Author's note: I am actually back to writing instead of editing before posting so it might take a little longer to get chapters uploaded.
Chapter Twenty: Let It Go
Daniel pulled up in the jeep at the mountain and walked inside, moving quickly through the hallways to his office, there is a pile of paperwork that he had to deliver to the right people that he'd been working through while he was home and then in the hospital and he did that quickly then he spoke to Tyan about taking over the department which led to some tears on both sides since they'd known each other for a long time. Then he took his stack of job applications and resumes with him to General Hammond's office and knocked gently.
"Come on in Doctor Jackson and sit down," Hammond said and Daniel did so, taking one of the chairs in front of the General's desk.
"I brought you my five top picks, Tyan is pleased to take the department but there are some in here that you are going to need if I'm not here."
"Thank you so much for the information Daniel, I trust your judgment about this."
Daniel nodded in response to the compliment and faltered as he watched the older man in front of him. General George Hammond may not have been the General that brought him into the program but he was the General that always did what he could for Daniel and the teams. Hammond had always taken care of all of his people as well as the civilians like Daniel. There were so many in the military that never had a nice thing to say about the outside contractors but Hammond always treated Daniel like one of his own.
So it was a struggle to speak without his voice cracking, "Sir, I find myself unable to find the words to share my gratitude for all you have done for me before the disappearance and all you did for my family when we returned. Thank you just seems not enough."
Hammond smiled, leaning back in his chair, "Daniel, you have given so much to this program since the very beginning that it was my pleasure to be service to you." Daniel nodded, sniffling at the unwanted tears trying to slip from his eye when Hammond spoke again, "Have you called the schools and pulled the kids?"
Daniel nodded, "Jack was planning on being on the phone today taking care of all that for me."
"Since we know you aren't coming back, you will be considered killed in action and so your belongings would go to who?"
"I already updated my will so my artifacts and books will come to the SGC and a few museums where they belong and the money is going to Jack's family since I don't have biological ties to this world."
Hammond nodded, "You know that we have possession of most of the materials that belong to you right?"
Daniel smiled, "I have several volumes that I searched for during my life and were saved from when we disappeared before and this time I am giving them to Tyan and the department for good. I am taking a few with me; the ones that were special to me because of my parents and the content but the rest will come here to the SGC."
"Thank you so much for that Daniel. Is there anything else before you leave? When are you leaving?"
"We are leaving sometime tomorrow."
Hammond sighed, "Its better that way with the threat against the children. I think though that it would be better for all of us if you left from here so killed in action actually makes sense."
"I will talk to Jack and the others, it would also give us one final chance to say goodbye. Maybe we can come tonight or tomorrow morning after breakfast."
"Just call and let me know, especially what to do with the cars."
"Again, everything goes to Jack's parents."
Daniel stood when the older man did and shook General Hammond's hand then leaned in to give the man a quick hug before he walked back out of the mountain. If they were going to head into the mountain with all the kids and their stuff then they would need to get everything back there which would take some time. The drive was quiet, with some music playing in the background and when he got home he opened the door and found Jack sitting on the couch, leaning back with his fingers rubbing into his eyes. Daniel walked over, dropping his bag to the floor and sitting down next to him. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Jack's stubbly cheek.
Jack smiled under Daniel's lips, "You're back."
It did not escape Daniel's notice that Jack did not call it home. "Hammond thinks we should disappear from the base since we are going to be considered KIA."
"How can I be KIA, I'm retired?" Jack asked.
Daniel shrugged, "Leave that to the SGC, they are fantastic liars."
"Not liars, story spinners," Jack responded. Daniel chuckled and leaned forward and kissed Jack again. It had been too long since they were alone together without a scrap of clothing to separate them and sadly Daniel didn't think they were going to get to end that any time soon.
He refocused on the conversation at hand instead so he wouldn't have to adjust his jeans, "Should we pack up everything, say goodbye tonight and head to the mountain? It would be much easier to perpetuate whatever cover story they got going that way."
Jack nodded, "Yeah, Pop is already here and I'll call mom and see if she wanted to say goodbye to the kids. Then I will call Sam and Teal'c, let them know what's going on."
Daniel nodded then moved to slip his leg across Jack's lap. The retired General jerked at the instant contact from hip to chest. "Where are the kids?" Daniel asked when those dark brown eyes locked on his face.
"Outside with Pop."
Daniel smiled and pressed a kiss to Jack's cheek then his nose before slipping his lips up and over his forehead. "Are you okay Jack?" he asked, as he continued to nuzzle his nose against Jack's skin, taking in deep breaths of Jack's aftershave and that deep soul sizzling Jack musk that always had the power to rev Daniel's engine.
Jack heaved a sigh, "I know we are making the right choice but I am leaving part of my family for the sake of the other. It doesn't stop the regret that it has to be this way, they will be safe here and you and the kids and I will be safe in the Valley with Akina and her people."
Daniel pressed his lips into Jack's mouth gently, pulling a deep moan from his husband even as Jack's lips fell open and Daniel caressed the inside of Jack's warm mouth. Jack's hands pressed into Daniel's thighs, holding him close while Daniel's hands pressed into Jack's cheek and neck. When he pulled away it was to the pleasant groan of Jack, "You are the most amazing husband and father ever. We're going to be okay as long as we're together remember?"
Jack nodded and moved to press his lips back into Daniel's mouth then he slapped Daniel's legs gently and Daniel moved off of Jack's lap and watched the older man move towards the phone and started making phone calls. Daniel heaved himself off of the couch and started towards the kitchen, gripping Jack's free hand as he passed him. He stopped in the kitchen and realized that Jack must have started some pot roast and potatoes for dinner and he smiled, Jack was the most domesticated retired General and it was strangely fitting though Daniel enjoyed his equal opportunities to spend time in the kitchen or teaching the children language and so on. He continued on to the back yard where Ben was playing catch with all the kids, they were racing around him as if there were bases and some sort of game that wasn't following any rules Daniel knew about. He was going to miss Ben so much more than anything else in this time, not his job and not his past filled with sadness and death but he would miss the man who he could call father.
He also knew that the safest Ben would ever be is separated from the children, separated from Daniel and even Jack. He shook off the sadness again; thankfully he'd had a long life of saying goodbye to people over and over again. This is just the latest in a long line.
"Hey guys, get your stuff ready there has been a change in plans," Daniel called out and all the kids turned and ran up to the house without even the barest hint of whining. Daniel sighed sadly, not to long ago they would have complained about walking away from a game with their grandfather but after the kidnapping, it seemed like all of them were having a hard time being who they once were completely. Daniel was hoping that getting back to the Valley would help get them through whatever was going on inside their minds. It was something Daniel had an intimate knowledge of, getting through a trauma and the goodbyes they were about to say. Daniel and Jack would get them through and they would do everything to make sure each of their children retained what made them uniquely them.
Ben walked up as well, "You are going tonight aren't you?"
Daniel nodded but said nothing, so Ben gripped his arm gently as he walked past. Daniel found himself blurting words before he really thought them through, "You know I am going to miss you more than anyone I have ever said goodbye to in my life."
Ben paused, "I know son, I am going to miss you too."
Daniel pulled the older man close for a hug, thinking to himself that a thousand hugs and a thousand days would not prepare him for saying goodbye to this man. He could feel Ben's hand gripping the back of Daniel's neck for a moment before they separated and walked back inside. Jack was just hanging up the phone and leaning down to check the cooking food. Daniel noticed Akina standing off to the side of the kitchen and none of the children were around.
"Where are the kids?" Daniel asked.
"Went to go wash up," Jack replied, "Sam and Teal'c are getting the children ready and everyone is coming over here to eat some dinner and say their goodbyes before we head to the mountain."
Daniel nodded, "I gotta go recheck my suitcase." With that he walked past Akina, brushing past her as Ben asked after Daniel, wondering if he was going to be okay with all this. Daniel ignored the response, ignored everything but the need to prepare one last time. Being in the same room with Ben was pushing his control to the brink and there was nothing he could do to catch his breath. Daniel felt like he was suffocating on sadness and loss they would all have to live with, the fact that a slice of their children's innocence had been stolen from them and that Daniel would leave behind the only father he'd had in most of his life and Jack was truly picking one part of his family over the other.
"Daniel, you have family and loved ones in the Valley as well," Akina murmured and he turned to see that the young and powerful Queen had followed him up the stairs.
"You came here for your son, Akina you don't have to make up stories," he knew it sounded self-deprecating but he knew that Greer was why Akina came here and most of the Vannas didn't understand Daniel and the rest of SG-1, felt for much of the time that they were merely humoring Akina for the sake of the team. When they had magical children it was much easier for people to accept them but it wasn't like they were Akina's people.
Akina scoffed at his words, "Who ever said I was only here for Greer? I came back for my friends and though I was prepared to leave you here if you were doing well, I have only seen the suffering in your eyes Daniel not to mention your children were kidnapped and you were injured."
"It's not like that all the time," Daniel rebuffed though even to his own ears it sounded like a lie.
"How often have you been questioned about the veracity of your love for Jack?"
Daniel shrugged, "Too many to count."
"Including being assaulted by someone," Akina responded and Daniel glared at her.
"How do you know that?" Daniel demanded.
"I can sense the change and the struggle and you know what Zara is like when there is a puzzle involved, I also questioned your beloved husband about it. Not only were you assaulted by one of Jack's brothers but also you were attacked on base where you have always believed you were safe. Come home with me Daniel and accept the place is going to be better for all of you, not just for your children. It will never come without complications and magic but it does come with a free helping of acceptance and love from all around you."
"Cheap shot, milady," Daniel responded with a snarky bow.
Akina as usual snickered, not taking offense but then they had been friends for more than nine years and if anyone was going to be offensive it was Jack and Akina had always loved Jack's quirky sense of humor and lack of filter so Daniel wasn't surprised by the giggle or the shrugging words, "I will do what I have to because I have been told in no uncertain terms that if you and your children do not go back then my son will not return home either."
Daniel shook his head and rolled his eyes in disbelief, "Then take him anyway Akina, he's your son."
Akina sidled up close and wrapped an arm around Daniel's shoulder, "I do not know how to share this news with you but I have found a tight bond growing between Johnny and Greer, one born of close friendship and possibly could become more in time."
Daniel frowned, "Are you serious?"
"I would never jest about the true love shared among any of my people but especially when it comes to the future happiness of my first born son. Even if nothing were to happen between them in the coming years, Greer and Johnny are very close and I would nurture such a friendship, wouldn't you?"
"Of course and I don't care if they end up together as long as Greer understands that age of consent for humans is a little different than age of consent for Vannas. My baby boy is not going to be married off at eighteen."
"They would be married off to one another at sixteen according to some Vannas family choices including me," Akina responded.
Daniel shrugged off her arm and pointed a finger at Akina in mock seriousness, "No!"
Akina laughed, "You shall see all those who have missed your presence in the Valley as soon as we have returned. Just think about Adrian and DK as well as their children not to mention your students."
Daniel smiled, wiping the annoyance off his face when he realizes he's been tricked into some sort of passionate response instead of just isolating himself. He leaned forward and kissed Akina on the cheek gently and pulled back, "Thanks."
"Stop that!" Jack called from the kitchen then snickered, joined by Akina's laughter and Daniel shook his head. The faux jealousy between Akina and Jack had gone back for years as well, it had been born of real emotions once upon a time but now it was like any other person giving Daniel a quick peck on the cheek, the touches meant nothing when pressed up against how Daniel felt for Jack.
"We're going home then," Daniel said and gave Akina a resolute nod.
She grinned, "And you shall be welcomed with open arms."
With that they all set out to pack up the cars so they wouldn't be working after dinner when they were trying to say final goodbyes and eating dinner. Even though parts of him were still filled with sadness, Daniel knew that they were making the right choice and there was some comfort in that.