Chapter Seven: Something Wicked

He played back the tape, and watched again as the boys were sitting far from each other, about three feet between the pair and then they were sitting close and all of them were touching. He didn't understand what had happened and with the power down, he had no way of knowing what happened when Doctor Jackson was injured, only that in a split second the children moved faster than the speed of light. Maybe they had some sort of speed or ability to slow and stop time, he didn't know but it was proof enough for his bosses to possibly step up their plans.

He hoped they would, he had plans to get his hands on the two boys since they definitely were something different, capable of things no one in this world had ever seen unless they had been through the Stargate which meant that during their time away, Doctor Jackson and General O'Neill made babies with some sort of alien creature.

And Captain Blake was looking forward to getting his hands on them to see how they might tick.

Jack got the kids out of the jeep, having left the truck for Daniel who was definitely coming home this evening. Claire had seen to that for sure, Janet was going to get her answers tonight because in the infirmary was the place where the kids seemed to get into trouble on the base and they could definitely do with another ally there and Janet was the best choice among many, she was above reproach.

He sent the kids to wash up while he made some sandwiches and served up some fruit. They all walked into the kitchen slowly, reserved from what happened that afternoon. Jack sat them all down with their simple dinner and ate some as well.

"Daddy coming home tonight," Claire said and it clearly wasn't a question.

"Yes he's coming home tonight, not to long now. You guys know better than this, I don't understand why you won't just leave the doctors to do what they can for Daddy."

"Daddy was hurting and I can help," Claire said as she kicked her little leg at the table.

"Daddy was dying in the stairwell," Zale continued.

Jack rubbed his face in annoyance, "You are always going to have good reasons to do what your doing but we asked you not to. The healing here is not instant and easier like it is with the Vannas, here doctors take time and they will do everything they can to take care of you and Daddy and me. I want Claire, Zale and Greer to pick something you want to live without until school starts and no magic at all, in or out of the house."

Groans went around the room and Jack knew that Daniel would have agreed.

"The only one allowed to use any abilities is Johnny so he can speak but every single one of you, no emotional transferring, no moving things, no nothing!"

More groans and Jack shook his head; he didn't know how to get through to them. It was impossible to explain to them that different could get them hurt in this world. He needed Daniel for this, somehow the scientist just knew how to talk and how to get through to anyone he ever talked to. Their kids, because of their Daddy as well as the Vannas genetics all of these children were incredibly smart, ahead of anyone in the human age groups, almost being referred to as genius by the teachers that helped the kids get through the grades they missed. Daniel had not allowed them to become complacent, continued working with them until they were comfortable with all the aspects of school that they were about to start.

"I want you all to get done with your dinner and head into the living room and start on your lesson plan for the day from Daddy."

With that he walked into the living room, to leave them alone while he got some time alone as well. When Daniel got home, they were going to head into round two of this mess and he wasn't looking forward to it. Claire didn't even seem to know what she was doing when she healed Daniel and so she probably didn't understand at all why she was being punished but he couldn't single her out without making Zale and Greer mad plus he didn't really know if Johnny needed a punishment because all his did was communicate with Zale but it was his vision that caused Zale to move Greer to pause time and teleport to Jack and Daniel in the first place.

Again, magic seemed to forever be making their lives more interesting than Jack ever wanted to deal with. So he sat in his lazyboy recliner and watched a little hockey that was recorded on a tape. He looked up as each child walked into the room, dragging their feet and looking miserable before they sat down to work on their daily lesson plan.

The lesson plans were another of Daniel's ideas, the tutors got all the kids through their grades and left without another word on what they should be doing for the time they had left between the end of summer and the beginning of school. Daniel sat down every weekend for several hours, using the books they received during their time with the tutors and created lesson plans for each kid to do.

Zale and Zada sat down at one of the small tables; Claire and JC were at another of the corner tables while Johnny sat down on one end of the couch and Greer on the other side. Jack left them to it and waited for a little longer before he heard his truck rumble into the driveway and he got up and gave the kids a quick look, telling them without saying a words that they were to sit still and work on their lessons. He walked to the door and opened it just as Daniel walked up the steps with Janet and Cassie behind him. Daniel was still moving a little slow and stiff with Janet's gentle grip on his lower back. Jack moved in close to hug Daniel and help him in the door and to the recliner. "I'm fine," Daniel insisted.

"He's just sore from the rib damage but he really is fine," Janet said. Jack leaned down and pressed a kiss to Daniel's lips who sighed into the contact.

Then Jack turned and hugged Cassie who was a young woman now, she hugged Jack tightly before she turned and waved to the kids. Jack waved them away so all of them went into the den to play with Cassie while Janet sat down on the recently vacated couch and Jack sat on the edge of the recliner to wrap his arm around Daniel's shoulder.

"So, what do you want to know?" Jack asked, not willing to wait around for Janet to speak.

"I want to know what they can do otherwise you won't have anyone to protect them if they aren't with you and as today proved you won't always be with them."

"Well Zale and Zada can teleport, Zale heals but its not supposed to be his power so it tires him out badly. Zada has used shields a few times but we haven't seen much of it. Claire apparently is a healer, it came to her almost flawlessly." Jack started and he chose not to talk about the inner Magis in their elder children.

Daniel immediately took over, "We don't really know what else Zale and Zada are capable of, and we also don't know what JC is capable of because she hasn't shown an affinity yet. They all are capable of telepathy with each other and sharing their emotions and feeling the surface emotions of anyone they touch. And Johnny…"

Jack sighed when Daniel paused, "Johnny has premonitions."

Janet stared at them in shock, "He saw Daniel's attack and what happened today?"

Jack nodded, "Yes, Johnny has only ever seen things to do with our family so far though we don't know why. The people that we lived with could not tell us why Johnny didn't speak and thank god he learned how to share feelings and sensations with us. He only recently started using telepathy."

Janet paused before she asked, "You had healers and they couldn't fix his voice?"

Jack shrugged, "They tried to find what was wrong more than once until Johnny started freaking out every time we planned to go to the healers, the attempts were hurting rather than helping so we stopped trying. As Akina and her people said, healing isn't a fix-it for everything, people still die and there are still problems that won't be fixed."

"His inability to talk doesn't make him incapable. He has taken to sign language and learned it quickly with the help of Greer," Daniel reiterated though Janet had never treated their youngest son as though he was stupid because of his inability to speak.

"And Greer? What is he capable of?"

Daniel sighed, "He can manipulate time."

Janet's mouth dropped, "Daniel, that's huge and scary!"

"Its how we were brought back here. Greer accidently brought us here," Jack said, glossing over the fact that Greer didn't actually have anything to do with the decision to bring them here.

"Accidently?" Janet asked incredulously.

Daniel and Jack shared a look, unsure of what more they could say but Daniel took the plunge. "Zale, Zada and Greer are special, more so than just having powers. They were born with an awakened Magis, which is a separate magical entity sometimes born in their people. It would be like having a split personality only the personalities are aware of each other and they live in a symbiotic relationship. Greer's Magis took over and wanted to send us back, Zada put a shield around all of us, including Greer so we would have to go back or at least send Greer back to his family. Zada wanted to make sure we arrived together if we couldn't stop it from happening. Greer is a sweet and loving boy, so is Zale but their Magis sometimes can be arrogant and they tend to make ill-advised decisions."

Janet rubbed her fingers into the bridge of her nose before she stood and started pacing, "This is a problem you know that! We only recently saw to the end of most of the Goa'uld system lords and now what you're describing sounds a lot like that. If it comes out nothing is going to stop even people at the SGC from attacking you and the kids."

Jack stood frustrated as he stepped in front of Janet and spoke quietly in her face, "You think we don't know that? They aren't controlling the kids and each have found a way to contain the Magis in their way. Janet, you know our kids. You know what good people they are and they don't deserve to be mistreated or have assumptions made about them because of something they were born with."

Janet reached out and pressed her hand against Jack's chest and pushed him back. Jack faltered back more shocked than anything but Janet deserved to have her space, she was here to help them. "I have been blessed to know your children and they are the sweetest kids but they also need to be watched and protected."

"Watched? They need to be watched?" Jack shouted.

Daniel struggled to stand; still sore despite Claire's healing. Jack rushed to him and took Daniel's hands to settle him instead, "Jack, the kids don't need to hear this."

Jack nodded and took a deep breath as he rested his hand on Daniel's shoulder then he turned to Janet, "They don't need to be watched."

Janet shrugged, "I think you understand that they do otherwise you wouldn't be so mad Jack. They are good kids but today is proof that they don't always make the best choices with these supernatural abilities. Just trust me, I would do anything for them same as Cassie who not that long ago was struggling with her own supernatural problems."

Jack nodded and scrubbed his fingers through his hair in frustration. Gawd he missed the Vannas and the comfort of their knowledge. The kids needed allies and Janet was one of the best they could ask for. "You're right, I'm just freaked."

Janet pressed a comforting hand to Jack's shoulder. Daniel nodded to Janet and took Jack's hand as well. The anger settled and fell away; there was no place for it among friends and allies. Jack offered Janet and Cassie something to eat since he was going to make Daniel a sandwich and she gladly accepted so Cassie could play with the kids a little longer. After Jack served to the girls in the kitchen and delivered food to Daniel in the living room, Jack brought all the kids into the room for a family meeting.

Jack already had his say, this was for Daniel who had finished his sandwich and focused on the kids who were sitting around the room. "As Janet said today was proof that you guys don't really understand the danger you are in because you have magical abilities. We have told you more than once not to use you abilities in public and you did it anyway. I am not saying I don't appreciate the effort because as far as Jack was concerned, I could have died on the stairs but again my life is not worth possible harm coming to you ever!"

The kids stayed silent and Jack did as well, he was glad because Zale sometimes allowed Xylander to chatter in his mind and in response tended to say things that he didn't truly mean.

"You have a couple weeks left before school starts, and I'm sure Jack has suggested losing something until that time and I agree. Each of you pick something that you enjoy and we will agree or disagree on whether it should be lost for Zale, Greer and Claire who were the ones who used their powers and put everyone in danger. Johnny and Papa and I will talk about his contribution to what happened but I need all of you to understand your powers can truly put you in danger here in this world."

"Then why stay?" Zale asked quietly and Jack groaned.

"Unless Greer is ready to take us back, then we are stuck here and the SGC is the only place in the world where we would have the option to create the paperwork for you to survive in this place and time. This fear is going to be everywhere but the Command and the people here are going to be the best possible option. Greer can you get us home?" Daniel asked kindly.

Greer looked up from his hands to look at each of them, "I told you, Varrick did it and he's not talking."

"Then we play by the rules of this world, not the Vannas world," Daniel said. He heaved a tired sigh and moved uncomfortably in his chair, "I think not seeing Haikon, Jacob and Ishtar for the next week should be enough for everyone to understand that Papa and I are serious. Okay?"

"Okay Daddy," they chorused quietly.

"Go play with Cassie for a little longer before she and Janet have to go home. Aunt Janet is the only other person who knows on base so if you see something or need to use your powers, go to her but try not to need your powers."

They nodded and walked into the kitchen to get Cassie, leaving Jack rubbing Daniel's shoulders gently as Daniel rubbed his eyes tiredly, life with powers constantly calling the shots was something either of them ever expected but they loved their kids and would do what was necessary to keep them safe.