The Anunnaki

by MicheleB

Set just after Season 8, ignoring 99 percent of Seasons 9 and 10. Jack thinks he's going to retire again; the universe has other plans.

21. Chapter 21

All in a Day's Week
Anunnaki Part 21
By Michele
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jack deals with parents which is a harder job than dealing with aliens, Daniel is playing yenta, Sam wants a new husband, Jack gets knocked off his feet, Paul plays pin cushion, Daniel discovers diapers, and the SGC gets an unexpected visitor.

Note: please don't try the needles thing that Paul is doing. I left out several key pieces to the ritual, so please don't do it. If you are legal age, and you'd like to talk about it, you can email me.

Jack took a call in his office. It was Maynard.

"Jack, Senator Ashman from California cornered me in a hall. Have you been terrorizing one of his mayors?"

"I was only yankin' on the guy, Francis," Jack said with a touch of exasperation. "The man was a boob. And his wife was worse. And after hearing how they treated my major, they got off easy."

"Your major? What does he have to do with this? I was told it was you, Dr. Jackson, and Sgt. Silar."

"Francis. Mayor DAVIS."

Silence.

"The picture is much clearer," Maynard finally said. "Alright, but could you go a little easier on the civilians? Please?"

"Sure, Francis. Just for you."

Jack had another angry parent when he got home. He hadn't even changed out of his uniform when the doorbell rang. He found an affronted mother on his doorstep.

"Ma'am?"

"General, there is a strange man with long hair and a leather skirt coming around our house wanting to know what the bride price is for our daughter," she told him, fire spitting from her eyes. "He says he needs a wife to help with the rebuilding of their race."

Jack sighed and tapped his comm. "Inanna."

"Yes, Jack?" The Mom glared at the comm.

"Has one of your kids been down here courting?"

"I believe several have," she told him. Jack was beginning to understand why they were still in orbit, even though there really wasn't anything for them to do.

"Yeah, well, the mother of a young lady is a little upset. Ma'am, what's your daughter's name? Elizabeth. How old is she? 23. Ring a bell?" He was halfway relieved –if he remembered correctly, the ancient Middle East married their daughters off at around 13.

"Mmmm…I believe Kibri mentioned that name. I will get back to you. Has he dishonored the young lady?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

Jack invited the mother inside and several minutes later, Inanna and one of her warriors stood in front of Jack.

"That's him!" the lady declared, pointing at the warrior. Jack held out a hand to calm her.

"Kibri, is it? Want to tell me what's going on?" he asked.

"I have seen Nin-Elizabeth several times, general," the man said, his accent thick. "All very proper. Never alone. I have been open with her, told her that she is beautiful and strong, and talked about our new home that Aba is building. I told her she would be a mother to our race, if she would join us. As is proper, I went to her home and made my intentions known and wished to speak of payment."

"Ah. You see, that's a big part of the problem here," Jack said. "We don't do the payment thing anymore. Not for a VERY long time. And we don't ask the parents for permission anymore. Our women are pretty independent and can speak for themselves, no one owns them once they are legal age. Ladies like flowers, candy, dinner, a movie or two, some hand holding, and walks in the park. And if you want to marry one, you date her for a while, get to know her, and then you offer her a ring. They like diamonds, usually. And you ask her to marry you. If she says no, respect her wishes and don't push. Wish her the best and move on. If she says yes, you discuss wedding plans, invite a few friends and family to the wedding, say vows with a priest or a justice of the peace, and you exchange gold rings. Bands. Like mine. One for her, one for you. Then you are considered married. That's how we do it here. Did you ask the lady to marry you?"

Kirbi frowned in thought. "Not in that manner," he admitted. "I asked her if she would like to come with me to our new home and be mother to my children. She would be the queen of our home, a nice home, by a stream, if Aba can make us one. She told me she would like that very much."

Jack nodded. "Ok, but we should probably sit down with the young lady and make sure she knows exactly what she is getting into. She's legal age; if she truly wants to go, no one can make her stay here."

Although Mom was extremely horrified by it all, Jack put them into his truck and followed Mom home. Nin-Elizabeth was home and a little scared. Jack sat down on their couch. After meticulous questioning, he was convinced she understood what Kirbi had been saying to her. She understood that if she went to another planet, there would be no running home to mommy and daddy. No Circle K on the corner, no movies, no stores, no nothing except what they make themselves. Her main job would be to have children and help repopulate Kibri's race. And did she understand that the men of this particular race enjoyed the comforts of their brothers and she might be asked to take more than one husband? She would have a queen, not a President or anything else, and the queen was sitting there next to Kirbi. Laws were different, and yes, women had all the rights of men, but still, the laws were different. She would NOT be living in America. Nin-Elizabeth understood.

Inanna proposed bringing the young lady up to the ship, showing her around, and discussing cultural differences. Mom refused, the lady accepted. Kibri beamed and held out a hand to her. They beamed out. Mom screamed about her baby being kidnapped and Jack had to calm her down and tell her that the girl was legal age, and willing, therefore no kidnapping had occurred.

A short time later, Jack had to explain it to the sheriff. Andy agreed; no one was kidnapped. The press knocked on his door. Jack had to give a statement that the aliens were being good boys and were properly courting a few women; they didn't have much of a choice, if they were going to keep their race going. Jack had personally checked up on the boys, and assured the people that their daughters were in safe hands. He informed Ninurta that the girls had BETTER be in safe hands. Jack then had about a dozen young ladies show up on his doorstep all declaring that they were ready to be pioneer women. The fact that they were all wearing crosses and holding Bibles made Jack politely thank them but they were no longer needed. He considered sending them to the boys just to see who would last longer, the warriors or the women. Daniel was making quick exits. Jack's nose was twitching.

"Danny? Something you'd like to tell me?" Jack asked, cornering him his study.

"Well, they needed dates," Daniel said. "I told them how to find dates."

Jack waited.

"I told them a few at a time wouldn't hurt and to spend time at libraries, movies, diners, that kind of thing. I told them to be nice, no stealing, and to be respectful of the girls' wishes. They had to woo a woman, not commandeer a baby factory. Find a woman they could love and who could love them. And be honest with her about who they were and where they'd like to take the girls."

"You've been playing yenta to a bunch of hairy alien men?" Jack asked in disbelief. "And what made you think of this?"

"M'Net asked me to."

Jack had to sit down.

"The big fur ball asked you to find dates for his ship-mates?"

"Yes. He didn't want them to die out as a race, and so far, we haven't run across any male aliens who could carry babies."

Jack rubbed his head. "Oy."

"Jack? We've had a couple of people also ask about being Tok'ra."

Jack needed a drink. Damned internet….

"Why?"

"One is military; ex-military. Retired. He has cancer and is willing to trade healing for work. The other has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's, willing for the same reasons. He isn't military, but he says he's always worked hard and can follow directions."

"And you met them how?" Did he want to know….?

"Through the university. They seem like good people, but I didn't promise anything. It was recent, so I haven't had time to talk with you about them."

"Alright, get me their information, I'll check them out. If they pan out, I'll call Malek in to interview them."

Jack was afraid to ask…. "Anything else I should know about?"

Daniel thought about it. "Love you?"

"Ok, I can deal with that."

They were bombarded with letters from women all over the world offering themselves to the warriors. Davis put his foot down at being a marriage broker, but he did set up a 100 page website application. A preference would be shown toward women who were handy with the land and a hammer. No nail salons existed out there and no malls for their shopping pleasure. No one with the intent of 'reforming' the aliens would be accepted. The women needed to pass a fertility test, since that was the main reason the boys needed women. A few small groups of feminists protested their sisters being used for breeding cattle. When someone said something to Jack about it, he told them that if they didn't like the idea of the men marrying the women for the purpose of babies, then they shouldn't apply; get out of the way and let others make their own decisions. But these were warriors, how did Earth women know the men would be kind to them? Jack pointed out Inanna, their Queen, and told people exactly what Inanna's laws concerning rape and abuse were. Women paled and men crossed their legs, cringing.

There were a surprising number of women who had indicated that they would be agreeable to more than one husband. Davis had put a history of the boys on the website, and was specific in indicating their bisexual preferences among their 'shield' brothers. After checking with Ninurta, Paul added to the site that the women could marry more than one man without any problems. In fact, since their genetic population wasn't truly large enough to get a healthy society started, multiple partners would be preferable for one female. Spread the genetic pool a little wider.

While talking about it over dinner, Daniel commented on several Earth societies that didn't have any problem at all with multiple partner households, although they were usually one man several women, not the polyandry homes that Inanna approved of. Inanna muttered a few complaints about the idiot king who decided that polyandry should be illegal.

"Sam, does that mean you can marry Dad, too?" Stacy asked. Everyone stopped, not considering that the girl was actually following the conversation.

"Uh, no, honey," Daniel answered, his eyes flickering to his partners. "It's illegal here. Only two people can marry."

"It isn't illegal on my ship," Inanna said. "If all three of you want to be married, come up. Ninurta is the ship's spiritual leader, he will bless the union." Ninurta nodded in agreement.

"We haven't discussed anything like that, Ningal," Daniel said in Sumerian. She nodded, understanding, and changed the subject.

Someone needed to look at the internet results, so Cassie volunteered. She tossed out anything with bad vibes, anyone who rang the psycho bell, anyone who showed religious tendencies, and kept the women who told of skills with their hands, showed themselves to be able to think for themselves (the warriors didn't want weak-minded women). Women who had a spiritual connection with land in general were fine to continue with the screening. From there, Cass sent the applications up to the ship.

Davis was impressed with Cassandra's mental leaps over several hundred, hundred page applications, so he invited her to be his admin assistant. She accepted. She wanted something from him, though; she wanted to learn how to be a negotiator and a diplomat. Davis promised that she could accompany him to various locations and meetings, and after, they would talk about the process of each. He did want her to take a few specialized classes; human relations, cultural studies, tactical negotiations, and languages. The more languages, the better; he had five, which was average for someone in his position. Jack, Daniel, and Nate all found the pairing to be …odd. Sam thought it was appropriate, considering the position they found Cassandra in years later. A few years earlier.

Daniel got out of the shower and found Jack and Sam lying on their sides, lightly kissing. He got in on the other side of Sam and shut his eyes. Running back and forth between jobs was exhausting. He must be getting old because a long day like that never bothered him before. And now he not only ran between jobs, he also had a child to care for, and then he kel'no'reemed before bed which was usually around midnight. And he was up at around 6am.

"Danny, do you want to talk about this?" he heard Jack ask.

"About what?" he muttered into his arm which was over his face. He winced and arched his shoulders, giving a soft groan when they popped.

"Daniel, I was serious," Jack said from somewhere off to his right. "If I could put a ring on your finger, I would. Do you want a ring? Do you want to marry us?"

"Jack, we're having problems with acceptance the way we are, you want to add a polygamous marriage to the pile?" he asked.

"I'm talking about something meaningful for us, not the US government," Jack said.

Sam turned over and put an arm across his chest as she leaned up to look at him.

"If you don't want to, it's ok," she told him. "Whether we do or not won't change anything."

Daniel put his arm down and blinked the blurry, tired vision from his eyes. His hand landed on her back.

"Sam, I love you and I would marry you in a heartbeat," he told her. "I'd even marry that old goat, over there. I'm sorry, I'm just very tired and I'm not thinking straight at the moment. Can I think about this and get back to you when my brain is more focused? I want to say yes but I need to be sure my reasoning is clear and I want us to talk details. Later."

She kissed his skin. "I'm sorry, this was sprung on us, wasn't it?" she said. "We've had a little time to talk about it, you haven't. We'll table it."

Daniel was asleep almost by the time she pecked his mouth and turned over again.

While Jack was in Switzerland the next day, and Sam was going through simulations of some sort with Camulus at the SGC, Daniel was called by Nate. Cassie wasn't feeling good.

"Why don't you take her to the base?" Daniel told him.

"She doesn't want to go," Nate told him. "And if a cup flying across the countertop is any indication, I don't think the base can help her."

Daniel called Sam as he flew through a few stop signs. Cassandra was lying in bed. Her temperature was up to 101.

"Cass," Daniel began, looking at the thermometer.

"No," she insisted, shaking her head. She was pale and sweating. Nate was pacing, biting a thumb nail as he watched.

Sam came in minutes behind Daniel and she had Dr. Lam with her.

"I've read Dr. Frasier's report and watched the tape from the last time something happened," the doctor said, sticking a thermometer into Cass's ear. "Does this feel the same?"

"Not really," Cass said. Her temperature was still up. "The other time it was like fire. Uncontrolled fire. This time it's more like… bees buzzing. I wish they'd shut up, I can't think."

"What started it, Cass?" Sam asked, sitting on the bed and taking the girl's hand.

"I was taking a bath," she said. "I left my coffee on the counter and I tried reaching for it. It flew into my hand." She showed them her hand; it was a little red from the hot coffee. "After that, I just started to not feel well."

Daniel looked around. "Cassie, reach for that bottle of nail polish," he said, pointing to her dresser. She held out her hand. Nothing happened. "Will it," he said. "Just like you really wanted that coffee, you really want that bottle."

The bottle wiggled. Eyebrows shot up.

"That's interesting," Dr. Lam commented. General Landry's daughter to be a very dry person, but she was out-spoken and straight with the facts. "I wonder if you can do it when your fever is down. Let's try, shall we?" She gave Cassie a shot of something and closed up her bag.

"Keep her on aspirin, if her stomach can handle it," she told the others. "Juice and cool liquids. Lots of water. Sit in a cool bath, if you can, Miss Frasier. If her temp goes up, bring her in. Kicking and screaming, if you have to."

They sat around the house, waiting, getting her cranky as she got her temperature taken every 30 minutes. They talked with Jack on the phone; if Cassie gets worse, let him know and he'd come home. Sam told him there wasn't anything he could do except to pace the halls with Nate and Daniel. Her temp went up another point but she convinced them not to do anything. Six hours later, it started to come down. She was back to normal by dinner but Sam convinced her to come out to Area 51 and allow her to monitor her during some testing.

Jack's fourth parental call for the week, he was counting Sam (with Cassie) as the third, was from Megan.

"Megan, he needed someone to tell him," Jack said, lounging on a private jet somewhere over the Atlantic. Davis glanced up from his reports. "No, those cute little films in health class don't cut it. Maybe for a six year old but not a teenage boy. What? Megan, wait for what future? He's 14! I seem to recall a certain 14 year old girl who was in tears over her daily crush who was absolutely THE man of her dreams. He isn't a baby, Megs, he's becoming a young man. No, I didn't TELL him to watch it, I told him if he wanted to, he could watch it. Megan, it's his body, he should know how it works. He was asking questions, of course I told him. Would you rather he learned how to use a condom AFTER he came down with an STD or a baby? Megan, telling a teenager about birth control is not going to make them want to use it NOW, it tells them that when they are able to make a decision, it's available to them. Well, did you expect him to wait until moments before sex for him to jump out of the young lady's bed, come to you, and ask if you had any condoms and oh, by the way, Mom, how do I use it? He needed to know his options and the consequences, so I told him. What? Yes, I told him about sex with a man; I told you, he was asking questions. No, I don't think he's going that way, but that doesn't make him any less curious. He likes girls, Meg, take my word for it. No, unless he was lying to me and I don't think he was, he is not sexually active. Because his questions were those of a virgin, that's why, and from the color red his face was, I don't think he was faking it. …….So, get her the pills. Megan, did you even listen when her pediatrician talked with you about them? They will make her periods easier, she can time them, and it'll help with her skin. Because I've been married twice and both women insisted that I participate in their events. I don't know why, they seem to feel it's a husband and wife bonding thing. Even before I married Sam, I was aware of her yearly physicals. She made damned sure me, Daniel, and Teal'c got her plenty of chocolate. Baby, just get her the pills; if it's a money thing, I'll give you the money. At least she's taking responsibility for her own body. You think I don't know what it's like having a teenager in the house? Should we discuss Tommy Finkleman? How about Grady Finnigan? Zach Haimer? What do you mean, who's Zach? The kid you went out with in 11th grade. He used to put pom-poms down his shirt and pretend to be …. Yes, him. And now there's a 10 year old in the house, and although she hasn't come home crying over the new love of her life yet, she has her Daddy's brains which means she will come up with all sorts of really good reasons why we should let her get married at 13, so don't try and tell me about girls in the house. You want to know about teenage boys? Ask Gloria to tell you about me and what she and I did when I was 15 and she was 22. Honey, she wasn't always old and those 42D's didn't always sag, believe me. Matthew is no longer 5, honey; he has one thing on his mind and it isn't his mommy. I hope it isn't his mommy."

Jack hung up, gave a muffled screech from behind his hands, and went to find something to drink.

"And people wonder why I'm gay," Paul muttered to himself.

Parental call number five didn't actually go to Jack, it went to Daniel, and it wasn't actually a call, it was Bosco cornering Daniel in his office.

"Jerry, what's up?" Daniel greeted him, glancing up from the tablet on his desk.

"Hey, Daniel. Listen, can I ask something? Personal?"

"Sure," Daniel said, writing notes in his notebook.

"I….my son….if he was straight, I'd know what to say, but with this….…"

Daniel looked up. "Vinnie isn't straight?"

Bosco paused. "Jack and Sam know, we discussed it a little in Chicago. I thought they'd have told you."

"We don't gossip," Daniel told him, taking his glasses off. "They probably think I already know. The gay grapevine or something. Go on; what's on your mind?"

"Vinnie tried to kiss a boy and got beat up," Bosco stated. He pulled up a stool and sat. "I don't know how to fix it. I don't know what to say to him."

Daniel nodded, picked up the phone, and held up a wait finger.

"Hey, during all that Pride stuff at your school, did anyone happen to start some sort of support group for the kids?" he asked when the phone was answered. He nodded and wrote something down, listening and making noises of acknowledgment. "Thanks."

He hung up and handed the paper to Bosco. "That is the name of a contact for a gay/lesbian/bisexual teenage support group," he said. "It's like a hang-out, a club, but it's for the gay kids. Families are welcome and encouraged to participate, to show support for their kid. It's run by gay adults who are successful in their lives, shop owners, business people, athletes, people who can be role models for the kids and who are open to questions and talks with both the kids and their parents. Check it out. Also," he wrote something else down. "That's a really good DVD about homosexuality. I have a copy of it, if you'd like to drop by and borrow it. You can watch it, we can talk, if you'd like, and you can decide whether or not Vinnie is mature enough to see it. Jack's nephew watched it, he's 14, not gay just curious about his uncle's new habits, and he was fine with it. I don't mind talking with Vinnie, if you want me to."

"Thanks, Daniel," Bosco said, standing and tucking the paper into his pocket. "I'll come by tonight?"

"Sure. And Jerry? You're a good Dad for doing this."

"Thanks, Daniel. I love him, what else am I supposed to do?"

Bosco didn't make it over in the evening, he had to take his team off-world, but Daniel knew he'd be by for it when he got home.

The next parent problem of the week was supposed to be for Daniel but Jack took it. He didn't have much of a choice, considering that five parents were on his doorstep and all glaring daggers at him.

"We want to see Dr. Jackson," they demanded.

"Well, you could try his cell phone, but I don't think the signal will reach the other side of the galaxy," he told them. "He's checking out a pyramid on one of the moons of Endor. What can I help you with?"

"His daughter held a seminar," Jack was told. "She charged a dollar a person and showed them this video." Jack was handed a DVD. It was the human sexuality DVD from their library. Thankfully, it was the kid's movie and not the gay one. Jack reminded himself to check the shelf and make sure the gay movie was still there.

"It's a disk, not a video," he told them. "And it's a well done disk. What's the problem? Other than charging a dollar, which I will speak to her about."

"She had no right showing our children this movie," he was told. "They will learn what they need to know in health class in 7th grade."

Jack leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms. "You are objecting to your children learning the facts of life from a highly reputed documentary? How old are your kids?" Nines, tens, and an eleven. "Is it the fact that they watched this movie a problem or is it the fact that you didn't get to tell them yourselves that's the problem?"

The parents were put on hold for a moment. "Health class…."

"No, that isn't what I asked," Jack interrupted, holding up a hand to stop them. "It is not the job of the public school system to raise your children, it's your job. If your kids were willing to pay a dollar each to watch this movie, I'd say there's a communication problem. Stacy is her father's child, she enjoys discovery and teaching, and I won't punish her for it. I will give you back your money and I suggest you spend a little more honest time with your kids."

Stacy no longer had the money from her seminar, she gave it to a boy in school for lunch money. A couple of bullies kept taking his lunch, and she wanted to help. Jack went down to the school and had a talk with the principal. With 500 children in the school, they didn't have the staff to take care of two specific children, and the last time they suspended a student, the school was sued. No, they wouldn't tell Jack who the boys were. Stacy told him, though, and he went to their homes. Neither boy had an excuse to steal from another child, considering the well-kept homes in a higher end of town. Neither set of parents were home and nannies told him they'd pass on the message. Jack told Stacy to bring the picked on boy home for dinner. Make sure to ask his parents first.

Jack explained to Stacy about the copyright laws on movies. No charging people to see a movie unless she has a contract with the production and distribution company.

When Daniel got home that evening, no he wasn't actually on an Endorian moon, he explained to Stacy that not all parents wanted their kids to know about the facts of life. No, he didn't know why.

The following evening, Stacy was sent to the Bosco home for a sleepover with Jessica while the guys had dinner with the major. Daniel gave Jerry the promised DVD and warned him about Stacy's recent foray into seminars. They went back home and headed over to Paul's house. Daniel was relaxed with Paul's guests and had everyone rolling in laughter as he gave them a rundown on dinner with Paul's parents. Even Nick managed a smile as Daniel gave a dead-on impersonation of Jack's mannerisms.

Jack wasn't quite sure what to make of Master Gabriel and slave Tony, but he was proud of himself that he didn't blink when Paul's piercing friend from DC, Mistress Melanie, was a man in drag. Everyone referred to Melanie in the feminine, so Jack did, too. Melanie's slave Shane was a girl in male drag and referred to in the masculine. Paul made sure that they were all aware that neither Jack nor Daniel were "lifestyle" and please don't shock the vanillas. Jack had images of people in black leather and chains, but he was surprised when everyone showed up in regular dress-up for dinner clothing. He did have to admit that they were the most well-mannered people he had met outside the military in a while.

"Jack, this is a little outside military norm," Gabriel commented, nodding to the group as a whole. "Will Paul be getting into any trouble for it?"

"Not with me," Jack said, shaking his head. "I've never cared what my kids do with their private lives as long as they do their jobs and do them to the best of their abilities."

Gabriel had a strange air about him. Jack had rarely seen such a commanding presence outside the General's Circle. He was secure in his own person, though, and didn't toss orders out. At least, not the type of orders he had seen in really bad movies containing Masters and slaves. Tony was attentive to his 'Master' as a good butler would be to his boss. Tony used Sirs and never interrupted. Melanie's 'boy' was equally attentive to his Mistress. Both Gabriel and Melanie were equally kind to their 'slaves' and respect was shown all around. Jack liked Gabriel; the man was pleasant to talk with, stated opinions but didn't push them on others, and was knowledgeable on world and human affairs. Paul and Nick didn't seem to have quite the same relationship as the others, but the others didn't seem to mind.

"We found it interesting that the president rescinded the gays in the military order," Gabriel said. "We're very happy about it, but curious. It was sudden, unexpected."

"Yes, well, I told him if he wanted me at Homeworld Security, our consort was part of the deal or I stayed with my fishing hole," Jack told him.

Gabriel lifted an eyebrow and chuckled in appreciation. Jack discovered that Gabriel was Paul's first "Master," training Paul in the ways of BDSM when Paul was just a tyke of 23. Paul referred to Tony as his slave brother, and the two did seem to be close. Jack was glad that Paul had at least some sort of family to fall back on.

Paul came out from one of the back rooms, dressed in a robe.

"We're ready, everyone," he said quietly.

Jack took a deep breath and Daniel slid his hand into Jack's, giving it a squeeze. They went into what used to be a guest room and was now what looked like a meditation center. There was drumming on the stereo, low, just barely audible but the bass was up and it pounded a bit. A sheet was in the middle of the floor along with a couple of pillows, a sharps container, and an emergency kit. Melanie positioned everyone and used a feather to send smoke from a bundle of burning something around each person. Jack placed the scent as sage. He thought he felt a tingle in the air around his body. Paul went around the room and hugged everyone and took a peck at their mouths. He glanced at Jack uncertainly and turned toward the center of their circle.

"Paul." Jack touched his shoulder and gestured. He gave the man a hug. Daniel took his hand again and squeezed.

Melanie looked at the group. "I believe Jack is the only one completely unfamiliar with proceedings?" she asked. Jack confirmed. "Questions are fine, but wait until we are finished, please. There is nothing being done that will harm Paul; he is here of his own free will and consent. All that is asked of you is that you keep your mind and heart open. It's ok not to take this as part of your own practices, but tonight is about Paul."

"I understand," Jack said.

Paul dropped his robe and lay on the floor in the middle of the sheet. Jack was a little concerned about the large purple bruise covering most of Paul's back, but Daniel didn't seem disturbed so he made himself relax as he sat on the floor along with the others. Melanie knelt between Paul's knees and spoke softly to him. Jack could see Paul centering himself as Melanie put on rubber surgical gloves and as Shane prepared a small box which held new, sterile needles. When Paul nodded, Melanie took the first needle, opened it, and used the back of her hand to lift Paul's balls, doing something underneath. Jack couldn't see from where he was, and he wasn't sure he wanted to see. He was avoiding looking at privates. Paul winced and took a deep, cleansing breath as he carefully lowered his knees to rest on the pillows. They kept his legs from falling to the floor and smashing the needle into a place they didn't want it to go. Jack was almost positive the room darkened.

One by one, Melanie placed needles along the center of Paul's body. She went slow, pausing several minutes between each placement. When she placed the one over his heart, Jack saw tears streaming down Paul's face. Nick was sitting at Paul's head, softly stroking his hair in a manner Jack didn't think was possible from Nick. Daniel was holding one hand and Tony the other. Both kept their grips light so that Paul could move his hands when he needed to or hang on if he had to.

When a needle was placed on Paul's forehead, between his eyes, Jack was sure he felt a shock wave rush across the room, emanating from the center. He had felt shock waves before, and that was a shock wave. Everyone else was smiling at Paul, giving him caresses and murmuring good boy's to him. Melanie smudged the needles, humming something low under her breath. Gabriel, at one of Paul's feet, gestured to Jack. He quietly went over and Gabriel pointed at the other foot.

"Just touch him," Gabriel whispered. "Give him your strength. Be his strength. You are at his feet, his foundation. Allow yourself to pour your strength into him."

Jack almost didn't do it but he sat at Paul's left foot and copied Gabriel's position; foot between the legs, hands clasped lightly around the ankle and calf. Gabriel has no problem being familiar with Paul's skin, but Jack wanted to jump away. He felt something painful inside and struggled with it.

"Force it," Gabriel whispered, leaning over to him. "Command it. See the stream flow in a perfect, straight line up your spine to your head. Let it drop back down again, bring it up again. Nice, even flows up and down, not too fast, not too slow."

Jack frowned. It sounded like the starting process for kel'no'reem. And how the hell did Gabriel know what was going on inside of him? He took a chance and did his opening steps. After a little more struggling, the dam suddenly broke.

He wasn't quite sure what happened, but he found himself on his back with Daniel holding his hand. The others were sitting around Paul who was robed and sitting up. Nick sat behind him, cradling him between his legs, as they all murmured softly, apparently waiting for Jack to regain consciousness.

"What happened?" Jack croaked.

"I have an idea but you don't want me to discuss it outside the SGC," Daniel told him. He bent down and kissed Jack. "Let's just say I think Aba will be very happy with you."

Over dinner, Jack was reassured that he didn't ruin anything. Paul had the same idea that Daniel had, and let Jack know things turned out better than he had been hoping. He kept looking strangely at Jack, though, almost perplexed.

"Jack, can we take a walk?" Gabriel asked him after dinner.

"Sure," Jack said.

Gabriel begged Melanie's forgiveness, kissed a hand, and excused themselves. The evening was pleasant, the night air starting to cool. There were no streetlights in their corner of the woods, but Jack knew the street like the back of his hand.

"I'm sure you've heard a little of the slave's side of all this," Gabriel began.

"Wait," Jack said. "I know the terminology is something you use in your culture but over the past 9 years, I've grown to have a major problem with it. Is there another term?"

"Well, submissive, but there is a difference," Gabriel said. "I wouldn't call Paul submissive, would you? Slaves run the universe, submissives have to be hand-held. I understand, though, I've read and heard all the information on Goa'uld slaves, just as everyone else has. How about –you've heard a little from Paul's side of the fence?" Jack nodded. "Ok. From the Mas…my side of the fence. What do you think I get out of all this?"

"I don't know," Jack frowned. "A power trip?"

Gabriel smiled and gave a nod. "A little," he admitted. "But I'm not ON a power trip. I am a conductor of energy. People like Paul, Tony, and Shane are the conduits, I direct the energy flow. When I am in contact with my sla…partner, I am responsible for his well-being, inside and out. When we scene together, or play, however you understand it, he needs to be open to me, but ultimately it is my responsibility to control, or direct the scene right down to what he is feeling. In order for me to do that, I need to be completely open to him. Something happens when two, or more, people are in contact and open to each other. Our energies merge. We become one person. You know how during a really good love making session, there's a point where you feel like one person? Unable to distinguish yourself from your partner? That is the connection I'm talking about. But some of us in this lifestyle have learned to make that connection deliberately.

"I don't know what happened tonight, I get the feeling Daniel and Paul both have a clue and that's ok, I don't need to know. I don't think I want to know. But from my point of view, you tapped directly into the main energy stream. You touched the main power generator and you overloaded. You've obviously had a little experience in meditative practices, so you knew how to find that stream within you, but when you touched Paul, with all of his main power points open and the universe pouring in, it was like putting a live wire into a river. You exploded. That's an incredible gift, Jack; learn to use it, and you can change the entire world. I have to say I'm honored to have met you, and I get a feeling that there will be a day when I can say I shook your hand."

He stopped, turned, and held out his hand. Jack felt a little self-conscious but he took the hand. They went back to the house and found the boys curled up on the floor on a pile of large throw pillows while Melanie and Nick talked at the table. Gabriel smiled indulgently at the pile on the floor and went to the table. He used his head to gesture to the pile.

"We call that a cuddle pile," he told Jack. Jack couldn't tell which legs and arms belonged to whom, with Daniel, Paul, Tony, and Shane all wrapped around each other as they talked and giggled. "Keeps them out of trouble," Gabriel said.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Melanie said with a wry grin. "Slaves trade information in those cuddle piles, and God knows what they're planning for us."

"They look like a pile of big puppies," Jack commented. Daniel was entangled in the pile, content and chatting with the others.

"Exactly," Melanie nodded. "And look at the trouble puppies get into."

"That's what newspapers are for," Gabriel said.

"For smacking puppies? Don't let Shane hear you, he'll get ideas." Jack didn't get it, but the others laughed. Jack did a lot of listening; he was formulating questions for Daniel later. When he couldn't stop yawning, he finally had to excuse himself for the evening.

"I'm sorry, but I have a telephone conference with Russia tomorrow," Jack said.

"If it were anyone one else, I'd put that down to a polite lie to get out of the evening but with you, I'd say there's a high probability of truth to that statement," Gabriel said.

"Our president will be in on it, and believe me, the man TALKS," Jack told him. "I've tried sleeping through them but Paul keeps nudging me awake. Bad major."

He told Daniel he could stay, if he wanted to, but Daniel insisted on returning home with him. He slid his hand comfortably into Jack's as they walked.

"Are you feeling alright?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Jack nodded. "If I start speaking Ancient in a few days…."

"Tomorrow, we will get hold of Enki and ask him to monitor you," Daniel told him. "If you DO start with the Ancient, we'll call Thor. I think we should discuss this with Aba, anyway."

Jack told Daniel much of what Gabriel had said.

"It was interesting," Jack said. "Why didn't you tell me the other side of the fence?"

"I'm not a Master," Daniel said with a laugh. "I don't think from that perspective."

"Mmmm… what was up with his back?"

"Looked like a heavy flogging," Daniel told him, interpreting the question.

"He was flogged?" Jack stopped, aghast.

"Relax, Jack, it was a good thing," he was told. He allowed himself to be pulled forward. "When you need to spend time screaming, you ask me to flip you over and fuck you hard, don't you? When he needs to scream, he asks for a cathartic flogging. Primal scream therapy works." Jack wondered what Davis needed to scream about.

He stopped Jack in front of their house and kissed him, sliding his arms around Jack's waist and across his back.

"Thank you for doing this tonight," Daniel said against his mouth. Jack pulled back after a moment and looked at him.

"Do something with me tonight that you usually do with Sam," he requested.

"Like what? You don't have the same equipment."

"I don't know," Jack said, looking from Daniel's lips to his eyes. "Talk dirty to me."

"Oooh, baby," Daniel commented with a grin and pulled Jack into the house.

An hour later, Jack rolled over, trying to catch his breath.

"Holy mother….," he groaned. "You actually kiss us with that mouth? Where's the soap?"

Jack was a quivering mound of jello. He had never gotten off on words before, crudity never appealing to him, but those words and phrases coming out of Daniel's mouth, low, almost growled, as he told Jack exactly what he was going to do and Jack was going to beg for it, well….Jack was hard before Daniel even touched him. And with his ass in the air, spread completely open to Daniel, he actually whimpered as Daniel teased him mercilessly and used toys on him. Jack had never used a toy on himself in his entire life. He was yelling into the bed, screaming, pleading with Daniel to finish it. Daniel kept putting pressure at the base of Jack's cock, not allowing him to release, and then demanding to know whose cock it was. Jack was reduced to rounds of "fuck me dammit, you $8&#$()!!!" Daniel finally took him, hard and fast, leaving a dark hicky on the back of Jack's neck.

Daniel lay on the pillow next to him, holding back a huge grin and poking his finger into Jack's ear. Jack swatted weakly at him.

"Son of a bitch," Jack accused.

"Wuss," Daniel said. "Sam lasted longer."

"Power to the woman," Jack croaked, raising a solidarity fist.

After sleeping in, they took their time with breakfast and a shared shower, and then headed out to the Reynolds' house where the Kid Tree was having a swim party. Jack dropped off sodas and cupcakes in the kitchen while Daniel headed off to find his daughter who was brought over by Jerry and Connie Bosco after her sleep-over.

"Daddy!" a wet body ran toward him and he pretended to be skittish and ran around the tables away from her. She giggled and caught him, making sure she got him wet. Jack came out of the house carrying a baby. Daniel knew he didn't like the innocent smile on Jack's face.

"Daniel, this is a baby," Jack said. "Hi, honey. Daniel, this is a smelly baby. He was a very good boy." Jack held the baby out in mid-air and jiggled him. The baby giggled and kicked his legs, pleased with himself. "Harley, Uncle Danny is going to learn about smelly babies, you don't mind, do you?" He turned the baby and the baby grinned at him and made a happy screech. "No, I didn't think you'd mind, you're a good sport."

Mary Reynolds laughed at him. "Jack, I can change him," she said, holding out her arms for her son. Kevin Reynolds came out of the house with the same self-satisfied grin as his youngest child.

"Mary, Mary, we mustn't deprive Dr. Jackson of this experience," Jack told her. "How can a man be a father, if he's never been near a diaper? In the name of science and discovery, Mary…."

The laughter and encouragement from the other parents wasn't helping.

"I'm busy," Daniel said, indicating the little girl in his arms. Kevin came up and lifted Stacy from him.

"Come along, Daniel," Jack said, heading back to the house.

"Jaaaack….."

"Harley, Uncle Danny is afraid of baby poopies…."

Daniel dragged his feet and followed into the nursery.

"Jack….. no…. Hey! Couldn't he have done that while the diaper was on?... God! Is that normal? It's like cement! Jack, this can't be normal…. What are they feeding this kid? Septic tanks smell better... Now, how the….hold still….no, crawl later, ….What? Again? We didn't even have this one on… ok, start over…. Jack, shut up…."

Another round of laughter started when Daniel went back outside with a wet spot in the middle of his chest.

"Christened!" someone shouted.

Kevin clapped him on the shoulder and steered him back inside.

"Come on, you can borrow swim trunks while I toss your shirt in the wash."

Daniel soon found himself in a meeting with several parents who had questions about how to deal with the new, more open atmosphere of teens and sexual identity. The older kids running around heard the topic and tried to disappear. Between music, TV, and movies, kids were no longer shielded from 'alternative' lifestyles, much to the panic of parents. Daniel did his best, answering questions as openly and honestly as he could. He felt like he was teaching a class as they took notes. After a request from Jerry Bosco, Daniel took Vinnie for a walk and answered questions from the other side. The boy had a shiner from the beating he had taken. He and his father were going to visit the Rainbow Center in a few days, though, and check out the local gay teen facility. Jerry had already been there and spent time talking with the volunteers who ran the center and watching teens interacting, and talking with other parents. What amazed him was the high level of tolerance and acceptance that the kids showed to each other. They were actually polite and giving with each other, putting a lot of adults he knew to shame. With Jerry's permission, Daniel gave Vinnie his contact information. Daniel needed to corner Paul and get him involved with the local community.

"Jack, I've been thinking about this whole group marriage thing," Daniel said, soaking in a hot bath later in the evening.

"What about it?" Jack said from the sink. He rinsed the toothpaste away.

"If we have some kind of ceremony, I'd like it to be more of a hand-fasting."

"A what?"

"Sort of a civil union. I'd like a contract binding me as your consort. I would like a ring, but on my right hand. My preference, don't look for precedence."

"What does this contract entail?" Jack asked, turning to face him as he leaned back against the sink.

"Whatever we want it to entail," Daniel said. "We would all sit down and write it together. Once we agree on terms, we have a ceremony and invite a few friends and family to witness a public statement of the terms, which are our promises to each other. Most contracts are timed and have the option of renewing the contract at the end of that period. Each renewal has a longer interval between renewal dates. Most start at one year, and then go to five or seven, then to fifteen or more. We all state what we are bringing to the union, what we are offering to each other. A clause is written into the contract in case there are any children from the union. Household funds, ownership of various things, any specific responsibilities, and a clause for death. A will is part of the contract."

Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds do-able," he said. "Sam will probably go for it, but call her and talk with her about it. She should be home in a couple days, so why don't we each think about it, write out some thoughts, and we'll compare notes."

Daniel nodded and blew at a handful of bubbles. Jack was amused that Daniel liked bubbles on the occasions he decided to take a bath instead of a shower. He squatted down next to the tub and kissed the wet man before finding the washcloth and gently running it over Daniel's face and neck.

"Jack, I want to ask you something," Daniel said. "Before I put my two-cents into this contract. If anything happens to me, I'd like you to be Stacy's guardian. I'll make Sam secondary, but I'd like you to be primary."

Jack paused. "You'd trust me with your daughter?"

"Jack, you made one mistake," Daniel said. "It's because of Charlie that I'd trust you with my daughter. I want you in her life, no matter what happens to me or to us."

Jack swallowed hard and accepted.

In the morning, Jack received a call from Gen. Landry.

"Jack, there's a Goa'uld holo standing in the gateroom and he's insisting on speaking only to you."

"Who is it?" Jack asked.

"I have no idea, and neither does anyone else. Not even Camulus knows him."

"Alright, put him on ice, I'll be there in half an hour." Camulus doesn't know him? Jack found that interesting.

It was closer to 45 minutes when he arrived. Jack walked into the gateroom where the holo was still waiting. Patiently waiting.

"You rang?" Jack said, stopping in front of the holo.

"General O'Neill. Thank you for seeing me," the holo said. Jack raised an eyebrow. A polite Goa'uld. "May I have permission to gate in so that we may speak privately?"

"I don't even know you," Jack said. "How do I know you're a nice houseguest?"

"Invite whoever you'd like to attend, I will be alone," the holo said. "And I will come unarmed. It is important that we speak."

"You haven't even told me who you are," Jack said.

"I would like to keep that information to myself, for the moment," the holo said. "My situation is precarious. I will introduce myself when we are in private. If this meeting does not work out, I would prefer my identity was not made public."

Jack thought about it and had to admit he was intrigued. He looked up at the control booth.

"Hank, you mind if we used your place for an hour or two?"

"As long as he behaves himself," Landry said.

"No weapons, no toys, no armies," Jack told the holo.

Jack called in Reynolds, Bosco, Inanna, and Ninurta, along with a squad of SF. He then opened the gate. The stranger stepped through and the SF immediately stepped forward to search him. When they were done, Jack led the way to the main conference room and everyone took seats.

"Ok, who are you?" Jack asked as the stranger took the seat at the opposite end of the table.

"I am Thanatos, eldest child of Zimrah."