Viva Las Vegas
Anunnaki Part 14
By Michele
Rated : NC-17 (Jack/Sam/Daniel)
Summary: Daniel takes his frustrations out on Rak'nor, Inanna has a guest, M'Net has a request, Jack dishes out a little TLC, and Jack panics when Nate and Cassandra take a vacation in Vegas.

Neither Teal'c nor Bre'tac were available, so Rak'nor answered Jack's request and came through the gate. He spent most of the day putting Daniel through his paces, using the forest outside the Mountain for their sparing ground. They startled a couple of hikers and Daniel stopped to assure them that they were only playing. Daniel could feel that he was out of shape; he was breathing hard barely 15 minutes into their playtime. By the time Daniel had bruises from head to foot, he was ready for his mental exercises. They closed themselves off in Teal'c quarters, lit candles, and kel'no'reemed themselves into a positive, centered tranquility.

Jack was in engineering looking over the schematics for his new offices. The government was dicking around with the entire asbestos issue but Jack, with a little help Davis, convinced them that building an entire new building would not only take longer but it would be a waste of money. Daniel finally presented himself to Jack who looked over the bruised man and gave a nod.

"Had fun, did we?"

"Cake," Daniel grunted, pointing back out the door. "Ice cream." Jack waved a hand at him and Daniel headed back out and to the commissary. Before Jack could say anything, he was taken in a beam of light. The engineers tossed their pencils down in irritation as the two SF at the door, both new to the SGC, almost dropped their guns.

After taking a pause with the slight disorientation, Jack realized he wasn't in Kansas anymore.

"This isn't Thor's ship," he commented as he looked around.

"No, it's the Heaven's Bow," Inanna replied. "I wanted to show you something. The timing was not inconvenient, was it?"

"Nope, nothing that can't wait," Jack said. The ship was smaller than Thor's and not as pretty; Jack would have termed it a battle cruiser next to Thor's Queen Mary. He looked out the window and saw that they were in orbit.

"I thought you were parked planet-side?" he asked.

"No, we've been in orbit," she said with a smile as she led him through the hallways. A furry mound ran toward him and he braced himself. Before he could resist the temptation, he gave an affectionate nuzzle to a soft, velvet ear.

"Cloaked and transporters?" he asked. She nodded. "You people seem to skim around the facts on a fairly frequent basis," he commented.

"No, you just don't ask the right questions," she replied. "Assumptions are not good."

"Yes, ma'am."

They walked through the halls and Jack took note of the easy familiarity of the crew. It seemed more like a family outing than a military vessel. Most of the crew were on stand-down, not being in any situations. Most were playing, reading, or talking. Inanna seemed to be the only female.

"You need women, if you're going to continue," he quietly commented.

"Yes." She said something in Goa'uld and T'Keet scrambled down and ran back through the hall.

She took Jack down a few decks and he found himself standing in front of the brig. The guards stood and gave her a polite bow.

"We intercepted a ship entering this solar system," she said to Jack. "The ship was seriously disabled from battle. The ship was a glider so we took the pilot into custody. He's asking for you." She nodded to the guards and one of them opened the cell. Jack stared for a moment.

"Camy! Baby!" he said in surprise. "What a surprise. That you're still alive, I mean. How's Baal? So sorry he missed my wedding, the lack of his presence was keenly felt. Let him know, will you?"

Camulus was in a corner, seated on the bare floor.

"O'Neill," came a dead voice. "My symbiote is still healing me, so forgive me if I don't stand." He held up his hands. The palms were blistered from what looked to be fire. Jack noticed that the bared legs under the leather kilt were also blistered and he winced.

"Ouch, Cam, what'd you do?" Jack lounged against the doorframe.

"Not I. Baal," Camulus said. "Shall we say he isn't happy with me?"

"Well, hey, we tried keeping you away from him but you didn't play nice in our sandbox," Jack said reasonably and shook a finger at the ex-System Lord. "Liar, liar, kilt on fire."

"Indeed. And what would it earn me if I told you where he is?"

Jack stilled. He reached into the hall and pulled a chair toward him.

"I'm listening," he said as he sat.

"He and most of the other System Lords are battling to keep their Jaffa from leaving," Camulus told him. "Most are down to less than 20 percent of their previous slaves. All Jaffa are escaping at their first opportunity to join the rebels on Dakkara. Several System Lords have formed uneasy alliances just to keep one partial crew. Baal still has the majority, having taken over Anubis' properties, but I can tell you that he has currently put Tau'ri second on his list. He will be going after Dakkara once he decides whether or not the device used on those creatures can be used on Goa'uld. If he gets hold of the Jaffa rebels and once more enslaves them…"

"He'll have all the Goa'uld at his feet and come to Earth with the full force," Jack finished. Camulus gave a nod. "What do you want?"

Camulus was quiet for a moment, studying his hands. "I am going to say something to you that no Goa'uld would ever consider thinking much less saying. You are correct in that the…dysfunction….of the Goa'uld personality is primarily from the sarcophagus. The symbiotes, like the Asgard, are the victims of our own genetic manipulations; we made the mistake of duplicating ourselves too many times which is where the personality traits diverged and began to encroach upon our original intent, which was simply to continue our species."

Jack folded his arms and stared at Camulus. "And I'm supposed to believe you? Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?"

"I need no one's pity," the Celt snarled, his eyes flashing. "As for truth, ask your Queen."

"She isn't our queen," Jack immediately responded. "Nothing personal." Inanna gave a small smile and a shrug.

"The Tau'ri are under their own rule, Camulus," she said. "Even the Asgard considers them Allies and not subjects. I am simply completing my task. Camulus came after our time, so I cannot vouch for him personally. He has, so far, spoken the truth, though. Ereshkigal is on board, would you like for me to send for her?"

Jack found Camulus' whitening face to be interesting and he agreed.

"How come you aren't dead?" Jack asked him, curious. "I expected Baal to gut you for trying to deceive him."

"I told him it was I who was deceived by you," Camulus reluctantly told him. "He believed me because he knows you."

"My, my, a compliment from Baal," Jack chuckled. "What made you escape him this time?"

Camulus refused to answer. Jack suspected the burns had something to do with it. Ereshkigal entered shortly after, led by Erra.

"Zu said you weren't on board," Jack commented.

"I wasn't until recently," Ereshkigal told him. Jack was getting a little tired of all the double-talk but couldn't think of how to ask her anything further without it sounding like an interrogation.

"I think I'd like to repeat my last question to Camulus," Jack said. "What are you doing here and why did you escape from Baal?"

The Goa'uld was having a hard time, his eyes flickering back and forth from Jack to Ereshkigal. Erra quietly took out a two-pronged blade and Camulus tried to disappear into the wall.

"Alright!" he held up a hand. "I helped Baal's personal slave escape. He set me on fire after torturing me. I escaped and made it to a glider."

Jack looked at Ereshkigal who reluctantly nodded.

"Those gliders don't have long-distance capabilities," Jack said. He knew all too well what happens to someone who helps Baal's personal slave escape.

"I planet-hopped part of the way, caught rides on freighters from worlds who did not know of us, and sometimes hid in the wake of large vessels."

"And if I wanted to talk to the host?" Jack asked. "And don't tell me about the host not surviving, we've already proved you wrong. The host of Apophis spoke before he died."

"The host is over one thousand of your years old," Camulus said, clearly not believing Jack. "His personality is long gone. The longer the merge, the less of the host survives. I cannot be removed or both of us would die. There is nothing of the host to keep this body alive."

Jack had to admit that he had never heard a Goa'uld speaking this way before. The few times he had heard Apophis speak of a host, he had done so with extreme contempt; Camulus actually sounded slightly sympathetic.

"Why are you telling me these things?" Jack asked.

"I have not used a sarcophagus in years," Camulus said after a moment. "The healing of my burns has taken many weeks, done completely on my own. I only ever used it when the need became extreme. I am not of the same genetic line as most of the other System Lords. I am not as damaged as they are. I wish to align myself with the Tau'ri."

"Bullshit, Cam," Jack pronounced. "Every single one of you people are so damaged that the humane thing to do would be to kill you."

"With the freedom of movement, O'Neill, not locked in a cage as you did before," Camulus continued, ignoring Jack.

"You double-crossed us once, you think I'm giving you free reign of my planet?" Jack asked incredulously.

"I brought battle information of Baal's fleet, as well as information on twenty System Lords," Camulus boasted. "I have the most current codes; current at the time of my departure. I know troop specifics, I know which planets, outside the gate system, that are under Goa'uld leadership. I have gate coordinates that you do not. There are 6 strains of Goa'uld, all but 3 strains are dead."

Jack stood and kicked the chair back. "Inanna, I have work to do, would you mind beaming me back?"

"Jack, as much as I'd like to tear his spirit from him, he's telling you facts," Ereshkigal spoke.

"And what am I supposed to do with him?" Jack demanded, pointing a hand back into the cell. "Walking him around the planet on a leash for a while could be amusing, but it would get old after a while. I'd consider a probation tag, but I wouldn't put it past him to gnaw his own foot off to remove the anklet, and I am certainly not going to let him loose on the women of my world. Maybe I could hand him over to a few pathologists I know and let them dissect him. Attach electrodes to his brain and make him dance. I don't care how repentant he is, shoot him out an airlock!"

Jack stalked out of the holding area and got onto the lift. He pushed the buttons opposite of what got him to his present location, and was whisked away. Shara was waiting for him in the transporter area, a Sua standing next to him.

"Don't," Jack warned darkly.

"Inanna requested that I send you home, if that is your wish," Shara said gently. "M'Net wishes to speak with Daniel; may he join you for a short time?"

"Fine."

He was returned to engineering, the spot where he was taken. The guards were once more startled, not only at Jack's reappearance but also by the tall Sua that appeared with him.

"Kree," Jack snapped, waving a hand for M'Net to follow him. He took the Sua through the halls, startling more new personnel. Daniel was exactly where Jack figured he'd be –pouring over something old in his office.

"M'Net!" Daniel greeted the Sua. T'Keet immediately transferred herself from under M'Net's mane to Daniel's shoulders. Daniel noticed she was starting to get a little big for hiding in manes. He knocked paws and then frowned at Jack. "What's wrong with you?"

"The Heaven's Bow is hosting Camulus," Jack snarled. "Ol' Camy seems to feel I'd forgive him and be his forever buddy. You're right eye is turning colors."

Daniel gave it a delicate touch. "Yeah, I know," he said. "Rak'nor jumped me from a rock and we both went down a hill. It's fine. How did they get Camulus?" Jack gave him a condensed version of the story. M'Net watched one to the other, arching his whiskers once in a while, understanding a few of the words he had begun to learn. When Jack strode from the room, M'Net turned to Daniel.

"He is very angry," he told Daniel in Goa'uld. Daniel nodded and told M'Net of their first meeting with Camulus. "The prisoner has much to say," he told Daniel. "Much information. Would it not be prudent to hear the information?"

"When Jack calms down, I'll talk to him," Daniel said. "He won't hear anything while he's this upset. Camulus lied to us once before and almost got us killed, so we don't trust him very much. Tell me about you, how are you doing? I'm very sorry to hear about your clan."

"I am well," M'Net said. "I have bonded with many new brothers on the ship; it is a small comfort, and I have the affections of T'Keet, as well. She looks like her mother. I did not have the opportunity to speak with you before leaving after my healing; I wished to thank you for rescuing us. Would you tell J'ck? I am learning a little of your language but I know only a few words. I know more of the Queen's language."

"I'll tell him," Daniel promised.

"But you, D'nl, your scent is…not happy." Furred ears tweaked in a concerned tilt. Daniel sighed.

"I'm just tired, M'Net, I'll be alright," he said. He went around the table and put a hand on M'Net's back, steering him from the room. He went on in Goa'uld as they walked through the hall; several new personnel jumped out of their way. Those more experienced snickered at the newbies. Without a tail of his own, Daniel found his wrist taken by M'Net's tail in a friendly companion grasp. They went to the commissary where Daniel got another cup of coffee and a juice for M'Net; the Sua had taken a liking to Tau'ri fruits. There were a few SG personnel who knew M'Net and greeted him with a pleased paw knocking. T'Keet was quite happy with all the petting and ear scratching as she scampered from person to person. After Daniel and M'Net made the rounds, they headed back to Daniel's office.

"D'nl, may we speak of females?" M'Net politely asked as they reached the office. Daniel lifted an eyebrow.

"Of course," he said.

"Not for myself, I will place myself in the hands of extended clan family once we go back to my home, but I am concerned about others on the ship." M'Net's tail flicked as he crouched on the floor in conversation mode. Daniel sat on the floor in front of him. "My hosts are too polite to ask and have accepted that they will die. Are there no females on your world that would join the males of the ship? They are good, honorable warriors and my heart feels for them. Could you ask some females to join them?"

Daniel was flabbergasted. Of all the things M'Net could have talked about, he was asking Daniel to play matchmaker.

"Uh, well, it isn't that easy," he said. "The women of my country are very strong and would resent being asked to mother a race, and the women of the country where the men on your ship are from, their ancestors, I mean, are of another spiritual belief and would not accept a man who did not believe the way they did."

M'Net was clearly disappointed as his whiskers drooped.

"I see," he said.

Daniel felt bad. "Let me think about it," he told M'Net. "Let me talk to a few people, maybe we can think of something. How many men are on board?"

M'Net said something which didn't translate. Daniel showed him a simple tally by using lines, four lines and a fifth crossing to represent five. M'Net understood and held a whiteboard marker between his fingers like a cigarette to mark lines on the board. Daniel counted them up. 75.

"Is this an accurate count?" Daniel asked. M'Net shifted.

"I am not positive that I am using your counting system correctly, but I believe it is an approximate count. I am not including Aba and Inanna's household."

Daniel frowned.

"As it is, their bloodline won't survive even if we do find them dates." He scratched his cheek and paced slightly.

"Let me think about it," he said once more.

Yes, the Royal Four would be too proud to ask for help in this area, Daniel mused after M'Net went back to the ship.

"Zu?" he called out in an experiment. "If you can hear me, I'd like to see Enki."

A few hours later, the guards once more panicked when someone appeared.

"Boys," they were cheerfully greeted. He first stopped in Jack's office. Jack glanced up from his paperwork.

"I apologize for my rudeness but I'm still not dealing with Camulus," he stated. Enki sat in the chair.

"No one took your emotions personally, so don't worry about it," he told Jack. "We aren't quite sure what to do with Camulus, but we'll figure it out. We may give him to the Asgard, if you don't want him. I wanted to give this to you, though." He held out a small broach and Jack took it.

"Very nice, thank you," he said politely.

"It's for communications," Enki told him, amused. "Just tap it and speak the name of the person you want. The range is further than your radios. I wish I had thought of it during the battle, but we were a little busy at the time. This is yours to keep. I brought three; I'm giving another to Daniel and the third is for Sam." He handed Sam's over to Jack who promised to give it to her. "I will give you the frequency of our communication system so that you can adjust your own to it, if you wish this base to have use of it."

"That would be helpful, thank you," Jack said. "With most places, we just open the gate."

"And we have no gate," Enki commented with a nod. "I also wanted to tell you that all the symbiotes have been accounted for."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "That's good, thank you," he said. "Does this mean you're leaving? Honestly, I'm getting used to having you guys around."

"Thank you, Jack," Enki said with a smile. "I am not sure what is planned, Inanna is still considering options. I know that we will check in on the Sua, if any of ours wish to leave us, we will send them planet-side."

"We can contact a couple of friends and see if they'd like to negotiate with you, let you colonize some property," Jack offered. "They're human, so you're people could certainly mingle."

"I will suggest it to my Queen," Enki told him. "She isn't happy about leaving, she takes her responsibilities seriously and this planet is her responsibility. This world is crowded enough, though, I don't believe it could handle all our people and I've told her that. Is one of these other planets you mention close by?"

"Not really," Jack said after thinking about it. "The closest is Abydos; it was the original outpost of Ra after leaving Earth. Anubis destroyed the civilization that was there. Wiped it from the face of the planet, including their gate."

"Yes, Daniel told us of it," Enki said with a nod, stroking his black beard in thought. "Very painful memories. Would it offend if I took a look at it? I'd like to check the ecosystem; I may be able to terraform it and make it livable."

"Won't offend me," Jack said with a shrug. "A beautiful people lived there, and I think they would have liked you. I don't suppose you could terraform one of our planets here in this solar system?"

"I'm sorry," Enki shook his head. "I need active genetic material to work with; Earth is the only planet in this system that has the conditions that meet my criteria. I can't work with the volcanic activity on the other planets and moons, not in their current state, because there isn't enough land mass to terraform. Mars has possibilities, it does have water, land, and microbes, but it would take about 600 years for me to adjust it properly for humanoid life. I can start the process, if you'd like, but don't expect results before those 600 years and no one will be able to step foot on it before it is ready; the delicate balance would be disrupted." He stood.

"I'll leave you to your work, Jack; I need to check in on Daniel for a moment. Just one thing, though; do you know why the Goa'uld chose gods of the underworld and gods of war for their personas, instead of the gods of peace and tranquility?" Jack shook his head. "Because those were the gods of transformation and change. No one liked what they stood for but change needs to happen, action needs to occur, or all life stagnates and dies."

Enki left the room leaving Jack with another of his puzzling riddles. Jack made a note of it, this time, to remind himself to talk it over with Daniel. Jack hoped that playing with Rak'nor got out of Daniel's system whatever was making him feel suffocated because damned if he wanted to spend another night without him.

Daniel was pouring over a tablet; he hadn't made heads or tails of it in several hours.

"I can tell you what it says."

He jumped at the voice in his ear.

"Enki, give me a heart attack, why don't you?" He held out a hand. "No, don't take that seriously, please."

"Wouldn't dream of it, my dear boy," Enki said dryly. Daniel paused.

"You know what this says?" he tapped the stone. Enki touched one line.

"This part says, "Add two parts moon, three parts sun, a fingernail of colofinaze, and four parts ground senentonil. Bake at edge of low flame for 1 and 1 half lengths. Let stand….""

"It's a recipe?" Daniel asked in disgust.

"Mmmm, for bread, it looks like," Enki told him. "Man does live by sacred texts alone, Daniel, we need a snack now and again."

Daniel looked from the stone to the old man and back again.

"Are you pulling one on me?" he asked suspiciously.

"Daniel, would I do that to you?"

"Yes, Coyote, you would."

Enki chuckled. "Yes, I would, but not this time," he assured Daniel. "It really is a recipe." He pulled a broach from his pocket and handed it to Daniel, telling him what it was.

"So I don't go calling out for Zu?" he guessed.

"Zu said he isn't a messenger," Enki dryly commented. "The communicator is just a small, personal one, it does nothing more than make a two way communication between you and whoever you are trying to reach. Mine not only communicates but also controls the ship, if I need it to." He pulled a necklace out of his jersey. "I have a main control, Inanna does and Ninurta. Enlil used to have one, but we had his deactivated long ago when he was taken by the Goa'uld. That is secure information, Daniel."

Daniel nodded, understanding; if anyone unsavory discovered the true function of the necklace, the Heaven's Bow could be taken over…. Daniel paled in shock.

"Is that…the Me?" he whispered, pointing. The controls of civilization, the laws that Enki and Inanna used to teach humans to fend for themselves, the laws of the universe itself. Daniel needed to think about the meaning behind that one; the scribes and philosophers of 4000BC were bright for their time, very bright, but they still tended to wax…well….philosophical. "It isn't that the Me controlled the laws of the universe, but that the Me was grounded in the laws of the universe. And the 'gifts' given to humans were actually instructions from your ship's archives," he guessed.

"Yes. Very quick, Daniel, very good. Between Zu and M'Net, I was afraid you were on the verge of a complete mental collapse."

Daniel let out a puff of breath. He looked around, glancing at his SF outside the door, and switched to Sumerian, telling Enki all that had occurred that week.

"Daniel, why did you allow yourself to get that far?" Enki asked when he was done. He held a hand over Daniel's colorful eye for a few minutes. "Prioritize. What is more important; continuing to do the work yourself or teaching others how to do for themselves? When we came to this planet, all those centuries ago, we could have sat loftily on high and allowed the primitive people to worship us and serve our lazy asses, but we didn't. Most of us didn't. We walked among them, Daniel, among you. We taught your ancestors how to think for themselves, how to reason, how to govern themselves. Call me arrogant, but that was our greatest gift to you. It is your turn. Teach them how to think and reason for themselves, Daniel, and allow someone in your future to continue your work just as you are continuing mine."

Enki thought for a moment. "There is much I cannot say now," he confessed. "There are things you need to learn on your own or your mental capacity won't make the leap that it needs to make. Some things need to happen, Daniel, and you will need to stand back and allow them to happen now matter how painful it is to watch. I am speaking in general, not of you personally. This planet is over-burdened and she is struggling to right this wrong. For every disease that crops up, and a cure is found, ten more will take its place. More and more people are becoming infertile for a reason. More and more people are turning to alternative family units for a reason. In order for this planet to survive, a percentage of the population must be sacrificed. The most fit must survive, and that means genetically fit for the future's needs, not necessarily the most fit physically, now. I know that sounds cold, I don't mean it to be; I am fertility itself and it pains me to see such misery. Life is trying to right the wrong done on this planet by her own people and the people are fighting the medicine instead of taking it and healing. You, Daniel, you have a heart so big that you were willing to love a baby not yours. Teach that to these people. Teach the people of this planet to love, Daniel, because I fear they have forgotten how."

He touched Daniel's hair, stroking. "Why does that hurt you?"

Daniel studied the top of his desk. "I…I'm losing me, Aba," he said quietly.

Enki chuckled and pressed his mouth to Daniel's cheek. "No, didila, you are finding you. Don't fight it and it won't hurt so much."

"I have a task for you," he said, taking a step back from Daniel. "Meditate for at least one half hour before retiring in the evening and for one half hour when you awaken in the morning. Every day, Daniel, not just when you feel like it. Do the Jaffa exercises; it suits your higher brain. And I do recommend you getting over your fear of being a father, because if anyone should pass on their genes, it's you. And Jack. He has been changed in more ways by the Ancients than he could possibly imagine. Try and get him to learn kel'no'reem, too. Tell him I said not to give you grief or I'll change his hair to bright red curls."

Daniel unwillingly smiled at the image. "Sam isn't sure she wants…."

Enki waved a hand and snorted. "She can use as many birth control devices as she wants but if Nature wants Her way, Her way will be had. Daniel….expect the unexpected. And celebrate it." He patted Daniel on the cheek. "Call upon us, Daniel; you have the right of family."

"Thank you, Aba. Oh, I wanted to ask you about your people. On the ship," Daniel said, remembering why he had called for Enki. He told Enki about M'Net's visit. "I think he's feeling the need to do a little match-making. Each man should have a queen of their own to serve. I don't mind trying to set up a couple of dates but I need some sort of parameter to look for."

Enki chuckled. "Our men are as varied as yours are," he said. "We need strong women, though, if they are going to help set up a new colony. Jack said I can take a look at Abydos as a possible terraforming project; would you mind if we set up there?"

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "No, I don't mind," he said. "Just please make sure that there are no inhabitants at all on the planet before you set anything in motion; we didn't do a planet-wide study."

Enki agreed and gave Daniel a hug before tapping his necklace and transporting out. Daniel hadn't noticed the necklaces before; the warriors were always so discrete about touching them, that they took themselves off to someplace private before transporting. It certainly explained how T'Keet kept showing up. Daniel sat back down; if he wasn't mistaken, he had just been adopted again. His wrist beeped at him. Daniel was blank for a moment and then realized that his watch alarm went off so he checked his appointments.

"Ooops," he muttered to himself and quickly saved and closed all his work. People tried to stop him several times on his way out and he covered his ears. "Ask Nyan!" he called out. He popped his head into Jack's office. "I'm going out. Appointment. What do you want for dinner?"

Jack looked up and although he didn't say anything, Daniel could see the relief on his face. "Jack, come on; food. Specify. Or eat whatever I make without complaints."

"Just make something," Jack told him. "Want to go out instead?"

"Na," Daniel shook his head. "I wanna veg."

"Pick up a movie."

Daniel nodded and turned.

"Daniel." He turned back. "By movie, I mean something completely unredeeming in any semblance of social value or higher consciousness."

"Something shoot'um up and stupid?"

Jack smiled at him. "Good boy."

"Daniel."

"Yes, Jack?"

"What happened to your eye?"

"I told you….."

"No, not that," Jack said, gesturing at Daniel's face. "The colors are gone."

Daniel looked around for something shiny and looked at himself. He touched his eye. It was back to normal.

"Enki," he said. Jack nodded.

Jack was interrupted again a half hour later. Someone stood in the doorway. The engineers were waiting for the SF to do more than stand at their stations as the man in leather stood looking at Jack.

"Do you have clearance to be down here?" Jack asked curiously.

"I can't think of anyplace I don't have clearance for," came the low rumble. He handed a large envelope to him. "Your project is good to go, do as you will."

Jack nodded in understanding. "Thanks, Nick, I appreciate this."

Nick glanced at the plans on the table and poked at a couple of spots.

"If I were looking for a way in, those are the first places I'd consider," he warned. Jack looked down at the table and immediately made notations. Nick gave him a nod and left as silently as he arrived.

The engineers were once more looking at him.

"Yes?" Jack annunciated with extreme care.

"Does Dr. Jackson really know how to cook, sir?" one of the men asked.

"I've gained 10 pounds since he started cooking regularly at our home," Jack informed them, patting his stomach. "And my delivery places called to make sure I was still alive."

Dinner was bubbling nicely in the oven when Jack got home. Smelled Italian, whatever it was. A hand ran down his back and he turned, putting his arms around Daniel.

"Please don't do that again," Jack whispered.

"I'm sorry."

After a dinner of veal parmesan and red wine, they went into the living room for a naked truth session. Daniel relaxed back against Jack.

[Daniel "One of my first memories with a foster family was my coloring book. I was coloring and one of the younger kids came in and took my crayons. I bitched about it and was told to share. A few days later when he was coloring, I took a crayon. Just one. And was told to be more considerate of others. I saved up my allowance and bought a new box of crayons. He took them and broke them. I was punished for not watching him properly. The next time I bought crayons, I wouldn't let him play with them. I was punished for being selfish. I think I was upset over feeling as though I had nothing to call mine."

[Jack "I thought your fosters treated you well?"

[Daniel "They did; all kids have a few shitty memories of growing up. I didn't realize until recently that those memories were bothering me so deeply."

[Jack "Sounds to me like you didn't get individual attention and was relegated to second place."

[Daniel "I guess so. Up until then, my parents were mine and everything I had was mine. Only child. No one I had to share with. Suddenly I had nothing to call mine and everything was shared."

[Jack "And suddenly being thrust into a group relationship, where everything is shared, you once more had nothing to call yours."

[Daniel "I sound like a self-centered child, and I don't want to sound that way. I don't want to be that way."

[Jack "No, you don't sound self-centered, you sound frustrated. I hope that when we get moved, and you can set up your own rooms, you won't feel that way anymore. I even want you to set up the kitchen, since you're the main cook here. If you want to. Daniel, you have just as much right to your own space as anyone else does. This isn't a commune, it is a house and three people are sharing it. Put a barrier around what you need to, won't hurt my feelings, and once your computer is set up in OUR home, the barrier around my office goes back up. That's what our offices are for –private space. I respect private space and so does Sam. Can you live with that?"

[Daniel "Yes, I can. Enki and I talked about prioritizing. He said the same thing you did –I'm only one person. I talked with Nyan, too, and he's agreed to teach any classes I have to miss. Be my assistant. I want to teach and I don't want to stop gating. I talked with the board today and we agreed on a curriculum. My classes would be part-time and only for PhD candidates, unless I authorize someone I feel may be worth the time and effort. Students have to apply to get into my class and I get full veto power. I'm not going to waste my time with anyone who isn't serious. I can have twenty students, I can have one student. The university also agreed to allow SGC personnel into my class, if you get with them for the contract. The military will pay for it, of course."

[Jack Squeezes from behind…. "And what's your class called?"

[Daniel "Non-linear Thinking."

[Jack "That's it? What's the curriculum?"

[Daniel "Whatever I want it to be. Linguistics, ancient history, how to make nice with aliens, how to read between the lines. The board wasn't quite sure of such an unspecified curriculum, but I asked them how they would deal with a hissing, volatile reptile who spoke a non-Tau'ri language and lived in a primitive hunter society. They asked how likely it would be for us to meet one, assuming such a creature existed, and I told them I could have one standing in front of them within the hour. They believed me."

[Jack Laughing…. "I suppose we could send an invitation out to Chaka."

Daniel took his hands from Jack's knees and turned. He kissed Jack, slowly, delicately, tasting Jack's lips and touching his face, looking into the eyes so dark that the pupils were difficult to see.

"I get moody sometimes, Jack," he said after a moment. "After I left home, I always made sure I had my own space. Abydos was easy, I just went for long walks and eventually spent a lot of time translating the new room. Just being friends with you and Sam was easy, we all had our own homes. Going on digs with groups was easy, the rule was no one touches someone else's stuff. If I spend a lot of time in my new office at the new house, I don't want you to get upset with me."

"Daniel, I know you're moody, we've been a team for 9 years, remember? Do you know how many times I've left the Mountain after a long week or two. Or three. Or four. Knowing that you were still in your office working on something?" Jack asked. "Most of the time you didn't even hear me saying good night, much less good morning. I would bring you coffee and you never noticed me, only the coffee. I didn't take it personally; you were just being you, in your own world, doing whatever it was you needed to do. Sam builds motorcycles, you learn new languages. Daniel, you astound me; you just got your third PhD, you speak more languages than anyone I have ever heard of, you CAN find that needle in the haystack, and you're worried about being moody? I'm worried you and Sam will get bored with me and wake up one morning wondering why you're here. Three-fourths of what you two talk about goes right over my head. Way over. Yeah, I know some stuff, but none of it's in the same category you two are in. I feel like a complete idiot next to you two, and you're concerned about being moody."

Daniel tilted his head to look at Jack. "We tease you, but we don't think you're an idiot. I couldn't have directed a battle, it would never have occurred to me to toss diplomats into a locked room, I certainly wouldn't have told the President of the United States to take a hike, and I would have sacrificed myself to a lost cause a dozen times over if you hadn't forced me out; you're the bravest, most honorable person I know, Jack, and I can only hope and pray that I can live up to at least a quarter of the man you are."

Jack didn't know what to say as he touched Daniel's face.

"Are we done with this?" he asked quietly. Daniel nodded. "Good, because we have another topic to discuss." He pushed Daniel forward and stood, going to his office and bringing back an envelope. He sat down again behind Daniel, wrapping a leg over Daniel's and locking him in.

"While we were in Chicago, a man approached me and asked me to give this to you. He said you do have blood family and this is the proof." He handed the envelope to Daniel. "I didn't want to see you hurt with one more disappointment, so I had Nick check out the information. He came back today with a green light. If you want this, you have cousins to meet."

The envelope was trembling as Daniel hung his head for a moment.

"He seemed a nice guy, Danny," Jack said softly. "Respectful, courteous. Said he'd understand if you didn't want to stop in and say Hi, said his contact information is inside and that the decision would be yours and he won't bother you. Sam was there, she likes his vibes."

Daniel tossed the envelope across the floor and put his arms around Jack's neck.

"Take your time and think about it," Jack told him, giving his back a rub. "From what I understand, the relationship is a little convoluted, which was why state services didn't find them when you were little."

"No," Daniel said, lifting his head. "I'll meet them, I'd just a like a little time for it to sink in."

"Good," Jack said. "See if there's an email, and spend some time chatting first. You can claim your busy schedule. His name is Martin, he looked a little older than you, younger than me."

Daniel nodded and leaned in to kiss Jack. After slowly licking and sucking on tongues for a while, Jack leaned back, a funny look on his face, and looked at Daniel.

"What?" Daniel asked.

Jack shook his head. "I'm sitting on my floor, in my house, with you, Daniel, naked between my legs, and we're making out. Sometimes I still get that surreal sensation."

Daniel stopped a smile. "Sooo…need to hit the firing range for a while? Get it out of your system?"

"No," Jack smiled. "But I think a little payback is in order."

Before Daniel could ask what he meant, Jack licked at Daniel's neck and took a section of skin between his teeth, sucking and licking at it. Daniel hissed and Jack tightened his leg around Daniel. He skimmed a hand over Daniel's chest and found a nipple to play with while he sucked on Daniel's neck.

Daniel moaned and hung on. He tried to get a hand down between them but Jack wouldn't let him. Jack caught the straying hand and held it behind Daniel's back in a tight grip as his leg tightened across Daniel's, covering Daniel's groin. Jack sucked harder, his breath hot and loud in Daniel's ear.

"Oh, my God, Jack," Daniel groaned. "Yours. Love you." He whimpered as Jack continued to toy with his nipple which was becoming more and more sensitive to the briefest brush of Jack's fingers. Jack removed his mouth and lowered his head, taking the sensitized nipple and licking it. Daniel cried out, ripped his hand from Jack's, and clutched at Jack's shoulders. After a long minute, Jack lifted his head and kissed Daniel. He touched the dark purple mark on Daniel's neck and smirked.

"Don't let the general see that," he warned Daniel.

"You should have thought about that before you put it there," Daniel said breathlessly. "It's a little warm out to drag out my turtlenecks. Everyone knows Sam's at the Yard, so there's only one person who could have put it there. Everyone will know what you were doing."

Jack frowned in a fake menace. "Let 'um comment," he dared. "At least the old man is getting some."

"Oh, he is, is he?"

"Yup," Jack smirked. "Let's go to bed, and I'll prove it."

Daniel lifted an eyebrow. "Is this the way you treat all your dates?"

"No, just the ones I'm sleeping with."

Jack took him slowly, thoroughly, loving every inch of him, bathing Daniel in loving attention, making sure Daniel knew he was wanted and needed. Jack lay on top of Daniel, buried inside of him, fingers laced, looking into each other's eyes.

"I love you," Jack whispered. He shuddered for a moment and buried his face next to Daniel's head. Daniel held him, softly stroking Jack where his arms could reach, loving the feeling of Jack filling him, the weight of him, his scent filling Daniel's lungs.

In the early morning, Jack awoke to find himself alone. He took care of business and went out to the living room where he found Daniel surrounded by candles. Daniel was at peace when he opened his eyes. He patted the floor.

"Sit."

Jack sat and Daniel gave him the beginner's instructions. A short time later, a rumble broke Jack's concentration and he opened his eyes and looked down at his stomach. Daniel smiled.

"Let's go out," he suggested. Jack agreed and they got up. They got each other off in the shower, dressed and went out for breakfast before heading to the complex. It didn't seem to occur to Daniel that Jack was holding his hand as they walked into the restaurant, so Jack didn't say anything. He was amused to note that Daniel wore a t-shirt with a low collar, the hicky bright and public. The waitress looked at the boys and the hicky, and flushed as she took their order.

In Jack's truck on the way to work, Daniel remembered something.

"Oh, Sam and I were talking about her," he told Jack. "About making love to her anally. She still wants to, especially after watching us. I told her I think you should be her first, she would like me first and for you to watch. What do you want?"

"It's her body," Jack shrugged. "I'm a little old to get torqued over taking someone's virginity, so if she wants you first, I'm fine with it. What's your concern?"

"Honestly? The fact that I'm thicker than you and I don't want to hurt her," Daniel said. Jack chuckled.

"Daniel, you had practically your entire hand in me before you took me the first time, and that is a damned big paw," he reminded the younger man. "And as much as I am not complaining, you are not as thick as your hand. You're stressing; just take her slow and easy, like you did me. You've had three fingers in her, already. She isn't a delicate flower, you know."

"I know," Daniel conceded. "Ok, we'll see what's what this weekend when she gets home."

Daniel was ragged on by most of the guys throughout the morning. No one dared say anything to Jack but he was aware of it. Reynolds snickered under his breath a couple times and Jack popped him in the arm once. Jack made a private call to Enki and the old man informed Jack that he was old enough to accept responsibility for defacing his pilpili. Jack was sure he heard chuckles before the connection was broken. He went to Daniel.

"What is pilpili?" he asked. Daniel choked on his coffee.

"Homosexual lover. Where'd you get that from?"

"Never mind."

Daniel received a phone call from Mrs. Arthur and spent almost a half hour talking with her. She agreed to come out and take a look around, see how she felt about the place before deciding on his offer. Daniel eagerly grabbed at the straw. The phone rang again.

"Dr. Jackson, this is Dr. Cornwall."

"Yes, Dr. Cornwall, how are you?"

"Fine, thank you. I was calling regarding the email I sent you requesting assistance on a translation. There is a man outside my office claiming to be Ninurta and that you asked him to assist me on this."

"About five eleven, long black hair, trimmed beard, superior expression?" Actually, that described most of the Sumerian men….

"Yes?"

"That's him. Don't let him bullshit you, Doctor, he has a wicked sense of humor; takes after his father. And he can be bribed with double fudge brownies."

Dr. Cornwall was speechless as Daniel rang off.

The phone rang again.

"I need to head out to Nevada," Jack said.

"What's going on?"

"Apparently Nate and Cassie are out there," Jack told him, perturbed. "Didn't even tell me he was leaving Mom's. Vegas PD is holding them at their hotel."

"What?!"

"Seems they were nearby when a body was found," Jack said. "Police said they ran Nate's ID and became suspicious when my ID came up. We look alike but anyone can see the age difference."

Daniel acknowledged him and Jack left the Mountain. Two hours later, Jack's plane landed in Las Vegas. He was met by Maj. Davis with a car.

"Tell me why I didn't have him shot years ago?" Jack asked Davis.

"Because you are a warm, fuzzy kinda guy and with a big heart?"

Jack looked at him.

"Sorry, sir."

"No, you're right, major," Jack said. "I'm too soft. Where are our alien children?"

"With Vegas PD, sir, at a hotel called Hotel Paradise. We'll be there shortly."

Several spines straightened as Jack walked through the hotel. He returned salutes from a couple of reservists and a squad off-duty from the Army. Two men looked up as Jack and Davis walked toward the crime scene.

"General O'Neill, Jim Brass," the captain held out a hand which Jack took. "I'm sorry to be bothering you with this. This is Dr. Gil Grissom with CSI."

"Dr. Grissom. That's alright, Captain," Jack said. "Are they being charged with anything?"

"Not at the moment," Brass told him. "We did a routine search on everyone nearby, and your son was just down the hall. Our problem was how your son's ID came back. With your ID and a tag to direct any activity to you. I honestly don't understand how we are getting the mixed ID. Unless someone high in the government is involved, in which case I felt it prudent to call you to get this straightened out."

"Did you say on the phone that a murder happened?" Jack asked, not responding to the comment. The men noticed.

"Yes," Grissom said. "And actually I have a question for you. It came up after Capt. Brass spoke to you earlier. Would you mind taking a look at the body?"

"At the body?" Jack questioned with a raised brow. "I don't mind, but I'm not in forensics."

"That's quite alright," Grissom told him pleasantly. "I don't think you will need to be. This way."

There were two other CSI's working the room when the men went in. Grissom asked Davis to stay outside the door of the room and directed Jack to walk on a sheet of plastic.

"Nicky, pull the sheet back, would you?" Grissom asked the younger man in the room. Jack took one look at the body and sighed.

"Dr. Grissom, your people need to get out of here," Jack told him as he took his cell phone out. "Sam, dead snake. Hotel Paradise, Vegas, room 6744. Get a clean-up team out here."

"General O'Neill, this is a Las Vegas PD matter, it's on our turf," Capt. Brass told him in growing concern.

"I don't mean to tread on toes, Captain, I appreciate your cooperation in this matter," Jack said. "That cavity makes this a Homeworld Security issue. Major, get our kids in front of me." Brass sighed in resignation and offered a couple of his officers to assist Davis.

"You think this may not be coincidence, this…person… so near your son?" Grissom asked.

"I can't rule it out, doctor," Jack said. "I've pissed off a few people."

Grissom quirked his mouth. "Gil, please, and I've pissed off a few, myself. General, who would have known your son was here?"

"Call me Jack," he invited. "And I have no idea who would know he was here; I didn't know he was here. I thought he was in Minnesota visiting with my folks." Jack stepped up to the body and took a picture with his cell phone, emailing it home. He then dialed. "Daniel, take a look at your email and tell me if you recognize this guy." While he was waiting, he stepped up to the body and pulled the sheet down again. He looked around.

"Can I get a glove?" he asked. Grissom debated an objection to the obvious scene contamination. "Gil, this guy isn't going anywhere near your tables, I'm sorry; he's ours," Jack informed him. Grissom nodded and the other CSI, Nicky, slid a glove on the hand Jack held out. Jack nodded at him. "I'm here," he said into the phone as he slid the hand into the stomach of the body. "No, huh? Too bad. Wait…" He paused and felt around again.

"Did anyone mess with the body?" he asked the room.

"Only prints, blood, hair, fibers, and saliva samples," Gil assured him. Jack turned the body over and looked at the neck. He flicked a finger at the back of the neck. Nothing moved. "Knife," he called out. Grissom sighed and gave Nicky a nod. Jack received a scalpel. He cut into the neck and poked around with a finger, swearing under his breath.

"Daniel, get out here, and bring SG-3 with you," Jack ordered and hung up. "Captain Brass, close this hotel. Now. No one in or out, not even the mice."