nirtti had such different results with Jonas."
Jonas cringed, not liking to think of that machine and all the fallout that had come from it. "We worked out that some of the symbols translate to mean 'best version', which suggests that it was made to improve a person's DNA in a more controlled way than Nirtti's machine to create a best version of that person."
Colonel O'Neill frowned down at him, looking skeptical. "I don't want to stand on any scientists toes, but wouldn't the best version of someone be a little taller?"
Jonas looked down at the two and a half feet of him, feeling deflated. That's what he had thought. Daniel patted him on the shoulder in a companionable way.
"It could have gone wrong", Daniel said, his hand still resting on Jonas's shoulder. "It could be a glitch, or maybe Ferretti and the others broke through the shell too quickly and it didn't have time to complete."
"The point is", Jonas said. "If we know how it works then maybe we can figure out how to reverse it."
They worked for hours. Or rather, Jonas, Daniel and Sam worked for hours. Jack and Teal'c supervised and attempted not to look like they were bored out of their skulls.
First minister Dreylock had sent word that they would leave Jonas on earth for the time being to help and be looked after by their medical facilities. For a politician, Jack had to admit she wasn't all bad. If they had tried to take him, he wasn't sure what he would have done.
Sam had sent them away with copies of all their research on the machine. They said that they would try to help reverse this as well. It was a nice gesture, but with General Hammond naming this translation as a top priority it was unlikely that they would be of much help.
Teal'c stood guard like a good soldier, while Jack leaned back in one of Daniel's office chairs. The archaeologist's got all the comfy ones. He threw up a ball he had found, playing catch with himself as he watched the geek squad work.
"We know what it does", Daniel said for the fifth time, frustration in his voice. "We just need to know how it works so we can work out how to reverse it." He paced the floor, occasionally scowling at the scribbles on the chalk board as if he could scare them into making sense.
"Ck" Jonas said from his spot cross legged in the middle of the floor. In his hands he held one of the charcoal rubbings Sam had come back with.
"What?" Daniel spun around, looking down at him.
Jonas blinked furiously, clearly fighting to stay awake. Every few minutes his chin would tip forward and his eyes would close before they shot open again. "This one. It ends in 'ck'"
"Oh, well that changes its whole meaning", Daniel said, turning back to the board. "Could you note that Sam. It's square twenty five."
Carter nodded, looking just as tired as Jonas. Her eyes were half lidded as she wrote in the corresponding place.
Enough was enough. "Alright kiddies. Time for bed."
Daniel stamped his foot – actually stamped his foot at him. "Jack. We're working. Keep your patronising to yourself and let us try and fix this."
Jack stood up. "Daniel."
"No", the boy shook his head, sending dirty blond hair flying around his head. "It's only eight. This isn't time for your games Jack."
"Daniel", Jack tried again, taking a step closer. "Look."
He pointed at Sam who was staring through the board, looking like she hadn't slept in days (maybe she hadn't). Then at Jonas who had his chin to his chest, eyes closed, the paper he had been looking at on the floor behind him.
"Oh", Daniel's shoulders slumped, suddenly looking as tired as Jack knew he really was under all that adrenaline and stubbornness.
"Could you take them Teal'c?" Jack said to the other man. "I'll get Carter."
Teal'c nodded, moving to pick up Jonas – this time in an actual human way. He cradled the boy in one of his giant arms like you would a baby. Jonas didn't even open his eyes, mumbling something before leaning into the mans chest.
"Doctor Jackson", the big man said in that deep voice of his.
Daniel didn't even protest, following Teal'c out of the room, rubbing his eyes.
Carter watched them leave through half lidded eyes. "I guess we are pretty tired", she admitted.
Jack gave her a soft smile. "Come on Carter, lets get you to bed."
The corner of her mouth quirked up at him as they trudged out of Daniel's office.
"Which I did not mean how it sounded", he added quickly.
"Of course not sir", she said, looking perfectly innocent, even with the dark circles and slumped shoulders.
He frowned, trying to see if she was mocking him. Sometimes she was worse than Daniel. It was a good thing that she hadn't been shrunk as well. He had the distinct feeling that she must have been a terror as a child. "Bed", he said firmly.
"Jonas and Daniel played hide and seek?" Carter's eyes were wide, staring at him from where she was sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Yes", Jack said, enjoying her rapt attention. "And Jonas sleeps with a teddy bear now. He said he wanted to show it to you. Kid's a lot more heartbreaking when his feelings are hurt, so be nice."
He had thought that putting her to bed would entail making sure she stumbled all the way to her assigned quarters then waving goodbye, then she had gone and asked what had happened while she was gone. Apparently the events of the past couple days made for a good bedtime story.
Carter nodded, her big blue eyes still entranced. "I can't really tell whether they're acting a lot different to how they were. Jonas was always kind of naive at times."
"And Daniel was always cranky when he was overtired", Jack mused. "I'm not sure he's ever stamped his foot at me though. It's gotten close a couple times."
Carter smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Daniel is not human without his coffee."
"Yeah. Thats another thing", Jack waved his finger at her. "Keep your eyes on him. He's manipulative. Take your eyes off him for a minute and he'll be taking something apart or trying to sneak coffee."
"Daniel?" Carter said, her eyes narrowed in disbelief. "He can't be that bad."
Jack shook his head at her naivety. "Famous last words Carter. I swear he's evil. I've surprised Doc let them back in her infirmary after he took apart one of her machines."
Carter covered her mouth with a hand, giggling into her palm. He felt something soften inside him. It was good to have her back.
A tentative knock at the door stirred him out of the moment. He stood up from the chair he had pulled by the bed, turning the handle.
For a moment he was surprised by empty space, until he looked down and saw Jonas standing in the doorway wearing his green puppy covered pyjamas. Very clearly awake and very clearly not in the infirmary where he was supposed to be. "For the love of - " Jack said loudly, annoyed that his time with Carter without kids running around had been snatched away. "What are you doing out of bed?"
Jonas looked like he'd been slapped by the words, looking up at him with wide eyes for a moment before he stared down at the floor. Jack noticed too late how tense he was, muscles coiled under the puppy printed clothes, little hands in fists. There was a sniff, and then another one, and then those green eyes were spilling over with tears.
"Jesus", he muttered, guilt hitting him like a ton of bricks. His first instinct was to scoop the kid up – but that was halted by his second instinct – awkwardness. This was Jonas. There was an adult in there that he had once commanded.
Luckily Carter had no such reservations. She had the child in her arms before Jack could think of a course of action. To Jack's knowledge she hadn't spent much time around little kids, but she was a natural. She rubbed his back soothingly, while using her hip to bump the door closed.
"I'm sorry", he heard Jonas splutter through tears. "I just had a bad dream. It's silly."
"It's not silly", Carter said, leaning her head into his. Their hair was almost the same shade. "Is it sir?" It was a pointed look, one that told him that should he answer wrong he would be in deep trouble.
She needn't have worried. Over the past couple of days he had grown fond of the little guy, even more than he had been before. Already he was digging through his pockets for a pack of tissues. He held them out to Jonas, who took some with a grateful but watery smile. "Not silly at all."
Carter sat back down on the bed, holding the still sniffing toddler to her firmly. She looked like a mother, rocking slightly as she soothed her frightened child. For just a moment it took his breath away how easily she slipped into the role.
Jonas for his part seemed torn whether or not to play his role. There was no mistaking how tightly his arms wrapped around her neck, but he was scrubbing his face, clearly fighting to control his breathing and calm himself down. A child desperately wanting comfort, and an adult desperately wanting self control. The conflict made him realise for the first time the turmoil the two must be going through.
He sat down beside them on the bed, causing the mattress to creak loudly. Consciously, or unconsciously Sam stopped rocking, leaning into his side. He placed a hand on the toddler's shoulder. "We all have bad dreams Jonas. Want to talk about it?"
Jonas's red rimmed eyes flicked up at him, before focusing on the wall behind them. His lips trembled, but for now at least his face was dry. "You don't have to worry about it sir. I just – I wanted to walk and I ended up here. I shouldn't have bothered you."
"Hey son", Jack ducked his head until he was looking directly into Jonas's green eyes. Maybe Daniel had been right. He should toss the kid a bone. "No bother. You're one of us, sg1, no matter where you go away to. If somethings worrying you I should know about it."
Jack felt Sam lean more heavily into his side, her form of gratitude.
"Its not", Jonas shook his head. "It was just a bad dream."
Sam moved her hand, drifting it through the toddler's hair. At the touch some more of the tension seemed to leave his body. He relaxed into her, finally looking almost calm. Jonas liked having his hair stroked. Jack filed this little observation away under Jonas's quirks – there were a lot of them.
"Out with it Jonas", she said, the edge to her voice turning her from comforting mother to protective big sister.
Jonas sighed, in a way that made Jack wonder whether he and Sam had done this dance before. "I was walking, and it was difficult. I kept falling over", not so bad so far, Jack had been expecting monsters or clowns or whatever Kelowans were afraid of. "Then I looked down and saw it was because I was walking on a mound of dead bodies. There were so many of them piled up as far as I could see. And I got this horrible certainty that they were all dead because of me."
Jack frowned, giving the toddler's shoulder a squeeze. He would never have guessed that ever optimistic Jonas would have dreams like that.
"It's just a dream Jonas", Sam murmured into the boy's hair. Jack nodded his agreement.
Jonas pushed himself away from the embrace, sitting on her lap. He looked down at the floor. "What if it's not?"
The words sent a chill through him. The toddler's expression was much too serious. "Jonas. What do you mean?"
Jonas stared at the ground, as if debating getting down. As if she had seen it too, Sam wrapped her arms around him again, pulling him close. Jonas sighed, finally settling into the embrace. "I mean. Like today. Like how I knew you were coming back", he looked up at Sam, and Jack hated how much fear he saw in those wide eyes.
Sam leaned forward, tucking his head under her chin. "You're reading too much into this. It's just a dream. You're just worried. A lot has happened lately."
"Yeah", Jack said, smiling. "One psychic moment, and you start thinking you're some oracle telling neo what's going to happen."
Jonas looked up at him with such open confusion that Jack made a mental note to introduce him to the matrix. He was surprised that Sam and Teal'c hadn't done so already.
"I just – I have a bad feeling", he said, looking up at them. "About Kelowna and everything. I'm scared something bad is going to happen."
"It won't", Jack said, trying to transfer some of his confidence over to the boy. Jonas just frowned, looking unconvinced.
"We won't let it", Sam said, holding her charge tighter. Jack silently agreed with her.
I love Sam, almost as much as I love Jonas. Heck I love all of them, else I wouldn't be writing this fic. As always reviews appreciated.