Two chapters for you today, remember to read this one after "Winter has Come" Thanks, hope you enjoy

Chapter Sixteen: Slap Me Silly

When Daniel did get back to their room, he was slipped gently into bed and Jack settled the twins into their beds so he could curl up next to Daniel. The younger man pushed Jack away a little and without much strength, he reached out and slapped Jack right across the face.

His head slapped back mostly from shock more than pain and he looked down at Daniel, "I thought you were forgiving me?" he demanded. He could hear Taj growling at the door where the cat had decided to lay since he didn't fit in the room.

"Taj," Jack scolded. The growling turned to purring and it gentled into a low level hum in the background.

"Why do we now have a tiger pet?" Daniel husked, Jack couldn't tell if he was even more annoyed or what.

Jack shrugged, "We became hunting buddies during my time away. Now we're family, good pet for the kids?"

"A pony sized tiger? Really?"

Another shrug, "Can we talk about the fact that my face stings now?"

Daniel reached out and dragged Jack down and they kissed, their lips smashing together until Jack had a mind to gentle their contact. Jack slipped his tongue inside the warm recess of Daniel's mouth and wrapped Daniel up against him tightly. Daniel whimpered into his lips and Jack realized his husband was not excited but hurting. He released Daniel and the younger man settled back against the bed.

"Ok it doesn't sting as badly now," Jack said with a grin.

"Next time you think you are worthless in this world or family, you talk to me. Next time you think you are going to let some curse hurt me or the people we call our own now, come to me. Do you get the theme I am trying to start here?"

Jack nodded, "Got it Danny. I promise not to leave you ever again if it's up to me."

Daniel nodded, "Damn straight. We really need to get a new place if we're going to keep the fuzzy pony with teeth."

Taj grumbled in his sleep at Daniel's words. Jack chuckled at the tiger's response. "His name is Taj."

"Hey Taj, welcome to the family," Daniel mumbled as he tucked his head under Jack's chin. Jack hugged Daniel gently to him.

Daniel friend?

Jack smiled into Daniel's hair, clearly Daniel either didn't hear Taj or he wasn't paying attention. "Yes, Daniel is your friend."

"Huh?" Daniel mumbled into his chest.

"Taj is talking to me, in my head."

"Hmm, weird, talk about it in morning," Daniel muttered and his lips stroked across Jack's throat which made the Colonel want to shake him awake to kiss him again but Daniel needed to sleep after being hurt. Jack let Daniel slip into an exhausted sleep before he slipped out of the bed and leaned against the end of the bed to watch Zada and Zale sleep. It was good to see them resting comfortably. He leaned forward and touched his daughter, leaning farther over so he could kiss her gently on the forehead, feeling the contentment and joy she felt and reciprocating easily. "I love you baby girl."

Moving slightly so he could do the same to Zale, he could feel the residual fear but it had been overwhelmed by the security he felt as soon as Jack touched him. "My son, I love you. I promise you will never wonder again where I am if I can help it. I know your daddy probably thinks he's so silly to love me but I would do anything for your Daddy Daniel and you both."

With that he turned back to the bed, just in time to see Daniel shut his eyes again, pretending to be asleep. "I saw that Danny."

Those blues eyes opened to gaze into Jack's gaze, "It's good to have you home Daddy Jack."

Tucked back into bed, Jack hugged Daniel and kissed his hair once more before they both slipped into a deep slumber.

Daniel woke suddenly, couldn't figure what woke him until he caught sight of Jack walking to the door. Taj, the large cat that apparently befriended Jack was blocking the way, glaring at Jack with a low rumbling growl.

"Jack?" Daniel called, concerned about the predator growling at his husband.

When Jack didn't answer, Daniel stood and walked over to the older man. He turned Jack towards him, only to find his husband's eyes blank and staring. Daniel shook Jack's shoulder vigorously.

"Danny, what?" Jack muttered as he 'awoke' then fell to his knees, clearly not aware that he was standing.

"You were trying to leave the bedroom, where were you going?" Daniel asked as he helped Jack back into bed. The Colonel stared at the door in confusion, then some clarity seemed to shine through.

"Oh God, Danny the curse is still inside me. I am still bound to Winter."

Daniel frowned, "Well we will talk to the queen in the morning and see what she has to say about this."

"Taj, you're a good friend do not let me leave this bedroom without Daniel ok?" Jack said to the big cat. Then Jack smiled a little to himself and looked at Daniel, "Taj won't let me go without you as I have requested."

"Never figured you for a cat man," Daniel said with a quiet smile.

Jack chuckled, "Me neither. Get some rest, Danny we will figure this out tomorrow and we can finally get back on some kind of normal schedule again."

"Sure Jack, until the next time one of us is kidnapped or run away." Daniel replied then curled down to sleep, ignoring the indignant response from Jack who then laughed as well and held Daniel as close as he could. All Daniel could do was hold on tight, and hope that Jack didn't get hurt in his need to obey some woman who was holding a magical collar around his neck.

It really did make Daniel mad, like enough to kill. Someone wanted to use them to hurt each other and the protectors who had invited them into their homes, not only that but Winter had almost stabbed his son and she was actually related to the King, his sister was willing to do anything and hurt anyone so she could have some sort of control over Zarkina.

Daniel tried to clear his mind, so he could sleep and soon he did but those thoughts were still there even as he closed his eyes and started to drift.