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.

28. Chapter 28

Jack in the Box
Anunnaki Part 28
By Michele
Rating: PG
Summary: In between naps, Jack plays catch-up with family happenings. The galaxy isn't done with Jack.

After briefing the president and Joint Chiefs, and world leaders via his council, Jack begged leave for the next 48 hours; he and all his boys and girls needed time to get themselves together. Whether the world leaders liked it or not, Jack was taking time. This wasn't a routine mission where a few hours of rest would cut it; they had just saved the galaxy AND the planet, for pity's sake! Jack was cut a little slack.

There was an impromptu party in a large, open space in the warehouse district. Many pilots had chosen to return immediately to their homes; those that remained got the party started. Restaurants opened their kitchens and catered to the event. Jack winced at hearing a familiar voice in the microphone. Sam and Daniel looked at him, as did the children.

"Don't even," he warned.

"Too late, Jack," Reynolds said, clasping him on the shoulder as he walked by. "We have ship's footage of you, him, and Col. Caldwell rocking your asses off. More than once."

"Really?" Sam and Daniel each took an arm and steered Kevin away.

"Dead meat, Adda," Stacy informed Jack, giving him a pat. He looked at her.

"What did you call me?"

"Adda," she repeated. "Daddy said it means Daddy." The other children nodded.

"Uncle Danny is Uncle Danny for us, but you're Adda for Stacy," Katie told him. "And Aunt Sam is Aunt Sam for us, and Mom for Stacy."

"Oh. Ok. Do you know how much I missed you guys?" he asked, whining. "My quarters are covered in pictures of all of you. Ask anyone; they think it's a funky wall-paper. I am in serious need of kisses. Lots and lots of kisses." They laughed and toppled him, covering his face with the begged smooches. They did take care with the boo-boos, though. He was glad to know they had bonded with his partners.

Although the children wanted to stay with him, it was getting very late and the alcohol was beginning to flow. The baby wasn't at all happy about the ruckus, so Katie offered to take the kids home.

"Since when?" Jack asked.

"Since Uncle Danny taught me to drive," she told him, taking Olivia from him. "Don't worry, Dad, I'm a good driver."

"But I wanted to teach you how to drive," Jack whined.

"You get to teach me, Dad," Matty informed him, patting him on a shoulder. Jack didn't care; he got a 'Dad' out of both of them.

He got good night kisses and the kids sent him out to play. Jack went into the main party just in time to see Harper go down on one knee.

"Is that what it looks like?" Sam asked in his ear. She and Daniel stood side by side, watching.

"Yes, it is," Jack nodded, not too sure about how he was feeling. "He told me on board that he was going to do it. I didn't expect it so soon, though."

Cassie threw her arms around Harper's neck.

"Looks like we have a wedding to plan," Daniel said. He smacked Jack on the arm. "You didn't go down on one knee to me," he complained.

"Me, neither," Sam said, glaring at Jack.

"So I'm a barbarian," he told them. "And I've been on my knees before both of you, so shut up. Guys, Harper is going to be our son-in-law. Dean Harper, guys. How do we feel about this?"

"Well, technically, Cassie was Janet's daughter, not ours," Daniel reminded him. "We're more like uncles and aunt-in-law. I think the bigger question is how does Jonathan feel about it?"

They all looked toward the end of the room where said Jonathan had momentarily paused in his stage romping. He saw them watching him and he gave an OK.

The Press showed up at the door and they were stared down by some of the larger Jaffa. General O'Neill will hold a press conference in two days; they could wait. In the meantime, they could report that Tau'ri hind ends were saved once more by the general and his kids. Grrrrr…. The reporters shot back to a safer distance. Actually, Davis had already had a press kit ready for release. It should be arriving via fax in all the main press offices. The Jaffa snickered to themselves.

Jack got his owies kissed by his partners before they insisted on dancing with him. They plied him with a beer and pulled him into the crowd. They steered him closer to the front and he was pulled up onto the stage, much to the delight of everyone. Caldwell was also pushed up, as was Ninurta who had been learning songs from Jonathan. The four men shook the building. Ninurta's growling baritone adapted well to the hard rock he had picked up from Jonathan's boom-box.

It was almost dawn by the time everyone worked out their energy. Jonathan calmed the crowd and waited for a moment.

"It is appropriate that we celebrate life," he said. "A lot of good people were lost, though, and we should also remember them." There were shouts from the crowd and clapping. "Since the start of the Stargate Program and through the recent events, the count is at 2,237 lives lost. That's just immediate military personnel, not including civilians, and we're not done counting those lost during this action. Before we go home and take comfort with our families, I'd like to ask Daniel to come up here and sing that lament he sang for us a while back."

Jack's eyebrows weren't the only ones raised as Daniel hopped up onto the stage.

"Which one?" he asked Jonathan, not showing any discomfort at being in front of a microphone with a few hundred people.

"The Egyptian one," Jonathan reminded him. "The one you sang when you were comparing notes with Inanna."

Daniel nodded. He gripped the microphone between both hands, thinking and centering. He then piped out a clear tenor. The haunting keening echoed across the warehouse, sending shivers through the spines of everyone. Many had their heads bowed and were silently weeping by the time he was finished. The words were not in English, but their intent came through the language barrier.

Jack, Markham, Caldwell, and Galanakis stood at the entrance of the door, making sure everyone headed out was touched and thanked by them.

He collapsed into bed when he got home, was undressed by his partners who frowned at the stitches on his inner thigh, and slept for over 15 hours. All the phones were shut off and the guards were doubled around the house. The children were kept home from school. Sam made sure to call Jack's mother to let her know Jack was fine and would call her when he woke up. The television was filled with images of the return of the pilots and the battle near Saturn. Over and over, Baal's exploding ship was shown. Someone had recorded Daniel's lament, which was also broadcast over and over. No list of dead had yet been released but when sons and daughter, husbands and wives didn't return home, families knew.

Sam had nestled into Daniel as they watched the morning programs; she then went into her office and began writing up her report while Daniel and Jerrie saw to the children. Jerrie had already welcomed her brother back the night before; today was time for him to spend his with wife and children.

The younger children were anxious to see Jack, but Katie and Matthew understood that he needed time to sleep and get himself together. Olivia had been a little cranky, picking up on the tension. Sam brought out a partial yet growing list of the declared dead and showed it to Daniel.

"God," he groaned. "Almost half the teams are gone."

Sam nodded. "Col. Reynolds is the only one left of SG-1, and Bosco and Harper from SG-3," she said.

"Would it be callous of me if I said I was glad Nyan had been left here?" Daniel asked, flipping through the pages.

"I wouldn't say so," she commented. "He's never picked up on the weapons like you did; it wouldn't have been appropriate for him to be out there in that."

"Did lots of people die, Uncle Danny?" Davy asked, leaning against his arm.

"Yes, they did," Daniel nodded, giving the brown hair a tousle.

"But Daddy and Nate are here," Davy said, looking for confirmation.

"Yes, they are," Daniel confirmed. "And he's Jonathan now, remember? Just like Uncle Jack became Daddy, Nate wants to be called Jonathan."

David nodded. "But you're still Uncle Danny."

Daniel smiled. "Yes, I'm still Uncle Danny and Aunt Sam is still Aunt Sam."

"Do I hafta change my name, too?" David asked with a sigh.

"No, you're still Davy," Daniel assured him.

Several times during the day, they heard helicopters fly over the house. Jets quickly came in and chased them away. The home of the Chief of Homeworld Security was a no-fly zone.

Sam needed to leave after writing up her report; she had a seminar on the new forensics protocols to oversee. The seminar was a two-week meeting and they were only halfway through.

Daniel checked emails periodically, which was the only way anyone was going to get in touch with them until they turned the phones back on. Daniel logged into his private account which held a considerable amount less new emails. Not too many people had his private account. He responded to many with short, brief sentences before he made lunch for the troops and checked on Jack who was still sound asleep. At least he was home. Daniel smoothed Jack's hair and kissed his brow. Adults helped with homework and more than once shushed the kids. They could play outside in the yard, as long as the guards were present.

Daniel caught his daughter on her way out the door and kissed her loudly on the side of her head.

"Love you," he informed her and released her.

"Love you, too!" she called out from across the room.

"Say it in….French," Daniel instructed.

"Sans tu je ne suis qu'un ver de terre," she said impudently and ducked at the hand towel that was thrown at her. She laughed and ran out of the house.

"What did she say?" Jerrie asked, sipping on her tea. "I know that wasn't 'I love you.'"

Daniel chuckled. "She said, 'I am an earthworm without you.' Too smart for her own good, I think."

It was dark again when Jack woke up for a longer period of time than to stagger to the bathroom and pee.

"What did you do to your leg and where is the bastard who did it?" Sam demanded as he walked back into the bedroom. Daniel looked up from his book to the bruise on the upper-inner section of Jack's right thigh. "That looks like a staff blast."

"It is," Jack croaked as he collapsed back into bed. "Don't worry; Teal'c reprimanded the bastard."

There were a lot of bruises, cuts, and scrapes on Jack's body. His partners picked him over, discussing each mark in heated whispers. Sam was taking pictures of each with her digital.

"Will you two knock it off?" Jack requested after being rolled over for the hundredth time. They sat back, frowning. "I'm fine," he insisted. "I'm hungry." They jumped up, not believing that they hadn't considered food.

By the time Jack was done with both sandwiches, he was ready for sleep again. He patted the bed first.

"I need to say something," he told them. Sam and Daniel sat. He confessed his actions with Ninurta and Paul. Sam snuggled up to him and leaned her head on his chest.

"We already know," she informed him.

"I had a long email from Paul about it," Daniel told him. "You and Sam were cc'd. It's ok, Jack, you did the right thing. Sam and I have already discussed it and we're good with it."

"And Ninurta?" Jack asked. "Danny, I swear I felt you and heard you with me."

Daniel nodded. "I was with you," he said. He leaned forward, frowning as he thought. "It was strange; it was like I had been yanked from one room and into another. I was in class at the time, and I had to excuse myself. I found a room, locked myself in, and just let it happen. I could even feel you, Jack. I mean, I felt what you were feeling. I felt your terror, your horror at all the bloodshed. I saw all those children, Jack. I know that most of the pain you were feeling was coming from events, not from Ninurta's donkey dick. And I told Sam about that, too. We've talked a lot about it since it happened, and we know you did what you needed to do."

"It happened twice," Jack told him. "The second time wasn't as intense, it was more of a release. A reaffirmation of life, Ninurta called it. And I didn't kiss him. I kissed Paul once."

Daniel shook his head and moved up to Jack's other side.

"You big goon," he informed Jack. "Ninurta at least deserved to be kissed."

The children knew better than to barge into their bedroom, so when the Parents didn't appear in the morning, Jerrie got them ready and an SF drove them to school. A long talk with the principals assured them that the kids would be closely watched. Guards were posted at each school, anyway, much to the embarrassment of all the SGC kids who complained about babysitters. Jack had considered private home tutoring, but Daniel begged him not to; the children needed the socializing, the normalcy, if they were going to learn how to deal with the new world that was being created around them.

When it finally registered on Jack that his mother was living a mile away in the senior's condo, he scrambled to shower, dress, and high-tail it out the door. Daniel and Sam and the kids had all told him that they moved Maggie in during his absence, but Jack had been too far out of it to hear the information.

"Mom, I'm sorry!" he declared the moment the door was opened. "I've been sleeping. Jet lagged doesn't cut it, more like an entire galactic shift…."

"Jonathan Charles, shut up and kiss me," she ordered. Jack immediately placed several kisses on her cheeks and hugged her hard, lifting her off the ground and carrying her back inside.

"Put me down," she said, smiling at him. He set her on her feet. "Nut. You been working out?" She gave his biceps a curious squeeze.

"Daniel makes me carry him," he informed her. She waved a hand at him.

"Come on, I made a coffee cake."

Jack followed his nose into the kitchen where his mother cut off a large slice of cinnamon topped cake and then poured a large glass of orange juice. Jack dug in like a starving man.

"Are you ok here, Mom?" he asked after inhaling half the cake. "Do you like it?"

She shrugged. "I miss our home, but it'll do," she said. "At least I see the children regularly, and Sam and Daniel have been very attentive. One of them comes with me to do my shopping, when I need something. They gave me an emergency button; they said a guard will come running, if I need help. Jerrie's been over here a few times with the baby, too. I like Sam and Danny, Jack, you have good taste. Sara's been over a couple times; I hope you don't mind."

Jack put his fork down. "No, I don't mind. Mom, I really am sorry," he said. "I really have been asleep most of the time I've been back. I've barely gotten in a couple of kisses with Sam and Danny, much less the kids."

She patted his hand. "I know, honey," she said. "I do watch the news, I know what you've been up to. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you; I don't have the words to express it. At times, I can't believe you're mine. I just wish your father could have been here to see all this happening."

"Me, too," he said softly, leaning over and kissing her cheek.

He told her what he could of the battle, and several times she reached over and took his hand as she listened intently. He kept the worst parts from her, but she knew when he was hedging around something and just let him talk of what he could. Jack needed his mommy, not the president, the Joint Chiefs, Dr. Edmonds, or his partners. He got his mommy as he settled his head onto her lap and she stroked his hair. She didn't ask about the slight tremor or why he was gripping the fabric of her sweat pants.

There was a pile of stuff that he needed to go through, when he had a chance. Stuff of his and some things of his father's that Maggie thought he might like.

He took her to lunch a while later, stared blankly at a couple of people who asked for autographs, and swapped handshakes with Sheriff Richardson who stopped by the diner when he heard Jack was in. Andy handed Jack a pin.

"Governor?" Jack read. "It's about freakin' time! Sorry, Ma." He took Andy's hand again.

"You steppin' up for me, Jack?" Andy asked.

"Are you kidding? Hell yes!" He stood up and let out a piercing whistle, getting everyone's attention. Not that they hadn't noticed their local celebrity already. "Sheriff Andy for Governor!" he called out, raising a solidarity fist. Everyone stomped, clapped, whistled, or banged silverware on the tables.

Jack took a bag of pins and bumper stickers and promised to hand them out. He put a sticker on his truck the moment they left the diner. He argued, but the owner of the diner refused to accept payment for their meal. Jack left a big tip for their waitress.

"What?" he asked, looking at his mother in the passenger seat. She kept looking at him with a quiet smile on her face.

"Nothing," she said with a shrug. "It's just nice to see you have so many friends here. People who like you, Jacky, and aren't just kissing your tush."

Jack hadn't thought about it before; he did have friends. He had made a home in their small town and he couldn't see himself living anyplace else.

He forced himself to stay awake for the children and went to pick them up himself from their schools. Katie and Matthew made him come in and meet their jROTC commander. Jack returned the salute and then shook hands. He sat on the edge of a table and looked out at the young faces of the cadets. All of them just babies.

Jack answered questions, taking note of a couple of kids he knew to be SGC brats. Vinnie Bosco was among the kids, much to Jack's surprise. When they were questioned out, and Jack was talking quietly with their commander, he over-heard a few of the boys joke about getting more muscles built and how some of the others would never do it. A few surreptitious looks were shot at Vinnie, who was skinny and small, like Matthew.

"Why?" Jack broke in. The class quieted and turned back to look at him. "Do I look buffed to you? Have you seen the size of a cockpit? It's a cramped space. I'm 6 foot 2 and I barely fit. If you're over a certain weight, height, or width, you're not getting into a fighter seat. Smaller guys are pilots. The big guys get the ground work. Everyone has a place and a job, and they are all important."

Katie raised her hand and Jack nodded.

"D…Sir, what about women?" she asked. "Most of the talk revolves around men."

"You're right," he nodded. "Unfortunately, our language doesn't take into account for a general gender designation. I sound like Daniel. God. So, all talk of any position, despite the use of the masculine, is to be heard as both masculine and feminine. We have a lot of women in the armed services, and more coming on board. Women make great pilots because they are quick and agile. Mentally and physically."

"Sir, what happens when a woman is off-world and her period starts?" one of the girls asked. The class laughed and Jack smiled. He knew she thought to fluster him, but he lived in a house with four females and a baby girl; he had heard conversations he never wanted to hear again.

"Not a problem," he said with an easy wave of a hand when they settled. "Most of the women are on pills or some other kind of female thingy." There were more laughs. "If, for some reason, she starts before leaving the planet, either someone takes her place, or her entire team goes on standby for the five days. My team had one woman on it, and we got used to the once a month standby. Cost us guys a ton in chocolate, I can tell you." The cadets laughed again. He couldn't tell them about the insert, it was still in trial phase and he didn't have permission to spill that one. Publicly, anyway.

"Can I have an insert like Aunt Sam's?" Katie asked when they were on their way home.

Jack looked over at her. In the backseat, Matthew rolled his eyes and tried to shut out sound.

"It isn't approved for public use, honey," he said. "Technically, it's still experimental."

Katie frowned. "Oh. So, Aunt Sam won't get pregnant unless she takes it out?"

"Right."

"Is she going to?"

Jack looked at her again.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "That will be her decision. I think I'd like Olivia to be at least three before we contemplate another baby in the house, though."

Jack cornered Katie in her bedroom when they got home.

"Is there any particular reason you want an insert?" he asked. She looked blankly at him. "Are you getting close to someone?" She colored and shook her head.

"No, Dad," she said. "I just don't like dealing with the whole monthly thing."

Jack nodded and left her to her homework.

"She doesn't have to stop her pills for a week," Sam said with a frown later. "Just continue taking them. There's no medical reason for a blood break every month. I'll talk to her."

That handled, Jack was ready for a nap. Olivia wasn't sure about him; she had become used to Daniel and Sam, so Jack took her into bed with him, pillowed her in, and cuddled next to her. Daniel came in, sat in the crook of Jack's bent knees, and kissed his hip.

"Are you alright?" Daniel asked quietly. Jack glanced up at him.

"I'm fine, why?"

"I'm getting the feeling that you're still light-years away. You've been on rough missions before but you're still sleeping a lot and we're worried about you."

"Daniel, I've been home for only a few days," Jack said in exasperation. "I have every country in the world hounding me for a report, please don't you start on me, too."

Daniel slid up along Jack's back and leaned over.

"I'm not asking for a report, I'm telling you that we are worried about you," he said. "If you need to talk, we're here. If you need to be held, we're here. If you need to scream, we're here. If you need space, take your space. We're still here. You've been in the center of chaos for three months straight and you come home to a full house going about daily life. You haven't had breathing room. We understand this. Take time off, if you need it. Go find a deserted island. Whatever."

Jack half turned to look at him.

"I need the daily life," he said huskily.

Daniel nodded and smoothed Jack's hair. He kissed Jack and moved to leave him to his nap. Jack wrapped an arm around Daniel's neck and brought him back down, kissing him again, opening Daniel's mouth. They stayed locked for a minute before Jack pulled away, touched Daniel's face, and turned back into the pillow and stared at the baby before shutting his eyes. Daniel brushed Jack's ear with his mouth and left them to their nap.

"He has a week, and then we call Dr. Edmonds," he told Sam. She agreed.

Jack was fairly sure he was alright, just wiped out. He had no energy and his brain felt like a blank slate that was buzzing slightly. Everything was bright. Even light had smell. He wondered if he should mention to someone that he was reading just fine without his glasses.

He woke up a few hours later. It was dark out. Olivia was still sound asleep next to him but someone had covered them both in a blanket. Jack leaned over and kissed her soft, round cheek. He wiped her cheek; she had four front teeth and was on continuous drool. He put pajamas on, carried her into the nursery and set her into her crib. She made a sound and went back to sleep. The house was quiet and he looked at a clock. Almost eleven. He checked on the rest of the brood. Covered needed to be pulled up onto Stacy, Katie was tucked in after taking a social studies book off her lap, Davy was bunched up on his belly with his butt in the air, and Matthew was asleep with the headphones still attached to his head. Jack removed them, shut the stereo off, and tucked him in; the big boy wasn't too big, yet.

Jack didn't see anyone in the livingroom but the light was on in Daniel's den so he went down. Daniel was sitting on the couch.

"Hi, baby," he quietly greeted Jack. Jack collapsed onto the couch, stomach down, and pulled a pillow into his face as he nestled into Daniel's lap. A hand swept down his back, over his ass, and stayed on a thigh. He was patted. "We have company."

Jack looked up blurrily from the pillow. It took him a moment to see the person standing near one of the book shelves.

"Dr. Grissom," he muttered and held out a hand. Grissom came over and briefly took it.

"Gil, please," he reminded Jack. "I'm sorry we're here so late, we got to talking and the time flew."

"'sokay," Jack murmured, reluctantly sitting up. He scrubbed his face. "I've been sleeping almost nonstop since I got back."

"Understandable," Grissom said.

"Not to be rude, but what are you doing here?" Jack asked. "In Colorado Springs, I mean."

"Forensics seminar," Sam said, coming down the stairs with coffee. Nick Stokes was behind her. "Gil called and asked if we would set one up, get some top people from around the world to come in and ask questions, get some clarification. It's a two week; first week is almost done."

Daniel took a sip from the mug she handed him and shared it with Jack.

"We've been talking about it, but I don't think you heard it," Sam said.

"Prob'ly not," Jack admitted. "How's it going?"

A woman Jack didn't know came down the stairs.

"Jack, this is Catherine Willows," Grissom said, introducing them. "She's my right hand. Catherine, General O'Neill."

"Jack," Jack invited, taking her hand.

"Did we wake you? Guys, we should let these people get some sleep," Catherine said after greeting him. Jack waved a hand.

"This room is almost sound-proof. My bladder woke me. Don't let me interrupt you," Jack said. "If you're talking science, I'll just zone out anyway."

Sam smiled as Daniel took Jack's hand and agreed.

"He will," she assured their guests. "I was showing them the various bruises on you," she informed Jack, gesturing toward her camera.

Jack nodded. "Nasty battle," he said to their guests. "We interrupted a slave raid."

Grissom was looking closely at him as he gave a summary of the event. "Would you mind if I took a closer look at your cheek?" he asked. Jack shrugged and Grissom pulled a lamp closer as he poked at Jack's face. It was healing nicely but would leave a scar. Grissom and Sam began to exchange medical language. Jack tuned out until he noticed that Nick was sitting near Daniel's desk. He had a slightly guarded look about him. Jack thought Nick and Grissom had gotten together, so why was Nick sitting at such a distance?

He asked Daniel in Goa'uld under his breath. Daniel shook his head.

Their guests didn't stay much longer and left about an hour later.

"Nick's afraid of how it will affect the team," Daniel said. "Apparently Sara, you remember her? Has a thing for Gil. She's started returning the goo-goo eyes from Greg, though, so she may be over Gil. He thinks Catherine would be ok with it, but she's with Warrick, also on their team, and he's not sure about Rick's reaction. And then there's Mom and Dad; his father is Judge William Stokes, Texas, Republican, conservative, Baptist, and he's being looked at as a possible Supreme Court candidate, and his mother is Jillian Stokes, a DA in Austin, so there's an entire political situation if it gets out that that Judge Stokes' youngest child, there are seven all together, five sisters and a brother, is playing hide the salami with another man."

Jack looked at him.

"What soap opera is this?" he asked. Sam chuckled as she took the cups into the kitchen.

Jack stayed up, reviewing reports and putting together his own. Davy stumbled into Jack's office at dawn, scrubbing his eyes as he climbed up onto Jack's lap, straddled his legs and buried his face in Jack's chest, dozing off. Jack continued to write around him and returned a few phone calls from the other side of the planet where the sun had been up for a while. A couple of the calls had been internet calls where he could see the person he was speaking with via the small camera ball at the top of his computer. The sleeping child had been given amused glances from heads of state, including the PM of England. Jack was taken aback when a couple people asked him if he would be running for US President in a couple years.

"Are you kidding?" he asked. "I've seen Henry's job, I don't want it. I want to teach my daughter how to walk and tie her shoe laces, not hold the hand of an entire country. Besides; I don't think I'd pass the purity test. Wife, boyfriend, agnostic, getting beamed up when I least expect it….Won't work."

Asia in general was pissed at Jack. Still. Once more, Jack informed the state department that when various countries clean up their human rights issues, and showed that they could be trusted with information and technology, then he would consider them for his sand box.

A message from General Landry told Jack that several alien nations had contacted them and wanted in on whatever unification the Tau'ri were planning.

"What unification?" Jack asked himself. He responded to Landry with the same question.

The sound of people beginning to stir was in the house, so Jack shut down his computer and carried Davy into the livingroom where he laid the boy on the couch. Since he was up, he started breakfast for the troops.

"Good morning," Jerrie said softly, coming into the kitchen with the baby.

"Morning," he responded. "We barely talked before I had to leave, Jerrie; how have things been?"

She set Olivia in the door swing, poured a cup of coffee, and sat at the bar dividing the kitchen from the dining area. "It's been good, I think," she told him. "I feel as though I was abruptly pushed into the deep end, but I float pretty well." He smiled and put a dish of bacon on the bar. She took a piece and munched. "I love the children, Jack, they're wonderful. That little guy out there is a handful and he has a beautiful heart. He very rarely says anything negative, have you noticed? Even for a bully down the street; he wanted to know why the boy was so unhappy that he had to make everyone else unhappy. That's an extreme level of sophistication for someone like Davy. Most adults aren't that intuitive."

Jack jerked his head up and then looked back at the pile of pancakes that were building up. He set a couple in front of her.

"And the other kids?" he asked.

"Let's see…. The girls are arguing a little, but that's to be expected. They'll find their place with each other. They sound like sisters arguing, so I'm not worried about them. Matthew seems to have latched onto Daniel; I think he assumed Daniel wouldn't like doing guy stuff, for whatever reason, but Daniel took him out a few times, weekends away, took him to a dig that Daniel needed to visit, and has also been doing a little sparring with Daniel. Matty's looking at Daniel differently now. I think he's seeing the man instead of the geek. Stacy got into a little argument with her English teacher. Seems the assignment was to pick a word, add a suffix, and use it in a sentence. Stacy was marked wrong on several words and she called her teacher onto the carpet for it. The teacher insisted that the words didn't exist. Daniel was called in. He opened a dictionary and showed the teacher and the principal the words. The teacher accused Daniel of helping Stacy with her homework and Daniel informed her that Stacy was smart enough to open a dictionary for herself. Wasn't that the assignment? Teacher isn't happy with father OR daughter."

Jack laughed, nodding as he pictured it.

"Everyone missed you," she added. "There was a little angst when you left, but the visual messages between you and them helped a great deal; they knew you were alive and thinking of them. Oh, and I'm dating Dr. Lam. Hope you don't mind."

Startled, Jack almost dropped a pancake.

"Wow, I pegged her for kinky, not lesbian," he commented, shaking his head. Jerrie laughed.

"Daniel and Sam don't have an issue with it," she said. "They said my private life isn't their business unless it affects the household. Carolyn's been here for dinner, but she doesn't stay over."

Jack shrugged. "Ok by me."

The rest of the brood came straggling in and helped themselves to breakfast.

"I checked out report cards," he told them. "Good job, everyone. Matty, you're having a little problem with math?"

"Yes, sir," Matthew said, looking depressed. "Aunt Sam's been helping me. I got a B on my test last week."

"Good," Jack nodded. Katie's problem was in history, much to Daniel's dismay, Stacy also had math issues, and Davy had understandably low scores in all his subjects. He did do better in English, though, and liked to write. He showed Jack his notebook which was filled with daily events over the past couple of months. Jerrie had recommended that Davy keep a journal which would help him with comprehension and English. Jack was looking forward to reading it.

The doorbell rang and Daniel answered it on his way by. His Vegas friends came in after stomping the snow from their boots. Someone new was with them; Dr. Robbins, their chief pathologist. Good mornings were passed around and coffee offered. Nick played with Olivia, making her smile and gurgle.

"You have baby experience?" Jack guessed. Nick looked up.

"Are you kidding? I'm the youngest of seven kids," Nick informed him. "My brother and sisters have already presented mom and dad with a tribe. I'm disappointing them, but I think the Stokes' have done their share in populating the planet. Besides, if I need kid time, I'll go over to Catherine's house. She has a terrific daughter."

"Yeah, when she isn't angry with me for being away so often and so long," Catherine said. "The hormones are hitting, Nicky, hell is about to break loose."

Jack's own kids trooped in for kisses, except Matthew who was too old, and he quickly checked them over before sending them out the door. Sam handed the baby to him and set a bowl of pureed food in front of him.

"They look like you," Catherine commented, smiling after the kids who scurried out and into Jerrie's SUV. "Except Stacy, of course. Daddy's girl all the way."

"Tell me," Jack hmphed. "Wish I could take the credit for mine, but they're adopted."

"I know," Catherine gave a gentle nod. "Sam mentioned what had happened. We're sorry for your loss. How are they doing? My ex-husband died, Lindsey almost died with him. It's been rough."

"We have our good days, fewer bad days," Jack said. "I get in as many hugs and kisses as I can, listen as often as I can, and let them know I love them. It's the best I can do."

"Can I ask you something personal?" she asked, leaning forward. Grissom and Robbins both watched as they sipped coffee. Jack nodded. "How do you manage to stay present in their lives when you're away so long?"

"They know that they're not alone, they have three parents, not one, and when I'm not available to spend time with them, I email them," he told her. "When I was gone these past months, we sent video messages back and forth. Even when I'm at the office, I'll drop an email just to let someone know I'm thinking about them. They have cell phones, so I'll send a text once in a while, too."

"He sends us silly faces," Sam said, getting Jack a damp cloth for the baby's messy face. "Once he was so bored at a meeting in DC, that he sent us pictures of various people at the meeting, all with captions. President Hayes, various heads of state from around the world, senators, congressmen; all in some strange pose, caught in mid-sneeze, buttons mis-buttoned, flies open, or glances that made them look drunk." She looked at the clock. "Guys we need to go," she announced.

Jack had sent out a feeler toward each of their guests; Nick was practically high over the scent of Grissom, Gil was in a 'doomed love' mode, and Catherine had a great deal of affection for both of the men but nothing that was more than sisterly. Jack got the sense that she would fight to the death for either of the men. She reminded him a little of Sam.

Nick stuck around with Daniel; the seminar was really for Grissom and Catherine. She didn't understand exactly why Nick was with them, but she enjoyed his company anyway. The moment the door closed behind Sam, Gil, Robbins, and Catherine,

"Nick, can I offer a little unsolicited advice?" Jack asked. He received a Texas sized shrug.

"Yes, sir."

"Someone recently told me "Get your head out of your fucking ass,"" Jack informed him. "Don't repeat Daddy," he told the baby who was looking up at him with a disapproving frown. "That man is in love with you, so what the hell are you waiting for? Flowers and candy?"

Startled, Nick's mouth dropped. Daniel slapped a hand to his face and dropped his head.

"It's been what? Six months since you made your confession to Danny?" Jack continued. "Wasted time, son, and you won't get it back. I made a discovery about a year ago. The day Daniel kissed me, actually. I discovered that I don't give flying monkey poo what anyone thinks, I love him, he loves me, he loves Sam, she loves him, we're all one big happy puppy pile and if anyone doesn't like it, that's their issue, not ours. That's how we present ourselves, that's how we are. We're not apologizing for who we are, people can either accept us as is, or they can take a flying hike, we don't need them. Corner that man, tell him outright how you feel, and kiss him."

Nick stuttered his way through if, ands, buts, and ors, made one weak excuse after the other.

"Na na na na," Jack waved a hand, interrupting him. "No excuses, soldier; just do it. Or don't do it. But make a decision and stick to it. What's he going to do? Slap you for being forward? You're not on duty and this isn't the office. I guarantee, you kiss him today, he'll be in your bed tonight. Buy supplies. I like Astro-glide, personally. The KY Warming is nice, too. Interesting sensation. And then there's this green mint jelly stuff that has a bit of a nip to it when placed on sensitive places…."

Nick's fair cheeks turned bright red. Daniel sighed deeply and stood.

"Come on, he's being a terrorist," Daniel said to Nick, encouraging the man to his feet. "Jack. Bad boy." He grabbed Jack's face, squeezed his cheeks, and buzzed his mouth.

The men left the room. Jack snickered and planted a kiss on the baby's nose.

"Special report at noon!" Jack called after them.

The main summary of Jack's official report on recent events was sent out to his HomeSec council, and from there to other heads of state. By noon, Jack was in full dress uniform and standing in front of a podium in the largest meeting room at HomeSec. His war council stood behind him; Markham, Caldwell, Galanakis, Inanna, Ninurta, Jonathan, Bre'tak, Teal'c, Malek, Alleria, Thanatos, and Athena. Everyone wore their own version of dress uniforms. Jonathan was in leathers. Jack told the reporters to keep their questions and then gave a brief report of events after introducing his council and their race. The inclusion of 8 aliens, even if they are human, gave the reporters pause. After the summary of events, Jack informed the reporters that the families of those that died were still being located and informed. When that was complete, there would be a public disclosure of Earth's heroes. Allies also lost good men and women, and they would also be remembered. Billions had died since the Goa'uld began taking slaves and destroying worlds, and Jack would like someone to come up with a proper memorial so that history would remember them.

Inanna, Bre'tac, Malek, and Thanatos each took a turn, thanking Jack and his Tau'ri for their assistance in the great war, especially Jack for his leadership and guidance in their battle to conquer the Goa'uld once and for all.

The reporters screamed for more information as Jack and the others left the room. Davis had already handed out press kits; when the reporters could think up decent questions, Jack would consider responding. Inanna, Bre'tac, and Malek requested Jack's presence in private. Inanna handed him a piece of paper listing names and planets.

"Jack, everyone one of those worlds is asking for a united federation," she told him. "Each wants autonomy of their world, but has agreed to work out a general protocol for federation membership. Most of them want you to lead this federation. The only planet that has not been heard from is Tau'ri herself. If this planet does not agree to membership, the other planets still want you specifically. You can relocate off world, if it comes to that."

Jack needed a drink. Inanna reached out and touched his hand.

"I have agreed to you as the leader," she informed him. "Never once have you allowed your position to interfere with common sense. You are cool in stressful situations, you have no issues about asking for advice before making hard decisions, and you know when to push and when not to. All I ask is that you keep a council and that the unification protocol includes a clause that allows for the leader to be removed, if there is a no-confidence vote from the membership."

Jack groaned and stood to pace as he cranked a hand over the back of his neck.

"Alright, start from the beginning," he requested.

"We had a meeting after we took care of the remaining Goa'uld," she told him. "After you headed back here to deal with Baal. Several ally representatives called everyone together and made the proposal. The worlds want the freedom to develop as they will, while recognizing that this sudden free-fall, as it were, could be detrimental if there is no one for them to call for help. It is a coalition asking for a neighborhood watch and they would like you to be the president of the neighborhood watch."

"The Tok'ra argued about this," Malek admitted.

"As did the Jaffa," Bre'tac said.

Malek nodded. "Yes. Many stood up and insisted that THEY were the best suited for such an endeavor. The Tok'ra high council is actually arguing, host and symbiote. My own host is usually…laid back, you would say, but he and I argued over this. We are much older than you, general, as a race, and it stands to reason that elder heads should prevail. My host has convinced me that maybe we are too old for leadership. We have become lost. Our focus is lost. We have prevailed over the Goa'uld, where do we go from here?"

"And my people feel the same," Bre'tac said. "We have been slaves and hosts for the Goa'uld for so long, that we have no vision for ourselves. Nothing beyond our immediate reformation. Our own people are scattered across the galaxy. We are in no position to lead a unification. We would still like to have a voice, if we are to agree to this."

"And the Tau'ri have been left alone to grow," Inanna said. "You are able to watch from the outside, see the bigger picture. I cannot lead this, my people number under one hundred and we have a new world to establish. My duties lie at home, not in the galaxy at large. You are learning to see, Jack; you see clearer now than you ever have in your entire life."

Jack turned back to them, his arms folded.

"Yeah about that," he said. "I can suddenly read without my glasses, my knees are NOT bothering me, I lifted my mother and my back didn't protest, I'm anticipating problems with the children and I'm fixing it before it's a problem, this morning I told a young man I barely know to kiss his male boss, and I exorcized a demon from the American ambassador to Rome and said demon turned out to be a weird alien entity made up of smoke or something. And you want me to lead this thing? What the hell is going on?"

Inanna gave an inscrutable smile. "That's exactly why you are the only person to lead this thing."

Jack tossed his head back and groaned. "Do you know how irritating you can be at times?" he asked. "There is no way this planet will unite and agree to this."

"Over half of this planet has already united under the Homeworld Security banner," Inanna reminded him. "Your issue will be with the leaders of the various governments, not the people. From what I have seen of newscasts, the people are sick and tired of the lies and deceptions their governments are handing them."

"Yeah, well, I'm no messiah and I'm not leading the children of Israel out of Egypt," Jack informed her, a thumb jabbing at the center of his chest. She twitched her mouth. The men didn't understand the reference.

"Moshe, you are not," she agreed. "But like the rabbis, we are asking you to guide the flock, not beat them into submission. We know what we need to do; sometimes, though, we may need an outside voice to settle a difference when we become blind."

"And what exactly would I be doing?" Jack asked.

"Taking care of Tau'ri," she said. "Just as you have been. If one planet decides to invade another, you step in to reprimand them after receiving permission from the council. If one planet goes to war with itself, they're on their own. It is their business unless it effects another world. Planets must develop on their own; no sharing of technology that is beyond their knowledge. No handing knives to babies. The governments of Tau'ri cannot take you out of office; only a no-confidence vote of the unified worlds can make that decision. You would be under no obligation to any one government of Tau'ri. You are under no obligation to Tau'ri at all. Your loyalty would belong to the unified worlds. Those are the basics that we have so far discussed; the specifics would need to be hammered out by councils."

Jack continued to pace. "And why isn't Thanatos in here?" he asked.

Inanna shrugged. "He considers himself to be part of another galaxy, not this one," she said. "He is willing to be an ally, not a member."

"Fair enough," Jack admitted. "Have the Asgard put in their two-cents?"

"If they know of this, we haven't heard," she said.

"This is insane, you know that, right?" he asked, eyeing each of them. "I'm not agreeing to anything. I need to talk with a hell of a lot of people, starting with my family."

Inanna shrugged. "Seek your truth."

After dinner, Sam and Daniel were taken into Jack's office. They stared at him once Jack was done running over the conversation.

"Ok," Daniel said.

"Ok, what?!"

"Ok, I think I understand what they want to try and do, and I can see why they're asking you to lead," Daniel told him.

"Can I still play with my toys?" Sam asked. "I really don't think I can be a queen or anything like that."

Jack looked at his partners. "Did you two understand what I said?" he asked. "They want me to be Senator Palentine."

Sam put a hand to her mouth, her eyes twinkling. "Honey, I don't think you'll become a Sith lord," she told him. "We wouldn't let you. I think it's a good idea; different worlds getting together for their own growth and protection. If you don't want to do it, that's fine, but I still think they have the right idea."

"I agree," Daniel said. "It's a step forward, coming out of their darkness. They have realized that they're no longer alone; they have friends. If they want you to help unify their voices, I think you should at least consider some sort of role, if not the lead role."

Jack still stared at them. He picked up the phone and dialed. "Major, come over here, please." He hung up. "This is insane," he told his partners and then hit his comm. "Jonathan!"

His clone showed up, looking slightly rumpled and well-kissed.

"You rang, o wise one?"

"Shut up. What the hell are Inanna and those two talking about? No, wait for the major."

Which was five minutes later.

"Ok, talk," Jack told Jonathan. Paul had to sit down within minutes of hearing what the topic was. Jack's phone rang several times and he finally silenced the ringer.

"So, basically, they're looking for a chairman of the board," Jonathan concluded. "It's a majority rule, you chair the council. You go along with the majority, unless it goes against the contract of the group. If, for some reason the military is needed, you would lead the military."

"How Sumerian of them," Daniel commented. "I hear Inanna's input in that one."

"Why me?" Jack whined.

A short while later, Jack went into the bedroom. Sam was reading in bed with the baby on her chest. He kept looking at her as he changed into his pajamas. Every once in a while, Sam would absently press her mouth to the top of Olivia's head. Sam seemed to curl around the baby, their energy one. Jack softly smiled.

"When did you fall in love with her?" he asked quietly. Sam glanced up.

"Hmm?"

He climbed into bed and put an arm across both females.

"You're in love with her," he informed Sam. "You've become her mother. I was just curious as to when it happened."

Sam put her book down and carefully turned onto her side, nestling the baby between them.

"I think it was during a bath time," she said, caressing a small hand. Little fingers curled trustingly around her index finger. "I'm not sure what happened. One minute I was washing her, and the next I was crying. It felt like my heart was breaking and I knew she was mine."

Jack leaned in and slowly kissed her. "When Megan was learning to talk, she immediately identified me with Da," he said. "It nearly killed me to correct her. She already had a father, I couldn't rightfully take the name even though I was performing that role. When Charlie was born, I held him, covered in blood and white stuff, and I snipped his cord. He opened his eyes and looked straight into mine. I had never been in love like that in my life. When he identified me as Da, I cried; I had waited so long, an eternity, to hear that word. An eternity since the day we knew Sara was pregnant. She had lost a few before, but when she was still carrying at 5 months, we knew he was going to be in our lives. Honey, I have loved one of my own and one that wasn't mine. Both were appropriate for me to love. It is appropriate for you to love her as your own. If you can, allow yourself to love the other kids. If you can't, don't fake it; be their friend, their sister, their aunt, whatever you can be to them. And don't punish yourself."

Sam put an arm across his hips and leaned into his shoulder as she nodded. Olivia was happily snug between them, drooling over a fist in her mouth.

"I thought I could only fall in love with a child I carried," she said after a minute. "I watched you and Daniel, both of you so natural with kids, and I guess I was a little jealous. I want to love Stacy like this, but how much would I be taking away from Daniel? She calls me Mom. I haven't earned it."

The bed on the other side of her dipped slightly. The scent of Daniel washed over her as he leaned his freshly showered body against her back.

"Do you think I've earned the right to be called Dad?" he asked. "Just because we share DNA doesn't make me Dad. I'm doing my damnedest to earn it. Sam, have you considered that your fear of parenting stems from the fact that you didn't have the best of father-daughter relationships with your own? Sure, Jacob came around, but you also had to do a little forgiving. Of yourself. My adoptive parents may not have been the greatest, but they are what I had. I was old enough to remember my parents, and yet I loved mom Dora and dad Howard in my own way. I resented them for a long time; I wanted my own parents. They kept me, though, weird as I was, and after a while I no longer had a problem accepting them. I know how Stacy is feeling, in spite of Jack's recent voodoo adventures. Just keep steady with her, make sure she knows you're available for her and that you hear her. Hug her and kiss her. She needs cuddling so bad, as much as she can get. You do that, and you'll earn the mommy's. I'm still earning the daddy's."

Jack reached over and touched Daniel's damp hair.

"All that earning never stops," he told them. "I'm in love with both of you. If we didn't work at it, together, every day, we would fall apart. It the same with kids; we work at it. Stacy calls you mom because she knows she can trust you. It's the trust we are earning; the love is a side-effect."

He took Olivia into the nursery, off to the side of the bedroom, and tucked her into her crib. When he returned, he kissed them both and started to burrow into Sam's t-shirt. He had yet to make love with them since his return, and the familiar scent and taste of them both made him ache inside. He forced himself to reach out to them, to cleanse him of the black tar that had built up inside of him. The endlessness of Sam consumed him and he was reborn in her. He had silent tears falling as he rocked inside of her, and she held him, stroking his hair and shoulders as he hid his face in her neck. When Daniel took him, forcing him to stare into Daniel's eyes as they joined together, Jack's heart was revived and once more filled.