a/n: Okay, so I should probably explain that I had originally started writing this story almost a year ago because I was reading a ton of stories where Jack finds out he has a kid and is welcomed, whole-heartedly, into the family, and I wanted to do something different. Thus, I started writing this story. Unlike most father/son reunion stories, Jake will not be warming up to Jack immediately. In fact, there is going to be a few blow-ups between them before we get to the end of this story. You'll see a little bit more of Jake's, er….cheeky personality in this chapter. Let's just say the kid's a handful.

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Jack, Cassie, Daniel and Teal'c followed the children into the house. Jack glanced around the large home, taking in everything he could, his heart shattering over losing Carter and at the same time, humming at being so close to her life once again.

A life that was no more.

"Uh, here is the living room, and the den is right back there. Jake usually plays in there. Sam has her computer set up in there as well. The kitchen's over here, and upstairs are the bedrooms and another bathroom. The laundry room is through there. Uhm, make yourself at home. Jake has his bedroom and a playroom on the second floor, and Sam's bedroom is next to his. There is a small bedroom that we've all been sharing since…..you know. Anyways, no one has been in Sam's room. But, I mean, you can….sleep in there if you want," Cassie rambled off, Jack only half-listening to her.

Bickering could be heard from the kitchen, and the adults stopped their "tour" of the house to go and see what the commotion was about.

"Who cares what you think, Julie! You're just a stupid girl."

"Huh! I'm telling, Jake! Take that back!"

"Girl, girl, girl. Julie's a stupid girl! Julie's a stupid girl!"

"I'm telling!" Julie cried.

"Jacob Charles, what are you doing?" Cassie barked at the young boy.

"Nothing," Jake replied, shrugging his tiny shoulders.

Jack lifted his eyebrows at the boy.

"Jake," Cassie warned.

Jake grumbled under his breath and threw Julie a dirty look that Jack immediately recognized as an O'Neill glare. "Julie thinks that Chase was right and my mom is dead."

Cassie closed her eyes and sighed. "Jake," she started, but the young boy's vulnerable voice cut her off.

"No she's not! Don't lie to me! She's not dead! You said so! You said she was missing! Don't say she's dead!"

Jack stood there in shock. The poor boy didn't know about his mom. They had done a memorial service at the SGC. They had read her will and contacted Jack, but no one had the guts to tell the poor child that his mother was more than likely gone forever.

"Jake, you're right, she is missing," Cassie's voice cut through Jack's thoughts. "But, she's been missing for awhile now, and we don't know where she is. The air force is presuming that she's…."

"NO!" Jake screamed. "She's not! You don't know that!"

"Jake," Cassie sighed, taking a step towards the distraught child.

"Leave me alone!" he wailed, tiny tears erupting in his eyes. "I hate all of you!" he cried and then ran as fast as his little legs would allow out of the room.

No one said anything as they heard his footsteps pound up the stairs and a door slam shut.

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It was Daniel who finally broke the silence in the kitchen. "Julie, why don't you run on home? I don't think Jake is going to want to play much today."

Julie nodded her small head and gave Jack one more suspicious look. As she passed by the adults, she turned and looked up at Jack. "Are you really Jake's dad?"

"Yes, I am," Jack said softly, his own eyes misting over as the words left his lips. He was a dad. He had a son.

Julie just nodded, accepting Jack's answer and continued her walk to the door.

"Do you…..want to talk to him, or should I?" Cassie's voice cut into the silence seconds later.

Jack cleared his throat, a look of dread flashing across his weathered face. "Uh, I guess I probably should."

Cassie nodded and gave Jack a comforting smile. "Okay. You can't miss his room," she told him. "I'll, uh, start a pot of coffee."

Daniel perked up at that, and immediately stepped into the pantry to retrieve the coffee grounds.

Jack walked up the steps and took in the second level. It was merely a hallway with doors lining the inner wall. The bathroom was at the top of the stairs, the door open. A quick peek inside revealed a large garden tub and a long granite counter with two sinks, among other bathroom necessities. There were three doors to the left of the bathroom, and two to the right. The first door on the left was narrower than the others, and Jack surmised it was the linen closet.

Glancing to the doors on the right, Jack noticed a large poster on one of the closed doors. He walked to the door, and held back a chuckle as he read the sign.

Jake's Room.

Unauthorized entrance will result in your doom.

This kid took drama to a whole new level.

Jack read the sign one more time before knocking on the door.

"Go away," Jake's voice permeated the closed door.

"It's me, Jack."

"I said, go away!" Jake's voice yelled back.

"I can't do that. We need to talk."

"No we don't."

"Yes we do."

"No we don't."

"Yes, we do. Damnit, Jake, open the door!" Jack ground out in frustration.

"Uhm, you swore! I'm telling!"

"Jake!" Jack barked, his face turning red in exasperation. "I'm coming in."

"I said no," Jake cried, but it was no use, Jack already turned the knob and walked into the boy's room.

Jake crossed his arms across his chest and glared up at his father. "What do you want?"

Jack sighed and ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. "Sit down, Jake," Jack softly ordered, waving at the young boy's bed.

Jake sat down, his arms still defiantly crossed, his bottom lip stuck out in a pout. "Are you here to take me away?"

"What?" Jack asked, surprised at the question.

Jake shrugged. "My mom is gone and now you're here. Are you taking me away?"

Jack let out a long sigh, his hands coming up and covering his face as he sat down next to Jake on the bed. "I don't know. What do you want?"

"My mom."

Jack closed his eyes and pushed back his exasperation. "So do I, kiddo. So do I."

"I don't want to leave," Jake's small voice crackled.

"Okay, we'll stay then," Jack replied, and Jake lifted his eyes to his father's, the two O'Neill's sharing their first father/son moment.

The moment was interrupted a second later with the arrival of a large, yellow dog that came running into the room and jumping up on Jake's bed. "Cosmo!" Jake cheered happily, jumping on the dog.

Jack watched the dog and boy play happily in silence, until the dog looked at Jack with a predatory gaze.

Jack's eyes widened as the dog started growling at him. At first the growl was low, but as Jack continued to stare at the yellow lab, it grew louder and louder.

"Cosmo doesn't like strangers," Jake announced, completely unfazed with the dog's attitude.

"Well tell him I'm your dad," Jack whined.

Jake laughed. "He's just a dog. He won't understand."

Jack nodded and slowly stood up off the bed. "Well, I guess he'll just have to get used to me."

Jake nodded and turned to his dog. "Lay down, Mo!"

Cosmo's growl turned into a whine and he sprawled his hairy body out on the bed, his head resting on Jake's pillow in a humanly pose.

"You want to come down and talk with Daniel and Teal'c? I don't know how long they are staying."

Jake hopped off his bed. "Sure," he replied, and then strutted his small frame out the door.

Jack glanced one more time at the dog in the bed, and received another growl in response. Shaking his head, Jack quickly followed Jake out of the room.

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By the time Jack returned to the first floor, he was surprised to see that Janet had joined the group. She mumbled something about getting out of work early, and snuggled the five-year old who had launched into her arms at first sight.

Jack nodded at her excuse, a somber look on his face. He watched silently, as Jake came alive around the people who knew him. Janet ruffled his blonde hair and he beamed a Carter-smile at her. Daniel started teasing him, the five-year old not missing a beat as he harassed Daniel back just as much.

When he finally pulled out of Janet's arms, he ran and dove on Teal'c's back, the two immediately wrestling each other like any ordinary day.

This was Jake's family. Hell, it had been Jack's family years ago. Jake was happy with these people. Did Carter really think he would have just come back and taken Jake away? Granted, Carter thought Jack was happy on Edora, and his heart swelled knowing that Carter had wanted Jake to be with him upon her death, but still.

He couldn't break his son's heart. He couldn't take him away from the people he knew and loved.

Watching his son, so much like Charlie, so much like Carter, Jack knew in that moment what his ultimate decision was. His son. He would do anything for him. Even if it meant never seeing the men he left behind on his planet.

Jack was staying on earth……..with his son.

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