Learning to Fly
Anunnaki Part 26
By Michele
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Jack is learning to have fun with his developing talents, Jack and Matty spend some bonding time together, a demon gets exorcised in Rome, and Bre'tac has an announcement.

Note: WOW! I just realized that Amanda Tapping's baby's name is Olivia. I swear to any deity you'd like, I had completely forgotten about it; must have been sitting on my subconscious when I named the baby. Mea culpa.

Thanks to Alexi for the Celtic idea.

The month went by quickly, and the addition to the house was finished none too soon as the children began getting on each other's nerves. The paint in the new master bedroom had just barely dried when the adults started moving their stuff in. The teens spread out and now only had to share a bathroom instead of a bedroom with the younger children. Jack didn't know what they were complaining about; he had to share his room with two other people, and one baby off to the side in a nursery.

They were currently without a nanny again; the first nanny was unable to deal with aliens popping in and out at all hours, and the second nanny was caught with her hands in the drawer. Specifically, Jack's desk in his den. He had woken up with a sudden sense of wrongness and went to investigate. He followed the light into his office and found the nanny going through his desk files. He zatted her, had his night guard take her to the base for questioning, and went back to bed. Major Davis was beside himself when Jack got to the office but Jack wasn't blaming him; the woman got through the security check of two countries. She was screaming for her consulate representative. Jack informed her that since her government had agreed to the Homeworld Security contract, and she was caught pawing through the desk of the Chief of HomeSec, he had jurisdiction over her, not her home country. Jack had an inspiration and reached. He opened his eyes and looked thoughtfully at her.

"Major, make a few private inquiries," Jack told Paul. "Check her childhood. And I mean go beyond what's on paper. Have someone physically backtrack her story." Jack grabbed the woman by the upper arm and reached again, ignoring her struggles. After a moment,

"Lots of religious icons," Jack said. "A heavy, dense, atmosphere. Chanting."

The woman's eyes grew wide.

"Witch," she whispered in horror.

Davis didn't bat an eye at Jack's vocal ruminating and simply acknowledged.

"And charge her with breaking and entering," Jack told him. "Depending on the outcome of the search, I may also be charging her with treason. She can see her rep and she will need a lawyer."

Jack had made it clear from the start that his office was not to be entered unless he was in there and he gave permission. No one was to enter even to clean the room. Daniel and Sam's dens were off-limits, too; even the children knew that. So, they were nanny-less again with Jack or Daniel taking turns walking around with a baby attached to their chest. Olivia wasn't minding it, she had begun to coo and seemed to be enjoying the sound of her own voice; it didn't hurt that the big people carrying her seemed to find it cute, too, and were rewarding her with additional snuggling.

Jack's other headache revolved around Matthew. The boy had been sullen and mouthy lately; Jack knew the boy was angry and had done his best to be available for Matt. He sent the boy to the gym to work it out constructively, if he didn't want to talk it out, and Jack had been getting reports from Major Bryce that Matthew had a lot of anger inside. Katie had let it all out in the beginning, as did Davy, but Matthew had been relatively steady about it. Too steady. Even Daniel warned Jack to expect an explosion. When Bryce called him and said that Matthew was about to blow, Jack decided to show up at the gym. When he got there, Matthew was light-years away as he pounded on the bag hanging from the ceiling. Jack gave Major Bryce babysitting duty and signaled the men to continue as he kicked his shoes off and walked onto the floor. Jack picked up two training staves and gave Matthew a gentle knock on the shoulder with one. The boy whipped around and paused, not expecting to see his uncle. Jack handed him a staff and took a stance. After a moment, Matthew raised his staff.

Jack didn't hold back. Matthew was clearly surprised when Jack didn't take it easy on him, and he flushed with growing anger. The angrier he got, the clumsier he got, humiliating himself in front of the military. After tripping once more, Matthew gave a low screech in frustration, threw the staff down, and ran at his uncle, pounding him with his fists and crying incoherently. Everyone around stopped and gave them room as Jack stood still and took the blows. When Matthew finally collapsed to the floor, Jack sat and pulled the boy into his arms, letting Matty howl into his chest as Jack gently stroked his hair.

When the howling subsided into hiccups and sniffles, someone placed a tissue box on the floor next to them. Jack took a handful and wiped at Matthew's face. He held the tissues and told him to blow. Jack tossed the tissues and wiped his arm across his own face.

"It's ok to hurt, Matty," he said softly. "I know how much it hurts. You will always miss your mother, but remember the good stuff. Your mom loved you so much. I remember when you were born; she couldn't take her eyes off you. She even yelled at the nurses because they wouldn't let you sleep in her room. She threatened to get out of bed and go get you herself, if they didn't bring your crib in. When the doctor came in to check up on you, you peed all over him and your mother told him it was his own fault for keeping you from her."

"But I must have done something wrong," Matthew whispered huskily. "Even my dad left."

"Oh, God, no, Matty," Jack assured him. He took Matthew's face and lifted it. "Your dad has something called Narcissistic Personality Disorder. That means he isn't capable of loving anyone, not even his kids. That is not your fault," he stressed. "It isn't anyone's fault. It's a mental disorder. And you don't need to worry about having it; you love very deeply."

"Will I get it?" Matthew asked, worried.

"No," Jack shook his head. "Daniel said it's something that develops during childhood under certain circumstances, and if you were going to develop it, you would have already. It isn't hereditary, it's environmental."

Matthew became aware of the presence of others and leaned in. "Will they think I'm a big baby?" he whispered.

"No," Jack said. "Matt, every one of these men has experienced loss, and a man who is unable to cry, is a man I don't want on my team. They know what's happened, and they understand."

To Matthew's further embarrassment, Jack planted a kiss on his cheek before sending him to get changed. Jack winced as he stood, and held a hand at his ribs. He shook his head, telling himself to rethink his decision the next time he agreed to play punching bag.

"Thanks, guys," Jack said to the others in the room, giving them a nod. They murmured their responses as Jack went to find his baby. It took Dr. Edmonds to tell Jack that Matthew's behavior was normal for a teenager; with the triple loss, mother, father, and great-grandfather, he would have been surprised if the kids went through the motions without acting out, especially Matthew, who was at the age where boys needed their father around. Edmonds also told Jack to expect the kids to take blame onto themselves; they didn't completely understand death and loss, so they refocused onto themselves. The Parents had been doing their best to be supportive and assure the kids that no one was at fault. Except the drunk driver. Sam and Daniel were taking care of Jack through his own grief.

"Sir?" Jack looked at Bryce as he slid his shoes on and took his jacket from the hanger. Bryce was cradling the baby like an experienced father. "May I make a personal comment?" Jack nodded. "When my mother died a couple years ago, my kids had a problem with it, too. Their school councilor suggested a private memorial service just for the kids. Each of the kids was to bring pictures and stories and share them with the rest of the family. They could light candles, say prayers, sing something, whatever they wanted. It helped, Sir, they were able to express what they needed to."

"We've had a family counseling session," Jack said.

"Pardon, Sir, but that's on an adult level no matter how much the counselor dumbs it down," Bryce said. "The kids aren't up to that level of thinking. They're only just learning to associate the proper emotion to go along with the thoughts."

Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, Major," he said. "I will bring it up."

Daniel was hurriedly packing when they got home. Stacy and Davy were laying on the bed, watching and talking with him. The two were very close in age, only 10 months apart, and had taken to playing together. Davy had already confided to Jack in a heated whisper that Stacy was very pretty. Jack agreed and held back his amusement as he reminded Davy that Stacy was now his sister. Unless David began to exhibit a sudden increase in mental ability, he was always going to be a little slow, and Jack didn't want him to be hurt. All indications were that Stacy had her father's mental acuity.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked, laying the baby in the middle of the kids. Matthew lay next to them, giving his baby sister his finger to hold.

"Ethiopia," Daniel said. "Something was found at a dig. Where've you been?"

"In town. They can't do this dig without you?" Jack asked.

Daniel dug through his pile of books and opened one.

"Listen, Jack, and tell me what this reminds you of," Daniel told him. He absently paced as he read,

"The spies were told that most of them lived to be a hundred and twenty years old, while some even went beyond that age….. Also, last of all, they were allowed to behold the coffins of the Ethiopians, which are made (according to report) of crystal, yadda yadda…. Then they place the body in a crystal pillar which has been hollowed out to receive it, crystal being dug up in great abundance in their country, and of a kind very easy to work. You may see the corpse through the pillar within which it lies; and it neither gives out any unpleasant odor, nor is it in any respect unseemly; yet there is no part that is not as plainly visible as if the body were bare…."

"That was written around 430BCE by Herodotus, Jack," Daniel said, looking up. "Over 2000 years ago, Jack. What does it sound like to you?"

Jack stared at him.

"Don't give me that," Daniel warned him, shaking a finger. "Think about it. Crystal pillar, Jack, able to see a body through a crystal pillar and the body doesn't decay. If you don't get this, I will personally smack you on the head."

"One of those Ancient preservation thingies?" Jack asked. Daniel held up his arms in Touch Down and howled. The children clapped. "And the dig team thinks they found a site with one of these suspension chambers?"

"Yup!" Daniel nodded. "The site is on the list that Inanna supplied after the Heaven's Bow was done charting the planet." There were actually a few spots on the planet that indicated naquadah. Most of what had been found, so far, wasn't much more than bits and pieces of blown up ships. A few spots were extremely far into the crust of the planet, taken down during earthquakes, or covered in lava flows.

Daniel rounded up an archaeological team from the SGC and flew out on the red eye. Per the Homeworld Security protocols, anything that followed the criteria set down by Daniel was automatically put on hold until he could examine it. Jack called the Yard and told them to prepare for a gift from Daniel.

Jack was working out of the house the next day when he answered the front door. He found a young woman standing there.

"I have an appointment with Dr. Jackson," she explained, seeing the blank look on his face.

"Oh. I'm sorry, he left the country early this morning," Jack told her. "Something came up at the last minute. Is it something I can help you with?"

The young woman seemed a little impatient. "Well, we were going to discuss the Anunnaki," she said. "I represent a group of woman who have questions before filling out the on-line application."

"I'll do what I can, if you'd like to come in," he invited her. She agreed and he stepped aside for her to enter. He introduced himself.

"Ateret Levy," she said, taking his hand. "Are you sure about this, General O'Neill? You must be busy."

"Only diaper duty," he told her, nodding toward the piled pillows on the couch. She went over and stroked a chubby cheek with a finger. "And please call me Jack. That's Olivia, and at the moment, she's responding to princess, baby-cakes, or goddess."

Ateret smiled, slightly more relaxed, and sat.

"I'm sorry Daniel skipped out on you," Jack said. "He had an unexpected call this morning. He's usually more attentive."

"Well, then, General… Jack, I don't want to take up too much of your time so," she reached into her bag, taking out a piece of paper. "There is a group of us, mixed Middle Eastern and North African, and, quite frankly, we are tired of all the crap. We want out. The main thing that is attracting us to the Anunnaki is that they are refusing to consider religious peoples for their society. My group is made up of Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and we are tired of religion destroying our lives and our families. We are spiritual, each in our own way, but not religious. We come from hard working families, farming is no secret to any of us. We would like to know more about the Anunnaki, though."

Jack held up a hand. "How about I make this easier?" he asked. He touched the pendent on his shoulder. "Inanna, could you or someone come down and speak with this young lady in front of me? She has some questions."

Inanna and Ninurta beamed in, quite happy to get into details with the enterprising lady and her list of questions. Jack played host, was amused at the big warrior making faces at the tiny baby, and worked in his office when he wasn't needed. Inanna and Ninurta knew their way around the house, if they needed anything.

Much to the disappointment of the warriors, the cotillion didn't go so well. The warriors didn't know how to do the modern dances, and the young ladies were, for the most part, intimidated by the large men. About twenty men had been hooked up, but there were about 60 more waiting. Jack thought it was interesting that the twenty that were fixed up, had ladies that were a little older than most of the wanna-be's. Thirty to thirty-five was the average age of the women. At first, the men were concerned; children were the point of the mission. Sam had to assure them that women were having children much later in life, up until almost 50. The men were surprised and agreed to widen their search; they did prefer a more mature partner, and had better luck once they looked at slightly older, more settled women.

"Jack," Inanna poked her head in. "We would like to take Ateret for a tour of the ship but she is concerned about an escort."

"I'll come with," he said, shutting his computer down. He gathered up baby stuff, and he beamed up with them. Ateret was amazed at the sudden shift in perspective. She patted herself down. She walked with Inanna, listening and asking questions with a quick mind. Ninurta hung back, took Olivia, and played with her. Jack quietly told him about the latest nanny.

"I don't understand how I did that," Jack confessed. "I must have heard her. Subconsciously. In my sleep."

"Possibly," Ninurta nodded. "Jack, reach out toward that young lady," he said, gesturing with his chin. "Tell me what you sense."

"Don't I need to be touching her?" Jack asked.

"No," Ninurta shook his head. "That's for baby-steps. Clear your mind, blank out any expectations. Use any imagery that you'd like; opening a window, casting a fishing line, a silver cord, whatever works for you. This is a new flower, bend down and smell it, experience it. Smell her. What does she smell like?"

Jack paused and leaned back against the wall. He shut his eyes.

"Frustration," Jack said after a moment. "Impatient. Superior." He opened his eyes. "Superior about what?"

"You'll learn how to read more clearly, the more you practice," the warrior told him. "Her frustration and anger is directed toward the men of your world," he said. "She feels superior in that most woman would not have made the same decisions the men did, and so feels that life in general would have been better, if the women were in charge. I will agree that women do tend to make different choices than men. Women tend to think in terms of 'us', and men think in terms of 'I' or 'me.' That is a general standard, not the rule. There are always exceptions to the rule. Part of what is attracting her to us, is that we are ruled by a woman, and we tend to place women in a higher category than most Tau'ri men do."

Jack frowned. "I don't place women…."

"No, you don't," Ninurta said with a nod. "I said this is in general. Have you had a female president, yet? Or a vice-president? How many Joint Chiefs have been female? How many corporate heads are female? Did you know it's only been about 40 years since your medical establishment discovered that different drugs and medical techniques work differently depending on gender? Everything was based on male response, and didn't take the female response into consideration. Forty years, Jack. Then there's nuclear energy, pollution, petroleum instead of alternative energy sources, lower pay for the same job, to say nothing of the physical atrocities against women. And that's just in your country. Ms. Levy has the right to be a little angry. We will accept her and her group. There may be fallout, though; a few of the women have children they will be bringing to their new home. These women are from countries where the child belongs to the father, not the mother."

Jack held a hand up. "This ship is sovereign territory; if the Queen wants to grant them immunity, there's nothing we can do about it."

Naturally, T'Keet found Jack almost immediately and he made her hoot as he bit playfully at her furry belly. To Jack's surprise, Nate wasn't far behind. Jonathan, he reminded himself.

"My sweetheart," Jonathan declared, holding his arms out. Ninurta puckered up and was swatted at. "Not you, nig." He took Olivia from Ninurta and strolled back down the corridor as he kissed her and spoke softly to her.

"What's a nig?" Jack asked. Ninurta chuckled.

"To put it politely, a female dog. Jonathan is learning our language from the bottom up."

Ateret looked from Jack to the long haired young man next to him, and back again, confusion on her face as she spoke with others across the room.

"How are you doing?" Jack asked him, leaning back on Sua pillows.

"I'm good," Jonathan said with a smile as he placed Olivia between them on the pillows. "I love him, Jack. As much as you love Sam and Daniel together, I love Shara. And believe me, this was as unexpected for me as Daniel was for you."

"And your really doing ok with it?" Jack asked. "Being part of Inanna's household?"

"Actually, I am," he was assured. "And I have a place here. I've been not only teaching the kids, but also updating their database and helping to plan their new city. I drew schematics for the initial build, and after a few minor adjustments, it will happen. I've been to the planet, Jack, and it's amazing! Enki has completely transformed Abydos, you will never recognize it. I would have sworn I felt the presence of the Abydonians, and they were pleased. He grew forests, Jack! There are even misty mornings, which Enki says will eventually become rain. The closest equivalent would be Seattle before the city was built."

"That's a lot of water," Jack commented thoughtfully. "Where's it all coming from?"

"Underground," Jonathan said. "There were deep aquifers, so Enki brought them up. The new ozone is keeping the moisture in, instead of evaporating it; it's creating mist and streams. He planted a lot of Northwest American plants, there are deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, various kinds of fowl, birds, squirrels, rabbits, insects… oh, and horses, cows, sheep, and goats. I wasn't wild about the inclusion of wolves and large cats, but he said a predator was needed for the ecosystem. I adjusted the city plans to take the predators into consideration."

"And this is the entire planet?" Jack asked. All he could see was the planet as he saw it the last time; a barren desert wasteland.

"Pretty much," Jonathan nodded. "The plants are pretty well established, which was the main part of the project, so he'll let the planet take over from there."

"Is he using a time device?" Jack asked. He got another nod.

"I spent some time with Mom yesterday," he was told. "She knows I'm leaving but I will be visiting. I told her once I was settled, I'd bring her over for a vacation. Jack, I convinced her to move down here. With Michael off on his sulk, Mom has no one. She can't be alone, Jack, and she is alone."

"I know," Jack told him. "We'll take care of her. I've been worried about her, so thank you. There's a senior's condo a mile away, I'll check into it."

Jack still wasn't sure about the changes in his clone; he was being so NOT Jack. Daniel told him that was the point and it was healthy. What Daniel was finding interesting was seeing parts of Jack that had been long buried, and they were coming out in his clone.

He called Daniel when he returned home. Daniel was upset that he had forgotten about his appointment in his excitement over the find. He would call Ms. Levy and apologize. He was glad, though, that Inanna accepted the women, and thanked Jack for stepping in. Jack called his mother and found himself having to identify himself because of his sound-alike clone. She was still unsure of leaving her home, and Jack told her that her home was with him and the kids.

Major Bryce called Jack the next day. Jack immediately thought that Matthew was having problems, but Bryce started talking about his twin sister, Jerrie.

"She's been a nanny for a couple of families," Bryce said. "Our family is military, has been for generations, so she knows her way around a military household. The only reason she didn't join up is because of a knee injury. High school soccer. She's smart, Sir, and she's really great with kids. I haven't promised her anything, just that I'd drop her name."

"Ok, why don't you have her come by my office, Major?"

Jerrie Bryce had that straight spine, shoulders thrown back stand that military kids seemed to pick up, especially when standing in front of an officer. She didn't appear nervous, just quietly sure of herself, which Jack immediately liked. She looked a little like her brother, short brown hair and eyes, a British rose in her cheeks.

"Have a seat, Ms. Bryce," he invited. He shook her hand and experimented with a quick reach. He found it to be sort of like listening to instincts, which he had to admit to being bad at. This was more like instincts combined with a memory, though, as he immediately had the sense of 'knowing' the person he reached into. He'd have to remember to try it during his next big shot meeting.

"Jerrie, please, sir," she said, sitting.

"Ok, Jerrie, Jack."

She handed Jack her credentials and told him about her time as a nanny. It was unexpected, just something that happened, starting with a neighbor, a single mom who had three boys. Jerrie was pediatric CPR certified, she knew how to use a gun, although she didn't currently own one, and she had an NRA card to prove her firearms certification, she had a black belt in judo, and her father and grandfather were both colonels when they retired, so she knew about protocol with the higher ranks.

"Only Stacy is biologically Dr. Jackson's," he told her. "She just turned 11. The others are all my nieces and nephews. They mother died recently, and I adopted them. It's been a little rough, a major life upheaval for them. The teens especially have been moody, shifting from one end of the spectrum to the other within minutes. They are Katie, 16, and Matthew, 14. David is 10, he'll be 11 just after Christmas, and Olivia is only 2 months old. Davy is a little slow; are you able to handle cognitive problems?"

"I'm very patient, sir," she assured him. "I will tell you honestly that I don't have experience with a developmentally disabled child, but if you will teach me, I can do it."

Jack nodded, appreciating her candor. "He isn't really that bad," he said. "Just slightly slow. He's in his regular grade, it just takes him a little more time to understand things. He feels things deeply; if he's quiet and the thumb is in, there's a problem. He's usually running all over the place. A chatterbox.

"I think there are two main things, other than the children, that need to be stated up front; first, we have aliens popping in and out all the time, and second, the rumors of our lifestyle are true; I share my bed with my wife and Daniel, who is our consort, and we did recently all get handfasted together. Will that be a problem for you?"

"No, sir," she said with a smile. "I think my brother didn't tell you; I'm a lesbian. Alternative lifestyles are not a problem for me. And I'm looking forward to meeting aliens; from what I've read, and from what Duncan has told us, they sound fascinating."

"Oh, I don't know that fascinating is the word," Jack said wryly. "Arrogant and pigheaded would be better places to start." He called Davis' office and asked Cassandra to bring the baby in. Cass was pulling double-duty. She came in and Jack introduced her as a close friend of the family and Col. Carter's almost adopted daughter. Cass placed Olivia in Jerrie's arms.

"Ohhh, she's beautiful," Jerrie breathed. "Hi, sweetie." Jack was satisfied with the comfort Jerrie had for the baby. Cass gave him a small nod.

"We can't pay you what I'm sure you're worth," Jack said, watching them. "We may be a three-income household, but there's a lot of out-going bills." Jack named a price including health bennies. She nodded.

"I can work with that, sir," she said. "It's a live-in situation, so I'm not paying rent or utilities. And if I may suggest? I'm not positive, but I would think that governments could quietly come up with nanny money for their top heads of state, if they want certain people happy in their jobs."

Jack liked her. She would have to talk with Sam and Daniel, but he liked her. As soon as she left, Jack called the president.

"Henry, I have a deal for you."

Sam had no problem with Jerrie and Daniel gave a quick greeting as he ran through the house. The crystal coffin had been delivered safely to Area 51 and into a gleeful Sam's hands. She had found someone on base that was able to power-up the chair, much to Jack's relief; at least he wouldn't have to drop everything to play guinea pig. He added Corporal Danner's name to the Gene list and tagged his file.

Jerrie moved in and didn't bring much with her; a laptop, cell phone, MP3, a library card, and a duffle bag of clothing. She said she was a minimalist, and usually didn't have much. She was pleased with the room, and said it was generous compared to other houses she had worked in. Major Brice confirmed with Jack that his sister had never been much into material things. They moved from base to base as children, and moving stuff was a pain, so they never collected things.

Daniel's Academy seminar was the following week, so Jack sent Jerrie to observe. The recording of Daniel's elementary seminar in Chicago was almost ready to be sent out to the public. The Pentagon was adding a few images and doing some general editing before making copies for the schools and a special airing on the PBS stations. Daniel himself was going to do the voice-overs for different languages. The Pentagon had done its usual balking at the release of the show, and Jack had to remind them several times that it was nothing that wasn't already public knowledge.

Daniel and Jerrie were in the doctor's waiting room when Jack came out.

"So, do we have a well-baby?" Daniel asked, stroking Olivia's head. She had been poked and prodded and wasn't very happy.

"We have a very well-baby," Jack said while the receptionist made the next appointment. "In fact, she's absolutely perfect. Perfect, I say!" he declared to the waiting room. Parents smiled at him.

Their surprise for the day was being mugged at gunpoint not five minutes after leaving the pediatrician's office. Like a bad movie, a man stepped out of an ally and demanded wallets.

"Are you crazy?" Jack asked him in disbelief. "I'm holding a baby here, point that thing someplace else."

"Shut up, old man, and hand over the wallet," the man snarled at him. Daniel caught the waving arm and heaved it into the air, sucker punching the man in the ribcage. Jack thrust Olivia at Jerrie and ordered her out of the area. Daniel caught the gun as it fell and turned it on the man moaning on the ground. Jack saw a police car and whistled it down.

"Someone notify the village; their idiot is missing," Daniel commented. He turned the gun over to the police as the man was taken into custody.

"Let Andy know I'll be in to give a statement," Jack told the officers.

They shook their heads as they went to find their baby and nanny. She was at the gym, sitting in Bryce's office.

"Are you alright, sir?" Major Bryce asked when they entered.

"Fine, Major," Jack assured him, taking the baby. "Daniel took him down, all's well. He bitched and moaned when he first had to start conforming to military standards, but look at him now: Superman saving the day."

"Shut up," Daniel informed him. "You would have torn him a new asshole, if you hadn't been holding Olivia."

"Wrong superhero, sir," Bryce told Jack with a chuckle. "More like Batman and Robin."

Jack shrugged. "I always was suspicious about those two. I guess it fits."

Daniel covered Olivia's tiny ears and told Jack exactly what he thought of his suspicions.

When they got home, Jack's day got better when he found an email giving him permission (finally!) to distribute his emergency protocols to law enforcement and medical personnel. Jack kept his promise and sent the first out to Las Vegas. The second went to local agencies. The rest of the distribution could be handled by other channels. The main portion of the protocols were actually written years earlier as a precaution. They were written by Dr. Janet Frasier. It made Jack very happy to see her name heading the documents and he sent a note to Cassandra. It was time the world knew of the sacrifice Janet had made for them all, and having her name heading the protocols would place her in the history books.

Hammond called Jack as soon as he received Jack's note about the protocols, and they chatted for an hour, catching up. He was glad to see the peace in Jack since his family had come together. Sam also called, excited about the protocols and Janet making medical history. She suggested a remembrance dinner for Janet. The kids never knew Janet, so Jack and Daniel spent the evening telling the kids about Cassie's foster mother.

Jack lay on the couch later in the evening, watching the news. Jerrie was in a chair, giving a bottle to Olivia before putting her to bed. A scuffing came down the stairs, and Davy and his footed pajamas and an old piece of quilt and shoved Jack over to make room for him. Davy was back to sleep within minutes. Daniel came up from his den a while later, kissed his men, and went to bed. Jack was startled awake when the TV was turned off.

"Did you want it on?" Jerrie whispered.

"No." Jack eased himself up and lifted Davy into his arms.

"Would you like me to put him to bed?" Jerrie asked.

"No, he's my little man, I'll do it," Jack said, putting his mouth to the boy's hair. He heard a "love you, daddy" murmured into his chest. Jerrie smiled and wished him good night. A check on the rest of the kids showed everyone asleep except Katie who was still studying.

"Bed, honey, it's midnight," Jack whispered. She nodded, glancing at the clock. Jack went in and sat on her bed.

"How are you, baby?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she said.

"Are you?" he asked. He took her book gently from her and closed it. "Your brain won't retain anything, if you're tired. Honey, you know I miss your mom, right? I'd give anything to have her back."

"I know," Katie said. She sat up and put her arms around Jack, leaning on his shoulder. "I think in all this, we forgot that you lost your father, too."

Jack hugged her. "I miss him, too. Thank you, honey."

Jack collapsed onto his own bed.

"God, Danny, I don't deserve those kids," he groaned into the bed.

Daniel curled over to him, draped an arm across Jack's back, and kissed his neck.

"No, you don't," he was unexpectedly told. "But Megan did, and since she isn't here, you can take second place and make her proud. You are wonderful with those kids, Jack; I hope I can be half the father you are."

He slid a hand under Jack's t-shirt, caressing the warm skin.

"Did you lock the door?" he asked, sucking on Jack's earlobe. Jack moaned an affirmative. He turned his head and kissed Daniel. They held each other, kissing, caressing, tasting mouths, suckling on tongues.

"Mom isn't home, let's fool around," Jack whispered, turning over onto his back. Daniel smiled and slid a hand down to cover the bulge in Jack's pants.

"Can I see it?" Daniel asked innocently.

"Only if I can see yours," Jack said.

Daniel unzipped Jack's pants and slid his hand in.

"Oooh, hard and soft, all at the same time," Daniel commented. "Didn't think a muscle would be so heavy. And getting bigger. Jack, if you think you're going to get that thing into my little hole, you have another thing coming."

"Coming is my plan, Danny-boy," Jack told him. "Besides, you're wearing a ring, now, so we're allowed to do this."

Daniel paused and thought about it. "Oh, right. Ok, I guess I'll let you have your way with me."

"Actually, I was hoping it would be the other way around," Jack said.

Daniel smiled. "I can play with your cute ass? You do have a cute ass, Jack; tight and sweet. Maybe we should start a fund-raiser for the SGC. We can do a calendar. Your ass and Sam's legs."

"And your chest," Jack said, running his fingers over the muscles. "No, your entire body." He leaned in and licked a nipple. He sucked hard and Daniel winced and grabbed his head.

"Ah…God, Jack….. let's see…ah…. How about Reynold's cock? And Bosco's ass, and.. ah… oh, Dr. Lam in a dominatrix outfit standing over a bunch of Marines? Ow!" He swatted at Jack's head as Jack took a bite out of Daniel's chest. "Let's see, where was I? Oh, right…. Get Uncle George in on this, he does have a cute smile, Bosco's new guy, Adam Zane, he's very cute, Dr. Lee actually has an incredible…. Jack, what are you doing?"

Jack jumped off the bed, stripping on his way to the new bathroom. Daniel heard water running for a moment, and then Jack was back in the room. He yanked Daniel's pajamas off and attached his mouth to the hard cock while presenting his ass at Daniel's head. Daniel took the hint and slid his head between the legs as Jack kneeled over him. He slid his tongue home immediately and Jack paused, melting, as Daniel paid homage to his ass. Daniel bit and nibbled where he could, making Jack quiver and yelp. Daniel clung hard to his hips, though, and didn't let him move away. He took the skin beneath Jack's balls and pulled with his teeth. Daniel bit skin next to Jack's perineum and held on, sucking, licking, chewing, until it was purple and Jack was swearing. He slid his tongue in again and pulled at Jack's hips until Jack was fucking himself on Daniel's tongue, moaning and begging for more. Unfortunately, Daniel's tongue was only so long, so he pushed Jack aside and sat up. Jack went down onto his belly and hiked his ass into the air. Daniel quickly lubed him and slid in.

"Oh, yeah," Jack moaned and pushed back. He suddenly pushed back with his heart. He abruptly found himself floating on a wave as he reached out to Daniel. Jack fell into a maelstrom of bright lights, all of them popping like soap bubbles on him and washing him with love. Every one of them smelled like Daniel, they felt like Daniel, they sounded like Daniel. Their very essence was Daniel. Jack understood the totality of Daniel's love for him and let out a sob as he melted completely.

"Jack?" Daniel whispered, hesitating.

"Don't stop," Jack told him.

The sense of Daniel changed; he was concerned that something was wrong and Jack could sense the hesitation in him as he continued to make love.

"Don't close down, Danny," Jack begged him. "I'm fine. I'll tell you later. I love you, don't stop."

Daniel caressed Jack as he moved in and out. Daniel came but Jack didn't. Daniel lay next to Jack and held him, stroking him as Jack hid in Daniel's neck.

"Want to tell me what that was?" Daniel asked a while later. Jack turned his face and rested on Daniel's chest, sliding an arm across his stomach and a leg over Daniel's.

"I did that reaching thing," Jack said. "That sensing thing Enki keeps making me do. I felt YOU. It was beautiful, Danny; I felt as though I were the center of the universe, I felt how much you love me. It overwhelmed me."

Daniel stroked Jack's hair and held him. "Of course, I love you," he said.

In the morning, the children kept looking at each other and then at Jack. He had been quiet, studying them. Katie had a hollow feel to her, but hope still burned a small light as she put her trust in him and clung to him. The glimmer was extending toward Daniel, too. Jack wished Sam was around more often, and made a mental note to see what could be done about that. Stacy was next to her as they ate breakfast; she had a small case of hero-worship toward her new big sister and was aching for more contact. Davy was confused but knew that Jack would make things alright. Jerrie was next to Davy, talking with him as she fed Olivia. Jerrie had a case of hero-worship, too, but it was directed at the household in general. Olivia –just contentment. Matthew was….alone. That got Jack's attention.

It was Daniel's turn to play school bus, so hugs were passed out to Jack as children scrambled for back-packs and lunches.

"Hey," Jack grabbed Matthew who darted past him after a quick hug. "I love you."

"I know," Matty said. Jack still clung to him. Matthew had yet to call Jack by a name. Uncle Jack, Jack, or Dad; it didn't matter to him, he just wanted to hear something.

"I don't think you do, Matty," Jack said. He took Matthew's face between his hands. "I love you. I want you to know that. Know it in your heart. I can't give you back what's been lost, I wish I could, but I will do my damnedest to replace it with whatever I can. How about we play hooky today? You and me. Let's go."

"Play hooky?" Matthew questioned. "I thought adults didn't play hooky?"

"This one does," Jack informed him, shaking Matty's hips. "I feel like getting some fresh air. Head up into the mountains for a hike. Would you like to come with me? Just the two of us?"

The mountains were starting to turn white at the top, so Jack broke out the sub-zero gear. He had no plans on going up that high, but the mountains were still a little chilly at the lower altitudes. He left instructions for Jerrie, called Daniel and Sam, checked Matty out of school, and informed Paul that he was taking a couple days. The Prime Minister of Somewhere wasn't going to be happy, but Jack was declaring it a family emergency. Sam reminded him to take his comm with him, just in case.

He found himself in training mode, teaching the cadet about survival and dependence upon a partner. He made Matty leave the walkman home, and packed lights, sealed matches, and a radio that recharged by turning a crank handle. Fishing gear was packed, just a spool and hooks, two guns and ammo, knives, change of heavy sub-zero socks and thermal underwear, maps, compass, and a first-aid kit. Jack went through the list in his head and mentally checked off his military cold weather survival list as he packed their bags. He talked as he packed, telling Matthew why each item was needed and why others were not. Jack discovered that his nephew had never been camping before. Oh, he had been to camps, like his church Bible camp, but Jack felt that it didn't count. It was a set of buildings out in a field, comfy dorms and a full kitchen. It seemed Andrew wasn't about to sleep on the ground and refused to live a day without indoor plumbing, so Bible camp was the closest the kids had come to camping.

Jack had Jerrie drive them to the base of their starting point, gave her a return time, his itinerary, and emergency instructions, and they were off.

Matty tired easily, not used to the heavy workout combined with a large backpack; his jROTC wasn't doing survival training. Jack took it easy on him but wouldn't let him gulp the water. Just sips, for the moment. When they settled into a spot for a while and relaxed, then Matty could get a mouthful. Stomach cramps.

Jack showed him how to find berries, how to know if they were edible, which plants could be eaten, which roots, and where to find seeds. Matthew had no idea he could break open a pinecone and eat the seeds from it. When they decided to make camp for the night, Jack did something to a rope on the ground a hundred yards away and went to put up the tent. He zipped their sleeping bags together. Matthew thought they were sleeping in separate bags.

"It's cold," Jack informed him. The temperature had been steadily dropping. "You sleep with your partner and use each other for heat."

By the time he was done with the tent and getting set up, he looked at his rope. A creature was wiggling in it.

"A rabbit!" Matthew exclaimed.

"Dinner," Jack said. He got a fire going, quickly dispatched the rabbit, skinned and gutted it, and slid it onto a spit for the fire. He explained each step of the process as he went.

"Yes, he's cute and fuzzy," Jack said. "But I'm hungry. Some people thank the animal for its sacrifice, so you can do that, if it will help. Daniel says that's how prayers at mealtime started."

Matthew was sure he wasn't going to eat it, but the smell of cooking rabbit overcame him and he found himself accepting the hot flesh.

Jack made him take care of toilet needs before getting into the sleeping bags, because he didn't want to be woken up by cold gusts when the bags were opened. Matthew was freezing when Jack made him take off his outer wear, and he quickly got into the bags, his teeth chattering. Jack got in, pulled Matthew into his chest and zipped them up. With the two of them, the bags heated up and Matthew was no longer cold.

After a breakfast of cold rabbit, nuts, and berries, Jack showed him how to take apart a gun, the names of the different pieces, put it back together, and then how to shoot it. They talked more about girls and sex, about school, and about a few of the missions Jack had been on. He made sure to include all the messy parts, so that Matthew didn't glamorize it in his mind. He unexpected found himself telling Matthew about his time in Iraq. Matty was shocked, but Jack sat him down and told him to never be afraid to tell him if something bad happens to him. Matthew thought only girls could get raped, certainly not his uncle who saved the world on a regular basis. He wanted to know how he could do things with another man, after what happened.

"It's about intent," Jack told him, casting out the fishing line into the stream. "Daniel loves me, I love him. I know that when he touches me, he does so out of love for me. If I don't want to do anything, I tell him and he respects that. Same for him; if he doesn't want to, we don't. The first time was very difficult for me to get through; I've had nightmares for years, but Daniel helped me through them. I haven't had any bad dreams about it since."

"Does Sam know about it?" Matthew asked.

"Sure, she does," Jack said. "She's my wife and I'm honest with her."

"Why do men to things like that?" Matty asked, frowning as he played with his fishing line. "It's so…I don't know. Makes me feel sick."

"Makes me sick, too. And I don't know why men do it," Jack said. "Lot's of reasons, I guess; I think a lot of them were abused as children. Maybe had a bad mother or they saw their father hitting their mother and so they think it's normal. I don't know. I've never even considered raping a woman, I don't comprehend anyone who does. I was raised that no means no. I love women, Matty, I love how they look, how they smell, how they taste, even how they sound. And after working with some of the smartest women in the world, if not the universe, and after watching your mother and Aunt Sara giving birth, I respect the hell out of them."

"Did you see me born?"

"Yes, I did," Jack nodded, smiling sideways at him. "Your dad didn't want to be in the delivery room, said it was woman's work, so I coached your mom with all three of you. You were easy, you just came right out and you were not happy until your mom held you; it was Katie that gave your mom grief. Twenty-three hours of labor with your big sister. Davy was hard because he was very early. We almost lost him a couple of times. Olivia is a miracle, Matty; she could have died, too, and yet she didn't even have a bruise."

Matty was quiet for a while, and Jack reached.

"Matty, when Charlie died, I cried for more than a year," he said. "I retired from the Air Force, I was feeling so lost. I even let my hair grow almost as long as Nate's. Jonathan's. Damn. We have all lost someone, Matt; I've lost grandpa and Charlie, Sam lost her father and her mother, Daniel lost both of his parents, too, as well as his wife. Your sister and your brother are also hurting, your mom was their mom, too, so give them hugs and let them know you love them. We all understand how you are feeling, so keep telling yourself that you're not alone. You cry for as long as you need to; it's ok."

Jack showed him how to clean a fish for roasting after showing him how to tell a sick fish from a healthy one. They discussed religion and Jack was as clear as he could be on his own views. He had seen too much, knew too much, to believe in a god, but at the same time, he did believe in life after death and did the best he could to explain ascension. He didn't tell Matthew about Daniel, only explained his own version of his understanding of it.

Matthew frowned. "Is it ok if I believe in God?" he asked.

"Of course, it is," Jack told him. "You need to make your heart happy; if believing in God makes your heart happy, then I will support you 100 percent."

"Will you come to my Confirmation?"

"I will even wear a tie," Jack promised.

Jack did his best to fit a childhood's time of father-son conversations into a three-day weekend. He needed Matthew to know he was ok, that he was normal, that all his hopes, fears, and dreams were normal. Jack was a little pissed that Matthew seemed to be out of touch with the fact that he was a normal, healthy teenage boy. He was also a little pissed that Matthew didn't seem to have anyone in his life, previously, to teach him how to be a man. Except his great-grandfather, who was an old man when Matty was born, and didn't have the energy to keep up with a kid.

"Vinnie, Col. Bosco's son, thinks I'm cute," Matthew unexpectedly told him, slightly pink faced. "I told him thank you, like you said, but I can only be his friend. He thought I was only saying that to be polite. I really do think he's nice; he's funny and he's smart."

"Good," Jack said with a nod. "You just be there as a friend, and he'll learn to go with it. He's a good kid. Matthew, I want you to know that I'm proud of you; you have a kind heart. You might get picked on for it now by the other kids but believe me, when you become an adult, the girls will love you for it, and you will go further in life because of it. The greatest leaders in the world have had kind hearts. And besides; you know what?" Matthew shook his head. "You ARE cute."

Matthew laughed and shoved him.

They were both filthy and tired by the time they got home early Sunday evening. Daniel picked them up, and he and Sam unloaded the truck when they got home as Jack steered the half comatose boy up the stairs and into his bedroom. He set Matthew on the bed, took his boots off, and pushed the boy under the covers. He smoothed a lock of hair from his forehead and kissed the skin.

"Good night, love you," Jack whispered. Matthew turned over and sank into his pillow.

"….love you, too, Dad."

Jack almost fell to his knees.

He took a long, hot shower, ignoring the occasional taste of salt that slid into his mouth. After putting his pajamas and robe on, he checked in with the rest of the brood, discussed with Olivia her beauty and grace, was updated by the adults, and then went to bed. Sam and Daniel came in and looked at him as he stared at the ceiling, hands resting on his chest.

"He called me Dad."

They each kissed him.

Just before the first alarm went off for Sam, Jack checked in on the baby and then returned from the bathroom and decided to worship at her breasts. He turned her alarm off and woke her up by sucking and licking her nipples. Once she was awake, and didn't tell him to go away, he made his way down her body. She wrapped her long legs over his shoulders and caressed his hands and arms as he sucked on her clit. He slid a couple of fingers into her and she pulsed around them as he licked and sucked. He tasted Daniel and realized he had been so exhausted that he hadn't even woken up when the two had obviously had sex earlier. He slid back up her body and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he entered her. He stared into her blue eyes as they moved together, awed by the complete trust in them as they watched each other orgasm. Daniel slept through it and they talked quietly for a short while before taking a shower together where Sam went to her knees, a position she usually didn't take, she preferred him on his back in bed for that, but Jack clung to the wet, tiled walls as she filled her belly with his semen.

"Did you two use all the hot water?" Daniel asked groggily as they reentered the bedroom.

"No, but you'll have to wait for a tank refill before you use anything else," she told him. "It's been emptied twice already this morning." Jack swatted at her butt.

It wasn't until just before lunch that Jack was informed that the American ambassador to Rome was possessed by a demon. The old fashioned kind, not the snake kind.

"Is his head spinning?" he asked the aide.

"No, sir, but he is snarling in an unknown language in many different voices," he was told. "Even a voice analyzer has determined that they are all different people speaking."

Jack stared at the aide.

"My birthday has already passed, you know; no surprises this year, it was nice and quiet."

"Happy birthday, sir." A disk was set in front of him and the aide excused himself.

Jack watched the disk twice, called Paul in, watched it again, and then called Daniel after emailing it to him. Daniel watched it and told Jack it looked like an unknown alien presence.

"Ya think?" Jack asked. Daniel was going to Rome. Jack insisted on going with him. Actually, President Hayes insisted that he go, considering that it was the American ambassador they were talking about. All the 303s were out of the area, as well as the Heaven's Bow, which was dropping off a few things on Kalam, so Jack took an al kesh. Davis had recommended that he use a little of his considerable power to get himself a private vessel of his own to get around in. Jack said he would feel like Mussolini riding around in something big and ostentatious. Davis told him that he could continue to take regular jets, if he wanted to sit for hours on end. Jack sent a requisition order to Area 51 and soon had an al kesh sitting in the field behind the Homeworld Security offices.

Alvin, Jack's al kesh, arrived in Italy only minutes after take-off. They found several exhausted priests attempting to exorcise the demon from an even more exhausted man who was tied down to the bed. The American Ambassador to Italy, Charles Pierce. The priests objected to the presence of Homeworld Security and Daniel stepped in with rapid-fire Italian while Sam waved an MRI over the man on the bed. She shook her head at Jack; no snake. She picked up several more instruments as Daniel argued. The 'demon' snarled something and spat at Sam.

"Oh, shut up," Jack told him. "We're working here. And mind your manners." Sam scooped up some spittle and put it into one of her gadgets which was held and then examined by Dr. Caballo, an Area 51 doctor who had accompanied them.

Daniel turned toward the writhing man on the bed.

"Look, I don't know why you still bother," he said reasonably. "Never in our history have any of your kind been able to inhabit our bodies and live in a co-existent symbiosis. We are not compatible. The symbiotes are compatible with us, you are not. Whatever you are. So give it up and go find another life form to irritate."

The creature remained unimpressed. Sam told him she could find no physical presence in the ambassador's body of something alien to the host. The medic agreed. The priests were satisfied that they were justified to continue with their exorcism. Sam said whatever it was had the ability to mould the host body, attempting to change it into what the creature seemed to need.

"Jack, reach," Daniel said quietly to him. "If you get a feel on it, try pushing really hard."

Jack stood near the man, wrinkling his nose at the horrible smells. He held a hand close, trying not to actually touch the body. Jack kept reminding himself that Ninurta said he didn't need to touch. The creature roared at him and spat yellow goo which ran down Jack's chest. It was trying to distract him. Jack grabbed hold of his anti-interrogation training and centered himself to ignore what was going on around him. He reached and found himself in a black cloud. The creature howled and attempted to leap up and bite Jack, incredulous that for the first time in the planet's history, a human had discovered it.

"Gotcha," Jack whispered with a nasty smile. He PUSHED. The room shook as the creature howled, roared, screeched, and gibbered. The priests backed up to the far wall, shocked as they watched. Lights flickered and Sam calmly raised another toy to them. Daniel was listening to the languages pouring out of the ambassador's mouth. Jack pushed again, using his entire will to send the black cloud out of the body. Enki had told him to ignore the sense of air or non-physical whatevers, and to convince himself that everything he sensed in a person had a physical form and could be manipulated like any other physical object. Jack pushed at the dark cloud, which he had turned into a heavy wall. It slowly slid inward and then fell open and out of the way completely. Pierce's body shook, arched to an impossible angle, and then slumped back to the bed. Dr. Caballo quickly put two fingers to his neck.

"Defibrillator!" he called out. Sam immediately handed it to him. Pierce was given a jolt. On the third jolt, the ambassador took a deep, gasping breath.

"You'll be alright," Caballo told him.

The Pope was white-faced after Daniel was done telling him exactly what had transpired, and that it was an unknown alien entity that was involved, not a demon. One could call it a demon, but it was still alien. He told the Pope about other non-corporeal entities that they had encountered, and that this one was nasty but not unsolvable. The Pope wanted to know how Jack did it.

"I meditate a lot," Jack told him.

"Jack," Daniel scolded. "Teach. Evolve."

Jack sighed and pouted. "It's inside," he said, touching his chest and his head. "Not out there. I'm just learning how to do this, myself, so I'm really not in a position to teach anyone."

"Maybe not," Daniel acknowledged. "But describe to the Pontiff how you do it."

Jack scratched his head and ruffled his hair as he turned to pace.

"I just….feel inside of a person," he said. "I don't know how else to describe it. It's like closing my eyes and knowing what kind of pie my mom is making just by smelling it."

"Using another sense," Sam put in. Jack whirled, pointed, and snapped his fingers.

"Yes! Another sense. When someone goes blind, the other senses take over. I've been learning to use another sense. That intuition thing. I never really believed in it before, but after all the stuff we've seen and done, I started listening to it. When I follow it, I can sense other things. The more I do it, the more another world opens up for me."

The Pope leaned forward, frowning as he listened.

"And you could see this…creature…inside Mr. Pierce?" he asked. Jack nodded.

"Like a black, smoky cloud," he said. "We've seen something like it before, so that's the best I can do to describe it. Daniel told me to push, to I pushed at it and it was gone."

"You're Holiness, I was listening to the languages the thing was speaking," Daniel said. "It said nothing that isn't already in a human language. Most of it was a mixture of various ancient languages, a lot of obscure dialects, mostly ancient middle eastern. It could have picked them all up from Mr. Pierce's brain. We retain certain racial memories, which means the creature would have to be able to pick us apart at the cellular level, which it was certainly doing as it tried to change Mr. Pierce's physical shape. Now, what Jack was doing, is also a racial memory. You've read about the Ancients?" the Pope nodded. "Well, they bred with our ancestors. Some of the Ancient's DNA is still in quite a bit of our population. It's in Jack, so it's a little easier for him to learn to do this. The rest of us can learn, but it'll take more work."

"How did you learn about this DNA?" the Pontiff asked, his old but quick eyes looking from one person to the other.

"Actually, we can't tell you that story," Jack said before Daniel could say anything. "We do have a growing list of people with the gene, though, so we know it exists in the population."

The Pope stared at Jack. "There is something you are not telling," he decided. "Beyond this story. Something about you, personally."

"That's good," Jack encouraged. "Go with it. That's how I've been learning."

"Hmmmm… How can you tell who has this gene?" the Pope asked.

"That's easy," Sam said. She dug into her bag, which the Swiss guards had reluctantly allowed her to keep after Jack started reciting the Homeworld Security contract Italy had signed. Technically, the Vatican was its own country and didn't have to obey Italian law, but Jack had refused to see the Pope unless Sam was allowed to keep her bag.

She pulled out something from her toy collection. "This was left by the Ancients," she said. "It's just a child's toy, it won't harm you. No on-off buttons, only someone with the gene is able to activate it. We can see if you have the gene, if you'd like?"

The Pope was dubious so Jack took it. It looked like one of the toys Dr. Weir had brought back from Atlantis. He gave it a whoosh from inside and it lit up almost immediately. He swung it around.

"Cool," Jack said, looking at the floor where small creatures danced and frolicked. The guards around the room stepped forward, guns ready.

"Guys, it's only a projection," Daniel said, stepping in and waving a hand through the small holograms. They shimmered and continued to dance.

The Pope consented to handle the device. It shut off the moment Jack's hand left it and did nothing for the Pope.

"Concentrate," Jack said. "Think ON." Still, nothing happened. The Pope called up his guards, one by one, and handed them each the device. It turned on for one guard and he dropped it in horror.

"Hey, easy," Jack admonished, picking the thing up. The guard was clearly upset as he spoke to the Pope in his home language. Daniel interrupted him, trying to calmly reassure them that there was nothing wrong with the man. It was just technology, and there was nothing wrong with anyone who could work it, anymore than there was something wrong with a person who had a certain eye color or hair color.

Sam made note of the man's name on her PDA and then frowned. She leaned in toward Jack.

"We need to talk," she whispered, looking at the list. He gave her a nod.

Daniel found himself giving the Pope his private email so that they could talk. Alvin left for home and they were back at HomeSec in minutes.

"Jack, look at this list," Sam said, handing him the PDA. Daniel looked over his shoulder.

"What are we looking for?" he asked.

"Almost all those names are European," Sam said. "Specifically, they're…."

"Celtic," Daniel said, taking the PDA from Jack and scrolling through the slowly growing list. "A few non-Europeans but they could easily have Celtic ancestry, considering the pre-Celts used to be nomads who originated in the Indus Valley. Some South American, which would also make sense, since the Ancients used South America as one of their hidey-holes."

Jack looked at him and then at Sam. He took the toy from Sam's bag and held it out to Daniel.

"I don't think you've ever been tested," Jack commented. Sam's eyebrow went up.

"I'm not Celtic," Daniel said. "I'm Scandinavian, mostly, and they come out of Eastern Europe." He took the toy and concentrated anyway. Nothing happened. "See?" Jack took it back and handed it to Sam.

"You try," he said.

"Already did," she said with a wry grin. "I'm even less Celtic than Daniel. Three out of four grandparents were Jewish which makes me Middle Eastern via Eastern Europe. My coloring is from my mother, and hers from her mother, etc. That part is Swedish."

"Ok, so I'm thinking this is a dominant gene among the Celts," Daniel said. He scratched his jaw, his eyes quickly moving from side to side as he thought. "It would put the Celtic myths into a whole new perspective. As is, they're a little psychotic, but if we translate them so that…. Never mind… The Celts tended to take mates from whatever tribe they ran across, so the gene could have spread into other tribes very easily."

"Probably need two people with the gene to pass it on, or it doesn't get passed on," Sam commented. Jack's eyes rolled and he started walking toward the building as the two followed.

"Right," Daniel was saying. "And like a lot of religions, the modern Celts, unlike their pre-Celtic ancestors, tend to stay within their ancestral origins. Celts marry Celts. Irish to Irish, Scots to Scots. Easy to pass on the gene. Also explains a lot of the Celtic mysticism about third sight and all. South America is even more inbred, unfortunately, and they have a lot of other worldly stuff happening, too."

"Sir, all taken care of?" Davis asked when Jack returned to his section of the complex.

"Demon go bye-bye, major," Jack assured him.

Daniel and Sam headed for her office, along with Dr. Caballo, to bring up the records of gene-positive people and try and find the common denominator.

"Very good, Sir," Davis said. "You have a visitor waiting, sir."

"Oh?"

Jack went into his office and found a familiar figure looking out his window.

"Bre'tac!" Jack greeted the rebel with a wide smile as he held out an arm. Bre'tac clasped it, an equally welcoming smile on his weathered face.

"It is good to see you well, old friend," Bre'tac said.

"You, too," Jack returned and gestured toward a chair. "How's tricks?"

"Tricks are well," Bre'tac said with a nod. "Gerek is dead. He attempted to force free Jaffa into worshipping new gods. He was killed."

"Wonderful!" Jack said. "So who's in charge?"

Bre'tac smiled and Jack let out a "Whoo-hoo!" while raising his arms in victory. He broke out the whisky and glasses and handed one to the old man. "To freedom," Jack said. Bre'tac agreed and they drank.

Everyone was doing well, Bre'tac assured Jack; Rya'c was to be a father soon and Teal'c was seeing a warrior woman from a Jaffa tribe that Thanatos had introduced them to. That explained to Jack why his friend hadn't been around in a while.

"You're presence is missed," Bre'tac told him. "Many leaders would like to gather to discuss the Baal issue. There is to be a council of the leaders from many different tribes and worlds. Many tribes have watched Jaffa come together and be greater as a whole. There is talk about forming a union and defeating Baal once and for all. Your presence is requested to represent the Tau'ri."

Jack sat back.

"Is there a plan in the works?" Jack asked.

"There was," Bre'tac said. "Malek had a good idea but Baal has altered his tactics enough so that Malek's plan is no longer a viable option."

As Jack listened, he grew more and more concerned; Baal had been learning alternative strategies.