Chapter Nineteen: Time Has Come

Jack watched as Daniel moved around the bedroom slowly, picking up clothes then putting them back down in a new place. He was pretty sure Daniel just didn't want to stop and think about the life they were flying back to, leaving behind this world on purpose this time. They already knew this was the right choice but Daniel hated the idea of leaving behind Janet, Hammond and Jack's father especially. Right now, Ben was helping the children pack their little backpacks better so the zippers would close which made Jack smile. He hated the idea as well but Daniel and the kids' safety was more important than a few close friends even though it would be nice to try and have it all, it was impossible and they were lucky that the O'Neill-Jackson clan were able to stay together no matter what time they were in.

"Danny, do you wanna talk or shout or cry?" Jack whispered the words though he didn't move off the bed.

Daniel just shook his head and said nothing.

"Jack?" Janet called from the door and Jack watched Daniel who was ignoring both of them before he nodded and followed Janet out of the room and towards the top of the stairs.

"What's up?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I just got done with the last check up for the children, they don't seem to have any leftover trauma from the kidnapping. I think its possible that Claire may have been playing with her new powers because Johnny and Zada don't even have bruises or cuts anymore."

Jack groaned at that as he scrubbed a hand over his head, "It's a good thing we are going home to a magical world, our children were not created to be normal and they don't know how to pretend either."

Janet chuckled at that, "You might be right about that."

"What about mental trauma from being taken and all that? Any of the children acting differently with you then what you've seen in the past?"

"I think Johnny is the only one I would really be concerned about and watch out for Zale for long term effects from being so badly drugged. Claire and JC weren't really heavily drugged or hurt in any way, they seem to feel like they slept through most of it till Daddy and Papa came to the rescue. And Zada is putting on a brave face but I think she feels guilty about Zale and Johnny getting hurt. I know you know this Jack but no matter how mature and smart they are, they are still children and this might be something you will have to deal with for an indeterminate amount of time."

"So I remember a lot of my training for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, we will work with them when we get resettled at home. Thank you Janet for all that you've done for us."

Janet pressed a hand to Jack's shoulder and squeezed gently, "I would do anything for you guys and your children. Promise me one thing though?"

"Sure," he responded.

"Take care of Daniel, he's been through more than any of us have ever really known and he deserves to be safe."

Jack smiled, "I would do anything to get him back there where he was safe and loved and protected by a whole group of mother hens."

Janet nodded, "Then take them home Jack, you owe it to yourself as well."

Jack nodded and he watched as the woman walked back downstairs, figuring that she wasn't leaving yet because she wouldn't have done so without saying goodbye to everyone. He turned back and walked towards the bedroom where Daniel was still quietly walking around the room, as if a boat without a rudder. Jack couldn't help the need he felt when he walked up behind Daniel and wrapped gentle hands around his waist and pulling Daniel close to his chest. He tilted in to press his lips to Daniel's throat who moaned into the contact.

"I want to go home Jack, I really do," he whispered, intertwining their fingers together at his waist.

"But?" Jack prompted.

"I guess leaving this place, where we had our childhoods and adulthood and training, and Ben—it's hard to let go of that. I feel like we're running away. Like we are cowards for doing it this way. Lauren has a solid point, the kids and I are taking you from your family here."

Jack scoffed, "You are my family Daniel, you have to know that. Those kids that we have raised for the past ten years are my family. You and they need me more than my mother and father and brothers do right now."

With that Daniel pressed his head back to rest on Jack's shoulder.

"And you are the bravest man I know Daniel Jackson, we are making this choice for the safety of our beautiful children and that is the most courageous choice we can possibly make."

"You can't tell me that the assault and the attack at the mountain had nothing to do with your decision," Jack could hear the self-deprecating laugh coming from Daniel.

Jack kissed the side of Daniel's head, "I won't lie to you Daniel, I need you to be safe. I want you to be okay and the kids to be okay and for us all to be together. That's how I get to be happy and I know you want me to be happy right?" Jack cajoled, causing Daniel to chuckle and laugh as Jack nuzzled into Daniel's sensitive neck.

"We get to say goodbye this time, we don't have to leave them not knowing," Daniel whispered.

"That's right Danny and we get to take our children back to a world where they are just like everyone else and accepted without judgment."

Daniel twisted in Jack's arms and pressed his lips to Jack's mouth. It took a minute for the retired General to return the caress but Daniel apparently wasn't going to let Jack accost him at the moment. The archeologist pulled back from the embrace and started moving quickly from dresser to the closet and then to the desk. He quickly threw together a bag of essentials that had nothing to do with books then he grabbed a large, a ridiculously large suitcase, from Jack's closet and started shoving all sorts of books and studying materials into it. Jack shook his head and left Daniel to his dream bag, he didn't know what they were going to be able to take back with them but Daniel would look at the overflowing large suitcase and he might whittle it down to a more manageable load or Akina might have to put her foot down, either way Daniel was out of his fugue state and that's all Jack really cared about right now.

He walked out and headed downstairs, his bag was already packed and Jack knew that the representative from the school was going to be coming to drop off some school materials. He walked into the kitchen and started making some food for the children and himself. It had been a rough morning and many of them skipped breakfast in the rush to get Daniel home and start the packing process. It was sort of weird to think about packing this time around. When they first ended up in the Vannas time, they were forced there with the packs on their backs, everything they owned was earned and made in the Vannas world and now they had the opportunity to return with things and Jack figured in the end they were useless but books were a comfort to Daniel and trinkets were special sometimes and they should be kept. There were a few small gifts that his father gave the children and they were undoubtedly in each of the packs. For now though Jack refocused on the task at hand.

Jack was slapping some sandwiches together when the doorbell rang so he wiped his hands then walked out and hollered out, "Lunch is in the kitchen!" though he didn't know for sure where all the kids were, before he walked over and opened the door to find a messenger so Jack signed for the package which was pretty large. Jack brought it inside and put it down. He tugged out his pocketknife and opened the flaps to find five thin boxes that held e-readers with plug ins. He opened one of them and turned it on to find it held all the lesson plans for one of the kids. Daniel would be pleased that they were here and compact as well. The batteries would keep them going for a while then Akina or Sam would have to find another way to power the devices in a world where technology was always a little wonky. He put the reader back in the box then frowned and pulled the five readers out to find some text books underneath. He shrugged and left it for Daniel, his genius husband was the one who took their children' education seriously and Jack was smart enough to let the man have it.

He lifted the box and took it back upstairs and placed it on the bed and Daniel frowned at him, "What's that?"

"The school stuff, readers and a few books."

Daniel's face lit up in that way that he had when he was given something new to look at and he immediately put the book his was holding into the overflowing suitcase full of books to pick up one of the readers and he started plugging them into any available outlet. Jack watched his beloved zip around the room before he reached out and grabbed Daniel and pulled him to a gentle stop. "What?"

Jack smiled and pulled him close very slowly, he felt as Daniel's hands slipped around his waist as he smiled up at the older man, "I love you Danny, I hope you know that."

"How could I not Colonel Jack? You give me everything I could ever ask for."

Jack chuckled lightly, "You never ask for anything Danny."

"And yet you figure it out, I love you Jack."

With that Jack leaned down and kissed Daniel again, after ten plus years it seemed like his ability to keep his hands off of Daniel had never gotten any better. He always wanted to hold Daniel and the love was deeper than it had been a year before and even five years before because they were a couple and they were parents together but since coming back to their time they had gone through much more scrutiny and judgment. Jack let all those feelings and love seep into his kiss and tried to share that with Daniel. The kiss went on for a while then Daniel pulled away and rubbed a hand down Jack's chest. "As much as I would like to put an end to our dry spell, I really need to get everything packed and then I need to head to the mountain. I want to make sure to get Tyan prepared to take over for me and I have a list of people that Hammond can hire to replace me."

"You had time to look into replacements?" Jack questioned as he let go of Daniel slowly, while his hands slipped up and down Daniel's back, then his sides then down to grip his fingers, putting off the removal of his spouse from Jack's personal space for as long as possible.

Daniel shook his head, eyes closed as he enjoyed the touch of Jack's hands. "No, I was getting ready to hire in some more help and this way I can make sure that what I'm leaving behind is going to be the best working crew for Hammond, who knows what they might be dealing with in the future."

Jack nodded, "Gotcha."

With a final pat to Jack's chest, his silver wedding band glinting in the bedroom light, Daniel turned back. Jack moved to grab his shoulder pack and carried it downstairs then he walked over to the den and grabbed JC and Claire's little bags and placed it next to his. Since no answer had come about the food he figured the kids were out back with his dad and Akina. He walked through the kitchen and peeked out the door to find them running around happily though he could see the sadness in Zada. Zale was sitting on the porch alone and Johnny was just wandering around with Greer's hand gripped in his. Jack wondered about those two sometimes but they were young and so he wouldn't worry about it till they were much older. Akina noticed his presence and walked over. She pressed a gentle hand into his shoulder, "How is it going?"

"Daniel is trying to bring every book in the house with us."

Akina smiled, "I would worry if he did not. I shall see if I can rein him in."

"Good luck with that," Jack muttered and watched as Akina walked back inside the house. Jack stepped out into the warmth of the porch and moved to sit down next to Zale, who flinched as he moved close. Jack sighed, hating to see his eldest son so out of sync. Even dealing with his split personality, for lack of a better term, Zale had always been such a sweet and good boy. He'd always been the leader along with Zada of course. Jack reached and pressed a hand down on Zale's shoulder and pulled his son close, "How are you doing Z-Man?"

Zale shrugged, "I still feel all muddled Papa, Xylander is quiet and it's making me nervous."

Jack nudge him and when Zale looked at him, the father gestured to his son and Zale immediately climbed into Jack's lap. He was still left wondering how Zale felt because despite the skin on skin contact, Zale wasn't transmitting his feelings like he'd been doing much of his life. Jack tightened his hold and pressed gentle kisses to Zale's forehead while his fingers rubbed through Zale's hair. "Are you glad that we are going home?" Jack asked instead of trying to force the issue.

Zale nodded, dislodged Jack's hand and lips for a moment before he settled again. "I don't like it here, people don't like us for being different and I hate when Daddy gets hurt because of something like being in love with you."

It was Jack's turn to nod, "You have friends there, and we have people capable of helping you with Xylander. When we get back, we will talk to some of your teachers about upping your magical training because I don't want you hurting yourself because you are trying beyond your abilities."

Zale nodded again and looked up at his Papa, "You would allow us to use our magic more?"

"I will do what I must so you know what your capable of and how to keep yourself and your siblings safe if we can't be there. I need you to be safer than you have been. I remember what it was like when you pulled the debris off of Daddy Daniel, you hurt yourself because it was too heavy."

Zale shrugged, "That was nothing Papa. I'm going to be okay, I just need to go home and not be here."

Jack forced down the tears that were threatening, especially when Zale rubbed his hand affectionately up and down Jack's arm. There was no reason for his traumatized little boy should be reassuring him. Jack just stayed there on the porch hugging his son and waited while Zale just settled into him. That is until he realized that he passed the sandwiches in the kitchen.

He chuckled and spoke gently, "You hungry Zale?"

Zale nodded mutely.

Jack tugged Zale up to stand and he heaved himself off the ground and called out to the kids, "Come on and eat guys."

With some groans the children rushed for the door and Jack handed out sandwiches and got some juice for them. Then he grabbed some for Daniel and walked upstairs and pulled Daniel away from the packing once more. It looked like Akina had succeeded in getting Daniel to keep the books and learning materials to the one gigantic suitcase, which Jack and Daniel pulled downstairs and placed next to Jack's bag as well as the kids. Daniel ate quickly, not even starting a conversation with the kids before he passed around kisses and hugs and left to go to the mountain and finish up with a few things there, leaving Jack and Ben with the children and Akina walked down the street towards Teal'c and Sam's home. Everyone was leaving from Jack and Daniel's house because they had more stuff and children plus Zada had the ability to wrap them all in one of her shields which would give them the better chance of staying together and arriving where they were supposed to.

They were slotted to leave the next day and Jack moved to grab the phone and started making phone calls. He wouldn't need the house or the money he had saved up in his account. He called the bank and updated his will, still leaving the house to Sarah. Jack knew that Daniel had packed up some family pictures and Jack made sure to give some to Janet, Hammond and his parents, especially the ones from the wedding. They were all so important to him and the children and this was the only way him and Daniel could leave a little piece of them with those friends.

Finally he called the one who he didn't really want to talk to and Sarah answered on the second ring, "Hello."

"Sarah, its Jack."

"Hey Jack," her voice was forced with a toothy smile; Jack could hear it even though he couldn't see it.

"I just wanted you to know that you can do whatever you want with the house. After the kidnapping, we are leaving before the children get hurt. I'm sorry for everything that you went through with us. You and my parents are splitting what's in my account and my retirement. I know it's not what you wanted but it's all I have."

"I will be here for your mother," Sarah said and Jack sighed as he heard the bitterness in her tone. "Thank you for the house and I hope you get what you're looking for wherever you end up."

Without another word, Sarah hung up and Jack sighed. He clicked off the phone and put it down and stood to walk back to the kitchen just as everyone was finishing up. The kids didn't waste any time before they stumbled out the back door once more. He wondered if it was a kid thing or the fact that they grew up in a world where there was no such thing as television but their children all preferred to be outside, maybe even reading in in the sun instead of playing but outside all the same.

Jack turned back and worked through the dishes that were stacked in the sink from the partial breakfast and lunch, made no sense to leave behind a mess someone else would have to clean up. After his dad was through eating he also rejoined the children and Jack was eternally grateful that Ben was here because Jack didn't think he could have done everything needed with no one to help with the children especially so close to the kidnapping. All of the kids needed distraction while Daniel and Jack put their affairs in order and that took constant attention that Jack couldn't give them at the moment. He didn't like it but they had to do the best they could to make the disappearance a little easier on those they were leaving behind this time.

As his hands were soaped up in the process of loading the last of the dishes to rinse and dry he thought about Johnny, who was still silent and withdrawn but luckily hadn't woken with nightmares the night before but Jack was sure they would hit him as some point.

All Jack and Daniel could do was be there with them when the walls fell and they broke down then they would help build them back up again. For now the house was quiet and he walked back outside where the children were playing after lunch. He would be glad when Daniel was home and they were prepared to get back to their home in the Valley.