Hunting Wabbits
Anunnaki Part 15
By Michele
Rated: PG
Summary: Our crew hunts for a missing snake, Daniel makes a friend, Jack has an unusual conversation with Nate, and Sam goes on a date.

Note: I'm playing with CSI-Vegas. I like Grissom. Jack…Grissom…decisions, decisions.

Jack redialed. "Sam, it's missing. Get out here." He pocketed his phone and stood up. "Lift your shirt, please," he asked Grissom. "Everyone, shirts up, and I need a flashlight or penlight." Jack did a quick check of bellies, necks, and mouths of the people in the room. He then moved into the hallway and started out there with Capt. Brass.

"What are you doing, general?" Brass asked.

"The snake is missing," Jack told him quietly. "That body is only the host. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

"Yes, I think so," Brass said with a nod. "All that stuff about, what are they? Symbiotes?"

"Correct," Jack told him. "The symbiote is missing and it could be in any living creature. The usual entrances are bellies, necks, and throats. The throat will look red and irritated, if the entry was careful enough, body entries will have a wound which looks like a recent scar. Rarely a completely open belly. Get word to your men –no one is to go anywhere alone. Teams of two at all times, I don't care if it's a potty trip; if they can't do it in front of the other person, hold it. Get every person in this building rounded up and in one place. Is there a party room? Good, get them all in there, staff included, from the manager to the garbage man. I spotted two reservists and four Army personnel downstairs as I came in, please get them up here. Nate." Jack looked over Brass' shoulder.

"Dr. Grissom, would you mind?" Jack asked, handing Grissom the penlight and gesturing toward the two. Grissom nodded.

"Shirt up," Jack ordered. Nate didn't hesitate, he lifted his shirt. Grissom checked his throat and the back of his neck, and then checked Cassie. "You, too, major, you were out of our site for a few minutes." Davis nodded and went through the routine with Jack checking him. Grissom was looking from Nate to Jack and back again, ripples of curiosity running across his face. Jack thought maybe it wasn't a good idea to allow a forensics expert to look at Nate so close up to Jack.

"Cass?" Jack looked at her. She shook her head. No live naquadah readings in the immediate vicinity. He showed them the image on his cell phone. Neither of them recognized the man.

"Report," Jack ordered.

"We were playing out at Groom Lake," Nate immediately responded. "We thought it would be fun to hang with the UFO nuts. We got tired of it and came here for a few shows. I left Minnesota two days ago, I took America West flight 1152 Tuesday morning, leaving Minneapolis at 0650. I called Cassie and had her meet me out here. We were at Groom Lake from Tuesday, 1130 hours until yesterday at 1600 when we left Groom Lake. We checked into this hotel at 1630 hours last night, had hot showers, a little food, and slept, fooled around, slept until dawn. I woke Cass up at approximately 0530 hours, fooled around, showered, breakfast in the dining room downstairs, took in the 0900 hour show at the Excalibur, got lunch, and came back here for more fooling around at approximately 1200. Nothing got started because the police knocked on the door and questioned us. We were held when the detectives ran my ID. Major Davis came and got us five minutes ago." The locals and CSI were locked on them as they listened to Nate report.

Jack gave a nod. "Cass, you didn't notice anything?"

"No," she admitted. "But I was very tired when we got in, and other times…." She flushed.

"I understand," Jack said. He heard heavy steps and turned to see the soldiers coming toward him. Jack stopped them and put them through the routine. Grissom had his own kids help with checking. They were all clear. "Does anyone have weapons with them?" he asked, pointing at them. Four guns, three knives. "Get them and report back to me on the double."

"Yes, sir!" The men hustled away.

"Captain Brass, may I borrow a gun?" Jack asked. "I'm going to have to learn to carry when I travel." Brass held out his hand and one of his officers placed a gun in it. Jack gave it to Nate. "Stay here for a moment."

"General…Jack… can we finish processing what's left of the scene?" Grissom asked, looked back into the room.

"I'm sorry, Gil," Jack said. "There isn't anything for your people to process; you wouldn't make heads or tails of the readings. My people are on their way here, they will deal with it. I can't have you leave, though, not until we find that symbiote." Grissom's kids gave impatient sighs and leaned against walls.

"Look, Jack, I understand all that but we have a dead body in there," Grissom said. "How did the body die? Who is he? Inquiring minds want to know."

"We can ask the symbiote when we find it," Jack said. "In the meantime, crank the AC."

Grissom echoed the earlier sigh and went into the room, turning up the air conditioner.

The military boys came bounding back and Jack once more put them through the routine. Two boys stand guard at the front entrance and when SGC personnel get there, let them in. No one else in or out, not even police, and if they don't like it, take it up with the Joint Chiefs. Two boys take the holding pen, the other two go with Major Davis and God help them if anything happens to Jack's kids.

A half hour later, Sam came up with a clean-up crew from the Yard.

"Dr. Grissom, would you mind checking Col. Carter?" Jack asked. "She's my wife so my judgment is a little off." Nick reigned in the interested smile as Grissom checked Sam. Jack and the others checked the clean-up crew. Once Grissom cleared her, Sam handed Jack a gun, a zat, and a radio. The four men went past Grissom and into the room. They shut the door behind them. Grissom wasn't a happy camper about his scene shot to hell.

"Anything on the way up?" Jack asked Sam. She shook her head. "Alright. Get Davis, room 6120; take two locals, start on the top floor, and search every nook and cranny. I want to know that this hotel is cleared of all people and any animals large enough to hold a snake. Everyone should be in the private dining hall on the first floor."

"Yes, sir," she answered. She pointed to two police and hustled down the hall to find the Major.

Another hour later, five more SGC jackets and BDU's came down the hall. They went through the routine, with Jack turning Daniel over to Grissom. Jack didn't explain, but Grissom checked Daniel anyway. Jack gave the same instructions to Reynolds and Bosco, only they were to start in the basement.

"Harper, Kelly, take the stairs on the north side. Daniel, why don't you take….Gil, can I borrow one of your kids? Thanks. Daniel, Nick, Nick, Daniel. You two take the stairs on the south side. The rest of us are going downstairs to the holding room and we're going to start examining our guests."

Daniel found his companion to be a friendly guy, complete with a Texas twang. Nick was a CSI, though, which meant he wasn't as simple as he sounded as he chatted with Daniel.

"Hey, that's a great hicky," Nick grinned, thrusting his chin toward Daniel. "She must have pinned you down to get it that dark."

Daniel smiled. "She's a he and yes, Jack was feeling a little possessive last night."

Nick stumbled on a stair, his cheeks reddening slightly. He seemed to have one of those complexions that turned red easily, Daniel noticed. "Oh, hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything…"

"It's alright," Daniel said. "People do it all the time. Not a problem."

"Hey, wait, either there are two Jacks in your life or….but isn't he married to Col. Carter? Or shouldn't I ask?"

Daniel chuckled. "There is only one Jack, thank God, and he is married to Col. Carter and we all live together. We're open about it, everyone knows."

"Wow," Nick breathed, wide-eyed. "She's a beauty, man, you're a lucky dog. I wouldn't have thought he'd…I mean, just looking at him, not that you, I mean…oh, gosh, I'm making a mess of it, forget I said anything."

Daniel's peal of laughter rang out in the stairwell.

"I don't mind basic questions but of course I will keep intimate details private. I've been bisexual all my life, so what would you like to know?"

"Uh, no, nothing like that," Nick said shaking his head vigorously.

Daniel lifted an eyebrow. "Uh huh. How long have you been in love with your boss? Tell Uncle Daniel all about it."

Nick whitened and Daniel braced himself for a punch. It never came.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked unhappily. "This hasn't happened before, I swear to God."

"No, it isn't obvious," Daniel said gently. "I'm a little sensitized to it. Jack and I are a very recent thing, even though we've worked together, been close friends, for 9 years. This is new for Jack, too, and I see some of the same fears on your face that we just worked at getting him past. I've never met your boss before; is he a good man? A fair man?"

"He's a good man," Nick said. "Very fair."

"Well, if you want to try and do something about this, I can only suggest you talk to him. Let him know how you are feeling, let him know you're confused. Daydreaming with your hand is fine, but it's even finer if you can daydream with someone else's hand. Or mouth." Nick flushed and laughed. "Find out how he feels, Nick, you never know; he could be just as scared to approach you as you are about him. If he admits to some feelings, ask him if you can kiss him. It's all pointless if there's no sparks and the worst he can do is say no. I don't suggest you do this on company time. Unless you happen to be on another planet surrounded by aliens who don't give a crap. So tell me; what is it about your boss that turned the eye of a straight man?" After a hesitant start, Daniel got out of Nick all the little Grissom quirks that sent zingers into the man. Daniel hoped Grissom had at least some feelings for Nick, because Nick had it BAD.

After the fourth flight, Daniel stopped.

"What's wrong?" Nick asked.

Daniel shook his head. "I must be getting old," he said. "There's an easier way to do this and it only just hit me." He held out an arm. "Zu, to me!" Daniel called out into the air. A moment later there was a ruffle of feathers and much cawing. Nick ducked his head, startled, and heard Daniel arguing with the bird. "Ahulap, Zu! Alluka bashmu!" Enough, Zu, there's a snake! Zu broke off his reprimanding of Daniel and tilted his head, sniffing the air. He flew off with an angry muttering, Daniel ran after him, zat drawn, with Nick close behind.

"All teams, watch your heads, Zu is on the move!" Daniel yelled into his radio. "We are heading down from the third floor stairwell, south end!" They chased the large red-gold bird down the stairs until they got to the first floor. Zu squawked angrily at the closed door and Daniel opened it for him. "First floor!" Daniel shouted into the radio.

They ran down the hall and Zu skid to an air-halt, snarling angrily at the guards who stood in front of the closed door.

"Open that door!" Reynolds ordered, running toward them from the opposite direction. The guards quickly obeyed and Zu flew into the room. There were screams of fright from the people being held inside.

Daniel ran into the room to see Zu fluttering angrily in front of a man and woman who was yelling in French at the bird. The room was filled with angry, frightened people who were all clamoring for explanations.

"We checked them, Zu!" Jack shouted at him. SG teams ran in and all formed a half-circle, guns and zats aimed at the couple.

"Zu!" Daniel shouted. The bird screeched something at him and Daniel pointed away. Zu unwillingly went and paced in agitation on the back of a chair.

"Did you check the kid?" Daniel questioned Jack. "He says it's the kid!"

Jack's face fell. "Oh, God, no," he murmured. Everyone quieted and looked at the small child that the adults were trying to hide behind them, protecting the child from the menacing bird.

"Danny, find out who they are," Jack asked him. "No one speaks French and they didn't have time to bring ID with them from their room." Daniel stepped forward and spoke soothingly to them.

"Renaud and Tina Corriveau," Daniel told Jack. "From Quebec. Their daughter is Isabelle and she is seven."

"Did you tell them what's going on?" Jack asked.

"Yes, and they said she hasn't left their sight for even a moment."

"It only takes a moment," Sam said, stepping up behind Jack. She unconsciously touched the back of her neck.

"Daniel, please ask them to show us the child," Jack asked. "Tell them we just need to look at her belly, neck, and throat."

Daniel relayed the request. After a brief discussion, they ushered their daughter forward. The child was crying and clung to her father's legs. Daniel crouched down and spoke softly to her. As she hid her face in her father's legs, her hair moved. Daniel paled and stood. Sam took a step forward, close to the child. They both looked at Jack and nodded.

"Captain Brass," Jack called out. "Get the rest of the guests out of here, please. They may return to their rooms and as soon as we are done here, the hotel doors will be opened and they go about their business."

The room was cleared in a quick and orderly manner until just the French couple and their child remained, surrounded by guns, police, and military.

"Alright, slimy, you have our complete attention so what do you want?" Jack barked at the small child. She whimpered. "Forget it," Jack snapped at her. "Get your cowardly self out of that child and be a man; take me on, instead."

Brass and the CSIs were about to object to Jack's attitude toward the obviously frightened child when she turned to look at them. Their objections were halted at the sight of the eyes glowing briefly.

"Is that an offer to host me, O'Neill?" came a rumbling, dual voice from the small girl. Her parents stared in horror at her and took a step back. Bosco and Kelly snuck up behind them and yanked them back further, throwing them out of the reach of the child.

"Tell your men to move away, O'Neill," the creature said. "I will stop her heart."

"Fall back," Jack ordered. "Everyone out of this room except SGC. Capt. Brass, please take the parents out with you. You men out, too, but stay on guard at the door," Jack ordered the six military men he commandeered. Only SGC personnel remained in the room.

"So, who are you?" Jack asked the Goa'uld.

"I am Patulas," the creature arrogantly informed him.

"Who?" Jack questioned. He looked at Daniel.

"The Baltic god of the underworld," Daniel said. "Very minor god in comparison to the rest of them, completely forgotten in the general scheme of things."

The child sneered at him. "Maybe I should take you as host, Dr. Jackson, and show you exactly how minor I am not."

Daniel laughed. "Bring it on, kaukai," he taunted the creature. "I've taken on Anubis; I'm still standing and he isn't. Here, I'll make it easier for you," he said and squatted down. Jack was listening to the condescending tone in Daniel's voice, something that was very NOT Daniel, and sent an unobtrusive signal to the rest of their people. "There, maybe you can reach me now. You're a coward, kaukai, you can't even pick a man, you have to take a small child; and a girl child, at that. Dickless wonder, Patulas. I am not impressed."

Patulas snarled and lunged at Daniel. One zat fired and the child fell. Daniel quickly checked for a pulse.

"Alive!" he called out. He hit the 8-point star that sat pinned to his shoulder. "Enki, I need you!" A moment later, Enki stepped from a beam of light. "Symbiote!"

Enki looked at the stunned child in Daniel's arms and immediately took her.

"You're sure?" he asked. "This is a small child."

"Positive!" everyone yelled, startling the old man. Zu piped up, too. Enki tapped his own controls and beamed himself back to the ship, the child in his arms. Everyone breathed.

"Zu, would you mind taking a look and making sure there was only the one here?" Daniel asked him. Zu gave a caw and zoomed out of the room. Daniel went out and looked around. He saw the parents and went to speak with them. Jack followed.

"Danny, tell them she's still alive but we sent her to friends who are trying to remove the creature," Jack asked him. He had managed a brief introduction of himself and apologized but his French didn't extend much further. He could get by on Spanish, and had learned a few phrases in half a dozen other languages during his time over seas in Special Ops, but he didn't have an ear for it. He spoke with them through Daniel, helping them to understand what had happened with their daughter.

The hotel manager, himself shaken, came and offered the couple a glass of the best red wine they had in the building. They were grateful as they took sips. The glasses shook in their hands.

"What happened?" Brass asked, the CSIs behind him.

Jack sat down and put his head between his knees for a moment. "We got it stunned and sent it to some friends. They may be able to free the child, we don't know. The recovery rate is about 2 percent but it's better than nothing."

Grissom stuck his head into the room. "Where is she?" he asked. Jack pointed up.

"She's on a ship. She's in good hands; if our friends can't help her, no one can."

"You took a child?" Brass questioned with a darkening look. "Not only took a child but took her from the scene of a crime?"

"No, the child was kidnapped a few hours ago by a not so nice alien," Jack snapped. "We are doing what we can to return the child. Carter! Get up to the ship and find out what's going on."

"Yes, sir." She tapped the broach he had given her. "Beam me up." She disappeared in the light.

Non-SGC stared. "If someone with a Scottish accent responds, I'm outta here," Nick said, staring at the ceiling.

"No, it's more of a Middle Eastern accent," Jack said. Zu came flying back through the room and chirped something.

"He says the building is clear," Daniel told them.

"Daniel, the rest of his people are learning English just fine, why can't he?" Jack complained. "He understands when we speak it."

"He says the sounds are more difficult to make."

"Oh? I'm sorry, I thought Zu was more evolved than our Earth macaws. I guess I was wrong."

"Shurrrrrummm," Zu snapped at him and then disappeared. Daniel was chuckling behind his hand, hiding a fake cough.

"Well?" Jack waited.

"He, uh, called you a shit. Sheep shit, to get technical."

Jack glared and SG-3 bit back the snickers. He sent Reynolds upstairs to get Cass and Nate.

"General, I have a question," Capt. Brass said. "How am I supposed to keep my town secure if people, and birds, keep appearing and disappearing? Literally?"

"Captain Brass, when I figure out how to keep those friggin' snakes from sneaking in, I'll have my people start on a transporter disrupter and let you know when it's ready." Jack scrubbed at his eyes when Daniel gave him a look and tried again, a little more calmly. "Listen, Jim, I understand that everyone is a little freaked out about all this but this is new territory for all of us. If you can come up with a way to keep aliens from beaming in and out without passing Go, let me know because I'm working on the problems I CAN fix. We can detect ships; energy beams are a different matter. If it helps you any, not everyone has beaming capabilities; just the good guys, as far as I know."

Jack pursed his lips and looked at Daniel.

"Enki said all the symbiotes were accounted for," he commented. Daniel nodded.

"I know. But I think he was talking about those he knew of, the ones from Enlil's ship."

Jack nodded, thinking.

"General?" Sam's voice came over his radio.

"Go ahead."

"The symbiote is out but the girl is in serious condition," she reported. "The healers are doing the best they can, but they'd like to offer the parents a trip up here to sit with her." Jack understood and gave Daniel a nod. He went to the parents.

"Isabelle is still very ill but our friends say you can visit, if you'd like," he told them. They didn't question him, immediately agreeing to be with their daughter.

"Daniel, stay on-world, please," Jack warned him. Daniel looked at him. "Could you bitch at me later?" Jack requested. "Major Davis speaks French, he can accompany the Corriveaus."

He looked at the group walking down the hall from the elevator. Jack informed Davis what his mission was and Davis immediately went to the parents and introduced himself. Daniel called the ship and had the three beamed up. Sam was back moments later.

"Alright, everyone is dismissed," Jack announced. He pointed to his six recruits. "You boys give Col. Reynolds your IDs so I can send a report to your CO's. Good job, men. Capt. Brass, I appreciate your patience with us. I promise to keep you updated on the situation with the child, and I will make sure you know when they return. It shouldn't be too long."

"May we finish with the scene, now?" Grissom asked in quiet irritation.

"You can try," Jack told him. "Daniel, Kawasaki?"

Daniel had to think hard for a minute. "Kaukai? Means goblin."

"Jack, can we stay the night?" Daniel asked. Jack looked blankly at him.

"Why?"

"Because I have a date," Daniel said. Jack and Sam both paused.

"Excuse me?" Jack put a hand behind an ear.

"I made a friend, Jack," Daniel said, knocking Nick on a shoulder. "Nick and I want to get some dinner when he's done. Talk." Grissom and his other CSI, Sara, paused.

"Oh." Jack and Sam relaxed. "So I'm hanging out here?"

Daniel looked at him as though he were a stubborn child. "Well, Jack, you could ask Nate if he has something a little dressy you could borrow, something nicer than those BDU's, and take your WIFE out for a nice, romantic evening."

"Yeah," Sam piped up. "Wife. Date. Remember what that is, Jack? A date?"

Jack looked from one to the other. "Do you see this gray….?" he began, pointing to his head. He turned from Sam and looked around to see Grissom waiting for Nick. "Gil, do you see this gray hair?" he asked, still pointing. "When I met these two, it was THAT color," he pointed to Nate's dark blond strands. "I call this the Sam and Daniel Syndrome."

"Do you see this hairline?" Daniel pushed the hair off his forehead. "I call it the Dammit Jack line."

"You two knock it off," Cassandra ordered them, hands on her hips. "Jack, Nate has a few outfits with him that would look very nice on you, and Sam, I have a dress I think you'll like. Danny, I love you but you're on your own for clothes. Come on, Sam."

Daniel found himself finding the hotel manager and checking them in while Cassie took charge of Jack and Sam. The women took over the bathroom, locking the men out. Jack considered his bladder and called Daniel for their room number. Jack took the shirt and pants Nate loaned him and headed off to find his room.

"Jack, I want to talk with you about something," Nate said, following him down the hall and to the elevator.

"What's up?"

Jack knocked on the room and Daniel opened the door. Jack immediately made way to the bathroom.

"Jack, I'm going across the street," Daniel called out. "I'm leaving your key on the dresser, in case you're gone before I get back."

"Kay!" he heard.

Nate waited on a bed and Jack was out moments later.

"Jack, I want to ask you if you will set up a surgery for me at the base," Nate asked him. Jack paused in his dressing.

"What? Why? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong," Nate said. "I've been doing some thinking. I want a vasectomy."

Jack sat on the other bed, t-shirt dangling from his hands.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to risk a pregnancy," Nate answered reasonably. "Look, Jack, think about it; the Asgard created me and look at the mess they've made with their own cloning. Thanks to Thor, I'm not dying anymore but at the same time, I don't trust the rest of my DNA. What kind of mutations may happen if I got a girl pregnant."

Jack didn't know what to say; he was feeling strangely depressed and realized that something in him wanted to see grandchildren. But Nate wasn't his son.

"Don't you want kids?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, sure," Nate said with a nod. "But not at the risk of their health. I'll adopt when I'm ready. We love kids too much to care about biology, so I'll love a kid who needs me."

"Will you authorize the surgery?" Nate asked.

"If you're absolutely positive," Jack said. "Reversals aren't usually effective."

"I know," Nate nodded. "I've already looked into it. And local doctors won't do it, I'm too young."

Jack puffed and stood, finishing dressing. "Alright, I'll authorize it. Have you discussed this with Cass?"

"Yes, and she agrees with me," Nate said. "She isn't happy about it but she understands."

"She wants kids," Jack warned.

"I know. Jack, she and I love each other but we aren't in love. Do you understand? We're together because it's convenient for both of us. She was scared, Jack. That kiss a few years ago really did an emotional number on her. She was afraid to kiss someone again, and she was almost terrified of making love. If a kiss could knock out a light bulb, what would an orgasm do?"

"We fixed that," Jack said with a frown. "Nirrti fixed it. HAS anything happened?"

"No," Nate shook his head. "I'm not so sure it won't in the future, though. Once in a while, I get the feeling there's still something dormant in her. She asked me to help her, Jack; we were becoming friends and she couldn't think of anyone to be with. She kept having nightmares of being on her honeymoon and suddenly the bed starts spinning. So we went nice and slow, step by step. When nothing happened after each step, nothing unusual, I mean, she relaxed more and more. After the first time I made love to her, she cried out of sheer relief that the room surrounding us was still there and that I was still alive. She's looking forward to having children, but she understands that my DNA may not be healthy."

The jeans Nate gave him were a little snug, but Jack tucked the shirt in before sitting. He didn't know Cassandra had been having problems.

"I understand your fears," he said. "Wouldn't you rather get the DNA tested first? Have a consult with Thor or someone?"

Nate shook his head. "Even if any mutations are 100 generations down the line, I don't want to be responsible for that, and I would be responsible if I knew about it and did nothing to stop it."

"Nate, that isn't reasonable," Jack objected. "That's a possibility we all share, not just clones."

"Yes, it is," Nate agreed. "But I'm aware of the mutations, people born in the normal manner usually are not aware."

"Alright," Jack said. "I'll give you that point." He sat for a moment, thinking.

"Was it weird?" he asked carefully. "I mean…with Cass?"

Nate chuckled. "Very weird," he admitted. "I had to do some major dumping of paternal feelings that you have for her. I went into a panic attack the first time she asked me to kiss her. Almost had a heart attack. She told me to knock it off; she had to get over a few issues, too, knowing that I was YOUR clone. Sometimes when Sam stops by, the girl talk stops the moment I'm in the room. I'm not sure I want to know. But I figured, if Cassie can't trust us, who can she trust? And she didn't want to wait a few more years on the off chance Daniel would notice her. Part of me wanted to make sure she had a positive first experience; a little self-centered of me, but I knew the boys her age were still fumbling around in the dark, so I agreed to it."

"Daniel?!" Jack squeaked.

"Come on, Jack, he's 15 years older than her, not 32, and he's damned cute and she known that since she was about 14. She's a girl, not a robot."

Jack smirked. "You think he's cute?"

"Don't go there," Nate warned, waving a finger at him. "YOU think he's cute, I don't, and I was speaking of Cassie, not me."

"So, I'm not just walking around with blinders on?" Jack asked. "Daniel really is the only man I've been attracted to?"

Nate smiled. "From what I've examined, yes, he is. Relax, Jack, we're not hiding anything from yourself. My turn –are either of you guys and Sam going to…."

"Don't know," Jack said. "At the moment, Sam doesn't want kids of her own, and we respect her decision. Sure, Daniel and I both want to be Dads, but our lives aren't exactly set up for parenthood."

"Jack, you know as well as I do that no one's lives are a perfect set up for parenthood," Nate informed him. "Kids happen. Period. And you adjust your lives to them. If Sam did get pregnant, how are you going to work out the Daddy part?"

"Don't know that, either," Jack admitted. "Daniel happens to believe that children belong to the mother. He thinks that if Sam does have a baby, the birth certificate shouldn't have either of our names on it and that the baby should be a Carter. I'm old-fashioned enough to feel a little left out if my name isn't on the kid calling me Daddy."

"And if the kid calling you Daddy happens to look like someone else?"

Jack shrugged. "You can see what kind of issues we've been running around about. I mentioned a paternity test to see who the kid belongs to, and Daniel wasn't much of a help; he said the kid belongs to Sam."

Nate chuckled. "I'm glad to know that Paradise isn't as pretty and perfect as it's cracked up to be. Is being with Daniel all you hoped it would be?"

"More than I ever dreamed," Jack said softly. "We have our spats, not that much has changed, but I'm glad I did this."

Nate thought for a moment, looking at his hands clasped between his knees.

"Does it hurt?" he finally asked.

"No," Jack shook his head. "Daniel said it does if the prep isn't done right, but he happens to be a good lover. I'm actually becoming a little addicted to it."

Jack hesitated and then reached over to touch Nate on the knee.

"Does it bother you?"

"No, not really," Nate said. "I'm still knocking out a few Jack things."

"Mmmm. Listen, this is bad timing; I have a beautiful woman waiting for me. But we are buying the old Gilbert place. We're going to start moving stuff in over the weekend, if you can come over and help. I'd like to talk about this," he said.

"Since when do you sit down for touchy-feely sessions?" Nate asked.

"Since both my partners began insisting on it, if I were to continue sleeping with them," Jack responded. "Sometimes it hurts to talk about things, but I'm discovering that I feel better when I do talk about them. Even if I didn't think they were bothering me, to begin with."

"Ok, but I don't need to talk, Jack," Nate told him.

"Fine, you can listen."

Major Davis checked in just as Jack picked up Sam from Cassie's room. Jack decided to stop by the crime scene and met Daniel coming from the opposite direction. He had found pants and a nice shirt from somewhere.

"Hey, looks good," Daniel told him, flicking a finger at the black jeans and dark red shirt Nate had loaned Jack. "You, too," he said to Sam, pecking her mouth. Cassie had loaned her a white blouse and a short blue skirt which showed off her long legs.

"Your men didn't leave much for us to find," Grissom complained when he saw them at the door.

"Thank you, I'll put that in their 'good boy' files," Jack said. "Thought you'd like to know that the little girl is doing fine," he reported. "Major Davis just checked in, said she's conscious and happy to see mommy and daddy. She should be home in a few days."

"That's great," Grissom said, Nick and Sara echoing him. "Will there be any side-effects?"

"Maybe," Jack admitted. "She young and resilient, so she may be alright. I'm going to have my psych department contact them later and set up a few counseling appointments for them and let the parents know what signs to keep watch for. I'll have Major Davis drop by your office, if you need a report from him. He's my assistant, so get what you need from him."

He held a hand out to Grissom but noticed the gloves and pulled it away. "Sorry. I'll have Daniel leave our contact information with Nick to give to you, in case you need anything." Daniel nodded, glancing at Grissom.

"If this is going to become a more common occurrence, maybe you could issue protocols to police and forensics," Grissom suggested.

"Working on it," Jack said with a finger snap. "Unfortunately, this is one of those things that I need permission to do, and my permissions come from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Bureaucracy. I'm just hoping this won't be a common occurrence."

"Daniel, you and your new friend have a good time. Remember that we just bought a very large house so don't come home penniless," Jack told him. "I'd say be home before the street lights come on, but around here I think that's pointless." Jack kissed him and took Sam off to dinner. Daniel smiled at them.

"Nick, I'm in room 8157 when you're done," Daniel told the young man. He ignored the startled look on Sara's face as she flushed and quickly went back to work scouring the room. If Nick had said anything about their earlier conversations, she hadn't believed him.

"Nicky, why don't you go ahead and go?" Grissom suggested. Daniel saw him nonplussed for a moment but he quickly recovered. "We're almost done and I don't think we'll find much of anything. Sara and I can do this."

"You sure?" Nick asked, already heading toward the door.

"Go, have fun," Grissom told him with a wave of a hand.

Nick drew his gloves off, put them in a collection bag, and clapped Daniel on a shoulder as they headed out.

"Do you mind if we stop by my place?" Nick asked. "I need to change and we can get my car."

Daniel didn't mind so they got a cab and went to Nick's house. Daniel found himself answering the usual alien and warring ships questions but Nick went a step further than most of the public; he had done an internet search on the various names that cropped up during the media blitz. Daniel found himself enjoying the quick mind.

"I'm not understanding about these cat-like creatures they keep mentioning," Nick said as he unlocked his front door. "The images from the battle are dark and grainy, and I can see tails on a few of them, but there aren't any clear pictures."

Daniel tapped his comm.

"Could someone send me T'Keet for a few minutes?" he requested. Nick looked curiously at him as he went into another room for a quick change. When he came back out, Daniel was holding a furry something.

"Whoa," Nick breathed in wonder.

"This is T'Keet," Daniel said. "She's a cub, just a baby. Her people are called Sua. Would you like to hold her?"

"Really?!" He held out his arms and the furry something chirped at him and allowed herself to be taken. "Well, hi there, sweetheart," he cooed at her. Daniel made small talk, telling Nick a few basic facts on the Sua, and was pleased to note that one more Tau'ri had fallen on SGC's side of the fence as the cub batted one blue eye and one green eye at him.

Daniel's stomach rumbled and he sent T'Keet back. Nick was high from the experience. He was also shocked to learn that Daniel had never been to Vegas before, so while Jack was being forced onto a dance floor, Daniel was given an insider's tour of the city. At Nick's suggestion, they stopped for dinner at a non-tourist restaurant; Daniel agreed, having found long ago that the best places to eat were the local hang-outs, not the fancy tourist ones. They agreed on pizza toppings and Daniel had to admit it was one of the best outside New York or Chicago.

Daniel found himself having fun talking with the chatty Texan. Nick found it unbelievable that Daniel didn't follow any sports teams and Daniel told him that Jack frequently bemoaned that same fact. Nick skipped around in subject matter but whatever he came up with was interesting such as telling Daniel about being buried alive and used as a snack by fire ants. Daniel had no idea being a CSI was so dangerous. He told Nick about Jack's aversion to bugs, especially if they happened to look like spiders. He also answered the expected questions about being with a man. Daniel found it refreshing that Nick talked about everything and didn't spend a lot of time asking about aliens. Hearing about movies, TV, pretty girls, and odd cases was a treat for Daniel; it also reminded him exactly what they were working to save the planet for. He found himself roaring with laughter as Nick told him a story about a dog running off with the femur of its long dead mistress and them having to chase it around the neighborhood. Hey, the dog got hungry.

They took in a circus show after dinner, which Daniel found amazing, and they walked around for a while. The highlight of the evening was an attempted mugging by several boys who seemed to object to the queers walking around. Daniel and Nick objected to the mugging and beat the crap out of the boys. Catching their breath against a car, Nick dialed Brass who immediately sent a car to them. Daniel flexed his hands, wincing as he called Jack.

"Geddown!" Nick ordered one guy who tried to wake up. He punched the man down.

"You fight pretty good for an archaeologist," Nick complimented Daniel.

"Thanks," Daniel nodded. "I may not be military, technically, but I have to keep up with military requirements because I go on missions."

"Cool," Nick commented. "So you can use weapons, too?"

While they waited for the police, they chatted about weapons and different hand to hand techniques, and a few of the more exhausting off-world battles. The police showed up and then Jack and Sam about the same time Grissom did, a few minutes after the police.

"Can't leave you alone for a minute," Jack grumped, looking at the men staggering to their feet under the hands of the police.

"Hey, guys, I can recommend the pizza at this little place called MacIntyre's, and the show at Circus Circus is incredible," Daniel reported.

"You had pizza made by a Scot?" Jack queried.

Daniel nodded. "Oh, yeah, it was terrific."

Sam rolled her eyes as she dug into Grissom's kit to patch up Daniel while Grissom was patching up Nick. The two men were grinning like proud boys as blood dripped from cheeks, lips, and knuckles.

"Does he get into trouble like this often?" Grissom asked Jack. Jack nodded.

"Continually," he said. "At least he didn't die this time." He waved off Grissom's inquiring look.

"Maybe these two were brothers in a past life," Grissom commented, ignoring Nick's wince as he cleaned a scratch on a cheek. "Mine keeps me on my toes, too."

"Thank you, Sam," Daniel said innocently and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you, Gil," Nick said and kissed Grissom's cheek, much to the man's surprise. Grissom chuckled as he put the first-aid kit away. Daniel shot Nick a wink.

"Are you done fooling around or what?" Jack asked.

"Well, that depends, Jack," Daniel commented. "If I head back to the hotel room with you, do I still have to be done fooling around?"

Jack sighed and tossed his arms up. "Well, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, I suppose."

"Whiner," Daniel told him. "That wasn't what you were saying last night." Sam and Nick snickered at them. "Nick, I had fun, thank you," he said to the younger man, holding out a hand. "You don't know how much I needed this night out. Come down to Colorado Springs some time, you can stay with us, plenty of room. Email me."

Daniel laced his fingers with Jack's and slid an arm around Sam's shoulders, pecking her cheek as they walked to the base car that Sam had driven up from the Yard.

"Did you have fun?" he asked her. "Did he at least get you a glass of wine?"

"I even got a dance out of him," she told him. "It was slow but it was a dance, and he didn't step on my toes once."

"Wow, I'm impressed," Daniel said.

"Yadda yadda," Jack drawled as they got into the car.